Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Hidden
Avon Inspire (May 27, 2008)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Hidden is Shelley’s first foray into inspirational fiction. Previously, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio where she writes full time. Shelley is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and is part of the Telecare ministry, which calls homebound members on a regular basis. Shelley looks forward to the opportunity to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Hidden is a remarkable story about the unlikely love between a modern girl on the run and an Amish boy from the family who shelters her.

When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob is a successful and respected person in her community. He has completely won over her parents with his good looks and prestigious position at a top law firm. Only Anna has seen his dark side. But when Rob hurts Anna yet again, she realizes that she must finally help herself.

Desperate, she runs to the one place she’s always felt completely safe, the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where years ago she and her mother once stayed, and where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. When Anna shows up years later unexpectedly, the family welcomes her in, with few questions asked, and allows her to stay, dressed as the Amish in Plain clothes, and help around the inn.

But Katie’s older brother Henry doesn’t take too kindly to the intrusion. Anna wonders if it’s because he’s already had his heart broken. To Henry’s shame, from the moment he sees Anna, he feels a strong attraction. To cover his infatuation, he tries to ignore her, knowing no good would ever come from keeping an eye on a fancy woman like her. But as he sees that Anna has a good heart and is not the selfish, spoiled woman he imagined her to be, he feels his heart pointing towards her.

Anna comes to realize that she’s found a home and true love in the last place she’d expected. How can she deny the life she left behind? And will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man who can’t seem to let her go?

If you would like to read the Prologue, go HERE.

FATAL ILLUSIONS Announced as Novel Title

I'm pleased to announce that Kregel has approved the final title of my Christian suspense novel as FATAL ILLUSIONS. I'm pleased with the title and eager to see the final cover as well.

My editor also e-mailed me this morning to say that she has officially approved my revised manuscript. So what's next? Now the manuscript goes to the "line editors," who begin the stage of grammar, consistency, and fact checking. They will query me if they have any questions along the way. I may need to rework a few scenes a little bit, but I won't be doing any major rewriting at this point. We're getting closer!

What am I doing now? I've already written the epigraph; that's the part that goes at the very beginning of the novel, usually a couple quotes or a Bible verse. Then I need to finish writing the dedication and the acknowledgments. So many people to thank! I could never have reached this part of the journey without so many cheerleaders and coaches along the way.

May the Lord receive the glory!

Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione by Chuck Black

This week the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel ione (Multnomah Books, June 17, 2008) by Chuck Black.


About the Author

Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. Chuck added three more titles to the series, Kingdom’s Call, Kingdom’s Quest, and Kingdom’s Reign, which were released in May 2007.

Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and currently works as an engineer for a firm designing plastic consumer products. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife, Andrea, have six children and live in North Dakota.

It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the Scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of a truly majestic King and His Son.

About the Book

A dangerous new order threatens the mission of the Knights of Arrethtrae. Only loyalty to the King can bring victory!

As the Knights of the Prince await His triumphant return, they are steadfast in their mission to take His story into the kingdom and recruit as many as are willing. But when a new and dangerous threat is revealed, their mission is jeopardized.

Sir Kendrick and his young charge, the impetuous Sir Duncan, are sent on a mission to discover the identity and origin of a secretive new order known as the Conquistero Knights. They travel to the city of Bel Lione where Lord Ra has been enticing young people in the kingdom to join his festivals, after which many choose not to return home. Their families keep quiet for fear of repercussion.

When Sir Duncan disappears while trying to discover the truth of Lord Ra’s castle, Sir Kendrick attempts to find and enlist the help of a mysterious warrior. Time is short for he must save Duncan and call upon the knights of Chessington to join in the battle against the evil Lord Ra.

Journey to Arrethtrae, where these knights of noble heart live and die in loyal service to the King and the Prince. These knights are mighty, for they serve a mighty King. They are . . . the Knights of Arrethtrae!

If you would like to read the first chapter, go here.

Final Revised Manuscript Submitted

Yesterday, June 18, was the big deadline for turning in my final, revised manuscript to Kregel. God is good, and He enabled me to e-mail the manuscript on time. Woo-hoo! This is a major project milestone for me, and I'm thrilled.

Readers may be wondering, Which manuscript is this? Here's the story. In April and May, I worked on revisions based on changes Kregel requested. The requested changes were pretty major: killing off a character, changing the direction and outcome of a pretty important subplot, adding more interaction with a character or two, etc. I had to cut about six chapters and write about as many new chapters. (Thanks goodness my chapters are short and numerous.) I worked on the revisions during some afternoons (as I could find time) but mostly on Saturdays.

I submitted my new chapters to my editor, who checked them over and gave me the thumbs up. After those new chapters were "approved," I needed to spend some time reading the full manuscript and making sure those new chapters fit into the big picture of the story. I consider my plot to be pretty complex with many threads connecting story lines to various characters. Pull one thread, and the whole thing could fall apart. I needed to make sure the threads were still connecting and making sense in light of my rewrites. So many details! If I wasn't a detail-oriented person, I could never do this type of work. I guess it's a blessing and a curse.

Over the last two weeks, I reread the full manuscript twice, tweaking places here and there, adding nuance, making little wording changes, verifying that character motivations made sense, double-checking police procedural details. (Special thanks to novelists Amy Wallace and Mark Mynheir for graciously lending their advice and answering my questions.) Sometimes I just had to follow my gut instinct. There was a lot to do and a lot to look for. (The Kregel editors will check these details, too, but I wanted to make their jobs easier.) I prayed that God would help me see what needed to change, since this was probably my last crack at major rewrites. This realization did make me feel nervous at times.

For a little while, I felt like I had read the manuscript so many times that I was losing my objectivity and ability to see what needed help. So I took a weekend off and didn't even look at the manuscript; that distance seemed to help me go back to it with fresh eyes. Either way, I've read it as carefully as I know how, trying to think everything through and put my best foot forward. Surprisingly, even yesterday I saw a plot hole I had forgotten about. Hopefully, it's plugged now. Hopefully.

Either way, the final manuscript is submitted and now out of my hands. Is it perfect? I'm sure it isn't. But it's definitely the best I could do right now with God's help, yet it is hard to let go. I struggle with the feeling that there's always something somewhere that I could have done better if only I'd had more time and done more work. But at some point every author needs to draw a line in the sand and say, "This is when the project is done" and stop working on it. Otherwise, he could be changing things forever.

I just need to let go of the project and trust the Lord for the rest. He's brought me this far. He won't fail me now.

So what's next? Now I wait to hear from my editors, who will be reading the whole manuscript again in light of the requested changes. If I missed anything or if anything doesn't measure up, they will contact me, and I'll have some more work to do. When all is good, then the manuscript formally begins the editing stage for Kregel. Their editors will begin doing their editing. If they have any questions about consistency or logic, they will contact me for changes. I'll be able to see the manuscript again, maybe even a couple times, before the printing.

Whew! That's all for now!

P.S. The latest title possibility was FATAL ILLUSIONS. I like it, but I'm not sure if that will be the final pick. Kregel had a few other possible titles, too. I also heard that my editor saw a mock-up of what the cover might look like. She said it looks fantastic, but I haven't seen it yet. I can hardly wait and feel a little nervous about seeing it.

Book Review: The Hunted by Mike Dellosso

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Hunted (Realms - June 3, 2008) by Mike Dellosso.

About the Author

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He writes a monthly column for Writer . . .Interrupted. He was a newspaper correspondent and columnist for over three years and has published several articles for The Candle of Prayer inspirational booklets. Mike also has edited and contributed to numerous Christian-themed Web sites and e-newsletters.

Mike is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, the Relief Writer's Network, and International Thriller Writers. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.

You can read a great interview with Mike, over here on TitleTrakk.

About the Book

A town's deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith...

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills to aid in the search effort. When Caleb is found, badly mauled and clinging to life, Joe embarks on a mission to find the beast responsible. But the more Joe delves into the fabric of his old hometown, the more he realizes Dark Hills has a dark secret, shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence.

As Joe unravels the truth behind a series of unexplained animal attacks, murder, and corruption at the highest level of law enforcement, he is led to a final showdown where he must entrust his very life into God's hands. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces of The Hunted?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti-if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted. —C.J. Darlington, Cofounder and book editor, Titletrakk.com

A spine-tingling tale of hidden secrets, buried hopes, and second chances. A story best read with all the lights on and an extra flashlight—just in case! —Amy Wallace, author of Ransomed Dreams

Mike Dellosso's pins-and-needles thriller hurtles the reader down a dark and twisted path. I dare you to take this one home! —Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of the To Catch a Thief suspense series

With hints of Frank Peretti and Stephen King, The Hunted is a chilling debut. —Creston Mapes, author of Nobody

A vicious enemy, a family secret, a thirst for revenge, and a need for reconciliation all drive The Hunted from intriguing beginning to thrilling conclusion. —Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished

Read this someplace safe as you experience the incredibly descriptive world of The Hunted. And sleep with the lights on. —Austin Boyd, author of Mars Hill Classified trilogy

My Review

If you like Frank Peretti (The Oath, Monster), you'll love this Christian novel by Mike Dellosso. This powerful, edge-of-your-seat suspense tale has everything you'd expect from a good Peretti: scary scenes, a supernatural battle between the forces of good and evil, flawed Christian characters who struggle with their faith, spiritual warfare, a town with a dark secret, a touch of romance, a freakish monster on the prowl for his next victim, nail-biting suspense, and lots of well-crafted action.

This novel has everything going for it. The mysterious plot is fresh and original, and Mike does an excellent job of dangling the mystery over the head of the reader and very slowly revealing it bit by bit. He kept me guessing and the pages turning. The novel also offers several powerful spiritual themes about prayer and about returning to the God we sometimes turn our back on. The story's message has stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

This is an amazing debut novel that kept me hooked from the first chapter. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I'm eager to see what Mike does next. Check out this novel. You won't be disappointed. It's better than most Ted Dekker I've read. Deeper. More complex. More spiritually satisfying. I especially enjoyed the ending. Just when I thought the story was over, culminating in a creepy hunt in the fog, more was yet to come. Don't miss it. This novel delivers. Just be sure to keep the light on.

Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deanne Gist

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Deep
In The Heart Of Trouble (Bethany House June 1, 2008) by Deeanna
Gist.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deanne Gist has been a busy lady. She had a career in elementary education. She raised four children. In fifteen years she has run a home accessory/antique business, been a member of the press, penned freelance journalism for a few well-known publications, including People, Parents, Family Fun, and more. She was the CFO for her husband's engineering company and did all of this in her home. She also founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing, and marketing products to reinforce family values, teach children responsibility, and provide character-building activities. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing. Eight months later, she submitted A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers, and they picked it up for their new "edgy inspirational" line of historical fiction. After its release in July 2005, Bride hit eight best seller lists, sold more than 100,000 copies, and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2006. The Measure of a Lady was her 2006 summer release. It hit five best seller lists and won the Christy Award for BEST ROMANCE 2007. Gist is contracted to have a new book come out every summer. Courting Trouble, her 2007 summer release, hit three best seller lists. Deeanne lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-four years. They have two kids in high school and two in college.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Texas-Sized Tale of Unexpected Love

Essie Spreckelmeyer is the last woman anyone in Corsicana, Texas, expected to see with a man on her arm. Independent and outspoken, she’s known more for riding bicycles in outrageous bloomers than for catching a man’s eye. And the last man who seems willing to give her a second glance is Tony Morgan, newly hired at Spreckelmeyer’s oil company. The disinherited son of an oil baron, Tony wants most to restore his name and regain his lost fortune—not lose his heart to this headstrong blonde. She confounds, contradicts, and confuses him. Sometimes he doesn’t know if she’s driving him toward the aisle or the end of his rope. That’s how life is . . . Deep in the Heart of Trouble If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

“Christy Award winner Gist’s historical romances have increasingly gained popularity, combining witty dialog, well-balanced plots, and fully developed characters who seem almost real. Recommended for CF and romance collections.”
—Library Journal

"Gist does it again! Her signature prose is consistent, and she delivers a thoroughly delightful and entertaining story that’s worthy of our time and attention. Not only won’t you want to put this book down, you’ll want to enjoy this story again and again."
—JUNE TOP PICK, 4-1/2 STARS, Romantic Times, Jennifer Reyes

"Gist has once again written a delightfully humorous historical romance. After reading the first book in this series of two, I was anxious to get my hands on this one. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed ... It is a spectacular, feel-good story which I highly recommend. You will definitely be glad you read it."
—FIVE STAR RATING, The Romance Studio, Brenda Talley

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing a pair of novels, House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods (Books 1 and 2 in the Dreamhouse Kings Series), Thomas Nelson (May 6, 2008), by Robert Liparulo

About the Author

Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles andshort stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine.

His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure,
Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly. Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.

About the Books

House of Dark Shadows (Dreamhouse Kings Book 1)

Dream house...or bad dream? When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed.
He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of
Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land. But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into--as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house. They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.

Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places--in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.

Watcher in the Woods (Dreamhouse Kings Book 2)

It's not just the house that's keeping secrets. Pretending everything's all right is harder than it sounds. But the Kings know that even if they told the truth about the bizarre things happening in their house, no one would believe them. They're hyper-focused on rescuing their lost family member before anyone finds out what's going on. But when a stranger shows up to take their house, their options start dwindling fast. Why would he be so interested in a run-down old place? And what secret is he hiding--just as he hides the scars that crisscross his body? The mystery gets stranger with each passing day. Will the Kings be able to find a way to harness the house's secrets and discover who is watching their every move before another gets snatched into an unknown world?

My Review

This creepy, action-packed story grabbed from the first sentence. It's fun. It's fast-paced. I liked the realism and humor of Xander and his family, but I must be honest about several problems I had with this novel. At the end of chapter one, the author chose to use a word in dialogue that I've always been taught is unacceptable, whether in secular or religious fiction. Unfortunately, the word appears a couple more times in the novel. Forgive me if I seem like a prude, but I must be honest. I was startled to see this word and a bit turned off. I wouldn't let my kids read this novel.

More things troubled me about this young adult novel. I checked the back cover and even glanced through the discussion guide. Is this supposed to be a "Christian" novel? I didn't see a shred of Christianity anywhere in the book! What a disappointment! And what a lost opportunity.

Something else bothered me, too. Fifteen-year-old Xander is a move-aholic. Whenever a situation comes up, he's thinking about the similarities to some movie he's seen. That's not necessarily a bad character trait, but some of these aren't movies I would think most Christian fifteen-year-olds should see or movies their parents should allow them to see. For example, one movie is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which probably has the strongest language of any movie I've ever tried to see. I know this movie is one of those "important movies," according to critics; but it's rated R for good reason, and I'd never recommend it to anyone, least of all a Christian fifteen-year-old. Xander thinks of lots of other movies, too. Star Wars. Well, I don't have a problem with that one. But The Shining? Hmmm. I'm pretty sure that rated-R movie has content problems, too.

Here's the problem for me. I grew up with strict guidelines for TV and movies, and I believe in having strict guidelines as a parent. Whenever Xander thinks approvingly of a movie, isn't he essentially recommending that movie to other young adult readers? In other words, if I have strict guidelines for my two daughters (ages six and four) on the movies they are allowed to see, he's basically recommending some movies I'd never allow my kids to see. That bothered me, especially when Thomas Nelson is marketing this novel to Christian young adults. I was also alarmed to see some teachings about lying being okay in certain situations. Huh!? I'm just being honest about how this novel struck me. The story was fun, but I was turned off by these content problems.