"In Honor Bound" by Deanna Dodson

Clash of the Titles, Where Authors Compete and Readers Judge

DeAnna Dodson and her novel In Honor Bound

From medieval prince to 21st century man-eater, Clash of the Titles (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/) saw a gamut of interesting characters pass through its arena in January. The first half of the month we celebrated new life in Christ. In the second half, we grieved with our characters in their moments of loss. No matter the genre or theme, there’s always something exciting going on at COTT.

DeAnna Dodson joined us during our Most Gut-wrenching Clash. Her book In Honor Bound (http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Bound-DeAnna-Julie-Dodson/dp/0891079092) is an incredibly moving story of loss and betrayal, forgiveness and love. Prince Phillip’s father will stop at nothing—even murder—to keep the royal bloodline "pure." Prince Philip Chastelayne burns the bridges of his life, and finds one woman, Rosalynde, his loyal wife, who will show him that he needs God's forgiveness.

And it’s now available on Kindle! (http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Bound-Chastelayne-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004LX09DA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297453647&sr=8-1)

DeAnna explains the title of her book: Philip is a man of honor, a man who will “swear to his own hurt and change not.” He wants desperately to do what’s right. That’s his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. He’s so proud of his “rightness” that he almost loses sight of what really is right. He truly is bound up in his honor.

Here a tiny peek at DeAnna’s excerpt:

Philip sat numbly in the corner of his cell, oblivious to the dawn light that had filtered into his bleak surroundings. His mind was fixed on his last sight of his young wife, looking scared and small, flanked by soldiers, forbidden to speak to him. He knew it would likely be the last time he ever saw her.

It still astounded him that he was even here in his father's prison, forbidden to communicate with anyone. His father thought him mad or bewitched and would not hear him. Katherine was doomed, he could feel it in the cold dread that sat heavily in the pit of his stomach, and he could do nothing.

For the full excerpt, click HERE. (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/2011/01/most-gut-wrenching-scene.html)

It was an amazing Clash as authors and readers shared their favorite scriptures and rejoiced in God’s mercy and grace. Join us this month as we turn the focus from God’s love toward man to that between hero and heroine during back-to-back Most Romantic Moment clashes.

April W Gardner (http://www.aprilgardner.com/) is the senior editor of Clash of the Titles and best-selling author of Wounded Spirits. (http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Spirits-April-W-Gardner/dp/0981989616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297021817&sr=1-1)

"In the Manor of the Ghost" by Tina Pinson

Clash of the Titles, Where Authors Compete and Readers Judge

Tina Pinson and her novel In the Manor of the Ghost

From medieval prince to 21st century man-eater, Clash of the Titles (www.clashofthetitles.com) saw a gamut of interesting characters pass through its arena in January. The first half of the month we celebrated new life in Christ. In the second half, we grieved with our characters in their moments of loss. No matter the genre or theme, there’s always something exciting going on at COTT.

Tina Pinson (http://www.tinapinson.com/) joined us during our Most Gut-wrenching Clash. Her book In the Manor of the Ghost (http://www.amazon.com/Manor-Ghost-Tina-Pinson/dp/0595195911/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297022986&sr=1-1) took home our cyber-laurel. Congratulations, Tina!

There’s a ghost in the manor? Really? I definitely need to know more!

About the book: It's the 1870's and those who dwell in Clayborne Manor seemed trapped in time. Trapped amid the whispers of failure and sorrow; whispers of longing and defeat. Caitlin hears them clearly at night. But what ghosts really haunt Clayborne Manor? The ghost that restlessly walks the halls in the night? Or the ones that plague the minds and spirits of those residing there?

Here a tiny peek at Tina’s excerpt:

Kaitlin slipped past the barricades and pushed through the crowds. Heavy smoke made it hard to catch her breath. Nothing could stop her scream when she saw her apartment building engulfed in flames.

She scanned the lines of blackened faces. Her family wasn't there. Her gaze was drawn to the building, to the raging mingling of fire and life. Kaitlin prayed her family would come out. No one exited -- the agony of her thoughts cut her like a well-sharpened saber. Looking up, her thoughts became flesh.

Jean Marc stood in the upstairs window holding a bundle. Kaitlin knew, with another slice to her soul, the bundle was Simone.

For the full excerpt, click HERE. (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/2011/01/most-gut-wrenching-scene.html)

It was an amazing Clash as authors and readers shared their favorite scriptures and rejoiced in God’s mercy and grace. Join us this month as we turn the focus from God’s love toward man to that between hero and heroine during back-to-back Most Romantic Moment clashes.

April W Gardner (http://www.aprilgardner.com/) is the senior editor of Clash of the Titles and best-selling author of Wounded Spirits. (http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Spirits-April-W-Gardner/dp/0981989616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297021817&sr=1-1)

"Yesterday's Promise" by Delia Latham

Clash of the Titles, Where Authors Compete and Readers Judge

Delia Latham and her novel Destiny’s Dream

From medieval prince to 21st century man-eater, Clash of the Titles (www.clashofthetitles.com) saw a gamut of interesting characters pass through its arena in January. The first half of the month we celebrated new life in Christ. In the second half, we grieved with our characters in their moments of loss. No matter the genre or theme, there’s always something exciting going on at COTT.

Delia Latham (http://www.delialatham.net/ ) joined us during our Conversions Scenes week. Delia’s book Destiny’s Dream (http://www.amazon.com/Destinys-Dream-Delia-Latham/dp/1611160456/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297022048&sr=1-1) took home our cyber-laurel. Congratulations, Delia!

So, what exactly is heroine Destiny’s dream, and why should we root for her to achieve it?

Delia: When her mother dies, she leaves Destiny an awesome spiritual legacy, and Destiny is spurred to pursue the dream she’s fostered for so long – to open a Christian dating agency. Throughout the course of the book, Destiny faces enormous obstacles…and wonderful, spine-tingling miracles. Through it all, she maintains a steadfast faith in God’s calling. How can one help cheering her on?

Since the Clash’s theme was Conversion Scenes, I asked Delia what her character’s hold-up was for trusting Christ.

Delia: Destiny has no problem trusting Christ—she is completely in sync with Him and His will. Clay, however, has wandered from his childhood faith. He’s uncomfortable when Destiny talks about God as if He’s a dear, personal Friend. It was a great joy for me to bring Clay full circle back to Christ, and teach him that something deeper than he’d ever known was there for the asking.

Here a tiny peek at Delia’s excerpt:

As Pastor Paul Porter extended an altar invitation, Destiny sneaked a peek at Clay’s face. His hands had been fisted into white-knuckled balls for the past twenty minutes. Now a muscle worked in the strong line of his jaw as the familiar, sweet notes of “Softly and Tenderly” played in the background.

Miss Willard was consistent in her preference for the old hymns.

Right now, Destiny had no objection.

She laid a gentle hand over one of Clay’s hard fists. He opened his eyes and slanted a misty look her way even as he unfurled his fingers to wrap them around hers. Without a word, he nodded, and they stood. Destiny walked with him toward the front of the church, joyous tears dimming her vision.

For the full excerpt, click HERE. (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/2011/01/conversion-scenes-excerpts.html)

It was an amazing Clash as authors and readers shared their favorite scriptures and rejoiced in God’s mercy and grace. Join us this month as we turn the focus from God’s love toward man to that between hero and heroine during back-to-back Most Romantic Moment clashes.

April W Gardner (http://www.aprilgardner.com) is the senior editor of Clash of the Titles and best-selling author of Wounded Spirits. (http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Spirits-April-W-Gardner/dp/0981989616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297021817&sr=1-1)

"My Mother the Man-eater" by Tracy Krauss

Clash of the Titles, Where Authors Compete and Readers Judge

 

From medieval prince to 21st century man-eater, Clash of the Titles (www.clashofthetitles.com) saw a gamut of interesting characters pass through its arena in January. The first half of the month we celebrated new life in Christ. In the second half, we grieved with our characters in their moments of loss. No matter the genre or theme, there’s always something exciting going on at COTT.

Tracy Krauss (http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/) joined us with her book My Mother the Man-eater, (http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Man-Eater-Tracy-Krauss/dp/1609765850/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297021598&sr=8-1) where “hunting never looked so good.”

With a title like that, my first question was—What kind of fascinating character would be given such a label? So I asked the author. Apparently, heroine Joleen Allen is on the hunt. For a man, that is. Unfortunately, every time the mother of five meets a prospect, he falls for one of her daughters instead!

“Joleen’s life has not been an easy one,” Tracy says about the book’s heroine, “but she is a fighter. The fact that Joleen is so tenacious, despite almost insurmountable hardship, makes her somebody to root for, I think. Also, she portrays the kind of confidence and penache that makes her stand out, although most of it is a coping mechanism.”

Since the Clash’s theme was Conversion Scenes, I asked Tracy what Joleen’s hold-up was for trusting Christ.

Tracy: Deep down she doesn’t feel like she deserves it. She can’t accept the fact that God could forgive her for the multi-layered sins of the past, nor can she believe God could change her penchant for ‘sin’ in the present.

Here a tiny peek at Tracy’s excerpt:

“If he loves me so much, why did he let so many bad things happen in my life?” Joleen asked.

“I can’t answer that for sure,” William replied. “All I know is, what Satan meant for harm, God can use for good. Will you let him? Take the pieces of your life and turn it into something good?”

For the full excerpt, click HERE. (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/2011/01/conversion-scenes-excerpts.html)

It was an amazing Clash as authors and readers shared their favorite scriptures and rejoiced in God’s mercy and grace. Join us this month as we turn the focus from God’s love toward man to that between hero and heroine during back-to-back Most Romantic Moment clashes.

April W Gardner (http://www.aprilgardner.com) is the senior editor of Clash of the Titles and best-selling author of Wounded Spirits. (http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Spirits-April-W-Gardner/dp/0981989616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297021817&sr=1-1)