Friday Fifteen: Carolyn Miller

Today I'd like to welcome Carolyn Miller to Iola's Christian Reads. to share her Friday Fifteen: fifteen authors who have influenced her life and writing. Except she's cheated, and given us sixteen!

She is also here to introduce her new release, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, the second book in the A Legacy of Grace series. I read and enjoyed the first book, The Elusive Miss Ellison, and I'm looking forward to reading about Lady Charlotte ... and Miss DeLancey (which releases in October)

Welcome, Carolyn!

1. Jane Austen 

Who can surpass the Queen of English literature? Her wit and observations of early 1800s English society have given us such memorable novels as Pride and Prejudice, and the countless TV and film adaptations have caused many a heart to flutter faster, thanks to such characters as Mr. Darcy. (Thank you, Jane!)

My favourite: Persuasion beats Pride and Prejudice due to its heartbreaking poignancy - but only just!

2. Georgette Heyer

Considered by many to have established the historical romance genre, whose witty novels and extraordinary degree of research (she once bought a letter by the Duke of Wellington to emulate his style of phrasing!) are so inspiring to this author. My favourites: The Unknown Ajax, The Nonesuch, Frederica, Arabella, Venetia, (the list goes on…)

Having read The Elusive Miss Ellison, it doesn't surprise me that Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer top your list!

3. LM Montgomery

The Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables (one of my favourite novels when I was growing up) also wrote the poignant and wonderfully evocative The Blue Castle. One of my top five novels of all time!

4. Jean Webster

Another classic author whose work I enjoy is Jean Webster, author of Daddy Long Legs and Dear Enemy. These stories of spirited, likeable young females overcoming hardships of birth and prejudice also possess heart, wit and satirical social commentary that ensure a good read.

I've read both, but have to admit I prefer Daddy Long Legs to Dear Enemy.

5. Agatha Christie

Speaking of classics, I love to read Agatha Christie. I enjoy the depiction of England in a time when manners mattered, and those responsible for crime were always guaranteed to be brought to justice.

Miss Marple or Poirot? I preferred Miss Marple, but I've just bought an audio version of the Bible narrated by David Suchet, who played Poirot. Lovely voice!

6.Janet Evanovich

A far more contemporary crime series I enjoy reading is that created by Janet Evanovich, whose main character, Stephanie Plum, has all the sass and wit I can ask for (even if some of the later novels aren’t nearly as good as the first ten)

7. Mary Grant Bruce

I’m Australian, so it’s my patriotic duty to ensure that Mary Grant Bruce gets a mention. Her Billabong series of children’s stories depicted life in the Australian bush in the early 1900s, and featured vivid descriptions of country life, humorous colloquialisms, slow burning romance, and were considered to help shape a sense of Australian identity, particularly in regards to patriotism and ideas about the bush.

I remember reading stories of Blinky Bill, but never Mary Grant Bruce.

8. Kate Morton

Continuing the Australian theme, I’m a more recent convert to the writing of Kate Morton. Her haunting stories of family and tragedy shift between the present and the past, and the poignant, evocative prose in novels such as The Lake House is guaranteed to stir the soul.

9. Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is another Aussie author I’ve recently come to enjoy. Her bestselling contemporary fiction show aspects of life I can relate to, such as the challenges faced by school parents depicted in Big Little Lies. Funny, incisive, insightful writing.

10. Melina Marchetta

Another author of Australian fiction I enjoy is Melina Marchetta, whose novel Looking for Alibrandi was on the High School Certificate English course for very good reason. Her insights into teen angst, and the challenges faced by migrants in urban Australia are heart-breakingly good.

11. John Marsden 

John Marsen is another Aussie author whose Tomorrow When the War Began series is exciting, tense, and teen-true. A great, though slightly unnerving, read, especially for young adults.

So many Australian authors I've never read!

12. William Shakespeare

I love some of the plays and poems by William Shakespeare, so I’m going to include him here too, due to his keen use of drama, romance, wit, and perceptive social observations. Twelfth Night is one of my favourites.

13. Marina Fiorato

Marina Fiorato is an author who used the story of Much Ado About Nothing in her lovely novel Beatrice and Benedick. Gorgeous writing!

And what a fabulous book cover!

14. Roseanna M White

A Christian historical author I enjoy is Roseanna M. White. I recently read her novel The Reluctant Duchess and loved it. Powerfully intense, yet threaded by wit and a sense of God’s grace.

Roseanna M White is one of my favourite Christian historical authors. 

15. Becky Wade

A Christian contemporary author I enjoy is Becky Wade. My ultimate favourite Christian novel is My Stubborn Heart, as much for the realism of its flawed main characters, as the wit and banter found within. Oh, and the ice hockey hero. I’ll always love an ice hockey hero J.

Yes, I definitely vote for Becky Wade!

16. God

Can I add the ultimate Author? The book that has influenced me more than any other is, of course, The Bible. So let’s include God – definitely leaving the best for last!

Yes, you can add a #16!

About Carolyn Miller

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked part-time as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her debut Regency The Elusive Miss Ellison released in February 2017, and her next, The Captivating Lady Charlotte released June 27. Both are available from Amazon, Book Depository, Koorong and more.

Connect with her:
www.carolynmillerauthor.com
www.pinterest.com/camillering
www.facebook.com/CarolynMillerAuthor/
www.twitter.com/CarolynMAuthor

About The Captivating Lady Charlotte

Responsibility, romanticism, and true love...

As the daughter of the Marquess of Exeter, Lady Charlotte Featherington always knew she was destined for great things on the marriage mart. Little did she imagine falling in love with a man on the eve of her parents announcing her betrothal - to someone else.

William Hartwell might be a Duke, but he suspects neither his title nor wealth will prove enough to hold the heart of the young lady who has captured his. The scandal surrounding his first wife's death makes trusting again difficult, while the mysterious happenings at his ancestral home, Hartwell Abbey, seek to separate before they are wed.

How can a young Lady negotiate her future when her heart demands the opposite of duty? Can they both learn to truly love from the legacy of Grace?

Now available from these leading retailers: Amazon.com, Amazon.com.au, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Christian Book, Book Depository and Koorong

Friday Fifteen: Pamela Poole

This week I'm pleased to welcome author Pamela Poole to share her Friday Fifteen—the fifteen authors who have most influenced her life and work. Welcome, Pamela!

Fifteen Authors that Changed My World

I grew up when classics were still revered as required reading in school, so they shaped me at an impressionable time. Looking back, I’m grateful that such powerful literature filled my heart and mind, in contrast to the book market of today.

Christ will always be first in my life for every role model, and His words have molded me as no other author can. Scripture is the sieve through which I filter my comparisons of worldviews and morality, and it inevitably influenced the choices I settled on for this post.

1.      Robert Louis Stevenson

I love anything by Stevenson, but the two books that often still come to play in my life are Treasure Island and A Child’s Garden of Verse. I truly admire this man, for he conquered the pitiless adversary of chronic illness and used the forced periods of rest to write books that contributed immeasurably to the world. He’s also a terrific example of how writers can enthrall audiences by creatively crafting rough characters and situations to make them readable without course language.

2.      James Herriot

When I was a teenager, I babysat for a professor and his wife who lived across the street from me. They introduced me to James Herriot’s work by giving me All Creatures Great and Small. Herriot’s true accounts of his escapades as a veterinarian in the English countryside were profoundly insightful peeks into human nature, and he told them in ways that left me gasping in laughter!

3.      Margaret Mitchell

This author’s classic story of the war-torn South has always been a favorite for me because of her fascinating characters in Gone With the Wind, though I personally think that she failed readers in the ending. The line that shocked so many was also the point where Rhett had a chance to shine as a hero, but he fell, and Mitchell left readers unfulfilled. I’m so glad another author, Alexandra Ripley, came through in the 1990’s with the sequel, Scarlett. The sequel was satisfying in her redemption of Scarlett and Rhett.

4. Jane Austen
I know, this is predictable. But on so many levels, she is the ultimate in classy romance writing.

5. Catherine Marshall
Christy was the novel that opened my teenage eyes and heart to the need for missionary work in the mountains not far from my own home. She also taught me that romantic love doesn’t conquer all.

6. Jules Verne
I love adventure, and Around the World in Eighty Days is unforgettable!

7. Lew Wallace
Ben-Hur, a Tale of Christ was a story that deeply affected me, and the movie adaption is still one of my all-time favorite Biblical tales. This profoundly moving story covers almost every universal situation in one timeless epic.

8. C.S. Lewis
Narnia, Mere Christianity, and the Screwtape Letters are truly books to study, not just read through.

9. J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are gold mines of life truths and encouragement for spiritual battles.

10. Bram Stoker
Many people don’t realize that the original Dracula is written from a deeply Christian perspective, and that we battle spiritual “monsters” every day. Hollywood deviations are far from the spirit of Stoker’s masterpiece.

11. Frank Peretti

This Present Darkness gave me new eyes to imagine the dimension of the spiritual battles I already knew were raging around us.

12. Robert Whitlow

The List was another nudge for me in the direction of Southern fiction and the spiritual dimension behind so much that happens in our lives, sometimes for generations.

13. Jeanette Windle
This author’s missionary background and the way she crafted rough, dark settings and characters into art, rather than communicate with offensive words, inspired my writing style. Crossfire and DMZ are so well written that she’s been interviewed by governments about her knowledge of the settings!

14. Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
The Left Behind series was eye-opening for my family, for we were reminded of the impact that scripture could have when presented in a dramatic story.

15. Edgar Rice Burroughs
While there is a wide gap between this author’s outlook and philosophies compared to my own, he created an amazing character in Tarzan. Derivatives of this novel stirred my imagination for years, and a few elements from it influenced Jaguar, my latest novel release in the Painter Place Saga. My worldview of Tarzan leans toward marveling at God’s provision for a man whose only environment in his formative years was survival in the jungle, and how the man’s reactions play out with the Biblical truth that we are not evolved from animals but created in God’s image, with His moral truth stamped into our very essence of heart, soul, and mind.

About Jaguar, Painter Place Saga Book 3

Caroline and Chad Gregory are happy on their island home at Painter Place. But an old vendetta against them puts Caroline in terrible danger. Her enemies are closing in, and the future of Painter Place is at stake. Her only hope of escape is a man known as the Jaguar, a legendary international operative and Caroline’s one-time boyfriend. Even if he and a miracle can save her, Caroline will never be the same sheltered woman who has been groomed from childhood to inherit the island.

About the Author

Pamela Poole’s love for the South inspires all her books and paintings, and is why she describes her work as Inspiring Southern Ambiance. She became an author after endlessly returning unread books to the library and her son challenged her to write the kind of novel she wanted to read. She and her husband Mark live in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and ACFW-NC.

Where to Find Pamela Online

Amazon Author Profile: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UIHSJ30

Main Website: www.pamelapoole.com
Southern Sky Publishing Website: www.southernskypublishing.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/PamelaPooleFineArt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaPooleArt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamelaPooleArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelapooleart/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pamelapooleart/

Niume (blogging): https://niume.com/pages/profile/?userID=41135#!/posts

Friday Fifteen: Elizabeth Musser

Today I'd like to welcome Elizabeth Musser to Iola's Christian Reads. Elizabeth is an American missionary living near Lyon, France, and has just released her latest novel. The Long Highway Home. 

Welcome, Elizabeth!

1. Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess and The Secret Garden captured my heart as a child. Loved, loved, loved Sara Crewe and when I read her riches to rags to riches tale, I longed to write a story like that.

2. Walter Farley and 3. Marguerite Henry

I grew up around horses and when I wasn’t riding one or cleaning out a stall or tossing hay to my ponies, I was curled up with Farley’s Black Stallion series or Henry’s Born to Trot, Misty of Chincoteague and the sequels. I started writing horse stories because of these authors, and I would also illustrate them (inspired by the wonderful drawings by Wesley Dennis in Henry’s books.) Despite my obvious skill, ahem, I have never been asked to include my illustrations in my novels!

4. Carolyn Keene

I now know this was a pseudonym for various authors who penned the Nancy Drew series, but I didn’t know it as a child and I devoured these stories—I think I had the whole collection at the time (in the late 1960s), maybe 50 or 60. Nancy gave me my first taste of mystery tales—(and taught me a new word: sleuth)—and I determined I would write some myself.

5. Daphne du Maurier

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” That first line! The mystery, the romance, the intrigue, I fell into those wonderful and exotic lands of du Maurier’s prose as a teen and wanted to stay there forever. This novel and a few others were also a big inspiration for me.

6. Charles Dickens

I wept when I read A Tale of Two Cities. The themes of sacrifice and redemption broke my heart and inspired me to try, try, try, in my small way, to show faith and hope in my stories. And I love Dickens’ ‘cast of thousands’ in his novels and the way he leads us down many paths with delightful twists and turns that ultimately come together.

7. Catherine Marshall

As a young woman, Marshall’s non-fiction, A Man Called Peter, To Live Again, Beyond Ourselves and The Helper profoundly influenced my spiritual life. Her novels Christy and Julie showed me a contemporary author (of the 20th century) doing what the great writers of centuries past had done—incorporate themes of faith into a wonderful story.

8. C.S. Lewis

The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity and on and on. His words helped me understand God’s Word better and encouraged me to grow up in Christ.

9. Bodie Thoene (and hubby Brock)

Her Zion Covenant and Zion Chronicles series provided endless hours of entertainment as well as history lessons for me and many other missionaries in Europe. We’d pass the books around til they were completely worn out. I admired the way she included great historical detail and non-stop action in her stories of faith. I learned so much about recent history from her novels, and they added to my desire to write recent historical fiction (20th century) that I call ‘entertainment with a soul’. She paved the way for the Christian fiction movement of the late 1980s on up through the present.

10. Mary Higgins Clark

When I needed a complete escape from life, I’d read her suspense novels in French (helped my language learning too) and off I went.

11. Randy Alcorn

His books Money, Possessions and Eternity and Heaven had me nodding in agreement, reflecting, reconsidering and challenging me to think more broadly.

12. Philip Yancey

I so admire the way Yancey tackles the most difficult questions with honesty and humility. He tells fascinating stories of real people that force me think outside a too-narrow box of faith.

13. Ann Lamott

When I first read Traveling Mercies as a young missionary wife and mom, I was deeply offended, highly entertained and ultimately so thankful for her very ‘out of the box’ unique voice. Her Bird by Bird has been a great encouragement as I write.

14. Sharon Garlough Brown

A few years ago, I began spiritual direction with a fellow missionary who lived in France. She gave me Sharon’s novel Sensible Shoes as the first book to read. A novel! And what a novel! The Sensible Shoes series (Sensible Shoes, Two Steps Forward, Barefoot) has been a life-changing adventure for me as Sharon brilliantly tells the story of spiritual transformation in the lives of four ordinary women. I find myself in each of the women and the spiritual exercises they work through have been extremely helpful for me, too, in this season of my life. I recommend the books widely and use the Companion Guides in my Member Care role with fellow missionaries.

15. Ann Tatlock

Her prose is breathtaking and her stories real, the characterization deep, the faith element subtle and true. One of our finest CBA authors today.

About Elizabeth

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Elizabeth’s highly acclaimed, best-selling novel, The Swan House, was named one of Amazon’s Top Christian Books of the Year and one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years. All of Elizabeth’s novels have been translated into multiple languages. The Long Highway Home has been a bestseller in Europe.

For over twenty-five years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions’ work in Europe with International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren who all live way too far away in America. Find more about Elizabeth’s novels at www.elizabethmusser.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and her new blog. See photos from scenes in The Long Highway Home on Pinterest.

About The Long Highway Home

Sometimes going home means leaving everything you have ever known.

When the doctor pronounces ‘incurable cancer’ and gives Bobbie Blake one year to live, she agrees to accompany her niece, Tracie, on a trip back to Austria, back to The Oasis, a ministry center for refugees that Bobbie helped start twenty years earlier. Back to where there are so many memories of love and loss…

Bobbie and Tracie are moved by the plight of the refugees and in particular, the story of the Iranian Hamid, whose young daughter was caught with a New Testament in her possession in Iran, causing Hamid to flee along The Refugee Highway and putting the whole family in danger. Can a network of helpers bring the family to safety in time? And at what cost?

Filled with action, danger, heartache and romance, The Long Highway Home is a hymn to freedom in life’s darkest moments.

Friday Fifteen: Lea Waterhouse

Yesterday I reviewed Dawn on the Road, the debut YA novel from author Lea Waterhouse (click here to read my review). Today Lea is here to share her Friday Fifteen: the fifteen authors who have most influenced her life and writing.

Most authors who visit to share their Friday Fifteen share authors and books they've loved. Lea shares one she didn't love ... but which influenced her all the same. (And I have to say I agree with her!)

Welcome, Lea!

15 Authors Who Influenced My Life

by Lea Waterhouse

1. Robin Jones Gunn

She arguably influenced my life more than any other author. After reading Summer Promise at age 14, I became a Christian. My parents allowed me to attend a church, and her continuing Christy Miller books were a constant companion during my early spiritual journey.

2. Paul Watkins, AND 3. Geraldine Brooks

Brooks and Watkins are my two favorite contemporary authors. Their books are prime examples of meaningful historical fiction. I especially recommend Brooks’ Year of Wonders and Watkins Promise of Light.

4. Jack London

Because I love travel and adventure stories! I think exploration and creation go hand-in-hand (which is why both are important themes in Dawn on the Road).

5. Fred Rogers

Yes, Mr. Rogers! His writing captures his gentle, loving, accepting spirit. He embodies the attributes of Christ.

6. Marguerite Henry

She was my first favorite author. I got her books from my elementary school library, and when I’d read them all, I started writing my own stories for the first time.

7. John Steinbeck

His deep insight into the human experience (and his particular affinity for working classes) changed the way I view the world and my fellow human beings, regardless of religion or background. Grapes of Wrath is especially poignant in the current political climate here in the United States.

8. C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity and Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer are regularly re-reads.

9. Carson McCullers

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter digs deep (in an unpretentious way) into the loneliness and isolation of those often left without a voice in society.

10. James Joyce

This is an odd one to add here…because I don’t like his stuff. I know, I know: He’s “the best.” He was influential in making me realize I don’t have to force myself to like a writer just because other people say I should.

11. Lin-Manuel Miranda

Have you listened to Hamilton??? Have you listened to In the Heights??? His lyrics are delicious poetry, and I consider him one of our best narrative storytellers.

12. J.R.R. Tolkien

Because of the Lord of the Rings…obviously!

Obviously! If you ever visit Hobbiton, look me up and we can have Second Breakfast at The Shire's Rest Cafe.

13. Roger Scruton

He unwraps philosophy from a non-religious position, but is both fully intellectually and fully respectful of religion.

14. J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter brought a whole new generation (and not just the born-bibliophiles like me) to view books as a delight--something to devour.

15. Mark (of The Bible fame)

His was the first gospel I ever read. It added meat and truth to the glimpse of Christianity that Robin Jones Gunn’s books had given me as a teenager.

Some great choices ... and some inspiring titles to add to the to-read list. Thanks, Lea!

About Dawn on the Road

SHE’S HERE FOR THE RIDE. FOR THE ROAD. FOR INSPIRATION.

Dawn Berlin dreams of adventure, inspiration, and to feel something deeper. She’s certain that art will be the catalyst for these goals, except that the adults around her think she’s not being realistic. When Justin Devenport returns to her life the summer before her senior year, he convinces her to find inspiration on the road. Now she’s off, perched on the back of his motorcycle, heading up the coast to a preview weekend at an art school. 

It isn’t long before Dawn realizes Justin’s view of inspiration is quite different than hers. He believes it comes from a God she was taught absolutely does not exist.

On the road, maybe she’ll find a friendship renewed. Maybe art. Maybe even love. Or perhaps she’ll find all three wrapped up in a different kind of inspiration, but only if Dawn can break from her upbringing, open her heart, and figure out what she believes.

Friday Fifteen and Giveaway: Janet Bly

It's time for another Friday Fifteen! Today I'd like to welcome Janet Chester Bly, Janet is the widow of author Stephen Bly, and she's here today to introduce her new novel, Dawn ... and to tell us about her fifteen favourite authors. Welcome, Janet!

Fifteen Authors Who Influenced my Life and Writing by Janet Chester Bly

1. George MacDonald

Historical 19th century Scottish romances, edited and made available for contemporary readers by Michael Phillips

This was my introduction to Christian fiction. Great stories.

2. Louisa May Alcott

Little Women and character Jo’s writing journey and advice given, “Write what you know.”

3. Eugenia Price

Strangers in Savannah, a Civil War epic, longest novel I ever read that kept my interest throughout until Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

4. Frank Peretti 

This Present Darkness, 1989 groundbreaking early Christian fiction bestseller that brought hope of dusting off and re-writing manuscripts hidden in drawers for lack of publisher interest

5. Edgar Lee Masters 

Spoon River Anthology, fascinating story style through a collection of post-mortem autobiographical epitaphs of former citizens of the fictional Spoon River town.

6. Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God, introduced to me in a black heritage college literature class

7. Catherine Marshall

Nonfiction, inspirational, and fiction works including Christy and Beyond Ourselves – the story of her writing journey as a widow inspired me early on.

Christy and Julie are two of my favourite Christian novels.

8. Anne Perry

English historical detective fiction, best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series

(She used to live in New Zealand, where she's better known for inspiring Heavenly Creatures, one of Peter Jackson's early movies)

9. Mary Higgins Clark

Her use of three names, including maiden name, and her suspense novels

10. Sue Grafton

The clever development of her A-Z titled series

11. Brandilyn Collins

Author of memorable, contemporary fiction standalones and well developed, unpredictable Seatbelt Suspense® novels

Aren't they great?

12. Randy Alcorn

Intriguing novels with concurrent scenes in heaven

13. Karen Kingsbury

Fast writer of family and relational stories with emotional impact

14. Kristin Heitzmann

Excellent contemporary romantic suspense

15. Stephen Bly

My late husband, award-winning western author who was my partner in writing and editing, research and publishing.

Introducing Down Squash Blossom Road

WHAT SECRET LIES DOWN SQUASH BLOSSOM ROAD?

Cowgirl Reba Cahill’s schedule is full. Save the family ranch. Free her mom from a mental institute. Solve a murder and kidnapping. Evade a stalker. Can she also squeeze in romance?

Reba Cahill focused on the duties of the ranch, along with her widowed grandmother. But a crippled Champ Runcie returns to Road’s End in a wheelchair and seeks revenge for the accident that put him there. He blames Reba's horse. Meanwhile, a letter from her estranged mom forces her and Grandma Pearl back on the road: I can leave now. Come get me. Love, Mom

When they arrive in Reno, her mother issues a demand and refuses to return to Idaho. They head west instead. In California, Reba’s friend Ginny’s marriage is on the rocks. The family business is threatened. And squabbles turn deadly.

Reba digs deep to find the courage to forge a relationship with her mom and escape a crazed man’s obsession. She also hopes for a future with a horse trainer who offers her a new horse to replace the one she lost in the accident. But why does he have a photo of a pretty woman on his wall? 

~~~~
Leave a comment to be entered in drawing to receive copy of Down Squash Blossom Road, Book 2, Trails of Reba Cahill, Janet Chester Bly’s newest release.

Giveaway ends midnight Central Time on 3 February. Winner will be contacted on 6 February.
~~~~

About Janet Bly

Janet Chester Bly is the widow of Christy Award winning western author Stephen Bly. Together—his, hers, theirs--they published 120 fiction and nonfiction books for adults and kids. Janet and their three sons finished Stephen’s last novel, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, a Selah Award Finalist. Down Squash Blossom Road is Book 2 in the Reba Cahill contemporary western mystery series. Book 1 is Wind in the Wires. Find out more at www.BlyBooks.com

Connect with Janet Chester Bly on these Social Media links:

'Like' Bly Books on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlyBooks
Bly Books Blog: http://www.blybooks.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetchesterbly
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/janetcbly/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/269265.Janet_Chester_Bly
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blybooks/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/janetchesterbly
Google+: http://bit.ly/2iXYwaQ
Check out other favorite authors at On the Western Trail blog: www.blybooks.blogspot.com

Friday Fifteen: Toni Shiloh

Today I'm delighted to introduce debut author Toni Shiloh and her novel, Buying Love. Here's the book description:

Will money ruin everything?

Nina Warrenton is ready for the next step in her life plan—marriage, but there is one problem. No one has proposed! Taking matters into her hand, she places an ad in the newspaper hoping to entice a willing stranger. But when she begins to fall for the small-town chef, she realizes how much she wants him to love her and not her money.

Dwight Williams needs fast cash to save the family restaurant. When he sees Nina’s monetary offer for a husband, he goes for it. He’s determined to save the legacy his dad left him, but can he let it go to prove his love for her?

Can Nina and Dwight find true love, once money has entered the equation?

Congratulations, Toni, on your new release!

And now here is Toni's Friday Fifteen: her fifteen favourite authors. Welcome, Toni!

1. Jane Austen

Ms. Austen is the reason I fell in love with romance. I first read her when I was preteen and adored the characters and the story.
(I didn't read Austen until later, but there's something magical about her characters and her writing).

2. Danielle Steel

When I got older, I read Danielle Steel. There was something about her novels that captivated me and transported me into another world.

3. Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins

These guys were my first introduction into Christian fiction and I was hooked!

4. Lauraine Snelling

Ms. Snelling was one of the first romance authors I read in Christian fiction. Her Red River of the North series made me long for simpler times.

5. Francine Rivers

Ms. Rivers challenged me to think outside the box. Her characters have real issues that tug at your heart strings.

6. Beverly Jenkins

Ms. Jenkins’ Blessings series pulled me in with the diverse characters and hometown settings. I loved the family atmosphere and hope to incorporate that in my own work.

7. Joanne Bischof

Five words: The Lady and the Lionheart
(On my to-read pile)

8. Heather Gray

I love her characters. Real, funny, and Christian.

9. Lynette Eason

Romance and suspense?! Need I say more?
(No, that covers it.)

10. Dee Henderson

She was the first romantic suspense author I ever read and got me hooked on the genre.
(Me too!)

11. Becky Wade

I adore her writing. Her books touch my heart.

12. Jennifer Rodewald

The emotion in Ms. Rodewald’s books is phenomenal!
(Another author who is on my to-read pile.)

13. Ronie Kendig

Ms. Kendig writes military romantic suspense…at least that’s how I think of it! As former Air Force, I LOVE it.

14. Camille Eide

The Memoir of Johnny Devine hooked me to her reading style and made me a forever fan.

15. Elizabeth Maddrey

She deals with tough subjects and always makes me think.
(And yet another author who is on my to-read pile.)

About Toni Shiloh

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an Air Force veteran, and a member of the body of Christ.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She likes to volunteer at her children’s school. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. An avid reader of Christian fiction, she writes reviews on her blog and enjoys helping other authors find readers.

Friday Fifteen: Cecily Wolfe

Today I'd like to support Cecily Wolfe to Iola's Christian Reads. Cecily's debut novel, Throne of Grace, releases today. Now she's going to share some of her favourite novels with us. Welcome, Cecily!

1. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

This disturbing children’s story is a fantastic look at human nature – it is also one of the most spectacular examples of writing I have ever seen.

2. The Sign on Rosie’s Door by Maurice Sendak

I can still recite the words to this one . . . a nostalgic look at the freedom and creativity of childhood. My favorite book ever.

3. Sabriel by Garth Nix

I’ll read anything by Nix. The writing is stunning, and the stories are fascinating. The characterization is incredibly realistic, and I find myself relating to these women in different ways with each reading.

4. Jordan County by Shelby Foote

And you thought your family was messed up? The ties between the past and present are Foote’s strength, and his characters are as unforgettable as they are disturbing.

5. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

One of the greatest love stories ever – but really, this is all about power. The movie is great (Colin Firth, Ralph Fiennes – oh, yes), but be sure to read the book as well, or you’re missing some smooth writing by a master.

6. The Friendly Persuasion by Jessamyn West

This one makes me cry every time. Simple folk in a simple world, with complex feelings and relationships that make them anything but ordinary. This is a look at the life of a couple, from youth to death, as well as the home and family they create. This is about as American as it gets.

7. Emma by Jane Austen

Who doesn’t adore Austen? Quick wit, charming romance, misunderstandings – with some life lessons thrown in when you might not expect it. I always catch myself analyzing my own behavior and motivations after reading Austen, whether it is the fifth or the fiftieth time.

8. Never Let Me Go by Kauzo Ishiguro

Cloning scares me, and this story sure didn’t make me feel any better about it. The writing is sharp and clear, a cold contrast to the intensity of emotions and exploration of identity. What does it mean to be human? Are we really just a jumble of body parts, and what price do such parts carry? Money equals power, but to what ends? I get upset just thinking about this book, but it has influenced me in ways I’m not sure I understand very well.

9. March by Geraldine Brooks

Little Women is often described as a children’s book. People must be kidding, or else they are reading a different book than I am. When the girls’ father returns from the war, we don’t get much on him, and that has always bothered me. Brooks tells about his experiences in the war and who he is beyond a few words in what is really a difficult commentary on family life and the role of women during the Civil War.

10. Their Wedding Journey by William Dean Howells

Howells doesn’t get any attention these days, which is very sad. He has been a grandfatherly guide to my own literature studies, and I appreciate his attention to physical details and life in America post-Civil War. This reads like a travel journal, and is beautifully diverting.

11. Kristin Lavransdotter by Sigrid Undset

Kristin’s story is a long one (over 1000 pages) covered in three books and pretty much shares what it is like, emotionally, to grow up. Making mistakes, overcoming emotions, connecting (and disconnecting) with others – this is one heck of a soap opera. Fourteenth century Norway has never been so interesting. As a Catholic, I am particularly fond of Kristin’s faith journey.

12. The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton

The only Wharton with a happy ending – because she died and someone else finished it decades later. Fans of Gilded Age America and the trend for wealthy girls to travel to Europe and marry nobility (yes, that would be me) will find the perfect fairy tale romances - and their attendant troubles – here. Wharton does a fine job of detailing the drama of the mind in all of her work, reminiscent of her friend Henry James.

13. Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein

My favorite Heinlein. A teenage heroine heading from her Mars home to visit Earth must make adult decisions when those she loves are endangered. This was published in the early 1960s, before the abundance of teen heroines came into play. If you don’t love sci-fi (like I do) but like tough, smart girls, Poddy’s for you.

14. Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor

Classic and disturbing. Classically disturbing. O’Connor is so compelling, so sarcastic, so honest. There is a recording of her reading one of her stories (you can Google it) and her breathless, accented race through fierce prose is hilarious and terrifying. There is something dark in all of us, and O’Connor makes sure we don’t forget it.

15. The Black Velvet Gown by Catherine Cookson

The writing is good but not noteworthy, but the story is a wonderful triumph of a girl in poverty rising above – just as all Cookson’s stories are. She is an escape into a world where anything is possible, if you don’t give up and don’t let those rotten rich boys who grab at you get you down.

About Cecily Wolfe

Ceci Wolfe writes whatever her characters tell her to write. A Harvest of Stars is realistic, literary fiction about two teens dealing with abuse in a small Kentucky town. Throne of Grace is a historical inspirational romance set in beautiful turn of the century Newport, Rhode Island. Her stories have been published in the Rubbertop Review, Pilgrimage Press, Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, Rose Red Review, and Persephone's Daughters (forthcoming).

She shares a Pinterest page with her sisters Alys and Katy at pinterest/alyswolfe and has book-specific playlists on Spotify as ceciwolfe.

She is currently working on the sequel to A Harvest of Stars (Starlight) and a contemporary re-telling of a Henry James classic.

Friday Fifteen: Kelley Rose Waller

Today I'd like to introduce author Kelley Rose Waller. I recently reviewed her debut novel over at Suspense Sisters Reviews (click here to read my review), and was impressed and a little frightened by her vision of a future dystopian USA.

Welcome, Kelley!

1. Everything by Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers is the master. Everything she's written would be on my list. And the Shofar Blew would rank as my personal #1. But I could never discount The Scarlet Thread, Redeeming Love, The Atonement Child, The Mark of the Lion series, The Lineage of Grace series, and all the rest. Moving, captivating, romantic, inspired.

I have to agree!

2. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

I don't know how anyone could read this series and not list it among their favorites. It's the most riveting series I've ever read, hands-down. I am personal friends with all of the characters because they are 100% real.

You'd get on well with my teenage daughter ... who is currently watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

This masterpiece is revolutionary. Dagny Taggart is completely brilliant.

4. On Writing by Stephen King

Aside from being slightly pretentious about how much all aspiring authors must read and write (the rest of us still have full-time jobs and families, Mr. King!), this is a must-read for anyone who wants to write. Also, it's heart-warming and hilarious.

Yes, but I did find his quotes from his own work scary enough that I don't actually want to read the full novels!

5. Everything by Sandra Boynton

I'm a mother of three young boys, and some children's books make me cringe. But Sandra Boynton is hilarious, fresh, rhythmic, and charming. Each one of her stories is a national treasure. I have The Going To Bed Book and Barnyard Dance memorized and recite them when my kids are ancy.

6. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

This series is fabulous, the characters are great, and the world is incredibly rich and immersive. Katniss is one of the inspirations behind Brenna, the protagonist in my novel The Senator's Youngest Daughter.

7. Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich

A crime/political thriller with a strong, female protagonist who's stronger and more capable than she thinks. Mary Grant's journey also contributed to my character Brenna.

8. Masquerade by Gayle Lynds

A groundbreaking work that's still hugely relevant. The worldwide scope is enormous. Lots of twists!

9. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

You can't read this book without getting misty, and if you're reading it to your children, you'll probably cry. Stunning. Unlike anything I've ever read.

One of my favourites as well. 

10. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

This was a unique read, and it makes my list for the simple, beautiful fact that Ms. King makes something new and awesome from something old and awesome. (Here, a young woman apprentices with an aging Sherlock Holmes.)

11. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis

Amazing and inspired. My personal favorite is The Magician's Nephew, watching Aslan speak Narnia into existence.

12. Everything by Janette Oke and Gilbert Morris

If my church library kept the old 3 x 5 cards from their book pockets, there would be a shoebox full of cards from Janette Oke and Gilbert Morris books with my junior-high handwritten name on every other line.

Pretty sure this one is cheating ... but I can't disagree with you.

13. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

This is my only non-fiction choice. I often find non-fiction books to be preachy, but this one invited me in and let me choose to change my own perspective.

If you enjoyed this, you need to read Made Well by Jenny Simmons. 

14. The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

Don't laugh that a cookbook is on my list! Ree knows how to tell a story. She shares very short but transformational glimpses into her farm and country life that connected with me as a wife and mother. As an added bonus, the recipes are oh-so-delicious.

15. Myst series by David Wingrove with Rand and Robyn Miller

I am a proud nerd, and this is a book series based on a video game. Frankly, the game was awesome and so is the series. Compelling and epic. This concept particularly connects with me as an author, because the concept is a race of beings who can write entire worlds into existence and then travel into their books.

This sounds fascinating! Thanks for visiting, Kelly. 

About Kelley Rose Waller

Kelley writes fiction to imagine new life experiences. Her debut novel, The Senator's Youngest Daughter, was released on October 1, 2016. This conservative political thriller pits a young woman and her family against a media tycoon backed by the president of a very different United States.

Kelley's day job as a marketing strategist offers her the opportunity to write and plan for clients in diverse fields. Kelley and her husband are Pennsylvania foster parents. Kelley lives and writes to uplift and glorify the name of Jesus Christ.

Kelley is a ridiculous fan of science fiction and board games. She has a B.A. in English and lives in Lancaster, PA, with her husband, three sons, and their dog.

Friday Fifteen: Kimberly Rose Johnson

Today I'd like to welcome Kimberly Rose Johnson to Iola's Christian Reads. Kimberly is here to celebrate the release of her latest novel, A Christmas Homecoming (and isn't that cover gorgeous!). Welcome, Kimberly!

Fifteen Authors Who Have Influenced Me from Kimberly Rose Johnson

1. Debbie Macomber

Her sweet romance stories and her success inspire me to work harder.

2. Sandra D. Bricker

I love the humor in her books. I never considered adding humor to my stories until I was an influencer for her years ago and discovered I love romantic comedy.

3. Colleen Coble

Not only does Colleen write fantastic romantic suspense, she is a great teacher. The first class I ever took at an ACFW conference was taught by her.

4. DiAnn Mills

She writes romantic suspense, which I love, but I also enjoy her no-nonsense blog posts for writers.

5. Lynette Eason

The pacing of her books is fast and is a great example of excellent romantic suspense. I used to aspire to be a romantic suspense writer, so I sought out exceptional romantic suspense.

6. Dee Henderson

I love her books. She hooked me with her O’Malley series before I ever thought about writing. Her writing style influenced me the most in my early years of writing.

7. Margaret Daley

I aspire to be like Margaret when it comes to writing. She writes both sweet romance and romantic suspense.

8. Susan Sleeman

I first discovered Susan when she was looking for influencers. I was not yet published. Since that time I’ve watched how she interacts with her influencer group and tried to learn from her example.

9. Jordyn Redwood

I simply enjoy reading her books.

10. Melissa Tagg

I discovered Melissa when she put out a notice on Twitter that she was looking for influencers. I love her books and have learned from her regarding influencer groups AKA street teams.

11. Rachel Hauck

Rachel’s books grab me and hold me. I’ve taken a couple of her classes at conferences and they are always excellent.

12. Melody Carlson

I’ve been reading Melody’s books long before I ever thought of writing. Next to Dee Henderson, I’d say she has been one of the biggest influences on my writing. I also took a class at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference many years ago and found it to be very helpful.

13. Denise Hunter

Aside from enjoying her books, I enjoy watching how she communicates with her fans. I try to learn from observing other writers.

14. Irene Hannon

I own a lot of books by Irene. It’s my belief that we are influenced by what we read, so I included her in my list.

15. Miralee Ferrell

She may not appear to fit with the list above as she doesn’t write in the genre I read, however, I first met Miralee ten years ago, and she has been my writing mentor and critique partner ever since. Of any writer out there, she has probably influenced my writing the most when it comes to writing technique.

About Kimberly Rose Johnson

Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest, USA. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing.

She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2autVLe
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2b1Obp6
Website: www.kimberlyrjohnson.com

Friday Fifteen: Heather Blanton

Today I'd like to welcome Heather Blanton to Iola's Christian Reads. I reviewed A Lady in Defiance, her debut novel, last month at Reality Calling, and am delighted to announce Radiqx Press have awarded Heather with a Redemptive Fiction Award of Excellence:

Now Heather's newest book in the series has recently released—A Promise in Defiance.

Now she's going to share some of her favourite novels with us. Welcome, Heather!

Heather Blanton's Friday 15

1. Red Bird by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The first Christian fiction book I read that showed me the right story CAN carry real spiritual truth. The heroine finally gives her dreams up for what God wants for her and she finds true joy in that!

2. The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser

Just a little gothic suspense story that carried me back in time during some cold, winter days in high school. I’ve read it many times since!

3. The Masque of the Red Death 

Poe’s most masterful use of nearly all the senses. A truly visceral story. You hear it. You smell it. You see it. Dang he was good.

4. The Dead Zone by Stephen King 

King has a conversational style in his writing that sets him apart. You forget you’re reading.

5.It by Stephen King

Then he writes something stupid like It. I pray to God I never write a book with such a catastrophically disappointing ending.

6. Ride the River by Louis L’Amour

The consummate Western author. He has transported me back to the Wild West more times than I can recall, but this story about Echo Sackett is my favorite.

7. The Virginian by Owen Wister

Speaking of Westerns, Owen Wister wrote this gem. While it has a few oddball curves in it, like stepping out of the story to address capital punishment, that gunfight at the end left me breathless. It is awesome. For anyone who loves the West, you’ll “get” every sentence.

8. Shane by Jack Schaefer

A slow-burn of a book built on tension and told through the eyes of a young boy. A stunning POV full of subtle nuances, but the themes of honor, courage, and self-determination tower!I read it in high school and it has always stayed with me.

9. The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

I’m from Western North Carolina and I felt like I was walking through the Mt. Laurel along with Cadi and suffering her guilt right along with her. Masterful internal dialogue.

10. Several of the poems by Tennyson 

A masterful poet, I had only read him when I had to take an English class a few years back. And it was like, “Wow, look what I’ve been missing?” Studying poetry gives one the chance to look at the power of words in a micro scale. Sentences, sometimes mere phrases, carry a wollop.

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,

Tears from the depth of some divine despair

Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,

In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,

And thinking of the days that are no more.

11. The Art of Being Unmistakable: A Collection of Essays About Making a Dent in the World by Srinivas Rao 

Rao was tied up in a world of expectations and none of them were his own. These essays tell how he broke free. For me, this secular book got me to quit looking at what the Christian publishing world expects and write what God gives me!

12. A Time for Christmas by Heather Blanton

Speaking of breaking free from toxic expectations, I should list In Time for Christmas by me! I wrote this story in high school, finally decided to re-write it and publish it in 2014. A time travel romance based on a particular scripture, it’s out of the box and out of my genre, but it paid for Christmas one year. So the moral is sometimes, you’ve just got to follow your heart.

13. Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

A story of three sisters looking for a murderer on a Montana ranch. I read this back in ’96 when my sister Susan was alive. After she passed away, this is the book that gave me the idea to write about three sisters facing challenges in a rowdy mining town.

14. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The first book I remember reading that really brought home the nobility of sacrifice, outside of what Jesus did. A mere man, not a god, who laid down his life for his friends and his country. A beautiful story.

15. The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trottier

I could list a hundred books on the craft of writing, but this one by David Trottier was so concise, so clearly and simply written, it opened up plotting for me like no other. I used to write by the seat of my pants, but something about this book helped me SEE my stories, start to finish. I write so much faster now!

About Heather Blanton

A former journalist, Heather is an avid researcher and skillfully weaves truth in among fictional story lines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw's note in her hand. You can learn more about her and her work at https://ladiesindefiance.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/heatherfreyblanton.

Sign up for Heather’s email newsletter to receive the latest book release updates, as well as info about contests and giveaways (https://ladiesindefiance.com/).

Heather is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the Romance in the Rockies series, which has sold over 40,000 copies. Intrigued by the concept of three good sisters stranded in a lawless Colorado mining town, a few notable Hollywood producers have requested the script for her first book in that series, A Lady in Defiance. Heather’s writing is gritty and realistic. In fact, her books have been compared to AMC’s Hell on Wheels series, as well as the legendary Francine Rivers book, Redeeming Love.

She writes Westerns because she grew up on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne movies. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her father, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester!

She can be reached several different ways:

http://ladiesindefiance.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorheatherblanton
https://twitter.com/heatherfblanton
https://www.pinterest.com/heatherfblanton/

Friday Fifteen: April Geremia

Today I'd like to welcome authors April Geremia to Iola's Christian Reads. Aprilis the author of the Souls of the Sea series, and is here today to share her own favourite authors. Welcome, April!

April's Friday Fifteen

1. Beverly Cleary. 

When I was a child, I ducked into the school library every chance I got to read about the adventures of Ramona and gang. I can still remember sitting between the shelves, praying that I would get through another chapter before the bell rang.

2. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

I have given this book to more people than I can count. It’s brilliant in that it uses the novel format to expose the persecution that Chinese Christians go through just to worship God. This book caused me to see so many things in a different light.

3. This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti

I read these two books shortly after I became a Christian, and they continue to shape my worldview.

4. Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

This trilogy was literally impossible to put down once I started reading it. I loved the emotions the story triggered and how the main character grew in faith and strength.

5. A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis

This is one of the most honest, unflinching books I’ve ever read. Reading about C.S. Lewis’ battle with faith after his wife’s death help get me through some of my own very tough times.

6. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I read this book when I was a new Christian, and although it was unsettling to me at first, I also believe it helped me mature in faith more quickly than I would have otherwise.

7. Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams

Although this isn’t a Christian novel, it’s the book that started me on my journey of writing. I’ve wanted to write since I was ten-years-old and this book finally made me believe I could take all my bottled up feelings, put them on a page, and create a story that would touch other people’s lives. The artful use of language in this book is spellbinding.

8. When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

Because who doesn’t love a book about a cardiac surgeon and a little girl with heart disease who heal each other? With God’s help, of course. This is one of those books I never wanted to end.

9. In God’s Underground by Richard Wurmbrand

Mr. Wormbrand was imprisoned for his faith for 14 years in Romania, and this the story of how his faith endured in the most challenging of circumstances. I copied the poem he wrote to Jesus in this book in the front of my Bible as a reminder of what it truly means to love Him.

10. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Yes, it’s another C.S. Lewis book, but so different than the other one! Screwtape and Wormwood are perfect examples of how the enemy attempts to distract us and lead us down the wrong path.

11. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

This book affected me so much I’ve never been able to get it out of my head. I won’t spoil the ending in case some readers haven’t read it, but the message is so stark and on point. I truly believe this book could change the world if more people read it.

12. While We’re Far Apart by Lynn Austin

I loved this book for two reasons. First, it was so emotional—and I definitely love a good cry when reading. But I also loved the message—just because God is silent, that doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us.

13. The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

This author truly puts her heart on the page, and this book left me with a longing that is difficult to describe. It’s a beautiful story, and I loved to watch the characters grow as the story progressed.

14. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

I mean, really, how could I leave this book off the list? A beautiful story of how God can redeem even those who run from Him. I love this book.

15. Jimmy by Robert Whitlow

This book is a little different than the author’s usual stuff—it’s quieter, more thoughtful, and highly emotional. He uses understatement and practicality to draw out your emotions. It’s difficult to explain, but this is another book that’s still on my mind years after reading it.

About April Geremia
April Geremia has made her living as a professional writer for 20 years, and has recently turned her attention toward her true love--fiction. She loves God, her family and friends, the sea, mysteries, and stories of people battling impossible situations. The books in this series, Souls of the Sea, all have those elements in common.

When she's not writing, you'll find her coaxing vegetables out of the ground, playing with her chickens, or whipping up a simple gourmet meal in her tiny house by the sea. Her favorite part of any day is connecting with her readers.

You can connect with April at:

Website: aprilgeremia.com
Twitter: @april_geremia
Facebook: facebook.com/april.geremia

A Fragrance of Surrender

What would cause a woman to stand on the edge of a cliff deciding whether to slip over it or to live another day?

How bad would it have to be?

And what if she couldn't turn to God because she believes He's the root of all her problems?
Set among the fragrant sweet smell of ripening orange tree blossoms, this emotional story is about a woman who battles God for the right to determine how things should be. Gabriella's life has been filled with tragedy, including the mystery of why her own parents disappeared one night, leaving her alone at a tender young age. Soon after her husband dies, she and her son move to her childhood home--a house on a cliff by the sea in a village time has left behind. It's there that she and some local villagers begin the process of bringing her parent's old orange grove back to life.

As Gabriella begins to put together the pieces of why her parents abandoned her, she soon learns they were victims of powerful forces that threatened to tear apart the quiet little village by the sea. And that knowledge, along with all the other losses she's experienced, causes Gabriella to view God with great suspicion and fear. So when her young son experiences a dramatic conversion and begins to serve Him, an all-out battle ensues.

During this time, Gabriella often feels called to the edge of the cliff, torn between letting herself slip over it and ending the pain, or fighting for a happiness she's not even sure exists. Will Gabriella continue to do battle with God? Or will she come to have faith in the God she blames for all the tragedies she's suffered?

And what role will her young son play in her decision?

You can read the introduction to A Fragrance of Surrender here: