Bloodlines by John Piper

John Piper's latest book Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian is now available. I haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet, but I feel like based on the topic and the author alone, it is probably one of the most needed books of our time.

There is a 19-minute documentary detailing John Piper's personal experience with racism in the South in the 1960s. It's pretty powerful.

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible?

Sharing from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South, pastor John Piper thoughtfully exposes the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope—teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God.

Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of “every tongue, tribe, and nation.”

A friend of mine recently reviewed this book, so feel free to check out her review if you're curious about what someone who's actually read the book thinks!

A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Let me preface this by saying that I have now had the privilege of reviewing three books by Kim Vogel Sawyer. (Check out my reviews for In Every Heartbeat and Courting Miss Amsel.) I thoroughly enjoyed the previous two . . . both were 5-star books for me. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy A Whisper of Peace as much as the others.

Siblings Clay and Vivian arrive in Alaska ready to take the gospel to the natives of a remote village. Certain that this is what God has led them to do, they move into the village and begin building a mission school. When they meet Lizzie, an outcast from the village, they must decide if they will continue to befriend her or give in to the demands of the village leaders and have no further communications with her. As they wrestle with how to handle the situation, they realize that more is at stake than their friendship with Lizzie.

Kim Vogel Sawyer does an excellent job of taking you to eighteenth-century Alaska. The way she describes some of the challenges and life in the village made me feel as though I was there. I especially thought it was funny when two children who come to live with Clay and Vivian constantly comment on how often they made them "wash up." There were a number of small details like that to let me know what life was like . . . and how it was different for Clay and Vivian.

The book was a bit slow for me . . . I just had a hard time really getting into it. After a while, I felt some connection to Vivian and Lizzie and wished that their friendship would have been more of the focus of the book. Clay seemed a bit overbearing at times and I didn't quite understand his and Lizzie's relationship. The attraction really seemed more physical than a true relationship. I think I could have gotten more into the book if the characters had a bit more depth. It seemed that they each portrayed a stereotype, and the problems they faced were handled simply.

While I love Kim Vogel Sawyer and would highly recommend her novels, this one just didn't work for me. Check out the other review online, though, as many of them were quite positive, and you might have different taste than me!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Book
Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separates her from her tribe.

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay arrives in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athabascans. He is totally focused on this goal... until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.

But Lizzie is clearly not part of the tribe. And befriending her might have dire consequences for his mission. Will Clay be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart?

About the Author
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren. She invites you to visit her website for more information.

Update [The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy]

I have been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now, but I've had quite a bit to post. So sorry that it's a little behind schedule!

A few weeks ago, I posted a review for The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy. In the review, I mentioned that the "gift" that Audrey has made me just a little uncomfortable. I just wasn't sure what to think. Was she psychic? Was it metaphorical? Was I over-analyzing?

Erin was kind enough to point me to a post on her blog where she addressed this very topic. I wanted to make sure and pass it along to you all in case you were wondering the same thing.

Any Karen Kingsbury fans out there?

I love Karen Kingsbury. Well . . . I love her books. I don't actually know Karen, but I'm sure she's great.

I digress.

The third book in the Bailey Flanigan series Longing will be released on Tuesday, November 22.

Not to rub it in, but I've already gotten my hands on it. It. Is. Fantastic.

Amazon, Lifeway, and ChristianBook.com are all running specials if you pre-order the book online. If you pre-order now, you'll be one of the first to get the book . . . and at a great discount!

Here's the trailer for the book. Enjoy!

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

A friend introduced me to Laura Frantz about a year ago. The same friend recently loaned me another incredible book by Laura Frantz.

The Colonel's Lady may be the best book I've read all year. No lie. It's fantastic! Laura Frantz again takes readers on a journey to the Kentucke frontier during the American Revolution. Roxanna Rowan arrives at a remote fort in the frontier only to learn that her father has recently died and she must remain at the fort until it is safe for her to return to Virginia. A difficult commanding officer, peace negotiations with Indians, impending attacks from the British army, traitorous acts from someone within the fort . . . there isn't a dull moment from the first page until the last!

Laura Frantz is an incredible writer. Her writing style is absolutely beautiful. The way she describes the people and places in this story made me feel as though I were actually there in Kentucke in 1779. I think I would recognize these characters if I met them on the street!

I am such a huge fan of Laura Frantz. My only complaint is that she can't write fast enough for me! If you haven't yet read Laura Frantz's books, consider this your invitation. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

About the Book
Can love survive the secrets kept buried within a tormented heart?

Roxanna Rowan may be a genteel Virginia woman, but she is determined to brave the wilds of the untamed frontier to reach a remote Kentucky fort. Eager to reunite with her father, who serves under Colonel Cassius McLinn, Roxanna is devastated to find that her father has been killed on a campaign.

Penniless and out of options, Roxanna is forced to remain at the fort. As she spends more and more time with the fiery Colonel McLinn, the fort is abuzz with intrigue and innuendo. Can Roxanna truly know who the colonel is--and what he's done?

Immerse yourself in this powerful story of love, faith, and forgiveness set in the tumultuous world of the frontier in 1779.

About the Author
Laura Frantz credits her grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in the late eighteenth century and settled in Madison County, where her family still resides. Frantz is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington with her husband and two sons.

Blog Tour: A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander was absolutely fantastic! Set in Nashville's Belmont Mansion after the Civil War, I loved reading Claire and Sutton's story. Claire is grieving the loss of her mother when her father dies and her beloved uncle betrays her. Alone in a new city, she receives unexpected help in finding a job at the Belmont Mansion as the personal liaison to Mrs. Adelicia Acklen (a true character!) Meanwhile, Sutton is trying to make his own way in life - grieving his father's death, emotionally supporting his mom, and trying to save his family's land and honor. His suspicions of Claire and her suspect timing at Belmont soon give way to affection and friendship.

Claire and Sutton were phenomenal characters. Once I got to know Claire a bit, I really connected with her. And Sutton was just . . . dreamy. (Is that cheesy or what?!) I really did love their relationship, and the way you could feel their romance. In spite of all the proper ways of interacting, their affection for one another was nearly tangible (in a good, clean way). Even when they weren't sure if they were supposed to be together or not.

I was completely enthralled by the Belmont Mansion. The incredible wealth and beauty of the mansion and grounds were inspiring. The way that Tamera describes it made me feel like I was actually there. I'm definitely going to have to check it out soon. (I'm sure Hubs will love that! Grin!)

I'm fairly certain that I was born in the wrong time period. The thought of living during the late 1800s / early 1900s is absolutely fascinating to me. The dresses, the parties, the mansions, the proper etiquette. Sigh. It would be so fun to experience that . . . just for a day or two maybe.

While I had trouble getting into the book at first (maybe I was just in a weird mood??), I wasn't ready to put it down when I reached the last page. Tamera, I can't wait to read more about the Belmont Mansion. Any chance you could write faster?!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House and Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and hones review.


About the Book
A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.  

About the Author
Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier. For more information please visit www.tameraalexander.com.

Contest from Tamera Alexander!

Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander! While Tamera and her book,  A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually (with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!