Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of Glass Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.



ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.

My Review:

5 Stars

To start off with I just wanted to say that I have read all of Gina Holmes books and this one is her best! From the beautiful cover to the powerful story this book captured my attention from the very first page. This is not a complete fluffy, head in the clouds type of book but a poignant telling of how Penny met her husband, the abusive years and how she learns to laugh again and be free of the abusive relationship.

I loved how the story is told by Penny as she is telling the story to her son about his father. She recalls every single moment and really makes the reader feel like they are right along side her. Gina Holmes does an amazing job at making the reader feel ever emotion. This is not an easy book to read, but at the same one that draws you so far in that you can't help but keep reading. Great job on this book Gina and I hope many enjoy it and for some that it may help them see there is something better than living in a abusive situation.

*I received this book through Tyndale and CFBA for the purpose of this review.

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Swept Away Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Mary Connealy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.

Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.

The Sophie's Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.

She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she's one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a cowboy focused on revenge encounters a woman determined to distract him, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't terribly upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.




My Review:

This was my first Mary Connealy book and I am not sure what I think. The book was funny at times, but I just really couldn't get into it. It may have been the western setting which I will admit is not my favorite, but at times I really do enjoy it. I can't say whether I will try more in the series or not. I think in the end it really comes down to it just wasn't for me, but I am sure many people would love it especially those that enjoy a western setting and some humor too.

*I received this book through CFBA for the purpose of this review.

Strands of Deception by Robin Caroll

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Strands of Deception B&H Books (March 1, 2013) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.

Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.

But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Strands of Deception, go HERE.

Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins

About the Book:

Twenty-nine-year-old Lisa Newberry can barely make it through the day. Suddenly widowed and a survivor of a near-fatal attack, she is wracked with grief and despair. Then she hears of a medical trial for a tiny brain chip that emits electrical pulses to heal severe depression. At rope’s end, Lisa offers herself as a candidate.

When she receives her letter of acceptance for the trial, Lisa is at first hopeful. But—brain surgery. Can she really go through with that? What if she receives only the placebo?

What if something far worse goes wrong?

Written in the relentless style for which Brandilyn Collins is known, Double Blind is a psychological thriller with mind-bending twists. Lisa faces choices that drive her to the brink, and one wrong move could cost the lives of many.

My Review:

5 Stars

Wow, Wow, Wow!!!! Double Blind was a fantastic book that kept me up late reading since I just had to know how it was going to all play out. This is the second book I have read from Brandilyn Collins and she has quickly become a favorite author of mine. Her tagline of Seatbelt Suspense is so true and her books are a wild ride that leaves the reader feeling very satisfied. 

This book takes a look into depression and how it can drive someone to look into anything to relieve the debilitating pain that it brings, both physical and emotional. When Lisa Newberry signs up to be included in a double blind trial of a new empowerment chip that is suppose to cure severe depression she ends up in a situation that is far worse than she could ever imagine. It drives her to solve what is going on when she realizes something is not right. It takes strength and determination to solve the mystery that takes more turns that can ever be expected.

If you are looking for a gripping thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seat than look no further to this book and anything else from Brandilyn Collins. I know I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

*I received this book through the publisher and radiant lit for the purpose of this review.

Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart

About the Book:

The past has come knocking on Julia's door. Can she summon the courage to answer betrayal with love?

Julia’s best friend, Marney, broke up her parents' marriage years ago. Now Marney shows up at her Manhattan apartment, asking the impossible—come home to Edisto Island to care for the half-sisters and half-brother she has never known. Marney, recently widowed, has lung cancer. There's no other family to care for the children while she’s in the hospital following surgery.

Julia loathes Marney. But if she doesn’t step in, her own mother—who has never gotten over the divorce—will be called upon to take care of the children. So she heads to South Carolina to keep the peace.

On Edisto, she begins to reconnect with the place and the people and she’s been running from her whole adult life. There’s the local doctor who once stole a kiss from her on that very beach, and the siblings she’s never known—especially the sister with selective mutism named Etta who’s the keeper of nearly every family secret . . . including the very one that just might bind-up Julia’s long-since shattered heart.

My Review:

Moon Over Edisto is the first book I have read by Beth Webb Hart and I will have to say I  liked it. I loved the setting of being in South Carolina and the book is full of memorable characters. I found this book to read at a good pace. I never felt like it went to slow but also didn't find it to be a complete page-turner either.

This book made me think of what I would do if I was in Julia's position. Wow, that would be hard. She really is forced with no real choice and chooses something that is hard for her but in the end ends up being better than she could ever imagine. I felt like this book really shows how our plans are not always what God has planned. Overall I enjoyed this story and felt like the author really made me feel like I was right their in SC with the characters.

*I received this book from booksneeze.com for the purpose of this review.

Upside Down Prayers for Parents by Lisa T. Bergren

About the Book:

Because God Loves Them Even More Than You Do

It’s our instinct as parents to shield our children from harm. But our true responsibility is to raise children equipped to live well for God even in the midst of struggle. Upside-Down Prayers for Parents encourages us to pray for our children in ways we may never have before:

• I pray you’ll get caught doing things wrong—and experience the power of confession.
• I pray your prayers will go unanswered—and you’ll find a deeper trust in Him.
• I pray you’ll fail in things that don’t matter—and learn what matters to GoHTd.
• I pray you’ll encounter battles—and discover that God is your greatest ally.

By turning our prayers “upside down,” we not only learn to release our children to the care of God alone, we also uncover how our own desires need to be submitted to God’s will.

Each entry in this thirty-one-day devotional includes a short reflection, a Scripture verse, and ideas to jump-start conversations between you and your child or teenager. Together you’ll discover a deeper trust in God that will help you make it through the upside-down times with a right-side-up perspective. 

My Review:

What a great little devotional for parents with kids of all ages. For those with just babies and toddlers it gives you something to think about as the get older, and those with older kids something that applies to the present.

This devotional encourages parents to pray for things they wouldn't think off. Its prayers that God will put our children in situations that may not be easy but can be used to help them draw closer to God and learn important lessons. This is a challenging book and at times can make you angry because no parent really wants to see their kids go through hard things even knowing they will be better off for it.

I highly recommend this book to any one with kids and those wanting kids in the future. It can even be handy for grandparents to read and encourage them in new ways to pray for their grand children.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.