Weekly Preview & Giveaway (5)

Welcome to week five of my feature where I preview what I will be reviewing this week and also where you get a chance to enter to win one of the books I am reading this week plus two books from my giveaway page.  All you have to do to enter is leave your name and email in the Rafflecopter below.  All other entries are optional.  Open to US/Canada only, ends 11/12.  Only Circle of Secrets and Asenath are not up for grabs this week, they are ebooks.

First up last week's winner is: 

Donna @ The Happy Booker

Monday:

Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren (FIRST Wild Card Tour)

There are no second chances. Or are there? 

Krista Mueller is in a good place. She’s got a successful career as a professor of history; she’s respected and well-liked; and she lives hundreds of miles from her hometown and the distant mother she could never please. It’s been more than a decade since Alzheimer’s disease first claimed Charlotte Mueller’s mind, but Krista has dutifully kept her mother in a first-class nursing home.

Now Charlotte is dying of heart failure and, surprised by her own emotions, Krista rushes to Taos, New Mexico, to sit at her estranged mother’s side as she slips away. Battling feelings of loss, abandonment, and relief, Krista is also unsettled by her proximity to Dane McConnell, director of the nursing home—and, once upon a time, her first love. Dane’s kind and gentle spirit—and a surprising discovery about her mother—make Krista wonder if she can at last close the distance between her and her mother … and open the part of her heart she thought was lost forever.

Tuesday:

Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger (Teen Book Scene)
Two girls: Best friends Hattie and Delores feel that life in their small New Hampshire town is a dead end.
One horse: Old and about to be put down, Speed gets a reprieve when Hattie and Delores decide to save him.
A road trip: Determined to set Speed free, Hattie and Delores drive him west in search of rangeland. But the road takes some unexpected turns as the girls get their own taste of freedom—and as they confront the reasons they left home.

A Lasting Impression by Tamara Alexander (Litfuse Publicity)

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee her home, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe, who shows her kindness by not turning her in to authorities. But when he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged him. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville society, Claire believes her dream of creating a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach—but only if her past remains hidden.
The Federal Army destroyed Sutton's home, confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined—as well as the woman he loves.
Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves—and each other—for who they really are.

Wednesday:

Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little (Teen Book Scene)


Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a haunting story of friendship and family and the power of faith, once again set against the lush backdrop of the Lousiana bayou.
After her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou.
Her new classmates tease and torment her, so Shelby's relieved to finally find a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. The only person who might be able to explain is her mamma -- but Shelby's not ready to ask. Not yet. It may take a brush with something from the beyond to help Shelby see that the power to put her own ghosts to rest is within her reach.
Kimberley Griffiths Little's haunting and powerful tale brings one girl's attempt to grapple with family, friendship, and forgiveness to beautiful, vivid life.

Thursday:

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson (Revell)

The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share--that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic

Friday:

Asenath by Anna Patricio

Two Destinies...One Journey of Love

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

The Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale by Elena Pasquali, Sophie Windham

Three forest trees dream of what they will one day become. One dreams of becoming a royal throne; one of being a ship that can withstand any storm; and one longs to stay in the forest and grow as tall as tall can be. When they are felled, it seems their dreams are over. But as each tree is crafted into a new item - a manger, a fishing boat, and a rugged cross - it becomes clear that through the role they play in one important life their hopes are more than fulfilled. This traditional folktale is accompanied by stylish artwork from a highly sought-after children's book illustrator, and will help set the Christmas and Easter stories into the overall context of the Christian faith.

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. To see this weeks list of participants go here.

Another wonderful mailbox week, check out what came in this week.

Kiss of the Vampire by Cynthia Garner (Forever Romance - Grand Central Publishing)

Pub Date: Feb 1, 2012

Warriors of the Rift

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world-or send it spiraling into chaos.
Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

The Marbled Swarm by Dennis Cooper (Harper Perennial)

Pub Date: Nov 1, 2011

Literary cult hero Dennis Cooper delivers his highly anticipated new novel. Written in a voice that is lush and intricate, The Marbled Swarm is Dennis Cooper’s most accomplished (and most beguiling) work to date. Cooper tells the story of a man who secretly influences his son to commit a grisly act. Justin Taylor, author of The Gospel of Anarchy, calls The Marbled Swarm “a mindbending masterpiece . . . vivid, slippery, ferocious, and rich with secrets. Nobody else could have written this novel and nothing else like it exists.” Cooper, following his collections Smothered in Hugs and Ugly Man, offers his fans the expansive novel they have been waiting for—one that will become a touchstone of outsider literature.

 Wayward Saints by Suzzy Roche (Voice)

Pub Date: Dec 27, 2011

Mary Saint, the rule-breaking, troubled former lead singer of the almost-famous band Sliced Ham, has pretty much given up on music after the trauma of her band member and lover Garbagio’s death seven years earlier. Instead, with the help of her best friend, Thaddeus, she is trying to piece her life together while making mochaccinos in San Francisco. Meanwhile, back in her hometown of Swallow, New York, her mother, Jean Saint, struggles with her own ghosts.
When Mary is invited to give a concert at her old high school, Jean is thrilled, though she’s worried about what Father Benedict and her neighbors will think of songs such as “Sewer Flower” and “You’re a Pig.” But she soon realizes that there are going to be bigger problems when the whole town—including a discouraged teacher and a baker who’s anything but sweet—gets in on the act.
Filled with characters that are wild and original, yet still familiar and warm—plus plenty of great insider winks at the music industry—Wayward Saints is a touching and hilarious look at confronting your past and going home again

The Time In Between by Maria Duenas (Atria Books)

Pub Date: Nov 8, 2011

The Time In Between is a word-of-mouth phenomenon that catapulted María Dueñas, a debut author, to the top of Spain’s bestseller lists.

This sweeping novel, which combines the storytelling power of The Shadow of the Wind with the irresistible romance of Casablanca, moves at an unstoppable pace. Suddenly left abandoned and penniless in Algiers by her lover, Sira Quiroga forges a new identity. Against all odds she becomes the most sought-after couture designer for the socialite wives of German Nazi officers. But she is soon embroiled in a dangerous political conspiracy as she passes information to the British Secret Service through a code stitched into the hems of her dresses. 

 Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Kensington Teen)

Pub Date: Nov 29, 2011

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword..

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

FIRST Wild Card Tour & Review: The Power of a Praying Wife Devotional by Stormie Omartian

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Stormie Omartian

and the book:

The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional: New Ways to Pray for Yourself, Your Husband, and Your Marriage

Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)

***Special thanks to Karri James of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***

MY REVIEW:
I have not gone through this fully but I have skipped around and read various devotions through the book and I have to say that each one of these devotions has really spoke to me as a wife.  Some have applied to something my husband is going through and I have though "Oh wow - I didn't think about it that way" and I prayed for my husband.  Others really didn't apply, but they gave me food for thought for a time when it might apply in my life.  All the devotions are interesting and heartfelt and great ways to think about your husband and pray for him, yourself and your marriage.

I found this to be an extremely useful book and I will continue to read these short devotions daily as a way to draw closer to God and closer to my husband.  I really like the way Ms. Omartian has done this book.  It is thoughtful and very God-centered and marriage-centered as you would expect and it has given me new ways to look at and out for my husband.  So if you are in the market for a new devotional book, this is a great one to try, each devotion is just 2-3 pages long, a quick 5-10 minute read with a prayer to pray at the end.  It's great food for thought for each day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stormie Omartian is the bestselling author (more than 13 million books sold) of The Power of a Praying® series, which includes The Power of Praying® for Your Adult Children, The Power of a Praying® Wife, The Power of a Praying® Husband, and The Power of Prayer™ to Change Your Marriage. Her many other books include Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On, The Prayer That Changes Everything®, The Power of a Praying® Woman, and The Power of Praying® Through the Bible. Stormie and her husband, Michael, have been married more than 37 years and are the parents of two adult children.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian is a book close to her own heart—The Power of a Praying® Wife Devotional. Following up on the insights and prayers of The Power of a Praying® Wife (more than 3.5 million books sold) 100 brand-new devotions, prayers, and supporting Scriptures offer a praying wife fresh ways to pray for her husband, herself, and her marriage.

These easy-to-read devotions will increase any wife’s understanding, strength, and peace, as well as provide her with perspective on the situations and challenges she faces. And each prayer will help both husbands and wives be more attuned to the Holy Spirit so they can do what’s right without allowing negative emotions or unclear thinking to get in the way.

A must-have for anyone wanting God’s best for this most important relationship.








Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736926925
ISBN-13: 978-0736926928

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

When I Desire Greater Persistence in Prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As a wife, you need the kind of prayer habit that doesn’t give up or allow discouragement to get in the way, but instead persists and keeps on praying and asking.

When God told Abraham He intended to determine if Sodom was deserving of destruction, Abraham then interceded, praying on behalf of however many righteous people might be there. He asked God if He would destroy Sodom if fifty righteous people were found there, and the Lord said He would not. Abraham then asked if He would destroy the city if forty-five righteous people were found there, then forty people, then thirty, then twenty. Each time Abraham asked, God said He would not destroy it for that many people. Finally Abraham said, “Suppose ten should be found there?” And God said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten” (Genesis 18:32). As it turned out, only four righteous people were there, so God destroyed it. But Abraham had stopped asking at ten.

We need the kind of persistence in prayer that causes us to continue asking as Abraham did. Too often we stop short. Perhaps Abraham stopped asking because he couldn’t imagine that there wouldn’t be at least ten righteous people in Sodom. Or perhaps by then God had proved His point and revealed His intentions. God knew the city was wicked enough to destroy, but He saved the four righteous people—which were Lot, his wife, and their two daughters (Genesis 19:29).

Your prayers are powerful to save too. So keep asking and continue seeking, and don’t ask for crumbs when God wants to give you the banquet. When it comes to praying for you and your husband and your marriage, ask God to help you persist in prayer for even what may seem impossible. Ask for your marriage to not only be saved, but to be good. Ask for it to not only be good, but to be great. God doesn’t say “No” to what is His will. If your husband has a strong will that refuses to submit to God’s will, persist in praying that God’s will wins out.


My Prayer to God

Lord, I pray You would help me to be persistent in prayer—to ask and keep asking for what I believe is Your will. I know anything less than love, selflessness, kindness, peace, and generosity of soul is not Your will in my relationship with my husband. Help me to persist in praying for nothing less than the high standard You have for our marriage. Give me a vision of how You want me to pray. Show me the way You want our marriage to be and help me to pray accordingly so that it becomes all that.

I know I cannot force my husband’s will to be anything other than what it is, but You can touch his heart and turn it toward You. I pray You would do that. May he welcome Your Lordship in his life. Help me to pray consistently and passionately, and to persevere no matter what is happening. I thank You in advance for the great things You are going to do in both of us and in our marriage.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Guest Blog: Teenage Garage Sale by Megan Bostic (Never Eighteen)

If I were to have a garage sale from my teen years, here’s what you’d find:
Posters,$1.00 each: Posters of James Dean, the Beatles, the Cure, and the Police mostly.
 
12 inch single records, $100 for the whole collection: One thing we collected back then were what we called 12 inch singles. They were records kind of like iTunes where you didn’t have to buy the whole album, you could just buy one song. My favorite singles were Kiss Me by Steven Tin Tin Duffy, Poison Arrow by ABC, Forever Young by Alphaville (yes, Jay-Z’s version is a cover), Blue Monday by New Order, How Soon is Now by the Smiths, Every Day is Halloween by Ministry, and Love Cats by The Cure, but I had many more.


 

Oversized Sweaters $3 each: These were very popular. I had them in various colors, mostly bought from the Limited.


Swatches, $10 each: These were Swiss Watches that came in all sorts of colors and designs. You could even buy face protectors for them.





 


Stirrup Pants, $1.00 per pair: Everyone wore them, even some of the new wave guys.

Bangle Bracelets, $2.00 per set : Plastic, metal, rubber, didn’t matter as long as we were wearing at least 10-20 up our arms.



 


Jelly Shoes, $1.00 per pair: Very popular, totally uncomfortable. I had a few pairs in different colors.




Crystal here:  Megan - we must be close to the same age, I'm probably a little older, but I'm very familiar with all of this from my childhood and being a teenager, I loved my 12" single records - still had them up until a few years ago and I coveted my Dad's Beatles and Rolling Stones Albums as well.  Jellies came back when I was in college, but they came back as platform jellies, you thought the flats were uncomfortable . . .

Thanks for the post - it was a walk down memory lane for me.  I love How Soon is Now and almost anything by The Cure and I'm pretty sure I will now be singing Poison Arrow the rest of the day.

Trailer Thursday: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Check out the trailer for the new book, The Keeper coming out January 2, 2012 from Suzanne Woods Fisher. This is the first book in her new Stoney Ridge series, and if you've read Suzanne Woods Fisher you know you want this. If you haven't read her yet, then watch the trailer and give her a try. I love her books, I just read and reviewed A Lancaster County Christmas which was excellent!

Author Interview: Joseph Monninger (Finding Somewhere)

Today I welcome Joseph Monninger, author of Finding Somewhere.  Joseph is currently on tour with Teen Book Scene Tour, so check out the other tour stops to find out more about the book and the characters.  Right now join me and find out more about the author.

1.  What was your inspiration behind Finding Somewhere?
Well, I like animals.  But I also like a straight-forward narrative.  There’s nothing better than a trip for a plot device.  It has a natural beginning, middle and end.  Add a horse, and two young women, and you have Finding Somewhere.


2.  What is a typical writer's day like for you?

I wake up early and write.  I have a small shed in a meadow behind our house and I go there and write.  In winter I have to make a wood stove.  It’s a beautiful spot and entirely silent.  I write standing up.  Have for years.  I try to write 1,000 words a day.  I usually manage to do that.  When I finish, I come into the house and have breakfast.  A second cup of coffee or tea.


3.  What is you least favorite thing about being an author?

The hardest thing for me is the time between books.  I am casting around, trying to come up with something new, and I get impatient.  I know the idea will come eventually, but sometimes it takes a while.  I get grumpy.  I’m better off when I am working on a manuscript.


4.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

When a scene really goes well.  When you know what you’ve written is truthful and honest and has an impact.  That doesn’t happen all the time, but it does now and then and it’s a great feeling.



5. Which character spoke to you the most in Finding Somewhere?

I like Hattie.  I like her vulnerability, but I also kind of like the two main characters together.  They form a third character in some ways.  They have courage, but they are unsure.  Still, they conquer their fears and do what they believe is right.  I like that about them.


Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger

Two girls: Best friends Hattie and Delores feel that life in their small New Hampshire town is a dead end.
One horse: Old and about to be put down, Speed gets a reprieve when Hattie and Delores decide to save him.
A road trip: Determined to set Speed free, Hattie and Delores drive him west in search of rangeland. But the road takes some unexpected turns as the girls get their own taste of freedom—and as they confront the reasons they left home.

2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

Another great challenge to take part in the 2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge.  Specific details can be found at The Book Vixen, but the main gist is to read as many books as you would like featuring men in uniform (police, firefighters, paramedic, doctor, vet, army, navy, air force, marine corps, etc.). 

I am going to choose the Chief level and go for 16+ books featuring Men in Uniform. 

I'll list the books I read here in 2012 and link up the reviews.  Have a suggestion of a book for me to read, put it in the comments.  I love suggestions!

1.