Dark Glass Ponderings

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPromises to KeepBethany House (February 1, 2011)byAnn Tatlock






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association "Book of the Year" in fiction for both All the Way Home and I'll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her "one of Christian fiction's better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories." Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina.




ABOUT THE BOOK




Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper.




Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life, and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.



Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together--both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise--"cross my heart and hope to die"--never to tell anyone else. When danger stalks the Anthonys, Tillie exhibits unimaginable courage and selfless love in her determination to protect the family she has adopted as her own.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Promises to Keep, go HERE.



Watch the book trailer:






Julia's Take:

It can be difficult to pull off an adult level book with a child as a main character, but Ann Tatlock really pulls it off here. 

I have to mention I love the simplicity of this cover.  I used to wear my hair in two braids when I was a little girl and somehow looking at the cover I was "pulled" into Roz's world.

Tatlock's characters all come alive.  I will often avoid a book about abuse, especially involving children.  Tatlock pulls off a difficult topic sensitively, yet realistically.  My heart broke for Roz as her innocence was shattered about life, and her father. 

Yet, ultimately this is a book about love, human and divine and its power to break barriers.  Tillie brings heartwarming humor to the story and shows Roz the power of a father's love.

Mara and Roz's friendship brings in the topic of race at a time when the South is desegregated in name only.  Ultimately this entire book has a beautiful thread of what it means to desire the love of a human father.  In the end its real message about the love of a heavenly Father that can fill the void. 

Today, I'm over at Joy's blog sharing what I love about being married.  I felt led to share something a bit different than the how we met or how we got engaged stories.  Since I met Joy a few months ago, I can't wait to hear her story.

I loved reading the other bloggers stories, especially Tammy (Bluerose of Bluerose's Heart) who has an absolutely dreamy looking blog.

Don't forget to stay tuned tomorrow here for Jody Hedlund's interview with chocolate recipes and a chocolate giveaway.  Plus, I will be including my brother's recipes for a romantic menu.

I just had to add this (and I am in no way sponsored by this company).  If you're married, check out Union 28.  My husband and I both have great looking tee-shirts from this company, as do our children.  Its a great way to brag on your spouse and promote marriage.

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Another Dawn  Bethany House (February 1, 2011)  by  Kathryn Cushman  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. After practicing as a pharmacist, she left her career to marry and begin a family and has since pursued her dream of writing.


Other books by Kathryn, A Promise to Remember was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in the Women’s Fiction category, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.

Leaving Yesterday, her third novel, was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Now her fifth book, Another Dawn, has arrived in stores, and I’m very excited about it!

On the homefront, Kathryn has been married to Lee for over twenty years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of junior high and high school. They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for the last nineteen years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feels blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)

ABOUT THE BOOK  


Grace Graham is back in Tennessee with her four-year-old son on a short unpaid leave from work, helping her father recover from surgery and spending time with her sister.


Shoal Creek seems more backward than ever after her years in California, and it's hard to find organic food anywhere. When the unthinkable happens and her son is diagnosed with measles, Grace's fears over modern medicine take a dangerous turn.

Worse, the town has fallen into quarantine and its residents focus their anger and blame on Grace. She is alone and scared, until one brave woman chooses to reach out a hand of forgiveness and mercy. But when the outbreak takes a life-threatening turn, will Grace be able to forgive herself?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Another Dawn, go HERE.



My Thoughts:


Kathryn Cushman has just joined my must-read list!  


First of all I love reading a book about a topic that hasn't been touched on very often.  Although vaccination is a "hot button" topic, this was the first fiction I've read on the subject.  


Cushman takes a controversial subject and handles it with sensitivity leaving questions that she deftly refuses to give us easy answers for.  Another Dawn is a book that will leaving you thinking about forgiveness...about the "ripple" effect of our decisions on others.  


I was immediately swept into the emotional world of Grace and the whole town of Shoal Creek.  Cushman's book continues beyond the last page in my heart and mind.

Amber at Seasons of Humility is running a Valentine's party and it started yesterday with a wonderful interview with Mary Lu Tyndall, author of swashbuckling tales of highseas romance.

Today, Renee Ann is sharing a beautiful love story, Elisabeth Elliot.  Renee Ann and I have apparently been on the same page which is something I'll share soon.  I highly encourage you to read Renee's blog, enter her contests, and read anything by Elisabeth Elliot you can get your hands on.

Check here for a day-by-day listing of giveaways and interviews you won't want to miss!

Saturday Jody Hedlund will be visiting Dark Glass Ponderings with a chocolate recipe and my brother Andy will be sharing some recipes with your sweetheart.

And this is my Tuesday at The Writer's Alley where I'm sharing how the visual arts can inspire your fiction (inspired by my 9-12 year old class of Creative Writers).

In addition to my first Creative Writing class last week, I've been enjoying polishing up my entry for my first contest, The Frasier.

Do you enjoy board games?  If so here's a great site to learn about more games.  Its called Board Game Geek.  Chris and I have found a group of local homeschoolers who also like board games and find that dinner and a game can make for a romantic date night!  In fact, this is how we will be celebrating Valentine's Day.

As posted at Title Trakk.   Stop at Title Trakk for great interviews with Karen Kingsbury, Jerry Jenkins, contests, and reviews.

"Suspense fans will find much to enjoy and ponder in Mike Duran’s first novel."


Attention Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker fans: make room on your keeper shelf for Mike Duran’s The Resurrection. Duran is a promising speculative author and I’m already counting down the months until his next release.

The novel begins with a spark that kindles into a quick-spreading spiritual wildfire.


Reverend Ian Clark is a minister recently hired in a small, spiritually-dead town. Bitter about the path his life has taken, Clark wrestles with doubts that only increase when he renews a decades-old friendship with a seminary classmate turned apostate. But how can he explain the mysterious presence of an entity known as Mr. Cellophane who visits his office regularly?


Ruby Case is an ordinary middle-aged woman with a limp who begins to see visions involving an immense dead tree. As she touches the corpse of her friend’s son at his funeral, he suddenly springs to life. Ruby finds herself thrust in the midst of a decades old battle of good versus evil.


The Resurrection is a suspenseful novel that kept me turning the pages late into the night. Duran delivers one surprise blow after another leaving the reader’s heart pounding in a constant sense of anticipation.


The ensemble cast of characters are memorable long after the reader puts the book down. Since seminary Clark has been unable to reconcile the events of his life with the existence of a loving and powerful God. Through Clark, Duran provides a realistic assessment of the struggles of many non-believers. He demonstrates the sad reality of many sitting in the pews, yet spiritually lifeless. Duran demonstrates the dangers of New Age pantheism and the realities of spiritual warfare in a fallen world. The Resurrection contains a message that is woven tightly through with spiritual truths that are never force-fed to the reader.


Ruby and Vinyette are the prayer warriors of Canyon Springs Community church. They meet to pray weekly for the congregation and for Reverend Clark. Ruby shows how the Lord can take the seemingly ordinary and use it for His glory. Ruby sees herself as weak, yet she has a yielding heart to her heavenly Father. She is a living demonstration of God using the weak and foolish things of the world to bring Him glory.


Duran does not provide a neat and tidy ending. Instead he provides one that keeps the reader thinking. Long after I put down this novel I found myself pondering its contents. Suspense fans will find much to enjoy and ponder in Mike Duran’s first novel.

Title: Holy Ambition: Turning God-shaped dreams into reality



Author: Chip Ingram


Publication Date: 2010



**Special thanks to Moody Publishing company for providing a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.**



I have listened to several of Chip Ingram’s podcasts on iTunes, so when I saw this book come up for review from Moody I snatched the chance to read it. Last year my women’s Bible study was learning about the book of Nehemiah and Ingram also uses Nehemiah throughout the book as an example of leadership.

For some reason I didn’t realize this book was about leadership, otherwise I may not have chosen it for review. Whereas I think all of us are called to do the Lord’s service I don’t particularly think of myself as a leader. I’m one of those people that prefers to be working hard behind the scenes. Although I’m realizing that as a Sunday school teacher, homeschool co-op teacher, and even as a homeschool mom I may be called to more of a leadership role than I realize.

I did feel that many of the examples Ingram uses throughout the book were geared towards those in church leadership, a role I certainly don’t intend to fill.

According to Ingram, Nehemiah shows a pattern for the steps those in leadership should follow:

Develop a dislocated heart

Experience a broken spirit

Practicing a radical faith

Creating a strategic plan

Exercising personal commitment

Growing a courageous soul



My favorite section was on developing a dislocated heart and experiencing a broken spirit. I feel so many books skip around the topic of repentance. I was so glad that Ingram shared how a broken spirit is one God can use. This is a principle I’ve definitely seen in my own life. And I’ve definitely noticed that the strongest leaders do have a sense of humility.

Although this book wasn’t always as applicable to my personal life as I would have hoped, I did definitely glean some wisdom from it. I would recommend this book for those in Christian leadership.