A Stellar Book & Giveaway

UPDATE Sunday 11/6/11 10:10 PM WINNER!

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7
Timestamp: 2011-11-07 04:08:46 UTC
Congrats to auburnchick! Email me your address and I'll send the book your way!

NANCY RUE WILL BE GUEST BLOGGING HERE ON TUESDAY! Don't miss it!

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Back in August, I shared my brief interview with Nancy Rue following the Christy Awards, where she received awards for two different books, her Young Adult novel Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book, and the first book in her new series, The Reluctant Prophet. (You can read that interview here.) At the time, I was eagerly awaiting the October release of book two, Unexpected Dismounts, which I purchased as soon as it was available and absolutely inhaled it. I've been eager to tell you about it, and one of you will receive a copy of this phenomenal book!

Unexpected Dismounts
Nancy Rue
(David C Cook)
ISBN: 978-1434764928
October 2011/464 pages/$14.99

Allison Chamberlain thought she was doing everything God required of her-but as her journey continues in the second book of The Reluctant Prophet series, she might have to let go of everything she loves to follow the call.

Allison is already taking care of five former prostitutes, trying to adopt an orphan, and helping a woman who's been raped. Along the way, she experiences unexpected dismounts, as every Harley owner who risks the ride eventually does. A relative challenges the adoption. An influential businessman blocks her ministry. Her beloved Chief is seriously injured. A piece of her past adds even more turmoil. As she picks herself up again and again, Allison realizes that some are guilty of terrible wrongs-but everyone must be responsible for righting them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Rue is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including The Reluctant Prophet, which won the 2011 Christy Award for Contemporary Series; Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book, the 2011 Christy Award winner in the Young Adult category; and Healing Waters, which was a 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year and ECPA 2010 Christian Book Award Finalist. Nancy travels extensively---at times on the back of a Harley Davidson---speaking and teaching to groups of `tween girls and their moms and mentoring aspiring Christian authors. She lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin' husband Jim and their two yellow labs (without whom writing would be difficult.)

Join Nancy at her blog as she continues to contemplate what it means to follow The Nudge.

MY THOUGHTS:
If you know someone who looks down their nose at reading Christian fiction and says, "I only read non-fiction," I suggest you give them a copy of this series! I've not read many, if any, books that so clearly demonstrate what following Christ truly means as this series does. Unexpected Dismounts continues the story of Allison as she follows the Nudge God gave her, leading her to buy a Harley and open a home to help prostitutes begin a new life. Now she is facing some rather daunting challenges (some "unexpected dismounts," as they call them in the world of Harleys) and other than one new Nudge (which God must surely intend only to be followed in a theoretical, as opposed to literal, sense!) she finds Him to be rather silent. There's nothing quite like going out on a limb with and for God and then feeling like you're stranded there. . . .especially when almost everyone around you pretty much thinks you're crazy for being there in the first place! Including those who profess to be Christians, who just want Allison to get over this phase and get back in her pew and behave like a "normal" Christian. Allison must decide which is worse: for people to judge her for hearing and following God's voice, or for her to decide the cost is too great and close her ears and her heart to His nudges. Nancy Rue has definitely heard some nudges of her own in writing this series. This is not your typical "safe" Christian fiction. But come to think of it, the Christian life was never guaranteed to be "safe." From a strictly literary sense, this is a phenomenal book. Several times as I read, I stopped and thought, "where does she come up with this stuff?!" The characters and the interactions between them are so well-done that I truly felt as if I might encounter them in real life. But the spiritual dimension utterly transforms it from simply a "good read" to one that will challenge you to follow the Nudge that God is giving you. Don't miss this book and this series.


GIVEAWAY!
I am giving away my purchased copy of this book, which is in pristine condition, to one of you. To enter, leave a comment on this post by 8:00 pm CST Sunday, 11/6/11 and a wiinner will be randomly chosen (Be sure to change your clocks and fall back next weekend!) Be sure to include an email address if you don't have a blog. US residents only, please.