Her One and Only by Becky Wade (3.5 stars)

About Her One and Only

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 3, 2016)

Gray Fowler, star NFL tight end, is being pursued by a stalker, so his team hires a protection agency to keep Gray under the watch of a bodyguard at all times. When Gray meets Dru Porter, an agent assigned to him, he’s indignant. How can an attractive young female half his size possibly protect him? 

But Dru’s a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt. She’s also ferociously determined to uncover the identity of Gray’s stalker. And she’s just as determined to avoid any kind of romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past. But the closer they get to finding the stalker, the closer they grow to each other. As the danger rises, can Dru and Gray entrust their hearts–and their lives–to one another? 

“Down-to-earth, in-depth characters give the story an authentic feel. Dru, being the youngest Porter, is headstrong and sympathetic, and when she matches wits with Gray, their connection is as electric as their budding romance is sweet. A delightful read.”—RT Book Reviews .

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Review

Dru Porter is a former Marine, expert markswoman, and a black belt. As the youngest in a family of all boys, she's always been tough. Now she's assigned to protect a star NFL player.

When she begins to develop feelings for him, she wonders if she can protect him.

Great characters are crucial components to an awesome read, and this story has them in spades. Both Dru and Gray are well developed through alternating points of view. And the romance between them is sweet and complicated--which I love because it's more realistic than most fictional romance situations. 

In addition, the mystery of who's stalking and threatening Gray is intriguing, and I appreciated the underlying Christian messages.

Then why a 3.5 rating, you might ask. This story had a bit of an identity crisis. It starts off as a suspenseful romance and becomes a Christian romance. I wish the two elements had been blended better, especially at the beginning.

Still, it doesn't keep this from being a sweet and page-turning read. A great choice for a summer read.

Rating: 3.5 stars

About Becky Wade

Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction.

Becky is a Carol Award winner and a finalist for both a RITA and an INSPY Award.

Connect with Becky 
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks to TLC for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own. 

Please visit other stops on Her One and Only blog tour page.

Cries of Innocence by Angela Beach Silverthorne (5 stars)

About Cries of Innocence

In the small coastal community of Silverton, an evil presence resides. Over time most residents have grown numb to its insidious and subtle presence. A few have resisted.

Seventeen-year-old Bren has lived a life of abuse, discrimination, and exclusion. She blames her father, the town drunk, for every misery she has ever endured. Instead of surviving within her situation like others do, Bren is fiery mad and begins to push against a system she can’t begin to understand. When her efforts fail, she decides to escape with her mom. They never make it.

Bren is whisked away to The Haven, home of her paternal grandmother, GG. Under her tutelage, Bren is awakened to a destiny she could have never envisioned. She learns about truth and witnesses another side of life. In the process of self-discovery, she has to deal with her own weaknesses, fears, and unforgiveness.

As evil approaches Bren asks, “Who are we up against?” The answer strikes deep within her breast.

Can she stand firm? Can she look into the eyes of hate and forgive? If she can’t, her greatest fear will be realized.

Buy it on Amazon

Review

Bren hasn't had it easy. She's the daughter of the town drunk, her mom looks the other way, and Bren's boyfriend wants what she's not ready to give. Unable to stand it any longer, and feeling very alone, she can't wait to get a one-way ticket out of town.

With all her struggles, she can't imagine things getting worse. Yet they do. There's an evil brewing, and Bren will need some powerful teaching to stand up to it. Thanks to help from unlucky sources, Bren becomes stronger. But will it be enough?

Every once in a while, I read a book I know will really impact readers. Beyond the well-executed storyline, the characters, the good writing, this book will resonate with people and stay with them long after the last page. 

Abuse, both physical and mention, is sadly what too many young women have to face. Evil is real. But there's hope. This story showcases that. But, note, there are mature situations. Most of the book, my heart broke for Bren and her mother. I wanted to tell them to run and get away from the pain. But staying to fight, especially with a power all of us can access, was inspiring. I love these characters.

If you believe in the power of the human spirit, in the power of faith and belief, I highly recommend Cries of Innocence. It's a journey, and one you won't soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars

About the Author

Angela Beach Silverthorne is the co-author of the award-winning novel, Depression Cookies, and author of a poetry book, Promises Seeded Inside. Her short stories and poetry have been featured in numerous magazines and websites. She is currently writing the sequel to Cries of Innocence.

Angela and her husband of 45 years, Dallas, live in eastern North Carolina with their Boston terrier, Miss Lillie. They are the parents of three daughters and have nine grandchildren who often beg her to tell them “one more story.” She has a special place in her heart for women who are victims of abuse, brokenness, insecurity, and self-doubt.

Find out more on her blog and Facebook.

Note: I edited this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden Book Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway

Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden

Pub Date – October 10, 2013 (Paperback)
September 30, 2013 (eBook pre-release)

Amazon | BN

“Left Behind for the Hunger Games Generation”

In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?

Advance Praise

“Pauline Creeden managed to mix more genres into one book than I could possibly imagine. The overall concept, aliens attacking the earth, is straight out of Science Fiction, but then you throw in a few zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction with how the dead/sick humans are acting. Overall, the entire story was charged with the adrenaline and thrills of a suspense/thriller novel, but the mood was terrifyingly eerie like a Horror story. There was almost too much sensory information for my primitive human brain to handle. Still, all of these genres combined made for one unique and fascinating story. This kind of book is of the same flavor as The Hunger Games with its originality, which I really appreciated.” 

~Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

“Sanctuary is a fast-paced Christian fantasy thriller that is original and quite entertaining. The story revolves around Jennie and her family, Pastor Billy and his wife, and two brothers who are polar opposites of each other. Each chapter is presented in the point of view of Jennie, Brad or Hugh (the brothers), which gives Pauline Creeden's Sanctuary, a multidimensional feel. The three different story-lines merge into a full-fledged fantasy/horror novel that never sags or lets up on the action. While there are Christian themes present in Sanctuary, and Jennie's faith is an important part of who she is, I, a non-Christian, did not feel I was being preached to or proselytized. I recommend Pauline Creeden's Sanctuary -- it's well-written and a lot of fun to read.”

~Jack Magnus for Readers Favorite

 

YouTube book Trailers:

http://youtu.be/tVQNvPzk3rc

http://youtu.be/lZ05XgVBy24

 

About the Author:

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. It is also the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Winner in Historical Fiction.

Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and 2014 Readers’ Choice Gold Award for Best YA Horror Novel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

Why on earth did I write a Christian novel that has both aliens and zombies in it?

When I was a teen/young adult and my faith was wavering at best, there were several movies out with the likely design to shake faith even more. End of the world movies were in their hay day. Alien invasion was another big one. And I couldn’t help but wonder. If something like this actually happened, would anyone be able to maintain their faith?

And now today, Zombies are on the rise.

Could aliens be reconciled with the Bible? Zombies? This is the purpose of Sanctuary.

Because of its poetic nature, the book of Revelation lends itself to a plethora of interpretation. I am not saying that my book is the only true possibility, but it could be one. Could not demons be misinterpreted as alien life forms? Might not Satan use this mirage to his advantage to explain the bitter water or the blotting out of the sun, moon, and stars?  And then there’s Revelation 9:6 - "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Zombies?

If anyone reading this book at least opens themselves up to the fact that yes, a biblical interpretation could resolve the problems between faith and an apocalyptic reality, then Sanctuary has completed its purpose.

 

EXCERPT:

When Jennie reached the back door, she saw them. Four large dog-like creatures with pinched faces like bulldogs and lion-like manes. They snarled, and one of them leapt at the window on the top half of the door when it saw her. Jennie jumped back and fell hard on the cold tile floor. The bottle of painkiller bounced across the kitchen tiles. The creature slammed against the window a second time, cracking it. She blinked hard. Her heart sunk, and the hairs on her arms stood on end. A horrendous gargling howl rent the air, causing a shiver down her spine. She held her breath and waited for the creature to slam into the door again.

“What on earth?” she whispered to herself.

When the third attempt never came, she scrambled toward the door. Blinking hard, she used the door knob to help herself stand. Out the cracked window, her mother was still out of sight, but the last of the dogs headed across the field behind her backyard.

“MOM?” Jennie called out.

The rumbling faded, and the vibrations in her chest receded with the dogs. She pulled open the door and rushed onto their back deck. “Mom, where are you?”

When she reached the banister, she looked over the side. Her mom lay sprawled with one hand on the lattice. Blood gushed from Mom’s leg and her opposite arm. Jennie’s ears rang and flooded with every beat of her heart.

Jennie didn’t know how she got to the second floor of her house, but she found herself shaking her sleeping father. How had he slept through the rumbling? “Outside, it’s Mom…”

Her father leapt from the bed. Mickey, her little brother, lay asleep and undisturbed. Dad ran down the stairs and outside in his flannel pajama bottoms and white t-shirt. He scooped Mom up to his chest and carried her inside. Blood stained his shirt in crimson.

“Jennie, call 911!”  Her father had said it at least three times before it finally registered in her brain.

She pulled the cell phone from her pocket, but it refused to connect. With a groan, she grabbed the cordless from the wall receiver, glad her heart stopped pounding in her head so she could hear.

“All operators are busy at this time,” a mechanical voice deadpanned, “Please stay on the line, and the next available operator will take your call.”

“They have me on hold, Dad. Should I hang up and try again?” She held the phone in both hands away from her face.

“No, just stay on the line.” Her father lifted the shredded jeans from Mom’s leg. “It looks like a shark bite. What on earth happened?”

Jennie took in the damage through tear-filled eyes. A huge chunk was taken from her mother’s calf, exposing the fibrous tendons that covered the bone in her leg. A bloodstain grew on the beige couch. Was she going to die? Panic rose up.

“What happened, Jennie?”

“I...I...They looked like lions, or dogs, or something. The rumbling shook the whole house…I tried to go outside to get Mom, but—” A sob blocked her throat.

Her father grabbed a throw pillow and held it against the leg. Mom’s exposed forearm laid across her chest in much the same condition as her calf.

“Grab me the duct tape.”

Jennie suddenly remembered the phone, put it back to her ear, and headed to the hall closet. She reached for the shelf above the jackets and grabbed the junk basket next to the toolbox.

“Please stay on the line. An operator will be with you shortly.”

She shoved the phone in the crook of her neck and fished through the box.  Half the contents dropped around her feet. Who cares? When her fingers wrapped around the silver duct tape, a short-lived relief sent prickles down her arms. But the urgency gripped her chest in less than a heart beat, and she threw the junk basket on the ground with the rest of the items.

“Hurry, Jennie!” her father called from the living room. “And turn on the TV. Maybe they’ll have something about what’s going on.”

She handed her father the tape and turned toward the TV. The mechanical voice on the phone came through again, followed by more easy listening.

When she clicked on the TV, the shouting and wailing began before the picture warmed up on the screen. A sideways picture of New York City broke through, with the shaky voice of the newscaster voicing over.

“What we are watching now – I can’t believe it – is live footage of Times Square,” the newscaster’s voice paused for a deep breath. “We’ve lost our man on the scene and his camera man to what appears to be some kind of new alien creature. Just a short half-hour ago, the doors to the ship that hovered above Central Park opened and these dog-like creatures flooded out.”

        Jennie couldn’t pull her eyes from the screen. She straightened and dropped the phone on the hardwood. The battery popped out and skidded across the floor.

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Payne and Misery, Catherine Leggitt (3 stars)

About Payne and Misery

Christine Sterling has developed a reputation for jumping to wild conclusions. With such an imagination, who is likely to take her seriously when she discovers a bruised and neglected neighbor named Lila Payne? Try as she might, she cannot interest anyone in Lila’s dire need for immediate rescue. Something about crying wolf once too often.

But then Lila and Christine’s beloved dog Molly both disappear the same night.

If no one will help her, she must find Lila and Molly herself. Heedless of possible consequences, Christine dives headfirst into a dark pool swirling with muddy secrets and misery. Her best friend throws her a lifesaver of prayer and soon she begins to sense God at work. But even with God’s help, can Lila and Molly be saved before it’s too late?

Purchase Link: AMAZON

Review

We all have neighbors who could single-handedly be a neighborhood watch committee. Christine Sterling is one of those type neighbors. One day, she notices some strange happenings at a nearby house, and she feels compelled to stop by and check it out. When she does, she meets Lila and notices some strange bruises on her. But things only get more disconcerting when Lila, along with Christine's dog, go missing.

Initially, everyone blows Christine's concerns off. Determined to find out what is going on, she follows her gut and finds clue after clue. Along the way, she discovers the importance of putting your faith in God.

Although there was something very endearing about Christine's character, the mystery of what happened to Lila was a bit too meandering for me. Just as the twists and turns pulled me in, the story would stall for a moment or go off in a different direction. However, Christine is an interesting and well-developed character, and I appreciated her journey and determination.

In the end, it's a light mystery with a charming main character. I especially recommend it to readers looking for a sweet story with Christian values.

Rating: 3 stars

About Catherine Leggitt 

Catherine Leggitt is an author and inspirational speaker. A native Californian born in the Bay Area, she raised two daughters, taught school, and cared for her aging parents in southern California before retiring to the north end of the state. Proud grandmother of six brilliant children, Catherine studies the Bible, reads, serves as a leader in Bible Study Fellowship, and sings in the church choir.

Catherine wrote a trilogy called the Christine Sterling Mysteries, which include PAYNE & MISERY, THE DUNN DEAL, and PARRISH THE THOUGHT. The first book won 2nd place at the Orange County Christian Writers Conference in May, 2010. It was published by Ellechor Publishing in 2011. THE DUNN DEAL and PARRISH THE THOUGHT were published in 2012 by Ellechor Publishing. PARRISH THE THOUGHT made the quarterfinals in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.

In addition, Catherine has completed a fourth novel with different characters called DYING TO BE NOTICED and coauthored a memoir for Sam Contino called STREET SMARTS.

When called upon to share her story, Catherine’s main themes come from Christine’s struggles in her books, which also happen to be some of the things Catherine struggles with. Thus, since PAYNE & MISERY addresses complaining, the first message, titled Always Choose Joy, centers on how to be thankful and choose joy instead of misery. The spiritual theme of THE DUNN DEAL exposes with the nature of truth. Merely having faith is not enough. What we believe matters. Catherine named the second talk, Always Choose Truth. In PARRISH THE THOUGHT, Christine learns to love unlovable people, so Catherine calls the third message, Always Choose Love.

Find out more about the author: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Trailer

Please visit other stops on the Payne and Misery blog tour page. 

Thanks to Pump Up Your Book for including me on this blog tour.

Note: I received a complimentary copy from Pump Up Your Book for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus, Mary DeMuth (4 stars)

About Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 16, 2012)

Readers discover exactly what it takes to grow in Christ and become like Him.

You don’t need a plan, and you don’t need a program. To experience the abundant Christian life, you only need Jesus. In Everything, critically acclaimed author Mary DeMuth answers the question: what exactly does it take to become more like our irresistible Savior? The answers readers find will inspire and surprise them. They discover revolutionary insights about:

* how undecorated obedience brings unprecedented spiritual growth
* how to rise above doubt, worry and fear
* how to develop an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit
* how to cherish brokenness as a wide open pathway to God
* and much, much more

A life committed to Jesus is not about spiritual “bootstrapping,” pulling up our broken selves, hoping God didn’t notice our stumbling. With hard-hitting words written in love and smothered in biblical truth, Everything reminds us that the spiritually vibrant life we long for can be grasped. We must fight for it, strive for it ceaselessly, reach for it when we fall, and lift our hands in praise when we’re victorious. With extraordinary writing and fresh thinking, this groundbreaking book inspires believers to give everything to Jesus to gain everything he offers.

Review

In the journey to giving Jesus everything so that we may know the depth of his love, the author breaks the book down into three sections...

Head - What We Think
Heart - Who We Are
Hands - How We Live

Each section touched me. The author seemed to know me, but more than that, I think her honesty finds a similar place in all of us. The struggles she describes are struggles we all face in some way or another. Then, to strengthen each section, the author provides a list of questions for reflection and discussion. I found this helped me focus on the intent of her messages.

The progression between sections made a lot of sense... what we think becomes who we are and ultimately affects how we live. The author emphasizes how we try to control our lives, focusing on our to-do lists and feelings of success versus failure. She describes control as, "that thing we crave, grab at, sacrifice much of our hearts to have ... Control is the inner disease of those who need stability and order to function."

As control diverts us from our everything, so does worry. My favorite line from the entire book, the one that hit me between the eyes...

"Worry is a weighty monster with poisoned tentacles.

It clutches at us, grabs our minds, steals our breath, our will.

It lurks. It pounces. It colors how we perceive the world."

Throughout these lessons, the author shares how she falters and stumbles along the way. It never seems preachy or from someone who doesn't understand, who can't relate. The author has clearly had tough times, and times where she couldn't see past her own circumstances. When she talks about pursuing relationships and community even after pain and a broken heart, you believe her and feel empowered to do the same.

This book will touch each reader in different ways, but I can't imagine the reader it won't touch. The only thing I thought was missing was a little more insight into the author's life. She hinted at details at times, but I wanted more. However, I understand that her life story is more detailed in her novel, Thin Places. I assume reading that in conjunction with this would only add to this novel's power.

If you are looking for encouragement on your religious journey, I believe this book will take your hand and help you on your path. Or, if you know a friend struggling with finding their everything through Jesus, it would make a great gift... especially with the holidays fast approaching.

Rating: 4 stars

About Mary DeMuth

Mary DeMuth is an author and speaker who loves to help people live uncaged, freedom-infused lives. She’s the author of fourteen books, including six novels and her critically acclaimed memoir Thin Places. After church planting in Southern France, Mary, her husband, and their three teenagers now live in a suburb of Dallas.

Find out more about Mary at marydemuth.com, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Thanks to TLC Tours for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Please visit other stops on the Everything Blog Tour page.

*****

Additional Praise for Everything

“No one closes this book unchanged. It ennobles desires. It releases dreams.”–Leonard Sweet, best-selling author, professor at Drew University and George Fox University and Chief Contributor to Sermons.com

“Let’s be honest. Most of us who follow Christ are holding back. We want Christ but are convinced we’ll miss something if we surrender everything. In this challenging but tender book, Mary DeMuth invites us to give Him everything in order to experience Him as Everything. In the end, it is the only course that will satisfy our deepest longings.”–Michael Hyatt, New York Times best-selling author of Platform and former CEO, Thomas Nelson Publishers