Saturday, January 6, 2018

About the Book

Title: Unstuck

Author: Chris Dupre

Genre: Self-help, personal growth

Release Date: November 14, 2017

Do you feel like you missed the boat? Are you burnt out? Have your feet been dragging the sidewalk? Do you catch yourself dreaming of what could have been? Of if-only-I-had, or if-only-I-hadn’t? This book is for anyone sitting in the audience who should be on stage, anyone reading blogs who should also be writing them, anyone supporting ministries who should be leading them. It’s for the Christians who know there is a better life, but who are just stuck in the one they’re living.

Saved in the Jesus Movement of the seventies, Chris DuPré connected with countless Christians across the world. Yet too many of those Christians, Chris discovered, have years later lost the fire and stepped back from living out their faith. Why? Because they got stuck—stuck in rejection by others, stuck in fear of the unknown, stuck in loving a comfortable life, stuck in scores of similar ruts. What can set them free from their internal prisons? And what could Christians accomplish if we all just got unstuck?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Originally from Upstate New York, Chris moved to Kansas City to work alongside Mike Bickle in establishing the International House of Prayer. Chris recently served as Associate Pastor at Grace Center Church in Franklin TN, and is now an associate pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg, PA. A pastor, teacher, worship leader, traveling speaker, and spiritual father to many, Chris may be best known for his song “Dance With Me.” He has produced eight albums and published three books, including The Wild Heart of God (Whitaker House, 2016) and The Lost Art of Pure Worship with James Goll. Parents of three daughters and grandparents of four grandchildren, Chris and his wife, Laura, reside in Harrisburg, PA.

Guest Post from Chris Dupre

I grew up in a small town about 30 miles east of Rochester, NY. Winters there could be brutal. One year, I received beautiful new pair of boots which I loved, particularly for the joy with which they enabled me to engage in the marvelous sport of puddle jumping. One day when the ice and snow had begun to melt, I eyed a nice puddle and jumped in the middle sending a freezing splash in all directions. But wait, something was wrong — this was no ordinary puddle! This one was made to capture people, and I was captured! Frantic, I pulled one foot out, but no matter how much I tried, the other foot would not budge. My boot was stuck. I was stuck! I pulled and pulled until finally my foot came free in a soggy sock. My beautiful boot had been left behind, buried beneath the slush. My little mind was faced with a choice. Did I care enough about to do something? It only took a second to act. I loved those boots. I found a stick and began to fish. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally pulled out my boot. That’s the first time I ever went fishing and was glad to catch a boot instead of a fish.

My desire with this book is to address some of those “stuck” moments we all face. I want to provide keys that will hopefully open a door or two that have held you back on the incredible journey of life. I say a door or two, or even three, because it’s almost always more than one thing that gets us stuck. Ah, but God—He is the change factor in all of this and in Him we can break free.

Have you ever been in a church service and the pastor is saying profound words that make you poke the person next to you? You feel what the pastor is saying is something your friend needs to hear so you elbow them as if to say,”Hey this message is for you.” This book is just that type of message, but instead of elbowing your neighbor, you realize the message is for you. The author is upfront with how we get stuck in our life wondering why our dreams never happened. Perhaps it was pride or fear or that unforgiveness you have buried deep inside . I figured I better get comfortable because this book was going to step on my toes and hurt a bit, but in the end I would be free from being “ stuck.”

One of the first subjects the author talks about is fear. Oh how I dislike talking about that word. I grew up in fear. I know it well and it has followed me throughout my life. I have always had a fear of not being loved and being rejected by everyone. Growing up in a violent and abusive home can really do a lot of damage to a child. I never knew what it felt like to be loved. My parents made sure I knew I wasn’t loved. I became stuck with the mentality that I was not someone anyone would want. To this day I still do the fight or flight method of coping. After reading this chapter, I took a deep breath. Now I was ready to take my life back. I don’t want to be that little scared girl anymore. I want to be strong and depend on God to give me courage. Yes fear controlled my life because I allowed it to. The author gives wonderful illustrations of how to overcome fear and regain the life you were given.

Another chapter I really liked was about “Age doesn’t matter(unless you are cheese).” This one chapter hit me hard. I had always wanted to be a teacher. I never had the opportunity to go to college, so that dream was shoved aside. I started working at a library that was in conjunction with a college. I loved my job but I still yearned to be a teacher. One day I decided I needed to prove to myself that I was smart and that I could go to college. So at the age of well I was older than all the students, I made it into college. It was overwhelming at first, but I thrived in learning . During this period I was appointed Children’s Pastor at our church. What an humbling experience it was. I then realized that I did fulfill my dream. I was a teacher of many, not just a classroom but of all the children that came to church every week. You are never to old to follow your dream. I learned that by teaching these children, I was beginning to heal from my childhood. God placed me with these children to show them love and letting them know they can overcome whatever is holding them back from their destiny.

I have loved every moment I have spent reading this book. The author touches on subjects that are life changing and shows us how to get “unstuck.” Are you tired of being stuck and feeling hopeless? I recommended that you grab a copy of this book and let God’s voice lead you to freedom.

We are all gifted in one way or another . It’s what we do with those gifts that determine everything.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebreate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 28

Mary Hake, December 28

A Reader’s Brain, December 29

Carpe Diem, December 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 30

A Baker’s Perspective, December 31

New Horizon Reviews, January 1

proud to be an autism mom, January 2

Books, Books, and More Books., January 3

Kristin’s Book Reviews, January 4

A Greater Yes, January 5

Texas Book-aholic, January 6

Blossoms and Blessings, January 7

Janices book reviews, January 8

Bigreadersite, January 9

Pursuing Stacie, January 10

Giveaway

In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away

Grand Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré;” Covenant” Pillar Candle scented with ancient biblical fragrances from Abba Jerusalem, and a Whitaker House Grown-Up Coloring Book

First Place Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré;” “Man of God” Ceramic Mug, CTAInc.com; and a Whitaker House Grown-Up Coloring Book

Second Place Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; and The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré”.

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c457

Thursday, January 4, 2018

AMISH SWEETHEARTS by AMY CLIPSTON

I really enjoyed each story and loved reading about the different couples. The author always writes with details and makes the story come to life. Each story in this collection will bring you a smile and remind you of unconditional love.

Love and Buggy Rides

This is a great story about Janie who witnesses an accident involving a buggy and car. She knows that the driver of the buggy was not at fault but has heard he is being blamed for the accident. Her father has forbade her to get involved as a witness. As Janie gets to know Jonathan they seem to strike up feelings for each other. It was interesting to read how Jonathan was a bit worried about their age difference. I thought he was a great character and was very respectful towards Janie. What happens when Janie goes against her fathers advice? This is a great story of doing the right thing and I loved the excitement towards the ending of the story.

A Home for Lindsay

This story really tugged on my heart strings. Matthew is a hard worker and is excited about building a home for his fiancé Lindsay. That dream gets shattered when he finds out that his sister is losing her farm and land. All Matthew has wanted is to provide a home for Lindsay . How can he do that now that the land he is building on will no longer belong to the family? Lindsay is very aware that something is bothering Matthew. Why won’t he tell her what is wrong? I loved how the author shows how pride can get in the way of making good decisions. What happens when Lindsay finds out the truth? Can Matthew find a way to stay or will he walk away from the love of his life? This is a great story of communication and trust and faith.

Where The Heart Is

I can’t tell you how many times my dad would say “If you live in my house, you will obey my rules.” Tobias heard similar words from his dad when he starts to act out. His poor decisions causes friction and he leaves home. When he returns months later, how will the community react to him? He knows that he must face what he has done, but will the Bishop welcome him back? How will his family react when they see him? It must be very difficult to stand before a congregation and admit your sins. I could hear Tobias’s heart thumping out of his chest as he stood before the church. His relationship with his dad is something I really enjoyed reading about. It’s a great story about forgiveness and starting over.

Love Birds

Oh my I loved this story so much. It has been hard on Ellie and her mother since her dad and brother both passed away . The community is helping with chores at the farm, but money is still tight. When an opportunity arises to work at a shop, Ellie thinks it will help them out financially. I loved Ellie’s enthusiasm to help out with finances and her desire to contribute to the household funds. Lloyd is doing all he can to help his friend’s family . I really enjoyed reading about the bird carvings that Lloyd makes. I could picture the delicate dove he carved and how special it was. When he gives it to Ellie as a special gift to remember her brother, she gets emotional . I won’t give the story away, but it is a great lesson in forgiveness and helping others.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

SURGEON’S CHOICE by RICHARD L. MABRY , M. D.

It’s another great book from the master of medical intrigue. The story is fast paced and can easily be read in a few hours. I love how the author cleverly brings mystery with medical facts that keep you on the edge of your seat. There is always that doctor that seems to be just a bit arrogant and lets power get to his head. What is this doctor hiding? What I loved about the story was the mystery on top of mystery that teased and turned the story while keeping readers trying to figure out who did what.

Ben is a gifted surgeon and is about to marry one of the nurses but funny things start happening. Bodies are falling , danger lurks for both of them and in the midst of this is medical procedures that are detailed with expertise. No one is above being interrogated and Ben finds himself as one of the central suspects . Overall the book is good, has wonderful characters and as always delivers intrigue that kept me glued to the story. I hated to see it end but am looking forward to the authors next book. He is one author that never disappoints his readers because he is detailed, keeps the intrigue believable and catches readers off guard as the ending is one you don’t see coming.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

MY HEART BELONGS IN NIAGARA FALLS, NEWYORK by
AMANDA BARRATT

With a spectacular backdrop of Niagara Falls, the most death defying act was soon to astound the audience. Oh my I was hooked as I read what Drew was about to do. Who in their right mind would walk across Niagara Falls on a flimsy pole? I can hear Drew’s heart as the first step was taken. The author draws readers in with the heartpounding adventure of a man who is willing to risk his life . Drew isn’t out to be famous, but to help his sister who he adores. They are desperate for money and he is willing to walk on water for her. I loved Drew so much because he was a humble person who put others before himself.

Adele is a wonderful young lady who had it all; well until her family fell on hard times. The family name was once upon a time worth riches and they had outlandish places to live. That all changed when the family becomes almost penniless. I liked the journey Adele took to America. Her hopes were high as she sought after a husband who could save her family from ruins. What really caught my attention in the story was the faith that Drew had as he became a victim of a terrible accident. He never complained, but became more dependent on what God said. As his feelings become more clear towards Adele, she fights to keep hers under wraps.

The story is a reminder that God loves each of us and sees the beauty in us. Adele needed to trust that God would be with her and help her in her time of need. The scriptures used in the story were so beautiful to read. I love being reminded that if we wait upon the Lord, He will give us strength. Patience is a hard thing for many of us. We try to hurry things along when God is telling us to wait and trust Him. The author also touches on feeling like you are a failure in God’s eyes. One character will learn just how important they are to Him and be free from the guilt and shame they have carried for so long. This is one story that I savored every word and felt every emotion as the characters faced pain, disappointment and redemption.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk , and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

I received a copy of this book from the author . The review is my own opinion.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

About the book:

This Christmas, there's plenty of room at the inn.

Nestled in the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, the Grey Sage Inn looks like the perfect place for weary travelers to escape the craziness of the Christmas season. There's plenty to see in historic Santa Fe during the day, and the inn's owners, Maude and Silas Thornhill, are happy to spend their evenings hosting this year's guests from across the country.

But an unusual snowstorm throws a wrench in the festive mood. The sprawling inn becomes close quarters as stranded guests discover this Christmas won't be the relaxed vacation they expected. Tension and fear mount as the storm worsens, and Silas, a retired doctor, is called away in the middle of the night to care for a neighbor. The snow and stress unlocks tongues-and in the unexpected conversation that follows, secrets and pasts are revealed, and hearts are healed.

In the midst of snowdrifts and fireside conversations, of tales of days gone by, the warmth of Christmas brings a renewed hope as these trapped strangers become friends-proof again that the joy, hope, peace, and love of Christmas can be experienced no matter where you are.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Phyllis Clark Nichols believes everyone could use a little more hope and light. Her character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions from within the simple lives of small town communities you just know you've visited before. With a love for nature, art, faith and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment, often through surprisingly serendipitous events. Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Now she lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband, where red birds and axis deer are her ever-ravenous neighbors. She is an English major and classically-trained musician, seminary graduate, concert artist and co-founder of a national cable network for the health and disability-related programming. After retiring as a cable network executive, Phyllis began leading mission teams to orphanages in Guatemala and now serves on three non-profit boards where she works with others who are equally passionate about bringing hope and light to those who need it most.
Find out more about Phyllis at http://www.phyllisclarknichols.com.

This is the perfect book to get you in the Christmas spirit. The characters are funny, quirky, loveable and full of cheer. I loved reading about Santa Fe and all its charm. I would love to be a guest at the Inn and bask in all the wonderful food served there. It has always been full of Christmas spirit until a tragedy took the joy away from Maude and Silas.

Suddenly the Inn wasn’t cheerful or really welcoming to guests. It would sit there year after year with no decorations, no guests and no joy. Maude and Silas were both such great characters. They loved having guests, but it became hard after their loss to continue spreading joy to anyone. When a friend asks them to host a group during the holidays, Maude and Silas decide to let them come. The group had heard how spectacular the Inn has looked during Christmas and were excited to see it all lit up. To their dismay, no decorations were there and soon the group can’t wait to leave.

My heart went out to Maude and Silas. It has been many years since they lost a precious gift. Will this year bring them joy? When the group gets snowed in, that is when the real Christmas begins. Each person brings a different perspective of Christmas. Through their sharing and compassion, maybe the Inn will become a beautiful place to celebrate this year. I loved how each character seemed to know the right words to say to heal hearts, become friends and bring a smile to faces. There are some very touching moments in the story where the author really grabs the readers and fills them with tenderness and peace. I loved the writing and was sad the story ended. I would love to see a sequel of this book.

The story is a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is about. I cried, laughed and cheered throughout the book. This is a must read for anyone wanting a heartwarming Christmas story.

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.

About the Book

Name of book: Solve by Christmas

Author: Amber Schamel

Genre: Historical Christmas

Release Date: September 1, 2017

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

“Amber Schamel’s engaging prose weaves together not one, but two edge-of-your-seat threads in this historical mystery. With the hero racing against time to solve the two cases readers will be kept guessing as they attempt to crack the case. “ ~ Laura V. Hilton author of Christmas Admirer (Whitaker House)

About the Author

Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Pick up your copy here.

Guest Post from Amber Schamel

Thank you so much for joining us on the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Solve by Christmas!! I am so excited you’re here. For this special event, I wanted to share the inside scoop behind the story.

Solve by Christmas is a historical Mystery set in Denver during the great blizzard of 1913. It has a unique storyline, so people often wonder where the idea came from. Honestly, it was one of those ideas that just popped into my head, then took on a life of its own and evolved over several weeks.

I wanted to give my readers a new story before the year was out, but I didn’t have a specific plot in mind. I did know I wanted to write a Christmas story. So, I had that much. Then I decided I wanted something with a firm deadline.” Ifthis doesn’t happen by this date, everyone dies” sort of thing. Then “By Christmas” popped into my head and flicked on a light. What if Christmas wasthe deadline?

I’ve always loved detectives and mystery stories, and they go perfectly with deadlines. So, then I thought, what if a detective must solve the case by Christmas or death wins?

Sometimes, as an author, there are ideas and thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. Almost like God dropping a card into your mental mailbox. The next point of Solve by Christmas was that way. What if a detective was assigned a case that he had to solve by Christmas, but it wasn’t a real case –at least not the type of case he wanted—but something completely different? From there, the story began to really take shape.

The next step, of course, is to come up with a character to be the detective. I wanted the story to have a Sherlock Holmes feel, so I started by studying his character a bit. But my story also has a less serious side since it isn’t a murder mystery and takes place at a sugar factory. I wondered…what would happen if you took Sherlock Holmes and meshed him with Barney Fife?

Now THAT would be hard to pull off. But I was determined to try. So, I made a list of Sherlock Holmes traits, and one of Barney Fife’s traits. I began to see that they actually DO have several similarities. They’re both a bit socially awkward. They both have a very similar flavor of pride. And they both have this air of authority…although Sherlock can back his up while Barney struggles in that area. Then I began to pick and choose between the traits that were left, this Barney trait, this Sherlock trait, and pretty soon I had Detective Jasper Hollock forming on the page. Whether you will get a Barney Fife and Sherlock feel when you read Solve by Christmas, I can’t say. But I do believe I was successful in creating a unique, quirky character that will bring this Christmas mystery to life.

There you have it. The scoop behind Solve by Christmas. I hope you enjoy the story, and best wishes in the giveaway! I will be stopping by along with Jasper and Denny (the two main characters) to answer any questions you may have about the story or the characters, so please do leave us a comment.

I love mysteries that keep me guessing. The author has risen to the challenge with a story that takes on Sherlock Holmes meets Scrooge. I say Scrooge because why would Mr. Rudin want to ruin Christmas for his family, friends and employees by contemplating suicide on Christmas Day? Dare I say there is much more to Mr. Rudin than we know. He is a powerful man who runs The Rudin Sugar Factory. I loved the descriptions of the factory and how the machines kept things running. I loved the setting that takes place in 1913 and how the author was able to take us back in time with outstanding details.

Detective Jasper Hollock is ready to tackle a big case. When he gets a call from Mr. Rudin, his hope soars with a dream of cracking a big case. What he finds waiting for him is a rather unusual situation. His job is to prove to Mr. Rudin that his life is important. That sure is a tall order for a detective that thought he was getting a big case with bad guys maybe trying to sabotage his business. Oh wait, funny thing about that. Suddenly unexplained things are happening at the factory. Bolts missing that run machines, contamination that could cause sales to drop. Looks like he has his hands full with all the shenanigans going on.

I really loved Denny so much. That kid is hungry for adventure and being a detective will give him action he never dreamed of. He keeps trying to convince Jasper that he needs a sidekick. I say let him help. An eager person will go the distance to get answers and Jasper sure could use some. The story is funny at times and the characters are quite unique. I loved the mystery which I tried to figure out. Who was behind the sabotage of the factory? Will Jasper be able to save Mr. Rudin from harming himself? The story has a special message for everyone which I thought the author showed at the end of the story. Don’t miss this very intrguing heartwarming book.

“When you feel like you’ve come to a dead end, He brings a new beginning.”

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, December 12

A Simply Enchanted Life, December 12

Connie’s History Classroom, December 13

Bigreadersite, December 13

The Fizzy Pop Collecton, December 14

Genesis5020, December 14

Baker Kella, December 15

Daysong Reflections, December 15

History, Mystery & Faith, December 16

Karen Sue Hadley, December 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, December 17

Aryn The Libraryan, December 18

A Reader’s Brain, December 18

Bibliophile Reviews, December 19

Mary Hake, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Simple Harvest Reads, December 20

Babs Book Bistro, December 21

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 21 (Interview)

Seasons of Opportunities, December 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 22

Just the Write Escape, December 23

The Power of Words, December 23

Live.Love.Read., December 24

Carpe Diem, December 24

Blogging With Carol, December 25

The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, December 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amber is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas themed basket which will include a paperback copy of Solve by Christmas and The Swaddling Clothes (my two Christmas books) as well as a Christmas terrarium jar, and a Solve by Christmas notepad!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5bb

Tour Reminders

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

About the Book

Name of book: Hope Travels Through

Author: Loni Kemper Moore

Genre: Contemporary Lit

TeJae Smythe gave up on God and her hometown of Evansville, Indiana, ten years ago, but a deep personal loss requires her to return to both. Her life as a stewardess is going to be perfect. She has a plan. If only life would stick to it.

In Hope Travels Through, TeJae finds the biggest challenge comes from the conflict within herself. Will she hold it all together? Or will she fall apart and embrace the beauty in the midst of disaster?

Based on actual events of December 13, 1977, a date most people don’t remember, but one many living in the Ohio River Valley will never forget, the crash of the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plane.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Loni Kemper Moore is a Denver-Broncos cheering, Diet-Pepsi sipping, Rocky Mountain adventure-seeking kind of girl. She’s passionate for God and wants to share His beautiful love through life’s ugliness with remarkable women around the globe. Her writing came alive seven years ago after she broker her ankle. The crazy time of being laid up forced her to flip through decades of diaries which inspired the story that became Hope Travels Through. When she’s not writing, she’s an entertainer, technical support analyst; mom of a teenager named Adam; traveler with Robert, her dear “Hugsband,” stepmom to University of Evansville alumna Becca and her husband, Anthony; and spender of way too much time on Facebook. With her experiences of learning to trust God through tragedy, being employed by travel agencies and Delta Air Lines, and attending University of Evansville graduate school, she’s the best person to tell this story.

Guest Post from Loni Moore

What Made Me Write Hope Travels Through?

The weathered orthopedic surgeon shook his head and stared at the x-rays. Without making eye-contact, he said, “I usually work on Olympians and professional athletes. This doesn’t look good. She’s going to have arthritis and limp for the rest of her life.”

I hadn’t had anything stronger than Tylenol since the entire weight of my 128 (at the time) pounds crunched my left ankle, 24 hours earlier.

Robert, aka Dear Hugsband, had told me, so very graciously, when we arrived at Skate City, “Once you’re over 50, you shouldn’t roller skate.” But our son, Adam was 10 and I wondered how many more years he’d want me to hang out with him, so I’d strapped on the skates and joined the crowd of skaters. I avoided landing on the body of the five-year old who cut me off. Didn’t that count for something?

However, none of that mattered at that moment. I needed drugs, and Robert agreed to whatever that surgeon said to get my prescriptions.

One afternoon, my stomach growled on a gurney as I waited in the surgery center with IVs in my hands until a perky nurse announced, “The doctor will need to reschedule because something came up.”

REALLY? After waiting 10 days, he no-shows?

I’ve never loved Robert’s New York attitude more than the next day when by 7 pm that evening I was at Red Robin, post-surgery, eating a celebratory French Onion soup. Thanks to a nerve blocker the new, cute surgeon had provided after rebreaking bones and inserting pins.

Adam was able to complete his homeschool work with little interference from my drug infested brain and I occupied my time by flipping through decades of accumulated diaries. The story of a woman surviving tough times percolated in my brain and I remembered my mother saying, “Everyone has a Great American Novel in her. You just need to take time to write it.”

As my leg healed leaving no arthritis nor limp, I returned to the million things life demands, including a visit to our Becca at the University of Evansville, where I’d done my graduate work. As she showed us the Weeping Basketball, my protagonist informed me the story began in 1976, not 2011. The story climaxed when the university’s men’s basketball team plane crashed, but I was too busy to spend much time on it.

Three days before Christmas that year, my younger sister passed away from Lyme complications, I could barely breathe. I’ve seen it a dozen times someone’s busy life prevents her from taking care of herself until something stops them in their tracks and they cannot move on. That happened to me.

At the time, Dear Hugsband programmed Coca-Cola’s Freestyle machine (you’re welcome), so Adam and I joined him in Atlanta for several months. During that time without the cooking-cleaning-requirements and Adam insisting he preferred independence of his homeschool curriculum with minimal input from me, I processed my grief by putting the story that became Hope Travels Through on my computer.

“In a weak moment, I have written a book.” Margaret Mitchell – Gone With The Wind

Dear Hugsband loved his project with Coca-Cola and enjoyed everything about working in Atlanta except the humidity, the traffic and the commute. Typically, he worked in Georgia every other week, and was home every weekend.

But occasionally, he’d be forced to stay in Atlanta over the weekend and tried to find something to entertain himself. One weekend, after seeing every movie running, he decided to go to the Margaret Mitchell House Museum where one of my favorite books, Gone With The Wind, was written.

He bought me a mug with the above quote on it which he said was to encourage me in my writing, along with several commonalities between myself and the famous author.

She was short—I am 5 feet tall, if I stretch;
Her husband was over 6 feet tall—mine is 6’3 1/2”;
She started writing her novel, after an ankle injury– I started writing after I a similar injury;
She used a typewriter—I use a computer;
Her mother gave her the quotes she used about how to survive in an upside-down world – my mom had a Bible verse for every occasion. I think her favorite was Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind, Loni to whomever…”;
It took Margaret ten years to complete her novel – I’m not far behind, at nearly eight years.

Obviously, I don’t have one commonality with Margaret, in that she died at the age of 48 in a traffic accident, but his conclusions are precious.

I’m well aware the odds of my little novel being successful, without the industry connections Margaret had, are low, but it’s been a fun journey even if no one buys a copy!

The author takes us back to the late 1970’s where Tab was still a drink that was well liked. In the south we call all soft drinks Cokes. I loved how the author made the era exactly the way I remember it. I grew up in the seventies where the Vietnam War was a subject no one wanted to talk about.

TeJae was a flight attendant and loved her job. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be a flight attendant and travel all over the world. She is still grieving the loss of her brother and is angry with him. She never got to say goodbye and it pains her to have unfinished words she wanted to say to him. She meets interesting people on the flights. I really liked the description of the planes and the tasks that TaJae was expected to do during the flight.

When she meets Mikel while on a trip in Hawaii, she is a bit cautious of him. She finds out he is a chaplain in the army and I think that may have made her hold her feelings towards him at arms length. She is angry with God for taking her brother. Can Mikel help her through her grief? Can he lead her back to God? When a devastating accident occurs , TeJae is shaken to the core. Her foundation, her security is gone. How will she handle another loss of family members?

I loved how the author incorporated the famous basketball team known as the University of Evansville men’s team. They were very well liked and everyone in the town came to see them play. The authors knowledge of basketball and well known players make the story come alive. The tragedy of losing a basketball team was devastating for everyone. With the authors beautiful words, the scene came to life. I saw the destruction of a plane crash and heard the agony as loved ones were told the painful news of a death.

The story is filled with grief that only God can heal. I loved how the author wove a story of overcoming tragedy and the faith the characters found as they found forgiveness and love.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.