Tree Swing Reading

Giving Away 2008 Christy Award Nominees

THIS Drawing is now CLOSED. Thanks for entering!

Here's your chance to win some of the best books in Christian Fiction!  This is a long post, with pictures and descriptions from this year's Christy Award nominees. 

To enter: post a comment indicating which of these books you would like to be entered to win.  Also please share with us any titles of Christian Fiction favorites that you have read recently and why you liked them.

Contest closes on July 11.  The winners will be drawn on the day of the Christy Awards dinner, July 12.

What are the Christy Awards?

History

In the spring of 1999, nearly a dozen Christian publishers confirmed the need for establishing a Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction. By late summer, ideas and planning had come together to launch The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall’s novel and of her contribution to growth of the fiction Christians love to read.

The Christy Award is designed to:

• Nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview.
• Bring a new awareness of the breadth and depth of fiction choices available, helping to broaden the readership.
• Provide opportunity to recognize novelists whose work may not have reached bestseller status.

How the Awards Work

Every year publishers are invited to submit novels written from a Christian worldview and copyrighted in the year preceding the awards. Each novel is entered in one of several genre categories and/or the first novel category. Each category of novels is then read and evaluated against a ten-point criteria by a panel of seven judges composed of librarians, reviewers, academicians, literary critics, and other qualified readers, none of whom have a direct affiliation with a publishing company.

The Christy Awards 2008 Nominees (Book covers and descriptions below)

CONTEMPORARY (STAND ALONE)
¨ Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
¨ In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
¨ Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

CONTEMPORARY (SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS)
¨ Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
¨ A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
¨ What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL
¨ Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
¨ A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
¨ Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

LITS (four nominees due to a tie)
¨ Doesn’t She Look Natural by Angela Elwell Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
¨ Hallie’s Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
¨ Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)

ROMANCE
¨ Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
¨ Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)
¨ Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

SUSPENSE
¨ The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
¨ My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
¨ The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

VISIONARY
¨ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)

FIRST NOVEL
¨ Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
¨ Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

YOUNG ADULT
¨ Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ In Between by Jenny B.Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
¨ Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)

MORE INFO ABOUT THE BOOKS:

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin, Contemporary Stand-Alone nominee

Description:

When paramedics find a malnourished 6-year-old boy near a burning car that holds a dead woman, they wonder who he is---and why he won't talk! Chase, a small-town journalist, is assigned to cover the story and investigate the boy's identity. But will his search unearth long-buried emotions about his own history?

In High Places by Tom Morrissey: Contemporary Stand-Alone Nominee

Description:

After the death of their mother and wife, 16-year-old Patrick Nolan and his dad relocate to West Virginia and open a rock-climbing shop. But when grief drives the elder Nolan to try increasingly dangerous feats, Patrick and the local pastor's daughter realize they must act. Will they be in time?

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson: Contemporary Stand-Alone Nominee

Description:

Heather Curridge is envied by most: she has a successful surgeon husband who panders to her every need, a smart son, a beautiful home, and money to shop, re-do her home, and install the newest pool in her back yard. But while Heather is outwardly content, inner turmoil reigns with memories of peers being mistreated in her Christian school and a feeling that she could be doing much more with her life. As Heather slowly starts to come out of her shell, she discovers unlikely friends in two old Quaker sisters and a grumpy nun who help her to discover how she can fulfill her life with God's work.

Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon: Contemporary Series Nominee

Description:

Wonderful news, Mitford fans! Father Tim, the beloved retired Episcopal priest, is back---and in response to a mysterious summons, he's taking a trip down "memory lane" to his hometown of Holly Springs, Mississippi. His journey is filled with colorful characters, heartfelt insights, and plenty of laughs---but will the destination yield surprising secrets, too?

A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley: Contemporary Series Nominee

Description:

Liz Hart shatters her marriage with one simple sentence: "Max, either the business goes or I do." The ultimatum exposes long unaddressed wounds in her husband, herself, and their four adult children. Will a fatal fire reignite their passion for each other---or destroy everything they've worked for together?

What Lies Within by Karen Ball: Contemporary Series Nominee

Description:

Kyla Justice's name means "victorious." But that's the last thing she feels. Having fought long and hard to establish her construction business, her schedule is now full of plans for malls and subdivisions, but her heart is empty. Where are the projects that matter? Then she's given the opportunity to build a center for inner-city kids. The obstacles don't stop her: opposition from area gangs, minimal funding, hesitant and deceptive suppliers, even the man who claims to love her and would marry her---if she would sell her business. Soon things get messier and lives are endangered. Will Kyla learn to accept what lies within her and rely on others not just to succeed, but to survive?

Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen: Historical Nominee

Description:

Charlotte Lamb, a fallen vicar's daughter, hopes to secret herself away in London's grim Milkweed Manor. But once there,she is mortified to find herself in the care of a former suitor, a physician whom her father long ago rejected as unsuitable, a man who now hides secrets of his own. Both are determined, with God's help, to protect those they love. But neither could guess the depth of sacrifice that will be required of them.

A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin: Historical Nominee

Description:

When Violet Hayes ventures to Chicago during the time of the World's Fair, her one goal is to find her mother, who has been missing from her life since she was nine. Naive, impressionable, and highly imaginative (having secretly ingested a diet of romance novels and true crime stories at school), Violet stays in Chicago under the care of her grandmother and her three great aunts. It is here that her perspectives on life are opened as she is exposed to the world about her, from high society to the poor immigrant families; from the suffragette movement to the security of a suitable marriage match. As Violet contemplates what course her life will take, she will discover the missing parts of her family's past, and ultimately, Violet will discover herself.

A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick: Historical Nominee

Description:

This lyrical novel is based on a historical figure of the 1800s: the spirited and intelligent Emma Giesy. Emma achieves her goal of separating her family from the repressive religious community in which she grew up. But unexpected and dire consequences leave her family and her faith struggling to survive.

Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Hunt: Lit Nominee

Description:

Former Washington adviser Jennifer Graham is willing to take on anything that would remove her unemployed-single-mom stigma---but when she inherits a Florida funeral home, her self-assurance is rattled. As she heads south with her mother and two sons, she wonders if dealing with death could bring new life into her career---and soul.

Hallie's Heart by Shelley Beach: Lit Nominee

Description:

Trying to prevent her Michigan antique business from becoming a thing of the past, Mona VanderMolen is even more worried about the 15-year-old runaway niece who suddenly shows up on her doorstep! As the two women work through their problems and learn to forgive, will an unfortunate accident tear them apart once again?

Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd: Lit Nominee

Description:

Lexi Stuart earned a master's degree in French Studies---but can't find employment. So she moves back in with her parents, takes a job at a Seattle cafe, and becomes attracted to the owner, Luc---until disaster strikes! Will Lexi let God replace her dreams with the plans he has for her?

Trophy Wives Club by Kristen Billerbeck: Lit Nominee

Description:

When she married seven years ago, Haley was convinced she'd snagged Prince Charming! Now Jay Cutler has abandoned her and she's suddenly aware of her lack of survival skills. At the suggestion of Jay's strikingly handsome attorney, Hamilton Lowe, she attends a divorce-care group at his church. Can her new friends guide Haley through this next phase?

Lightning and Lace by Diann Mills: Romance Nominee

Description:

Bonnie Kahler, immersed in grief since losing her husband, attempts to rise from the ashes of mourning. Will love and faith give her the power to conquer the demons within and evils without? In an attempt to outrun his past, Preacher Travis Whitworth arrives in Kahlerville, incognito. When he stumbles across a dead body, suspicion falls on his shoulders. Is Travis in too deep to win Bonnie's love? As Bonnie finds herself drawn to Travis, her life and heart are threatened. When secrets unravel, will she be strong enough to face the twisted truth?

Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney: Romance Nominee

Description:

Maggie Anderson comes to a realization as she is being carjacked: she is more afraid of the abusive boyfriend for whom she is picking up alcohol than the carjacker. In this moment, Maggie understands that she can let her life stagnate where it is, or she can stand up for herself and her freedom. In order to be free, she must leave behind and forget everything about her old life and begin anew.

Trevor Ashlock is another person trying to forget, in the small town of Clayburn, Kansas.

Will God's love, grace, and forgiveness be able to eradicate the past, or will Maggie and Trevor be able to come to terms with their devils and start over again?

Remembered by Tamera Alexander: Romance Nominee

Description:

Veronique Girard sets off to Colorado Territory from France after the death of her mother. She is searching for her father, who set off to make his fortune in American as a fur trader twenty-five years ago. Unfamiliar with the language, customs, and the land, Veronique sets out on a dangerous journey to find a man she doesn't remember and answers to her questions.

Jack Brennan has been working himself to death for the past fifteen years as a wagon guide to block out the pain of his wife and son's death. Now, he is ready to settle down in Willow Springs. When he is thrown together unexpectedly with Veronique, he becomes involved with her quest to find her father, but that is not the only way she has the potential to change his life.

The Cure by Athol Dickson: Suspense Nominee

Description:

When a small town in Maine becomes a mecca for miracles, Riley Keep journeys north to find out for himself---returning to a place and people he had left long ago. What he finds waiting is a hope beyond his wildest expectations! But will his past drag him away from this second chance at life?

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay: Suspense Nominee

Description:

Cori signs up to take a mission trip to Indonesia during the summer after her senior year of high school. Inspired by happy visions of building churches and seeing beautiful beaches, she gladly escapes her complicated love life back home. Five weeks after their arrival, a sectarian and religious conflict that has been simmering for years flames to life with deadly results on the nearby island of Ambon. Within days, the church building the team had constructed is in ashes, its pastor and fifty villagers are dead, and the six terrified teenagers are stranded in the mountainous jungle with only the pastor's teenage son to guide them to safety. Ultimately, Cori's emotional quest to rediscover hope proves just as arduous as the physical journey home.

The Pawn by Steven James: Suspense Nominee

Description:

Special Agent Patrick Bowers has met only one person he's feared---until now. Working on a North Carolina serial murder case, he's caught in a macabre game of cat-and-mouse with a cunning killer called the Illusionist. The pieces of the puzzle don't add up. Can Bowers unravel the pattern in time to save the next victim?

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet: Visionary Nominee

Description:

When thieves find an abandoned child lying in a monster's footprint, they have no idea that their wilderness discovery will change the course of history.

Cloaked in mystery, Auralia grows up among criminals outside the walls of House Abascar, where vicious beastmen lurk in shadow. There, she discovers an unsettling-and forbidden-talent for crafting colors that enchant all who behold them, including Abascar's hard-hearted king, an exiled wizard, and a prince who keeps dangerous secrets.

Auralia's gift opens doors from the palace to the dungeons, setting the stage for violent and miraculous change in the great houses of the Expanse.

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck: Visionary Nominee

Description:

Susan Mitchell is wondering what happened to God's plan for her. Her life can't just be about cleaning, organizing her family, and being involved in damage control for her four rambunctious children, can it? When Susan opens a box in labeled "Dress Up" in her attic, her question is answered.

Upon opening the box, Susan finds herself thrust into a parallel universe where she must help bring heathens and warring territories "back to the Verses." Susan is a Restorer, a prophet like the Biblical Deborah. Together with an unfamiliar sword, it is Susan's job to show the inhabitants of this new world how Jesus can save people. This universe will forever change how Susan looks at life, love, and family.if she can get out alive.

Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead: Visonary Nominee

Description:

After losing everything he owns, Forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest, and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion, Will joins the heroic archer and his men. However, Will ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging,unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts. That, of course, he will never do. Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.

Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee: First-Time Novelist Nominee

Description:

Clayton's life is stuck in the mud. His wife has been cheating on him for years, his literary career is uninspired, and his job as an editor is mediocre at best. But when he walks into a restaurant and finds a mysterious dark-haired stranger waiting for him, his life dramatically changes. The stranger claims to be Lucian, one of Lucifer's fellow fallen angels, come to tell Clay his story of the angels' dramatic fall from Heaven, Adam and Eve's Eden, and Christ's triumph on the cross - from a demon's perspective. This seems just the thing to get Clay's career jumpstarted, but it could mean his ultimate success or failure as Lucian's story seems to become more and more like his own.

The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello: First Novel Nominee

Description:

Two men plummet to their death from a factory rooftop---and hundreds of people on the ground below saw nothing! Or are they just not talking? It's up to FBI agent Raleigh Harmon to find out what happened---fast! Will she dig for the truth . . . even though it may mean her own downfall?

Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson: Young Adult Nominee

Description:

Fifteen-year-old Scotty Fitzgerald has spent her young life on the road, traveling to movie sets with her single mom, Charley. Yet even though she is wise beyond her years, Scotty still struggles to find her identity. Complicating matters is a mother who offers no guidance and a father she's never met.

Scotty is determined to discover what she wants from life, even documenting the journey on her "Hollywood Nobody" blog. But as Scotty begins to find dark answers to tough questions, will her story have a happy ending?

In Between by Jenny B. Jones: Young Adult Nominee

Description:

Sixteen-year-old Katie Parker's life just keeps going downhill. Her dad has been long since gone, her mother is in jail, and Katie has just been made a ward of the state of Texas. She thinks she's found a home in the Sunny Haven Home for Girls, but learns that she is to be shipped out to foster parents in In Between, Texas. Once she decides that she would rather stay at Sunny Haven rather than be shipped around from foster family to foster family, the action starts picking up. Katie does her best to terrorize her foster family, which is headed by the senior pastor of In Between Community Church, she falls into the wrong crowd in her high school, is blamed for vandalism, and has to deal with the antics of her foster mom's mother, Mad Maxine. But with the help and persistence of her new family, Katie might learn to open her heart and her life to God's will, as well as teach her family a few new life lessons.

Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman: Young Adult Nominee

Description:

Maggie McCarthy is more than ready to be just a regular teen. Ever since her mother's death, Maggie has found herself acting as a mother to her two younger brothers and serving as the resident housekeeper. All of that changes after she rescues a classmate and rival from sexual assault and becomes an accidental hero and celebrity at her high school. Now Maggie must reconcile popularity with true friendship, deal with the fallout of sexual abuse and redefine her place in the family. And with the help of an unlikely friend, Maggie begins to discover God's grace in her life. Author Michelle Buckman offers an edgy, realistic story for teen girls that honestly explores some of the most challenging issues today. Buckman balances tough themes with the hope found in God alone, leading readers to embrace their faith in everyday life. Sometimes everything you want is what you already have.

Whew!  That's a long post!  Good luck!

And the winners are...

Here are the winners from the Kitchen Sink Giveaway.  Thanks so much to everyone for entering!  If you see your name and don't hear from me, please email me with your address info.

Hazardous Duty: K. Julian

Perfect: Kathy Conley and Anita Yancey (I have 2 copies)

Bunko Babes: Rashmi

Prayer: Dawn Raymer

Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out: Colleen

Truffles by the Sea: Elizabeth M.

Heidi Elliot Series: Amanda

Love and Respect: Cindy

Deeper Water: Dorothy R., Tracey C., and Mocha with Linda (I have 3 copies)

Daring Chloe: Carole

Congrats to the winners! 

Review of "Deeper Water" by Robert Whitlow

Description:

Leaving the farm and her Bible-believing family behind, Tami Taylor accepts a job with a prestigious Savannah, Georgia, law firm. She's challenged by her first case and flattered by the attention of two attorneys. But when the charges against Moses Jones escalate from trespassing to murder, Tami's concerned not just about her client's crime---but a company cover-up!

My Review:

I was initially drawn to this book because the main character and I share a name!  It's not often I see "Tami" spelled this way, and I had to check it out.  The funny thing is that her original spelling of her name is "Tammy," but she changes to look "more professional" to the law firm to which she is applying for a summer law clerk position.  I will used the "Tami" spelling to keep it simple.

Deeper Water is an enjoyable southern based book.  It fits perfectly with a easy-going southern summer afternoon--it moves slowly and is quite relaxed in its pace.  Tami is a rural southern girl who has grown up in a conservative country home.  She is not rebelling against her background, and, in fact, seems to really appreciate the counsel of her parents and their care in raising her.  Now she is facing more of the "real world" with her summer position in a law firm in Savannah.  While she is faced with adjusting to a more modern and open world, she does so with steadfastness in her beliefs and prayerful consideration.  I was very pleased to see a storyline where a girl with conserative is not rebelling or rejecting her beliefs but instead is learning how to apply them in her workplace and social life. 

As I stated, the storyline itself is very easy-going and relaxed.  It gives us wonderful detail regarding Tami's home life, her co-workers, the elderly woman with whom she is living and for whom she is providing care, and the life of her first client, Moses.  It is in Moses' story that she begins to suspect a greater mystery than just a man arrested for trespassing with his boat.  Though the mystery was interesting, I felt like it was not the main current of the book, but rather the catalyst to help us know Tami and watch her growth. 

A very enjoyable summer read and a refreshing chance to appreciate positive upbringing and the impact it can have on children even as they step out of their own.  Tami's learning from her parents' example helped her seek God's counsel at every turn, and, even when things are not quite what they seem, she acts with integrity and courage based on her convictions.

Housekeeping Details

Just wanted to catch you all up on a few things. 

My summer cold is finally easing up.  It was crazy to be that sick in June, but I'm glad to be feeling myself again--though I am still tired a lot.

A few of you have emailed lately about books that you've won not getting to you.  Please, please let me know if you don't receive the book(s) you've won.  I mainly use the US post office to mail things and as far as I can tell things have been getting to you ok, but I don't know if you don't tell me.  One side note, sometimes I don't get to the post office immediately.  Especially if I am having another drawing in the next day or two, then I will wait and mail them together.  Going to the post office is not my favorite errand, but I do my best to get the winners their books in the mail within a week of winning them.  I kind of figured it's a free book so a few days of waiting for it should be ok, right?  :)

I have to admit that it's not as easy to get to read the books as fast over the summer.  My girls are home during the day now so my life is quite different. It's easier for me to the giveaways in clumps like my last Kitchen Sink giveaway post with the 10 books together than to space them out one at a time.  I hope that approach is ok for the summer and just appreciate you stopping by my blog from time to time.  I've been trying to visit your blogs too (those who include them in the posts).  Very fun. 

I've been trying to figure out a way to share more of my books with more people.  I'd love it if I could loan out my books to all of you, but can't figure out how to overcome the shipping costs.  I've been looking into some kind of online library--something like Netflix for Christian books.  I know there are already some programs that do this.  I would love to do a Christian library version of this.  My husband and I have been talking about how to make this work.  Let me know your thoughts, but don't steal my idea! :)

I've also kick-started my "get healthy" approach to eating.  I have a problem with my weight--that's hard to admit.  Actually some of what I love about blogging is being able to hide my weight. Exercise is not the problem.  I get lots of exercise walking, biking, yoga, even strength training; but I love chocolate and cookies!  Those are my downfall.  I can't seem to give them up completely, but have a hard time just eating a little too.  Ugh!  I would love to lose 30 pounds.  However, all my approaches to dieting in the past have failed eventually.  I know that "diets" in and of themselves don't really work long-term.  I hate how so much of my self-esteem is wrapped up in my weight. 

All this "fat" started to bug me again because I made our trip reservations for our annual trip west to visit my family. I'm so sick and tired of knowing how disappointed they are over my failure to get this under control again after having kids.  I hate disappointing my family.    I know I shouldn't diet just to please them, but I hate feeling so ugly around them too.  Plus as my girls get older I don't want to be an embarrassment to them either.  The problem for me with this is figuring out what approach to take to dieting.  Do I do the "traditional" cut calories approach or do I follow the newly populer "eat only when hungry" approach (like Thin Within).  So far all I've managed to do is amp up my exercise and drown myself in guilt over all my bad food choices.  I'm just so tired of feeling bad about myself over this.  I would love any support you can offer as I try to pry my fingers and my mind off of junk food!

Well, that's enough babbling from me for now!  Time to get my daughter to tennis lessons.  Looks to be a hot and muggy day and the mosquitoes are out and feasting now.  Thanks for listening to me today!  I'd love to hear from you if you have any thoughts on what I wrote. 

 

Winner of the Amy Wallace books

Congrats to Christy H.!  Your name was drawn to win these books (Randsomed Dreams and Healing Promises) by Amy Wallace.

Thanks to everyone for entering!

Review of "Daring Chloe" by Laura Jensen Walker

Description:

When Chloe Adams' fianci dumps her-the night before their wedding-two girlfriends from her book group decide a little adventure is in order for the three of them. After all, why let a perfectly good honeymoon cruise go to waste?

Adventure? Chloe Adams? No way! Chloe's lived in one town her whole life. The closest she's ever gotten to actual adventures is reading about them. But her girlfriends won't take no for an answer.

One good adventure calls for another as Chloe's friends try to coax her out of her post-dumping funk, and soon she finds herself living out the adventures in her book club's latest selections. Hiking. Sailing. River rafting. Traveling to new places and eating exotic food. The play-it-safe Chloe begins to blossom into a new, daring Chloe. A Chloe who just might be ready to take on her biggest adventure of all.

My Review:

I love how Chloe's love of books comes through in the events of the story.  Quotes from all kinds of books start out each chapter and correlate with the happenings of Chloe's life.  In the opening pages of the book, Chloe is set to get married that day when she gets a text message from her husband-to-be calling off the wedding!  Imagine getting dumped by text message!  Bummer!

But instead of falling into a depression or letting bitterness get to her, Chloe turns over a new leaf in her life and, along with her reading club friends, starts experiencing all kinds of new adventures.  The cool part is that they're picking adventures that go with the books they are reading: raft trips after reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, mystery theater after reading Agatha Christie, and the ultimate goal of saving for a trip to Paris after reading French Women Don't Get Fat.

The story takes an easy-going pace with lots of dialogue between the girlfriends and is light on actual action.  If you like Paris, the final pieces of the story read a lot like a travel journal highlighting the experiences of the women on their trip.  There is little conflict to resolve in the story--to be honest I felt a little like the potential issues for Chloe were almost glossed over without a real understanding of Chloe's struggle to get there.  She quickly moves past the painful break-up with her almost-husband, her conflict with her "too perfect" sister just kind of dissolves, and her own anxieties are put to rest during her trip to Paris. 

So I enjoyed the book for a nice summer entertaining read but was left wanting just a bit more action and less describing the action.  (To illustrate, when Chloe's niece was born early with a health scare, the entire event was described after the fact, almost as an afterthought, whereas encounters with handsome men on the raft ride were described in detail.)  All in all, I LOVE Laura Jensen Walker, but this one was not my favorite of hers.

Review of "Along Came a Cowboy" by Christine Lynxwiler

Review of Along Came a Cowboy, The Pinky Promise Sisterhood book 2 by Christine Lynxwiler

Description:

From the outside looking in, local Chiropractor Dr. Rachel Donovan seems to have it together. She’s returned to her hometown of Shady Grove and runs a thriving Chiropractic practice. She’s be nominated as Shady Grove’s Citizen Of The Year, and appointed to the committee planning the town’s major centennial celebration and rodeo. Unfortunately, on the inside everything is not as it appears.

The committee duties come with baggage—cute, cowboy baggage to be precise. Jack Westwood is the epitome of the stereotypical cowboy; rugged, handsome and bull-headed. While he makes everyone else swoon, Rachel is determined to not get involved any more than necessary. She knows his type—T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

Unfortunately, the fallout from a mistake that Rachel made fifteen years ago still echoes today threatening to ruin her sterling reputation and bring the whole façade tumbling around her . She thought she had buried it deep in her past, but while she’d moved on she never really moved past that summer. Even though she knows that God has forgiven her, she’s having a harder time forgiving herself.

Can the woman who has devoted her life to healing others allow God to mend her own hurt? Will she seize the opportunity to reconcile with her past and open her heart to love again? Will she come to terms with her mistake and forgive herself before her opportunity at love fades into the sunset?

About Christine Lynxwiler Award-winning author and past president of American Christian Romance Writers, CHRISTINE LYNXWILER has numerous novels and novellas published with Barbour, including Arkansas, Promise Me Always, and Forever Christmas. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their two daughters, four horses, and two dogslive in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in their home state of Arkansas.

Q&A with Christine Lynxwiler, author of Along Came A Cowboy  Q. In Along Came A Cowboy, the lead character struggles with forgiving herself for a past sin that has had a major impact on her life. Why do you think it is easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves or even to accept forgiveness. A.  I don’t know the answer to that, but I have a few ideas. First, I think we hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do others. Or we might feel, like Rachel did, that if we beat ourselves up enough about the past, then we’ll feel worthy of forgiveness. Also, it’s much easier to give than it is to receive. Same goes with forgiveness. Maybe because our pride isn’t battered by forgiving someone, but being forgiven implies owning up to sin and recognizing that we can’t fix our mistake on our own.  Q. What would your advice be to someone who is struggling to come to terms with a past indiscretion? A.  Obviously, if you’re a Christian, I’d advise giving the past to God and once you’ve repented and asked His forgiveness, forgive yourself, forget it and move on. But that’s a little simplistic for most of us. I think many of us tend to do what Rachel does in Along Came a Cowboy and magnify our own sins. What seems like an unfortunate little stumble on someone else’s path can appear to be a plunge to certain death on our own life’s road. So consider how you’d feel about a friend or loved one if they’d done exactly what you did. If the answer is, “I’d forgive them” then forgive yourself. You deserve no less kindness and mercy from yourself than anyone else does. If that doesn’t work for you and you have children, ask yourself how you would feel if your child did this thing. Would you still love them? If they turned from this sin, would you forgive them? If the answer is yes, then your Heavenly Father still loves you and forgives you too, so it’s time to let it go and forgive yourself. If the answer is no, then maybe your current sin is an inability to forgive others and that’s a whole ‘nother problem.   Q. When you’re writing, what do you use as your inspiration?   A.  Inspiration and ideas come from everywhere. But as I said in an interview recently, I’m an Arkansas country girl, born and raised on a farm, and currently living in the most beautiful small town (in my opinion anyway) in the Ozarks. So these are the places and people that inspire me to write. My books are almost all set in small town Arkansas. My characters are rarely ever patterned after one specific person. Instead each one is a conglomeration of people I meet and interact with every day. I get inspired when I ask “What if?” That’s the neverending question and asking it usually will bring more stories than one person can write in a lifetime.    Q. What do you enjoy most about writing Christian fiction?   A.  One thing that I used to complain about that I’ve now come to enjoy is the fact that all my books have a common theme—God is in control. Sometimes it’s the main theme, sometimes it’s just an underlying thread. Each story line is very different from the last one, but the theme is always there. As this theme emerges in a new story, it brings me joy and sometimes even laughter because I know that this is a lesson God is patiently teaching me. I told someone recently that around book seven I began to look for a new theme. “I’m going to get boring,” I wailed. But apparently, even now on book fourteen, I haven’t quite mastered this “God is in control” concept, because inevitably by the end of the book, my character is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is not in the driver’s seat of her own life. Now when I start a story, I look forward to seeing how this particular theme is going to show up.   On a more serious note, I enjoy knowing that the stories God allows me to write not only entertain, (which is why I wanted to be a writer) but that they also touch readers’ lives in a deeper way than I could ever imagine or take credit for. And for that, I’m eternally grateful. Q. As an award-winning Christian romance writer, do you have any advice for novice or aspiring writers?. A.  Never give up. And once you’ve decided that you’re not quitting, join American Christian Fiction Writers. The annual fee of $50 will be the best money you ever spend on your writing career. And don’t just pay the dues and not get your money’s worth. Join a critique group. Get to know other writers. Dedicate yourself to learning the craft. And never quit learning. Being published isn’t the end of the journey. It’s only one step along the way to being the best writer you can possibly be. Settle in for a long, bumpy, exhilarating ride!

Review:

I really enjoyed this book!  It's all about forgiveness.  Rachel made a mistake when she was young.  And she's been trying to make up for it ever since.  She can't seem to forgive herself or accept God's forgiveness.  She uses her past as an excuse to keep herself distant from others...especially any romantic relationships.  Now Jack the cowboy has come along and resurfaced in her life and has brought with him a swirling of all kinds of emotions for Rachel. 

I don't want to give away too much of the book.  You've got to read it for yourself to find out Rachel's big secret.  In the end, as secrets always seem to do, it is found out before she has a chance to admit to it herself and the aftermath of it's revelation is difficult for Rachel but forces her to take a hard look at the shame and guilt she's been holding on to. 

A wonderful book that is about healing and forgiveness and opening oneself up to receive both.  Plus, there's a handsome and charming cowboy in it and what girl doesn't love that?

Check out more about this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Along-Came-Cowboy-Promise-Sisterhood/dp/1597898961

Winner of "Ruby Among Us"

Congrats to grams!  Your name was drawn to win a copy of Ruby Among Us!  I hope you enjoy it!

Review of "Perfect" by Harry Kraus, MD

Review of Perfect by Harry Kraus, MD

Giving away 2 copies of this with my "Kitchn Sink Giveaway."  Drawing to be held on June 29.  To enter, go to this link: http://creativetree.typepad.com/treeswingreading/2008/06/wacky-list-of-g.html

Description:

Wendi Stratford's job as an accident reconstructionist is just one more enviable reflection of her ideal life. She's got it all-perfect career, perfect looks, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect faith. There's just one problem: it's all a sham, right down to her bleached-blonde hair.

So Wendi hatches an impulsive and exhilarating plan to break free of the lie she's been living-only to watch her hopes die in a terrible accident. But as she sifts through the wreckage, Wendi comes to a shocking conclusion. This was no accident.

The quest is on to learn the truth, but the truth could be deadly. And now someone is leaving Wendi clues at accident scenes, clues that could lead her straight into a killer's hands. With her life on the line, Wendi must find strength in a faith that until now had been merely an accessory to her storybook life.

My Review:

I couldn't put this book down!  It was suspenseful and emotional and grabbed my attention for the very beginning!  I think all of us can relate to feeling "fake" sometimes and the desire to break free from our "perfect little images" and be real.  I know I can.  There are definately times where I put on a "show" to make it look like I have it all together when inside I am afraid and tired and lonely.  Wendi has to put on a "show" to a level where it makes her feel like it is killing her to be so pefect all the time.  She has lived as the perfect pastor's daughter and the perfect surgeon's wife.  She keeps her husband's world perfect with the right clothes, the right meals, perfect order in his home, etc.  What he doesn't know is that she has decided to break free and run away to Jamaica.

But before she can follow through with her plans to run away, something horrible happens that prevents her from going.  So she is back to pretending her world is perfect.  Wrestling with guilt over past mistakes and present ones.  Wrapping herself in blame and shame and feeling that God is disappointed with her.  She has no concept of grace.   Her world begins to unravel as strange events begin to occur around her. 

But it is in the unravelling of her life that she finally finds the answers she's been looking for.

A terrific book that spoke to my heart and my own longings to drop the masks and live with freedom in God's love.  So not only was it a good suspense and story, it was a story that packed in a powerful message of grace.

Winner of Garden Gates series

Congrats to Kay Lin from the Great Adventure!  Your name was drawn to win the Garden Gates Series.