Review of "The Familiar Stranger" by Christina Berry

I remember when "The Familiar Stranger" first debuted. I was very impressed after reading all of the great reviews about this first book of Christina's. I tried several times to win a copy and and failed to do so. However, I didn't give up and lo and behold I won an autographed copy from Christina. I admit it took me a while to read it as there were several books ahead that I wanted to read. I'm glad that I decided to go ahead the delve in. Without further ado here is the review.

Back Cover: Why is Craig so cold and distant? Denise wonders. Is it his job? The family? Or is it me? Though she's poured her heart into her marriage, years of enduring his long hours, frequent times away, and short temper had left her with deep sadness.

Then one morning in the middle of church or cell phone rings. Embarrassed, she gets to the lobby, takes the call... and is shocked by the use she hears. Craig's been in an accident.

So begins their fresh start. While keeping vigil by his bedside she wills herself to make their marriage work, whatever the cost. And when Craig finally regains consciousness, he appears to want the same thing -- except for one detail. He doesn't know who she is.

Nor does he remember anything about their life, their children, or why he was parked on the side of the freeway when the accident occurred. As he struggles to recall the past, he also shows a new love for Denise characterized by tender strength and consideration. So what if she could do when the ugly betrayals emerge? Is it possible to forgive a man who thoroughly violated her trust? How many more lies and secrets are yet to be discovered?

And then, without warning, his memories come flooding back...

About The Author: As a single mom and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time out of her busy schedule to write about the heart and soul of life. She lives with her family in rural Oregon. The Familiar Stranger is her debut novel. Get to know her better at: www.christinaberry.net

My Take: Even though I have heard great things about this book, you really don't know for sure if you are going to like it until you read it for yourself. Well, I did read it and I didn't just "like" it I thought it was a great book. The Familiar Stranger has more twists and turns than a curvy road winding its way up to the Smoky Mountains.

Not only is this a story of a family who appears to be happy. But, there are secrets that have been hidden for a long time. The story combines the drama of a family falling apart and also has suspense enough to keep you turning those pages. I thought I had it figured out several times to find that I was wrong again. I think Christina did a fantastic job on this debut novel and will appeal to many people. Keep up the good work Christina and I will be looking forward to your next book! Please go over and check out Christina's website. To order "The Familiar Stranger" please go the the right of my blog and order from Amazon.com.

HAPPY READING!

AND THE WINNER OF

"A MATTER OF CHARACTER BY ROBIN LEE HATCHER

IS

BRENDA!

CONGRATULATIONS BRENDA I'LL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Review and Giveaway for "A Matter of Character" by Robin Lee Hatcher

As I have mentioned several times as a reviewer/influencer of Christian Fiction I have the privilege of receiving a free book so I can review it. You usually have several books to choose from and you can pick the ones you want to blog about. There have been many times I had not read the author before and/or the book was not my favorite genre - thus this requires branching out from my comfort zone. There have been a few times I just could not finish a book for lack of interest on my part - when that happens I just don't write about it. I don't believe in tearing down another authors efforts when it might just be because I did click with that genre. The norm though has been that I am pleasantly surprised! And that is what happened with this particular book - "A Matter of Character" by Robin Lee Hatcher.

Robin and her publisher Zondervon are sponsoring a wonderful contest. Please stop by her website to check it out - you will not be disappointed. Her website address is: http://robinleehatcher.com/

Contest and Giveaway
To celebrate the book launch for A MATTER OF CHARACTER Zondervan and author Robin Lee Hatcher are pleased to announce the NOBLE CHARACTER contest.
Nominate a friend for the NOBLE CHARACTER award, and you could win a major prize for yourself… and a prize for your noble friend, too!

The Prizes:
—GRAND PRIZE Three (3) Grand Prize Winners will each receive a brand new Amazon Kindle, and a digital edition of A MATTER OF CHARACTER by Robin Lee Hatcher.
—NOBLE CHARACTER AWARD The nominated friend or family member of our Grand Prize Winners will each receive the complete Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, personally signed by Robin Lee Hatcher, and a Noble Character award certificate.

To enter, simply fill out the entry form, and include the name of someone who has made a difference in your life: A person of truly noble character.
Then tell all your friends about the contest! Each person you tell scores you another entry. The more people you tell, the higher your chances to win, so be sure to spread the word!

Winners will be selected Monday, June 14th, and announced on Wednesday, June 16th on the RobinLeeHatcher.com web site and in her newsletter.

Here is the link to the contest: http://robinleehatcher.com/noble_character.html

Review and Giveaway!

BACK COVER: It's 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs, Idaho. But Daphne has a secret.

A series of time novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories...except Daphne.

When newspapermen Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, rethinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 60 novels, including A Vote of Confidence, When Love Blooms, Wagered Heart, Return to Me and Catching Katie, named one of the best books of 2004 by Library Journal. Winner of the Christy award for excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin lives in Idaho.

MY TAKE: I really enjoyed getting to know the main character Daphne McKinley. Being an author she was a woman after my own heart. However, she writes dime novels, which were looked upon as frivolous writing - not to be taken seriously. The nemesis in her books is loosely based on a character named Rawhide Rick. Because Daphne comes from a family of wealth she does not want anyone to know what she does in her spare time. So she holds this secret close to her heart.

Joshua Crawford finds out that the books written by D. B. Morgan aka Daphne, have portrayed his grandfather, Richard Terrell,(Rawhide Rick) in a not so favorable light. He sets out to find this D. B. Morgan and is determined to make him write a retraction. You can imagine his surprise when he finds out that the real author is Daphne. He is even more surprised to learn that his grandfather has a past that he did not know about - this was before Richard Terrell became a Christian.

Daphne and Joshua find that they both have to re-evaluate what is important to them in their lives. In the meantime they begin to have feelings for each other and this seems to go well until- Joshua's fiancée' enters the picture. I really enjoyed reading this book even though it was not my favorite genre. This is the third book in the series, but was great as a stand alone book. I would love to go back and read the first two. Looks like I found a new author to read!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE:

1. BE A FOLLOWER OR SIGN UP TO BECOME A NEW FOLLOWER.

2. VISIT ROBINS WEBSITE AND CHECK OUT HER BOOKS AND THE CONTEST.

3. LET ME KNOW IF YOU'VE READ ANY OF HER BOOKS OR HAVE YOU HEARD OF HER?

4. BE SURE AND LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS

THE CONTEST WILL END MAY 30TH, 2010

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT WIN YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK FOR SALE AT AMAZON.COM http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310258073

HAPPY READING!

And The Winner Is

AND THE WINNER OF "OUT WITH THE IN CROWD" BY STEPHANIE MORRILL IS: JO AKA LADIJO

CONGRATULATIONS JO AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS BOOK - IT IS ALREADY ON ITS WAY TO YOUR HOME.

CONGRATULATIONS!

RAE IS THE WINNER OF "THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE" BY VICKIE MCDONOUGH

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR "IN WITH THE OUT CROWD" BY STEPHANIE MERRILL WHICH WILL END ON MAY 23RD.

"Out With The In Crowd" Review and Giveaway

NOTE: DON'T FORGET TO SCROLL DOWN AND SIGN UP FOR THE GIVEAWAY OF VICKIE MCDONOUGH'S "THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE". THIS GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 16TH.

"OUT WITH THE IN CROWD" BY STEPHANIE MORRILL

Skylar Hoyt may have vowed to change her parting ways, but it's not so easy to change her friends. Even though the old Skylar is gone, she's still not sure who this new Skylar really is. add to that two parents battling for her loyalty, a younger sister struggling with a crisis pregnancy, and a new boyfriend wishing for more of her time, and Skylar feels like she can't win. after all, how do you choose favorites among the people you love most?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Kansas with her high school sweetheart -- turned -- husband and their daughter. She is the author of Me, Just Different and loves writing for teens because her high school years greatly impacted her adult life. That, and it's an excuse to keep playing her music really, really loud.

MY TAKE: Even though this book is a Young Adult Fiction I found myself caught up in the lives of this family. The trials that the main character, Skylar, must face while her family seems to be falling apart makes it hard for her to continue down the new path she has chosen -- the path of being a Christian. This book is easy to read and didn't take long to read. Don't let the genre of Young Adult Fiction fool you into thinking this wouldn't be something you would read. There are lessons to be learned for all ages! You can learn more about Stephanie's books at: http://stephaniemorrillbooks.com/

TO ENTER THE DRAWING PLEASE

1. Go to Stephanie's website and check it out. Let me know if you've read any of her books or have heard of them?

2. Sign up as a new follower or be a follower

3. Leave an email address

CONTEST ENDS MAY 23RD

NOTE: PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO ENTER THE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF VICKIE MCDONOUGH'S "THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE".

Recently I've been traveling down memory lane and believe me its a long way back to my childhood. I attended my Aunt Helen's funeral a couple of months ago in Opelika, Alabama. While there, I visited the old home place which triggered many childhood memories, leaving me longing for simpler times.

My friend, Douglas(Rebecca) must have experienced the same thing as she wrote this story. I would like to share it with you and I'm sure Douglas would love for you to leave a comment.

Grandmother's house with porch swing

THE DETOUR

Recently, I was forced take a detour. An accident was blocking the underpass on the street I was traveling. I could have turned around and returned from whence I came – taking the main road. Instead I chose to turn onto a side street. The road less traveled. And like the traveler in Robert Frost’s poem that made all the difference.

The road was narrow with no curb or gutter on a good part of it. Shaded by majestic oaks older than I am, the coolness enveloped me as I passed from sunlight into shade. As I began to pass by the houses my mind wandered.

Almost with out exception each house had a “sittin’ porch”. Now, if you’ve never experienced the pleasure of a “sittin’ porch” on a Sunday afternoon, any evening from May to September, or perhaps longer, depending on your whereabouts in the South, you have not lived!

My paternal grandmother had such a porch. It was wide enough to sit on in the rain, if it wasn’t a blowing rain and not get wet. It wasn’t decorated with designer cushions or do- dads. It was functional porch. On one end was a wonderful swing built by my grandfather. On the other end was a metal glider and in the middle sat two matching chairs that sort of bounced when you sat in them. I still have the chairs and swing, sadly I somehow let the glider get away; I wish I had that glider.

Sunday afternoons were a time for visiting with neighbors. On my grandma’s street everybody knew everybody and most everybody’s business, which wasn’t always a good thing. Seven –Up and Cheese Tid Bits were always the afternoon snack. My grandma and her sister would chat about who was at church, who wasn’t at church, and of course if we had roast preacher for dinner. Sometimes I played with grandchildren next door if they were visiting their grandparents; mostly I watched and listened as the adults talked. Little did they or I know what wealth they were adding to my language and social development.

My grandma and her sister read the Bible everyday. Sometimes they would bring the Bibles or the devotional books on the porch and read. I still have my grandma’s Bible; it is a wonderful leather bound King James Version from the 1940’s with all of Jesus’ words in red letters. It was a gift to her from the men’s Bible class at the church - a thank you for helping with the suppers at the church.

I know my grandma was a woman of great faith. Her mother died when she was still a girl and she and her sister Polly went to live with their oldest sister Frances, known as Mother Frances to them, who was grown and married. This would be where Aunt Polly stole the baby. Frances raised them as if her own. Polly married at fourteen my grandma married a little later.

My grandparents were married six years before my father was born in 1918 just as WWI was ending. He was a much-wanted child, but when he was two he contracted Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever one after the other. They feared for his life and he was given up for dead more than once. The length and severity of the illnesses caused him to have to learn to walk again.

My grandfather was a fireman and later became Firechief. His responsibilities meant that my grandma carried the load of childrearing and house hold running on her own a great deal of the time .She had a cow, chickens and a garden. She washed clothes by hand on Monday ,ironed on Tuesday, beat the rugs Wednesday, dusted on Thursday and scrubbed down the back steps every Saturday night with the dishwater. Everyday she swept the kitchen, ran the dust mop over the floors, swept the front porch the sidewalk and the gutter in front of the house and cooked a big dinner which was the noonday meal. If some one on the street was sick or had a sick child she was called in to help. If there was a death she cooked a meal and sat with the family and she never ever missed Sunday School and church on Sunday.

An infection killed my grandfather when he was 48. Now, such an infection is not fatal, but in 1937 the only drug to fight it was not available in Rome,GA and had to be flown in, it arrived too late to save his life. At 45 Sarah Douglas White Taylor became a widow; her only child, a son, was 18.

WWII darkened the horizon in 1941 and America began the draft. My mother worked for the draft Board. She and my father became sweethearts when she was 14 and he was 18. Now in 1942 he was about to be sent overseas, so like many young couples they hurriedly married. My grandma sent her only child, who had once been snatched from the hands of death, into a war from which he might never return. I can only imagine what faith and courage that took. She only had letters from him for the next three years .I am blessed to have some of those letters.

I spent the night at grandma’s house sometimes and then because it was usually in the summer we sat out on the porch until long after dark. Saturday nights were the night of choice, so I was there for the afternoon too. I could play out while my grandma and her sister, Aunt Polly got Sunday dinner ready because my grandma didn’t work on Sundays not even to make Sunday dinner. She would, however, wash the dishes from said dinner. I can still recall the sounds of push lawn mowers and rakes in the neighborhood and the snip -snip of manual hedge clippers as neighbors did weekly yard chores.

Those were comforting noises from a time when the pace was less frantic. We knew our neighbors, we cared for them, helped them out and they helped us. Things were a little safer then and I could bet if I misbehaved out in public my parents or grandparents would know about it before I got home. Parents did not take kindly to being informed of misbehaving children nor did grandparents. There was no telling to the informant “I know my child would never do that.” as we do in the world today. No ma’am I was guilty as charged, being mostly punished with the ever feared talking to - which was the worst of all. I just never knew who might be watching me, so it was in my best interest to walk the straight and narrow as I was just as recognized in my grandma’s neighborhood as I was in my own.

I was Sally’s granddaughter and woe be unto me to besmirch the family name, so I played most respectfully while the grownups did the work of the day lest I lose my welcome. The afternoon drew to a close a light supper would be eaten and then we would adjourn to the porch. There was no TV at grandma’s house only a large Philco radio used as a piece of furniture-I still have that too.

There was no Daylight Savings Time so dark came at an earlier hour than it does now. The nighttime was a magical time to watch lightening bugs rise from the grass, to hear the night bugs calling and the frogs singing. Aunt Polly was a storyteller. She could spin an enchanting tale about the woodland creatures and the secret lives they lived out of our sight. I believed everything she told me. My grandma had different stories to tell. In the sweet darkness of a cool summer night she would tell stories of my daddy when he was a toddler, then a boy, then a young man married and going to war. She told stories of her childhood and how Aunt Polly had stolen a baby when she was a little girl because she thought it was cute and the sharecropper on the land had lots of children so she didn’t think they would miss one.

She told of my grandfather, the Firechief, who died before I was born and how much she loved him. It helps to know the people who came before you. My grandma’s stories gave me a sense of the strength my ancestors possessed. They endured terrible things; not the least of which was the great Depression. My great grandparents endured the Civil War, the death of infants, fires, loss of property and income and untimely deaths of loved ones. They persevered and left me a great legacy of strength and grace to do the same.

I was forced to take a detour recently. I’m sorry for the accident. I hope the injuries were not too serious. I am thankful to have taken the road less traveled, for my detour made all the difference in my day.

Grandmother and Aunt Polly

"The Anonymous Bride" Review and Book Giveaway

I'm finally excited to say I believe summer is finally on its way. It has been a long cold winter and I am now enjoying the fruits of spring. I love being able to go outside without having to wear a heavy coat or sweater. The blooming flowers and trees brings a song to my heart and makes my step a little lighter.

I have been busy the past couple of weeks and have not posted very often. However, I have been reading and I have two books that I would like to share her with my readers. If you have read my posts recently, you'll remember that I have decided to recycle the books that I have either won myself from another blog or am reviewing or influencing for an author or publisher. So with that said, keep in mind that these are slightly used books which are in very good condition. Without further ado, let's begin the reviews.

THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE BY VICKIE MCDONOUGH:

Back Cover: How many brides does one man need? It's been years, but Luke Davis is back -- older and wiser -- and still alone. Returning as Lookout's new town marshal, Luke is determined to face the past and move on. But when he discovers that the woman who betrayed him is now a widow, all his plans fall at his feet.

Rachel has carried her guilty shame for 11 years. Her marriage to James Hamilton was not what Luke or the town thought it to be. Now James is dead, and Luke is back. Could they possibly find love a second time? Rachel begs his forgiveness, but Luke finds he has none to give.

And then the brides arrive. Three of them -- ordered for Luke through newspaper ads by his incorrigible cousins. The only place in town for them to stay as Rachel's boarding house. And none of the ladies is willing to let Luke go. When choosing a bride becomes a contest, the chaos that ensues is almost funny. When the mayor forces Luke to pick a bride or lose his job, will Luke listen to his heart that still longs for Rachel or choose one of the mail order brides?

About the author: Award-winning author Vickie McDonough believes God is the ultimate designer of romance. She loves writing stories in which her characters find true love and grow in their faith. Vickie has published 18 books. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is currently serving as ACFW treasurer. Beginning of book reviewer for nine years as well. She is a wife of 35 years, mother of four sons, and grandmother to a feisty three year old girl. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and traveling. Visit Vickie's website at www.vickiemcdonough.com.

My take: One thing I have learned by reviewing books were being an influencer is that it pays to keep an open mind. Before I started reading Christian fiction and before I began my blog I read very little outside of my favorite genre which happens to be mysteries. I have been enjoying reading fiction since I was old enough to read. Even from the beginning mysteries have been my favorite. But when when I decided to start my blog and review books it was definitely going to be to my advantage to read other genres. This is what I hope - that those who read my blog will learn to keep an open mind so that they can enjoy taking many different adventures, but opening their world of reading and letting in other genres.

"The Anonymous Bride" is one such book that I would not have picked up in the past - simply because it wasn't in my genre. Boy, am I glad that I have turned a new leaf that ultimately lead me to this book.

The main character, Rachel, holds a secret that only a handful of people know. For many years she has put on a front for the townspeople which lead them to believe there were no problems in her marriage. Does this sound familiar? Are there families today who hide what their real circumstances are in their home life? Don't we all put on our social faces when we go out in public? Rachel's husband is dead now and she is left to raise her daughter (a little spit-fire) alone. She runs the towns boarding house to make ends meet.

In comes Luke Davis, the new town marshal. Luke and Rachel have a past - they were very much in love and planning on getting married until Rachel suddenly marries the towns richest bachelor. Luke is devastated and leaves town, just now returning. He meets Rachel's daughter, right away and decides to take this little wild girl under his care. He is surprised to find who her mother is. When he sees her, he knows he still has feelings for her, but he is not ready to forgive her for breaking his heart.

Luke's cousins decide to place an ad for a mail order bride and then he is blessed with three women who want to marry him. The ensuing antics of the three women (as well as Rachel who never stopped loving Luke) to try and win Luke's heart will keep you laughing out loud. It is a very easy read and I couldn't put it down wondering what was going to happen next. Needless to say I enjoyed this book very much and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! Oh, does Rachel win Luke's affections back? I'm not telling you will have to find out for yourself.

To enter the drawing please: (in the same comment)

1) sign up as a follower or already be a follower.

2)visit Vickie's website and let me know if you've read any of her books yet

3)let me know how you feel about reading other genres that you think you might not be interested in?

Contest ends May 16th, 2010

HAPPY READING!