My First Christian Guy by Patty Froese

I met my husband during my starving artist years.

Those were fun years! I lived on the cheap, worked as few hours as possible at part time jobs, and wrote in every spare minute. I lived in downtown Toronto in a tiny apartment with a leaky roof and a mouse in the wall. My first published novel was written during that time--so it was definitely productive.

One week, I decided I wanted to go to church again for the first time in a few years, and I looked in the yellow pages (I had no internet at home) for the closest one to my home and then hopped on the streetcar.

My husband was the first person to talk to me when I stepped in the door of that downtown church. To hear him tell it, he spotted me across the foyer and thought, "I'm going to marry her." I think it probably took a little longer than that to get to the commitment stage, but not much. He gave me a little booklet and wrote his phone number inside.

I was clueless. I'd never seriously dated a Christian guy before, and I thought his phone number was just being Christianly. But when he gave me his number again the next weekend, my roommate insisted that he was probably interested, which gave us scads to talk about over a pot of tea in our leaky kitchen. Christian men were alien to both of us. So I gave him a call.

We talked all night. He had a thick African accent, so he and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what each other were saying, but it was worth any frustration. He was unlike any guy I'd ever met.

About two weeks later on a long walk together, he asked me to marry him. Two weeks in, I knew it was crazy and I knew exactly what all my friends and family would say to me, so I said, "Yes, I'll marry you. But let's not tell my family just yet..."

It was eight months from "Hello" to "I do." He was the conservative church guy in a black suit, and I was the artsy girl in jeans with a shaved head. Nearly eight years later, we've balanced out. I have hair, and he's been known to wear jeans to church. (Gasp!) And we're still crazy about each other.

Eye of the Beholder by Patty Froese

Tricia Hunter was an extraordinary beauty...before a horrible bus accident left her irreparably scarred. In an effort to accept the things she cannot change, she heads to her uncle's cabin for some time alone.

Forest ranger Jesse Reynolds recognizes Tricia the minute he sees her, but nothing flickers in her eyes. That's fine by him. The same accident that stole her good looks killed his fiance, and he simply can't bring himself to feel sorry for Tricia like everyone else in her life seems to do.

Thrown together in the autumn woods, they are faced with the past, an uncertain future, and a struggle to find out why God allows terrible things to happen.

Purchase Link

WHEN TRUTH WHISPERS coming March 15!

Did she want Hunter to kiss her? An ache, a need, started in her sock-covered toes and zapped all the way to her lips. Yeah. She did. Her free palm cupped his whisker-roughened cheek and slid down to his jawline, ending with a caress around his lips. “But I’m not laughing, now.”

His eyes darkened, his nostrils flared. His jaw tensed under her hand. “No. I see that. But are you sure this is what you want, Teal? I don’t play games where matters of the heart are concerned. Yours, or mine.”

I'm thrilled to introduce Hunter and Teal from When Truth Whispers.

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?

Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

Coming March 15, 2013

White Rose Publishing.

Writing through Despair

2007. Not a good year.

We’d just moved to North Carolina from Florida. My husband spent long hours working at his new job, and as a writer who rarely left the house, I hadn’t developed a support system of friends yet. Lonely? You bet.

Uprooting our youngest son mid-year in 10th grade wasn’t ideal, so we arranged for him to stay and finish the school year. He spent the following summer in NC, but he missed his friends and decided to move back. Without telling us. Yeah. We were devastated.

That alone was tough, but on top of that, our oldest son, a Marine, faced another deployment. This time, though, suffering severe emotional and psychological trauma, he made a choice that altered his life forever.

My writing suffered. How could I create a romance when I stared down a deep black hole that threatened to swallow me whole? What about you? Are you drowning in despair? Here are some reminders that I needed:

Remember His promises. "Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut 31:6 NIV) This is one of my favorites.

Realize you don’t control others. You can only control your actions and reactions. Let everything else go.

Recognize that you may need counseling. Although I might have been lonely, I wasn’t alone. God heard my cry, and He answered with a sweet husband who recognized that I needed help. My husband procured a Christian counselor for our family, and after a few sessions and much prayer, God broke the chains of despair.

Reminisce on God’s faithfulness. I’m no stranger to pain or suffering. As a child, I suffered third degree burns, which entailed numerous surgeries. I married as a teen, and when the marriage failed, I was left with trust issues and a precious 11-month-old to raise by myself (until I met my true soul mate six years later). God faithfully carried me through these tough times, so I trust Him to continue to do so.

Refocus and appreciate. Stop focusing inward. I began volunteering at a therapeutic horse ranch serving the special needs community. My issues seemed insignificant in comparison. And I learned to appreciate the perks of empty nesting. :-)

Know God's heart for you, and trust the road He has you on, even when you can't see where it leads. 2007 was a tough year, but this is the journey God’s traveled with me since then: 

A healthy relationship with our now college-age son

Additions to our family 

My first writing contract and several more since then.

An encouraging, supportive group of writer friends

2013. It’s going to be a great year.

It’s a new day. A fresh slate for the year. 

Are you staring into the deep pit of despair?

Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Ps 30:5b NKJV

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by JoAnn Durgin - My Review

About the book:

Jacob Marston, Starlight, Iowa's hometown hero made a long-ago promise to the Lord: he won't kiss a woman until he knows she's "the one." Now at age twenty-eight, the rugged firefighter questions if it'll ever happen. Then, he meets his best friend's sister, and Jake believes he's found the woman of his dreams. But what will she think when she discovers his vow?

When Julia makes an unexpected confession on Christmas Day, Jake shares his secret with her, and it looks as though happily-ever-after will make a holiday appearance. 

But somehow, everyone in the tiny town of Starlight learns Jake’s secret, and he's instantly transformed from town hero to laughingstock. Did Julia reveal his secret? Can Jake forget the humiliation and find his way under the mistletoe to share a forever kiss with Julia?

My thoughts:

Jake's the ideal hero: a firefighter who exudes boyish charm, a kid magnet, a guy who's been hurt by an ex-girlfriend who left him because she didn't appreciate his values, his vows, or his town. Julia's a pediatric nurse, who loves her family, but she's grown tired of them fixing her up with any and all available males. Her heart is set on Jake, but distance and other relationships stand in the way.

Don't you love books that leave you with an "awww" when you flip to the last page? Where the conflict stems more from the circumstances that keep them and their budding romance apart, rather than constant bickering between the hero and heroine? Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is one of those books,  immediately tugging you into the blooming romance between Jake and Julia and leaves you with a satisfied feeling.

Durgin plunks you into the heart of Starlight and weaves you into the lives of the characters. At 145 pages, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a good length to read during snatches of time during the holidays. It wasn't too short, leaving me wishing for more, and not too long to stress me out. Just right for the holidays!  

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is offered as part of Pelican Book Group's Christmas Extravaganza for only 99 cents during December. To read an excerpt or to purchase Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, click here. 

Do you like reading stories that leave you with a satisfied feeling? 

Have you been able to squeeze reading into this already bustling holiday season?

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

ACFW December 2012 New Releases

Be still my heart! Check out all the new romances!

A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas by Annalisa Daughety — Violet and Jackson both need dates to special events, so they hire a matchmaker to find somebody. Horrified when they meet—they already know and dislike each other from college—but with no other recourse, they agree to “pretend.” After a planned kiss with unexpected chemistry, will this sham arrangement turn into love?. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing).

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson — In this retelling of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs fairy tale, Sophie has little choice but to trust her betrothed’s brother, Gabe, to help her escape the evil Duchess Ermengard. (Historical from Zondervan).

A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio — When Sonia Pettit’s teenage daughter suddenly disappears for seven long years, Sonia faces losing her mind, her husband, and her son as she struggles to forgive her wayward daughter and trust God for her return. (Contemporary from Harbourlight Books (Pelican).

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson — Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer-not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web far more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive… (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense).

Sagebrush Knights by Erica Vetsch — Evelyn, Jane, Gwendolyn, and Emeline Gerhard arrive in Wyoming Territory in search of husbands. But when the men awaiting them are not the knights-in-shining-armor they hoped for, it will take a hearty dose of faith to see them through. Will love prevail or bring a not so happy ending? (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing).

Counterfeit Cowboy by Lacy Williams — A con man with a conscience meets and falls in love with a girl way out of his league. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired).

More details for each books can be found at ACFW's Fiction Finder website.

Everybody Loves Mickey by Therese M. Travis - My Review

About the book:

He’s a saint with a tarnished halo, and Aubrey Thomas can’t stand him…or can she? 

Handsome fireman, Mickey Hurst is loved by all. He volunteers at the local parish where Aubrey Thomas works as an administrator. He sings in the choir. He leads the youth group. He even acts as the church handyman, but Aubrey knew him before he became Saint Mickey—when he told her he’d have to be drunk to kiss her…and he was. What’s so infuriating is that despite his horrible admission, Aubrey loves Mickey as much as everybody else. 

Mickey doesn’t blame Aubrey for disliking him. After all, he kissed her when he wasn’t sober—and insulted her, to boot. Aubrey deserved a better man—a Godly man. But, since that fateful kiss, Mickey’s drawn closer to the Lord. With the intercession of God and the matchmaking parish staff, Mickey prays that this Christmas he will be able to prove to Aubrey he’s now the man for her.

My review: 
Don't you just love the cover? It looks so fun and playful, and that's exactly how I felt about this book. 

Mickey kissed Aubrey while he was drunk but apologized the next morning, blaming the kiss on the alcohol. Like he'd never be tempted to kiss Aubrey while he wasn't inebriated. Aubrey enjoyed the kiss, hated the apology. He hasn't been able to look her in the eye since that kiss years ago, and she hasn't forgiven him. Great conflict! The author even tucked in a little subplot with a theme: One sin is not greater or less than another. 

It's been a year since I read any Christmas novellas. I forgot how enjoyable, and how short, they can be. I would have liked a little more...ending. But, even so, the end was sweet. 

Overall, this was a great story to spend a couple hours relaxing with in front of the fireplace on a cold winter evening. Sure to make you smile. 

Available with White Rose Publishing as part of their 2012 Christmas Extravaganza offering. To purchase or to read an excerpt of Everybody Loves Mickey, click here. 

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

JOURNEY'S EMBRACE coming March 1st!

He heard water running in the shower. Now what? He glanced around the room, his gaze stopping at her bedside table. Curiosity made him investigate. A raggedy stuffed doll with red stringy hair sat plopped against the lamp. Cell phone charger. A picture frame.

Who did she want to see when morning dawned? Who was the last person on her mind when she turned out the light at night?

He picked up the frame and stared at a picture of the three of them. Dane, Steven and Sage, at her college graduation. He smiled. Humbled, yet gratified, at the same time. She pictured them the same way he did.

As family.

“Why should I leave my house?” Her quiet words from behind surprised him.

He fumbled with the picture frame and settled it back on the table. He hadn’t heard the door open or the water stop. He turned around, gulped.

Dane’s shoulder length hair framed her face and rosy cheeks shimmered with goodness. Wearing jeans and a turquoise shirt that hugged her figure, she reminded him about what was good in life. Wholesome, outdoorsy.

It made him think about campfires and roasting marshmallows, about cooler temperatures and football games, about the spectacular colors and beauty of fall. How leaves fall from the sky to make room for new green buds in the spring. Seasons. And how life changed. How she’d grown from a pesky kid into a beautiful woman.

Dane made him forget the ugliness in the world.

But only for a minute.

After an injury forces Deputy U.S. Marshal Sage Michaelson off duty, he heads to his hometown with two things on his mind: recuperating and reevaluating, but Sage can’t refuse his best friend’s plea to keep a protective eye on his little sister after someone ransacks her house. But Delaney’s not so little anymore—and definitely not the young “Dane” Sage remembers. 

Flight Medic Delaney Hunt has loved Sage forever. But, he’s all about control and order while she embraces life and takes risks. As much as the idea appeals to her, she doesn’t need Sage looking over her shoulder. But when things go wrong and she finds herself hanging by her fingertips, who does she call to rescue her?

Will Delaney ever be the woman Sage wants by his side? Can Sage learn to live by grace, recognizing that God is in control? Can they overcome their fears to embrace life together?

Coming March 1, 2013

White Rose Publishing.

If you would like to read and post a review of  Journey's Embrace on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or your blog, please contact me at 

Dora (at) DoraHiers (dot) com. 

I have a few pdf review copies available. 

WEDNESDAY'S CHILD by Clare Revell ~ My Review

About the book: Liam Page, school teacher and ex-missionary, is a man with a secret agenda. Revenge. But when he says it with flowers, and accidentally drenches a woman who just happens to be the school's landscape architect, he may have found a light in his darkness.

After an abusive relationship, Jacqui Dorne prefers work to men. It's safer. But Liam Page with his boyish charm and wounded soul, manages to change her preferences. Has God led her to Liam to help him heal?

When their growing relationship is marred by the reappearance of Jacqui's ex-boyfriend, they find themselves suddenly embroiled in a series of dangerous events which leads them to Africa and has them fighting for both love and life.

My review:
Liam wrestles with God over his wife's murder, and the theme "Why do bad things happen to good people?" permeates the book. He's bitter and wants revenge, and the heroine reminds him of the Truth he walked away from after his wife's death.

After reading both Monday's Child & Tuesday's Child by Clare Revell, I couldn't wait to dig into Wednesday's Child and wasn't disappointed. Wednesday's Child started with an emotionally intense scene like the other two books based on the popular nursery rhyme, but unlike the others, I feel this story veered mostly towards romance until midway through the book before the suspense really kicked in. That's OK with me because I enjoy both inspirational romance and romantic suspense. 

I enjoy this author's no nonsense writing style combined with a wry sense of humor and strong heroes/heroines. You don't have to read this book in order, although once you read Wednesday's Child, you'll want to go back and pick up the first two.

Purchase Link

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

CALLIE by Sharon Srock ~ My Review

The Blurb:

Callie Stillman is drawn to the evasive girl who’s befriended her granddaughter, but the last time Callie tried to help a child, her efforts backfired. Memories of the tiny coffin still haunt her.

Samantha and Iris Evans should be worried about homework, not whether they can pool enough cash to survive another week of caring for an infant while evading the authorities.

Steve Evans wants a second chance at fatherhood, but his children are missing. And no one seems to want to help the former addict who deserted his family.

For Steve to regain the relationship he abandoned, for his girls to receive the care they deserve, Callie must surrender her fear and rely on God to work the miracle they all need.

My Review:
Callie Stillman is the kinda gal I'd like for a friend. Fiftyish, married, active lifestyle, and a lady who doesn't give up when God asks her to do something. And God puts a shy, withdrawn little girl in Callie's path and her heart. Callie, along with her husband, Benton, and her prayer-warrior friends, refuse to let Iris and her sister go without helping. But Callie's recent assistance for a little boy ended tragically, and fear wars with faith.

If you read my reviews, you know I don't typically read mainline Christian fiction. I lean towards inspirational romance, but this story line drew me in. And you know what I found? A romance. A cute, sometimes playful-sometimes serious romance between Callie and her husband, Benton. And a romance between God and His children. God loves us, and along with an invitation for us to love Him in return, He offers healing for fractured relationships. Callie is not for readers who enjoy light reading or a few hours of entertainment. It delivers a weighty message of forgiveness and healing with a powerful wallop.

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s writing credits include numerous poems and short stories published in science fiction fanzines.

TUESDAY'S CHILD by Clare Revell ~ My Review

About the book:

Tuesday's Child tenders direction...

Deaf from the age of five, Adeline Munroe operates a hospital for injured dolls, but lately her quiet life is disturbed by violent, haunting visions. Perhaps it's just her unspoken fear--a serial killer has struck in Headley Cross. But Adeline soon realizes she's seeing each murder just before they happen and reluctantly contacts the police.

Detective Sergeant Nate Holmes has enough to deal with between caring for his orphaned niece and his current assignment--the Herbalist killings, so when a woman comes forward who claims to be "seeing" the crimes in dreams, he isn't hopeful she'll be of any help. But he knows her from church, and she inexplicably describes how each crime is committed. Is God answering his prayers through Adeline?

Adeline assists the police, yet more women die and she becomes the prime target of the killer. Will Nate crack the case before the Herbalist can complete his agenda--or will the next murder Adeline foresees be her own?

My Review: 

This is one of those books where you become so entrenched in the characters' lives, you'd like nothing better than to continue along with them after the book ends. Adeline Munroe would be a great friend to have in real life. Spunky, caring, and she fixes boo-boos. On dolls.
Don't you just love the unusual occupations the author chooses for her heroines? And Nate? Who wouldn't love a hero who takes in his niece to raise? There's a great cast of secondary characters as well, from Ben, Adeline's black and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel, to Vianne, Nate's niece who played integral roles in the story.

Being deaf doesn't impair Adeline in any way. She's actually blessed with an abundance of other gifts, like visions of the Herbalist killings before they happen. Nate doesn't see her as handicapped, but as the strong, independent, and beautiful heroine she is. If it weren't for the occasional reminder from Adeline to look at her so she could read lips, as a reader, you almost forget the fact that she is deaf.

Tuesday's Child is action-packed, and the suspense is quite intense. Just when you think the book's coming in for an ending, Ms. Revell slings another curve ball your way. Great job, Clare Revell! I'm looking forward to the next story in the series, Wednesday's Child.

Purchase link with White Rose Publishing

  

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

Tuesday's Child by Clare Revell

About the Book:

Tuesday's Child tenders direction...

Deaf from the age of five, Adeline Munroe operates a hospital for injured dolls, but lately her quiet life is disturbed by violent, haunting visions. Perhaps it's just her unspoken fear--a serial killer has struck in Headley Cross. But Adeline soon realizes she's seeing each murder just before they happen and reluctantly contacts the police.

Detective Sergeant Nate Holmes has enough to deal with between caring for his orphaned niece and his current assignment--the Herbalist killings, so when a woman comes forward who claims to be "seeing" the crimes in dreams, he isn't hopeful she'll be of any help. But he knows her from church, and she inexplicably describes how each crime is committed. Is God answering his prayers through Adeline?

Adeline assists the police, yet more women die and she becomes the prime target of the killer. Will Nate crack the case before the Herbalist can complete his agenda--or will the next murder Adeline foresees be her own?

Excerpt:

All of Nate’s senses kicked into action, his copper’s antennae twitching.

She knew something, or at least thought she did.

“What is it?”

Adeline sucked her lower lip into her mouth, worrying it with her teeth. “This is going to sound stupid, but…” She took a deep breath. “I saw them. All of them. They all had their hair tied back or up.” She picked up the top clipping. “She was playing on a swing and wearing a red jacket. This one was walking the dog and wearing blue.”

Nate jolted as if he’d been struck by lightning. Those details hadn’t been released. Was he wrong about her? Was she somehow involved with the murders? “Wait  a minute. How did you know any of this?”

Adeline carried on speaking as she shifted through the papers. “She was on her way to dance class in pink. This one was jogging in a gray toweling track suit and the first one…”

Nate put a hand on her arm, cutting her off.

She jerked her head upwards in surprise.

He held her gaze. “How do you know all this?”

“I told you, I saw them.” 

White Rose Publishing Purchase Link
Amazon UK Kindle
Amazon US Kindle & Amazon US Paperback
 

Make sure you stop back by tomorrow when I share my review of Tuesday's Child. Now let's find out a little about Clare Revell. What is your workday like?  Well I don't sleep much so I'm up at midnight - when the kids have finally gone to bed and hand write until half two or three am. Then sleep til 6.30 when i have to get up to go to the day job in a school. That's giving the kids breakfast, playing with them, art activity etc. Between 18 and 36 kids a day ranging from 4yr olds to 11 yr olds (foundation stage to year 6). Next its home and then writing more or less all day in between cleaning and cooking and laundry til i fall asleep around 9pm.

 

Sounds like you don't sleep at all. Not me. I need seven or eight hours or I'm dragging all day. That's amazing, Clare. Do you have any interesting or strange writing quirks? The first draft is hand written. in pencil. on a narrow leaved spiral bound notebook.

Ouch. Not me. If I drafted in pencil, I'd spend a fortune in erasers. Name one thing you learned from your hero or heroine. There is no such thing as a disability. Just a different kind of problem to deal with and over come.

Love that, Clare! Look to your right – what’s sitting there?  -->

the flower which one of the 4yr olds gave me at work on Thursday

What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not writing? Reading. My kindle is always on my desk and constantly needs charging up 

Mine, too. Least favorite? housework

 

Here! Here! Do you have a question for our readers?  

The heroine of Tuesday's Child Adeline is deaf. If you had to lose one sense what would it be and why? Or what sense would you least like to lose.

Thanks so much for visiting, Clare. I'm looking forward to sharing my review of Tuesday's Child tomorrow! 

Clare lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, reading, sewing or keeping house or doing the many piles of laundry her children manage to make, she's working part time in the breakfast club at one of the local schools.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of three registrars.

You can find Clare here:

http://www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell/

https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor

https://twitter.com/ClareRevell

http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/