COTT {Clash of the Titles} Olympia Finalists!

Meet our 2014 Olympia Finalists!

The competition was stiff, but c. joy allen, Jennifer Rodewald, andPegg Thomas have risen to the top. This week starts Round Three of the Olympia. The winner will be announced on May 5th, 2014. We’re all holding our collective breath to find out who that will be, but in the meantime I asked each of our finalists a few questions...

Q: What genre and how long have you been writing?

Pegg: I write historical fiction with a touch of humor. I started - seriously - pursuing writing in 2009.

Jennifer: Like many writers (I think), I’ve been writing since childhood. But I put on a serious face to pursue this dream about six years ago. I started with a historical romance—and completed it after a mere two years (tongue in cheek) of fiddling around. It will most likely never leave my hard-drive. But that little, unpublishable work confirmed the dream in my heart: I wanted to write. Well. For the glory of God.
I’ve turned to writing contemporary, which was entirely unexpected. I’ve completed two
manuscripts in that genre, and have several more plotted and waiting on my laptop’s backburner.

c. joy: My genre preference leans toward contemporary fiction and romance. I have always dreamed of writing, but it was just under two years ago that I sat down and began to fulfill that dream. It’s all about God’s timing.

Q: What does Finaling in the Olympia mean to you?

Jennifer: It means that someone else likes what I wrote! Yay! But more than that, it means gaining a second wind. This writing stuff isn’t for the easily discouraged (like y’all didn’t already know that), and the pause and smiles this small success has afforded me feels like a mountain stream on my tired feet after a long hike. Thanks for that!

c. joy: Finaling in the Olympia tells me that my writing is making progress. I’m encouraged by the fact that there’s an audience who enjoyed what I wrote.

Pegg: I'm not sure I know yet! This is so exciting! It's going to take a few days to sink in. But what attracted me to enter the Olympia is that this contest is reader judged. That's so important. I've had a lot of people in the writing industry assure me that I can write, but it's the readers that I'm writing for.

Q: What advice would you give other unpublished authors out there?

c. joy: Don’t give up. Learn everything you can, and don’t be discouraged along the way! When I get feedback, I try to see it as the secret for how to write better. Also, remember that it’s all subjective. Not everyone can be your audience.

Pegg: 1) Go to a writers conference. If I hadn't attended Maranatha Christian Writers Conference, in Muskegon, Michigan, I would have given up years ago. You have to learn to write. This isn't high school English. It isn't even close! I was amazed, and dismayed, at how much I had to learn for even a shot at publication. Yes, they are expensive, but they are worth every penny.
2) Find - or start - a critique group. I live in a very rural area and I couldn't find a group within driving distance, so I started an on-line group. We all met through the American Christian Fiction Writers Scribes group. My "critters" have pushed - and sometimes shoved - me into being a better writer. Your family is going to love whatever you write. Find other writers who will hold your feet to the flames.
3) Write-write-write. The best story idea on earth doesn't do you any good until you get it down in words.

Jennifer: Pray. Keep writing. Find a crit group. Pray. Keep writing. Read. Pray. Keep writing. Find an editor. Pray. Keep writing. Enter some contests. Pray. Keep writing.
Hands down, the best moment thus far in this journey didn’t come by way of confirmation from other people. It came from God. I’d been wrestling with the end of a story for a long time. It just wasn’t coming out right, and every time I prayed over it I felt a ‘No. Not yet.’ So frustrating. My crit group was working with me on it, and still it wasn’t singing. And then one day it worked. It came together and in my heart I lifted it to God again, and (tears still beckon) He smiled. I felt it as clear as the warmth of the summer sun on my skin. He smiled.
So. Keep at it. Aim for His smile. There’s nothing like it.

Fantastic advice from all of you, and what a wonderful glimpse into each of your hearts. Clash of the Titles is rooting for all of our contestants, praying that your writing careers be guided by the Lord. We’re praying the best for each of you!

If you’re an unpublished novelist interested in entering the next Olympia, submissions open in November.

For our Spring Book Party!

Spring Butterfly Cupcakes Recipe

I found this on Pinterest just in time for our Easter Book Party!  Oh!yeah!

INGREDIENTS
1 box Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup softened Butter
3 tbsp Milk
4 cup Powdered Sugar
Green Food Coloring
Flipz White chocolate covered Pretzels (for wings)
Bunny Mix M&M’s (for body & head)
Edible Easter Grass (for antennae) or dye pieces of coconut with green food coloring

DIRECTIONS
Bake cupcakes in cupcake tins according to box directions.
Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Cream butter in a medium bowl
Slowly add in the powdered sugar, and milk as needed, until everything is incorporated and frosting is right consistency.
Add several drops of color and whip a few more minutes to get even color.
Roughly ice cupcakes to resemble grass.
Place 4 M&Ms on center of cupcake slightly on edge and overlapping to make head and body.
Cut 2 small pieces of edible easter grass to make antennae. (I used green colored coconut)
Place 2 Flipz pretzels to make wings.

Murder Simply Brewed (Amish Village #1) by Vannetta Chapman

Book Description:  When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury's Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery. Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops---until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register. When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop's duties, the two women become fast friends---as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray's death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced. Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance---all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them.

My Thoughts:  I've read all of the Amish mysteries that Vannetta Chapman has penned.  And now she has a new series:  The Amish Village series where there is a lot of action happening in Middlebury, Indiana.

Amber Wright is an English woman who owns a collection of unique shops in Middlebury. As part of her shops she owns a coffee shop, Simply Brewed, which is run  by Ethan Gray.  Amber receives a call that Ethan is found dead by the espresso machine, maybe a heart attack.  However, Amber doesn't think so!

Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah, to run the coffee shop. Soon fast friends . . . Amber and Hannah become "detectives" as things about Ethan's death don't add up.  

To me this a cozy mystery.  There's a murder but it isn't gruesome or gory.  There is friendship between an English businesswoman and an Amish woman who seems to have the strength and business skills to run a coffee shop.

Simply Brewed is a wonderful suspense novel that includes coffee, more coffee and Amish quilts with friendship thrown in for added spice. 

Loved this read!  If you enjoy friendships, coffee and Amish quilts then this the read for you!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: An Amish Village Mystery
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 25, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310326168
• ISBN-13: 978-0310326168

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Paula Deen's Mexican Chicken Casserole

 photo credit: www.pauladeen.com

Mexican Chicken Casserole with Cheddar Cheese and Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of chicken soup
• 1 10 3/4 -ounce can cheddar cheese soup
• 1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 10-ounce can tomatoes
• 1 whole chicken, cooked, boned, and chopped or 4 cups leftover cooked chicken
• 11 1/2-ounce package flour tortillas
• 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the three kinds of soup and the tomatoes. Stir in the chicken.
3. In a greased 13 x 9- inch pan, layer the tortillas and the chicken mixture, beginning and ending with tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese over the casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley

Book Description: When Laura Gantt returns to Georgia to handle her late mother's estate, she hears a startling rumor---that her father staged his drowning years ago and has recently been spotted roaming the mountains. 

With the help of her former high school sweetheart, Laura searches for the truth. But will what they find destroy their rekindled feelings?

My Thoughts: The Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley is quite a mystery!

We meet Laura Gantt who must return to Georgia to oversee her late mother's estate.  However, there is some reminiscing from Laura about her childhood. (I think this is necessary for the reader to gain a background of Laura and what transpired before she grew up).  But when Laura arrives home she begins to hear the small town rumors that her "dead" Vietnam Veteran father who suffers from PTSD is still alive and roams throughout the mountains.

Ahh!  The stress!  Trying to take care of her mother's estate and then to learn that the dad she thought had drowned twelve years earlier is now alive!

Thankfully, her best friend Carrie is there for her and then Sean, her ex-boyfriend, comes back into her life.  Sean is a wonderful friend and begins to help Laura try to unravel the mystery of the roaming vet.

This is an interesting read. 

Sean and Laura seem to have a relationship that comes and goes but mostly goes.  Poor Sean!

This is an interesting read with twists and turns that makes the reader keep reading just find out "what in the world is going on!"  Quite an ending!  

Meg Moseley never writes and ordinary tale...she pens stories that have quirky characters, relationships that seem real.to.life and endings that the reader may never guess!

*This book was provided Waterbrook/Multnomah*

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (February 18, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307730786
• ISBN-13: 978-0307730787

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Spring Has Sprung at Clash of the Titles!

Spring Has Sprung! 

And so have these brand new must-read Christian novels.

Clash of the Titles brings you five novels of every variety. There's something for everyone! Enjoy these blurbs, then scroll to vote and help send your favorite novel to COTT's annual Laurel Award. 

But first, a shout-out to Diana Montgomerywho is the WINNER of our March Book-bundle Giveaway. Woot! Diana, the authors of the following three novels will be contacting you shortly:

Heaven's Prey by Janet Sketchley
God's Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert
Ryan's Father by June Foster

When Annie Whitaker and her merchant father set out for Cañon City and the Pikes-Peak-or-Bust gold rush, Annie finds much greater wealth in the heart of a runaway preacher. Will her love change that preacher's view of women—and God—and help him on his way back to faith and love?

Acclaimed New York artist, Naomi Boyd, and music therapist, Keith Wilson, used to be in love until a root of bitterness between their Irish grandparents separated them. Then a letter from Keith’s grandmother, Ruth, draws Naomi to Londonderry, only to find she’s too late—Ruth has passed on, leaving a mysterious painting in the attic that stirs up questions about the entwined past of Naomi's and Keith's grandparents and their own broken romance.

Plus-sized woman seeks validation in small-minded man. After betraying a friendship when seeking this validation, Ava spirals into a depression and continued self-destruction until she turns to God for help.

Nissa, a sharp-tongued Jewish girl with a deadly secret, and Longinus, a Roman centurion, are unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As danger closes in on them from every side, they must decide if the mercy Jesus offers is real or just another false promise.

Ellie's perfect life is suddenly knocked off center when her drool-worthy boyfriend cheats and her always-has-it-together mother is diagnosed with cancer. Through her heartache, Ellie learns that sometimes what seems like the end is really just the beginning and that what God has for her is always worth the wait.





Enjoy the blurbs? 
Click on the images to purchase on Amazon!

{Blog Tour} The BIG Picture Bible, featuring the Gospel Project

Book Description:  Kids can now be engaged in Bible reading and study as never before, seeing scenes from the Bible literally pop off the page via a free downloadable app that lets them view the images in an augmented reality format, as well as listen to narration of the event.

This full color, fully designed Bible includes features to help kids experience the Bible including call outs of key Bible stories, definitions, memory verses and more, all designed to get kids digging into and learning the Bible for life.

Together kids and parents can enjoy the Christ Connections and Big Questions and Answers call outs that show God's story unfolding from the beginning of time and how we fit into his plan. This meets children in the visual world they are so accustomed to, bringing Bible pages to life.

My Thoughts:  I was quite impressed with the BIG Picture Interactive Bible.  As adults we sometimes forget that children, especially children ages 6-10, love a Bible that "speaks" to them.  
This wonderful Bible has pictures, a Big questions section, Seeing the Big picture sections...so many wonderful aspects for a child to explore:

*Features 145 illustrated Bible lessons.

*Each lesson features a "Christ Connection" that shows children how God's plan for salvation through Jesus appears throughout the Bible.

*Free download to the Interactive Bible Storybook App that brings the art and lesson to life both visually and audibly. *This was plus for us.

*Jenna Lucado, daughter of well-known Christian author, Max Lucado, provides narration to more greatly engage children in the Interactive Bible Storybook App.  *loved this app

*Engaging questions at the bottom of each Bible lesson.

*Big Words section that has a word that a child may not be familiar with  (i.e Idol {IGH duhl} and then the definition/explanation of the word with verses about the word.

This is a grand book for children to read on their own or with others. It makes a great Bible to use for family devotions!

• *This book was provided for review by B & H*
• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Series: The Gospel Project
• Imitation Leather: 1350 pages
• Publisher: B&H Kids (March 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433605031
• ISBN-13: 978-1433605031

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Easter Treats

Easter is almost here!  

And this year I'm making these fun carrots for the kids!

Use piping bags from Wilton fill with cheetos~the crunchy ones (or goldfish crackers), add green ribbon . . . 

And you have a fun Easter treat!  Easy, too!

Life Support {Grace Medical #3} by Candace Calvert

Book Description:  Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It’s why she’s back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family—and left Lauren with memories her heart can’t forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won’t stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother—or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.

But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?

My Thoughts:  Candace Calvert is a retired ER nurse so she knows about medical emergencies and "things" that go in the medical field and hospital...this is a plus when writing about a nurse and a PA (physician's assistant).

However, as much as I liked Lauren and Elijah, there was just too much going on  around them . . .  in and out of there romantic lives.  At times I was completely lost and just had to take a breather and turn back a few pages to understand what was going on.  To be fair this is the third book in the Grace Medical series so maybe that is why I had a hard time.  The suspense of the story is low keyed.  The single parenting of Elijah and the relationship he has with his own father was, well, a little too over done.  I'm not "big" on dramatic relationships.  Maybe, because in real life I don't have a lot of drama in dealing with my own parents.  

This is a fairly interesting story just not as concise and adventurous as I'm use to reading.

If you enjoy christian medical read then you may enjoy this book.

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing*

• Series: Grace Medical
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414361130
• ISBN-13: 978-1414361130

COTT {Clash of the Titles} History Come to Life in "Rebekah's Treasure"

A cross between Francine River’s A Voice in the Wind and Joel Rosenberg’s The Copper Scroll, Rebekah’s Treasure, with its combination of history and suspense, will capture readers right from the start.

About Rebekah’s Treasure:
Set in 70 A.D. Jerusalem, Rebekah’s Treasure takes readers to war-torn Israel, mixing history with a tale of love and suspense. In order to flee the advancing Roman army, Rebekah, along with her daughter, Esther, must leave Jerusalem as well as her husband and sons. Escaping to Pella, she joins other followers of The Way who have fled the coming danger that was foretold by an oracle years before.

But Rebekah didn’t leave empty-handed. She brought with her the cup of the Last Supper. In no time her treasure garners attention as miracles begin occurring and believers credit the cup. It also causes outrage among the devotees of Isis who fear this “magical” cup will draw away their followers. In response they hatch a plot to steal it.

Things become more complicated when Rebekah’s daughter, Esther, runs away and Rebekah’s husband, Ethan, embarks on a quest to retrieve the hidden Temple treasure outlined in a copper scroll, and then take it to the Jewish stronghold of Masada in order to “continue the fight.”

When reading Rebekah’s Treasure readers will see history unfold as Titus’ legions lay siege to Jerusalem and the Temple. Yet amid the chaos of war there is love and faith and hope as Rebekah and her family struggle to survive as well as to discover where their true treasure lies.

PURCHASE THE BOOK

Amazon

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Books-a-Million

What Readers Have to Say:

*“Rebekah’s Treasure by Sylvia Bambola is a tale that will capture your attention and heart. Set in war-torn Israel when zealots fought for the honor of the Temple and Jerusalem, when the majesty and might of Rome became a terror and a scourge, one Jewish family’s story twists and turns with passion, action, and love. This novel will not only entertain, but satisfy the most avid reader.”
*“Sylvia Bambola, in her historical novel, Rebekah’s Treasure, surrounds actual events with an intriguing fictional story and skillfully draws in the reader. Normally not a reader of fiction, myself, I found I was unable to put down this fascinating book until it was finished!”
*“To read Rebekah’s Treasure, by Sylvia Bambola, is to become engulfed in an intricate work of art. Rich in detail, reading this book is nearly like watching a movie. Bambola has done a remarkable job of deliberately weaving each carefully chosen thread into a story that will alter the way you view the past and the future . . . forever.”
*“Rebekah’s Treasure, a love story that unfolds in the midst of impossible circumstances, captivates the reader from the first page to the last. Drama, suspense, passion, faith—all the elements of a riveting read are found in this novel which follows a family torn apart by Jerusalem’s struggle for survival in 70 A.D.  The author’s exquisite gift for storytelling combined with historically-accurate backdrops, make this book a treasure. I couldn’t put it down!”

About the Author:
Sylvia Bambola was born in Romania but lived her early years in Germany, a Germany still reeling from the devastation of World War II. At age seven she relocated with her adopted military family and saw the Statue of Liberty and America for the first time. But the memory of those years in Germany lingered and was the inspiration behind her novel,Refiner’s Fire, which won a Silver Angel Award, and was a Christy Finalist.

Life as an “army brat” gave her the opportunity to live in several states, including Hawaii. Then came nursing school in New York after which she married and began a family. Raising two children and being the wife of a business executive made for a busy life. So did working in marketing for a telecommunications company, then a medical software company.

Her first novel, A Vessel of Honor, written under the pen name of Margaret Miller, garnered a Small Press Editor’s Choice Award and was seriously considered for production as a television movie.

Bambola is the author of six published novels, lives in sunny Florida and has two grown children. She’s been a guest speaker at Women’s Aglow and various church functions, is a Bible study teacher at her church, and is learning to play the guitar.

Connect with Sylvia:
Website/blog: http://www.sylviabambola.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Bambola/78754640991
Twitter: @sylviabambola
GoodReads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/83706.Sylvia_Bambola

Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz

Book Description: As the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, Lotz has lived among the faithful all her life---and knows that we are quite capable of hurting one another! Drawing wisdom from the biblical story of Abraham and Hagar, she explores the ways in which the wounded can become wounders themselves---and points us toward God's merciful healing grace. 

My Thoughts:  Reading Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz was like drinking a refreshing swig of cold water on a hot summer day.

I have often wondered why God's people, the very people who are suppose to show love, compassion and forgiveness, can be the most spiteful and mean to other christians and people?  The answer may lie in what Anne Graham Lotz calls the "wounders."  Those people, wounders,  have been wounded themselves so they want to strike out at others.

Throughout this read the story of Hagar and how she was severely wounded by Abraham and Sarah is the guideline for forgiveness and mercy.  While reading this book I saw that the "wounder" is not always or may never be the one who forgives but we must always draw closer to God for He is the healer of wounds. 

This is an easy to read not a dry philosophical book.  Anne Graham Lotz shares her hurts, sorrows and the love of Jesus.  More like a story within a story.  

I loved this book and will probably read it more than twice!  I,also, think this book would make a great gift for someone who may be going through a wounded time in his life.

*This book was provided by BookSneeze/Zondervan*

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310262895
• ISBN-13: 978-0310262893

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Fruit Salad

Spring is HERE in Texas!    
And time for those wonderful salads!
Serves 1 ( I use this for the two of us!)

Ingredients:

*2 cups loosely packed fresh kale, torn into bite-sized pieces

*2 cups loosely packed baby spinach, torn into bite-sized pieces

*1 cup shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix

*10 raw, unsalted almonds, roughly chopped

*3 strawberries, sliced

*1 large carrot, peeled & sliced

*1/4 cup blueberries

*1/3 cucumber, peeled, seeded & sliced

*1/4 cup raspberries

*Olive oil based salad dressing

Directions:

1.  Massage kale in a large bowl for 1-2 minutes, or until broken down and tender. Combine with spinach and cabbage, then turn out onto a plate.
2. Top with remaining ingredients, then drizzle with a good, olive-oil based salad dressing.

at Peace in the Storm {Experiencing the Savior's Presence When You Need Him Most} by Ken GIre

Book Description:  When you need a Savior who stills the wind.

"Here's the rub about faith. Sure, prayer often changes outward things, but the only guaranteed miracle God offers us is inner peace, the peace of Christ. A peace so crazy deep that it cannot be analyzed or understood. It descends on us even when everything else is falling apart, while the drug-addicted child does not come to his senses, or the job offer doesn't pan out, or the cancer rages and the marriage is a hollow mess. But I'll let you in on a secret. This miracle of the 'inner variety,' this inexplicable and supernatural calm in the storm, is the greatest miracle you'll ever experience."

My Thoughts: All of us are human and so, all of us will go through a "storm" of some kind in our lives.  The storms are life are not always easily handled by humans, therefore, we need a Savior who will calm the storm and help us through this storm.

On page 57, Mr. Gire gently reminds us that, "As we weather storms, trying to navigate through the darkness, our temptation is to turn our eyes not toward God's Word, but toward the raging skies."  This statement was the whole pivotal point of this read for me.  I must keep my eyes on Jesus. . . just like Peter when he saw Jesus on the water . . . when I take my eyes off Jesus I will fall.  Thankfully Jesus will be there to catch me (if I let Him).  Oh!the!love!He!has!for!me!

This isn't a point by point, do this kind of read.  This is a walk by faith, keep your eyes on the One who loves you most.  An encouraging read for when we are faint of heart.

I love the way Mr. Gire makes life with Jesus so very real.  At the end of this wonderful book we see Jesus having merriment with His friends and disciples.  Yes, sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to have fun.  The storm will not always last, Jesus will be by our side.  "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."Jeremiah 31:25  (end of book, p. 159)

This encouraging book would make a wonderful "card" for that special person who may be going through a storm in life.  It's also a a great read just for you to know Jesus is there for you!

*This book was provided for review by Baker Publishing/Bethany House*

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 18, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764208845
• ISBN-13: 978-0764208843

COTT {Clash of the Titles} January Winner!

June Foster and Ryan's Father.

Congratulations, June!

Thank you to everyone who participated.

About the Book:

The rippling influence of Ryan Reid’s immoral mother and absent father makes a mark on his soul leaving him to battle same sex attraction. When the young school teacher asks Jesus into his life, he thinks he’ll be free though no amount of prayer changes him. Ryan wants to turn away from the lifestyle, yet in his heart he knows he’s committed the sin.

Nurse Sandy Arrington still resides at home held captive by her secret fears. Her dream to be a wife and mother looks bleak.

When Sandy falls in love with Ryan, he’s powerless to return her love. Can Ryan dig his way out to find the freedom to love Sandy? Can Sandy find release from her fears?

Buy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble

June's motivation for writing Ryan's Father:

When my daughter was in high school, one of her friends told me privately he was attracted to another boy in our church. I was saddened to see this precious young man believe he had no control over the feelings and desires that brought him so much misery. I wrote Ryan's Father to offer hope to anyone in the lifestyle who wants to walk away. My prayer is that God will touch hurting hearts with the message of this book.

About the Author:

June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day – February 1, 2012, As We Forgive – September 1, 2012, and Deliver Us – April 1, 2013, and Hometown Fourth of July – July 1, 2012. June's book, Ryan's Father, is available from WhiteFire Publishing January 2014. Red and the Wolf will be available April 2014. For All Eternity and Misty Hollow, God willing, will be published in the near future. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the issues in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.

Here's a taste of the comments received for this month's clashers:

This was one of the hardest choices in quite some time. They all sound wonderful and fit in with my reading tastes. Good work, June, Darlene, Lillian and Sylvia. 

Rebekah is my daughter's name and I love that spelling. But it makes it more meaningful know since we know that was the way it was then. I love knowing the inside story of what went on in that Jesus time of history. 

Darlene, Looking forward to reading Homefront Dreams.

I have enjoyed every book written by Lillian Duncan. They all have a great storyline!

I love all of your books, June Foster, keep following God's direction in choosing your subjects and be blessed.

Love the books from June Foster. They draw you in and make you think of some of your situations and makes me want to make changes in my life for the good. Great Job June keep up the great work.

I love the "risk" that Ryan's Father is taking in Christian publishing. It's greatly needed!

Sylvia Bambola...your book sounds Captivating! I am looking forward to reading this...sounds like this is about the holy Grail BEFORE the Middle Ages and knights were sent to find it. Love the historical backdrop your tale is told to.

Darlene's writing is emotional and beautiful. I highly recommend her books!

All interesting titles. Best of luck to Lillian Duncan. Your book sounds intriguing!