She Never Expected to Love Him...A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ Review

Marriage of convenience stories can hold some of the best conflict in this reader’s opinion and this latest historical in “A Home in Drayton Valley” certainly has much conflict and reader likeability going for it.

            

I honestly wasn’t sure about Joss for the first half of the novel. It’s obvious from the start he’s going to be our hero, but a hero that drinks and carouses and is a general no-good? Hmm. But in faith, I kept reading. Believe it or not, the character that is his own worst villain becomes a down-right likable character.

            

Several times in this novel are not easy journeys for characters or reader alike. Emotions run deep. Tarsie is so determined to win this man back to Christ, a final request from her dying best friend. She never expected to fall in love with him after she married him.

            

There is a great moment in the book where Joss has deceived Tarsie and comes to feel great remorse for this action. The dialogue and moments of character growth made the entire book. I loved it.

           

Great secondary characters and setting, the only thing I waited to have resolved was Joss’s gambling debts he left behind in Chicago, I expected those to haunt him, but was also a bit glad they didn’t. (wink).

            

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

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More about the novel....

A Compelling Pioneer Story From Bestselling Author Kim Vogel Sawyer — Fed up with the poor quality of life in 1880 New York, Tarsie Raines encourages her friends Joss and Mary Brubacher to move with their two children to Drayton Valley, Kansas, a booming town hailed in the guidebook as the land of opportunity. She offers to help with expenses and to care for Mary and the children as they travel west by wagon train. But when tragedy strikes on the trip across the prairie, Tarsie is thrown into an arrangement with Joss that leaves both of them questioning God and their dreams for the future. As their funds dwindle and nothing goes as planned, will Tarsie and Joss give up and go their separate ways, or will God use their time in Drayton Valley to turn their hearts toward him?

Giveaway! That Summer by Jo Huddleston!

Welcome to Writing for Christ Jo Huddleston, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

Casey, thanks for having me on your blog to talk with you and your readers.

How about this –In high school I played varsity basketball.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

I find that I read many historical romance novels. My novel, That Summer, is an inspirational Southern historical. I do love to read mysteries/suspense but so far have never tried to write one, probably because I couldn’t.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

Pray about every step you take on your writing journey. Strengthen that fruit of the Spirit—patience—for you will need it. Writing for publication is many times a waiting time. Be patient and never give up if you believe God has given you the talent to write for his glory.

If you’re just starting out on your writing journey, read all you can about the craft of writing. Find a writers’ conference near enough to be affordable for you to attend. Soak in all you can in the workshops and from the speakers, editors, and publishers—even at meal times. Be prepared for rejection. They won’t be rejecting you but what you wrote. Margaret Mitchell received over twenty-five rejections for Gone With the Wind! They told her nobody wanted to read about the Civil War.

5 things you love?

Jesus, my family, my country, puppy dogs, and Whopper candy.

What novel have you recently read that has stood out to you that both teens and adults will find enjoyment in?

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot! It’s a great book and it’s a hard back book.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

My website/blog: http://www.johuddleston.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.huddleston.hope

Thank you for being with us today!

It’s been my pleasure to spend time with you and your readers. Thank you for having me.

Okay readers, here's your chance to win Jo's latest novel!

Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:

~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on December 14th.

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

NaNoWriMo Celebration!!

It's the last day of the month!!

I've been watching my fellow writer friends on Facebook and seen many of them nearly down to the wire, but pushing forward strong.

It was a daunting goal.

50,000 words in ONE month.

A month with a major holiday.

Did we survive with the same amount of hair and family members as when we went in?

Do we even recognize ourselves in the mirror after pushing hard 'til midnight to make. that. goal?

Did ya make it?

It was a lot. Yes siree, no two ways about it...it was a HUGE task. 

But we're done. You've got just a few more hours and this month will be over. 

Don't look back on what you DIDN'T accomplish, face forward and celebrate with you DID. 

Can't edit an empty page!

How'd you do? 

It's time to CHEER!!!!

Heartwarming Storytelling ~ A Brides Sews with Love...by Erica Vetsch ~ Review

Oh sweet romance, what a pleasure you are to indulge in.

            Yes, I am emotionally passionate reader. I liked the romance of Julie Lessman and Laura Frantz, but a sweet romance such as this title makes me just as happy and satisfied. A compelling time period matched with equally as compelling characters and I found a sweet, enjoyable story that warmed my heart to read.

            

One thing I loved: Meghan’s spunk. I wish I had just a little dose of her spirit in dealing with difficult situations. Caleb is a complex (and frustrating) character, one that I wished would simply share what was wrong with his situation and why he hadn’t enlisted in the war. But then, as I so often like to instruct my dad in these kind of novel situations: then you wouldn’t have a story.

            

And what a fun story it is! Needles must be one *hot* place, because I felt the oven baking heat through the entire book. I enjoyed the glimpse into the life of a Harvey girl and the devastating calamity of an influenza outbreak.

           

Truly? A wonderful book to add to my collection. It’s charming and sweet of course, but lively and spunky. The romance is a forbidden one that drives the characters all the further toward resolution until it seems quite impossible.

           

Heartwarming story telling from page one.

            

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author and publisher for my copy to review.

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More about the novel...

When her brother is injured fighting in France, Meghan enlists her fellow Harvey Girl waitresses to sew a Red Cross signature quilt to raise money for wounded doughboys. Local horse breeder Caleb McBride longs to join the battle, but the army won’t take him. Because he has kept his shameful infirmity a secret, the townsfolk have labeled him a coward and war profiteer. When Meghan uncovers his malady, her poor opinion of Caleb unravels. Can this beautiful seamstress find a way to mend his heart? 

Giveaway! The Heart's Lullaby by Jen Stephens!

Welcome back to Writing for Christ Jen Stephens, I am excited to have you here for a second time.

What has changed in your writing life since you were last here?

Well, I finished the 2^nd book in the Harvest Bay series, The Heart’s Lullaby. It released October 1^st. Ands that’s about it, but A LOT has changed in my personal life. I recently moved from Tennessee to Ohio, near my hometown, and am now on my own with my 2 beautiful daughters. The thing with writers is that their writing life and personal life is so closely connected that a change in 1 can directly affect the other. Now that I’m settled and all 3 of us are adjusting well, I’m ready to start book 3 and am actually really excited about it. Some parts of it might be difficult, but I strongly believe it’s a story that needs to be told for women everywhere of all ages.

What recent read stood out to you as truly spectacular?

I am currently reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (cause I want to read the book before the movie and I REALLY want to see the movie) and Home Front by Kristin Hannah. Both are incredible stories, the kind that I find myself thinking about the characters in the middle of the day. To me, THAT is a spectacular read.

Do you have favorite authors?

Yep! The 2 I just mentioned: Nicholas Sparks and Kristin Hannah.

What do you find the most enjoyable part of writing or connecting with readers?

I love hearing how my stories affect someone else, what someone else got out of it, how it helped them in a given situation. That is a truly satisfying feeling.

What do you find the most ideal atmosphere for writing? Do you ever get those surroundings?

I’d LOVE a quiet mountain retreat, with an inspiring view, and nope! Doesn’t happen. My step-mom and her husband live on a lake in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and sometimes I get that, but we are usually out on the boat or playing something. I’ll take my quiet bedroom instead, after the girls have gone to bed.

Okay, something fun for those writers out there: In what point of your writing career did you surprise yourself by writing the most words ever in the shortest amount of time?

Oh, good heavens, Casey! I truly don’t remember writing a lot of words in a short amount of time. I wish I did, but my whole writing career I’ve had 2 small children so I’ve had to write when they were napping or in bed or at a friends. I’ve gotten pretty good at writing at doctor and orthodontist appointments, music lessons, and sports practices. I use my smart phone for that. I’ve surprised myself by utilizing every single second I have.

Thanks for being here again! It has been a joy and we wish the very best with your novels.

Thank you for having me, Casey! It’s always a pleasure and a joy for me!

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Jen's book!

Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

For an additional entry, please rate my review. I'd appreciate the help! :-)

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on December 7th

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

To The Ones Who Inspire Me

This post is inspired by this beautiful post by Rachelle Rea...

Yes, it's the day after Thankgiving.

Yes, I know most people are probably out braving the mad shoppers (I won't go there...)

But I'm not. I'm actually heading across my fair state to spend a late Thanksgiving with some dear family friends.

And I'm thankful. Oh, so thankful for the people in my life (and this post doesn't begin to do them justice) that I raise my eyes and hands to heaven and say thank You.

This is my feeble attempt and to those this post doesn't do justice, I thank you.

Photo Credit

To the women who I get to "hang out with" each and every day...you inspire me.

To the author who responded to an excited girl's fan letter and became a life-long friend.

To the mentor I asked God for and He blessed me beyond my wildest imagines.

To the coworker who walks into the office every day and asks if I've heard from the agent.

To the husband and wife who are fighting for their child half a world away and praising God every step of the journey.

Photo Credit

To the friend who makes me laugh, simply by talking and the writer I met at ACFW who I'm sure Chip MacGregor will be selling a novel for very, very soon. 

For the love and heart and sweet, sweet encouragement of an author who motivates and inspires me to higher greatness.

To the blogger who came out of nowhere and encourages me every time her name lands in my inbox or blogger feed.

To the fellow writer who stopped me at the MBT pizza party and blessed me with encouragement she didn't know I needed.

Photo Credit

To the author who invited me to ACFW and then became the easiest person to hug and a dear friend in the process.

To the critique partner who writers better than I could dream of attaining and pushes me hard to reach the same level.

To a dear friend I didn't expect to find in my backyard. The artist that challenges and blesses me with her love and friendship. Countin' the days until Christmas Break!!

To the people who are reading this post and some that probably never will. To the love of family and friends and supporters that I would be lost without. You make my world a better place. So I say, thank you, and praise God every. single. day with gratitude that He has put me here. To know and love all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Comeback Novel/Message ~ Summer's Song by Lindi Peterson ~ Review

It’s a comeback novel with strong premise: that God can take our ugly and broken and turn it into something beautiful.

           

Summer Sinclair has a name like music to go along with a flourishing career, but the one man she shouldn’t allow herself to love is the one person who could change her life completely for the better.

           

I loved Levi. Though I’m not sure that many female readers could read this book and not love him. He’s chivalrous, hunky, kind and caring, wanting the absolute best for Summer as she discovers her new relationship with God.

           

I would definitely qualify this book as being for more mature audiences. Summer comes with a great deal of influence from her old life and that influence plays upon the page in ways that should be expected before starting the book. It’s not your “sweet” romance, but real life isn’t. I thought it portrayed reality well, though I would have preferred the language referenced twice be left out of the dialogue.

          

  Summer and Levi’s coming together and eventual falling apart (this is a romance after all) combined with their past and the haunts that have risen up to threaten their future played well with the story and created good tension.

            

All in all, a good story with good morals and I appreciated its message.

          

  This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy to review.

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More about the novel...

All she has to do is prove that she's changed . . . completely. 

Pop-star princess Summer Sinclair doesn't know what to do with herself now that she's cleaned-up and sober. She knows God's been nudging her, but since God is unfamiliar territory, she feels scared and alone. Everything changes when she meets Levi Preston, a Christian musician who's falling for Summer and wants her to be who God created her to be. But when the reality of her life takes Levi to places he's vowed to stay clear of, will Summer's newfound freedom be what breaks her heart as she does what is best for Levi?