October – November 2008

A newsletter featuring the latest on fiction by
Brandilyn Collins and many other Christian novelists.
Buy these titles at your local Christian bookstore
– and thereby support its ministry.

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~ Brandilyn's Bits: News on her books and appearances
~ A Novel Gift: This month’s chance to win a free autographed book (3 chances to win)
~ Behind the Scenes: Answers to your questions about other Christian novelists
~ Facts on Fiction: Latest available releases from some of your favorite authors

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~ Brandilyn's Bits ~

1. In just five weeks Dark Pursuit will release. The early buzz about this book is building, thanks in part to 200 galleys having been sent out to bloggers who will soon post reviews. (In addition to the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance tour in early December.) On the surface Dark Pursuit is a twisting tale of murder, betrayal and ultimate choices. Underneath it’s a look at Satan’s visit to the Garden of Eden, and his “gift” to mankind—death disguised as life. Read the back cover copy here. 2. I’m now on Facebook. I’ve certainly done my share of muddling around, but I’m finally getting the hang of it. If you’re on Facebook, I encourage you to join the “Fans of Brandilyn Collins” group, which will offer you even more opportunities for free books. I’ll be doing a number of giveaways to group members with each release. Join here.

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~ A Novel Gift ~

Visit your local Christian bookstore and browse the fiction shelves. What is the oldest book of mine you can find? What’s on either side of it? Please e-mail your answers to my assistant. To qualify you must include your name and address as well as the name and address of the Christian bookstore you visit. (This contest is open to those who reside in the United States and Canada and who have not won in the past 3 months.) [Contest is now closed.]

~ August-September winners and the stores they visited ~
David Benedict (Mountain Home, AR)	~	Family Christian Bookstore (Mountain Home, AR)
Stephanie Hanberry (Flowood, MS)	~	Lifeway Christian Store (Hattiesburg, MS)
Lissa Kadlec (Oconto Falls, WI)	~	Lighthouse Christian Bookstore (Green Bay, WI)

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~ Behind the Scenes ~

Answers to your questions about other Christian novelists.

Do you have a question about a Christian novelist? E-mail it to my assistant, and I'll try to find out the answer for the next issue of Sneak Pique. This issue's questions:

1) "I've really enjoyed Thomas Kinkade's novels. He's done a series called the Cape Light series. Do you know if he's going to have any more books release?"

As a matter of fact, Thomas Kinkade has a brand new novel now available. A Christmas Star, co-written with Katherine Spencer, is the ninth in the Cape Light series. Here’s what the authors have written about the story:

“In the midst of the Christmas celebrations, we find our old friends Sam and Jessica Morgan suffering a terrible loss when their home goes up in flames. Nearby, Jack Sawyer, who owns the town’s Christmas tree farm, struggles to cope with the hopelessness that follows the death of his beloved wife. Like the contrast of shadows and light in a painting, their journey out of the darkness of despair makes the brightness of the holiday an even greater blessing.”

2) "Lisa Bergren has written contemporary novels and historicals set in the 1880s. Do you know why her latest suspense series is set in medieval times?"

Lisa had this to say in response:

"The concept for The Gifted trilogy, beginning with The Begotten, (The Betrayed and The Blessed are also out now) was to bring together a group of remarkable, spiritually gifted people to usher in change—throughout society. The most needy era for change (other than maybe now!) was pre-Reformation and pre-Renaissance. It also gave me the chance to write characters as knights and ladies, something I've always wanted to do—and set a series in Italy...possibly the best locale for novels EVER. The era added an epic, grand feel, and it's my favorite thing I've written yet. I also think that even though it's medieval, it has many contemporary applications... something Francine Rivers did so well in her biblical times Mark of the Lion series. I'm sad that it's over! I've been pulled back to the present but long to go back...Maybe someday!"

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~ Facts on Fiction ~

Read more information about the books below at the authors' Web sites. Buy them at your local Christian bookstore.

Biblical Fiction

The Blessed by Lisa T. Bergren, (Penguin Putnam Inc.)
www.lisatawnbergren.com

The Gifted Series #3. In book three of this epic saga (following The Begotten and The Betrayed), the noblewoman Daria, her knight, Gianni, her friend of old, Hasani, their spiritual advisor, Piero, and others travel toward Avignon, ready to take on the pope in their final call to battle. And yet with every step they take, the evil lord Abramo Amidei fights to block their path, convinced that if he cannot dissuade them, he must kill them all. What results is the greatest battle between good and evil to date...with the stake of all humanity hanging in the balance.

Chick Lit

Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire)
www.KristinBillerbeck.com

Book #2 of 2 in The Trophy Wives Club Series. Lindsay took to marriage like a starlet to stilettos. Now that her husband's gone, she has to find out who she is underneath those excellent organizational skills. It's time to get "Back to Life"—her husband's ex-wife and her mysterious son will not make it easy.

Contemporary

Lying on Sunday by Sharon K. Souza (NavPress Publishers)
www.sharonksouza.com

With one phone call Abigail Torrington's life is about to change. When her husband dies in another woman's bed, Abbie has two choices: she can crumble in despair or set out to find herself in the rubble left behind by Trey's betrayal. Abbie does both and comes face to face with bigger secrets than she knew existed. In the process, she just might learn that the truth really does set you free.

My Sister Dilly by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers)
www.maureenlang.com

Hannah Williams couldn’t get out of her small hometown fast enough, preferring the faster pace, trendy lifestyle and beauty of California’s Pacific Ocean coast. But when her sister makes a desperate choice that lands her in prison, Hannah knows she never should have left her younger sister behind. She learns she can never really go back, only to accept the forgiveness God has already extended—to both her and her sister. She only hopes she hasn’t learned it too late to keep the love of the man she risked leaving behind.

Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh (Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishing)
www.tamaraleigh.com

Maizy Grace Stewart dreams of a career as an investigative journalist, but her last job ended in disaster when her compassion cost her 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, wasn't determined to prove her a fraud. When Maizy's newspaper boss pressures her to expose Steeple Side's skeletons, 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—show her grace.

Stepping into Sunlight by Sharon Hinck (Bethany House Publishers)
www.sharonhinck.com

A novel for any woman who has wondered where God is when life hurts. Penny, a Navy chaplain¹s wife, witnesses a violent crime and struggles with post traumatic stress while her husband is on his first deployment. Far from family and friends, she fights to heal for the sake of her seven-year-old son, even though ordinary tasks take heroic efforts. She¹s haunted by flashbacks and is tormented by fear, so 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.

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)
www.susanmeissner.com

Lauren Durough is a college student who finds herself on the road to self-discovery as she is hired by octogenarian Abigail Boyles to transcribe the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to the truth, will Lauren find herself playing the helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers)
www.lynnaustin.org

Life in Sweden seems like an endless winter for the three Carlson sisters after their parents' deaths. When circumstances become unbearable, Elin, the oldest sister, determines to find a safe haven for her sisters in America. As Elin, Kirsten and Sofia begin the long, difficult journey, they have nothing to rely on except courage, faith, and each other. And in a journey fraught with hardships, each woman will come to understand her secret longings and the meaning of home.

Historical

Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing)
www.tlhigley.com

Book 1 of the Seven Wonders Novels. 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. Here is a powerful story showing how the love of God can transform even the most hardened person and bring back to life a soul jaded by sin and grief.

Where the Heart Leads by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Bethany House)
www.KimVogelSawyer.com

Sequel to Waiting for Summer's Return. Mennonite Thomas Ollenburger has a college diploma in hand...but what should he do with it? Having seen more of the world than his sleepy little home town ever provided, he must sort through the proverbial wheat and chaff to discover what God has in store for him. Mix in the distractions of two pretty but very different young women, family struggles back home, and the lure of journalism and politics, and Thomas finds himself challenged to define success as he fine-tunes his faith.

Mystery/Suspense

An Irishwoman’s Tale by Patti Lacy (Kregel Publications)
www.pattilacy.com

It takes motherly intuition and the urging of a chatty new Southern friend to return a haunted Irishwoman to the cliffs of her dreadful first memories.

Miss Fortune by Sara Mills (Moody Publishers)
www.saramillsbooks.com

Book #1 in the Allie Fortune Mystery Series. They call her the P.I. Princess. It's 1947 and Allie Fortune is the only female (and perhaps the best) private investigator in New York City. But she's kept awake at night by a mystery of her own—her fiancé disappeared in the war and Allie is haunted more by the unknown than by finding out the worst. Her work is a welcome distraction, and she's just been hired by a client who isn't telling the whole truth. Mary Gordon's claims of innocence don't fit with her ransacked apartment, being shot at, and the two Soviet agents hot on her trail. Meanwhile the FBI is working the case because a legendary and mysterious treasure has gone missing...again. The only catch for Allie is her new “partner,” Jack, an attractive single agent who knows how to make her smile. As Allie and Jack chase after the gold, they must contend with the Soviets who also want the priceless treasure back—after all, they stole it fair and square.

Cozy Mystery

The Case of the Bouncing Grandma by A.K. Arenz (Sheaf House)
http://www.akawriter.com

Book 1 in The Bouncing Grandma Mysteries. Reduced to watching new neighbors move in as a form of amusement, 52-year-old grandma Glory Harper is stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg, bored, and itching for some excitement. She just doesn't expect it to come in the form of a foot dangling out the back of a carpet as it's carried into the neighbor's house.

Contemporary Romance

When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
www.cindywoodsmall.com

Book #3 in Sisters of the Quilt Series. Having fled her Old Amish community in disgrace more than two years earlier, Hannah has finally found happiness in the Englisher world, as well as love with Martin Palmer, a man with whom she can safely entrust her heart. As Hannah encounters her former fiancé, Paul Waddell, she learns some unsettling truths about her life. Two men, two very different worlds...

Lone Star Secret by Lenora Worth (Love Inspired)
www.lenoraworth.com

Book #5 in the Homecoming Heroes Love Inspired Series. A child unites a town. David Ryland's final mission is to fly a Middle Eastern orphan to Texas for lifesaving surgery. Yet, the secret awaiting the brave pilot at home requires courage of a new kind. The father David never knew suddenly has a name. A late war hero confessed his parentage in a deathbed letter—a letter that beautiful charity worker Ann Terenkov knows all about. If David can open his heart to the truth, will he also find room there for Anna?

Historical Romance

Alaska Brides by Cathy Marie Hake, Mary Connealy and Kathleen Y'Barbo (Barbour Publishing)

The historic Alaskan frontier makes a wonderful setting for romantic adventures. Trek into the wilds alongside three women who have strong faith, determination, and no need for a husband. Can they surrender their independent hearts when love comes to call in the form of a friendly neighbor, a grieving widower, and a secretive gold miner?

A Bride by Christmas by Linda Goodnight, Kelly Eileen Hake, Vickie McDonough, and Therese Stenzel (Barbour Publishing)

Marriage is given a Christmas deadline. In an era where single women had little hope of support and security outside of marriage, four young women find themselves talked into weddings on the eve of Christmas celebrations.

The Journey Home by Linda Ford (Steeple Hill)
www.lindaford.org

Depression Era Series #2. What unseen hand guided Kody Douglas's horse to that bleak, windswept South Dakota farmhouse? The "half-breed" cowboy—a man of two worlds, at home in neither—would never know. But when he finds a lovely, vulnerable young woman there, abandoned in the darkest hours of the Depression, he cannot simply ride away and leave her. Charlotte Porter reluctantly follows this hard, embittered yet compelling man to his family's homestead. But the more she learns about him, and the secret child who haunts his memories, the more she aches to comfort him and make him her own. Can two outcasts—brought together by hard times and shared faith—truly find love in so cold and heartless a world?

Snowbound Colorado Christmas by Susan Page Davis, Lena Nelson Dooley, Tamela Hancock Murray, Darlene Franklin (Barbour Publishing)

Love arrives with a blizzard. Thalia Bloom’s Christmas Party on December 3, 1913, is the talk of Denver, but no one dreams the gently falling snow will continue six days and accumulate nearly four feet. Thalia Bloom looks forward to her party, except for seeing heartbreaker Maximilian Newbolt. When Thomas Stanton shows up at the holiday party of Rose Fletcher’s best friend, his appearance reminds Rose of the infatuation she felt for him when he worked on her father’s ranch. Patricia Logan leaves Thalia’s party and heads for home at her uncle’s ranch. A chance meeting with Jared Booker, an old friend, prompts Patricia to beg for a lift. Natalie Daire, a rich young heiress, has an automobile accident on the way home from Thalia’s holiday party and finds herself snowed in with other guests at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. Fabrizio Ricci, the mechanic who fixes her motorcar, is also snowbound at the hotel.

Wild at Heart by Vickie McDonough (Heartsong Presents)
http://0000p8z.previewcoxhosting.com

When a North Dakota rancher invites a dime novelist to visit his ranch to get his facts straight about the West, he never expects a hatpin-wielding woman whom trouble follows like flies on a horse.

Romantic Suspense

The Face of Deceit by Ramona Richards (Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Suspense)
www.ramonarichards.com

Her parents were killed as she looked on, but artist Karen O'Neill has suppressed that childhood horror. Now, years later, someone is destroying her famous "face" vases. Art expert Mason DuBroc suspects that the creepy face Karen molds points toward murder. Karen must know something she shouldn’t. Something a crazed killer will do anything to keep buried…with Karen.

Young Adult

It's Not about Me by Michelle Sutton (Sheaf House)
www.michellesutton.net

Book #1 Second Glances series. 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 when an unexpected visitor appears, Annie's safe world is destroyed. As she tries to recover the pieces of her broken life, a war ensues between two brothers who both claim to have her best interests at heart. But who will Annie choose? Or will she decide to turn her life in a different direction?

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Here is an opportunity for you to read excerpts from recent releases of Christian novels.

To send all comments/suggestions, free-book contest entries, questions about Christian novelists please write my assistant.

You are welcome to forward this newsletter to your friends. Join my mailing list.

~ BRANDILYN
Seatbelt Suspense®
www.brandilyncollins.com
www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com