Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It is designed to showcase books that are about to release that we can't wait to get our hands on...

My choice this week is I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg, releasing the week of November 9th.

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

The beloved Fannie Flagg is back and at her irresistible and hilarious best in I Still Dream About You, a comic mystery romp through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, past, present, and future.

Meet Maggie Fortenberry, a still beautiful former Miss Alabama. To others, Maggie’s life seems practically perfect—she’s lovely, charming, and a successful real estate agent at Red Mountain Realty. Still, Maggie can’t help but wonder how she wound up in her present condition. She had been on her hopeful way to becoming Miss America and realizing her childhood dream of someday living in one of the elegant old homes on top of Red Mountain, with the adoring husband and the 2.5 children, but then something unexpected happened and changed everything.

Maggie graduated at the top of her class at charm school, can fold a napkin in more than forty-eight different ways, and can enter and exit a car gracefully, but all the finesse in the world cannot help her now. Since the legendary real estate dynamo Hazel Whisenknott, beloved founder of Red Mountain Realty, died five years ago, business has gone from bad to worse—and the future isn’t looking much better. But just when things seem completely hopeless, Maggie suddenly comes up with the perfect plan to solve it all.

As Maggie prepares to put her plan into action, we meet the cast of high-spirited characters around her. To Brenda Peoples, Maggie’s best friend and real estate partner, Maggie’s life seems easy as pie. Slender Maggie doesn’t have to worry about her figure, or about her Weight Watchers sponsor catching her at the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. And Ethel Clipp, Red Mountain’s ancient and grumpy office manager with the bright purple hair, thinks the world of Maggie but has absolutely nothing nice to say about their rival Babs “The Beast of Birmingham” Bingington, the unscrupulous estate agent who hates Maggie and is determined to put her out of business.

Maggie has heartbreaking secrets in her past, but through a strange turn of events, she soon discovers, quite by accident, that everybody, it seems—dead or alive—has at least one little secret.

I Still Dream About You is a wonderful novel that is equal parts Southern charm, murder mystery, and that perfect combination of comedy and old-fashioned wisdom that can be served up only by America’s own remarkable Fannie Flagg.

Interview: Lila Munro

Please join me in welcoming Lila Munro to Debbie's Book Bag today. Lila's new book, Bound by Trust is available NOW from your favorite bookseller or from Whiskey Creek Press.

DEB: Lila, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
LILA: Absolutely, I write contemporary erotic romance with a realism twist. I've recently coined my own term for my style: realmantica, which is realistic erotic romance. I'm very much in favor of a believable story. Being a military wife, I tend to move a lot and currently live on the coast of North Carolina in the heart of Marinetown, USA - east coast. I take much of my inspiration for my heroes from the marines I've lived around for the past fourteen years. When I'm not writing I enjoy reading everything I can get my hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. And I must confess, I have a weakness for caramel frappe. I love to hear from my readers and I can be found a few places around the net.

Lila Munro Website
Wicked Muses, where Lila collaborates with three very talented ladies
Facebook

DEB: Tell us a little bit about your new book, Bound by Trust?
LILA: I would love to share a bit about Bound by Trust. It came out October 1st, through Whiskey Press - Torrid, and can be purchased at:

Whiskey Press
ARe
Amazon
BookStrand

It's a beautiful emotional story about a war widow, Madi Melbourne, and her journey to finding love and trust again. Here hero, Rafe McCarthy, is all alpha, although he has his doubts at times as to whether he can really live up to the person she needs him to be.

Excerpt

DEB: What was your inspiration for this book? Have you always written about love and romance?
LILA: I have a habit of finding the most difficult problems for my characters to overcome anyone can possibly fathom, but they also have to stem to realistic issues. Living in a military community, I've actually seen how devastating the loss of a spouse to war can be. There have been romances written about such circumstances, but none I've read really did the theme justice in my mind. They only hinted at the problem, they didn't attack it head-on. Anyone who grieves goes through a process that includes a myriad of emotions. Most novels I've read only deal with two - depression an acceptance. I felt I could do a better job of addressing the other three stages, and I believe I was successful. As far as if I've always written about love and romance, well, I'm new to this game and up until now that's all I've attempted to publish. I've written outside that genre to include mainstream fiction and children's literature, but have yet to send any of those out for submission.

DEB: What type of research do you do for your books?
LILA: I research in the most unusual of places as it turns out. I do use the internet and library, but my research extends far beyond those places. Some of my research isn't exactly PG-13 in nature. For instance, for the series I'm currently working on, I've had to take some extensive field research trips. My first hero, Alec gets saddled with a stripper named Piper. In order to get into the head of Piper and feel what she feels, I did my research at a strip club and at my local Adam and Eve where most of the dancers in town shop. I actually stood under the black lights to get the feel of what it's like facing a crowd in that environment. I also talked to some interesting characters about the local underground leather culture so as to be able to understand my second hero's girl, Abby. She's damaged in a way Freud probably wouldn't understand. As far as all things military, having been married to the military for the last fourteen years is a plus as you can imagine. And for those questions I cannot answer for myself I'm fortunate enough to have my own in-house research center in the form of my husband. As you can see, I'm serious about my research and end up in some of the most unusual places.

DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place to write comfortably?
LILA: I think normal is a matter of perception. No two days are alike because I have so much going on all of the time. I do write full-time as I am fortunate enough to be able to stay at home and not work outside the home. My nest is empty so I don't have the distractions of happy little feet plodding along behind me or the responsibility of making sure there are enough juice boxes in the fridge anymore - I just have to make sure I have big person juice. I love the freedom my life affords me. That being said, my day consists of waking up, walking down the hall in my jammies and going to work. Who knows right? I answer my e-mails, check around to see what happened while I slept, then get down to the real reason I sit behind the keyboard, the writing part. With my local radio station streaming in the background, I crawl inside one of my character's heads and begin to tell their story. This might go on for an hour or several hours. Bedtime is never the same two days in a row, and I've been known to be shaken awake by my muse at two or three a.m. and ordered back to the keyboard. All in all, it sounds a bit like organized chaos doesn't it?

DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
LILA: Surreal. I read the e-mail twice, then marinated in it, then read it again. Shock coupled with excitement is an understatement.

DEB: Do you have any advice for new writers?
LILA: For new writers, my advice would be to never give up, and always, always aspire to do better. If you receive a rejection, don't whine or complain. Brood a bit if you must, but move on. Figure out what you are doing wrong and fix it. If grammar is your issue, fix it. If it's spelling, fix it. If it's poor character development, fix it. For me, I have a terrible affliction called MMS (multiple muse syndrome). No matter what I do, I get inside too many heads at once, and heaven help me the points of view shoot off the charts. I am currently learning to reign that in and stay in one characters head at a time. I'm also famous for telling people to write what you know and do your research.

DEB: When your're not writing what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
LILA: I read everything and anything, although I obviously do veer toward romance of any sub-genre. Although paranormal isn't really my thing. Being a military wife, I'm alone quite a bit and things that go bump in the night are not my cup of tea, especially on those nights I can't sleep. Not good for ever being able to sleep again. Favorite author. I've been asked that a lot and I must admit, my tastes vary to such a degree that I can honestly say I do not have an absolute all time favorite.

DEB: What are you working on right now?
LILA: I have so many irons in the fire right now I have a hard time keeping up with myself some days. Currently I am working on a series called, The Sargents of Echo Co., which was called Lima Co. until I figured out people associate that call sign to beans. Not a good image for romance. Right? Echo is about three young enlisted marine's - Alec, Hunter, and Brady and the women they find that are almost too much to handle. I'm also working on a wonderful stand alone story called, The Language of Love, about a young graduate student trying to finish her dissertation to obtain a doctorate degree in cultural anthropology. The only thing in her way is her inability to decipher the language of the indigenous people she's studying in the Amazon. Enter right, one doctor of linguistics, who also happens to be the source of her research funding. It's different from what I normally write because it has nothing to do with the military and thus far as been loads of fun. I'm also toying with the idea of a Valentine's Day novella. Along with all that I have two projects in the works with a new publisher I've been working with and as badly as I would like to share them today with you, I cannot. However, let it suffice to say, one is a stand alone project and the other is something that I believe will set the bar for group projects.

DEB: Tell us one thing that people may not know about you?
LILA: I think I've just about shared every secret about myself I ever hoped to keep a secret. Once you've admitted you can tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue, theirs not much else to shock your audience. However, here's a juicy tidbit. When I need some inspiration to get fully inside a hero's head, I think in Sam Elliot's voice. That voice... dear goodness. That man could talk me over the edge of a cliff.

Thank-You for your time!

Thanks for having me here today, Deb. It was a pleasure and hope we can get together again soon.

Review: Bound by Trust

Bound by Trust by Lila Munro

Publication Date: October 2010
Publisher: Whiskey Press
Format: E-Book, 269 KB
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
ISBN-13: 9781603138697

(Received for review from the author)

Synopsis (Amazon):

The Widow

After her husband Gage is killed in combat, Madi Melbourne finds out just how hard being a widow can be. She's left destitute, piecing together a life she never knew Gage was living, and as the puzzle begins to take shape, she begins to fall apart.

Her Savior

Rafe McCarthy has always been known as the unit playboy. Having never married and being childless, he finds himself examining his life and looking at the what-ifs. Then a beautiful widow moves in next door and he begins to discover something he never knew existed inside of him.

Learning to trust... How can he convince her to trust again and place that trust in him? Will he be able to live up to the responsibility he has taken in teaching her to love again?

Thoughts:

Lila Munro has crafted a novel that could be taken from today's headlines. She is able to take the reader into the life of a young Army widow and show them the hardships she faced in her own life as well as the issues that many Army families face today. Money issues, long absences, loneliness and a high divorce rate.

Madison Melbourne is shocked to find that her husband, Staff Sargent Gage Melbourne, wasn't exactly who she thought he was. When Gage is killed in combat in Afghanistan, Madi discovers that he was leading a very complicated life. Luxury purchases they couldn't afford, love letters from two other women, and bill collectors hounding her every move, make Madi decide it's time to start over.

When Madi moves to Missouri near Fort Leonard Wood she unexpected meets, Rafe McCarthy, self-proclaimed playboy and terminal bachelor. Their attraction to each other is more than either of them believed was possible, but Madi isn't looking for someone new, when she can hardly get over the betrayal of her trust from her husband.

Rafe works hard to help matter get over her trust issues, but they are both holding back from each other. Will they be able to learn to trust each other?

I liked this book a lot. Munro uses her experience as an military wife to add real authenticity to the book. I'm unsure that most people are aware of the pressures that military families face and I thought this book did a wonderful job of showing the general public how things can be. One of the most impressive parts of the book for me was the clear message that honesty and transparency are things that any relationship must have to remain solid. Once you lose trust in a person it is so hard to regain that.

The characters were refreshing and very believable. The banter and steam between Madi and Rafe is almost palpable. This is great romance with just the right amount of sexiness. I thought the love scenes were well written and not too much for the average reader. This is a quick read, with a good fast pace, that will leave readers feeling satisfied.

Bound by Trust is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I am giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Lila Munro is a writer of contemporary erotic romance currently residing on the coast of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs and a spoiled guinea pig. Married to a marine for fourteen years, she takes much of her inspiration from the military for the creation of her heroes. When shes not writing she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, research trips to unusual places and soaking up the sun. Her guilty pleasures include, white wine from a local winery, bubble bathes, and good highland romance fix.

Teaser Tuesday (42)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.

Open to a random page.

Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and the author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

I generally do things a little differently. Since I read and review several books a week. I put up a teaser from each book that will be featured on my blog each week. Here are this weeks teasers:

The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund, page 100. The rumors that wove through the crowd made her heart lurch and weakened her knees until she sagged against Anne. She closed her eyes to Block out the dizzying sounds.

Act Like We're In Love by Christi Barth. Linnea had no idea what to say, where to begin. To her immense relief, Luke cleared his throat and took the lead. "Gotta say, this was a great way to end lunch."

Bound by Trust by Lila Munro. Despite her promise not to feel anything for him after wondering where he was all weekend, she found herself attracted to him all over again. She made a quick mental inventory of why she shouldn't be, but she fell into a trance over his eyes, and muscles, and voice anyway.



Little Shepherd by Cheryl Malindrinos, page 10. Father nodded at the shepherds. They left the new family and headed back to the field. Along the way the shepherds sang, thanking God for the birth of the Savior the angels had told them about.

Heart with Joy by Steve Cushman, page 50. He didn't say another to me, but kept alternating between thirty chest compressions and breathing twice into the man's mouth. Time seemed to slow down, and for a few minutes the only thing I could hear was my father's heavy breathing.

City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, page 123. The smaller man seemed to be in charge. As I stood there he looked me over cooly and seemed unimpressed with what he saw. A boy of perhaps ten sat on the floor at his his feet. He turned to the young man and asked pleasantly, "Shall I kill him for you?"

Fated by S.G. Browne, page 222. From this distance, it's hard to get a good look at the figure's face. But when another image of the figure appears on the fifty-inch, high-definition screen, enlarged and digitally enhanced, it's apparent the figure looks a lot like me.

When No One is Watching by Joseph Hayes, page 200. "Well, then, maybe Van Howe is afraid of her, too," Schwartz replied. "But whether he's afraid of her or worships her, there's no evidence of infidelity or any other kind of misconduct since he arrived on the public scene."

Devotions for the God Girl by Hayley DiMarco, page 62. What's your legacy gonna be? When you're dead and gone, what are people going to remember abou tyou and treasure that was yours?

Interview & Giveaway with Christi Barth

Please join me in welcoming, Christi Barth author of Act Like We're in Love to Debbie's Book Bag today. The author is generously offering a copy of her book for giveaway to one lucky winner. Please see the details at the end of the post.

DEB: Christi can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
CHRISTI: I spent years performing in musicals, singing about love and giving people a happy ending in every performance. Then as a wedding planner I spent every day immersed in romance. Now I write it! Act Like We're in Love is my second published book, and I am now writing my fourth.

DEB: Tell us a little about your new book, Act Like We're in Love?
CHRISTI: It is a backstage peek at love in a theatre.

Synopsis: When two people make beautiful music together onstage, can their love survive once the curtain falls? Linnea Larson is willing to do anything to keep her family's Minneapolis dinner theatre from going under. Anything, that is, besides accepting a date from the Hollywood hunk her father hired to inject a dose of star power into their production of Guys & Dolls. It's a toss up whether his greatest claim to fame is playing a superhero on screen, or a super stud off screen. Neither fact convinces her he's got what it takes to share her stage. And thanks to a life long pact with her best friend, she never dates actors.

Luke Powell has fame, fortune, and an endless string of women, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with his picture perfect life. Looking for a change, he escapes to his theatrical roots. What he finds are wary cast mates, a nervous best friend convinced the show will ruin Luke's career, and an adorable costar who stubbornly refuses to go out with him. Suddenly singing and dancing aren't the only challenges he'll tackle over the summer. Far from the spotlights of Hollywood, can he find happiness in the footlights of a tiny theatre?

Despite Luke dragging her into his daily paparazzi nightmare, Linnea can't deny her mounting attraction to his irresistible charm. And even if she's crazy enough to chance getting involved, their fling would have a guaranteed expiration date. He's leaving at the end of the run, and she's tied to her family's theatre. Why risk the inevitable heartbreak? Their job is to act like they're in love, but will they decide it's worth the leap to fall in love for real?

DEB: What was your inspiration for this book?
CHRISTI: I spent much of my life performing in musical theatre and opera. There is a wonderful intimacy inherent to being in a cast that lends itself to romance. I wanted to share with the world the absolute joy of being on stage. And the 'disdain' theatre actors have for movie/tv actors is very real, which gave me a conflict to work with right off the bat.

DEB: Have you always written about finding love and romance?
CHRISTI: Yes. I started writing romance as a summer project in the ninth grade - a perfectly horrible 60 page historical epic called, Alyssa's Last Look. I'm one of those mushy/gushy people who truly believe that love makes the world go round, and I can't imagine writing anything else.

DEB: Why type of research did you do for your book?
CHRISTI: I often joke that it's a good thing the government isn't checking my web history. For my first book I had to research poison's readily available in gardens. My last book I tracked down the history of several islands, as well as the drug trade history in the Caribbean. For Act Like We're in Love, I already knew all the background on musicals, so all I really had to be stringent about researching was the comic book character, Aquaman and the layout of Minneapolis neighborhoods. All in a day's work!

DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place for you to write comfortably?
CHRISTI: After years as an actress, my creative juices kick into gear after 6 PM. I do my plotting during the day - well, whenever the idea strikes, which is often when I'm either at the gym or the symphony, oddly enough. But the bulk of my writing takes place between sunset and midnight.

DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
CHRISTI: Magical. Wonderful. And I enjoyed it for all of a day until I opened another information sheet I had to provide to the publisher, requesting the idea for the cover art. Aack - no idea at all what to do, and I tumbled into a maelstrom of worry and horrible, horrible brainstorming (This cover was much easier to design)

DEB: Do You have any advise for new writers?
CHRISTI: I'm going to steal from NIKE and say, Just Do It! Put your butt in the chair and your fingers on the keyboard. Treat it like a job, with expectations and goals and force yourself to write. Persevere. Oh, and have fun - because you have to really love it to keep going.

DEB: When you're not writing what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
CHRISTI: I devour romance. Also have a weakness for mysteries and thrillers, along with the out-of-the-box titles my two book clubs force on me (right now we're reading a book all about what happens to cadavers). My favorite authors - can't pick just one - would be Nora Roberts, Christie Ridgeway, Richelle Mead, Lisa Kleypas, Eloisa James and Stephen White.

DEB: What are you working on right now?
CHRISTI: My first trilogy (and yes, it is very scary and three times the work!). The first book, Planning for Love, centers around a wedding planner - lots of room for bridezilla horror stories and hijinks!

DEB: Tell us one thing people may not know about you?
CHRISTI: For five years I decorated my hometown's Rose Parade Float - my favorite part was climbing the scaffolding and hanging upside down to apply flowers.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The author is generously providing a digital copy of her release, Act Like We're in Love to one lucky winner. The rules are simple:

1.) You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
2.) Since this is a digital copy, INTERNATIONAL entries are welcome.
3.) The giveaway deadline is Midnight EST, November 15th.
4.) Please leave a comment on this post in appreciation to the author for providing the giveaway copy.
5.) You must fill out this FORM to be entered.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (will be asked on the Form)

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Review: Act Like We're in Love

Act Like We're In Love by Christi Barth

Publication Date: October 2010
Publisher: Eternal Press/Damnation Books
Format: E-book, 416 KB
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN-13: 9781615721542
ISBN: 1615721541

(Received for review from the author)

Synopsis (Amazon):

When two people make beautiful music together onstage, can their love survive once the curtain falls? Linnea Larson is willing to do anything to keep her family's Minneapolis dinner theatre from going under. Anything, that is, besides accepting a date from the Hollywood hunk her father hired to interject a dose of star power into their production of Guys & Dolls. It's a toss up whether his greatest claim to fame is playing a superhero on screen, or a super stud off screen. Neither fact convinces her he's got what it takes to share her stage. And thanks to a life long pact with her best friend, she never dates actors.

Luke Powell has fame, fortune, and an endless string of women, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with his picture perfect life. Looking for a change, he escapes his theatrical roots. What he finds are wary cast mates, a nervous best friend convinced the show will ruin Luke's career, and an adorable co-star who suddenly refuses to go out with him. Suddenly singing and dancing aren't the only challenges he'll face this summer. Far from the spotlights of Hollywood, can he find happiness in the footlights of a tiny theatre?

Despite Luke dragging her into his daily paparazzi nightmare, Linnea can't deny her attraction to his irresistible charm. And even if she's crazy enough to chance getting involved, their fling would have a guaranteed expiration date. He's leaving at the end of the run, and she's tied to her family's theatre. Why risk the inevitable heartbreak? There job is to act like they're in love, but will they decide it's worth the leap to fall in love for real?

Thoughts:

Fans of Contemporary Romance will really enjoy Christi Barth's latest book, Act Like We're in Love. The authors musical and theatre background give the book a refreshing an authentic feel. The characters are well developed and readers will find them identifiable and easy to believe.

Linnea Larson is a hometown girl who made good. She has become a star in her family's local Minneapolis dinner theatre. Unfortunately, business hasn't been setting any records and Linnea's father Karl decides he needs to get a big name to star in their next production. Karl hires, Luke Powell, blockbuster movie star with theatre roots. Luke is looking to get away from his hectic Hollywood lifestyle for awhile and takes the lead in Karl's production of Guys & Dolls, opposite Linnea.

Both Linnea and Luke feel an attraction for each other right away. But she isn't impressed with his big city ways and his superstar attitude. She made a pact with her best friend Ingrid a long time ago, no dating actors, they are self-absorbed and not into anything that involves commitment. But as they work on the production Linnea begins to see that acting like they are in love is producing some strong feelings inside her. But, she knows it's only temporary, when the run is over Luke will be gone. Is it worth the risk?

Author Christi Barth has a knack for setting the scene. Her own background in theatre really gave this book an added touch. Her behind the scenes dialogue was filled with theatre jargon that will give readers a real feeling of being a part of the production. I liked both main characters.

Linnea was sweet but still a very intense character. This is her theatre and she doesn't want just anyone performing here, but her vulnerability really shows when she begins to let Luke in. Luke seems like a pretty good guy, who ended up in very high end career which he is dissatisfied with. His best friend and manager is just sure this show is going to run his career, but Luke doesn't seem to care. The romance between the two best friends adds another dimension into the story that I liked as well, a two for one so to speak.

The story might seem somewhat predictable but Barth gives us a few twists and turns and the final pages will have you thinking, huh? How did I miss the set up for that... A good book always keeps you guessing.

Act Like We're in Love is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Christi Barth spent years performing in musicals, singing about love and giving people a happy ending in every performance. Then as a wedding planner she spent every day immersed in romance. Now she writes it! After winning several writing contests, she debuted her novel Carolina Heat to rave reviews. She lives in Maryland with the absolutely best husband in the world (sorry ladies but it's true!) It is exciting to share her love of the theatre with the world through, Act Like We're in Love. For all her fellow Broadway fans, favorite shows include, Guys & Dolls, Phantom, and The Most Happy Fella. A special curtain call for Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, the show where she met and first starred opposite the love of her life.

Review: The Preachers Bride

The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund

Publication Date: October 2010
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Format: Paperback, 379 pp
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780764208324
ISBN: 0764208322

(Received for review LibraryThing Early Reviewers)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

In 1650's England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher - whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John's protests of her aid. She's even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family.

Yet Elizabeth's new role as nanny takes a dangerous turn when John's boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher's enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she's more determined than ever to save the child - and man - she's come to love.

Thoughts:

This was a really interesting book. When I first glanced at the cover and the title, I wrongly assumed that this was another "Amish" story. But when I got ready to read the book I discovered it was not what I had thought. This is the debut effort of author Jody Hedlund, and after reading this one, I'm sure we will be seeing more from this gifted author.

England at the turn of the 17th century was home to many religious movements. The Puritans had known religious freedom for some time, but at this point in history the Royalist's are becoming more prominent. The Royalist's and the Puritan's became more and more embattled in a political and religious "war" of sorts. The Preacher's Bride is set during this tumultuous time period.

Elizabeth Whitbread is a young woman with a deep love for children. When her preacher, John Costin loses his wife and is left with four children, one blind and one newborn, Elizabeth takes it upon herself to help him, somewhat against his wishes. Elizabeth is risking a lot to be a help to John. Her one marriage prospect is angry and John's boldness from the pulpit puts Elizabeth and the children in danger.

This book is loosely based on the life of Elizabeth Bunyon, wife of John Bunyon writer of The Pilgrim's Progress. The author has an excellent gift for dialogue. She
uses the language of the period with authenticity. Her characters seem to jump off the page, especially the children. Jody Hedlund uses her experience as a mother of five to make Elizabeth's interactions with the children very believable. I liked her character a lot, because she was stouthearted and willing to stand up to persecution to do what she felt was right. John's character was somewhat stubborn, but I can't say much about that since that tends to be my own turn of mind.

I would recommend this one to anyone who loves Christian Fiction, The Pilgrim's Progress or anyone who just enjoys a good historical romance. I liked it a lot.

The Preacher's Bride is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Jody Hedlund is a debut historical romance novelist who was a double finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis Contest in Historical Romance. She received a bachelor's degree from Taylor University and a master's from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.