Book Recommendation - Snowy Summer by Patricia Weerakoon

Book Description:

Annie Samarasinghe has it all together.

Beautiful and brilliant, she has a medical career in Sydney and a fiancé in Sri Lanka.

But on the week of her wedding to childhood-sweetheart Sunil, Annie uncovers the shattering truth behind the façade of his business.

Forced to hide out in the Snowy Mountains, Annie changes her name and her story. When she meets the brusque and arrogant Roy Broughton-Knight, she discovers she’s not the only one hiding secrets. But the more she gets to know Roy, the closer Sunil comes to finding her.

Against the stunning backdrops of Sri Lanka and the Snowy Mountains, Annie and Roy learn to face the betrayals in their pasts and fight their fears. But how will they embrace the possibilities of a future?

Narelle's Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Snowy Summer, and I loved the cross-cultural aspects of the story. The story opens in the sleepy Snowy Mountains town of Jindabyne, Australia, where Annie meets Roy at a masquerade party.

Annie is attracted to Roy, despite being betrothed in an arranged marriage to Sunil. Sunil is her childhood best friend in Sri Lanka who she hasn't seen for many years. We journey with Annie back to her home country, and experience her angst when her dream of a life married to Sunil in Sri Lanka is shattered.

Annie's world is turned upside down and her life is in danger. She escapes Sri Lanka and returns to Australia to start over as Dr. Sheva, the new doctor at a small Jindabyne medical centre.

Roy is a carefree playboy from Sydney, Australia, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He's now hiding from the world on his family's alpaca farm near Jindabyne, and he has a few secrets of his own. The women in his life have let him down. He's slow to trust and wary of love.

Roy meets Sheva at the medical centre, and she reminds him of Annie. He can't forget Annie and their chance encounter at the masquerade party. He's attracted to Sheva, but he's respectful of her cultural background and her faith that underpins her desire to wait for marriage. Sheva's close friendship with the park ranger, Dan, ignites Roy's jealousy and curiosity about Sheva's past.

Snowy Summer is an action-packed contemporary Christian romantic adventure story with medical themes. It's a more edgy read than the typical Christian romance, and possibly too edgy for more conservative readers.

Annie has trained as a surgeon, and she thinks about the human body in a more clinical way than the average person. Anatomical terminology that's not usually mentioned in Christian romances is included the story.

The author is a retired Sexologist. She portrays the attraction between Sheva and Roy, and their thoughts about each other, in a realistic rather than euphemistic manner. There are situations in the story that definitely push the Christian romance genre boundaries.

I recommend Snowy Summer to romance readers who appreciate cultural diversity and are looking for a contemporary Christian romance that deals with real life issues. The blend of Aussie and Sri Lankan culture, and the stunning settings, was a highlight for me. I enjoyed visiting familiar places in Australia and learning more about Sri Lanka.

In April I attended Patricia's book launch for Snowy Summer at the visitor centre in Jindabyne. It was fun to visit the real life setting and hear more about the evolution of the story. Snowy Summer was the contemporary Christian romance manuscript that won our ACW opening chapter contest a few years ago. It was great to see the story published and read the final version.

Book Recommendation - Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

Book Description:

RITA Award 2018 Winner - Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

Paige McAllister needs to do something drastic. Her boyfriend can’t even commit to living in the same country, her promised promotion is dead on arrival and the simultaneous loss of her brother and her dream of being a concert violinist has kept her playing life safe and predictable for six years. Things need to change. A moment of temporary insanity finds her leaving her life in Chicago to move to Sydney, Australia. There she finds herself, against many of her convictions, as a logistics planner for one of Australia’s biggest churches, and on a collision course with her boss’s son.

Josh Tyler fronts a top-selling worship band and is in demand all over the world. But, in the past, his failed romantic relationships almost destroyed both his reputation and his family. He's determined to never risk it happening again. The last thing he needs is some American girl tipping his ordered life upside down. Especially one who despises everything he’s ever worked for and manages to push every button he has.

When Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his band’s next tour, the sparks fly. But can they find a way to bridge the differences that pull them apart? Or will they choose the safety and security of what they know over taking a chance on something that will require them to risk everything?

Narelle's Thoughts:

I finished reading Then There Was You with a smile on my face after shedding a few tears toward the end of the story. We first meet Paige McAllister in Chicago at her nineteen year old sister's wedding. Paige's absent and commitment phobic long term boyfriend shows up late to the wedding and she takes the bold step of breaking up with him. She impulsively declares that she's moving to Australia and staying in Sydney with her cousin, Kat.

Josh Tyler is the lead guitarist and singer in an internationally successful Sydney megachurch worship band. His parents are the founding church pastors and the media delight in giving his family bad publicity by creating fake news. Josh is aloof and wary of strangers, especially women. He's over thirty, living at home with his parents, and single for a reason after making bad relationship decisions in the past.

Paige and Josh first meet when they catch the same flight from Chicago to LA, en-route to Sydney. Josh's first impressions of Paige stay with him and give him an interesting perspective on her character. His belief that his parents always make wise decisions as leaders of their church is challenged when his mother employs Paige as a logistics manager for their upcoming women's conference.

Josh and Paige are forced to work together on the church campus in suburban Sydney. Josh comes across as a bit full of himself and entitled. He lives in a tight knit megachurch bubble where he spends his time recording music and travelling the world with the worship team. He makes some big assumptions about Paige without checking his facts.

Paige is seemingly on a mission to make decisions that will make her life more miserable. For example, she picks the job at the megachurch despite her horrendous past experiences as a volunteer worker at a US megachurch. A few Google searches could also have made Paige's life easier. Paige is carrying a truckload of emotional baggage that's hinted at early on in the story but not fully revealed until later.

Josh and Paige develop a sort-of-friends romance where the emotional barriers stay up for a large chunk of the story. Once I got to know Josh and Paige and understood why they behaved in certain ways, I wanted to see them overcome all the obstacles in their romance to achieve their happily-ever-after. They are both challenged to take risks and grow in their faith during the story.

Then There Was You also has a connection to Kara's previous books. Paige's cousin, Kat, who travels the world as a makeup artist, is Allie's best friend who we first meet in Close To You. I recommend Then There Was You to contemporary romance readers who enjoy the movie 10 Things I Hate About You style of romantic comedies with poignant moments.

Book Review: The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart

Review by Ian Acheson

BLURB

What if You Woke up One Morning and the Darkest Parts of Yourself Were Gone?

Toren Daniels vanished eight months back, and his wife and kids have moved on—with more than a little relief. Toren was a good man but carried a raging temper that often exploded without warning. So when he shows up on their doorstep out of the blue, they’re shocked to see him alive. But more shocked to see he’s changed. Radically.

His anger is gone. He’s oddly patient. Kind. Fun. The man he always wanted to be. Toren has no clue where he’s been but knows he’s been utterly transformed. He focuses on three things: Finding out where he’s been. Finding out how it happened. And winning back his family.

But then shards of his old self start to rise from deep inside—like the man kicked out of the NFL for his fury—and Toren must face the supreme battle of his life.

In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, James L. Rubart explores the war between the good and evil within each of us—and one man’s only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul.

REVIEW

Toren Daniels wakes up in a strange hotel. Alone and without any possessions. And short term memory loss.

But he remembers he's married, with 2 kids and where he lives. So he goes home, only to discover he's been gone 8 months, presumed dead. His family are shocked by his reappearance as they've moved on. And don't want him to come back home.

Very quickly he remembers why. Well bits of it anyway. Enough to know he'd made their lives hell since being kicked out of the NFL for anger management issues. He's determined to discover where he's been for the past 8 months and why all of a sudden he seems to have a handle on his anger. And why is an old school 'friend' he hasn't seen in 20-odd years suddenly reappeared in his life?

Using the timeless theme of the Stevenson classic story: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as background Rubart weaves a wonderful tale of self-discovery of exploring the good and evil within each of us. And how we can claim victory over the evil or Mr Hyde-part of our personality.

I so enjoyed how Rubart addressed the theme in story. This is powerful story-telling and be great to see more novels fowling a similar bent of exploring how the Holy Spirit can indeed transform us from the inside out. The fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 2:22-23 is indeed available to us but only through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit as Romans 12:2 outlines.

Like all Rubart novels there's a bit of supernatural activity that can appear a little weird and out of place, however, in the context of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit he probably didn't have any other choice in being able to show the change in Toren's personality in such a short period of time. Something drastic did have to occur. In reality, it's unlikely that engrained habits can be transformed in such a short period of time. But, hey, this is fiction.

Toren and his estranged wife, Sloane, were excellent characters. There were some tremendous scenes featuring the two of them that showed the juxtaposition between what they once had, their current state and the possibility of a new improved version.

As an aside, I was reading this novel while I was on a 5 day retreat where I was studying and practicing models of personal transformation and it was fabulous to read something fictional that demonstrated the power of transformation. I'm sure this was part of the reason I so enjoyed the story and in particular, the themes Rubart addresses in it.

Very highly recommended.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard was recognised with the 2014 Selah Award for Speculative Fiction.You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Book Recommendation | Winning Miss Winthrop by Carolyn Miller

Recommendation by Iola Goulton @IolaGoulton

Persuasion is not my favourite Jane Austen novel. I find it frustrating, because the problems faced by the hero and heroine could be solved by one simple conversation. Unfortunately, Jane Austen lived in a society where men and women were unable to speak plainly to each other. That meant Persuasian's hero and heroine spent most of the book at odds, even though they had mutual feelings towards each other.

Winning Miss Winthrop is loosely based on Persuasion, and has the same central trope. 

Two years ago, Miss Catherine Winthrop fell in love with her third cousin once removed, Jonathan Carlew. She thought the feeling was mutual, but he abandoned her. Now she is twenty-five years old, at home, and on the shelf. But things are about to get complicated.

Her father dies, and instead of the estate going to the expected heir, it goes to Jonathan Carlew. Catherine and her mother are forced to leave their home and move into the Dower House, with a much-reduced income.

What follows is a frustrating yet enaging read as Catherine and Jonathan have to face up to being in the company of the other, both believing the other to have been at fault in the demise of their earlier relationship. Matters are not helped by Catherine‘s mother, the Dowager Lady Winthrop, who makes Elizabeth Bennett’s mother appear intelligent and self sacrificing.

There is lots of great writing, much of which centres around Catherine's frustration over her situation. There are also some welcome cameos from characters in her earlier series.

As usual, Carolyn Miller's is writing is spot on for the period and location. Her locations come alive, and she captures the manners of the Regency period perfectly, while introducing a rare spiritual depth. Miller's writing is full of the wit and subtext present in other Regency novelists such as Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. And now I'm anxiously awaiting Miss Serena's Secret, the second book in the series.

Recommended for all Regency romance lovers.

Thanks to Kregel and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Would you like to win a copy of Winning Miss Winthrop? Carolyn is giving a copy away over at International Christian Fiction Writers.

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, and currently works as a freelance editor. When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Book Recommendation: Being Jazmine by Cecily Thew Patterson

Review by Christine Dillon

Being Jazmine is the third in Cecily’s series about Jazmine Crawford. Cecily writes fiction for ‘brave-hearted girls’. Her books are about young teenagers dealing with every day issues like moving to new schools, death and bullying.

Jazmine has two other, less common, challenges, her father has died and she is ‘hard of hearing’ and needs to wear hearing aids.

In the first of the trilogy, Invisible, Jazmine tries to keep out of trouble by seeking to be as invisible as possible. She learns to tackle some of her challenges with the help of her grandmother, a teacher, and a friend.

Initially, Cecily only intended to write two books in the series, Invisible and Invincible but an English professor from the US who works with the deaf contacted her and begged her to write another book about Jazmine mixing with at least one other deaf character. In Being Jazmine, Cecily takes us on a new journey with Jazmine.

Jazmine has conquered many challenges but she is tired, exhausted really. She slowly works out that what she’s feeling isn’t normal. Her need for sleep is because in every class and every conversation she is struggling to lip read and hear everything. But she’s not hearing everything, she’s missing a lot.

One day she sees some deaf people signing together and she is given the chance to make friends with people who talk in Auslan (Australian sign language) rather than lip reading.

But even this new group of friends have their cliques and own culture. Besides which, Jazmine isn’t fluent in sign language, she’s never had to be. The book shows you her struggles in both worlds.

Cecily is a master at immersing you in the world of young teenage angst. Each book keeps you in that world to the end. I particularly appreciated learning about the challenges of being deaf or hard of hearing. Cecily is not a member of that group but she grew up in a completely different culture herself and so understands and is able to show someone who is between worlds, never quite fitting in either.

These books are written for the general market. They would make excellent texts for year 7-8 English as they raise many common issues and have plenty of potential discussion issues. They would also be good books for mothers and daughters to read and discuss. Issues of friendship and rejection, grief, struggle, parent/child conflict, victory and success. Clean reads with an occasional tiny mention of things like prayer.

Cecily has also written two books in another series Love and Muddy Puddles, and Charlie Franks is A-OK. This series is more light-hearted and the second book has just won the Caleb award for published fiction and overall Caleb award for best book 2017.

Cecily has also written non-fiction and is an editor. She has recently produced a video course on writing your memoir. Her website is http://www.cecilypaterson.com/

About Christine Dillon 

Christine Dillon was born in Australia but grew up in Asia. She now works in Taiwan as a Bible storyteller. Her book 'Telling the Gospel Through Story' was voted 2013 Outreach Magazine's Resource of the Year in Evangelism and continues to inspire innovative and engaging Bible storytelling. Believing in the beauty and power of story prompted her jump into fiction. Grace in Strange Disguise was runner-up in the Athanatos Christian Writing Contest. Christine loves reading and keeps sane by cycling, swimming and hiking.

Website | Facebook (Page) | Facebook (Group) | Pinterest

My Top Ten Reads for 2017

By Iola Goulton

I do this every year. 

I sign up to write a Top Ten post, then find it impossible to keep myself to just ten books. So this year I'm cheating ...

I'm sharing my Top Ten Contemporary Christian Romance novels.

This gives me a fighting chance of keeping myself to ten books, although it also means I miss some of the excellent historical fiction I've read this year (e.g. The Dishonorable Miss Delancey by Carolyn Miller and Where We Belong by Lynn Austin), as well as the outstanding Long Way Gone by Charles Martin. The list also excludes some excellent general market romances, and some not-quite-contemporary-romance novels like Grace in Strange Disguise by Christine Dillon. And it excludes the dozens of books on my to-read pile, and all the books I've been told I must read by other CCR fans ...

The neverending trials of a book reviewer. So here goes my 2017 Top Ten list, in no particular order ...

The Last Summer by Brandy Bruce

The Last Summer is a beautiful but bittersweet romance that's actually more coming of age or women's fiction with a romance subplot. It's written entirely from the point of view of the main character, and starts when the best friend she's secretly in love with starts dating one of their mutual friends. No matter which way this goes, someone is going to get hurt ...

I bought The Last Summer after Narelle Atkins reviewed it here on Australasian Christian Writers. Click here to read her review.

The Carpenter's Daughter by Jennifer Rodewald

I loved The Carpenter's Daughter because of the excellence of the writing, the depth of the emotion, and the way it showed a non-believer's journey to Jesus, and the sacrificial love of the hero. There were so many great lines in this novel, I know it's going to be one I read and reread.

I haven't reviewed The Carpenter's Daughter, but Rel at Relz Reviews has. Click here to read her review.

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh

This was also bittersweet, but in a different way than The Last Summer. It was bittersweet because of the way the heroine was so trapped by her quest to create the perfect life and earn her family's love that she never looked up and saw she already had everything she ever wanted. It's a much-needed reminder in our busy modern world.

Click here to read my review.

The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix

This is a dual timeline story set in France and England. The modern story isn't overtly Christian, but shows a woman struggling to recover from a life-changing event. The historical story is outstanding—it starts with a punch and never lets up. How's this for an engaging first line?

Click here to read my review.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck breaks a lot of the "rules" of modern writing. It's told in first person. The narrator occasionally talks directly to the reader. It's about a writer (a plot device I often find awkward and contrived). But it works. It feels real, even though I know it isn't.

Click here to read my review.

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

I will admit to an element of bias in this choice—Kara Isaac is a fellow Kiwi, and I edited Then There Was You. But I'd love this even if I hadn't edited it. I love Kara's writing, her characters, and her humour. And the ending ... Loved it.

I haven't reviewed Then There Was You, but Fiction Aficionado has. Click here to read her review.

The Long Highway Home by Elizabeth Musser

The Long Highway Home is a unique combination of fact and fiction. Elizabeth Musser draws on her own missionary experiences working with refugees to deliver a story that hits home in terms of the trials refugees find in pursuing safety.

Click here to read my review.

True to You by Becky Wade

A heroine who's a bookworm? What's not to love? The plot was excellent, with the perfect (!) combination of predictable and surprising. The characters were excellent—intelligent, funny, and quirky. Basically, this was everything I want in a romance novel.

Click here to read my review.

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

Sweetbriar Cottage is a reconciliation story—a couple find they aren't divorced after all, and that maybe they don't hate each other. It's a beautiful picture of grace and forgiveness, showing how to love as Jesus loved.

Click here to read my review.

Broken Like Glass by EJ McKay

A powerful novel of love and redemption. I’ve seen comparisons to The Shack in the way God is mentioned … although I’m apparently one of the few English-speaking Christians on the planet who hasn’t yet read The Shack. A must for those who are looking for Christian fiction that goes beyond the sanitised norm.

Click here to read my review.

So what do my selections have in common? They are real people, broken people, trying to navigate their way through life with the help of family, friends, and Jesus.

What about you? What were your top reads of 2017?

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, and currently works as a freelance editor. When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Book Recommendation ~ Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman

Book Description:

A poignant and relatable novel, Looking Glass Lies captures the war women wage against themselves, and the struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society’s unrelenting expectations.

For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other women—and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.

But coming home isn’t what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her pain is difficult to escape—especially with her model-perfect ex–sister-in-law working at the town’s popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.

The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily’s eyes to the harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty—and giving her the perfect opportunity to find peace at last.

Narelle's Thoughts:

Wow. That's what I thought when I finished reading, and I read the book fast, within twenty-four hours. I've been a fan of Varina Denman's writing since I read her debut novel, Jaded, and Looking Glass Lies didn't disappoint.

The story opens with a prologue. We meet Cecily Ross when she's curled up in the back of her closet in her LA home, hiding away from the world and her emotionally abusive husband. Brett is addicted to porn and has shattered Cecily completely by wanting a divorce.

Fast forward eleven months and Cecily has returned to her home town of Canyon, Texas. She stays in her childhood home with her dad who's a widower and park ranger. Her father is worried about her and he asks the local therapist, Doctor Graham Harper, to call her.

Graham had a secret crush on Cecily in high school when she was dating her future husband, Brett Ross. Graham has overcome his teenage drug addiction and has a busy practice in town. He offers Cecily a receptionist job. Instead of providing counselling, he sets Cecily up in a women's support group with married mom of four Shanty and college student Nina.

Cecily meets with Shanty and Nina at Midnight Oil, the local coffee shop owned by celebrity sports star Michael Divins. Cecily struggles to deal with her gorgeous and perfect looking ex-sister-in-law, Mirinda, who works at the cafe and is dating Michael.

Cecily learns that to become emotionally healthy she needs to confront and deal with issues from her past. Secrets are revealed that rock the small community of Canyon and challenge them to face the lies they believe. Body image issues are a core theme in the story, plus the devastating effects of porn addiction and other emotional issues.

The characters are realistic and they deal with real world problems in the story. Edgy issues that may be uncomfortable for some readers are addressed, and the story has a Christian worldview with only a few references to faith.

The sweet romance between Cecily and Graham is complicated. A hero who's a therapist will, by definition, be cautious in his personal life. Cecily and Graham develop a friendship that is challenged by the events in the story.

I highly recommend Looking Glass Lies to readers who enjoy edgy and realistic Christian romance stories that deal with tough issues.

Many thanks to Waterfall Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com

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

Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Book Recommendation ~ The Last Summer by Brandy Bruce

Book Description:

For twenty-something Sara Witherspoon and her group of friends, a perfect Southern summer includes lake-house getaways, wedding planning, outdoor concerts, and a dash of romance. But for these seven friends who love each other like family, this year, summer rolls in with changes for everyone.

Sara's longtime crush, Luke, has been her best friend for as long as she has been a part of the group. When Luke begins seriously dating another of their friends, Sara's forced to deal with her hurt and jealousy, while outwardly try to support them both.

While Sara comes to terms with her own heart and her friends' relationships, an unexpected handsome pilot from North Carolina and an old flame are thrown into the mix. Knowing her heart suddenly becomes much more complicated.

But as time unfolds and friendships begin to unravel, Sara and the others are presented with the reality of what a season of change does to old friendships and new love interests.

Does growing older mean growing apart?

Narelle's Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading The Last Summer. The book is written in first person point of view and we journey with Sara in a coming of age story with romantic elements.

It's also a book I'd recommend to writers who are looking to study writing craft in the contemporary fiction genre. The story is written using first person single viewpoint and has compelling conflict, great pacing, tight story structure and a plot that isn't predictable. These story elements all come together to create a smooth, fun and exciting read. 

Sara has had a secret crush on her best friend, Luke, since the moment they met at the singles group at church when she moved back to Texas. She was welcomed into their tight knit and fun loving group. The seven friends support and encourage each other as they do life together. 

Their idyllic and comfortable friendship group is challenged by life changes and new relationships. When Luke starts dating Debra, one of her friends in the group, Sara struggles to cope with how the budding romance impacts her friendships with both Luke and Debra.

I loved the ensemble cast of characters who were both real and flawed. They made mistakes and had to live with the consequences of their decisions. The faith of each of the characters played an important role in the story and impacted their life choices.

I spent a large part of the book uncertain about how I'd like to see the story end. I love Brandy's writing style and I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend The Last Summer to readers who enjoy contemporary Christian fiction that's reminiscent of the 90's tv show Friends.

Learn more about Brandy Bruce and her books here.

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com

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

Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

Book Review: Ghost Heart by Lisa Harris & Lynne Gentry

Blurb

A brilliant transplant surgeon. A rogue organ broker. A ghost child.
And the legend that could destroy them all.

A brutal murder convinces surgeon Mia Kendall there’s more than she imagined to the mysterious spike in heart transplant rejections. Determined to find answers before she loses another patient, Mia gets sucked into a dangerous international medical web. With time running out for her youngest transplant recipient, Mia is forced to partner with a disillusioned ex-military pilot who flies brokered organs across East Africa. But searching for the truth will prove costly for the unlikely duo racing to stop a madman before he annihilates a rare and cursed bloodline.

From best-selling author Lisa Harris and award-winning author Lynne Gentry comes a chilling, hypnotic medical thriller that will take you from the suburbs of Cincinnati to the jungles of Africa.

My Review

This is a novel that grabs you by the throat on the very first page and doesn’t let go until the very end. There are so many excellent aspects to Ghost Heart: its fast pace, the realistic story line that is based on truth, the complexity of the black market organ donor market, heart transplants (don’t worry no gory details) and a cast of characters that are believable and well crafted.

There are two parallel story lines, the one based in Africa starring Dr Mia Kendall who is desperate to discover the truth behind her patients failing heart transplants. She commandeers a willing assistant, Race Daniels, who is drawn to her passion, beauty and drive. But can she trust him? Is he caught up the cover-up in some way? The more time she spends with Race in solving the puzzle the more she is attracted to him.

Meanwhile one of Mia’s transplant patients heart is failing. His teenage wife, Jeme, is desperate to keep her daughter, Zaina, safe from the poachers. She’s an albino whose body parts are highly desirable.

The second story starts in Cincinnati where we meet Catherine (Cat) and Brad Taylor whose young daughter’s heart is failing. This is causing significant stress on their marriage. Catherine is a desperate mom who will do anything to save her daughter. Even if it means flying to Africa so Kelsey can have a heart transplant where it’s significantly cheaper than in the US.

The authors crafted Mia and Catherine as strong passionate women and even though I didn’t necessarily agree with all their choices I admired them tremendously. Jeme is another and I loved her gutsiness in protecting Zaina.

There are some excellent bad guys. Men who on the surface are esteemed by society while deluding themselves they are benefiting the world with their groundbreaking endeavours. Their arrogance and thirst for power result in some catastrophic decisions that Mia and Race gradually unravel.

It all builds to a fabulous climax with some heartbreaking and joyous moments. And there is romance that simmers in the background.

This is an outstanding collaboration by LisaHarris and Lynne Gentry. I loved it and I hope there are a few more novels bubbling away in their collective thoughts.

The novel also comes with an insightful Q&A between the two authors where they provide some background to how the story came about plus their writing process between Africa and Texas.

I received a complimentary copy from the authors with no obligation to write a favourable review.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Angelguard was recognised with the 2014 Selah Award for Speculative Fiction.You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Book Review: Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

Review by Iola Goulton

Heart on the Line is the second novel (and third book) in Karen Witemeyer’s Ladies of Harper’s Station series. It is a standalone story, but you’ll probably understand the women’s colony and their attitude to men better if you at least read No Other Will Do first (and perhaps Worth the Wait as well).

Like No Other Will Do, Heart on the Line is a departure from Karen Witemeyer’s witty historical romances, in that it’s more of a witty romantic suspense.

It starts with a Prologue, which I found rather confusing—we were introduced to a lot of off-stage characters in short order, perhaps too many. The point was introducing the central conflict of the novel: that Herschel Mallory has discovered Chaucer Haversham isn’t the rightful heir of his father’s fortune, a discovery Mallory pays for with his life, leaving his daughter an orphan on the run.

Chapter One opens a year later.

Grace Mallory is hiding in the women’s colony of Harper’s Station, and working as the local telegraph operator. After hours, she chats online (on the telegraph line, not our ourline!) with Mr A., the telegraph operator in a neighbouring town. All is well, until she receives a late-night coded message that might mean her hiding place has been found.

When Amos Bledsoe hears Miss G might be in danger, he travels to Harper’s Station to protect her—and to see if the chemistry between them sparks in real life the way it does over the lines. Of course, there is the obvious issue of a man turning up in a women’s colony after they’ve all been warned to expect bad men … but that’s sorted out in a most original manner.

It’s an excellent novel. Grace and Amos are both great characters, and their shared occupation made for some great moments. The writing was excellent, a perfect mix of humour, romance and suspense, with just the right injection of the Christian faith. There was also a subplot with the man-shy Helen, and I loved that as much as the main Grace/Amos romance plot.

And there was plenty of suspense. The identity of the evildoer was kind of obvious to the reader, but was equally obvious to Grace (yay for intelligent heroines!). That added to the fun—how would she keep him from knowing she was onto him? And who would find the missing documents first!

Recommended for all romantic suspense fans.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. You can find out more about Karen Witemeyer at her website.

About Iola Goulton

I am a freelance editor specialising in Christian fiction. Visit my website at www.christianediting.co.nzto download a comprehensive list of publishers of Christian fiction. 

I also write contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist—find out more at www.iolagoulton.com.

You can also find me on:
Facebook (Author)
Facebook (Editing)
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter

Book Recommendation ~ Once Upon a Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Book Description:

Book 1 in the Cowboy Fairytales series from a USA TODAY bestselling author

A princess on-the-run finds sanctuary where she least expects it…

After nearly dying in an assassination attempt, Princess Alessandra of Glorvaird escapes to a place no one would ever think to look for her: small town Oklahoma and a ranch staffed by a herd of wooly, uncouth cowboys. One cowboy in particular gets under her skin, until she sees his softer side. She knows this interlude can’t last forever, but that doesn’t stop her from wishing it might…

Former Navy SEAL Gideon Hale might’ve rescued the princess from freezing to death, but the soldier doesn’t trust easily—or at all—especially when his gut tells him Alessandra is keeping secrets. But as Alessandra begins to fit into his life, he discovers another side to the princess—one that he can’t help but like.

When Alessandra’s enemies close in, Gideon must fight to save the woman who has become so much more than a princess…

Once Upon a Cowboy is a contemporary western retelling of the Snow White fairytale and Book 1 in the Cowboy Fairytales series.

Narelle's Thoughts: 

I've been a fan of Lacy's books for many years, and I enjoyed reading the first novella in her new Cowboy Fairytales series. A princess heroine and a cowboy hero is a winning combination for me in a contemporary romance.

The story opens with Alessandra's life in danger. She manages to escape from NYC wearing her ballgown, and lands in a sleepy Oklahoma town where she meets Gideon. A former Navy SEAL, Gideon is intrigued by the princess he calls Allie. Gideon takes on the responsibility of protecting Allie from an unknown enemy. He hasn't dated in a long time, and eyebrows are raised when the cowboy returns to the family ranch with a beautiful and cultured woman by his side.

Allie is fascinated by life on the ranch, and she's willing to get her hands dirty to help out. She's drawn to Gideon, a man who originally reminded her of a bear with his shaggy beard and grumpy manner. She gets to know him during her short stay on his ranch, knowing she'll return to the palace and her royal duties.

Once Upon a Cowboy is a fun fairytale romance based on Snow White's story. The suspense element in the story worked well, and led to a satisfying and romantic happily-ever-after ending. The faith element is low key, and the characters draw on their faith when disaster strikes. I recommend this western contemporary romance novella to readers who enjoy modern day fairytale romances.

Book 2 in the series, Cowboy Charming, is now available. To learn more about Lacy Williams and her books, please visit her website.

Book Recommendation ~ Glasgow Grace by Marion Ueckermann

Book Description:

Opera singer, Skye Hunter, returns to the land of her birth as leading lady in Phantom of the Opera. This is her first trip back to bonnie Scotland since her mother whisked her away to Australia after Skye’s father died sixteen years ago. When Skye decides to have dinner at McGuire’s, she’s not going there only for Mary McGuire’s shepherd’s pie. Her first and only love, Callum McGuire, still plays his guitar and sings at the family-owned tavern. Callum has never stopped loving Skye. Desperate to know if she’s changed under her mother’s influence, he keeps his real profession hidden. Would she want him if he was still a singer in a pub? But when Skye’s worst nightmare comes true, Callum reveals his secret to save the woman he loves. Can Skye and Callum rekindle what they lost, or will her mother threaten their future together once again?

Narelle's Thoughts:

Journey to picturesque Scotland in Marion Ueckermann's delightful and heartwarming romance novella. I loved the gorgeous white Christmas setting in Glasgow Grace.

Skye is an opera singer who returns to her homeland from Australia to start rehearsals in the New Year. She wants to visit her father's grave in Skye and she's staying in a swish hotel, courtesy of her opera company employer.

Callum knows that Skye is back in town and he has bought tickets for an upcoming performance. Skye visits the pub owned by Callum's family just before Christmas and she reconnects with Callum. It's like the old days, when they were teens and head over heels in love. But Callum hasn't forgotten how Skye moved to Australia with her mother and never replied to his letters. Her mother is a pretentious snob who didn't think Callum was good enough for her daughter.

Callum has his own secrets. He lets Skye believe that he's a singer and musician who works in the family pub and still drives his old car.

The romance at the start of the story seems to plod along almost too smoothly. A big plot twist (that I didn't see coming) changes everything and challenges their faith. Skye's career is threatened and Callum's secret is exposed. They have to work together to overcome all the obstacles in their path to true love. Glasgow Grace has a tender and emotionally satisfying ending that will charm readers who enjoy sweet Christmas reunion romances.

Learn more about Marion Ueckermann and her books at her website.

Many thanks to Marion for providing a complimentary advanced reader copy of the book.

Book Review: I Hope You Dance by Beth Moran

By Iola Goulton

Ruth Henderson has failed in life. Bad enough that she got accidentally pregnant at eighteen to someone who wasn’t the love of her life, but now Fraser has died and she’s had to sell their house and return to her small Nottinghamshire home town, and live with her parents. And she’s got a rebellious teenage daughter, Maggie, a mountain of debt, and a fifteen-year-old rift with her father.

Despite her low opinion of herself, Ruth is clever—a maths prodigy who grew up in a family of champion ballroom dancers, and who never felt accepted by anyone except next-door-neighbour David. Her only other childhood friend was Lois, who was even more of a social misfit than Ruth. So I Hope You Dance is the story of Ruth finding love and acceptance from family, from friends, and from herself.

I Hope You Dance is written in first person point of view, so we spend the whole novel inside Ruth’s head, which gives it more of a YA or British Chick-Lit feel rather than the traditional Christian romance some readers might be expecting. The Britishness also comes through in the Christian elements—lightweight and more told through the subtext than in-your-face preachy (an unfortunate tendency of some US Christian novels).

It’s definitely more women’s fiction than romance, as the focus of the novel is on Beth’s personal growth (in an understated British way) than on the romance. Although there is a little romance . . . although that goes very wrong before it goes right, and adds an unexpected element of suspense to the novel.

I Hope You Dance is Beth Moran’s second novel. I thought her first, Making Marion, was excellent and I Hope You Dance is at least as good. Possibly better. Recommended.

You can find out more about Beth Moran at her website (www.bethmoran.org), and you can read the beginning of I Hope You Dance here:

Thanks to Lion Fiction and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Iola Goulton

I am a freelance editor specialising in Christian fiction, and you can find out more about my services at my website (www.christianediting.co.nz), or follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/christianediting), Twitter (@IolaGoulton) or Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/iolasreads).