Book Recommendation ~ Ehvah After by Rose Dee

Book Description: 

Ehvah Rowe’s life is in freefall. Her teen queen status is long forgotten, and with a childhood of tragic loss, no family save a diabolical aunt, and no career prospects, her L.A. celebrity world holds no future. It will take a murder, an escape to the Australian tropics, and the friendship of an Aussie bodyguard, for her to discover healing, faith, and a way forward.

David Blake knows how to be a soldier. His army training equipped him to fight and protect. But when it comes to helping a fear-filled celebrity navigate the same post-traumatic stress symptoms he has suffered, David discovers the challenge in forsaking his own strength for God’s plan.

Rose Dee weaves a story of mystery, drama and romance, in her trademark tropical North Queensland Australian style. 

Narelle's Thoughts: 

I really enjoyed reading Ehvah After and it's now my favourite Rose Dee book. The story opens with Ehvah living in her L.A. mansion with her aunt and uncle. She's an orphan of famous parents who lives off her trust fund and feels jaded with her shallow party lifestyle. Ehvah is frustrated by her bad press in the tabloids, her so-called friends who use her, and her inability to resurrect her Hollywood career. When she witnesses the late night murder of her uncle in her home, she flees to Australia with her aunt who is shooting a film in far north Queensland.

Ehvah has a complex relationship with her aunt that's revealed during the story. The murder investigation is underway when Ehvah arrives in Australia. David, an Aussie ex-military soldier, is assigned the day shift as Ehvah's bodyguard, and an unlikely romance unfolds. I like bodyguard romances, and I love how David and Ehvah's unique and painful past experiences become the common ground in their developing relationship that draws them closer. Her life is in danger, and David takes on the role of her protector and hero.

The murder of Ehvah's uncle provides a compelling mystery sub-plot that intertwines with the main romantic plot to add an exciting suspense element to the story. The serious issue of post traumatic stress is realistically addressed and handled with sensitivity. Rose's books tend to be edgy, although Ehvah After is less edgy than her Resolution series. Ehvah's lifestyle and experiences shape her thoughts and actions in the story, and she doesn't start out holding Christian morals and values. We see her character growth and faith journey during the story.

The story has a strong faith element, and the gospel message is an integral part of the story. The exotic tropical North Queensland setting is gorgeous, and the minor characters add to the Aussie flavour in the story. I highly recommend Ehvah After to readers who are looking for a fun and exciting Aussie contemporary Christian romance with drama and mystery story elements.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. 

Learn more about ACW author Rose Dee and her books by visiting her website.

Where to from here? - Jo-Anne Berthelsen

I wonder how you feel as you look back over this past year. Have you managed to achieve those goals you might have set for yourself at the beginning of 2014? And how do you feel as you look towards 2015? For those of you out there who are writers, are there more book ideas and plots already beginning to take shape in your imagination?

This past year was a strange writing year for me. It was the first year since 2007 that I did not have another new book released. I began my journey of being published with my second book almost complete before the first was released, so, over these past seven years, I have had the luxury of always having something else ready ahead of time for my publisher to consider. This year, however, things caught up with me at last.

On top of that, I began the year in hospital, having a back operation, and also injured my ankle a few months later. Yet, by God’s grace, I still managed to fulfil around twenty-seven speaking engagements and book promotion events. We acquired a beautiful new granddaughter as well and now spend many hours minding said granddaughter, plus our three other beautiful grandchildren. In the midst of all this, I nevertheless managed to complete my second memoir and plan to submit it to my publisher after Christmas.

Next year, I hope to start writing another novel. I have three or four different ideas outlined on my computer—which one should I choose? Should it be the one inspired by memories of my artist grandmother and set in Queensland, my home state? Should I explore what happened to Grace, the child of the two main characters in my last novel, The Inheritance? Should I pursue the idea of writing a novel about a Turkish girl, set both here in Australia and in Turkey, a country I have visited several times and where I have had many adventures with a friend who lives there? Or should I go with a novel already begun, entitled Maddie, a story inspired purely by a photo that captured my imagination during a wonderful creative writing course I undertook several years ago?

As I think about each of these ideas, I feel excited about the possibilities. But, since this will be my ninth book, I well know the challenges I am likely to encounter. Am I ready to commit so much time and effort to another novel? More to the point, is it where God wants me to put my energies in the coming year? If it is not, then I am wasting my time. So, over the Christmas break, I plan to put time aside to pray and reflect and, as best I can, make sure this is the direction my writing should take. Then I can move forward with confidence, knowing that, even if I strike difficulties with this particular project, God is right there with me in the midst of it all.

As you look back over 2014, I hope you can see how God has strengthened and sustained you, however challenging your year might have been. And as you look towards 2015, may you know God’s clear guidance and enabling  in whatever projects you undertake, whether writing or otherwise.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.