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This Month on FaithfulReader.com |
August 2012 |
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Relishing the Last Weeks of Summer |
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August is a transition month for many. In parts of the country, school is already in session; in others, vacation time the last few weeks in August is on the horizon. We fall into the latter category in the east. My nephew already has been hitting the books for a week in Atlanta while we are packing up our bags to head to the Outer Banks next week. Whether you have children or not, wherever you live seems to be dictated by these patterns.
This is perhaps the last time, at least for four years, that Cory, our younger son, will be at the beach with us the week before Labor Day. He's a high school senior (how did THAT happen), and next year he probably will be getting settled in on a college campus instead of hanging at the beach. Greg, my older son, is opting not to go to the beach this year...he's been off that rhythm for a few years now since he started college. He instead will be working in the office.
Lots of memories of course swell up as these milestones happen...making for lots of time for a) enjoying the moment, and b) treasuring memories.
Of course, life is not a Hallmark card, thus I am cajoling Cory to a) read the four required summer reading books BEFORE we leave, and b) crack open the prep book for the ACT. (Bets on whether this happens are welcome.)
For me, vacations are all about pleasure reading...much the same as my weekends...and if you find yourself in the same mode, we have some selections that should keep you busy this month, including FIVE opportunities for you to win books.
In celebration of the release of Melody Carlson’s newest series, Homeward on the Oregon Trail, we’re giving 75 readers a chance to win a copy of the opening volume, WESTWARD HEARTS. Elizabeth Martin, a young widow and mother of two, faces unexpected challenges as she travels west. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky, authors of THE MAYAN APOCALYPSE, are back with DIGITAL WINTER. It’s all about life on our planet after a massive cyber attack, in which cities find themselves completely without electricity and in total darkness. 75 readers will be fortunate enough to win a copy of this book where they can ponder survival techniques. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
We have 50 copies of OVER THE EDGE, the third installment in The Kincaid Brides series, to give away to those who would like to read Mary Connealy’s latest historical romance. Seth Kincaid survived a fire and fought in the Civil War, but doesn’t even remember his wife, and she isn’t too happy about it. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
Our final special contest this month is for ABDUCTED, the second book in Janice Cantore’s Pacific Coast Justice series. It’s about the struggle between Carly and her injured husband Nick, and Carly’s chase to find a kidnapped baby that pushes her faith to new limits. Ten readers will win a copy of this heartbreaking mystery, and the deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET. With this contest, we also have put up a study guide that will help you delve further into the book’s many concepts.
Along with ABDUCTED, we have six other series books with study guides now available that we’d like to bring to your attention.
In THE HAVEN, book two in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Stoney Ridge Seasons series, Sadie Lapp returns home to Stoney Ridge where she is faced with a complicated love triangle. Gideon is the awkward school teacher who has been in love with Sadie for years, and Will is the charming college student who would rather be anywhere but in Stoney Ridge babysitting endangered pelicans. When the three young people’s lives converge, Stoney Ridge may never be the same again. Click here for the study guide.
Irene Hannon has written the third book in her Guardians of Justice series. In LETHAL LEGACY, Kelly Warren sets out to prove that her father’s death was in fact not a suicide with a new piece of evidence she’s obtained. However, Detective Cole Taylor doesn’t pay much attention to this development until Kelly ends up in the hospital with a suspicious life-threatening disease. Will Cole be able to investigate the case before Kelly’s illness gets any worse? Click here for the study guide.
Patsy has spent much of her life wishing she could leave the past behind her. When she and her husband take a vacation to Cedar Key, Florida, in Eva Marie Everson’s WAITING FOR SUNRISE, she runs into a familiar face that opens old wounds and shakes up her future. Click here for the study guide.
In A LOVE FORBIDDEN, the second book in Kathleen Morgan’s Heart of the Rockies series, Shiloh Wainwright accepts a teaching position at the River Indian Agency in hopes of helping the Ute Indians. However, she soon finds herself in the crossfire between a Ute Indian and the U.S. government, and in a situation she’s not sure how to get out of. Click here for the study guide.
Tia Morales is the director of a popular sitcom in THE DIRECTOR’S CUT, the third addition to Janice Thompson’s Backstage Pass series. Her life is organized and calculated until she starts falling for the handsome cameraman with whom she’s been butting heads for months. Can Tia let go of her control long enough to fall in love? Click here for the study guide.
And in JOY TAKES FLIGHT, book three in Bonnie Leon’s Alaskan Skies series, Kate and Paul have finally gotten married and are expecting. But Kate’s profession may be too dangerous, and when tragedy strikes, Kate is afraid she may lose Paul forever. Click here for the study guide.
We also have seven new reviews for you this month, including THE CHOICE by Robert Whitlow, THE GIRL'S STILL GOT IT: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs, and CLEANING HOUSE: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma.
Finally, in our monthly contest, we’re giving five readers the opportunity to win a copy of Dan Walsh’s latest book, THE REUNION, which releases on September 1st. Aaron Miller knows a thing or two about loss. Once honored for his heroism, he now lives in near obscurity, working as a handyman in a humble trailer park. But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, someone is searching for him. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
We hope you savor what’s left of your summer and enjoy these books well into the fall!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
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Special Contest and Feature: WESTWARD HEARTS by Melody Carlson |
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We are celebrating the release of WESTWARD HEARTS with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this first installment in Melody Carlson's Homeward on the Oregon Trail series. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
WESTWARD HEARTS: Homeward on the Oregon Trail, Book 1 by Melody Carlson (Historical Romance)
Bestselling author Melody Carlson begins an inspiring new series of adventure and romance on the Oregon Trail. It's 1854, and as Elizabeth Martin --- a young widow and mother of two --- faces unexpected challenges, she forges true character, close relationships, and a vital faith in God.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to read Melody Carlson's bio.
-Click here to visit Melody Carlson's official website.
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Click here to read all the contest details. |
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Special Contest and Feature: DIGITAL WINTER by Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky |
We are celebrating the release of DIGITAL WINTER by Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky with a special contest that will give 75 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this suspenseful and fast-moving story of life after a massive cyber attack. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
DIGITAL WINTER by Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky (Thriller)
Prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock and novelist Alton Gansky provide a suspenseful and fast-moving story of life after a massive cyber attack. Surgeons find themselves operating without electricity, while the military can’t use its computers. This gripping story of darkness and heroism highlights prophetic themes and the danger of a cyber attack.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Read bios of Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky.
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Click here to read all the contest details. |
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Special Contest and Feature: OVER THE EDGE by Mary Connealy |
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We are celebrating the release of OVER THE EDGE with a special contest that will give 50 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this third installment in Mary Connealy's The Kincaid Brides series. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
OVER THE EDGE: The Kincaid Brides, Book 3 by Mary Connealy (Historical Romance)
Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he hasn't been the same since. Then he fought in the Civil War and returned to Colorado crazier than ever. Somewhere along the line, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he has a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't too happy to find out Seth doesn't remember her.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Mary Connealy's bio.
-Click here to visit Mary Connealy's official website.
-Click here to connect with Mary Connealy on Facebook.
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Click here to read all the contest details. |
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Special Contest and Feature: ABDUCTED by Janice Cantore |
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We are celebrating the release of ABDUCTED with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of this second installment in Janice Cantore's Pacific Coast Justice series. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
ABDUCTED: Pacific Coast Justice Series, Book 2 by Janice Cantore (Mystery/Romance)
Slow to recover from an injury, Carly Edwards' ex-husband, Nick, begins pulling away just as they were starting to get close again. Meanwhile, when Joe’s wife lands in the hospital with a mysterious illness, their baby is kidnapped. As Carly chases down every lead in a desperate search to find the baby, her newfound faith is pushed to its limits.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Janice Cantore’s bio.
-Click here to visit Janice Cantore’s official website.
-Click here to connect with Janice Cantore on Facebook.
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Click here to read all the contest details. |
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Study Guide Now Available: THE HAVEN by Suzanne Woods Fisher |
THE HAVEN: Stoney Ridge Seasons, Book 2 by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Romance)
When Sadie Lapp steps off the bus in Stoney Ridge after being in Ohio for the winter, she is faced with a decision --- one that goes against her very essence. Yet it's the only way she can think of to protect a loved one. The lives of three individuals intertwine, and then unravel as unexpected twists create ripples through the town of Stoney Ridge...and through Sadie's heart.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s bio.
-Click here to visit Suzanne Woods Fisher’s official website.
-Connect with Suzanne Woods Fisher on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Study Guide Now Available: LETHAL LEGACY by Irene Hannon |
LETHAL LEGACY: Guardians of Justice, Book 3 by Irene Hannon (Romantic Suspense)
The police say her father's death was suicide, but Kelly Warren says it was murder --- and she has new evidence that she believes proves it. Detective Cole Taylor doesn't put much credence in her claim. But when Kelly ends up in the emergency room with a suspicious life-threatening medical condition, the incident strikes him as more than just coincidence. Digging deeper, he discovers she's linked to a long-ago crime. Is history repeating itself? And who wants Kelly silenced?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Irene Hannon’s bio.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Study Guide Now Available: WAITING FOR SUNRISE by Eva Marie Everson |
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WAITING FOR SUNRISE: A Cedar Key Novel by Eva Marie Everson (Romance)
Patsy Milstrap wishes she could leave her past behind. At her concerned husband's gentle insistence, they take a vacation to Cedar Key, an idyllic island on Florida's Gulf Coast. When a familiar --- and most unexpected --- face greets her at a seaside restaurant, Patsy knows she can no longer run from the past. But what will opening old wounds mean? And what will the future hold?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Eva Marie Everson’s bio.
-Click here to visit Eva Marie Everson’s official website.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Study Guide Now Available: A LOVE FORBIDDEN by Kathleen Morgan |
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A LOVE FORBIDDEN: Heart of the Rockies, Book 2 by Kathleen Morgan (Historical Romance)
Moved by the desire for adventure and a yearning to help the Ute Indians, 20-year-old Shiloh Wainright impulsively accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency in northwestern Colorado. Soon she finds herself caught in the crossfire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian Agent, and the unrealistic demands of the US government. Her unexpected encounter with Jesse Blackwater, an embittered half-breed Ute and childhood friend, only complicates matters.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Kathleen Morgan’s bio.
-Click here to visit Kathleen Morgan’s official website.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Study Guide Now Available: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT by Janice Thompson |
THE DIRECTOR'S CUT: Backstage Pass, Book 3 by Janice Thompson (Romance)
Tia Morales is the director of the popular sitcom "Stars Collide," and her life on the set is calculated and orderly. Life outside the studio is another matter. When she starts to have feelings for handsome cameraman Jason Harris, with whom she’s been butting heads for months, it’s enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life --- and love --- as it comes?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Janice Thompson’s bio.
-Click here to visit Janice Thompson’s official website.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Study Guide Now Available: JOY TAKES FLIGHT by Bonnie Leon |
JOY TAKES FLIGHT: Alaskan Skies, Book 3 by Bonnie Leon (Historical Romance)
Kate Evans and Paul Anderson are finally married, settling in, and starting a family. They rejoice when Kate finds she is pregnant, but soon it is clear that there are hurdles ahead. Should she continue in her dangerous profession as an Alaskan bush pilot? Can she really fall into the role of a wife? Then tragedy strikes, life begins to unravel, and Kate fears she may have lost Paul for good.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read critical praise.
-Click here to read Bonnie Leon’s bio.
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Click here for the study guide. |
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Now in Stores: STILL LIFE IN SHADOWS by Alice J. Wisler
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STILL LIFE IN SHADOWS by Alice J. Wisler (Fiction)
It’s been 15 years since Gideon Miller ran away from his Amish community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as a boy of 15. Gideon arrives in the Smoky Mountains town of Twin Branches and settles in at the local auto mechanic's garage. He meets a host of interesting characters --- the most recent acquaintances are Kiki, an autistic teen, and her sister Mari. Known as the "Getaway Savior," he helps other Amish boys and girls relocate to life in modern America. A tragedy forces Gideon to return to the town of his youth and face the community he ran away from years ago. Will Gideon be able to give his anger over to God and forgive his father?
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Click here to read more about the book. |
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Now in Stores: HER GOOD NAME by Ruth Axtell
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HER GOOD NAME by Ruth Axtell (Historical Romance)
No matter how striking she is, a fisherman’s daughter doesn’t stand a chance with Warren Brentwood, the heir of the local lumber empire. So in an effort to better her life and eventually catch Warren’s eye, Espy takes a job at the local professor’s home. But when the professor begins to tutor her, the rumors begin to fly. Scandal turns Espy’s world upside down and she flees town in disgrace. Alone and penniless, Espy has nothing left but her faith when she is rescued by a missionary family. Espy longs to return home freed from the lies that surrounded her departure. But will anyone --- particularly Warren --- believe in her professed innocence?
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Click here to read more about the book. |
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This Month’s Reviews |
THE CHOICE by Robert Whitlow (Fiction)
Even as a pregnant, unwed teen in 1974, Sandy Lincoln wanted to do the right thing. But when an ageless woman approached her in a convenience store with a mysterious prophecy and a warning, doing the right thing became even more unclear. She made the best choice she could…and has lived with the consequences. More than 30 years later, a pregnant teen has come into her life, and Sandy’s long-ago decision has come back to haunt her. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
THE GIRL'S STILL GOT IT: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs (Christian Life/Bible Studies)
Walk with Ruth as she travels from Moab to Bethlehem, certain of her calling, yet uncertain of her future. Hold Naomi’s hand and watch love put the pieces of her broken life back together. And hang out with Boaz, their kinsman-redeemer, who blesses both women and honors God, big time. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
CLEANING HOUSE: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma (Parenting)
As parents, so often we do everything we can for our kids --- unintentionally reinforcing their belief that the world revolves around them. When Kay Wyma realized that an attitude of entitlement had crept into her home, this mother of five got some attitude of her own. CLEANING HOUSE is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her kids to basic life skills. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
REUNION by Lauraine Snelling (Fiction)
Keira Johnson discovers a life-jarring fact her late mother kept hidden all her life. Kiera was born out of wedlock, and the man she had always known as her father had adopted her as an infant. Meanwhile, Keira's niece, Kirsten, has just discovered an unwanted pregnancy. As the family comes together for a reunion, Keira and Kirsten struggle with their fractured pasts and jumbled present. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.
MIRACLES: A Journalist Looks at Modern Day Experiences of God's Power by Tim Stafford (Christian Life/Theology)
Tim Stafford takes a careful look at miraculous events in our modern world --- some hard to accept and others hard to deny --- then places them in a historical and biblical context. Along the way, he explores questions about where and under what circumstances miracles occur today, and what role they should play in the lives of Christians. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
YOUR HEART'S DESIRE: 14 Truths That Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved by Sheri Rose Shepherd (Love & Romance/Relationships)
Bestselling author and Bible life coach Sheri Rose Shepherd shares 14 truths that will forever change the way you love and are loved. This book is written for the married woman who loves her man but struggles in her marriage. It’s for the single woman who wants to find a godly man to love and for the divorced woman who believed in her marriage until her man walked out. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS: A Universally Misunderstood Novel by Kristin Billerbeck (Fiction)
Daisy Crispin is happy to leave high school in her past and look forward to a bright new future at college. She is planning an all-expenses-paid trip with her best friend Claire to Argentina, where her handsome sort-of boyfriend Max lives. When Daisy discovers she needs to do missions work to fulfill the requirements of her scholarship, she chalks it up to her monumental bad luck in life and kisses her vacation goodbye. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab. |
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FaithfulReader.com's Monthly Contest: THE REUNION by Dan Walsh
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In our latest monthly contest, five readers each will be awarded a copy of THE REUNION by Dan Walsh, a tale of a life spent in the shadows but meant for the light. The deadline for entries is Thursday, September 13th at noon ET.
THE REUNION by Dan Walsh (Fiction)
Aaron Miller knows a thing or two about loss. He's lost love. Dignity. Second, and even third, chances. Once honored for his heroism, he now lives in near obscurity, working as a handyman in a humble trailer park.
But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, someone is searching for him.
With deep insight into the human heart, consummate storyteller Dan Walsh gently weaves a tale of a life spent in the shadows but meant for the light. Through tense scenes of war and tender moments of romance, THE REUNION will make you believe that everyone can get a second chance at life and love.
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Click here to read all the contest details. |
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As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online or change your preferences below.
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Happy reading! Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend or to visit our other websites from TheBookReportNetwork.com: Bookreporter.com, 20SomethingReads.com, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com, ReadingGroupGuides.com, GraphicNovelReporter.com and AuthorsOnTheWeb.com.
--- Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107
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