Review: If You Follow Me

If You Follow Me
By Pam Rhodes
The Dunbridge Chronicles, #3
Lion Fiction, 2014


Summary

In the parish of Dunbridge, the news is out--Claire and Neil are engaged! And yet, almost before the celebrations have begun, Ben, the father of Claire's son, appears back on the scene--keen to pick up where he and Claire left off.

As Neil reels in the face of Claire's confusion, Wendy always seems to be there to provide support and comfort. Little does he know of Wendy's involvement in Ben's reappearance . . .

However, Neil has little chance to ponder his love life as the whole weight of running the church and parish descends upon his inexperienced shoulders. His mother, Iris, who has never hesitated to share her opinions, has just moved to be near him and Neil's time as a curate in Dunbridge is coming swiftly to an end. Where should he go next, and just who will go with him?


My thoughts

I greatly enjoy British fiction with small-village settings populated by quirky characters, and I found If You Follow Me by Pam Rhodes a delightful read. I chose to read this book, knowing that it was contemporary fiction with a religious backdrop rather than Christian fiction, and that any theology contained would be similar to that of mainline churches and therefore somewhat more liberal than I'm used to, and that's okay for a novel. I read it from the standpoint of enjoying the village setting, quirky characters, and plot - and was pleasantly surprised by its moving spiritual beauty.

If You Follow Me, book #3 of the Dunbridge Chronicles, is set in the small, picturesque town of Dunbridge and the St. Stephens church where the young Neil Fisher takes up his first curacy. Reading the previous two books would have given me a greater familiarity with the cast, but I had no problem reading this as a standalone, although I definitely plan to complete the series.

Neil is a sensitive and compassionate leader who struggles with handling the responsibilities of St. Stephens while still in training. I wasn't sure what to think about his engagement to a non-believer, but I found Claire appealing and came to appreciate the qualities she and Neil had in common, as well as the way she supported his ministry. I can't help but believe that if there were more books in this series, we would see Claire grow spiritually.

As with similar stories to this, one of the strengths lies in the eclectic mix of characters, and Pam did a masterful job at depicting life in a small English parish. There's a sense of unity and belonging, conveyed through humanness, wit, and poignancy. Some situations are really humorous, such as a wedding scene where Neil officiates, while others are touching, like little Rosie seeing an angel during a fire.

But it was the story of Blanche and Ernie that I found especially moving. Married sixty-three years, they had learned to laugh together through life's hard times. I'd like to end with Neil's descriptive words about this lovely couple:  "They saw the positive in every experience, the best in each other, the best in the people they met, and God in everything around them. And one of the most wonderful of their many blessings was their love of laughter. They laughed at and with each other every day of their lives."

Pam Rhodes certainly has her finger on the pulse of village and church life, characterization, and the use of hymnody. Even if this series ends, I hope Pam will write more stories of a similar nature. I recommend If You Follow Me to all who enjoy cozy fiction.

Pam Rhodes

        Pam Rhodes cut her teeth in news journalism, firstly as Programme Organiser on Thames Television's network documentary series, This Week, then as the anchor for Anglia Television live daily evening news programme for seven years. She's featured on a very wide range of television and radio programmes ever since, but since 1987, has been best known as the familiar face of BBC Television's Songs of Praise. In that time she has interviewed people ranging from The Pope to Dolly Parton, earning herself a reputation as a highly professional and empathetic interviewer, especially when people are speaking about sensitive, perhaps traumatic experiences.
        Also, Songs of Praise is the perfect programme for a presenter who truly loves hymns, old and new. If you mention almost any hymn you can think of to Pam, she's likely to come back with the full story of who wrote it and why, as well as giving you renditions of a couple of tunes to which it can be sung - as you'd know if you've ever dipped into any of her weekly radio programmes With Hearts and Hymns, which have featured on Premier Christian Radio for a decade!

Meet Pam online at pamrhodes.co.uk and Facebook.

Thank you to Kregel Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Quilted by Christmas

Quilted by Christmas
By Jodie Bailey
Quilts of Love Series
Abingdon, 2014


Summary

A grandmother's last wish is to communicate God's love through an Irish chain quilt.

Taryn McKenna believes she's easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree---something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.

When Taryn's grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project---an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?


My thoughts

I am so glad to have discovered the writing of Jodie Bailey because I loved everything about her newest book, Quilted by Christmas, and believe all who read it will be blessed. While I've enjoyed every book I've read in the Quilts of Love series, some stand out for various reasons, and Quilted by Christmas falls into that category for me. With its character-driven narrative, small-town setting, engaging characters, emotional romance and plot, this is a story that pulls at the heartstrings.

Each book in this series stands alone, with the making of quilts with special meaning being the unifying theme. The quilt in this story is the Irish chain, a long-standing tradition in the McKenna family as mothers make hand-sewn quilts for their children when they marry.

Quilted by Christmas opens as the small town of Hollings, nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, is preparing for Christmas. I've spent many family vacations in these mountains and appreciated the sense of place that Jodie vividly conveyed. And there's a realness in the characters, flaws and all - or maybe because of their flaws. Hurt by her father's uncaring attitude while growing up and made to feel she didn't matter, the 18-year-old Taryn searched for something to fill that void and latched on to Justin, even to the point of trying to manipulate him out of neediness into staying in Hollings. In Marnie's words, "Justin was your addiction and you were always afraid he'd vanish." And the result was that she kept a secret that she shouldn't have, a secret that wasn't hers to keep.

Now more than a decade later, Justin returns to Hollings in the opening pages and Taryn is faced with the guilt of a past that is no longer hidden. Jemma, Taryn's grandmother, is at the heart of this story and quickly captured my heart. Jemma is feisty, a force to be reckoned with, and she "could pretty much get anything she wanted with a well-pointed stare." And with her loving nature, a servant's heart, and a fierce protectiveness, she reminds me of my own grandmother.

____________________

"Love isn't something you earn. It's not something you

have to be good enough for. Real love is freely given,

not taken away because you trip and fall."

____________________

One of the story's themes is about doing the right thing, even when the reasons are wrong or misguided. Spiritual elements are strong and feel like a natural part of the characters' lives, such as Taryn's crisis of faith where she comes to understand the heart of a truly loving Father.

I highly recommend Quilted by Christmas and hope many readers discover Jodie Bailey's writing. Jodie is a writer of quality and I would love to see more family relationship stories from her with the same Blue Ridge Mountain setting.

Quilted by Christmas can be purchased online at CBD, DeeperShopping, Amazon, and B&N.

Jodie Bailey

Jodie Bailey is Tarheel born and bred. After 15 years as a military spouse, she settled with her family back in North Carolina. She is the author of the military suspense novel Freefall and is a contributor to a devotional for military families, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home. While not working on her next novel, she teaches middle-schoolers to love writing as much as she does.

Connect with Jodie online at jodiebailey.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also visit the Litfuse blog tour page.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: Sarah E. Ladd

Sarah E. Ladd's Whispers on the Moors series is a delightful find for Regency fans, one that I greatly enjoyed and am glad to recommend. Click on the title of book #3, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, to see my review. Enjoy Sarah's interview and enter to win a copy of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, graciously provided by Litfuse Publicity.

An Interview with Sarah E. Ladd,

Author of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

When the noose of your secrets begins to tighten, it can cut off any hope for freedom and love in the future. Letting the light of truth sever your unhealthy tie to the past is a major theme of award-winning author Sarah E. Ladd’s book A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, the third and final installment in the Whispers on the Moors series. Set in Great Britain’s Regency era, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall perfectly conveys the romantic sensibilities of that time.

Q: A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third book in the Whispers on the Moors series set during the Regency period. What years are considered to be Regency, and what were some of the historical events that took place during the time period? 

The Regency era took place in England from 1811 to 1820. It was called that because when King George III was deemed unfit for the throne, his son, the Price of Wales, ruled in his stead as the Prince Regent. England was engaged in the Napoleonic War against France, and they were also at war with the American colonies in the War of 1812. The Industrial Age was in full swing, and the Romantic Movement was shaping the literature, art and music of the day.

Q: What about the Regency period interested you most and made you want to write about it? 

        I have always been a fan of Romantic British literature and enjoy the Romantic Movement in general, which, again, fell during the Regency era. I have read the literature and the poetry of this time period extensively, and those works had a profound influence on me. If I had to pick one favorite author, I would have to choose Charlotte Brontë, although Jane Austen is a very close second.

        Change — socially, politically and economically — was rampant during the Regency period. It was also a time where the great excesses of the wealthy class sharply contrasted against the rioting and social upheaval among the poor. All in all, it was a setting ripe with opportunities for compelling story-telling!

Q: Both of your main characters struggle with secrets from their pasts. Why do you think people try to hide from their past mistakes when most of the time, freedom is found in living in truth? 

In this book, the characters kept secrets out of fear. They were well aware of the potential repercussions if their secrets were ever exposed, so they went to great lengths to hide them. While they thought they were protecting themselves, they were actually creating their own prisons. I think this is one of the big reasons people keep secrets from those they love — they are afraid of how others will respond. In order to connect with others, though, you must be willing to be vulnerable and give others the opportunity to look beyond your past.

Q: Your heroine, Cecily, is thrust from her home by her father because of a childish, albeit rebellious, act. What advice do you have for those who are dealing with rejection? 

Rejection is very painful, and that pain can leave lifelong scars. Sometimes rejection can come as a result of a specific action, and other times there is no reason. If we look to others to find our value or purpose in life, we will be disappointed. People will let us down, but if we look to God to find value and worth, we can find rest and acceptance.

Q: Feeling dismissed by her earthly father taints the way Cecily imagines God’s response to her bad decision. How is this true of all of us? 

Children are undoubtedly shaped by their relationship with their parents. They look to their mother and father for acceptance and guidance, so when a parent rejects them, they could fear no one could possibly accept them. For Cecily, this was definitely the case, and she felt so tarnished she didn’t think God could love her. All of us experience rejection at some point in our lives, and what is important to remember is God will not turn his back on his children.

Q: What do you hope readers learn from A Lady at Willowgrove Hall about God’s love and redemption? 

Even though someone’s past may be shameful or full of secrets, there is hope. God can take the darkest pasts and turn them into bright futures. No one is so terrible they cannot find redemption in God’s love and grace.

Q: Readers have fallen in love with your Whispers on the Moors series. Will there be a fourth book? Is there anything you can tell us about what might come next?

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the final book in the Whispers on the Moors series, but I am happy to say I am hard at work on another series titled Treasures of Surrey, which will be published by Thomas Nelson. The first book, The Curiosity Keeper, will release the summer of 2015.

Keep up with Sarah E. Ladd by visiting her website at sarahladd.com, becoming her fan on Facebook, or following her on Twitter.

____________________

GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing for A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, simply answer the following question:

What do you enjoy most about fall?

E-mail addresses are required for the drawing and be sure to leave them in a safe format - [at] and [dot]. If you're willing, it's also helpful to share about this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Please "like" my Facebook page, ThePowerofWordsBookReviews, if you haven't already. And new followers of this blog are always welcome!

• E-mail required, one entry per person. Odds of winning are based on number of entries.
• Contest ends at midnight PST on Thursday, November 20. No purchase necessary.
• Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail. Respond within 48 hours of notification or another winner will be chosen.

Review: Hidden

Hidden
By Vannetta Chapman
Jacobs Family, #1
2014


Summary

Home is where our story begins . . .

Dana Jacobs would rather forget the night of tragedy and violence that marred her childhood. She is now supervisor in charge of the Department of Homeland Security in Taos, New Mexico. Her team is prepared to handle any threat—biological, chemical, conventional, cyber, even nuclear. Benjamin Marshall is newly assigned to Dana’s office. Straight from a six year military deployment, he is not what Dana wants or needs.

Ben knows God has a reason for putting him in this place at this time—to help Dana. When a local school is threatened, they open a case which leads them on a chase through the Enchanted Circle and Carson National Forest, pursuing a man filled with a bitterness Dana can understand. But her anger is different. It’s justified, it remains hidden inside, and it hurts no one.

Can Dana face her own mortality? And when she does, can she truly understand what it means to forgive and to be forgiven?


My thoughts

Have you ever picked up a book where the characters, steadily developing romance, plot, and setting all came together in such a way that you wanted to prolong the reading experience? That perfectly describes the way I felt about Vannetta Chapman's first romantic suspense novel, Hidden. I have long enjoyed Vannetta's Amish stories, and I'm not much of a suspense fan - so I literally found myself asking, Who are you, Vannetta Chapman, that you can write in such contrasting styles and effortlessly capture my emotions?

I simply think the quality of Vannetta's prose transcends the genre in which she is writing. Top-notch suspense and romance are strong elements, but it was the characterization, gentle humor, and sense of place that kept me engaged. There's good character depth - but more than that, it's like Vannetta really knows and is comfortable with her cast of characters and is able to convey that realism to the reader. Taos, New Mexico, is a fascinating setting and Vannetta did a great job bringing out the local flavor, culture, and natural beauty. Be sure to check out Vannetta's Pinterest board for Hidden.

Carson National Forest, Taos

Dana and Ben are strong, appealing lead characters. Tough, smart, and extremely capable, Dana has risen to the top of her field as a local director of Homeland Security. Ben is all that a hero should be - brave, protective, and faithful, a former military leader who took the Homeland Security job "to keep American towns from being torn apart like the ones in Iraq had been." And while Dana lives with a painful past, disillusioned with God, Ben is comfortable in a faith that strengthens and sustains him.

One of the most moving characters is the elderly Apache, Tafoya, a man who honors the way of his people, but has embraced Christ . . . "This is what gives me peace, knowing I will be united with my son and even my wife who went before him. This is why I can work each day and do so with the strength of the hawk and the peace of the deer."

The spiritual themes woven throughout really brought everything home for me. Ben firmly believes that God guides his steps and that he has been placed on Dana’s team for a reason. Another thought is that God's plans are not the same as ours - something I know, yet always need gentle reminders. But it was Ben's words to Dana that especially spoke to me:  "Sometimes we can accept God did the tremendous things - like create those stars you're staring at. Then we try to believe He can heal a fawn, or a person, and we stumble. Our belief falters."

Hidden is an impressive story on many levels, one that will be on my "best of" list for 2014 because of how much I enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

Hidden is independently published, but don't let that discourage you from picking it up, because this story stands out in comparison to much that is traditionally published. Hidden can be purchased online at Amazon and B&N for the very reasonable ebook price of $3.99.

Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. She writes Amish mysteries for Zondervan, Amish romances for Harvest House and Amish novellas for Harper Collins Christian Publishing. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. Hidden is her first inspirational romantic suspense. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband, pets and a herd of deer.

Connect with Vannetta online at vannettachapman.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Thank you to Vannetta Chapman for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Bride Ship

The Bride Ship
By Regina Scott
Frontier Bachelors #1
Love Inspired Historical, 2014


Summary

What was his brother's widow-his first love-doing on a ship full of prospective brides headed out West? Clay Howard had been tasked with escorting the Boston belle home, but he didn't anticipate Allegra being so strong-willed-or that he'd wind up traveling with her just to keep her from leaving without him!

Allegra Banks Howard isn't going to let Clay interfere with her plans for a new life with her daughter on the frontier. True, Allegra needs his wilderness savvy, but if Clay thinks he can rekindle what they once shared, he had better think again. Because risking her heart for a second chance at being his bride isn't something she'll undertake lightly . . .


My thoughts

I've always enjoyed Regina Scott's Regencies and wasn't sure about the direction of this new series, but it turns out that I had nothing to worry about! Regina's love for history shines through her writing as she sets this story against the backdrop of a fascinating event that I hadn't heard of - the Mercer expeditions to Seattle. Class distinction, prejudice, suspense, greed and deceit are all present. Rich with historical detail, appealing characters, and interesting plot, The Bride Ship quickly captured and held my interest.

The story begins in New York Harbor, 1866, as the widowed Allie and her four-year-old daughter, Gillian, along with many other ladies, set sail for Seattle. Realizing that a life of comfort and luxury came with the intolerable controlling restrictions of her mother-in-law, Allie joins the other Mercer's Belles bound for what they had been led to believe was a land of promise and opportunity. Clay, who Allie had loved at one time, lived with past decisions that he couldn't forget. Allie struggles with Clay's helpfulness because she sees him as " a specter of her past, a barrier to her future." I admired Allie's strength and determination, and the way Clay's initial attitude toward Allie changed as he came to understand her motives.  Clay and Allie are very appealing characters, as are the secondary characters of Maddie and Catherine.

Galapagos - a day's excursion for Clay, Allie & Gillian

The characters are nicely fleshed out, and Regina does a great job at helping the reader visualize what this three-month voyage might have been like, along with stops at places like Rio de Janeiro, the Galapagos, and San Francisco. One of my favorite parts were the scenes where Clay met with the ladies on the hurricane deck and described the unwelcome realities they would face in Seattle.  Yet this rugged, untamed land had a natural beauty, described in Clay's words . . . "Imagine a narrow plain crossed by streams, fertile, forested, the air scented with the resin of fir, fish leaping out of streams and into your nets. Behind it rises the highest mountains in the country, deer grazing their sides, the rocky tops brushing the sky, white even in the summer. And at its front stretch miles of blue-green waters where whales and porpoises play."

Clay and Allie had a committed faith and a close relationship to God, evidenced in the way they sought His direction and that prayer was as natural as breathing to them. The Bride Ship is a great beginning to the Frontier Bachelors series and I will definitely read other stories from Regina as they are published. 5-star rating, based on the Love Inspired line.

The Bride Ship can be purchased at CBD, DeeperShopping, Amazon, and B&N.

Regina Scott

        Regina Scott and her husband are the parents of two sons. They reside in southeast Washington State and are members of the Church of the Nazarene. Born and raised in the Seattle area, Regina Scott is a graduate of the University of Washington. She comes by her writing talent naturally--both her parents were excellent writers in their vocations as teacher and electrical technician. Her mother envisioned the plot for Sweeter Than Candy, the novella which was written as a tribute to her.
        Regina Scott is a devout Christian and a decent fencer; owns a historical, fantasy, and science fiction costume collection that currently takes up over a third of her large closet; and has been known to impersonate an independent consultant specializing in risk communication.

Connect with Regina online at reginascott.com, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Thank you to Regina Scott for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.