Okay, friends, this is a MUST READ. I had the privilege of spending a weekend brainstorming with Susan May Warren last month. I’ve concluded that the only thing as fun as Susan are her books, and Reclaiming Nick is no exception. If you are one of those who judge a book by its cover, then you’ll be grabbing this for sure because “Nick” is one cutey patooty! This story grabs you from the get go and doesn’t let go. It’s a wild ride complete with loads of suspence and romance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award winning author SUSAN MAY WARREN recently returned home to her native Minnesota after serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. She now writes full time from Minnesota’s north woods. Visit her Web site at www.susanmaywarren.com.

 RECLAIMING NICK is the first of The Noble Legacy series. Book Two, Taming Rafe, will be available January 2008.

A Modern Day Prodigal Comes Home…

NICK NOBLE HADN’T PLANNED ON BEING THE PRODIGAL SON.

But when his father dies and leaves half of Silver Buckle–the Noble family ranch–to Nick’s former best friend, he must return home to face his mistakes, and guarantee that the Silver Buckle stays in the Noble family.
Award-winning journalist Piper Sullivan believes Nick framed her brother for murder, and she’s determined to find justice. But following Nick to the Silver Buckle and posing as a ranch cook proves more challenging than she thinks. So does resisting his charming smile.
As Nick seeks to overturn his father’s will–and Piper digs for answers–family secrets surface that send Nick’s life into a tailspin. But there’s someone who’s out to take the Silver Buckle from the Noble family, and he’ll stop at nothing–even murder–to make it happen.

Endorsement:

“Susan May Warren once again delivers that perfect combination of heart-pumping suspense and heart-warming romance.”–Tracey Bateman, author of the Claire Everett series

The Tiede’s have taken the enormous step of adding a teeny tiny Tiede to our mix. Yesterday we purchased 2# Gracie Mae. She is a Teddy Bear puppy which is a Bishon Frise/Shih Tzu mix. Last night was a bit sleepless for this new “mom”, however, we are nearly 24 hours into this and are (so far) accident free!

The fun part of this event is that the three kids did 95% of the work. Shortly after we had to put our beloved 14 year old Pomeranian down last spring, the kids saw a picture of a Teddy Bear puppy in the classifieds. I knew I needed grieving time, so we put the burden of “saving” for the puppy on the kids. They prompty created the “Tiede Teddy Bear Fund” and collected their nickels and dimes in a coffee jar, complete with a label and tons of pictures of their dream puppies.

It was with great pride and excitement that the kids presented the puppy jar to “Mr. Jeff” yesterday in exchange for Gracie. Yes, Grandpa helped a little and Mom here threw in some book sale money, but the everyone in the family gave sacrificially. That’s the lesson we all learned. In the beginning their were discussions of who would get Gracie most since “some” were giving more money than others. Let’s see…an 11 year old who babysits vs. a 4-year-old. Thus we were given a God-portunity to share the story of the Widow who gave everything she had and it was enough.

It’s so easy to look at the accomplishments of my favorite Christian speakers and published author friends and think, “What I have to offer will never be enough…it will never compare.” Instead, today I want to look less at the offerings of other humans and just be the best me I can be with Jesus’ help. Today I want to give to Him sacrificially. It will be more than enough.

I am supposed to be working on a new talk tonight, but I’ve got that “Girls just gotta have fun” song in my head. Not the words really, just the tune, but I’ve inserted friends for fun. As I travel around the country speaking to groups I am always tickled to watch women and their friends.
Women sit shoulder to shoulder with sisters-of-their-hearts and giggle, and cry, and chatter, and laugh some more.

God just made us to need each other. Men need friends too, but they seem to “do” friendship differently than we gals. I am an extrovert and am truly energized by people…usually. (My kids might be the exception to the rule…they tend to zap me of strength most days. ) God, in his infinite wisdom, knew He designed me this way and He generously placed good friends in my life.

I have a couple of friends who I talk to several times a week. They are as close as sisters to me. I’ve also been blessed by a forum of Grace Girls who check in with each other daily via the internet. There are 40+ of us and we are scattered across the country. Some of us participate more than others, but it is a delight to share our lives with each other. Last night I had the privilege of meeting with three of my Grace Sisters in person. I’d only met one of them before. What a treat that was!

Jesus showed us by his own life how important it is not to shut ourselves off, but to share our lives with friends. I believe God has blessed us with a diverse collection of people here on earth to prepare us for eternity where we will spend forever with a premium assortment of God’s children.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9

A YOUNG BRIDE separated from her husband just as a child has been conceived…

A GRIEVING HUSBAND tempted to take his anger out through the vices of his past…

A MARRIAGE AND A SHIP threatenend to be split apart by villainous Caribbean pirates…

In
THE RELIANCE, Edmund Merrick tormented by the apparent demise of his pregnant wife Charlisse, sails away to drown his sorrows. He turns his back on God and reverts to a life of villainy, joining forces with the demented French pirate Collier. When his mind clears from its rum-induced haze, will Edmund find the will to escape?

Seemingly abandoned by her new husband, Charlisse battles her own insecurities as she is thrown into the clutches of the vengeful pirate Kent, who holds her and Lady Isabel captive.

Will she be swept away by the undertow of treachery and despair? Can Edmund and Charlisse battle the tempests that threaten to tear them apart and steer their way to the faith-filled haven they so desperately seek? Or will they ultimately lose their love and lives to the whirlpool of treachery and deceit?

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Just below the surface among the family of God lives another family tree–one traced in spirit, invisible and ageless, known as the Watchers. For two thousand years they’ve seen beyond the veil separating this world from the next, passing on their gift through a lineage mostly overlooked. Throughout history they’ve scouted the borders of the supernatural frontier, but now their survival hangs by a thread. And their fate lies in the hands of a young woman, her would-be killer, and a mystery they must solve….

“Congratulations. You just reached my own little corner of cyberspace.

Who am I?

Abby Sherman, that’s who.

Who are you? And why are you checking me out?

Drop me a few pixels, and let’s find out!”

With that innocent invitation, Abby Sherman unwittingly steps in the crosshairs of history, and thus begins her harrowing tale–taking her from ocean-front Malibu to the streets of London, the jungles in West Africa, the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, and to the very gates of heaven itself!

A sneak preview of eternity becomes her one-way ticket to danger–and discovery….

Two lives collide in a globe-circling adventure involving both peril and discovery: Abby, a young woman whose visions of heaven turn her into a Web-celebrity; and Dylan, a troubled young man sent by an ancient foe to silence her. From California beachfronts to Nigerian rain forests to Jerusalem and back again, THE WATCHERS is high-octane blends of action, mystery, and spiritual battle spanning centuries.

A woman’s awe-inspiring vision launches her on a quest through distant lands and ancient history, face-to-face with eternity and into the arms of a family line on the brink of annihilation…

A man who is hired to exterminate her discovers the folly of blind loyalty, then learns how to wage war in a realm he never believed had existed…

An extraordinary saga of the unseen war against evil, the reality of the supernatural, and the transforming power of forgiveness.
ENDORSEMENT:

“A writer who can take your breath away with a single sentence. A welcome, fresh voice that must be read!”–Ted Dekker

Buy the The Watchers

Four years ago my friend, Kyra, and I set out to create a three-ring binder notebook full of our favorite parenting ideas. We brainstormed “chapter” ideas and each took half. Then we wrote for months. Our intention was to make copies and give them as baby gifts to all the new moms at church. However, after all our work we realized we had something substantial. To make a long story short, we self-published “Sippies, Bubbles and Big Fun: Oodles of Options for Rochester Families”. We found a handful of companies who agreed to advertise in our book, which gave us the funds to print them. We printed 5000 copies. Our plan was to sell enough books to cover our expenses and then we would give the rest to non-profit organizations as a ministry. …..fast forward….

Tonight we celebrated the end of this adventure. The books were printed, sold, and 4000 were given away. As of the end of 2006 our business partnership has ended. Now we are back to just being friends again. It feels good. We went to the Timber Lodge for supper and then to Caribou for coffee. Funny thing is…we never once talked about the Sippies book. It was such a treat to spend time with our friends, Mike and Kyra, and NOT talk business.

What a blessing “Sippies” has been though…

…it gave Kyra and I a place to connect after the loss of their sweet baby, Claire.

…it sparked in my heart a passion to write

…it taught us many things that we would never choose to do again.

…it created another bond between lifelong friends.

So tonight we celebrate friendship, “Sippies”, and the blessing the book has reportedly been to many young families in the Rochester area.

Tricia is a members of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. She also has a blog, It’s Real Life and a parenting blog Generation NeXt.

TRICIA GOYER is the author of five novels, two nonfiction books and one children’s book. She also was named Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference Writer of the Year in 2003. In 2005, her novel Night Song, the second title in Tricia’s World War II series, won ACFW’s Book of the Year for Best Long Historical Romance. In 2006, her novel Dawn of A Thousand Nights also won book of the Year for Long Historical Romance. Tricia and her husband, John, live with their family in northwestern Montana.

I am pleased to be able to review her exciting Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, A Valley Of Betrayal

For reasons beyond her control, Sophie finds herself alone in the war-torn Spanish countryside, searching for her beloved Michael. His work as a news photographer has taken him deep into the country wracked by civil war. What was once a thriving paradise has become a battleground for Nazi-backed Franco fascist soldiers and Spanish patriots. She is caught up in the escalating events when the route to safety is blocked and fighting surrounds her.

Secrets abound in the ruined Spain. Michael is loving but elusive, especially about beautiful maria. The American who helped Sophie sneak into Spain turns up in odd places. Michael’s friend Jose knows more than he tells. When reports of Michael’s dissappearance reach her, Sophie is devastaed. What are her feelings for Philip, an American soldier who comes to her rescue?

Sophie must sift truth from lies as she becomes more embroiled in the war that threatens her life and breaks her heart. On her darkest night, Sophie takes refuge with a brigade of international compatriots. Among these volunteers, she pledges to make the plight of the Spanish people known around the world through the power of art.

Acclaimed author Tricia Goyer creates a riviting cast of characters against the backdrop of pre-WWII spain. Love, loss, pain, and beauty abound in A Valley Of Betrayal, the first book in her new series, Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War.

Visit Tricia’s website
Order Tricia’s book!