Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

I really enjoyed the first book of the Songbird Series, and I love Rachel's writing, so I knew I needed to check this one out.

Let's begin with the summary:

Jade has moved from her past toward a bright future. But then the man she loves most destroys her trust.

Jade Fitzgerald's hope for a perfect marriage shatters when her husband confesses he has an illegitimate son. What's more, he wants to raise the boy in their home.

Hurting and confused, Jade embarks on a road trip to Iowa to take her sick mother to her childhood home. In the comfort of the old homeplace, Jade struggles with her fears and the tug of her first love. With the help of her family and her faith, she comes to understand her future doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's mercy.

And now, my review:

I found a lot of the world in this book. So often, in Christian fiction you’re protected from the harsher side of recurring infidelity, selfish living, deception, temptation, even the frightening aspects of mental illness. This book dives deeply into those areas, without apology. It’s definitely not the usual read. It reads as very real.

But against the backdrop of darkness and the heroine’s troubled life, we find the name of Jesus over and over. We see His grace. We watch Him break in with redemption. His light is brighter in their darkness. Loved this quote: “Jade was learning to be at home with Jesus. No matter what her circumstances.” Great takeaway. The title's referenced hymn worked very well in the storyline. Rachel Hauck has her own way of incorporating spiritual elements (the Jesus factor) into her novels, which I love. Well done.

This novel was very engaging. Readers will have a hard time putting it down. I was hooked from page one through the end. If you’re interested in reading something well-written, but a little raw in terms of emotions and situations, you’ll enjoy this outside-the-box book. I look forward to the final book in the Songbird Series: Love Lifted Me.

Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck

I hit the jackpot when I brought Dining With Joy along on our Christmas vacation. No, it’s not a seasonal novel—but it’s so much fun! A great getaway read.

Let's begin with the back cover copy:

"Chef" Joy Ballard longs for a simpler life. But when a good-looking outsider arrives and spices things up, life becomes deliciously complicated.

Host of a regionally syndicated cooking show, Joy Ballard has a little secret: she can't cook. But when her show is picked up by a major network and given a prime time slot, her world heats up faster than a lowcountry boil.

Enter Luke Redmond: handsome, creative, and jobless after having to declare bankruptcy of his Manhattan restaurant. When her producers ask him to co-host the show, Joy sees Luke as her way out. But Luke sees much more than just a co-host in Joy.

Their relationship begins to simmer on and off set. Until Joy's secret is revealed and her reputation is ruined on national television by her rival, Wenda Devine.

But could Devine's cruelty be a divine gift? Losing Luke--and her sister--forces Joy to consider where her worth really comes from. Could God be cooking up an even bigger adventure from the mess? And will Joy hang on long enough to find out?

And now, my review:

God is good. God is love.

Those two phrases carry the heroine through some uncertain times. Great motto for readers too. Rachel excels with these Jesus-factor moments. I found myself applying this phrase to my own life a few times, between chapters.

Feeling is healing.

Don’tcha love when you unearth a shining nugget? The hero resists alcohol’s numbing effects and chooses to feel the pain of healing. Another motto for life.

Rachel Hauck’s blend of delicious romance (hello!) with recipes and setting rocked. Let’s camp on the romance a moment, shall we? Rachel has a knack for blending subtexts and passion in such a satisfying way. You’ll want this couple together.

I read a lot, especially romance. I have to say Rachel’s book is definitely near the top of my list of faves for 2010.

Don’t miss this great read. And feel free to devour it without having read the other two Lowcountry novels first. You won’t be lost.

Enjoy the romance, the quirky characters, the fun, the romance (*grin*), the cooking and the Jesus-factor.

Highly recommended!

The Sweet By and By - Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck

It's not often you run across such a well-written, "heart-hitting" story. Bravo, Sara and Rachel. Let's begin with the back cover copy.

Here's the summary:

A redemptive story from multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans, cowritten with Rachel Hauck.

Jade Fitzgerald left the pain of her past in the dust when she headed out for college a decade ago. Now she's thriving in her career and glowing in the light of Max Benson's love.

But then Jade's hippie mother, Beryl Hill, arrives in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, for Jade's wedding along with Willow, her wild younger sister. Their arrival forces Jade to throw open the dark closets of her past--the insecurity of living with a restless, wandering mother, the silence of her absent father, and the heart-ripping pain of first-love's rejection.

Turns out Beryl has a secret of her own. She needs reconciliation with her oldest daughter before illness takes her life. In the final days leading to the wedding, Jade meets the One who shows her that the past has no hold on her future. With a little grace, they'll meet in the middle, maybe even before that sweet by and by.

And now my review:

The prose pulled me into this touching and meaningful tale. Chockfull of universal themes, it’s hard to put down. Jade’s relationships are central the story, and readers will likely see their own relationships mirrored there. Jade’s rapport with her mother is strained. Jade raised her sister and resents her mother for her absence in their younger years. Jade’s fiancé wants to leave the past behind, but naively so. What of the truths about each other that will affect their future together? They’ll have to delve into their yesterdays in order to begin their tomorrows.

Jade struggles to correctly frame her past. She learns how to be honest about her role in her own life, where she influenced the relationships and decisions. I could relate with some of Jade’s trials. As I read, I questioned my own position on my past. Jade can’t move on until she 1) correctly perceives the incidents of her past, 2) experiences forgiveness and 3) is healed. There is a lot of wisdom in that list, a good combination with universal themes for this first novel by Sara Evans. I appreciated Rachel Hauck’s wordsmithing, right from the beginning. It’s a hard-earned skill by most writers. Especially making it look easy, like Rachel has done.

My favorite aspects, though, were the supernatural elements. The Jesus encounter was delicious, and expressed in an unapologetic way. I long to see more of that in Christian fiction.

Tackling some tough issues with the perfect blend of honesty and humor, The Sweet By and By is a powerful and poignant read.

Highly recommended.

Conference!

Gail Sattler, Dawn Kinzer, myself and Evelyn Ray
(from ACFW conference, last year)

Hey everyone,

Conference was fantastic!! Denver is beautiful, what we saw of it, which wasn't much since we spent days inside the beautiful hotel. :-) The wonderful writers who attended filled the place with love and kindness. God's presence poured out in so many directions as we fellowshiped, took classes together and worshiped as one.

Donald Maass presented a workshop at the beginning of conference. His class was very helpful to both myself and the many writers I talked with about it afterwards. Eye-opening. I came home inspired to work on the nuggets his workshop brought to the surface.

Katie Ganshert attended and it was fun to see her since she's been on Seriously Write, the blog I cohost with Dawn Kinzer. I knew I should know her face! So, when I caught a glimpse of her name badge it hit--she's the one visiting SW on Mondays. Fun!

Got to hug Julie Lessman, Janice Thompson, Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, Denise Hunter, Gail Sattler (who travels with us), Betsy St. Amant with her hubby Brandon, and so many others. Rachel Hauck won the Book of the Year for "Sweet Caroline." Julie Lessman won in the debut category for "A Passion Most Pure." Sharon Hinck won for both "The Restorer's Journey" and "Stepping into Sunlight"! All of these authors have visited Net's Book Notes and are friends, so it was such a joy for them to win! What a pleasure to connect with writers I haven't seen in a year and to make new friends, as well. Rene Gutteridge taught on screenwriting and graciously signed my copy of her new book "Never the Bride." Sandie Bricker's beautiful smiling face blessed me often as I kept running into her. She visted a while ago for her book "Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas" her very successful romantic comedy--the book which launched the Summerside LFY line. She's also guested at Seriously Write.

It occurred to me this year again that I go to these writers' conferences as a writer, sure, but so much of my enjoyment is as a fan, as well! I run around the booksigning taking pics and asking for signatures. I shoot pics of the bookstore tables, heavily laden with delicious Christian fiction.

When I get a chance I'll post a few pictures. (The pic above is from last year's conference banquet, hope you don't mind. :-)

My To Be Read (TBR) pile doubled, so check back to see reviews of more great Christian fiction coming soon.

Check out the ACFW Conference blog for photos and news! New ACFW member Ted Dekker dropped by to greet fellow members. There's a great picture of him with our AWESOME prez Cynthia Ruchti and marketing specialist Jim Rubart.

Happy reading!!

New Books

Yesterday a box of books arrived. I added them next to the row of novels for review on the shelf. I've gotta fit them in somehow. And then there are the ones I've been wanting to read from last year, on another shelf. And a few from the local library when I get a chance. It's wonderfully overwhelming. :o) If you're a writer, you know reading is part of your job. You gotta stay up to date with what's out there. And reading other people's books in your genre will help you write better and find your own voice. I love that I get to read as part of my work. Of course, since I've been studying writing, novels are a project now--textbooks to dissect and learn from.

So, look for reviews of Jamie Carie's "Wind Dancer," Denise Hunter's "Sweetwater Gap," and Karen Kingsbury's "Take One," book one in her new "Above the Line" series.

And great news about some of the authors I've featured here: Denise Hunter, Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren (in the order they popped into my head) are all RITA finalists!!!! This is a great achievement and is very exciting!!! Ladies, we wish you the best!