December 2012

The Christmas season is here, and what a lovely --- and busy --- time of year it is. Amid all the hustle and bustle that the holidays inevitably bring, we trust that you will make time for family and friends, because, after all, that’s what this season is all about. And when you’re not keeping your loved ones company, may we suggest you sit back, relax, and enjoy a good book or two?

We have plenty of reading suggestions for you this month, and not surprisingly, many of them are sure to get you into the Yuletide spirit (if you’re not there already). In addition to our annual Christmas Books Roundup, we have reviews of Melody Carlson’s new holiday-themed novel THE CHRISTMAS PONY and Ace Collins’s latest, THE CHRISTMAS STAR.

Wm. Paul Young, whose 2007 debut novel THE SHACK has sold more than 18 million copies, is back with a new book, CROSS ROADS --- and we’re giving 100 readers the opportunity to win a copy. In CROSS ROADS, we are introduced to Anthony Spencer, an egotistical man who is proud of being a self-made business success at the peak of his game. But when a cerebral hemorrhage leaves him comatose in a hospital ICU, he "awakens" to find himself in a surreal world. It is here that he has vivid interactions with others he assumes are projections of his own subconscious, but whose directions he follows nonetheless with the possibility that they might lead to authenticity and, perhaps, redemption. The deadline for your entries is Monday, January 14th at noon ET.

Marcia Ford has our review of CROSS ROADS and says it "builds on the conversation Young started in his first book and offers some meatier food for thought about the afterlife... Fans of THE SHACK, and people of faith who welcome challenging ideas embedded in an absorbing story, will likely consider this one to be another satisfying book from Young's creative mind."

We’re also giving 10 readers the chance to win a copy of THE MATCHMAKERS OF BUTTERNUT CREEK by Jane Myers Perrine. A traumatic experience as a college freshman has left Gussie Milton frightened of being in a relationship, so she's thrown herself into caring for her aging parents, her photography business, and her church. In the eyes of Miss Birdie and her friend Mercedes, aka “the Widows,” Gussie would make their young pastor the perfect wife. And though the attraction proves mutual, first Gussie's past and then the pastor's hopes for the future threaten to keep them apart. The deadline for your entries is Thursday, January 3rd at noon ET.

And in our monthly contest, we’ll be awarding five readers a copy of VANISHED, the first installment in Irene Hannon's romantic suspense series, Private Justice. The book opens with a shadowy figure caught in the beam of reporter Moira Harrison’s headlights --- followed by a solid thump before she loses control and crashes into a tree. But when Moira regains consciousness, the victim is nowhere to be seen. The police say the disappearance never happened, but Moira can’t forget the look of sheer terror she saw on the person’s face in the instant it was caught in the glare of her headlights. Now her only hope of discovering the truth is a former police detective turned private eye --- and her own investigate skills. The deadline for your entries is Monday, January 14th at noon ET.

In addition to the three fiction reviews previously mentioned, we review five nonfiction titles this month: THE ULTIMATE CONVERSATION by Charles F. Stanley, EVERY GOOD ENDEAVOR by Timothy Keller, NOWHERE BUT UP by Patti Mallette, UNSTOPPABLE by Nick Vujicic, and BOLD AS LOVE by Bob Roberts, Jr.

As we were working on our update yesterday, the horrific news about the Newtown shooting in Connecticut was coming in, something I cannot even comprehend. No matter that my boys are 17 and 22; they both got extra hugs last night. My heart goes out to all those who were affected by this senseless tragedy.

Thank you very much for all your support and encouragement this year. It means so much to us, and we’re already thinking ahead to 2013! But before then, we wish you all a Blessed Christmas. May the true spirit of the holiday find its way into your lives, and may your celebrations bring you time to enjoy special traditions, as well as making some new memories.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])

We are celebrating the release of CROSS ROADS by Wm. Paul Young (author of the mega-bestseller THE SHACK) with a special contest that will give 100 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Monday, January 14th at noon ET.

CROSS ROADS by Wm. Paul Young (Fiction)
Anthony Spencer is egotistical, proud of being a self-made business success at the peak of his game, even though the cost of winning was painfully high. A cerebral hemorrhage leaves Tony comatose in a hospital ICU. He "awakens" to find himself in a surreal world, a "living" landscape that mirrors dimensions of his earthly life, from the beautiful to the corrupt. It is here that he has vivid interactions with others he assumes are projections of his own subconscious, but whose directions he follows nonetheless with the possibility that they might lead to authenticity and, perhaps, redemption. The adventure draws Tony into deep relational entanglements where he is able to "see" through the literal eyes and experiences of others, but is "blind" to the consequences of hiding his personal agenda and loss that emerge to war against the processes of healing and trust.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to watch the book trailer.
-Click here to visit the official website of the book.
-Click here to read Wm. Paul Young’s bio.
-Click here to connect with Wm. Paul Young on Facebook.

Once again, the Widows of Butternut Creek are determined to find a bride for Pastor Adam. This time, their candidate is as gun shy as the pastor!

We are celebrating the release of THE MATCHMAKERS OF BUTTERNUT CREEK by Jane Myers Perrine with a special contest that will give 10 readers the opportunity to win a copy of the book. The deadline for entries is Thursday, January 3rd at noon ET.

In our latest monthly contest, five readers will receive a copy of VANISHED, the first installment in Irene Hannon’s romantic suspense series, Private Justice. The deadline for entries is Monday, January 14th at noon ET.

VANISHED: A Private Justice Novel by Irene Hannon (Romantic Suspense)
VANISHED opens with a shadowy figure caught in the beam of reporter Moira Harrison’s headlights --- followed by a solid thump before she loses control and crashes into a tree. But when Moira regains consciousness, the victim is nowhere to be seen. The police say the disappearance never happened, but Moira can’t forget the look of sheer terror she saw on the person’s face in the instant it was caught in the glare of her headlights. Now her only hope of discovering the truth is a former police detective turned private eye --- and her own investigate skills.

-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Irene Hannon’s bio.

THE CHRISTMAS PONY by Melody Carlson (Historical Romance)
It is 1937, and Lucy Turnbull knows better than to wish for a pony this Christmas. Her mother has assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony is the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they need at their boarding house are the paying kind. Then an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, and Lucy’s world changes forever. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE CHRISTMAS STAR by Ace Collins (Historical Fiction)
Robert Reed gave his life for his country in the early days of World War II. His sacrifice was honored when his widow and son were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. At Christmas, the final decoration Marge Reed hangs on the family’s tree is that medal, a symbol of loss, pain and suffering. Yet a message delivered by one of Robert’s fellow soldiers and a mystery letter found in a Bible bring new meaning to the star hanging on the Christmas tree. Reviewed by Susan Miura.

-Click here to read more about the book.

THE ULTIMATE CONVERSATION: Talking with God Through Prayer by Charles F. Stanley (Christian Living)
In THE ULTIMATE CONVERSATION, Dr. Charles Stanley discusses how to truly know God through communication with Him. Dr. Stanley not only teaches the disciplines of intercession, but he also explains how to fight life’s battles through intimate communion with the Lord. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

-Click here to read more about the book.

EVERY GOOD ENDEAVOR: Connecting Your Work to God's Work by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf (Christian Living)
In a work world that is increasingly competitive and insecure, people often have nagging questions: Why am I doing this? Why is it so hard? Is there anything I can do about it? With deep insight, Timothy Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about our work. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.

-Click here to read more about the book.

NOWHERE BUT UP: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom by Pattie Mallette with A. J. Gregory (Memoir)
In NOWHERE BUT UP, Pattie Mallette shares for the first time in detail about the pain and abandonment she experienced as a child, the sexual abuse she suffered for years, the severe depression she wrestled with as a teen, the deep struggles she faced as a single mom, and the faith she's learned to cling to through dark times. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

-Click here to read more about the book.

UNSTOPPABLE: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujicic (Christian Life/Spiritual Growth)
Despite being born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic’s challenges have not kept him from enjoying great adventures, a fulfilling and meaningful career, and loving relationships. He credits his success in life to the power that is unleashed when faith takes action. But how does that happen? In UNSTOPPABLE, Nick addresses adversity and difficult circumstances that many people face today. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

-Click here to read more about the book.

BOLD AS LOVE: What Can Happen When We See People the Way God Does by Bob Roberts, Jr. (Christian Living)
In BOLD AS LOVE, Pastor Bob Roberts shows you what it looks like to live out your faith daily in the global public square among people of other faiths --- Jews, Muslims, atheists, Hindus, Buddhists. While he admits that it can be challenging to engage people of other faiths whose beliefs are as strong as yours, he demonstrates how to enter into this critical dialogue in a radical yet loving way. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

-Click here to read more about the book.