A Little Bit of Sunlight

Hi all real life has gotten in the way (ok, so it was work) and I’ve been away from home for a few days - I’m back, but haven’t had time to actually write up reviews about this weeks books.

Check back here Monday for reviews and hopefully I’ll be back on a good blogging schedule!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle Sutton has lived in Arizona and since 1991 and has two sons and a husband of 18 years. She began writing fiction in August 2003 when God inspired her to write a novel with realistic characters that would glorify Him. In 2004 she joined ACFW - American Christian Fiction Writers. In 2006 Michelle ran for Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Operating board and ACFW members elected her to serve a two year term. She sold her first manuscript Then Sings My Soul (now re-titled It’s Not About Me) to Sheaf House and her debut novel was released in Sept. 2008. The second book in the Second Glances series - It’s Not About Him - will be released the following fall (Sept. 2009.)

Last, Michelle is Editor in Chief of the new Christian Fiction Online Magazine. The debut issue released in July 2008. The magazine is sponsored by the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Annie has it all. She’s attractive, graduated with honors, was accepted at the college of her choice, has supportive parents, good friends, and a steady boyfriend who loves her. One night an unexpected visitor appears and Annie’s safe world is destroyed by a brutal attack. As she tries to pick up the pieces of her broken life, she is torn between two brothers, both of whom claim to love her. She is attracted to both, but which one does she love? How can she choose when her decision may cause a permanent rift between them? And more important, will she give her heart to the One who will sustain her even when human love fails.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first Chapter of It’s Not About Me, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Moser is the author of three inspirational humor books and eighteen novels, including Solemnly Swear, Time Lottery, a Christy Award winner, and her latest historical, Washington’s Lady.

Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters,
symphonies, and choirs. She gives Said So Sister Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included.

Find out more at Nancy Moser.com and Sister Circles.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

Five people looking for a reason to keep living are about to find it in the last place they expect… In my usual “big cast” style comes a story of what happens when one man puts his faith on the line and holds up a John 3:16 sign at a sporting event. Roman Paulson’s life revolves around his son, Billy, a University of Nebraska football hero with a promising life ahead of him. But when Billy’s coach encroaches on Roman’s relationship with his son, Roman fears he’ll lose Billy forever. Roman isn’t the only one whose world turns upside down. He’s one of five unsuspecting people whose lives intersect on a bright fall day.

If you would like to read the first chapter of John 3:16, go HERE

1) Yes, I am alive.
2) Yes I’ve been very busy.
3) Yes, I have conference stories to type up and post here but 2) has been in the way.
4) Yes, I have been reading and have reviews to post but 2)
5) Yes, I am also behind on reading (I was sick Sunday and Monday….ergh, but I feel better now)

Please pray for one of my critique partners - Laura - she’s gotten news of the dreaded “C” and will be going through surgery this week to try to get rid of it.

I will try to actually post something tomorrow!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After Tamara Leigh earned a Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology, she and her husband decided to start a family, with plans for Tamara to continue in her career once she became a mother.

When the blessing of children proved elusive, Tamara became convicted to find a way to work out of her home in order to raise the children she and her husband longed to have. She turned to writing, at which she had only ever dreamed of being successful, and began attending church. Shortly thereafter, her agent called with news of Bantam Books’ offer of a four-book contract. That same day, Tamara’s pregnancy was confirmed. Within the next year, she gave up her speech pathology career, committed her life to Christ, her first child was born, and her first historical romance novel was released.

As Tamara continued to write for the secular market, publishing three more novels with HarperCollins and Dorchester, she infused her growing Christian beliefs into her writing. But it was not enough, and though her novels earned awards and were national bestsellers, she knew her stories were lacking. After struggling with the certainty that her writing was not honoring God as it should, she made the decision to write books that not only reveal Christianity to non-believers, but serve as an inspiration for those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. Her inspirational romances are peopled with characters in varying stages of Christian faith, from mature believers to new believers to non-believers on the threshold of awakening.

Tamara Leigh enjoys time with her family, volunteer work, faux painting, and reading. She lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, David, and two sons, Skyler and Maxen.

Two of her latest books are Splitting Harriet and Perfecting Kate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

All she wants is a job. All she needs is religion. How hard can it be?

Maizy Grace Stewart dreams of a career as an investigative journalist, but her last job ended in disaster when her compassion cost her employer a juicy headline. A part-time gig at a Nashville newspaper might be her big break.

A second job at Steeple Side Christian Resources could help pay the bills, but Steeple Side only hires committed Christians. Maizy is sure she can fake it with her Five-Step Program to Authentic Christian Faith–a plan of action that includes changing her first name to Grace, buying Jesus-themed accessories, and learning “Christian Speak.†If only Jack Prentiss, Steeple Side’s managing editor and two-day-stubbled, blue-jean-wearing British hottie wasn’t determined to prove her a fraud.

When Maizy’s boss at the newspaper decides that she should investigate–and expose–any skeletons in Steeple Side’s closet, she must decide whether to deliver the dirt and secure her career or lean on her newfound faith, change the direction of her life, and pray that her Steeple Side colleagues–and Jack–will show her grace.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Faking Grace, go HERE

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I have not had a chance to read this novel yet! There was the sad little thing of…err…wait did I say Sad? Little? Are you kidding me? I was at the ACFW conference!!!! LOL So I am behind on my reading… majorly behind.

Suffice it to say, I know that a lot of people are raving about this book, so I bet its going to be a blast to read.

I will update with a review when I can.

If you know me, then you know that I love English accents.

If you really know me, then you know that I think Colin Firth is just gorgeous.

So I added Then She Found Me to my Netflix account.

About the movie: Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick star in this comedic tale about a schoolteacher in the thick of a midlife crisis involving a messy divorce, the death of her adoptive mother and a reunion with her eccentric birth mother. As if that weren’t enough to juggle, things grow even more complicated when she begins dating a man who turns out to be the father of one of her students.

I had heard nothing about this movie prior to adding it to my queue, so did not know what to expect. I only now learned that Hunt was the director of the movie. While at times the movie seemed to lose its purpose, it was a warm and funny movie about a middle-aged woman trying to have a child of her own.

Things to know - basically this movie is rated R because of its use of the F word. If they had cut that word out it would have been PG-13. I think its used about half a dozen times - and I believe several of those times it was actually used according to its meaning. The MPAA rating says its rated R because of language and sexual content - but there is no nudity and what sexual content there was, was nothing compared to some PG-13 movies I’ve seen (Titanic being one) or what’s on primetime tv.

My main complaint about the morality of the movie is that Hunt’s character starts dating Firth’s character before she is divorced…although her husband left her, it still leads to some moral questions when watching the movie.

I did get a little tired of Midler’s character, but it was interesting to see her character grow and mature as she was trying to get to know her biological daughter.

The end of the movie made me cry, but I can’t tell you what the end is without spoiling the story. Let’s just say that the title has many, many meanings to it.

For those who don’t know, I live in East Texas, so I had to weather a big storm this weekend.

I knew going into it I would lose power - I always lose power in a decent size storm. Usually its only for a couple of hours, but I knew this one would be big.

But I didn’t think it would be hitting me until after lunch on Saturday - so I thought I had plenty of time to do laundry, dishes, etc.

No. At 9am (just about on the dot) my power went out. And stayed out until I got home Sunday night. (It had came on sometime while I was out and about).

I was only worried about the storm while it was happening. I wasn’t really concerned about the lack of electricity because, as I told my mom “at least I still have water.”

I count myself very blessed. There is at least one whole community that has been wiped off the face of the earth. The people are safe, but all of their belongings are gone.

There are other people who have no idea what will happen next. They don’t know if they still have homes.

Keep praying!