08.18.09
Review – Love’s Rescue
by Tammy Barley
It’s 1863. To escape the ravages of war, Jessica Hale’s family leaves their beloved home in Kentucky for a new life in the Nevada Territory.
Je
ssica’s brother, Ambrose, is determined to help defend their southern homestead. Against his father’s wishes, the young man joins ranks with the Kentucky militia and returns to the south. When Ambrose goes missing in the midst of the War Between the States, Jessica’s attempts to find him set off a chain of events that will change her life forever.
In the wake of a close encounter with political fanatics, Jessica loses everything that matters and then finds herself spirited away to a remote ranch in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. There, Jessica’s every effort to escape is thwarted by handsome rancher Jake Bennett and his loyal cattlemen.
Jake knows what it’s like to lose everything. He’s determined to protect Jessica through her time of loss. There are those who would harm the young woman for nothing more than being a Southerner, and Jake and his men have no intention of allowing that to happen. Still, how can he help Jessica’s wounded heart to heal when she so deeply resents him for what she perceives as his failure to save her family? He can’t make her see the truth, but he can protect her, and he can pray while her eyes are opened and her broken heart mends.
Tammy Barley’s action-packed debut novel is wonderfully rich in historical detail. It’s a tightly woven, riveting tale of love and loss, faith under fire, and wild hearts on the run. As the author unfolds this spellbinding story, a vivid picture of life in the Old West is revealed with stunning clarity and depth. Love’s Rescue provides everything a reader expects from this era: cowboys and Indians, damsels in distress, good guys and bad hombres, gunfights and moonlit nights. The last page leaves the reader longing for more of Jess and Jake. It’s an absolute must-read for the lover of historical romance.
A masterpiece of storytelling intricately woven with spiritual wisdom and insight, and threaded throughout with the good, the bad, and the ugly of love, life, and humanity.
Bravo, Ms. Barley!
It’s 1863. To escape the ravages of war, Jessica Hale’s family leaves their beloved home in Kentucky for a new life in the Nevada Territory.
Jessica’s brother, Ambrose, is determined to help defend their southern homestead. Against his father’s wishes, the young man joins ranks with the Kentucky militia and returns to the south. When Ambrose goes missing in the midst of the War Between the States, Jessica’s attempts to find him set off a chain of events that will change her life forever.
In the wake of a close encounter with political fanatics, Jessica loses everything that matters and then finds herself spirited away to a remote ranch in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. There, Jessica’s every effort to escape is thwarted by handsome rancher Jake Bennett and his loyal cattlemen.
Jake knows what it’s like to lose everything. He’s determined to protect Jessica through her time of loss. There are those who would harm the young woman for nothing more than being a Southerner, and Jake and his men have no intention of allowing that to happen. Still, how can he help Jessica’s wounded heart to heal when she so deeply resents him for what she perceives as his failure to save her family? He can’t make her see the truth, but he can protect her, and he can pray while her eyes are opened and her broken heart mends.
Tammy Barley’s action-packed debut novel is wonderfully rich in historical detail. It’s a tightly woven, riveting tale of love and loss, faith under fire, and wild hearts on the run. As the author unfolds this spellbinding story, a vivid picture of life in the Old West is revealed with stunning clarity and depth. Love’s Rescue provides everything a reader expects from this era: cowboys and Indians, damsels in distress, good guys and bad hombres, gunfights and moonlit nights. The last page leaves the reader longing for more of Jess and Jake. It’s an absolute must-read for the lover of historical romance.
A masterpiece of storytelling intricately woven with spiritual wisdom and insight, and threaded throughout with the good, the bad, and the ugly of love, life, and humanity. Bravo, Ms. Barley!
08.09.09
Interview – Liz Johnson
Liz Johnson
I’m delighted to welcome debut author Liz Johnson to My Book Bag. Liz, I want to talk to you about your new book (which I loved, by the way! Readers, see my review of The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, below). I have a few just-for-fun questions, as well. But first, tell us about you. Who is Liz Johnson, the gal next door?
Thanks so much for having me! It’s such a pleasure to be here with you. So … a little bit about myself. Well … I’m a graduate of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, where I earned a degree in public relations. I’m a full-time publicist in the Christian publishing industry and I don’t write nearly enough. I love ice skating and movies and a good TV show on dvd. I volunteer in my church’s bookstore several times a month, and I own way more books than I could ever read.
Sounds like you keep yourself busy enough! Tell us a little about The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, and your publishing process.
The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn is the story of Myles Parsons, who is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn’s GED course, until he kidnaps her, o
ffering only a feeble explanation–that he’s actually FBI Special Agent Myles Borden. Terrified, Kenzie doesn’t want to believe his story of being undercover to protect her. Moreover, she can’t believe that someone might really want her dead. Together they must uncover the clues that will reveal a most shocking perpetrator.
I wrote this story with Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense in mind, and I hoped and prayed that they would be interested in publishing it once it was done. It wasn’t a fast sale. In fact it took nearly a year of revisions with my editor before a contract was offered. But it was a great time of growing and learning as a writer, as well as learning what God had to teach me about patience and releasing control over to Him.
Very interesting … nice to know Steeple Hill is willing to work with their authors to that extent. How long have you been writing? Was there an “aha” moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always loved writing. I wrote my first story about a bear when I was 7. I signed my first contract at 27, and all through those in between years, I was busy writing. But it wasn’t until after college that I really thought about trying to have a book published and started working toward that. I don’t know that there was a specific “aha” moment, but there was a moment when a friend of mine told me that she would keep me accountable to keep writing. It was her belief in me that got me believing that I could really finish a book and eventually wind up published.
Every writer needs someone like that. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
Pretty much all of my stories are inspired by the things that God is teaching me in my own life. Just before I wrote The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn God was really working on my heart, teaching me to rely on Him. In the six months before I started this book, I had moved across country twice and found that I didn’t have my support group around me anymore. God was there every step of the way, and He taught me to rely on Him through that tumultuous time.
How much time do you spend writing?
Not enough. 
I try to spend a couple evenings each week writing, but it doesn’t seem to work well for me. I’m pretty inconsistent, except that I do write nearly every Monday night for about an hour with my writing buddy. But when I’m getting close to finishing a book, I can’t write enough. I just have to get the story out.
I love that particular time in the process, as well. What’s your best piece of advice for new and aspiring writers?
My best advice is actually from one of my favorite nonfiction authors. In his book Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson, the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC., says that it’s really easy to pray and just keep praying, waiting for God to answer. But at some point we need to recognize when He’s given us the means to accomplish what we’re asking for and act on it. That’s really applicable to me and probably many other writers. We sit and pray for God to give us the words, but we end up waiting, failing to act on the talents He’s given us. So pray for the words, but know when to stop praying and start typing.
Give us one writing tip that you personally find invaluable.
Anything worth starting is worth starting poorly. That is to say, first drafts should and can be bad. They will be improved.
Now for that off-the-cuff stuff I mentioned. If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question – what question would you ask of whom?
I would love to ask Abraham Lincoln what he felt his biggest success was.
What books are on your bedside table right now?
Too many! The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, Where Honor Dwells by Gilbert Morris, A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell, and about three books for work.
What word annoys you more than any other?
When I’m reading, the worst is an unusual word used over and over without real cause in the same book. It makes me crazy because it stands out and takes me out of the story.
I gotta agree. What “super power” would you like to borrow for awhile?
Flying. I don’t like driving, so it would be nice to fly.
Share a grammatical pet peeve…go ahead, sound off.
Hmm … I suppose a good dangling participle always drives me a bit crazy, but can also be good for a laugh.
That’s true, they can be. What color crayon best describes you on a good day? Bad day?
On a good day: cornflower blue. On a bad day: burnt orange.
Thank you for hanging out at The Bookshelf for awhile, Liz! Where can my readers find your book?
Everyone can find my book for sale in bookstores this month and online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, cbd.com, and more. And they can find out more about my book at my website, www.lizjohnsonbooks.com. Thanks so much for having me!
Thanks again, and we hope you sell a million!
About Liz:
After graduating from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations, Liz Johnson set out to work in the Christian publishing industry, which was her lifelong dream. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working as a publicist in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream-being an author. Along the way to having her novel published, she wrote articles for several magazines and worked as a freelance editorial consultant.
Liz lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she enjoys theater, ice skating, volunteering in her church’s bookstore and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nephew and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn is her first novel.
08.02.09
The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn
by Liz Johnson
Myles Parsons is trouble. Kenzie knows it from the time he walks into her prison GED class, upsetting her routine with his piercing blue eyes and impertinent smile. Small she may be, but Kenzie Thorn is no pushover. She can be sweet, but she can be spicy as well, and the saucy redhead has no intention of allowing an inmate—even one as handsome as her new student—to intimidate her.
But Myles does much worse.
When he kidnaps her, then tries to convince her he’s Myles Borden, an undercover FBI agent whose goal is to keep her safe from someone who wants her dead, Kenzie has a hard time believing him. But then he places himself in mortal danger protecting her … why would he do such a thing, if he’s really out to do her harm? When she tries to return the favor by tending to his wounds, Kenzie finds her heart could be in far more danger from Myles than her body ever was.
Myles’ plan included removing Kenzie from harm’s way, then removing himself from her vicinity, no matter how cute, angry or frightened she is. But circumstances get in the way, and he finds himself thrust into the company of the sweet and spicy GED instructor longer than is safe for his heart. As she tends to his physical wounds, and he strives to keep her safe from an unknown enemy, Myles finds himself falling in love.
Liz Johnson’s debut novel is a charmingly sweet romance with just the right dose of mystery and suspense. From prison to mountain cabin, and back to city streets that harbor dangerous unseen assailants, Ms. Johnson takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and action that keeps the pages turning fast enough to stir up a whirlwind of anticipation and interest. A well-written tale with a number of unexpected twists along the way. Beautifully done!
Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes
Abnormal.
The moment Summer Finley hears that word in connection with medical tests, her world changes. Having seen “abnormal” results finally take her mother’s life, she finds herself emotionally unable to face the possibilities innate in the ugly term. Her reaction is to make an uncharacteristically spur-of-the-moment trip to the Netherlands. She’ll deal with the interminable period of waiting for biopsy results after this long-anticipated trip. Never having met her pen pal and best friend since fourth grade, Noelle Van Zandt, Summer determines to wait no longer.
She arranges for one week with this friend she knows so well, yet not at all. Summer and Noelle make the most of every moment. In the process, they learn a lot about one another … and perhaps even more about themselves.
A field of tulips, a cup of rich Dutch cocoa, a wooden-shoe boat on an Amsterdam canal, a tour through Corrie ten Boom’s Hiding Place, a visit to a unique farmhouse full of special women … each visit, every experience opens Summer’s heart and mind to a greater trust and faith in God. Noelle, too, confronts painful ghosts from her past and learns valuable lessons in release and forgiveness.
By the time Summer returns home to face her future, both she and her life-long friend have a new understanding of their heavenly Father’s grace and love—and a deeper, closer relationship with each other. With God’s ever-perfect timing, He brings these sisterchicks together at a time when they need each other most.
Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes is a fun, touching, sometimes poignant look at learning to let go and let God. Robin Jones Gunn, with typical excellence, includes humor and angst, history and progress, love and the things that test it. Dotted with wonderful geographical and historical detail, it’s a beautiful snapshot of friendship—what it means to be a friend, and what it means to have one.
An unforgettable, undeniable, absolutely perfect Dutch treat!
07.05.09
Review – A Gathering of Finches
Cassie’s marriage to Josiah Stearns following her father’s death is one of convenience. It insures financial security and a roof over not only her head, but her mother’s and sister’s, as well.
Josiah moves the three women from their home in Corning, New York to Hoquiam, Washington, where Cassie finds herself seeking to fill an emptiness she cannot name. Not even the baby girl she gives birth to satisfies that inner hunger, and she soon finds herself falling in love with handsome playboy Louis Simpson. The affair predictably leads to pain and betrayal, with Cassie forsaking all she has and everyone who cares about her to be with the man she loves.
Beside her entrepreneurial lover, Cassie moves to the wild, rugged coastal region of Oregon, and what follows is a lifetime of parties, gaiety, extravagance and self-fulfilling endeavors. Yet happiness eludes her, despite the riches and respect, despite being Louie’s spoiled darling. When he betrays her, Cassie sinks even further into a realm of self-doubt and distrust. She’s a bright star wandering a dark galaxy, never finding the perfect place to be happy and at home.
A Gathering of Finches is based on the life of Cassandra Hendrick Stearns Simpson. It’s a wrenching tale of a lifetime of questionable choices, a life lived almost wholly without purpose, devoted to self-satisfaction, and a heart that longs for something more. Yet Cassie has many friends, many people who genuinely love her and long to see her find herself…to find God.
Perhaps in the end, she does.
Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, of pain and betrayal. Well-written, laced with authentic historical tidbits that lend richness and reality to the storyline. This one won’t be easily forgotten.
WANT TO FIND MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS ONE?
A Gathering of Finches is one of a collection of books offered at deep discounts from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group this summer. See press release below:
Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this summer with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s eight full-length, historical novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, June 2, 2009). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality enjoyment at a price that any reader can afford.
Full-length historical novels offered include:
The Captain’s Bride (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45806-3)
by Lisa Tawn Bergren, book one in Northern Lights series. Experience an epic saga of perseverance and passion, faith and fidelity in a sea adventure from the gentle hills of Bergen, Norway, to rocky coast of Camden, Maine.
Tomorrow’s Treasure (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45808-7)
by Linda Lee Chaikin, book one in East of the Sun series. Family secrets and a passion for a man of a higher social class draw Evy Varley into a dangerous mystery and disturbing questions about her past.
The Silver Sword (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45809-4)
by Angela Elwell Hunt, book one in The Heirs of Cahira O’ Connor series. The auburn-haired O’Conner women push against social limits. Their tale is one of peril, courage, vengeance, love and sacrifice.
The Veil (ISBN-13: 978-0-307-45807-0)
by Diane Noble. Hannah McClary dares to question the truth behind the shroud of secrecy that cloaks a nineteenth-century sect known as the Saints. Soon she and Lucas Knight, the young man she loves, find themselves fighting for their lives.
Under the Distant Sky (ISBN-13: 978-1-60142-245-3)
by Al and Joanna Lacy, book one in Hannah of Fort Bridger. Join Hannah and Solomon Cooper as they journey by wagon train to a new life on the frontier. Will they overcome tragedy and great opposition as they strive to live their dream?
A Promise for Breanna (ISBN-13: 978-1-60142-244-6) by Al & Joanna Lacy, book one in Angel of Mercy series. Suspense, danger, romance and spiritual truth each play a part in this heroine’s life as she faces the man who once broke her heart and led her to mistrust men.
Maire (ISBN-13: 978-1-60142-256-0)
by Linda Windsor, book one in Fires of Gleannmara. Maire, Warrior Queen of Gleannmara, finds her fierce heart gentled by a reformed mercenary, a Christian, who’s taken hostage during a raid.
A Gathering of Finches (ISBN-13: 978-1-60142-247-7) by Jane Kirkpatrick. A turn-of-the-century Oregon coastal couples’ life is seen through the eyes of the wife, her sister, and her Indian maid who discover reasons why money and possessions can’t buy happiness, forgiveness or relieve consequences of choices.
Waterbrook summer release of value line books will also include a 99 Ways (July 2009) and Non-fiction series (September 2009).
06.29.09
Mom Needs Chocolate: Hugs Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood
Debora M. Coty is a woman on a mission. Since answering God’s call to write six years ago, Debora has published over 80 articles in international magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, and signed 11 book contracts! Her latest, Mom NEEDS Chocolate, just released from Regal Books and is endorsed by legendary funny ladies Martha Bolton and Patsy Clairmont.
Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood puts moms back in touch with rejuvenating joy and empowering faith. From outrageous coping tips to off-the-wall 
insights, Coty’s humorous book will have you laughing out loud. With witty frankness and wild abandon, she tackles the highs and lows of marriage, the horror of embarrassing children, and the defeat (and re-defeat) of depression. If you’ve been wondering lately why in the world you embarked on the journey of motherhood, then Debora Coty has the perfect reminder in this book.
You can learn more about Debora (and her other books) at www.deboracoty.com.
