COTT {Clash of the Titles} June Winner

The Winner of the June New Releases Clash is...

The winner of our latest Clash is:

A Melody For James

by

Hallee Bridgeman

Congratulations, Hallee!

Special thanks to her competitors for their participation:

Carla Laureano

Michelle Griep

Cindy Thomson

Miralee Ferrell

About A Melody For James: 

Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.

Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back.

Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.

Sinister forces threaten to destroy their new found happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together.

Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.

PURCHASE:

AMAZON

B&N

About the author:

Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she's not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker (http://www.halleethehomemaker.com). 
Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God's perfect timing brought the books off of the shelf to be dusted off and presented to you now. 

Join Hallee's Street Team -- Hallee's Allies -- find all of the information here:

http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/i-want-you-to-join-hallees-allies/

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit. She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you. You can reach Hallee athallee@bridgemanfamily.com

A week of favorite summer reads!

Book Description:  There’s nothing quite like family—for good or bad. But in a world where we sometimes know more about the Kardashians than we do the people sleeping right down the hall, it’s easy to forget that walking through life with our family offers all sorts of joy wrapped up in the seemingly mundane. There’s even a little bit of sacred sitting smack-dab in the middle of the ordinary. And since time’s-a-wastin’, we need to be careful that we don’t take our people—and their stories—for granted. Whether it’s a marathon bacon-frying session, a road trip gone hysterically wrong, or a mother-in-law who makes every trip to the grocery store an adventure, author Sophie Hudson reminds us how important it is to slow down and treasure the day-to-day encounters with the people we love the most.

Written in the same witty style as Sophie’s BooMama blog, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweetis a cheerful, funny, and tender account of Sophie’s very Southern family. It’s a look into the real lives of real people—and a real, loving God right in the middle of it all.

My Thoughts:  With all of the reality shows on TV, I wonder if people forget that the family God gave them are the "real" people we need to be with!??!

I love the title of this book because that's exactly how a family unit can be classified  . . . a little Salty with the Sweet by  Sophie Hudson is a timely reminder that we need not take for granted the family that God has given us. Family, that group of people that we have so much in common with, those peoples who are there for us through thick and thin.   The ones we fight with (salty) and have fun with (sweet) and make memories with. Our family is the one we make "our story" with . . . they are the ones who know us best.

Remember that one (or maybe more than one) vacation that went terribly wrong.  You know the one, where the rear axle on your family car kept coming off as you made your way home from Grandma's house and your dad kept stopping every couple of miles to fix it.  But in the end we had to get a hotel room and didn't go to church that Sunday because dad was fixing the axel?  We ate doughnuts for breakfast and read Good Housekeeping!  See, if you have a memory like that you probably have a family that has many memories.  Keep those memories and write them down.

Great book!  And a great gift, too!  I'm thinking that this will make a 

great grandparents day gift...or a great gift for that baby shower!

A week of favorite summer reads!

Book Description:  While former Marine lieutenant Robin Duncan is no stranger to corruption or conspiracy, she has always been able to tell the good guys from the bad, and the Congo jungle at first seems no different. But as her security team tries to track down an insurgent killer, Robin has to face a man who broke her trust years ago, and she discovers the gray areas extend farther in this jungle wilderness than she anticipated.

A ruthless global conspiracy begins to surface, run by powerful men who can’t afford to leave any witnesses. Her life at stake, Robin doesn’t know who to trust and wonders how she can help protect innocent people. Why is God silent amid all the pain and injustice? And how do these people of faith continue to rejoice in their suffering?

My Thoughts:  Jeanette Windle first caught my "reading attention"  when I read Betrayed.

The reader can tell that Jeanette writes with a first hand experience of the fiction world she is telling about.

One will always learn when reading, even from fiction.  

I enjoy Jeanette's writing style.  It's fast paced and to the point.  Description of the area are always a plus.  And the Congo...wow!  Not sure it's a place I want to visit.

Deception, greed and trying to fight for the Right!    

This faith filled read is about trust and, well, running form the bad guys. 

I like political intrigue and some but not overly romantic reads.  This book fits the bill!

A week of favorite summer reads!

About the Book:  The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.

In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else’s.

My Thoughts:  I "found" Amanda when I read A Plain Death. When book 2, A Plain Scandal came out, I grabbed it up.  Amanda flower writes about an English young woman, Chloe, and her close relationship to two Amish young people-a brother, Timothy, and sister, Becky.

In fact, when Becky decides to leave her Amish roots (in book 1), she comes to Chloe almost begging to be her roommate.  Chloe takes her in and is ever so glad because Becky is one fab cook!  And Timothy is not so bad either!  A great carpenter and easy on the eyes.

This read, A Plain Scandal, has it all.  With a combination of humor, faith, romance and mystery this is one fantastic read!  

This fiction read is based on real life accounts of hair cutting of the Amish women and beard cutting of the Amish men.  If you know the Amish hair cutting is a sin.  Something that just isn't done!  But there seems to be two more mysteries going on, too.  A murder and the house that Chloe and Becky reside in.  Just when I thought I knew whodunit, another twist was added.  

This is a most serious mystery but Amanda is able to put great humor and wit into her writing.  

I would suggest that one read A Plain Death first simply because there is quite a bit about the Amish and the family that is mentioned in book 2.

Even though I really liked book 1, book 2 is absolutely great!  

A week of favorite summer reads!

Book Description:  They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans—they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can't walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt's career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he's a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth—and the faith to keep going—will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

My Thoughts: Richard Mabry, M.D. is a brand new author for me.  So, I wasn't sure what to expect as I began reading this novel.  One word comes to mind  . . . Thrilling!  As I began this read I was captivated from page 1.  

So, much action takes place in the first few pages that I literally had to close the book and take a deep breath to "catch my thoughts."  The action, the mystery of.it.all and just in the first few pages!

Dr. Matt Newman is a great doctor who decides to leave drain of private practice and begin teaching medicine with the intent of marriage to the lady he is now dating. But on his last call at the hospital he is kidnapped.  But why is he kidnapped? He's being framed for murder!  Every time I thought I had the mystery solved another twist in the mystery.

Matt is kidnapped and can't think of anyway to get free from his captors but the one way he comes up with lands him in ER.  This is where Sandra enters.  

Sandra is a feisty lawyer who runs on the energy of always catching the "bad" guy.  At first, it seems that she and Matt are going to be at odds with each other but then understanding takes place.  Matt's girlfriend, the one he thinks he wants to marry is one of those girls who always looks out for number one.  Liking her is like wanting to cuddle up with a python.

The "why" of Matt's kidnapping is quite the suspenseful read.  All of the characters in this read are well developed and when the reader finds herself not liking one character and rooting for the other means that the author is one great writer!

This is one unusual stress test and one that not only keeps Matt and Sandra on their toes but will keep the reader quickly turning the pages of this fast paced read.

Loved this faith filled, thrilling read!  

Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold {Harriet Beamer Series} by Joyce Magnin

Book Description:  After a whirlwind cross-country move, Harriet and her donut-loving basset hound, Humphrey, have settled into a new life in Grass Valley, California. When Harriet learns that she's going to be a grandma for the first time and get a new suite with room for her salt-and-pepper shaker collection, she can't wait for her best friend, Martha, to come visit so she can share her good news. But adventure is never far away when Harriet is around. After listening to the pleas of a desperate teen whose daddy needs money right away---and happens to have a gold mine to lease---Harriet falls hook, line, and sinker into the venture. Although she's nervous about her investment, Harriet chooses to keep it a secret from her son, Henry, and his wife. She can only imagine what she'll do if this turns out to be her ticket to a golden windfall. When suspicions arise, though, it becomes clear that Harriet may never see an ounce of gold. But will she continue to trust and risk losing everything? The fate of the young teen and a family emergency show Harriet where her true treasure lies.

My Thoughts:  I absolutely Loved the first book in the Harriet Beamer Series, Harriet Beamer Rides the Bus!

So, I waited and snatched up this book, Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold, as soon as it was available, because I knew that I would not be disappointed. 

Oh!My!  Joyce Magnin writes with a humorous flair that had me laughing out loud!  Harriet Beamer is a force to be reckoned with, for sure!

Harriet has a heart as big as Texas so when a "desperate" teen talks Harriet into leasing a gold mine her daddy has for lease....well, Harriet secretly makes her investment. Harriet just knows that this will be the best investment for her and help others too.  

Then there's Harriet's unbelievable salt and pepper shaker collection.  She collects the most unique salt and pepper shakers.  I think her collection shows her love for people who are most unusual.  She sees the heart.

Then the fun begins!  

Never try to cross a woman, especially an older woman who is quite determined.  Just when things begin to go sour, Harriet (and the teen) learn where "real gold" lies.

This read was beyond my expectations!  Loved, loved it!

*This book was provided for review by BookSneeze*

GO HERE to visit Joyce Magnin's blog!

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 6, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031033358X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310333586