Is reading one of your favorite things? This list of my favorite historical inspirational romance and suspense books might pique your fancy—and give you ideas for using those gift cards Santa left you! #amreading #gifts #inspy #inspyromance #inspirational

There's nothing I love to read more than rich, multilayered, character-driven novels that give cause for reflection, either historical or contemporary - and those seem to be pretty rare in the Christian market. However, an occasional "gem" that fits this description rises to the surface, and Cathy Gohlke is the author of one of those such novels. Her World War II story, Saving Amelie (click title to see my review), not only made my Best of the Best list for 2014, but is one of my all-time favorites. I am honored to have Cathy as a guest on The Power of Words and, rather than me trying to say more about this incredibly moving story, I've asked Cathy to share some thoughts about Saving Amelie and what it means to her. She also has a copy for one of our readers, details at the end of this post. Saving Amelie—Summer 1939 Rachel Kramer is visiting Germany when a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, upends her world. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter Amelie—deaf since birth—as a blight on his Aryan bloodline. Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that now hang like ebony spiders across Berlin. She fears her father, an eminent eugenics scientist, may know about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems unworthy of life. But when she risks searching his classified documents, she also uncovers shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known. Hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young, a driven American journalist whose connections to the resistance help Rachel and Amelie escape Berlin. Forced to hide in the Bavarian village of the Passion Play, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason encounter the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, controversial theologian, and risk their lives, asking others to do the same, for those they barely know but come to love. Carole: Cathy, please share a little about Saving Amelie, what it means to you personally, the spiritual "heart" of the story, and where your current writing focus lies. Cathy: Writing Saving Amelie, and especially reading Bonhoeffer’s works in the process, taught me a no-nonsense approach to Christianity. It’s made me stop questioning God when He calls me to do something—even when the cost is greater than I anticipated, even when God’s standard is beyond what is considered “politically correct” in our culture. It’s helped me take Him at His word, and say, “Yes, Lord—in Your strength, I will do this thing you ask of me. I know I can’t do it in mine, but You would not have called me if You didn’t intend to see me through. So, here I am. Let’s go.” It’s living on the edge, but knowing I’m not alone. It’s freeing, exhilarating, frightening and hopeful. Saving Amelie embraces the truth that every life is valuable, bought with the precious blood of Christ. It exposes the horrors of eugenics, a popular concept in Nazi Germany and in many countries of the day, including the U.S., ranking the lives of some as worthy of life and others as unworthy. I pray Saving Amelie inspires readers to recognize the urgency of standing against culture and/or science that devalues human life, that places personal convenience and preference above the sanctity of that gift. It’s so easy to become preoccupied with our own lives and families and not see what’s happening in the changing of our culture, to believe that our lawmakers have our best interests at heart, to trust that our nation will not let judgments or laws go down morally dangerous paths. As history shows and as we can see, that’s not the case. Saving Amelie is infused with the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his belief that we, as the church, must stand for those in peril, for those who suffer. My next release is scheduled for Fall 2015, Secrets She Kept: Following her emotionally estranged mother’s death, Hannah Sterling uncovers a twisted trail through her mother’s past, leading her to a German grandfather she never knew existed, and clues to a father she never met. Why had her mother run from Germany after WWII, declaring her family dead, and what was their connection to the Nazi war machine? Can Hannah live with the revelation of her family’s wartime secrets or redeem the consequences of their actions? Carole: I have to say that your writing epitomizes all that Christian fiction should be, Cathy, and it is an honor to have you as our guest today. I only hope this is the first of many such visits. Readers, one of you will win a copy of Saving Amelie that Cathy is graciously offering. To enter, please answer this question that Cathy suggested . . . Do you enjoy finding real historical figures in novels? BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. If you'd like to receive e-mail notifications of reviews, author interviews and giveaways, please subscribe to my blog in the upper right corner. "Likes" on my Facebook page, ThePowerofWordsBookReviews, are also greatly appreciated, as are followers on Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and this blog. E-mail required for entry in the drawing. Contest ends at midnight PST on Friday, March 27. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail. Respond within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be chosen. Eligibility: International

Happy Saturday, my friends!! Can you believe April is almost over?!? Craziness. Here are the Goodreads giveaways ending this week that I thought might be of interest to y’all. Best of luck to each of you! ? As always, clicking on the covers will take you to the giveaways and […]

Heart to Home Conference Oh ladies of Monroe, Louisana...have you got a blessing coming your way! The Women of Duck Commander and Christian author Dr. Joneal Kirby have teamed up for inaugural Heart to Home Conference on February 6 and 7, 2015. I love their tag line for the conference: Heart to Home goes beyond just being friends and family, it goes into growing a deeper faith and sharing life together. It is finding those women in need of guidance and those eager to grow in their knowledge of the Word and providing a welcoming home, group, or coffee table where

Writer's Desk with McKenzie Catron McKenzie Catron is a wheelchair-bound, autistic, award-winning YA fantasy author of the “Numina Parable” series and co-author of A Traveler's Guide to The Lucky Gryphon: Recipes & Regalings. She’s been an Arizona resident for more than two decades and lives with her doggy soulmate and service beast, Grimm. McKenzie is

Writer's Desk: Mary Connealy Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies about cowboys, always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. Her most recent book series is WYOMING SUNRISE. Mary has nearly a

Parenting is hard, messy, and holy sacrificial work. It can be inconvenient but worth it. Melissa Hannigan's new book helps break down how to be the best parent

Writer's Desk: Christen Krumm Christen Krumm is the author of the YA romcom, It Happened at Christmas and her adult fiction debut On the Golden Cliffs. She probably drinks too much coffee and creating stories is her favorite. During the day she runs CK Productions — a virtual assisting business specializing in author assistants and

My good friend, and prolific romance writer, Shannon Taylor Vannatter has just released another book! In Reuniting with the Cowboy, Shannon continues with her popular cowboy theme, and no surprise, readers are gobbling it up. (And isn’t the cover beautiful?!) Here’s the back cover blurb: The Cowboy Next Door A charming cowboy moving in next door shouldn’t be bad news. But ... Read More

The Writer's Desk with Dan Seaborn Dan Seaborn is the founder of Winning At Home, a non-profit organization that seeks to support marriages and families through speaking, counseling and coaching services, community events and other media resources. Dan is an engaging and powerful speaker and a thoughtful and practical writer. He has a comfortable and

Writer's Desk with E.B. Dawson E.B. Dawson is an award-winning independent author. Raised in the remote regions of a developing nation, her visits to America as a child felt like traveling into the future. Now she writes science fiction and fantasy to make sense of her unusual perspectives on life. She currently lives in Idaho

Writer's Desk with Ann H. Gabhart Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister. She and her husband live on a farm a mile from where

I'm so thrilled to announce the arrival of the second book in my MacDonald Family Trilogy, London Tides. To celebrate, I'm kicking off a month-long giveaway for some great books and prizes, starting now! (Giveaway ends 7/15/15.)

Mother’s Day Giveaway 2024Carrie Turansky, 08 May 04:47 PM May is the month to celebrate moms and show our love and appreciation for all they have d...

Writer's Desk with Mary Connealy Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy, and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Hi Friends, We LOVE our readers . . . and that means you! We're celebrating Valentine's Day with a special six-book giveaway! These wonderful books are filled with drama, romance, history, and inspiration! Scroll down and take a look, then fill out the Rafflecopter form between February 10 - 15 to enter! This giveaway is open to US and international reading friends. Happy Valentine's Day! You are loved!

Paperback, 352 pages Expected publication: February 20th 2018 by Multnomah Set in Edwardian England and ideal for readers who enjoy Julie Klassen novels, this romance about an English aviation pioneer and the girl who falls in love with him is filled with adventure and faith. Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down? About the Author I was born and raised in Oregon, so my heart longs for tall evergreens, the rugged Oregon Coast, and the pristine Cascade Mountains. But I presently live in beautiful central New Jersey. This is the Garden State, so we enjoy shopping at our local farmers’ market for sweet corn and juicy tomatoes or picking strawberries, blueberries, and peaches at local farms. We are close to Princeton University, Philadelphia, and New York City, so we sometimes take day trips in and enjoy museums, plays, and touring around. Read more about Carrie and her writing journey on her website at http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/about-carrie/ My Review 5 STARS!!! Of all Turanskys’ novels, Across the Blue is my favorite! It was exciting reading about the first flight across the English Channel. I was utterly captivated by the historical details. I ended up reading into the wee hours of the morning and didn’t even realize it was so late or early as the case may be. Bella and James are both determined strong individuals with adventurous spirits, on the cusp of innovation and creativity in 1909. Mild drama, romance, oh the sweet romance, and a fascinating mystery having to do with James’ parentage kept my head in the clouds and the hours just flew by! Superbly written characters along with intriguing plot twists combine to make Across the Blue an inspiring story. I received an uncorrected proof from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received. Sneak Peek https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Sneak-Peek-Across-the-Blue.pdf Pre-order Giveaway Click image to go to publishers website for giveaway information. ~Happy Reading, Y'all~

Hi friends! It’s time for a new season of new books! ALL THE GREAT BOOKS! I was officially born with a reading list I will never finish. Here is the schedule of posts for the week so you can zero in on your fave genre! Monday: Contemporary Fiction (non-Amish & […]

Wow, how thrilling to be part of the YA blog tour this year. I’m Jackie Castle, author of the White Road Chronicles and soon to be published, Sentinel Archives series. What is the White Road Chronicles, you might ask? I can think of nobody better to explain then my wise friend, Lotari. So I will leave the rest of this post for him to tell you more and I’ll return at the end for a last word. Thank you Chronicler Castle! Good day to all. I am Lotari the centaur of the Riverwood clan and I’m here to tell you about life on the White Road. Simply put, think of the Wizard of Oz meets Narnia. If either of these stories enchanted you, then I’d like to invite you to the land of Alburnium for a new kind of adventure. Who You Will Meet Along the Way Well, the series follows an ex-princess named Alyra, who has an extraordinary gift which can benefit both the good (Aloblase) and bad (Racah) kingdoms of the land. When I first met Alyra, she didn’t know her real name, nor where she came from. All she had to go on was a gold medallion from the ruler of Aloblase, King Shaydon. And this was where she was heading when she accidentally stepped off the path and got lost in my woods. As we've traveled together along the white road toward her home, I've learned that her being an Illuminate is only scratching the surface of what she can do and how important she is to bringing on the defeat of the dark King Darnel- her former master and adoptive father. What captured my heart first about her was how she treated me. As if I was… normal and just as important as any human she'd ever met. The next person I met was Jerin of Yarholm, a farm boy who dreamed of being a great warrior. At first, his narrow view of creatures annoyed me to no end. But that was nothing compared to his outright distrust and fear of me. I doubted he'd amount to anything at all. So it's needless to say that we didn't get along in the beginning. This was only one of many obstacles we had to face on our trek to Aloblase. Along our journey, the three of us eventually met up with Katrina the Curian. Curians were once the Wisdom Keepers of the whole land. Until King Darnel tried to destroy them. When we first met Kat, none of us had any idea we'd just joined up with one of the last living Wisdom Keepers. While Katrina searches for the remnant of her people, who are rumored to be in hiding from Lord Darnel, she becomes a hub of information for the rest of us. As we each continue along our paths to accomplish our quests, Kat helps us with mapping the land and learning any information about our surrounding she can from her station at the abandoned Halls of Knowledge, once occupied by her people. If it weren't for our wise Curian friend, we'd all most likely be lost. How, you may ask, do we keep in touch when we are all scattered across Alburnium? Well, you'll have to read the books, but I will say, our means of communication was brought about by the last member who joined our group. Stitch is also a centaur, like myself. A palomino with an attitude. This rambunctious rascal is also an escaped slave from Racah, like Alyra, and often the bane of my existence with his silly pranks and puffed up ego. However, I can no longer imagine my life without any of them. Of course, there are more wonderful- and not so wonderful- characters to meet in The White Road Chronicles. Pick up the first book in the series, Illuminated, for only .99 cents or hop over the Wattpad where you can read it for free, and see for yourself. Thank you for your time. I will now hand the quill back to Chronicler Castle. Here's Something Fun! Thank you Lotari for your help. Well folks, that about sums up The White Road Chronicles which is a series of four books, with two more on the way. I appreciate you reading this far and would like to announce a sale going on this week on Radiance: Book Four which normally goes for $3.99. From August 4th until Sunday August 9th you can get Radiance for only $1.99. About the author Jackie Castle graduated from UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas. She is a published freelance writer, storyteller and former elementary school educator. She lives in Texas with her husband, children, and dog, Ginger (aka ginger-roonie). Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through the worlds of Alburnium or Fay in search of another story. She looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary in everything she experiences. Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle's Story World: www.jackiecastle.com and learn more about the White Road Chronicles at www.jackiecastlebooks.blogspot.com Also find Jackie Castle at: Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/JackieCastleAuthor Twitter- @Jackie_Castle Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/JackieCastle (Where you can read Illuminated and Captured for free) Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jackie_castle/ Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6763857.Jackie_Castle Tumblr- http://jackiecastle.tumblr.com/ The series goes in this order: Illuminated where the journey begins. Luminosity: which sends us each on various quest Emanate: where we being to see the light of our real challenges And just released— Radiance: where questions are answered which set each of us in a new direction. Check out author Logan Keys!

I have seen today’s guest everywhere! Well, her books anyway. And – to my shame – I have not yet been able to squeeze in some time to read one. But my buddy Kav loves them which means I will too. And so will you! Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty […]

In a quiet corner of northern Edwardian England, Margaret Lounsbury diligently works in her grandmother’s millinery shop, making hats and caring for her young sister. Several years earlier, a terrible event shattered their idyllic family life and their future prospects. Maggie is resilient and will do what she must to […]

Learn about JJ Fischer & her award-winning book Calor that has been called a feast of mystery, magic, and adventure.

Learn about John W. Otte's award-winning novel Drawn in Ash and enter to win a copy!

Writer's Desk: Leslie Gould Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and Christy Award–winning author of over forty novels, including the SISTERS OF LANCASTER COUNTY series and the PLAIN PATTERNS series. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history, an MFA in creative writing, and has taught writing on the university level. Leslie enjoys traveling, studying church

Win Cathy Gohlke’s novel, SECRETS SHE KEPT! ENTER TO WIN THE BOOK. ONE WINNER will be randomly selected to win FREE from Tyndale this recently released book! Review Teaser: “I came searching for my…

Hi Friends, We LOVE our readers . . . and that means you! We're celebrating Valentine's Day with a special six-book giveaway! These wonderful books are filled with drama, romance, history, and inspiration! Scroll down and take a look, then fill out the Rafflecopter form between February 10 - 15 to enter! This giveaway is open to US and international reading friends. Happy Valentine's Day! You are loved!