The Malacca Conspiracy

The Malacca Conspiracy is a page burner. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to see who was going to get what next! The story is set around the Strait of Malacca, between Indonesia and Malaysia, an area which I was not familiar. Now it is seared in my brain. And it sweeps wide to the United States and other countries.

This book, set in current time, has spies, politics, assassinations, nuclear plots, and of course a bit of romance. I cringed, hoped, despaired and found faith while reading. It's a great Christian thriller. I'm going to get more of his books.

I would recommend this true to life action novel. Find it on Amazon. I received this book free for review from Zondervan and the Blog Tour Spot. Check out other reviewers here.

See his other books at Don Brown's site. The Malacca Conspiracy is just one of many thrillers. Don served five years in the US Navy as an officer in the JAG corps.

***Don't forget about the contest below! Winner announced Saturday!

Life in Defiance by Mary DeMuth

Mary DeMuth finishes her Defiance Texas Triology with this book. She again explores physical and emotional family abuse. It ends with redemption and justice. Topics like this are hard for me to read, because it's so foreign in my life. But I must say I have a better understanding of some of the thought processes of those in abusive situations.

This book involved me more than the first two, I don't exactly know why, but I think it was that evil finally faced right. The way Mary wrote a turn of phrase or combination of words, delighted my "love of words." She also startled me with the main character talking to me/the reader at times. Gosh, that was a little unnerving, but definitely served her purpose.

Mary DeMuth is a great writer using difficult circumstances to educate, entertain and enlighten.

I received this book from The Blog Tour Spot free for the review. Check out what other reviewers said here. Check here for the Amazon listing.

Learn more about Mary and her ministries in writing and speaking.

A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher

"Who says a woman can't keep a secret?" are the words on the back cover of this book.

Of course, as a woman, I take umbrage with that. Just another reason to read this delightful Christian fiction novel, the third in The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series. I didn't read the first two, but this book can stand alone. Robin Lee craftfully tells the backstory within the book, so it's much like a small mystery within the story.

Set in 1918, the author gives a glimpse into the life and customs of that era. The secret, known by only one, must be revealed and henceforth begins a romance. Say, does that sound like 1918 "speak?"

This is a quick and fun read that leaves you feeling happy and satisfied.

Check out Robin's website and contest. This book is listed with Amazon. I received this book free from The Blog Tour Spot for review. Check out other reviews here.

Happy reading.

Found Art-Book Review

Found Art by Leeana Tankersley, written about her year in the Middle East with her Navy SEAL husband, began with much introspection. At first, I became a tad put off, but reading further, she got me thinking. (I think that was the point.)



Leeana found special places and people in Bahrain who touched her spirit and mind.



My son fought in the Iraq war, so her method of walking that unknown road, resonated with me.



Leeana touched me with her passionate chapter about the Grand Mosque, when she found God there.



This book is written art from her soul. "Pain, like no other place perhaps, is where our art is born, where our stories are written, our canvases brushed, our scores composed. Though we so often want to deny the discomfort, suffering is one of the few things that can lead us to the place where we find the God we so desperately long for." (pg 166-167)



Leeana risked baring her innermost thoughts to write this book. May God bless her work.






Leeana TankersleyA native of San Diego, Leeana Tankersley received her B.S. in English from Liberty University and her M.A. in English from West Virginia University. After marrying her husband, Steve, Leeana lived in the Middle East during the Iraq war and returned to San Diego to work at Flood Church. She and Steve now live in Coronado, California with their twins Luke and Lane.
Learn more about Leeana at http://www.gypsyink.com/



I received this book at no cost for reviewing from Blog Tour Spot.
Read other reviews here. Check out her book on Amazon.

Thin Places

Mary DeMuth does it again! In this memoir Mary shares the haunting story of her childhood and it's effects in her life. I must admit it was hard for me to read some parts as my heart cried out for the injustice she experienced. But as the book moves forward, she shares how the Lord helped her cope.

I know this book will help others connect by her openness and vulnerability of story. Thin Places occur in her life when heaven draws near and meets her on earth, as if only a thin veil separates the two.

She writes of truth, lies, brutality, forgiveness, rejection, and coming to understand God's supreme sacrifice given for her. Her poems ring with passion, her words give voice to raw emotions, so much so that I even experienced dreams with my heart so torn.

Then she lifts up her soul to praise the Lord for what He's done so far.

Two quotes:

"Much of what God does in my life is healing the past in order to embrace the future. He heals my fear of enemies so I will embrace my family. He heals my fear of men so I can embrace my husband. He heals my running so I can stop and notice the beauty of today."

"Why do I go through all this recollection? So God can renew me so I can help others find healing."

There you go. That's why this book is so important.

I received this book from Blog Spot Tour for the review. Check out other reviews here. You can find her book on Amazon.

Mary can be found on her web and blog site.

Author and speaker Mary DeMuth helps people turn their trials to triumph. Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God; Building the Christian Family You Never Had; Watching the Tree Limbs; Wishing on Dandelions; Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture and the first two books in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy: Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn. National media regularly seek Mary’s candid ability to connect with their listeners. Her radio appearances include FamilyLife Today, Moody Midday Connection, Point of View and U.S.A. Radio Network and is frequently featured on Chuck Colson’s BreakPoint. She has published articles in In Touch, HomeLife, Writer’s Digest and The Writer. Mary lives with her husband Patrick and their three children in Texas.

Pure Pleasure

I thought this book would be all fluff, but boy was I wrong. Gary Thomas finds the cracks in our "holier than thou" attitude and peels it back so we can experience the joy and pleasure that God gives.



This book acknowledges all that God has done through His Son Jesus. Thomas writes about the pleasures in the physical life that God bestows for us to enjoy. Pleasure can be a cup of coffee to the birth of a child. He knocks down the guilt many Christians feel when they spend time or money on themselves. He also discussed dangerous pleasures. Threaded throughout the book are Bible verses and quotes from Christian theologians.



Before you leave off reading here, let me give you some quotes.

"Embracing pleasure must always begin with a heart being renewed by God's Spirit."

"What pleasure do we think God--our loving Father--derives from us hating and/or abusing ourselves? How do we honor him when we deny ourselves everything he created to bring us pleasure?"

"Becoming alive to Christ allows us to receive and even revel in pleasure in such a way that ordinary things become instruments of worship." Thomas then quotes Psalm 23.

"If you always sacrifice your pleasure and never take time to get refreshed, others around you will suffer as well."



This was a book I needed to read. I think anyone will enjoy this book and gain new surprising insight to God's wonderful pleasures.




Gary Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, is an avid runner and has completed seven marathons including the Boston Marathon. He is a writer and adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of several books including Sacred Marriage, Holy Available, Sacred Pathways, Sacred Parenting and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith.
Learn more about Gary at http://www.garythomas.com/.


I was provided a review copy of this book from Blog Tour Spot. To read other reviews check here. Pure Pleasure is listed with Amazon books.

Your Intercultural Marriage by Marla Alupoaicei

This book is an eye opener, and a question and info guide to most everything concerning intercultural marriages. Marla Alupoaicei writes from personal experience as her husband is from Romania. She met him while on a mission trip there. Marla discusses many topics I never thought about, from foods to beliefs about grief and death. She even writes about the different cultures of "time." That one got me.


Marla also lists other books to read, websites, and scriptures in each chapter and a new one for me, movies to watch and discuss. How cool is that? The questions she asks will prompt much discussion. This book is a good reference for counseling, couples and as a resource. It helped me to see intercultural marriages in a new light and the work involved to keep it strong.



Marla Alupoaicei
Author and speaker Marla Alupoaicei serves as the Director for Leap of Faith Ministries, an intercultural marriage support ministry in Frisco, Texas. Marla has authored or co-authored Bible study guides, including Taking the Intercultural Leap, Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca, and In the Flow: Spiritual Insights for Living a More Creative Life, as well as numerous nonfiction articles and poems. Currently she works as a staff writer for East-West Ministries, a grace-based church planting organization in Addison, Texas.Marla and her husband, Catalin have been married for 7 years and currently reside in Texas.



I reviewed and received this book with the Blog Tour Spot. I recommend this one. To check other reviews click here. You can find this book on Amazon.

A Slow Burn by Mary Demuth

A Slow Burn is the second in DeMuth's fiction Defiance Texas Trilogy. Mary digs out the dirt in lives broken without love and forgiveness. Her characters will make you cry and scream at the injustice in the world, and make you sing when they find their way. They will stay with you long after finishing the book.

Excerpts:

"So when Hap says I'm good for nothing but sex and cleaning the house, I have two choices. I can either internalize his words as the gospel truth, or I can remember that to God I'm precious."

"Leaves blustered while his feet plodded steadily along, his breath white in the winter day. Truth was he was blustered too. When it came to Missy, he was a dried out leaf, scattering, skittering here and there, unanchored to limb, to trunk, to roots. She was the tree, he knew. And her fingers let him loose to crunch under boot, to fly on the wind, to decompose in the dirt. God must've been in the wind, hearing Hixon's plea...."

"It's not really life that does the doing, Em. It's when my heart is settled inside me, all quiet like. Then I'm happy.

I take something to help me along."

A Slow Burn is crafted to give the reader insight into abused hearts who need God's love. It's message will help those in need. I recommend the series and I can't wait for the next one.

Get a glimpse of this powerful story in this trailer of the book.

Mary helps Christian parents break fresh spiritual ground, especially those with destructive family patterns. Her message guides parents who don’t want to duplicate the home where they were raised or didn’t have positive parenting role models.



An accomplished writer, Mary’s parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her real-to-life novels inspire people to turn trials into triumphs: Watching the Tree Limbs (2007 Christy Award finalist, ACFW Book of the Year 2nd Place) and Wishing on Dandelions (2007 Retailer’s Choice Award finalist).


Mary speaks at women’s retreats and parenting seminars, addressing audiences in both Europe and the United States. She also has articles published in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, and HomeLife.


Mary and her husband Patrick live in Texas with their three children. Check out Mary's website.

I received this book as a participant in the Blog Book Tour. Check out what other readers think about this book.


This one is good, folks.

Coming Attractions by Robin Gunn

Coming Attractions is the third book in the Katie Weldon Series. This book is set during Katie's Senior year of College. Conflicts abound with her current boyfriend, new and old relationships, estranged family and of course the senior exams.


This young adult book will appeal to teenagers too, with important spiritual messages, though not preachy. Robin writes wonderful characters that draw you into the story immediately. I did not read the first two in the series and yet Robin gradually brought me up in time with an easy manner.





Read to find out what Katie refers to as a "victim of grace" and "wavy" or "straight lines" in life. Coming Attractions makes me curious to read what's next in her life.




Robin Jones Gunn is the much-loved author of Peculiar Treasures, On a Whim, and the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, College Years, Glenbrooke, and Sisterchicks® series, with over 4 million books sold worldwide. Robin loves to travel and often speaks locally and internationally. She and her husband live near Portland, Oregon, where the view outside her window is green all year round.To find out more about Robin Gunn check out her site.





I received this book as part of a book blog tour.
To read more reviews of this book from other bloggers, click here. Info about the book is also on Amazon.





Happy Reading

Midnight in Madrid-Book Review

Midnight In Madrid is the second book in a Russian trilogy written by Noel Hynd. Alexandria LaDuca, an agent from the U.S. Treasury, assists in solving a theft of a religious artifact from a museum in Madrid.

She follows an elaborate trail of espionage and terrorist activity and travels across Europe wherever the leads take her. Alexandria wonders who to trust, even among the agencies that work with her. Confronted with betrayal, lies, and hidden agendas Alexandria questions her ability to do her job. Conflicts give in to soul-searching, and she finds a surprise relationship in the process.

The beginning confused me with his many different character introductions. I think if I had read the first book this one would have slipped right into place. I loved the action after that. Noel Hynd researched well and used many current events across the world. I can see this book being made for movie. I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the publisher. Check out the book on Amazon with this link.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310278724

Meet the author of Midnight in Madrid, Noel Hynd.
Noel HyndNoel Hynd was born in New York City and grew up in New York and Connecticut. He began writing professionally before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in International Relations.
He lives in Culver City, California with his wife and their three cats.
Some of his other novels include The Enemy Within, and Ghosts.
Noel goes to Honduras for a yearly medical mission to Honduras with friends and members of All Saints’ Parish, Beverly Hills.
Learn more about Noel at http://noelhynd.com/.



To check out other reviews follow this link.
http://blogtourspot.com/nhynd-tour/nhynd-tour-stops

A Gift of Grace

Wonderful, light reading. Amy Clipston gives the reader insight into the life-ways of the Amish, in this first book of the series. The Amish community has doubts when Rebecca Kauffman and her husband take in her two nieces, Lindsay and Jessica, to live with them after the girls parents are killed in an accident. The book deals with the complications that arise for both the girls and Rebecca’s Amish family.

Jessica does not like the Amish ways, except for a couple of good looking boys. She wants to go back home and live with family friends after she stumbles into one mistake after another. No one knows the turmoil of guilt she feels surrounding her parent’s death.

Lindsay seems to fit right in. She is the complete opposite of her sister. However, I found that her adjustment occurred too quickly without much conflict and only partial conflict between her and her sister.

This crossover book will relate to teens, and young adults. I think the questions for discussion at the end of the book add good depth to the story. Even though the book was a little “young” for me, I found the characters stayed in my head because of her character building. I would read the following series, just to see resolution of the problems.

About the Author:
Amy ClipstonAmy Clipston is a first-time author and member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She holds a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time as a public information specialist for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two sons.

http://amyclipston.com/

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/031028983

http://blogtourspot.com/clipston-blog-tour/clipston-blog-tour-stops

Sticks and Stones by Ace Collins

Sticks and Stones is an easy, uplifting read with concrete ideas for changing words, actions and life. He begins with small steps and walks the reader forward into bigger challenges with each chapter.

The real life stories he tells give a poingant meaning to each challenge. Ace puts the "now" into the Golden Rule.

Yes, I would recommend this book to get and give, but first read it yourself. "Live that sermon before you tell it," Ace writes.

Ace Collins is the author of the "Stories Behind" books, which include bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, and Lassie: A Dog's Life.

Change your words and change a life,

karen

Sticks and Stones on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310282535

Ace Collins’s Website: http://acecollins.com