Never Fall Again by author Lynn H. Blackburn is a Christian contemporary novel. It is a suspense, mystery, action, romance that takes place in the mountains of North Carolina’s Gossamer Falls. While it is a very good book, it took me a long time to become invested in the story and characters.
This is the story of Landry Hutton. She has hired former marine and contractor Callum Shaw to build a house for her and her daughter, Eliza. Unfortunately, bad things start happening to discourage that.
The author’s style of writing started out a bit slow but picked up. She skillfully crafted her characters. They are unique, relatable, and believable. Some were kind and lovable and others not at all. The action scenes are tense. There are a few twists and a mystery to keep readers guessing.
The Christian message is not hidden. Not only is it about trusting God and His plan, but also deals with the topic of people professing to be Christians but not acting in a Christlike manner. It is very thought provoking.
I definitely recommend this book for contemporary fiction lovers. It has a little bit of everything, including a darling girl and sweet dog. This would make a nice reading group choice. There is an abundance to discuss. I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest thoughts.
Back Cover:
Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. After serving as the artist-in-residence, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home in which to grow up.
Former Marine Callum Shaw always knew he would someday join his family’s construction business in Gossamer Falls. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. The beautiful artist who has hired him to build her new house is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. He’s loved–and lost–someone like her before.
When Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire, it becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger–but from whom? Cal will have to risk his heart again if he has any hope of protecting them.
Revell Publishing, March, 2024
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:
A Hope Fulfilled by April Gardner is a Biblical fiction based on the minor prophet Obadiah and the fall of Edom. The author offers her perspective on what might have happened. It is a captivating and fast read that made me want more.
I am only a fan of Biblical fiction that does not stray from the facts presented by scripture. This one seemed to do just that. Since I am not very proficient on this chapter, reading this novella sent me to my Bible to compare them. I learned that Obadiah is one of the shortest books in the Bible. The author did an imaginative job penning this tale. Her characters and descriptions transported me to a time and place that I had never been.
This is the story of Tikvah, a woman of faith. I loved how she spoke to God. As she tells her story it is easy to become invested in it. She is fiery, impulsive, and an important part of Obadiah’s prophecy.
Filled with faith, mystery, danger, twists, and intrigue this was an interesting take on the events in Obadiah and a quick read for me. At times it felt a bit rushed, and I wanted more – details, chapters, and intensity. Overall it is a very good book. At the end is information on Knowing Obadiah, a Christian Woman’s Bible Commentary, by author Gardner.
I do recommend this for those readers that love Biblical Fiction. For me it brought the fourth smallest book of the Bible to life where I could imagine what might have happened. It would make a nice reading group selection. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: A Hope Fulfilled
Author: April W Gardner
Genre: Biblical Fiction (Obadiah)
Release Date: November, 2023
One Hebrew slave’s courage and faith opens the gate on Edom’s demise.
Tikvah, a Hebrew slave in Edom, lives in hope of once again seeing Jerusalem, the Holy City. When a Babylonian general and his dashing Jewish liaison arrive at her master’s house, whispering plans of Edom’s destruction, she senses Yahweh at work. After all, there’s a prophecy foretelling His justice upon the kingdom. Tikvah clings to that promise while obediently following the call of service into the heart of danger. If only there were a promise she would come out the other side alive.
April W Gardner is an indie author whose great passion is historical romance with themes of Native American and Southeastern U.S. culture. Copyeditor, mother of two grown children, and non-trad college student, April lives in South Texas with her husband and two German Shepherds. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.
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So…Obadiah? Who ever heard of Obadiah as the backdrop for biblical fiction? I hadn’t. But that’s not where A Hope Fulfilled began…
In late December 2021, while deciding on a Bible reading goal for the upcoming year, I pondered which sections of the Bible I knew least. The minor prophets came to mind right off, then camped there as I asked myself what I knew about these little books.
I’d heard a million sermons preached from one or another of them over the years, but could I give even a one-sentence summary on any of the twelve? That question required a moment’s thought, which produced Jonah and the big fish, Hosea and his harlot wife, Joel and the locusts, Amos and… Uh, er, uh…
This was a problem. After burning some brain cells on the matter, I finally hung my head and admitted I was a minor failure. If I’d been tested right then on the minor prophets, I would have received a big red F.
How was this possible? I’m a missionary’s kid who never missed a church service, for goodness’ sake. This was unacceptable. I had an MK reputation to uphold.
Kidding, kidding. But the point remains. After 4.5 decades in church, I should be able to state every book’s title and theme. At a minimum. Anything less is spiritual laziness.
With that challenge in mind, I hitched up my trousers and set to work. My task? One minor prophet a month. I would read each one again and again, really drilling them home, absorbing their messages and banishing my spiritual “shame.”
By April, and my fourth read of Obadiah, I stared at my Bible, the verses swimming before me, and admitted to a second problem—despite my faithful rereading, the first four books were all running together in a mental smear of prophety messages.
Warning, judgment, doom, gloom. There was hope in there, too, of course. Praise God. And a harlot wife. I had that one down. But I was no closer to being able to distinguish them, to really understand the books with any kind of true ownership.
Since I’m a goal-girl, it made me a little sad to set aside my twelve-prophet year, but there was no getting around it. If this was going to work, I would have to go deeper, get messier, put on my work gloves and knee pads, and start digging.
New goal! Understand Obadiah. I’d worry about the rest once I had this one down. Fifteen months and three written books later, here we are, celebrating the release of my first biblical fiction, A Hope Fulfilled.
So, how did I get from studying a minor prophet to writing biblical fiction? The journey from point A to point B wasn’t very long. The series (A Fire and a Flame) started out as a Bible commentary for women, but when I got to exploring the history around Obadiah, my fiction brain kinda took over. It does that sometimes. Silly brain.
I did finish the commentary, but as soon as I allowed myself to ponder all the what-ifs of the event, the novella practically wrote itself.
Obadiah gives a fiction writer almost no details to build on. So, A Hope Fulfilled is what one might call an artist’s rendition of what might have happened during the fall of Edom. There were probably Hebrew slaves in Edom. One of them probably knew the prophecy of Edom’s doom. And that somebody might have, just might have, longed to help God’s justice play out.
Thus, Tikah and her story, A Hope Fulfilled, were born.
If the Boot Fits is Book Two in the Texas Ever After Series written by the incredibly talented author Karen Witemeyer. This Christian historical romance may easily be read as a standalone. It is an imaginative, fun retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella only in Texas with a reverse twist.
This is the story of Samantha Dearing. Her father has planned a large welcome home dance for her return from finishing school. It is also the tale of Asher Ellis, the Cinder-fella in this clever story. Everything about this is amazing. I loved the subtle references to the original fairytale. There is an inspiring Christian message woven throughout as well as thoughtful words of wisdom. The romance is sweet and the hero yummy.
The writing is superb and swept me away to Texas of yesteryear. It was easy to imagine the characters and what was happening. I was invested immediately in this page-turning story. This book offers so much, lessons on family, adventure, mystery, faith, and a love stove.
I highly recommend If the Book Fits. It is absolutely delightful. A copy was provided by CelebrateLit, but these are my honest opinion. It receives a 5 star rating from me.
About the Book
Book: If the Boot Fits
Author: Karen Witemeyer
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: March 12, 2024
One fateful night will change their destinies forever. . . .
Convinced that his stepmother and half brothers have been wrongfully evicted by cattle king Eli Dearing, Asher Ellis uses the cover of an extravagant ball to break into the Three Cedars’ ranch house to search for proof. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.
Spunky and independent Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.
When Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Asher values family above wealth, a rare trait that opens her heart. Afraid she will discover his past misconduct, Asher tries to keep his distance, but when a series of suspicious accidents befall her, he vows to protect her, even though saving her life could mean losing her love.
Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas.
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Character Names and Word Games
One of my favorite parts of writing any book is finding the perfect names for my characters. Names are so important. They carry meaning and expectation. They add historical flavor and help create a picture in the reader’s mind about who that character is. They can also add hidden joy to a story for me as the author that may or may not be realized by the reader.
If the Boot Fits was inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. I give it a fresh western twist and mixed up the plot a bit, but it was important to me to fill this tale with subtle nods to the version I loved as a child. One of the main ways I did this was through the naming of my characters.
I worked hard to create names that would harken back to the original while still carrying meaning of their own. Instead of Cinderella, we have a hero named Asher Ellis—Ash being a synonym of Cinder, and Ellis playing off of Ella. For our heroine, I wanted something to play on the “charming” motif without being too on-the-nose. I ended up selecting Samantha Dearing—Dearing like endearing or charming. Samantha is the feminine version of Samuel which comes into play in the story since her father’s name is Eli. The three key older ladies of the story all of names inspired by royalty, as befits a fairy tale—Regina, Elizabeth, and Victoria. Asher’s step brothers are named Jonathan and Fergus. However, Jonathan goes by Jack, giving a nod to the mice from Disney’s Cinderella, Jaq and Gus. Asher’s horse is named Bruno in honor of the dog who saved Cinderella from the tower room. We have a cattle king with a foreman named Duke as well. Whether readers catch all of these nods or not, they made me as the author smile while writing the story.
Here’s another way to have fun with names and other key story elements. I’ve created a word search for you to enjoy. Have fun!
Letters of Wisdom by the gifted storyteller Wanda Brunstetter, is book three in her Friendship Letters series. This is a contemporary Christian Amish series that tackles series issues that everyone, not just Amish, might face. This book was the most intense.
Irma Lapp’s story is told in this captivating novel. Her story of physical and emotional abuse was often difficult to read, but it was true to life. The characters were skillfully crafted. They were believable and made the story come to life. This story is one of repeated behavior, forgiveness, and second chances. It pulls on your heartstrings.
I was totally invested in Irma’s story and at times wished I could hug her. Through the deft pen of the author, my emotions soared and plummeted with the characters’. This tale is full of surprises and kept me turning pages well into the early morning hours. I was fascinated with this poignant story.
After the story ends, there are author notes, recipe, and discussion questions. I highly recommend this riveting Amish novel. It would make a great book club choice. Even though it is book three in the series, it could easily be read and understood as a stand alone. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by the publisher but these are my honest words.
The Quilt Room Secret by author Lisa Jones Baker is a contemporary Christian Amish novel. This is part of the multi author series, The Heart of the Amish, but may be read as a stand alone. It is a delightful addition to this sweet series.
This is the story of Trinity (Trini) and Jacob. They were childhood friends and have been out of touch for years. When they do connect, it is like time has stopped. The chemistry between them lights up the pages. Unfortunately, they each have obligations and future aspirations that could cause problems.
Trini is such an intricate character. She owns a quilt shop and her own house. Being independent she does not care to live alone. There is a deep secret that she has been harboring but shares with no one.
All of the characters are believable and authentic. It was easy to become engaged with them and their lives. The author’s style of writing is easy to read and comprehend. I loved the Christian and life lessons she built into the tale.
I highly recommend this interesting and entertaining story. It would make a fun book club read because there are many topics to discuss. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Quilt Room Secret
Author: Lisa Jones Baker
Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction
Release Date: February, 2024
Trini Holds Secret Dreams for Her Future
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
As they took turns pushing each other on the swing that hung from a large tree, the mature—for a five-year-old—Jacob Lantz asked Trini Sutter to marry him. The nine-year-old thoughtfully responded that she’d consider his proposal when they were older.
Nearly two decades later, the Amish farmer returns to the beautiful countryside of Arthur, Illinois, to take the independent owner of The Quilt Room up on her promise. Quiet, handsome Jacob is truly in love with the spirited list maker, and Trini finds herself falling in love with Jacob, but the youngest of eleven has big plans of her own.
Jacob’s long-held aspirations are put to the test when he learns that Trini has been holding a secret. He prays for a turnaround of events; however, when Trini moves away from her tight-knit community, he begins to realize that his dream of them being Mr. and Mrs. most likely won’t happen.
Will Trini forfeit her own well-laid plan for the man of her dreams?
Lisa Jones Baker writes Amish Inspirational fiction. She grew up near Arthur, Illinois, and became acquainted with the Plain Faith at an early age when they custom-made and installed her family’s kitchen cabinets. On weekends, she and her parents frequented the quaint Amish town, often the setting of her stories, where they purchased meat, cheese, and home-made baking spices. Now, decades later, she still loves visiting; the town and the people yet intrigue her, and she so appreciate the talent of quilt-making almost as much as she loves horse and buggy rides. But there is much more to this perplexing group than meets the eye; they are extremely disciplined, hard-working, and honest…and they don’t all think alike. For these reasons, writing about them is her passion.
Lisa was fortunate to have been raised in a loving, Christian home by two wonderful parents: a reading specialist mother who plays the piano, and a retired Junior High Principal father who’s also an avid fox hunter. She has a B.A. in French Education and is a former school teacher who loves gardening, cooking, reading, positive thinkers, and every dog she meets. Although a homebody, travel has played a large part of her life. Over three decades of working with the airline industry has landed her on five out of seven continents.
More from Lisa
Secrets fascinate me. They always have. From experience, I know that they’re difficult to keep confidential. And when the wrong person gets hold of what you don’t want out. . .There’s no telling what will happen!
List maker Trini Sutter has decided her future, even though what’s ahead comes with great risk. The owner of The Quilt Room in Arthur, Illinois, relishes being in control of her life. But what she doesn’t expect is for someone to get wind of her deep, dark secret and to leak it to her tight-knit Amish community! Now that the quilter’s confidential plan has become public, will she be able to pull it off? Or will Gott override her “list” with the destiny He has planned for her? Find out in The Quilt Room Secret.
Enjoy this short excerpt:
“Trini, look at me.”
She hesitated. Did she dare? She didn’t know what it was about Jacob that stole her voice. Her breath. Her entire being.
With one gentle motion, he placed his finger underneath her chin. He was so close, the light cinnamon on his breath lingered in the small distance between them. His clothes smelled like outdoors. She could see tiny lines around his eyes. They made him take on an even more manly appearance. His voice was barely more than a whisper. “You feel it too, don’t you?”
The last thing she wanted was any romantic complications that would interfere with her plans to leave. I must not lead Jacob on. I must not lead myself on. What I’m feeling…it’s wrong.
What I Promise You by extraordinary wordsmith Liz Tolsma is Book Two in her Echoes of the Past Series. It may easily be read as a standalone. Beginning in 1943, jumping to. 1955, and finishing in 2022 this incredible tale combines history, contemporary, World War II, and Christian fiction in a masterful way. It gave me all of the feels and emotions.
The book begins with Noemie Treves, a pregnant Jewish woman. During the time of the Holocaust, she and her husband are arrested. The author has done research to provide accurate details of this horrible time in our history. Characters are expertly crafted and come alive on the pages.
There are suspense, mystery, drama, as well as a beautiful Christian message all blended into this novel. The story is captivating and the writing superb. This tale will stick with you long after you have finished it.
I highly recommend this poignant book. It receives a 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: What I Promise You
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction
Release Date: February 1, 2024
A Family’s History Is Lost to the Ravages of WWII in Southwest France
1942 Noémie Treves, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, had her entire world shattered when she is arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. No sooner does she arrive, though, than she assists in helping two young girls scheduled for transport escape to a nearby maternity hospital. The matron there befriends her and changes her name to help hide her. But nothing goes according to plan, and Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.
2022 Caitlyn Laurant is haunted by recent events in her life and hopes becoming a nurse on the mission field will help her forget. While in training, she and her friends travel to France where her grandfather was born. What should have been an easy search for his birthplace turns into anything but and reveals secrets that no one alive has ever heard.
Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.
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The Story behind the Cover of What I Promise You
In the late summer, I got the preliminary cover for What I Promise You. While Barbour Publishing always does a great job with their covers, and the one they sent was very nice, I wasn’t crazy about it because it didn’t tell the story at all. The mansion that plays such a big part in the novel was nowhere to be seen. Barbour is fantastic when it comes to working with me to get great covers, so I asked if we could include the real mansion that the story is based on. Turns out that they were having trouble getting copyright permission to use any image they could find of the maternity home.
That was disappointing. But I got brave and let them know that I took a picture of it when I was in France last year, and they could use it, but I’m not a very good photographer and I only used my iPhone. I attached the photo to the email and didn’t hear anything for a while.
Then in October, I wanted to include a preorder link to the book on social media or something and went to Amazon to grab it. And there was the cover. I went back and forth between the cover and my picture, and sure enough, it was the picture of the maternity home I had sent them! So I not only wrote What I Promise You, but some of my photography is on the front. I never thought that would happen. Am I in the wrong profession?? Just kidding!
Secrets and Wishes is the second installment in the Stone Creek Brides series. Written by author Kathleen Rouser it may easily be ready as a standalone. This Christian historical romance was entertaining as well as interesting and inspiring.
Set in early 1900s, this is the story of Maggie Galloway. She is a spirited widow raising a young son. It is also the story of Thomas Harper. He is a widower with four children. They both live in the charming little town of Stone Creek, Michigan.
The author has a captivating way of telling a story. It kept me turning page after page until I had finished the novel. Each character is unique and believable, right down to the children. The struggles faced by Maggie and Thomas were realistic. My heart went out to both of them. The author threw in a few twists and turns. Those always make a story fun. I appreciated the strong Christian message.
I highly recommend this beautiful novel. It had me invested within the first few pages. All lovers of historical, Christian, or romance fiction will love stepping back in time into Stone Creek. I give this book a 5 star rating. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but this is my honest opinion.
About the Book
Book: Secrets and Wishes
Author: Kathleen Rouser
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: January 30, 2024
She only wants a fresh start, but her past might be the only hope to save his life—and the lives of countless innocents.
Determined widow Maggie Galloway dreams of a peaceful life and a successful business. And winning the Silver Leaf Flour Company baking contest could be the key to that success. She even has a chance at a prestigious position through a dashing former beau. But when her son gets into a fight with the local pharmacist’s son, Maggie’s peaceful life is derailed.
Reserved pharmacist and recent widower Thomas Harper is also looking for a fresh start for himself and his four children. But when Thomas falls gravely ill, his only choice is to enlist the help of the local baker with a knowledge of concocting remedies. He’s even more reluctant to admit that Maggie may also be the remedy for his grieving heart. And when a traveling medicine man’s medicines beget tragedy, Thomas and Maggie must overcome their differences to save the children of Stone Creek—and face the growing attraction between them—before it’s too late.
Kathleen Rouser is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical and contemporary Christian romance. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers. She resides in southeast Michigan, a location which she often uses in her novels, with her hero and husband of forty-some years and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.
More from Kathleen
Maggie Galloway’s Prizewinning Recipe
Maggie Galloway was a secondary character in my first Stone Creek Brides novel, Rumors and Promises. As the older sister and housekeeper of hero, Ian McCormick, she liked to have her say. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie as I created her character. She was so much fun to write I knew she needed her own story.
She has a knowledge of remedies from working with her pharmacist husband in the past, but Maggie is also a prizewinning baker because of her creative and cherished recipe for pecan snickerdoodles. I hope you’ll enjoy her recipe.
Increasing the vanilla in her favorite snickerdoodle recipe while adding toasted chopped pecans to the dough and the cinnamon sugar made for the delightful crunch and a nutty taste, which had won her second place in the recipe contest. (From Maggie’s musings in Secrets and Wishes.)
Maggie Galloway’s Pecan Snickerdoodles
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ¼ cup flour
½ cup chopped toasted pecans
Cinnamon sugar mixture:
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped toasted pecans
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease cookie sheet.
Beat butter until creamy. Add 1 cup sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar, mixing well.
Beat egg and vanilla into the mixture. Slowly add flour and chopped pecans to the mixture.
Set dough in the refrigerator (or the icebox in Maggie’s day) for at least a half an hour to make it easier to handle.
While you’re waiting, mix the cinnamon sugar ingredients together with the 1 tablespoon finely chopped pecans.
When the dough is ready, roll into small balls and roll in cinnamon sugar/nut mixture.
Place a couple of inches apart on the cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes, only until slightly golden brown along the edges. Yield is approximately two dozen cookies.
Winds of Ruarch by author DM Griffin is a collection of Biblical fiction novellas. Each novella is the author’s interpretation of the individual stories of five minor prophets. These prophets are Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi. It is a hefty 660 pages.
This poignant book is filled with emotions of remorse, sadness, sorrow, redemption, and love. It shines a different mor personal light on each prophet. The author has a nice style of writing. It is easy to follow and imagine the scenes. The dialog seemed a bit modern at times. Scripture is fluent throughout the entire book. I cannot image the research and work this project entailed, but the end result was amazing.
After reading each section, I was driven to read the prophet’s account in the Bible. I was better able to visual what I was reading. The author offered a plausible tale of what might have happened to fill in the blanks. At the end there are discussion questions for personal or group deeper exploration. This would make a nice small group book study or book group.
I highly recommend this to any Biblical Fiction lover or someone interested in the minor prophets. It is interesting and educational. It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Winds of Ruach
Author: D.M. Griffin
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release Date: October 18, 2022
Winds of Ruach is a compilation of five novellas fictionally traversing a period in Israel’s history that spans three hundred years. God used the prophets to speak to His people during a tumultuous time when faith was challenged and spiritual discipline was necessary. Five prophets lived out the message of God in a way that girded their faith and inspired those who truly listened to God’s voice. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi were God’s chosen spokesmen.
Book One: Jonah felt he had every right to be angry when tragedy struck his household. He would soon learn that anger was a barrier to a right relationship with God no matter how justified the source of that anger. What happens when Jonah realizes that his deep-seated anger might cost him everything? Will he learn to embrace his forgiving God?
Book Two: Nahum was a victim of God’s wrath as it fell on the land of rebellious Israel. Intimidated for the majority of his life with little memory about his origin, Nahum struggles to trust God for vindication. Grappling to understand why everything keeps going wrong, will Nahum surrender to the only One who can truly defend him?
Book Three: As a child, Habakkuk’s faith was pure and unadulterated. As a priest serving in the Temple, however, Habakkuk realizes that something is keeping him from experiencing the fullness of that faith. He doesn’t truly trust God’s heart toward him. Will he learn to be brave despite the circumstances that threaten the very existence of the Temple?
Book Four: Obadiah lived in two worlds while feeling as if he spiritually belonged to one. Born to an Edomite father and Jewish mother, he was constantly at war with his brother. How long would it take for Obadiah to learn that the Lord was with him in the battle? Even if he lost it all, would having God be enough?
Book Five: Malachi wrestles with what he knows to be true about God and how his life is unfolding in contrast to that knowledge. What does it mean to worship with a pure heart, not with ulterior motives? As God has the final say with His people, will they listen and faithfully wait for the promised future of redemption?
Explore the themes woven into the books of the minor prophets through these fictional journeys that reveal how mighty the Winds of Ruach (Spirit) truly are as they blow across history into today.
D.M. Griffin currently resides in Northern California with her husband. They met in middle school a few days after she was transplanted to the West Coast at the tender age of twelve. She has three adult children who have been an endless source of delight and inspiration. She also has a precious new grandchild who brings her joy.
As a native New Hampshire girl, she fondly remembers spending her summers there as a child. Thick accents, small towns, and fascinating weather stirred the imagination of her young heart. She has always had a fondness for stories thanks to her imaginative mother who would make up wild, adventurous tales to tell her while tucking her into bed as a child.
She truly believes that a book that sits on a shelf unread is like a planted seed that never blossoms. Nothing delights her more than sharing a story.
More from D.M.
I am a creature of habit who thrives on predictability. That being said, Winds of Ruach fell outside my comfort zone. If you have ever heard the phrase – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans – you get the idea. I was deep in the throes of researching and writing a twelve-book series on the disciples of Jesus. My schedule was set. The routine was fixed. I had spent two years dedicated to The Follower Series. In between writing the first draft of book seven and editing book one, I was divinely halted. I didn’t exactly hit a block, so to speak. Instead, I was inspirationally diverted. It frustrated me for a short time.
Looking back on it now, I realize it was a blessing in disguise. At the time, my daily bible reading took me through the book of Jonah. Jonah 4:4 snagged my attention like a burr clinging to a pant leg. “Is it right for you to be angry?” That single phrase snared my heart with a compulsion to self-reflect. That meditation took me to places I had not been before. I followed the thread of anger woven throughout my life. Not the anger that manifests itself in hot, fiery outbursts but the hidden, silent anger that can turn into deadly pride or unrecognizable prejudice.
Anger wears many disguises. Some of those are loneliness and grief. I began wondering what might have happened in Jonah’s life to make him, a man of God, so angry that he would directly and blatantly disobey the Lord. The first short story was the beginning of a five-month diversion in my predetermined writing schedule.
I was inspired by other verses as I walked the landscape of Scripture through the books of the minor prophets.
With Nahum, I pondered how tragedy affects the trajectory of a life. With Habakkuk, I explored the difference between authentic worship and disingenuous faith. Obadiah is a short and sweet book of the bible, but it packs a punch. The theme of the resulting short story is about claiming one’s true identity as a child of God. Finally, Malachi wove the final thread into the fabric of this anthology which is ultimately about the Spirit of God moving through history to accomplish His will and purpose. Malachi is a story about knowing when to remain silent and when to ask questions of God. As I wrote Winds of Ruach, I thought about the importance of destiny and promise.
Some of my early readers asked me which was my favorite prophet. Honestly, the only way I could answer that question is to say that it is whichever story I am reading at the time. I was greatly blessed while writing Winds of Ruach, drawing out biblical themes I had never noticed before. These five prophets are near and dear to my heart. Truly, the imagination is a gift from God. And yes, I did go back to the ‘routine’ in writing. It took three and half years (half a year over my schedule) but the series I was working on prior to Winds of Ruach is now complete. God is good even in the distractions.
Jane Archer isn’t sure there’s a Heaven, and the Rev. Noah Hastings can’t imagine Heaven without her.
When Jane Archer comes home to tiny Hilltop, New Hampshire, her goal is to take care of her convalescing grandmother and get back to Boston as soon as possible. She doesn’t expect to be saddled with the direction of the Hilltop Christmas Festival, three days of activities exalting the birth of a God she no longer serves. But Gram asks her to take over the Festival this year, and she can’t say no to the woman who saved her life.
The Rev. Noah Hastings didn’t want to come to Hilltop in the first place. Too small, too cold for this California boy. And he has trouble figuring out these Yankees, with their “thin sharp faces and sharper wits.” It’s his first church, and his goal is to amass some “ministerial brownie points” and be out of there. But his early life with his father has left Noah with damaged confidence, and despite his call, he’s not sure he can handle a pastorate, let alone Jane Archer.
Though the people of Hilltop have never stopped loving her, coming home reawakens memories for Jane of a childhood no child should have to live through. She feels her carefully constructed world crumbling, even as she resists the pull of Christ on her life. But when the integrity of the Festival is threatened, Noah must call on his Lord, and Jane on the God from whom she’s drifted, to find justice and restore Hilltop to what it is.
Hilltop Christmas by author Kathleen D. Bailey is Book 1 in the Hilltop Series. This is a Christian Contemporary romance, mystery, suspense, and more. The setting is Hilltop, New Hampshire, a lovely fictional town. After reading this, I want to go see New Hampshire myself.
This is the story of Jane and Noah. Jane comes to Hilltop to help her grandmother, who has broken her hip. Her grandmother normally heads up the holiday festival planning board. Jane is not a faithful Christian. Noah has accepted a position as Pastor of the local church. This is his first church.
The author’s style of writing is easy to follow. Her characters are expertly crafted and well defined. They are relatable, and I found myself invested in them and their story. Conversations sounded realistic. Surprises and twists are woven throughout the story as well as a Christian message.
The story is well thought, well organized, and well written. It was entertaining and ended up being a page turner. The mystery kept me guessing. I highly recommend this wonderful book. It would be a nice book club selection. The conversation topics are wide. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Get to know the author: Kathleen D. Bailey
I’m a journalist and novelist living in Southern New Hampshire. I was a child int he 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a rich, colorful time to grow up and I’ve enjoyed all of it and written about most of it.
I’ve wanted to write fiction since I began reading it, at the age of five, and my dream was fulfilled — wait for it — at the age of 69. That’s how long God took to get ahold of me and get me in the right place to experience success. I published my first Christian historical romance, “Westward Hope,” with Pelican Book Group in 2019; the sequel, “Settlers’ Hope,” in July 2020; two related novellas, “The Logger’s Christmas Bride” and “The Widow’s Christmas Miracle” in December 2019 and 2020 respectively; and just saw the publication of the last “Western Dreams” book, “Redemption’s Hope,” in July 2022.
I had always seen nonfiction as a way to pay the bills, but I wrote two nonfiction local history books, “Past and Present Exeter New Hampshire” and “New Hampshire War Monuments: The Stories behind the Stones,” both with Arcadia Publishing, and somewhere along the way I fell in love with nonfiction. It’s the same dynamic — telling stories — and I hope to be around to tell many more.
I live in New Hampshire with my husband David and have two grown daughters.
The Christmas Gift is written by author John Alexander and illustrated by Angela Capel. This is a delightful children’s book that will capture their attention any time of year, not just Christmas. The story is told in a rhyming sing-song prose that children love. Illustrations are charming and coincide perfectly with the tale.
This is a heartfelt book that will teach children the importance of giving and caring for others. The mice suffer issues that some humans sadly do. By reading this, it will introduce children to the hardships of others and how helping them will impact their lives.
Children ages 3 to 8 will adore this book. Parents will have much to discuss and teach their littles. This would make a great gift or addition to a children’s library. I highly recommend this beautiful book. It earns a 5 out of 5 star rating from Me. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest thoughts.
About the Book:
Written by: John Alexander
Illustrated by: Angela Capel
Genre: Children’s books
As she warms herself by the fireplace in the mansion on a hill, Ms. Mouse considers her husband’s question, “What do you want for Christmas?” An angelic vision in the embers reveals the perfect request. The fulfillment of her gift demonstrates the joy of giving. This book should appeal to children ages 4-8 as well as educators, day care workers, and teachers in Christian schools who want to inspire the joy of giving.
JOHN ALEXANDER makes his home in Frisco, Texas. He has written children’s chapter books, Amber-Autumn Mystery Series, a book of poetry, Timeless Tales, and an award-winning picture book, Words That Soar. The Christmas Gift is his second picture book.
About the Illustrator:
ANGELA CAPEL is an Author/Illustrator and a member of SCBWI. She frequents the Write 4 Kids critique group in Frisco Texas and is a member of the 12 x 12 Challenge. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from Rowan University in New Jersey. She’s extra fond of drawing sheep and giraffes and generally enjoys a quirky protagonist. She draws the occasional comic strip and lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband and two little girls.
I’m a journalist and novelist living in Southern New Hampshire. I was a child int he 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a rich, colorful time to grow up and I’ve enjoyed all of it and written about most of it.
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 