PETTICOAT RANCH

Day 6 Friday

Mary's Profile on her blog reads: “Mary Connealy has three books in bookstores now or coming soon from Barbour Publishing. Mary, is married to Ivan a farmer, and she is the mother of four beautiful daughters, Joslyn, Wendy, Shelly and Katy. You can find Mary on the internet like a middle-aged, female Where's Waldo at www.maryconnealy.com! Mary is a GED Instructor by day and an author by night. And so she can remember what she's doing, she likes to wear a little crown and a Wonder Woman cape while she types.”

From contacts with her as one of CFRB's members I can tell you that while she has an amazing ability to laugh at hardships, she takes her writing very seriously. She writes, what I guess you could call, “serious humor”. That's humor that gets her through the rough places. And as Clay McClellan would say, “She's a God-fearin' woman.' In fact, I wonder just how much like Sophie she is herself. I strongly suspect she is very much like that strong woman who took to raising four daughters by herself after her husband was murdered (that's Sophie, her girls and her husband. Mary's husband and girls are doing just fine from what I understand).

English teachers and others are always telling us to write about what we know, so I'm fairly certain that her daughters also played a role in patterning Sophie's daughters after. The fact that she happens to have the same number of girls as her heroine tells me something about that. I don't know about Mary's husband, but I think Ivan must have added some wit and wisdom by his very presence. To say that he is Clay may be overstating things, but I think Mary was able to more clearly depict some of the problems a man and a woman have, especially when they are falling in love because of some of the experiences she's had with her own husband. I'm just guessing, but I'll tell you this, PETTICOAT RANCH is chock full of characters that come to life.

Don't miss tomorrow's post. I saved the best for last. Tomorrow we'll be having an interview with Mary Connealy. I think you'll enjoy it. I think I'm getting better at this. I hope you guys are too. See, there are times when we'll need to pull together, times when I'll need someone to fill in for me. I'm sure they're times when Jackie, Cynthia, Karina and the rest could use a break. Think about ministering to Christ by being able to say, “Hey, brother, (or sister), why don't you let me do that for you this week so you can get some writing done. I know how busy you've been and really appreciate all that you've done for us.” Jesus teaches us that when we do things like that we're actually doing it for Him. It's like Jesus was standing there and you had the privilege of helping Him. See you all tomorrow. God bless.

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PETTICOAT RANCH

Day 5 Thursday

Sophie's girls. It only seems right to mention these cute little monsters, or these monstrous little cuties, depending on how you look at it. As I've been saying she has 4 girls. Mandy, the oldest, followed by Beth, then Sally and finally Laura, the baby of the bunch. These girls are important to the story on several levels. They add to the drama in times of suspense. They add that special family type of humor that makes this an incredible book. And they are all different.

It would have been easy for Mary Connealy to do a cookie cutter thing in creating these little girls. But the closest she comes to that is they're all blonds. Mandy, the eldest, is closest to Sophie, although clearly her own person. She's normally in charge of the girls when Sophie has to leave the house for one reason or another. Beth, the 2nd oldest, has a fondness for animals. She's gentle in her mannerisms and if no-one else can get an animal to do something you can count on Beth. She'll get it done. 3rd in line is Sally. Sally was a “Daddy's girl” and when Clay shows up looking like her Pa come back to life she instinctively is drawn to him. Laura is the baby of the bunch and spends most of the book either sleeping or one of them tying to get her to sleep. They are all so different.

Yet, in other ways they are so very much alike. From their blond hair, the way they giggle when something strikes them funny or cry at the drop of a hat. Both of which drives Clay up a wall. They're determined too, obedient and pretty much faithful at least to their “Ma”. This contrast between similarities and differences is very realistic and I'm sure you've met thees girls before, under different names, and probably not under the same roof. Putting them all in the same place adds to some interesting mements.

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PETTICOAT RANCH

Day 4 Wednesday

Now to my favorite. Comedy. Not something you'd expect of a mystery writer maybe, but I love comedy and PETTICOAT RANCH has it to overflowing. There's been some good writing and some good comical moments in some of the other writings I've read for CFRB so far, but Mary had me belly-laughing. That's not something I normally do, even when it's good. But I just couldn't help myself.

One of the comic tacks that is taken here is Sophie's actions where they meet her emotions, and later where they meet Clay's brusque mannerisms. It's comedy that takes birth from pain, sorrow, anger, frustration and pride. Sophie acts and reacts in such a normal and believable manner because of this added layer.

Clay is a bit like Sophie, proving that opposites repel, not attract one another. Yet God wants them to be attracted to one another and the road getting there clearly goes against the grain for him. Here's a case in point (don't kill me for this Mary); once Clay is up and about after his brush with death at the beginning of the book he takes stock of the situation Sophie is in. He goes into town to buy some much needed supplies. Yet before he leaves he asks Sophie if she understands what needs to be done. She replies that she does. Then, almost as a last minute thought he asks her if she's a “God-fearin' woman”. She says she is, wondering what these questions mean. Well, Clay bought supplies alright. They included the preacher and announces they need to get married right away. She goes ballistic. The nerve of him, deciding to force himself into her life. The least he could have done was ask. Seems in his mind those 2 small questions he asked before leaving were what he considered his proposal. The really funny thing is Sophie actually goes through with it and the fun really begins.

When we look at Sophie and Clay we see ourselves and can't help but laugh. A while back some guy wrote a book call MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS. I've never read the book and I'm not necessarily endorsing in here, but the idea of 2 people, men and women, who talk, think and act so vastly different from one another is just about on the mark. I've thought to myself, as I watched my wife fluttering around the house, “If she wants me to help she'll ask.” I usually go back to my book or my DVD or whatever. The trouble is she's thinking, “What's wrong with him? Can't he see I'm swamped and need some help here?” Both expect the other to know what they're thinking and neither one does. It creates some problems, but in the long haul we can look back and say, “There goes Sophie and Clay, at it again.

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Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

RANSOMED DREAMS

(Multnomah April 16, 2007)
by

Amy Wallace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy Wallace is a member of the CFBA and an avid Blogger. A self-confessed chocoholic, this freelance writer is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and serves as the liaison for the training division of the county police department. Amy is a contributing author of God Answers Moms' Prayers, God Allows U-Turns for Teens, Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes, and A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mothers. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three daughters.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Drama. Tragedy. Thriller. Romance. Can these four actually go together? Amy Wallace's meaty first book of the Defenders of Hope Series, RANSOMED DREAMS, has successfully united these genres.

It is one of those books that after you read a little and put it down, the desire to see what will happen next is so strong that it will occupy your thoughts, compelling you to make the time to finish. But watch out! It is best consumed where no one will hear you cry because, if you have children, it will hit you like a stab in the gut and wrench you with a twist of the knife.

Although the subject at first depresses, the characters are so real and likable that you need to see what will become of them.

This book will NOT bore you.

BACK COVER COPY:

Chained To Yesterday

When tragedy struck and Gracie Lang lost everything, her faith crumbled, and nothing but the drive for justice propelled her forward. But after two years of dead-end searching, the truth Gracie seeks is the very thing her stalker will stop at nothing to hide.

Forgiveness Unlocks the Future

An FBI agent in the Crimes Against Children Unit, Steven Kessler spends his days rescuing other people’s children and nights caring for his son. He’s through with God, embittered by his ex-wife who abandoned them both, and definitely doesn’t expect what’s coming next.

The Past Is the Key

A plot to kidnap a British ambassador’s daughter dangerously intersects Steven and Gracie’s worlds–a collision that demands a decision. But are they willing to pay the high ransom required to redeem dreams and reignite hope?

ENDORSEMENTS:

Steeped in police intrigue and rich characters, Ransomed Dreams entertains, educates, and captivates. Amy Wallace is a fresh, vibrant voice in the Christian market

~Mark Mynheir, Homicide Detective and Author of The Void

Ransomed Dreams had me hooked from the start and didn't let go until the deeply satisfying ending.

~Kristin Billerbeck, Author of What a Girl Wants

PETTICOAT RANCH

Day 3 Tuesday

Romance. This is one of my least favorite genres, but every once in a while an author manages to pull it off in a way that even I find myself liking it. This is one of those times. The beauty of this romance is that the people seem realistic. It's not about some Prince Charming riding into the story to save his princess. It's about two people, very much like you and me, who are thrown into a situation where love blossoms all on its own. For these two, Clay and Sophie, it's a true miracle.

Sophie is used to looking out for herself and her girls. She takes the intrusion of Clay into her life as nothing but an unwanted aggravation. Besides, she's not trying to be found. She's trying to hide out from the people who killed her husband. So when Clay informs her they will be going to church she's really riled. And that's just one instance. Time and again they clash always leaving Sophie wondering if she shouldn't have left him in the ravine where she found him.

With Clay it's much the same story. He's used to riding the range and hanging out with other men. Now he's suddenly thrust into a world of women. When he lays down the law the girls cry. And when they cry he wishes he were back on the range. He's as stubborn as Sophie, which not only makes for a good story, but is realistic. Two people becoming one, like the Bible says, doesn't happen overnight. And these two find out just how true that is. So who has to change? Sophie or Clay? Hmmm.

Built into this is the love of God. He understands Sophie's needs, but He also understands the needs that Clay has. Neither admit to having these needs, but as the story moves forward you can see the Lord drawing them closer and closer together. So in that sense it's also a romance about our relationship with God. When we make Him the center of our life, He is able to take us and make us into what pleases us and others as well. This is one of those back stories that comes up when you take a closer look. So take a closer look. Buy the book and discover your own fascinations with it.

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Day 2 Monday

Okay, as we enter day 2 of the tour let's look at the suspense in the story. I've already touched on it out of necessity, but let's go into this more deeply. Cliff Edwards was never the kind of man to run a ranch. He was bull-headed enough, but not knowledgeable enough. Perhaps it was his lack of knowledge that made him a good target. Actually I think it was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. By the time you open the book Cliff haas already been dead for two years, murdered by “vigilantes”. I put that word in quotes because they weren't seeking justice, but something else. Enter the suspense.

Everything may have gone smoothly if it hadn't been for Clay showing up on Sophie's ranch. Because of his appearance, and a riotous string of events that putting these two together created, that the bad guys learn that Sophie hasn't really left. They thought she went home to her folks, but she didn't have anyone to go home to. So sticking close to home, but hiding out in an abandoned ranch, she takes care of herself and her 4 girls. When Clay shows up he brings them out of hiding and unknowingly has put a big old bull's eye on her back.

Clay and Sophie learn to get along, much the way a person carrying nitroglycerin gets along with the unstable compound. Much of their focus is on each other, the girls or themselves. While each has a reason to go after those who killed Cliff, they put that off to the side. It seems more important to keep the household in order. In doing so they give these black-hatted guys the chance to mount a campaign against them. No matter where you are in the book, in the background is this insidious plot to “finish the job” they started when they kill Cliff.

The one thing Clay and Sophie have in their favor is their unfailing trust in God. With stumbles and mistakes made all along the way, reminding us that we are so much like them, their trust in God never wavers. In the end it is this that is their saving grace. Although how that comes about I'm not going to tell you either. You're simply going to have to read it for yourself.

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PETTICOAT RANCH

Day 1 Sunday

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...sorry, that's about someone else. Yet you get the same kind of feel though with PETTICOAT RANCH. Is it a Western? Is it a Romance? Is it a Suspense? Is it a Comedy? With the most unique talent at combining genres and depicting her characters Mary Connealy leaves you wondering just what genre to place this book in. It neatly falls into any one of them. This is something I found truly awesome, especially since I'm not a big romance fan. Yet with the infusion of these other aspects she was able to get me to not only read, but truly enjoy this story, romance and all.

Let's take these one at a time. Western. This is a true old western story, told in the fashion that us “Baby Boomers” relished on TV when we were growing up. There's the harsh, unrelenting nature one had to deal with in the old west. No paved roads. No automobiles. No convenient stores. No modern appliances to make the daily chores easy. Yet there were those great qualities of human nature that overcame these obstacles. This is what we enjoyed watching our favorite westerns on TV as kids. And it is this that she brings back to life again in her novel.

Now in a western you have someone who wears the black hat and someone who wears a white hat. The bad guy verses the good guy. Mary makes it a little more complex, and enjoyable, than that. Sophie Edwards witnessed the brutal execution of her husband and has taken her 4 small girls into hiding. The men who killed her husband did so under the false premise of carrying out justice. She knows better, but has little time to seek revenge. In comes Clay McClellan, a man she at first fears, but later on spends much of the time arguing with. Clay has been hunting down these murderers on his own, well, as a deputized Texas Ranger. He's not used to family life, especially women. With little but raw courage and several firearms they take on the villains. How that comes about you'll have to read for yourself.

The story takes place in the panhandle of Texas, a wild and unforgiving place. The villains are just as unforgiving. Yet they serve a just God. One of the interesting this about this story is the ability to show that God has a sense of humor as well as one of compassion and justice. I truly urge everyone to go out and get this novel. Read it and enjoy it. You won't regret it.

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This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

TRIBULATION HOUSE

(Harvest House Publishers May 1, 2007)

by

Chris Well

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Chris Well is an acclaimed novelist and an award-winning magazine editor. His laugh-out-loud Christian thrillers include FORGIVING SOLOMON (one of Booklist's Top 10 Christian Novels of 2005), DELIVER US FROM EVELYN (#1 on Technorati, and a #2 Christian thriller on Amazon.com),and the semi-apocalyptic TRIBULATION HOUSE. By day, he is the Web Content Manager for Salem Publishing (CCM magazing, Youth Worker Journal, Preaching) and a contributing editor for CCM. He has also contributed to Thriller Readers Newsletter, 7ball magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and Infuse magazine. Chris and his wife make their home in Tennessee, where he is hard at work on his next novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“I Might as well just tell you right now, I killed Reverend Daniel Glory."
The book actually starts that way. Then Mark Hogan, that's who is actually telling the story, begins to explain the events that led up to the actual act itself. He gets sidetracked and there's a lot more going on than just a murder. There's this whole Rapture thing where Rev. Glory has nailed down the exact time of this blessed event. People start falling into categories. There are those, like Mark, who believe the man implicitly, those who believe that as Christians we should be busy about the Lord's work, and those who don't believe in God or this event at all. This is a story of what happens when people follow the words of people instead of the Word of God.

My Favorite Pet Peeve
Chris addresses, in his satirical, humorist fashion, how foolish it is to follow the teaching of men than of God. I'm particularly concerned with Christians who have been told that they're going to be taken out of the world before tribulation hits. Ah, you want to prove that one to me? I mean, even if you really believe and hold to a pre-tribulation Rapture, isn't there a period when Christians are going to DIE for their faith? Paul taught us that in the last days we would heap teachers who would tickle our ears. Jesus said if those days were not shortened even the elect would fall away.
While Chris Well talks humorously about a serious topic he is very serious about the topic he's teaching about. Look also for the various side trips in the story as there are some great teachings hidden there as well. Chris is wonderful storyteller.

TRIBULATION HOUSE is not merely satire, it's solid Biblical teaching couched in both humor and suspense.

Endorsement:

"In TRIBULATION HOUSE, Chris Well gives us something to laugh at, something to think about, and prods us on to being whoever Christ wishes us to be in the Body of Christ...even if it's just a Mr. Charlie. While initially not prepared such a serious topic to be treated with good doses of humor, I found it had more depth than many novels without humor."
David Brollier--THE 3RD COVENANT

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

THE HEIR

(Bethany House March 1, 2007)

by

Paul Robertson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Paul Robertson is a computer programming consultant, part-time high-school math and science teacher, and former independent bookstore owner in Blacksburg, Virginia. This is his first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jason Boyer Just Got an Inheritance to Die For
The fortune wasn't supposed to befall him. Jason Boyer had known all along his father's business empire would pass to different hands. Which suited him just fine. The money was crooked and the power corrupt. But when an accident claims the old man's life, everyone is stunned by the unveiling of the will. With the passing of the Boyer crown, power-hungry politicians and shady business partners all try to force Boyer's hand. Fighting the temptation of influence and riches, he simply wants to be a better man than his father--but attempting to stand for what’s right soon brings murderous consequences. As those closest to him are endangered--and news emerges that his father's accident may be something more sinister--Boyer finds himself fighting for his soul…and his life!

Is There Any Escape for The Heir?
All the money he could ever crave. In the splintering crash of a car plunging through a railing, Jason Boyer's life is changed. All the fame he could ever desire. But the last thing he wanted was the throne of his father's corrupt business empire. All the power he could ever wield.
The estate should have gone elsewhere, but the will was changed. And now everything is Jason's. But gaining the whole world just might cost him his life.

THE HEIR is a Gresham-like tale of intrigue and murder with a lot of humor and well-drawn minor characters.

Endorsement:

"In THE HEIR, Paul Robertson serves up politics, privilege, and murder with a side of acerbic wit. What a fabulous book--a great mix of angst, humor, and ultimately, hope."
T.L.HINES--author of Waking Lazarus and The Dead Whisper On

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A BIGGER LIFE

Navpress Publishing Group (January 15, 2007)

by

Annette Smith

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In 1997, Annette was working as a home health nurse. She traveled the back roads from house to house, caring for ill and injured, homebound people. Because of her unique position in the lives of relative strangers, she often found herself bearing solitary witness to intimate behind-the-scenes situations full of grace and meaning. The desire to honor both a particular patient and a poignant scene involving the woman and her husband prompted Annette to write a fictionalized story, The Anniversary.

That first story appeared as a column in the Houston Chronicle newspaper and as an essay in Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Later it became a chapter in Annette’s first and best-selling book of short stories, The Whispers of Angels, that has sold more than 100,000 copies

Since then, Annette has penned four more books of stories, two volumes on parenting, and the Coming Home to Ruby Prairie trilogy.

Annette and her husband Randy, a High School teacher and coach, make their home on a wooded lot in Quitman, Texas. They are the parents of two young adult children, Russell and Rachel, both out on their own. Wally, a grateful, rescued mutt provides warmth and entertainment and keeps the Smith’s empty nest from feeling too lonely.

In addition to writing, Annette continues to serve part-time as a registered nurse. She finds the people she works with and the patients she cares for provide great inspiration for her fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Joel Carpenter did not plan for his life to turn out like this. He never meant to be a single dad, working at a hair salon in Eden Plain, Texas. But after making a careless choice four years ago, his marriage was permanently shattered. Now at twenty-seven, he finds himself juggling custody of his preschool son with Kari, the ex-wife he still loves, and sharing Sunday dinners with a group of other single dads.

Joel regrets the choices that brought him to this place, but it's not until the worst happens that he learns how much he still has to give. In the midst of deep tragedy, he learns that forgiveness is way more important than freedom. Hopefully it's not too late!

A BIGGER LIFEis a story of love in the midst of heartache, and friendship in the midst of real, everyday life.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

CORAL MOON

Zondervan (April 27, 2007)

by

Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brandilyn Collins' is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Web Of Lies, Dead of Night, Stain of Guilt, Brink of Death, and Eyes of Elisha just to name a few.

Brandilyn and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

She also maintains an informative blog called Forensics and Faith where she daily dispenses wisdom on writing, life, and the Christian book industry.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The figure remained still as stone. Leslie couldn't even detect a breath.

Spider fingers teased the back of her neck.

Leslie's feet rooted to the pavement. She dropped her gaze to the driveway, seeking...what? Spatters of blood? Footprints? She saw nothing. Honed through her recent coverage of crime scene evidence, the testimony as last month's trial, the reporter in Leslie spewed warnings: Notice everything, touch nothing...

VIOLET DAWN brought on a new dimension of Brandilyn Collins that I wasn't ready for. In fact, I was personally disappointed with the first book of her new series. It was going in too many places at the same time for me. Yet, CORAL MOON works precisely because she needed to get all that information out to the reader. Collins is not content to approach a story with your basic English style, that is to spend 3 or more chapters laying the groundwork and then actually getting to the story. She likes to dive right in (and take us with her in the process). That being the case, and her new series being more evolved or complex than some of her other series, it was necessary for her to run down all the rabbit tracks in the first book of the series. Now she's able to bear down. (I should say that once things started to come together in VIOLET DAWN it was a good read). CORAL MOON is more than just a good read. It's something that you'd expect from very few authors. Yup, she's got Kanner Lake jumping again with a string of murders that have police scratching their heads. You'll love the characters, the twists and turns, the blind alleys she takes you down...

And as Brandilyn would say...

Presently this Kanner Lake Series of books has its own character blog called Scenes and Beans . Stop by and visit the folks from Kanner Lake!

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 7

Day 7 Satuday

"Understanding" is one of my favorites because I'm a mystery writer and this is a mystery. It takes on a different approach than most mysteries as J. Sherer guides you through misunderstandings to truth and true understanding. One of the things I like about this is the twisted ending, which by some strange twist of the divine, is much like my own work in progress. So, not wishing to spoil both this story nor my own book, I'm opting to say little about this story other than it is truly a wonderful work and you must read it. (Then after my book comes out you must read my book too. (Sorry for the plug Karina, but I couldn't help myself)

Rob and Karina Fabian have put together a wonderful booktrailer which you will find our the CFRB Booktrailer page to this site. There are other booktrailers there as well. We invite you to visit this page and check out these booktrailers, even if you've missed a blogtour for any of the books. You can also see the booktrailer for INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD at that website listed below. I invite you to visit their site, not just to view their trailer, but to contact them and let them know how much the tour has meant to you. We ask that you'd do the same for all authors or compilers of the books we tour here. Letting them know how CFRB has made you aware of some really great fiction is going to help encourage them to continue to put together even more great Christian fiction. And if you want to know about Jesus you can ask any of us and we'll be happy to share with you what He means to us and can mean to you.

Featured at Twilight Times Books

Don't miss out on checking this site at Fabian Space

And don't forget to visit Infinite Space, Infinite God

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 6

Day 6 Friday

"Little Madeline", by Simon Morden, is a story, except for a few references of a more modern technology and that she was some kind of mutant life form, could be about any city in the world, small or large. As Jesus told His disciples, “The poor you have with you always.” It's amazing that this story and Good Friday show up at the same time, for this is about choices. Jesus could have chosen the easy way, but that would have meant there would be no salvation. Little Madeline could have taken the "easy" way, but would have found herself in bondage to the poverty around her. Richness is not, nor ever has properly been defined by what a person owns or possess. It is defined by how much they give away. In this sense Little Madeline was rich beyond those she lived with. She had something the rich themselves could not buy with all their wealth. She followed the example of Christ. On this Good Friday may we all purpose in our hearts to become poor in spirit that we may become rich in grace.

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INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 5

Day 5 Thursday

The “Mask of the Ferret”, by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen, is one delightfully complex and truly energized story. The authors have looked into the future and not only contemplated other lifeforms from planets unknown to us now, but have given them homes, descriptions and breathed life into them. The entire story feels as if it is alive. The whole story takes place on a faster than light transport to another planet. You'll be introduced to new terms, names, planets, humanoid species. More than that you'll be introduced to an interesting look at grace. I have to stop here or I'll ruin it for you. Just get the book and read it.

Featured at Twilight Times Books

Don't miss out on checking this site at Fabian Space

And don't forget to visit Infinite Space, Infinite God

In High Places, by Tom Morrisey

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

IN HIGH PLACES

(Bethany House March 1, 2007)

by

Tom Morrisey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Morrisey is the author of four previous novels and numerous short stories, a world-renowned adventure-travel writer whose work has appeared in Outside, Sport Diver (where he serves as Executive Editor) and other leading magazines.

He holds an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Toledo and an MFA in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For Patrick Nolan, every climb tells a story. And now maybe it's his own …. He's right at the rim, staring over the cliff's knife edge and wondering how things went wrong so quickly.

It all started after arriving home from a weekend climbing trip with his father, Kevin. That's when word reached them. In a silent moment, they'd lost the person most important to them—her death raising unanswerable questions and dangerous doubts.

Launching a new life in a new town to escape their pain, son and father find themselves in danger of being torn apart forever. As his father seeks a route to solace on the dangerous high face of the rock, Patrick finds a path to hope with the unlikeliest of allies—a pastor's daughter. Together they must discover the one answer that can bring Patrick and Kevin back from the brink of the precipice.

Endorsements: "It is rare to find a 'man's man' who knows the human heart, much less one who can write with such a well-balanced combination of sensitivity and adrenaline-charged adventure."
—Athol Dickson, Christy-Award-winning author of River Rising

"Beautifully exciting, haunting, and satisfying. Morrisey leaves you hanging by your fingertips."
—Lisa Samson, award-winning author of The Church Ladies and Straight Up

"Tom Morrisey is a master wordsmith and an expert at weaving gripping stories. If I pick up a book with his name on it, I know I'm going for gold."
—Angela Hunt, author of Uncharted




You can find the book at:


Tom can be reached through email at: tom@tommorrisey.com

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 4

Day 4 Wednesday

In "Interstellar Calling", by Karina Fabian, we take an all too familiar situation and let God in to do as He wills. I love this story on several levels. First, it shows how painful a single word can be, especially to a teenager. Second, we find that teenager, Frankie, trying to control a rage born of pain, with limited success. Lastly, however, is what I like best. For it is here, when we let God come into that situation that we find something truly special. It isn't about us, our abilities or inabilities, talents or lack of talents that make us useful to God. It is our availability to Him. When we make ourselves available to Him God works the miraculous through us. We see our own short-comings and He becomes our perfection. He takes away our pain as we surrender ourselves to Him and forgive those we feel have hurt us in the same way He has forgiven us. How appropriate that message is at this time of year when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sin. For Jesus looked down through the corridors of time, not just at those who stood at the cross 2000 years ago, and prayers, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." With this statement we understand the framework in which we as Christians are also to operate. It is the framework of His unmeasurable love.

Featured at Twilight Times Books

Don't miss out on checking this site at Fabian Space

And don't forget to visit Infinite Space, Infinite God

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 3

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD

Day 3 Tuesday

"Hopkin's Well", by Adrienne Ray is a marvelous work in that we not only get to travel to Mars, consider the impact of "advanced" technology, but we are faced with a question. Are we, as mortals, willing to accept what we have been told to be truth, or will we challenge what we are taught so that we might come to know the truth? This is one of my favorite lines of thinking. Without going into too much of the story let me just expound on this for a moment. For a priest, minister, preacher or what have you to teach the truth is not enough. Far too many people have thought that it was. The fact of the matter is if we do not challenge what we have been taught it remains the teachings of someone else. We can not believe in ourselves, nor in God, but only in the words of man. Yet, should someone teach the truth and be accurate 100% of the time, which would be a neat trick, and we challenged those teachings against Scripture no longer would we follow the teachings of man, but the Words of God. Those who know me know that I hate to be classified as religious. I am a Christian. I challenge what I am taught and belong to one Body, that of the Lord Jesus Christ. I follow His Word by challenging what I have been taught. By that I do not mean I am critical of everything someone says. That is also falsehood. Instead I compare what has been taught by man by what is taught in Scripture. The results are amazing because God's Word is alive. It speaks to each of us where we are, if we will but listen. Then we can follow where He leads, to the neighbor down the street, a people halfway around the world, and yes, even to Mars, to Hopkin's Well, and find that He has gone on before us.

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INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD - Day 2

INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD

Day 2 Monday

“The Harvest”, by Lori Z. Scott addresses the issue of cloning and whether or not a human clone has a soul. In "The Harvest" society has determined that clones do not have souls. This puts a doctor-turned-priest in a delicate situation when one of the clones dies. As the situation starts to spin out of control we find the answer to this question coming from the most unlikely source. I hope everyone has the chance to get a copy of INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD so they can read this and other stories, just as well written and just as thought provoking. Unlike some other science fiction which basically forces the reader to accept what they've written, INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD challenges the reader to make up their own minds on certain issues. It does so, however, putting the reader in the uncomfortable position of having to make some uncomfortable choices. Get it. Read it. Love it.

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INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD

Day 1 Sunday

I'm not going to lie to you. I was a bit nervous about this one. I mean I grew up with a Pentecostal background, although I didn't see myself as judgmental. I felt that religion itself was wrong, and to a large degree maintain that opinion. So reviewing something that not only says it is a collection of Catholic works, but boasts about the fact put me on edge. Still, because of the contact I've had with Karina Fabian, who compiled this work with her husband Rob, I found myself timidly entering unchartered waters. While I think the “Catholic” bit was a bit overdone in some cases I have to remind myself that this was written BY Catholics and TO Catholics. No one is out to change anyone's denominational ties here. They are simply doing what writers have been told to do for ages, write about what you know, and they know Catholicism. I found out they knew a lot more as well.

In one very real sense this "Catholic" work stands as a "David" against the "Goliaths" of our day, reminding those of us from other denominational backgrounds that God is God and that taking our own personal experiences into the battle isn't always a bad thing. I would like to say this is a Christian work, and while this is true it is also a work by those refusing to be ashamed at being called Catholic. This is something many of us have forgotten.

One of my chief desires for touring INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD, however, has nothing to do with Catholicism. Instead it has to do with the desire for CFRB to branch out to do short stories. This work, as well as LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF DARKNESS have helped in creating a bridge from here to there. Please check out the other sites and come back tomorrow when I'll tune in on one of the great stories in this work. I hope you will find these posts intriguing enough to go out and purchase this one of a kind book.

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Don't miss out on checking this site at Fabian Space

And don't forget to visit Infinite Space, Infinite God