Early May 2006

Happy Mother's Day!

This early May edition of the FaithfulReader.com newsletter hits your mailboxes brimming with great reading suggestions. Wondering what to buy mom for Mother's Day? We have an entire roundup of gift-worthy suggestions to inspire, thank and just pamper mom! My sons usually have some great surprises for me for Mother's Day. They love "being creative" about this. The other night as I sat with a couple of moms in the pouring rain at my little one's baseball game, I commented, "Oh I am sure they will remember this coming Mother's Day." They all laughed.
 
This month we share Faithful Fifteen replies from Charles Martin and Robin Lee Hatcher. We hope you enjoy this opportunity for an up-close look at these authors as they talk about their writing, their spirituality and their lives.
 
We like books that not only entertain, but also make people think about their beliefs. With this in mind, we bring you a review of THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS this month. This book takes a different view of the message of Jesus, which will make readers pause and think. We like that.

Please note that with the movie version of THE DA VINCI CODE coming out on May 19th, Marcia Ford has written a comprehensive feature on Da Vinci-related titles that will be live shortly. Be sure to check back and read about the books that have been inspired by this bestseller or contain commentary about it. Three years after it was first published, I continue to be astounded by the impact of this book.
 
Lots more to explore now, so I encourage you to "read on." 
 
Happy Mother's Day to the moms in our audience. May this be a special day for all of you.
 
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@bookreporter.com)
 

Charles Martin Answers the Faithful Fifteen

Charles Martin has written the acclaimed Christian titles THE DEAD DON'T DANCE and WRAPPED IN RAIN. In this interview Martin discusses from where his ideas for his latest book, WHEN CRICKETS CRY, stemmed and describes the impact he hopes his work will have on readers. He also recalls some of his favorite moments in classic novels and shares a touching experience he had with a fan. 

WHEN CRICKETS CRY by Charles Martin (Fiction)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
In a small town square of a sleepy Georgia town, a spirited seven-year-old sits at her lemonade stand, raising money for her own heart transplant. As a beat-up bread truck careens around the corner, a strong wind blows Annie's money into the road. A bearded stranger looks up in time to see Annie's yellow dress fluttering in the wind as she runs into the road. What happens next will change both of their lives forever.

Click here to read Charles Martin's answers to the Faithful Fifteen.

Robin Lee Hatcher Answers the Faithful Fifteen

The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, Robin Lee Hatcher has penned over 45 novels, including her newly released DIAMOND PLACE. In this interview Hatcher describes how she discovered her faith through the written word and, in turn, conveys through writing the lessons her spirituality has taught her. She also shares with us her unique Scripture-reading habits, her involvement in her local community, and some of her other passions besides writing.

Click here to read Robin Lee Hatcher's answers to the Faithful Fifteen.

Mother's Day Roundup

In today's fast-paced society, mothers face many responsibilities --- including childrearing, managing the household, and working outside the home. Moms can be so busy that they often find it challenging to fulfill their duties as a parent, spouse and employee, and still have time at the end of the day to nurture their spiritual lives. This Mother's Day, we at FaithfulReader.com have assembled a list of books to help moms find this balance. These titles offer a wealth of advice, a few laughs and heartwarming tales, and some unique perspectives on how truly special women are in the eyes of God.

Click here to read our roundup of Mother's Day titles.

Now in Stores: HER DADDY'S EYES by Gary E. Parker

At thirty-three years of age, Allie Wilson is only three weeks away from marrying the handsome and respected Trey Thompson. She's successful, excited, and happy... until she comes across an old photograph of her long-lost father. Suddenly everything changes for Allie...her heart, her focus, and maybe even her future.

Before her reluctant fiancé and hesitant mom can stop her, Allie launches a cross-country search for a father she can't remember. And on the way she meets a few people she can't get out of her mind --- including the handsome and charming Chase Mason. Is it her curiosity, her conscience, her father's wish that spurs her on? Or could it be the will of God? All Allie knows is that she has a lot of questions --- and there's only one man who can give her the answers.

-Click here to read an excerpt from HER DADDY'S EYES.
-Click here to read praise for HER DADDY'S EYES.

Click here to read more about HER DADDY'S EYES.

Now in Stores: DIAMOND PLACE by Robin Lee Hatcher

Nobody loves baseball more than ten-year-old Lyssa Sampson. Nobody. For as long as she can remember, she's had only one dream: to be a pitcher at the Little League World Series. But the widowed Coach Jenkins has other plans, and Lyssa has to do a little innocent scheming to make her dream come true.

When Coach Jenkins appears to be interested in Lyssa's single mother, Terri, Lyssa sees an opportunity for a little matchmaking. Maybe her efforts will help her mother find happiness again --- and give Lyssa a chance at her dream at the same time. But will Terri and Coach Jenkins let a ten-year-old deal with matters of the heart? Or will reason take over and spoil Lyssa's plan?

-Click here to read an excerpt from DIAMOND PLACE.

Click here to read more about DIAMOND PLACE.

Now in Stores: WHEN THE STORM BREAKS by Bonnie Leon

Even as Rebecca and Daniel Thornton rejoice in the preservation of their family during a long drought and devastating wildfire, the hard work of rebuilding their beloved Australian cattle station is just beginning.

As she helps clean the charred ruins of Douloo, Rebecca watches her husband struggle to provide for their growing family and worries that all his hard work is pulling him away from her. Then Daniel makes a deal with a shady businessman, and Rebecca becomes increasingly concerned by what her husband might do to save the land they love. Will this uncertainty come between them? And what will happen to their relationship --- and their home --- if the deal goes south?

-Click here to read an excerpt from WHEN THE STORM BREAKS.

Click here to read more about WHEN THE STORM BREAKS.

Faithful Fiction Reviews

A CLEARING IN THE WILD by Jane Kirkpatrick (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Based on a true story, this thought-provoking novel --- the first installment in a new series and a welcome invitation to explore the settling of the west --- will prompt discussions about gender roles, faith, blind allegiances, and the value and pitfalls of community.

THE CROSS EXAMINATION OF OLIVER FINNEY by Randy Singer (Suspense)
Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin
When a brilliant billionaire is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, he realizes that all his considerable wealth can't prepare him to meet his Maker. But he has an idea that might: He will stage life's greatest reality show. With his true agenda hidden, he auditions followers from all the world's major religions, inviting them to the trial of their lives on a remote island.

MY LIFE AS A DOORMAT (IN THREE ACTS) by Rene Gutteridge (Fiction)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Playwright Leah Townsend doesn't think of herself as a doormat. In fact, her life is pretty good; still, she's feeling restless these days. Her new play isn't going well and her boyfriend has the nerve to enroll her in a conflict-management class. Can Leah ever learn to stand her ground...even if life doesn't come in three predictable acts?

PRESUMED GUILTY by James Scott Bell (Mystery)
Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Pastor Ron Hamilton is an exceptional speaker on family values. His church is thriving, and his book on pornography in the church has become an unexpected bestseller. Everything is perfect --- until a young woman's body is discovered. The victim is a porn star, and all the evidence in the murder points to one man: Ron.

THE LAZARUS TRAP by T. Davis Bunn (Suspense)
Now in Paperback
Reviewed by Marcia Ford
In a jail cell with no memory of the night before, Val Haines eventually learns his true identity and that the world thinks he's dead. He soon finds himself pursued by assailants he can't identify, and he knows he has to run. But where can he turn for help if he doesn't know who the enemy is?

Christian Living Reviews

THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS: Uncovering the Truth That Could Change Everything by Brian D. McLaren (Religion/Spirituality)
Reviewed by Michele Howe
Brian McLaren, one of TIME magazine's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America," leads readers on a journey that will prove to be as unsettling and groundshaking as it is thrilling and life-changing. McLaren's quest is to find the essential message of Jesus' life --- even if it overturns our conventional ideas, priorities and practices.

BRYSON CITY SECRETS by Dr. Walt Larimore (Inspirational/Motivational)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
If you've followed the story of Dr. Walt Larimore's medical practice in the Smoky Mountains from BRYSON CITY TALES to BRYSON CITY SEASONS, you won't want to miss this latest installment, which continues Larimore's enjoyable stories about his practice and explains why he and his family mysteriously left the small town they loved to move to another state.

CAPTURED BY GRACE: No One is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God by David Jeremiah (Christian Living)
Reviewed by Margaret Feinberg
By following the dramatic story of the "Amazing Grace" hymn writer John Newton, and the Apostle Paul's own encounter with the God of grace, Dr. David Jeremiah helps readers understand the freeing power of permanent forgiveness and mercy. Here are dramatic stories and biblical insights about the very personal effects of grace.

WALKING FROM EAST TO WEST: God in the Shadows by Ravi Zacharias with R.S.B. Sawyer (Memoir)
Reviewed by Michele Howe
Ravi Zacharias has lived an extraordinary life. He has walked with great leaders, slept in the villages and homes of the poor, and crossed continents to bring the good news of the gospel to the world. In this memoir of his life thus far, Zacharias discloses the hardships and struggles of his youth in India.

CHANGING THE FACE OF HUNGER by Tony Hall with Tom Price (Political Science)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
You won't fail to be moved --- and challenged --- to make a difference in your community and in the world after reading this engrossing story of one man's determination to do something.

CHAZOWN: A Different Way to See Your Life by Craig Groeschel (Christian Living)
Reviewed by Margaret Feinberg
Craig Groeschel takes readers on a personal journey to discover their purpose in life. To accomplish this sizable task, he challenges readers to examine three overlooked areas: their core values, their spiritual gifts and their past experiences. By examining all three of these areas, you'll find a sweet spot where they all intersect and reveal your purpose.

AUTHORITY IN PRAYER: Praying with Power and Purpose by Dutch Sheets (Religion/Prayer)
Reviewed by Michele Howe
Bestselling author and internationally known speaker Dutch Sheets reveals how Christians don't need to walk in weakness and powerlessness when the Bible says all authority shall be given to them through Christ. He paints a clear picture of the power God has reserved for His children to help advance His kingdom.

OUT OF CONTROL: Finding Peace for the Physically Exhausted and Spiritually Strung Out by Ben Young and Dr. Samuel Adams (Christian Living/Self-Help)
Reviewed by Maggie Harding
Those who feel stressed and spiritually wrung out will find in OUT OF CONTROL desperately needed help. This book shares with readers the liberating truth that they are not helpless victims of our fast-paced society. Most importantly, it gives them permission to slow down and presents practical methods for living a life of peace and simplicity.

THE FRIENDSHIP OF WOMEN: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible by Joan Chittister (Christian Living/Spirituality)
Reviewed by Evelyn Bence
Looking deeply into biblical stories of female friendships in order to extract greater truths, this compelling work explores the sacred dimension of friendship through the lenses of faith, tradition and scripture, revealing the often-overlooked voices and experiences of women in the Old and New Testaments.

Marriage and Family Life Reviews

SURPRISED BY REMARRIAGE: A Guide to the Happily-Even-After by Ginger Kolbaba (Family & Relationships/Marriage)
Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin
You can have a happy and lasting relationship despite divorce in your past. With refreshing candor and uplifting stories, author Ginger Kolbaba, herself a second wife, offers practical guidance for those seeking a joyful remarriage. Her step-by-step plan will renew your belief in the power of love to transcend shattered dreams.

WHEN THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE CAN'T COMMIT: Recognizing the Signs of a Commitment-Phobe and What You Can Do About It by Dr. David Hawkins (Relationships)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Clinical psychologist Dr. David Hawkins promises that his book --- full of practical advice and good insights --- will help single women find a man who will be committed, while those who are already in a relationship will be able to understand why a man may be afraid of commitment.

Coming Soon on FaithfulReader.com

Wondering what books are just out, or coming out in the months ahead? Be sure to check out our Coming Soon section on FaithfulReader.com. We have titles from May thru August listed. Please note that we have not listed every book coming out, but rather some that caught our eye --- and that we thought should catch yours as well.

New Guides on FaithfulReader.com

The following guides are now available on FaithfulReader.com:

NOTHING BUT THE RIGHT THING by Stacy Hawkins Adams
SPEAK TO MY HEART by by Stacy Hawkins Adams

What percentage of the books that you read are Christian titles?
 
100%
75-99%
50-74%
25-49%
Less than 25%
 
Compare this percentage to five years ago.

I am reading more Christian titles.
I am reading fewer Christian titles.
I am reading the same number of Christian titles.

Who are the Christian authors who you always read? Also, who are the non-Christian authors who you always read? Please mark your answers as: Christian:(Add your selections noting up to 3 authors) and then Non-Christian: (Add your selections noting up to 3 authors).