Everytime should never be used. Instead, it should be written as two separate words: every time. Even though words such as everywhere, everyone, and everyday are common and correct, everytime is not considered acceptable.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Tuesday Tip: Everytime or Every time?
Everytime should never be used. Instead, it should be written as two separate words: every time. Even though words such as everywhere, everyone, and everyday are common and correct, everytime is not considered acceptable.
Monday, October 29, 2018
"Holy Roar" by Chris Tomlin (CD review)
Chris released this full studio album on October 26, 2018, along with a companion book, Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change the Way You Worship, which released on October 23, 2018. According to Chris, "Holy Roar is the freedom, the experience, the wonder of worship. It is seeing the church come together, hands lifted to God, pouring out our praise with an eternal song in our hearts. It's every voice together, changing the way we worship."
You have a chance to win a copy of this wonderful CD, courtesy of Propeller/FlyBy Promotions (U.S. ONLY). You can enter by going to the Rafflecopter box at the end of this post. Giveaway ends November 1, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you for your information.
My review...
Chris Tomlin is, by far, one of my favorite worship leaders. Over the years, I've sung many of his songs at church, and they never fail to move me. I saw him in concert a few years ago, and it was one of the most inspirational concerts I've ever attended. His lyrics are so powerful, and that continue to be the case with his latest release, Holy Roar. Music is one of the ways I feel closest to God, and this album is a perfect addition to my worship time.
While I love all the songs on this new CD, my favorites include: ""Satisfied," "Resurrection Power," and "Praise Him Forever." Here is a sampling of the songs/lyrics:
"I count my blessings one by one
Your goodness in my life
How could I ask for more
In You I'm satisfied"
- "Satisfied"
"Now I have resurrection power
Living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
No longer bound by sin and darkness
Living in the light of Your goodness
You have given us freedom"
- "Resurrection Power"
"Let everything that breathes
Let all the earth proclaim
Great is the Lord our God
Praise Him forever
Let all that is within me
Magnify His name
Great is the Lord our God
Praise Him forever"
-"Praise Him Forever"
Buy Link: https://christomlin.lnk.to/HolyRoarQW
About Chris...
Chris
Tomlin is one of the most heralded singer-songwriters in the world who has
amassed an impressive body of work. He has sold more than 8 million albums,
11.3 million digital tracks with 16 #1 singles. Chris is one of only four
artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1
Billion digital radio streams, others include Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and
Garth Brooks. The Grammy® winner’s list of music awards include an
American Music Award, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, a BMI
Songwriter of the Year Award and more. Chris’ concert tours have sold-out
venues in major cities including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, The
Forum in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Red Rocks in Denver,
among others. This spring, Chris marked another career milestone by launching
his own imprint record label, Bowyer & Bow, in partnership with Capitol
Christian Music Group.
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. (Note: Winner will be chosen at random through Rafflecopter.) Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor from Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Saturday, October 27, 2018
"The Secret of Willow Inn" by Pat Nichols Blitz Tour (JustRead Tours)
Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for The Secret of Willow Inn by Pat Nichols, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:The Secret of Willow Inn
(Willow Falls #1)Author: Pat Nichols
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
Release Date: January 10, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
Two women fighting for their dreams, one who’s long lost hers, are united by tragedy and a long-held secret.
Pregnant with her first child, Emily Hayes is eager to help her mother finish transforming an estate into the Willow Inn and write a novel about Willow Falls’ colorful history. A tragic event threatens her parents’ plans to refurbish an abandoned hotel and transform the obscure Georgia setting into a tourist destination.
Sadie Lyles left Willow Falls a murderer who’d killed the town hero. She returns as a despised felon and seeks solace in the town’s café. Emily struggles to unite the close-knit community and becomes Sadie’s biggest advocate. She strives to uncover the truth about the crime and save her town from dying.
To appease her father, Rachel, a VP in his Atlanta real-estate-development firm, relegates her acting dream to secret performances for imaginary audiences. After meeting charming, flirtatious Charlie Bricker, manager for Willow Falls’ future vineyard, she vows to break free from her father’s control.
The tragedy and Willow Inn’s secret past launch Emily and Rachel on a collision course with destiny and truth.
PREORDER LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
EXCERPT
As
far back as Emily Hayes could remember, her heart yearned for a sister. She
directed her earliest requests to Santa Claus, which made Christmas mornings a
confusing blend of excitement and disenchantment. Later she bargained with God.
He disappointed her too. When she learned where babies came from, she
petitioned her mom with promises to keep her room clean and be the best sister
in the whole-wide world. Nothing worked. At some point the pleas stopped, but
the lingering desire left a hole in her heart.
Thursday morning, she stepped
outside the white-columned-home converted to a hospital and traced her
ultrasound image with her finger. It wasn’t at all what she’d expected. She
pressed her hand to her chest to ease the fluttering sensation, slipped the
photo in her jeans pocket, and texted her husband. Have results. Meet me in the park in five.
A cool breeze nipped her
cheeks and rustled the new crop of leaves on the mature willow-oaks lining Main
Street. She dropped her phone in her purse, pulled her sweater tight, and
crossed the two-lane road to the sidewalk fronting a grand estate. White
columns extending from a railing supported the roof over the wide, front porch.
The home was weeks away from final transformation to the Willow Inn, thanks to
her parents' first effort to save their town from a slow, painful death.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Nichols is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
During the spring, summer, and early autumn of her life this side of heaven, she and her high-school-sweetheart husband struggled and triumphed through life’s peaks and valleys. They raised two children, welcomed four grandchildren—one is with the angels—bought a Corvette, and ticked off every item on their travel bucket list. Now approaching her winter years, she ignores the minor aches that come with age and is grateful she can still paint her own toenails and dance with her hubby.
Following twenty-five years in six different management positions with an international beauty company, Pat launched career number two as a novelist and freelance editor. She chose women’s fiction to honor her daughter’s strength in the face of significant health issues and the loss of a child. Her corporate experience, working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life, inspires her to create stories about women who confront challenges in the pursuit of their dreams.
Although she writes five days a week, she and Tim—her best friend and number one fan—continue to celebrate their fifty-plus-year marriage. They lead a small group, volunteer for church guest services, participate in two social organizations, and spend time with family and friends. She thanks God for the blessings that brought her joy and the challenges that continue to strengthen her faith, skills, and resolve.
Pat was born in Illinois, grew up in Orlando, and has called Georgia home since the eighties. She lives in an Atlanta suburb, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Word Weavers, Christian Pen, and Gwinnett Church (a campus of Northpoint Ministries).
CONNECT WITH PAT NICHOLS: website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 27, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm November 3, 2018. Open Internationally. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead for a full list of stops!
Friday, October 26, 2018
"Secret Past" by Sharee Stover ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Sharee is here to share a bit about her latest release, Secret Past. She publisher has offered to give away a hard copy of the book (U.S. ONLY) or an electronic copy (outside the U.S.). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends November 2 , 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) Here's Melanie...
Leslie, thank you for having me here
today. I am so excited to share the development of Secret Past, my debut novel with Love Inspired Suspense. The story
is currently a stand alone, but I’ll admit, I love Katie and Daniel, so they
might just pop up somewhere else someday! Stay tuned!
The book focuses on Katie Tribani’s façade
of a life. As the story opens, Katie is dealing with the loss of her mother. She
doesn’t get time to grieve before she’s thrust into the protection of US
Marshal Daniel Knight. He warns her that the father and brother she’s never
known have discovered her location and they’re coming for her.
Every reality in Katie’s life tumbles down
as Daniel whisks her away to safety. Katie has no one left to verify Daniel’s
story, and this stranger is her only hope of uncovering the truth before her
family kills her.
Katie’s in for a series of surprises and must
decipher who is telling the truth.
The US Marshal’s Witness Protection
Program is quite fascinating and has an interesting history. I wanted to write
a story that showed how instrumental the US Marshals are in the protection of
those witnesses. Although I’d read several books with characters in that
predicament, I needed more facts. That sent me on a research journey which can
be dangerous, because for me, I start out Googling one topic, and before you
know it, I’m all over the place. Occasionally, I end up on Pinterest and DIY
projects which have absolutely nothing to do with my research, but it’s fun.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case in this particular story. I wanted facts, and
what better way to find those than to start with the program itself?
I found great information right on the US
Marshals website including the fact that the program has been around since the
early 1970s. I also searched pictures, movies, and books, and somewhere along the
line, I came upon a black and white picture of a child with his mom in a story
about the program. That’s when I started to play “what if.”
What if my heroine was placed in the
program as a child and grew up always under protection? If that was normal, if
her family didn’t want her to know the truth … as an adult, how would that effect
a person? When is a good time for a parent to tell their child the truth? And
that posed my target question: What if you’d been raised in witness protection
and never known it?
From there, Katie developed into a strong,
intelligent, green-eyed beauty who’s determined to find the truth about
herself.
The funny thing is, I had been watching a
lot of the show, Quantico at the time I was writing Secret Past, and Katie and
Daniel both took on the physical attributes from two of Quantico’s characters.
Research doesn’t happen just at the
beginning of the book. It occurs all the way through and sometimes long before
the story is ever conceived. Such is the case with this novel. Nearly two years
before the conception of Secret Past, I’d gone hiking with a
friend in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and she recommended we do the Manitou
Incline. I can honestly say that was one of the toughest, most rewarding
adventures of my life. Strangely, halfway up, an idea for a shootout scene came
to mind, and it easily worked its way into Katie and Daniel’s experience.
I also work to ensure my scenes are
accurate, so my law-enforcement husband has endured some creative research, too,
including me tying him to a chair to see if he could escape.
That’s the messy history of Secret
Past. For those who haven’t read it, I hope you’ll get a copy and enjoy
Katie and Daniel’s journey. Thanks again, Leslie, for having me on your blog!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharee, and sharing the "story behind the story." I'm sure my readers will enjoy learning how Katie and Daniel's story came to life.
(I rated it 4/5 stars.)
About Sharee...
Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and two ridiculously spoiled dogs. A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to ignite, transform, and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense and the delight of falling in love all in one. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America and Nebraska Writer’s Guild. Sharee is a two-time Daphne du Maurier finalist and the winner of the 2017 Wisconsin Fabulous Five Silver Quill Award. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd. Visit her at www.shareestover.com.
Where you can find Sharee online...
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Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Writing Prompt Wednesday
If you're feeling stuck in your WIP (work in progress) or just want to shake things up a bit, here's something different to try today:
I always wanted to be just like my gram.
Happy writing!
Monday, October 22, 2018
Monday Motivation
"Cut out all the exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
Have a wonderful week!
Sunday, October 21, 2018
"Jesus, Our Perfect Hope" (365 Devotions) by Charles Stanley
My review...
I’ve never read anything by Charles Stanley in the past, but
I’ve heard wonderful things about him. So, when I saw this devotional, I
thought it’d be a good time to check him out, as I really enjoy devotional books.
While I haven’t finished the entire book, I have read enough to know that this
book will make a great addition to my daily time with Jesus. I also love the
fact that this book is a year-long devotional, and I plan to use it as such.
Stanley’s latest is to help the reader find the one, true
source of hope: Jesus. It’s a hope that will never fail, no matter what struggles
we may encounter. The book is beautifully designed, with an imitation leather
cover that is padded and a ribbon bookmark. The pages match the cover with
their color scheme. As with other devotional books, Stanley’s contain a title,
a Bible verse, the devotion, and a prayer. The entries are written in a way
that is easy to understand. Each reading is one page, so they are short enough
to fit easily into a busy schedule. There is also a “wrap-up” comment at the
end of each page with a reminder of why the reader’s hope is in Jesus. Topics
addressed include staying hopeful when change doesn’t occur quickly, staying
focused on Jesus through the difficult seasons, and remembering that God will
fulfill His promises to us.
Here are some of the reminders of why our hope in Jesus is
never misplaced:
·
My hope is in Jesus because He is awesome and
deserves all my praise.
·
My hope is in Jesus because He is working in the
unseen.
·
My hope is in Jesus because He sees my full
potential and helps me reach it.
·
My hope is in Jesus because He never fails me.
·
My hope is in Jesus because He’s worthy of my
trust.
Disclaimer: I received
a complimentary copy from the publisher as part of the BookLook Bloggers program,
but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
"A Gathering of Sisters" by Darla Weaver (Read with Audra blog tour)
An
interview with Darla Weaver,
Author
of Gathering of Sisters
Once a week Darla Weaver hitches
up her spirited mare, bundles her children into the buggy, and drives six miles
to the farm where she grew up. There she gathers with her four sisters and
their children for a day with their mother. In Gathering of Sisters: A Year with My Old Order Mennonite Family (Herald
Press), Weaver writes about her horse-and-buggy Mennonite family and the weekly
women’s gatherings that keep them connected. On warm days, the children play
and fish and build houses of hay in the barn. In the winter, everyone stays
close to the woodstove, with puzzles and games and crocheting. No matter the
weather, the Tuesday get-togethers of this Old Order Mennonite family keep them
grounded and centered in their love for God and for each other, even when
raising an occasional loving but knowing eyebrow at each other.
The rest of the week is full of
laundry, and errands, and work that never ends. But Tuesday is about being
sisters, daughters, and mothers.
There were five of us sisters, growing up together with our
four little brothers in the white farmhouse our parents built. The nine of us
kept this five-bedroom house brimming with life, and crowded with both
happiness and some inevitable sadness. We did a lot of living and a lot of
learning in that house.
And then we all grew up.
I was the first to leave. On a warm and sunshiny day in
September 2000, after the leaves on the lofty silver maples had faded from
summer-green and before they wore brightly flaming autumn shades, I was married
to Laverne Weaver. It was the first wedding in that mellowing white house we
all called home. Four more were to follow in the next several years. Except for
my youngest brother, we’ve all left home. Most of us live close, but one
brother lives in Alaska.
Q: Why did
you decide to make an effort to get together once a week?
That left
Tuesdays. Tuesday really was the perfect in-between sort of day to spend with
Mom and my sisters. On Tuesday the five us sisters still come home. We pack up
the children—all eighteen of them during summer vacation—and head to the farm.
We go
early. I drive my spirited little mare, Charlotte, and she trots briskly along
the six miles of winding country roads. Regina and Ida Mae live much closer.
They married brothers, and their homes are directly across the fields from Dad
and Mom’s farm. They usually bike, with children’s noses pressed against the
bright mesh of the carts they tow behind their bicycles. Or they walk, pushing
strollers over the back fields and up the lane. And Emily and Amanda, who also
married brothers and live in neighboring houses about five miles away, come
together with everyone crammed into one carriage.
Q: Do all
the kids enjoy Tuesdays as well?
The children love Tuesdays. On warm days they play on the slide
and the swings in the cool shade of the silver maples, jump on the trampoline,
run through their grandpa’s three greenhouses, ride along on the wagon going to
the fields where produce by the bushels and bins is hauled to the packing shed.
They build hay houses in the barn and explore the creek. The boys take poles
and hooks and bait and spend hours fishing and playing in the small creek that
flows beneath the lane and through the thickets beside the pasture fence. They
catch dozens of tiny blue gills and northern creek chubbs, most of which they
release back into the water hole, a deep pool that yawns at the mouth of a
large culvert, to be caught again next week. They work too, at mowing lawn,
raking, lugging flower pots around, or anything else that Grandma needs them to
do, but most often Tuesdays on Grandpa’s farm are play days.
Q: What do
you do when you are all gathered together?
Every day
is different, yet every Tuesday follows a predictable pattern that varies with
the seasons. Winter finds us inside, close to the
warmth humming from the woodstove, absorbed in wintertime pursuits which
include card-making, crocheting, sewing, puzzles—jigsaw, crossword, sudoku—and
reading books and magazines. But as soon as spring colors the buds of the
maples with a reddish tinge, we spend more time outside. The greenhouses are
loaded with plants, the flowerbeds full of unfurling perennials, and the grass
is greening in the yard again.
In summer, while the garden and fields burst with produce,
the breezy shade of the front porch calls. It wraps around two sides of the
house and is full of Mom’s potted plants and porch furniture. We sit there to
shell peas, husk corn, or just sip a cold drink and cool off after a warm
stroll through the flowers.
Then autumn echoes through the country, the leaves flame and
fall, and we rake them up—millions of leaves. Where we rake one Tuesday is
covered again by the next, until at last the towering maples stand disrobed of
leaves, their amazing seventy-foot branches a wavering fretwork against a sky
that is sullen with winter once more.
Now
onto some frequently asked questions about life in Mennonite communities.
Q: What does
daily life look like for a Mennonite?
In some ways being a Mennonite is not so different from
being anyone else. We have one life to live, we work to make a living, take
care of our families, make time for the things we enjoy, eat, sleep, pay our
bills and taxes. Some days are better than others as for anyone else.
In other ways it’s vastly different from the culture around
us. Partly in the conservative way we live; perhaps even more in the way we
look at life.
The most important goals for most of us are: Faith in God
and in his Son who died on the cross for sinners; growing into a closer walk
with him; learning to love, serve, and obey his commandments. These beliefs
help shape our lives as we grow older.
Old Order Mennonite life is family-oriented. It centers
around our church, our families, our schools and neighborhoods. It has been
said, “Destroy the home and you destroy the nation,” which has been proved true
in various eras of history. God’s plan for one husband and one wife, working
together to care for their children, is a most important foundation for our
lifestyle.
But, of course, we are far from perfect. Although the
majority of us strive to live lives that demonstrate a faith and love and
steadfastness rooted deep in God and his word—the Bible—we make plenty of
mistakes too. Stumbling and falling and getting up to try again, praying that
God will help us do better tomorrow, is a part of life, too.
Q: Do Old
Order Mennonites believe in the new birth?
Of course. We believe the Bible truth: “Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
It is when one believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
that God’s Spirit comes into one’s heart. It is by repenting of and turning
away from our sins that they can be forgiven. It is by faith in God’s power,
and asking in prayer, help us break away from sin’s strongholds. And it is
because of that new birth that we desire to live a life that God can bless and
sanctify.
But those who grow up in Christian homes may not always be
able to pinpoint a certain day or year when their new birth occurred. To say,
“When were you born again?” is a little like asking, “When did you grow up?”
Sometimes there is a specific date to remember. Just as often there isn’t,
because we grew so gradually into the awareness of our need for a personal
Savior.
Was there ever a time I didn’t know and believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God who came to die for my sins? If so, I can’t remember
it. I did have to come to the place where I was willing to accept that for
myself, acknowledge all the sin in my life, and turn to God for help and
forgiveness. That day came, gradually. When I asked Christ into my heart to be
Ruler there, it led to more years of growing up, and into what it means to be
one of his disciples.
When I was born physically I still had much to learn. When I
was born again spiritually I had just as much to learn about living a
Christ-centered life. I’m still learning about it. I imagine I’ll be learning
more for as long as I live.
Q: What
could a visitor expect at one of your church services?
Church services last around 2 to 2 ½ hours and are in the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, although the Bible reading is done in German. They begin
with everyone singing together. One of the ministers then has a short sermon,
which is followed by silent prayer. Then a second minister explains a chapter
from the New Testament, or part of a chapter that he had selected and studied
previously. Services are closed with an audible prayer, more singing, and the
benediction.
It’s a special time of singing, praying, and worshiping God
together with our congregation, and is full of encouragement and inspiration.
Q: Throughout
most of the country, we would find most businesses open at least part of the
day on Sunday. Would we find any businesses in your community open on Sunday?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt
though labour and do all thy work” (Exodus 20:8-9).
When Sunday comes around, those of us who own businesses do
close them, and most of our work is put aside. Sunday is kept as a day to go to
church to worship God, then spend it socializing with family and friends. It is
a day to get together for meals, visit families who have a new baby, or just
relax at home.
Sometimes when it’s warm we go fishing or hiking at nearby
state parks or in our own woods. Sometimes we go on picnics or visit the
neighbors. In the evening, the youth group gathers at one of their homes to
play volleyball, sing and eat.
Sunday is set aside for worship, rest, and family time. It’s
refreshing, both spiritually and physically, to have one day each week reserved
for that. Work almost always waits. Worshiping God is first priority, then
being with family.
Q: What kind
of activities are your youth groups involved in?
Most of the young people are part of a structured youth
group that gathers each Sunday evening in one of their homes. If it’s warm they
play volleyball before singing hymns. A snack is served, unless everyone is
invited for supper, then an entire meal is served. This can be quite an
undertaking for the hostess, depending on the size of the group.
While Sunday evening gatherings are a regular thing, there
are sometimes “work bees” during the week, when they get together to help
someone who needs it. They might go to sing at a nursing home, go skating in
winter, fishing in summer, or other upbuilding activities.
The majority of the young people are a part of this group
and are dedicated to serving God. However, the upper teen years can be hard
whether you’re Mennonite or not, and there are always some who drift away and
choose not to live as part of our culture.
Q: Can you
tell us about your private schools?
Parochial schools are a vital part of our neighborhoods.
Three men serve as the school board for each one, and they are in charge of
hiring teachers, handling the financial part of running a school, upkeep of the
building, and any other need that comes up. They serve in three-year terms and
are up for one re-election at the regular yearly community meeting where all
directors and trustees for various things are selected.
Most schoolhouses have two classrooms and two teachers. The
number of children attending each one varies greatly. Parents pay a yearly
tuition which covers the teachers’ pay, books and supplies, and building
repairs.
Most children start first grade in September after their
sixth birthday. They graduate after completing eighth grade.
Each school day starts with a Bible story, reciting the
Lord’s prayer together and singing. Lessons include, but are not limited to,
reading, writing, math, spelling, English, vocabulary, history, geography, some
science and nature study. Curriculum varies a little from school to school and
from one area to the next, but these are the basics.
My review...
Weaver gives the reader an inside look at her family, and
the Plain (Old Order Mennonite) lifestyle, in her latest release. She shares
the time she spent gathering with her sisters on Tuesdays, with each chapter
depicting a different month. The stories are easy to visualize, allowing the
reader to feel a part of the community/family. It’s easy to see that people, in
general, are more alike than they are different. Some parts feel a bit
disjointed, but for someone wanting to learn more about the followers of this
religion, it is informative. Bible verses and even some recipes are included.
(I look forward to trying the German Pizza, page 145, Mock Ham Balls, page 247,
and Walnut Frosties, page 254). There is a section entitled “A Day in the Life
of the Author” which is very information, as is the Appendix, where the author
provides some FAQs about the Old Order Mennonites.
Disclaimer: I received
a complimentary copy as part of the Read with Audra blog tour/from the publisher. I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About the Author
Darla
Weaver is a homemaker,
gardener, writer and Old Order Mennonite living in the hills of southern Ohio.
She is the author of Water My Soul, Many Lighted Windows and Gathering of Sisters. Weaver has written for Family Life, Ladies Journal, Young Companion, and other magazines for Amish and Old Order Mennonite
groups. Before her three children were born she also taught school. Her hobbies
are gardening and writing.
Friday, October 19, 2018
"Lethal Target" by Janice Cantore ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Janice is here to share a bit about her latest release, Lethal Target. Her publisher has offered to give away a hard copy of the book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends October 26, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) Here's Janice...
“And yet we adore a romance in which a defiant struggle
against weakness turns to a virtue, and a physical wound becomes a metaphor for
the healing power of the beloved.”
Eloisa James
The Strength of the Wounded Hero
I think the wounded hero appeals to readers, especially
readers of romantic suspense, for a couple of reasons. First, people like to
root for the underdog. A wounded hero, someone who’s lost something or someone
and who is shut down and hesitant to get involved with life again, and often
doesn’t unless forced, is someone we can cheer to change. If the character is
sympathetic—and usually we see flashes of virtue and unshakable loyalty in
these heroes—we root for them to change, to overcome the pain. Second, the wounded
hero’s story raises questions: Will the hero’s vulnerability turn into an
asset? Is his or her struggle against the pain a virtue? Will true love serve
to heal the hurt? Will hope triumph and the hero rise above the pain?
I have to go back to one of my favorite movies: Casablanca. I consider Rick the classic wounded hero.
His heart was shattered by a woman, something that he’s never recovered from.
And suddenly that woman is back in his life, at a time when the world is in
upheaval, and she needs a hero. You can’t watch that movie and not root for
Rick to step up, to be the hero, to set aside the hurt and do the right thing. Even
after he lashes out at Ilsa, we want to see him win over the bitterness. And
because eventually he delivers, the story ends up satisfying, even though he doesn’t
get the girl.
In one of my favorite novels, Demolition
Angel by Robert Crais, the wounds are not only emotional, but physical
as well. Carol Starkey is a bomb tech shattered by an IED that killed her
partner and nearly killed her. Years later, she’s still trying to hold it
together, and another IED takes the life of another tech. We see the turmoil
inside this detective who is hanging on by her fingernails, when this second
death sends her right back to the day her partner died. And the bomber isn’t
finished; more IEDs explode. Can Starkey pull it together and help catch the
bad guy? We so want the answer to that question to be yes. It’s an
action-packed novel, but the story is Starkey’s redemption and salvation from
the specter of past tragedy.
We want to see the redemption; we want to see our hero
healed and whole again, triumphing over whatever it is that wounded him. Whether
the wounds be physical, emotional, spiritual, or even imaginary. A more recent
movie comes to mind, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
There was no explosion or broken romance that wounded Walter; rather, life has
beaten him down. His father died when he was in his teens and he was forced to grow
up fast, set aside his life plans to go to work and support his mother and
sister. At the movie’s beginning we see a man who has carefully and steadfastly
fulfilled his obligations and let life pass him by in the process. He’s finally
ready to strike out for something he wants, finally pursue a romance, but we
see the struggle inside as he simply tries to send a woman a “wink.” It’s
engaging and sad, and as the movie progresses, we really root for Walter to
win, to break out of his shell, to find his true love and live his life.
People like to hope, and they like to see hope fulfilled. The
wounded hero and his or her journey is enduring because it gives people hope
and it keeps people turning pages, cheering the hero on. The wounded hero will
continue to be the foundation of many great stories.
Police Chief Tess O’Rourke must confront the drug problem in
her small town once again. She thought she’d taken care of things, but that was
before an eighteen-year-old is found dead, likely of an overdose. She believes
local pot farms are involved, as well as even deadlier drugs, which could
result in even more deaths. As the anniversary of her father’s murder
approaches, she continues to hold on to her anger, which is adding to the
problems in her relationship with Sergeant Steve Logan. On top of everything,
someone from her past has returned, and Tess doesn’t see anything positive
coming out of this new development. Will Tess be able to win her war on drugs
in her town before someone decides to silence her?
This is the second installment in Cantore’s “Line of Duty”
series, though it could be read as a standalone. The author’s experience as a
cop adds credibility and insight into the inner workings of the police force.
Thankfully, for me, the mystery angle overshadows the romance, making this an
interesting crime drama/police procedural. The drug epidemic is a timely topic.
While there is a bit of over-detailing at times which stalls the pace, the
characters are authentic and the plot realistic. To get a better grip on the
characters’ history, it could be beneficial to read the books in order.
Disclaimer: I received
a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a
positive review.
Janice Cantore is a police officer turned writer. She
retired from the Long Beach (California) Police Department after twenty-two
years—sixteen in uniform, six as a non-career employee. She is currently writing
romantic suspense for Tyndale House, and her upcoming release, Lethal Target, second in the Line of Duty series,
following Crisis Shot, is set in a
small town in Oregon.
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