Chapter-a-Week - Hannah Alexander.com

Chapter-a-Week

October 10, 2008

A Taste of Murder

By Virginia Smith

A ruthless killer stalks a young woman during a Kentucky town's annual Bar-B-Q Festival. He's had a taste of murder … and is hungry for more.

When classical music lover Jasmine Delaney accepts a gig to play her violin in a small town, she arrives in time to join in the festivities of the local Bar-B-Q Festival. But when she checks into the hotel, Jazzy is in for a few unpleasant surprises--like a body in the bathtub covered in barbeque sauce. Not even the soothing strains of Mozart can still her jangled nerves--especially when it seems the killer is intent on making her the next victim.

"A Taste of Murder is a delightful read. ... Virginia Smith dishes up strong characters, a viable plot and a warm, effective conclusion. " -- Romantic Times (4-star Review)

Lying on Sunday

By Sharon Souza

For Abbie Torrington, betrayal and truth are about to collide.

After learning her husband died of a heart attack—in another woman's bed—Abbie is faced with a choice: She can give in to despair, or she can create a new life. Abbie does both … Then a shocking revelation threatens to undo everything she's accomplished. Will the power of the truth really set Abbie free, or is forgiveness too far out of reach?

"Sharon has created a character so vivid and real you'll feel as though you've stepped into Abbie Torrington's life. You don't want to miss this beautiful story of healing and grace." --- Virginia Smith, author of Stuck in the Middle.

"Lying on Sunday is delightful and poignant, witty and moving . . . Bravo!" --- Nancy Moser, award-winning author of Washington's Lady and Just Jane.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles. Go to Chapter-a-Week Chat where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

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"When writers die they become books, which is, after all, not too bad an incarnation." --Jorge Luis Borges

September 19, 2008

The Falcon and the Sparrow

By M.L. Tyndall

"Ms. Tyndall digs deep and pens characters so real that you'll hurt for them, cry, and cheer for them. " Vickie McDonough of TitleTrakk

"Expertly written, featuring loveable characters, an inspiring Christian message, and an ideal blend of action, romance, and history" CBA Marketplace

London of 1803 is as wild as Rome before the fall of the Empire as the rich seek to feed their insatiable hunger for pleasure while ignoring Napoleon's resurgence.

Into a dark London townhouse walks a timid woman set upon saving her brother's life, even if it requires her to commit treason upon the country of her birth.

Admiral Chase Randal is intrigued by the new governess in his home and cannot deny that his grieving heart is beginning to awaken as he watches Dominique Dawson with his son.

Dominique loves the admiral's son, but how can she understand an attraction for the admiral when he claims to deny the existence of God? For only through God does she find her courage to spy for France.

FAKING GRACE

(Multnomah, August 2008)

By Tamara Leigh

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 they only hire committed Christians. Maizy is sure she can fake it with her "Five-Step Program to Authentic Christian Faith." If only Jack Prentiss, Steeple Side's managing editor and British hottie, wasn't determined to prove her a fraud. When Maizy's newspaper boss pressures her to 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 colleagues—and Jack—will show her grace.

"Faking Grace is a delight! I loved this story with its fun, quirky characters, its outside-the-bubble look at Christian culture, and a storyline that kept me turning pages. I could hardly put it down!"—Marlo Schalesky, award-winning author of Beyond the Night

"A bad review is like baking a cake with all the best ingredients and having someone sit on it." --Danielle Steel

September 12, 2008

The Queen of Sleepy Eye

(B&H Fiction ~ Pure Enjoyment, September 2008)

by Patti Hill

It's the summer of 1975, and Amy Monteiro believes it's high time her mother, Francie, the deposed queen of the 1958 Sleepy Eye Corn Festival lays aside her tiara and grows up. After all, Amy is California bound to college. Studious and focused, Amy is twilight to Francie's midnight beauty. Francie, gregarious as she is impetuous, can't imagine her life without Amy. Determined to detour her daughter's independence, Francie packs her beloved Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe, Jubilee Edition, and together they hit the open road. The journey becomes one unforgettable summer. Values clash. Belief sparks. Myths fade. A mother and daughter come to age.

"More than a coming-of-age tale, it's about life and loss, love and forgiveness, and discovering there is more to the world than what we see. In every way, it's a keeper."

--Susan May Warren, author of Finding Stefanie

WHERE THE HEART LEADS

By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest release follows up her award-winning

Waiting for Summer's Return. Using her Mennonite heritage for inspiration, Sawyer pens a story of a young man learning that he must step into his own future—and his own faith. With a style comparable to Janette Oke's, Where the Heart Leads is historically rich, immersing readers into the life and times of days gone by, and yet so relevant today.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.
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Changing literary agents is like changing deck chairs on the Titanic. --Anon.

September 5, 2008

Bon Appétit

By Sandra Byrd

The sequel to the Christy Award finalist, Let Them Eat Cake

Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef. Just when life seems set, though, the recipe goes awry and her life with God undergoes a major transformation as well. Now, she's got choices to make from the array in life's patisserie display window and just like at a bakery, choosing among delicious options is never easy.

"I was caught up in Lexi's tug-of-war between her charmed life in France with its possibility of romance, and the pull to Seattle where her family and a very special man long for her return. What a perfect story…"
–Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Leaving November

Stepping Into Sunlight

Copyright Sharon Hinck, 2008

Bethany House Publishing

One tragic event.

One project of healing.

One step toward hope.

A story for every woman who has wondered where God is when life hurts.

Penny, a Navy chaplain's wife, witnesses a violent crime and struggles with post traumatic stress while her husband is on his first deployment. She designs a project to speed her recovery: doing one small, kind act for a different person each day. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and often used by God in surprising ways.

"Sharon Hinck's authentic and endearing heroine is so convincing that I found myself praying for her!"

—Patti Hill, author of The Queen of Sleepy Eye

"Told with humor and lump-in-the-throat insight, Stepping Into Sunlight is a compelling story of learning to live again after trauma."

—Deborah Raney, author of A Vow to Cherish

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.
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"The average writer thinks he isn't." --Anon.

Week of August 31, 2008

When the Soul Mends

book #3 in the best-selling "Sisters of the Quilt" series

by Cindy Woodsmall

. . . . When the Soul Mends, the brilliantly written third story in the "Sisters of the Quilt" series . . . Kathleen Y'Barbo, author of Beloved Castaway

Returning to the home she fled in disgrace, will Hannah find healing for the wounds of the past?

With her heart now in the hands of a new love as well as the two children left in their care, Hannah Lapp finds her Englischer life more than she'd ever hoped for and is actively pursuing a future with Martin and in medicine. When she receives a call from her sister Sarah, desperate for help, Hannah reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community that ostracized her. Once home, she must face her disapproving father and her former fiance, Paul Waddell, and it seems only Paul holds the key to her sister's mental health. When Hannah dares to speak her mind to him, she realizes that a lie separated them--one Paul knows nothing about. As they work together for Sarah's sake, her feelings for Paul become too strong to ignore.

Will Hannah choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she return to the Plain life–and perhaps to her first love?

Available September 16, 2008

www.cindywoodsmall.com

Preorder your copy through www.cbd.com or it will be available at your favorite bookstore starting September 16th.

Bayou Paradox

by Robin Caroll

Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense

It can cure you. Or it can kill you . . .

Tara LeBlanc and Sheriff Theriot lay it all on the line as they stand to lose everything as a killer gets ready to pounce in the untamed Louisiana bayou.

"Romantic suspense south of the Mason-Dixon line--the genre belongs to Robin Caroll"

Colleen Coble, author of Anathema and the Rock Harbor series

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

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"A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking."
Jerry Seinfeld (1954 - )

Week of August 24, 2008

Single Sashimi

Camy Tang

Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after … what, five years? Six?

Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: "I want you to work for me."

Not this time… If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald's—she'd choose french fries. She'd never work for him again. It would take an act of God.

Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister's startup, the offer to become Chief Operating Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable.

Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again … except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake's wealthy family with a coveted introduction to the most respected investor in the game industry. It's also a short job—only a few months—so Venus won't have to stand Drake's presence for very long.

But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma's determined matchmaking threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation …

HEALING PROMISES

Defenders of Hope, book two

by AMY WALLACE

Multnomah Fiction April, 2008

Faith Under Fire

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he's seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the beast of cancer. As he continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

"Once again, Amy weaves a suspenseful tale of intrigue that will leave you begging for more. Healing Promises is heart-wrenching and powerful. The chase to stop a killer kept me turning the pages, and Clint and Sara's story broke my heart and kept me cheering for them right to the last page. Whether you want an emotional story straight from the heart or a suspense full of twists and turns, Healing Promises delivers it all."

— Wanda Dyson, author of Intimidation and Why I Jumped

"In Healing Promises Amy Wallace does what so few writers are willing to do: She looks down the gun barrel of reality, and she does it without flinching. This novel was so real, it nearly breathes on its own. I highly recommend it."

—Brandt Dodson, author of the Colton Parker Mystery series and White Soul

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21

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"Teaching has ruined more American novelists than drink." --Gore Vidal

Week of August 17, 2008

The Black Cloister

By Melanie Dobson

Trapped inside an abusive cult, one woman is dying to break free.

After her mother commits suicide, Elise Friedman travels to Germany to search for answers and discovers her mother's dark secret inside the walls of a medieval abbey. When the man who destroyed her mother threatens to destroy her as well, Elise fights for a way out of the darkness before she is consumed.

"From the moment I opened up to the first page of The Black Cloister, I was hooked. This intense, well-crafted story about a modern day cult will have you wondering long into the night." --Linda Hall, Shadows in the Mirror

FOR PETE'S SAKE

#2 in the Piper Cove Chronicles

by Linda Windsor

Avon Inspire ISBN 978-0-06-117138-3 $12.95

Ellen isn't sure true love exists…until she landscapes the estate of the widower next door. Adrian has it all—at least on the surface. He's engaged to a beautiful woman and he'll soon have a stepmom for his troubled son, Pete. Yet from the moment Ellen rescues him on her Harley, his well-ordered world turns upside down. With his business under investigation for espionage and his son pushing for the tomboy-next-door as his new mom, Adrian's façade of happiness shatters. As Ellen's three best friends step in to help her navigate the uncharted waters of love, she must ask herself if she's ready to risk her heart and trust that God has brought this family into her life for a reason. [Available at local and online bookstores.]

BEST BOOK AWARD, Long and Short Reviews: "Linda Windsor will have you laughing, hurting and loving along the way...packed with chemistry, emotion, action, suspense, laughter, fun, faith and love. It is truly one of a kind. There was not a boring moment among the pages and I found myself completely drawn into the lives of these characters and the town of Piper Cove."

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"The story is the journey for truth. The plot is the road it takes to get there." --from EMOTIONAL STRUCTURE, by Peter Dunne

Week of August 10, 2008

Unbridled Dreams

by Stephanie Grace Whitson

"This new historical novel by a best-selling author entertains with lovable characters, humorous scenes and the wisdom of faith that Whitson and her characters share in her books." 4 stars from Romantic Times

Irmagard Friedrich dreams of becoming "Liberty Belle" in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. When her doting father orchestrates an audition, she begins to realize that dream. But the Wild West is more mud and manure than applause and acclaim, and Belle's willfulness could ruin everything. . .including her budding romance with Shep Sterling, the King of the Cowboys.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

"The 'what-you-know-about' which you will write is not what you know about fixing a car or sailing a boat. It is what-you-know-to-be-true-and-valuable-and-meaningful-and-important-and-worth-living-for. The 'what-you-know-about" which you must learn to write about is your own emotional truth. It is precisely your personal wisdom that supports and validates the story you tell. No plot, no matter how clever, is worth anything if it doesn't ultimately connect your truth to mine." --from EMOTIONAL STRUCTURE, by Peter Dunne

Week of August 3, 2008

Shadow of Colossus

~A Seven Wonders Novel~

by T.L. Higley

(B&H Publishing, August 2008)

In a world enslaved by money and power, one woman dares to be free. Will an explosive secret keep her in chains?

The place is the island of Rhodes; the time, 227 BC. In the ten years that Tessa of Delos has been in bondage as a hetaeira, a high-priced Greek courtesan to a wealthy politician, she has learned to abandon all desire for freedom and love. But when her owner meets a violent death, Tessa is given the chance to be free if she can hide the truth of his death and maintain a masquerade until escape is possible. Now Tessa must battle for her own freedom and for those she is beginning to love, as forces collide that will shatter the island's peace and bring even its mighty Colossus to its knees.

"Shadow of Colossus is a beautifully told tale, richly detailed, and set beneath one of the great wonders of the world. If you've ever dreamed of traveling in the ancient world, you'll want to be there as a fallen woman rises and the great Colossus falls!"

·Ginger Garrett, author of In the Shadow of Lions

Love Starts With Elle

by Rachel Hauck

The last of five lowcountry sisters to find love, Elle Garvey is willing to give up her home and career for the man she loves. But when life doesn't turn out like she planned, Elle discovers God has a plan for her much better than her own.

Romantic Times, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick.

"Hauck is quickly making a name for herself as an insightful, thoughtful author."

- Melissa Parcel

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

"The profession of book-writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business." --John Steinback, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1962