Promise Me This...

PROMISE ME THIS, by Cathy Gohlke, took me somewhere. Having loved historical fiction ever since I can remember, I thought I knew pretty much where we were going with this. Especially since the entire world (generations, in fact) already knows the outcome of one of the main incidents the book is written around. That incredibly disturbing sinking of the Titanic. But there was something I wasn't expecting in it.

I didn't expect to meet Owen Allen.

I loved this character. He was the brother we all wish we had, the confidant, the one true friend who draws the very best out of you even when you're afraid you might not be able to give it. A true “apostle of love” who has the capacity to jump right off the pages and into your heart. At the end, I wanted to be like Owen. To touch people in the same meaningful way that he did in his life. To me, Owen Allen was very real.

PROMISE ME THIS, was a wonderful book. Well-researched, beautifully crafted, with a plot that did not disappoint. Having finished this book, I feel as if I have, somehow, lived through these times, myself, and learned something.

Which, in my opinion, is historical fiction at its best.

Read an Excerpt 

Cathy Gohlke is the two-time Christy Award-winning author of William Henry is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires, which also won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award and was listed by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2008.

Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children's and education ministries. When not traipsing the hills and dales of historic sites, she, her husband, and their dog, Reilly, make their home on the banks of the Laurel Run in Maryland. Visit her website at: www.cathygohlke.com.

Tuesday's Child is...

I look forward to reading books by Clare Revell. She never fails to entertain with diverse characters, and amazingly unique storylines that draw you quickly into the life and loves of each one. 

TUESDAY'S CHILD would have been a delightful scenario all by itself, with heroine Adeline Munroe running a doll hospital that had the same protocols as a people one. Except there was a disturbing serial killer on the loose that kept me turning pages longer than I planned on more than one occasion. I didn't want to see that beautiful little world Adeline had created get shattered.

I also liked how she jumped into life a hundred percent, even to the point of taking a self-defense class in her church. Led by one of the members (a very attractive Detective Sergeant) who  happened to be working on the case. Between his niece needing the services of the doll hospital, and Adeline having detailed visions about the murders before they happened, the Lord seemed to have had a hand in bringing these two together. Even though there were a lot of things working against them from the very beginning.

  

Which is all I'm going to say about the story. It's a good one, and anyone who likes one of those will not be disappointed. However, Clare Revell accomplished something with this book that effected a change in me in a very quiet but impressive way. After having met Adeline Munroe, I will never look at deaf people in the same way, again. Ever.

So thank you for that, Clare.

Well done!

You can find out more about Clare, and the other books in this series by visiting her website. There are seven of them, one for every day of the week. How great is that? Meanwhile, here's a bit of a peek into all of them...

Queen of the Waves: a review...

Janice Thompson is one of my new favorite authors. This because her stories always make me feel like I've spent some time with extended family for awhile and been refreshed by the visit. Her books are “feel good books.”

The very reason there has been so much anticipation to see whether, or not, she could do the same thing with a deeper, more serious book. Like QUEEN OF THE WAVES. Well, one cannot get any deeper or more serious than the sinking of the Titanic! So, how did she do it?

I'll tell you. She did it by taking her perspectives with her. It wasn't the catchy plot (even though she had one of those), or even the vivid look into that fateful voyage she gave. It wasn't a surprise ending, either, considering we all know what happened there. No. For me, it was the family thing, again.

Those familiar characters that could have been my own sister, brother, or friend, who grappled with the same personal issues we all face at one time, or another. More importantly, how they survived them. 

And even though I found it very interesting to “catch a glimpse” of the clothes, and the food, and the luxuriousness of that floating palace, I came away with the wonderfully familiar encouragement in the “art of coping” one always bumps up against in a Janice Thompson novel. Which I take very seriously, no matter what the venue is.

A thing that (in my opinion) makes Janice something of a “queen of the waves,” herself.

You can find out more about Janice and her books by visiting her web site: JaniceThompson.com.

Wind Over Marshdale...

Tracy Krauss is launching her book WIND OVER MARSHDALE on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Full of intrigue, romance, and plenty of surprises, see what’s hiding just beneath the surface in this seemingly peaceful town. Purchase the book at amazon.com on the actual day of the launch – and receive all kinds of cool free gifts while you’re at it!

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Landing Page on Tracy’s Website

2. Buy the book at amazon.

3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the form with your name, email and purchase number.

It’s that easy! You’ll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want.

About the book:

Marshdale. Just a small farming community where nothing special happens.  A perfect place to start over… or get lost. There is definitely more to this prairie town than meets the eye. Once the meeting place of aboriginal tribes for miles around, some say the land itself was cursed because of the people’s sin. But its history goes farther back than even indigenous oral history can trace and there is still a direct descendant who has been handed the truth, like it or not. Exactly what ties does the land have to the medicine of the ancients? Is it cursed, or is it all superstition?

Wind Over Marshdale is the story of the struggles within a small prairie town when hidden evil and ancient medicine resurface. Caught in the crossfire, new teacher Rachel Bosworth finds herself in love with two men at once. First, there is Thomas Lone Wolf, a Cree man whose blood lines run back to the days of ancient medicine but who has chosen to live as a Christian and faces prejudice from every side as he tries to expose the truth. Then there is Con McKinley, local farmer who has to face some demons of his own. 

Add to the mix a wayward minister seeking anonymity in the obscurity of the town; eccentric twin sisters – one heavily involved in the occult and the other a fundamentalist zealot; and a host of other ‘characters’ whose lives weave together unexpectedly for the final climax. This suspenseful story is one of human frailty - prejudice, cowardice, jealousy, and greed – magnified by powerful spiritual forces that have remained hidden for centuries, only to be broken in triumph by grace.

What others are saying:

"Tracy Krauss has a deep talent. I am looking forward
 to more from her."

          Tom Blubaugh, Author of Night of the Cossack

"Tracy Krauss typifies all that is good in modern Christian authorship. She is consistently there for her readers and elevates her every effort".

          Joyce Godwin Grubbs, Author From the Grassroots

"Tracy’s characters are raw and real; her plots edgy and electric."

          Lisa Lickel, award winning author of Meander Scar,  A Summer in Oakville, The Map Quilt and other inspirational novels.

"There is plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep any reader's attention, but for lovers of romance, this one will make your heart pound."

          Michelle Sutton, reviewer and author of more than a dozen inspirational novels

About Tracy:

Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher by profession, and a prolific author, artist, playwright and director by choice. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English – all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests.

FREE STUFF:

Here’s just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:

A free copy of  25 Years In the Rearview Mirror, compiled and edited by Stacy Juba; Shoot the Wounded by Lynn Dove; Live Without Stress by Shelley Hitz; Alternative Witness by Pauline Creeden; and Writing Your Family Legacy and Reflections of the Heart, both by Linda Weaver Clarke

Free first chapters of such best-selling books as From Spice to Eternity by Yvonne Wright; Angels of Humility by Jackie MacGirvin; and Silence by Barbara Derksen

Beautiful downloadable greeting cards by Brenda Hendricks; and poetry posters by Violet Nesdoly

The ‘Fit Test’ by author and trainer Kimberley Payne; plus a chance to win an ‘amazon’ gift card courtesy of Ruth Hill

And much more! All if you buy your copy of WIND OVER MARSHDALE  at amazon.com on Oct 16! All links will be operational on the ‘Landing Page’ at www.tracykrauss.com/ 

DISCLAIMER: This ‘Best Seller book launch’ has been coordinated with the help of the ‘John 3:16 Marketing Network’ and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com  

WINTER HAVEN: a review...

I read WINTER HAVEN first of all because of the title (who wouldn't want one of those), and secondly because Athol Dickson's books came with good words from places like Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, Christian Fiction Review, and the New York Times. Not to mention he is a multiple Christy Award nominee and winner, and this particular book is one of four in his new "Christy Collection." 

Early on, I realized it was a bit dark and foreboding compared to my usual fare -- fantastic, even. But before any of his many fans start to argue, I must confess there are children that delve into scarier things than I usually read, so no arguments there. However, there was an almost haunting beauty to his prose that drew me on, along with the hope he was going somewhere other than the path I first found myself on during those early pages. And I was not disappointed.

Vera was a young woman I instantly felt sorry for. Alone with an unusually troubled past, made better only by her attachment to an autistic brother who spoke only in scriptures. A brother who disappeared thirteen years before the story's opening, and whose  body had recently washed up on an island off the coast of Maine. 

By this time, Vera has become an accountant who found most of her security in the predictability of numbers. Living alone in a small apartment, she is hesitant at the daunting prospect of identifying and claiming the body after all these years. But away she goes to the remote location, not only to do her duty, but to perhaps find some closure in the greatest sorrow of her life.

Imagine then, what a turn she took (not to mention readers) only to discover the boy had not grown into a man, or even aged beyond the year he had disappeared. That he was still wearing around his neck the laminated note card their anxious, long-dead, mother had penned for him which read, "I am not dangerous."

Which is all the information I can give you, dear readers, without handing out spoilers regarding this gripping, near-gothic tale. One which had echoes of that long ago favorite author, Daphne du Maurier, but... not quite. No, and as you read farther on, not really. For while this tale of Winter Haven was made up of enough mystery to more than keep me turning pages, the prose was the sort to remind me of the poetics of James Dickey, or Eudora Welty. Those masters I could never sit down and read without having a pen to underline passages with.

Athol Dickson

All of which is enough for me to recommend this book to anyone who likes a story that you can't put down even when you would like to. Except for one very important thing. The believability of it. The lengths Athol Dickson goes to convince us that such things not only could happen, but have probably already done so many times over. This, in my opinion, makes WINTER HAVEN a book that more than deserves its Christy recognition. So, don't miss it. Meantime, I'm off to read the other three.

Which, I suppose... makes me a fan.

You can read my interview with Athol Dickson here.

Death of a Highland Heavyweight...

Today, I'm reviewing DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT, by Jayne E. Self, dear readers. But first, a little bit about the book...

Murder, chaos, teen angst, missing frog figurines, wedding preparations. What do these things have in common? Gailynn MacDonald. When Highland Games Heavyweight Champion Claude Oui is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, his wife is overcome with grief. As head of the town's annual Hum Harbour Daze festival, she cannot plan a funeral and keep up with her responsibilities to the town, so Gailynn dutifully steps in. 

Amidst choosing bridesmaids dresses, assembling a big top tent, and advising teenagers in love-one of whom just might be a murderer-Gailynn is once again caught up in the town's hidden secrets as she races to solve Hum Harbour's latest crime spree.

My Review...

Hum Harbor is humming, again, along with all the things that go on in a small coastal town. Except there's another killer on the loose. When one of their most favorite community figures, Claude Oui, is found dead in his own home, everyone knows who the obvious suspect is. Small towns are like that.

But Gailynn MacDonald is not. She thinks about these things. And she sees a lot that goes on during her daily walks to scour the beach for seaglass. Except she's a little distracted, this time, because she has some things of her own on her mind. Such as her upcoming wedding to the town's handsome doctor. Who also happens to be her boss.

However, she is the kind of person we would all like to have on our side when the chips are down. Strong, but not short on compassion, and willing to go the second mile (or even the third) for someone in trouble. She's a good example of the kind of person we'd all like to be in situations like this. 

I thuroughly enjoyed DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT, and I especially liked going back to Hum Harbour, again. It's the kind of place you dream about living in... except for that killer running around out there somewhere. Which makes it just the type of book that keeps you mulling over "whodunit" all the way to the end. Which is one of my favorite kinds of entertainment. The kind I would recommend to anybody. And the way I'm feeling about Hum Harbor, with all its colorful characters...

You can bet I'm hoping for another one, too.

Oh, yes, and if you haven't read the first Seaglass Mystery, MURDER IN HUM HARBOR, I really would recommend you read that one, too. And if you would like to know more about Jayne, you can find her over at www.JayneSelf.com.

More of the Profound Suspense of ATHOL DICKSON…

I'm back with Athol Dickson, today, to continue talking about his new Christy Collection release, and the many things that make him who he is today. Welcome back, Athol…

Thanks, Lilly. Good to be here.

I believe we left off talking about themes. What themes do you most like to write about?

Love and Forgiveness.

Ah, the big ones. Not to mention universal, as we all seem to struggle with those two at some time or other in our lives. Some even all their lives. Are you working on anything particular at the moment?

Right now, I'm working on a mystery. Hopefully the first in a long series, about retired a Marine who becomes a chauffeur and a body guard. He helps his clients out when they’re being blackmailed or have problems with the law and so forth. He inherits a multi-million dollar fortune, but he prefers to keep working and live simply, so he keeps his money secret from most people.

That definitely sounds like another good one. Now, on a personal note, where might readers most likely bump into you when you're on vacation?

Well, later this Fall my wife and I will take in the annual wooden boat show at Port Townsend, Washington, then circle the Olympic peninsula, and then head up to Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia. From Vancouver we’re going to Banff, and then down to Glacier National Park in Montana before heading home. We love road trips.

Hey, a man after my own heart. The Captain and I will be taking in that wooden boat show, ourselves, as we are currently living on a boat in the area, getting it ready to sail up the Inside Passage to Alaska. I understand you did something like that, yourself, once, too.

Yes, I once spent a year on a yacht, cruising the east coast.

A fellow adventurer, then. It will be wonderful to see you there. Meanwhile, it's been a pleasure visiting with you, Athol, and here's wishing you all the best with the release of your Christy Collection. 

Thanks for having me, Lilly.

My pleasure. Tomorrow I'll post more about the books  that will be included, as well. Today, here's a peek at THEY SHALL SEE GOD… the one that will come pre-loaded on the winning Kindle (details at the top of the sidebar for any who would like to enter the contest).

Little Katie was a Christian. Her very best friend Ruth was a Jew. The girls’ eyewitness testimony sent a very bad man to Louisiana’s infamous Angola prison. Twenty-five years later, Ruth has become an embittered rabbi, Kate is a lonely widow, the bad man is out, and people are dying in the strangest of ways. Torn apart in childhood by animosities beyond their understanding, Kate and Ruth can no longer elude the past’s unfinished business. To survive, these very different women must reach out to each other in spite of the mayhem and mistrust that shrouds one vital truth: sometimes the most dangerous of enemies crouches just inside the human heart.