Monday, February 22, 2010

Spring Value Tour reviews

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn is a sweet romance story of a young girl trying to be on her own and away from the influence of her domineering father. She comes into Glenbrooke hiding her secret, and meets Kyle, the handsome paramedic.

I enjoyed the book because I love a good love story. Having said that, though, the most important thing I got from the story was the message that keeping secrets about our past or running away from life can be destructive. Both Kyle and Jessica discover this as their relationship unfolds. It doesn’t help anyone — especially yourself — to hide the truth. You can’t hide from God because He knows our hearts. Hiding it does nothing but hurt the one carrying the burden but we are freed when the truth is known. This story illustrates that fact as well while telling a good love story.

The characters come to life in this book and become your best friends. By the end, you wished you lived there. I loved this book!

About the Author:

Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawai'i.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin's favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins' Christian Writers' Guild.
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This is the second book in a four book series titled "The Heirs of Cahir O'Connor" (the first one, also excellent, is titled the Silver Sword). In this book Aiden O'Connor learns to survive and maintain her virtue when her father dies at sea, leaving her and her mother homeless and without money. Aiden, who has a God-given talent of drawing & painting, is given a chance to use her gift disguised as a boy on a ship. The book moves quickly, with secrets and dastardly plots. Aidan O'Connor seeks to escape her life in the slums by using her art. Her patron sees her talent and seeks to have it brought to the light of day. The story is an excellent example of how good overcomes evil and how one can rise (with God's help) above unfortunate circumstances.

About the Author:

Angela Elwell Hunt is a strong writer and a wonderful tool for Christ. Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to nonfiction books, to novels.

Now that her two children have reached their twenties, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.

Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

Also in 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree. She completed her doctorate in 2008 and was accepted into a Th.D. program in 2009. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group (WaterBrooksMultnomah.com). I was sent these books to give an honest review and was not paid for my review.

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