Monday, March 30, 2009

Another Great Book and Giveaway!

UPDATE - WINNER!
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5
Timestamp: 2009-03-31 19:06:40 UTC

Congrats to Patrice, winner of the book! Please email me your address and I'll send it your way!

I have another great book to tell you about, along with an autographed copy fresh from the Christian Book Expo for one of you!


This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Real Enemy

David C. Cook (March 2009)

by

Kathy Herman



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added thirteen more titles to her credit, including another bestseller, All Things Hidden.

Kathy's husband Paul is her best friend and most ardent supporter and manages the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five adorable grandkids, a cat named Samantha—and an ongoing fascination with hummingbirds. They also enjoy world travel, deep sea fishing, stargazing, and bird watching and sometimes incorporate all these hobbies into one big adventure.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Brill Jessup just became the first female police chief in Sophie Trace, Tennessee, and is riding on the credentials of a stellar eighteen-year career on the Memphis police force. She may be a pro at finding clues, but she tends to ignore the obvious in her personal life. And she would rather work than deal with the bitterness she feels about her husband Kurt's infidelity. Kurt, is weighed down by her unrelenting anger as he struggles to let God redeem the stupidest mistake he ever made. He is genuinely contrite and making every effort to show his commitment to Brill. But she hides behind her badge and her bitterness, deciding that moving her family away from Memphis is the only change she needs to make. So why can't Brill get over this anger?

Before she ever has time to unpack her boxes, people start disappearing. Lots of them. Seven people in seven days To complicate matters, a local legend has many residents believing that the cause is unearthly─tied to the “red shadows,” or spirits of the departed Cherokee who once inhabited the land.

While Brill draws on all of her experience and instinct to solve the case, she must confront an enemy that threatens everything she holds dear─one that cannot be stopped with a badge and a gun. She is forced to confront the real enemy.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Real Enemy, go HERE

MY THOUHTS:
It was such a pleasure to meet Kathy Herman at the Expo and take the picture above. I have enjoyed several of her books, and this one was no exception. I anguished for both Kurt and Brill in their marriage difficulties: for Kurt because he was truly heartbroken and repentent over a single lapse in judgment, and for Brill because she had experienced the devastating betrayal of infidelity -- and as a woman I totally get the difficulty she faced in forgiving and trusting Kurt. I appreciated how the book showed both sides of the situation; it was a great reminder that every relational difficulty has two sides, and generally both individuals share the blame and both experience hurt. The story of Brill's professional challenges added a multi-dimensional layer to the book, as she was determined not to fail as the new Chief of Police as she felt she had failed to keep her husband. The only thing I wish had been explored a bit more was Brill's realization of how easily one can land on the slippery slope that seemingly innocent friendship can lead to. I felt that she could have been a little more open and understanding of Kurt's downfall after one particular encounter she had. But that's just a very small part of the overall picture. The book is a great combination of a well-written mystery and a picture of marital restoration, and I highly recommend it.

GIVEAWAY!
And one of you will receive the very book that Kathy Herman is holding in the picture above! To enter, please leave a comment on this post by noon CDT tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/31) and I'll draw a name. Continental US residents only, please.

Happy, grace-filled reading!

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13 comments:

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

I just love your reviews. I know that I can trust your judgment, because we tend to read the same way. This is not my normal genre of choice, but it looks interesting. Thanks for hosting all of these giveaways!

As I was packing away many of my books this past weekend, I was struck by how many have come from your sweet hands!

Xandra

Unknown said...

This looks really good. Right up my alley!

Have you read The Killing Tree? We seem to share similar thoughts on books and I would be interested in your thoughts on this one.

Can't wait to hear about the conference!

Suzanne said...

Hi Linda! Sent you a book on Saturday! Should be arriving this week. Hope you had a good trip to Houston with your daughter!
~Suzanne

bp said...

Not an entry in the giveaway b/c I already have the book. Kathy and I "met" and became friends recently through Facebook. She sent me this book, it is just wonderful, I look forward to reading more from her.

Lindsey @ A New Life said...

That sounds like an awesome book!! I like your reviews as well- I am pretty picky with books and have now read a few you have reviewed and have not been disappointed!

Have a blessed day

Patrice and Higgins said...

I'm in, sounds like a great book!

Head over to my site, I have a book up for grabs also!

Mel said...

ok sounds excellent!!! i think it is so neat that you got to meet authors..i am just a little green LOL

Anonymous said...

I'd love to read this book! I heard about it while at the expo and it interested me.

Beverlydru said...

I would read your blog even if you dodn't have all the give-aways but this makes it extra-fun. This sounds like a great book. Thanks!

Cindy said...

I'm always looking for a good book to read so after reading your review, I definitely want to be included in the drawing!

Lisa Spence said...

This isn't an entry but an echo of your review. I too read the novel but have yet to post my review...I too enjoyed it!

Cackleberry Homestead said...

Sounds like a great book!

Carole said...

I have heard many great things about this author and would love to try her books. Thank you for the giveaway!

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net