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Communities
Review: For Pete’s Sake by Linda Windsor
Ellen is a tomboy at heart. She rides a Harley. She hates dressing up. She doesn’t mind getting dirty from time to time. She wonders if she’ll ever meet her true love.
Then widower Adrian moves in next door with his son Pete. There’s something special about Pete, and Ellen is drawn to him right away. And Pete’s dad isn’t bad looking, either. As Ellen spends time with Pete, helping him through some of his troubled times, she finds herself falling for Pete’s dad.
There’s only one problem. Adrian is engaged. That doesn’t seem to matter to Ellen’s meddling mother, who is determined that Ellen and Adrian are made for each other.
What I Liked
For Pete’s Sake is a sweet story, and I loved all of the relationships in the story. Adrian and Pete. Ellen and Pete. Adrian and Ellen. And there were so many more.
I loved the fact that Linda Windsor crafted Pete as a loveable kid with an increasingly common disability. That made the story even more real for me. I think it also broke down some stereotypes about this particular issue. (And I won’t tell you what it is, so I don’t spoil the story for you).
The story contains plenty of intrigue, with Adrian trying to figure out who has hacked into his computer files and is compromising his business. It contains plenty of romantic angst between Ellen and Adrian and Adrian and his fiance. And I especially love seeing how Pete grows and develops throughout the story.
What I Thought Could be Better
At times I thought the story was a little predictable. I had the ending figured out before I got there, and that bugged me a little bit. But other than that, I thought it was a good story.
In the end I give For Pete’s Sake three and a half stars. It’s not gripping, but it is fun!
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Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck
This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Sweet Caroline(Thomas Nelson February 12, 2008) by Rachel Hauck.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
I graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, I partied my way though the last few years of college.
But, the truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me.
After graduation, hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. And I did it without a laptop, a cell phone, an IPod or portable DVD player. Those were hard times.
But, I traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine. But, life on the road is difficult. Working twelve to fourteen hour days, one doesn’t get to see many of the sites. In Ireland, our company’s distributor drove me around at night so I could see something of Dublin.
I met Tony, my husband, in ‘87, at church, of all places. We got married in ‘92. Tony has been a pastor for twenty years. I’ve worked with him in eighteen of those twenty. Our heart is to see teens and adults passionate, radical and whole hearted for Jesus.
Tony and I don’t have any children of our own, lots of kids-in-the-Lord and we love them all. However, we do have a very spoiled dog, and an even more spoiled cat.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. My dad used to tell me, "You’re a writer." I have letters he wrote me post college, exhorting me to write. In this, I believe he had the heart of God.
In ‘93, I started an epic WW2 novel with two plots. It was well rejected. After that ordeal, I took a break and put efforts into my job as a software project manager. But, I missed writing and in late ‘ 99, I took up the craft again.
With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ‘ 04, Lambert’s Pride, a romance novel. I love writing chick lit and romance. I love writing. What an honor.
Rachel has several other books that have been received with great praise, including Diva Nash Vegas and Lost In Nash Vegas.
You can purchase copies of Rachel’s books, signed personally for you,
at this site: Signed by the Author.com
ABOUT THE BOOK 
When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order.
Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing–the responsible, dependable thing–unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.
Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she’s been waitressing falls right into Caroline’s lap. While she’s trying to determine the cafe’s future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline’s heart.
But when her first love, Mitch O’Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.
To read Sweet Caroline yourself, head to your local library, or buy it here.
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A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
This week the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance presents A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (Revell, January 1, 2008).
About the Author
Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write “Mainstream Inspirational,” reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God’s precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. A Passion Most Pure is her first novel.
About the Book
She’s found the love of her life. Unfortunately, he loves her sister …
As World War I rages across the Atlantic in 1916, a smaller war is brewing in Boston. Faith O’Connor finds herself drawn to an Irish rogue who is anything but right for her. Collin McGuire is brash, cocky, and from the wrong side of the tracks, not to mention forbidden by her father. And then there’s the small matter that he is secretly courting her younger sister. But when Collin’s affections suddenly shift her way, it threatens to tear Faith’s proper Boston family apart.
Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O’Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. Collin is trying to win her sister Charity’s hand, and Faith isn’t sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure is Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.
My Opinion
I love historical fiction, so I really liked this book a lot. The characters were lovable, despite their shortcomings. At times I wanted to cry with Faith as things weren’t going her way. At over 400 pages, this novel takes a while to read, but it’s well worth the time. I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the Daughters of Boston series!
To check out A Passion Most Pure for yourself, go here.
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Awaken My Heart by DiAnn Mills
This week the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance presents Awaken My Heart by Diann Mills. (Avon Inspire, February 5, 2008).
About the Author:
Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. She is the author of numerous titles including novels, novellas, and a nonfiction. In addition, she’s written several short stories, articles, devotions, and has contributed to several nonfiction compilations.
DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” Her desire is to show characters solving real problems of today from a Christian perspective through a compelling story.
Several of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents, and she remains a favorite author by Heartsong Present’s readers. Two of her books have won short historical of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers both in 2003 and 2004. She was named Writer of the Year for 2004 at the 35th Annual Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference and is the recipient of Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards for 2005 in the long contemporary and novella categories.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, ChiLibris, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops. DiAnn also belongs to Cy Fair Women’s Networking, an exclusive professional women’s networking organization.
She lives in sunny Houston, Texas, the home of heat, humidity, and Harleys. In fact she’d own one, but her legs are too short. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.
About the Book:
1803, The Colony of Texas
Awaken My Heart is set in 19th century Texas and tells the story of 18 year old Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, Weston Phillips. Weston is involved in a hostile struggle with Armando Garcia, the infamous rebel leader of the ‘mestizos’ who claim to own the land that Phillips has settled.
Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, has never agreed with her father’s harsh treatment of the poor mestizos who first inhabited the colony of Texas. When rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes her father will trade back their land for her freedom, she realizes her loyalty lies with her abductors, not her father, who plans to marry her off to the don of a nearby estate.
Armando Garcia is the locals’ reluctant leader, but his people revere and depend on him. Knowing that without his leadership they’d be forced from their land, Armando accepts his role, but does not approve of the latest attempt to manipulate their enemy. When he learns that Marianne actually speaks his language, of her loyalty to his people, and of the faith that keeps her strong, Armando is faced with a difficult decision. Will his newfound love keep him from letting her go? Or will he set her free and risk losing their land forever?
My Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. In a lot of ways, the character of Marianne reminded me of Esther in the Bible, struggling with why her life was what it was, only to see the big picture come together later.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a sweet, Christian romance novel that’s easy to read. Perfect for a vacation or a rainy day!
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Review & Giveaway: Abandoned Identity
Abandoned Identity is the second book by Tamara Tilley. I haven’t read her other book, Full Disclosure, so this was my first experience reading this author.
The Plot
Jennifer Patterson and Harrison Lynch get off to a rocky start, when Harrison is hired for the job Jennifer had trained for. Jennifer resents Harrison for getting the position she thought should be hers, and she doesn’t hide her feelings. Then one snowy night, they are stuck at the office together, and each sees a different, more tender side to the other.
The next day, however, Jennifer disappears. Harrison tries to find her, but it seems she has fallen off the face of the earth. Three years later, he thinks he sees her on a beach in California. Is it really her?
My Opinion
I started to read this book on a Thursday afternoon and was finished 24 hours later. Having never read anything by Tamara Tilley before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t disappointed.
Abandoned Identity is full of romance and suspense. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would take another turn.
I was also pleased with the gospel message in this book. For the first few chapters I was wondering if it was really a Christian fiction book, but about halfway through the book, the redemptive love of Christ starts to come out.
I thought the two main characters were well developed. I wish that some of the other characters had been developed a little more, but I didn’t feel that the lack of character development took away from the story.
To Read or Not to Read?
I would definitely recommend reading this book, if you are into a quick, suspenseful, and easy read. You can check your local library for a copy, or you can buy it here.
The Giveaway
I’m giving away my once read copy of Abandoned Identity. To win, just leave a comment before 12 p.m. PST on Tuesday, January 8. I will use a random number generator to draw a winner. The book will be shipped out via media mail as soon as I get the winner’s address.
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