When Kennedy Stern’s childhood pastor asks her to volunteer at his new pregnancy center, she carves time out of her rigorous college schedule to promote the cause of the unborn.
Annie’s review:
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a gripping story, quite fast paced in places. Fans of the author’s international suspense novels (Beloved Daughter, Slave Again, and Torn Asunder) will enjoy getting to know Kennedy Stern, a minor character only referred to briefly elsewhere in the series. But this book is a whole separate story, so it’s not necessary to have read the others in order to understand and enjoy this one.
Unlike Alana Terry’s other books, Unplanned takes place entirely in the United States, instead of North Korea and China. It starts readers off in the frazzled schedule of a new college student trying to juggle classes, church, friendships, and ministry activities, along with adjusting to life in a country she hasn’t lived in since she was little. Then the ministry she reluctantly volunteered for opens a door to a huge problem that eats into even more of her time, and before she knows it, things spiral out of control. Danger to herself and others plunges Kennedy into a crisis of faith as she struggles desperately to save three lives, including her own, and to get to the bottom of a mystery that may involve a prominent politician.
If you enjoy mystery and suspense, read Unplanned! It’s an exciting story that deals well with a controversial subject. The author doesn’t shy away from tricky issues, like where God is when things go wrong and prayers seem to go unanswered. (She certainly doesn’t give pat answers to them, either.) Not to give any spoilers, but this is not a story where all the problems are nicely taken care of by the end, everything is wrapped up, and everybody can go back to happy little lives. Nothing that deals with issues this real and serious can end that neatly. But the ending is as satisfying as it could realistically get, and there are just enough unanswered questions to let us know the author is planning a sequel. And I can’t wait to read it!
After volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, Kennedy Stern finds herself a pawn in a deadly game of intrigue, at the mercy of those who consider a few innocent lives a small ransom to pay for victory.
(Be sure to see below to get your own pre-release copy of Unplanned before it hits the bookstores.)
(a video interview with Alana Terry)
In Unplanned, Kennedy Stern’s roommate Willow is everything that Kennedy isn’t. That doesn’t mean they can’t have a great friendship, however. In this two-minute video, author Alana Terry talks about how her own college experiences helped shape Willow’s character.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqZm2ZecDLQ]
WANT YOUR OWN COPY OF UNPLANNED NOW?
Unplanned is the newest Christian suspense novel from award-winning author, Alana Terry. PRE-ORDER the $2.99 ebook today, fill out the form below, and receive:
- a pre-release copy of Unplanned (no waiting for launch day)
- the Unplanned Bonus Materials (go behind-the-scenes with deleted scenes, bloopers, character studies, and more!)
- 30 Days of Prayer to End Abortion devotional
- an exclusive 20-minute video from the author answering readers’ frequently asked questions (includes the story of the mysterious phone call Alana received that was the basis for the novel)
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Synopsis: After graduating from the Secret Seminary, Hannah and Simon are ready to return to their homeland. Their training has equipped them to carry the gospel to a country ravaged by darkness and despair. If necessary, they’re even prepared to face the North Korean labor camps, but the hardest part of their mission isn’t the hunger, cold, and incessant danger. The hardest part is cutting off contact with one another.
In this world of spies, secret police, and informants, staying together might not just compromise their ministry. It could cost them both their lives.
A Christian romantic suspense from the author of The Beloved Daughter, which won awards from Women of Faith, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, The Book Club Network, and more.
You can also sign up below to help spread the word about Alana’s fundraiser to help rescue North Korean refugees on a modern-day underground railroad.
Torn Asunder by Alana Terry
Simon gritted his teeth. His head felt like it was sinking. The general kept his voice level and pleasant as he slipped the device over Simon’s pinky. “Now, you just tell me who you delivered your Bibles to, and I’ll let you leave here with everything intact.”
Simon tried to swallow. His whole jaw was swollen from his scuffle in the woods. He shut his eyes and hoped the general couldn’t feel him tremble.
General Sin chuckled to himself. “Silly me. I forgot.” He slid the device off Simon’s finger. “This kind of tool won’t work on a big, strong man like you.” He strode over to Hannah and yanked her hand before Simon could even cry out. He jammed her ring finger into the opening.
Simon struggled against his iron restraints. “Let her go!”
Hannah sucked in her breath. General Sin still glared at Simon. “This is your last chance. Give me the names, and I’ll release her unharmed.”
Simon’s field of vision blurred over. He wanted to scream. The metal from his handcuffs sliced open his wrists. He pictured himself breaking free and tackling the general to the ground.
“Better talk.” General Sin yawned. “I hate getting my uniform messy.”
Hannah’s hand trembled, but she didn’t make a noise.
“Three …”
Simon clenched his jaw, unable to tear his face away from Hannah’s wide, terrified eyes.
“Two …”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuylXuid7Ys]
Want more? Buy Torn Asunder on amazon now. And remember, all book sales today will be donated directly to Liberty in North Korea, a group committed to seeing North Koreans achieve their freedom in THIS GENERATION.
Want to help spread the word? See below to click and tweet, or share this image on your timeline. Then be sure to scroll down to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $100 gift card, surprise grab bag ($60 retail), great CD from Cherie Norquay, and free prizes to everyone who enters! And don’t forget to leave a comment and tell us what you think of Hannah and Simon and those like them who sneak into hostile mission fields to share the gospel.
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Or copy and paste into an email or Facebook status:
Torn Asunder is a new Christian suspense novel by Alana Terry about two North Koreans who serve as undercover missionaries. It’s on sale for only 99 cents, and all book proceeds today will be donated to Liberty in North Korea’s underground railroad for North Korean refugees.
Did you help spread the word? Enter the Rafflecopter drawing at the bottom to claim your prizes!
This is truly a gripping as well as a sobering story. As I read about the characters and the difficulties they faced, I had to keep stopping to pray for Christians in North Korea and around the world who really are going through situations like that right now. This is fiction, but it reflects the hard fact of religious persecution that most of us in the West seldom think about. Though many of the events in the story were extremely unpleasant, the book is nevertheless an interesting read and was hard to put down. The characters are vivid and so real that I felt I knew them personally. The author has done a beautiful job of bringing romance and hope out of a dark and serious story.
If you enjoy this book, you may want to read the other two in her series as well: The Beloved Daughter and Slave Again. All of them can stand alone, but they do share a few characters and settings. I enjoyed the others and highly recommend them all!
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| Special Discount ~ Limited Time Only |
Special Time-Sensitive Giveaway! The first 25 readers who enter the giveaway below will receive a free audiobook from award-winning author Alana Terry. She’s also giving away a $100 amazon card, a hundred free audio downloads, and a free ebook to anyone who signs up!
About Slave Again: After escaping a North Korean prison camp, Mee-Kyong is hustled over the border and sold into the Chinese underworld. She vows to survive, but sheer determination and willpower won’t save her this time. Is she fated to remain a slave forever?
Slave Again is a Christian suspense novel from award-winning author Alana Terry, whose debut novel, The Beloved Daughter, won awards from Women of Faith, Grace Awards, The Book Club Network, and Readers’ Favorite.
NEW BOOK RELEASE: Slave Again by Alana Terry is hot off the press, and both the ebook and paperback are at a steep (30-60%) discount!! Prices will go up soon, so grab your copy today.
About the Author: Alana is passionate about human-rights issues in North Korea and has devoted her writing to raise both awareness and funds to help North Korean refugees find freedom and safety. You can learn more about her work with Liberty in North Korea at alanaterry.com/link.
Check out Slave Again now before the price goes up, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
About the Author: Alana Terry is a homeschool mom, pastor’s wife, and Christian author. Her debut novel, The Beloved Daughter, has won awards from Women of Faith and the Book Club Network. The Beloved Daughter was a number one bestseller in Christian suspense on amazon. Her next novel, Slave Again, is due out this summer.
First Chapter Reveal: Want to read the first chapter from Slave Again? Scroll down below the giveaway to get your own sneak preview.
Giveaway Time! Alana is giving away free copies of her next release to anyone who makes a donation to Liberty in North Korea, an organization dedicated to rescuing refugees who escape North Korea. She’s also giving away a mini kobo e-reader and several copies of Slave Again, so be sure to enter the giveaway below!
I read The Beloved Daughter on my Kindle not long ago and was deeply moved by it. The story is gritty and heartbreaking in places, but at the same time touching and inspiring. It burdened me to pray more for the people of North Korea, especially Christ’s followers who have been imprisoned and are enduring unspeakable suffering for their faith.
Today Alana Terry, author of The Beloved Daughter, is visiting my blog. She was kind enough to answer a few questions I had about her book, and below she talks about the newly-released audio version, as well as a giveaway!
Annie: I’m curious how you were able to describe in so much detail what goes on behind closed doors in such a closed country. What kind of research went into the writing of this novel?
Alana: Most of the research I gleaned was from reading and listening to interviews with defectors from North Korea. I also found resources from certain ministries like Voice of the Martyrs incredibly useful.
Annie: I like the way you preface each chapter with a verse from scripture. They’re not the common verses that we see quoted all the time, either! What inspired you to do this, and how did you choose what verses to use?
Alana: I can’t specifically remember why I chose to include Scripture passages with each chapter. I guess it probably went back to wanting to point my readers to the Lord. It’s such a heavy story that maybe God knew we would all need some Scripture thrown in there. As far as the verses go, I don’t really like just quoting the verses that have been hashed and rehashed until we’re numb to them. The Bible is so full of poetic imagery, so it wasn’t too hard to find verses to go with the tone of each section.
Annie: What can we expect in the rest of the series?
Alana: My next novel, “Not Alone,” is a follow-up to “The Beloved Daughter,” although it’s not exactly a sequel. It takes one of the minor characters from “The Beloved Daughter” and carries her story on. I hope to publish “Not Alone” as the first in a suspense trilogy, however my wrists have been giving me trouble and my writing is not proceeding as fast as I hoped. You can see the trailer for “Not Alone” at alanaterry.com/not-alone
The Beloved Daughter, an inspirational suspense novel by award-winning author Alana Terry, is a story of persecution and triumph set in the oppressive North Korean regime. The audiobook version of Alana’s bestselling debut novel is narrated by Kathy Garver, a four-time Audie award winner and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Motion Picture Council. (You might also recognize Kathy as Cissy from the TV show Family Affair.)
(Listen to a sample of Kathy reading from The Beloved Daughter.)
Two Audiobooks for the Price of One!
If you order The Beloved Daughter audiobook and are one of the first 25 customers to email the receipt to [email protected], you will receive a code to also download a free version of What, No Sushi, book one in Alana’s new historical fiction/time travel series for kids!
The Beloved Daughter
Synopsis: In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. It is her father’s faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha’s well-being. The Beloved Daughter follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps the contemporary free world has known. Her crime? Being the daughter of a Christian.
Acclaim:
*Winner, Women of Faith Writing Contest
*1st Place, Book Club Network Book of the Month
*Amazon Bestseller (#5 Christian Suspense)
Reviews:
“…an engaging plot that reads like a story out of today’s headlines…” ~ Women of Faith Writing Contest
“The Beloved Daughter is a beautifully written story that is…both personal and representative of the challenges that many North Koreans still face today.” ~ Sarah Palmer, Rescue Team Coordinator at Liberty in North Korea
“The author does a phenomenal job… HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – but have tissues handy.” ~ Pauline Creeden, Editor AltWit Press
“…the most compelling Christian novel I have read.” ~ Temujin Hu, Author of The Rage
(Click here to order your own copy of The Beloved Daughter.)
Enter The Giveaway
The author’s friend Nicole makes beautiful hand-made earrings out of bark, coral, and even teeth and bones. Six winners! To see what kind of work Nicole does, check out her etsy shop.
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| A sample of Nicole’s nature-inspired earrings |
And don’t forget to email your receipt of The Beloved Daughter auidobook to receive a free audio download of What, No Sushi, Alana’s children’s chapter book about the Japanese-American internment camps!
SEE THE AUDIOBOOK HERE
SEE THE PAPERBACK HERE
SEE THE EBOOK HERE
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