Mystery, wine and a sip of romance at the Fredrickson Winery!

This week the Grace Awards Summer Book tour spotlights ENTANGLED by Barbara Ellen Brink. For mystery, wine, and a touch of romance visit the Fredrickson Winery. Great summer reading set in the beautiful Napa Valley.

ENTANGLED is the 1st in the Fredrickson Winery series. Here's a little blurb to wet your palate:
One lost summer is time best left forgotten... 

When Minneapolis attorney, Billie Fredrickson, inherits her uncle's small California winery, she has no intention of actually moving to the west coast and starting a new life. Her only thought is to get it off her hands as quickly as possible. But her return to the winery after an absence of twenty years opens up more than the reading of her uncle's will. Childhood memories, long-buried, begin to surface, prompting questions that no one is able or willing to answer.
A late night prowler, a break-in at the winery, and an unearthed box of shocking photographs is someone's way of pulling the welcome mat out from under Billie's feet, but it only makes her dig her heels in deeper.

Secrets lie buried beneath Fredrickson Winery's innocent facade and Billie intends to get to the root. But disturbing the past lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother's. Can she live with the consequences of full disclosure or will she run home where everyone is Minnesota Nice.

Barbara is offering a GIVE AWAY on her blog. Click here to pop over and find out how you could win a copy of her 3rd Fredrickson Winery novel, SAVOR.

To purchase ENTANGLED visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Barbara Ellen Brink is the award-winning author if SPLIT SENSE, The Fredrickson Winery series, ALIAS RAVEN BLACK, and the Amish Bloodsucker Trilogy. Check out Barbara's blog and her Amazon Author page.

And don't forget to visit all the other Grace Awards Summer Book Tour Authors:


Mon, Aug 12 ~ Naomi Musch, PAINT ME ALTHENA

Mon, Aug 19 ~ Marcy Dyer, OUT FOR BLOOD

Mon, Aug 26 ~ Nike Chillemi, DARKEST HOUR

Mon, Sept 2 ~ DeEtteBeckstead, VICTORY

Mon, Sept 9 ~ JanalynVoigt, DAWNSINGER

Mon, Sept 16 ~ Kenneth Winters, THE LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE

Mon, Sept 23 ~ BJ Robinson, LAST RESORT

Mon, Sept 30 ~ Laura J.Marshall , A HEART’S HOME

Mon. Oct 7 - Tammy Doherty, CELTIC KNOT

Grace Awards Summer Book Launch!

Looking for a good book to read this summer, or even this fall? Check out the fantastic line-up of Grace Award authors featured in the Grace Awards Launch. From July 22nd to October 7th, we'll be highlighting some of the best in Christian fiction.

I'm getting off to a late start, so this week I'll be showcasing two wonderful authors. Their books are completely different so there won't be any conflict! Today in the spotlight is Tracy Krauss with her award-winning novel WIND OVER MARSHDALE. I had the pleasure of judging this book in the 2012 Grace Awards. Each character grabs hold of the reader and won't let go and there's a nice, low-key mystery/suspense plot as well. It's a real page turner! Here's back cover blurb:

Marshdale. Just a small farming community where nothing special happens. A perfect place to start over… or get lost. There is definitely more to this prairie town than meets the eye. Once the meeting place of aboriginal tribes for miles around, some say the land itself was cursed because of the people’s sin. But its history goes farther back than even indigenous oral history can trace and there is still a direct descendant who has been handed the truth, like it or not. Exactly what ties does the land have to the medicine of the ancients? Is it cursed, or is it all superstition?

Wind Over Marshdale is the story of the struggles within a small prairie town when hidden evil and ancient medicine resurface. Caught in the crossfire, new teacher Rachel Bosworth finds herself in love with two men at once. First, there is Thomas Lone Wolf, a Cree man whose blood lines run back to the days of ancient medicine but who has chosen to live as a Christian and faces prejudice from every side as he tries to expose the truth. Then there is Con McKinley, local farmer who has to face some demons of his own. Add to the mix a wayward minister seeking anonymity in the obscurity of the town; eccentric twin sisters – one heavily involved in the occult and the other a fundamentalist zealot; and a host of other ‘characters’ whose lives weave together unexpectedly for the final climax. This suspenseful story is one of human frailty - prejudice, cowardice, jealousy, and greed – magnified by powerful spiritual forces that have remained hidden for centuries, only to be broken in triumph by grace.

Sounds good, doesn't it?! You can buy it at Amazon or Barnes&Noble, or at Tracy's online store.

Be sure to come back on Wednesday for an interview with our next featured author, Suzanne D. Williams.

2012 Edgy Christian Fiction Summer Blog Tour!

It's my honor to be the first up on the calendar for this year's ECFL Hot Summer Reads Blog Tour. Each week, on Wednesday, one of our authors will be in the spotlight, showcasing on their blog up to 3 of their own novels. We'll let  you know a bit about each book and why it's a "hot summer read." You'll have plenty of great novels for beach reading or taking on vacation - or to read while you're relaxing in your own yard. Without further ado, here are my offerings:

Title: CELTIC CROSS
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Blurb:
Sometimes you have to forget who you to become who you should be.
Shot...bleeding...barely concious...she's dying! A stranger arrives on the Donovan ranch one breath away from dead. Matt Donovan doesn't hesitate to help, despite the risk that the man who shot her may come riding down the trail, shattering peaceful Glenpark, Colorado. When Cristeen wakes, she remembers nothing of her past. One thought haunts her day and night - trust no one. Matt fears Cristeen's independence will lead to tragedy. Can he help Cristeen see the need to trust the Lord before it's too late? Can Cristeen overcome her belief that loving only brings heartache?


What makes this a "Hot" Summer Read?


Fast-paced Western action, well-researched historical setting, and compelling characters - you'll be immersed in the story as if you're right there with Cristeen and Matt.


Purchase at:
Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Title: CLADDAUGH
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Blurb:
Leigh Latham dreamed of marrying a man of wealth. When she chooses money over love, she turns her back on family and friends. But life doesn't go quite as Leigh planned. 
When the dream becomes a nightmare, Leigh flees Philadelphia. With nowhere else to go, she returns to the friends she left behind. Can she possibly hope to find forgiveness? Marshal Rory Johnston thought he was over Leigh. Now he isn't so sure they can be just friends. Leigh is hiding something, running from someone. Somehow he'll have to protect her and his heart at the same time. Will history repeat itself? Or can loyal friendship grow into a love to last a lifetime?

What makes this a "Hot" Summer Read?

This second book in the Latham series continues the mix of fast-paced Western action with inspirational romance.

Purchase at:

Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Title: CELTIC KNOT

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Blurb:

Abby Finnigan struggles to go on with life after the death of her husband. Her family has never been supportive, more so now than ever. The only safe course is to protect her heart. Besides, people only do nice things today because they want something tomorrow.

Secret Service Operative Kyle Lachapelle is working undercover. From the moment he meets Abby, Kyle finds her intriguing—and attractive. But Abby is connected to his counterfeiting case. Can he can trust her? His guarded attitude confuses Abby. She trusts him with much yet withholds her heart, not wanting to be hurt again. When Kyle begins making arrests, her doubts seem justified. Will love conquer their fears?

What makes this a "Hot" Summer Read?

Last in the Latham series, Celtic Knot combines the expected Western action with mystery and suspense with counterfeiting, jail breaks, murder and kidnapping. This story is has as many twists as its name implies.

Purchase at:

Amazon or  Barnes and Noble

Which one intrigues you the most?

Hot Summer Reads!

Welcome to the 2011 Edgy Christian Fiction Hot Summer Reads Blog Tour. Check us all out! There are some great summer reads out there just waiting for you to pick them up or download! To purchase one of these wonderful novels, just click on the book cover.

I’m off to a late start with my blog post. Life is supposed to slow down in the summer – ya’ know, “hazy, lazy days.” Just doesn’t seem to happen when you have kids! Today was the start of swimming lessons, which is apropos for this blog post. Any of my four book choices would be great to take along to the beach. The first two are historical romances, Westerns really, written by me. Each takes place in 1880’s Colorado and were inspired partly by my love of Louis L’Amour Westerns. Each is full of action, a touch of suspense and, of course, romance. 

CELTIC CROSS  - Sometimes you have to forget who you are in order to become who you should be.

Cristeen Latham has spent her life trusting no one – sometimes not even herself and certainly not God. When she arrives at the Donovan ranch clinging to life, Matt Donovan is determined to help even though she is a stranger. But now a madman is on her trail and Cristeen must learn to trust…or die.

CELTIC KNOT – There’s something to be said for familiarity, but it’s not all good.

When widow Abby Finnegan meets ranch hand Kyle Lachapelle, she figures he’s as deceitful as her family. But Kyle is a Secret Service operative working undercover, and Abby has a disturbing connection to his counterfeiting case. Abby’s protecting her heart while Kyle can’t afford the feelings stirring in his. Love is out of the question…or is it the answer?

The third book is one I’ve been wanting to read for a while – what better excuse than a blog tour!

SEASONS IN THE MIST by Deborah Kinnard

Bethany Lindstrom is a history student working who goes back in time to 1353 Cornwall. How it happens, and how Deb Kinnard makes it fit with her Christian world view is fascinating. Once Beth adjusts to her new surroundings, she becomes embroiled in political intrigue of King Edward’s court. She makes new friends and finds love, something she lacked in her modern life. But does she belong in the fourteenth century or the twenty-first? The history and language in this novel are an added joy – I especially loved that no one could pronounce Bethany nor Lindstrom properly. This book is a must read for any fan of historicals or time-travel.

For my fourth book, I chose one by an author a recently “met” online. Dora Hiers first novel, published by White Rose Publishing, is a contemporary romantic suspense. Just like my current WIP. In fact, Dora’s style is much the same as mine: real people faced with a situation just slightly out of the ordinary.

JOURNEY’S END by Dora Hiers tells the story of Chelsea Hammond and Trey Colten. Chelsea is just about to open a camp for troubled teens when, ironically, the son of the man who murdered her husband shows up unexpectedly. He witnessed his mother’s murder;  US Marshal Trey Colten and his partner are sent to protect both the boy and Chelsea. But who will protect Trey from the effect Chelsea has on his heart? The story is well-written, fast paced, with just enough conflict between Trey and Chelsea to keep the pages turning. I highly recommend this novel to lovers of romantic suspense.

If you've read one of these novels, I'd love to hear your opinion. And don't forget to check out future posts for some great ideas. Wednesday, July 20th, visit http://shelialipsey.com/blog/ ; Friday, July 22nd, it's Tracy Krauss's turn (www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com).