An Open Heart

"Always trying to save the world, aren't you Jace? Well, look where it's gotten you now."

If-onlys crowded out hope. If only he'd upgraded to first class, maybe he wouldn't have arrived so sleep deprived, and his reactions would have been quicker. If only he'd let someone else pick him up at the airport instead of agreeing to drive a friend's Land Rover. If only that last goat hadn't tried to cross the road. He slipped his hand into his suit pocket and closed it around a small wad of shillings, the local currency in Kenya. If only he'd been willing to pay the bribe, he could have avoided the whole mess.

He should have known that the crowd that gathered around his Land Rover would have sided with the locals. "He was speeding," they had all agreed. Kikuyu mamas with colorful clashing sweaters and headscarves. Barefoot children pushing roasted corn beneath his nose, hoping for a sale. An old man on a donkey cart had rubbed his gray-chin stubble and nodded with apparent wisdom. "Shouldn't race on our roads." Everyone claimed it was Jace's fault. If he had only paid the bribe. If only.

In the latest novel from author Harry Kraus, An Open Heart takes the readers into the heart of Africa, right into the Great Rift Valley that separates Africa in two for his suspense thriller. The book opens with Jace Rawlings, a US heart surgeon who is sitting in a Kenyan jail awaiting the outcome of his crime, one that in most eyes would be ruled an accident but only if you were in the US. Only Jace wasn't in the US and now he could only begin to think of a way out of this mess. Only the prime minister of parliament in Nairobi is taking matters into his own hands to free Jake. He has consulted with Mzee Simeon Okayo, a town elder of Kisii who practices traditional witchcraft to assist with this most urgent matter and one that needs to be managed with discretion.

Only now it seems that Jace Rawlings has powers that even the local villagers have begun to take notice of beginning with the victim who died at the scene of his accident. Now it seems that what was once dead has now returned to life and now Jace it seems is the new magic man! Just when Jace arrived in Africa to escape his troubles in the US it seems like new ones have found their way to Africa and Jace's running is about to end. 

I received An Open Heart by Harry Krauss compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C Cook Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is an interesting look at just what missionaries have to deal with in Africa. Not only the differences in cultures but also in religion. While the character of Jace Rawlings exemplifies the Christian doctor, he has to deal with the local people who still believe in the traditional witchdoctors to deal with virtually everything that happens to them from the crops to the weather. Is there more at work here than meets the eye? You'll have to pick this one up to see what the dead who are brought back to life have to say! I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I've read quite a few of Harry Kraus novels and the experience of being a board-certified surgeon and medical missionary bring a sense of realism to this novel in unremarkable ways.

For more information about An Open Heart, Harry Kraus, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Open Heart by Harry Kraus

To read more reviews on An Open Heart from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Tour, please click here.  

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook (June 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781405351
• ISBN-13: 978-0781405355
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.2 x 8.2 inches 

Available in paperback and Ebook formats from your favorite book retailer. 

A Heartbeat Away

AHeartbeatAway - Medium from S. Dionne Moore on Vimeo.


In the heat of the Civil War, Beth Bumgartner is called into action in a way she never dreamed. Her grandmother has asked her to join her as a nurse helping the wounded even though their very lives may be at risk as well as grandmother's home. Now that the Rebel soldiers have made their way into Harper's Ferry, many in the town have taken what little personal affects they possess and have attempted to make their way to safe places to hide until the war is over and they hope they still have a home standing. Only while her brother Jedediah has left to fight in the war against the North, she has been called to help care for the soldiers who have invaded their town.

It is through her grandmother's persistence that Beth finds the strength and will to at least offer what comfort she can provide, through reading Scriptures, writing last letters or simply praying for them before most slip into their everlasting sleep. She wonders just what effects her efforts will have on men that are doomed to die anyway, and despite defying her parents and at least trying to help, she knows she must stay. She can't leave her grandmother Greta alone.

When a Confederate soldier is brought to the home, she is asked to care for him despite that the odds are against this man. He has saved the lives of three slaves and it is through their pleads that Beth and her grandmother offer to help. Through faithful prayers and continued care, Joe fights his way back to the land of the living and offers a small peak into the war that many don't see. He fights night terrors where he faces losing his brother Ben to a mysterious man who seems bent on killing Ben and leaving Joe in the care of the slaves. He feels there is more to the puzzle that what bits and pieces his mind offers if he can only find those slaves that he helped. They might just provide him the answers he so desperately seeks.

Along the way Beth pieces together a quilt that her mother had sent along as a reminder and a message from home. What that message is will be revealed as Beth pieces it together and finds hope in not only coming to terms with her own disability but being able to see this war through the eyes of God and let the hate she holds inside finally heal. In the end that is the message that truly matters and will resound with readers of A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore, one of the many novels in the Quilts of Love Series.

I received A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Book Tours for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This novel is part of the Quilts of Love Series written by a variety of authors and this is the first for S. Dionne Moore. This gives the readers an inside look at what life in the South really looked like in the midst of the Battle of Antietam and just how brutal it was from both sides of the war. It is hard to imagine men in our own country turning against each other but that is just one of the effects of a Civil War. The message in this novel is one about hope and finding it in one of the darkest times in our life. It's always there one just has to keep pursuing it in order to find it. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and you can find this at your local retailer. Even though they are part of a series, since each novel deals with something different you can pick up any of them as they are stand alones in a greater series.

To find out more about A Heartbeat Away, S. Dionne Moore or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Heartbeat Away by S. Dionne Moore

To read more reviews on A Heartbeat Away from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.

When Mockingbirds Sing

The best part of a great book is when you can take a few moments after the final page has been turned, you close your eyes, sigh, and remember just how great a story that was you just read. One that will live long in your soul like a priceless memory. In fact for as far back as I can recall, almost anything that author Billy Coffey has written has lingered in my mind and touched my heart in profound ways. In his latest novel, When Mockingbirds Sing is definitely not like anything I had ever read from him before. This one gripped me from the first chapter and wouldn't let me go. I quite literally couldn't do anything else until I uncovered the magic that was taking place in the small town of Mattingly, Virginia. Think of it like your personal Mayberry of sorts. The kind of town where everyone knows one another, where often times they can rally together for the good of the community. It's also a place where when things can't be explained that people can assume to worst in others. But all that is about to change when one little girl, Leah Norcross came to town and brought the magic with her.

Leah is the only child of Tom and Ellen Norcross. Your average family from the looks on the outside. Tom is a full-time psychologist in town and has cut back his hours to spend more time with his family. Something he promised them before they moved here. But something in Tom's past won't let him go and he'll have to decide where his true priorities lie when no matter what he tries, he can't seem to heal his own daughter, Leah of her ability to stutter. What's even worse is the divide it has been causing in his own marriage to Ellen. They are more like room mates than husband and wife lately and he is struggling to find a way to create bridge to bring his family back together. Will Leah's magic be enough to heal her family as well?

Leah's only goal in life to to have friends, but she has learned long ago that when you are different like she is, people will often go to great lengths to be mean and stay away from you. So she is more than thrilled when the Rainbow Man appears and offers to work with Leah to help what is ailing this small town. The only problem with the Rainbow Man is that no one can see him but Leah. Leah and the Rainbow Man are about to change the lives of the people living in Mattingly like they had never imagined and all those prayers to God are about to point to what Leah can paint in her remarkable pictures handcrafted just for each one of them. What is really going on with Leah and her paintings? Just what is the Rainbow Man? Is he sent from God or somewhere else?

For that answer to the mystery of the magic in Mattingly, you'll have to pick up a copy of When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey. After picking up a copy of this novel, you'll want to carve out a good portion of time to sit back and watch the real storytelling magic of Billy Coffey's writing transport you as a silent observer into the lives of the people in Mattingly. The interesting note I found when I began my own journey is that the voice in the story reminded me of the narrator from the movie Charlotte's Web (1973), Rex Allen, whose gentle and warm voice lulls you into a magical world that only Billy Coffey can create through his words. This is one not to be missed and will change how you see things in the world today. There is magic alive all around us if we are only willing to look for it.

 It's been a true pleasure to review When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the down to earth author Billy Coffey, himself. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review on this novel and easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I've had the distinguished pleasure of adding so many of Billy Coffey's short stories to my personal library through his novels but also through his blog, What I Learned Today.  Make sure you grab a comfy spot on the porch swing, make a tall glass of some Southern Sweet Tea and prepare yourself for a truly unforgettable journey into the world of Billy Coffey today! To wrap up this novel in one word would simply be "Awesome Sauce!"

For more information about When Mockingbirds Sing, Billy Coffey or where to pick up a copy of this inspirational novel today, please click on the links below:

When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey

You can follow Billy Coffey on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 4, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401688217
• ISBN-13: 978-1401688219
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches 

You can find When Mockingbirds Sing in paperback and eBook Formats at your local book retailer.

The Love Wars

Think of the movies, The War of the Roses and add in a health dose of The Devil Wears Prada and you have the recipe for the novel, The Love Wars by author L. Alison Heller. We all remember the novels or stories that showcase a hardworking newbie attorney working their way up the difficult corporate law field with the best of intentions at heart. This is exactly the case for Molly Grant who lives in New York City working for one of the most prestigious law firms Bacon Payne. Their client base is some of the wealthiest people in the world and when Molly finds that working on the bottom rung a little too long, she opts to work for the Matrimonial Division.

Here under the leadership of high powered attorney Lillian Starling who handled all the firms high-profile divorce cases. It was here you either were on top of her list of favorites, called her 'girls' or you were on top of her hit list meaning you won't last a day once you make it there. Molly just hopes to last long enough to secure what's known as a Payne-ment, which is a bonus equivalent to a years salary so she can pay off the law school loan her parents have had to take out to send her to school. Just under two years to go and she'll have it in the bag and life will get much easier to bear. For now, however it means jumping when Lillian asks her to jump and to not ask how high but to already know how high and to exceed those expectations, working anything less than 16 hour days is unheard of and if you make one simple mistake you can count your career at Bacon Payne a good-bye.

Molly starts to question working for some of this highly demanding clients who seem to think she is there strictly to appease them at all costs instead of handing their law cases. When she finds herself dealing with the wife of one of their clients, Fern Walker. When Lillian asks her to oversee some of the issues regarding the child custody arrangement between the Walkers, Molly finds herself facing a dilemma that probably tries most legitimate attorneys. Is it possible to still work for Bacon Payne and work a legal case against one of their clients? Everything Molly has ever worked for is on the line, but after an episode in Molly's past, she finds that she might have to bend the rules a lot to make up for a possible second chance to do something noble and worthwhile instead of merely winning another divorce case.

I received The Love Wars by L. Alison Heller compliments of Penguins Publishers and Book Sparks Book Tours for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a great look at what the world of high-profile family law looks like from the outside. It seems that even though the cases are similar, in the world of the rich and wealthy, no demand is too small for some. It shows you what can ultimately happen when good people stand up for those that need it the most. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars due to my personal rating system. The book does contain some profanity and thus the reason for a lower rating. If you ever wanted to know what working for a law firm that deals with the high profile cases looks like, you might just want to pick this one up. Truly some of the things that the attorneys have to work with are a bit on the outrageous side and really makes you wonder just how true this novel might be to the real world. I know personally I could not work for Bacon Payne. I think sometimes people fail to remember the innocent people that will become collateral damage in the process of some divorce cases.

For more information about The Love Wars, L. Alison Heller or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Love Wars by L. Alison Heller

You can also find L. Alison Heller on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (May 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451416236
• ISBN-13: 978-0451416230
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches 

Available on paperback or ebook formats at your favorite book retailer. 

Ray of Light

Summertime is the best time to find some exceptional books to take to the beach or lakeside to immerse yourself in and I've got a great recommendation for those of you that love Amish Fiction. Take Shelley Shepard Gray's latest novel from her Days of Redemption Series, Ray of Light. This is the second book in the series and even though it's part of the series, you can pick this one up as a stand alone and still enjoy it just as much as the first one, Daybreak.

In Ray of Light, we meet Amanda Yoder who is living in the beach side Amish town of Pinecraft in Florida. She has spent the last two years attempting to find a way to move forward in her life after losing her husband, Wesley and is raising her daughter Regina on her own. Despite all the help from her in-laws, they don't seem to think that two years is enough time before Amanda can attempt to find a new love for herself and Regina. She hadn't exactly been looking for anyone either but when her next door neighbors brother comes to town, he seems at ease in talking to Regina. She hadn't been socializing much since her father died and it seems she has found a true friend in Roman Keim.

The only problem with this romance is that Roman is strictly in Florida on vacation and is leaving back to Ohio in a week. What will happened between Amanda and Roman? Will they both be willing to walk away from a potential relationship or will one of them be willing to uproot their home and move closer to the other?

I received Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Avon Inspire, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I've been a huge fan of Shelley's for quite some time and loved the blend of my favorite places Amish country in Ohio alongside a beachfront setting in Florida. It shows just how many times God will show us a ray of light in the darkest of our storms to teach us better things are on our horizon.

In relationship between Amanda and Roman there is hope being restored for each of them in the process. For Amanda its not only about finding love again but finding someone that it suitable for her younger daughter. Regina only makes the process that much easier when she befriends Roman before Amanda realizes what is happening and that relationship between them is genuine. Not just because Roman finds Amanda more than attractive. He understands the trust that must accompany his actions and words in respect to both Amanda and Regina. Now if they can only find a way to make the distance between them work. You'll have to read this one to see what happens along their journey as well for all the families involved. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Ray of Light, Shelley Shepard Gray or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today please click on the links below:

Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray

You can also find Shelley Shepard Gray on Facebook so you don't miss any of her latest novels.

To read more reviews from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour for Ray of Light, click here.

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire; Original edition (May 14, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062204424
• ISBN-13: 978-0062204424
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 8 inches 

This is available at your favorite book retailer in paperback, audio and eBook reader formats. 

The Repeat Year

What would you do if you woke up tomorrow morning and found out it was exactly a year prior right down to the day? Everything you did one year ago was the beginning point for where you found yourself today. What would you do if you had the opportunity to relive that year again?

That is just the premise for the latest novel, The Repeat Year by author Andrea Lochen. Not only does Olive Watson wake up on New Year's Day in 2011 with a new beginning but it really is a new opportunity. She finds herself suddenly right back where she was a year ago. Back with her now ex-boyfriend Phil. The very same Phil that broke up with her ten months ago. She's not exactly sure what happened, but all she knows is that she is suddenly provided with an opportunity to fix some mistakes in her life that happened a year ago. Is it possible to move forward with the knowledge of having already lived those mistakes and not yet feel a sense of remorse for having that knowledge to help you with making different choices. It's not exactly like you can leave those feelings behind just because you have a chance to make things right in the lives of the people you dealt with that previous year. Is there even a point to having this happen?

I received The Repeat Year by Andrea Lochen compliments of Penguin Publishers and Book Sparks Tours for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is like an expanded version of Groundhog Day only it takes some unexpected twists and turns when you have 365 days to do over again. Unlike Groundhog Day where the concept was the same day over and over again, Olive has a year to find the one thing that has brought her back to doing the year over again with no clue as to what that is. Is it the opportunity to stay living with her roommate Kerrigan instead of moving out, is it a chance to fall in love with her ex-boyfriend Phil and possibly get married, or rekindle some family relationships that she burned in the first go around, or is it something she never considered about how her interactions with someone needed a second chance? Maybe repeat years aren't just redoes for quick fixes, but they're last chances.

Based on my personal review criteria I have to rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars. Not for the storyline but based on the profanity contained in the beginning of the book that readers might find offensive. However, the story is amazing. I found myself wondering what I would do if faced with the same challenges that Olive did. What if what I thought needed changing wasn't the reason I had the opportunity to redo that year again and I had to repeat it again until I did? This is definitely a unique concept and I found I could relate to a lot of decisions that Olive makes. It makes you see the people you often take for granted in your life and when given the chance to revisit them again, you realize what a gift a repeat year could be. This book makes for a perfect addition to your summer reading list and I'd love to see this one brought to the big screen some day.

For more information about the Repeat Year, Andrea Lochen, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Repeat Year by Andrea Lochen

You can also follow Andrea Lochen on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Before Terror Strikes

"Evil...prevails when good people do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke

In today's world more than ever the need to be observant and diligent wherever we go is something we all need to take seriously. In light of the recent mass shootings, being more diligent in what is normal and what isn't could be the best line of defense we can apply to any situation. I think far too many people think what happens around them is strictly none of their business, but when these same people are interviewed after the event, they all say the same thing. "I knew there was just something about that person that didn't feel right."

In the book, Before Terror Strikes: Learn The Tactical Mindsets and Skillsets Necessary To Survive A Terrorist Event Before It Occurs, author William Michael Seddon Sr. takes readers into some simple things we can do to get us out of our day to day routines and become more hyper aware of our surroundings. It's these simple strategies that may in fact save our lives the next time something like this should happen.

In the beginning of the book, the author asks some very powerful questions to see what your initial response would be to any of these situations: What would you do if you found yourself taking sniper fire in a parking lot? Or shopping in a crowded mall when someone begins spraying automatic weapons fire? What if you were picking up your luggage at the airport, and someone started throwing hand grenades? What would you do?

This short but concise book details the inner workings of such terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and how they have changed strategy's in looking for smaller attacks around the world to accomplish their intents and purposes. He showcases what some safe options might be if you find yourself in any of the situations above and some simple things we can do when traveling to make ourselves a less likely threat and target. He instructs readers to be more vigilant on anniversaries of other attacks such as the one that occurred in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012.

I received Before Terror Strikes by William Michael Seddon Sr compliments of Outskirts Press and Bostick Communications for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. In light of all the recent attacks in malls, schools and even abroad, I have found myself paying attention to things a lot more than I would have in the past. In the movie theaters, I watch who comes in and out, and if anyone uses the emergency exits. No longer can we afford to simply be complacent any longer hoping someone else will pay attention for us. While this book is geared to inform, it does not cause you to take up arms and prepare for these events to occur but merely to get you to think a little differently than you may have in the past. For those of you that love books that help you prepare for these types of threats or those who love survival training than this is the perfect book for you. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars just simply based on the fact I was looking for more meat in the content of this book and it was short, concise and simple at 166 pages.

About the Author William Michael Seddon Sr.
William Michael Seddon Sr., M.S., Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist, served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for over 13 years. He was a Marine Training Instructor and is the found of 7th Stratagem, an anti/counterterrorism consulting company.

For more information about Before Terror Strikes, William Michael Seddon Sr, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today please click on the links below:

Before Terror Strikes by William Michael Seddon Sr. 

You can also find more information from the Before Terror Strikes Facebook page.

• Hardcover: 166 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (April 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1478717203
• ISBN-13: 978-1478717201
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches 

You can find this book at your favorite book retailer in hardcover and eBook formats.