Edgy Inspirational Author

About the Book:

Sometimes, the key that unlocks your future lies in someone else’s past...

In Ruby Among Us, Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art─but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is eager to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

My review:

Ruby Among Us starts with a heavy theme, but it's important in order to understand Lucy's perspective throughout the story. If you love and miss your mother who has passed on, this story will move you to tears of healing and unleash memories of love. My mother had gone to be with the Lord for over ten years now, and reading Ruby Among Us sparked memories of loving times as I reached the conclusion of the book.

I don't want to give away any key plot points because half the pull of this story is not knowing imporant things about Lucy, Kitty and Ruby's pasts, and wanting so desperately to find out that you have trouble putting the book down. Forkner's writing style and voice is fresh, unique, and insightful. It's beautiful how she pulls you into the heart and mind of someone sheltered from life so much that she truly is an innocent in many of the things that take place around her. But the fresh, healing experiences she embraces, and her journey toward trusting others outside her immediate family is exciting and deep. And the romantic portions of this book are WONDERFUL and exciting. I felt my heart being tugged and moved with the tiny steps of faith that Lucy made toward healing...and toward love.

For someone who has always had a father in her life, it was eye-opening for me to see how truly painful it is for a young woman to never have a father figure in her life. In fact, so much pain is evoked that the hurt can taint choices and destroy a young woman's security for years to come. Our culture has tried very hard to shut down the importance of a man's role in a family and in a daughter's heart. Ruby Among Us beautifully illustrates how erroneous this belief is. For that reason alone I would love to see many men embrace this book. The bummer is that this story was so good I'm sad it had to end. I am praying that Waterbrook has enough sense to realize that readers will want more of Forkner's work in their hands, so hopefully there will be a sequel coming. Pretty please?

Ruby Among Us was published by Waterbrook/Random House and released in May 2008.

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About the book:

When her sister Becca disappears, Claire returns to an abandoned estate where they played as children. There she finds a curious note: "Something terrible and wonderful has happened." A desperate chase begins, taking Claire from a haunted North Carolina inn to a rectory in Yorkshire, England. Can she solve the mystery---and save Becca?

My review:

Skizzer is an interesting book, yet I'm not sure how I feel about it. The fact that I actually finished the story shows it's compelling enough for me to keep on reading, but I didn't perceive much of a spiritual journey for the main character until the very end, and even that was minor. There was not much of an emotional pull for me in this book, either. I guess I kept waiting for that to happen and then the story ended. I did find the sister dynamics interesting as well as the notion that sometimes history repeats itself with sudden disappearances of loved ones. The sense of distress I caught from Rainey was well-done in that I understood his bewilderment, but I was hoping for more of an emotional investment on my end.

So while this story didn't choke me up or keep me on the edge of my seat, it was a nice, cozy read sort of like Robin Gunn's Finding Father Christmas. I enjoyed that story, too, but it had a similar pacing, plot and theme that brought me along but never took my breath away. Maybe it's the English mystery thing that doesn't yank my chain. But I did enjoy some of the backstory in the book, especially the part where Aunt Jess tells about the family history. That said, I did enjoy this book, but something was missing...I'm just not sure what that something was.

Skizzer was published by Revell and released in January 2008.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sigmund Brouwer is the author of eighteen best-selling novels for children and adults. His newest book is Fuse of Armageddon and his novel The Last Disciple was featured in Time magazine and on ABC's Good Morning America. A champion of literacy, he teaches writing workshops for students in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. Sigmund is married to Christian recording artist Cindy Morgan, and they and their two daughters divide their time between homes in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and Nashville, Tennessee.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her birth was shrouded in mystery and tragedy.
Her destiny is beyond comprehension.
Her pursuers long to see her broken.
She fights to soar.

A father's love for his daughter?a decision that would change both their lives forever. But who is she really?and why must she now run for her life?

Caitlin's body has made her an outcast, a freak, and the target of vicious bounty hunters. As she begins a perilous journey, she is forced to seek answers for her father's betrayal in the only things she can carry with her?a letter he passes her before forcing her to run, and their shared memories together.

Being hunted forces Caitlyn to partner with two equally lonely companions, one longing to escape the horror of factory life in Appalachia and the others, an unexpected fugitive. Together the three will fight to reach a mysterious group that might be friend or foe, where Caitlyn hopes to uncover the secrets of her past...and the destiny she must fulfill.

In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, a nation carved from the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn and her companions are the prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit the relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn's existence-and understand her father's betrayal.

Prepare yourself to experience a chilling America of the very near future, as you discover the unforgettable secret of the Broken Angel.

In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous culture only one or two steps removed from our own.

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

My review:

Broken Angel was... interesting. The author is... imaginative. Okay, it was a strange book. Really strange. But it had a good message despite the weirdness and occasionally sick-o scenes. What I gleaned from Broken Angel is that if you take your eyes off Christ and get so wrapped up in the culture that you forget grace, then you can be led away to the point where you've forgotten what it really means to be a Christian. Oh, and when legalism abounds we are not far from the Nazis and the control they had over their society.

Extremist? Perhaps. But I see no harm in Brouwer creating a story to bring those points out if we want to avoid repeating history. And the ending was...interesting. I almost get the impression there could be a sequel to this bizarre tale. And honestly, the book was compulsively readable and though several times Broken Angel was graphic and descriptive enough to make me shudder, I'd read the next book in the series if there is one. Why? Because good does eventually overcome evil, and because God is good.

Broken Angel was published by Waterbrook Press and released for sale yesterday, so I'm sure there are still plenty in stock.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Facing a new threat.

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.

Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.

As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

My review:

Amy Wallace can write a gripping tale of romantic suspense like none other. And Healing Promises was so riveting I finished it quickly despite my busy schedule. The characters were all very well developed and felt so real. I loved how romantic many of the scenes were, especially with Clint and Sara. Yet, they had their marital challenges, too. There were never pat answers to the trials they went through but true emotion and spiritual struggles abounded. I loved the honesty and the detail regarding Clint's struggle with his health. The research was very well done. I also loved how the author got me hooked in advance on the characters of Michael and Hanna. It's a no brainer that I am going to want to read the next installment in this series. I loved these secondary characters and the issues they struggled with. Very well done. This story had so many touching scenes and emotionally gripping conflicts that I can't pick one to discuss without spoiling the story. So I'll refrain. I have to say, however, that the POV of the killer was pretty creepy but very realistic. The psychology of the man was right on target and the hunt for the man who killed children was well paced enough to keep you on your seat and holding your breath. Sometimes when I read a book I find myself wanting to skip over some points of view to get to others but this story was well balanced in that respect. I'm just so impressed with this story. I loved it even more than the first book. It can only keep getting better. Highly recommended. This book is a winner!

Healing Promises is published by Multnomah and was released in April 2008.

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Synopsis

In her most transcendent novel to date, RITA Award-winning author Deborah Raney depicts a driven, ambitious man shaken into a journey of self-discovery by the death of his son.

As "Dr. Botox" to the bored, rich women of Chicago, plastic surgeon Max Jordan was shocked by the decision of his son, Joshua, to focus his medical talent on Haitian orphans. Embittered by Joshua's death, Max searched for resolution in the very place his son called home. The selfless labor of Joshua's co-workers stunned Max, and he was particularly taken by American volunteer Valerie Austin, whose view of his son's sacrifice, and her own, challenged Max's values and assumptions. Transformed by his visit to Haiti, and especially by his encounters with Valerie, Max wondered if he could ever return to his "Max-a-Million" lifestyle, or if the doors to his gilded cage had finally opened.

My review:

Over the Waters is one of those rare books that is good enough to read twice. The emotion is deep,the romance is beatiful, and the selfless love of the characters is admirable. Neither main character started out giving of themselves with full abandon to God and His service, but as they grow in Him and listen to His voice they are pulled by His love in that direction. I adore love stories written by Deb Raney and this is no exception. In fact, it's one of my favorites. What thrills me most, however, about the re-release of this book, is that the epilogue includes some yummy kisses. Yahoo! What a fabulous way to end a beautiful romance story. If you haven't experienced the emotional and spiritual rush from reading the first release of Over the Waters, then you MUST check out this version (the mass market paperback) with the brand new epilogue!

Over the Waters was published by Steeple Hill and released in Oct. 2005, then re-released in 2008.

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About the book:

Eleven years ago, Vera Gamble's brother left their house never to be seen again. Until the day Vera gets a phone call that his body has been found...washed ashore in the tiny island town of Winter Haven, Maine. His only surviving kin, Vera travels north to claim the body...and finds herself tumbling into a tangled mystery. Her brother hasn't aged a day since last she saw him.

Determined to uncover what happened in those lost years, Vera soon discovers there are other secrets lurking in this isolated town. But Winter Haven's murky past now seems bound to come to light as one woman seeks the undeniable and flooding light of truth.

My review:

Winter Haven starts with intrigue and never lets up until the very end. I found this book particularly fascinating because Vera's lost brother had autism and the author goes into some childhood memories that were very well done. And the dysfunction in Vera's family that she experienced growing up was powerful. What worse thing could happen to a preacher/healer than to have two children that he couldn't heal? Can you imagine the conflict? Needless to say it definitely hurt Vera in permanent ways. Plus the island was downright spooky. I even read some chapters out loud because they were that freaky. Don't read this book at night. Trust me, you'll have trouble sleeping. But the tension was great and the mysterious islanders and those crazy legends will leave you tense until you find out what the deal is with that place. The ending of the story was weird, yet satisfying as it did explain some things. All I can say is this author has a fabulous imagination and understands insanity and dysfunction well. But not everything is in Vera's head. To find out what I mean you'll have to read the book. That's all I'm saying. :)

Winter Haven was published by Bethany House and released in April 2008.

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About the book:

When a shadow falls over the MacAuley family, newlyweds Jonathan and Maggie Stuart find their faith and newly discovered happiness tested in unforeseen ways. An abrupt summons to return from their honeymoon wrenches them from the joy of their early days of marriage and thrusts them into the midst of a family in anguish.

Responsible for helping their loved ones heal, while maintaining and nurturing their own relationship and their love for each other, the young couple faces a challenge that will ultimately define their marriage and decide their future.

My review:

As usual, BJ Hoff has delivered a captivating historical fiction novel that is hard to put down. The realistic setting and characters made it truly enthralling. I loved the situation with Maggie and her husband becoming parents overnight. There were so many facets to this book...from dealing with loss, to choosing your priorities, being supportive of family, addressing issues of domestic violence and the aftermath, living with chronic pain, etc. Each situation was well done and by the book's end I was wishing there were more books coming in the series. But regardless, The Song Weaver is a fabulous conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. Any true lover of historical fiction will find this novel captivating. The one thing I didn't get, however, was the title, because though there was some singing indicated in the book, I didn't see the "song weaver" as an applicable title that summarized the story. But despite that tiny flaw, this was a top notch book. On the one hand there was plenty of action to keep you reading, topped with just enough drama to keep your attention and hold it steady.

The Song Weaver was published by Harvest House and released in April 2007.

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