Shattered by Dani Pettrey * A Review

ABOUT SHATTERED

 A Thrilling New Romantic Suspense from the Genre's Newest Star

Piper McKenna couldn't be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed--but despite the evidence, Reef swears he's innocent. And Piper believes him.

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. Piper is frustrated with his need for facts over faith, but he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth may mean risking Landon's career.

With Piper waging her own search, the two head deep into Canada's rugged backcountry--and unexpected complications. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764209833
ISBN-13: 978-0764209833
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

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 one's faith and plenty of romance. She's a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her web site at www.DaniPettrey.com!


MY REVIEW
  I enjoyed reading Shattered by DanI Pettrey. It is book two in the Alaskan Courage series. The characters, places and events of this book are so well described. I enjoyed the first book in this series and will enjoy the other/others.
  I love the large McKenna family and really like Piper and Landon’s love story. It was largely the love story with the suspense and murder story as a second story.
   I really enjoy Christian books, but this one had too much Sexual content. I think Ms. Pettrey should be careful of the things she writes.
  This is a nice suspenseful book and I was very surprised at the ending and why the killer did what he did. It was a plot twister and you thought the killer was after the victim for one thing, but it turns out it was a completely different reason.
Very interesting and delightful read. Recommend it for fast, easy reading.

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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Survivor By DiAnn Mills * A Review

ABOUT THE SURVIVOR

 Is it her next bestseller . . . Or her last words? In The Chase, award-winning author DiAnn Mills introduced you to the world of Kariss Walker, the bestselling suspense author with a nose for trouble. In The Survivor, Kariss gets the chance to tell her most powerful story yet. But will it revitalize her writing career? Or bring it to a violent end? Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into danger. Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss's new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find out who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold case?

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (March 5, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310333229
ISBN-13: 978-0310333227
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader's Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

MY REVIEW
  I really liked The Survivor by DiAnn Mills. I always try to find out who the killer is before the book gets too far along, but couldn’t with this book. It was well hidden and full of surprise and suspense.
  I liked the love story between Tigo and Kariss. It was sweet and an inspiration. They both wanted it to work out between them, but so much baggage and things standing in the way.
  I didn’t much care for Dr. Amy Garrett and her brother. They both seemed full of lies and Amy really seemed fake at times.
  This is book two in the Houston series. I never read book one and was able to read The Survivor without feeling a lot was missing because I didn’t read book one. So The Survivor can be read as a stand alone book.
   I highly recommend The Survivor as a book to read and enjoy. Full of action and suspense and will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed it.

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Thank you to Zondervan for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen *A Review

ABOUT THE TUTOR'S DAUGHTER
Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame...and which brother to trust with her heart?

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764210696
ISBN-13: 978-0764210693
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Two-time Christy Award winner Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more at www.julieklassen.com.


MY REVIEW
  The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen is just a fantastic book from start to finish. This is the first book I’ve read written by Julie Klassen and I’m very glad I did.
  The characters were well thought out and the descriptions of the different homes, places and clothing was just superb. I really enjoyed hearing about Emma, her sweet dad and of course the Weston family.
  In The Tutor’s Daughter you learn that even if someone is different than you doesn’t mean they are less important or less loved. Also first appearances or how we think a person is at first may not be how they truly are.
  Emma is such a sweet, smart loving young lady. You will love this book and read it very quickly.
 I really loved it and know you will too. Highly recommended.

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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

This is Our Time DVD Review

ABOUT THIS IS OUR TIME

Five friends connected by their strong faith and belief in God set out to make a difference in the world following Graduation. Luke and Al‚ marry right after school and move to India to serve as missionaries for Embrace A Village. Budding Financier, Catherine, joins a prestigious financial institution determined to make her mark in the corporate world. Ryder lands an impressive job in social media and can't wait to use the powerful medium for a greater good. Ethan, the odd man out, struggles to find his God-given-purpose and feels sidelined by God. Their ambitions are high, their passions are strong but will they have the courage to fulfill their calling regardless of what comes their way. The sacrifice they are asked to pay may just be too high. Through godly wisdom from an outside source, the group realizes that this is not their time after all, it's all His!

Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Pure Flix Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

Website http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4565#
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsOurTimeMovie


MY REVIEW
  The DVD This Is Our Time to seize God’s calling is very good. The story line is excellent and it kept me interested through every part. The acting was good, but to me it seems like a low budget film. Even so the story really pulled it through and I believe it will be a movie that will last.
  You find everything in this movie from greatest joy, to depths of great sadness. Also you will see favoritism and learn how to deal with loss and to keep going on.
  Even in a world that believes making money is everything you can see that money doesn’t cure problems or help you when you’re down. Also you find in a world that doesn’t follow God that many things are overlooked and put up with.
  Follow these five graduates as they make decsions, some are good and some are bad. How they help each other and how they let God lead them.
 A movie to be watched by the whole family and it will be greatly enjoyed. I highly recommend it.


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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Bridge Apart by David Dipillo *A Review

ABOUT A BRIDGE APART

A wholesome fictional story to intrigue, inspire, and enlighten readers of all ages. Through its graphic imagery and brilliant storyline, "A Bridge Apart" sheds light on important life lessons that must be learned and re-learned in a very material world. Adopt and commit to memory what you learn from this story and you will guarantee your heart and mind will be ever vigilant and focused on what is truly important in life. "A Bridge Apart" is the story of a poor traveling salesman who struggles daily to make ends meet by selling the furniture he lovingly creates. Poor in spirit, he survives in a life of monotony lacking the coin and the confidence to make anything better of himself until a tragic accident that nearly ends his life changes everything . . .

Paperback: 46 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1470052571
ISBN-13: 978-1470052577
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 David DiPillo is a 32-year-old single, Christian man who was born and raised inYoungstown,Ohio.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems fromYoungstown State Universityand a master’s degree in technology fromKent State University.

MY REVIEW

A Bridge Apart by David Dipillo is a very good, short story. By short I mean like 40 pages in which you can read in less than an hour.
 It is a book full of lessons for young and old alike. It is very well written and kept my interest throughout. This book is for all ages, but I think teens and children would really get more out of it.
  The characters are very well described. A Bridge Apart also has a troll and he is very likable and not mean like you hear of every troll before.
  Lessons to be learned are: appearances can be deceiving, greed, forgiveness, charity, honor, encouragement and happiness.
  A very interesting, fun book to read and many things to learn. I would recommend this book to be fun and a learning tool.

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Thank you to the  Author/Publicist  for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley * A Review

ABOUT THE DANCE
The Restoration Series (Book 1)
Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. And why wouldn't she be? He gives her everything she needs. That's why Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone.
After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn has had enough of feeling unloved and neglected. She wants to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it, even signing up for dance lessons, something Jim would never do. What will it take for Jim to finally become the man Marilyn needs him to be?

Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (April 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721489
ISBN-13: 978-0800721480
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 7 novels, published by Revell and Guideposts, including The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas and The Reunion. He has won 3 ACFW Carol Awards (Book-of-the-Year), and his novels have been named finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Novel of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

For those who haven't read Dan's books, reviewers often compare him to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. His latest project is partnering with Gary Smalley on a 4-book fiction series. The first book is called, The Dance, and will release in April 2013. Dan served as a pastor for 25 years and now writes fulltime. He and his wife Cindi have been married 36 years and have 2 grown children, both married, and 1 grandson. They live in Port Orange, FL. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter, or read his blog. There are buttons to connect to these, as well as preview all his books, on his website at http://danwalshbooks.com.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Missouri.


MY REVIEW
  I’ve read all of Dan Walsh’s books and some of Gary Smalley’s and found this book very interesting, but found some of it not realistic.
The Dance is about a couple who have been married for 27 years and the wife isn’t happy, because she doesn’t feel loved or appreciated. The husband just is interested in himself and work. I can understand and believe that, but in The Dance all of the blame is on the husband and the wife seems to be the perfect one. I know in a marriage if there are problems it’s because of both parties. You can’t blame everything on one person.
  I think Marilyn the wife should have stood up for herself and tell her husband I want a job and I want to do some fun things and if he didn’t want her to she could have told him her reasons and talked about it. I think in a marriage you can’t give hints you just have to come out and say something.
  Really I enjoyed The Dance and look forward to book 2, but I don’t see one person in a marriage to be the whole problem. I recommend this book and think it’s worth reading.

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I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Home Run by Travis Thrasher *A Review

ABOUT HOME RUN

Baseball star Cory Brand knows how to win. But off the field, he’s spiraling out of control. Haunted by old wounds and regrets, his future seems as hopeless as his past.

Until one moment—one mistake—changes everything. To save his career, Cory must go back to the town where it all began. His plan is simple: coach the local baseball team, complete a recovery program, and get out as fast as possible. Instead, he runs headfirst into memories he can’t escape ... and the love he left behind.

Faced with a second chance he never expected, Cory embarks on a journey of faith, transformation and redemption. And along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: no one is beyond the healing of God.

A novel based on the major motion picture starring Vivica A. Fox and Scott Elrod, Home Run is an inspirational story of the hope and freedom God offers each of us.
www.HomeRunTheMovie.com

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; Mti edition (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0781408385
ISBN-13: 978-0781408387
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Travis Thrasher is the author of over twenty works of fiction in a variety of genres. He has collaborated with musicians, filmmakers, and pastors. His stories all feature broken characters on journeys toward redemption. Upcoming books for 2013 include the novelization of Home Run and Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not? co-authored with the band Thompson Square.

Travis and his wife, Sharon, live in a suburb of Chicago and have three daughters. For more information on Travis, go to www.travisthrasher.com

MY REVIEW

Home Run by Travis Thrasher Is a very good book. It tells about a man that made many mistakes in his life. He believes it all to be his father’s fault with the way he was mentally abused when he was growing up. He just doesn’t want to take the blame for anything he does wrong. His life is out of control, but he doesn’t see it. So many people love him, but he keeps pushing them away.
   I enjoyed reading this book and felt it was truly one worth reading over. Cory has to learn many important things and go through lots of hard times before he is willing to give everything over to God. Cory finds out that nothing will work or change without God in your life. You can’t do it by yourself. Home Run is also about forgiving yourself and others and how to make each second count. I recommend this book.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander* A Review

ABOUT TO WHISPER HER NAME
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from "Aunt" Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding's head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth's husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.

Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn "the gift" that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.

As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for "betraying" the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.

Set at Nashville's historic Belle Meade Plantation, the most influential thoroughbred stud farm in America's history, To Whisper Her Name weaves the struggles of real people of the post-war South with the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.

Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 23, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310291062
ISBN-13: 978-0310291060
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pound

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers--and multiple industry awards. Among them, the Christy Award, the RITA Award, the Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader's Choice Award, the Bookseller's Best Award, and the acclaimed Library Journal's Top Pick for Christian Fiction. Tamera also enjoys a devoted international following with her books being translated into German, Dutch, Turkish, and Polish.

Tamera's first seven novels are set against the rugged backdrop of the Colorado Territory (1860-70s), but she's recently turned her heart--and her pen--toward "home" and is writing about her own Southern heritage. A Lasting Impression, the first of three Belmont Mansion novels, showcases the larger-than-life history of Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America at the time, and the Belmont Mansion in the years following the Civil War. Tamera's ninth novel, To Whisper Her Name, the first of three Belle Meade Plantation novels, releases October 23, 2012, and tells the story behind the most influential thoroughbred stud farm in our nation's history.

These two Southern series will intertwine, detailing the "real life" history of two of Nashville's most famous homes and their intriguing families. A Lasting Impression was recently named a 2012 Christy Award finalist (an award honoring excellence in Christian Fiction) for Best Historical Romance.

After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband have returned to their native South and live in Nashville, Tennessee, where they enjoy spending time with their two grown children who live nearby, as well as a ten-pound silky terrier named Jack. When she writes, Tamera takes steps closer to Christ, and it's her earnest desire that her readers will do the same, as they read.


Connect with Tamera here:
www.tameraalexander.com
www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/tameraalexander
www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander
http://pinterest.com/tameraauthor/


MY REVIEW
  To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander is an excellent book. I really, really loved reading it. It is now one of my favorites for 2013. This is the second book I’ve read of Tamera’s and she is a super story teller and full of compassion and love shown through her characters.  I will be happy to read anything written by Tamera Alexander’
  I love how she weaved the story of Olivia and Ridley and how they came to know each other and become friends. Both have horrible past that they would soon as forget, but the past always comes in to ruin a friendship or life.
 I just love how the characters were described and how easily it is to love them and feel like you belong right in the story.
 Usually I don’t care to read about stories about the after effects of wars, but this one was done in such a way that it was a pleasure to read.
  I highly recommend To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander. I know you will love the story line, the characters and the beautiful settings.

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Thank you to Zondervan for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255