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This Month on FaithfulReader.com |
February 2015 |
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Preparing for the Holiest Day of the Year
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We happily are inching ever closer to spring. Next week, we turn our clocks forward, marking the beginnings of longer daylight in the evening, warmer weather and more sunshine. Although February is the shortest month of the year, we’ve kept the site just as packed with terrific recommendations, features and, of course, our monthly contest.
We are delighted to present our 2015 Easter Books roundup, timed to coincide with the start of Lent and the period of rebirth that follows. Full of both fiction and nonfiction books for adults and some terrific picture books for children, this list is sure to enrich your approaching Easter celebrations. It is our hope that the wide range of titles and authors will guide you as you evaluate your relationship with God and those around you in the spirit of the holiday.
For our current monthly contest, we’re giving away 10 copies of ALWAYS ON MY MIND, the fourth Christiansen Family novel by Susan May Warren. In this installment, Caspier Christiansen is heading home to Minnesota after a failed archaeological dig in the Honduras. He’s hoping to face his unresolved feelings for Raina, the woman of his dreams, but his hopes are squashed when he learns that she is pregnant with another man’s baby. Deciding it is time for a change, Casper helps his brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening amidst a rough winter and costly repairs. But one of his new jobs keeps bringing him and Raina together --- and their tentative friendship hints at a new future. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 19th at noon ET.
We are also delighted to present a special feature for PAPER HEARTS by Courtney Walsh. Here, readers are introduced to Abigail, a businesswoman in Love Park, a small town at the base of the Rockies. Abigail is devoted to dreams of expanding her shop --- and avoiding the Valentine Volunteers, a group dedicated to continuing the town’s tradition of stamping mail with romantic postmark. When Abigail gets a new, hard-to-read landlord, she becomes distracted and accidentally becomes a Volunteer. As she fights her attraction to the mysterious landlord, she encounters a series of love letters penned by an anonymous couple on paper hearts. But when a new batch of hearts comes in, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple, and it may change Abigail’s views on love permanently.
And despite being such a short month, we still have 13 new reviews to share with you. Among them are SCARY CLOSE, Donald Miller’s book about the value of true intimacy; FROM TABLET TO TABLE, Leonard Sweet’s exploration of the importance of The Table in biblical theology; and FAITH, FRIENDS, AND OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES, a woman's guide to abundant living by longtime FaithfulReader.com reviewer Michele Howe.
We hope your Lent is full of joy, prayer, and the warmth of family and friends. Have a wonderful start to March, and we’ll catch up with you later in the month!
Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected]) |
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FaithfulReader.com’s 2015 Easter Books Roundup
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During this Lenten season, we at FaithfulReader.com are preparing for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection with our annual Easter Books roundup. Once again, we have selected books from a variety of authors and genres to guide you through this most sacred time of the year. It is our hope that our compilation of fiction and nonfiction titles for adults and picture books for children will encourage you to evaluate your relationships with God and your loved ones. We wish you and your family a blessed and fulfilling Easter season.
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Click here to see our roundup of Easter titles. |
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FaithfulReader.com's Latest Monthly Contest: Win a Copy of ALWAYS ON MY MIND by Susan May Warren
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In FaithfulReader.com's latest monthly contest, 10 readers will win a copy of ALWAYS ON MY MIND, the fourth installment in Susan May Warren’s Christiansen Family series. To enter, please fill out this form by Thursday, March 19th at noon ET.
ALWAYS ON MY MIND: A Christiansen Family Novel by Susan May Warren (Romance)
Aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, only to receive the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby. One of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Susan May Warren's bio.
-Visit Susan May Warren’s official website and blog.
-Connect with Susan May Warren on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here to enter the contest. |
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Special Feature: PAPER HEARTS by Courtney Walsh
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PAPER HEARTS by Courtney Walsh (Romance)
Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As she fights a growing attraction to her new landlord, who is threatening to end her lease, she is inspired to string the hearts in her store. But then it becomes apparent that something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail's doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams...and her heart?
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
-Click here to read Courtney Walsh’s bio.
-Visit Courtney Walsh’s official website and blog.
-Connect with Courtney Walsh on Facebook and Twitter.
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Click here for the special feature. |
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Now in Stores: SCARY CLOSE by Donald Miller
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SCARY CLOSE: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy by Donald Miller (Christian Life/Religion & Spirituality)
After decades of failed relationships and painful drama, Donald Miller decided he’d had enough. Impressing people wasn’t helping him connect with anyone. He’d built a life of public isolation, yet he dreamed of meaningful relationships. So at 40 years old, he made a scary decision: to be himself no matter what it cost. From the author of BLUE LIKE JAZZ comes a book about the risk involved in choosing to impress fewer people and connect with more, about the freedom that comes when we stop acting and start loving. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: LOVED BACK TO LIFE (Updated Edition) by Sheila Walsh
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LOVED BACK TO LIFE: How I Found the Courage to Live Free by Sheila Walsh (Memoir)
Sheila Walsh was at the pinnacle of her career, appearing daily on television as co-host of "The 700 Club." One day, she found herself walking away from it all and checking in to a psychiatric hospital, where she stayed for a month. From the outside everything seemed fine, but on the inside Sheila was in trouble. LOVED BACK TO LIFE takes readers on Sheila’s journey of the soul from hopelessness to joy as she finds that although the road was scary, at every turn God beckoned her to follow and trust Him. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: FROM TABLET TO TABLE by Leonard Sweet
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FROM TABLET TO TABLE: Where Community Is Found and Identity Is Formed by Leonard Sweet (Christian Life/Spiritual Growth)
What if the Bible were seen less as a tablet of ink than as a table of food? FROM TABLET TO TABLE invites readers to explore the importance of The Table in biblical theology, and what it might mean for us to bring back the table to our homes, our churches and our neighborhoods. Leonard Sweet explores how our failure to understand and appreciate “the most sacred item of furniture in every home” has created such a deficit in our fast-food, take-what-you-like-smorgasbord, together-but-separate society. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: HOW TO CATCH A PRINCE by Rachel Hauck
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HOW TO CATCH A PRINCE: The Royal Wedding Series, Book 3 by Rachel Hauck (Romance)
Nothing can relieve American heiress Corina Del Rey of the secret and the love she carries in her soul. Prince Stephen of Brighton can't shake the dark shadow of his days in Afghanistan with the Royal Air Command. But when his brother, King Nathaniel, confronts him with a document the prince thought long buried and forgotten, Stephen is forced to face the pain of his past and the love he left behind. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: MURDER TIGHTLY KNIT by Vannetta Chapman
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MURDER TIGHTLY KNIT: An Amish Village Mystery by Vannetta Chapman (Mystery/Romance)
Even before she heard of Owen Esch’s death, Hannah Troyer knew something was amiss at The Cat’s Meow yarn shop. The police call in a federal investigator, but Hannah and Village manager Amber Bowman are in no mood to wait for them to figure out what they already know --- that no one from the Amish Village could have killed Owen. Amber and Hannah will need to work quickly to solve the murder mystery and bring harmony back to the Amish community. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: Three Historical Romances --- THE CRIMSON CORD, LIKE A FLOWER IN BLOOM and LOVE UNEXPECTED
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THE CRIMSON CORD: Rahab's Story: Daughters of the Promised Land, Book 1 by Jill Eileen Smith (Historical Romance)
Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime. In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. Reviewed by Susan Miura.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
LIKE A FLOWER IN BLOOM by Siri Mitchell (Historical Romance)
For years, Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future is to be a wife and mother. Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind? Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review.
LOVE UNEXPECTED: Beacons of Hope, Book One by Jody Hedlund (Historical Romance)
All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks, she's left destitute and with no place to stay. An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper arrives in town. After a hasty marriage by a traveling preacher, she finds herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger. However, Emma soon suspects that Patrick may be hiding something from her --- and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his late wife's death. Reviewed by Melanie Reynolds.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: ROMANCING YOUR BETTER HALF by Rick Johnson
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ROMANCING YOUR BETTER HALF: Keeping Intimacy Alive in Your Marriage by Rick Johnson (Love & Marriage)
If you've been married more than a few years, you probably know how it goes. You start out in the throes of passionate romance only to have the fire cool over the years --- especially when kids come along or life gets too busy. But keeping the romance alive is easier than most people think. Now the author of BECOMING YOUR SPOUSE'S BETTER HALF shares the secrets of pursuing romance that won't quit. Reviewed by Michele Howe.
-Click here to read more about the book. |
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: TO YOU; LOVE, GOD by Will Bowen
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TO YOU; LOVE, GOD: A Year of Daily Guidance and Inspiration Straight from the Source by Will Bowen (Devotional)
What if God sent you a personal, daily message to remind you that He is present, that He loves you, and that things are going to work out? Will Bowen's TO YOU, LOVE GOD is a collection of life-changing messages straight from the source. Simple yet deeply moving, this 365-day devotional speaks to you directly with the wisdom, love and compassion of God. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: THE SONG by Chris Fabry
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THE SONG by Chris Fabry (Romance)
Jed King’s life has been shaped by the songs and mistakes of his famous father. He wants to sing his own song, but the words and melody are elusive. Haunted by the scars inflicted by his broken family, Jed’s dreams of a successful music career seem out of reach...until he meets Rose. As romance quickly blooms, Jed pens a new song and suddenly finds himself catapulted into stardom. But with this life of fame comes temptation, the same temptation that lured his father so many years ago. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.
-Click here to read more about the book.
-Click here to read an excerpt.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: STILL LIFE by Christa Parrish
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STILL LIFE by Christa Parrish (Fiction)
Ada was born into a fringe religious sect named for her father, The Prophet. But her lifelong habit of absolute obedience was shattered when she fled the family compound to elope with photographer Julian Goetz. Katherine Walker’s marriage was a sham, and her affair brings her both escape and guilt. When a plane crash takes Julian from Ada and exacerbates Katherine’s sense of shame, both women become desperately unsure of where they belong in the world --- until the devotion of an artistic young boy conspires to bring them together. Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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Now in Stores: FAITH, FRIENDS, AND OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES by Michele Howe
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You might not have had a day off from work, volunteer obligations or family life for weeks, perhaps months, but Michele Howe has made space for you and done everything to make you comfortable. In each chapter in FAITH, FRIENDS, AND OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES, Michele focuses on a single theme --- forgiveness, providence, regret, contentment and more; introduces you to a woman whose daily experience sheds new light on active, faithful living; and gives you a concise set of guidelines to examine and live your faith. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.
-Click here to read more about the book.
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Click here to read a review. |
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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.
Those of you who wish to send mail to FaithfulReader.com, please visit this page.
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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