Rooms by James L. Rubart

Rooms by James L. Rubart released April 1st and already there is a need for more copies. Not a bad problem to have. And I can see why. What an amazing first novel.

Let's begin with the summary:

On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out. Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. And after meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend. When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like the tide years ago, and he wants to keep it that way. But as he slowly discovers, the home isn't just spiritual, it's a physical manifestation of his soul, which God uses to heal Micah's darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.

And now my review:

With fresh insights and powerful spins on what readers think they know, this book reminded me of David Gregory’s (Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, etc.) poignant prose. You’ll find yourself second-guessing old paradigms and willingly shifting to embrace freedom.

A thriving theme this century is “go for your dreams.” I believe God is in dreams. Jim’s book takes this to another level, challenging readers to dig deep to discover their own heart’s desires and release the past, all lies and all hindrances to God in the pursuit.

I enjoy reading of supernatural encounters with God, or supernatural settings. Every time Micah turns around he finds a new surprise. I think this element of Rooms brought something fresh and unexpected. Readers truly couldn’t hold to old paradigms when even natural laws were no longer upheld.

Christian fiction has the potential to both woo a reader closer to God, as well as help a reader find hope or life or freedom. If a book draws me to prayer, to encounter the living God, to listen for His voice again for myself, that book crosses a line. It becomes a tool in the hand of God to change people’s lives for eternity because every encounter with God matters eternally. Bravo (and thanks) to Jim for helping make that happen.

This book also brought The Shack to mind because of 1) Jim’s bold approach to the supernatural. 2) Well-depicted encounters with God (which were on a completely different plain than those of The Shack, which I also truly enjoyed). And 3) Like that book, this novel changed my life. It requires readers to take action.

I'm sure I'll be thinking about this book for a long while to come. I don’t know how a writer follows a book like this, but I hope Jim does. And soon.

Get Swept Away Contest

Last week, I reviewed Sarah Sundin's "A Distant Melody." This week, I wanted to let you know about a contest she and Litfuse publications are sponsoring.

Debut author, Sarah Sundin, is celebrating the release of her first novel, A Distant Melody by hosting a social sharing promotion! Click the icon above to enter this fab-o contest. Tell your friends and earn extra entries!

A Distant Melody is book 1 in Sarah Sundin's exciting Wings of Glory series. Sarah has partnered with Litfuse Publicity Group for the Netflix® & Nostalgia Contest! Sarah's offering one Grand Prize winner the chance to get NOSTALGIC!

THE PRIZE:

The Winner of the 'NETFLIX® & Nostalgia' giveaway will receive a vintage prize package, including:

*A 6 month NETFLIX® subscription
*$25 Starbucks® gift card
*A box of See's Famous Old Time Chocolates®
*A jar of homemade strawberry jam
*A Big Band music CD
*A Mini B-17 Model airplane
*Vintage stationery and pen
*British specialty tea
*WWII style playing cards

For more information just click on the "Get Swept Away" icon above! Contest will run April 5th and run through April 25th!

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Read any good WWII fiction lately? Here's one to pick up, whether you're a history buff or not.

Let's begin with the summary:

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart? A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

And now, my review:

I feel as if Sarah Sundin took me on a tour of history. She obviously knew her time period, both in a technical sense as well as a broad sense. Readers get to climb into the cockpit of a B-17 and endure wartime missions with Jack Novak and his crew. Not only are the military aspects rich and engaging, the romance is strong as well. I loved that the hero and heroine weren’t perfect (as far as attraction is concerned), how Walt was a bit clumsy socially with women. I enjoyed the playfulness between the two main characters and their shared interest in music. Again, the time setting was so foreign (because I didn’t live in the ‘40s), but fun because it gave me a taste of what it may have been like to live then. Both of these characters had to face some moral dilemmas around lies and what constitutes a lie, plus the consequences of lying. A mark of a strong novel is for readers not to feel frustrated with the delays in achieving the main story goals. I did not feel frustrated, but rather than the storyline was believable and enjoyable. Bravo, Sarah! I also loved that the romance developed through letters written back and forth between hero and heroine. Yum!

It’s rare to find such a well-written debut novel. Sarah not only knows her history, she’s a skillful writer. I have a feeling we’ll see a lot more from her. Looking forward to A Memory Between Us due out this fall.

Christian Fiction Releases: April, 2010

Here is the Christian fiction new release list as compiled by American Christian Fiction Writers. Congratulations, writers! Readers, enjoy!

1. A Promise Forged, Heartsong Presents Historical Ohio Series by Cara C. Putman An historical from Heartsong Presents. A player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League finds challenges and love as she travels with her team.

2. Abbie Ann; Daughters of Jacob Kane, 3rd & final installment. by Sharlene MacLaren An historical romance from Whitaker House. Abbie Ann, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1907, butts heads with a handsome divorcee, blindsided when she realizes her utter attraction to him.

3. Blood Ransom; Mission Hope Series, Book 1 by Lisa Harris A suspense/mystery/thriller from Zondervan. A thriller about the modern-day slave trade and those who dare to challenge it.

4. Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson A suspense/mystery/thriller from Steeple Hill. When a teacher finds on the playground a backpack belonging to her long-ago abducted sister, she turns to the principal, an ex-private detective, to stop a child-killer from targeting her daughter.

5. Chesapeake Weddings by Cecelia Dowdy A romance from Barbour. Life sends three African American women into a tailspin; Can these women let God rebuild their tattered hopes when new romances unexpectedly enter their lives?

6. Code Blue by Richard L. Mabry M.D. A suspense/mystery/thriller from Abingdon. A doctor finds that returning to her home town has put her in the midst of conflict and possibly marked her for death

7. Crossroads Bay by Kathleen Kovach A romance from Heartsong Presents. A beautiful charter boat captain searches for lost treasure while her real prize is the caterer trying to keep up with her.

8. Damages by Deborah Kinnard A romance from Desert Breeze. A story of second chances, found in an unexpected place.

9. In Plain Sight by Michelle Sutton A suspense/mystery/thriller from Desert Breeze. Abused by her gypsy ex-boyfriend and left for dead, Jovana moves to America seeking a new life; two handsome men desire her heart, but she must choose the right one or end up in a situation much worse than before.

10. Lorenzo and the Pirate by Rick and Lila Guzman An historical from Blooming Tree Press. Will Lorenzo Bannister, marooned on a deserted island with two pirates, ever get home to New Orleans?

11. Love Lessons by Margaret Daley A romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Alexa Michaels brings a breath of fresh air into Ian Ferguson's and his daughter's life, but is it enough to make Ian trust in love again?

12. Lucky Baby by Meredith Efken A women's fiction from Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. Will adopting an orphan from China bring Meg and Lewis the happiness they long for?

13. Mountain Peril by Sandra Robbins A suspense/mystery/thriller from Steeple Hill, Love Inspired Suspense. A woman discovers violence has once again entered her life when a grisly website sets the stage for murder and terror on a peaceful college campus.

14. Queen of Hearts by K. Dawn Byrd A suspense/mystery/thriller from Desert Breeze. Daphne Dean never knew that serving her country as a spy during WWII would send her into hiding in an abandoned mental institution with secrets of its own.

15. Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson A suspense/mystery/thriller from Kregel. As Camden Bristow works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored on Crescent Hill, she discovers a deep family secret hidden within the mansion's walls that could change her life˜and the entire town˜forever.

16. Rodeo Sweetheart by Betsy St.Amant A romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. She grew up with a cowboy hat and a pony; he grew up with designer duds and a silver spoon. Will this mismatched couple ever be able to lasso their differences?

17. Rooms by Jim Rubart A suspense/mystery/thriller from B&H Fiction. A young Seattle software tycoon inherits a home on the Oregon coast that turns out to be a physical manifestation of his soul.

18. Scenarios for Girls, Book 3 by Nicole O'Dell General fiction from Barbour. Molly Jacobs isn't sure what she should do: Should she follow through with stealing some clothes for her friends from Magna the trendy girls clothing store where she works? Or should she do what she knows is right, even if it means losing her newfound popularity? Scenarios for Girls are interactive books that allow the reader to choose between alternate endings to make important, moral decisions for the main characters.

19. Scenarios for Girls, Book 4 by Nicole O'Dell General fiction from Barbour. Kate Walker joins the swim team and becomes obsessed with practice and making it through the championships with flying colors. What will Kate do when she's faced with pressure from her teammates to take an illegal substance that will help her swim multiple events in their championship meet? Scenarios for Girls are interactive books that allow the reader to choose between alternate endings to make important, moral decisions for the main characters.

20. Seasons in the Mist; Seasons of Destiny Book 1 by Deborah Kinnard A romance from Sheaf House. An eager historian, a time portal, and intrigue in King Edward III's court.

21. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell An historical from Bethany House. As Clara Carter makes her debut, she realizes it's not just her heart at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

22. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson An historical from Bethany House. Sixteen Civil War widows join the Ladies Emigration Society and head west to claim homesteads, only to find their organization has other plans. . . involving the word "brides.

23. Sworn to Protect by Diann Mills A suspense/mystery/thriller from Tyndale. Border Patrol Agent Danika Morales is caught up in a conspiracy and her life is at stake.

24. The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough A romance from Barbour. Three mail-order brides arrive expecting to marry the town marshal. But he didn't order a bride. A contest to discover which bride would make the best wife turns into mayhem when there is a fourth anonymous entry.

25. The Cowboy's Baby by Linda Ford A romance from Love Inspired Historical. The prodigal returns but is he too late for a second chance?

26. The Word Unleashed, Book 2 of Face in the Deep by Steve Rzasa A sci-fi/fantasy/futuristic from Marcher Lord Press. Baden Haczyk's adventure continues as he tries to keep the last Bible safe from the religious secret police.

27. Too Close to Home, Book 1 of the Women of Justice Series by Lynette Eason A suspense/mystery/thriller from Revell. An FBI agent and a detective must track down a killer of teenage girls before his next victim hits Too Close to Home.

28. Wildflower Hearts, Book 1 in Series Set in North Dakota by Vickie McDonough A romance from Barbour. Three siblings who live on a ranch face problems and romance in the North Dakota Badlands

29. Wildflowers of Terezin by Robert Elmer An historical from Abingdon Press. In Denmark's darkest days, is it duty, faith...or love?

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.

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand

I'm breaking from my usual women's fiction/romance reading to bring you a romantic suspense review. This one drew me because of the authors who teamed up to write it.

First, the summary (including a bit of backstory on how the story came to be):

When novelists Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand first met in a Houston critique group, they never expected where friendship would take them. She wrote romance; he wrote crime novels. But growing respect for each other's work culminated in the decision to try blending their talents into this wonderfully engaging story merging romance and mystery. Rylee Monroe walks dogs in old-money Charleston, a part of the city recently targeted by a daring thief. Logan Woods works the crime beat for the local paper but dreams of a life as a nonfiction writer. When the string of robberies takes a strange twist, Logan sees the making of a once-in-a-lifetime book that seems to circle around this charming, eye-catching dogwalker. But pursuing the truth means ignoring that he seems to be falling for her. And what is she hiding in her past that could crack the story wide open?

And now, my review:

When two people with strong gifts in their genre team up, you get a solid novel. That's what Beguiled is. I will admit it took a while for me to get into this book. Generally, I move on if this happens; I'm glad I didn't give up on this one. The romance is worth it. The suspense kicks in and you read swiftly through the pages. Deeanne's skill in writing romance shows through the characters actions. You believe in the hero's desire to put aside his own fears and protect the heroine. And I appreciated how the suspense kept me engaged, as well. I've mentioned this before in my reviews -- I rarely have the opportunity to read male authors' works. Whenever I do I notice a commonality, especially in suspense. Short, packed prose. So, as I read it, I enjoyed guessing which areas were more influenced by Mark or Deeanne. Hope they collaborate again. Great book.

Guest Author: Allie Pleiter

I'm pleased to welcome my friend Allie Pleiter to Net's Book Notes today.

The Inspiration Behind Easter Promises
by Allie Pleiter

Misery loves company. Especially when it’s one-to-one. The most compelling love stories involve two people taken to the edge of their coping. On a spiritual level, I have always believed the end of our ropes is holy ground where God makes the biggest (but most painful) improvements to our souls. Emotionally, it is where two hearts no longer have the energy to resist each other and love has its best chance to break through.

Now, just add the sheep.

No, really. That’s what I did. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Back it up six months or so when a local sheep farm I know sent out an email. They were asking for prayers because they were facing a surprise population explosion of lambs. The work, it seems, of a particularly . . . um . . . romantic ram who took his job description a little too seriously. As a knitter and a romance writer, I found the story absolutely priceless. So when Steeple Hill came to me asking to write an Easter story to wrap up my beloved Kentucky Corners series, well, it didn’t take long for my muse to put two and two together. Or, in this case, one control freak librarian, one grieving widower veterinarian, and four very pregnant sheep. I’ve recounted this premise easily a dozen times in the past three weeks, and I still giggle about it.

We love stories because stories unravel all around us (no knitting pun intended). They’re hiding in everyday conversations, email newsletters, newspaper stories, that funny look the guy at the bus stop gave you. Whether you’re a writer or a reader, your love of story can always enrich your world.

Or, in my case, put a little fleece in your fiction.

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Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. An avid knitter, harp player, and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools, and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University, and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The "dare from a friend" to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; BECOMING A CHIEF HOME OFFICER and FACING EVERY MOM'S FEARS, and now novels for Steeple Hill. She is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella.