New Venture at A Pen for Your Thoughts

My friend and fellow Christian author, Shirley Kiger Connolly, has invited me to be a monthly columnist on her blog, A Pen for Your Thoughts. I'll be offering brief, hopefully helpful articles on various mechanics of writing. I'd sure hate to waste all that thought and writing time, so...please - come on over and visit with us! My first column, Words on Display, posted today. We're just waiting for you... ;)

Creative artist Moselle Carson gives new life to old items, but she can’t seem to renew her shattered ideal of love. When she returns to her hometown to help with a new family business, memories of a broken heart and small-town gossip chip away the tough exterior she’s erected over the years. Now she’s forced to decide whether she’ll rebuild the wall or trust that true love never dies when it is ordained by God.

Generous insurance agent and vulnerable firefighter, Eric Todd, remembers too well how he mistreated Moselle and then set her aside. Now he longs for true love and the second chance to become a husband and father. He Can he learn to forgive himself and still keep the secret that may redeem him in her eyes?

Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of Moselle's Insurance by LoRee Peery - the latest release from White Rose Publishing - and receive a $5 White Rose Publishing gift certificate FREE. Purchases must be made on July 30, 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Moselle39S-Insurance

Review: Abundant Comfort and Grace

by Connie Arnold and Gary Strader

Simply beautiful poetry. That’s what Connie Arnold offers in Abundant Comfort and Grace. It’s a little book with a big return. Each page offers something different: encouragement for the discouraged; a mustard seed of faith for those who find theirs lacking; a roadmap to implicit trust, for the reader who has trouble letting go and letting God; a bright glimmer of hope for the hopeless. Connie’s own relationship with her heavenly Father shines through every verse, spills out of the pages, and wraps itself around the reader’s heart like a warm, loving hug.

Any lack of cadence and poetic form (based on official literary rules and guidelines) becomes unimportant when one reads the heart of the writer…and I get the feeling that’s what this writer intended. Every verse is saturated with sincerity, conviction, and an almost tangible desire to uplift and encourage.

Each poem is accompanied by Gary Strader’s gorgeous photography. The heart-stirring poetry, combined with striking photos, make Abundant Comfort and Grace a lovely book to add to any poetry collection.

I can’t imagine anyone being untouched by Connie Arnold’s writing. Keep this one handy—you’ll reach for it more than once.

Review: Child of My Heart

Merry Stahel

Hannah MacKenzie is devastated by her mother’s death following an automobile accident. She’s further shocked to find that her mother was pregnant and doctors were able to save her baby boy. After trying to do the right thing with the surrogate infant, Hannah winds up adopting her tiny half-brother as her own.

The boy’s biological father—who made a less-than-positive impression on Hannah at their first meeting—turns up a year later, ready to claim his son. Hannah fights like the protective mother she has become. Little does she know that Aaron Callahan wants more than his child—he wants her too. And there could be a bit of divine influence making things go his way.

Child of My Heart is a touching tale that’s just improbable enough to be possible. A beautifully written, wonderfully imaginative story that makes the reader want to believe in happy ever after. This short, sweet little read evokes that patented warm and fuzzy feeling that all the best love stories bring to life. Good writing. Great reading.

New Release: In His Sight by Pamela Thibodeaux

Grade school teacher Carson Alexander has a gift—a gift that has driven a wedge between him and his family. Worse, it’s put him at odds with God. Feeling alone and misunderstood, Carson views God’s gift of prophecy as the worst kind of curse…that is until he meets Lorelei Conner, landscape artist extraordinaire, and perhaps the one person who may need Carson and his gift more than anyone ever has.

Lorelei Connor is a mother on the run. Her abusive ex-husband has followed her all over the country trying to steal their daughter. Distrusting of men and needing to keep on the move, she’s surprised by her desire to remain close to Carson Alexander. Through her fear and hesitation, she must learn to rely on God to guide her—not an easy task when He’s prompting her to trust a man.

Can their relationship withstand the tragedy lurking on the horizon?.

Release Day Special offer! Purchase In His Sight by Pamela S. Thibodeaux - the latest release from White Rose Publishing - and receive a FREE pdf of THE INHERITANCE. Purchases must be made on July 23, 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out.

http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/In-His-Sight

Review: Hearts Crossing

by Marianne Evans

When Daveny Montgomery takes on the landscape design project for her home church, Woodland Church of Christ, she doesn’t expect to renovate a man’s heart in the process. But with the fires of her faith waning for lack of oxygen, she’s thrilled to find a reason to kindle the flame.

When his brother died, English teacher Collin Edwards’ faith disappeared, leaving his soul a spiritual desert. He wrote God off, convinced He either wasn’t there or didn’t care. But one look at Daveny, and changes start taking place, allowing tiny seeds of hope and buds of self-forgiveness to find their way into the formerly barren landscape of his heart.

Will Collin find the courage to till the ground, and allow new life to come forth? Can Daveny find the words, be the example, extend the hand that will reach Collin’s carefully guarded place of emotional exile?

Ms. Evans possesses an amazing descriptive talent. The charged atmosphere between the hero and heroine literally pull the reader into every scene. Beautiful characterization and excellent use of imagery make this a book you will read, and read again…and again.

A sweet romance, yet powerful, emotionally gripping, and extremely well written. Can’t wait for more from Marianne Evans!

Review: Valeria's Cross

by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales

Valeria, daughter of Roman Emperor Diocletian, accepts Christ and denies the false gods worshipped by her father. She then falls in love with Mauritius, captain of the Theban Legion, who also worships the one true God.

But a third-century woman, even a princess, has little power over her own life. In a devastating series of events, Mauritius is killed by Diocletian's general, Galerius, who hates Christians and wants Valeria for himself. Crushed by the death of the man she loves, the young woman is forced into an arranged marriage with a man she detests--the general who killed the love of her life.

Can a woman truly find happiness with a man like Galerius? Would she even try?

Valeria's Cross is the story of a woman strong enough to bend, but never break. Fulfilling the prophecy of a blind priest, her life becomes a powerful testimony to Christianity. She's not perfect. Costly mistakes are made, which only make her story more believable. But Valeria's ultimate faith in God, and trust in His plan, is a shining example of total submission...all the way to the end.

Not your everyday love story. Based in part on historical events, Valeria's Cross is almost too realistic. It is not an "easy read." Not the book to pick up for an afternoon of escape from reality. Neither lighthearted romance nor edge-of-the-seat suspense. But if you enjoy a well-written book with no promise of a happily ever...if you like an interesting storyline with disturbing undercurrents and a healthy dose of history, this could be the book for you.

You will close the last page determined to be a better, stronger, more dedicated Christian.

Book of the Week!

Goldeneyes - my own historical novel published through Vintage Reflections Publishing - won the Book of the Week poll over at Long and Short Reviews (for the week of July 11-17, 2010)! I am honored and excited. This book, set partially in the small California farming community where I grew up, will always be the book of my heart. Have you read it? It's available through Vintage (click the link above), Amazon, and most other online booksellers.

Streamlining

I've decided to streamline my blogging efforts, and move all posts over to
My Book Bag. If you're following me here on The Melody Within, I hope you'll continue to follow me on My Book Bag.

You'll find reviews of the books I read, interviews of various authors from time to time, and now I'll be including any personal posts there as well - little slices of life, devotions, news about my books, random thoughts and observations, etc.

Come on over...I'll be watching for you!

New Release: Rodeo Redemption by Teri Wilson

Date: Friday July 16, 2010
Time: All Day

A Former Rodeo Queen
Josie Turner spends her days at the local dog grooming shop pampering the pooches of Angel Springs, Texas. When rodeo season rolls around again, the townfolk are excited about who their new Rodeo Queen might be. Josie, on the other hand, finds herself reminded all too often about a night she'd just as soon forget.

A Former Rodeo Cowboy
Luke Anderson lived for three things – riding, roping and rodeos. Until the day he met Josie Turner, the girl who gave his life meaning, and whose heart he was destined to break. Now, ten years later, he returns to Angel Springs to find the town hasn't changed much, but the girl he left behind has become a stranger he hardly recognizes. What, he wonders, will she think of him, and the man he’s become?

A Rodeo Weekend
Determined to break through the wall Josie has erected around her heart, Luke must face his demons while at the same time helping Josie overcome hers. With the whole town cheering them on, can Luke mend Josie’s heart and can one rodeo weekend help them both find redemption?

Release Day Special offer!
Purchase any edition of Rodeo Redemption by Teri Wilson--The latest release from White Rose Publishing--and receive a FREE .pdf of Teri's award-winning Cup of Joe. Purchases must be made on July 16, 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Rodeo-Redemption

Review: Meander Scar

by Lisa J. Lickel

Ann Ballard is a wife with no husband. Hers has been missing for seven years. Is she a widow, or simply an abandoned woman? Her life goes on, set on automatic while Ann simply exists, putting one foot in front of the other, getting through one day at a time. Denied the financial benefits she should gain from her husband’s trust, she makes ends meet the best she can, lives in the house she once shared with a mostly disinterested man, and deals with a spoiled, resentful son who blames her for the absence of a father in his life.

When the son of a previous neighbor shows up on her doorstep—handsome, successful, and determined to win Ann’s heart despite their age difference—life takes on new meaning. Mark Roth awakens long-dead emotions and physical responses in Ann, who is very much aware of the social taboos involving this type of May-December relationship. Will the disapproval of a snippy sister, the snide disrespect of an unappreciative son, and the raised eyebrows of society cause Ann to walk away from the first thing that’s brought her happiness in more years than she cares to count?

As pressures build, Ann’s chronic migraines increase in frequency and severity. When she stumbles on the truth about her husband’s disappearance, her entire world is threatened, including her own health.

Mark wants to be there for Ann, but when she seems to pull away after a brief visit to New York, he wonders if their love stands a chance. What is bothering this woman that he loves, and will she ever get past the gap in their ages enough to enjoy the happiness he knows they could share? Or…did she find someone more suitable during her solitary trip out of state?

A catastrophic turn of events forces Mark to make a difficult decision. Stay or go? Give up or give his all?

A fascinating book that grips the reader from page one and never lets go. While relationships between young women and older men are at least somewhat accepted, when the genres are reversed, society considers it something ugly and reproachful—especially to the woman. Lickel offers a heart-warming love story based around such a relationship. Meander Scar is beautifully written, with sensitive handling of a delicate issue, and an absolutely fascinating storyline. The unexpected twist at the end comes right out of the blue, forcing the reader to keep turning pages. Masterful storytelling. Very highly recommended.

Review: Long Time Coming

by Vanessa Miller

Elementary school principal Deidre Morris wants a baby, but a physical disorder makes having one highly improbable. After seven years of trying, she’s still not pregnant, and she hasn’t shared with her husband, Johnson, the awful truth she already knew when she married him—that all the trying in the world isn’t likely to make them parents.

Twenty-three year old Kenisha Smalls has three children, each fathered by a different man. Her mother’s an alcoholic who allowed a former boyfriend to molest her children; her brother’s a drug addict; one sister is a lazy dreamer with four rowdy kids, one is dead at the hands of an abusive and unbalanced man, while the other is a responsible career woman who’s worked hard to make something of herself—but it was this sister’s father who stole Kenisha’s innocence, along with her brother’s.

Deidre and Kenisha’s first meeting is not exactly friendly. But the two women soon find themselves connected by a cord of necessity woven strong by a mutual goal. A cancer diagnosis sends Kenisha on an aggressive search for a good home for her three children. She thinks Deidre and Johnson would be perfect parents for her kids…but will Deidre ever find the courage to confess to Johnson her deception? And if she does, will their marriage survive? With the foundations shaken, their relationship may not stand the storm.

In the process of crossing i’s and dotting t’s to help Kenisha ensure the future for her children, Deidre also seeks opportunities to show God’s love to the other woman. Not an easy task. Kenisha is bitter against God, Whose silence in the face of her childhood pleas for rescue from repeated sexual abuse convinced her of His absolute unconcern. Will Deidre have time to soften Kenisha’s heart and see her new friend make things right with her Maker before cancer claims her?

An interesting book. Kenisha’s heartrending circumstances will touch the emotions of any mother who loves her children, and any woman whose innocence has been taken by force. Deidre’s longing for children, even as she struggles with guilt over deceiving a man she truly loves, will speak to another segment of the female readership. The author paints an honest picture of hurting humanity, a sometimes painful look into the hopelessness of lives ruled by poverty, drugs, alcohol and perversion, as well as a glimpse into another kind of world—a more cultured, educated, comfortably middle-class lifestyle.

I can’t in all honesty place Long Time Coming among my favorites either in writing style or content. I found it a little slow at times, but the storyline is captivating and the message sound. It’s certainly worth the read.

Review: Goldeneyes

I've been so wrapped up in the initial promo for Yesterday's Promise, that I was shocked - and very pleasantly surprised - to find a brand, spankin' new review for Goldeneyes over at Long and Short Reviews.

Here's a teaser:

Goldeneyes

by Delia Latham

Publisher: Vintage Reflections

Publishing Genre: Historical, Inspirational

Length: Full (268 pages)

Heat: Sweet

Rating: 5 Books

Reviewed by Cholla

... Rich storytelling combined with believable and lovable characters only enhanced the already well-woven plot. Goldeneyes was filled with twists and turns and surprises I never saw coming. Add to this the faith and Christian values sprinkled throughout the pages and you get an amazing story of love, faith, and endurance of spirit that you won’t soon forget. Delia Latham’s Goldeneyes is a treasure of story sure to make an impact on anyone who picks it up.

Read the rest of the review

Woohoo! Sold my series!

Many of you know that I've been working on a series of three novels based around a Christian dating agency. I am sooo excited to announce that the entire series has been contracted by White Rose Publishing! I will be pounding away at my keyboard for the next several months to meet my deadlines, but I am happy to do it when the stories already have a home.

God is good!

Title: A Time for Healing - by Tamelia Tumlin

Date: Friday July 9, 2010

As an active church member, Jaci Sinclair believes the Christian message that forgiveness is open to all…all except her, that is. Years ago, Jaci made a life-changing mistake, and now she’s sure she doesn’t deserve the one thing she wants the most—a family of her own. But when Hunter Grant walks into her life, her world is turned upside-down. Not only does he make her desire a family even more, he shines a lamp on the one thing she refuses to see.Ex-FBI hostage negotiator, Hunter Grant, has lost the one thing he treasured the most—his family. Filled with bitterness and anger towards God, Hunter vows never to let anyone close to him again. He moves to Yellow Rose, Texas, trying to forget the tragic deaths of his wife and son—deaths he should have prevented. Wanting to lose himself in the sleepy little town, he is not prepared for the powerful feelings Jaci stirs within him. As Jaci’s and Hunter’s worlds collide, neither is prepared to face the demons that haunt their pasts and hinder their future together, but for everything there is a season…even a time for healing.

Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of A Time for Healing, White Rose Publishing’s latest release, and receive a $5 WRP Gift Certificate FREE. Purchases must be made on 9 July 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out.

Book Release: A Time for Healing

Title: A Time for Healing by Tamelia Tumlin

Release Date: Friday July 9, 2010

As an active church member, Jaci Sinclair believes the Christian message that forgiveness is open to all…all except her, that is. Years ago, Jaci made a life-changing mistake, and now she’s sure she doesn’t deserve the one thing she wants the most—a family of her own. But when Hunter Grant walks into her life, her world is turned upside-down. Not only does he make her desire a family even more, he shines a lamp on the one thing she refuses to see.Ex-FBI hostage negotiator, Hunter Grant, has lost the one thing he treasured the most—his family. Filled with bitterness and anger towards God, Hunter vows never to let anyone close to him again. He moves to Yellow Rose, Texas, trying to forget the tragic deaths of his wife and son—deaths he should have prevented. Wanting to lose himself in the sleepy little town, he is not prepared for the powerful feelings Jaci stirs within him. As Jaci’s and Hunter’s worlds collide, neither is prepared to face the demons that haunt their pasts and hinder their future together, but for everything there is a season…even a time for healing.

Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of A Time for Healing, White Rose Publishing’s latest release, and receive a $5 WRP Gift Certificate FREE. Purchases must be made on 9 July 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://bit.ly/9tE9DP

Yesterday's Promise up for "Best Book" at LASR

My March release, Yesterday's Promise, is in the running for Book of the Week at Long and Short Reviews. I'm honored and excited...but I need your votes to make it happen!

Please visit the link below, scan the reviews of competing books (in the genres you read), and - if you can do so honestly, of course - please leave your vote for Yesterday's Promise. I so appreciate all of my readers who are always ready to help out in a pinch!

Voting buttons will be available SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ONLY (JULY 2 & 3).

Here's the link:

http://www.longandshortreviews. com/LASR/recentrev.htm

Yesterday's Promise is in the running for Book of the Week over at Long and Short Reviews! Yaaay! I'm excited...but I need votes to make it happen. Got a minute?

Voting buttons will be available SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (JULY 3-4) ONLY. Check out the reviews from last week and cast your vote for the book you think sounds best. If you can honestly vote for Yesterday's Promise, I'd be ever so grateful... :)

Thanks so much! I couldn't do this writing thing without all of you!

Here's the link:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm