The River

Every once in awhile you come across a book that really makes a difference in your life. One that makes an impact; one that makes a difference in how you move forward in your life. Such is the case in the inspirational fictional novel from Michael Neale, The River. I first saw an ad for this book and it was highly recommended by some of my favorite authors, one being Andy Andrews, who I have most of his books in my personal library. This one will definitely be joining them.

In the book, The River, it chronicles an encounter Michael Neale had with a mountain hiker he had met in a Denver airport when his plane was delayed. During a conversation, this man, Gabriel Clarke, shared with Michael his life story and in the end, this is the contents of that man's life and how he arrived to their chance encounter at the airport. It is nothing less than awe-inspiring and truly moving. You will not be the same after reading this.

The adventure begins with the love of a river guide, John Clarke, Gabriel's father as they are planning a hiking trip when he was only 5-years-old, but well beyond those years on the inside. Gabriel looked up to his father like most, and truly saw only the hero in his father's eyes. When a tragic circumstance that Gabriel witnesses, his life is forever changed in a way that no one should ever have to face. Now left alone and facing his worst fears as he grows up, Gabriel often retreats inside himself to help cope on his bad days. It takes much encouragement from his mom, to get him to even attend a swimming trip to the local pond, in which one more Gabriel will be left feeling responsible. As the man grows, he knows he must come face to face with the tragedy and fear that has changed him, if he ever expects to be half the man his father knew he could be. It will only take the calling of the River and a return to a place where we must all face our greatest fears.

I received, The River by Michael Neale compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review and was captivated by the story. It truly does keep the reader engaged from beginning to end and like most great inspirational books, it leaves you looking at your own life in introspect. Dark times in life are inescapable. They feel like a turn life wasn't supposed to take. It may be grief, shame and illness - financial, relational, or otherwise. We all have those times...it's part of the fabric of being broken people, living in a broken world. The good news is...it is not forever. The beauty and power of this story is not that The River pulled Gabriel out of the dark times forever and ever. It's that The River called to him and joined him in those hurtful dark places, much like God does in our own lives. I encourage you to pick up a copy of this amazing book and see if it doesn't inspire you in your own battles with fear. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on The River, Michael Neale, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The River by Michael Neale

You can also find Michael Neale on Facebook.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401688489
• ISBN-13: 978-1401688486
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8.3 inches

The Breath of Dawn

He always promised that if he ever got out, he would come for her. He would make her pay. Now Quinn Reilly has received a cryptic phone call from Hannah, telling her just that. He's coming for her and now she will pay. As hard as she tries to stay involved in her work dealing with estate sales, Quinn knows that somehow, some way, she can't remain hidden for very long. Markham Wilder will use every resource possible to find her and that's why she has to stay on the move. She has one more house to deal with and find buyers for the items inside before she fears she must run again. Aside from the purchase of a small A-frame house with an oversized barn for the storage of the items she has up for sale, she has remained virtually off the grid. Until now.

Morgan Spencer has only one thing left to live for, his young daughter Olivia, whom he affectionately refers to as Livie. Still grieving over the loss of his wife, Jill who was killed during a freak accident and prior to that losing another daughter to leukemia, Morgan only has Livie left to care for. Spending some time with his brother, Rick and his wife Noelle, Morgan tries to find a way to move forward. Seeing the ranch house next door is for sale, he wonders if just moving far enough away but still close enough to get help if he needs it will help him find a way to get his own personal life back on track. Known for being a well sought after specialist that assists big corporations in these hard economic times turn their companies around, Morgan has made quite a name for himself and the money has been great. He also has turned some of his successes into best sellers sharing his tips for those willing to buy his books, but has remained a bit of a recluse and strives for a private life, after the death of his wife.

Now that Quinn has almost readied the home, she discovers help in the unlikely place, through her next door neighbors Noelle and her brother-in-law, Morgan. When Morgan shows up to investigate the potential sale of the home she's inventorying, it leads them both into an undiscovered secret in the basement beneath the house. What they both discover there, will unite them in a remarkable but unexpected way and Quinn will need Morgan's help to save her own life. If only she can trust the more than handsome but grieving man.

I received The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I have to say, for me, I can't read this one at night. The first time I got about half way through and needed sleep, I had nightmares, not the authors fault, but it does provide a blending of some intense genres, suspense, thriller, and romance. It's truly heart stopping at points and you hope that Quinn and Morgan will find solace in one another through dealing with truly difficult circumstances. I literally had a hard time putting this one down. I love that Kristen isn't in a hurry to move her book along and the details she takes in building the suspense and characters is remarkable. From the secondary characters like Consuela, Morgan's housekeeper in California to the Professor Dr. Jenkins with his old pipe, you can almost imagine them as if they were real but vital to the story. I can easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Any book that can keep me up at night, with the covers over my head, is truly a winner in my book. I'll be watch listing Kristen Heitzmann for future books!

For more information on The Breath of Dawn, Kristen Heitzmann, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann

You can also find Kristen Heitzmann on Facebook. 

You can read more reviews of The Breath of Dawn from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance book tour.

Everything

"Sometimes our obedience to Jesus Christ costs others."

I know if you're a Christian, most of us can agree with that statement. Simply put following Jesus can cost us the lives of people who were once in our lives or often times keep people from truly getting to know us. Sometimes just the label of the term "Christian" is enough to steer people in the opposite direction. So just how do we keep on the path we are intended, while the world around us falls apart and points the fingers in our direction often times?

Jesus said it Himself, that persecution would follow those of us that take us the cross and follow Him. He never promised that the path would be smooth and beautiful along the way there, but there would be a cost involved. Is it one you have considered taking? Is it one you have questioned whether the effort is truly worth it in the end?

In the book, Everything by Mary Demuth, she illustrates some of those changes believers face on their walk of trying to be the best we can in virtually everything we do as Christians. She writes this book as a fellow struggler who is learning that what we think about God matters, how we allow Him to reign in our hearts matters, and how we obey Him in the moment matters. It all matters. Everything. Author and speaker, Mary DeMuth has been abused, foreclosed, abandoned, and betrayed. She has been pressed and drained till it was too much and it was enough to bring her to surrender piece by piece. In this book, she illustrates how she did it and hopes to encourage you wherever you are at in your walk right now.

Each chapter in this book includes a timeless quote or scripture reference from the Bible, a personal story from Mary's life, how she incorporates that into the Christian walk and what the Bible has to say about that situation, along with some discussion questions to draw you deeper into your own personal study or perhaps in a small Bible study group. There are chapters dedicated to worry, healing, dealing with your own thoughts, money issues and growing as a Christian. There are countless pieces of wisdom contained with these pages and ones that you will want to capture, notate and highlight to help encourage you when the storms of life come calling.

I received Everything by Mary DeMuth compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and TLC Book Tours for my honest review. Even great running cars need a tune up every now and then to keep it in the best shape it can be and to help keep it running smooth. As a believer in Christ, I truly believe that books like this one, are designed to encourage us and keep us running smooth and to keep up in the best possible shape we can be in our personal walk of faith in Jesus Christ. I encourage you to pick up a copy of Mary's book today and even use it for personal study or more importantly in a small church group Bible Study! I personally rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information on Everything, Mary DeMuth or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Everything by Mary DeMuth

You can also find Mary DeMuth on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on Everything from the TLC Book Tour, click here. 

The Ghost of Christmas Present

I am always so thankful for the fall because it always brings such great Christmas stories to print and The Ghost of Christmas Present by Scott Abbott and Amy Maude Swinton is a perfect novel to read to bring about the sense of hope, love and peace just in time for Christmas. This is a combination of Mrs. Doubtfire mixing with the right amount of Miracle on 34th Street. We are immediately introduced to Patrick Gutherie, a single father to his young son Braden, who has recently been diagnosed with similar heart condition that has taken the life of his mother and Patrick's wife, Linda. How is it possible that he is about to lose the only other person in the world after trying to move forward after the death of his wife and soulmate. It's only a matter of time before Braden will join his mother and Patrick will be left all alone.

When Patrick receives an emergency phone call from the hospital while teaching his drama class in college, he fears the worst. He arrives at the hospital and immediately learns that Braden might have a chance at a new life and possibly reverse his heart condition. Finally the break he's been searching for. As he prepares for Braden's upcoming surgery, he learns that he has been laid off from his teaching position due to cutbacks and worse yet, his father-in-law Tom Cake, has filed a custody hearing to assume responsibility for the care of raising young Braden. Tom has long since held Patrick responsible for the death of his daughter and wants to ensure that the same doesn't happen to Braden. Now facing the scrutiny of a Child Protective Services worker, Rebecca Brody , Patrick must find a job and be able to get current on his rent, utilities and have money in the bank otherwise he will lose custody of his son. 

Faced with losing his son just when a Christmas miracle has presented itself, Patrick must find a way to make money and fast. His only options seem to be his love of Shakespeare and theater and his ability to act. Is it possible to find a way to make enough money to save his son. Will there be a Christmas miracle after all on 34th street? Or will Patrick lose the only thing keeping him alive in this world and watch his scrooge of a father-in-law gain custody of his son forever?

I received The Ghost of Christmas Present compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review and was hooked from the first page. I couldn't wait to see how this one would work out and finished it in a matter of a couple of hours. It was that good. I love the creativity that Patrick used to step outside the box and utilize his acting talents to find a way to bring money in to keep the lights on, and a roof over his head. He did what I believe most parents would, and that's whatever it takes to make sure your kids are well cared for and loved. Braden truly admires his father and despite all the stress in his own life with his heart operation, Braden can see his dad's true feelings and knows something is wrong even though Patrick won't share everything. He attempts to find a way to keep a positive spin on everything that is going on and in the midst of it all, changes the lives of every single person he encounters. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 Christmas stars and HIGHLY recommend this one to anyone looking for a feel-great Christmas novel!

For more information about The Ghost of Christmas Present, Scott Abbott, Amy Maude Swinton or where to pick up a copy of this wonderful novel, please click on the link below:

The Ghost of Christmas Present by Scott Abbott and Amy Maude Swinton

Train Tracks

I received a copy of Train Tracks by Michael Savage, the wildly popular host of a radio show, The Michael Savage Show which claims it is family stories for the holidays. I was hoping for a book geared along those lines but this one is merely a sampling of Michael's personal memoirs from his life and those people who he believed has a great impact on the person he became and how he arrived at his current lot in life. With that said, I believe the title is a bit misleading. While reading through his collection of stories from his harsh and cold upbringing in the 1950's, these would NOT be stories I would share with my family members. There is a story from the chapter, Boy in the Basement that tells of remembering a man named Charlie who used women in exchange for providing them with rag dresses, a different form of prostitution in my opinion and one that does not make for a story to tell family members or even appropriate for the holiday season.

If you are looking for a personal memoir of the life of radio personality and storyteller, Michael Savage than perhaps this is the book for you. It is not in my personal opinion a story suitable for family's or for the holidays. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and have to say based on the misleading information not only on the cover but inside the book jacket as well, the reader will be confused when they pick this one up. There are some forms of profanity as Michael shares certain stories and others offer questionable content. In this case, my review rating of this book is 1 out of 5 stars. The story collection starts in his childhood and then move back and forth without a rhyme or reason. It's kinda of confusing. If you are interested in Train Tracks, Michael Savage or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Train Tracks by Michael Savage

You can also find Michael Savage on his website by clicking here.

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (November 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006221084X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062210845

A Merry Little Christmas

The Martin farm, Oklahoma, 1961

Franny's mother always said that if humans ever landed on the moon, the first thing they'd need was music. It was the one essential that made a place inhabitable - you know, to get through all those dark and lonely - not to mention unmarried and dateless - nights.

Franny sighed and turned up the dial on her transistor radio. Frank Sinatra's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" wooed its way over the airwaves like a slow kiss under the mistletoe. She swayed and sange along as she dumped the last of the slop into the troughs of her forty rambunctious hogs. Then she climbed up on the fence for a little swine soiree.

"You know, I can't wait to see who Dick Clark features next on American Bandstand, but now that I'm thirty-three, I guess I should be watching The Lawrence Welk Show. Right?" The hogs grunted their replies, but it wasn't anything worth repeating. "Honestly, you guys can be such boars." She chuckled to herself at her bad pun.

As the last musical ribbons of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" tied up like a bow, Franny hopped down on the other side of the pig fence, picked up her radio and slop bucket, and heaved a sigh. Christmas was coming, and it looked like she was going to spend the holidays alone. Again.

With that piteous little thought bobby-pinned to her mind, she turned around and came face-to-face with a man. A stranger! She let out a yelp loud enough to startle the man and arouse the poor hogs into a frothing frenzy. The bucket and radio went flying as Franny went slip-sliding onto the muddy ground." (pg 9-10).

In the latest Christmas novel from Anita Higman, A Merry Little Christmas takes us back to the 1960's, on Franny's farm where she runs into quite literally a man who wishes to purchase the family farm she has had up for sale for the last 12 years. Funny how things like that just fall into place. Now that Charlie Landau and her have meet quite informally, she can finally find time to pursue the life long dream of a career in music in the big city. All she needed was a way out and Charlie fell right on in. It seems as if Charlie has been looking for a way to prove himself worthy to take part in his father's business, but after many unsuccessful attempts thus far, Charlie is hoping that taking over a farm and making a profit might be just the thing his father needs to see he is more than capable.

Set in the midst of the civil unrest with racial tensions running high, the book overlaps between a transition of ownership and jobs between Fanny and Charlie and thrusts them both into dealing with the unfair treatment of Noma Jefferson, an eldery women with the face as richly hued coffee who had shown Franny the kindness worthy of the Good Samaritan, when she finds herself having one of the worst days ever. Will Franny and Charlie be able to see past their own difference of money and be able to see the simpler side of life that money can never buy, perhaps Noma Jefferson really is an angel in disguise set upon the world to restore the hearts of the good people in Charlie and Franny, but of course, you'll never know unless you read this Christmas novel yourself.

I received A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review and love a great story like this one. It brings to light so many different emotions and how each of the characters interacts with one another makes this one memorable long after you finish reading it. It's almost like you witnessed these events yourself. Anita does an exceptional job at transporting the reader right back into the heart of Oklahoma in the 1960's through the music and references to items like record players, transistor radios, and even the old time diner experience is rich and vividly described. It's things like these that truly enhance the experience for the reader and make them all the more real. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and think it's a must read for your Christmas season.

For more information about A Merry Little Christmas, Anita Higman and where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman

You can also find Anita Higman on Facebook. 

To read more reviews from the Litfuse Book Tour, please click here. 

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Summerside (October 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609366883
• ISBN-13: 978-1609366889
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

A Thousand Sleepless Nights

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Thousand Sleepless Nights Realms (October 16, 2012) by Michael King

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When Mike Dellosso won a one-year battle with colon cancer he set out to help readers of his books discover it before they had to go through what he experienced.

“I want others to avoid what I had to go through,” he says. “It was an experience that taught me a lot about myself, others, and God, but one I wouldn’t want to repeat. If I can help even one person battling this disease, it would have been worth it.”

Mike set about writing a novel quite different from what his fan base had come to expect from him. Not a thriller, but a character-driven novel, so he wrote it under a pen name, Michael King, and entitled it A Thousand Sleepless Nights. His publisher, Charisma Media, went for it and the first copies went on sale in October.

Mike’s next step was to determine whether a partnership between him, Charisma Media, and the Colon Cancer Alliance was possible. This month both announced their cooperative fundraising venture, with Charisma Media making a significant contribution to CCA and Mike committing a portion of the proceeds from the book through December to CCA.

Speaking about A Thousand Sleepless Nights Mike says, “I want people to see colon cancer (and all the other cancers) for the monster it is, but also to show it does not need to defeat us. There is hope, there is strength, and there is courage and love. And though cancer may rob us of our physical vitality, it has no power over our spirit.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the 1970s, escaping a home where he knew nothing but violence and hate, Jim Harding found work, and love, on the largest horse ranch in Virginia. The object of his affections, Nena St. Claire, is the daughter of the owner—a man who ruled his ranch with an iron fist and would do whatever it took to keep Nena and Jim apart.

Against the wishes of her family, Nena marries Jim, and after her father dies, she sacrifices everything—including her family—to keep the ranch alive. Now their three grown children have lives of their own and want nothing to do with Nena. She was never the mother they needed.

When cancer strikes and Nena is given a devastating diagnosis, can Jim reconcile the family before it is too late?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Thousand Sleepless Nights, go HERE.