Second Time Around by JoAnn Durgin

Second Time Around by JoAnn Durgin
Review by Teisha Priest

The majority of romance novels end with the wedding, but in reality, that’s just the beginning of the story. That’s what makes JoAnn Durgin’s book Second Time Around a refreshing change!

Second Time Around takes us on a couple’s difficult journey through trying circumstances. Marc and Natalie Thompson have been married for just two months when tragedy strikes and Natalie is left with no memory of her husband. Now Marc just wants to keep his marriage from falling apart. To that end, he seeks the advice of a psychologist, his pastor, and eventually Sam and Lexa, friends of Natalie’s who head up the TeamWork ministry. It seems for a while that Marc and Natalie take two steps forward and one step back. Could going to a TeamWork two week work camp possibly help them put the pieces of their marriage back together? They face even more challenges while there, and you’ll just have to read the book to find out what happens!

What I particularly enjoyed about Second Time Around, is how it differed from the typical romance formula. The characters must overcome problems that seem almost insurmountable at times. This just serves to remind us that nothing is impossible with God! Marc at times struggles mightily with his faith, and I think that all of us can identify with that at some point in our lives. It’s nice to read a book that honestly deals with the fact that married couples can and do go through really hard times, but also reminds us of the power of faith in God. JoAnn fills the book with a Christian message without sounding “preachy”.

I have to admit that I didn’t particularly like Marc at the beginning of Second Time Around. When his wife is initially injured and taken to the hospital his is certainly less than kind to the staff! Admittedly, that is the type of reaction that some people have to those sorts of situations, but it irritated me nonetheless.

That aside, I did really enjoy reading Second Time Around. The 258 page softcover, also available as an e-book, is just the right length; not too short, but not so long that it becomes boring. It is the second book in a series, but it’s not necessary to read the first book in order to follow the story.

I’d definitely recommend Second Time Around to anyone looking for a good romance novel that’s not your usual ho-hum love story!


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Review: The Scent of Rain

The Scent of Rain

by Kristin Billerbeck

Review by Nikole Hahn

Daphne Sweeten is left at the altar in The Scent of Rain by Kristin Billerbeck. It’s a story of overcoming difficult obstacles, trusting again, and falling in love.

Daphne met and fell in love with Mark. The truth about Mark came out after he and his family never showed up at their wedding. In response, Daphne and her bridesmaids ate the top of the wedding cake, took her signature perfume scent she had created as party favors, and the job waiting for her in Dayton, Ohio.

What I loved about Daphne is her unique personality and her love of archery. It’s not often in women’s novels you find a love of that weapon or any weapon. As a hunter and outdoorswoman, I can appreciate Daphne’s desire to work off stress by shooting archery.

The trouble stirs when Daphne loses her sense of taste and smell shortly after being left at the altar. Her new job in Dayton, Ohio requires her nose. She creates scents and she doesn’t know how to tell her sexy new boss, Jesse that they are going to have to rely on her science to put together new smells for Gibralter’s line of household products.

Mark, however, has not disappeared from the novel like he disappeared from the altar. He has taken Daphne’s job in Paris, France, and is even trying to manipulate Daphne to hand over the last ingredient to her signature scent. He is trying to make it his scent. Mark also stole half of the down payment for their new house and bought a shabby house with a gas leak for her to live in Ohio. Daphne’s father takes Mark to court to get his money back and Jesse becomes the hero in Daphne’s life when he rescues her from the gas leak.

There are a lot of secrets and raw personalities at Gibralter. Jesse lost his wife to an allergic reaction to some medicine making him a widower long before Daphne’s arrival. Jesse and his boss have power struggles and there’s this gorgeous marketing woman who has some sort of power over Jesse’s boss. Daphne struggles to overcome being left at the altar and to hold on to her faith while she forges a life of her own.

The end is quite surprising and leaves me satisfied. I loved Kristin’s use of slang in the dialogue and humor when Jesse’s little boy decides to stick raisins up his nose. For anyone who has had siblings or children, you would immediately laugh and relate to this little boy. I gave this novel five stars. It’s a light-hearted read for any age who loves contemporary romance.

Books by Kristin Billerbeck at Amazon

       

Joann Durgin: Romance

Awakening by Joann Durgin
Review by Judy Burgi


JoAnn Durgin's first published novel was a delight to read. This is a wonderful love story between TeamWork Missions director Sam Lewis and Lexa Clarke a TeamWork Missions volunteer. Lexa has signed up for 8 weeks of mission work in San Antonio, Texas. Little does she know what she is in for. Her desire is to put some meaning into her life by helping out others. She feels something is missing in her life but doesn't quite know what she is searching for. There are times when she wonders what she is doing in a place like this and feels out of place. Everyone on the team seems to be strong Christians. She hasn't been close to God in ages.

This book is full of twists and surprises. I loved the fact that the author's focus is centered on God and trust. Lexa manages to get herself in hot water many times throughout this book. As she learns to turn her life over to God she finds that she is truly a witness for Him and no longer feels she has nothing to contribute to TeamWork. God uses her in a mighty way.

Of course you can't help but want to see Sam and Lexa together. They butt heads a lot. Just maybe a relationship between the two of them isn't God's will in their life. Will they go their separate ways for good or will they end up together? My lips are sealed!

I must not forget the emotional ride of this book. There is of course the romance that is a great adventure in itself. I laughed, I worried, I cried, and I was cheering for Sam and Lexa right up to the end. It is one of those reads you can't put down.

This was a thought provoking book for me. Oh I loved the romance part but I loved how God shows His hand in the lives of the characters. I reflected on my own life. I asked myself several questions. Am I seeking God's will for my life or am I trying to be in control? Am I the person God intended for me to be? Would I be willing to go to a mission field if God was calling me to go?

I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read book two of The Lewis Legacy Series, "Second Time Around." Thanks to the author for a wonderful read.

Amish Fiction: Laura V. Hilton

Promised to Another by Laura V. Hilton

Review by Mary Hake

Schoolteacher Annie Beiler may not fit the typical Amish persona, but she steals your heart as she seeks to find her own true love. She’s feisty and spontaneous, but also a thinker and a lover of history. Attracted to one of the transplanted boys from Pennsylvania, Annie wonders why Joshua Esh seems to pay attention to every girl but her. When her former beau returns from the “Englisch” world to reclaim her, Annie balks. She no longer cares for Luke, but how can she convince him?

Joshua has his own secret, which he keeps from Annie even as their relationship develops. Will his deceit cost him her love? Continued misunderstandings threaten to drive them apart. Yet, other circumstances are at work, along with potential tragedies. How can any good come from all the negatives in their lives? Unexpected plot twists make this story one you’ll remember.

Laura V. Hilton’s third book set among the Missouri Amish completes her “Amish of Seymour” series. I’ll miss these wonderful and intriguing characters. She did a great job at bringing the people and place to life. It seems so real I wish I could visit them.

Books by Laura V. Hilton at AMAZON

FEB GIVEAWAY

A MAN TO TRUST by Carrie Turansky

WIN A PAPERBACK COPY BY LEAVING A COMMENT FOR CARRIE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.


After years spent helping run her family's Christian bookstore, it's time for Adrie Chandler to give her own dream a chance. But can she really trust the beloved shop to new manager Ross Peterson? The man is too handsome, too charming…too much a reminder of another dream Adrie had to let go of—marriage.

Yet Ross surprises her by knowing a thing or two about making sacrifices. Suddenly, Adrie's questioning what she really wants. And whether the dreams she once thought unlikely are within reach after all.

A World Apart by Lynn Austin

While We're Far Apart
by Lynn Austin
Review by Lisa Norsworthy


A World Apart is the latest novel by Lynn Austin, whose most popular work was the Gods & Kings series. The Schaffer family includes Eddy, a recent widower and his two bereft children, Esther and Peter. Their mother, Rachel, was killed by an out-of-control vehicle at the local vegetable stand along with Miriam Mendel, the landlord’s wife who lives in the downstairs apartment of their Brooklyn duplex. Miriam’s husband, Jacob, not only has to cope with the enormous loss of his wife but also with the lack of communication from his son, Avraham, who has returned to their homeland of Hungary to study Torah. Since going to Hungary, Avi has married and has a daughter but, with Hitler conquering Europe, their fate is unknown.

Meanwhile, Ed Schaffer decides to enlist in the army hoping that fighting for the common good will help him to deal with his pain and grief assuming that his aging mother will care for the children. He is shocked when she refuses to care for them but Penny Goodrich, the proverbial “girl next door” that has had a crush on Eddy since childhood volunteers to care for them with two motives: to make Eddy fall in love with her and to escape her unloving and stifling parents.

The children, who are already heartbroken from losing their mother, resist this plan with hostility. Many events throughout the book serve as catalysts for growth in all of the characters’ lives. One heartwarming change is the growing relationship between the children, Mr. Mendel, and Penny. The love that develops between them softens their bitterness and makes them willing to be open and vulnerable again. There are also many difficult changes for Penny, but through these changes, she realizes that she is a capable and independent woman.

The main theme, however, focuses on Jacob’s and Esther’s anger at God and their inability to reconcile God’s love for them and the fact that He has allowed such devastating tragedy in their lives. This is an issue that causes struggles for many people, and I was especially pleased with the way the author reconciled this in these character’s lives.

Though this wasn’t my favorite of Lynn Austin’s works, it was a very satisfying read, and I would highly recommend it.

BOOKS BY LYNN AUSTIN AT AMAZON

DiAnn Mills: Historical Fiction

The Fire in Ember

by DiAnn Mills

TAGS: Historical Fiction

Once again, DiAnn Mills demonstrates her ability to engage readers quickly.  Who is about to be hanged?  Why?  Does there seem to be something just a little bit strange about this?  Why on earth would a young girl—about to be hanged—keep her gender secret?  Why is she dressed as a boy?  Was the horse really stolen? 

Having become a fan of Mill’s suspense series, it was a treat to see if she could keep me interested in a genre I don’t particularly enjoy…and, dad gum it! She succeeded.  Somehow Mills has an innate ability to draw readers into her storyline.  As I found out, that innate ability transcends genres.  Quite frankly, a masterful writer is a masterful writer is a masterful writer.

Readers who enjoy Christian romance will certainly want to grab up this book, set in the late 1800’s.  While the main character, Bert/Ember, seems to be just a little bit too naïve at times, and a tad unable to make rational decisions or find logical solutions to her basic problems, Mills advances the plot line at a steady pace, with just the right number of twists and turns to keep readers interested.  I particularly enjoyed Mills skill in weaving in a spiritual message matter-of-factly and without contrivance.

So, bottom line…if you want to find your next “favorite” author and your next favorite read…and if you want to have your own faith strengthened by the book choices you make…grab “The Fire in Ember” up and move it to the top of your To Do list.

Reviewer: Janice E. Daku

Brenda Novak Giveaway

Hi everyone,

2011 is shaping up to be a great year, and we're going to start it off with a bang! Brenda Novak will be with us through the month of February, and at the end of the month, we will hold a drawing for her Heat trilogy-- plus a tote bag! All you need to do to enter, is leave a comment on this article.

We will also be having more book reviews, free book listings on Kindle, and more. Stay tuned.

Grace and Peace

John Hileman

Managing Editor

ChristianFictionBookReviews.com

Review: McKenzie

McKenzie

by Penny Zeller

TAGS: Family Drama, Romance

This historical novel, set in 1881, a “prairie romance”, is the first in Penny Zeller’s Montana Skies series. The well-conceived plot of this novel is typical of most historical romances. A damsel in distress—an evil villain— a handsome romance interest—conflict between the central character and the romantic interest—and a final resolution with a happily ever after ending. 

McKenzie Worthington, the central character, is a young and naïve high society Bostonian, who, in an attempt to rescue her youngest sister from a dangerous situation, heads to the Montana wilderness. 

Fortunately for the reader, this novel is saved from the mundane and totally predicable by Zeller’s strength as a writer. Her story line is meticulous. The faith elements are strong. The plot elements are reasonably complex. Zeller’s characters come to life with richness and vibrancy.

Readers who love the historical romance genre will find McKenzie a step above the rest and will find their own faith strengthened as they reflect on the message of God’s sovereign power woven throughout the novel.




Reviewer: Janice E. Daku

Carrie Turansky: Inspirational Romance

CFBR: Hi, Carrie. Thanks for talking with us. Tell us about the two books you have coming out.

Carrie: Thanks for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, and thanks for asking about my two new books. 

Christmas Mail-Order Brides, is a historical inspirational romance collection of four novellas about young women who travel west in the 1880s on the new transcontinental railroad to marry men they have never met. Each bride heads for a different state on rail line, adding variety to the stories. 

My novella, A Trusting Heart, features Swedish immigrant, Annika Bergstrom, who takes the train from Chicago to Wyoming to meet a young widowed rancher with a seven-year-old daughter, but when she arrives her groom has disappeared. While she waits for his return, she finds herself falling in love with his brother, and she must decide if she will follow her heart or wait for the man she promised to marry. My co-authors are Vickie McDonough, Susan Page Davis, and Therese Stenzel. It's published by Barbour Publishing and available in stores September 1.

The second book, Seeking His Love, is a contemporary inspirational romance. It tells the story of Rachel Clark, a young teacher who moves to Fairhaven, Washington, after being falsely accused of having an inappropriate relationship with one of her students. She takes a job as director of a youth theater program and must find a new location for her group. The Fairhaven Arts Center has the ideal space, but Cameron McKenna, who oversees the center, is not eager to include her or her kids. Cam lost his wife and young son in a tragic accident five years earlier, and being around children reminds him of the guilt he still carries. When a family crisis occurs, he must temporarily care for his fourteen-year-old niece, and he needs Rachel’s help and advice. She comes along side and not only teaches him how to relate to his niece, she also shows him how to overcome his past hurts and open his heart to love again. Seeking His Love is published by Steeple Hill and available on September 28th.

CFBR: How do you use Fiction to connect people to God?

Carrie: I believe Christian fiction not only offers people a great way to relax and escape, it provides hope, encouragement, and inspiration as readers identify with the experiences of the characters, and then see how their faith is lived out. Fiction has a way of touching the heart just like the parables of Jesus did. If God's truth is skillfully woven into the story, then it can have a lasting impact on readers.

CFBR: What is your writing process? 

Carrie: I use a combination of pre-writing tools including Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake program and Susie Warren's My Book Therapy ideas. I get to know my characters, their dreams, fears, goals, desires, the lies they believe and the truths that will set them free, and then I outline the story. Each day when I sit down to write I reread a bit from the day before, lightly editing, then I continue on and work toward my word count goal. I try to turn off the internal editor and just write, knowing it is a bit stinky, but that I will be able to go back and revise. That is tough. I want it to come out perfect the first time I write, but that doesn't usually happen, and that's okay. It's better to be creative and get it down, then go back later and revise. 

CFBR: What authors do you draw inspiration from?

Carrie: I love to read! Some of my favorites are Cathy Gohlke, Trish Perry, Jan Karron, Siri Mitchell, Denise Hunter, Robin Lee Hatcher, and many others. 

CFBR: How do you market and promote your books?

Carrie: I believe the best marketing tool is to write a great book that makes readers want to buy that next book. I also believe in building relationships with readers by responding to their emails, connecting on facebook, and offering them information on my website and through newsletters to keep them informed about my books. I do a lot of online promotion through blog interviews. I give away free books all the time. This summer I took speakers training through Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference so I can improve in that area. I attend conferences and learn all I can. I promote other authors and am involved in American Christian Fiction Writers. That's a great organization for training and networking.

CFBR: Do you have any advice for aspiring Christian Fiction authors?

Carrie: I encourage aspiring authors to join ACFW. You can learn so much about the business of publishing and the skills you need to improve your writing. They have an informative e-loop, monthly classes, a great website with tons of info archived, critique groups, and a fantastic annual national conference. It's in Indianapolis this year, September 17 - 20. Visit their website for info.

After you write that first book, write a second. You learn how to write by writing and reading, so don't stop after that first book. You never know how successful you could be if you quit. I wrote 5 complete books before the first one was accepted by a publisher. That took me about 5 years. It was a huge investment, but I consider those books like going to college to study writing. And now when I look back at my first book I cringe a little, and I am glad I kept learning and growing as a writer. 

CFBR: Thank you so much for sharing with us.

CFBR: You're welcome, John. I want to invite your blog readers to come by my website for more tips for writers, info on my books, recipes, articles, a list of books I'm reading and recommend, photos, and more. Blessings and happy reading and writing!

Carrie Turansky
http://www.facebook.com/l/f9fcbi6WCU-6Ans7gyT2UxNWn0Q;www.carrieturansky.com


Available at Amazon
Seeking His Love
Christmas Mail-Order Brides