2014 Laurel Award Feature

On October 22, 2014, A Miracle of Hope won Clash of the Titles'Laurel Award. During a six-week period, the novel's first 3,500 words wereread and judged by avid readers of Christian fiction who determined it tobe the worthiest to receive the 2014 Laurel Award.

Clash of the Titles extends a heartfelt congratulations to author Ruth Reidfor her commendable work. We wish God's abundant blessings on her futureprojects.

“A Miracle of Hope quickens a reader’s heart in hope that one child’s faithwill be miracle enough.” –Alan Daugherty, News-Banner columnist

About A Miracle of Hope

Lindie Wyse thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve afuture for herself and her unborn child. Josiah Plank is certain he’llnever love again, but he needs someone to care for his deaf eight-year-olddaughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at firstbut soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined. After ashort time, Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when sherecognizes the child’s special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serioushealth issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie arebuilding—and the love that is growing between them.

Will their marriage survive their struggles, or will their hearts become ascold as the northern winter?

PURCHASEYOUR COPY

“A beautifully written love story, A Miracle of Hope is both heartwarmingand heartbreaking and features believable, charming characters who arewilling to do whatever it takes for love.” 4 stars, RT Book Reviews 

Listen to Cynthia L.Simmon's" Heartof the Matter" radio interview of Laurel Award Winner,Ruth Reid!

About Ruth:
Ruth is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earthand Amish Wonders series. When attending Ferris State University School ofPharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amishcommunity and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interestgrew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life. Ruth residesin Florida with her husband and three children. 

She can be reached HERE.

“…Ruth’s descriptions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during the winter arevivid and almost hauntingly beautiful—yet the hardship and “cabin fever”element are very real. But it’s character depth that is this story’sstrength…” –Carole Jarvis, Amazon Review

Ruth's Upcoming Projects:

HerChristmas Pen Pal, a novella in An Amish Second Christmas collectionreleasedOctober 2014.

AWoodland Miracle will be released in January2015

She is currentlyworking on book three of the Amish Wonders Series (untitled at thistime; release is planned for 2016). 

****

OLYMPIA OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!

Authors, take note! 

Clash of the Titles has opened its doors forsubmissions to the 2015 Olympia.

TheOlympia is COTT's yearly contest for unpublished writers. Thesubmissions are judged by their audience—readers well versedinChristian fiction yet not associated with the CBA industry.

Authors write for readers, so why not have readers bethe judges?

Finalists in the contest will also have their work read and judgedby three industry professionals!

With a submission fee of only $15, easy electronic submission, abevy of prizes, and judges devoted to Christian fiction and authorencouragement, the Olympia is a contest like no other.

Butonce our doors are open, you'll need to act quick! Slots are limited.

To avoid overburdening our volunteerjudges, we are limited in the number of submissions we canaccept.

Submissions:

Oct. 31, 2014-Dec 12,2014 

For more details, please visit oursite.

Stay tuned for updates by 

subscribingto COTT's blog and “liking” ourFacebook page.

Winner of the August New Releases Clash

Thanks to all of our participants for their wonderful submissions.

Congratulations to Our Winner!

Having his younger sister at camp was a pain, but Taylor Dixon never expected the pain to go so deep. At 15, Taylor dreams of getting his driver’s license and driving racecars when he’s older. Only his younger sister, Marissa, believes in his dreams, but her adventurous spirit keeps landing him in trouble. Dad won’t let Taylor get his license and predicts he’s heading for the same jail cell as his once-favored older brother.

Taylor returns to Rustic Knoll Bible Camp, expecting softball, swimming and sermons. Then he discovers a classic Mustang in the camp’s machine shed, and the owner’s invitation to help restore it fuels his dream of driving racecars. But when Marissa falls for his snobbish cabin mate, the ensuing war of words and pranks escalates until it threatens to destroy both the car and his dreams for the future.

Will Taylor fulfill Dad’s prediction?

Or will the message of the old Mustang’s engine set him free from the prison he built himself?

 A video of Speak No Evil

Buy Speak No Evil

Amazon

B&N

Meet Mary Hamilton

Mary L. Hamilton grew up at a youth camp in southern Wisconsin, much like the setting for her Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. Her stories feature kids who bring their real life issues to camp
and gain new perspectives on themselves and their problems.

Mary is a graduate of two Long Ridge Writer's Group courses and an ACFW member. She's an award-winning author who started out writing articles and a Christmas play, "Homespun Angel,"
before trying her hand at novels. She and her husband raise three terrific kids and live in Texas with a rescued Golden Retriever.

Connect with Mary:
Website / blog

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter:@mhamilton122<;br />
What our Voters Had to Say:

God Bless you Mary Hamilton. Speak No Evil caught my heart.

Mary, your writing is truly inspired! Thank you for answering The Call!

Another great camp tale...waiting for #3

Mary Hamilton, I think your books are truly relevant for teen age kids and good for parents to read as well.

I got hooked after reading the first book in Mary Hamilton's series. Speak No Evil is definitely on my "must-read" list!

An Interview with Mary

How did you come up with the idea for this series?

While raising my three children, I saw so much pain in the lives of their friends who were dealing with all the aspects of their parents’ divorce, as well as conflicts with parents and siblings.

Because of my own background, I believe in the power of Christian camping, so I decided to use some real life issues that kids face and let them deal with them at camp.

Are any of the characters based on real people?

Most of the adult staff in the book are modeled after people I knew as a child. Often, the characters are a combination of people I knew.

The first book in the series is Hear No Evil. This book is Speak No Evil. Will there be one titled See No Evil?

Yes, I’m working on that one now. It’s scheduled for release in May 2015.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I love the connection with my readers. It’s very humbling to know that people not only want to read my words but that they get such enjoyment out of the stories. That makes my day!

Hope at Dawn, Of Love and War, Book 1 by Stacy Henri

About Book

With her brothers away fighting the Great War overseas, Livy Campbell desperately wants to help her family. Her chance comes when she meets a handsome stranger who lands her a job as a teacher in a place far from her parents' farm. But the war casts a long shadow over the German-American town that Livy now calls home-and the darkness will test everything she thought she knew about family and love . . .

More than anything, Friedrick Wagner wants to be part of his adopted country's struggle for peace. But when the bitter animosity between Germans and Americans soon turns citizens against newcomers, friend against friend, he will do whatever it takes to protect Livy from the hysteria that grips their town. As tragedy-and dark secrets from the past-threaten their future, Friedrick and Livy have one chance to stand up for what's right . . . and one chance to fight for their love.

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

About Author

Stacy Henrie has always had an avid appetite for history, fiction and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations from Brigham Young University and worked in communications before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances.

Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a stay-at-home mom to three, Stacy loves the chance to live out history through her fictional characters, while enjoying the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century. In addition to author, she is a reader, a road trip enthusiast and a novice interior decorator. She and her family currently reside in Utah.

Stacy is represented by Jessica Alvarez of Book Ends, LLC.

Website: http://www.stacyhenrie.com/


My Thoughts  

Livy Campbell is very aware of the strain the war has brought to her family. If only she could find a teaching position. A handsome man told her about a teaching position in his home town. She applies for the position and is surprised and pleased when her application is accepted. This job will help her family especilly since her brothers are off fighting in the war.

With the coming of war with Germany also came fear and prejudice against the American-Germans. Fredrick Wagner is a born American of German decent. But there are those like his mother, a German Immigrant, that mainly speaks German. The town fears there are German spies living among them. This leaves the German community in fear of their lives and livelihood.

I was married into an American-German family, the Borho's were one of the first to have settled in Williamson County, Leander, Texas. The old home place still stands. My children are very proud of their German heritage.

Mr. Borho in the black hat and his sons leaning against the wall. The youngest of the boys is my kids Pepa.

 This book opened my eyes to things the American-against the Germans suffered during this war. Even though the young men of German decent, born in America and proud to be an American were still not trusted.

Livy was even having a hard time trusting Frederick. The fact that Livy feared him broke his heart. Livy knowing her fear was not what God would want of her, she prayed for guidance.

I've read many stories about the war overseas but none depicted the hardship of the German communities in the United States. This shows the burdens of the very young to the very old, no matter the nationality. The children were the ones that touched my heart the deepest.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Netgally/Forever Publications for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review it is my honest opinion.

August New Releases Clash

Clash of the Titles presents four brand new inspirational novels. One's set in a Bible camp for tweens or the tweens in your lives. Hopes and dreams are threatened in another. In the third, a town's in need of a miracle. Two people work to cure a deadly disease in the fourth. Which one will you read first? Browse the books, then, using the voting box below, let us know the title you'll put at the top of your to-be-read list.



SPEAK NO EVIL by Mary Hamilton
Having his younger sister at summer camp will be a pain, but Taylor Dixon, 15, never expects the pain to go so deep. When she falls for his snobbish cabin mate, a war of words and pranks escalates, threatening to land him in jail and destroying his dreams for the future, until a lesson learned from an old engine sets him free from the prison he built himself.




THE HESITANT HEIRESS by Dawn Crandall
With the rare ability to play the piano by ear, Amaryllis Brigham wants nothing more than to someday found a music school. However, someone keeps undermining her hopes and dreams, and
she's sure it's Bram Everstone--the father of the one man she's ever come close to falling for.




MIRACLE IN A DRY SEASON by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Perla Long wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter where her past can stay hidden, but she ends up in a town in desperate need of a miracle. Bachelor Casewell Phillips sees everything he wants in a woman in her, but can't get past the sense she's hiding something.



WITH EVERY BREATH by Elizabeth Camden
In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston's respectable life as a statistician is disrupted by an encounter with the insufferable Trevor McDonough, the one man she'd hoped never to see again. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and the only reason he seeks her out now is because of the one thing they share in common: the competitive drive to cure the world's deadliest disease.

Clash of the Titles Turns Four and Celebrates with AmazingGiveaways!

...

Happy Birthday,

Clash of the Titles!

Can you believe Clash of the Titles is FOUR years old?

It hardly seems possible.

Four years ago this month, COTT's arena opened for its first Clash, and it's been going strong ever since! Hundreds of Christian authors have competed, and 58 have left victorious. Each author has earned a special place in our hearts, and we at COTT find it an immense privilege to promote Christ through their work.

Join us this week as both COTT champs and COTT staff celebrate these four,amazing years together!

Over the next four days, our generous champions will be giving away 61 oftheir books.

Sixty-one!

We've divided those books into four giveaways--one for each year God has blessed us!

(See below for today's list.)

Each participant has myriad opportunities to enter the four drawings,

but there will only be FOUR WINNERS.

Will you be one of them??

Find out at Clash of theTitles on Tuesday, September 23rd!

Drawings will be open until Monday night,

September 22 (midnight PST).

Until then, it's free rein on entries.

Don't miss out on the fun!

Below, you'll find the four links, one for each giveaway. 
See the Rafflecopter at the end of each article for your entry options.

GIVEAWAY ONE

GIVEAWAY TWO
GIVEAWAY THREE
GIVEAWAYFOUR

Best wishes!

The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher

About Book

A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.I highly A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.An arduous trek toward justice—or redemption.

Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver’s already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared’s secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father’s fortune. And Jared’s in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family—even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.

The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn’t theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven’t dared voice: What happens next?

Recorded May 10, 2014

About Author

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award and numerous other awards and recognitions, Robin is the author of 70 novels/novellas. Her books have been translated into Dutch, French, and Chinese (to name a few).

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She and her husband  their home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon and Pinky the feline terror.

Join her on her Facebook: (http://www.facebook.com/robinleehatcher).

Website: http://www.robinleehatcher.com/

Twitter: @robinleehatcher

My Thoughts

Silver Matlock draws attention to herself by being a jilted bride. Her groom not only left her at the altar he also robbed her family blind. Now Silver draws even more attention to herself by hiring Jared Newman, a known bounty hunter to get her families money back before her parent's livelyhood is taken away. She makes things complicated for Jared by forcing him to take her along on the hunt to capture her no good groom and retain the money he stole. There was someting about Jared that made her feel much more than just safe. How could she be attracted to such such a man?

Jared had another agenda to attend to first, yet chose to withhold this bit of information from Silver. He could/should have sent her home but he liked having her with him which was a surprise to him. Besides she did pull her own weight under very dangerous conditions and terrain.

I took Silver as a strong willed character with strong views for the future of women.  I was impressed by Jared's character because he was not put off by Silver's views. This was due to the fact she dearly reminded him of his out spoken younger sister.

I enjoyed the fortitude the author created in Silver. We need to hear and read more about the strong women that helped build our country.  These women would not have made it if it weren't for men like Jared who helped women hang on to and speak out about their strong opinions and will.

I can just imagine a little or maybe alot of Robin in Silver's character.  ;)

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley/Zondervan for an honest review.

An Amish Garden, Novella, by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Tricia Goyer, Vannetta Chapman

Where Healing Blooms by Vannetta Chapman
Emma discovers a run-away teen in her barn, and the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a woman and her two children. Then her mother-in-law reveals a secret about her garden. Will Emma choose loneliness or learn to accept God’s gifts?

Flowers for Rachael by Kathleen Fuller

Rachael’s garden is beautiful, but she is lonely. Gideon is in love with Rachael, but when Rachael finds her garden in shambles after a crisis, she rejects his help. Will she realize she doesn’t have to do everything on her own?

Seeds of Love by Tricia Goyer

When a corporation shows interest in buying Sadie’s heirloom seeds, she panics. They are all she has left of herDat and Mem. Eli believes he can help Sadie, but a misunderstanding leaves her heartbroken. Will she trust him again, and will the seeds of a new relationship take root?

Rooted in Love by Beth Wiseman

Rosemary is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul has been interested in her for years, but Rosemary has turned him down repeatedly. Saul begins helping with her family’s garden, but someone is sabotaging his efforts—and keeping a secret that could change their lives.

Download a Sample Chapter 

 Publisher:http://www.thomasnelson.com/an-amish-garden7

Where to purchase

About Authors

Beth Wiseman
Award-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, inlcuding Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth's The Promise is inspired by a true story. Website: www.bethwiseman.com Twitter: @bethwiseman Facebook: Fans-of-Beth-Wiseman

Kathleen Fuller
Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including A Man of His Word and Treasuring Emma, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, The Mysteries of Middlefield. Website: www.kathleenfuller.com Twitter: @TheKatJam Facebook: Author Kathleen Fuller

Tricia Goyer
USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. Tricia and her husband John live in Little Rock, Arkansas where John works for FamilyLife. They have six children. Twitter: @triciagoyer
Facebook: authortriciagoyer

Vannetta Chapman
Vannetta Chapman is author of the best-selling novel A Simple Amish Christmas. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Website: www.vannettachapman.com Twitter: @VannettaChapman Facebook: VannettaChapmanBooks


My Thoughts

Amish genre is one of my top reads and in my opinion anything these four authors write is a must read.

In this book these authors gave me several hours of enjoyable reading. Four stories in one book, is a major plus. In all four stories gardens have a special place in the characters spiritual growth. I too have experienced this type spiritual growth while gardening. Authors like these always leave me in a better place in my walk with God after reading their books.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free ebook from Netgalley/Thomas Nelson for an honest review.

Annie's Stories, an Ellis Island novel

Clash of the Titles is having a 

BIRTHDAY BASH!

During the week of

September 15-23

COTT will be conducting FOUR giveaways, one for each year 

we've been promoting Christian fiction.

During these giveaways, TWENTY of our former champions will bedonating 

62 copies

of their books!

You read right--62 novels!

(Distributed among four differentwinners.)

Mark your calendars to return to COTT on September 15.

You don't want miss this amazing event!

And now, our featured novel....

***

Clash of the Titles' next featured author comes in with a storm ofhigh-five comments from some very dedicated fans! Cindy'snovel, Annie's Stories, was the runner-up in our August Clash,and for good reason. Doesn't that cover just make you want to dropeverything and float away on a good book? 

Why not grab, this book...?

About the book:
The year is 1901, the literary sensation The Wonderful Wizard of Ozis taking New York City by storm, and everyone wonders where the next greatbook will come from. But to Annie Gallagher, stories are more thanentertainment—they’re a sweet reminder of her storyteller father. After hisdeath, Annie fled Ireland for the land of dreams, finding work at HawkinsHouse.

But when a fellow boarder with something to hide is accused of misconductand authorities threaten to shut down the boardinghouse, Annie fears shemay lose her new friends, her housekeeping job . . . and her means offunding her dream: a memorial library to honor her father. Furthermore, thefriendly postman shows a little too much interest in Annie—and in herfather’s unpublished stories. In fact, he suspects these tales may hold agrand secret.

Though the postman’s intentions seem pure, Annie wants to share herfather’s stories on her own terms. Determined to prove herself, Annie mustforge her own path to aid her friend and create the future she’s alwaysenvisioned . . . where dreams really do come true.

PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnesand Noble

ChristianBook Distributors

What our voters had to say!

--Annie's Stories was a sweet novel. Cindy Thomson was a new author to me.I will definitely be reading more of her books!
--Love your stories, Cindy Thomson!
--Sounds wonderful Cindy Thomson. Reminds me of be read to by my lovelyparents.
--Looking forward to reading Annie's Stories, Cindy Thomson!
--Cindy Thomson is such a talent!
--I loved this novel by author Cindy Thomson.
--Vote for Annie's Stories!
--Cindy Thomson I am really looking forward to reading Annie's Stories! Iknow I can carve out some quality reading time really soon! -Ronda R
--Go Cindy Thomson! Her books are great! You won't regret picking up herbook!
--I just love the way Cindy weaves a story :-)

What Cindy's readers have to say:
"Now and again there comes along a book that holds a personal message forme. I believe these messages come from God. In that alone I’m so very gladI read this book. The influence a book can have on a reader is a specialmessage gleaned from this book. Annie looks to the characters in TheWonderful Wizard of Oz while dealing with her life challenges. Any readercan relate to having been influenced by a book."  ~ChristianManifesto, 2014 Lime Award Nominee

Amazon reviewer: "A good historical novel will take you back through theyears and let you remember a time you never experienced. Cindy Thomson'sEllis Island series is doing just that. A great historical novel won'tstop there, though, it will also give you characters to befriend whileyou're in its pages. Cindy Thomson's books do that as well."~TheophilusFarrell4

About the author:
Ciny Thomson is a writer and an avid genealogy enthusiast. Her love ofhistory and her Scots-Irish heritage have inspired much of her writing,including her new Ellis Island series. Cindy is also the

author of Brigid of Ireland and Celtic Wisdom: Treasures from Ireland. Shecombined her love of history and baseball to co-author the biography ThreeFinger: The Mordecai Brown Story, which was a finalist for the Society forAmerican Baseball Research's Larry Ritter Book Award. In addition to books,Cindy has written on a regular basis for numerous online and printpublications and is a mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian WritersGuild. Cindy and her husband have three grown sons and live in centralOhio.

Connect with Cindy:
Events 
Facebook
Website

Find more great reads at Clash of the Titles.com!

Miracle in a Dry Season, Appalachian Blessings Series by Sarah Loudin Thomas

In a Drought, it's the Darkest Cloud That Brings Hope

It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle. 

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

Where to Purchase

• Baker Retail
• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Christianbook.com
• 
  

Read Excerpt here

About Author

Sarah Loudin Thomas is a fund-raiser for a children's ministry who has also published freelance writing for Mountain Homes Southern Style and Now & Then magazines, as well as The Asheville Citizen-Times and The Journey Christian Newspaper. She holds a bachelor's in English from Coastal Carolina University. She and her husband reside in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Learn more at www.sarahloudinthomas.com.

My Thoughts

Perla Long and her young daughter moves into her sister's family home in hopes of a peaceful new begining for her and her child.  But people began to notice Perla was not normal, plus she had a past that most of the community was not willing to overlook. Some claimed she was a witch then there was a few that saw her as gifted by God.  There was one person, Caswell Phillips, that was exceptionally kind to her and her daughter. Caswell tried to explain to her and others  how special she and her gift really were. That is until he found out about her past which she tried so hard to keep secret.

The time this story is set was during a drought which created hard times for most everyone. The main character is  one a very special single woman with a child nd they are going through very hard times.  The author writes about how in times like these God uses the lowest of society to bless a whole community even though they be blind to the gifts right in front of them.  

This brings to mind the verse when Jesus draws a line in the sand and asks for those without sin to throw a stone at the adultress woman.  All had walked away because none were without sin?

God prevails in this story with a  miracle in a dry season.

 I highly recommend this book. 

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley/Bethany House for an honest review.

August Winner and Upcoming GRAND Event!

A hearty thanks to all the voters who turned out for this month'sclash!

The scores have been tallied and a winner chosen.

But before the grand reveal, an announcement...

***

Clash of the Titles is having a 

BIRTHDAY BASH!

During the week of

September 15-23

COTT will be conducting FOUR giveaways, one for each year 

we've been promoting Christian fiction.

During these giveaways, TWENTY of our former champions will bedonating 

62 copies

of their books!

You read right--62 novels!

(Distributed among four different winners.)

Mark your calendars to return to COTT on September 15.

You don't want miss this amazing event!

***

And now, the winner of our August Clash...

The Rose Ring

by Lucie Ulrich

Congratulations, Lucie! 

As you'll note from the comments (below) left during the voting, Lucie's fans simply adore her.

Lucie, welcome to the family.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

With a will that reads like a piece of fiction, the return of his long-lost brother, and the possibility of losing the family ranch, Micah Cooper calls on high school friend, Sky Baxter, to bailhimout of a bad situation.

Though her brain tells her no, Sky’s heart says yes. Sheaccepts Micah’s in-name-only proposal, knowing it’s unlikely anything permanent will come of it. She’s been in love with him since the ninth grade, and if he hasn’t figured it out by now, there’s little chance he ever will.

When an unexpected kiss ignites a spark, giving Micah hope for a possible future with Sky, a tragic accident threatens to take it all away. Torn between following his heart, doing the right thing, and forgiving the past, Micah is lost in a whirlwind of pain and emotions. Will he make it through the next two years, or will a long-kept family secret be the undoing of them all?

PURCHASE 

Amazon   

B&;N 

iBooks1

Smashwords

Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Lucie Ulrich took her time becoming a writer. Not much of a reader as a child, writing was of no interest to

her--until she joined a church drama team. The desire to write a skit, and not simply act out someone else's was so strong, that once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. That first skit led to her becoming the drama team director, then eventually, the performing arts director at a small Christian school.

Lucie's first novel was penned under a tree in a field in Holland.Though her first, second, and third attempts never saw the light of day, parts of each of them became the foundation for "Broken Vessels," her first published work.

No longer involved with the performing arts, Lucie enjoys going on photo shoots with her husband, and taking long (or short) road trips. She hopes tofind inspiration as she and her husband explore the four corners of the UnitedStates. 

What COTT voters had to say:

-Great job Lucie!
-Lucie Ulrich, wonderful story-I really enjoyed it
-Always enjoy reading books written by Lucie Ulrich...hard to put down!
-Lucie Ulrich I can't wait for your next book!
-I love, love, love Lucie Ulrich's work. Ms. Ulrich expertly weaves true-to-life stories that trap the reader in a web of heartache, absolution, forgiveness and acceptance.
-Excellent story, Ms. Ulrich! I couldn't put it down and look forward toseeing a return of these characters in future stories!
-Keep writing, Lucie!
-Loved the book Lucie Ulrich! YG
-Cindy Thompson is one of my favorite authors. She and I share the same passion--genealogy. I look forward to reading her Ellis Island series.
-Way to go Lucie Ulrich. Your books are wonderful!
-Lucie Ulrich is a wonderful author. I have read both of her books and absolutely loved them.
-Lucie Ulrich's book THE ROSE RING is a must read. I didn't want to quit reading. I love it, Lucie!!!

What Lucie's Readers Have to Say:

"The Rose Ring is a story of wounded souls who find healing as they learn to lean on God and come to trust one another. Ulrich has a knack for creating complicated, compelling characters that readers can't help but fall in love with.  What I liked best about this story was that it is woven around realistic family fractures,and that it has a real world ending."

"Lucie Ulrich doesn't just tell us a story,she brings us into the story! I felt their pain and joy, their confusion and relief....It is a story about love and loss, tragedy and forgiveness, inspiration and faith. You’ll be teary-eyed many times throughout the story, so keep a boxof tissues close by. And you'll become so attached to these characters that you'll be better for it! It is emotional, inspiring and unforgettable. Thiswill be a book I will pick up again and again and will recommend it toeveryone I can."

Tide and Tempest, Edge of Freedom #3 by Elizabeth Ludwig

About Book

Two years ago, her fiancee perished during their voyage to America.

Now she discovers it may have been murder...

Dreaming of a better life, Tillie McGrath leaves Ireland behind andi would , with her beloved fiance by her side, sets sail for America. But when illness robs her of theThey  man she holds dear, she's left alone with only a handful of tattered memories. While forging on proves difficult, Tillie soon finds some new friends at her New York boardinghouse, and begins pursuing a new dream--to open a home for orphaned children.

Despite two years passing, Captain Keondric Morgan has never forgotten the lass who left his ship so heartbroken. When a crewman's deathbed confession reveals her fiance's demise was the result of murder, the captain knows he must try to contact her. But his attention draws the notice of others as well--dangerous men who believe Tillie has in her possession something that could expose their crimes. And to their way of thinking, the best way to prevent such an outcome is to seize the evidence and then hand Tillie the same fate as her naïve fiance.

Where to Purchase

• Baker Retail

• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble
• Christianbook.com

Resources

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About Author

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author and an accomplished speaker and teacher. Her historical novel Love Finds You in Calico,California earned four stars from RT Book Reviews. She is the owner and editor of the popular literary blog The Borrowed Book. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in Orange, Texas. 

Learn more at www.elizabethludwig.com.


My Thoughts

Since the death of Tillie's fiancée two years ago she is determined to move on with her life. She has been saving money to purchase a house in order to open an orphanage.  Will she ever see her dream come true?

Captain Moran has come to visit Tillie giving her news that one of his crew has confessed that Tillie's fiancee was murderered instead  dying from an illness. Tillie and Captain Morgan set out to find who it was that ordered the murder.  Unfortuntely this puts them in danger but also reveals there is a strong connection between the two. This connection is one that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

In an interview the author stated...
"I never imagined when I set out to write the Edge of Freedom series for Bethany House that I would be writing about grief. Or loss. Or seperation."

In her saying that, it is exactly what she did.  She touched on so many emotions on my end as I read this book/series. She writes how our vision for our life is not always what God has planned. 

While reading the book I kept wanting to shake both Tillie and Captain Morgan, telling them to go with their true feelings not assuming the feelings of the other.

When one or the other two chracters were put in harms way the other would go above and beyond any measure to protect the other.  In the beginning their plans were not very well thought out which most definitely put them and others in danger.

I enjoyed catching up on the lives of the characters from books one and two of this series.

I highly recommed this book/series.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I recievied a free copy of this book from Netgalley/Bethany House for an honest review.