COTT {Clash of the Titles} COTT Presents Sedona Sunset

Welcome, readers! As summer moves into full swing and fireworks can be heard ringing through the skies, we’re still cranking out a steady stream of must-read books! Today we are taking a closer look at one of our recent competitors, Sedona Sunset by TanyaStowe. 

About the BookAfter an auto accident leaves her crippled and takes her mother’s life, Lara Fallon completes her mother’s dream of opening a school and offering scholarships to promising young artists. Although Lara is struggling with survivor’s guilt, she is thrilled to fulfill one more of her mother’s dreams when she hires Alexander Summers, world-renown Flamenco player and professor of art, to perform at the grand opening of The Fallon School of Art. 

But Alex has a secret. He investigates art theft for UNESCO, and when pieces of Chaco pottery suddenly appear on the black market, Alex is certain The Fallon School of Art is a cover for this illegal operation. He’s determined to uncover the link...even if it means romantically pursuing the lovely Lara Fallon. 

Alex’s investigation leads him on collision course with Lara’s inner struggle to cope with her mother’s death and her own wavering faith in God. Now, Lara’s school and her heart are in danger. But is her life as well?

Woo! Art! Flamenco! Scandal! What's not to love??

Readers’ Comments

A great story. Wonderful characters. A joy to read.
Lara is a woman coming into her own potential and personal power. She is encouraged to create a new life for herself by a mysterious man hoping to be there when she does. Alex is just as intriguing as Lara with his secrets and double life. The characters were strong and real, both individually and together. I was impressed with how Stowe beautifully handled the budding relationship with passion, but without the need for graphic sex. The Sedona, AZ area has always had a special mystique and it is a perfect location for this tale. Add in a well-thought out mystery and you have one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
I was given this book in return for an honest review and I am very happy to give it high marks. It's a truly well-written story that I can recommend highly. This book makes it to my “save and reread” list. 
~Amazon reviewer K. Frost


I loved the characters. Lara is left to finish what her mom started a school for the gifted and being able to offer scholarships to the young artist. Lara hires Alex Summers to help bring in the donations needed for the school. But there is something shady going on at the school and Lara is determined to see what is going on. She is wondering what happened to the 3 missing checks? Who all is involved ? Loved the story and has a romance but done in good taste which Tanya always does. Look forward to what is next. You like mystery with some romance you will want to read this book by Tanya Stowe. 
~Amazon reviewer D. L. Montgomery

Ready to dive in? Purchase Sedona Sunset here:

Pelican
Amazon
B&N

About the author:

Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction writer with an unexpected edge. This Pelican Book Group author fills her romances with the unusual…gifts of the spirit in Tender Touch and spiritual warfare in Haunted Hearts. In Never Ending Night she explores the horrors of a Civil War battle and unravels a mystery. Tender Trust treks to the Old West. Leap of Faith brushes wings with an angel and White Christmas wraps romance in the traditions of a small town holiday. No matter where Tanya goes…on a journey through the past or contemporary adventures in new lands…be prepared for the extraordinary.

Www.TanyaStowe.com

Fun Friday.....

In Good Company by Jen Turano

Book Description:  After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position. 

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

My Thoughts:  I've had the privilege of reading all of Jen Turano's books.  I just love the covers on her books. And this is a fantastic cover of In Good Company.  Don't get stuck on the beautiful cover though  because once the cover is turned and one begins reading, the story is better than the cover.  Love this fun story line.

We find Millie Longfellow who has never known a home since she is an orphan. This creates quite a disadvantage for Millie.  She wants to be a fun loving, playful nanny but that's not what parents want in nanny so Millie keeps losing positions.  

And then, Everett Mulberry unexpectedly becomes guardian to three children.  These three children scare off every nanny, leaving Everett in a quandary.

At their wits end, the employment agency comes up with one solution....Millie and Everett must work together.  This is where the fun and the story really begins.

And there's a mystery involved in this romance...the suspicious death of the children's parents.  Everett becomes involved in his investigation while Millie falls in love with the children.

But Everett as well as Millie learn some life lessons about themselves in this fantabulous read!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 7, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764212761
• ISBN-13: 978-0764212765

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

This Pineapple Cooler is delicious on a hot summer day!

Pineapple Cooler

Ingredients

• 2 cups chunked pineapple
• 2-½ cups ice
• ½ cup half & half
• ¼ cup confectioners sugar
• Additional pineapple chunks for garnish (opt)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in blender & blend on high speed for at least 90-120 seconds or until all ice is crushed & mixture is like a slushie. 
2. Garnish with additional pineapple chunk if desired
3. Enjoy immediately.

COTT {Clash of the Titles} Diamonds or Donuts

Spotlight on: Diamonds or Donuts by Lucie Ulrich

by: Michelle Massaro

Good morning! I'm very excited to have Lucie Ulrich with us here today to tell us about her new release, Diamonds or Donuts. First, isn't this such a fun cover? Wow!

Blurb:
Sarah Alexander’s marriage to millionaire Logan Montgomery is put on hold when Logan is offered the opportunity to go on an extended archeological dig in Egypt. Though not happy with his decision, Sarah supports her fiancé, despite the fact she’s already given up her apartment and teaching position.

When Sarah’s best friend, Pippa, suggests Sarah move to Sunset Cove, she figures a new town, new job, and new friends are just what she needs to help her through the separation. If she’d known one of those friends would turn out to be kind-hearted, good-looking, well-built, Officer Kevin Jenkins, she might have figured a little harder. 

Though Sarah goes out of her way to keep her relationship with Kevin on a friends-only basis, it’s clear their feelings for one another are teetering toward something more. Now Sarah must make the most important decision of her life. Will she choose the man who can shower her with diamonds or the one who isn’t able to offer much more than free donuts?

***

This sounds like a WHOLE lot of fun! (And really makes me want a donut.) Want a sneak peek? Lucie was kind enough to share an excerpt with us today, too.

Short Excerpt: 

Sarah changed into her pajamas, pulled out the sofa bed, and crawled under the sheets. Sleep, however, didn’t come easily. She wanted to talk to Logan—needed to talk to him, but it wasn’t possible. 

When sleep finally came, it was accompanied by dreams of missed phone calls, arguments, and misunderstandings. There might even have been a fight between Logan and Kevin, but it was all too blurry to remember. She awoke with a headache and heartache. 

Pippa’s bedroom door opened and she appeared makeup applied, dressed and ready for church. She stopped short at the side of the couch. “Yikes! Who did you wrestle with last night?” 

“Crazy dreams.” Sarah pushed herself to a seated position and ran a hand through the tangles in her hair. 

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Pippa placed a hand on Sarah’s arm. “What’s going on?” 

Tears clouded Sarah’s vision. “Guess I’m having a harder time dealing with Logan’s absence than I thought I would.” She blew out a breath. “I should be planning my wedding, not moving into a new apartment. Alone.” 

“It’s barely been a month since he broke the news. Your reaction is normal. I’m sure it’ll get better with time.” 

“He got mad at me yesterday.” 

“Who? Logan?” 

His harsh tone replayed in Sarah’s head. She nodded. “He was upset that I didn’t have dinner with his folks, and we parted on less than loving terms.” 

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. You seemed to be having such a good time with Kevin that I never suspected anything.” 

Her headache intensified. “Yeah, that’s another thing. I’m starting to feel guilty about spending time with Kevin. He’s a great guy and I like him a lot, but I’m afraid I might be giving him the wrong idea.” 

Pippa’s eyes widened. “Like how? I know better than to think you’ve been flirting with him.” 

“No, nothing like that.” Sarah thought back to last night and the other times they’d been together. Had she been flirting? Had he? “It’s just that I really like him. We’re so comfortable together, I forget he’s a gorgeous, well-built guy and I’m an engaged woman.

***

Ruh-roh Methinks someone's in trouble! The kind that's oh-so-fun to watch unfold. ;-)

A few questions for Lucie:

1. Diamonds or Donuts is an interesting title. How did you come up with it? 

My first two novels delve deeply into the world of hurting people. Physical and emotional scars, feuding brothers, and long-kept family secrets barely scratch the surface. Before tackling another such story, I felt the need to try my hand at something more lighthearted. I decided to play around with the idea of a girl who has to make a choice between two men—one rich, the other not. When I decided to make “the other man” a policeman, the title came very quickly. I love being able to begin a story with the title already decided. 

2. Is there a message or moral to your story? 

Absolutely! Even though Diamonds or Donuts is a light read, there is substance to the story. I don’t like flighty characters—at least not lead characters, and I didn’t want that to be the case with Sarah. I chose to show her struggle between remaining faithful to her fiancé, while battling her emerging feelings for another man. One reviewer spoke about Sarah’s moral compass being right where it should be, which is exactly what I was going for. When we think we know what’s best for us, God often has different plans. 

3. Share a bit about your writing process. 

I don’t outline, so I take things as they come. I do have notes and ideas, and I usually know how my books will begin and how they will end. For me, the best part is watching the characters evolve, and allowing them to take me along for the ride. I’m always thrilled when I see something one way in my head, but my characters beg to disagree. Needless to say, the characters win the majority of the time.  

4. If you had to do it again, would you change anything in your book? 

There are a number of things I would change in books one and two, but I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change a thing in Diamonds or Donuts. It was a blast to write. I love all the characters, the setting, and especially the ending. 

Those are the best! :) Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Lucie. Readers, you can get a copy of the book at the following links:

Buy Links: 
Amazon 
Amazon UK 
BN 
KOBO 

Smashwords

Video teaser by Videos By O:

  

About the Author:

Lucie Ulrich took her time becoming a writer. Not much of a reader as a child, writing was of no interest to her--until she joined a church drama team. The desire to write a skit, and not simply act out someone else's was so strong, that once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. That first skit led to her becoming the drama team director, then eventually, the performing arts director at a small Christian school. 

Lucie's first novel was penned under a tree in a field in Holland. Though her first, second, and third attempts never saw the light of day, parts of each of them became the foundation for "Broken Vessels," her first published work. No longer involved with the performing arts, Lucie enjoys going on photo shoots with her husband, and taking long (or short) road trips. She hopes to find inspiration as she and her husband explore the four corners of the United States.

Social Media:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/inspywriter 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LucieUlrich 
Website: http://lucieulrich.com/

**Come visit us next week for our next Clash featuring May releases, hosted by Lisa Lickel!**

Among the Fair Magnolias: Four Southern Love Stories by Tamera Alexander, Dorothy Love, Shelley Gray, Elizabeth Musser

Book Description:  In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women--destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war--face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.  

  

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander

Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray

When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love

Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser

Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

My Thoughts:  Four wonderful short stories by four great authors in one book.  

I love novellas.  Because sometimes I just want to read a short story.  This is a great book for that very occasion when I want to read by my favorite authors but just don't have the time to read a novel.

To Mend A Dream by Tamera Alexander is a funny story.  I loved how Savannah Darby wanted to visit her old home so when Aidan Bedforsd seeks a decorator, Savannah gets the job.  Savannah finds herself in somewhat of jam when she runs out of time but still needs to find the box her dad hid during the war.  

Then Shelley Gray pens An Outlaw's Heart about Russell Stark the renegade returns home to find that his mother is quite ill but that the woman he left behind is o.so.beautiful but he is running (literally) out of time.  A sweet read.

In A Heart So True Dorothy Love tells of Abby who loves another even though sh is suppose to marry a distant cousin (ugh!).  But the a horrible incident forces Abby to chose.  An interesting story.

Then in the last novella, Elizabeth Musser writes about Emily in Love Beyond Limits.  This was a great read about secrets and romance.  And which secrets need to be kept and which should be told. 

A great asset to any reader's summer TBR pile!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 14, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401690734
• ISBN-13: 978-1401690731

Lazarus Awakening Study Guide: Finding Your Place in the Heart of God by Joanna Weaver

Book Description:  Do you feel trapped in a tomb of regret, doubt, or fear? 

Are you tripped up by patterns and behaviors you need to leave behind?

Just as Jesus called Lazarus from darkness, He is calling you to come out of the false beliefs and habits that keep you from receiving His unconditional love. He is calling you to know deep in your spirit that God not only loves the world—He loves you.

It’s time to “come forth!”

This eight-session study guide is designed for use with Joanna Weaver’s book Lazarus Awakening and the separately available DVD curriculum set, filmed on location in the Holy Land. Join Joanna as she draws you deeper into the historical and spiritual truths we learn from the story of Lazarus: a friend called out from death into the life-giving arms of Jesus.

 ·         Designed for both individuals and groups.

·         Also available: companion DVDs, filmed in the Holy Land and featuring eight 15- to 18-minute sessions. 

My Thoughts:  I have heard wonderful things about Joanna Weaver.  A friend said, "You've just gotta get Lazarus Awakening.  It will change your life."  

So, when I had the chance I chose this Bible study.  

It's an eight session or if you do a weekly study it's an eight week study.  I chose to do it as an eight week study.

This study is designed for individuals or small groups.  And there is a companion DVD that goes along with the book.

Lazarus Come Forth IS an amazing sentence.  A sentence that brings life.  But more than that it's getting rid of grave clothes...things that bring death in our life and it's also about trusting more fully in God.

It's kind.of.funny that most ministers, people focus on Mary and Martha, Lazarus' sisters, but Lazarus played quite an important role in the Bible, too. What did he do?  He died.  And was brought back to life by Jesus' words.  

Jesus came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly.  But we must hear His voice and get rid of the grave clothes.

This is such an interesting study.  And it does bring life!

*This book was provided by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

• Series: Bethany Trilogy (Quality)
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (February 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030773059X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307730596