THE STORY JAR by Robin Lee Hatcher and Deborah Bedford A lovely novel of three women, their stories threaded together through the concept of The Story Jar… The jar itself is most unusual—not utilized in the ordinary way for canning or storing food, but as a collection point for memories. Some mementos in the jar—hair ribbons, a ring, a medallion--are sorrowful, others tender, some bittersweet. But all those memories eventually bring their owners to a place of hope and redemption in spite of circumstances that seemingly have no solution. Fresh, insightful, yet courageous in the face of difficult life issues, this collaboration by two talented writers first profiles a pastor’s wife with two young daughters who faces cancer just as her own mother did before her; and then a remarried mother working through a difficult relationship with a rebellious runaway daughter. The third woman, alone with two teenaged boys who no longer pay much attention to her and seem headed for...

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2011 So as you can guess, I’ve been pretty busy. I recently detailed this all for my friend Meredith Efken when she called me the other day, so here it is in all its goriness: 1) I finished a book January 10th, another book (number 15) in the Patchwork Mysteries series by Guideposts. The books are written by several authors and only available to the Guideposts Book Club right now—you can’t buy them in stores—so I haven’t said much about them, but I’ve been having a lot of fun writing them since they’re cozy mysteries, and I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan. 2) On January 11th, I finished the Art Fact Sheet for Stalker in the Shadows , my next Love Inspired Suspense, coming out in spring 2012. I’m excited about it—it’s about Monica, the third Grant sister (you can read about her sisters Naomi and Rachel in Deadly Intent and Formula for Danger ). 3) On January 16th, I finished self-edits for my fourth Sushi series book, Weddings and Wasabi , and sen...

Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith Can love triumph over treachery?   Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her husband away fighting the king’s wars, she battles encroaching loneliness–making it frighteningly easy to succumb to the advances of King David. Will one night of unbridled passion destroy everything she holds dear? Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God—and David—forever? With a historian’s sharp eye for detail and a novelist’s creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David’s most famous—and infamous—wife. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again. “Thoroughly engrossing. Jill Eileen Smith receives my highest recommendation as an author of biblical fiction.”— Kim Vogel Sawyer , award-winning author of My Heart Remembers “ Bathsheba is Jill Eileen Smith’s finest work to date. It vividly portrays the devastation cau...

I'm blogging (okay, so I'm actually ranting) on the Love Inspired Authors blog today: Camy here, and I have to whine just a little. It’s been raining a lot the past week and of course this is the week I start training for my next marathon. I mean, God seriously has a warped sense of humor. Click here to read the rest of the post

Bound By Guilt by C.J. Darlington Roxi Gold has been shuttled from one foster home to another for most her life. She longs for a family and will do anything to fit in even if it's against the law. Soon she's traveling the country in an RV, stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. She knows it's wrong, but if she refuses, she'll be put out on the streets. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society, and not just at work. Her ex-husband wrested her daughter away from her in a bitter custody battle. The job she once loved has become a chore, the world isn't any safer, and there's no joy in her life. One fateful night a man's innocent blood changes both Roxi's and Abby's lives forever. One searches for justice; the other finds herself on the run until a first edition of The Great Gatsby catches up with her. Will the power of forgiveness set them free, or will they both remain bound by guilt? Excerpt of chapter one: Chapter ...

Unforgettable by Trish Perry Rachel Stanhope tries to see the good in everyone. But even her good graces are challenged when she meets Josh Reegan outside her Arlington, Virginia dance studio on a brisk fall morning in 1951. Admittedly, he’s attractive, but she finds his cynicism and cockiness hard to tolerate. A hard-news journalist and former World War II Air Force pilot, Josh considers distractions like ballroom dancing frivolous wastes of time. He has yet to shed his wartime drive to defend good against evil whenever he can. Yes, Rachel’s confident nature is a refreshing challenge, but he wouldn’t tangle with her if his newspaper hadn’t roped him into covering one of her studio’s competitions in New York City. Between Arlington and New York, between the melodrama of ballroom antics and the real drama of political corruption, between family involvement and romantic entanglement, Rachel and Josh have their hands full. The last thing either of them expects is mutual need and s...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Bond Never Broken Bethany House (March 1, 2011) by Judith Miller ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A Word from Judith: Most readers want to know how authors 'got started' writing. My first novel, Threads of Love , was conceived when I was commuting sixty miles to work each day. I wanted to tell the story of a pioneer girl coming to Kansas and the faith that sustained her as she adjusted to a new life. When the book was completed, I tucked it away. I had absolutely no idea how publication of a book occurred and had given no thought to the concept. However, through a co-worker, I was directed to Tracie Peterson who, at that time, worked down the hall from me. Having never met Tracie, I was totally unaware of her writing career, but God intervened. The rest is, as they say, history... With a graciousness that continues to amaze me, Tracie agreed to read my story, directed me to a publisher, and gave m...