Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 12

An Open Book

Welcome to the June 2021 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart and  CatholicMom.com!

In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem is a loose retelling of the story of the prodigal son set in Hollywood amidst the Great Depression. I think it’s worth sharing my review:

Wonderfully researched, beautifully written, with mystery, romance, and a touch of classic Hollywood mystique! I was immediately drawn into Mina’s story as she leaves America’s heartland for Hollywood, where she finds little success, few friends, and mounting troubles culminating in her becoming a suspect in a high-profile murder.

Equally as engaging are the two men, Max and Oscar, who, despite their own flaws, failures, and troubled pasts, risk their lives to keep her safe from harm.

I’m left with a fresh appreciation for the love and mercy of God the Father, the persistent, if difficult, call to forgive, and a deeper curiosity about an age in American history marked by poverty, discrimination, and determination.

Jennifer Rodewald continues to impress me five books into the Murphy Brothers series, both for the speed at which she’s produced these books and the depth of the characters. Stubborn Love is a second chance romance that delves into loss, addiction, and heartache. It leans heavily on Scripture and highlights the beautiful and fruitful practice of being intentionally grateful for all things.

My daughter’s clarinet instructor offered me Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle to read while waiting during her lesson. I’d seen snippets of Pyle’s comics on social media, but I never really connected with them. Reading them together gave me a better sense of what he’s doing. He has a keen eye for the absurdity that gets lost in familiarity.

Barb Szyszkiewicz’s The Handy Little Guide to Prayer is just what you’d expect from the title! It’s a wonderful overview of prayer with many wonderful suggestions as to how to pray and overcome obstacles to prayer. I’d recommend it for just about anyone: those new to prayer or those stuck in a rut, converts or cradle Catholics. This is one to keep on hand and pass out to friends.

Like many, I’ve found the sinking of the Titanic to be an engrossing historical event. Ashlee Cowles delivers a split-time story, The Poppy and the Rose, aimed at young adults that takes the reader back on board the doomed ship. The past and present characters share a similar wound regarding their fathers that ties nicely together in the end. Spiritualistic/occult practices crop up in the story, and they are condemned soundly in the end, though for young people not well-grounded in that teaching, I think a conversation about them would be beneficial while reading the book.

My middle school-daughter began reading The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson. She loved reading Treasure Island, and selected this book to accompany her History studies. Straight from the book description: “Originally serialized in a periodical of boys’ adventure fiction, The Black Arrow is a swashbuckling portrait of a young man’s journey to discover the heroism within himself. Young Dick Shelton, caught in the midst of England’s War of the Roses, finds his loyalties torn between the guardian who will ultimately betray him and the leader of a secret fellowship, The Black Arrow. As Shelton is drawn deeper into this conspiracy, he must distinguish friend from foe and confront war, shipwreck, revenge, murder, and forbidden love, as England’s crown threatens to topple around him.”

At the recommendation of Katie at Read-At-Home Mom, I’ve been reading A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children by Caroline Kennedy aloud to the younger children. I’m not well-versed in poetry (See what I did there?), but I’ve found many poems to enjoy in this collection. Robert Frost’s poetry is a favorite, and the kids loved re-reading “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear, which I sung to each of them as babies. I’m glad I decided to read through these poems with them.

I had a large influx of Catholic children’s books to review recently, and one of our favorites has been My Little Catholic Encyclopedia by Marie-Christine Vidal & Robin. While not organized like an encyclopedia, it’s filled with lots of useful information about the faith and the Catholic Church. It’s a bit almanac, a bit catechism, and a bit encyclopedia. We’ve been reading a few entries each day, and even I find some of the precise definitions and demographic overviews useful.

While My First Interactive Mass Book by Jennifer Sharpe is for children younger than my own, I really appreciated its usefulness for families with little children. This sturdy board book is brightly illustrated and includes features kids love, like lift-the flaps, tracing, and a spinning wheel. It’s ideal for preparing children for Mass, familiarizing them with the sequence and meaning of what happens there, or occupying them during the Mass itself in a way that is still focused on what’s taking place.

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My Summer 2021 Reading List

Barring catastrophe, I’ll read a lot more this summer than this list. Books I’m proofreading, beta reading, writing, or reviewing for a particular purpose. Some nonfiction books, some spiritual reading, and books I read to or with my kids. But these books are the ones I want to get to this summer, just for me! I’m thinking of also adding a re-read of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind to the list because it’s been far too long.

What must-read book should I add to this list? (If you can’t tell, Christian or clean romance is my favorite, but I love books outside of those genres too.)

Gentleman Jack by Mimi Matthews Let It Be Me by Becky Wade Molly by Sarah Monzon Pudge and Prejudice by A.K. Pittman The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden Under the Magnolias by T.I. Lowe

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4 Mass Books for Catholic Children

Whether your children are new to Mass, have been away from it, or are there every Sunday, they, like us, are prone to distraction. A child’s missal or book about the Mass can help them to understand the Mass and to follow along. Here are several to help re-focus and to comprehend. (My First Interactive Mass Book is currently sold out.)

My First Interactive Mass Book (Ascension Press) Meet the Gentle Jesus, The Mass for Children (Liguori Publications) The Mass Book for Children (Our Sunday Visitor) The Holy Mass in My Pocket (Pauline Books and Media)

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: A Trip to the Circus

I have fond memories of the circus, from elephant rides at the small circus that visited the local baseball field year after year to taking my children to see the animals arrive by train in advance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It’s a magical, wonder-filled world with a fascinating history. Let’s take a trip to the circus!

Relevant Fiction Reviews: A Trip to the Circus
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The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright
The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus creates an appropriately spooky mood befitting the mysterious oddities of the circus. Told in split time, the story uncovers the truth about a series of killings attributed to The Watchman.

In the early 2oth century, Pippa, adopted by the prominent Ripley circus family, wants only to be seen, and as she begins to asserts her own will in the face of her domineering father and bossy fiancé, the secrets of her birth and the circus murders unravel.

In present day, Chandler, a chronically ill single mother set to renovate the abandoned circus buildings, must face her own struggle to see herself as capable and independent.

The last third of the book was my favorite as the threads of the plot begin to come together. The writing is solid, and the heroes are unconventional – a big plus! I’d have liked a bit more romance, but it’s the self-actualization of the heroines that drives this story. The circus setting, however, is the star in this book.

Against the backdrop of the hidden life of circus “freaks,” the novel also thoughtfully examines from where our value comes and in whose eyes our worth is best measured.

The Circus of Stolen Dreams by Lorelei Savaryn
The Circus of Stolen Dreams is a well-written, imaginative tale of the perils of trying to escape suffering indefinitely rather than facing it head-on. It veers into the creepy with a one-night circus (“Reverie”), whose “one-night” descriptor is a misnomer, leaving kids trapped in both dreams and nightmares.

Twelve-year-old Andrea, whose parents have divorced and whose younger brother Francis has gone missing, must unravel the lies and secrets keeping kids trapped.

Beautiful prose enjoyable for any age so long as you’re okay with the creepy factor, which never delves into horror.

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof
I’d read so many fawning reviews of The Lady and the Lionheart, I feared it would not live up to the hype. I’m happy to say though, that it did. It’s a character driven story whose broken but courageous, virtuous, self-sacrificing leads gently, subtly tug on your heartstrings.

Like any good fiction, there are themes and layers that resonate with truth, calling the reader to go deeper, examining what truly defiles the body, and how we participate in Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. (“This is my body, which will be given up for you.”)

Charlie Lionheart is one of the best-developed, most interesting heroes I’ve read, but all of the characters are well drawn.

I bounced back and forth between the Kindle version and audiobook. The dual narration on the audiobook was new to me, but very well done!

The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts
The Bright Unknown is one of the most thought-provoking novels I’ve read. Elizabeth Byler Younts draws the reader deeply into the unconventional (to say the least) life of Brighton, raised entirely behind the walls of an early 2oth-century mental institution. Through beautiful and reflective prose and a steady story progression, she builds empathy for not only Brighton and her albino friend Angel, but for the patients and the sometimes-villainous staff as well.

But things go from bad to worse when Brighton and Angel gain their freedom, embarking on a journey into an unknown that’s more dimly lit than bright. But always, there is a spark of hope.

That’s the hallmark of the novel – a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of the light of Christ, however small, however unevenly it shines. It’s a glimmer here and there from a friend, an aide, a relative, or a stranger, that finally delivers Brighton to freedom.

The author also shines a light on real historical injustice that may be hard to reconcile, but which should nevertheless be faced.

A stellar read you should not miss.

The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron
I feared the timeline shifts from chapter to chapter would prevent me from enjoying this book, but a few chapters in, I had a good sense of where we were and where we were headed. I did a lot of flipping back and forth, checking dates, but I didn’t set the book aside, and I’m glad I didn’t.

The Ringmaster’s Wife blends historical circus characters you’ll recognize and fictional characters you’ll grow to love. It shows the behind-the-big top view of circus life from a circus manager and a bareback rider who’s left the life of an English noblewoman with her beloved Arabian horse.

Some intrigue threatening Rosamund, the noble bareback rider, keeps the story interesting, as does the obvious pull between her and her boss, Colin, the Irishman who recruited her. Interspersed with the story of the real-life wife of John Ringling, Mable, the reader learns the stories of two women who must persevere in the day-to-day living of their dreams, with all of the challenges and disappointments they entail. I’m not sure the theme resonated with me, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless and its marvelous depiction of circus life.

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An Open Book

Welcome to the May 2021 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart and  CatholicMom.com!

I’ve been reading a couple of circus-themed books to round out an upcoming book review post. The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus by Jamie Jo Wright is a spooky split-time story set at the winter home of a traveling circus. Both timelines center around an unassertive woman struggling to find her footing and be recognized as competent and worthy. There’s a murder mystery that both timelines share related to a sketchy figure known as The Watchman. The author excels at creating a creepy mood and employing atypical heroes.

The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron is the other circus book on the docket. I’m only several chapters in and trying to get a handle on the shifts in timeline and continent. The writing is lovely, and the characters are intriguing. I’m looking forward to discovering what has become of the main character circus stars.

I won a copy of Myra Johnson’s The Rancher’s Family Secret, and it was a quick read for me on a quiet Saturday. A family dispute put Spencer and Lindsey at odds years ago, despite their childhood and teenage friendship. Spencer’s now trying to balance his family ranch obligations with his mission to foster abused and neglected horses and nurse them back to health. Lindsey is back at her widowed aunt’s neighboring ranch, trying to keep it afloat and in their possession. It’s a well-written contemporary romance.

I didn’t know Corinna Turner had planned on adding to her Three Last Things: or The Hounding of Carl Jarrold, Soulless Assassin novella, but A Changing of the Guard takes the story in a new direction following the poorly executed state execution in the first novella. This book, too, examines life, death, moral responsibility, and the capacity to change. Spiritual thriller is about an apt a description of the genre as any.

My older children both have an interest in mythology. My oldest, looking to wrap up school-related reading, checked Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology out of the library. He was slightly deterred by the knowledge that the author is responsible for Coraline, the movie adaption of which he wants no part of. (Not a Tim Burton fan. at. all.) Despite learning that fact, he’s looking forward to reading this. It may also have something to do with the Marvel Loki movie coming out.

My daughter and I have both been reading Our Constitution Rocks! by Juliette Turner. The book, written when the author was a teen, examines the United States Constitution and its amendments in a detailed fashion, providing explanation and historical context with words from the Founding Fathers. I was not as well-educated on our Constitution as I would have liked, but both my daughter and I have learned a lot from this book. It could use an update, as the world has changed since this was published in 2012. It’s almost amusing reading the hypothetical abuse of free speech that she mentions that has come to pass. 

My seventh-grade daughter is working on a report on Louis Pasteur, the scientist who gave us the pasteurization process and the rabies vaccine. The Life of Louis Pasteur by Marcia Newfield is one of her resources. She’s only just begun the book and is learning about Pasteur’s childhood. The book, which she found at the library, seems to have limited availability (hence no cover image).

For St. George’s feast day, I read Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges aloud to the kids. This was unlike the saint stories they are accustomed to – more legend than biographical sketch. They identified it as a fairytale, and it is a retelling from Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. The Red Cross Knight slays a fierce dragon and gets the girl. The book is also a Caldecott Award winner.

My third-grade daughter read a more traditional style saint story, The Sword and the Cape by Pamela Love. This softcover picture book tells the story of St. Martin of Tours, who was a Roman soldier. As the description says, “Using the sword and cape from his Roman soldier’s uniform, he encounters Jesus in an unexpected way.”

The 3 Little Dassies by Jan Brett is a retelling of The Three Little Pigs. A dassie, also known as a hyrax, is smallish African mammal. As with other Jan Brett books, the illustrations are charming and share a familiar format—a main illustration on each open page with a preview of what’s happening next in a separate panel.

We also read Jan Brett’s Honey . . . Honey . . . Lion!, another African story. The story is about the cooperation of a honeyguide bird and a honey badger who share their sweet bounty. But what happens when the Honey Badger keeps all the sweet treat for himself?

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6 Catholic Daily Devotionals Mom Will Love

Called By Name: 365 Daily Devotionals for Catholic Women

Edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist, Alyssa Bormes, and Allison Gingras

Called by Name is a 365-day devotional from WINE: Women In the New Evangelization designed to empower and equip you to draw near to Jesus and use your God-given gifts for the Church. With meditations on scripture and encouraging insights from popular Catholic authors and speakers in the WINE community, this is the perfect daily companion for women who want to connect with the heart of Jesus and live every day in the light of his truth and love.

The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections

Edited by Lisa M. Hendey and Sarah A. Reinhard

Are you a Catholic mom who prays for the wisdom and patience to get through each day? Do you pray for your children, husband, family and friends, and sometimes even yourself? The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion offers a new, daily resource to make the most of those few, precious minutes you have to pause and reflect.

Jesus Speaks to Faustina and You

by Susan Tassone

In her celebrated 700-page spiritual Diary, St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) tells of her many visions of Jesus and her conversations with Him. For years now, best-selling and award-winning author Susan Tassone has lived in the thrall of that spiritual classic, recently drawing forth from its rich mystical depths 365 meditations.

Each meditation features Jesus words to Faustina, to which Tassone has added a short original reflection and a prayer to help you hear and live by Jesus’ words as if they had been spoken directly to you. From these pages, you’ll discover the mercy, love, and compassion of the Lord that’s available for you day by day, each day of the year.

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A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days

by Amy Welborn

God is present to us in ways too numerous to count. Unfortunately, we are often so busy that we fail to recognize and respond to this active presence. A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days offers daily meditations that clear a spiritual place—a time in our day when we can set our hearts on God. The meditations are brief, pointed, direct, and personal—and will connect you to God’s word and the Catholic faith. While a number of successful devotionals for women have been published for the general Christian market, A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days is the first resource in the Catholic market featuring daily devotions and prayers for women. Written by Amy Welborn, the devotional entries are pointed and brief, and help Catholic women connect their everyday concerns with God’s Word in the context of their Catholic faith. Each entry is introduced by a Scripture verse and followed by a one-sentence prayer. These devotions and prayers are sure to provide Catholic women with a dose of God’s grace each day of the year.

In Caelo et in Terra: 365 Days with the Saints

by Daughters of Saint Paul Edited by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble FSP, Sr. Maria Grace Dateno FSP, Sr.

The Daughters of St. Paul at Pauline Books and Media noticed that most books on the lives of the saints are paperback and do not have a presentation as timeless or as beautiful as we believe the lives of the saints deserve. For this reason, we decided to take on the monumental project to write, design, and illustrate a volume of 365 saints and blesseds. 

Supported by the prayers of our sisters in convents and Pauline Books and Media bookstores around the world, over thirty of our sisters worked on all aspects of this timeless volume for over a decade. It’s our hope that it will reflect the striking beauty of the saints’ lives–a meeting of heaven and earth. Through the beautiful reflections and exquisite artwork, may you forge deeper bonds with these holy men and women in heaven who show us how to live in Christ. Let’s become saints!

Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration

by Melanie Rigney

For Catholics, the saints are arguably our best role models for holy living. In this page-a-day book for women, Melanie Rigney gives us a wellspring of interesting and diverse female saints who aptly show the way to be better disciples of Christ. Through their lives and experiences, we find examples of how to meet the challenges of daily life, be strengthened in our faith, and, in the process, become the people God created us to be. You’ll meet saints who may be familiar to you, such as Teresa of Avila, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Monica, Lucy, Agnes, and Katharine Drexel. With them, there are others less familiar, and many whom you will not have known before: Cunegund, Mechtildis of Edelstetten, Hildegard, Mary Magdalen Postel, Rose of Viterbo, Anna Pak A-gi of Korea, and Mary Faustina Kowalska.

Each day, you’ll find: A brief bio of the saint; a reflection on how that saint’s life applies to our lives today; a quote either from Scripture, the saint herself, or a resource about the saint; a challenge that echoes a particular highlight of the saint. Some of the women featured in this book are blesseds, but most are saints. All of them will inspire and guide you with their faithful witness to the love of God and a Gospel way of life.

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An Open Book

Welcome to the April 2021 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart and CatholicMom.com!

My husband has just begun reading Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness by Fr. Dwight Longenecker. Books on spiritual warfare seem to have risen in popularity lately, and this book is part of that trend. It calls on Christians to show heroic virtue in the face of evil while rejecting a feel-good, nonconfrontational gospel.

All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese is superb! Deese, whose work I have always enjoyed, has become one of the best in her genre (contemporary Christian romance/women’s fiction), in my opinion. All that Really Matters is a timely tale that examines the superficiality of life lived behind a screen. There is so much to reflect on in Molly’s journey from YouTube beauty influencer to, well, you should read it and find out. While Molly is the force behind the novel, Silas, the director of a transitional home for young adults, has his own engrossing story.

Courtney Walsh’s latest novel, Is It Any Wonder, pairs Coast Guard officer Cody Boggs with his teenage love, Louisa Chambers, as they uncover the secrets surrounding the death of Cody’s beloved father. Both are carrying a heap of guilt related to his death, and ultimately Is It Any Wonder is a story of forgiveness and letting go of the residual anger that can keep us from truly living. A well-written Christian romance.

Be Bold in the Broken: How I Found My Courage and Purpose in God’s Unconditional Love is Mary Lenaburg’s follow-up to her acclaimed debut, Be Brave in the Scared. Her author voice is characterized by humor and authenticity, which make her books so easy to read and relate to. This book pairs stories from her childhood and adulthood that show how pinning her worth on others’ opinions and expectations ultimately failed her.

If you like witty cozy mysteries, look no further. Georgiana Daniel’s Crumbs of Passion is the first in a series. I enjoyed this mystery and its cast of sometimes-kooky characters. It kept me guessing and laughing. I’m looking forward to the next installment.

The Circus of Stolen Dreams by Lorelei Savaryn is a well-written, imaginative middle grade novel that veers occasionally into the creepy. Twelve-year-old Andrea must unravel the lies and secrets keeping kids trapped in both dreams and nightmares under the guise of a “one-night” circus. It examines the perils of trying to escape suffering indefinitely rather than facing it head-on.

Amy Matayo’s Before Time Runs Out is a fun, clever, time travel romance/adventure. This Dickensian time hop is the first in a series and features modern-day Bree and 20th-century war veteran Theodore as they try to discover a way back to their respective eras. As you might guess, that decision is complicated by their growing affection for each other.

Candide by Voltaire is my oldest son’s selection for independent reading in his literature class. His description: a naïve young man gets mixed up in crazy adventures in 18th-century Europe and the Americas. The humor holds up better than he thought it would in the 21st century.

My daughter is reading Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades by Susan Peek in tandem with her history studies. This is the only little-known saint novel of Susan Peek’s that I’ve yet to read. Baldwin IV suffers from leprosy, and I’ve been peppered with a dozen or so questions about the disease. Apparently, it’s the most striking element of the book so far, and I’m anxious to see what my daughter thinks of the entire story and to read it myself.

After seeing it recommended elsewhere, I read Harriet Tubman: Freedombound by Janet Benge and Geoff Benge aloud to my children. I realized rather quickly that I knew shockingly little about this revered woman. The biography covers Harriet Tubman’s childhood through her escape from slavery and travels on the Underground Railroad to her death. It’s appropriate for children without minimizing the brutality and inhumanity of slavery or the complicated nature of politics.

We’re Sailing Down the Nile: A Journey Through Egypt by Laurie Krebs is a rhyming picture book about both ancient and modern Egypt. The simple story is followed by several appendices with more information about geographic and historical locations, ancient scripts, and various gods and goddesses. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and fun.

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Anything But Groovy Blog Tour

About the Book:

Morgan is looking forward to junior high school and all the adventures it holds in store for her. But after a collision on the volleyball court, she wakes up on the first day of school trapped inside her mom’s teenage body circa 1974. It doesn’t take long for Morgan to discover that living life as a seventh-grader in the ‘70s and dealing with everything going on in her mom’s life back then — from uncool parents, to annoying older brothers, balancing friendships, and to ultimately doing what she can to survive bullying at the hands of the school’s biggest jock — is anything but groovy.

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Excerpts:

When the last bell finally rang, I let out a drawn-out breath. Longest school day ever. Scrambling back to homeroom, we grabbed the clear bags and shoved our Math, Literature, Science and Social Studies books inside them. Between the four books, they must’ve weighed ten pounds. Juggling the bag in my arms, I exited the classroom via the back set of stairs that led to the front of the building. “Wait up!” Vicky hustled to catch me on the steps. “Hey, Vicky.” “Not too bad of a start today, huh?” Easy for her to say. She hadn’t woken up in someone else’s body, been laughed at by a group of snotty girls for wearing the same shirt that one of them had on, or been humiliated by the class jock, twice at that.

***

After enough time perched on the wooden phone bench, I tested to see if the curly phone cord was long enough to get out of earshot of Grandma. She putzed around the kitchen, no doubt listening to every word of our conversation. Couldn’t get any further than the den. So much for that. By now, the phone was so warm it was burning my ear. And they say cell phones are bad for your health? “Hey, Vicky, gotta go. My mom needs something.” “That’s fine. I’ll see you at my house in the morning. Quarter-to-eight?”  “Sure. See you then.” I hung the phone up, grabbed my books off the kitchen table and started the trek through the dining room and family room to get to the stairs. “What exactly do I need, Ally?” Busted. I sheepishly pivoted to address Grandma, who was sitting in the chair Mom usually occupied at the dining room table. One glance, and I froze. A cigarette dangled from her lips. Lit. Inside the house. Maybe Grandma was the one with a head injury. She hadn’t smoked since before I was born. “What the heck are you doing?” She took a drag and stamped out the cigarette in a gold ashtray. “That’s what I was going to ask you.” My eyes as big as saucers, I backed slowly away from her. Making it to the family room, I took off for the stairs, streaking up to the second floor. Racing down the hall, I stumbled into my room and slammed the door shut behind me. Get me the heck out of here!

Advance Reviews:

“Anything But Groovy takes us all back to better times. And for me that was worth the read alone. Every page resonated with me. Amanda Lauer has done an amazing job of creating a time that many lived through. So wonderfully done that you felt as if you were there. I can’t say enough about this story. So wonderful. So unique. By the end, I didn’t want to come back to 2020. My highest praise!”

Cary Solomon writer/director/producer of Unplanned, God’s Not Dead and other award-winning films

“This is a fun time-travel book for any age. Baby boomers: it’s nostalgic looking back. Kids: interesting to see what life was like for parents or grandparents.”

R. Forrest, Amazon Reviewer

“I’ve been a fan of author Amanda Lauer for quite a while. Her captivating writing completely immersed me in the Civil War through her Heaven Intended series. So, I was thrilled to discover she had a new novel in the works. This time Lauer brings her writing talents to a more contemporary story. Lauer expertly captures the details of the ’70s in this coming-of-age novel with an intriguing Freaky Friday-type of storyline.

No matter what era we grow up in, there are certain issues that all teens must deal with—families, friendships, and bullying. While technology and circumstances change, relationship fundamentals remain the same. I thought this glimpse into a parent’s childhood was such a clever way to explore the walking-a-mile-in-another’s-shoes theme. This book might be a fun one for mothers and daughters to enjoy together while sharing the differences and similarities of their own childhoods.”

Leslea Wahl, Catholic Teen Books author

My Review:

Using a Freaky Friday-type premise, Amanda Lauer takes the reader back in time to the 1970s, where she can experience all the groovy and not-so-groovy elements of growing up in bell bottoms, eating Spam sandwiches, and more.

My memory goes back to the mid- to late-’70s, and so many details shared made me smile or recall a product or way of doing things that I’d nearly forgotten. Those details are fun for middle-aged readers but can also be amusing or eye-opening for young readers.

Whatever the decade, people and relationships remain much the same, and readers of any age can relate to the parent, sibling, and friend dynamics in Anything But Groovy – even, unfortunately, the bullying.

Move over Brady Bunch, for an experience that’s true to the decade that brought us disco.

Author Interview:

What was the inspiration for Anything But Groovy?

I was inspired to write Anything But Groovy because I have vivid memories of my growing up years in the 1970s and wanted to craft a story about how someone back then was able to overcome adversity during her junior high school years. This evolved from a memoire to a time-travel story because I wanted this to be a book that would be enjoyed equally by teens in this day and age and those people who were children of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

This book is very different from your previous books (Heaven Intended Series: historical romance) because it’s a time travel book set in current times and in the 1970s.  Are the characters based on real people and is this story based on actual events that happened?  Or are the characters and events mostly fictional?

Like any book I write, characters are based loosely on people that I’ve known throughout my lifetime. The events are based in part on things that I experienced in my growing up years. That being said, I’ll stick with the disclaimer from the front of the book: This book is a work of fiction. Although the setting for this novel takes place in the 1970s, some of the names, characters and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Real events and characters are used fictitiously. 

I really enjoyed the TV, music, toy and food references that really transport the reader back to those days.  Do you have a great memory or did you use a diary/journal to write about all those ’70s references?

Thank you, I enjoyed reliving the pop-culture references myself! (Man, we watched a lot of TV, considering we only had three channels to choose from!) I do have my diaries from my growing up years, but, to be honest, I did not reference even one of them when writing the book. For some reason, my experiences from my junior high years are seared into my brain. Maybe I tucked them away because I knew in my heart that some day I’d write a book about that critical time in my life.

What do you hope the reader will take away from reading Anything But Groovy?

I hope this book will be an enjoyable blast-from-the-past for people who lived through those years, an eye-opening read for teens in this day and age to see what life was like for their parents and grandparents growing up in the “Wonder Years,” and that this will be a book that different generations will read together to create some conversations about the joys and challenges of growing up, no matter in which era. 

The Blog Tour:

March 15  Barb S @ Franciscan Mom

March 16  Ellen Gable @ Plot Line and Sinker

March 17  Jim Sano @ jimsano.com

March 18  Amanda @ A World Such as Heaven Intended

March 19  Sarah Reinhard @ Snoring Scholar

March 20  Carolyn Astfalk @ My Scribbler’s Heart Blog

About the Author:

In addition to writing novels, Amanda works in the film industry writing and copy-editing screenplays. She was awarded Best Writer 2020 (Red Letter Awards) for her work as a co-writer on the movie The Islands. 

When she’s not at her computer writing, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family which includes John, her husband of 40 years, children Stephanie, Nicholas, Samantha and Elizabeth and their significant others, and seven of the most amazing and adorable grandchildren ever!

Links:

Blog: https://aworldsuchasheavenintended.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.p.lauer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandalauer23

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/allauer/_saved/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandapurcelllauer/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Lauer/e/B00O98J5FK/

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Treasures: Visible & Invisible Blog Tour

Treasures: Visible & Invisible

by Theresa Linden, Susan Peek, Antony B. Kolenc, Amanda Lauer, Carolyn Astfalk, Leslea Wahl, T.M. Gaouette, and Corinna Turner.

About the Book:A teen boy sets out to save a friend from pagan druids, but maybe he’s the one who needs saving.Between a baffling scripture verse and a visit from Heaven, a young monk is in for the surprise of his life.A young girl seeks a mysterious treasure that holds the key to granting a nun’s dying wish.Honora is desperate—then a peculiar clover and a mysterious young man change everything.William’s weekend job is a little gift from heaven, but now his family needs a real miracle.When threatened by mobsters, Grace receives help from a surprising source.Alone and afraid, a young girl finds friendship in a stranger. But could this boy be trouble?Kyle was determined to save the precious relic – but now his whole family is in danger.

From the early days of the Church, objects touched to holy men and women have been linked to the miraculous, such as described in Acts: “when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.”

Acts of the apostles 19:12

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A new collection of Saint Patrick-themed stories for teens and adults: Treasures is available now! Enter to win a Treasures prize pack!
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Advance Reviews:

“In a world where today’s young adults are constantly surrounded by media that is trying desperately to tear them down, it is a blessing to have books like this that reaffirms our Catholic faith.  Not only does each author give us a great story to read, they also challenge us to think about things like: the hardships of people in our ancient church, putting Grandma first on our social calendars, praying to God when in the midst of fear and suffering, staying strong in our faith while looking death in the face, listening to unlikely friends who lead us on the path to Christ, and ultimately realizing there is sacredness in the relics of our church.  You only find stories that build our faith like this in very special books.  The “building-up”of today’s youth is at the very heart and soul of what the authors are trying to do here, and they have done an amazing job.”

Beth Ruggiero
Lit by the Tree, Literature reviews from the Catholic side.
Litbythetree.com 

“I invite teens, and readers of all ages, to stand on the craggy wind-swept cliff of your imagination, and experience the collection of stories called, Treasures: Visible and Invisible, created by the talented team of authors from Catholic Teen Books. With a shamrock as our touchstone, this book takes us on a journey through an expanse of time from ancient to modern. Be inspired by the holy greatness of heroism rooted in the spiritual treasures of the Emerald Isle.”

Cathy Gilmore,
Creator and advocator of stories that inspire heroic virtue. VirtueHeroes.com

“We thoroughly enjoyed this cleverly written book about the intercession of St. Patrick throughout the ages. The combination of dynamic characters and intriguing stories kept us hooked from start to finish. A valuable addition to your St. Patrick’s Day bookshelf!”

Jennifer & Kate Waldyke, 
Co-hosts of Catholic Mom and Daughter 

“This is the third collection from the authors of Catholic Teen Books. It was an inspiring read. Some stories are of miracles and others about change. Two contributors from the previous collection did not contribute and two new ones have joined the fray. In this collection are 8 stories from the 14 authors who currently compose the collective. My first thought was wow! What an amazing collection of stories around Saint Patrick! I am aware that not everyone likes short stories, but I love them, and this collection is amazing! Short stories are a different art form than novels, and not all novelists have mastered the craft. For a short story to be good, the writing needs to be tighter, cleaner, and crisper. And each of the 8 in this collection is extremely well written…”

Steven R. McEvoy, BookReviewsAndMore.ca

“What a gift to Catholic teens and their families! Each piece in this collection of stories revolving around St Patrick is a beautiful portrayal of the faith. These are wholesome, engaging, and inspiring tales from a variety of genres that will both entertain and spiritually nourish every reader who picks up this book. “

Katie Fitzgerald, ReadAtHomeMom.com

My Review:

I don’t review my own work. That’s for others to do. My role here, however, is a small one, and though I have an interest in this book’s success, I’m going to comment as a reader.

These stories were written independently. We, the authors, established a connecting object that would be visible in each story. We established what time and place we would be writing in. And then we let it fly!

The result, to my mind, can be attributed largely to the Holy Spirit. These stories fit together so well! I only read them from start to finish during a final proofread. And, wow. I was thrilled with how it all came together.

I’m humbled to work with such talented authors, who also happen to be some of the best people I know. I’m even more humbled that God can use our meager efforts to transmit even a wee bit of His truth through story.

Whether these stories are a brief escape from the daunting demands of life, an introduction to a great Irish saint, or a means of coming to a deeper appreciation for the critical intersection of faith and life throughout history, may they uplift you and may your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

The Blog Tour:

March 5           Bonnie Way, The Koala Mom                      

March 6           Leslea Wahl, Ministry Thru Mystery

March 7           Carolyn Astfalk, My Scribbler’s Heart

March 8           Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur, Spiritual Woman

March 9           Erin Broestl, Eight Hobbits

March 10         Corinna Turner, UnSeen Books Blog

March 11         Amanda Lauer, AmandaLauer.com

March 12         Sarah Damm, SarahDamm.com

March 13         Barb Szyszkiewicz, FranciscanMom                      

March 14         Theresa Linden, Things Visible & Invisible

March 15         Steven R. McEvoy, Book Reviews and More

March 16         Lisa Hendey, LisaHendey.com

March 17         Catholic Teen Books, Catholic Teen Books

About the Authors:

THERESA LINDEN is the author of award-winning Catholic fiction, including the West Brothers contemporary series and the Chasing Liberty dystopian trilogy. One of her great joys is to bring elements of faith to life through a story. She has more than a dozen published books, three of which won awards from the Catholic Press Association. Her short stories appear in several anthologies, including Secrets: Visible & Invisible, and Gifts: Visible & Invisible. Her articles and interviews can be found on various radio shows and in magazines, including EWTN’s The Good Fight, The National Catholic Register, Catholic Digest, Today’s Catholic Teacher, and Catholic Mom. Her books are featured online on Catholic Teen Books, Catholic Reads, FORMED, and Virtue Works Media. A wife, homeschooling mom, and Secular Franciscan, she resides in northeast Ohio with her husband and children. You can learn more about her at TheresaLinden.com.

SUSAN PEEK is a wife, mother, grandmother, Third Order Franciscan, and bestselling Catholic novelist. Her passion is writing stories of little-known saints and heroes. All her young adult novels have been awarded the coveted Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval and are implemented into Catholic school curricula not only across the nation, but in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as well. Saint Magnus the Last Viking and The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland were both Amazon #1 Sellers among Catholic books. The King’s Prey was also voted one of Catholic Reads TOP 10 BEST CATHOLIC BOOKS OF 2017 and was a Finalist for the 2018 Catholic Arts and Letters Award. Crusader King was featured as one of the 50 Most Popular Catholic Homeschooling Books in 2013. Susan lives in northeastern Kansas, where she can usually be found with her nose in a book, researching obscure saints to write about. Visit her at SusanPeekAuthor.com.

ANTONY BARONE KOLENC is the author of The Harwood Mysteries, an exciting historical-fiction series for youth published by Loyola Press. He is a long-time member of the Catholic Writers Guild, and his novels all have the Catholic Writers Guild’s Seal of Approval. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps after 21 years of military service. A law professor who’s had his works published in numerous journals and magazines, Kolenc now speaks at legal, writing, and home-education events. He and his wife, Alisa, are the parents of five children, and have been blessed with three wonderful grandchildren. To learn more about The Harwood Mysteries and its author, visit AntonyKolenc.com.

AMANDA LAUER loves writing books—particularly Young Adult Historic Fiction—that portray the Church in a positive light and depict God’s children endeavoring to become the best version of themselves every day. A journalist and proofreader by trade, Amanda embarked on her novelist career with the award-winning and best-selling Heaven Intended Civil War series. A World Such as Heaven Intended earned the 2016 YA CALA award. Currently Amanda has several more books in the process of being published. 

In addition to writing novels, Amanda works in the film industry writing and copy-editing screenplays. She was awarded Best Writer 2020 (Red Letter Awards) for her work as a co-writer on the movie The Islands. To learn more about Amanda, who’s lucky and blessed to be living in a world such as heaven intended, visit her web site: AmandaLauer.com. 

CAROLYN ASTFALK writes from the sweetest place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband and four children. In addition to her contemporary Catholic romances (sometimes referred to as Theology of the Body fiction), including the young adult coming-of-age story Rightfully Ours, she is a Catholicmom.com contributor. She is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and Pennwriters. When she is not washing dishes, doing laundry, or reading, you can find her blogging about books, faith, and family life at CarolynAstfalk.com.

LESLEA WAHL is the author of the award-winning Catholic teen mysteries The Perfect Blindside, An Unexpected Role, Where You Lead, and eXtreme Blindside. The characters in this short story, Luke, Celia, Austin, and Grandma Grace, appear in her newest adventurous novel, A Summer to Treasure. Leslea’s journey to become an author came through a search for value-based fiction for her own children. She now not only writes for teens but also has become a reviewer of Catholic teen fiction to help other families discover faith-based books. Leslea lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and children. The furry, four-legged members of her family often make cameo appearances in her novels. Leslea has always loved mysteries and hopes to encourage teens to grow in their faith through these fun adventures. For more information about her faith-filled Young Adult mysteries, please visit LesleaWahl.com.

T. M. GAOUETTE is the author of the Faith & Kung Fu series for young adults, as well as The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch and For Eden’s Sake. She also contributed to the last two Catholic Teen Books anthologies, Secrets: Visible & Invisible with her short story “Sister Francesca” and Gifts: Visible & Invisible with “Just Jesus.” Her novels have received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval (except new releases for which the seal may be in process). Born in Africa, raised in London, England, Gaouette now lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, where she homeschools their four children, raises goats, and writes fiction for teens and young adults. A former contributor for Project Inspired, Gaouette’s desire is to instill the love of God into the hearts of her readers. You can find out more at TMGaouette.com.

CORINNA TURNER is the author of the I Am Margaret and unSPARKed series for young adults, as well as stand-alone works such as Elfling and Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon (for teens) and Someday (for older teens and adults). She has just released The Boy Who Knew (Carlo Acutis) the first book in her new Friends in High Places series about friendship with the saints. All of her novels have received the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval (except new releases for which the seal may be in process). Liberation (‘I Am Margaret’ Book 3) was nominated for the Carnegie Medal Award 2016 and Elfling won first prize for “Teen and Young Adult Fiction” in the Catholic Press Association 2019 Book Awards. Several of her other books have been placed in the CPA Awards and the Catholic Arts and Letters Award. 

Corinna Turner is a Lay Dominican with an MA in English from Oxford University, and lives in the UK. She has been writing since she was fourteen and likes strong protagonists with plenty of integrity. She used to have a Giant African Land Snail called Peter with a 6½” long shell—which is legal in the UK!—but now makes do with a cactus and a campervan. You can find out more at IAmMargaret.com.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

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An Open Book

Welcome to the March 2021 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Like many others, if what I’m seeing on social media is any indication, my husband and I began reading Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Donald H. Calloway. My husband is thoroughly enjoying this consecration, and I appreciate that it seems more accessible (read: easier to understand amidst distractions) than some of the other consecrations we’ve completed. We recommend it for developing a devotion to this great but often-overlooked saint during this year dedicated to him.

We’ve also been turning daily to Praying with Jesus and Faustina during Lent and Times of Suffering by Susan Tassone. Each day’s entry is short but filled with wisdom from St. Faustina that blends beautifully with the penitential lessons of Lent. I’ve learned so much about and from St. Faustina through Susan Tassone’s daily devotionals.

Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie caught the eye of my Star Wars fan of a husband years ago. Look at the price tag, and you’ll see why it took a while for him to pull the trigger on this purchase. The set includes two large, hardcover books with full-color artwork that has inspired Star Wars in all of its incarnations. A great gift for the die-hard Star Wars fan in your life.

I’ve just begun reading Jennifer Rodewald’s next release, This Life (Murphy Brothers #4). This second-chance romance between a married couple is, I think, also a road-trip story. Nothing like putting characters on the brink of divorce in a confined space and seeing what happens! This couple, Jacob and Kate, have played minor roles in the other Murphy Brothers books, and they were not very likeable characters, so I’m enjoying how the author has broken their hearts open for the reader to see and for God’s hand to work in their lives.

Speaking of unlikeable characters, Sally Bradley had a couple of those to work with in Homestands, another second-chance romance. I picked this book from my virtual shelf as I was searching for more baseball-themed books. Mike is a major league ballplayer whose marriage to Meg ended badly. Both have behaved terribly to one another, but their son helps them open the door to forgiveness and reunion (though it’s a rocky path). There’s also an added element of suspense, which keeps the story progressing at a nice clip.

Laura Frantz writes lovely, sweeping historical novels, and the early colonial Jamestown setting of Tidewater Bride really appealed to me. Xander is a widowed tobacco farmer with close ties to the Powhatans, and Selah is the daughter of a merchant and a neighbor to Xander’s plantation. There is an element of mystery and suspense to the story, and the lush setting is wonderful. I’d hoped for a little more to the story, as it didn’t grip me near as much as Frantz’s other books, but it was still enjoyable.

While I contributed a short story (“Danke”) to the Catholic Teen Books Anthology Treasures: Visible & Invisible, I hadn’t read the stories, connected by a treasured object linked to Saint Patrick, from start to finish until I gave it a final proofread. How thrilled I was at how these stories, set over the span of more than a thousand years and in two continents, fit together so well. Timed for Saint Patrick’s Day, these stories in a variety of genres are suited to middle school-age readers on up.

My seventh grader read The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow by Allen French, which covered the same ground as some history she’d been studying. Rolf sets out on a quest to prove that his father’s death was unlawful. There are Christian values in the story though she says the story is accessible to anyone.

For Lent, she’s also picked up Lent: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens by Katie Prejean McGrady & Tommy McGrady. Advent and Christmas: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens by the same authors enriched the Advent season for her, so she was pleased to discover this book as well. It’s also introduced her to the convenience of ebooks since she can complete the short devotions, Scripture readings, and reflections conveniently on our iPad or my iPhone.

As a birthday gift from her cousin, she received Crochet Cute Critters: 26 Easy Amigurumi Patterns by Sarah Zimmerman and loves it! Amigurumi is a Japanese term for the art of crocheting or knitting stuffed toys. So far, she’s made a beloved zebra for her little brother and is eager to try a jellyfish next. (There is a critter pattern for each letter of the alphabet.)

My youngest daughter has begun reading one of her Christmas gifts: Saving Mount Rushmore by Andrea Jo Rodgers. She’s already enjoying this adventure, which includes historical intrigue that reminded me a bit of National Treasure. I like that she gets a little history lesson with the fun story.

Just about the whole family re-read Ferdinand by Munro Leaf as one child was studying Spain, another child was looking to fill the “book-to-movie” category of his library BINGO card, and a third wanted to cross off the “nostalgia’ box for the same BINGO. This story of a peaceful bull who shuns bullfighting was a childhood favorite of mine. Can anyone tell me if the movie adaption is worth watching?

One of the kids was studying Asia and another is about to study China, so The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack came home from the library with us. Ping, a duckling left behind on the Yangtzee River, separated from his family, is a delightful story I could read over and over again. I’d glossed over the illustrations of the cormorants fishing for fisherman in previous readings. I’d recently read about the traditional fishing method and was pleasantly surprised to see it depicted in the picture book.

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