New reviews on the blogs

A handful of reviews found out in blogland today:

• A Promise to Believe In at Confessions of a Bookaholic
• Until We Reach Home at A Peek at My Bookshelf and at Becky's Book Reviews
• Stepping Into Sunlight at Stray Thoughts

From A Distance Review

Tamera Alexander's From A Distance was reviewed in the Fall 2008 Church Libraries magazine:

There's conflict as soon as Elizabeth Westbrook, a strong-willed, fashionable, aspiring photojournalist and daughter of a decorated Union commander, bursts into the 1870's Colorado Territory from Washington, D.C. Elizabeth hires a freed slave, Josiah, who becomes a trusted friend with a story to tell. She battles a mysterious disease and turns more than a few heads while annoying others, especially former Confederate sharpshooter Daniel Ranslett, the man she plans to use to establish her career.

The plot is believable, and characters are endearingly drawn. There's a mystery to solve when one of Elizabeth's photographs becomes evidence in a murder. Plus there's plenty of girl-meets-and-loses-guy romantic twists, adventure when her life is endangered, and interpersonal conflict to make the pages tum. The setting is breathtaking, almost like a secondary character. This award-winning author has done it again. Recommended.

Review of Just Jane

Jennifer Bogart has a great, in-depth review of Just Jane by Nancy Moser at BlogCritics as well as on her blog.

New reviews from Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly recently reviewed the upcoming books from Lynn Austin and Sharon Hinck! They're not available yet on the PW site, so I've included them here:

Until We Reach Home, Lynn Austin: "In 1897, the promise of the gold-paved streets of America can heal the broken hearts and lives of orphans Elin, Kirsten and Sofia Carlson, if only they survive the transatlantic trip from Sweden. Family secrets—ranging from the disgrace of suicide to shameful relations—churn like the ocean itself during a two-week crossing, only to haunt the girls after they reach Ellis Island. From the first sighting of Lady Liberty through their travails to reach a newly rebuilt Chicago, the girls discover their strengths, a variety of new acquaintances and, most importantly, each other. And while they quickly experience the immigrant's harsh realities, they also find a way to make a life in their new world. Complete with room for happily-ever-after, this rich tale will not disappoint historical romance fans. Austin, three-time Christy Award winner, scores again with an engrossing tale of loss, determination and hope."

Stepping Into Sunlight, Sharon Hinck: "Hinck, a 2008 Christy finalist for visionary fiction, offers an especially grounded tale of sudden trauma and slow healing. Narrator Penny Sullivan witnesses a horrific crime shortly before her navy chaplain husband is deployed, so she is forced to cope alone with the psychological fallout from what she saw. Family issues from her past complicate her struggle and enhance its credibility. Strong Christian themes form a natural part of the narrative. Penny Sullivan's faith is shaken, and she wonders why God would appear to permit evil and whether her emotional turmoil can be healed. A supporting cast of characters, from a nosy neighbor to the busy faithful servant to the downtrodden who heads a local mission, adds quirk and richness. Hinck is a mother of four, and it shows in authentic details in her characterization of the narrator's worried, loving seven-year-old son who gets his first pet in some cute comic relief. Hinck has done her homework on post-traumatic stress syndrome, and is not afraid to show readers that challenges can deepen faith."

New reviews at TitleTrakk

Two recent reviews on TitleTrakk—My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deeanne Gist, both reviewed by Vickie McDonough.