CFBA: Chameleon by Jillian Kent

Song Stuck on the Brain:  We've Got Tonight by Phillip Phillips 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
Chameleon Realms (May 15, 2012)
by
Jillian Kent

MY TAKE: 

Lady Snoop. What a great character endearment. :) Lady Victoria, as the rest of London knows her, is ready for her big adventure and can't help but find herself drawn into a rather gruesome murder mystery. The author did a great job of balancing the bleak tones of asylums, murder and revenge with a lighthearted sense of humor and romance. Victoria is the perfect window to see the story through, her insight and wisdom gained from years being ill and learning to read people serve her well. Her innocent and compassionate heart glow like light in a dark, cynical world; illuminating both the good and bad in those around her.

The witty bantering between Victoria and her paramour Lord Witt is well done, and I loved the addition of Victoria giant horse of a dog. Animals are people too, as we say in our family, and Lazarus was a perfect example of that.

Chameleon is book 2 in the Ravensmoore Chronicles. I didn't realize that when I optioned to review this one, but thankfully I didn't feel like I was lost in the story. It stood up well as a novel on it's own. I do recommend reading Secrets of the Heart first however, I would have given the chance. There are references to it and I know I would have enjoyed it as well.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

How much can you really know about someone?
Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords of Parliament. Victoria is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

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



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jillian Kent is a busy writer and the alter ego of Jill Nutter, a full-time counselor.

Jill spent the first semester of her senior year of college at Oxford studying British Literature, where she fell in love with England. During this season, she came to appreciate the written word, the rich imagery of romantic poetry like The Highwayman, and historical novels of many types, including Jane Austen and all things Regency.

Jill received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bethany College in West Virginia, and her Masters Degree in Social Work from WVU, and she brings her fascination with different cultures and societies into her writing.

Jill has always been a romantic at heart, so readers will find a good dose of romance woven through each of her novels. Jill, her husband Randy, and children Katie and Meghan are animal lovers. They currently own two dogs, Boo-Boo and Bandit and a menagerie of cats, Lucky, Yuma, Snow, and Holden. Critters of all assortments make their appearance in her stories.

CFBA: My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Song Stuck on the Brain: Don't Take the Girl by Tim McGraw. Oddly enough, this one got stuck in my head in the middle of the night, BEFORE I started reading this book and it hasn't let go yet. Turned out to be a perfect song for this story in a lot of ways. 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:  My Stubborn Heart Bethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012) by Becky Wade

MY TAKE:

Okay, Becky Wade, I'm telling you the same thing I tell my sister every day... Get out of my head! :) Angel and I have our neural wi-fi set on the same frequency. We put a whole new meaning to being on the same wavelength. Ms. Wade just hacked my neural wi-fi. It's the only logical explanation for why Kate and I connected so much. (Swap the skinny for the 'full figured' and I felt like Kate could be me.)


I loved Kate and Matt's story, the humor was spot on, the romance was toe curling and Matt was the hottest man I've never seen. More than that though, the story goes above and beyond in telling a story of true love. She could have ended the story with Kate and Matt happily ever after in Redbud, PA. It would have been a good happy ending - and we would all have missed out on the true romance and passion that comes in the end. A VERY happy ending. I couldn't put it down. It left me all dreamy and happy and wishing I had another Becky Wade book waiting for me. Can't wait to see what comes next.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Sensational CBA Debut in Contemporary Romance!

This summer author Becky Wade makes her CBA debut with a fun -- and funny -- contemporary romance. Amidst the light-hearted banter and laugh-out-loud moments is a compelling spiritual journey of one woman's choice to listen to God and wait on him. Filled with humor and authentic romance, My Stubborn Heart is shaping up to be the hit of the summer.

Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When Kate's grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Yet, she discovers a different kind of project upon meeting the man hired to renovate the house. ;Matt Jarreau is attractive and clearly wounded -- hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Kate can't help but set her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light... whether he likes it or not.

If you would like to read the first chapter of My Stubborn Heart, go HERE.


 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas.

CFBA: Submerged by Dani Pettrey

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing: SubmergedBethany House Publishers; Original edition (May 1, 2012) by Dani Pettrey


MY TAKE:

Unfortunately, my copy hasn't arrived yet, but as soon as it has a review will be posted. In the mean time, take a look at this weeks book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Just in case you’re curious…The real Dani does love traveling. She’s been to some amazing places (Greece, Hawaii, the Keys) and there are many more she hopes to visit in the future.

And while she’s not quite up to sky-diving, cave diving or heli-skiing (too high, too enclosed, too cold!) she and her family love hiking, canoeing, wave jumping and a ton of other outdoor adventures a little further down on the risk scale.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town . . . until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer
has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge.

She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

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

CFBA: The Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy

Song Stuck on the Brain: Celebrity by Brad Paisley... Old Man River... Big Girls Don't Cry by Frankie Valley... Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy?... It's been a rather odd music shuffle in the old bean today.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing: The Sound of Red ReturningKregel Publications (December 9, 2011) by Sue Duffy

MY TAKE:

The title is very appropriate, a foreshadowing of what's to come. I thought Russian spies went out with the coldwar, but Sue Duffy has definitely proved me wrong. It's a little like a flashback to a well loved and comfortable story, with a nice fresh update. Just proves the somethings in life never change. Politics and greed for example. Thankfully, the other things that are just as immovable are Jesus' love for His children and the hope we find in that promise. A nice cozy read.
ABOUT THE BOOK:

After losing everyone she loves, concert pianist Liesl Bower has nowhere to go but to escape into her music. Searching for the peace she usually finds in her concertos and sonatas, Liesl can't shake the feeling that she is being haunted by her past . . . and by someone following her. When she spots a familiar and eerie face in the audience of a concert she's giving for the president in Washington, DC, the scariest day of her life comes back to her with a flash.

It has been fifteen years since Liesl watched her beloved Harvard music mentor assaulted on a dark night in Moscow and just as long since the CIA disclosed to her that he'd been spying for Russia. She had seen that man-that eerie face-the night Professor Devoe was attacked. And now he's back-and coming for her.

ENDORSEMENTS:

“Sue Duffy has mixed the mayhem of political intrigue with the melody of romance.” —Dick Bohrer, author, editor, and former journalism professor

“Intrigue and suspense come together in an incredible story of love and betrayal, commitment and courage, power and danger . . . and a God who controls it all. Sue Duffy is a wonderfully gifted writer and this book is a must-read.” —Steve Brown, founder and president of Key Life and host of Steve Brown Etc.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sound of Red Returning, go HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Moody magazine, The Presbyterian Journal, Sunday Digest, and The Christian Reader. She is the author of Mortal Wounds (Barbour, 2001), Fatal Loyalty (Kregel, 2010), and The Sound of Red Returning (Kregel, 2011). Sue has also contributed to Stories for a Woman’s Heart (Multnomah). She and her husband, Mike, have three grown children.

CFBA: Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:



Moonblood

Bethany House Publishers (April 1, 2012)



by

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

MY TAKE:

Moonblood has been a highly anticipated book for me. I love fairytales and fantasy of all sorts, but the author doesn't write just any old fluff, her stories are meaty and full of deeper meanings. Not quite Grimm Brothers, but so much more than Disney. I love Disney, I think I've seen more princess movies than my nieces, but the Tales of Goldstone Wood series has stood out from the rest with its depth and color. So very alive and three dimensional. My only wish is that I could have read them all back to back rather than waiting between publishing dates. I find that my poor memory has a hard time retaining so many details when I read as much as I do between releases. It all came back as I was reading, but I know it would have been even more incredible if I could have imersed myself in that world from begining to end. Which I will probably do at some point down the road - a long weekend with Anne Elisabeth Stengl and dark chocolate.

For those of you that are new to the series, you have an advantage. Be sure you have all 3 books on hand and dive in.

You can see my reviews for the other books in the series by following the links:

Book 1: Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Book 2: Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Moonblood Draws Near, and Soon the Dragons Will Wake

Desperate to regain the trust of his kingdom, Prince Lionheart reluctantly banishes his faithful servant and only friend, Rose Red. Now she is lost in the hidden realm of Arpiar, held captive by her evil goblin father, King Vahe.

Vowing to redeem himself, Lionheart plunges into the mysterious Goldstone Wood, seeking Rose Red. In strange other worlds, Lionheart must face a lyrical yet lethal tiger, a fallen unicorn, and a goblin horde on his quest to rescue the girl he betrayed.

With the Night of Moonblood fast approaching when King Vahe seeks to wake the Dragon's sleeping children, Lionheart must discover whether or not his heart contains courage before it's too late for Rose Red . . . and all those he loves.

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

DOWNLOAD BOOK ONE: Heartless on Amazon Kindle for FREE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys her profession as an art teacher, giving private lessons from her personal studio, and teaching group classes at the Apex Learning Center. She is married to the handsome man she met at fencing class and lives with him and a gaggle of cats. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. Heartless is her debut novel.

Anne Elisabeth is also the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style.