Tree Swing Reading

Contemporary Romance

I just finished reading Zora and Nicky and Finding Stefanie and had already read Beyond the Night,  so I wanted to give you my favorite pick in the Contemporary Romance Christy Award nominees category. I have to admit that although the winner was Beyond the Night and it was an excellent book, it is not my personal first pick.  I would pick Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney, with Finding Stephanie as a close second. By the way, you can still enter to win these and all the Christy Award Nominees here.

Zora and Nicky is a pretty challenging read in the sense that it brings to light some pretty intense stuff. Stuff like racism and conformity and the feeling of aloneness that can come right in the middle of a big "perfect looking" church. Reading it may make you squirm, but it will also make you think and warm your heart with the intensity of the relationship between Zora and Nicky.  Nicky's thought especially made me blush sometimes, but I so related to the feelings of both characters as they fought to come out from under a world of expectations and public "Christian" image.  Pretty heavy stuff. But definately worth reading!  Just to warn you, the 'n' word is used a few times.

Finding Stefanie was also good and spoke to my heart about the pain of losing sight that God sees us as His Beloved no matter how successful we are in the world's eyes.

All three are great books!

Giveaway and Review of "Love Starts with Elle" by Rachel Hauck

First let me say that I am sorry that my review is late.  I totally missed this one last week.  My apologies! 

Second, let me mention that I have 2 copies of this book to give away!  Post a comment here by July 20th and I will draw 2 names to win copies of this book.  Now about the book:

Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Starts With Elle

(Thomas Nelson - July 8, 2008)

by

Rachel Hauck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Hauck is a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's, who roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero. She graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism.

After graduation, she hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. But, she's traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine.

Rachel met Tony, her husband, in '87, at church, of all places. They married in '92.
They don't have any children of their own, just lots of kids-in-the-Lord and they love them all. However, they do have two very spoiled dogs, and a very demanding cat.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. My current release is Sweet Caroline from Thomas Nelson. Romantic Times Book Club gave both books their highest rank of 4.5 stars, with Love Starts With Elle being honored as Top Pick!



ABOUT THE BOOK

Elle's living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

My Review:

Another sweet and lovely romance by Rachel Hauck.  I have been looking forward to this book ever since I first read about Elle in Sweet Caroline.  I have to admit that Elle almost had me worried here though.  I was afraid she was going to let Jeremiah's guilt trips push her into losing herself in his world. 

Let me back up a little. In the start of the book Elle gets engaged to marry Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is a confident pastor who accepts a new position at a mega church in Texas.  Now he expects Elle to sell her art gallery, leave her home, and drop her interests in order to be his little wife.  I fully intend to use sarcasm here.  Not because being a pastor's wife is anything less than amazing, but because of Jeremiah's attitude toward Elle and his belittling of her in an effort to raise himself up.  I was completely irked at his ability to ignore Elle and never make time for her and then make it be because he was doing a higher service.  When people manipulate their service and ministry to use it against others I get really irritated--can you tell? 

Anyway, enter widower Heath and his daughter, renters of Elle's cottage.  As Heath and Elle begin to grow in friendship, Elle can finally see what real love means in support of her dreams.

All this made for a wonderful story, but my favorite part was the feathers!  As Elle struggles to find God's will for her life and her future, God begins to speak to her with feathers dropping in on her as reminders of his love.  I loved that!  In fact God and I have a love language too that involves butterflies.  What a great reminder of how God longs to show us his love and care for us.  Too cool!

So if you are looking for a good book to read with a gentle, feel-good reminder of God's care and things working out for good even when it doesn't seem like it at the time, pick up a copy of Love Starts with Elle!

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595543384

Review of "Par for the Course" by Ray Blackston

Review of Par for the Course by Ray Blackston

Releasing in February

Description:

Chris Hackett owns and operates Hack's Golf Learning Center, an eccentric golf range in Charleston, South Carolina. Chris jumps at the chance to grow his business when an attractive new student and political correspondent, Molly Cusack, suggests that Chris capitalize on the highly polarized presidential election. His pitting of right versus left means even more income, plus a sharp new girlfriend, and soon Chris, his sidekick, Cack, and their unique golf range are the talk of the town . . . until someone takes the political insults too seriously.

The question is, will Molly stick around long enough for Chris to learn the true meaning of "playing politics"? Or is she just another "moving target?"

My Review:

I feel really lucky that I got to read an advance copy of this book!  I really like Ray Blackston's books (The Flabbergasted Series) and this was no exception! 

Blackston writes with a great converstational voice and the dialogue is funny and kind of sassy all at the same time. His characters usually have great quirks that make them human and loveable.

Chris Hackett owns a golf learning center and employs the sarcastic Cack who came up with the idea to taunt golfers once a week by driving around in a golf cart "cage" he created and yelling insults at the golfers who try to hit the cart with a golf ball.  When Molly shows up and tries out yelling political insults, the golfers go crazy buying up buckets of balls and a new level of competition is born on Chris' business.  While Chris tries to keep the politics even for both sides, one person seems to be taking the jokes too personally and Chris begins receiving threats.  Once the threats are carried out on his business and his home, Chris has to decide what to do with his future for his business and his romance with Molly.

I've heard Ray Blackston's books described as "chicklit" from the male's perspective and I kind of like that in the sense that they are funny, the characters are quirky, and the romance blooms quietly through the eyes of the main character's perspective, which in this case is Chris.  There's something about the way that Blackston writes that takes the actions and thoughts of his characters and makes them humorous, interesting, and captivating to read about. 

I give this book my sunny day rating and my thanks for the chance to read it! Check out Ray Blackston's website here: http://www.rayblackston.com/ and preorder the book by clicking on the title below.

Par for the Course By Ray Blackston / Faithwords When an attractive political correspondent suggests that Charleston golf-range owner Chris Hackett capitalize on the polarized presidential election to market his business, he sees a chance to make money---and impress Molly. But somebody's taking the right vs. left insults too seriously! Will Molly stick around as Chris learns the true meaning of "playing politics"? 240 pages, softcover from Faithwords.

Review of "Abandoned Identity" by Tamara Tilley

Review of Abandoned Identity by Tamara Tilley

Description:

A corporate clash.
A complicated romance.
A shocking secret.
A dangerous journey.

Jennifer Patterson and Harrison Lynch don’t see eye-to-eye. Since the day corporate brought him in to fill the job that should have been hers, they’ve been at odds.   That is until one night when they are stuck in their corporate offices by an unexpected blizzard and Harrison sees her in an entirely different light.

 Though Harrison tries to find her, shocking news brings his investigation to an abrupt end.  But not his pre-occupation with the vulnerable woman revealed to him one stormy night. 

But the next day, Jennifer does the unexpected—she disappears.

Three years later, while vacationing on the California coast, he sees her . . . he’s sure of it . . . or is it just a figment of his imagination.

My Review:

Now that the rush of the holidays is finally settling down, I am glad I got a chance to read this book.  I had a little trouble getting into it at first, probably because I have my kids at home and they keep interrupting my reading (LOL!), but once I got into it I enjoyed it.  The only problem I had was that I felt it was a little too predictable and far-fetched--the romance blooming in such a short time with a co-worker you can't stand just because Harrison saw her sick and "vulnerable" one day, the "damsel in distress" with Jennifer getting hurt/sick so many times and needing a man to rescue her, and the "chance" meeting on a beach and in a realtor's office--just seemed a little much for me.  Overall it was a pleasant read, and, if you are looking for an entertaining read to satisfy a taste for some tender romance, then pick up this book and enjoy the nice romance.

I give it my partly sunny rating.

Review of "Surrender Bay" by Denise Hunter (Nantucket Love Story book 1)

Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

SURRENDER BAY

(Thomas Nelson November 6, 2007)

by

Denise Hunter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped.

Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

In addition to Surrender Bay, the second Nantucket book releases in April 2008. The title is The Convenient Groom and features Kate Lawrence, a relationship advice columnist, whose groom dumps her on her wedding day. Denise is currently at work on the third Nantucket book (Oct 2008) which is untitled so far.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Sam's estranged step-father dies, she inherits his ocean-front cottage in Nantucket--not because he kindly bequeathed it to her, but because he neglected to ever create a will. Sam returns to the island she left 11 years ago with her daughter Caden to fix up the house and sell it, but she isn't counting on is the fact that Landon Reed still lives two doors down from her childhood home.

As their long-dormant romance begins to bud again, Sam must face the fact that Landon still doesn't know why she really left the island. Will the secrets she's hidden all these years tear them apart? Or is Landon's love really as unconditional as he claims?

"I've always thought Denise Hunter was an amazing writer but this wonderful story sets her firmly at the forefront of compelling love stories. How Landon breaks down Samantha's determination that she is unworthy of love kept me glued to the pages. An amazing story!"

--Colleen Coble, author of Fire Dancer (Smoke Jumper Series)

My Review:

I have never been all that good at keeping big things to myself, I'm kind of an open book to people, faults and all, so watching Sam keep huge secrets to herself for years and years regarding her daughter and the death of her best friend's brother is hard to even imagine. Sam is a single mother, just barely scraping by, trying to raise her daughter and running from her past. She ends up getting a letter informing her that she has inherited her childhood home at the passing of her stepfather. This opens a can of worms for Sam and forces her to go back to her Nantucket home to deal with selling the house. Painful things happened to Sam in that house and going back may force her to come clean with the truth once and for all.

Sam's childhood friend Landon still lives 2 houses down from her Nantucket home. He always believed that Sam and he would end up falling in love and being together until his brother drowned and Sam disappeared. When she returns to sell the home, all the feelings for her come rushing back, and while she pushes to keep him away, he works to restore their friendship and discover what she's been keeping from him.

I enjoyed this book and it's theme of love that is given, not earned. The author was asked why she had no specific "Christian" references in the book, and she stated that the book was an allegory of God's love for us, given freely and in no way earned. I like how she reminds us that Jesus himself used stories to make his message clear. The message of God's unconditional love is one of the hardest to freely accept and the simplified human allegory of this love as represented by the love between Landon and Sam and Landon's pursuit of her is pleasing and a good reminder, however subtle the salvation message is in this instance. 

I give this book a sunny day rating and look forward to her next book in this series!

Review of "Last Resort" by Hannah Alexander (Hideaway Series #3)

Last Resort by Hannah Alexander, Book 3 in the Hideaway Series

Description:

Clarissa Cooper, twelve, vanishes near her home—abducted, evidence suggests, by someone close to her.

Noelle Cooper races back to her hometown to help in the search. In the effort to save her young cousin, she steps into a web of secrets that has haunted her family for generations. 

Nathan Trask will do anything to protect Noelle from danger. Noelle's childhood friend, he might be much more...if she dares turn to him.

My Review:

I was glad to see Noelle's character had an interesting facet to her: she has an ability to "sense" things. While I have always been suspicious of people who claim to be "psychic," I do believe in some people's ability to get "a feeling" about something while it is happening...maybe it is a sense that they need to pray for someone at a specific time and a calling to send a note of encouragement to someone... The author refers to this as Noelle's "gift." And while the gift was a cause for worry for some in the story, her friend Nathan embraces it and considers it to be a blessing.  I like that about him.

I found Noelle and Nathan to be very likeable characters. Noelle admits to making some bad choices in her past and I would have enjoyed some more exploration into the overcoming of those, but the story is more focussed on the present situation with Noelle's family and the secrets she and Nathan uncover while trying to figure out who would abduct her cousin Clarissa.  The book also briefly touches on OCD, but barely scratches the surface of the impact such a disorder can have on those afflicted with it.

A nice romance story with a mystery to solve as well.  I give it my "Partly cloudy" rating.

See review of Hideaway, Hideaway book 1, here.

See review of Safe Haven, Hideaway book 2, here.

Review of "Safe Haven"

Safe Haven by Hannah Alexander (Hideaway Series, book 2)

Description:

Youthful master of disguise Fawn Morrison comes to charming Hideaway, Missouri, seeking refuge. Now that her dangerous game has turned deadly, she must entrust her safety to strangers.

Karah Lee Fletcher relishes the challenges offered by Hideaway's new clinic, until an unsettling discovery shakes her confidence. Despite her self-doubt, Karah Lee reaches out to Fawn, jeopardizing her own life…and finds unexpected grace.

Their first meeting leaves Ranger Taylor Jackson vowing to avoid strong-willed Karah Lee. Yet observing her interact with patients, especially the vulnerable Fawn, Taylor begins to feel admiration. Could it lead to something deeper?

My Review:

This is the second book in the Hideaway series by the writing team of Hannah Alexander and I enjoyed it as much as I liked the first book Hideaway.  The main characters of the story were not the same main characters as the first book, but they returned in and out of the storyline in other ways and their stories continued.  I appreciated that the main female in the story line, Dr. Kara Lee Fletcher, was not your typical perfect  heroine. She is tall and large and intimidating, but despite her appearance of confidence, she is full of self-doubt.  Kara Lee comes to Hideaway town to join the clinic started by Cheyenne from book 1 of the series.

Ranger Taylor Jackson is also struggling to overcome loneliness and a failed marriage. And, while the romantic sparks between Taylor and Kara Lee are set up from the beginning, the storyline maintains interest due to the side stories of suspense.  The runaway, Fawn, has been accused of murder and her health problems bring her in and out of the clinic and Kara Lee's life. Other strange things are happening in Hideaway and the suspense builds until we learn how Fawn and Hideaway are connected and how Fawn holds the key to an even bigger coming crisis...

I enjoyed it and give it my "sunny day" ranking!

See my review of Hideaway, the first book in the series here.

Review of "Hideaway" by Hannah Alexander

Review of Hideaway by Hannah Alexander

E.R. doctor Cheyenne Allison finds her life thrown into turmoil when she finds the next patient she is treating to be her younger sister. Unable to save her sister, she is further faced with a malpractice suit and is forced to take a leave of absence. Stretched to the breaking point, Cheyenne retreats to secluded Hideaway, Missouri. With the perk of handsome next door neighbor, Dane Gideon, who runs a ranch for foster boys, Hideaway seems like the perfect getaway.

Cheyenne's medical skills are suddenly needed, however, right when a dangerous vandal strikes the peaceful Christian community. While Mayor Austin Barlow targets Dane's boys, Cheyenne can't help but wonder if the mayor himself is somehow involved and if she will be the vandal's next target.

Author's website

My Review:

I am continuing my review of "A" authors (that I can fit in around all the other scheduled reviews) and finally have a chance to review a book by the writing team that makes up the author Hannah Alexander.

The pace of the book grabs you right away. For some reason I am always drawn into medical emergency type settings and this is no exception. Cheyenne is an ER doctor who is treating a patient with heart issues and it turns out to be her sister! No wonder she is devistated when she cannot save her.  Dane runs a home for foster boys and gives them a chance to work on a ranch and farm and learn responsibility; but someone is out to blame him and his boys for the problems going on in town. To get away from her heartache, Cheyenne ends up moving near Dane's ranch, just across the lake where neighbors row to each other's homes more than walking.

There are humorous moments, as Cheyenne adjusts to "country" small town life and gets visits from neighboring goats and ends up housing a cat, some chickens, and a horse. There are tense moments as Cheyenne helps with medical emergencies. And there are tender moments as she ends up helping one of the boys learn to live with dyxlexia and as she and Dane come to be friends...

I was also pleased with the way the author wove in the message of redemption and faith in God without making it preachy.  Dane lives out his faith and Cheyenne hears the message of salvation through his example and in conversations with him.

I look forward to reading another Hannah Alexander book...if I have time before my "A" author month runs out!