Fiction Friday

Winner Announcement, Freebies, and Great Discounts 


It's FICTION FRIDAY here at Woman of Faith, so

I thought I'd share a few recent  finds from Amazon.com.
(I am using my affiliate link, which means that if you purchase a copy through my link I'll make some change.)

FIRST--what's FREE RIGHT NOW:  

 CLICK  THE BOOK COVER TO BORROW OR PURCHASE FROM AMAZON


The Dog That Talked To God, by Jim Kraus
Abingdon Press

Product Description

A wonderfully quirky, heart-breaking, heart-warming and thought-provoking story of a woman's dog who not only talks to her, he talks to God. 

Recently widowed Mary Fassler has no choice except to believe Rufus, the miniature schnauzer, who claims to speak to the Divine. 

The question is:  Will Mary follow the dog's advice, and leave everything she knows and loves?  Is this at the urging of God?  Or is it something else? Will Mary risk it all or ignore the urgings of her own heart?

"I loved this story. Quirky and unusual, this unique tale wove a spell around me and drew me in. It wasn't what I expected at all, and when I turned the last page, it left me wanting more." - Ane Mulligan, Sr. Editor of Novel Rocket

"The Dog That Talked to God is a moving and powerful read, inspirational long after the last page has been turned." - New York Journal of Books



What Your Childhood Memories Say About You (And What You Can Do About It) by popular Christian Family Psychologist Kevin Leman
 (Non-Fiction) From Tyndale



Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God, by Michelle Aquilar
(Non-Fiction) From David C. Cook


DEEPLY DISCOUNTED DEALS:




 61% OFF: Two versatile and popular Christian fiction authors (Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey)teamed up to write this mystery/suspense, Chasing Mona Lisa: From Revell







 61% OFF: Reclaiming Lily, by Patti Lacy (Love this book cover!) From Bethany House  




 


MentalPause and Other Midlife Laughs, by Laura Jensen Walker From Revell  




 

The Messenger, by Siri Mitchell! From Bethany House




NON-FICTION

  Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

From Thomas Nelson

[I loved this book. Easy, fast reading, and it IS astounding.]

 

The God Who Sees You: Look to Him When You Feel Discouraged, Forgotten, or Invisible
From David C. Cook Publishing



Vintage (and Free!)

Amanda, Daughter of the Mennonites, by Anna Balmer Myers


 And the Winner From Last Week's Giveaway Is...

"Minabucket"

Using random.org, Mina was chosen to get Diana's book.
Congratulations, Mina!



(Sincerest thanks to all of you who came by and entered the drawing. I do book giveaways on many Fridays, so why not subscribe now to this blog if you haven't done so yet? You'll be among the first to know every time I feature a guest author doing a book giveaway.)



 

That's it for now. Happy Memorial Day Weekend, US Readers!
Do some reading. :)

Warmest Blessings,

 Linore

 


Fiction Friday & Book GIVEAWAY!

A Bride's Dilemma: in Friendship, Tennessee

by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer

Inspirational Romance
Christian Fiction Factor: 4-5
Don't you just love the beautiful cover of A Bride's Dilemma? I'm pleased to have Diana Lesire Brandmeyer here as our guest today to tell us about her book. She's generously offered to send a free copy (US only, sorry) to someone who leaves a comment.

[Winner will be chosen and notified one week from today. Leave a comment after the post to share your thoughts with Diana and you'll be automatically entered in the drawing.]

Before we speak with Diana, here's a peek at what A Bride's Dilemma is about: 

Heaven’s Stolen His Heart

 After witnessing the ravages of the Civil War, Travis Logan vowed to give up doctoring. But when fellow steamboat passenger Caleb Wharton collapses at his feet, Travis knows he must lend his aid. As the old man lies dying, he makes Travis promise to take care of his land and find Heaven. Travis can’t help but wonder what Heaven has to do with a real place, so he heads to Caleb’s farm to fulfill his promise.

Weeks of facing marauders and caring for her father’s home have finally taken their toll on Heaven Wharton. When an unknown young man charges the house, Heaven attempts to fire a warning shot but ends up shooting the man instead. Shocked, she and her sister, Angel, drag a semi-conscious Travis into the house and nurse him back to health.
 As Travis and Heaven both struggle to control their destinies, will they learn that only a heart that follows God can ever find peace on earth?

This sounds like a great story, Diana. What made you interested in writing Christian Historical Fiction?
I discovered historical fiction through LaVyrle Spencer a long time ago. Through her characters she involved me in history in an enjoyable way. When Christian Historical Fiction began to be published I was overjoyed! Finally, my kind of book without the immoral behaviors. I had a chance to write A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee and dove right in.

Do you write any other genres?
Yes, I have written a contemporary:  Hearts on the Road (Heartsong) which will be re-released as an ebook in the future. I’ve also co-authored a nonfiction book: We’re Not Blended, We’re Pureed: A Survivor’s guide to Blended Families. That was a tough book to write because it's about blending my own family after I was widowed.

What is your favorite scene from A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship?
I would say most of my favorite scenes involve Angel, the heroine’s sister. She’s a bit outspoken.

Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite? Why?
Every time I start a new book that character becomes my center of enjoyment. It’s like discovering a new friend; the old friends are great but this new one brings another aspect to your life you didn’t expect.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?  
Abandonment seems to show up in my books quite often with the realization as Christians we are never alone.

What is the one thing that you want to leave readers of A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship pondering over? The heroine's dilemma! (What does Annabelle do?)

Thanks so much, Diana. Where can readers get a copy of your book?


Don't forget to leave your contact info in your comment (ie., your email addy. Like this: Linore (at) LinoreBurkard (dot) com.)

Bio
Christian author, Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, writes historical and contemporary romances. Her historical, A Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee is now available. She’s also written We’re Not Blended-We’re Pureed, A Survivor’s Guide to Blended Families. Once widowed and now remarried she writes with humor and experience on the difficulty of joining two families be it fictional or real life.


Learn more about Diana on the web: 
Twitter @dianabrandmeyer




It's Devo Monday at Woman of Faith

with Guest Devotional by Kathi Macias

"Never Too Old"

Kathi has a wonderful way with words, and this guest post is no exception. Are you dismayed at how fast the years slip past? Never fear. God can use you at any time, at any age, and He just may choose to use you most later rather than sooner. 
Special thanks to Kathi for this encouraging post.
--Linore

And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old
when they spoke to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7, NKJV).

            We live in a youth-oriented culture, where anyone over the age of 65 is supposed to hang up their work ethic and spend whatever years they have left chasing a little white ball around a golf course. Nothing wrong with playing golf, mind you, but when it becomes our sole purpose for getting out of bed in the morning, we’ve lost our direction.
            God did not create us to serve ourselves. We are made in the image of the Creator, and God has called us to partner in that pursuit, to one degree or another; that partnership doesn’t end when our hair turns gray or our step slows a bit due to arthritis.
            I love reading about Moses and Aaron, don’t you? They were in their eighties when God sent them to confront the most powerful man on earth. God didn’t send young men in their prime of life so they could flex their muscles and pound their chest and intimidate Pharaoh. He didn’t send rich rulers from other countries who could threaten him with their armies or bribe him with their riches. He sent two brothers who, between them, had lived more than 160 years on this earth. Neither had experienced an easy life, since Aaron was raised as a Hebrew slave, and Moses, after growing up in a palace, had to flee for his life into the desert. And though Moses initially resisted God’s call to go to Pharaoh, he finally accepted, with his older brother at his side.
            We can learn a lot through the story of Moses and Aaron and their ultimate success in leading the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt. First, as long as we live on this earth, we are never too old to be useful to God. Second, if we continue to partner with God in whatever He has purposed for us, we can experience tremendous victories at any stage of life. And finally, though we may consider ourselves inconsequential in the scheme of things, God can use us to effect powerful changes in the lives of others.
            So wherever you are today and whatever is going on in your life, listen for God’s voice. He just may call out to you from the burning bush and send you forth on the greatest mission ever.

***My newest releases, Deliver Me From Evil and Special Delivery, are now available at most online venues and in bookstores across the country. You can find/order them, along with previously published books, on my website (www.kathimacias.com).


Communicating the vision… (Hab.2:2) www.kathimacias.com

Image from the artist's website 


Today for "Fiction Friday" I have a treat for you.  
Authors Debbie Lynne Costello and Kathleen Maher have united to create a blog aimed at informing EVERYONE (readers and authors alike) of the newest blog book giveaways and other bookish contests.

Debbie Lynne says, "Fiction Addiction was created to help readers find free books, for bloggers to advertise giveaways, and so authors can reach new readers. We love to gain new followers but you don't have to follow to benefit from us. If you are a blogger wanting to advertise a giveaway, go to this link http://fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/p/how-to-advertise-your-giveaway.html and learn how to advertise with us. (It's free!) 

If you're a reader and want to find giveaways stop by http://fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/  because we put up new giveaways several times a day. If you follow us through Feedburner you'll get all the information in your mailbox as often as we update it.

(Note from Linore: I highly recommend subscribing through feedburner if you love Christian books. You won't believe all the giveaways you'll be able to participate in, and even if you don't win books, you'll still learn about many, and usually from the author.) You'll also discover scads of new book blogs that you'll enjoy browsing.

Have fun, and have a great weekend. I'll be working on my next short story along with a writing buddy who is working on hers. I want to have it available for you SOON.


Warmest blessings,


Linore
This is where I'd like to read my next book. How about you?

Linore Rose Burkard
Join me on facebook!

Book Consultant on Duty!


I've got some great new books for you today.

1. Good, Clean, Fun 

The Allegra Biscotti Collection, and its sequel, Allegra Biscotti: Who, What, Wear, aren't "Christian" fiction, but they're good, clean fun. In fact, I loved them. 

I got the first one during a free promo on Amazon, but I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought the sequel. They are perfect for teens (and tweens who read well), and even Grandma will enjoy them. I love a book that you can breeze through with pleasure, and both of these fit the bill. (They seem, if anything, too short. That's how much fun they are.) Whimsical illustrations fill the pages as plain ol' teenaged Emily becomes the hot new fashion designer Allegra Biscotti. Thing is, it's a secret! And secrets can lead to great, big trouble. 

  


2. Heaven Is Now


 I haven't read this yet, but it looks like a worthwhile addition to the plethora of "heavenly" releases out there. Published by Baker Book House, I expect a solid Christian worldview, and am looking forward to see what this guy has to add to what's on the table with other recent releases like Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, (Interesting, if a bit long) and Heaven is For Real, by Todd and Colton Burpo. (Loved this one! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.)   

.  3. Well-written, Intriguing Memoir

  I love memoirs, autobiographies, and real-life accounts. Thus, Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist appealed to me from the outset, but after picking it up just to get a feel for the writing, I ended up reading straight through to the end!  Written in easy-to-read prose that is nevertheless respectful of the readers' intelligence, Chole (Ko-lee) gives an intriguing account of coming from atheism to faith. (I plan on sending a few copies of this to people of whom "faith" is not a descriptive word.) 

Are you planning your summer reading, yet?  And do you send people books as a form of evangelism?
Feel free to share your thoughts.

Warmest Blessings,
Linore