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So I was doing some thinking and I’ve noticed that there are some books that I have read and loved, but I waited a long time before I read them. And I asked myself why? Here are some reasons:
 
1. Their Covers. It sounds so superficial, and I have been reading books for way too long to think that the outside of the book in anyway reflects the inside. But, seriously, covers will draw you in or repel. Cheap covers make me think cheap books. Boring covers make me think boring books. Lame covers make me think lame books. And yet, more often than naught, that is not the case.
 
2. Bad Reviews. I am a reviewer. I choose books based on other people’s reviews. But not everyone’s opinion will mesh with yours. There is one reviewer I read because I know if she hated it, I will probably love it. There are other reviewers that I used to read, but no longer do because what we agree on as negatives are not the same. Take a risk. Read a book with a bad review.
 
3. You’ve read the author before and been let down. There is one author I like who has written an amazing book. And then she wrote like three really boring ones in a row. Sometimes authors let you down. But don’t forget that they can write beautifully when they write well. Be hesitant maybe to buy their next one, but don’t give up just yet!
 

Are there any other reasons that have made you hesitate before reading a book, only to discover that you loved it?

About

 
Review
Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know I don’t often read Amish Fiction. But, I love Serena Miller and if Serena Miller wants to write Amish fiction then I’m going to read it. So this novel continues in the same town as the other novels in this series with two new people. Here’s what I thought:
 
What I liked:
 
The character development. Hope and Logan are such well developed characters that they could have stepped off of the pages. I really enjoyed the chemistry between them. It was slow and subtle, and it worked really well (especially because they come from two very different backgrounds).
 
The novel managed to pull me in right away and I couldn’t put it down. I was totally invested in Hope and Logan and everyone around them. You get to see Grace and Levi, and Tom and Claire in this novel (and I especially like Grace and Levi’s updates).
 
The little mystery in this book. It completely blew me away! I loved it!
 
Spiritually, I love the theme of forgiveness and Ms. Miller does a beautiful job of showing what that looks like. I also liked watching Logan realize that he needed God.
 
What I didn’t like:
 
Okay, so this is a personal pet peeve (for which I did not take away any points), but why does the widow always have to have so many children? There I said it. Maybe it’s because I’m (relatively) young, but the thought of marrying someone with a ready-made family would not having me jumping for joy.

 Romantic Scale: 8.7
 
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I know it may not seem as though I have a lot to say, but sometimes less is more! It’s a great book!
**I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

These are just a few of the books I’m looking forward to!

About

Review

Because Ms. Axtell has written some of my favorite novels, when I saw she had a new one out, I immediately downloaded it. Then I looked to see what it was about and I became nervous. I’m not a huge fan of reading novels where you know the main character is going to fall. I would much rather read about them after the fall, when they’re on their way to becoming a better person. So, to say I was nervous would be an understatement. Without further ado:

What I liked:

The style of writing. This novel is a regency. It’s got that beautiful slow pace, where just the minute of things can be complete game changers. There are class issues, Napoleon issues, ton parties. Ms. Axtell does a beautiful job of really capturing the era and is one of the few authors I read who can remind me of Georgette Heyer (there styles are very different, but both are definite regencies).

Lancelot. He’s pretty wonderful. He’s not your average outgoing male, but quiet, introspective, and yet has this wonderful spirit of adventure and serving the Lord. As you meet him, you cannot help but like him.

From reading what this novel is about, you become aware that Jessamine falls into disgrace. I was dreading it the whole time. And I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it wasn’t what I thought it would be exactly. And not as bad as I had anticipated. And that makes me happy.

Spiritually, there is a beautiful theme of grace. Jessamine has been good most of her life and she expected her “good works” to open doors for her. I like the way in which Ms. Axtell handles the issue.

What I didn’t like:

The problem with Jessamine is that when you create a hero as wonderful as Lancelot, you begin to wonder if a woman as unsure of herself as Jessamine deserves him. And it’s easy to blame her. Sometimes she was hard to like even if I understood where she was coming from.

I think the “back of this novel” doesn’t quite give this book justice. If you asked me what it was about, I would not stress the things that it stressed because it had me anticipating things that were fairly minute.

Romantically, while I saw Jessamine and Lancelot fall in love, something was missing a bit, and I’m not sure what it was.

Romantic Scale:8

Overall, a very good read and I’m excited about the next one in the series (dare I hope Lancelot’s sister?)

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

Lizzy and Jane never saw eye to eye. But when illness brings them together, they discover they may be more like Austen’s famous sisters after all.
Lizzy was only a teenager when her mother died of cancer. Shortly after, Lizzy fled from her home, her family, and her cherished nickname. After working tirelessly to hone her gift of creating magic in the kitchen, Elizabeth has climbed the culinary ladder to become the head chef of her own New York restaurant, Feast. But as her magic begins to elude her, Paul, Feast’s financial backer, brings in someone to share her responsibilities and her kitchen. So Elizabeth flees again.
In a desperate attempt to reconnect with her gift, Elizabeth returns home. But her plans are derailed when she learns that her estranged sister, Jane, is battling cancer. Elizabeth surprises everyone—including herself—when she decides to stay in Seattle and work to prepare healthy, sustaining meals for Jane as she undergoes chemotherapy. She also meets Nick and his winsome son, Matt, who, like Elizabeth, are trying to heal from the wounds of the past.
As she tends to Jane’s needs, Elizabeth’s powers begin to return to her, along with the family she left behind so long ago. Then Paul tries to entice her back to New York, and she is faced with a hard decision: stay and become Lizzy to her sister’s Jane, or return to New York and the life she worked so hard to create?

She daydreams of whipping up sauces and soufflés in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts.
With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can’t afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar. But when the owner of a local historic home announces a contest and promises her property to the worthiest candidate, PJ makes a fervent wish and tosses her name into the hat.
Cole Evans is cool, confident, and successful, but he’ll never forget his roots. He’s thankful for how far he’s come and knows his life could have turned out drastically different. If he can win the stately old mansion, he’ll turn it into a home for children aging out of the foster system.
When the eccentric house owner narrows the entries down to only two applicants, she extends the contest, giving PJ and Cole one year to prove which one of them can make the best use of her beloved home. As the pair competes in close proximity, something deeper than rivalry sparks between PJ and Cole. And in this battle, they’re likely to lose their hearts.

It’s a wonder to behold what happens when love moves in . . .
Former child star Fiona Hume left the biz a decade ago, after she left rehab. She retreated to Baltimore and bought an old mansion downtown with dreams of restoring it into a masterpiece—maybe creating an artist’s studio for herself. And living an artist’s life.
That was the plan.
Ten years later, Fiona’s huge house is filled with junk purchased at thrift stores, yard sales, or picked up from the side of the road. Each piece was destined for a project, but all she’s got so far is a piece of twine with some antique buttons threaded down its length.
Her money has almost run out. She will soon lose her house and will be forced back into acting.
So it is that Fiona comes to rent out a room to a local blacksmith, Josiah. Little by little, Josiah magically transforms Fiona’s home into something beautiful. She comes to life again. Her relationships heal and she experiences, perhaps for the first time, what it means to be human, what it means to be loved, and what it means when we let go and allow the wondrous workings of forces far bigger than we are to take over.

     Fun Things to Look Forward To! Is there any one that stands out for you?

Thank you for being willing to be interviewed!

1. What was your inspiration for Beneath a Navajo Moon?

Several years ago at age 45, God put it on my heart to get serious about this secret dream of writing I’d had since I was a child. In fact, He compelled me to take the stories that had been swirling in my imagination and write them down. That story became Carolina Reckoning. My second novel, Aloha Rose, was the result of a God-ordained reunion and now in March Beneath a Navajo Moon releases—Olivia’s story came to me in its entirety in a dream. The Navajo put great stock in their dreams; God often reaches them through the kind of dreams with which He once visited upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I think maybe we’ve grown too sophisticated to hear His voice either in our nighttime or waking dreams.

Sometimes people stop themselves for reaching for their dreams because of fear of failure. Whatever your dream, I am the living proof that there is no expiration date on dreams. Rather in my life, God carefully orchestrated my experiences with the proper season of me being at a place that would bring Him honor through my writing offerings.

And so, I write. Stories given by God of incredible loss and unforgettable triumph. Humanity in all its weakness. So that others might see their great need of Him and find healing and the truest of all loves in Jesus Christ. The ultimate paradox is that although I proclaim His worthiness, each story brings me to my own weakness and unworthiness. Perhaps this is indeed the moment we become of use to Him—when we’ve reached the end of our confidence, the end of ourselves and our own sufficiency. When we embrace Who He really is and accept who we really are. It is as Erin remarks in Beneath a Navajo Moon often “a long obedience.”

2. I learned so much about the Navajo culture, did this book require you to do a lot of research?

I did a lot of research, which I enjoy. I’ve also visited the area and talked to members of the Navajo Nation. I love exploring cultures different from mine.

 3. When you start the writing process, how much do you outline beforehand? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants (so to speak)?

I start with a general story idea. Next, I begin to people that setting/idea with characters in my head. I usually know how the story will end but the middle is always murky territory. I’m definitely more of a seat of the pants writer. The only story I ever tried to outline is the one story I’ve never finished. Why finish when I already know what’s going to happen? I enjoy the journey of discovery alongside my characters.

 4. Did you have a favorite character when writing this novel (I will admit that Adam was mine)?

Adam is my critique partner’s favorite, too—even out of all the characters I’ve created over the years in my books (which, bless her heart, she’s read and faithfully helped me edit). Adam is my favorite character in Beneath a Navajo Moon. I find his struggles to believe go to the heart of some of my own issues—surrender and its conjoined twin of obedience.

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

I just finished edits for Under a Turquoise Sky, releasing September 2014. Fans of Adam

 and Erin will want to be sure and read this next romantic suspense novel which is set on the New Mexico side of the Navajo Nation. Although not Adam and Erin’s story, they will make a guest cameo appearance and readers will get to “catch up” on what’s been unfolding in their love story. I’ve got to confess as much as I loved Beneath a Navajo Moon, something about this story (Aaron and Kailyn’s) truly gripped my heart. I hope readers will enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Fans of Carolina Reckoning, my debut novel, will get to “catch up” with Alison and Mike in Vines of Entanglement also set in North Carolina in March 2015.  Two other romantic suspense novels will follow into 2016.

Thanks so much for hosting Beneath a Navajo Moon—and me. 🙂

I have a confession to make. I am one of those people who cries when watching movies. I mean, it really doesn’t take much. The last movie I teared up in was Frozen (the beginning was sad. IT WAS!). I have even shed happy tears. Have you seen Sense and Sensibility when Elinor realizes who Mr. Ferrars married? I love that scene.    

But, ironically enough, I rarely cry when reading books. I’m much more likely to cry tears over a sad novel than a happy one, but, I just don’t find myself doing it often (also if the book makes me that sad, I’m usually very irritated with the author as well for not giving me a HEA). That said, one book stands out in my memory because I was ugly crying: Francine Rivers’ A Voice in the Wind. I cried and cried until I turned the next page and saw that there was a book two. The closest book that made me happy cry? Becky Wade’s My Stubborn Heart.  

So, what books have you read that made you cry happy tears? Sad tears? Ugly tears?

One of the most memorable characters I’ve ever read was created by the fabulous author L.A. Kelly. If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Tahn, then you should make it your mission to do so. I promise this book will capture you from the first page, and take you on a journey unlike you’ve ever been before. 

 Ms. Kelly died in 2011, but I think one of her many legacies (no doubt) lives on in this series.

Thank you very much for being willing to be interviewed!

1   A Draw of Kings concludes The Staff and the Sword Series. At what point, in your writing process did you know how the series would end?

It’s strange. I knew how the last book would end before I knew how the first one would end. The story arc that I’d put together was very allegorical, so the ending was almost written for me. There was a funny side note, however. After Bethany House signed me to the contract, one of the editors, a delightful woman named Karen Schurrer, called me and let me know that the publisher would prefer a certain kind of ending. I think they were a little afraid I might concoct something totally off the wall. It was probably a justifiable concern. 🙂

2.  Of the three novels in this series, which one was the hardest to write and why?

Hands down, the hardest book to write was the final one, A Draw of Kings. There were a couple of reasons for this. First was the process itself. In the first two books I just let my imagination run wild and let the story go where it wanted. I had a structure set up, but I basically turned the horses of my imagination loose and watched where they would go. But that approach wasn’t going to work for the last book. I had no choice but to gather up all the threads and plot lines and bring them back under control. While rewarding, it was a much more difficult process.

The second reason the book was so difficult to write was that my manuscript came in almost fifteen thousand words over the contract limit. I cringed the first time I submitted it because I was scared to death of what they would say. Fortunately, Bethany House allowed me an extra six thousand words, but I still had to find nine thousand to cut. It took me three months of combing the manuscript. I’ve read some of the reviews that say while the last book is the longest, it still manages to feel a little rushed. I agree, but it couldn’t be helped.

3.  When writing this series, was there any one character that surprised you the most?

They all did things that took me by surprise, but I have to say the character that surprised me the least was Errol. I spent so much time scripting him that he didn’t get much of a chance to surprise me. So in that sense the minor characters were probably the most surprising. Lord Waterson certainly took me by surprise. He wasn’t intended to be anything more than a blip in the series, but in the final book he turned into this wonderfully cynical man who is still intent on doing the right thing. The pair of characters that surprised me the most was Adora and Antil. When I finally got to the point where I could bring them together the chemistry was amazing! Their dislike for each other was wonderfully palpable and it made for some of the best writing I’ve ever done. They are a great example of the crucible technique; two characters trapped together and unwilling or unable to leave. I wish I could write that well all the time.

4.   Do you have any plans to write any more novels using any of the characters from The Staff and the Sword Series?

Not at this point. The story is complete, though I have to admit I miss them already. It’s been a few months now since I finished up the series and I’m almost forty thousand words into a new project, but I have to admit it’s difficult pulling myself out of Errol’s world. I spent four years with him, after all.

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

I’d love to. I’m working on a medieval-detective-epic fantasy series. The closest I can come to encapsulating it is “Sherlock Holmes meets the Screwtape Letters.” Needless to say, it feels very ambitious. I’m excited about the potential for a very long series, perhaps as much as nine books, but I’m also scared that I’ve bitten off too much. And then of course there’s the Sophomore slump, but right now I’m just trying to figure out how to say something worthwhile and glorify God in the writing. The first book is tentatively titled “The Rise of the Clast.”

Thank you for having me.

 If you haven’t checked out any of Patrick Carr’s novels, you are missing out! Run to your nearest library/bookstore and get it!