Beauty, Grace, Secrets, Story ~ Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones ~ Review

I think I found a new Southern contemporary favorite in the new release of “Secrets Over Sweet Tea”.

          

  No other wild, eccentric character has been more endearing that Scarlett Jo. That woman LEAPS from the page and doesn’t mind speaking what she thinks you need to hear. And most of the time she’s right. She’s charming and sassy, smart and warm. She’s the perfect Southern character to read; truly memorable.

            

Zach has taken a road that so many marriages have fallen into. To watch him walk out of his affair was so difficult at times. Yes, he made some poor choices, but his growth had to be the strongest of all three main characters. One of the best scenes in the entire book was at the end where he’s talking to Grace. I wanted to slow down and savor his wisdom, wisdom having only come of a new faith in God.

          

  I loved Grace. She made some difficult decisions, but I have the absolute most hope for her beyond this story. I’d love to know what happens to her next and maybe even Tyler. My reason to mention all three of these characters is because they are that memorable. The writing is that captivating and the Southern charm and taste that much more engaging. This one is making my keeper shelf; excellent read.

            

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

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More about the novel...

Secrets can be funny things. We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It's a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well--a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way. As the lives of this boisterous pastor's wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect in the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life.

Giveaway! Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman!

Hello, readers! By now you're used to my Monday posts being an interview/giveaway. Today I've still got the giveaway, but in place of the interview, I've got a fun post shared with you today by Pam Hillman. Check it out and be sure to enter to win her latest novel by commenting below. Have a fabulous Monday and I'll see you around the blogosphere. :-))

Wallflower Writer to the Rescue

Have you ever been somewhere where you felt out of place? Maybe in a group setting where it seems like everyone has paired off in groups chatting, connecting, having fun, but you feel left out, maybe even unwanted?

I don’t know about you, but I have. As a matter of fact, when I was younger, I felt like that most of the time. I was a shy, introverted, gangly teenager. I got tongue-tied around strangers and rarely initiated conversation. I preferred solitude and books.

So, what changed?

First, I owe the nudge to actually come out of my shell to my employer of 28 years. I went from office worker, to payroll clerk, to office manager, to purchasing manager where I was forced to talk to salesmen (Strangers. Eeek!!) on the phone and in person
constantly. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

My newfound confidence spilled over into my writing life as well.

I started focusing on others instead of myself. At least once or twice at ACFW conference
meals I look for a table where I know no one. I started this practice at the RWA
conventions years ago. Instead of stressing that I couldn’t find any of my friends among 2000 writers, I found new friends. Okay, at ACFW, it’s getting harder and harder for me to meet a stranger. Just sayin’

In large group settings where people are milling about, I don’t hug the wall, avoiding eye-contact with other people who are avoiding eye-contact with me. I make it a point to mingle. I smile, catch the eye of those standing or sitting alone. I try not to be pushy:
if they’re waiting for someone and their friend shows up, I move on, looking for another vict…uh…lonely-looking person.

I’ve been rescuing wallflower writers for close to fifteen years. But, really, if truth be told, who’s rescuing who?






Connect with Pam online!

Website: http://www.pamhillman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.hillman.7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamHillman or @PamHillman

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5800307-pam-hillman

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/wrtnbyph/

Group blog: http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Personal blog: http://www.calicotrails.blogspot.com

Publisher: http://www.tyndale.com/Claiming-Mariah/9781414380964

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Pam's book! (winner can pick format of either Nook or Kindle)

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 March 22nd

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 

Accepting "No"

How many times have I blogged about this?

Hundreds. I'm sure.

But blogging for me is almost therapeutic, so if I can't ever seem to get out of the same rut, ignore me and move onto the next blog. ;-)

God often says no. No because it's not the right time. No because it's not in His plan right now. I'll absolutely be the first one to raise my hand and state this. I'm the first one to tell myself that. I'm the first one to kneel and say "as hard as this in, I need this to be Your plan, not mine."

So why is no SO disappointing? I'm living with a no right now. A no to something I desperately wanted. I prayed about this. I turned it over. It was a long shot. The long and unanswerable silence has most likely proven to be my answer.

I'm not angry. Not upset. I knew I probably wouldn't get the answer I wanted. But still I clung to the hope I would.

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Why am I disappointed? I should shrug and move on, content in the fact that God has something bigger. But the problem is, I'm not content. I wanted this to be a yes. I felt I needed this to be a yes.

And that hurts to admit. I think probably at the gut that is what is the most disappointing. That I am disappointed. I should accept this and move on. Count this as an opportunity and learning experience.

Instead I'm wallowing in disappointment and yes...even a few tears. It's not a pleasant place to hang out. And it's not a place I like to visit.

So I have to accept. Accept and move on. I have to accept "no".

The thing is, when God's plans are better and bigger, they have to be good enough. They have to be perfect. Because they are. They. Are. Do I, as a human being, want to accept that? Nope. My post here today proves it. It's our nature. Doesn't make it right. But because of the fall, we are predisposed to want to argue about everything.

Life is ALL about waiting. There is never a day that won't encompass some kind of waiting. No matter what that is. Some days have bigger things we wait for than others. But it's all the same. All the time. I should be used to by now. I should be willing to accept it by now, but I guess I still have further to go.

Sigh.

So I'm trying. Taking one teeny tiny baby step at a time toward accepting no.

March: A Novel Release Preview

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Strands of Deception B&H Books (March 1, 2013) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.

Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.

But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Strands of Deception, go HERE.


My review...
Um, well....actually I didn't get the book until yesterday. Kind of hard to write the review. ;-) Watch for that coming later in a separate post.

But first, I'm curious. Fan of suspense? What of Robin's writing? I've read one novel, To Write a Wrong and thought it good. Eager to see what concepts she's wrapped into this one.

Touch of Downton ~ Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell ~ Review

With the new fad of Downton Abbey (and I’m speaking as an avid fan myself), it seems there will probably be a great many more regencies showing up on the Christian fiction market. But what I liked about “Moonlight Masquerade” is that it doesn’t have to fit any one “mold” or expectation. The story was fresh, interesting and engaging.

            

I liked the “espionage” angle and it is definitely one of those upstairs/downstairs relationships with a twist that I wasn’t sure the two main characters could actually fall in love. Amazing, considering they are the main characters. (wink)

         

   I love titles that actually match a scene within the story and the masquerade under moonlight is definitely one such moment. Oh goodness…talk about a good fiction moment.

          

  Parts of the story weren’t *as* engaging as far as the actual telling of the story and I thought parts a bit repetitive, but overall the story was one I’m still glad I took the time to read.

            

Several sections during the story bore a delightful smidge of humor. Secondary characters had strength beyond the page and gave delightful spice to the story. I enjoyed reading the progression and character growth. An overall entertaining read.

           

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

         

   **Available March 2013 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**

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More about the novel...

Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing?

Ruth Axtell deftly creates a world where black and white burst into a confusion of colors and no one is who they seem. Readers will be hooked from the very first scene to the final page.

Giveaway! Strands of Deception by Robin Caroll!

 Welcome to Writing for Christ Robin Caroll, it is great to have you here!

Thank you for having me. I love to visit like this.

Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

LOL, a multitude, probably. Let’s see…I’m claustrophobic and I have a wicked heightened sense of smell.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

Mystery/suspense/thriller, of course. :- )  I enjoy reading in a variety of genres outside of my favorite…actually just about anything but historicals. I just can’t enjoy a historical, no matter how hard I try. (Sorry, Mom)

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

The most freeing was to write whatever way is best for ME to put my best work out there. I spent a lot of time trying to make a detailed synopsis when my nature is to let my characters and the plot surprise me. It was liberating when I accepted I write better by NOT outlining.

5 things you love?

God is a given, as is my family and friends, so I’ll say writing, reading, scrapbooking, SEC football, and boxing.

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

I recently read the Mortals series by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee. I was totally captivated. I passed the book along to my oldest daughter in her early 20s and she loved it. My middle daughter (13) is about to start reading it.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

www.robincaroll.com and www.facebook.com/author.robincaroll

Thank you for being with us today!

 Thanks again for having me. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you.

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Robin'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 extra entry:

Sign up for Robin's newsletter and also be entered for her personal contest giveaway! (scroll to the bottom of the page)

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 March 15th

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 

Now That is Good Storytelling...Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert ~ Review

Thinking you want to pre-order? If you do, be sure and
visit this page on Katie's website and submit for
7 bonus devotionals Katie has written just
for the readers of her second novel!

You know that feeling of finding a great book? The kind of book whose characters ride the tide of your emotions and pull so deeply on the heart strings that they just might be real people?

          

  What a minute? Who says they aren’t?

           

Don’t answer that.

           

My point? Some books have that…that star quality that make them soar. “Wishing on Willows” has that quality and so much more.

           

It’s hard to fit this book into the right “box” because there isn’t one out there labeled specifically for it. I wouldn’t say it’s a romance…though it’s such a sweet love story. A love story between Robin and her son. Ian and Robin. Bethany and Evan. The older couple who visit the diner. Amanda and Jason. I wouldn’t call it women’s fiction, though there are strong elements of that genre woven all through the story.

          

  Would I call it perfect? Pretty close to it. It’s a delicate symmetry, a balance between lyrical writing and character emotions and actions that make them so incredible loveable. I think Ian had the ability to melt my heart more times than should be allowed through the story.

          

  There is a talent for story woven so perfectly through this novel that it’s like taking a deep breath and not needing to breathe again. I left myself behind and joined their lives.

           

Now that is good storytelling…

            

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

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More about the novel...

Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?
 
A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                      
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.
 
As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.
 
With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.