“Is there an author you can suggest who has really grown in his or her craft? I’d like to see if I can see the progression.” It was an unexpected question, but a good one. And I had an answer—blurted it out before I realized I did. “Toni Shiloh.” “Okay, so how has she grown?” I remembered Continue Reading
Book Reviews
What Do You Do When You Think Your Marriage Was a Mistake?
She sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, ran the church office, and directed every pageant and VBS the church had produced during her years as the pastor’s wife. Not once did I ever hear a harsh word come from her lips. Never did she look weary or wounded. And even as a teenager, I knew she Continue Reading
So Why Is Everyone in Love with Just Let Go?
As my finger slid along the trackpad, inching the cursor away from the link on the Facebook page, a message popped up. “Why do we judge books by their covers when most authors don’t design their own cover art, anyway?” Guilt slammed into me and knocked me flat on my rump. You’d think with all Continue Reading
What Awesome Book Did I Drown My Literary Sorrows In?
The book wouldn’t leave me. I’d finished reading, despite not wanting to, wrote the review, also despite not wanting to, and moved on. Except I couldn’t. The book haunted my thoughts. A friend said, “What you need is another book. I just finished a great one. Among the Poppies. Try it.” I Continue Reading
The Secret Confessions of a Disappointed Reader
“So… you write Christian fiction. I didn’t know that was a thing. Is there a market for that?” I tried not to laugh. No, really. I did. I mean, is there a Christian fiction readership? Thankfully, the gal didn’t notice that I’d choked back a laugh that morphed into what was probably a maniacal Continue Reading
So, Did The Captured Bride Steal My Heart?
“Can I order a burger?” I nodded and waved my daughter off. She stopped and stared. “You didn’t say, ‘May I.' What are you reading?” “A new book by one of new my favorite authors.” Well, that’s what I meant to say. I think I interjected a few words from the storyline in there, too. Speaking Continue Reading
I Gave This Author a Second Chance, & This Is What I Thought
“Why would you want to read another one of Jody Hedlund’s books? You didn’t like the last one you read.” Okay, I admit it. I kind of blinked. Several times. At the insistent expression on my friend’s face (one I only imagined since we were chatting over messenger), I bit. “I didn’t?” “No… you only Continue Reading
What Happens When an Author Mashes Two of My Favorite Books?
If anyone asks me, “Where should I go to find a good book to read,” you might assume I’d say, “Um, the library” or “a bookstore, duh!” Even, “Amazon,” would suffice, right? Nope. I say, “Check out Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook.” Why? Because that place has seriously good book Continue Reading
3 Delightful Reasons to Read An Imperfect Promise ASAP
Third baby. Birthing Center. A cold, May night. While I labored, breathing through each contraction, a favorite book played out on the TV. I couldn’t believe it. Anne of Green Gables—as a movie. Brilliant movie… or so it seemed between contractions that never seemed to let up. The world’s most Continue Reading
What Makes Presumption & Partiality So Great, Anyway?
“We’re doing retellings of Austen’s works but set in America during the Depression.” Over Facebook messenger, Rebekah Jones told me how she’d been given Pride and Prejudice as her inspiration. All I could think of was, When’ll it be done? I’ve got to read this! “I think I’ll make Darcy part Continue Reading
So, Why Guide Your Mind & Guard Your Heart?
The first wince came. Because I have a gift (or curse—depending on your perspective. Just call me Monk) for being able to see both sides of an issue, I decided to assume it meant what wasn’t actually stated. Because, as we all know, Christianese sometimes uses phrases that are metaphoric. You Continue Reading
What I Thought of The Tempering Agent
Victorville. 1981. My parents and I went to the movies just a few weeks before I turned eleven. They wanted to see Clash of the Titans. It sounded boring to me. I opted, instead, to see Raiders of the Lost Ark. Mom and Dad thought it sounded ridiculous. So, when we met up again outside the Continue Reading
