Home to Heather Creek Series Launch | Before the Dawn and Sweet September

by admin | Sep 29, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction

MY REVIEW:

The first two books of Guidepost’s Home to Heather Creek series, “Before the Dawn” and “Sweet September”, chronicle the lives of the Stevenson family as grandparents Bob and Charlotte attempt to make a home for their daughter’s orphaned children. The adjustment is not easy as the three children, two of whom are teens, seem to resent the move from suburban California to a Nebraska farm to live with grandparents they barely know. Both books have a down-home feel and the transition from the first to the second is smooth despite being written by different authors.

“Before the Dawn” is the first book in the series which covers the first months of change in the lives of the family complete with all the conflicts both with the grandchildren and between Bob and son Pete who farms with him. Charlotte and Bob are not always in agreement on how to handle their grandchildren and Charlotte is fearful that they will make similar mistakes to those in raising their own children.

“Sweet September” continues the family story as harvest time approaches. The grandchildren have settled in but are still somewhat resistant to life on the farm. Christopher seems to be hiding something and Sam is falling behind in school. Emily has made a good friend but is still unhappy with her new life. On top of that, the conflict between Bob and Pete seems to escalate and someone or something is stealing eggs and vegetables right out of the garden while they sleep. Charlotte is so stressed she doesn’t know which way to turn.

The first two books in the Home to Heather Creek series are stories about second chances. Charlotte and Bob have a chance to make a difference in the lives of their grandchildren and even a second chance with their two remaining children. They are stories about relationships, about when to discipline and when to just love. There is a lot of wisdom within their pages and a strong emphasis on turning problems over to God. These books can be enjoyed by both young and old alike.

This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

When the world around you falls apart, could it be that God is giving you a second chance? This is just one of the questions on Charlotte Stevenson’s mind as she brings her three grandchildren to live on the family farm in Guidepost Books’ Home to Heather Creek series.

Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte’s daughter, Denise. Denise’s three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?

It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God’s healing touch, reminds all of them that it’s always darkest just before the dawn.

Sweet September picks up at harvest time, as the children are settling into a new school year. While the harvest should be an exciting time, the children don’t seem to be getting into the spirit. Emily is struggling with farm life, Christopher spends most of his time alone, and Sam is failing school. Trying to learn from what did and didn’t work with her own kids, Charlotte is determined to get her grandchildren back on track.

As tenuous family bonds threaten to break apart, a mystery on the farm might be the one thing that can bond the family together. Charlotte sets out to uncover the truth, and as the kids unite to find answers, this cobbled-together family learns more about one another and the love that binds them together.

The lives of the Stevensons and their grandchildren unfold in this captivating story of the remarkable change that comes from the love of family, the kindness of others, sheer persistence and unshakable faith. As readers follow the Stevensons’ inspiring stories, it’s almost impossible not feel a part of this friendly, loving community, where God’s grace can be seen in every circumstance.

Purchase a copy of the books here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathleen Bauer is the pen name for a team of writers who have come together to create the Home to Heather Creek series.

Before The Dawn — Written by Carolyne Aarsen.A transplanted city girl, Carolyne moved to the country when her fiancee and now husband, decided he wanted to farm. The move took quite well and Carolyne learned to milk cows, herd cows, drive a tractor, can, freeze, garden, bake, cook and preserve. She and her husband raised four wonderful children and took in numerous foster children. Somewhere along the way Carolyne decided she wanted to recreate her own version of the romance novels she loved reading. In her writing she yearns to show redemption and change and the chance to start over. Coming home to faith and love is a thread that is woven through every story she writes.

Sweet September – Written by Tricia Goyer.

Guideposts is celebrating the launch of Home to Heather Creek with a Paperwhite Kindle Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Paperwhite Kindle
• Before the Dawn and Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th HERE.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog [enter your email in the blog sidebar] and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

by admin | Sep 22, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction

MY REVIEW:

I have just finished reading “Every Waking Moment” and I honestly am unsure how to even review it – so many things come to mind. There are actually several separate stories in this novel that come together as a whole. Miriam Howard is the director of a retirement home who loves its residents and employees and has a real knack for knowing the best way to handle them. Unfortunately she has been asked to retire and her replacement seems to have little sympathy for the elderly or the employees. Treha is the custodian at the home but has a way with old people, especially those who have retreated into themselves. Her empathy has endeared her to everyone except the new director. Then there are Devin and Jonah, a talented documentary team who have run out of money but feel that they are on the verge of a real breakthrough. Little do they realize the impact they will make as a result of their time spent interviewing residents of Desert Gardens Retirement Home. Several of the characters have one question in common that many readers may also ask themselves – “What do I do with the circumstances life has dealt me?” Each of them decides how to deal with this question during the course of the book.

Treha is one of those people most people probably ignore – maybe because they do not know how to relate to those like her or because they are afraid. The elderly are also among those who may be overlooked as they become less able to care for themselves or to participate in a “normal” lifestyle. “Every Waking Moment” addresses these issues and more as just one aspect of a story that left me with much to deliberate. I particularly enjoyed Elsie and her much needed words of faith and encouragement. Du’Relle was a minor character but his acceptance of Treha sets an example for the rest of us.

Chris Fabry has a real talent for telling a story that will make an impact on his readers. In “Every Waking Moment” he has accomplished that and more. “Every Waking Moment” is a story that will touch your heart and hopefully change your life.

This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman who has fallen through the cracks, much like many of the elderly people she works with at Desert Gardens Retirement Home. But Miriam Howard, director of the facility, sees her extraordinary gift and untapped potential. Treha is a whisperer of sorts, calling those who have slipped into dementia back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

When Treha’s and Miriam’s stories intertwine with a documentary team looking for stories of the elderly, Treha’s gift is uncovered, and the search begins for answers to the mysteries of her past. As their paths converge, each person is forced to face the same difficult question: What if this is as good as my life gets?

An uplifting, human tale of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift.

For more information CLICK HERE.

Read the first chapter of Every Waking Moment HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’s novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Author Q & A – Chris Fabry on Every Waking Moment

1.  What was your inspiration for this book, Every Waking Moment?

The question at the center of this story is “If this is as good as it gets, am I okay with life?” I find this is a universal question that hits at the heart of our outlook on life and our belief in God. The other question it raises is this: If you could bring someone back from dementia or Alzheimer’s and have a conversation, what would you ask? What would you say to that person?

2.  Tell me about your main character Treha Langsam. Was this character based upon anyone in particular?

She was loosely based on my own children and what they’ve gone through the past five years. This is probably my most personal story to date. We were exposed to toxic mold. Most people think you can only get a rash or have respiratory damage, but it can attack the brain. Treha’s symptoms are similar to what I’ve seen in them and others who have been exposed.

3.  What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?

I love the fact that God doesn’t look at the exterior; he looks at the heart. As humans, we have a tendency to judge on first impressions, but we miss so much by doing that. Those who are disabled, those who have some kind of struggle in life, those who are older — all are lumped into a category, and this is such a disservice to them and us.

4.  How do you expect Treha’s story to resonate with your readers?

I think everyone feels a bit like Treha. She is the little engine that could, even if she isn’t given a chance. And it only takes one person giving someone else a chance. I’m hoping readers will give someone a chance — or maybe let someone else give them a chance.

5.  As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

I loved getting to know Treha better because she’s so mysterious to everyone around her. She’s also a bit scary. To crawl into her skin and walk around and see what she sees is a heartbreaking, life-affirming journey. I also liked the discovery that came with other characters who encounter Treha and seehow she changes their lives.

6.  What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers?

My hope is that this force of nature, Treha, would empower readers to believe the truth about themselves and others. In Christ, you are stronger than you think you are. With God, you can do anything he calls you to do.

7.  How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller?

Trying to tell a complex story in a simple way is always difficult, and people’s lives are hugely complex. Trying to uncover the truth about Treha — why she is the way she is and where she might be able to go from here — helped me as a human being as well as a writer.

8.  Your novels typically touch on a relevant and current topic in our culture. What topics do you weave into this novel?

One thread running deeply through this story is the reliance we have on drugs. It’s much easier to take a pill than to make a lifestyle change. And this is affecting individuals, families, and our culture. It also means a great deal of money to institutions, so in tackling this, I know I’m not going to make friends in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m grateful for drugs — my son wouldn’t be alive today without insulin. But every positive thing can have a negative side as well.

9.  What big questions will this novel get your reader thinking about?

What is your backstory? What is the worth of an individual? Old, young, disabled, unsuccessful . . . several characters are faced with questions of their own worth as well as how they treat others. I’ve always heard that your faith is tested by how you treat someone who can’t do anything for you. This story will get you thinking about some of those deep issues of the heart.

10.  How do you manage your time with such a full life, including a writing career, a radio career, and a large family?

Everyone has the same amount of time each day. We simply make choices about what we invest in. Hence, I spend less time watching television than I used to. That’s a huge time waster. I get up earlier and go to bed earlier. And when you begin your day centered on God’s Word and ask him what your priorities should be, things generally fall into place. I haven’t arrived at that balance, but I’m struggling as well as I can.