ABDUCTED by Janice Cantore

Book Description:  After solving the mayor’s murder and exposing corruption among the top brass in Las Playas, Carly Edwards is happy to be back on patrol with her partner, Joe, putting bad guys behind bars. For once, everything in life seems to be going right.

But then everything starts going wrong. Slow to recover from an injury, her ex-husband, Nick, begins pulling away just as they were starting to get close again. Meanwhile, when Joe’s wife lands in the hospital with a mysterious illness, their baby is kidnapped. As Carly chases down every lead in a desperate search to find the baby, her newfound faith is pushed to its limits.

My Review:  I enjoy "meeting" new authors.  Janice Cantore is a new author to me and I will be looking for more of her books!

In ABDUCTED we meet Carly Edwards.  Now Carly is trying to get her life on the right track after accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  But life pieces aren't as easy to put back together as puzzle pieces. 

Carly is a pretty and good policewoman to boot!  But her life pieces haven't included the "right" pieces.  So, when her ex husband comes back into her life after she solves the mayor's murder and exposes the corruption in the top offices, Carly relies on her new found faith in Jesus to get her through.

Carly wants to get back with her ex but there seems to be barrier between them, even though their dates have been great.

Then her partner, Joe, questions her about her ex.  She believes they are both different now since becoming Christians but what holds her ex, Joe, back?

The reader is taken on quite a journey with Carly as she desperately holds onto her faith in God, tries to work through issues with her ex  and goes on a manhunt to find her partner's missing baby.

This is quite a suspense novel!  A lot of life issues and spiritual issues are presented in this read!

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale Publishing*

Meet the Author:

A retired Long Beach California police officer of 22 years (16 in uniform and 6 as a non-career officer), Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, patrol, administration, juvenile investigations and training. During the course of her career in uniform Janice found that faith was indispensable to every aspect of the job and published articles on faith at work, one for a quarterly newspaper called "Cop and Christ", and another for the monthly magazine "Today's Christian Woman".

With retirement Janice began to write longer pieces and several novels were born. She has a two book suspense series in print she calls Brinna's Heart Series, The Kevlar Heart and A Heart of Justice (Oaktara Publishing). Janice is excited and honored to now be a part of the Tyndale Publishing House family. Accused, the first installment in her new suspense offering, The Pacific Coast Justice Series, is set to be released February 1, 2012 and will kick off a brand new chapter in her writing career. In addition to suspense and action, her books feature strong female leads. Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep you engrossed and leave you inspired.

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 20, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414358482
• ISBN-13: 978-1414358482

Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll by Ace Collins

Book Description:  Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll is a mystery as old as the Christian church wrapped in a modern-day thriller. Though an unwilling hero, Professor Jefferson Burke's intellectual curiosity pits him against the powerful Bruno Krueger in a race to find a 2000-year-old scroll that calls into question the divinity of Christ and could shake the foundation of Christian faith, upsetting the balance of power in the modern world. Their deadly quest spans the globe, involving officials from the Vatican, CIA and FBI agents, British royalty, a Hollywood actress, and modern terrorists. This classic battle of good vs. evil will hook believers and doubters alike. The uncertainties raised by the very existence of the elusive scroll will have every reader questioning the basis of their faith and wondering what would happen if certain fundamental truths suddenly were proven untrue. Artfully and thoughtfully told, this is the kind of action-packed adventure story that will keep loyal Ace Collins readers---and increasing legions of new fans---coming back for more.

My Review:  I love a good action/suspense novel!  And I was surprised by the action, adventure and pure suspense in Ace Collins book, The Secret of the Lost Scroll!  

WOW!  When a book begins with "Baltore the priest had no idea where they had come from.  Like ghosts, they seemed to appear out of thin air, but he was well aware that his plight was his own making." (p. 11)  then the reader knows this is going to be a one.of.those.fantastically.great reads! 

Dr. Jefferson Burke is approached by Anthony Columbo to help him find the lost scrolls.  Actually this first scene of the book where Columbo talks with Burke reminded me of the beginning of Indiana Jones . . . college history professor talked into helping find an ancient artifact for the "good of humanity."  But there's oh-so-much-more!  

I love National Treasure, so again there's a bit of that in Burke too!  Burke's life is turned upside.down! as he races to find the first clue!  

This is an incredible read with Cho and Burke having some serious soul searching as they think what would happen if they find that Joseph is the true father of Jesus! Because if one finds the truth then one has the obligation to tell the world the truth, right?  God has a way of bringing the truth to light for those who search for righteousness!  Of course, there's always a "bad guy", Krueger, the evil one who would love nothing more than spreading lies and untruths!

 I loved it and truthfully had a hard time putting this book down!  I'll be looking for more books by Ace Collins.

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan*

About the Author:

Ace Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog's Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, He continues to publish several new titles each year, including a series of novels, the first of which is Farraday Road. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Crockpot Hot Dogs

Pinterest has the neatest ideas and since it's too hot to cook I grabbed my trusty crockpot and placed two packages in the crockpot.  No boiling, practically no mess and the hot dogs taste like they've been rotated on a grill!  

 Directions:

Unwrap all the hot dogs and throw the wrappers in a plastic bag.

Just dump them all in, unless you're cooking 60 (the number that will fit in a crockpot) If you're cooking quite a few then stand them all up. ** There's no need to add water.  The hotdogs will release moisture all on their own.

Cover, and cook on low for 4 hours, or on high for about 2 hours--check to make sure the ones in the middle are fully hot before serving. Serve with tongs into buns and top with desired condiments.

The edges of some of the hotdogs may get crispy...not a bad bar-b-que!

A nice way to beat the heat!  

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witmeyer

Book Description:  No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

My Review: Two hard heads and two stubborn wills in Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witmeyer brings about a fun, light read perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach read!

Can dreams from the past truly become plans for the present?  Meredith or otherwise knows as Meri is confronted by a bully who throws her lunch pail onto Archer land.  Archer land!  No one goes on Archer land and lives to tell about it!  But Meri goes to rescue her lunch pail more afraid of her mother's wrath at not returning with said lunch pail.

She is confronted by Travis Archer on Archer land but he seems kind and gently frees her leg from a steel trap. 

A few years go by ... and then Meredith learns of a plot to harm the Archer's and their land.  She takes off to warn them and to pay back that long ago debt when Travis rescued her.

She warns the brothers but is kicked in the head by mule and is seriously harmed.  The brothers decide to place her in Travis' bedroom, in his bed.  When Meredith awakens she is in a strange room but Travis is there.  She feels safe.  In her stupor she tells him that she dreams of him and he is her hero.  Travis is taken aback!  But feelings begin to slowly stir in his hardened heart.

A sweet, funny, light read about two young people who long for love but seem to fight it every step of the way!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

Meet the Author:

Two-time RITA® Finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion, CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 1 edition (June 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209655
• ISBN-13: 978-0764209659

Clash of the Titles {COTT}

Hostess: Gail Pallotta

Summer’s the perfect time to spend a day by the shore, an afternoon on a lake or several hours in a hammock with a good book. The June releases featured are brand new and offer a great variety in selection. They include a boy’s book, contemporary and historical romance, western mystery, and romantic suspense. The presses are small and traditional. Find your favorite summer reading spot to enjoy these books. Then use the voting box below to let us know which you’re likely to read first.  

Three boys have their hands full with a raging river, a crusty prospector, his gold mine, a gang of claim-jumping outlaw bikers, and a desperate river escape on their makeshift wooden raft. Think that’s the worst that could happen…well it isn’t.

Jobless and down to her last dime, Ellie Moore disguises herself as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, to land a position with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. In her wildest dreams, she never imagined having to add a second character to her repertoire in the form of Lavinia's dazzling niece, Jessie . . . or considered the problem of losing her heart to Steven Pierce, who has no idea that the woman he’s falling in love with doesn’t exist.

With her father’s death, Anna Newfield loses everything—her home, her inheritance, and her future; she had nothing left but her faith. Major Edmond Grenville longs to rescue her, but loving her means going against his family’s rigid control and perhaps losing his entire future.

Amid murder, mystery and mayhem, Deputy Chief Ryan Fitzgerald and Free-lance journalist Meghan Henry must set aside their personal hurts in order to work together, risking their lives to solve a murder, catch a killer and rescue a baby before it’s too late. And in the process discover that the biggest, most rewarding risk of all is love. 

Filipa Beltran is tired of living out her parents' dreams, while Nathan Cross would give anything to make his late father proud. When a childhood friendship blossoms into romance, can this couple find common ground as they search for contentment in their God-given gifts?

Ever.So.True

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Dessert Recipe Book Giveaway!

Instead of posting a recipe I'm 

GIVING AWAY!

To celebrate Beverly Lewis' upcoming book, The Bridesmaid, which releases September 11, 2012, I am giving away one Amish Dessert Cookbook Sampler with WONDERFUL GUT tried and true Amish recipes! 

How to Enter:

*Simply leave a comment with your email address.

*1 extra entry~ Become a follower of this blog =)

Giveaway Ends August 10!

Winner will be posted on August 11!