http://mikedellosso.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/frantic-giveaways/

Starts TODAY!

FRANTIC releases in six days and Mike plans to give away a book a day until February 7. On the 7th he’ll give away as many as 5 books.

FRANTIC is the story of three unlikely heroes fighting to survive in a world where every card seems stacked against them. The story moves at a lightning pace and leaves you feeling, well, frantic. But there’s also a message in there, an important word for all of us about faith and trust and what’s really important. You won’t want to miss this one.

Can a deranged serial killer be stopped before it’s too late?

For gas station attendant Marny Toogood it’s just another day on the job when an urgent message from a young girl in the backseat of a car draws him into a daring rescue attempt. Now on the run with the girl and her brother, Marny begins to realize he must conquer his own past and surrender all to Christ.

As they face kidnapping, underground cults, and other evils, can Marny trust the simple faith of a child and stand his ground against a power so twisted?

Mike Dellosso:

Mike Dellosso writes novels of suspense for both the mind and the soul. He writes to both entertain and challenge. In addition to his novels, Mike is also an adjunct professor at Lancaster Bible College and a faculty member at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer’s Conference.

Related Articles:

• Mike Dellosso: The Man and His Books (onedesertrose.wordpress.com)
• Mike Dellosso’s “FRANTIC” (onedesertrose.wordpress.com)
• Feeling . . . Frantic (hopeofglory.typepad.com)

Source.

A SHATTERED CHILDHOOD.

A MENDED MARRIAGE.

BOUND TOGETHER BY ONE LITTLE BOY.

After years of believing Chuck’s affair is behind them, Bobbi’s marriage is tested again when Tracy Ravenna resurfaces.  Tracy’s not alone, though.  Jackson Charles Ravenna is the newest student in Bobbi’s first grade class and the spitting image of her husband.  When Chuck decides to pursue joint custody, they discover Jack isn’t the only secret Tracy’s been hiding.

As Tracy’s past begins to threaten their future with Jack, Bobbi is forced to face the unsettling truth about God’s grace.  But this time, what will it cost to forgive the unforgivable?

Excerpt.

Bio:

I was born during the Summer of Love in Ashland, KY. I’m wife and mom of three, and a former chemist. I home school, I run a little, I’m a huge football and basketball fan, a hopeless nerd with a little techie geek thrown in. I teach Sunday school, I’m the Science Lady at Washington Elementary and I am so left-handed. I have a little dog, and a hateful cat.

Well, truth be told, I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I modeled my favorite stories, or wrote sequels to them. I wrote a full length novel while I was in college, and it currently resides in a dusty folder under my desk.

After a writing exercise, a plot began to form and a story began to nag at me, so in July 2005, I started work on the book that became Contingency.

In December 2010, Contingency, Book One of Covenant of Trust Series released. Indemnity followed in April 2011, building on the success and popularity of Contingency.  The highly anticipated Book Three, Precedent released in October 2011.

My Review:

Paula has attained another peak with her book, Indemnity, the second in her Covenant of Trust Series. In Contingency, Chuck Molinsky has committed adultery with Tracy Ravenna, with the subsequent fallout of Chuck and Bobbi’s marriage and roller-coaster ride of emotional upheavals that befell the whole family, hitting Bobbi the hardest.  Trust almost became an obscene word to Bobbi, let alone forgiveness of her husband.

After seven years of a quiet marital reconciliation, Tracy and her son, Jackson Charles Ravenna, arrive back in town.  The bombshell explodes as Bobbi finds out about Chuck’s son from his adulterous affair when she finds Tracy has enrolled Jack in her first grade class.  Emotional upheavals plow through Bobbi’s mind and heart, uprooting their family system with the news of a half-brother. Trust in her husband’s fidelity, attraction to Tracy, and honesty is revisited, while she wonders if Tracy’s manipulations and Jack’s appearance will destroy their marriage.   Chuck filing for joint custody is an unconscionable act in Bobbi’s mind.  Will Bobbi be able to trust and forgive once again?

What makes Paula’s book so pertinent and relevant is the absolute reality and pain of the circumstances, emotions, interventions, resolutions, and family reactions.  You are pulled into the family dynamics once again.  It’s intimate and personal.  You hurt when they hurt.  The fact that Paula has Bobbi trusting in Chuck’s re-commitment to the Lord and his marriage through their months of Godly counseling shows the strength of hope, faith and forgiveness in a very personal and meaningful way.  Prayer is an integral part of the story, as should be in a Christian marriage.

An added dimension of tragedy in Tracy’s life is added to the story, which tugs on your heartstrings even deeper.  Paula weaves this suspense throughout the story, keeping you on edge.  The shocking end brings tears to your eyes.

I am thoroughly grateful for the way that Paula shows how God can work out any circumstance if we commit everything to prayer and trust in Him.   It’s what gives me hope.

If you’ve read Contingency, be sure to pick up Indemnity.  It will bless your heart in ways you wouldn’t expect.   I would highly suggest you read Contingency first.

This book was provided by Paula Wiseman in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Review of Contingency.

Book Blurb:

Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship–he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she’s stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn’t through with her yet.

As Ally’s wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there’s more to her story than she’s ever been told, and she’s determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.

A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.

Excerpt.

Bio:

Nicole received a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.F.A. in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Her freelance articles have been in The Island Packet, The Bluffton Packet, and South Carolina Magazine. Nicole is also a published illustrator, and her artwork has been exhibited in Southern art galleries. Her novels feature her paintings/illustrations on the covers.

Nicole Seitz was named “Best Local Author Who Also Paints” in Charleston City Paper’s Best of Charleston 2009, and in 2007, she was named one of Charleston Regional Business Journal‘s “Forty Under 40″ for her professional successes and community involvement. Nicole enjoys meeting her readers and book clubs and often speaks to groups on writing, art and faith. In 2009, she spoke as part of the Southern Literary Festival during Piccolo Spoleto. In 2008, she gave the Baccalaureate address for the College of Charleston. An artist at heart, Nicole enjoys painting pictures with words and bringing her characters to life through detail and dialect. She lives in the Charleston, South Carolina, area with her husband, Brian, and their two children, teaches art at a local private school, and is currently writing her next novel.

Source.

My Review:

In Beyond Molasses Creek, by Nicole Seitz, Ally Green is now close to sixty years old.  She’s returned to bury her dad; build her own Garden of Dreams with the statues of gods and goddesses bought from other countries; and hopefully stop running.  Her old friend, Vesey Washington, is still in his old home place.  Their friendship spanned fifty years, though mostly hidden.  You see, Ally is white and Vesey is black.  A forbidden relationship.

Ally never got over Vesey, but she moved on to become a stewardess.  While employed, she had a relationship outside of marriage with a pilot and became pregnant.  The rules of the airline made her quit her job.  She returned home to have her baby, Candace.  It was then she found Vesey married.

She became restless and searching for peace once again, so she went to Nepal to the Garden of Dreams.  While there, her baby was snatched. All the years from early childhood, Ally had her sketchbook with her, but it disappeared when her daughter went missing.  After not finding her daughter, Ally joined another airline and continued to run until her father died.

One of Nicole’s uniqueness’s in her book is that you get two stories in one–Sunila in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Ally in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  Nicole’s characters are so inviting and personal.  They create their own stories just through their interactions, reactions, and circumstances.  Vesey, too, was a wonderful, sensitive character.  The continual restlessness of Ally is palpable.  The story line is very well written and easy to follow, and in itself, I truly enjoyed it.

However, since this is billed as a Christian novel, I felt that more attention was set on the gods and goddesses than on the person of Jesus Christ, something that surprised me coming from a Thomas Nelson book. I will admit that Ally found no peace with the idols throughout the whole book.  The other episode that really upset me is the outright lie of fatherhood.  The truth will set you free.  Telling the truth lets the Lord work out the wrinkles in the other person’s life.

This book was provided by Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest opinion.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Snuggles is a cute one-month-old snow monkey whose mother decides they need to plan ahead to make sure that the family will be warm for the winter.  They plan to travel throughout the jungles of the  Japanese alps to get to the Japanese hot springs.  Snuggles has to go thru many obstacles on the trip, climbing mountains, climbing tree branches, jumping over rivers, etc.   Will Snuggle’s get to the hot springs before the big storms of winter arrive?

This is a Christian book that has ten bible verses, a lesson on how to pray, and evidence showing how the six forms of evolution are all scientifically incorrect.  The lesson from this book is on planning (some people ruin their lives by not planning correctly).

Youtube on Master Photographer Tim Ostermeyer.

Bio:

Tim Ostermeyer is a Master Photographer who has won 250 first place awards for his photography including fourteen wildlife images that are considered to be the best in the world by its inclusion in the Professional Photographer Loan Collection books (best images in world by professional photographers). He has traveled the world for the last twenty-five years, taking images of wildlife from the Arctic in the north to the Antarctic in the south. He has taken the best images from his travels over these twenty-five years to place in his children books. Tim’s first book “Adventures of Rusty & Ginger Fox” has forty great online reviews and sold 480 copies in the first six weeks of sales.

All of these books have raised letters on the cover, cute story lines, fact boxes with ten facts of each animal in the book, and a nice moral to the story. Tim can be reached at tim@ostermeyer-photography.com, 972-542-7065, for tour events, such as book signings in major bookstores, and book readings in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Tim lives in Allen, Texas (a suburb of Dallas).

Tim’s books:

My source for pics and bio.

My Review:

Who doesn’t like to see baby monkeys at the zoo or in a book?  Tim Ostermeyer has created this wonderful book, Snuggles:  Japanese Alps Adventures, based on a baby snow monkey named Snuggles, his friend and parents.  He got his name from Snuggling with his mother to eat, stay warm, and stay safe.

As Snuggles gets older, he roams about more.  His mom teaches him safety rules, and he always runs to Mom when danger surrounds him, like fox, weasels, badgers, and bears! Oh, my! She also teaches him that they need make plans to go to the Japanese warm springs so they can survive the cold winter.  You will get to read about all their exciting adventures as they make their way to the warm springs.

Tim’s photography is exquisite and heart-warming.  He includes Scripture in his stories that pertain to God’s promises, His loving care, and His desire for how we should live.  Just imagine, God knows the very number of hairs on your head!

Tim includes fact sheets about snow monkeys and the Japanese Alps.  At the end of his book, he includes the theories of evolution that have been shown to be false.  Even the Mommy monkey knows they were created separately.  My favorite verse regarding evolution is:  “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.”  1 Corinthians 15:39.

For a delightful story about Snuggles, with extraordinary photos, pick up Tim’s book, Snuggles:  Japanese Alps Adventures! Your children will be delighted!  (You will be, too!)

This book was provided by the author, Tim Ostermeyer, in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He’s out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son’s failing heart.

With mounting hospital bills and Truman’s penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline—the chance to write the story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman’s son.

As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman’s investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

Not in the Heart will release on February 1, 2012. For a sneak preview, download the first chapter.

I was born in West Virginia in 1961 and grew up in a small town much like Dogwood. I was affected by my parents, my older brothers, the hills, and books. I was never a very fast reader, but the things I read really helped change me. Particularly novels. I vowed I would write if I ever got the chance.

I met Jerry Jenkins at Moody Bible Institute in the 1980s. He discovered I wanted to write and said, “I can help you do this if you want, but it will be painful.” Boy was it painful. Gloriously painful. In 1998, Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye hired me to write the Left Behind: The Kids series. I had published five books up to that point. I wrote 35 books in that series over the next six years, finishing in 2004. I later collaborated with Jerry on the Red Rock Mysteries series and The Wormling series, and in 2008 the NASCAR-based RPM series rounded out my work in the area of children’s fiction.

Dogwood was my first attempt at writing fiction for adults. It took more than six years to get to the page and to find a publisher. It received the 2009 Christy Award for Christian fiction in the Contemporary Standalone category, which surprised the Dogwood out of me! My next novel, June Bug, draws its themes from the classic Victor Hugo tale, Les Miserables. A nine-year-old girl walks into Walmart and sees herself on a missing children poster. Who is she? Who is her father who travels with her in the beat-up RV? Charles Martin wrote this about the story: “Anne Lamott said that ‘good writing is about telling the truth.’ Chris Fabry has done this. Beautifully. June Bug is masterful. An honest story that dove deep inside me and lingered long after I turned the last page.” June Bug was named a 2010 finalist for the Christy Award and the ECPA’s Christian Book Award.

My Review:

Truman Wiley is a man lost–out of work as a reporter; out of touch with his family; drowning in gambling, hospital and school debts; loss of his small house; car repossessed; neglectful father and husband; and most importantly, out of touch with God.  His son, Aiden, is slowly dying from a heart ailment, and is desperately in need of a heart transplant to survive.

Truman’s estranged wife, Ellen, gets him a job writing a book about Terrence Conley, a death row inmate accused of murder, who is willing to donate his heart for Aiden, an impossible feat in itself without intervention.  Terrence and his estranged wife, Oleta, are friends of Ellen from church, and they just want his side of the story told before his execution.  As most death row inmates, he claims his innocence.

After receiving the retainer money on the book, Truman immediately goes and gambles it away instead of visiting his son and paying off bills.  His daughter, Abigail (Abby) ends up finding him and working with him on the book, since he neglected to pay her college bills so she could graduate.

In his book, Not in the Heart, Chris Fabry methodically creates a real-to-life story that is heart-wrenching in terms of Truman’s estrangement from himself, God and his family.  One sees into the disturbing devastation of gambling, a peek into the realms of evil, Godless men, and the anguish of his love-starved family.  Truman’s circumstances, his attitude towards God, and his comments directly spoken to you, the reader, opens wide a space for him in your heart–what a great point of view insertion that gets your attention! You sense the futility of his life without God, stumbling around, trying to stay ahead of the loan sharks and bill collectors.  Your heart is truly caught up in Truman’s life and relationships, and he seems to stay on your mind as someone you know.  The book also touches on those on death row who maybe shouldn’t be there–a hot topic today.

The investigative, suspenseful part of the story is woven in amongst the continuing family issues.  You’ll find this to be a book of superb suspense with multiple plots, and a sensitive, heart-warming book of hope for family relationships.  Without the prayers of the those who knew the Lord, things wouldn’t have happened as they did.

This book was provided by Audra Jennings of The B&B Media Group, Inc, in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Book Blurb:  Can a young seamstress with an independent streak escape an arsonist/murderer while deciding if she trusts the dashing US Army veteran and WWII hero some claim is the killer?

Erica Brogna tries to rescue her friend and mentor when her home and dress shop is set on fire, but the smoke and heat beat her back, making her run for help.

In comes hero, Lorne Kincaid, on his Harley. He rushes into the inferno and gets Erica’s friend out, injuring himself in the process. However, she dies at the hospital. Soon he finds himself framed for this crime.

Bio:

Like so many other writers, I started writing at a very young age. I still have the Crayola, fully illustrated book I penned (penciled might be more accurate) as a little girl about my then off-the-chart love of horses. In high school I wrote the requisite poems full of angst.Today, you might call me a crime fictionista. My passion is crime fiction.

I was a 2010 Inspy Awards judge, a 2011 Carol Awards judge, and write book reviews for The Christian Pulse on-line magazine. Mostly I review serious crime fiction novels or other types of edgy Christian titles. I’m the founding board member of the Grace Awards, a reader-driven inspirational fiction awards. I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), where I serve as a small critique group leader. I’m also a member of Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers on Ning, where I’ve  coordinated a group summer blog tour and have taught a workshop on proposal writing.

I’m a wife, mother, animal lover, living in a coastal metro New York City, a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. I’m crazy about the ocean.

My website is Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista… http://http://www.nike-chillemi.com/

I can be found on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/NikeChillemi

Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_124248046980&id=10150173847766981#!/profile.php?id=1408995495&sk=info

BURNING HEARTS can be purchased:

At the Desert Breeze Publishing site. http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok

Amazon.  http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0050PJSTY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1305423605&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble.  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One/Nike-Chillemi/e/2940012411747/?itm=1&USRI=nike+chillemi

Christianbooks.com.  http://www.christianbook.com/burning-hearts-ebook-nike-chillemi/9781612520421/pd/18913EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=18913EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Sony Reader.  http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=Burning+Hearts%2C+Nike+Chillemi

(Source)

My Review:

Erica Brogna arrives at Ada’s Fabric Shoppe, only to find it on fire.  She attempts to save Ada, but finding herself unable to accomplish the goal, she runs outside to wave down help.

Lorne Kinkade was out cruising on his Harley when he smelled smoke and saw a young woman frantically waving for help.  Upon arriving, Erica informs Lorne that Ada is still in the house.  He goes in to rescue her and is successful, though she is badly burned on her face and arm.

Erica, Lorne and Ada end up at the Memorial Hospital, where Erica and Lorne are treated and released.  Ada was in surgery, but subsequently did not survive her injuries.

Nike Chillemi, in Burning Hearts, creates a genuine story line of a senseless arson/murder, with characters that are personal, personable, cruel, and real.
Nike Chillemi, in Burning Hearts, creates a genuine story line of a senseless, selfish arson/murder, with characters that are personal, personable, cruel, and real.  The conversations seemed so natural and true for the circumstances, the delightful romance was respectful for the time era (1946), the police action/non-action seemed appropriate in the days of family powers ruling, and the suspense and mystery, though slow compared to today’s action, was timely and kept my attention.  Nike kept me guessing who the killer/arsonist was throughout the whole book, down to the last few pages.  And even then the action was powerful, dangerous and alarming.  Emotions were palpable!  Definitely moved me.

For her first novel, Nike did an outstanding job of keeping the storyline moving with all the different characters, crimes, and social and daily activities.   Her descriptive language gave you a sense of the era, surrounding scenery, scenarios, area, and emotions.  This aspect made for a very intimate read.  Powerfully written with a sense of gentility mixed in.  Definitely a 1946-era book.  I loved it! Looking forward to her next book!

Nike’s inclusion of the dilemmas of Lorne and Erica’s faith, their anger at God, and their spiritual growth is applicable for people everywhere.  We all struggle, but we have a God who is there for us.

I received this e-book through Debra Gaynor of Readers Favorite in exchange for my honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

***Special thanks to Ronie Kendig for sending me a review copy.***

• Finalist in Christian Retailing’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards (Nightshade)
• RWA’s Faith, Hope, & Love’s 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards in Romantic Suspense (Nightshade)
• Named one of the Top 25 Christian Fiction Suspense, Mystery, and Thriller Writers by FamilyFiction (Sept 2011)
• 2011 FamilyFiction Readers’ Choice Awards – 3^rd place as New Favorite Author, 8^th place with Nightshade for Novel of the Year.
• INSPY Award Shortlist final in Mystery/Thriller (Dead Reckoning)
• The Christian Manifesto’s 2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Nightshade)

Visit the author’s website.

Blown and dismantled, Nightshade is ready to repay the favor.

Former Marine and current Nightshade team member Griffin “Legend” Riddell is comfortable. So comfortable he never sees the set up that lands him in a maximum security prison, charged with murder. How can he prove his innocence behind bars?

Covert operative Kazi Faron is tasked with reassembling Nightshade—the black ops team someone dissected. Breaking Griffin out of a federal penitentiary amid explosive confusion may turn out to be her last assignment. What will it take to convince the fugitive that whoever set him up has also dissected the Nightshade team? As Kazi and Griffin race to rescue the others and discover the traitor,

love begins to awaken in their hearts.

Can a covert operative and the felon she’s freed overcome their mutual distrust long enough to save Nightshade? Will anything prepare them for who—or what is coming?

Product Details:

• List Price: $12.99

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books; Discarded Heroes edition (2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602607850
• ISBN-13: 978-1602607859

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

OTHER BOOKS BY RONIE KENDIG

Nightshade (Discarded Heroes #1)

Digitalis (Discarded Heroes #2)

Wolfsbane (Discarded Heroes #3)

© 2011 by Ronie Kendig

ISBN 978-1-60260-0785-9

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

For more information about Ronie Kendig, please access the author’s Web site at the following Internet address: www.roniekendig.com

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683,

www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.

My Review:

BLOWN AND DISMANTLED! NIGHTSHADE IS READY TO REPAY THE FAVOR!

The Nightshade group are recouping in The Shack when they find themselves infiltrated and fired upon.  No matter where they hid, they were found out except for Max and Dighton.  Not only are they infiltrated, their complex is imploded.  The men are then scattered all over the world.  Who?  How? The Shack was secure!

Nightshade team member, Griffin Riddell (aka “Legend”), finds himself in a maximum security prison, charged with the murder of a Senator.  He never saw it coming.  And he didn’t do it.

Kazi Faron, a covert operative, is brought in to break Griffin out of the penitentiary–and she’s successful!  Though she tends to be a loner, she’s a fireball that gets the work done despite the odds and dangers.

From this point on, Ronie Kendig, in Firethorn, has us traveling all over the world with Legend and Kazi, tracking down the Nightshade team.  All have their own dilemmas to escape.  It’s a fast-paced, quick-changing twist of events.   Just like Ronie’s first three novels, this one does not let up on the action.  You can’t let yourself lull over a particular rescue, as she jumps to another.  The scenarios are interspersed, which demand that you stay just as alert as her characters.  Though interspersed, they all intertwine in a fashion only Ronie can pull off.

The touchy romance between Griffin and Kazi is threatened by their distrust, events and her past.  But you’ll find yourself loving every minute, wondering if they will make a couple or not.  Nothing is guaranteed.

Though faith is interwoven into Ronie’s books, and it’s relevant and important to each member, it’s not an ‘in your face’ message.  It’s the daily living out of their faith.

You can read these books out of order, but it’s more interesting reading from beginning to end.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.  I am disappointed the series has ended with Firethorn, however.  I could see another book at the end of this one!

Ronie considers herself an Army brat, but it’s those experiences that bring depth, accuracy and meaning to each of her books.

Book #1  Nightshade

Book #2  Digitalis

Book # 3  Wolfsbane

Book #4  Firethorn

****************************************************

A Medical Definition of Life

“Medical authorities determine a person to be ‘alive’ if there is either a detectable heartbeat or brain-wave activity.”

With that in mind, it is eye-opening to realize that unborn children have detectable heartbeats at 18 days after conception and detectable brain-wave activity 40 days after conception. What is so shocking is that essentially 100 percent of all abortions occur after the seventh week of pregnancy.

(From Sanctity of Life, by Charles Swindoll, Word, 1990, pp. 11-12)

***********************************************************

Public Opinion on Abortion
The Gallup polling organization has charted public opinion on abortion since 1996. At that time:

• 56 percent of respondents identified as pro-choice
• 33 percent of respondents identified as pro-life
In the 2011 survey:
• 47 percent identified as pro-choice.
• 47 percent identified as pro-life.
SOURCE: Gallup, http://www.gallup.com/poll/1576/abortion.aspx

No statistics track the number of infants surviving an abortion attempt. Many children who survived attempted abortions have grown up and become pro-life advocates, including:
Gianna Jessen—Testified before a congressional committee in 1996 at age 19, she remains a pro-life advocate. OCTOBERBABY was written after director Jon Erwin heard Gianna tell her life story.
Sarah Smith—In 1970, Sarah Smith’s mother was pregnant but did not know, nor did doctors know, she was carrying twins. Sarah’s brother was aborted. A few weeks after that, Sarah’s mother realized she was carrying another child. Sarah and her mother, Betty, speak nationwide advocating alternatives to
abortion.
Heidi Huffman Smith—In 1978, Heidi Huffman Smith’s mother, then age 17, had an abortion that Heidi survived. Learning weeks after the fact that she was still pregnant, Heidi’s mother carried her to term. Heidi—a wife and mother herself—speaks with her mother nationwide on the pro-life issue.

Abortion Alternatives
Crisis Pregnancy Centers
• About 3,000 Pregnancy Resource Centers in the United States offer a range of services to women facing unplanned pregnancies
• Advising alternatives to abortion, the centers offer pregnancy tests and a range of services including help in obtaining housing, clothes, baby needs, medical care, financial support and information about adoption
• As many abortion providers operate for-profit, non-profit pregnancy counseling centers stress that their advice is offered without financial motive.

Facts you may not know about abortion in the United States …
• 22 percent of pregnancies in the United States end in abortion
• 40 percent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion
• 18 percent of women having an abortion in the United States are teenagers
• More than half of U.S. abortions are performed on women in their 20s
• In the United States, 1.21 million abortions are performed annually
• Since 1973, the year that the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalized abortion, about 50 million abortions have been performed in the United States

• Of abortion providers in the U.S.:
o 95 percent offer abortions from eight weeks after the first missed menstrual period
o 64 percent offer second-trimester abortions (abortions after 13 weeks)
o 23 percent offer abortions at 20 weeks
o 11 percent offer abortions at 24 weeks
• The number of abortions has trended down over the past 20 years:
o In 1973, there were 16.3 abortions per 1,000 U.S. women age 15 to 44
o The number peaked in 1983 at 29.3 abortions per 1,000 women
o In 2008, the number is 19.6 per 1,000 women

• Total abortions are down as well:
o In 2000, there were 1.31 million U.S abortions.
o In 2008, there were 1.21 million U.S. abortions

SOURCE: The Alan Guttmacher Institute
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

SOURCE: National Right To Life, NRL.org

To learn more, visit: OctoberBabyMovie.net

OctoberBaby Movie Clips

Some Informational Sites:

http://www.octoberbabymovie.net/sanctityoflife/

http://www.heartlink.org/beavoice/

http://www.lifegivingresources.com/brochures.aspx

http://www.lutheransforlife.org/store-life-sunday-2012/

Aaron L might be a newcomer to the creation of Christian fiction but is not one when it comes to the arts and all things creative. Growing up spending a lot of his time drawing, Aaron always knew that his future lay in this field. In 2010, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. Although the usual application of this degree is in the creation of print art, Aaron chose instead to focus his creative skills on the task of storytelling. With his first novel, “Light Under the House”, Aaron seeks to display his creativity in this promising new arena.

What inspired you to write this story?
I feel very strongly about the breakdown of the family and fatherlessness and how there is much dysfunction and despair because of it. I wanted to tell a story to shed some light on the situations that many face and hopefully bring some type of reversal to the current dynamic in whatever small way I could. I wanted to challenge men, fathers especially, to be who they were created to be….its certainly a challenge I face myself daily. A challenge that I often fail at but keeping picking myself up to start again.

Did you model any of the characters after people you know?
I used many things to model the characters … people I know, other literary figures, actors, biblical characters, celebrities … the characters are a combination of all of these. I wanted them to be new and familiar at the same time, universal.

Why did you choose the Dallas/Ft Worth area as your primary setting?
First of all, the south has a certain reputation for is deep spiritual roots (bible belt and all). I patterned the book in part after GONE WITH THE WIND (another book set in the south) … not in the sense of a love story but in the sense of “here is civilization that is about to cease to exist, come see it before its gone”. In the case of my novel it is a spiritual civilization on the brink. Dallas just seemed to have everything I needed to make the story work from both a symbolic and technical standpoint.

Do you have plans to write more books?
I have an idea or two floating around … nothing concrete yet.

What sort of research did you do for the historical portions of your book? What did you like best about the research? The least?
My co-author and I researched deeply into ancient history for some aspects of the book … I learned a lot of things … some things I’d rather forget but most of it was enlightening. What I liked best was that it confirmed for me mostly what I already knew, there really is nothing new under the sun.

Where can we find out about more opportunities for a free copy of this book?
Follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter.

ANCIENT HISTORY ABOUT TO BE LOST!

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock.

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all—the Mona Lisa—as a postwar bargaining chip. But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler
rescue Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss Chateau, the race is on–and the runners are playing for keeps.

Chasing Mona Lisa/$14.99/ISBN: 978-0-8007-2046-9/ISBN-10: 0-8007-2046-6/Pages: 336/Publication Date: Jan. 12/ Paperback

Watch the Trailer

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss
Courier as well as the author of many other
books, including Night Song and Dawn of a
Thousand Nights, both past winners of the
ACFW’s Book of the Year Award for Long
Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her
family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of
dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier
and the bestselling Every Man’s Battle series.
Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in
Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family
currently reside in California.

Endorsements:

“With Chasing Mona Lisa, you purchase a ticket to a world of mystery, heroism, and adventure. Join the battle to free France and save her priceless treasures from Nazi hands. In the process you’ll find yourself sinking into a story that leaves you longing for just one more page.”–Cara Putman, award-winning author of Stars in the Night and Ohio Brides

“Intriguing and well-written . . . Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey had me at hello!”–Lynn Vincent, New York Times bestselling writer of Heaven Is for Real and Same Kind of Different as Me

“A riveting, well-researched tale that kept me glued to the pages. Chasing Mona Lisa is absolutely my favorite kind of story: rich in period detail, fast-paced, and loaded with twists. A winner!”– Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Vengeance and Rules of Betrayal

“I love it when I get lost in a good book, and Chasing Mona Lisa kept me enthralled from start to finish.”–Debra McCoy, mother of Cleveland Browns quarterback, Colt McCoy

My Review:

It’s August, 1944.  France is on the verge of liberation. Allied forces are advancing, while the Third Reich flees.  Though Germany is retreating, Reichsmarchall Hermann Goring wants to steal the most precious painting of France–the Mono Lisa–a symbol of their freedom.  The race is on between the Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler against Colonel Heller’s henchman.

It was while Gabi and Eric were still fighting off stragglers from the Third Reich in France, alongside Bernard Rousseau of the Communist-run Resistance Group, that they were all informed by Allen Dulles of the OSS of the attempted heist of the Mona Lisa.  Working through Collette, a curator of the Louvre of France, they hatched out a plan to retrieve and protect the Mona Lisa.  Woven through these plans were the behind-the-scenes suspicions of Collette’s innocence or guilt in collaborating with the Germans.

Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey give us a hit-and-run twist of plots from the very first page to the end.  The evil of the Third Reich and their underhanded methods of torture are exposed.  Man’s inhumanity of unbelievable proportion. It’s real and it’s horrific.  Your heart breaks over threats to even young children. You feel the fear of the characters as they go through the fearsome episodes. You find yourself holding your breath during the scenes of severity and tough demands in the Swiss Chateau.

Throughout the story Gabi and Eric prayed and put their trust in the Lord to get them through the dangerous circumstances and to save the precious Mona Lisa for France.  Their heroism and loyalty went above and beyond their roles.

For a historical, fast-paced adventure, with a little romance thrown in, this is a book you will not want to miss.  There are so many individual stories that have been told and still need to be told.  But Chasing Mona Lisa triumphs the liberation of France and the hopeful claim of the Mona Lisa.  It’s another part of WWII history that I found very interesting.

This book was provided by Donna Hausler, Publicity Assistant, Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest opinion.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Chasing Mona Lisa is available January, 2012, at your favorite bookseller, from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.