Mike Huckabee

I usually do not talk about anything but books on here but I decided to make an exception. I found a link on Angela Hunt's blog to an entry on Mike Huckabee on Athol Dickson's blog. His site is http://whatatholwrote.blogspot.com/
They are both Christian authors. He writes a thought provoking post that I highly recommend everybody checking out and recommending to other people.
Brittanie :)

"Saving Sailor" by Renee Riva

Book Description:
The year is 1968. A.J. Degulio spends most of her time with her dog Sailor and sometimes her four other siblings. After spending the first half of summer vacation driving her Italian Catholic family crazy with her fake southern accent, ten year old A.J. finds a soul mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention although he spends most of his time with her brother fishing, who is 13/14 years old like him. Danny and his family are from Oklahoma and come to the island to visit his grandfather. While there a neigbhor calls to tell his mother that another woman has spent the week with his father who stayed home. Apparently this is not the first time. This affects Danny of all the siblings deeply. He talks about it with A.J. on her "beach" which she names Juniper Beach. She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same burning desire to know the God who holds the stars in the heavens and realizes that few people her age think as deeply as the two of them do. However, the depth of their newfound faith and friendship is soon tested when Danny's father betrays his wife, Stella. This affects both families as they become friends. Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored with God's help.

Brittanie: I loved this story. When I picked it up I really did not know what to expect but I am very happy I took a chance with this heartwarming book. The author says in an interview at the end that some of the book is autobiographical of her life. The character A.J. is the lead and the story is told through her eyes. She goes by A.J. because her full name is Angelina Juliana. She is quite a character too like most of her family. She works on her fake southern accent which drives her family nuts since they live in the Northwest and Italian Catholics. Her mother's name is Sophia and likes to pretend to be Sophia Loren in town and fool people and gives out autographs. I love the solid relationship between her mama and daddy. Her dad,Sonny, is a Park Ranger at Indian Lake State Park on the main shore and in the summer they get to stay at the lake. The book focuses on one summer and the events of that summer. I highly recommend this book. It is sweet but has deep moments towards the end.

About the Author:
Renee Riva has been writing humorous stories since she won a writing contest in second grade. Her two previous titles Izzy the Lizzy and Guido's Gondola both published by WaterBrook Press in May of 2005 and met with instant success--over 4000 sold in four months.
Additionally, Riva is a former greeting card verse writer as well as a speaker for women's groups and Young Authors. She and her husband reside in Richland, Washington with their three daughters.

"Crimson Eve" by Brandilyn Collins

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
CRIMSON EVE
(Zondervan October 30, 2007)
by
Brandilyn Collins


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e…® ” She’s so well known in the industry there’s actually a club for her non-readers. That’s right. The Big Honkin’ Chickens Club (BHCC) members are proud of the fact that they’re too wimpy to read Brandilyn’s intense fiction. Now and then one of them tries. Bribing works pretty well. (Just ask Deb Raney.) Somehow they live to tell the tale.Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 17th book. Her first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences. Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith.Visit her website to read the first chapters of all her books.



ABOUT THE BOOK:



Carla stared at the gun and David Thornby—or whatever his name was. Her mind split in two, one side pleading this was some sick joke, the other screaming it was all too real.“Please. You must have the wrong person. There’s no reason for someone to want me dead. I don’t have any enemies.”“Then you’d best rethink your friends.”Realtor Carla Radling shows an “English gentleman” a lakeside estate—and finds herself facing a gun. Who has hired this assassin to kill her, and why?Forced on the run, Carla must uncover the scathing secrets of her past. Secrets that could destroy some very powerful people...Brandilyn Collins fans and reviewers are saying Crimson Eve is her best book yet:


“Collins tops herself by creating a suspenseful nonstop thrill ride … Truly the best Christian Fiction suspense title so far this year.”– Library Journal, starred review



“Crimson Eve is Collins at her very best. It left me feeling as if I’d climbed Mount Everest without oxygen … I didn’t think Brandilyn could outdo herself after reading Coral Moon. She did.”–TitleTrakk.com



“I’ve never edited a more tightly crafted, deftly woven, compellingly written book.” –a Crimson Eve editor, with 20 years experience



“This is your best book! I could not stop reading!” – one of many readers with similar responses


Read about Violet Dawn and Coral Moon, books one and two in the Kanner Lake series.Do you know someone who’s never read a Brandilyn Collins novel? Surely no such person exists. However, should you scrounge up such a friend—someone who enjoys suspense—here’s a special offer from Brandilyn. Be among the first 50 people between now and October 21, 2007 to e-mail her assistant at gayle.brandilyncollins@gmail.com with the person’s name, e-mail address and street address. (Due to exorbitant overseas mailing costs, United States residents only, please).
A signed copy of Crimson Eve will be sent to your friend—free—along with an e-mail from Brandilyn announcing the book is on its way, courtesy of you. (Don’t worry. Brandilyn won’t spam these email addresses. She just wants your friend to know who to thank.) No worries that this story is third in the Kanner Lake series. Each book stands alone. Brandilyn is convinced your friend will so love Crimson Eve, he/she will surely reciprocate with expensive chocolate.



Brittanie: I loved this book. It was my first Brandilyn Collins but will not be the last. Talk about seatbelt suspense. It took hold of me from the beginning and let go at the end. What a trip! I can't wait for the next book in the series.

"The Guy I'm Not Dating" by Trish Perry

Book Description:

“Yowza!” exclaims Kara Richardson when she sees the handsome proprietor of the new delicatessen in town, Gabe Paolino at the gym where she is a personal trainer. He soon expresses mutual interest. This would be the start of a perfect love story, except for one thing—after a messy breakup Kara has vowed to stop dating for a while and only be friends with the men in her life. She is determined to rely on God's leading and not on her heart for romance. She read a book on not dating which in turn leads Gabe to read the same book.

But when humorous circumstances send Kara and Gabe on a road trip to Florida, hope springs anew. Her vow of not dating is challenged daily. Fortunately a group of friends and family tag along in the deli van. It makes for a very interesting journey that is entertaining and full of surprises. Even with Kara’s flirtatious coworker Tiffany—“a hyena in heels”—along for the ride, the uncouple begins a lively journey that could change their paths forever.

This memorable, charming story of love’s persistence captures the honor of waiting on God’s timing, and the adventure of finding the perfect guy to not date.

Brittanie: I liked this book but it had a very slow start. Toward the middle once the journey began it really got good. I liked the interaction between Gabe and Kara. It is obvious from the beginning that they should be together. This book had laugh out loud moments and some touching serious ones too. There are a few conversions to Christianity but as long as you are Christian you will not find the book overly preachy. I was personally touched by all of them. I was expecting a light chick lit and while I got that there was also deep satisfiying characters and plot line. The sequel "Too Good To Be True" is out now. It is the story of one of Kara's best friends Ren.

"Nobody" by Creston Mapes

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
NOBODY
(Multnomah Fiction September 11, 2007)
by
Creston Mapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Creston Mapes is a talented storyteller whose first two novels, Dark Star and Full Tilt, made him a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards and the Inspirational Readers Choice awards. Creston has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries, including Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Oracle, Focus on the Family, and In Touch Ministries. Committed to his craft and his family, Creston makes his home in Georgia with his wife, Patty, and their four children.He's been married for twenty-one years to the girl he first loved way back in fourth grade. They have three lovely girls and a boy in a very close-knit family, spending a lot of time together - watching old classic movies, going on outings, and taking in various school and community events and activities. Creston loves to go for morning walks with his dog, read, paint watercolors, meet friends for coffee and Bible study, watch hockey, take his wife on dates, and spend time in God's Word.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Not everything that happens in Vegas has to stay in Vegas!They said, “He’s a nobody.”They were dead wrong.When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation–and perhaps a chunk of the money–into his own hands?With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious dead man, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.Uncovering bizarre links between a plane crash, a Las Vegas pit boss, a dirty cop, and a widowed Atlanta business mogul, Hudson is forced to find out: who was Chester Holte, what was he doing on the streets, and why are his homeless friends convinced he was an angel in disguise?

“Nobody was absolutely riveting from the opening scene to the final page. With compelling characters, a plot that surprised me at every turn, and a subtle, yet profound message that moved me to tears, this book goes straight to the top of my highly recommended list.”- Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Within This Circle

“A taut, entertaining novel of mystery, intrigue, and spiritual truth. Creston Mapes delivers a winner in Nobody.”- James Scott Bell, bestselling author of No Legal Grounds and Try Dying

“Nobody had me fascinated from the first paragraph and kept the surprises coming to the very end. Somehow, as the pages flew by, it also managed to convey a beautiful picture of faith the size of a mustard seed. From now on I’ll read anything by Creston Mapes the instant it hits the shelves.”- Athol Dickson, Christy Award—winning author of River Rising and The Cure

Brittanie: I really liked this book. I will not think of homeless people the same again. It was different and I liked that too. What would it be like to give up on purpose living in a house and everything you ever knew? This book kept me guessing till the end. I love the mystery suspense part of it. I highly recommend this book.

Dearest Dorothy If Not Now When? by Charlene Baumbich

Book Description:

Home is where the heart is—and this Partonville homecoming will warm the hearts of all Dearest Dorothy fans this fall The colorful characters of Partonville, Illinois, are back once again to delight Charlene Ann Baumbich’s ever-growing legion of fans. Dorothy is thrilled that her attorney son Jacob is moving back to their hometown and wonders if he might help Katie Durbin with more than legal matters. Meanwhile, Partonville’s mayoral elections have just heated up. Incumbent Gladys McKern is being challenged by Sam Vitner, owner of Swappin’ Sam’s, whose campaign slogan is “McKern’s had her turn! Time to SWAP! VITNER for Mayor!” And the contest to name Katie’s new mini-mall incites competition and a mad dash of entries. Through it all, Dorothy’s spirit and the Partonvillers’ antics will keep readers wanting to circle the town square again and again

Author:

Charlene Ann Baumbich, an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, is the author of five Dearest Dorothy novels and six nonfiction books of humor and inspiration.

http://www.welcometopartonville.com

http://www.dontmissyourlife.com

Email Charlene: charlene@dontmissyourlife.com

Review:

“Fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford or Philip Gulley’s Harmony will revel in the antics of the residents of Partonville. . . . The characters are quirky and charming.”—Publishers Weekly

Brittanie: I love this series. I saw an article on them a few years back and kept it in the back of my mind to look for this author. I am not sure how much later that I discovered the library had two. So I rented those two and decided I had to have more so ever since I have looked forward to the next installation and bought them the second I could find them. I really enjoy reading about the small town with memorable characters. The only thing for me is I would have liked more of a development in the romance between Katie Durbin and Dearest Dorothy's son Jacob. Otherwise enjoy the adventures of Pardon me ville. I highly recommend this cute series. :)

My Reading Buddy,Little Baby, and Me