Reader Nominations Begin!!! ~ Grace Awards 2017

The eighth annual Grace Awards is thrilled to announce that reader voting for Finalists commences on December 31, 2017 ends at midnight March 17, 2018.

Wow! Get in on it!!!

The Grace Awards is reader driven. That means in the first round readers vote for their favorite novels and chose “Finalists” in five literary categories.

WHO CAN VOTE FOR NOVELS:

Individuals (not organizations). Readers who maintain a networking page (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, Linkedin, Ning sites, a blog, etc.) created before November 1, 2016. We check each link to verify there’s a real person there.

Readers can only vote in all six (6) categories, but only for ONE novel in each category.

Authors are also readers and can vote, but not for their own novel(s). Please, please DON’T vote against yourself, simply vote in the OTHER genre categories for novels you deem worthy.

Editors, publishers, agents, cover artists can vote, but not for a book they authored or co-authored, entered into a verbal or written agreement for, or received compensation for. 

Board members and judges can vote, but not for their own novel(s).

TYPES OF NOVELS READERS MAY CONSIDER: Traditional Christian, Inspirational, gritty Christian and edgy Christian that does not cross the line, stories from a Christian/Messianic worldview, redemptive themed, biblical, faith-based, Christian and/or Messianic mystical themes, values imbued, grace and forgiveness oriented, inspirational marriage and family friendly, depicting Christian lifestyle (can be struggling with it), spiritually and emotionally healing fiction…of 55 thousand words or more. At this time we do not have a category for anthologies.

CRITERIA FOR NOVELS:

Original novels presenting a Christian worldview written in English, published in hard cover, trade paperback, or in Ebook format.

Traditional publishers, Small press, Indie publishers, self-published works. To us, Pbooks and Ebooks all compete on the same level playing field.

The novel must have been released between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

Most of all, the novel must reach the highest of literary standards and add something of value to Christian, inspirational, faith and values based fiction, and to the world at large.

BOOK CATEGORIES:

Women’s Fiction/General Fiction  –  women’s issues and/or men’s issues, can have humor and suspense elements

Contemporary Romance/Historic Romance — the primary element is love/marriage, then or now

Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller — crime fiction, there’s probably a body

Speculative — sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc

Action/Adventure/Western/Epic Fiction — exploits, quest, daring, expansive

Young Adult (YA) — includes middle grade, young adult, and new adult (NA)

**Note: submit Urban Fiction into the category where it best fits (ie, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, etc.)

READER VOTING SUGGESTIONS:

1. Was the novel well written? Did the author use language correctly? Did it make sense?

2. Was the plotline logical? Did any plot turns surprise you? In a good way, as in what a surprise but this really works — or in a bad way, as in “Yikes” this doesn’t work at all?

3. Did the characters feel like living people? Could you identify with the characters and their situations in the novel? Were the scenes plausible?

4. How about pacing? Did you ever get bored?

5. Was the novel true to its setting: time, place?

6. Was the novel entertaining? Did it uplift, send you on an emotional roller coaster, have you on the edge of your seat, tickle your funny bone (depending on the category)?

7. Did the novel engage your Christian walk in a meaningful way? Did it depict Christian life in a plausible manner (in some genres, this would be symbolic)?  Do you think the work adds something of literary value?

HOW TO NOMINATE FINALIST(S):

• Give title and author, category, and tell us 45+ words why you like the book so much.
• Nominate in one category or all, only one novel per category, only one nomination per novel.
• Give a link to your social networking site, web site, or blog. Must have been created before November 1, 2017.
• Email to:  graceawards@yahoo.com

USE A FORMAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS…(you can copy what is in red and email it with entry or entries.

Women’s Fiction/General Fiction: Name of novel and author. In 45+ words, why did you like the book.

Contemporary Romance/Historical Romance: Name of novel and author. In 45+ words, why you like the book.

Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Historical Suspense: Name of novel and author. In 45+ words, why you like the book.

Speculative Fiction — sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc: Name of the novel and author. In 45+words, why you like the book.

Action-Adventure/Western/Historic Epic Fiction: Name of the novel and author. In 45+ words, why you like the book.

Young Audlt (YA): Name of the novel. In 45+ words, why you like the book.

After you chose in which category/ies you want to nominate a novel, copy and answer the simple questions and email to graceawards@yahoo.com

All nominations go to graceawards@yahoo.com

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF GREAT READING!!!

Teen Boys & Men Have Enjoyed These Grace Awards Winners & Finalists ~ Fall Spotlight

The Grace Awards has a motto or tagline: expanding the tent pegs of Christian fiction. Readers have commented, and so we know one area in which we’ve achieved this has been in the number of our winners and finalists enjoyed by men and boys. We’ve also had male writers among our winners and finalist, as well as few male judges over the years.

ASCENT OF THE NEBULA (The Chronotrace Sequence, Book 3) by DJ Edwardson [Girrafix Media] Reengineering the human race, fast-paced, http://amzn.to/2zBbQdC

ACOLYTE (Winter, Book 3) by Keven Newsome [Splashdown Darkwater] ~ FBI, action-packed, spiritual warfare and prophecy. http://amzn.to/2hw2f0S

THE ALLIANCE by Jolina Petersheim [Tyndale House Publishers] ~ Dystopian plus Amish mixes hope and faith with cynacism and fear.  http://amzn.to/2yyrz9N

THE BATTLE OF SEATTLE by Doughlas Bond [P&R Publishing] ~ 1855 in the Pacific Northwest and hostility between white settlers and native tribes. http://amzn.to/2iTRC4P

THE REVOLT: A Novel in Wycliffe’s Englan by Douglas Bond [P&R Publishing] ~ 14th C Bloody battles, charges of heresy, translating the Bible into English. http://amzn.to/2zBRsJb

STORMING: A Dieselpunk Adventure by K. M. Weiland [PenForASword Publishing] ~ 1920s aviation meets retro-futuristic technology. http://amzn.to/2mnziWn

A NEW THREAT (The Psygen Chronicles, Vol 1)  by Aaron DeMott [AltWit Press] ~ Somewhere between Star Trek and Star Wars. http://amzn.to/2yxyZdn

TWO DAYS IN CARACAS (A Titus Ray Thriller)  by Luana Ehrlich [Potter’s Word Press] ~ CIA, Central America, assassination. http://amzn.to/2yY9CG0

ONE NIGHT IN TEHRAN (A Titus Ray Thriller) by Luane Ehrlich [Potter’s Word Publishing] ~ CIA, Middle East, espionage. http://amzn.to/2AGEaJm

JESSIE by Rebekah Lyn [Real Life Books & Media] ~ Abused boy dreams of space missions, NASA. Viet Nam War era. http://amzn.to/2zDMU4T

THE RISING by Lynn Chandler Willis [Pelican Book Group] ~ A little boy wakes from the dead, is there a scientific reason or is it spernatural? http://amzn.to/2hpkqlf

BROKEN ALLEGIANCE [A Tom Kagan Novel], Mark Young (Mark Young Books) ~ Contemporary detective novel, smartly written crime story. http://amzn.to/2yXjdwy

MERLIN’S BLADE (The Merlin Spiral, Book 1) by Robert Treskillard [Blink] ~ Merlin’s Greatest Weakness Could Become His Greatest Strength. http://amzn.to/2mqnUJJ

BURNING SKY (A Novel of the American Frontier) by Lori Benton [Waterbrook Press] ~ 18th C America, a clash between setters and Native American culture. http://amzn.to/2yZfH4P

WINTER by Keven Newsome [Splashdown Darkwater] ~ Winter didn’t ask for the gift of prophecy. She’s happy being a freak. http://amzn.to/2AGCb81

BACK ON MURDER (A Roland March Mystery, Book 1) by J. Mark Bertrand [Bethany House] ~ Contemporary detective story,  police procedural, authentic. http://amzn.to/2zH8Jif

KESTREL’S MIDNIGHT SONG by J. R. Parker [Flamin Pen Press] ~ Fantasy in a medieval land not on earth. fast-paced, complex. Teenage author.  http://amzn.to/2zyDFU2

 

Grace Awards Summer Book Bash 2017 ~ day three

This summer’s book bash is coming to a close. It’s been a real blast with amazing novels and authors.

 

THE CASE OF THE CLOBBERED CAD by Debra Marvin (Journey Fiction) ~ Did you spend some long summer days reading favorites like Little House, Anne of Green Gables, or Nancy Drew?  Or, like me, re-reading Black Beauty or The Secret Garden? An author’s favorite stories from his or her youth are apt to make an impression in their work. My new release from Journey Fiction proves that! THE CASE OF THE CLOBBERED CAD celebrates amateur sleuths and evocative, moody settings—in this case, Edinburgh Scotland. Heather Munro’s youthful devotion to The Girl Detective led to a passion for digging around in history. Now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Celtic Studies, Heather must balance exploring Edinburgh with her determination to excel in her all–male classes at the University. Unfortunately on her first night working in the Archives room, she discovers the dead body of a visiting professor, the same would-be lothario she’d hoped never to see again. As clues come to light, it’s clear someone hopes to frame Heather for the murder. Besides her quirky landlady, whom can she trust? How can she clear her name? The police and the American Consul have plenty of suspects, but only two seem to have both motive and opportunity: Heather and the quiet Scottish historian she longs to trust.  Website  Purchase on Amazon

 

CONTAGION [Dark Days Book One] by Marcy Dyer (Desert Breeze) ~ Another exciting read to tuck into your beach bag. Weaponized rabies and power hungry politicians – a deadly combination. Zombies roam the earth. Three families stand to lose everything. An obsessed megalomaniac dumps weaponized rabies around the globe creating the zombie apocalypse. As the cataclysm spreads, three families search for safety, or risk becoming part of the bloodbath. Can carpenter Randi Martinez find solace for her tortured soul if she can save her family? Scientist Reginald Barker and his family set out from Silver Penny, Colorado. He fights his way toward the Texas Hill Country to save his family and redeem himself for the chaos he created. Joshua Barker an Austin Homicide Detective is determined to fulfil his responsibility to protect his brother, as he strives to reach his uncle’s home in the Hill Country.  Website  Purchase on Amazon

 

 THE DEEPEST SIGH [Echoes of the Heart Book One] by Naomi Musch (Desert Breeze) ~ Hot off the press and just released! The timing couldn’t be better to be one of the first to add this historical fiction novel to your summer reading list. Step back onto the home front in 1917 with farmer’s daughter Marilla Eckert as America remembers the 100th anniversary of its entry into WWI — The Great War. It’s a summer of dreams coming true when seventeen-year-old Marilla finally wins the notice of her family’s hired farm hand, Langdon “Lang” Prescott. She’s been in love with him since she was fourteen, oblivious that it’s her older sister Delia who stirs his deepest passions. Nevertheless, when Delia marries her own long-time beau, Lang turns to Marilla instead. Their family celebrates two weddings that year. Not until she has given him everything she has to offer and he is entrenched in the fight overseas, does she finally face the bitter realization of where his devotion truly lies. Pursuing his favor is one thing, but when heartache strikes on every front, and her resolve wears beyond what she can endure, the offer of comfort — and even love — from another is hard to resist. Their marriage is desperate, and the war’s casualty list is growing. Can such hungry hearts find their true homes? With echoes of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah’s story in the Bible and Gone With the Wind, an early reader calls The Deepest Sigh “one of the best romances I’ve read in a long time”.  Website  Purchase on Amazon

 

WITH MUSIC IN THEIR HEARTS by Carole Brown (Story and Logic Media Group) ~ A suspense for your summer reading delight. Angry at being rejected for military service, Minister Tyrell Walker accepts the call to serve as a civilian spy within his own country. Across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, a spy working for a foreign country is stealing secret plans for newly developed ammunition to be used in the war. According to his FBI cousin, this spy favors pink stationery giving strong indications that a woman is involved. He’s instructed to obtain a room in the Rayner Boarding House run by the lovely, spunky red-haired Emma Jaine Rayner. Sparks of jealousy and love fly between them immediately even as they battle suspicions that one or the other is not on the up and up. While Tyrell searches for the murdering spy who reaches even into the boarding home, Emma Jaine struggles with an annoying renter, a worried father (who could be involved in this spy thing), and two younger sisters who are very different but just as strong willed as she is. Will their love survive the danger and personal issues that arise to hinder the path of true love?  Website  Purchase on Amazon

Grace Awards Summer Book Bash 2016 ~ day two

The Grace Awards Summer Book Bash is now in full swing offering exciting reads by accomplished authors.

 

SHE LOVES ME IN THE SPRING by Suzanne D. Williams (Amazon Digital Services) ~ A frosted drink, a spot of shade, and a good book … This ongoing series of light romance novellas is the perfect relaxation for a summer afternoon. Stood up at her wedding, her groom nowhere in sight, Brielle Hensley makes the rash decision to go on her honeymoon anyway – with her ex-fiancé’s older brother. Bradford Barrow is the dutiful son, the faithful employer. His entire life is about doing what’s expected of him and checking off the tasks on his ever-present lists. She needs to shake off his brother’s betrayal, and he needs to do something impulsive for once. What begins innocently enough, soon takes on a life of its own, and it could be that the acceptance they’ve both been looking for comes from the most spontaneous thing of all – love. Sweet romance with humor thrown in, this first story will make enjoyable reading at home, at lunch, or while on vacation.  Website  Purchase on Amazon

LOVE AMONG THE LILACS by Jenna Victoria (Amazon Digital Services) ~ is a perfect fit for this time of year. Lilacs play a continuing theme in this contemporary romance with a touch of mystery~ based in Westchester County, New York. Let some 5star reviews tell the tale; “The path to Love is filled with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises.Heroine Mollie had such a tough life as a child (including being homeless). This book tells the story of her finally buying Lilac Cottage after much sacrifice and hard work, a home no one can take away. The cottage owners’ nephew Sean comes along and turns her world upside down, trying his best to get her out. Despite their differences, Sean and Mollie develop feelings for each other but the past gets in the way. Does Mollie get to stay in her home? Does she find Love Among the Lilacs?”…”This sweet romance was even better than her first. She kept me turning pages with a book that could never be called predictable. What I love most about Jenna’s books is the common thread of hope. Where the world seems like a dark place today, Jenna’s books give you hope for a better future. It never dragged, I just kept turning pages to see what would happen next. I absolutely adored Mollie.”…”With both of Sean and Mollie’s pasts clouding their present, Grady Cove exhibits loving neighbors who harbor their delicate feelings to bloom into explosions of understanding and forgiveness, vivid to touch.You will be allowed to view their outlooks, hopes, and dreams. Enjoy Love Among the Lilacs as truths become apparent when hearts are open to receive blessings of reconciliations.” Facebook Author Page  Purchase on Amazon

HOPE [Ties That Bind #3] by Fay Lamb (Write Integrity Press) ~ Hope Astor is literally a starving artist, living off the good graces of her friends as she seeks help for the fatigue that has plagued her for over a month. Dr. Daniel Duvall is a noted oncological surgeon whose life hasn’t been the same since losing his sister in a car accident the year before. When Hope receives her diagnosis, she understands that her carefree artist’s lifestyle has left her without any options to save her life, but her friends try to convince her otherwise. They persuade Hope to seek treatment from the best doctor she knows. Trouble is, Hope is the reason Daniel’s sister is dead, and she doesn’t think saving her life is on his list of priorities. What better way to get away for the summer than to take a trip to Central Florida via HOPE and her friends, CHARISSE  and LIBBY, all part of The Ties that Bind romantic series by Florida native, Fay Lamb.  Website  Purchase on Amazon

SUTTER’S LANDING [Kinsman Redeemer Series Book 2] by Betty Thomason Owens (Write Integrity Press) ~ Beautiful summer days, especially those spent relaxing on a beach, are best spent enjoying a sweet love story, right? The sequel to Grace Award-winning Annabelle’s Ruth is now available! Sutter’s Landing takes up where Annabelle’s Ruth left off. Connie and Annabelle have survived the first winter on their own in West Tennessee. Annabelle dreads Connie’s upcoming marriage and removal to Sutter’s Landing. Though she’s happy to note the growing affection between Alton Wade and her daughter-in-law, their marriage means Annabelle will be on her own for the first time in her life. Connie’s doubts about her decision to marry increase when Alton’s bigoted brother Jensen uses every opportunity to drive a wedge between them. Is she doing the right thing? Did she move too quickly? Unexpected summer visitors and anticipation of a new neighbor provide diversion and open possibilities for both Annabelle and Connie. What one reader says about Sutter’s Landing: “The author’s depiction of life in the segregated south in the 1950s is both realistic and insightful. She paints an accurate picture of how hard the people in this cotton-centric community worked just to live, and she does it with respect, humility, honesty, and without the Hollywood sensationalism or stereotyping. She also shows their faith with gentle, non-threatening assurance. SUTTER’S LANDING is a sweet, inspirational, and very well written story where the characters come alive on the pages. Their dialogue so realistic you find yourself right there with them.”  Website  Purchase on Amazon

NO SAFE HAVEN by Angela Moody (Createspace Independent Publishing) ~ When you’re at the beach or enjoying your barbecue and fireworks with family and friends, bring a copy of No Safe Haven along. This novel, written for readers ages 15 to 99 will remind you of the sacrifices our country endured to safeguard our liberty and freedom. Fifteen-year-old Tillie Pierce will become the girl you’ll think about throughout the day. Her love for life, just as it is, is where you’ll want her to stay. Yet, you’ll gladly go along as she enters the battle of Gettysburg, fought during the first, second and third of July 1863. Experience her growth as she comes to understand that life is much more than her self-centered comforts. Kirkus Reviews had this to say: Moody knows the value of detail and pacing and knows how to set a scene and build drama…Although this novel will appeal to adults as well, it’s sure to grab teenagers’ imaginations and teach them not just facts, but greater truths. A remarkable first effort, recommended without reservation.  Facebook Author Page  Purchase on Amazon

 

COUNTER POINT by Marji Lane (Write Integrity Press) ~ Even in the heat of summer, the tension in Heath’s Point, Texas will give you a chill. But that’s okay; the relationship between two former sweethearts will heat things up. Keep a frosty drink on hand. The waitress, Cat McPherson, has plenty she can share. That is, if she can live long enough to serve you. After all, now that her father’s gone and her car’s in the lake, she doesn’t have much left to lose … except her life. And a madman bent on revenge is intent on taking that away. It’s not entirely her fault, though. Her former boyfriend, Ray Alexander, recently returning from a disastrous mission in Southern Mexico, has brought back souvenirs in the form of death threats. Keeping Cat safe from a fallen cartel leader might prove impossible for Ray, but after seeing his mission destroyed and hearing of the deaths of several godly people, he knows better than to ignore the man’s threats. Cat’s resistance to his protection and the stirring of his long-denied feelings for her complicate his intentions, placing them both in a fight for their lives. Prop-up your feet, and slip on your shades while you find out if this small-town girl can survive when ultimate power wants her dead. Website  Purchase on Amazon

 

 

 

Grace Awards Summer Book Bash 2017 ~ day one

Wow! Summer reading has never been this exciting. What fabulous novels and super talented authors.

 

THE POISON WE DRINK by Carol McClain (Desert Breeze Publishing) ~ Summer is too short to labor over ponderous tomes.  This novel will sweep you up in its drama and keep those pages zipping. You’ll not want to leave the beach until the last page has been read.How do you forgive the unforgivable? Torie Sullivan wrecks her car in a drunken fury and is rescued by a man she used to bully in middle school. Their worlds collide when Adam Benedict, now a paramedic, discovers Torie is homeless. He provides living accommodations for Torie with his girlfriend, Maya Vitale. The three unlikely friends must conquer their pasts to have a future. But some wrongs are too hard to overcome. This novel sweep you up in its tale of love, hatred and redemption. Readers say it is a 10/10–a must read.  Author Blog  Purchase on Amazon

HARMFUL INTENT by Nike N. Chillemi (Crime Fictionista Press) ~ Kick off your summer reading by diving into this fast paced detective story, the first of the Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels/Dawson Hughes trilogy. Betrayal runs in private investigator Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels’ family. So, why is she surprised when her husband of one year cheats on her? The real shock is his murder, with the local lawman pegging her as the prime suspect. Deputy Sergeant Dawson Hughes, a former Army Ranger, is a man folks want on their side. Only he’s not so sure at first, he’s on the meddling New York PI’s side. As the evidence points away from her, he realizes the more she butts in, the more danger she attracts to herself. Author Blog  Purchase on Amazon

6 DATES TO DISASTER by Cynthia T. Toney (Write Integrity Press) ~ A summer read for teen girls ages 13 to 15! This story addresses honesty in school and with parents as well as drinking and driving. It shows how decisions can damage relationships and risk a teen’s reputation and future. How will Wendy start her summer? When her family encounters financial hardship, Wendy must find a way on her own to reach her goal of flying to Alaska to see Mrs. V and Sam again—but will she lose everything she counted on for the future, including boyfriend David? Author Website  Purchase on Amazon

 

IMPERFECT BONDS, Book 3 of The Imperfect Series (Write Integrity Press) by Elizabeth Noyes is the ideal summer escape for book lovers. Whether lounging on the beach or relaxing at home on a staycation, this edgy, sometimes funny/sometimes sad romantic suspense will whisk you away on a page-turning journey. A 2016 Grace Awards Winner, Imperfect Bonds offers jam-packed action and adventure. The story revolves around a young woman at a crossroads in her life, and a former Navy SEAL turned small town deputy who’s targeted her as his next conquest. One problem: each wants more than the other is willing to give. Their attraction reaches combustible levels until an unexpected encounter plunges both into the dark and dangerous world of human trafficking. Suffice it to say that men go a little crazy when danger threatens someone they love!   Author Website  Purchase on Amazon

REVENGE by Paula Rose (Anaiah Press) ~ Are you looking for a summer escape where danger lurks below the surface? Treat yourself to a suspense-filled vacation, staycation, or beach read where career, a missing person, and romance combine inside a mystery that is this exciting novel. Inside her position of a job coach, it is Olivia Foster’s duty to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve the employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and her job remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients goes missing. Olivia’s employer ends her position by adding her to the suspect list, but she makes a different plan. Olivia is going to bring this missing young man home. Meanwhile, Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adopt a faith he never knew all while adjusting to the new lives of his old family? Enjoy the shivers of romantic suspense coming from inside REVENGE while the sun heats the summer sky!  Author Website  Purchase on Amazon 

STRONGER THAN MOUNTAINS by Lynn Dean (Wordsworth Publishing) ~Summer is a great time to travel. Reading can take you on a journey without ever leaving your favorite hammock or recliner. You can even travel through time! This novel (sequel to MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD in the Sangre de Cristo series) will whisk you away to the Wild West during the days of bustles and bad guys. When Millie married her cowboy, Zeke, she was sure that their “ever after” would be happy. How could it be anything else? Zeke was a strong, handsome young rancher with a promising stretch of land nestled into the Moreno River Valley in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains. She was beautiful and starry-eyed. Both were full of dreams. Fifteen years later, they’ve encountered more than their share of hardships, challenges, and disappointments. Now their obstacles threaten to divide them. Instead of fighting through their problems together, the once-happy couple finds themselves duking things out alone. They may share a cabin and a passel of kids, but their situation is getting desperate, and nobody’s very happy. Modern vacationers flock to this same setting to enjoy hiking, fishing, and horseback riding near the beautiful Angel Fire and Red River ski resorts. STRONGER THAN MOUNTAINS can take you there without the long car trip! You’ll want to pick up this inspirational story with richly spun characters to see if they can pull things together, save their ranch, and forge a family that is stronger than mountains.  Facebook Author Page  Purchase on Amazon

 

 

Grace Filled Christmas Book Bash 2016 ~ Day 3

 

 

Authors who have won or finaled in the Grace Awards, who have been judges, who are active members of the Grace Awards Face Book Group, or who have in other ways supported the Grace Awards are happy to show their Christmas spirit with this showcase of their novels at this joyous time of year.

 

NEIGHBORS by Tracy Krauss

NEIGHBOURS is back! This collection contains all nine volumes of the first series with a fresh new look for this holiday season. Likened to popular TV show ‘Friends’, it’s contemporary Christian romance ‘cowboy’ style. Lester Tibbett, a former rodeo rider from Southern Alberta, moves to the city for work – and to look out for his wilful teenage sister. In the process, he meets a cast of quirky characters, most living right in his own apartment building. With romance, intrigue, humour and a touch of the unexpected, the twists and turns just keep coming as the first ‘season’ of NEIGHBOURS unfolds, culminating in a Christmas party that brings the entire cast together for the first time. PLUS… there are bonus recipes in the back! It’s a Christmas ‘package deal’ from award winning author Tracy Krauss – fiction on the edge without crossing the line –

NEIGHBORS on Amazon

Tracy Krauss’ Website

SHE’S MINE by Tammy Doherty

Perfect for the Romantic Suspense lover on your shopping list. Or perhaps you! Gift shopping, holiday decorating and baking, traffic, more traffic – it’s all so stressful. Sit back and relax. You can give SHE’S MINE to those on your gift list. Better yet, grab a warm cup of your favorite beverage, curl up on the sofa (by the fireplace if you can!) and read a novel that author B.J. Robinson describes as “A wonderful Christian romance with mystery and suspense to make it more interesting.” Author Dora Heirs calls it “A Palm Slicker!” Caitlin Harrington dreams of a quiet life teaching math at her hometown middle school. Except someone is leaving ominous notes on her door.  It could be her ex-boyfriend or someone else who doesn’t want her back in town. Sean Taggart thinks Caitlin is beautiful…and possibly crazy. When he finds out the truth, Sean wants to help. Can he save Caitlin before the stalker turns to murder? 5★ Amazon Review: “ Wow. Talk about a twist! I was thoroughly enthralled by the story and never saw the twist coming! This is a romance/mystery that will have you biting your nails! Wonderful writing, fully-developed character and plot!“

SHE’S MINE on Amazon

Tammy Doherty’s Blog

MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER by Barbara E. Brink

Leaves and snow are falling in Port Scuttlebutt and Blake and Shelby Gunner are close to opening the doors of Double Barrel Investigations. But before construction is complete on their new offices, a local woman’s body is discovered buried on her ex-husband’s property, and the Gunners are pulled into yet another murder mystery. MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER is the perfect book to enjoy on a crisp, winter night, tucked up into your easy chair with a cup of hot cocoa. Or get into the Christmas spirit and share the joy by gifting a copy to a friend or family member who also loves to read. What more could anyone ask for over the holidays than murder, romance, and small town drama entwined in a tale of suspense that will keep you guessing till the end? You might want to keep a nightlight on and your sense of humor close at hand.

MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER on Amazon

Barbara E. Brink’s Website

 

COME EAT AT MY TABLE by Ruth O’Neil

COME EAT AT MY TABLE begins and ends with Christmas. One year. 365 days. In that length of time a life can change. And Karin’s life, and the lives of her family members, change more than any of them ever thought possible. Twenty years have passed since Karin ran away from home. In that time she met and married Rob and had two beautiful daughters. She can either keep the demons of her past suppressed or she can face them and forgive. But forgiving is hard. Everyone will see a little bit of themselves while reading COME EAT AT MY TABLE. the true-to-life story makes it a great gift for all the readers on your list this Christmas.

COME EAT AT MY TABLE on Amazon

Ruth O’Neil’s Website

 

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Grace Filled Christmas Book Bash 2016 ~ Day Two

Authors who have won or finaled in the Grace Awards, who have been judges, who are active members of the Grace Awards Face Book Group, or who have in other ways supported the Grace Awards are happy to show their Christmas spirit with this showcase of their novels at this joyous time of year.

 

MY SISTER’S KEEPER by Dalyn Woods

Christmas will never be the same when an evening at the ballet ends in a kidnapping. In order to rescue her sister, Megan must work with her nemesis, Nate, as they search from Northeast Florida to Key West in a race against time. My Sister’s Keeper is the debut novel of author Dalyn Woods. It is Christian Romantic Suspense written in the style of Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER on Amazon

Dalyn Wood’s Facebook Page a/k/a Lyn Wood Rix  http://bit.ly/2gZAb0y

 MIRANDA WARNING by Heather Day Gilbert

Share an Appalachian Christmas with amateur sleuth Tess Spencer and her beloved in-laws who live next door. When Tess stumbles onto a decades-old unsolved murder, will she be able to stop the killer before the New Year rings in a new death? Fans of Terri Blackstock and Dani Pettrey will enjoy this bestselling first-in-series mystery.

MIRANDA WARNING on Amazon

Heather Day Glibert’s Website

ALWAYS WITH YOU by Elaine Stock

Imagine once looking forward to the Christmas holiday season with your new husband. You dream of future years filled with tree decorating, cookie baking, gift giving, and carol singing. Your heart flutters with joy when you think about the smiles on your children’s faces! You meet your Prince Charming who rescues you from danger, fall in love, and marry. And you’re blessed with a baby on the way. You get exactly what you wished for. Now, the truth comes out about your husband and the community you live with. You’re faced with two choices: Staying could endanger your child. Leaving could cost your life. ALWAYS WITH YOU, a novel of finding faith in a God who loves you for always … a Father who wants you and your children to celebrate an eternity of Christmases. A Kindle best-seller.

ALWAYS WITH YOU on Amazon

Elaine Stock’s Website

BAPTIZED  by Suzanne D. Williams

Curl up beneath the Christmas lights in your favorite chair and lose yourself for a while in a beautiful story. One reader said, “The love of God for each and every one shone through,” and another, “Unique and unforgettable.” Penn Saunders, ex-drug addict and pastor’s son, meets Morgan Gant, a girl troubled by her recent past, in the most normal way, as neighbors. Penn, after a nameless girl he’d partied with died in his bed, got clean and embraced God again. He feels the call of the ministry on his life, but has to take the first step in living on his own. Morgan Gant thought she left her old life behind by moving hundreds of miles away. She’s starting over, building a successful online cosmetics business, and renting her own apartment. No one here will know what she did for a living, or what happened to her. Yet, when their feelings for each other grow, what they haven’t said, who he is as a Christian, clashes with the secret of what she’s survived, and their new relationship threatens to fall apart. Until God’s ever-present grace touches her heart. In this time of reflection, this story of redemption will tug at your heartstrings and remind you of the purpose of the holiday.

BAPTIZED on Amazon

Suzanne D. Williams’ Website

TREYVELYN by Naomi Musch

“It’s my new favorite book!” That’s what one reader says about Trevelyan – A Tale of Beauty and The Beast, a fantasy vacation for the fairytale lover on your Christmas list. In a war long ago, the once great kingdom of Trevelyan was left in death and ruins by a monster lord and his faerie wife. Stories of that time have grown, mysteries hidden beyond the borders of an endless winter. Only the fairies of Evensong know the truth of those times. Until hope comes. Now it’s up to Belle, her swashbuckling brothers, two fearless suitors, and a pair of Elvin princes to discover the real malevolence still determined to destroy them all. Can a true king rule in Trevelyan again?

TREVELYN on Amazon

Naomi Musch’s Website

WATERS OF SEPARATION by Carol McClain

Christmas. It’s the time for gifts–and gifts with chocolate abound. But do you know where your chocolate comes from? December is cacao planting season in the Côte d’Ivoire. It’s also the time that Christ’s redemption of mankind was set into motion. Why not gift the woman in your life with the book that marries these two concepts–Waters of Separation. She will love you for it. Africa’s secrets resurrect the despair physician assistant Anna Haas buried in America. Her pregnancy and the discovery of boys bound by slavery in the cacao sector of the Côte d’Ivoire revive her childhood guilt. Her mother’s suicide claimed the lives of the two small sisters Anna had vowed to protect. Her failure to save them was unforgiveable. It will not happen with these boys. Her interference prompts a corrupt government to threaten the thriving mission and the lives of Anna and her friends. Her action also threaten her marriage. However, doing nothing will destroy her. The story weaves from past to present and across two continents as Anna fights for love, faith and redemption.

WATERS OF SEPARATION on Amazon  http://ow.ly/Qe2d305VAQ9

Carol McClain’s Website  http://carol-mmclain.blogspot.com

Grace Filled Christmas Book Bash 2016 ~ Day One

Authors who have won or finaled in the Grace Awards, who have been judges, who are active members of the Grace Awards Face Book Group, or who have in other ways supported the Grace Awards are happy to show their Christmas spirit with this showcase of their novels at this joyous time of year.

 

MORE THAN A TIARA by  Valerie Comer

 

Welcome to Helena, Montana, and fall in love on Christmas Eve at the Miss Snowflake Pageant! Marisa Hiller’s interest in competing is at zip zero zilch when she discovers the official photographer is the man who ruined her modeling career. She’s made a new life on her family farm, but balks at representing the CSA program in the pageant. Jase Mackie’s regret runs deep for the hot accusations he’d flung at Marisa over two years before. God has forgiven him but hasn’t answered his prayer to bring her back into his life… until now. Can Jase make amends for past mistakes and offer Marisa more than a tiara? Enjoy the rich heritage and innate charm of Montana’s capitol city in this heartwarming Christmas romance offering a second chance at love amid swirls of snow, cups of cocoa, food for the hungry, and the glitz of pageantry.

 

MORE THAN A TIARA on Amazon

Valerie Comer’s Website

 

 

ONE NIGHT IN TEHRAN  by Luana Ehrlich

 

The message of Christmas suddenly became real for CIA intelligence officer, Titus Ray, one night in Tehran when he found shelter with a group of Iranian Christians. Compelled by their unwavering faith, the battle-hardened agent becomes a believer shortly before they smuggle him out of Iran to freedom in Turkey. Returning to the States, he discovers his Iranian mission failed because of political infighting within the Agency. After delivering a scathing indictment against the Deputy Director of Operations, he’s forced to take a year’s medical leave in Oklahoma. Before leaving Langley, however, he discovers a Hezbollah hit man has targeted him for assassination. Now, while trying to figure out what it means to be a follower of Christ, he must decide if the Iranian couple he meets in Oklahoma has ties to the man who’s trying to kill him, and if Nikki Saxon, a beautiful local detective, can be trusted with his secrets.

One Night In Tehran on Amazon

Luana Ehrlich’s Website

 

THE TRANSFORMATION OF BITTY BROWN by Joy Ross Davis

 

Christmas is a time for celebrating with family, but nineteen-year-old Bitty Brown lives alone, without family or friends, on the streets of Ireland. Sick and in need of warmth and care, she stumbles upon a beggar and his dog. This chance meeting will change Bitty’s life forever and provide her with the love she needs to be healthy and whole again. Bitty Brown gives readers a heart-warming story of hope and rebirth, of gifts beyond measure. A story of love, faith, and hope, it is the perfect gift for any reader.

 

THE TRANSFORMATION OF BITTY BROWN on Amazon

Joy Ross Davis’ Website

 

 

BLOOD SPEAKS by Nike N. Chillemi

Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels, Brooklyn gal PI, waited a long time for the solitaire on her finger. When her sometimes boss, a shadowy figure and director of a secret government organization, offers a one-week bridal shopping vacay in Maryland right before Christmas. Ronnie jumps at it. Joined by bridesmaids, Sandra Daube and Bertha Dagney, she sets off for the village of Heritage Cove on Arrowhead Lake, Maryland. Their joyous stay at the rustic yet luxury Heritage Cove Inn is shattered by a murder with tendrils and a clandestine motive stretching back to the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It doesn’t take long for Ronnie and her gal-pals to become targets of the killer. It goes without saying, Taylor County Deputy Sheriff, Lieutenant Dawson Hughes leaves Texas to protect his bride-to-be. He’s joined by Sandra’s employer, conservative political activist Ben Cohen. Neither hell-nor-high-water can keep Gabby Hayes look-alike Hoot Dagney from the side of Bertha, his new bride. This novel is proof positive that romance, Christmas, and murder do mix.

BLOOD SPEAKS on Amazon

Nike N. Chillemi’s Blog

WAR OF THE HEART  by Jenna Victoria

When a vintage Christmas snow globe sends Boston dress designer Louise Martin & British B&B owner George Walker back in time to London, December 1940, they race against the clock to reconcile a feud between their families and solve a 75-year-old mystery. As Louise relies on God; and on George for guidance, friendship then love, will the future George envisions strangle her own dreams? Will their love survive generations of mistrust, the Blitz and being stranded in wartime 1940, possibly never to return to their former lives?

WAR OF THE HEART on Amazon

Jenna Victoria’s Website

Save

OCTOBER 2015 SPOTLIGHT ~ Tina Pinson

 

We’re thrilled to have Tina Pinson showcasing this month. Tina’s wonderful novel, IN THE MANOR OF THE GHOST finaled in the Grace Awards 2010 Action-Adventure/Western/Epic Fiction category. She’s been prolific sinnce then and has a new novel out: BETRAYED.

 

Welcome to Fall by Tina Pinson

Hard to believe it’s already October.

In Colorado (a place I love), the Aspen trees are blanketing the mountains with reds, yellows, oranges, and browns — amazing how dying leaves trumpet such beauty.

In Arizona (where I live) we’re dipping below 100 at night. (SMILE)

Because October is Clergy Appreciation Month, I would like to introduce you to my father. Vernon Grover.

My father was born in October 1935. He grew up on a farm/ranch. He joined the Marines out of school, and traveled to the Orient and Pacific islands. After a short stint, he got out and went home to Colorado. There he met and married my mother. Then dad joined the Air Force and we all traveled.

In Alaska he accepted Christ as his Savior. He began to teach and over time went into preaching. He pastored in Opheim, Montana. Our family was half the congregation.

Dad’s last church was in Norwood, Colorado. He built the parsonage for the Baptist Church there. The picture window looks out over a large pasture and takes in Lone Cone Peak. He also taught shop there.

Dad was determined, but problems arose because of wrong property lines, and a shortage of workers. My husband, sons, and I would travel up to help.

Dad suffered a heart attack and shouldn’t have been building the house, but he felt called by the Lord. “He only had a couple years to be about God’s business.”

After two years, dad left Norwood. His heart couldn’t take it. Save for finishing touched, the house was built.

Dad died in July of 1994. He didn’t regret building the parsonage. He gave his all for what he believed and in the process taught me oh so much.

He didn’t get to see me published, but he encouraged me to keep writing. And I have. I have 11 published books and am working book three in my Trail of the Sandpiper series. Book 1, BETRAYED just released in August.

In the Manor of the Ghost was my first published novel and a finalist in the Grace Award’s. It’s the story of Kaitlin Dupree and Devlin Clayborne, who marry for convenience and find love. It’s the story of a Ghost that walks the halls of Clayborne Manor, and the ghost of regrets and secrets that haunt the manor and Devlin. Kaitlin prays love and grace will help her uncover the secrets of those living in The Manor of the Ghost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A word about…BETRAYED – Trail of the Sandpiper Book #1

It’s the summer of ’42. The world is at War and Japan’s Imperial Army is moving across the island of New Guinea.

After their mission is attacked Justine is left with seven children to lead to safety through enemy lines. She leads them to a cave and goes back for her husband when she is taken captive. Upon her escape with the help of a friend, Virginia, she starts back for the children and runs into Lt. Tyler Merrick. She hopes he will help her. But he’s drunk and doesn’t believe there are children. He thinks Justine is the rogue spy he been sent to find.

Justine goes for the children and returns to an even angrier Lt. Merrick. He wants to tie her up. She hopes to win his trust. Because… if they can’t stop fighting one another, they will never get off the island alive.

Grace Awards Summer Book Bash ~ day four

 

We’re winding up our summer book bash, but it’s been such fun. The authors and novels have been spectacular.

REVENGE by Paula Rose

A summer vacation, staycation, or a beach read? Enjoy this romantic suspense. As a job coach, it’s up to Olivia Foster to ensure her clients work in a safe environment, understand their positions, and serve their employer’s mission. The death of her brother drives her career choice, and she loves her job. It remains her only focus until one of her autistic clients goes missing. Then Olivia’s employer ends her position and adds her to the suspect list, but she makes plans to bring the missing young man home. Meanwhile, Detective Lt. Phillip Landon is deep into second-guessing his career choice, but his well-honed instincts see major flaws inside this missing person’s case. Surprising contacts, mysterious happenings, and threats can turn deadly. Can he keep Olivia safe, protect his heart, remove the job coach from someone’s target list, and adjust to the new lives of his old family?

CROOKED LINES by Holly Michael

Thoughtful reading for a balmy summer day! On the shores of Lake Michigan, Rebecca Meyer seeks escape. Guilt-ridden over her little sister’s death, she sets her heart on India, a symbol of peace. Across the ocean in South India, Sagai Raj leaves his tranquil hill station home and impoverished family to answer a higher calling. Pushing through diverse cultural and religious milieus, he labors toward his goals, while wrong turns and bad choices block Rebecca from hers. Traveling similar paths and bridged across oceans through a priest, the two desire peace and their divine destiny. But vows and blind obedience at all costs must be weighed…and buried memories, unearthed. CROOKED LINES, a beautifully crafted debut novel, threads the lives of two determined souls from different continents and cultures. Compelling characters struggle with spirituality through despair and deceptions in search of truth.

FIRST AND GOAL, What Football Taught Me About Never Giving Up by Jake Byrne and H. Michael

A terrific summer read, especially for the guys.  Jake Byrne dreamed of playing professional football. He had the size, the talent, the drive…but at age 14, he found out he also had type 1 diabetes. Still, Jake was determined to reach his goal. And God was determined to guide and empower him all along the way. Jake’s journey to the NFL is the backdrop for this collection of inspiring devotions based on nearly a hundred football terms. Jake takes you to the weight room, practice field, and even across the goal line. You’ll feel as if you’re lined up next to him, facing a very large defender you’re about to take down. He also includes Scripture and then ties up each story in a way that feels real and encouraging. You’ll discover…what to do when God calls an audible in your life, how to respond when God puts you on special teams, why prayer is never an incomplete pass.

THE REDEMPTION OF CARALYNNE HAYMAN by Carole Brown

Summer is the time to get caught up in a realistic, emotional book that opens your eyes to the real world. Caralynne Hayman is angry and bitter over the abuse and death of her eleven-year- old daughter from the hands of her religious group. Dayne faces men unwilling to turn their backs on the cult training he despises. Cara faces men who follow their leader in abuse toward their wives and the young girls of the group. Cara is considered rebellious and inappropriate to befriend. Dayne is the apple of Elder Simmons’ eye—until he takes a stand against their teachings. Can Cara overcome the feelings that have governed her most of her life? Can she learn to trust Dayne, and most of all a God whom she sees as uncaring—if he’s really there at all? Only Dayne’s prayers and love can reach Cara and show her the way to redemption, and Cara must recognize and accept God’s love and forgiveness before she goes too far.

WITH MUSIC IN THEIR HEARTS by Carole Brown

Summertime is a good time to dream, but it’s only when we follow God’s plan for our lives that we have peace–just as Tyrell and Emma Jaine find out in WITH MUSIC IN THEIR HEARTS. Angry at being rejected for military service, Minister Tyrell Walker accepts the call to serve as a civilian spy within his own country. As Tyrell works to keep his double life a secret and locate the traitor, he refuses to believe that Emma Jaine could be involved even when he sees a red-haired woman in the arms of another man. Could the handsome and svelte banker who’s also determined to win Emma Jaine’s hand for marriage, be the dangerous man he’s looking for? Worse, is Papa Rayner so worried about his finances and keeping his girls in the style they’re used to, that he’ll stoop to espionage? Will their love survive the danger and personal issues that arise to hinder the path of true love?