August 2013

In FaithfulReader.com's latest monthly contest, five readers will receive a copy of EVERY WAKING MOMENT by Chris Fabry, an uplifting, human tale of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift. To enter, please fill out this form by Tuesday, September 17th at noon ET.

EVERY WAKING MOMENT by Chris Fabry (Fiction)
Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman who has fallen through the cracks, much like many of the elderly people she works with at Desert Gardens Retirement Home. But Miriam Howard, director of the facility, sees her extraordinary gift and untapped potential. Treha is a whisperer of sorts, calling those who have slipped into dementia back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

When Treha’s and Miriam’s stories intertwine with a documentary team looking for stories of the elderly, Treha’s gift is uncovered, and the search begins for answers to the mysteries of her past. As their paths converge, each person is forced to face the same difficult question: What if this is as good as my life gets?

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-Click here to read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s bio.
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ON DISTANT SHORES: Wings of the Nightingale, Book 2 by Sarah Sundin (Historical Romance)
Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. But in July 1943, her cozy life gets more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they've made?

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-Click here to read Sarah Sundin’s bio.
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MISERY LOVES COMPANY by Rene Gutteridge (Mystery)
Filled with grief, Jules Belleno rarely leaves the house since her husband’s death while on duty as a police officer. But one day, when she ventures out to the local grocery store, Jules bumps into a fellow customer...and recognizes him as her favorite author. That’s the last thing she remembers --- until she wakes up in a strange room, the victim of a kidnapping. What she discovers will change everything she believed about her husband’s death, her career, and her faith.

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Elizabeth Camden is the author of four books, including the Christy Award winner AGAINST THE TIDE. Her latest novel, INTO THE WHIRLWIND, is about a woman named Mollie Knox, who is desperate to save her business after the Chicago fire of 1871 destroys her city. While she struggles to rebuild, two men battle for her heart. Can Mollie rise from the ashes with both her business and her heart intact? In this interview, Camden talks about the surprising lack of adult fiction set during the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire and, of course, her immediate instinct to fill that niche. She has always been moved by the story of the Fire, and felt that it was the perfect dramatic backdrop for a character-driven story because "tragedies burnish the true character of a person."

INTO THE WHIRLWIND by Elizabeth Camden (Historical Romance)
Mollie Knox's comfortable world is shattered the night she loses everything in the legendary Chicago fire of 1871. As Mollie struggles in the aftermath of the fire, two powerful men vie for her affection. One has always loved her, but the other has the power to save her. INTO THE WHIRLWIND is a turbulent love story set amidst the rubble of Chicago as Mollie endures the challenge of survival and the triumph of rebuilding the city.

-Click here to read more about the book.
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-Click here to read Elizabeth Camden’s bio.
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-Click here to read more on the publisher’s website.

Julianna Deering is a longtime fan of classic mysteries written in the 1920s and '30s. From the tip of his black Homburg to the crease in his stylish cheviot trousers, Drew Farthering, the hero of Deering's own mystery series that launches with RULES OF MURDER, is the epitome of a stylish 1930s English gentleman. In this interview, Deering discusses how her passion for murder mysteries inspired her own writing, along with her discovery of Father Ronald Arbuthnott Knox's rules for crafting a proper mystery story...and her subsequent decision to "bend" them. She also talks about the spiritual journey of her foppish main character and how --- once stripped of his social and monetary advantages --- he is forced to confront his own very desperate need for God.

RULES OF MURDER: A Drew Farthering Mystery by Julianna Deering (Historical Mystery)
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery. So when a body is discovered on his country estate, he decides to do his own investigation. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer --- and to impress his American guest, the beautiful and whip-smart Madeline Parker --- Drew must decide how far to take this dangerous game.

-Click here to read more about the book.
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-Click here to read Julianna Deering’s bio.
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-Click here to connect with Julianna Deering on Facebook.
-Click here to read more on the publisher’s website.

WAKE THE DAWN by Lauraine Snelling (Romance)
As U.S. Border Patrol agent Ben James rushes an abandoned baby to the only clinic in the area, a storm strikes with unexpected fury. Esther Hanson, who runs a second-rate clinic, struggles to help her patients during the storm. The event triggers a long-suppressed memory, and Esther must come face to face with the reality of her past and learn to forgive herself. Brought together by the life of a child, Ben and Esther become each other's reason to change. Reviewed by Susan Miura.

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HOMELESS AT HARVARD: Finding Faith and Friendship on the Streets of Harvard Square by John Christopher Frame (Memoir)
While taking his final course at Harvard, John Frame stepped outside the walls of academia and onto the streets, pursuing a different kind of education with his homeless friends. Combining the author’s story with the stories of those who have been on the streets, HOMELESS AT HARVARD tells an unforgettable story of life together on the streets of Harvard Square. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.

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BALANCE: A Story of Faith, Family, and Life on the Line by Nik Wallenda with David Ritz (Memoir)
Balance is the theme of Nik Wallenda's life: between his work and family, his faith in God and artistry, his body and soul. It resonates from him when performing his high-wire acts and when no one is looking. Nik is an entertainer who wants not only to thrill hearts, but to change hearts for Christ. Christ is the balance pole that keeps him from falling. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

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ROSEMARY COTTAGE: The Hope Beach Series, Book 2 by Colleen Coble (Romantic Suspense)
Amy Lange resides in the charming Rosemary Cottage on the beach while mourning her brother, Ben. Everyone blames a surfing accident, but Amy has reason to wonder. Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland's sister, Gina, was run down by a boat, leaving him to raise her infant daughter. He can’t help being drawn to Hope Beach’s new midwife, Amy, and agrees to help her investigate what happened to both Ben and Gina. Can two grieving people with secrets find healing on beautiful Hope Island? Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

THE BIG GUY UPSTAIRS: You, Him, and How It All Works by Rob Strong (Christian Living)
Rob Strong, a pastor in Massachusetts, never lets his faith bar him from doing what matters most: building sincere relationships with people as, together, they question and explore the nature of The Big Guy Upstairs. Here he shares how approachable, interactive and, above all, relevant God can be in readers' lives, without any of the trappings of religion or "Christianese" that make many of them suspicious. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

MEMORY’S DOOR: A Well Spring Novel by James L. Rubart (Fantasy/Suspense)
The four members of Warriors Riding have learned to wage war in the supernatural, to send their spirits inside people’s souls, to battle demonic forces, and to bring deep healing to those around them. But now the Wolf is hunting them, feeding on his supernatural hate of all they stand for. And he won’t stop until he brings utter destruction to their bodies...and their souls. Reviewed by Susan Miura.

HOPELIFTER: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts by Kathe Wunnenberg (Christian Life/Personal Growth)
How often do women see a friend in distress or crisis, but feel helpless to really make a difference? HOPELIFTER takes the mystery out of how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone in need of hope, comfort and care. Kathe Wunnenberg, whose hope-lifting ministry has impacted the lives of thousands, demonstrates simple, practical ways that acts of creative compassion can transform lives. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

AN OPEN HEART by Harry Kraus (Mystery/Suspense)
Dogged by serious allegations, Dr. Jace Rawlings flees to Kenya to start over. But when his near-death surgery patients warn him that people are about to die, he finds himself embroiled in a life-threatening spiritual battle. Can he find the faith to unravel the tangle of witchcraft, politics and deceit --- and restore order to his world? Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

A MAN IN THE MAKING: Strategies to Help Your Son Succeed in Life by Rick Johnson (Parenting)
As your son grows toward manhood, you can instill in him the values and character traits he will need to succeed. Highlighting famous men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives you strategies to help mold your son into an honorable man. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

CATCH A FALLING STAR by Beth K. Vogt (Romance)
Dr. Kendall Haynes’s plans to have a perfect life are eluding her. She needs to stop wishing upon a star and face reality: Some dreams just never come true. Meanwhile, a dangerous choice ejects Air Force pilot Griffin Walker from his cockpit. His life becomes even more complicated after the sudden death of his parents makes him the guardian of his 16-year-old brother. When their lives collide, Kendall and Griffin must decide if they can embrace the unexpected changes God has waiting for them. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.

HELL AND BEYOND by Michael Phillips (Fiction)
A prominent atheist dies unexpectedly and goes to hell. Or so it appears. But nothing is what it seems in this engrossing allegorical novel about the afterlife. In the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s THE GREAT DIVORCE and John Bunyon’s PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, Michael Phillips has produced a lively and fascinating trip through the afterlife --- one that will inspire you to re-discover the significance of your life here and now. Reviewed by Michele Howe.