Book Blog Tour Stop - Missons of Mercy series by Susan May Warren

I'm happy today to introduce you to a series of adventure suspense novels by Susan May Warren - The Missions of Mercy.

Three heroes, all on missions of mercy, who discover that God not only saves us from evil, but from the darkness inside.

Point of No Return: Can God deliver us from our mistakes? This question is posed to Chet and Mae as they race to save Mae’s nephew from an evil warlord in the Republic of Georgia. More here.

Mission: Out of Control: Does God turn his back on us when we fail? Brody and Vonya discover the answer as they conspire to capture an international smuggler and free a child soldier from war. More here.

Undercover Pursuit: What if we deliberately sin and harbor bitterness in our hearts? Is there a rescue from the dark places inside? Luke and Scarlett find out as they work to protect a bride-turned-informant whose courage could dismantle a human trafficking web. More here.

In a day and age when violence, graphic sex and just plain evil dominates so many novels, it is refreshing to find a series that features excitment and intrigue without offending your sensibilities. Susan May Warren's Missions of Mercy Series is a welcome respite - she combines action, great characters, thrilling story lines and just the right touch of romance to create a world that readers will enjoy visiting.

I highly recommend Susan's books.

To celebrate the series, Susan is giving away a Missions of Mercy Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive: * A brand new FLIP HD Camera * The entire Missions of Mercy series Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. You may enter once per email, facebook, and twitter. The contest ends on May 31st. Tell your friends! Winner will be announced on June 1st at the Litfuse Publicity site and at Susan May Warren's website. (While you're there, check out her rockin' new website!)

About The Author:

 Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press.  A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.  A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you! She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

For more about Susan and her other books, please visit http://www.susanmaywarren.com/.

Check out other blogs that will be featuring Susan's books during this tour!   http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13307091

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this book blog tour. I was not compensated for my opinions.

Book Blog Tour Stop and GIVEAWAY for "The Brotherhood" by Jerry B. Jenkins

WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS Allisa (captainalissa40)!  Thank you everyone who entered!

I am thrilled to be hosting author Jerry B. Jenkins as he tours the blog world with his new amazing book, "The Brotherhood!" 

About The Book:

Boone Drake has it made. He’s a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division within five years. Everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong.

His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes. A thought-provoking police thriller from New York Times best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit I was not prepared for "The Brotherhood" to be as powerful of a novel as it was, but as I was reading it last night (and yes, I read it through in one sitting - it was that captivating!) I found myself experiencing a wide array of emotions - from laughter, to aggravation, to times of surprising weeping.  It isn't often that a book will evoke that kind of dramatic response and I stopped to think of another piece of writing that might have had the same effect and realized - it was when I read the amazing "Left Behind" series, and Jerry Jenkins was the author of those novels as well.

Jenkins' storytelling skills draws the reader right into the heart of his work, and doesn't let go of your attention (or your heartstrings) until the last heart-pounding moment of the last mesmerizing page. "The Brotherhood" is a police-themed, action novel, but it is so much more!  Jenkins includes romance, mystery, and most importantly, a man's search for his lost faith,  in this story making it a novel that I guarantee you will be thinking about long after you put it down.  I was glad to see "The Brotherhood" will be a part of a planned three-book series, and I can't wait to read how Boone Drake's life proceeds from the cliff-hanging ending. 

Jenkins includes powerful scripture references throughout this story, and the one that stays with me well after the reading is Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Amen.

About the Author:

Jerry B. Jenkins is the most prolific and highest-selling evangelical novelist of our time. He is the author of more than 175 books, including the 70,000,000-selling Left Behind series. Jenkins has a longtime association with Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where he was former editor of Moody Magazine, vice president for publishing, and is now chairman of the board of trustees.

Jenkins owns Jenkins Entertainment (http://www.jenkins-entertainment.com/), a filmmaking company in Chicago, and the Colorado Springs-based Christian Writers Guild (http://www.christianwritersguild.co/), which aims to train tomorrow’s professional Christian writers.

For more information on The Brotherhood, visit http://www.tyndale.com/ or http://www.jerryjenkins.com/

GIVEAWAY!

Tyndale Publishers has provided a gift certificate for a free copy of "The Brotherhood" for one commentor on this post.  Just leave a comment, your name and email address, and I'll draw for a winner on Sunday, February 6th at 11 p.m.

GOOD LUCK!

Tyndale Publishers provided a review copy of this book, and I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Blog Tour Stop - An Unlikely Blessing by Judy Baer UPDATED WITH REVIEW!

Today, I'm proud to host a book blog tour stop for the book "An Unlikely Blessing" by Judy Baer.

About the book:

 An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastor and life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota . Hilltop Township , a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pink rose—lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there.

Unlikely

Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens' land. But can even God's minister help save this rural community?

There are a lot of firsts for the new pastor—the annual Hunter's Breakfast, julebukking (also called Christmas fooling), King Oscar's fish balls, and the melody of the musical saw. And the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Whether performing weddings, counseling his flock, or herding cattle by snowmobile, Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them. Day by day, he falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church . People may leave Hilltop, but Hilltop never leaves them.

My Thoughts:

Reading "An Unlikely Blessing" was an unexpected warm and joyful experience. From the first page the reader will feel  like an unseen guest who had been invited to pull up a chair at Reverend Alex's homey and welcoming kitchen table for a cup of coffee and a heaping helping of news about the close-knit, familial community of Hilltop township.

As the daughter-in-law of a country preacher, I was amazed and delighted at the charming description of the pastoral assignment Alex Armstrong had undertaken, and I found myself wishing that my husband's parents had been able to experience the outpouring of love and warmth that Reverend Alex was given by his congregation at Hilltop Community Church. Their life as "trouble-shooting" pastor brought in to sooth troubled congregations was often hard (much like what Alex experienced with the All Saints congregation, his "other" church), and I know they would have adored the jewel-box of a church and the adorable parsonage Alex was so fortunate to have been given charge of.

Judy Baer has created a fascinating community of folks in this gentle novel, and I, for one, can wait to find out how their lives continue in future stories!

Link to Buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Blessing-Forever-Hilltop/dp/0824948149/ref=sprightly-20

About The Author:

 Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River , Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy’s blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com/

In celebration of the release of An Unlikely Blessing, Judy is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.

One lucky winner will receive:

• Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com

To enter just click on one the icons below and then tell your friends! Winner will be announced on February 21st on Judy's blog, http://www.judykbaer.com/wordpress

For more information please visit the Litfuse website, http://www.litfusegroup.com/


Blog Tour Schedule:  http://litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/an-unlikely-blessing-by-judy-baer.html )


My Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity Group for including me in this blog tour!  I received a complimentary copy of this book for review, and was not compensated for my opinion.

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shopping season in full swing, I'd like to recommend a small little book that could have a big impact on the way we all think about the Christmas season.

"Christmas Jars," by Jason F. Wright, is not a new holiday book, having been originally published in 2005, but is one I have heard of for several years. So I decided to see what all the excitement was about, and am I glad I did!

This amazing story about giving, receiving and love is so wonderfully written that it is guaranteed to touch the heart and soul of anyone who picks it up.

Here is a little about the book:
 
Where had it come from? Whose money was it? Was I to spend it? Save it? Pass it on to someone more needy? Above all else, why was I chosen? Certainly there were others, countless others, more needy than me...
 

Her reporter's intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page.

Newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the remarkable secret behind the "Christmas Jars", glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously left for people in need. But along the way, Hope discovers much more than the origin of the jars. When some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness, Hope's greatest Christmas Eve wish comes true.

Just 122 pages in length, "Christmas Jars" is a fast read but one that will make a huge impact on those who gain a deeper understanding of the Christmas season through Jason Wright's words. For more information on this book, and Wright's sequel "The Christmas Jars Reunion," check out the website http://www.christmasjars.com/

This book is from my personal collection.

Love Finds You In Victory Heights, Washington - Blog Tour Stop

About Love Finds You in Victory Heights , Washington:

The war has stolen Rosalie’s fiancé, Vic, from her forever. But rather than wallow, Rosalie distracts herself by cramming her days full of activity—mainly by shooting rivets into the B-17 bombers that will destroy the enemy.

When a reporter dubs her “ Seattle 's Own Rosie the Riveter,” even more responsibility piles up. Her strong arms bear all this, but when intense feelings surface for Kenny, the handsome, kind-hearted, and spiritually unwavering reporter, the fear of losing another love propels Rosalie to leave.

It’s only when Rosalie realizes that God has brought her to this place—and this person—for a reason, the sparkling grace of God compels her to let go of her own strength and lean on His, as well as open her heart to love.


My Thoughts On This Book:
I absolutely fell in love with the World War II era story featured in "Love Finds You In Victory Heights, Washington. Focusing on the women who were left behind to carry on the work during wartime while the men were away fighting to keep our country free, this romantic tale is a tribute to these ladies and the adversities they overcame. The authors, Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss, obviously did their research on this subject and period in time, and I was delighted to find that they captured the essence of the era perfectly.


My father fought in World War II and although he didn't talk much about what he saw while in the Fourteenth Air Force Group, the American Volunteer Group and the Flying Tigers who fought in China, India and Burma, he did share his love of the music of the time. Glenn Miller, the Andrew Sisters, Bing Crosby and others were a part of my childhood, and seeing that they are incorporated into this fantastic novel was a real treat.

Take some time to sit down and enjoy "Love Finds You In Victory Heights, Washington" and see if you don't come away with a feeling of pride for the ladies, all the "Rosie The Riveters" and her sisters who kept their chins up and enabled this country to carry on during trying times.

About The Authors:



Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-four books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family.

Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock , Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. For more on Tricia visit http://www.triciagoyer.com/

About Ocieanna Fleiss:


Ocieanna Fleiss is a published writer and has edited six of Tricia Goyer’s historical novels. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. For more about Ocieanna visit her blog.


Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Finds-Victory-Heights-Washington/dp/1609360001/ref=sprightly-20

Contest info: Tricia is giving away 5 Victory Prize packs during the blog tour. This contest is open to both you and your blog readers so please share it in your blog post too. That info can be found on this blog post (which will be live on August 14th). http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2010/08/win-victory-prize-pack.html


Blog tour schedule:
Check out this list of blogs that will be featuring and review this book in days to come.

http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/love-finds-you-in-victory-heights-washington.html

My thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity Group for the review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinion of this item.

UPDATED WITH REVIEW! Licensed for Trouble by Susan May Warren - Book Blog Tour Stop PLUS A Chance To Win A Free Kindle from Susan May Warren!

About Licensed for Trouble:

PJ Sugar receives shocking news that she's inherited the Kellogg family mansion. Though she has no idea why, the timing is perfect-PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister's house. Unfortunately, the mansion is in shambles, and PJ is short on cash. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman willing to trade his services for PJ's investigative skills. But PJ already has a full docket with cramming for her PI license and nurturing a growing romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane. Can she take on Max's case without dropping the ball?
Find out more about book one, Nothing But Trouble and book two, Double Trouble.

My Thoughts:

I first read Susan May Warren's work in her holiday novel, "The Great Christmas Bowl," and was charmed by her writing style and delightful ability to pull her readers into the story.

With "Licensed For Trouble," Warren has combined those warm storytelling skills with her unique ability to build a suspensful, intriguing tale, creating a mystery/romance that keeps the reader captivated to the very end. Her characters are sharp and intelligent, and her main character of P.J. Sugar is inspiring as she tries to make her own niche in the world while she struggles with her faith, and her abilities. Warren brings in a sense of family closeness among the Sugar family (even if they are pretty eccentric!). Add in the romantic triangle between P.J., Boone and Jeremy and the sparks fly off the page!

I enjoyed "Licensed For Trouble" so much that I went out and bought "Nothing But Trouble" and "Double Trouble" and read all three books over the course of two nights!

If you are looking for a Christian based romantic suspense, you can do no wrong with this fascianting series from Susan May Warren.

About Susan May Warren :

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook:

From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.


Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/.

Link to buy the book: http://www.christianbook.com/licensed-for-trouble-p-j-sugar/susan-warren/9781414313146/pd/313146?event=AFFp=&


Enter PJ Sugar's "Sweet" Giveaway







Licensed for Trouble, Susan's brand new PJ Sugar novel, is in stores now! To celebrate the release, we’re giving away a Kindle!! You can enter using Twitter, Facebook, or e-mail using the icons below.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a A SWEET Kindle prize package that includes:

• A brand new Kindle (Free 3G, 6”, Latest Generation)


• The entire PJ Sugar series by Susan May Warren
  

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest.

Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on September 2nd.





Be sure to check out the blog tour here or purchase a copy of Licensed for Trouble here!


I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated for my opinion.

The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller

Sometimes, when browsing through a bookstore I’ll run across a book whose cover just appeals to me, and beckons – “Buy me, buy me!” And being a weak book addict, I pick it up and take it home. (I know, I know….)

“The Carousel Painter” by Judith Miller was one such book. I’ve had this one for a while (it was released in 2009, but my local Sam’s Club had them out), and finally got around to reviewing it.

About The Book:

Without the means to support herself after her father dies, Carrington Brouwer receives the opportunity to use her artistic talent at her friend's father's carousel factory. But the men at the factory are not happy that a woman has been given the very desirable job of painting the elaborately carved horses.

When mishaps occur at the factory and jewelry disappears from the home of the factory owner, accusations swirl. Is the handsome young factory manager truly Carrie's ally or will he side with those who believe she should be fired?

My Thoughts:

The Carousel Painter was one of those books that draws your eye with its attractive cover, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the story inside was equally pleasing and attractive.

Set in the 1890s, at a time when women were expected to stay home and raise families, the main character of this story, Carrington Brouwer, was spunky enough to seek a job in a mainly-male industry of creating the wonderful, fanciful carousels that were so popular back then. An artist by trade and talent, Carrie was sufficiently qualified to work as a painter on the beautiful animal sculptures, but she faced obstacles from both men and women as she set out to prove herself.

Judith Miller, who is well known for her collaboration with fellow author Tracie Peterson, includes a great deal of history of the era combined with a charming romance that results in a pleasant afternoon’s reading.

For more information on Judith Miller’s writing, check out her website at http://www.judithmccoymiller.com/

(This book is from my personal collection.)

Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky - Blog Tour Stop!

I am pleased to be a part of the book blog tour featuring Marlo Schalesky's new book, "Shades of Morning."

Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, and things are going well – life throws you a curve ball and suddenly your peaceful, quiet existence is turned upside down.

This is what happened to Marnie Wittier. Escaping a painful childhood growing up in foster care, Marnie had fled her hometown in Maine, cut off communication with her older sister Rose, and recreated a life for herself in Pacific Grove, California.

Fifteen years had past, and Marnie was now the owner of Books and Brew, a combo coffeeshop/bookstore where friends were like family and she was relatively happy.

Then she receives a letter from Taylor Cole, an old flame from her past, which began –

“Dear Miss Wittier – We regret to inform you that your sister has passed away.”

And in a flash, Marnie’s life was changed. The letter from Taylor, who was now an attorney representing her sister’s estate, goes on to inform her that she had been made guardian of her sister’s son, Emmitt, a child Marnie had no idea existed, and that Taylor was sending Emmitt to live with her.

With her emotions in turmoil, Marnie is swept back to the past as memories of her difficult sister Rose and her sudden illness, being with Taylor as he helped her track down their birth mother, and the painful events that caused her to run come rushing back. And when fifteen year old Emmitt arrives, Marnie is shocked to find out that the boy has Down Syndrome, and while a charming child, he is quite a handful for Marnie to deal with.

Marnie accepts her new responsibilities and as she begins to get to know Emmitt, she comes to love his inconsistent but happy ways as he manages to wiggle into her heart. And letters back and forth with Taylor, who had been a part of Emmitt’s life since his birth, are slowly healing her heartache over their breakup. Letting go of regrets and finding forgiveness seem to be within Marnie’s grasp.

But just as things are beginning to even out, a secret from the past threatens to shake up the fragile foundations of family that have begun, and Marnie’s new life as a single mom may be altered forever.

In Marlo Schalesky’s novel, “Shades of Morning,” life and love are thrown into a twist as a painful past and the tenuous future collide in the present, changing lives and hearts forever. A Christy Award winning author, Schalesky adeptly draws her readers into the heartwarming story that features romance, heartache, sorrow and happiness. Her characters are realistic, and her conscientious treatment of the Down Syndrome storyline is lovingly and well portrayed.

The moral lesson of forgiveness and redemption found within the story of “Shades of Morning” are gentle reminders to be open to what God sends your way. This charming story is full of love and joy, and is sure to be a blessing to those who read it.

About The Author:

Marlo Schalesky is the author of several acclaimed novels, including Christy Award winner Beyond the Night. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo also has a masters of theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She’s a regular columnist for Power for Living and lives with her husband, Bryan, and five children in California. Check out her website at http://www.marloschalesky.com/ for more information on current and future projects, plus a delightful blog.

My thanks to Kelly Blewett with KBK Public Relations for arranging the review copy of this book, and the blog tour stop. I was not compensated for my opinions.

Greater Truth: A Tides of Truth novel by Robert Whitlow

Christian fiction today reflects the beliefs of many writers in many different ways. Author Robert Whitlow delivers a message of faith, hope, and love in his book, "Greater Love: A Tides of Truth Novel."

Synopsis:

The Tides of Truth series follows one young lawyer's passionate pursuit of truth--in matters of life and the law.

As the storm clouds gather, newly sworn-in lawyer Tami Taylor does her best to weather the growing turbulence in every area of her life.

She's just accepted a job with a law firm but now wonders if she made the right decision. She has two strong men vying for her heart--and is about to lose them both if she can't determine which one is right for her.

And Tami's new case is anything but simple. When she first meets her prospective client, runaway Jessie Whitewater, she immediately knows the tough, but scared young teen is lying, guilty...and utterly terrified of something beyond the charges she's facing. What she doesn't realize is just how far reaching the effects of the case will go. Or how close to home the deadly results will hit. For by the time the storm breaks, someone close to Tami will have paid the ultimate price.

Through it all, Tami will experience greater sacrifice, greater friendship, and greater love than she's ever known.

My Thoughts:

I found "Greater Love" to be an intriguing story that focused on one young woman's struggle with living in the world as we know it today, and struggling to keep to her strong religious beliefs that she was brought up with. I was impressed with the character Tami's convictions to hold herself accountable to her faith, and appreciated that Whitlow portrayed this young woman realistically as she found herself having to make hard choices when it came to right and wrong.

The secondary story of young Jessie Whitewater gave the story the suspense and adventure that it needed to keep readers interested.

I was frustrated with a few of the secondary characters that featured prominently in Tami's life, such as the smart-mouthed Julie, and the brassy daughter of sweet Mrs. Fairmont. They just irritated me. But in the end, readers could see the growth both of these women made by just knowing and being around Tami, so I understand they were there for a purpose.

Robert Whitlow wraps up his "Tides of Truth" series with "Greater Love," and gives fans of this series a satisfying conclusion to his characters. I would recommend reading the first two novels in this series, "Deeper Water" and "Higher Hope" in order to get to know the full story of Tami Taylor.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy of "Greater Love." I received this book through their Booksneeze program. I was not required to give a postitive review and received no compensation.

Book Blog Tour for "Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

I'm happy to host the blog tour for Kristen Heitzmann's new book, "Indivisible."

About The Book:

An inseparable bond.
An insatiable force.

Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

My Thoughts: This novel is chocked full of interesting characters whose lives intertwine throughout the story. I wasn't sure what I expected at the onset of the tale, but I found myself drawn into the story of a small town with a big secret. Heitzmann does a wonderful job of building the suspense, and the ending was surely not what I was expecting. Well done!


Biography

While home schooling her four kids, Kristen Heitzmann wrote her first novel. It became one of a five book historical series. Since then, she has written three more historical novels and eight contemporary romantic and psychological suspense novels including The Still of Night, nominated for the Colorado Book Award, The Tender Vine, a Christy Award finalist and Christy Award winning Secrets. She lives in Colorado with her husband Jim, sundry family members, and pets.

Follow Kristen online at www.KristenHeitzmann.com

This blog tour was sponsored by Blogging For Books. For more information on this book, check out www.randomhouse.com

Necessary Heartbreak by Michael J. Sullivan - Book Blog Tour

Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness
By Michael J. Sullivan
Simon and Schuster; $15.00

What if you could go back to the time of Jesus, to the very final week when he entered Jerusalem to fulfill his destiny?

What if you were there that night in the garden when the soldiers came to take him away – would you stop them?

What if you came upon Judas before he hung himself, and you could talk him into returning the 30 pieces of silver, and save the life of Jesus?

What if you were the one chosen to help Jesus carry the crossbars to Golgotha – would you bear the burden for this beaten man?

All these questions and much more are examined in Michael J. Sullivan’s novel, “Necessary Heartbreak,” a fascinating, and thought-provoking fictional account of one man’s struggle with family, faith and forgiveness.


Synopsis:

An extraordinary journey back in time shows a struggling single dad that the faith he’s lost is still alive—and stronger than ever. . . .Michael Stewart has weathered his share of hardships: a troubled childhood, the loss of his mother, even the degradation of living on the city streets.

Now he’s raising his teenaged daughter, Elizabeth, on his own and doing the best he can at work and at home. But he’s turned his back on his faith—that is, until the morning Michael and Elizabeth volunteer for a food pantry at their local church. While storing boxes in the basement, they step through a mysterious door . . . and find themselves in first-century Jerusalem during the tumultuous last week of Jesus Christ’s life.

It is a dangerous and violent place, where doing what your heart tells you is right can get you imprisoned—or worse—and they are thankful to take refuge with a kind widow. But when they come face-to-face with Judas Iscariot and the condemned Christ himself, Michael realizes that before they can escape Jerusalem, he must experience history’s most necessary and shattering heartbreak—and that pain and loss must happen if Michael is to be set free: to live, love, and reclaim the blessings he has in the present day.

Biography:



Michael J. Sullivan is an author and sports writer living in New York who graduated from St. John's University, and is a member of the McDonald's All-American Selection Boys Basketball Committee and the Parade All-American Selection Committee. Michael hosted sports radio shows on WGBB on Long Island, NY, and WEVD 1050AM in New York City, as well as worked with ESPN and Sporting News.

In addition to writing the When Time Forgets series, Michael covers high school and college sports for Fox-owned Scout.com, which involves daily activity on ten to twelve message boards as well as writing approximately 100 articles each month.

Michael has published a number of books through established trade houses, including the trivia book So You Think You're a New Yorker, which was an iconic work lauded by columnist Cindy Adams. In addition, he published seven sports-themed books for children through Enslow, and a volume of a children's book series through HarperCollins.

Check out Sullivan’s website at www.whentimeforgets.com for more information on the book, the upcoming sequel and Sullivan’s blog.

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this novel before opening the first pages. I surely didn’t expect to find a story that made me stop and questions my own faith and wonder what would I do if faced with the same circumstances! This is a powerful, fast-paced story that captures your attention and doesn’t let go until the very last paragraph. The characters are well-rounded, and Sullivan gives the reader glimpses into their back story through memories and dreams, while keeping the action well centered on the story at hand.

“Necessary Heartbreak” is the first book in what is planned to be a trilogy, and I look forward to more of Michael, Elizabeth, and Leah’s story to come. I wholeheartedly recommend “Necessary Heartbreak” to anyone who likes well-written faith-based fiction.

I received a review copy of "Necessary Heartbreak" from the publisher, and was not compensated for this review.