Tuesday, December 24, 2013

COTT: November New Releases Clash Winner


Here it is…the announcement you’ve all been waiting for!

The winner of our November New Releases Clash is:



by Janet Sketchley


Congratulations, Janet!

And a special thank-you to the following talented authors for being part of this fun week:

Heather Day Gilbert, author of 

Carlene Havel, author of 

Kimberly Rose Johnson, author of 

Gay N. Lewis, author of 


About HEAVEN’S PREY:

Book 1, Redemption’s Edge Series

Despite her husband's objections, 40-something Ruth Warner finds healing through prayer for Harry Silver, the racing star turned serial killer who brutally raped and murdered her niece. When a kidnapping-gone-wrong pegs her as his next victim, Harry claims that by destroying the one person who'd pray for him, he proves God can't or won't look after His own. Can Ruth's faith sustain her to the end whatever the cost? HEAVEN'S PREY received third place in Risen Books 2011 publishing contest and was short-listed for the 2008 Best New Canadian Christian Author Award.


Voters’ take on HEAVEN’S PREY:

“I like the way Janet Sketchley's story shows God at work in a worst-nightmare kind of situation.”

“Janet Sketchley, I haven't read your book yet, but I have a feeling you've written it with heart--lots of heart. All the best to you.”


“I'm glad Christian authors are tackling a variety of genres these days. God's Daughter and Heaven's Prey look like they have lots of adventure for those readers who like that kind of stimulation!”

“Congratulations to all authors on being chosen for the Clash of the Titles. I'm really looking forward to reading Heaven's Prey!”

“Janet Sketchley 's book Heaven's Prey caught my attention from the get go. Tough subject. Her characters seemed real. Way to go, Janet!”

“Tell Janet Sketchley that it will be a matter of re-reading her book. I kept turning to the next part, not sure I wanted to know what came next, but feeling driven to find out. What a read!”

“Heaven's Prey looks like a challenging yet engaging book. I look forward to reading it.”


"Great job on Heaven's Prey!"

"Loved reading Heaven's Prey, Janet!"


"Looking forward to reading your book, Janet!"

"Well done, Janet!"

"Janet Sketchley's title sounds intriguing. I plan to read this book."

"So proud of my friend, Janet!"


About the author, JANET SKETCHLEY:

Janet is a Canadian author who loves stories with strong characters, adventure and hope. She’s also a wife, mom, daughter, friend, neighbor… balancing relationships and responsibilities, and learning how faith applies to real life. Add that to her quirky imagination and love of fiction, and you get novels about everyday women in suspenseful situations discovering more strength than they would have imagined.


Blog

For more fun, visit Clash of the Titles at http://www.clashofthetitles.com/!

Monday, December 16, 2013

COTT: Ringing in the holidays with some GREAT reads!


We’re winding down the year here at COTT with some amazing reads and wonderful authors. Can you believe 2013 is right at the edge of over? And, for avid readers, what better way to celebrate than with a riveting read?

Check ‘em out! Then use the voting box below to let us know which of these five choices rings YOUR Christmas bell the loudest.


GOD’S DAUGHTER

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. She joins her husband, Finn, on a journey to North America, but even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself—and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart.



 

A SHARECROPPER CHRISTMAS

The Great Depression left the Shoemaker family hungry and homeless. Alice makes the best of the hard times without complaint, though she dreams of giving her little family a special Christmas.





HEAVEN’S PREY


Despite her husband’s objections, 40-something Ruth Warner finds healing through prayer for Harry Silver, the serial killer who brutally raped and murdered her niece. When a kidnapping-gone-wrong pegs her as the killer's next victim, can Ruth’s faith sustain her to the end—whatever the cost?




 THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE

It’s Christmastime and, widowed mother Keira Noble is ready to start living again. Things look up when she meets Pete Harding, the new veterinarian in town, but a possible love connection quickly dissolves when Pete says he doesn’t date single mothers.

  


SARAH AND THE WIDOW’S MATE


Heaven’s Little Love Angel is dispatched to Houston during the Christmas holidays, assigned to help Widow Beth Marsh determine which of her two suitors is the genuine article—black-haired Bryan Wingate or good-looking Charles Chadwick. Sarah is delighted for a number of reasons, but she’s forced to step up her efforts when she discovers Beth’s life is in danger…and she hopes to save her charge with as few bungles as possible along the way.


Voting ends promptly at midnight on Dec. 17 (that’s the last moment of Tuesday night, folks…). Watch for the results on Thursday, Dec. 19!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Monday, December 2, 2013

COTT: Youth Fiction With a Timely Message


For all those who need to unplug from our high tech world, Clash of the Titles presents a novel about reconnecting with those dearest to us, about turning off the cellphone and living in reality. Although written from the perspective of a new teen, Edna in the Desert applies to all ages.

About Edna in the Desert:
Edna is a precocious trouble-maker wreaking havoc at her Beverly Hills school. Her therapist advocates medication, but her parents come up with an alternative cure: Edna will spend the summer in the desert with her grandparents. Their remote cabin is cut off from cell phone service, Internet and television. Edna's determined to rebel until she meets an older local boy and falls in love for the first time. How can she get to know him from the edge of nowhere?

PURCHASE:
What readers have to say:
*  "Maddy Lederman is a 21 st Century Judy Blume"
* "The author displays literary maturity in her subtle, nuanced and patient treatment of Edna's movement from self-centered to other-centered.I recommend this book to all - not just the YA group & I hope to read other books from this author."
* "Loved this book, brought up so many things I think about in terms of kids, technology and our materialistic society."

About the author: 
Maddy Lederman's writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Sun
Runner, a magazine about California deserts. Maddy has an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College. After school she discovered what it's like to wait around at auditions all day, and so she did not pursue an acting career. Edna In The Desert is Maddy's first novel.

Q&A with Maddy:
What has drawn you to writing for the YA market?
I wanted to write a warm, amusing story about how a modern teenager would react to being totally unplugged. Some of my friends’ kids don’t even look up from their phones to say hello, and I wonder where this is taking our culture. My character, Edna, is thirteen, so the YA market was naturally drawn to my book, but I wasn’t drawn to a particular market. I’ve found that adults enjoy Edna In the Desert as much as teens.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I’ve done many quirky things, a lot of them in the desert! I took a “sound bath” at The Integratron. I hiked up a mountain in 110 degrees on a first date and eventually married the guy. My job in film and TV creates endless quirky opportunities, for example, covering Adam West, TV’s Batman, in creamed corn. We met years later in Palm Springs and laughed about it.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
On Facebook and my website, MaddyLederman.com.

Visit Clash of the Titles for the latest in Christian fiction!

*taken from Amazon reviews