Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story by Dee Henderson

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story 

Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2013) 

by 

Dee HendersonABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O’MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s a summer of change for Jennifer O’Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She’s sorting out how to introduce him to her family–she’s the youngest of seven–and thinking about marriage.

She’s falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn’t expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.

Yay! An O’Malley story for all of us O’Malley fans! I really enjoyed this novella. Jennifer is a great character, very likeable. And if you haven’t read the O’Malley series, this is a fantastic jumpstart into it. This is a quick read, of course. It’s a short book. It’s got some emotional moments, but overall it’s not a sad story. Heartfelt, I would say. I recommend it.

One thing I was hoping for that wasn’t there was more backstory on the O’Malleys. It’s a fantastic idea for a book series–this group of kids from a Children’s Home who all change their last names to O’Malley and form their own family. But the details are missing. They are all different ages so they would age out of the system at different times. Did they all live together? How did they all manage to afford training and college for the great jobs they end up getting? I wanted to know the O’Malley history. Did Marcus have help after he aged out? Did they all live together and work to pay for school together? It would have been fun to get a glimpse into how this family was formed.

 However, even without these details, the O’Malleys is one of the best series in Christian fiction that I’ve ever come across. And Jennifer’s story is a great beginning. 

  

 

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

The Guardian 

Bethany House Publishers (March 26, 2013) 

by 

Beverly LewisABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beverly’s first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, The Heritage of Lancaster County, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author’s maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly’s work to be “a primer on Lancaster County folklore” and offers “an insider’s view of Amish life.”

Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly’s tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, “Beverly’s books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don’t run across writing like that every day. I hope she’ll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time.”

A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction “book worms.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can’t speak a word of English. It’s as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no closer to learning her identity. Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow–and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish. Might the answers lie there?

If you would like to read teh first chapter of The Guardian, go HERE.

The Survivor by DiAnn Mills

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

The Survivor 

Zondervan (March 5, 2013) 

by 

DiAnn MillsABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills
ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into a viper’s pit of danger. Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss’s new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold-case?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Survivor, go HERE.

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

Wings of Glass 

Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) 

by 

Gina HolmesABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.

 

*This was an amazing book. So well written with lots of emotion. I was completely drawn in. I felt that the characters were realistic. Honestly, sometimes I found the main character to be very frustrating, her logic. But I think the author was probably spot on with describing someone who’d had to survive and adapt to a life of abuse. So I can only say that this book is really powerful. I read it straight through in two days because I had to know what happened. Highly recommend.

Catherine’s Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing 

Catherine’s Pursuit 

Realms (February 5, 2013) 

by 

Lena Nelson DooleyABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Angus McKenna was forced to give two of his daughters to families in the wagon train, he promised he’d never try to contact them. Catherine made no such pledge. But when she sets out to find her sisters, she doesn’t go alone. Angus sends Collin with her. Will they discover the two women—and love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Catherine’s Pursuit, go HERE.

 

*I loved this book! Fun characters and a great storyline. Highly recommend.

Promised by Caragh M. O’Brien

Hi friends! Well, Promised is the final book in the Birthmarked trilogy. Here’s what I love about this trilogy, it’s such an interesting storyline! From the beginning with Birthmarked, this idea of having to give up your kids for the “greater good” just adds a deep level of intensity and emotion. Then taking Gaia to this place where the women have control over everything–such an intriguing dynamic. And with Promised, Gaia returns as a stronger woman, but still with insecurities and moments of immaturity and indecision. I have to say, however, that Gaia is a very good character. She’s very flawed, but she’s interesting, and at heart, she’s a good person with good intentions.

Her relationship with Leon is an up-and-down kind of thing. They obviously care for each other, but they always seem to be keeping things from each other and doing things without talking them through with their partner. Leon’s feelings for Gaia are obviously very deep and he’s devoted to her. Sometimes Gaia seems less devoted. I read a review where the reader felt like Gaia harbored feelings for Peter and Will, and I can definitely understand that perspective. But she’s proves several times that she’s committed to Leon.

I did feel like the ending came with some depressing aspects. *SPOILER AHEAD*

The fact that Gaia’s ability to have children with Leon was taken from her felt so heavy and sad after all they had gone through. Also, the fact that they had taken her eggs, so while she couldn’t carry her own babies, women around her would be carrying them and having them and Gaia would never know who her own children were–that just felt devastating to me. Maybe it’s the mom in me, but that felt like too much. I was, of course, glad that Gaia and Leon end up together and can raise her sister. But the other part was so dark and depressing.

Anyway, overall, this series is so different from everything else out there, and you have to appreciate the creativity that goes along with that. I enjoyed the writing and all the suspense and action in this final book. I definitely recommend this book for YA futuristic/fantasy readers.

 

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

So remember how I raved about Wither, the first book in the Chemical Garden trilogy? Right, and then I just muddled through Fever, a little unsure about how much I liked that one but still needing closure? Well, Sever just came out! The final book in the trilogy. I picked this one up at the library and read it in the span of about 24 hours.

I gave myself a little time to reflect on my feelings after reading Sever, before writing this review. To be honest, I was annoyed when I first finished the book. (I’m trying to avoid spoilers because I know my sister Sara hasn’t read it yet. We’ll see if I can pull that off.) Without giving names, an important character dies in this book and I was frustrated by that.

But after thinking it over, I feel that maybe that specific death helped pull together the other characters and leave room for moving on. I think perhaps I’m just a little tired of all the depression in these YA futuristic/fantasy books. Beginning with Mockingjay, I just felt the depressing aspect outweighed the enjoyment. I recently finished read Promised (Birthmarked trilogy, we’ll talk about it soon), and again, I felt the ending was heavy and sad. I think maybe these authors are so intent on being real, that they end up being depressing. For me, if I’m taking time out of my schedule to read, I don’t want those hours to leave me depressed and unsatisfied. A little realism is good, but please don’t make me depressed.

Anyway, back to Sever, I liked the pacing, and the twists and turns were good. I like to be surprised and I definitely was. And now that I’m a few days removed from the story, I think my overall opinion is good. The story wraps up pretty well. If you’ve read Wither and Fever, definitely read this one. You’ll want to know the ending, just expect some sadness. Wither remains my very favorite of the three, but I’m glad I stuck with this series to the end.