Christian Authors Fiction: Best Family Christian Books
Without a doubt, this is an age in need of a Spiritual Revival.
And some of the best and most important activity in the Spiritual revival is in the field of Christian Fiction, AKA "Inspirational Fiction."
Christian novels, both in traditional book-form and eBooks, are a hot commodity. Publishers are actively seeking new writers who can tell an exciting, literate story, built on the underpinning of Christian Faith in the 21st Century...
The first major best seller of Inspirational Fiction in the modern age was Lew Wallace's "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ," published in 1880.
In the early 20th century, Christian fiction seemed to belong to the fantasists. Writers like George MacDonald, J R R Tolkien, C S Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle. Although Christian in theme, the fantasists tended to keep the Church and openly Christian objects (crosses, crucifixes, rosaries, hymnbooks, etc) out of sight -- with the exception of elements of Lewis' Space trilogy.
It wasn't until the 1980's that modern Christian novels appeared that were inspirational in theme, powerful in their writing and set on good old Earth. Janet Oke appeared with her Mountie romances, set in the Canadian Northwest, and set the bar. And then Frank Paretti published "This Present Darkness" in 1989.
The Left Behind Series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye exploded on the literary scene in 1995. With titles like Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, and Desecration, the best selling series redefined the entire Inspirational genre. Although controversial in theme and content, the series served the purpose of creating an interest in Christianity in the 21st century (as did Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code").
Jan Karon's Mitford series, about a "balding, pudgy, sixty-something cleric," has made her a major writer in the Christian Fiction canon. She followed up on that series with the Father Tim Novels. Newer authors of faith-based fiction include Lisa Wingate, Beth Wiseman, Susan May Warren, Marc Schooley, Randall Scott Ingermanson and Terri Blackstock.
Introduction: The Authors of Christian Fantasy and Science Fiction - an article by Voyle A Glover
Writers of Christian Fiction have been at their craft for years. Some of the greatest and boldest have gone on to their reward, such as 17th Century English Christian writer and preacher John Bunyan, author of of the fantasy allegorical tale entitled "The Pilgrim's Progress."
And arguably the most innovative of all: C.S. Lewis, who wrote Tales of Narnia and other impressive fiction.
Stories by Lewis have been firmly imprinted upon the psyche of Christian readers. Lewis composed what some would call Fantasy, and possibly it was, but any story he wrote was a whole lot more than that. A Lewis story was allegorical to the level of submerging a person into scriptural principles that were inescapable. His Christian Science Fiction stories were visuals of good and evil to a degree that any one could take joy in and enjoy his tales.
You will find some who have denigrated Christian Fiction, reporting it is of very small use. Some people would probably contend that fiction is a questionable method to provide the realities of the Bible, reasoning that if someone wants to deliver those facts, it would be far better to craft a simple article that contains those truths. However, therein lies the difficulty. Who will evaluate those essays? Plenty of readers will ignore these boring essays, but would probably look at a narrative of wonder set on far away planets of fantasy.
The simple truth of the concern is that Christian Fiction possesses a well-established history of producing biblical truths inserted inside of worlds of fantasy. Those facts have been digested by tens of millions of consumers and these individuals had been made better for those stories.
Christian Science Fiction is a classification that has been overlooked by Christian authors and publishers. This segment of the Christian Fiction market has been mostly set aside for Fantasy and Futuristic fictional works. Lots of the reason may well be due to the fact it seemed very hard, if not impossible, to press biblical certainty into a tomorrow that is primarily unknown. Writers have been hesitant of moving too far afield of the exposed biblical future. Writing about worlds filled with alien creatures who are beyond doubt not human and whose beginnings are fuzzy can be a bit perplexing to a writer who will not likely want to write of activities that are undoubtedly impossible in a scriptural future.
Writing in a sci-fi situation, particularly a Christian sci-fi framework, will involve a somewhat powerful comprehension of the Bible if a Christian writer is desirous to supply a saga that, while really good and plainly fictional, nonetheless renders a storyline that harmonizes when it comes to biblical constraints, in terms of whether this form of a future might just exist.
If, for instance, a writer wanted to tell a storyline about a world where law-breaking couldn't exist, that writer would possibly insert his or her saga into the covering of the thousand year rule of Jesus Christ, called The Millennium, and spoken of in the Bible. Of course, if that writer begins telling of malignant effects by demonic powers on those surviving in that moment in time, the writer will certainly have run afoul of the things that the Bible reveals of that time. Satan has long been bound, and will be bound, for the whole thousand years.
And it could be, if an author decided to tell a narrative dealing with spaceships and aliens, while it is for sure an acceptable topic, and you will find nothing in the Bible to deny these sorts of conjectures, if the writer has the world destroyed by aliens, then that author has run up against the tough wall of scriptural reality.
The Holy Bible offers some extremely apocalyptic conditions for the future of Earth and humankind, even going so far as to show some creatures that is likely to be seen as without a doubt alien. Nonetheless, there is no suggestion in Scripture that the earth or humans would be destroyed by strange beings from another planet. There is powerful suggestion that aliens, or something similar to aliens, will definitely rain down mayhem upon the planet Earth and men and women. In the 9th chapter of the Book of Revelation, for example, the Bible tells us that specified alien-like beings definitely will come upon the earth and torment mankind for 5 months. The detailed description of these creatures is "like unto horses prepared unto battle...and their faces were as the faces of men."
A writer could clearly run with those images.
A great Christian sci-fi novel could clearly be woven into an exciting tale that would spellbind a large amount of readers. There would be many who would read such a story who would never bother reading the actual biblical background.
==>> Author Voyle A Glover is an attorney and the author of several Western fiction novels, including "The Mountain Man" and "Buffalo Brown's Hunt" -- (see: http://westernfiction.com) and non-fiction books such as "How to Trust God and Build Faith" and his essential and groundbreaking "Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: Legal FAQs for Church Leaders." His latest book is a Christian Sci-fi novel "Millennium Soldier: The Ancient Ones, Book One." Go to http://millenniumsoldier.com/, where you can read testimonials and order the Kindle or Print version. About himself, Voyle said, "I write about those things that interest me. Currently, I have two Christian novels underway, two Westerns, and one non-fiction book dealing with health issues."
Hot Christian Books Reviewed:
Always the Baker, Never the Bride - a novel by Sandra Bricker
In this book, Sandra Bricker takes us on a little trip down south to Atlanta, GA. I am a true "southna'" girl who travels/shops in Atlanta often so this book was a special treat for me in more ways than one!
Half the time, I was craving bakery desserts and the other time I was thinking "I know where that is! That's such a southern thing. Oh my gosh, that's so true!" Every character made me think of someone I knew or similar situation. If having a baseball wedding with baseball glove cake and tomahawk centerpieces seem unusual, you don't know how many die hard Atlanta Brave's fans there are in Atlanta. I can see it happening.
To me, the funniest line in the book was when Emma's mom wants to move her sister to an assisted living village in Sandy Springs, GA. She says
"She's not doing very well and I am worried about her. I thought I might be able to get her one of those apartments in the Sandy Springs complex where Delores and Beauregard Denton moved last year. Peachtree something...
Everything in Atlanta is Peachtree something, Mother."
I laughed so hard because that is without a doubt true. How funny! It is the closest book I have ever read that described scenes, places and accents that are near and dear to me. I loved the southern accents of the ladies with words like "brutha" and "shugah."
One of the real surprises in this book are the delightful recipes and tips. Yes, recipes! Just when you can't handle one more discussion about chocolate brownies or red velvet cake, you turn the page and there is the recipe for the delicacy. I can't wait to make them for my family. And look at the cake on the book, don't you just want to eat the cover? So yummy!
Hotness factor: 3 stars This book was mildly hot. It was more cute and sweet than hot. Will it tingle your toes? Probably not. Will it make you laugh and say "aaahhhh"? More than likely.
Overall rating: 3 stars I liked this book because of the setting and the topic. I haven't read a lot of fiction with cake bakers as the heroine and that made it all the more interesting. If you like TV shows like Ace of Cakes, Cake Boss and Say Yes to the Dress, you will love this book.
Christianity: 5 stars The Christian theme of God never leaving us and being a constant presence in our lives was very strong in the book. This quote sums up the theme well and is so beautiful:
"Vocatus atque non vocatus dues aderit. It means, 'Bidden or not bidden, God is present.'"
Summary plot: Thirty-six-year-old Emma Rae Travis has been baking specialty cakes and melt-in-your-mouth pastries at The Backstreet Bakery in historic Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, for the last six years. But here's the rub about her job as a baker... Emma is diabetic. When Jackson Drake hears about this local baker who has won a prestigious award for her wedding cake artistry, he tells his assistant to be sure and include her in the pastry tastings scheduled at his new wedding destination hotel the following week. Can these two ill-suited players master the high-wire act and make a go of their new business venture? Or will they take each other crashing downward, without a net? And will the surprise wedding at The Tanglewood be theirs?
The Pearl in the Sand - a novel by Tessa Afshar
I have rewritten this book review 10 times. I am having a hard time knowing what to say without coming across as not liking the book...because I did like the book...but I didn't like the book either. Not completely. See my dilemma?
It's clear that I don't feel the same way about the book as others. I had such a hard time reading it that I put it down within the first 100+ pages. I picked it back up later but skipped forward another 100 pages to see if the end could hold my attention any better than the beginning - which it did surprisingly! So I have decided to write the review in two parts - the first 150 pages and the last 150 pages. (Just to be fair, I did go back to those skipped pages and read them so I could write a honest review.)
First 150 pages - I picked this book because I loved the cover. Absolutely breathtaking! But I was expecting something so much deeper and poignant in the beginning and I just wasn't feeling it so I put the book down. I proceeded to read other books and then decided to pick this back up again but to skip forward a couple hundred pages to see if the ending was any better. I'm glad I did because I loved the second half of the book. Here are my problems with the first half: I didn't feel the fight or fear in Rahab when she was being convinced into prostitution. It seemed to me that she just accepted it as her lot in life. I didn't feel any strong emotions or disgust from her family - none of them stood up for her or made much of a fuss about the whole situation? Really? Not the sister or brothers? No one? Maybe they were supposed to be emotionally disconnected but it didn't feel genuine to me.
I also wanted to feel the horror and panic of Rahab's first "experience" with a man. Take a minute to imagine what that must have felt like. Her heart beating out of her chest, the revulsion, the thoughts....and then just dismiss all that and leave it out of the book, or worse, wrap up the whole experience in one paragraph as this author chose to do. Such a disappointment and missed opportunity. I wanted to watch her progression from inexperienced girl to professional woman of the night. I wanted to see more of what Rahab talked about in the second half of the book lived out in the first half of the book. Not in gory detail, mind you, but more than what I got. Tessa Afshar could have included so much more.
Now you might be saying to yourself "what kind of sick puppy wants to write about the inside feelings and emotions of a prostitute laid bare for all the world to see?" Two words for you - Francine Rivers. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers is based on the story of Hosea taking a prostitute for a wife and is the book by which I judge ALL other Christian Fiction. She is the standard and the Queen, in my opinion. (If you haven't read "Redeeming Love" where have you been? Go buy it now. I'm serious. Don't waste another minute reading this blog until you've ordered "Redeeming Love" then you can come back and finish this post. Did you do it? Okay, now you can continue reading...) Francine Rivers takes us along for a roller coaster ride of emotions from Angel (Gomer), where as Rahab's emotions seem non-existent until the end of the book. The only thing I can think of is that the author and/or publisher is not comfortable with the raw, edgy emotions of "Redeeming Love" that could have been presented here in "Pearl in the Sand."
Second part of the book - I really enjoyed the second half of the book. What the two lovers have to learn about each other to make their relationship work could be echoed by a thousand modern women today. Statistics show very few women have gone through life without facing trauma that leaves them feeling guilty, bound up and wounded. Accordingly, very few men are equipped with helping their spouses overcome these issues and live the life God has intended for them. Beautiful lines like this made me fall in love with Salmone and the second half of the book:
"As he had been a warrior for God against the walls of Jericho, so he would be a warrior for God against the walls that trapped his precious wife. He would demonstrate the same obedience, the same patience and persistence, the same unyielding resolve to win over his wife that he had shown in battle against Canaan's cities. The soldier in him smiled."
This part of the book seemed more realistic to me. It reminded me of counseling sessions I have participated in. I think this book would help women see how much it has to hurt in order to heal and how to help a marriage recover where both parties are restored fully to God together in the end. And then there was the parable of the pearl. Such a wonderful, beautiful example of God's love for us but that's all I can say about that. You have to read the book.
I don't know why the beginning couldn't have been more like the gritty reality of the ending. Bottom line for me is the book missed a huge opportunity. With more emotion and depth in the beginning, it could have risen closer to the likes of "Redeeming Love" and maybe even bordered on a Christian classic. Maybe it's not fair to compare the two books but I couldn't help it due to the similar subject matter. "The Pearl in the Sand" is no "Redeeming Love" but I would recommend reading it anyway.
Same Kind of Different as Me - a novel by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
With 597+ Amazon reviews currently on this book, I don't see how mine will make a difference but I promised Thomas Nelson I would read and review it so here goes... I will review this book based on the impact it is having on my life.
I am used to reading about adventures with romance, pirates, cowboys, historical figures, etc. in order to escape reality so this book was more difficult for me to read. This book is reality, hard and true. There is no adventure. No hero or heroine really. No swashbuckling or bronc busting. It is more like a glimpse of someones life...a conversation of friends sitting around a table and someone starts to open up about their past and what is revealed is jaw dropping but you respect them because they showed themselves as human.
The book is told from two different points of view: one white, rich man and one black, poor man. The funny thing is I could relate to Denver, the black character, more than I could relate to Ron, the white character. I am not African American but I grew up in the deep south. When Denver describes where he lived and what he had been through, I could see, hear and smell the South without having to use my imagination. Even today, I could take you to places that are eerily similar to those in the book.
As a Christian, it bothers me that I didn't see this as poverty growing up. It's just the way it is. Good or bad. We don't try to change it. As Denver states "they're livin' better than I ever did when I was livin' here."
To me, the book started off slow and then gradually built my interest into not being able to put the book down. Maybe, if seeing the black conditions in the south were new to me, I would have been like an anthropologist gleaning information on a new culture recently discovered but I've seen it, heard it, lived in it so I wasn't fascinated with this glimpse of the ugly side of the south. Right off, I didn't like Ron. He seemed like a used car salesman always grasping for more but never being humble about it. I know people like Ron. I know people like Denver.
The book really had me riveted though in the middle where Ron and Deborah are faced with a fight that would change their lives forever. I started thinking and crying...how many people would be praying for me if I was faced with a similar situation? Would anyone pray all through the night for me? Would my church hold a prayer vigil and swamp my room with flowers? What would my church do? I didn't like the answers to my questions.
I started to think about my impact on my family, friends, church, earth and ultimately heaven. This book has helped me look at my own life in a new light, particularly what kind of person do I want to be? I realized there is so much more I want to do and be in this life. I highly recommend this book. Will it change your life drastically? Maybe...maybe not...but I do think it is a book that God can use to convict you on many different levels. Don't pass it up just because it doesn't involve action or adventure.
Wrangler in Petticoats - a novel by Mary Connealy
I like Mary Connealy's writing. I really do but I had a hard time with this one. I have read all of the Montana Marriages series, as well as, the Lasso in Texas series. I feel that makes me a capable judge of this new series, Sophie's Daughters. We first meet Sophie's girls in "Petticoat Ranch" and again in "Calico Canyon." This book, the second in the series, mainly focuses on Sally with a good bit of Mandy's problems thrown in. (See my review of "Doctor in Petticoats" for more about Beth and Mandy's life.) You could read this book out of order and not miss much at all. Although, reading "Calico Canyon" will give you a good sense of what Sally has been through in her lifetime and break your heart in the process.
This book was harder for me to get into. I couldn't decide if Sally's rescuer was manly enough for me. Oddly enough, that was one of the same struggles that Sally had! He is an artist so he is sensitive but he has lived in the wilderness long enough to make him strong and independent. Mary Conneally does a great job of addressing the issue of the way we perceive artists and our immediate judgment of them, good or bad. I struggled with my perception of him the entire book but I also think that was the point.
My biggest problem with the book though is the ending. Mary left it wide open for the next book and I hate that. Mainly because I am impatient and I can't stand waiting for the next book in a series! The story lines are wrapped up enough in this book but it is clear that some of the issues were left unresolved on Mandy's side of things. This also means I have read two books with Mandy's problems and am going to have to wait on the third book to find out if she ever truly finds happiness.
Here are my ratings, from 1-5, with 1 being the lowest
Hotness Factor: 3 stars
I think Husband Tree by this author was much hotter but this is pretty good. He can't stop kissing her at random times so that keeps the chemistry between the two going throughout the story. If you like a lot of tenderness instead of tension then you will like this book.
Series info: 3 stars
In this series, "Doctor in Petticoats" is definitely the better book, so far. I personally liked the "Lassoed in Texas" series better but Husband Tree is still my favorite book by this author.
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Mary Connealy gives a good performance in this series. She is a good storyteller and includes passion and longing but not as much as other CHF authors like DeeAnne Gist and Julie Lessman. There were also some really funny moments between the main characters that seemed genuine and had me laughing out loud.
Christianity: 3 stars
God and faith are in this book but not overtly. More of the "Lord help me through this" than the deep struggle for forgiveness, grace, need, etc.
Summary Plot: Ride into the Rockies where love peaks between a tough Texas tomboy and a passionate artist. On her way to Montana, Sally McClellan's party is attacked and robbed. But then artist Logan McKenzie saves the badly wounded cowgirl who has been left for dead. Can this landscape painter tame the tomboy without breaking her spirit? Sally doesn't know much about ribbons and lace, but Logan's presence makes her want to connect with her feminine side. Will this fractured female discover a way to capture the artist's love-or find herself captured and killed by outlaws?
Dining with the Dollar Diva - a novel by Elizabeth Fisher
This is a unique cookbook with great ideas. The premise of the book was "to provide delicious meals where all of the ingredients were purchased from the $1 store." You are probably not going to impress your friends at a gourmet dinner party with these recipes but they are great for when you need to fix something for dinner in a hurry AND on a budget!! In today's economy who doesn't need help with the grocery budget?
There is everything from simple dipping sauces and Empanadas to more elegant dishes like Baked Alaska. The cookbook is divided into categories of Appetizers, Burgers/Sandwiches, Main Courses, Desserts. This is not just a collection of recipes. It has stories, tips for each chapter and a page or two to write your own notes!
The drawbacks are: I'm not sure the average person will be able to find these items in their everyday grocery store for $1. The ingredients, especially the seafood, aren't always on sale and can't be found at every dollar store. If you take this cookbook for what it is "menu with items costing $1 or less" then I think you will be pleased with the end result.
Here is the summary of the book:
This cookbook contains "divalicious" recipes created with ingredients that cost one dollar or less. Author Elizabeth Fisher is a regular mom who is a wiz at creating exquisite menus and dining experiences at economical prices. Each recipe is accompanied by an interesting story about how that recipe came to be created. Most ingredients can be found at your local dollar store or in the dollar section in your local supermarket. This is the first book in the Dollar Diva series.
Elizabeth Fisher is a single mother of two adult sons, Marques, and her "adopted" son, Harold. She loves to cook and eat, and prays that everyone enjoys this book as much as she enjoyed writing it. She is known for her annual July 4th get together, which she has hosted for over twenty years. The party has grown from grilling a few burgers to a neighborhood block party event entertaining up to one hundred people.
The Blue Enchantress - a novel by MaryLu Tyndall
After finishing "The Red Siren," I couldn't wait to read "The Blue Enchantress." The book opens with action, tension and jaw dropping moments. I was immediately caught up as I found Hope on the verge of being auctioned away as a slave. Mr. Nathaniel Mason just happening along at the exact moment and then hearing Hope actually confess to having an affair with a married man...and that was the first 15 pages! I knew this book was going to be gooooood.
Hotness Factor: 4 stars Red Siren was a little bit hotter to me because I loved the cat and mouse game of those characters but this book was steamy too. Just the nature of the subject added heat to this book. In Christian Historical Fiction, you rarely get to see a story where the woman is throwing herself at almost every man she meets. It just wasn't done in that time period but it is refreshing to see the female being the pursuer and flirt. Also, it is so hot to see how Nathaniel struggles between wanting to give in to her charms and wanting to dump her in the ocean. :)
Series Info: 4 stars This book is the second one in a three book series. I have loved all the books in the series for different reasons. In this one we have Pirate Captains, duels, being marooned on a deserted island - all the classic elements you think of when you think of books about Pirates. I don't recommend reading this book out of order. Hope and Nathaniel are mentioned in book one briefly but you really need Hope's back story that is confessed in Red Siren. You start to realize why she acts the way she does and what she believes about herself.
Overall Rating: 4 stars Hope has had some major issues in her life. She is hurting emotionally but covers it up by being shallow, spoiled and self-centered. She can only see what she wants without how it affects others or how her actions will be interpreted. As she tries to be a new creation without Christ, her past holds her back and trips her up at every turn.
Enter kind, frustrated, strong Mr. Mason. I fell in love with him the moment he gave almost all he had in the world to save her but now he's got an enchantress on his hands as he tries to see her back home safely to Charles Town. How much can one man take?
Christianity: 5 stars The Christian theme of forgiveness, grace and trust come through clearly in this book. I liked how her past was forgiven but not forgotten. The Spiritual warfare element was stronger in this book than the first. I loved how the weather patterns changed when the characters were locked in a spiritual battle or struggling with their faith.
Summary Plot: Trying to forget about a painful past, Hope Westcott plunges into Charles Towne society trying to find love and acceptance. Captain Nathaniel Mason is determined to build his shipping business and doesn t need a romantic entanglement especially with a woman like Hope. When Hope's adventure-seeking puts her freedom and her life in jeopardy, will Nathaniel turn his back or follow God s voice and sacrifice everything to save her?
A Hope Undaunted - a novel by Julie Lessman
Quick word about my review below...this was hard to write without giving away significant plot lines so I hope that I don't have any spoilers below and if it seems vague, it's for your own protection. Trust me.
The opening line sets the tone of the book "Now this is how love should be - nice and neat." Katie has her life all planned out - from who she is going to marry, where she will go to school and even how many children she will have with her future husband. These are not dreams or a wish list. These are hard and fast plans that she sticks to even when it seems ridiculously clear that she should change her plans. But nooooo, not stubborn Katie Rose.
Katie has grown into a young woman working her way toward a career as a lawyer. She is living in the "roaring 20's" and has strong beliefs about women's rights and activism. The financial struggles and stress in the book are eerily similar to what has happened with our current economy. She definitely reflects the "modern woman" attitude.
Hotness factor: 5 star (Did you think Julie was going to get less than 5 stars? Really now?) The character who has changed the most is Cluny Mcgee. My, oh my, Cluny has grown up into a very nice looking man...six foot three, tanned, blonde hair and muscles to spare. I feel bad for Collin. I was so in love with him from before but now he's been relegated to the back burner. (Especially with what he pulls in this book!) It seems Cluny is a chick magnet for every woman on the planet except one - Katie. The heat and chemistry is there from the beginning. I might even venture to say that it was even a little hotter than her other books. Here is a quote from Chapter 16:
(He)...blocked her, hand to her arm with a wicked grin on his face. He prodded her to the wall with a lift of his brown. "One measly compliment, Katie Rose, and if Life Savers were money, you'd be a wealthy woman." It was meant no more than a tease, a game from their past to get her mind off the present, but all at once his heart started pounding and his mouth went dry....He was a friend that wanted to be a lover, and for the first time in weeks, the desire was so strong, he had to physically pull away. He took a step back. God help me, what I wouldn't give...She stared at him then with a lump in her throat, and her eyes met his piercing gaze with a soggy one of her own. "I'm already a wealthy woman,: she whispered, her voice so low he had to strain to hear it. "Cluny McGee is the best friend I've ever had."
Overall Rating: 5 stars Everything was churning along nicely until around page 420, when I said out loud, "You're killing me here, Julie!" Then by page 436, I was having a full blown conversation with her "Oh no, no, no! You're not going to go down this road, are you? Yep, she's going to do this." Good thing everyone in the house was asleep as I talked out loud...
At around page 458, I wanted to cry. I just couldn't take it anymore. Cluny was just so stubborn and couldn't give in to his heart and let go of his past. Page 462, *gasp* and jaw drop, as well as, relief. Oh, thank goodness!
Christianity: 5 stars Chapter 22, had me in its clutches. Seeing John 15:13 in action made me rethink my own view of the verse and its implications. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" is lived out in black and white and is a beautiful example of Godly and brotherly love. Faith in Christ is never an afterthought in Julie's books. In "A Hope Undaunted," you see how all of the characters are in different places in their walk with Christ. Some struggling, some completely reliant and others just learning to trust but all realistic and encouraging.
One thing that surprised me about the book was the orphanage/foster care theme. It really appealed to me because I used to work in children's emergency shelters (one of them being a runaway home) and had a foster child for three years. When he came to live with us, he was 10 and looked like he was 7 or 8. He came to our home with a black trash bag that had all his possessions in the world tucked inside. Our foster son reminded me a lot of Cluny Mcgee - scared, hurt, alone, full of anger and mistrust. I can commiserate with the struggles in the book of the foster children, foster parents and the organization trying to help.
All the other characters are richly developed including Faith/Collin, Charity/Mitch, Lizzie/Brady and Marcy/Patrick. We learn much more about Sean and Steven in this book and I can't wait to fall in love with both of them in the next two books.
Now this is how a hot Christian romance should be - NOT so nice and neat but one that you will fall in love with again and again!
==>> Check out more of my Christian Fiction book reviews at http://www.hotchristianbooks.com
Fighting for Bread & Roses - Fiction Suspense Thriller with a Christian Message
Fiction Suspense Thriller with a Christian Message
Author Interview with Lynn A. Coleman, "Fighting for Bread & Roses"
By Lisa M. Hendey
Moving beyond the genre of inspirational romance, Christian author Lynn A Coleman takes a peek into the past as she shares a gripping story in her latest novel "Fighting for Bread & Roses" (Kregel, August 2005, paperback, 256 pages). Mirroring true life, the book finds an author researching the events of the Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. What follows is a gripping tale of suspense and mystery, tinged with an inspirational tone.
I had an opportunity to catch up with author Lynn A. Coleman, and am pleased to share her comments on this, her latest novel.
Q: Please tell me a bit about yourself.
A: I'm a wife, mother and grandmother of eight of the most gorgeous grandchildren. I live in North Central Florida with my husband. I started writing Christian Fiction when our youngest son was completing high school. In an effort to help other Christian fiction writers I co-founded American Christian Romance Writers Inc. now known as American Christian Fiction Writers Inc.
Q: How would you briefly summarize the plot of Fighting for Bread and Roses?
A: The murder of Anna Lopizzo, a textile worker who participated in the deadly Bread and Roses Strike of 1912, brought historical fiction author, Lindsey Taylor to Lawrence, Ma. While researching her next novel, another mystery arose the supposed drowning of Jenna Waverly in the frozen Merrimack River. Was she trying to kill herself or was it just an accident -- or worse? The story doesn't stay in the past, as Lindsey's own life is threatened. What has she unearthed?
Q: How did you come to write this book and what did you learn along the way? What type of research was required to write in the proper historical context?
A: Like my character, Lindsey, I came across the information of Anna Lopizzo's death during the strike while doing research. The fact that her murder was never solved intrigued me. I learned many interesting facts, and I have no doubt that the strike was necessary. I thought of my own great-grandparents and grandparents who worked in factories just like the ones in Lawrence.
Researching a historical novel takes a lot of time going through old records, newspapers and, if you're fortunate finding diaries and journals from that time period are extremely helpful. Unfortunately, I wasn't as fortunate as Lindsey and wasn't able to find a diary written at the time of the strike.
Q: How does your personal faith affect your writing and the stories you share?
A: I've learned that no matter what type of situation I might find myself in, God has an answer and help to pull me through. Sometimes, I'm quick to rely on the Lord and sometimes I struggle with a problem far longer than I need to. I try to apply some of what I've learned to my characters. Of course, since they are fictional it is so much easier to quickly solve their problems within a few pages.
I believe I've been called by the Lord to write Christian fiction that both entertains and challenges the readers to go deeper in their own relationship with God.
Q: In what ways do you identify with Lindsey, the major character of "Fighting for Bread and Roses?"
A: There are several similarities between myself and Lindsey. The desire to be as accurate as possible with the novel and the love of technologies like laptops and digital photography, are a couple of the ways we are the same. But there are several areas where Lindsey and I differ. I'm not married to a lawyer and my children are older and two of them have given me grandchildren. Hopefully, I'm not as stubborn as Lindsey and would remove myself from harms way sooner.
Q: How does this novel differ from others you've written?
A: This is my first mystery/suspense novel. My previous fiction novels have been Christian romance with two of them labeled as Romantic Suspense. With romance the romance needs to be the primary plot. With mystery/suspense the mystery suspense needs to be the primary plot.
Q: Do you have any projects in the works and will we hear again from Lindsey?
A: I'm happy to say Lindsey is doing research in Savannah, Ga. and I can't wait to see what kind of trouble she'll get into up there.
Q: Are there any additional thoughts or comments you'd like to share?
A: I love writing for the Lord and look forward to co-creating more stories in the future.
==> Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic literature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com/ for more information.
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