Missions of Mercy is a 3-book series recently written and published by Susan May Warren. This series is part of the Love Inspired Suspense collection. Just to give you a little snippet of each book, along with my own thoughts….

Point of No Return is the first book in the series. In this book, we meet Chet Stryker who is put to work to help find a missing American and a warlord’s daughter in a war-torn Eastern European country. Going in, Chet realizes that he will have to work with his old fiancee….just one of the many seemingly obstacles he will encounter along the way. Not only that, but he will uncover secrets that’ll mean change to his life. This story is full of action, adventure, romance, and family ties. Not only that, but as it implies, it’s an inspirational book that’ll leave the reader with food for thought.

Mission: Out of Control is the second book. The reader will follow Brody Wickham as he becomes bodyguard to a tempestuous singer named Vonya, also the daughter of a senator who has put some very controversial policies into place. Vonya (or Veronica) is going on her European tour, but her father feels that she is not safe and must be protected from the likes of people like Mubar who trains up children to be child soldiers. This part of the story is very person to Veronica as one particular child holds a very special place in her heart. As she continues to harbor a secret, Brody seeks to protect her ever more.  This story again is full of action, adventure, and romance.

Undercover Pursuit is the third book. This story follows Scarlett, who’s been asked to be a bridesmaid in her sister’s wedding in Mexico. Only she doesn’t expect to be mistaken for an agent by Luke Dekker, who’s on a mission to bust a drug cartel. Scarlett’s wedding adventure turns out to be way more than she bargained for, and Luke is left trying to protect Scarlett, as he finally realizes she’s not the agent who was supposed to be helping him. Scarlett’s also dealing with deep personal hurt….one reason she just doesn’t feel like celebrating the wedding of her sister and fiancee. You’ll have to read the book to find out more.

While thin romance books aren’t always my choice of reading….I will say that Susan May Warren has certainly changed my perspective. She’s written three awesome novels that lead not only to romance but like I said, plenty of action and adventure. The suspense in these stories makes them absolutely worth reading, and the stories are not cheesy in the least bit. She has a way of weaving chapters together to form a story that is both interesting and leaves the reader asking for more. I would definitely recommend these books for a relaxing weekend or maybe even a beach day.:) To read more reviews, be sure to check out the Litfuse Blog Tour. Read on to find out more about the books, the author, and about an awesome giveaway going on right now.

About Susan:

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press.  A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.  A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you! She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

For more about Susan and her other books, please visit www.susanmaywarren.com.

Three heroes, all on missions of mercy, who discover that God not only saves us from evil, but from the darkness inside.

Point of No Return: Can God deliver us from our mistakes? This question is posed to Chet and Mae as they race to save Mae’s nephew from an evil warlord in the Republic of Georgia. More here.

Mission: Out of Control: Does God turn his back on us when we fail? Brody and Vonya discover the answer as they conspire to capture an international smuggler and free a child soldier from war. More here.

Undercover Pursuit: What if we deliberately sin and harbor bitterness in our hearts? Is there a rescue from the dark places inside? Luke and Scarlett find out as they work to protect a bride-turned-informant whose courage could dismantle a human trafficking web. More here.

To celebrate the series, Susan is giving away a Missions of Mercy Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new FLIP HD Camera
* The entire Missions of Mercy series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. You may enter once per email, facebook, and twitter. The contest ends on May 31st. Tell your friends! Winner will be announced on June 1st at the Litfuse Publicity site and at Susan May Warren’s website. (While you’re there, check out her rockin’ new website!)

If you’re looking for a novel that has mystery, intrigue, political ties within the story, and suspense, you might as well take the thrilling ride along with Jeanette Windle in The DMZ. This book is set mostly in the jungles of Colombia, in the midst of guerrilla territory, territory known as the DMZ, or demilitarized zone.

The story begins in the Middle East, as America has attacked a nation with whom they had an agreement. The story spirals into a frenzy of political/international suspense, and the reader is along for the ride. Deep within the jungles of Colombia lies the weapon of use in the plot for revenge.

Julie Baker is the main character in this story, although other characters weave in and out of the story. Julie’s parents were missionaries in Colombia, but they died awhile go, leaving Julie with no closure, only questions. Julie has two main reasons for wanting to cover the story of three murders in Colombia, of course to cover such a high-profile story, but also to uncover the answers to the questions she’s asked for so long, concerning the deaths of her parents. Though the military action/adventure starts from the very beginning of this book, the real adventure lies with Julie, as she is kidnapped by guerrillas, uncovering and possibly putting a stop to a dangerous plan.

You can purchase The DMZ for $13.25 on Amazon. I have to admit that I got more into the story, once Julie was introduced, though the beginning of the book was no less exciting. The story does include much war violence, and I have to say the author really does a wonderful job of painting a picture/movie of all of the action taking place within this story. Her words give clear and accurate pictures. I also want to mention that she has extensive experience in this setting, as her parents were missionaries, and she grew up in different parts of Colombia, all of which are now “hot zones for the guerrillas.” I definitely recommend this book as a very interesting, exciting, action-packed book that both men and women can enjoy.

The DMZ

More than a decade after the end of the cold war has chilled the Marxist rebel movements around the world, one hot spot remains: Colombia. Why a democratic country with a growing economy should still feel the brushfires of a civil war is a mystery to U.S. analysts, but not to certain parties on the other side of the world.

The inexplicable loss of three major U.S. assets draws the attention of the world to the Colombian demilitarized zone. Are the local Colombian rebels responsible? Or is a deadly Middle Eastern secret cloaked by the jungle canopy of the DMZ?

Among the contingent of politicians and media headed for the DMZ seeking answers is reporter Julie Baker, whose parents had been missionaries in Colombia. Old hurts and terrors surge as she revisits the place of her birth… and her parents’ deaths. When Julie’s own abduction by guerrillas triggers a time bomb that has been ticking under the feet of the U.S. for a decade, she is left with more questions than answers.

Meet Jeanette Windle:Jeanette Windle

As the child of missionary parents, Windle, an award-winning author and journalist, grew up in the rural villages, jungles, and mountains of Colombia, now guerrilla hot zones. Currently based in Lancaster, PA, Windle has lived in six countries and traveled in more than thirty on five continents. She has fifteen books in print, including political/suspense best-seller CrossFire, The Parker Twins series and Tyndale House Publishers releases: Betrayed, Veiled Freedom, and Freedom’s Stand.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, free of charge, from Litfuse Publicity Group/Kregel Publications, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

Beside Still Waters,written by Tricia Goyer, is the story of Marianna and her journey. Marianna feels that she has her whole life figured out; she’s in love with Aaron Zook and plans to marry him. However, God has other plans for Marianna, as her parents have decided to move all the way from Indiana to the rugged mountains of Montana.

Marianna’s family really just needs a fresh start; they have lived for years with the memory of losing two daughters in an accident that involved their Amish buggy and a semi-truck one fateful night. Her parents, and even Marianna (born that night) have never really had a chance to break away from the community where everyone knows their story. Of course, Marianna doesn’t want to go; after all, she has a plan.

Montana looms ahead, though, and it’s there that Marianna will find the peace and grace that only God can give. She gets to know God in a whole new light, a God who isn’t restricted by the staunch rules of her old community. It’s also here that Marianna finds the hint of a new love….there is a twist, though, as Ben isn’t Amish. The end of the book really almost leaves the story open, almost as if there could be a second story in the works??? One can hope….:)

You can purchase Beside Still Waters, which is soon to release this month. Tricia Goyer just really has a way of making a story come alive, almost as if the reader were watching a movie. Don’t miss another incredibly, well-written story.

Be sure to read more reviews of Beside Still Waters on Litfuse Publicity.

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. Visit www.triciagoyer.com for more info.

About Beside Still Waters: Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she’s ever known.

When Marianna’s family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find “home”, she also encounters God in intimate ways. Click here to watch the book trailers. http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters

Link to buy the book: http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters

BIG NEWS: Tricia is having a fun giveaway.

About Beside Still Waters Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers.

Details at Tricia’s blog, It’s Real Life: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html

BONUS! Each person who enters the giveaway will receive a FABULOUS Montana Amish Calendar. Hurry, it’s only available while supplies last!

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, free of charge, from Litfuse Publicity, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions remain solely my own.)

Business cards are something that have become a staple for me to have at all times. You just never know when you might meet someone, spark up a conversation, and need to reach in your handbag to grab that all important piece of contact information. I’ve always made my own designs, but a few weeks ago, I received the opportunity to review a set of business cards from Tiny Prints.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Mother’s Day cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars.

I was super excited to go through the ordering process and pick out my design. I actually went with one of their templates and thought I’d be bold and even add my picture to the business cards. There’s something about receiving a business card with someone’s picture on it….it just adds that face, that personality to the business, and I myself am more likely to remember that person. I wanted something simple, yet snappy, so I chose the Upper Management cards. The ordering process was really easy, besides making sure my picture was sized right before I uploaded it to the design. I wanted it to be sized/placed just right.:) (I scanned it in below, also blurring out some of my info; they are crystal clear in person.)The left side of the business card includes my information, such as my title, my name, and all of my business information. The right side includes both my picture and the name of my blog. These cards are also double-sided, so on the back I have my blog logo. The only issue I have is that when putting my blog name beneath my picture on the front side, I added color to my blog name before ever uploading it to Tiny Prints; I shouldn’t have done that. With the green outline, it looks like part of that blue box is cut off on the bottom of the card. These business cards still have a very professional look, though, and besides that tiny glitch (which was my own fault), I love them. In fact, I plan to order more like these before heading off to Blogher this summer.You too can make your very own professional business cards; they are a must in the business of social media, and Tiny Prints have so many designs and layouts to choose from. You can order the Upper Management cards for as low as $.64 cents apiece. They are quality cards that will promote your business in a great way. Be sure to Like Tiny Prints on Facebook, and follow @TinyPrints on Twitter.

(Disclosure: I received $50 worth of business cards, free of charge, from Tiny Prints, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions are solely my own.)