Tag: book reviews

Must Meet Monday: Nike Chillemi

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Happy Monday, friends! Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Nike Chillemi and introduce her debut novel, Burning Hearts which I’ve had the privilege to read.

I met Nike through the edgy christian fiction lovers site and was honored to be a judge in the romance category for the Grace Awards she put together.

Nike has been called a crime fictionista due to her passion for crime fiction. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning). She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards, a reader’s choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes monthly book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. Burning Hearts is the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series.
Everyone meet Nike. Nike, meet everyone!
I love to know how writers started up. What inspired you to put your fingers to the keyboard?

I did the usual teen thing, writing bad poetry filled with angst. And sometimes I would trap my friends or parents and make them listen while a read it. I’ve always been comfortable expressing myself in writing. However, about five years ago I started to feel an inner prompting to write fiction…novels to be exact. And I just followed that inner niggling and here I am.
I had fun reading Burning Hearts. Tell us where the idea for Burning Hearts came from?
I wish I had something exotic to say about how I came up with the storyline. The truth is I keep a file of possible plotlines. I’ve got about fifty stories in that file right now. I add to a storyline as something comes to me. One of them will grab hold of me. The characters start to take over and demand their story be told. That’s what happened with Burning Hearts. I could see Erica and Lorne vividly and I had to write their story.
Smart cookie. I need a file. Do you see yourself in any or all of your characters in the book? I think your spunky like Erica but I can see you on a Harley like Lorne! So I’m curious.:)
Erica is a bit like me. She wants to be a dress designer and I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in the bridal industry. She’s independent and stubborn and it gets her into trouble. I’m independent and stubborn but it never got me into any trouble at all. Yeah, right. Something I didn’t realize until the book was in edits is that Erica’s mother is very similar to my Czechoslovak grandmother. Mrs B excels in the kitchen and has a great sense of humor. So did my grandmother. Mrs. B teases her children and is teased by them. I recall my grandmother swatting my dad with a kitchen towel. He’d laugh and hug her.
Those sound like great memories. My grandma swatted me too, but with a fly-swatter and not out of playfulness. 🙂 I had it coming.  Something I loved was the lingo from that day. Their dialogue transported me to a whole new world. Golly jee, I loved it! How much research did you do for this book and what resources helped you the most?
I did a lot of research, definitely on slang of the period. They also had a certain rhythm and cadence to their speech. I listened to classic movies of the period to internalize that. I combed websites devoted to 1940s fashion and hairstyles, checked and double-checked products such as Mrs. Brogna’s Bendix washer. I also read up on the political situation in Europe at the end of WWII.
Well, you did a great job. I loved reading about Erica wearing pants when most women didn’t, or how she copied the patterns from Sears & Roebuck. So fun!
What challenged you most when writing Burning Hearts?
The greatest challenge was making Erica strong without her becoming abrasive. I saw her as feisty and wanting to follow her own convictions, but I had to craft her so she would retain a sweetness and naivety. That was like walking a tightrope.
Mission accomplished!
Before you go, tell us 3 random fun facts about yourself.
1)     I’m a lot more ditzy than people think I am.
2) I was an independent animal rescuer for a good number of years. I’ve rescued about 40 dogs and cats and found them homes.
3) My idea spot on earth would be in the tropic under a cabana with a good book as the surf comes in and goes out.
Oooh, #3 is on my list too! Nike, thanks so much for letting me read your book and for stopping by.
Connect with Nike on:
facebook
@ NikeChillemi Twitter
Nike’s blog
You can purchase Burning Hearts at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Desert Breeze Publishing
Take a peek into Burning Hearts!
     “Erica Brogna’s parents doted on her and taught her to think for herself. So many young men she grew up with fell in the war, shaking her childhood faith. In rides a handsome stranger, at the hour of her desperate need when her best friend and mentor is trapped in a burning house. This stranger rushes into the inferno and carries Erica’s friend’s lifeless body out.

Lorne Kincade can’t out run his past on his Harley Davidson, though he tried. He’s been a knock-about biker since the end of WWII. His uncle bequeathed him a ramshackle cottage in Sanctuary Point, on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY and now he has hope for the future, wants to repair the miniscule place, and settle down. The problem is someone’s setting him up for a murder rap, a young woman with hair the color of mink is starting to get under his skin, and that’s the last thing he needs. “

Must Read Monday: Deliver Us From Evil

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I hope you all had a great weekend. My son is back to full speed ahead and I’m feeling better too. Thanks for all your prayers!

I want to say congratulations to Jessica Nelson! She’s a Genesis finalist. If you don’t follow her blog already, pop over and congratulate her and follow!

Also, congratulations to Sheri Salatin for her win in the Purple Shadows contest! Hurray!
Now, on with the show this is it…

“You want me to escort a heart?”

Deliver Us From Evil is a novel by Robin Caroll. She writes southern stories of mystery and suspense. This book is about a U.S. Marshall whose assignment is to transport a heart to the hospital for a government witness in a human trafficking ring with locations in Tennessee.

When the helicopter goes down in the smoky mountains, it’s up to Brannon Callahan–a ranger– to fly in and rescue him and the heart. But the traffickers want that witness dead and anyone who gets in their way.

Each chapter has something happen to make matters worse, but isn’t that what suspense is supposed to be? They get out of one mess and before you blink, another one surfaces. It’s a romantic suspense, and as you can guess sparks fly between U.S. Marshall Roarke Holland and the lovely, but independent and strong, Brannon Callahan.

What did I especially like about the characters?
Her characters were well thought out. Each one had their own set of quirks. Roarke taps the butt of his gun for comfort and is scared of small spaces because of a past incident.

Brannon Callahan and her co-pilot Lincoln–both Christians– quote scripture and then the other one has to give the chapter and verse. It’s a little something they do when a situation seems bad to remind them of Who is in control and it brings them comfort. I thought it was neat and a great way to bring God in without being preachy.

Congressman McGovern has rules and throughout his Point of View (POV) he uses them. “And rule one–always appear to be in charge.”  He states it then does it.

The deep storyline
One POV came from a young girl named Mai who had been sold by her family into the trafficking ring. When I read the first scene introducing her, my stomach crawled because of what was happening to her. But I’m glad that Robin wrote it fairly graphic and that the publishing house, Thorndike Press, allowed it. Sometimes, we need to squirm in our seats. Not everything in this world is cookie-cutter picture-perfect. I like those books on a occasion, but I also like when an author gets to write it the way it really is.

My heart burned for these girls and that drove me to whisper a prayer as I read her scenes. Yes, it had a happy ending, but for most girls trafficked, it doesn’t end well at all.

Spiritual theme
Bad things happen, but God is in control. Always.

I had the twist figured out, but with suspense it’s about the edge of your seat, “now what” kind of read and not a who is doing it, but I generally like a little more mystery even in suspense novels.

Will I read more of Robin Caroll? You betcha.



Robin Caroll

 Here’s a teaser:

“A beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting, Brannon Callahan is a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child trafficking ring in history-with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee-will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail.”
What about you? Do you like suspense–hanging on the edge wondering if the heroes will escape or save the day, or do you more mystery–figuring out what is going on and who is doing it?

Must Read Monday: Desert gift by Sally John

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“I want a divorce.”

Those words rang in Jillian Galloway’s ears all the way to the airport and to California where she was supposed to speak to hundreds of adoring fans. But how do you promote your new book about commnunicating in marriage and keeping your man when yours just asked for a divorce out of the blue?

Desert gift, release date in June, is written by Sally John. It’s the story of Jillian Galloway. A woman who’s built a career–a ministry–on the perfect marriage, using her husband and all they go through as lab experiments.

One day, he has enough of it. It takes her going back to where she grew up, to the desert in California, to learn some hard lessons about marriage and herself.

Spiritual theme
There is no formula for marriage. A + B does not always = C. God is the heartbeart of marriage, that’s the only solid and He wants us to love him and feel His heartbeat first.

What did I like?
Sally did a great job of showing what went wrong in their marriage. Jill does everything by the book and plans everything, but hasn’t really been in the marriage. Jack Galloway, her doctor husband, is a wonderful guy, but he’s sick of being a guinea pig. He wants to be a husband.

My favorite characters were Jill’s sister, Vivian and her husband Marty. Jilllian abhors their marriage. She doesn’t think it fits the formula, but though they’ve had major hits in their marriage, they have a better handle on one than the “expert.” One of my favorite parts is when Marty tells Jillian, “Sometimes we even curse…okay sometimes I curse.” But it gets deeper and Jillian asks Marty, “How does Viv keep you from leaving her?
Marty answers, “She doesn’t. It’s my choice.”

My rating
I give it 4 stars.

Sally John

I want to thank Tyndale for the complimentary copy. I will read more of Sally John in the future.

Here’s a teaser:
“When you’re at the top . . . you’ve got a long way to fall. A nationally known marriage expert, Jillian Galloway is at the pinnacle of success. Her syndicated talk radio show is a hit and her first book is about to release. But just as she’s leaving for her West Coast publicity tour, Jill’s faithful husband of twenty-four years drops a bombshell: he wants a divorce.

As her world crashes down around her, Jill flees to her parents’ home in the California desert, wondering if everything she’s built her career on—and everything she’s built her life around—is a sham. She thought she’d done everything right. So how did her marriage slowly slip away? And will she ever get it back?

From best-selling author Sally John comes an insightful and inspiring story about the unexpected detours our lives can take, the lies we sometimes tell ourselves, and the hope that God is always at work, even in the desert.”

What are you reading right now, and tell me what you did for Mother’s Day if anything?

Must Read Monday: My Foolish Heart (I’m giving away a copy!)

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“But perhaps that’s what love was–foolish. After all, God loved most foolishly. He came into the dark world to rescue people who might never love Him back. Maybe, in fact, the foolish heart was the perfect heart.”

Love is always a risk. Fear of rejection, failure, pain. Issy Presley has fears. One of them is leaving her home or backyard–but she wants to. She’s tried. She’s prayed. Fear keeps her locked away.

She works in the backyard, taking over her mother’s garden after she died tragically and she’s the secret host for a night time radio talk show–My Foolish Heart–where she gives advice on romance and dating. Don’t settle for a man who isn’t a perfect 10 on your list! She’s never met her perfect 10. She’s never dated at all.

Enter, Caleb Knight–an ex-college football star, and a wounded ex-soldier. He wants a normal life in the small town of Deep Haven and hopefully the high school football coaching position. He isn’t looking for love, but when he meets his next door neighbor–Issy–things change. He decides to enlist some help from a woman he hears on a late night radio show. Miss Foolish Heart. She has all kinds of advice to share with him to win his next door neighbors heart.

So what did I think?

I think I love me some Susan May Warren! The characters became my friends. Deep Haven became my home. I laughed and sighed at the romance. Pitter-patter sweet romance. The sub-plot with her friend Lucy and the ex-boyfriend coming back to town was just as good as Issy and  Caleb’s.  A great book. I appreciate Tyndale House for giving me a complimentary copy to review!

Spiritual truths
Perfect love casts out all fear.  Enough said.

Here’s a teaser:

Susan May Warren
My Book Therapy
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“Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.
Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast.
Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?”

To WIN a copy of this book, please click “follow” and hang out with me every MWF, if you don’t already, and ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

Who would play YOU if your life was going to be made into a movie?

Must Read Monday: Listen by Rene Gutteridge

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“We humans can tame animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.”

Rene Gutteridge tackles the tongue and the effects of words in her novel, Listen. It begins intense, with a teenage girl hanging herself over words that have hurt her.

It covers the life of a decent sized town probably a lot like the one you live in. Gossip runs rampant, and someone starts posting private  conversations on the internet for everyone to see. Fights break out, friends grow apart, and someone goes so far as to murder another.

What’s interesting is the gossip is mostly taking place by those who confess to be Christians. The sad truth is, slander and gossip does race like wildfire in our church. I’ve been on both ends. I bet you if you’re truthful, you could say the same.

What spoke to me the most?

The question is asked, Is what we say when we are in private okay? Kinda of like when the tree falls in the forest. If no one hears it, does it make a sound? 

There are things I’ll say to my husband and my best friend that I wouldn’t share with the ladies at the salon, but what if those words got on to the internet? Then how would I feel?

 It’s true– the power of life and death in the tongue. I don’t mean “name it and claim” prosperity preaching. I mean lifting and encouraging to bring life to someone’s heart and cutting them into worthless bits inside– breeding death.

It’s definitely opened my eyes to what I’m saying and who I’m saying it too.

Do I recommend the book?
Yes! Not only was the message deep and powerful, but her dialogue was witty and entertaining. The storyline was believable and interesting.

Here’s a teaser:
“Someone is listening…

The quaint, close-knit community of Marlo was the ideal place to live…until someone started posting private conversations online for everyone to read, word-for-word. Now it’s neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, as careless comments and hurtful accusations turn the town upside down. Violence and paranoia escalate, and the police scramble to find the person responsible before more people get hurt, or even killed.
But what responsibility do the residents of Marlo have for the words they say when they think no one is listening?”

What do you think? Does what you say in private effect others? Or is it okay to to  say whatever you like about someone as long as they can’t hear you? I’m interested to hear your thoughts!

Also, I’ll be interviewed tonight at 4 pm Pacific time at Romance Writer’s on the Journey! Stop by and say hi. I’m giving away a $10 Starbucks card, so leave me a comment to enter for a free drink  to sip on while you read your favorite book!

Must Read Monday: Stein on Writing

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“The novelist is like a conductor of an orchestra, his back to the audience, his face invisible, summoning the experience of music for the people he cannot see.”

Today’s book is recommended for writers or anyone who is interested in learning the craft of writing.

Yes, it is a learned craft. Talent is necessary, but it isn’t enough. I’d like to think I have talent, and like most inspirational writers, I feel writing is a call on my life. I still need to learn and I’m glad I picked this book up at the CWG conference.

 Sol Stein is a genius. You can read about him here. I found something to highlight on every page. I found some things that I do well and some things I need to work on to make my writing tighter and more suspenseful.

Here’s a little bit about the book, taken from his website. I encourage you to read many books on the craft if you are writing. We can never stop learning or growing, and in the end it benefits our readers–who we’re writing for! They deserve our best!

“Whether you are an accomplished professional, a novelist, story writer, or a writer of nonfiction, you will find a wealth of immediately useful guidance not available anywhere else. As Sol Stein explains, “This is a not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions; how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place.”

You will find one of the great unspoken secrets of craftsmanship in Chapter 5, called “Markers: The Key to Swift Characterization.” In Chapter 7, Stein reveals for the first time in print the system for creating instant conflict developed in the Playwrights Group of the Actors Studio, of which he was a founder. In “Secrets of Good Dialogue,” Stein gives you usable techniques that not only make verbal exchanges exciting but that move the story forward immediately. You won’t have to struggle with flashbacks or background material after you’ve read Chapter 14, which shows you how to bring background into the foreground.

Writers of both fiction and nonfiction will relish the amphetamines for speeding up pace, and the many ways to liposuction flab, as well as how to tap originality and recognize what successful titles have in common. Nonfiction writers will find a passport to the new revolution in journalism and a guide to using the techniques of fiction to enhance nonfiction. You’ll discover literary values that enhance writing, providing depth and resonance. In Chapters 32 and 33 you will learn why revising by starting at page one can be a serious mistake, and how to revise without growing cold on your manuscript.”

What books have you read and recommend about the craft of writing?

Must Read Monday: Gray Matter (I’m giving away a copy!)

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“The role of prayer in health care is itself a gray matter.”

Dr. David Levy tells his story through the pen of Joel Kilpatrick.

Dr. Levy didn’t start out knowing he wanted to be a neurosurgeon. He started out as a mechanic. He was good at fixing machines, and what machine is as beautiful and complex as the human brain?

He excelled through his classes, the typical overachiever, and was glorified by peers and colleagues. But something changed in Dr. Levy. That “something” was a Someone. God.

So…what if he brought prayer into health care? He grappled with the idea. What if he was rejected? Belittled? Humiliated? Yet he took the chance and started what he knew God wanted him to do–asking patients if he could pray with them before surgeries.

This book describes not only his procedures, which are explained easily for gals like me to understand and are incredibly fascinating, but it details the outcomes physically and spiritually.

Some physical symptoms experienced by patients had no medical cure –but the spiritual cure was forgiveness. Bitterness, hate, and resentment, doesn’t just effect the mind but the heart. These emotions can cause physical ailments and debilitating symptoms. Some of Dr. Levy’s stories are his experiences helping patients find Jesus and experience forgiveness as well as helping lead them to forgive others. It was beautiful!

Don’t expect every single procedure to be miraculous in this book–not all were– and I like that. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but what God did in the lives of the patients, families, and Dr. Levy are remarkable. No, not everyone verbally showed that they’d been moved by God, but that’s real life. We don’t always know how we touch others through simple prayers or our behaviors that reflect Christ.

If you question how effective prayer is, read this book. If you’re interested in amazing, complex neurosurgery, read this book, or if you simply need uplifted, encouraged, and hope–read this book. Thanks, Tyndale for giving me this book complimentary for review purposes!

For a limited time, it’s FREE on kindle! Click HERE to get it!
If you don’t have a kindle or just want the feel of a book in your hand, I’m giving away a copy of Gray Matter!
To enter: Answer the following question in the comments section below. “What kind of doctor would you be and why?” You have until Tuesday evening to enter into the random drawing. I will post the winner on Friday.

Must Read Monday: Sidney & Norman a tale of two pigs

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“The pig on the right was Norman. He was a very good pig…Norman figured that everyone could be as good as he was, if they’d just try a little harder. He wondered why they didn’t…The pig on the left was Sidney. Things didn’t come quite as easily for Sidney…Sidney felt broken. And some days that made it hard to get up in the morning. Some days, in fact, Sidney couldn’t get up at all.”

Sidney & Norman a tale of two pigs was written by Phil Vischer. You know Phil. Creator of Veggie Tales. This is another one of those children’s books that speaks volumes to adults. I picked it up at the Christian bookstore, began reading it, and cried right there in the middle of everyone. My friend, who worked there at the time, called my husband (after I left and without telling me) and told him he might want to come in and buy a special book for me. A day or two later, I came home and it was lying on my pillow. Tears. Sniff.

Norman is the typical overachiever. He’s good at everything. He dresses perfectly with no spot or wrinkles. He’s the teacher’s pet (pardon the pun) and his boss’ favorite. Of course. He  prides himself on being the best–looks down on those who aren’t as “good” as he is and wonders why they simply don’t work harder.

Sidney is the typical struggling pig. Things are hard for him. He wants to be good. He wants to be like Norman, but he just isn’t. He messes up at school–frustrating his teachers; he frustrates his employer, and he’s pretty certain he frustrates God, and why wouldn’t he? He frustrates himself the most. “Why was everything so hard? Why couldn’t he be more like…oh, what was his name?”

One day, the two pigs received the same letter. From God. “I would like you to come visit me at 77 Elm Street next Tuesday at your convenience. I have something to tell you. Sincerely, God.”

Isn’t that just like God…to invite us to come and hear a word from Him, but at our convenience? He never pushes us. Some of us run straight to Him; some of us balk and stew about it.

Norman ran. Why? “Anticipation. Happiness. Pride.” He was about to be honored and awarded for being good. He couldn’t sleep because of his excitement.

Sidney felt much differently. “Terror. Panic. Doom.” It was like being sent to the principal’s office. He was always in trouble for something.

The day came. Norman walked tall. Looked his best (as usual) and strutted straight to the address.  He walked inside…he saw God.

“First of all, God began, “I love you.” Norman smiled, though he wasn’t surprised. “Secondly, your goodness isn’t the reason I love you.” Norman was startled. “Thirdly,” God continued, “you’re not as good as you’ve led yourself to believe. You’re prideful. You’re selfish. You look down on others…”  God looked a little sad now…Then God smiled and returned to his desk. “That is what I needed to tell you.”

Not much of an award in Norman’s opinion. How could God find fault in him?

Sidney dreaded his day. He put it off…and off until he couldn’t wait anymore. He made his way to the address and into the office. Doom hung on him like a cape. He was such a rotten pig–never getting things right.

“I want to tell you something,” God continued as he came around the desk.” I love that God gets personal with us. He comes right down to where we are. To our level. “First of all, ” God began, “I love you.” Sidney startled–surprised. “Secondly,” God continued in a quieter voice, “I love you.” …”And thirdly…” God paused, very close to Sidney, “I love you.” The look in God’s eyes warmed Sidney right down to his toes. “That is what I wanted to tell you,” God said…

Sidney was confused at first, wondering how God could love a little ole’ messed up pig like him. But that conversation–changed him. Those reassuring words from his Creator–“I love  you.” Three times God told him. Because, God did love Sidney and wanted him to know it. If He needed to tell him 100 times, He would have.

He loves you too. If you’ll stop balking and just meet Him, those words will do things to you that you never imagined they could.

Maybe you’re Norman, and you need reminded that you aren’t perfect–even if you seem to do things better than others. God loves you as well.  He loves me too, whether I’m in a Norman season, or a Sidney season.

Phil Vischer

I love that Phil chose pigs. Pigs in the OT were considered unclean. Which without our Savior’s grace and shed blood–is exactly what we are. But God loves us.

To find out the rest, read the book. See how their lives change. For the better. And remember…God loves you. He wants to invite you to come and see Him, just to let you know it. You can read about His love for you all day long and know it in your head, but sometimes you need to get alone with Him, and let Him speak those words to your heart. Personally.

What book are you reading right now?

Must Read Monday: House of Dark Shadows

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“Moooom!” her son screamed. Full of despair. Reaching. Almost to the door. “Mo–“

The door closed, separating her from her family forever.”

Robert Liparulo is the author of the Dreamhouse Kings Series for Young Adults. House of Dark Shadows is the first. A man takes his family back to his childhood home, where his mother was kidnapped from.

The interesting thing is, the mother wasn’t taken away from the house, but down a dark corridor inside the home and into one of the many rooms that leads to other places and times.

I enjoy reading Young Adult fiction and suspenseful fiction. I got both in this book! The only bummer of the book is when it ends, I still have no idea who did it, how they did it, or where those kidnapped went. Upside? I get to read the rest of the series to find out! Which I will. My daughter is going to read it next–when I let her have my kindle!

Robert Liparulo

Here’s a teaser:

DREAM HOUSE . . . OR BAD DREAM?

“When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.
But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into–as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.
They soon discover there’s something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.
Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places–in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen’s dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.”

Do you like YA fiction? What’s your favorite YA book?

A Story of Self Sacrifice…Little Rose of Sharon

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“Surely the Creator will be pleased with my beautiful petals,” she thought happily. Then the Creator stood before her. For a long time, He looked down at her deep red petals and smiled. Before He turned to go, He bent down and breathed her sweet smell.”

Sometimes the most touching stories come in a simple tale for children. I bought this book by Nan Gurley several years ago while I was on a trip in Florida. I walked into the discount Christian bookstore and stumbled out with bags full of books.

I had every intention of giving this to my daughter, and I did…but it stays on my bookshelf because the truth is, God meant for me to have it more. It was what I needed at the time. He’s good about that…directing me to books to share a truth, confirm a promise, remind me of something He shared with me in our secret place or to teach me a new lesson about myself that requires change.

He did it all in this book that I simply cannot read without tearing up. It’s about a glorious rose who loves to have the Creator walk through the beauty He’s created, to stop and be pleased with her. She desperately wants His approval, and she believes it’s her beauty that brings His love for her.

A raging storm comes one night, and with all her strength she hangs on to her petals for fear she won’t be beautiful without them. It’s what makes her a rose. When the storm lets up and morning comes, she’s accomplished her goal. All her petals are still in tact. But then she hears the doves mourning. They fly around in desperate fear, and she realizes the wind has blown the doves’ egg onto the ground and they don’t see it.

The rose has to make a choice: Keep the one thing she thinks makes her loved or let it all go to save the dove’s egg. One by one, the rose lets her petals fall onto the tiny dove’s egg to keep it warm, but she’s left only a stem.

The egg hatches and the doves find their new baby. But it’s come at a cost for the rose.

 One afternoon, she hears the Creator coming in the distance, “Oh, dear,” she thought, “I hope He doesn’t notice me. Without my petals I am no longer beautiful.” The little rose was so ashamed, she looked down.”

But God did notice her. And He noticed her sacrifice.

“You have given all you had to save the life of the baby dove,” said the Creator. The little rose felt warm inside at the sound of His voice. “One day when my Son lives on this earth, He too will give everything He has.” The little rose looked up into the gentle eyes of the Creator. “Because of the love you have shown for the baby dove, I will call My Son the Rose of Sharon, for He too will give everything He has and show the world My love.”

She had misunderstood what God was smelling as a sweet fragrance. It wasn’t her petals, though they were beautiful. What He was taking in and enjoying was her heart.

You’re beautiful to God. What makes you beautiful has nothing to do with your appearance. It’s the love you show to others. It’s your selflessness.

We tend to think our talents and gifts are what make us special to God, when we use them for His glory, and yes those things are beautiful. He enjoys us using our gifts and talents for Him. It’s a sweet aroma, but what moves Him the most is when we give simply…ourselves. A surrendered heart, a sacrificial heart.

What children’s book have you read that touched you or taught you a valuable truth?

Nan Gurley