Emily of Deep Valley - Reprint: Mitali Perkins

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingEmily of Deep ValleyHarper Perennial Modern Classics; Reprint edition (October 12, 2010)byMitali Perkins





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from Mitali: Who In The World Is Mitali Perkins?

That's a good question. I've been trying to figure it out myself, spending most of my life crossing borders.
I was born Mitali Bose in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, and always tried to live up to my name—which means “friendly” in the Bangla language. I had to! Because my family moved so much, it was the only way I could make new friends.
By the time I was 11, I'd lived in Ghana, Cameroon, London, New York and Mexico before settling in California just in time for middle school. Yep, I was the new kid again, in seventh grade, the year everybody barely makes it through.
My biggest lifeline during those early years was story. Books were my rock, my stability, my safe place as I navigated the border between California suburbia and the Bengali culture of my traditional home.
After studying political science at Stanford and public policy at U.C. Berkeley, I taught in middle school, high school and college. When I began to write fiction, my protagonists were often—not surprisingly—strong female characters trying to bridge different cultures.
Mitali Perkins is the author of several books for young people, including SECRET KEEPER (Random House), MONSOON SUMMER (Random House), RICKSHAW GIRL (Charlesbridge), and the FIRST DAUGHTER books (Dutton).
ABOUT THE BOOK

Often cited as Maud Hart Lovelace’s (of Betsy-Tacy fame) best novel, Emily of Deep Valley is now back in print, with a new foreword by acclaimed young adult author Mitali Perkins and new archival material about the characters’ real lives.
Emily Webster, an orphan living with her grandfather, is not like the other girls her age in Deep Valley, Minnesota. The gulf between Emily and her classmates widens even more when they graduate from Deep Valley High School in 1912. Emily longs to go off to college with everyone else, but she can’t leave her grandfather. Emily resigns herself to facing a “lost winter,” but soon decides to stop feeling sorry for herself. And with a new program of study, a growing interest in the Syrian community, and a handsome new teacher at the high school to fill her days, Emily gains more than she ever dreamed...
In addition to her beloved Betsy-Tacy books, Maud Hart Lovelace wrote three more stories set in the fictional town of Deep Valley: Winona’s Pony Cart, Carney’s House Party and Emily of Deep Valley. Longtime fans and new readers alike will be delighted to find the Deep Valley books available again for the first time in many years.
If you would like to browse inside Emily of Deep Valley, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

I was so excited about this book when I saw the chance to review it. I've been drawn to classics such as this one recently. Emily is a gal that I relate to completely! However, she handles her situation with much more class and grace than I ever could've! I loved following Emily's adventures and watching her mature throughout this book. I kept coming back for more and will likely read it again.

This book will inspire you to go back to some of the older ways when life was simpler and people were no doubt happier!

A Woman and Her Workplace - Rosemary Flaaten

A WOMAN and HER Workplace

Author: Rosemary Flaaten

Publisher: Beacon Hill Press

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was when this book came across my desk. I have often spoke of and wondered about Women and how they relate in a business setting. It seems that when you have women in the workplace, things get complicated. I can say this without ducking flying objects because I am a woman! I’ve seen drama and backstabbing disrupt so many great work environments and it doesn’t seem to differentiate between rank, pay grade or job description.

Rosemary tackles this very difficult to even talk about subject with grace and knowledge. Not only does she take you through the dynamics of the workplace but also your relationship with co-workers, management and even touches on the opposite sex. These are all important topics that greatly affect our workday and our lives!

You will read about building bridges with others and the baggage that everyone carries into any relationship. You will have to take stock in yourself as you read through a chapter on pride and humility. Deception is a tough topic as it is so easy to “talk your way” out of something that ends up affecting more than just your own job security. Rosemary delicately speaks about anger. While anger is a normal and healthy emotion, it is important to learn how to temper your anger and use Gods gift of forgiveness in your daily relationships.

I think my favorite was Chapter 6 where Rosemary talks about envy. Envy is such a tough emotion for women to deal with. It can creep in and ruin the best of relationships but even worse is the damage it does to you. Of course there are other chapters that touch on teamwork, learning to appreciate others strengths and of course topics on integrity, gossip and sharing your faith.

This is a must read for men and women alike! Whether you are in a position of leadership or in an entry level position, this book will give you a glimpse into not only how women think and relate but what you can do to promote a healthy and productive work environment.

*Reading material provided by Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for review purposes

Promise Me - Richard Paul Evans

I've reviewed Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans over at Radiant Lit this week. I have to tell you that this book had a profound effect on me. It really made me think about what I would've done in this situation.

I cannot say enough about this book. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the majority of my time within its pages. I love an author who can keep me on my toes and insure that I’m not guessing what is next with any accuracy whatsoever! The journey that Beth embarks on in this book will pull you into to her world. You will find yourself holding your breath with each chapters ending. Don’t even get me started on the ending of this one! I was up until 3am reading Promise Me only to sit it down right before the end because I did not want the story to be over. I didn’t know what was next and I tucked it away to savor the next day. Richard Evans manages to illustrate these characters with such intensity that you will find yourself on the verge of tears before the last page – GUARANTEED!

Read the rest here!

http://www.radiantlit.com/

The Silent Order - Melanie Dobson

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Silent OrderSummerside Press (November 1, 2010)byMelanie Dobson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.



Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.



Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.



Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is

collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.



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


My Thoughts:

The Silent Order
by Melanie Dobson
Publisher: Summerside

Two completely different worlds collide in this page turning novel.

Melanie weaves together just enough information to keep you coming back for more and more. She transforms your reality with her words and manages the (almost) impossible by keeping you guessing and delivering delightful surprises at every turn.

This novel surprised me. It was not at all what I expected but ended up surpassing my wildest expectations! Melanie blends a mafia story and an Amish novel seamlessly and miraculously it all makes sense!

Each character in this story will materialize before your eyes. Melanie crafts them to a tee. You will cheer for some of them and find yourself afraid for them. You can picture Katie in her prayer kapp, Henry's sweet face and imagine Celeste's perfume. Best of all, you will close this book with a profound sense of peace as you know in your heart that anyone can be redeemed!

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes

Nightingale - Susan Mae Warren

About Nightingale: Esther Lange doesn’t love her fiancé—she’s trapped in an engagement after a mistaken night of passion.



Still, she grieves him when he’s lost in battle, the letters sent to her by the medic at his side giving her a strange comfort, so much that she strikes up a correspondence with Peter Hess, an Iowa farmboy. Or is he? Peter Hess is not who he seems. Indeed, he’s hiding a secret, something that could cost them both their lives, especially when the past comes back to life. A bittersweet love song of the home front war between duty and the heart...a battle where only one will survive.


Don’t miss book 1 in this stand-alone collection, Sons of Thunder.

About Susan May Warren : Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.


Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.


Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: http://www.susanmaywarren.com./


Click here to buy the book!

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My Thoughts: Esther Lange is trapped. She is trapped by circumstance, trapped by her mistakes, trapped by people who should love her but do not.


Peter Hess is also trapped. He was trapped in his own country, trapped into war and trapped in the most basic sense of the word.


Linus was also trapped by one night of passion, trapped by family expectations and trapped by injuries that heal on their own time table.


All of the three main characters fight their battles valiantly and after finally trusting the Lord, do they find solace even in difficult situations.


Susan artfully weaves a story that is so vivid, you can smell a hospitol ward, smell the soot and see the sun gleaming off of an Iowa field.


Susan crafts a story that buries itself into your heart and heals wounds you might not even know were there. She delivers a true message in a way like no other author I've read lately.


Nightingale is a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat, will make your heart ache and yet soar in it's pages.


Perserverance, faithfullness, submission and love are at the root of this fascinating tale!

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes***************************************************


Contest info: The Letters From Home Giveaway!


Enter the Contest: Nightingale is about letters, the power of written correspondence to convey thoughts and emotions to those far away. And sometimes near. Letters are forever, they are something we savor and pull out to read again and again. They are often cherished and kept in a special place.


To celebrate the release of Nightingale, Susan would like you to write a letter. One grand prize winner will receive a Flip HD Camcorder. 5 runner's up winners will win a signed copy of Nightingale. There are two ways to enter the contest by writing letters.


1. Write a letter to a soldier. At the end of the contest we’ll print out and mail your letter for you.


2. Write a letter to a friend, loved one, family member, enemy. Tell them something you wished you’d told them before. Tell them you love them, or maybe how they touched your life. Perhaps an apology is in order or a thank you. Or perhaps you'd like to relate a funny tale or just share life. Whatever it is, submit it here along with your email address and we’ll send it for you.


Enter here or at the SHARE page on the Brothers in Arms website. Or simply click on the button to the right.

Blog tour schedule:

First Things First - Kurt & Brenda Warner

First Things First
by Kurt and Brenda Warner
Tyndale House Publishers

I am not a football fan but I am a Mother of 4. When I picked up First Things First, I was not sure what to expect. I did not already know Kurt and Brenda's story. I did not know who Kurt was or even who the Cardinals were!

Before I knew it, I was hooked on the Warners story. I couldn't imagine what I could possibly have in common with an NFL players family. These two really surprised me!

First, Kurts complete transparency in his writing touched me. His love for his wife and children warmed my heart. He shares everything with his readers. He shares the good, the bad, the embarassing and the pride that we all experience but may never speak about.

Brenda also openly shares about everything from her time on public assistance to jealousy and her intimate feelings for everyone in her life.

The Warners grab you and place you right up front and center in their family with all of the chaos, noise, arguements and prayers. They offer refreshing advice that the world needs today. Too many families are living their lives as strangers without faith or hope.

I went from feeling unsure while looking at this cover and thinking "football" to grabbing a notebook to record the Warner family "rules" and various quotes that spoke to me.

This is such an inspiring story that leaves you wanting to be more - to do your best and to step out of your comfort zone to be a better spouse, parent, friend and more!

I've never said this before but I don't think I can do this book justice in a blog review. You just really need to get your hands on it and read it for yourself!

*A copy of this book was provided to me by Tyndale House Publishers for review purposes

I Lift Up My Soul - Charles F. Stanley

Lift Up My Soul


Devotions To Start Your Day With God

by Charles F. Stanley



Wake up to a new day!


Lift Up My Soul is a daily devotional written by Dr. Charles Stanley. Dr. Stanley is the pastor of Frist Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.


Dr. Stanley presents a daily scripture reading as a way to get you into Gods Word. It is a wonderful way to work through some parts of the Bible that you may not have spent much time in. I would say it would be a wonderful idea to meditate on the scripture of the day and apply it's guidance to the rest of the day. It is often amazing to see how you can apply verse to real life situations.


Next, Dr. Stanley presents a few paragraphs that range from real life stories that relate to the message for that day, a story that is inspirational or even insructional. This particular day he speaks of our needs and how important it is to take our needs to God alone and wait for his action. He is stressing the importance of not pushing OUR will on any given situation. It is a good reminder to take all things (big or small) to the Lord.


Lastly, Dr. Stanley presents a prayer for you. These prayers vary from prayers of thanksgiving to requests for knowledge. This devotional truly covers a multitude of situations, topics and instructional material. It is a must for any bedside table and presents a way to build a daily routine for spending time with our Savior and in His Word that is interactive and interesting. It is easy for many Christians to get lost in the Bible and to feel overwhelmed. This book is a wonderful way to break down parts of the Good Word into bite sized pieces that are easily related to.

*This book was provided by Thomas Nelson for review purposes

My Journey to the Land of More - Leona Choy

My Journey to the Land of More
Evangelical to Catholic
by Leona Choy

My Journey to the Land of MORE is literally the journey of one woman into the Catholic faith. Entering the Catholic Church from any background is difficult especially in the beginning. There are so many questions, misconceptions and of course there is the personal opinions of friends and loved ones to contend with. Leona gracefully invites us into her personal journey with honest and frank discussions of each step she took.

As a new convert (I will be received into the Catholic Church in just a little over a week!) I found this book to be perfectly timed for me. Leona delves deeply into the common misconceptions held about the Catholic faith. She covers everything from "worshipping saints" to confession. The reader is placed in a unique position because Leona describes her thoughts and feelings as she approaches each subject, then she takes you on the journey with her to understand and finally arrive at a final conclusion.

Leona was not a new Christian. Her circumstances and her leadership role in the Evangelical community presented a unique set of road blocks for her. Not only is this book a wonderful story of growth and faith, it is also a wonderful resource and treasure trove of Catholic information. Best of all, it is so easy to understand!

*A copy of this book was provided to me by The Catholic Company for review purposes.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on My Journey to the Land of More and be sure to check out their great selection of baptism gifts while you are there.

The Preacher's Bride - Jody Hedlund

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Preacher's BrideBethany House; Original edition (October 1, 2010)byJody Hedlund

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jody has written novels for the last 16 years (with a hiatus when her children were young. In May of 2009 she double-finaled in the Genesis contest, a national fiction-writing contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.Shortly after the final, Jody acquired an agent, Rachelle Gardner of Word Serve Literary. Her agent spent the summer of 2009 working on selling her books. In September of that year, Jody signed a three-book deal with Bethany House Publishers. Jody’s debut novel, The Preacher’s Bride, releases in Oct. 2010. Her next book will release in 2011 and a third in 2012.

                                     ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher--whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family. Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child--and man--she's come to love.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Preacher's Bride, go HERE.



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Question for the Author:

Elizabeth was so easy to relate to. Her struggles were so believable even though some of them were struggles that modern women don't have.
How did you write them with such conviction? How did you make them so believable?


Answer:

Thank you so much for your kind words about my book! I'm glad you liked it!


Wow! And great questions! :-) I think there are a number of reason Elizabeth may have come across as relatable. One, I have a degree in Social Work and really have a heart for the under-privileged. Second, part of my college education for social work was studying the treatment of the poor in past generations. So during the research of this book, I was able to branch off the foundation of what I already knew and dig deeper. And third, I think part of the relatability has do with how an author is able to develop characters, and I do spend quite a bit of time "getting to know my characters" before I begin the writing process.
Hope that answers your questions, Julia. If not I'll try some more! :-)
Blessings,
Jody Hedlund


My Review:
 
This is my first review of a book in this time period. I was completely captivated by Elizabeth, John, Mary and many other personalities in this one. I think my favorite book often changes as I read new ones which now takes this book to the top of my list.



Elizabeth is a character worthy of imitating! Her unique desire to serve where God has planned for her is unbelievable. Should we all be as open to His calling, the world would be a much better place! Elizabeth follows her calling through danger, emotional rollercoasters and numerous situations that place her at the "short end of the stick" if you will.


John is a hard headed man but a Godly man who also follows the Lords calling ultimately almost to his demise. He has tough choices to make, they aren't always pleasant but they are real. It is easy to read this book and fall in love with the people within. You will find yourself crying for Elizabeth, angry at John at times and always wanting to give Mary a hug or pat Thomas on his back. You will no doubt fall in love with this family!


At the end of this book I learned a bit of history that I wasn't aware of that made the book all the more special to me. This one is a must read and a book that you will not want to finish! I found myself yet again wanting to savor and delay the ending. This to me is the mark of a first class book!


I cannot wait to read Jody's next creation!