Author: remaininhislove

About

Sergeant Rowdy Slater is the most skilled-and most incorrigible-soldier in Dog Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, an elite group of paratroopers fighting for the world’s freedom in World War II.

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Rowdy returns to the States after the war, turns his life around, and falls into the only job he can find-preacher at the sparsely populated community church in Cut Eye, Texas, a dusty highway town situated at the midpoint of nowhere and emptiness.

The town’s lawman, suspicious that Rowdy has changed his ways only as a cover up, gives an ultimatum: Rowdy must survive one complete year as Cut Eye’s new minister or end up in jail.

At first Rowdy thinks the job will be easy, particularly because he’s taking over for a young female missionary who’s held the church together while the men were at war. But when a dark-hearted acquaintance from Rowdy’s past shows up with a plan to make some quick cash, Rowdy becomes ensnared due to an irrevocable favor, and life turns decidedly difficult.

Rowdy’s a man used to solving problems one of two ways: with his rifle or with his fists. Will he be able to thwart his old friend’s evil schemes while remaining true to his new higher calling?

This is a wild ride of a book bursting with a bank robbery, kidnapping, desperate prayers, and barroom brawls. Before the smoke clears, all sides just might end up getting exactly what they want.

Review

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I’m generally a romance reader, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and read Feast For Thieves because a) I had heard good things about it and b) I’m a bit partial to the 101st Airborne (Easy Company anybody?). My thoughts:

What I liked:

The writing. I sat down to read a couple of chapters and read 90% of the book in one setting. It was thoroughly engaging. The novel has that nice southern storytelling that’s done along the same vein as To Kill a Mockingbird (in no way the same book, but that same rhythmic cadence).

It was not formulaic. I’ve read books where people with pasts suddenly become preachers and there’s kind of a very familiar structure to those stories. Not so with this one. I’m glad to say I was never certain of what was going to happen next. There was no great deception here, but an openness about Rowdy that I just loved.

Rowdy. I liked Rowdy from the first page. Being in his head was a joy and if there are ever anymore novels with Rowdy as the narrator, I will be reading them. He’s got this very down to earth vibe and yet you know you that he’s been through some things and can be trusted.

The romance. Yes, there is some. The novel doesn’t focus on it, but it’s there and it’s really cute.

The town of Cut-Eye. They are some interesting people, but I found myself invested in all of the secondary characters.

Spiritually, the novel focuses on how getting to know Jesus can change your life from one direction to another.

What I didn’t like:

There were a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. I didn’t mind doing it, but they were there.

The pacing. Sometimes it felt like time went by too quickly.

Romantic Scale: 7

Overall, I really really really enjoyed this book. I think even if you’re a diehard romance reader like me you will enjoy this book and more importantly, fall in love with Rowdy.

**I received a copy of this novel from the author’s publicist. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

Giveaway

If this book has captured your fancy (and I hope it does!), there’s an opportunity for you to win your own copy! *Note you must be a US or Canadian address. All you need to do is leave a comment below with your email address. The giveaway ends three weeks from now on October 29! The winner will be randomly selected. If you win, you have 48 hours to respond to the notification before I will choose another winner. Happy Reading!

Christy and Todd are looking forward to being part of two important weddings. Christy would never think of missing Katie’s big day, even though she’s getting married in Kenya. Todd has been waiting his whole life to stand up as the best man for his dad’s wedding. How will these two grand events fit into their lives and what will Todd say when Christy tells him the doctor’s diagnosis the day before they leave for Africa? Will they finally settle in and start a home?

A Historical Western Romance Short Story From Bestselling Author Karen Witemeyer

After serving as a doctor during the War Between the States, Jacob Sadler wants nothing more than to establish a quiet country practice in rural Texas. But he knows he’ll never find peace until he buries the pain of his past. To that end, he accepts a job in Cold Spring, Texas–the town he’s avoided for seventeen years–and discovers his past is definitely still alive and kicking.

When a new doctor arrives in town and saves her brother’s leg, Mollie Tate quickly puts him on a hero’s pedestal. But then the new doc insults her “Uncle” Curtis. Years ago, Curtis Sadler rescued Mollie when no one else cared. How could he possibly be the villain the new doctor believes him to be?

Jacob doesn’t know what to make of the young woman who assists him like a seasoned nurse one minute only to take a strip out of his hide the next. Yet the sparks that fly between them make him feel more alive than he has in a long time. As respect for his young nurse turns into something deeper, can he set aside the pain from his past to embrace this new love, or are some sins too big to be forgiven?

I didn’t realize these two were coming out soon (relatively)!

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading For Such a Time. My review can be found here.

Thank you for your willingness to be interviewed!

Embassie, I appreciate the opportunity to be on your blog today! J

What gave you the idea to write For Such a Time?

Well, Queen Esther’s story in the Bible is one of my favorites, and as I read one day it struck me how often throughout history the Jewish people have suffered, sometimes with near extinction—the most recent being the Holocaust of WWII. I began to see similarities between the wicked Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews and Hitler’s attempt with his “Final Solution.” As the idea grew, I began my research and found I could superimpose much of Queen Esther’s story into this more modern venue.

When you began your retelling of Esther, what elements did you feel had to be in For Such a Time?

While the novel is loosely based on the Book of Esther, I did want to include how Stella (Hadassah) goes to Aric (the King) with her Jewish identity hidden; Captain Hermann (Haman) despises Morty (Mordecai) and works out a plan to destroy the Jews. Two officers, Sergeant Koch and Lieutenant Brucker (Bigthana and Teresh) plot to kill Aric, but are found out by Morty and suffer the consequences. There are other minor elements, but the most important I think, is how Hadassah’s courage and trust in God bring about Aric’s change of heart and his desire to save her people.

How much research did you have to do for this novel?

I spent about five years (accumulatively) with research, along with writing the first draft of the novel. I studied WWII history in the European theater and the Nazi party, including Himmler’s SS. I pored through personal accounts written by survivors of the camps, including Dachau, Theresienstadt (Terezin,) and Auschwitz. I also read the memoirs of German Wehrmacht soldiers fighting from North Africa to Stalingrad. In order to portray Stella and Morty’s views accurately, I did my best to become well-versed in the tenets and traditions of Judaism. At final count, my bibliography consisted of close to thirty research books, several documentary videos and substantial online information. I felt it so important to treat this horrific period of time with the sensitivity and accuracy it deserved, while crafting a fictional romance between a Jewess and an SS-officer.

Aric was my favorite character in the novel because he was so complex. Did you have a favorite character when writing?

I confess, I always love my hero best! J But Morty was a great character to write as well. A decorated soldier in the first Great War, he was treated abominably in the second. He carried an awful burden of responsibility in the camp yet never wavered in his faith.  He stood up to bullies like Captain Hermann and wasn’t afraid to look Aric in the eye. He loved his niece and believed in God’s vision. I admire his character very much.

 

Can you tell us what you’re working on next?

I just completed my second novel for Bethany House, another historical romance, this time set in WWI Britain. When a beautiful Suffragette meets a mysterious aristocrat, love and intrigue abound!  NOT BY SIGHT will release Summer of 2015. I had fun writing the story and I hope readers will enjoy it!

More about the author:

BIO:

A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was an RWA Golden Heart finalist. FOR SUCH A TIME is her debut novel. Kate’s writing journey has been one of faith as well as success; after years spent writing novels aimed at the general romance market, she finally heeded God’s call to write stories of how His love brings two hearts together. When not plotting her next novel, she loves spending time with author friends, reading from her mountain of books, or watching anything Jane Austen on BBC. Kate’s also an avid gardener and enjoys taking long walks in Washington State’s many forests. A traveler as well, she’s toured most of the country at one time or another and also been abroad–Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. She’d love to hear from you so please stop by www.katebreslin.com and say hello!

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28 (NRSV)

About

MEN MAKE MISTAKES. GOD WILL FORGIVE THEM. WILL THEIR WOMEN?
Charles McIntyre built the lawless, godless mining town of Defiance practically with his bare hands … and without any remorse for the lives he destroyed along the way. Then a glimpse of true love, both earthly and heavenly, changed him. The question is, how much? Naomi Miller is a beautiful, decent woman. She says she loves McIntyre, that God does, too, and the past is behind them now. But McIntyre struggles to believe he’s worth saving … worth loving. Unfortunately, the temptations in Defiance only reinforce his doubts.

Billy Page abandoned Hannah Frink when he discovered she was going to have his baby … and now he can’t live with himself. Or without her. Determined to prove his love, he leaves his family and fortune behind and journeys to Defiance. Will Hannah take Billy back or give him what he deserves for the betrayal?

On a mountain high in the Rockies, looking down the barrel of a gun, both men will come to some stunning conclusions.

Review

I just really loved the first book in this series, A Lady in Defiance, and so when I saw that book two was coming out, I immediately downloaded it. And it was just as good as the last one! My thoughts:

What I liked:

Even though it has been over a year since I read the first book, it didn’t take me long to remember everybody and what had happened before. To me, I was right back in Defiance with Naomi and her sisters.

Naomi. She’s still my favorite character because she’s so not like other heroines. She’s feisty, she has a temper, she doesn’t wait for around for help, she takes charge, and she doesn’t put up with other people’s excuses. With a personality like that, you would think she would be annoying, but not at all. It’s such a nice contrast to heroines who sit around and wait for things to happen, and yet Naomi not once feels like she stepped out of the 21st century. To me, she’s more a woman of her times than others because living out west was hard, and you had to be a survivor.

Charles. I adored Charles in the first book because he reminded me so much of Rhett Butler. Now that he has a relationship with Jesus, my heart just went out to him. He’s balancing his new life in Christ with his old life’s decisions and sometimes its heartbreaking, but Charles definitely became someone I could trust.

The romance. Charles and Naomi pick up right where they left off. But Charles has this beautiful vulnerability with Naomi that is rarely accomplished in books. I loved the way he loved her.

The secondary characters. Usually I want to focus on the main characters, but in this case I was just as invested in Naomi’s sisters and their own romances.

The storyline. Looking back on it, not a lot happened. It was much more character driven than plot driven, and yet I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Spiritually, I loved loved loved how grace is shown in this book. The author didn’t just give us a scripture, but she showed how a new believer in Christ may wrestle with the idea of grace, but ultimately must believe that they are forgiven. And yet, sometimes, there are still consequences. But with God on your side, they are easier to deal with.

What I didn’t like:

One of Naomi’s sisters gets involved in a bit of a love triangle. I’m not a fan of those…and I think she chose the wrong guy. I’m sorry, whats-his-face just never grew on me.

Romantic scale: 9

Overall, a wonderful sequel! That ending though!

Sometimes the courage to face your greatestfears comes only when you’ve run out of ways to escape.

At the end of a long night, Elizabeth leans against the industrialoven and takes in her kingdom. Once vibrant and flawless, evenings in thekitchen now feel chaotic and exhausting. She’s lost her culinary magic, andbusiness is slowing down.

When worried investors enlist the talents of a tech-savvycelebrity chef to salvage the restaurant, Elizabeth feels the ground shiftbeneath her feet. Not only has she lost her touch; she’s losing her dream.

And her means of escape.

When her mother died, Elizabeth fled home and the overwhelmingsense of pain and loss. But fifteen years later, with no other escapesavailable, she now returns. Brimming with desperation and dread, Elizabethfinds herself in the unlikeliest of places, by her sister’s side in Seattle asJane undergoes chemotherapy.

As her new life takes the form of care, cookery, and classic literature,Elizabeth is forced to reimagine her future and reevaluate her past. But can aNew York City chef with a painful history settle down with the family she onceabandoned . . . and make peace with the sister who once abandoned her?

Shy and unattractive as a child, Megan McClare has always been teased by her classmates. But when she returns home from her senior year in Paris, the wallflower has suddenly blossomed into a beauty. With ambitions to become a lawyer or doctor, Megan accepts an internship at the district attorney’s office only to discover that she will be working with Devin Caldwell, a boy who mercilessly mocked her at school–and with whom she was hopelessly enamored. She turns to her dear friend Bram Hughes for support and advice. But Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a kid sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?

Fan favorite Julie Lessman draws a romantic triangle that will have readers in a tizzy in this glittering Gilded Age tale of transforming love.

Can a decades-long friendship marred by two romantic missteps ever lead to happily ever after?

Sadie McAllister’s clients know how lucky they are to have her: an ultra-fastidious personal chef who leaves behind a spotless kitchen and a week’s worth of mouth-watering meals.

Erik Davis, her best friend since middle school, is content to enjoy Sadie’s culinary skills too while maintaining their “friends only” status. Most of his energy is focused on his just-launched freelance business and casual dates that never come close to a commitment.

But when Sadie is offered a once-in-a-lifetime cooking job across country, Erik realizes maybe he’s taken his best friend for granted.  Even more, he’s about to lose his only chance for lasting love.

How can Erik convince Sadie that the well-known adage “Marry your best friend” just might apply to them? With God’s help, can they both move past their assumptions about each other and their future? Should Sadie and Erik risk taking their relationship to the romantic point of no return? If they do, their decades-long friendship is as a good as done . . . unless it ends at the altar.  

Which one are you interested in reading? I’m looking forward to them all, but super excited about Katherine Reay’s new novel.

Some time ago I had the pleasure of reading Ms. Kimball’s novel Chasing the Lion. You can read my review here. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed it. Now onto the interview:

Thank you for willing to be interviewed!

My pleasure. I’m always happy to connect with other authors and readers. Especially about this novel which is so close to my heart.

1. What inspired you to write Chasing the Lion?

The absolute worst season of my life. At the time the rug had been yanked from beneath me, my personal and spiritual life were in shambles, and I was floundering, in spite of the tremendous love and support from close family and friends. Through a God-thing, I heard about NaNoWriMo where novel writers pledge to write a book in a month. It was a big, crazy, goal but I’d always wanted to write a novel and more importantly, wanted to prove to myself that I could still set my mind on something and accomplish it.

At a little café on my lunch break, I brainstormed all the things I love and maybe the story I wanted to tell in the process. The movie Gladiator, the computer game ROME: Total War, and the story of Joseph from the bible began to swirl in my brain until I had one question looming.

What if Joseph, when his brothers sold him into slavery, and things started going from bad to worse for him, what if he hadn’t remained faithful to the Lord? Would God have relentlessly pursued Joseph to accomplish His greater plan, or simply raised up another in Joseph’s place? And out of that question, I saw a young man—with a divine purpose for his life but struggling with his identity and making sense of his circumstances. A man who would endure an epic journey to answer that question—if our hero abandons his faith, what happens then? How far will the Lord pursue him, and how? This emerging character, a young Roman noble betrayed into slavery, would become the man readers know and love as Jonathan Tarquinius.

 

2. Chasing the Lion takes place in historical Rome, how much research did you have to do?

Specifically for the book about a hundred hours over six months. It was a wonderful time for me to explore more deeply a time period I already loved. Gladiator research had to be done separately and I found that so fascinating. There are many commonly held beliefs that are actually myths about gladiator history, such as every battle was a fight to the death. Shining light on some of those facts, when it could be done naturally within the story without becoming a history lesson, was very fulfilling as an author. I wanted to be historically accurate and reflect the time period well, but never at the expense of sacrificing the pacing or focus of Jonathan’s story.

3. What character surprised you the most as you wrote Chasing the Lion?

Caelina. A fiercely independent and stunningly beautiful prostitute—the highest priced pleasure in all of Rome. (Or so she thinks until Jonathan sets her straight. 😉 I didn’t even have to think about that one. She was intended to be a minor character to show the dynamic of the relationship between my hero and one of his masters, and how my hero fared in the face of temptation. And then slip quietly away. Well she wasn’t having it. I thank the Lord for that because Lion is as strong a novel as it is, in part because of her.

4. What novels/authors would you consider to be great influencers of your writing?

Shane by Jack Schaeffer. This is the first novel I remember reading as a child that made me care about a character as much as I did my own family. He was that real to me. I reread this book every few years. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, The Lion of War Series (King David and the Mighty Men) by Cliff Graham, and Making Faces by Amy Harmon.

5. Can you tell us anything about book two?

Absolutely. Remember Caelina? Well she’ll be back playing a much larger role as Jonathan’s journey continues in Charging the Darkness. Old enemies will return, a new threat to our hero and to Rome will emerge. Through it all God will relentlessly pursue yet again the one lost sheep, proving once more His unfailing love and mercy, and that there is no life ever too far gone for the Lord to redeem.

Author, avid reader, and shameless hero addict, Nancy Kimball loves books, Ancient Rome and all things gladiator. She makes her home in Houston, Texas and is the former president of her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter, Writers on the Storm. Her industry accolades include a two-time ACFW Genesis finalist (Chasing the Lion – 2012 / Unseen Love – 2013), and a Romance Writers of America Lonestar finalist in the Inspirational Category (Adrift No More – 2013). Learn more at www.nancykimball.com

Giveaway

If this book has captured your fancy (and I hope it does!), there’s an opportunity for you to win your own copy! *Note, they will be ecopies. All you need to do is leave a comment below with your email address. The giveaway ends three weeks from now on October 19! The winner will be randomly selected. If you win, you have 48 hours to respond to the notification before I will choose another winner. Happy Reading!

About

An old love whose kisses make her weak, but whose secrets threaten to destroy all she holds dear…

Fresh out of college, Katie Parker had it all—a charming romance, a role in a famous stage production, and an idyllic life in London. Until she found her boyfriend cheating and got herself fired from the play. Leaving everything behind, Katie hops a plane home, only to run into her first love, Charlie Benson. As the couple returns to In Between, Katie questions everything she ever thought she wanted—including a renewed romance with her high school flame.

While she attempts to rebuild her life, Katie’s plan to manage the family’s theater meets a devastating obstacle, dragging her into a legal battle that will rock her small town. And the boy who once broke her heart seems to have the power to do it again. As Charlie’s secrets unravel, Katie must make a choice. Can she overcome her past and trust Charlie with her heart again?

Review

I so enjoyed the Katie Parker series, so I was super excited to read about Katie being all grown up. My thoughts:

What I liked:

Being back with Katie and Charlie. I will admit to rereading the last Katie Parker book so that I would be ready for this novella, but honestly it was like being amongst old friends.

The romance. I love that it doesn’t take long to get started and I found myself rooting for them from the start. I was also beyond thrilled that Katie and Charlie didn’t pretend like they didn’t care about each other and that their history wasn’t completely erased.

Humor. This book is funny and filled with Ms. Jones’ trademark humor. You laugh from the first chapter until the very end of the book.

Characters. The secondary characters in this novel are amazing.Their personalities are so strong (Maxine anyone).

Spiritually, there is a great theme of not letting your fear run your life, but your faith.

What I didn’t like:

There were times I wanted to shake Katie. I didn’t always like the way she treated Charlie.

Romantic Scale: 8.2

Overall, a wonderful addition to the Katie Parker series. So much fun to read.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to Newport, RI to see my sister be commissioned as an officer in the Navy (woo hoo little sis!). After the festivities were over, we decided to do touristy things. And in Newport one of those touristy things are touring the mansions.  I had so much fun walking around those rooms, mostly because it felt like the books I read that take place in the late 1800s (aka The Gilded Age) had come to life! The name of the house we toured was The Breakers, which was a summer home for the Vanderbilts.

An outside view

Here was the great hall

One of the many parlors

And so it all got me thinking, how important is the setting really? I think it comes down to the type of novel being written. In contemporary novels, setting is not as important (unless you’re writing about a country or area you’ve never actually been, because then there can be problems). Setting really comes into play for historical novels, gothic novels, and fantasy novels. With all of these, I think its very important that the author strives to be accurate, but there is a fine line between being accurate and giving out too much information. Nothing worse than a lost reader or a reader who just plain doesn’t care (after getting lost so many times).

A house like this is a character itself….it had 70 bedrooms! And so I ask you, how important is setting to you?

About

Sheltered since birth at her Kentucky home, Rowena Ballantyne has heard only whispered rumors of her grandfather Silas’s vast fortune and grand manor in Pennsylvania. When her father receives a rare letter summoning him to New Hope, Rowena makes the journey with him and quickly finds herself in a whole new world–filled with family members she’s never met, dances she’s never learned, and a new side to the father she thought she knew. As she struggles to fit in during their extended stay, she finds a friend in James Sackett, the most valued steamship pilot of the Ballantynes’ shipping line. Even with his help, Rowena feels she may never be comfortable in high society. Will she go her own way . . . to her peril?

With her signature attention to historical detail, Laura Frantz brings 1850s Pennsylvania alive with a tender story of loss, love, and loyalty. Fans will cheer for this final installment of the Ballatyne saga.

Review

I was so excited to get my hands on the last Ballanytne novel. My thoughts:

What I liked:

The Writing. The book captured me from the first page. I was immediately invested in James Sackett and Wren. Sometimes you just know from the first few lines of a book whether it will hold your attention and I just knew. Furthermore, Ms. Frantz’s writing is just beautiful to read, her metaphors are almost like poetry at times.

The historical facts. They’re interwoven so beautifully, that you don’t feel like you’re in school, and yet at the same time I had a great appreciation for the research that the author had done.

Wren. I loved how straightforward she is. She’s not timid, she doesn’t beat around the bush. With the exception of the last chapter, I loved her.

The setting. Pittsburgh becomes just as much a character as the people in the book (all three books for that matter).

The secondary characters. Since I’ve read all the books in the series , I enjoyed seeing Silas and Eden and Ellie and Jack and a few of the notorious Ballantyne’s as well. There are also some new faces that manages to steal the show for a minute (Izannah!)

The romance. I like that it was slow in developing and yet you knew that there was instant chemistry from the start.  I liked that they are such opposites, and you can see that really play out between them. There’s a really great scene, that’s both simple and full of romantic tension, which I think is a trademark of Ms. Frantz.

Spiritually, there’s not exactly a theme, but the characters pray and seek God throughout the novel.

What I didn’t like:

The romance. Only because once I hit about 87% on my kindle, I thought the romance dragged on, in the since that people were making bad decisions that I knew would have to be corrected and I was thinking just get together already!

Romantic Scale: 9

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For me, I liked it better than the second one and didn’t want to put it down. If you haven’t started this series, you should!

**I received this copy from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

Do you like Novellas? Generally speaking, I don’t. I run from novellas. Why? Because their short. I can never really justify spending money on something I know will take me only an hour to read. And let’s say the novella is good. Let’s say its awesome. If that’s the case, then I usually want more, but I can’t get more because it’s a novella.

But, there are a few exceptions: if the novella is a prequel to another novel, the novella is the point of view of one character from an already fuller novel, or the novella is about another character or couple that is featured in a full length novel.

Otherwise in my opinion every thing happens too fast. Thoughts?