A Novel Christmas List–Especially for Women

If you’re like me, you’ll think it’s still a bit early to talk Christmas shopping, but Thanksgiving is next week, which means Black Friday is almost here. For those of you who have impossible-to-buy-for friends and relatives, in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a book. So, this week and next I’ll be listing a few books from across …

Loving LOVE’S AWAKENING

LOVE’S AWAKENING, Ballantyne Legacy Series (Revell) by Laura Frantz Publisher Description: Ellie finds that her parents are away on a long trip and her siblings don’t seem to want her to stay. When she opens a day school for young ladies, she begins tutoring the incorrigible daughter of the enemy Turlock clan. The Turlocks are slaveholders and whiskey magnates, envious …

September 2013 – Novel Anticipation

September delivers a diverse selection of books–historical, literary, speculative, romance–something for every taste. I’m looking forward to reading all of these. LOVE’S AWAKENING, Ballantyne Legacy Series #2 (Revell) by Laura Frantz – I’ve read this already having received the novel courtesy of Laura Frantz and Revell. (Thank you!) Once again, Laura penned a story that was beauty all around: plot, …

Congratulations 2013 Christy Award Winners!

While there are many organizations that present awards within Christian fiction, in my opinion, the Christy Awards are the premier organization. When the nominees are announced every year, no doubt I’ll have already read a number of those titles, often placing them on a Favorites’ list. This year was no exception. I’m disappointed that two of my favorite authors (and …

Favorite Novels from 2012

My Goodreads bookshelf shows that I read 126 books in 2012. That’s up 19 from the previous year, which surprised me since I’d assumed, at the beginning of 2012, that I’d read less. But, with all those books, only (7) were marked FAVORITE. To receive *Favorite* status, they must combine captivating story, rich prose, complex-authentic-believable characters, and true-to-life dialogue. In addition, all …

A Christmas Smorgasbord of Novels, Part One

(I’m giving away one copy of the Maj (Ret) Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky novel, Hide and Seek. It’s a perfect gift for that special man in your life, or for the woman who loves a military/Special Ops thriller. For contest information, see below) In my opinion, there’s no gift tastier than a book. Is there a better way to send your friends or …

2012 ACFW Conference Highlights

I know I’m breaking a blogging rule by posting a day early, but I can’t wait to share some pictures and bullet-point highlights from this past weekend! FRIENDS! Getting together with friends is always the best part of the conference Hung out with my amazing critique partners, Lorna Seilstad and Shannon Vannatter. Also hung out with several of the Inkspirational …

Savoring Love’s Reckoning

Welcome to the inaugural Book Talk Tuesday! I’m so glad you’ve stopped by today. Hopefully, we’ll visit on a weekly basis. I can’t think of a better way to jump start Book Talk Tuesday than by recommending Love’s Reckoning (Revell Books, 432 pages, September scheduled release), an historical romance written by one of my all-time favorite authors, Laura Frantz. To pique your …