Changes, Changes Everywhere!

So I have finally figured things out with my blogging life. I am consolidating my blogs and any further book reviews will be posted over at Heartscribblings--which is also where I will continue to blog on the public side of my life.

In time, this blog will be taken down so please be sure to update your subscriptions. My e-mail address will also be changing to match my new blog home. It is now heartscribblings (at) live (dot) com Please delete any record you have of the southeastcountrywife blogs or addresses as they will all be deleted very soon.

Thanks for your patience in all my changes and I hope to have things running smoothly again very soon. :)

I Didn't Mean That!

Sorry to anybody who saw the strange post I put up just before about The Crimson Cipher. That was a test post that I was submitting to my "coordinator" and not an indication of my opinion of the book!!! At this point, I haven't read the book yet (it came late) but I did enjoy my first (and last, so far) book by Susan Page Davis. :)

Every Thought Captive by Jerusha Clark

I have quite a few of Jerusha (& Jeramy) Clark's books. They are definitely good quality! Every Thought Captive is a challenging read and I think it would have at least something that absolutely every woman could benefit from. There is no woman on the planet who doesn't struggle with toxic beliefs in some area of life and this book meets you right there. It would be a great book to use as a women's Bible study and would cover a broad range of ages and stages.

Jerusha is straight down the line and her bottom line is finding what the Bible says. She has a lot of personal experience to draw from and also shares the true-life experiences of others. While she doesn't hold back from the truth, she shares it with compassion and empathy and understanding. She is not about telling you what to do but about reaching out a helping hand as a fellow-traveller in life's journey.

About the book:

Women can struggle with tormenting thoughts about their relationships and identity while dealing with thoughts of shame and guilt. Every Thought Captive explores the unique nature of the female mind and examines the sources of fears and stress. 

Drawing from personal experiences, including struggles with eating disorders and depression, best-selling author Jerusha Clark shares the freedom found in shifting your thoughts from the everyday to the eternal. Find the rest and forgiveness you long for. Includes discussion questions.

About the author: 

Jeramy and Jerusha Clark have ministered in churches for a combined twenty-five years. After meeting at The First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, where the Clarks both served in youth ministry, they moved to Monument, Colorado, where they worked with students at Tri-Lakes Chapel. Currently, Jeramy, Jerusha, and their two children live in Escondido, California, where Jeramy is the pastor of Life Design Ministries at Emmanuel Faith Community Church. Both Jeramy and Jerusha love serving God within the church and through the written word.

Jerusha Clark has coauthored four books with her husband, Jeramy, three of which deal with the ever-important topic of opposite-sex relationships. Jerusha published her first solo work with NavPress, Every Thought Captive: Battling the Toxic Beliefs that Separate Us from the Life We Crave , in 2006. With Jeramy, a pastor at Emmanuel Faith Community Church, Jerusha thoroughly loves raising Jocelyn and Jasmine, their adorable daughters. Jerusha’s ministry passion is to help women more fully glorify and enjoy their God.

To find out more about the book and the author or to read the first chapter and hear interviews, visit  the product page at NavPress. 

The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Crimson CipherSummerside Press (July 1, 2010)

bySusan Page Davis



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





From Susan: I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books. My young adult novel, Sarah's Long Ride, also spotlights horses and the rugged sport of endurance riding, as does the contemporary romance Trail to Justice. I took a vocational course in horseshoeing after earning a bachelor's degree in history. I don't shoe horses anymore, but the experience has come in handy in writing my books.



Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.



For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer, covering local government, school board meetings, business news, fires, auto accidents, and other local events, including a murder trial. I've also written many profiles and features for the newspaper and its special sections. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.



My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. We're so glad we did. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!



Our children are all home-schooled. The two youngest are still learning at home. Jim recently retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, and we’ve moved from Maine to Kentucky.





ABOUT THE BOOK

IT'S 1915, AND EMMA SHUSTER HAS FAR TOO MUCH ON HER MIND TO ENTERTAIN NOTIONS OF ROMANCE...

A female Navy cryptographer seeks to save lives...and uncover her father’s killers.



In 1915, German sympathizers escalated acts of sabotage in the United States to keep the nation from joining in the war. With enemies lurking at every turn, whom can Emma trust? Is romance the true motive behind her tow suitors advances? Or could one-or both of them-have traitorous intentions in mind?



Following the mysterious murder of Emma Shuster’s father, Lt. John Patterson invites Emma to become a Navy cryptographer because of the expertise she gained in helping her father develop a cipher system.



Emma races to discover the nefarious plans of her country's foes and unmask their leader before others are killed. She finds new strength in her faith as she strives to outwit her adversary, known only as Kobold - German for goblin.



And yet, her greatest challenge may be deciphering the cryptic messages her heart sends whenever she encounters a certain navy lieutenant... Can Emma and John find love in the midst of turmoil as America plunges toward war?



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Crimson Cipher, go HERE.

The Gathering Storm by Brock & Bodie Thoene

I'm not sure how I missed putting the review up for this one but my sincere apologies! I can't offer much about it, though, because (as I am getting quite tired of saying) this book hasn't arrived yet. However, I have read quite a few Thoene books before and they are a good read, so I'm sure this would be worth a look.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Gathering Storm Summerside Press (August 1, 2010)
by Bodie and Brock Thoene

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 50 works of historical fiction. Over twenty million of these best-selling novels are in print. Eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards affirms what millions of readers have already discovered—the Thoenes are not only master stylists but experts at capturing readers’ minds and hearts.

Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.

Brock has often been described by Bodie as “an essential half of this writing team.” With degrees in both history and education, Brock has, in his role as researcher and story-line consultant, added the vital dimension of historical accuracy. Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as classic historical novels and are used to teach history in college classrooms.

Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and seven grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.

Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.

ABOUT THE BOOK

As Nazi forces tighten the noose, Loralei Kepler, daughter of a German resistance leader, must flee her beloved Germany. But is any place safe from Adolf Hitler's evil grasp? Loralei's harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old secret.

Explore the romance, the passion, and the danger of the most anticipated series of the last twenty years.

Born from the highly acclaimed and best-loved novels of three generations of readers -- The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicles series -- Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler's rise to power and the dark days of World War II.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Gathering Storm, go HERE

Malacca Conspiracy by Don Brown

Because this book was added to the reviewing list at the last minute, it hasn't had time to reach Australia and I haven't been able to read it. However, I requested this book especially because I read Don's first book and thought it was really good. I have the third book in the series and just need to get the second one so I can read it in order. :) If you like JAG (which I do), you'll like these!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Malacca ConspiracyZondervan (June 4, 2010)

byDon Brown ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing Treason, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES.

Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radical Islamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century.

In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction!

DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law.

During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A rogue Indonesian general and his army of terrorists attack oil tankers in the Strait of Malacca in order to profit from oil futures and buy nuclear weapons to establish an Islamic superpower.

Navy JAG officers Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian race against the odds and a 24-hour deadline before nuclear attacks hit the United States. Departing from the sea of books barely better than soap opera romance and using the frantic pacing of suspense fiction, Brown glides flawlessly among global hotspots of terrorism--including the United States--and the book's principal settings in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The President of the United States orders ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet towards the Malacca Straits to reassert control over the sea lanes, but with time quickly ticking away, will they arrive in time for Zack and Diane to survive this dangerous and final high-stakes drama of life and death?

Sign up for the contest above! And if you would like to read the first chapter of Malacca Conspiracy, go HERE.

South-East Country Wife's new home

So, as much as I hate changing addresses and identities, sometimes it has to happen! My main blog (www.southeastcountrywife.typepad.com or www.southeastcountrywife.blogspot.com) is leaving blogger and changing its identity. Please note that, at this point, I Need to Read is NOT going anywhere.

South-East Country Wife has become an extremely inaccurate name. :P I've just gone with something neutral that fits any station of life and any location I may inhabit over the remainder of my life--as well as something that wasn't already used! My new blog is simply called "heartscribblings"...and really, that's all my blog has been for years: scribblings coming from my heart.

I have imported all of my posts and comments over to Wordpress. Come visit me there! Please also remember to update e-mail or feed reader subscriptions. Heartscribblings can also be found on Facebook.