Dixie Belle (Uptown Belles) by Debbie Mayne

Book Description:  In book one of the Uptown Belles series, sparks fly when Cissy Hillwood arrives in New York City from her Alabama hometown and meets her uncle’s fiercest competitor.

My Thoughts:  I love the cover of this book.  It reminds of that.coming.of.age where we all spread our wings and fly.

This is a refreshing read.  The author writes about life.  Real life issues! And how to deal with them as a christian.  

Small towns can be ever so cruel and this happens to be the case with Cissy Hillwood.  She's had a crush one of the football players for a very long time and when he asks her out she is so excited.  But they haven't been dating long when she finds out what kind of character he has.

She is visiting with her friends when he comes up and tells her that she will date him exclusively and then too prove it hits her hard across the face.  Cissy tells him no one hits her!  She ends up calling 911.  The police come and arrests Mr. Tough Guy and the town won't let her live it down.  Terrible!  Just terrible!  Like it's her fault!   ugh!

Anyway, Cissy's mother calls her brother in New York and makes a way for Cissy to go live away from the small mindness of the people in their community.

Cissy is no sissy, though.  And throughout the story we find that Cissy is tough as nails.

I love the way that Ms. Mayne writes about christianity.  How it's so easy to be a weekend christian but a follower of Christ is an everyday fellowship, in our every dealings of life.

A great read!

*This book was provided for review by Bookteria*

• Series: Uptown Belles (Book 1)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621365247
• ISBN-13: 978-1621365242

A Mother's Secret (Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel) by Amy Clipston

Book Description:  Carolyn Lapp dreams of marrying for love. But will the errors of her past destroy this dream forever?

Carolyn Lapp longs to have a traditional Amish family. But she lives on her brother’s farm with her parents and her 15-year old son, Benjamin. Carolyn has never revealed the identity of Benjamin’s father and lives daily with the guilt and shame of her youthful indiscretion. Her brother simply will not forgive her.

His answer is to arrange a practical marriage for Carolyn to Saul, a widower with a little girl. But Carolyn isn’t convinced that Saul really loves her and believes he is simply looking for someone to help raise his daughter.

When Benjamin causes trouble at a local horse auction, horse breeder Joshua Glick decides that he must be taught a lesson. Carolyn and Joshua are unmistakably drawn to each other, but Joshua mistakenly assumes that Benjamin is Carolyn’s brother. Carolyn fears that if he discovers the truth, her past will destroy their budding romance.

After years of shame and loneliness, Carolyn suddenly has two men vying for her attention. But which of them will give her the family—and the unconditional love—she’s longed for?

My Thoughts: I love the easy style with which Amy Clipston pens  a novel.  

A Mother's Secret is the second book in the Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel series.

Of course, this is an Amish read!  All about life!

Carolyn has a secret . . . she has never told anyone who fathered her son.  Now her son is fifteen.  And although she lives with her brother on his farm and works hard!her brother has never forgiven her for her youthful indiscretion!  And maybe, just maybe, it seems that her brother resents her son, Benjamin.

As life would have it . . . Benjamin gets in to one "of those" teen moments and causes trouble at a local horse auction.  Carolyn has had a budding romance with Joshua Glick the horse breeder but Joshua thinks that Benjamin is her brother.  Oy vey!  And he seems to be rather harsh in judgment of Benjamin.

Then there is Saul.  Saul is kind hearted and has a young daughter.  Now Carolyn feels torn between two men!

A great romance with a lot go.to.heart "dealings!" 

Love Amish reads and romance?  Then this is the book for you!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (June 3, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310335817
• ISBN-13: 978-0310335818

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Cranberry Quinoa Salad

I found this wonderful salad on Pinterest and it is super yummy!

Ingredients

• For Salad:
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• 2 scallions, finely chopped
• 2 cups mixed greens such as spinach and arugula
• 
  

Instructions

1. Cook quinoa according to directions.
2. Meanwhile, combine all dressing ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Add more water, if necessary.
3. In a large serving bowl, combine cooked quinoa, dried cranberries, scallions and mixed greens; gently toss with Caesar dressing to coat.
4. Serve chilled.

Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl by Grace Lundmark

Book Description:  Chloe May's father found his wife's tactics incredulous as she dealt with their impoverished life and her own restlessness. Then came the Depression and the droughts of the Dust Bowl. It took more than their losses, near starvation, and apparent defeat to put a tear in her father's eye. In fact, even the women in the Whitehurst family were seldom reduced to tears-conniving and rash behavior, perhaps, but not to tears! The family knew laughter and fun, balancing heartaches and poverty. Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl is based on the true story of the author's mother, Chloe May, and her family's frequent moves in, around, and out of the Oklahoma Panhandle of the '20s and '30s. Laced with historical facts of the time, Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl is a must read for younger readers wishing for a glimpse into one of America's most difficult eras, and older readers who will identify with one family's modes of survival.

My Thoughts:  WOW! Over 75 years since the Dust Bowl.  My maternal grandmother lived through the Dust Bowl and told numerous stories to my mom and uncle.  When my grandmother passed away my mom wrote a book, Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl, as a tribute to her mother and as a living history for her children and grandchildren.  My mother was invited to Guymon, Oklahoma the weekend of April 2010 to share her story about the Dust Bowl.  She went and met others who had gone through the Dust Bowl and others who wrote about this dark time in history.  Chloe May is a great read!  

If you enjoy Janet Oke you'll also enjoy Grace Lundmark's story of the Dust Bowl! 

Paperback: 212 pages

• Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises (April 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604621397
• ISBN-13: 978-1604621396
• 
  

About the Author:  Grace Lundmark was born and raised in the scorching, but beautiful, deserts of the Southwest. Her father, a Texan/New Mexican, and her mother, an Okie/New Mexican filled her head and heart with their stories of growing up in West Texas and the mountains of New Mexico. Her first novel, "Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl" is a true-life novel written from the stories her mother told of her family's struggle for survival on the high plains of Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Now living in Texas, the wife, mother, and grandmother of eight, has finally found time to write about the people she has known and admired, in fiction form. She plans to continue writing about the people of the Southwest. 

   Chloe May:  Daughter of the Dust Bowl  may also be purchased at Amazon.

Beautiful on the Mountain: An Inspiring True Story by Jeannie Light & David Aikman (Foreword)

Book Description:  If you enjoyed the classic novel Christy and the bestselling Mitford series, then you’ll love Beautiful on the Mountain, a real-life tale about serving God in unlikely circumstances. In 1977, Jeannie Light left her fine plantation home amid heartbreak and came to Graves Mill, a tiny hamlet in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Alone in an utterly new kind of life, Jeannie was determined to find the courage to make a fresh start.

To Jeannie’s surprise, she found herself called upon by her new neighbors to open the old, deteriorated country church, a place that had once united the fractured community of mountain folk. With no training, and no small amount of trepidation, she undertook the task. And as she embarked on an unforeseen series of adventures, from heartbreaking to hilarious, Jeannie would learn more than she ever expected about faith, loving your neighbor, and doing the work that God sets in front of you. Because sometimes, God calls us to go where there is no path . . . and leave a trail.

My Thoughts:  I loved the book, Christy by Catherine Marshall so I was quite interested in reading Beautiful On the Mountain by Jeannie Light.

Jeannie writes a true tale of her life serving God on the Mountain.

This read is somewhat like Christy in that it's about a young woman who leaves a great family and wealth to go to a place where she is needed.

Jeannie writes about heart ache and faith, hardship and friendship, love and courage. 

This read is also about people uniting for the good of the community.  Some great life lessons in this read!

Jeannie finds that she has more inner strength than she ever thought possible.  She is out to undertake a task that she feels she has no training for but, yet, God always gives us training for the task He leads us into for the time that we are to travel into unknown territory and leave a trail where no trail exists.

A wonderful read full of grace for the task and courage for the unknown.

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale*

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum (June 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141438713X
• ISBN-13: 978-1414387130

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Laurel Award, Readers Wanted!

THE 2014 LAUREL

Hear ye, hear ye! 

Clash of the Titles's 2014 Laurel Award 

will soon be open for submissions.

Novels participating in the Laurel are judged by their audience—readers who are well-versed in Christian fiction
yet not a part of the CBA industry. This contest judges the first two chapters (or 3,500 words) of published novels.

READERS

Are you a fan of Christian fiction, yet not associated with the publishing industry? Then we want you! If you enjoy readingand giving your opinion, Clash of the Titles invites you to join our reader-judge team. Each judge reads 5 to 7 two-chapter excerpts of recently published Christian novels, then completes a simple point system score sheet. If you're interested, please contact us at contactcott@gmail.com.

AUTHORS
Eligibility for the Laurel: Christian novels (30,000+ words) of any genre published between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013.

Self-published novels accepted.

Submissions Open: June 02, 2014

 Submissions Close: July 18, 2014, 

or when submission max is reached.

2013 Laurel Winner
Veil of Pearls
by MaryLu Tyndall

Limited Submissions: In order to not overburden our volunteer judges, we are limited in the number of submissions we can accept for the Laurel. Act soon!

One entry per author. Co-authored entries accepted.

Fee: $10 payable via Paypal

 

Please visit our website for submission guidelines.

Prizes: One first-place winner will be chosen. He/she will receive a special feature on Clash of the Titles' blog. A tour through COTT’s Blog Alliance. A dedicated page on COTT’s site for a full year. An on-line radio interview with author andCAG board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. A digital winner’s badge. A beautiful plaque.

Stay tuned for updates by 

subscribing to COTT's blog and “liking” our Facebook page.

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} White Velvet Birthday Cake

We have a birthday at our house today so I made this cake! 
I found the recipe on Pinterest . . . so goooood!

White Velvet Cake

Recipe by Barry C. Parsons

White Velvet Cake - developed from an outstanding Red Velvet Cake recipe, this white cake is a perfectly moist and tender crumbed cake that would make an ideal birthday cake.

Prep time: Approximately 20 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: Approximately 1 hour.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons good quality vanilla extract (if you want pure white use clear vanilla extract)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Cooking Directions

1. Sift together both flours, baking soda. baking powder, salt and sugar, Set aside. 
2. Grease and flour 2 nine inch round cake pans and line the bottom with 2 circles of parchment paper.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together the vegetable oil, shortening and vanilla. Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy
4. Beat the eggs in one at a time.
5. Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
6. I always add dry ingredients in three divisions and liquid ingredients in 2 divisions. It is very important to begin and end the additions with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix the batter. As soon as it has no lumps in the batter, pour into the two prepared 9 inch cake pans.
7. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
8. I've frosted this cake with Marshmallow Frosting but any good vanilla frosting is great on this cake. 

Gathering Shadows {Finding Sanctuary 1)by Nancy Mehl

Book Description:  Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary. 

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love to read novels/stories by Nancy Mehl!

The Gathering Shadows (the first book in the Finding Sanctuary series) is classified as romantic suspense but, yet, Mrs. Mehl puts so much more into this story.

I love Wynter Evans . . .just love the way her name is spelled.  Wynter is strong and courageous but yet gentle and kind hearted.  Wynter struggles with her past.  And there is Rueben King {sigh!} the young mayor . . . here is the romantic part. 

Wynter's brother disappeared over nine years ago.  then Wynter comes across a picture of a big that resembles her lost brother.  She is drawn to and must go after the clues to see if this is really her brother.  

She travels to the town of Sanctuary.  Sanctuary is the town where Rueben King is mayor. 

There seems to be shadows everywhere Wynter looks.  It seems that the truth may never "show up."

This is quite a read!  The ending, the I.didn't.see.that.coming! and the suspense make for zone fantastic read!

But don't take my word for it....go read it for yourself! 

A great book for the beach or for relaxing by the grill this summer!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Series: Finding Sanctuary (Book 1)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764211579
• ISBN-13: 978-0764211577

Spoken For {Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are} by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke

Book Description:  Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life

A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?

In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences,  these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.

My Thoughts:  I have always loved to read anything written by Robin Jones Gunn and now she and Alyssa Joy Bethke have teamed up and written one of the best (in my humble opinion) books about the love Christ has for each one of us . . . aptly titled Spoken For {Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are}.  

This book seems to have been written especially for me!  Don't you just love it when God calls your name!  

This is a heart matter.  Who could love you more than the One who created you and then died just for you!  No one but the Savior. 

This is an easy read.  I love how the authors have chosen nuggets of truth and love and spread them throughout the book.  The love of Christ literally popped off the page through this book and straight into my heart.
There is also a place for the reader to write her thoughts at the end of each chapter in the "What Do You Think" sections.

If you are having a difficult time understanding Christ's love for you or you need/want to draw closer to Him then this is the book for you.

This book also makes an excellent gift.  Mothers who need encouragement and love, the graduate who is going off on a new location, that special person who is in the hospital, or just for you!

*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (April 15, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160142597X
• ISBN-13: 978-1601425973

Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Book Description:  Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch’s identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her “marriage.”

Their journey to Gisela’s mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

My Thoughts:  I love reads that are about WWII.  Liz Tolsma pens an excellent story about Gisela Cramer in Daisies Are Forever.  

World War II has left a lot of damage and war torn hearts.  Gisela is an American but lives in eastern Germany with her cousin, Ella.  But they must escape to Berlin when the Red Army invades.

Ella believes that she must stay and help her country so she refuses to leave  but she does send her young daughters with Gisela. 

Gisela fels slightly overwhelmed with two young girls as they make their way to  Berlin.  But, lo and behold, Gisela meets Mitch an escaped British POW.  But too complicate matters a wounded German solider, who likes Gisela, is suspicious  about Mitch.  

Gisela is a lady of courage.  She is trying to save Mitch by pretending to be his wife.  Also, she is trying to save the lives of her two small cousins.  

Not your everyday romantic read.  There are twists and turns that keep the reader on her toes!

Loved this read! 

This is quite a story!  

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401689124
• ISBN-13: 978-1401689124

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Cappuccino Cooler

I found this recipe on Pinterest.  

It looks delicious and I believe it's from Gooseberry Patch.

1-1/2 c. prepared coffee, cooled

1-1/2 c. chocolate ice cream, softened

1/4 c. chocolate syrup

crushed ice

1 c. frozen whipped topping, thawed

Blend coffee, ice cream and syrup together until smooth; set aside. Fill 4 glasses three-quarters full with ice; add coffee mixture. Top with a spoonful of whipped topping; serve immediately. Make 4 servings.

Inspired by the Psalms {Decrees that Renew your Heart & Mind} by Elizabeth A. Nixon

Book Description:  If you want the power to truly change your life and circumstances, positive thinking is never going to be enough. Biblical decrees operate in the supernatural realm and actually carry the authority of a court order, opening doors to the blessings and fullness of the kingdom of heaven.

My Thoughts:  I love reading the Psalms.  Whenever I feel overloaded and tired with life "stuff"  I head to the Psalms for comfort and guidance.

This small, wonderful book is all about the book of Psalms.  Great things come in small packages.
This is not a book that tells you what to do.  It is about the decrees of God's goodness.  Each chapter is for a "different" part of life.  On pages 4-8 the author gives an explanation/defintion of what the decrees mean.
For example, on page 53, #29 My Hope Is In You (Psalm 38:15)
Decree: My Hope is in You!  Not just fingers-crossed hoping without cause to believe.  No!
I watch.  I linger.  I wait.
Expecting.  Believing. Knowing.
You hear me!  Not just like a noise in the breeze, without attention.  No!
You listen.  You respond.  You answer.
Speaking. Singing. Blessing.
This isn't even a devotional.  It's more of proclamation (another meaning of decree).  A proclamation as in, I will live and not die!
This is a book full of powerful decrees (proclamations!) that will help and encourage the Christian walk.  
A wonderful asset for any believer!
This book would also make a great gift for that one going through a rough patch in life!

*This book was provided for review by Bookteria*

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 162136559X
ISBN-13: 9781621365594
Number of Pages: 128
Vendor: Charisma House
Publication Date: 2014

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Red Gold, winner of Clash of the Titles's April Clash!

Red Gold, 

winner of Clash of the Titles's April Clash!

What COTT voters had to say about this month's winner:

"Reading Red Gold by Sandy Nadeau gave me a much needed 'vacation'! The faith story was heart-filling...and the adventure carried me to the mountains. 

Thanks, Sandy, for sharing your talent with the rest of us!"

"Not only does Sandy Nadeau and Red Gold have a great cover, the story is realistic, inspiring and a fun thrill ride in Colorado."

Red Gold

by Sandy Nadeau

~COTT's April Champ~

"Sandy Nadeau's work was a very fun read with good moral value!"

"A shout-out to Sandy Nadeau, author of Red Gold! I have an autographed copy, 

and couldn't be more delighted for your success!!"

"Red Gold sounds like a book that will keep readers turning the pages!"

"Keep writing, Sandy Nedeau! I'm in the middle of Red Gold now and love it! Blessings!"

About Red Gold:

Mandy Phillips loves life with her husband running an adventure ranch in the Colorado mountains, but when Mr. Shonee, their crotchety old neighbor, tries to stop them from building a kid-size old west town their dreams of expansion are crushed. Is Shonee just being a difficult neighbor, or is something more sinister going on? A discovery on the property of Colorado's state mineral leads to more mysteries for the ranch, and then a teenage guest finds herself thrust head first into danger. Mandy will have to rescue her, but who will rescue Mandy? Her faith in God is her only source to keep the guests safe, solve the mysteries surrounding her ranch, save her neighbor from himself, and discover the secrets of the Red Gold.

PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Pelican Book Group

Autographed Copy

About Sandy:

Sandy Nadeau loves to go on adventures, photograph them and equally loves to write about them. She and her husband do a lot of four-wheeling in the back country of Colorado and share those experiences with others by taking them up in the mountains. With a background in writing a column about her community for a

local newspaper, she also has had several magazine articles published. She loves to write novels about adventure, mystery, romance, but most importantly sharing God’s love. She is currently a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Vice President of the ACFW South Denver Chapter. Married for 37 years, she and her husband are loving life as grandparents to their nine month old grandson. Travel is their favorite thing to do and they don’t get to do it as often as they’d like. Adventure awaits around every corner, over every hill and mountain.

How Red Gold came about:

"This story developed out of a dream my husband and I shared of wanting to run a guest ranch as depicted in the book. We love the mountains of Colorado so much and have spent many days exploring the deep reaches of the state. We get a lot of out-of-town guests so we take them out on adventures with us. Our favorite thing to do is four-wheeling into the back country. We have ended up in a few places we never should have gone, at least not with the vehicle we drove. I wanted to share some of the adventures we have had through my book, the beauty, and the excitement of Colorado. My hubby actually came up with the title. It was so perfect for it."  ~Sandy Nadeau 

Connect with Sandy:

Blog

Website

Life Behind the Wall: Candy Bombers, Beetle Bunker, and Smuggler's Treasure Paperback by Robert Elmer

Book Description:  Cut off by the Iron Curtain This epic tale extends across generations and unfolds against the backdrop of a dangerous Cold War Berlin. This historically accurate, action-packed, three-books-in-one edition features three generations of resourceful teens living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall. Titles include: Candy Bombers: In spring 1948, teenage cousins Erich and Katarina are simply trying to survive in war-ravaged Berlin when the Soviets blockade the east side of the city, isolating its citizens---and starving them---behind the Iron Curtain. Beetle Bunker: In August 1961, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker. Though she first uses it to escape her crowded home, she soon realizes her hideout could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom! Smuggler's Treasure: In spring 1989, life is good in West Germany, and even the Cold War seems to be thawing in the warmer weather. But as Liesl works on a class project about the history of the wall, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about.

My Thoughts:  Oh! Be.Still.My.Heart!  I could not believe my eyes when I saw this book . . . I was so excited. . . . like a kid on Christmas morning!  This is THREE books in one volume!  All three of the Life Behind the Wall books by Robert Elmer!  
I first read Candy Bombers about 10 years ago.  But I never got the next two books Beetle Bunker and Smuggler's Treasure.
I must tell you, that even though I am an adult, these are the best books ever!  
In Candy Bombers the reader is introduced to Erich and Katarina living in the city of Berlin after the Soviets blockade the east side of the city.
Then in Beetle Bunker, the reader meets Sabine who discovers an underground bunker.
And then in, Smuggler's Treasure the reader meets Liesl who lives in West Germany during the Cold War.
Sorry my book descriptions are short but I hope they are teasers for you (no spoilers) so that you will read this wonderful trilogy!
Yes, these books must be read in order because there are overlaps in each book from the previous.  And what a better way to read them in order than to have a 3-n-1 book!  
I love this trilogy!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz; Revised edition (May 6, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031074265X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310742654

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Olympia Winner!

We've all been waiting. It's been six months since submissions opened for the Olympia. A panel of readers narrowed down the top three entries and then a distinguished *industry professionals assessed and scored those excerpts to bring us to this moment.

The time has come and I am so very excited to announce to you that the winner of the 2014 Olympia is...

*

*

*

*

*

JENNIFER RODEWALD!!!

Author Bio:Jennifer Rodewald is passionate about the Word of God and the powerful vehicle of story. Four kids and her own personal superman make her home in southwestern Nebraska delightfully chaotic.

Aiming to live with boundless enthusiasm, her creed is vision, pursuit and excellence. Blessed with a robust curiosity, she loves to research. Whether she’s investigating the history of a given area, the biography of a Christian icon, or how nature declares the glory of God, her daily goal is to learn something new.

Jen lives in a lovely speck of a town where she watches with amazement while her children grow up way too fast, gardens, plays with her horses, and marvels at God’s mighty hand in everyday life.You can find her atthefreeslavesdevotion.com 

Congratulations, Jennifer! We are honored to be a part of your journey and look forward to watching what God has in store for your writing career.

In addition to a tour through COTT's Blog Alliance, Jennifer will be receiving a beautiful plaque to commemorate her win and an internet radio interview with Cynthia Simmons!

*Final round judges:

AMANDA LUEDEKE--Agent, Macgregor Literary Agency

MARCY DYER--Editor, Prism Book Group
ROSSLYN ELLIOTT--Author and 2011 COTT Laurel Award Winner