Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 19

An Open Book

Welcome to the December 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

My husband and I are going to be reading 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration by Michael E. Gaitley together. I did St. Louis de Montfort’s Marian consecration years ago, but I’ve been lax about renewing it, mainly because I found his book tedious and boring. (There, I’ve said it. Take back my Catholic card.) This looks like more of a user-friendly book including not only the words of St. Louis de Montfort, but also St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope St. John Paul II.

I love a good Christmas novella, and Julie Lessman has been adding them to her popular series of novels each year. This year, she released A Gift Like No Other: An O’Connor Christmas Novella, which features the original couple from her Daughters of Boston series, Faith and Collin. (A Passion Most Pure). This book pertains largely to marital intimacy, and though there are scenes of married couples in some pretty passionate embraces, there is no explicit or lurid content. I appreciate that in keeping with her tagline “passion with a purpose,” Julie Lessman refuses to gloss over sensitive issues such as sexuality, temptation, and chastity. (Maybe we have a little in common.) In a world that wants to keep God out of the bedroom at all costs, she introduces Him through characters who welcome Him into every aspect of their lives. I grew a little jealous of the circle of O’Connor family women, who frankly share their most personal problems and are surrounded with prayer and support. On the other hand, I wanted to shake Collin since as a Catholic, he’d do well to avail himself of sacramental confession. I guess that proves his character has become real to me!

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl was a relatively short audiobook that moved at a good clip. FBI profiler Kaely Quinn is paired with a new agent, Noah, to apprehend a serial killer who may have them both in his sights. Going by the killer’s creepy elephant poem, they must stay a step ahead of the killer. I’m happy to say the killer wasn’t whom I expected. The best twist didn’t come from the resolution of the murder mystery but from revelations about Kaely herself. I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in the series.

I’m halfway through Her Stand-in Cowboy by Crystal Walton, and it’s a light-hearted romance that makes me smile. Ainsley is a single mom trying to care for her infant and run a farm. To appease meddling family, she’s claimed Connor Allen is her cowboy/veterinarian boyfriend. Only he’s really her chiropractor from New York City. Add some stinky farm animals and southern charm, and you’ve got an enchanting story. And if you are or have been a nursing mom, there’s some extra humor in store for you!

My high school junior is reading The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. This is his second go-round with this classic, having read it in middle school as well. He enjoyed this Civil War novel the first time. This is another classic that somehow never made it into my hands. So much to read and so little time!

My sixth-grade daughter has been enjoying a book she selected for completing the local library’s summer reading program. At the Battle of Yorktowne: An Interactive Battlefield Adventure by Eric Mark Braun is a choose-your-own-ending book, and I’ve had fun going through it as a French woman. You can be a French officer, a patriot woman, or a patriot slave as well. This girl loves the colonial era, so this was a perfect fit for her. She said it was a good book “because there were so many different ways to die!”

She’s also been reading Poetry for Young People: William Shakespeare to help fulfill her class reading goal that requires her to read in a variety of genres. While she’s not very familiar with poetry, she seems to be enjoying these poems and recognizing the origins of many popular phrases.

My second-grade daughter likes to keep about a half-dozen books going at once. I don’t get it, but at least she’s reading. In addition to the Puppy Place series she can’t get enough of, she’s reading Judy Moody Saves the World by Megan McDonald. This one is an environmentally-friendly themed story. I like to see her laughing at the illustrations, which are always such a treat in early chapter books.

At bedtime, she’s been bringing out her sister’s Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker by Mary Engelbreit, obviously. The beloved Christmas ballet is close to my heart, and I love seeing my kids enjoy this story! The illustrations are colorful and inviting, and it’s the perfect book to bring out year after year.

With The Mandalorian series being replayed frequently in our house, the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded from DK Publishing has found its way out again. For Star Wars fans, this is a great reference for all of the unusual species spotted in cantinas and marketplaces. The book is from 2011 but still relevant, at least in our home, where Star Wars is timeless. I’m linking here to the most recent version, from 2019.

Junie B., First Grader: Boo . . .  and I Mean It! by Barbara Park is the paperback my first grader is toting around the house. It’s such fun to see him reading “big books” now in addition to picture books. He likes all of the “scary secrets” in this book and was anxious to get to the candy corn part!

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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Christmas Books for All Ages

It’s that time of year when I start ramping up my Christmas reads, looking for both books for my children to enjoy and myself. Here are nine new recommendations, but please check the links below for others. After all, good Christmas books don’t expire, they can be enjoyed year after year!

Guess Who’s in the Manger by Vicki Howie

This book has all of the the things I love about picture books for little kids: inviting illustrations, animal sounds, and rhyming verse. An owl searches for something to light up his stable, discovering, of course, the Light of the World, baby Jesus.

A Little Camel for Baby Jesus by Maria Gianola

Cute picture book emphasizing offering the smallest gifts to Jesus in love and recognizing Jesus in every person we meet – worthwhile reminders for kids and adults alike.

Molly McBride and the Christmas Pageant: A Story About the Virtue of Obedience by Jean Ann Schnoover-Egolf

What a cute, Christmasy story! Kids can easily relate to Molly’s desire to be the star of the Christmas pageant only to have her hopes dashed when she’s cast as a sheep, of all things. What a disappointment!

What follows is a lesson in obedience and empathy. I love it when the lesson in a children’s story resonates with me as an adult as well – and this one does! Who among us doesn’t have plans (maybe even dreams of grandeur) that are dashed, leaving us sullen and resentful? The author gently guides Molly and the reader to the realization that if we can stop focusing so much on ourselves and simply be obedient – to authority and to God’s plan for us – we may get a glimpse of of His wonderful design.

Sisters of the Last Straw Vol. 5: The Case of the Christmas Tree Capers by Karen Kelly Boyce

What a fun, fast-paced Christmas romp with the delightful Sisters of the Last Straw! The sisters have set up a Christmas tree lot, but someone is swiping their trees. As the sisters try to discover who the culprit is, they must content with their own foibles, a horse named Backwards, and their grumpy neighbor, Mr. Lemon.

Through it all, not only do they provide slapstick humor, but they also show Christmas kindness and generosity to those in need and even grumpy Mr. Lemon. Such a fun series for young readers! This Christmas story is a great addition to the collection.

Gifts: Visible & Invisible by Catholic Teen Books authors

[As I’m a contributor to this anthology, I haven not reviewed it. Instead, I’m sharing a review from blogger Emily Davis.]

God bless these talented Catholic authors for putting together short stories that are set in vastly different time periods, yet bring home the significance of humility, forgiveness, and the spirit of Christmas throughout the year. The thing that Catholics all over the world are taught to do is to live like Jesus, and lead with love! If a smile or kind gesture will change a life, I know reading this book will change yours. Yes, Catholic families everywhere will need this in their collections!

The Boys Upstairs by Jane Lebak

You’ll find more depth in The Boys Upstairs than most Christmas books you read. The boys upstairs, a ragtag group of street urchins taken in by Father Jay, create the occasion for Father Jay’s brother, Kevin, a police officer, to re-evaluate his bitterness toward God.

The brothers’ backstory provides depth, and a small cast of secondary characters enrich the story set at Christmas when Kevin brings three children to Father Jay’s rectory doorstep.

The Boys Upstairs is a heartwarming Christmas tale with depth that I heartily recommend.

A Shepherd’s Song by Janice Lane Palko

I’m not sure what I expected from A Shepherd’s Song beyond “Christmas book,” but it wasn’t what I got. What I read was so much better!

I loved so much about this book from the main character, David Shepherd, in all his unloved, screwed-up desperation, to all the Pittsburgh details that made my Yinzer heart happy. The setting coincided nicely with the exact time I spent in college in Pittsburgh, and that was an added bonus.

Characters and circumstances seemed more raw, more real, and less sterile than I often meet in Christian fiction. David, Gloria, et al were well-drawn, and I loved how the author interwove ideas and comparisons from David’s area of expertise: astronomy.

Oh, and the similes! Truly some of the best similes I’ve seen in writing. Not pedantic ones used to pound in every similar detail but well-crafted ones that flow seamlessly.

Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep

This is a collection of three historical Christmas novellas, reviewed separately here.

A Tale of Two Hearts:

I enjoyed this cozy Dickensian Christmas romance! Uncle Barlow was my favorite because of his good humor and wisdom. The rest of the cast goes about trying to deceive or manipulate him for the most of the book – some for honorable reasons, some not.

The romance between William and Mina was sweet and the lessons learned about honesty and what’s truly important (people over status) were melded naturally into the story.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor:

12 Days at Bleakly Manor is like walking into a live-action game of Clue! I thoroughly enjoyed this novella – the Christmas backdrop, the eccentric (and authentic) characters, the romance between Clara and Ben, and the Dickensian flavor. The thread of suspense and mystery kept me intrigued.

The Lace Shop:

Alternating first-person points of view and present tense (not usually a favorite of mine) drew me right into this historical romance. Bella, widow of an abusive husband almost thrice her age, is sympathetic as she tries to navigate the lace business she has inherited. Thank God her new partner is her former beau, Edmund, who is widowed now as well.

Edmund’s daughter Flora, who has Down Syndrome, is a bright light in this story, and Bella helps Edmund to let go of the fears he has regarding Flora as she revels in the joy the little girl brings.

With a bit of suspense and a generous helping of Christmas generosity, this third tale in the serious is, again, everything you could hope for in a Dickensian Christmas story.

The Christmas List by Hillary Ibarra

The Christmas List is a contemporary novel with the feel of a historical. Minimal modern intrusions and a timeless dilemma: where to come by extra Christmas cash to celebrate the holiday with a nice meal and presents for the children.

While the family seems almost idyllic, the father brings a bit of realism to the story as he frets about how he’ll provide for his family and whether it’s his poor decisions that have put him in this position in the first place.

As you might expect, a little Christmas miracle ensures everything turns out all right.

If you’re looking for a heart-warming family tale this Christmas, one that is more about immersing you in the feel of the season (kind of like your favorite Christmas sweater) over an intricate or page-turning plot, this novella will fit the bill. Along the way, the author demonstrates use of some lovely imagery that adds to the enjoyment.

For more Christmas reading recommendations see:

This Year’s 4- and 5-Star Christmas Reads for Adults (12/29/2018) 7 Catholic Books For Christmas Including 2 You Should Get NOW, Before Advent (11/15/2018)Christmas Reading Recommendations (12/19/2017)Under the Catholic Child’s Christmas Tree: A Book-Giving Guide (12/7/2017)Catholic Christmas Book-Giving Guide: Ten Picks for Your Holiday Shopping (12/5/2017)#5Faves: Christmas Romance Novellas (and More) (12/16/2015)Check out my Christmas shelf on Goodreads with the my full reviews of the books above and many more.

A Christmas snippet from my latest novel, All in Good Time:

Melanie ~ A wadded ball of red and gold wrapping paper whizzed by Melanie’s head, landing on the floor amid more wrapping paper, toy packaging, and Styrofoam peanuts. Smiling, she grabbed her brand-new “Savage Mom” mug filled with hot cocoa from the end table and ambled to the living room picture window, dodging a pair of binoculars, an art set, and a pink princess gown puddled on the floor.

Behind her, Matthew and Kevin created incessant popping
sounds with their new Trouble board game. Penny hummed from inside a giant
cardboard box, where she played with her set of Strawberry Shortcake dolls.
Morning sun shone, casting a beam on the Christmas tree. A clump of silver
tinsel glimmered, drawing her eye to a sparkly lighthouse ornament she and David
had bought on a weekend getaway to Lake Erie as newlyweds. Such happy, carefree
days!

Steam from Melanie’s hot chocolate rose, its rich, minty aroma tickling her nose and making her belly growl. She sighed and leaned against the window sill. In a minute, she’d start making the gingerbread waffles she’d promised the kids for Christmas morning.

Brian ~ Brian yanked his grandmother’s afghan higher, tucking it under his chin. Even though he’d bumped the thermostat up a couple of degrees, the cold still teased his nose and toes. With the drapes drawn, he couldn’t tell whether the clouds had cleared this morning. Other than the TV, the only light came from the tree Kate and John had foisted on him.

The four-foot artificial tree sat in the corner, its fiber
optic tips glowing in a sequence of colors: red, gold, blue, green. His stomach
turned watching it. Brian stood staunchly in the “real tree” camp. He’d tried
ignoring the offensive little decoration, but every time Kate stopped over, she
turned the tree on. He’d felt bad when she’d had to remove the jacket he’d
thrown atop it. He hadn’t intended to hurt her feelings; she’d meant well.

No presents sat under the little tree. He’d had two bags of
toys. One went to Patrick and Brady. The other, intended for Matthew, Kevin,
and Penny, ended up in a Toys for Tots collection box, along with a piece of
his heart.

What were they doing this morning? He imagined the ruckus as they ripped open gifts, their faces gleeful as they pulled little treasures from their stockings and sucked on candy canes.

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An Interview with Author Janice Lane Palko

I love a good first line. The first line from your new release,  Our Lady of the Roses , really sets the tone with this first sentence: “ He looks like a gnocchi. ” Five words, but the reader already has a sense of the tone and a cultural connection. Can you tell me more about the role of humor in the book and the Italian influence?

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I love throwing opposites together because it makes a story ripe for laughs. Janetta and Bob, the main characters in Our Lady of the Roses, are 180 degrees apart in temperament, looks, desires, and beliefs. I’m not Italian; I’m mostly Irish with a smattering of German, English, and Welsh, and I was once selling my novels at a craft show, and I got to talking with the older woman selling jewelry next to me. We started talking about travels, and she told me she was Italian and had just came back from Italy. I told her I’d been to Italy and loved it. I then shared that I’d just come back from Ireland. She laughed and said, “You know I was a bit of an Italian snob, thinking that no place is as nice as Italy, but I went to Ireland last year, and I had to shut my mouth. I loved Ireland.” Like her, Janetta is a bit of an Italian snob, thinking no one has more style, elegance, and culture than the Italians, and she dismisses Bob for being a “gnocchi” a big, white, doughy blob. As the story progresses and Janetta tries to make Bob over, we come to learn that she is the one who needs a makeover because she’s all style and very little substance. 

A Shepherd’s Song  was one of my favorite Christmas reads last season. In my review, I wrote, ” Characters and circumstances seemed more raw, more real, and less sterile than I often meet in Christian fiction. ” How do you account for that human authenticity rather than the sanitized characters that are all too common?

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I like to figure out what makes a character tick, and I think delving deeply into a character’s past, wounds, and insecurities makes them more real. The more messed up a person is the greater the conversion can be in the story. A lot of people make the mistake in thinking that Christian fiction has to be sanitized. The Bible is not sanitized. It is brutally real in many parts. We read about the rape of Dinah, the slaughter of the innocents, David’s voyeurism, adultery, and murder. I try to portray characters realistically while trying to not cross into explicit, gratuitous sex. I like to write characters that have a heart, mind, and soul. In my opinion, too many “secular” stories lack impact because they don’t take into consideration a character’s soul. There has to be a moral structure for there to be conflict. If it were OK to have adulterous relations, there would be no reason for Hester Prynne to wear the scarlet letter and there would be no story. 

Most Highly Favored Daughter  addresses a vile but prevalent social issue: sexual trafficking. Were you surprised by anything you learned in researching the issue?

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While researching human trafficking for Most Highly Favored Daughter, I wasn’t too surprised about what I was uncovering because I’d seen some reports about it. However, what surprised me was that there was a saint who was trafficked, St. Josephine Bakhita. She was kidnapped in Sudan by Arab slave traders when she was a girl and was abused so badly, she forgot her name. The good and surprising news is that she eventually became a religious sister, forgave her traffickers and found hope and joy in Christ. I like to offer hope with my books, and I believe Sr. Josephine’s story can offer victims of human trafficking a lifeline. 

Sadly, I’ve also been surprised by how much of what I dreamed up in my mind for the book has actually come to pass. For instance, in the book I needed a means of getting trafficked children to the U.S., and I thought if I were a trafficker how would I get them here? I came up with the idea of shipping containers. Unfortunately, last week I heard a report out of Northern Ireland that 39 people died while being shipped in a truck. Also, I set some of the book during Pittsburgh’s first time hosting the Super Bowl. I spoke at a book club this summer and a woman there was a professor at a local university and teaches on women’s issues, and she confirmed that the two most trafficked events are the Super Bowl and the Olympics. 

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, where you live. How do you think being a “yinzer” influences your books, in style or in setting? Because it’s not something you can ever really get out of your blood.

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They say write what you know, and I know Pittsburgh, having lived here all of my life. My oldest son went to college in Washington, D.C., and lived there for six years after college until he moved back to Pittsburgh a few years ago. Originally, I was going to set Most Highly Favored Daughter in .D.C. because I was familiar with the place and the book’s subject was bigger in scope, but I spoke at a woman’s group in Pittsburgh when I was in the first draft of the book, and I told them a little of what I was writing. The women there expressed how much they liked reading about Pittsburgh in my books, and they encouraged me to set the human trafficking in Pittsburgh because at that time it was only becoming apparent what a plague human trafficking was all over and not just in the big cities like New York City and D.C. 

You also do a lot of nonfiction writing alongside of your novels. Do they complement one another or do you find that one is always stealing time from the other? What writing projects are you working on next?

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My writing career is a bit like Mr. Holland’s Opus, where “life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”. My other plan has always been to write novels, but paying, non-fiction work has always drawn me away. I enjoy all of the writing that I do and am grateful for any opportunity. While I often feel like I never have enough time to get everything done, writing so many non-fiction articles has made me a speedier writer. On the practical side, I’ve made it a goal to get my books into audio format. I’ve got the equipment, now I’ve got to master the technology and techniques. I’ve also made it a goal to become a better marketer of my work. When I first started writing, I thought that what I was creating was good, but I wasn’t sure if readers would agree. Now, with the release of my fifth novel and after from hearing from numerous readers that they love my books, I have more confidence in what I’m writing, and I believe there’s a larger audience for my work. I just need to find those readers. In the meantime, I know I have at least two more books percolating in my brain. I’m so weird in that I write both romantic suspense and romantic comedy. I believe I’ll start on my next romantic suspense, and it will be called Mother of Sorrows. That isunless another romantic comedy takes over and comes busting out of my brain. I’ve been toying with the idea of writing about Bob’s sister, Freddie, the single mom and reformed drug addict. I’ve tentatively called that book Morning Star. 

"In my opinion, too many 'secular' stories lack impact because they don’t take into consideration a character’s soul." @JaniceLanePalko #authorinterview
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Janice Lane Palko has been a writer for more than 20 years working as an editor, columnist, freelance writer, teacher, lecturer, and novelist.

She is currently the executive editor for both Northern Connection and Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazinesand the lead writer for the website PopularPittsburgh.com. She has had numerous articles published in publications such as The Reader’s Digest, Guideposts for Teens, Woman’s World, The Christian Science Monitor, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and St. Anthony Messenger. Her work has also been featured in the books A Cup of Comfort for Inspiration, A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mothers, and Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul.

Our Lady of the Roses is a spinoff from her first novel, St. Anne’s Day, a romantic comedy. She has also written the Christmas novel, A Shepherd’s Song, and the romantic suspense novels, Cape Cursed and the award-winning Most Highly Favored Daughter. Currently, she is working on another romantic suspense called Mother of Sorrows. 

Links:

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/janicelanepalko

Website: janicelanepalko.com

Blog: thewritinglane.blogspot.com

Facebook: facebook.com/janicelanepalko.writer

Twitter: twitter.com/JaniceLanePalko

Instagram: instagram.com/JaniceLanePalko

Pinterest: pinterest.com/janicelanepalko

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The post An Interview with Author Janice Lane Palko appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Fiction to Mark National Vocation Awareness Week: A Dozen Books for All Ages

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November 3-9, 2019, is National Vocation Awareness Week. The dozen books below thoughtfully consider vocations (marriage, consecrated life, priesthood, and single life) through characters who consider, discern, or actively live their vocation. They range from a picture book and a chapter book to stories for teens and adults.

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Molly McBride and the Purple Habit by Jean Schoonover-Egolf (religious life, priesthood)Sisters of the Last Straw by Karen Kelly Boyce (religious life) Guarding Aaron by T.M. Gaouette (priesthood) Standing Strong by Theresa Linden (religious life, priesthood) Brothers by Corinna Turner (priesthood) Bane’s Eyes by Corinna Turner (marriage) The Mermaid and the Unicorn by Elizabeth Amy Hajek (marriage, religious life)Playing by Heart by Carmela Martino (marriage, religious life) A Soldier Surrenders by Susan Peek (religious life, priesthood) Charlotte’s Honor by Ellen Gable (marriage)* A Subtle Grace by Ellen Gable (marriage, priesthood) Stay With Me by Carolyn Astfalk (marriage, priesthood)

* I included Charlotte’s Honor here not necessarily because of marriage, although the characters do contemplate marriage. What strikes me most about Charlotte’s Honor in relation to vocations is what Mother Teresa referred to as a call within a call. While Charlotte may be called to marriage, she is also specifically called to accompany dying men on their journey.

What fictional stories would you recommend that address vocations? Add them in the comments below.

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

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Welcome to the November 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!



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During his travels, my husband has been listening to Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin. It’s what you might expect from the subtitle, but I found this part of the description interesting:  “[The book] illustrates how American colonists at first supported these outrageous pirates in an early display of solidarity against the Crown, and then violently opposed them.” Hmm. That’s something new to me.

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He’s also listening to some different kinds of saint stories with Saints Who Battled Satan: Seventeen Holy Warriors Who Can Teach You How to Fight the Good Fight and Vanquish Your Ancient Enemy by Paul Thigpen. (Is there an award for longest subtitle?) It includes the stories of Saints Pio of Pietrelclina, Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Siena, Theresa of Avila, John Vianney, and a dozen others.

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I read Be Brave in the Scared by Mary Lenaburg in one evening. Yes, it’s short, but it is also smoothly written and not longer than it needed to be – and that says something. I often feel as if nonfiction books are trying to fill pages, becoming repetitive, but not in this case. Mary Lenaburg’s story is brutally honest and well-told, and that’s why this book has been so well-reviewed. I expected it to be more specifically about her relationship with her late daughter, Courtney, but it’s so much bigger and broader. If you’ve ever struggled to trust God with your life – and who hasn’t? – I recommend you read Be Brave in the Scared.

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I did a final read-through of my own novel, All in Good Time, hoping to catch every last typo or formatting error! It’s the story of a young widow of three children, Melanie, who unexpectedly finds romance with one of the coaches of her oldest son’s Little League team, Brian. (A “fun uncle” helping out, not a married dad!) But just as everything seems to be going right, it all crumbles. Brian has some secrets. One he can’t keep longer than a couple of days, and an old one he desperately tries to hold close. Some humor, some mystery/suspense, and some serious treatment of a pervasive societal and familial problem: pornography.

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I’ve begun reading The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Cardinal Robert Sarah and Nicholas Diat during a portion of my weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Who would’ve thought so much could be said about silence? So far, lots of food for thought. As a naturally quiet person and someone who tires of the noise of media (social and otherwise), a lot resonates with me. Even so, keeping silent runs so contrary to so much of how life “works” these days that aspects of the book are challenging.

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A Reluctant Bride (The Bride Ships Book #1) by Jody Hedlund was an enjoyable book to listen to while running errands and completing household chores. From a writer’s perspective, so much of this novel is done right: internal and external conflicts for the hero and heroine, romantic tension, character arcs, story goals, and more. Beyond that, it was simply an enjoyable romance, drawing upon the common theme of love conquering class barriers. Joseph and Mercy were such honorable characters it would be hard not to like them, even if I wanted to give them a little nudge now and then.

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Ella’s Promise by Ellen Gable recently released, though I read an advance copy a couple of months ago. This is the final book in the Great War Great Love series, another sweet historical romance between an American woman and a Canadian man set against the backdrop of World War I in France. I especially enjoyed the bit of espionage that makes its way into this story and the satisfying resolution of the series.

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As I make my way through Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a classic I’ve never read, my son is beginning Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker. Inspired by notes and texts left behind by Bram Stoker, Dracul is a prequel to Dracula, set in 1868.

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Apparently he has a thing for thick classics, because he’s also begun reading Don Quixote by Cervantes. I think he’s trying to up his Quiz Bowl game in the literature category, but he’s always gravitated toward classics. My son’s going to be better read than I am, for certain.

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In sixth grade, my daughter has been borrowing books from the classroom library. Unfortunately, she’s somehow reading a series in reverse order, which is driving her bonkers. The current book is Julie by Jean Craighead George about an Eskimo girl returning home after having lived among wolves. The first book in the series was a Newbery Award-winner.

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My second-grade daughter so desperately wants a puppy that it’s become nearly the sole topic of her reading. Poor thing. She recently read Buddy by Ellen Miles, another in the Puppy Place series in which foster dogs are placed in homes by a brother and sister, Charles and Lizzie Peterson.

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She also really enjoyed Drawing God by Karen Kiefer. I asked why she liked it, and she gave me a little summary of how a girl tries to draw God by drawing things that God is like: the sun, bread, and a heart. This is a creative story designed to get children to try drawing God themselves and unlock the creativity of their faith imagination. World Drawing God Day is November 7.

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In first grade, my son has discovered Nate the Great books, and I am happy to revisit this series that I loved reading with my oldest child. Nate solves simple mysteries, often with a side of his favorite food, pancakes. What makes this series shine are the quirky kids in the neighborhood: Oliver, who follows him everywhere, Annie and her vicious dog Fang, and Rosamond and her cats. The book he most recently read is Nate the Great and the Snowy Trail by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

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At bedtime, we read Brother Lorenzo’s Pretzels: Prayer and the Holy Trinity by Cornelia Mary Bilinsky. We enjoyed this little history of the pretzel and how it was used to teach children basic religious concepts. It’s nicely illustrated and comes with a pretzel recipe at the end. I recommend it with a side visit to the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania, the first commercial pretzel bakery in America.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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Ella’s Promise Blog Tour

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About the Book:

When she joins the war effort during the Great War, American nurse Ella Neumann doesn’t see allies or enemies. The daughter of German immigrants, Ella sees only human beings in need of care. A promise to herself and a promise made to her by an enemy officer become the catalyst for the life she plans to lead after the war. But a handsome Canadian soldier may complicate her plans. In this third installment of the Great War – Great Love series, join Ella in a tale of promises, betrayal and unconditional love

Ella's Promise by @EllenGable – Espionage, romance, faith and determination all set amidst the backdrop of wartime France.
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Book 1 in the series, Julia’s Gifts.

Julia’s Gifts (Book #1 Great War Great Love) As a young girl, Julia began buying gifts for her future spouse, a man whose likeness and personality she has conjured up in her mind, a man she calls her “beloved.” Soon after the United States enters the Great War, Julia impulsively volunteers as a medical aid worker, with no experience or training. Disheartened by the realities of war, will Julia abandon the pursuit of her beloved? Will Julia’s naïve ‘gift scheme’ distract her from recognizing her true “Great Love?” From Philadelphia to war-torn France, follow Julia as she transitions from unworldly young woman to compassionate volunteer.  Julia’s Gifts is now available in Italian and French and will soon be available in Portuguese and Spanish.

Book 2 in the series, Charlotte’s Honor.

Charlotte’s Honor (Book #2 Great War Great Love) After receiving notification that her brother –and only relative – is killed in action during the Great War, 21-year-old Charlotte Zielinski enlists as a medical volunteer. She eventually begins working in the death ward of the field hospital near Soissons, France, holding dying men’s hands and singing them into eternity.

Dr. Paul Kilgallen is a Canadian surgeon working at the field hospital. During a siege by the enemy, everyone evacuates except for Paul and Charlotte, who volunteer to remain in the basement of the chateau to care for the critically ill soldiers. During those three days, Charlotte sees a side of Paul that very few have seen and finds herself falling in love with him. Before Paul leaves for the front, he abruptly tells her that he cannot love her, and it would be best to “forget him.” Just when the war is coming to a close, Charlotte is surprised by two events that are destined to change her life forever.

Advance Reviews:

“As with the other books in the series, Ella’s Promise gives readers a feel for what life was like during WWI—the prejudices, suffering, and the ugliness of war—while also showing the power of love through inspirational and courageous main characters.Throughout this story, Ella finds herself taking risks and making sacrifices to save lives—and also doing things she never imagined herself doing. An enjoyable read that fans of historical fiction are sure to love.”

Theresa Linden, author of contemporary romance Anyone But Him

“Ella’s Promise is a story of love tested through war-time confusion and pain, enduring into a new hope for a better future.”  

A.K. Frailey, author of historical and science fiction novels

“Readers will love this third installment of the Great War Great Love series with espionage, romance, faith and determination all set amidst the backdrop of wartime France.”

Carolyn Astfalk, author of Ornamental Graces

My Review:

In Ella’s Promise, the third installment in the Great War Great Love series, Ellen Gable delivers another sweet romance filled with faith amidst the horrors of wartime France.

Ella’s intelligence, integrity, and determination make her an admirable heroine and perfect match for compromised Allied spy Garrett Smith.

Best of all, the series ends with a satisfying post-war glimpse at all of the couples in the series.

Excerpt:

Ella’s head snapped up. She turned and saw that the lavatory door was still open.  Where is Major Schmidt?

 She stood up, then took mental attendance of the cots. The occupied cots all seemed occupied, even the major’s cot.  But that couldn’t be.  He couldn’t have finished his business in the lavatory and covered himself up and gone to sleep that quickly.

No, someone had left the barrack.  A feeling of dread came over her, and she raced across the barrack to the back door.  It was unlocked!

Ella pulled the door open and stepped outside into the warm spring evening air. She could just make out the silhouette of a soldier creeping along the side wall of the barrack.

“Excuse me, sir?” she called out loudly in German, her heart pounding.  “Please step into the light.” 

The man didn’t move.

“Sir?  Step into the light so I may see who you are.”

Still no movement.

Instead of waiting for him to comply, she straightened, took a breath and walked toward him. It was only then that the man inched forward, a shadow on his face. She couldn’t see him, but she was certain it was Major Schmidt.

“I…uh…was…uh… just stepping out for some… fresh air,” he said in German, waving his hands.

Ella scowled.  I don’t think so.  She continued in German, “I don’t remember you asking for permission to come outside. You asked permission to go to the lavatory.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Well, I will remain with you while you finish breathing in the fresh air, then I will accompany you back into the barrack. You must understand that I will be reprimanded if I allow a POW soldier to be outside.”  She paused. “Why did you unlock the door?”

The man smiled, but it seemed forced. Then he replied, this time in English, “I don’t remember unlocking it. I suppose I should just go with you back inside. I’ve had enough fresh air for the evening.”

“I should say so.”

This man had no German accent when he spoke English and certainly no English accent when he spoke German.  His smooth voice sounded kind and gentle.  Ah, yes, she remembered him: this was the man with the large birthmark on his shoulder. 

***

Now what? He could run, but she would call the nearby guards to apprehend him.  He tried to appear nonchalant, but he balled his fists in frustration.  He’d have to wait until a future date and try again.

Garrett considered reaching for the gun tucked in his waistband.  Collins had given it to him. He could use it to threaten her so he could escape.

The girl folded her arms across her chest, smiled, her foot tapping, waiting for him to comply. She was brave, but he was twice her size and could easily overpower her.  He could knock her unconscious, leave her in the shadows and take off.  She’d be reprimanded for letting him escape.  She—the sweetest and most intelligent girl he’d ever met – would get in trouble because of him.

Strange that he’d never considered the repercussions for the person in charge when he had escaped the other POW camp.  Truthfully, he’d never cared.  Even so, this camp was one with little security.  He should have known that this nurse would be so aware of everything going on around her. 

He would have to contact Collins in the morning to inform him that it was not going to be as easy to escape this time. Until then, he would bide his time and do nothing.

The Blog Tour:

November 3:  Carolyn Astfalk My Scribbler’s Heart Blog

November 4:  Steven McEvoy Book Reviews and More

November 5:  Theresa Linden

November 6:  Therese Heckenkamp 

November 7: Patrice MacArthur

November 8:  Amanda Lauer

November 9:  Sarah Reinhard

November 10: Jean Egolf Molly McBride and the Purple Habit

November 11:  Lisa Mladinich 

November 12: Leslea Wahl

November 13:  Trisha Potter

November 14: The Yeoman Farmer, Christopher Blunt 

November 15: Michael Seagriff

About the Author:



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Ellen Gable is an award-winning author of ten books, editor, self-publishing book coach, speaker, publisher, NFP teacher, book reviewer, transcriptionist, and instructor in the Theology of the Body for Teens. Her books have been collectively downloaded 750,000 times on Kindle. Some of her books have been translated into Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and French. The mother of five adult sons and grandmother to one cherished grandson, Ellen (originally from New Jersey) now lives with her husband of 37 years, James Hrkach, in Pakenham, Ontario, Canada. 

Links:

Blog: www.ellengable.wordpress.com

Website: http://www.fullquiverpublishing.com/about-authors/author-ellen-gable/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ellengable

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/EllenGable

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/ellengable

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

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ellengablehrkach

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1595635.Ellen_Gable

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Ellen-Gable/e/B002LFMXOI

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The Blog Post I Never Intended to Write

Pornography: Bring It Into the Light

Seems like Kanye West is a hot topic. I’m old enough to say without embarrassment that my knowledge of him begins and ends with him being married to a Kardashian and his tussle with Taylor Swift. But a headline about him caught my eye a couple of days ago. I clicked through and discovered this:

“Playboy was my gateway into full-blown pornography addiction. My dad had a Playboy left out at age 5, and it’s affected almost every choice I made for the rest of my life,” West told Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1 on Thursday. “From age 5, to now having to kick the habit. And it just presents itself in the open, like it’s OK. And I stand up and say, you know, it’s not OK.” (Source)

And that prompted me to write the blog post I never intended to write. I’d been reading about silence and wondering whether I really should be saying something about anything. And yet, I felt like something else needed to be said.

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In the days since All in Good Time‘s release, a few people have commented about my “bravery” in tackling the pornography issue in this novel. That was (forgive the pun) a novel thought to me.

I set out to tell a story. Pornography played a role in it from the beginning, albeit a very minor one. As I revised the book (again and again), the theme grew stronger, extending from one “off-screen” character to minor and major characters as well, meaning my hero and heroine.

Why don’t we talk about pornography? We’re obviously consuming it – to the tune of $3 billion annually in the United States alone. Globally, it’s $13 billion. (Source)

All in Good Time is not autobiographical. (Or biographical. I think I should clarify that for my husband’s sake.) But our lives have been touched by pornography in many ways.

Some time in high school, I read a John Saul book. I read several of his thrillers, but I remember little about them. The one I best recall involved a baby that died, and I couldn’t tell you more about it than that.

But I have a vivid memory of a particular scene in which a boy masturbates while watching a couple have sex through an attic window. I can recall specific lines, word for word, decades after I first read it.

Believe it or not, I didn’t read more than a handful of romances until I started writing them and heeded the advice to read in my genre. I read mostly Christian romance, but I would occasionally pick out another sale romance ebook that I thought, based on description, reviews, etc., was a “clean” read. Every once in while, I was duped.

I know many people just skip over those scenes if they don’t want to read them, but I can’t or don’t. I have a personality quirk that prevents me from skipping over boring parts of books because I read them from cover to cover. So skip over the sex scenes? Not likely.

I’m more careful now and more skilled in ferreting out a book’s content. And I know not only to delete books from my Kindle but from my Amazon account as well. I’m more disciplined, I think. But I reached a point while rewriting All in Good Time in which I was persistently tempted to view things I’ve never gone looking for. What do people call it when they don’t want to name a diabolical attack? “Resistance?” Yeah, resistance.

But back to my having a read a handful of romances. Why is it when I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, I ended with romance? And specifically, what I often call Theology of the Body romance? Or, more plainly, romance that tackles tough sexual morality issues that people don’t want to talk about? (I even make oblique references to masturbation. I don’t know if anyone is picking up on them, but they are there.)

Stay With Me: a sheltered woman has a twisted notion of femininity that causes her to equate her value with her level of purity.

: a man struggles with the far-reaching consequences of his sexual sins.

Rightfully Ours: two teens in love struggle to come to terms with what they believe about premarital sex.

All in Good Time: a man’s pornography use threatens his ability to have a healthy relationship with the woman he loves.

The common thread is the characters inhabiting these stories are “good” people. Church-going, Jesus-loving, flesh and blood men and women with good and natural desires and persistent weaknesses and temptations. They need grace and a Savior.

If you think pornography isn’t a problem for “good” people, you’re wrong. Temptation doesn’t simply go away when you are trying to live a Christian life. In some cases, the devil may even ramp things up just to wheedle you.

And then there are the children. Did you know that kids under ten years old make up ten percent of porn site visitors?

You can read about all the statistics about and consequences of pornography use elsewhere – unhealthy relationships, erectile dysfunction, and more.

If you or someone you love is struggling with use or addiction to pornography, I’ve assembled some resources for you.

I’m grateful for those willing to talk about these issues in a frank, forthright, and theologically sound ways, particularly Christopher West and Matt Fradd. And to Mary Lenaburg, for her honesty in sharing her story.

I’m not brave. Foolish maybe, but not brave.

I simply write stories. The ones I think God is laying on my heart, though I admit to doubting my discernment in that regard. Those stories are about good people living real (ish) lives and experiencing real temptations that sometimes results in sins and the consequences they create. My audience is a niche of a niche.

I don’t write to titillate. I don’t write to shock. If there are uncomfortable things in my stories that many would rather ignore, I can only say that the best remedy I know is to . . .

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Angels, Demons & Disembodied Spirits

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October, or “spooky season,” as I keep hearing, is the perfect time to feature books that highlight the unseen realities of angels, demons, and disembodied spirits. Interestingly, not a single one of these is a horror novel.

Relevant Fiction Reviews: Novels that highlight the reality of unseen forces – good and evil – with angels, demons, and disembodied spirits.
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Battle for His Soul by Theresa Linden


Battle for His Soul has the power to change lives. Even though I’ve always known, intellectually, that we live among angels and demons, I seldom give it much though. Theresa Linden vividly depicts the spiritual beings as they praise, defend, tempt, and deceive. It’s allowed me to see with fresh eyes these forces at work in my own life.

I think this is a spectacular book for teens. First, it introduces them to listening to God’s call in their lives and discerning their vocations. Second, it demonstrates the practical power of prayer. Third, since teens are probably even more susceptible than the rest of us to living in the here and now, its vivid depiction of the unseen spiritual forces surrounding us is eye-opening.

And finally, this book has its place in the Year of Mercy with its sterling examples of showing compassion and mercy to all, regardless of whether they deserve it. It’s that act of mercy, that prayer, that fasting, that may just make all the difference.

(I read an advance copy of the book I received from the author. We critique each other’s work, and she still wow’d me with this book.)









The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert




The Gifting has a little bit of everything – mystery, suspense, romance, action, and a full-out battle between good and evil. In fact, what struck me most about the series, beginning with The Gifting, was the acknowledgement of evil. As a demonic entity tells Tessa, “You see, people have a hard time fighting against something they don’t believe. Their denial makes our job easier.”

The dystopian setting allows the reality of good and evil to penetrate without inducing nightmares. The Gifting hits its mark in making the reader consider unseen realities without fear-mongering.

The sense of immediacy, urgency, and ever-present danger are enhanced by the first person present point-of-view. Seen through Tessa’s eyes, The Gifting will keep you guessing about both her sanity and the loyalty of charismatic, good-looking Luka.

K.E. Ganshert effectively taps into real fears: both those endemic to high school life (being different, ignored by the opposite sex, and misunderstood by parents) and larger, lifelong fears (evil, death, isolation, being unloved, societal collapse). She does an outstanding job of showing the dangers of dabbling in the occult and of deeming certain persons unworthy of life. These threats are such an organic part of the story that the truth shines through without any author interjections or hokey, proselytizing dialogue. Very well done.

The teen romance with all its starts and stops is realistic and clean. Short chapters keep you moving ahead, leading me TWICE to do something I’d never done – click “buy” on my Kindle within seconds of finishing a book because I just couldn’t wait to read more.









Tortured Soul by Theresa Linden


Tortured Soul is a unique supernatural thriller!

After being unceremoniously evicted from her family home by her overprotective brother Erwin and his growing family, Jeannie Lyons must create a new home in the rental house Erwin has found for her.

Lonely and unable to let go of the grief still binding her to her deceased parents, Jeannie and her three-legged cat try to make the best of it.

But something strange is happening in the house. Noises, movement, a specter.

Jeannie must confront not only her grief and loneliness but the terrifying ghoul in the corner of her bedroom. Her family and her parish priest dismiss her concerns, leaving Jeannie with only Oliver, Erwin’s quirky photographer friend, to confide in.

The Christmas setting and snowy, isolated landscape lend an eerie quality to this story that looks like a ghost story, but is really a story about mercy.

Not only will you be entertained – and maybe a little spooked! – but you’ll be mindful of praying for those who need it most.









Black Bottle Man by Craig Russell

In an age when the existence of evil is summarily dismissed, Black Bottle Man offers evil personified. With a name and face, the dark countenance seldom seen in the book holds sway over the long life of Rembrandt.

Early in the twentieth century, Rembrandt’s desperate aunts’ deal with the devil destroys his family, forcing him, his father, and his uncle to live on the run. The novel follows their journey with scenes from Rembrandt’s childhood and teenage years interspersed with ninety-year-old Rembrandt’s search for a champion to defeat the Black Bottle Man.

Highly original and enjoyable!








Angelhood by A.J. Cattapan

Angelhood offers important messages about hope and regret through the first-person account of 17-year-old Nanette, who, in the first chapter, puts a gun to her head and pulls the trigger. From there she embarks on her “angelhood.”

Despite the name, the body-less souls, and the acquisition of wings, the period of “angelhood” bears more resemblance to purgatory than angelic life. In order to gain her own redemption, Nanette is assigned a charge whom she must prevent from making the same fatal mistake she did in taking her own life.

Nanette shadows a friendless, angsty poet named Vera, whose mother has succumbed to breast cancer. Despite Nanette’s frustration with Vera’s anti-social, “loser” ways, she takes her task seriously and struggles to find means to influence Vera’s behavior and help her see the wonderful possibilities around her.

Throughout the novel, Nanette and other angels, including her mentor of sorts, Warren, engage in spiritual warfare in defense of their charges and their own journey towards sainthood. Darkness and evil tempt and taunt, eager to draw souls to their eternal torment.

Interspersed with the action are Nanette’s memories – both those leading up to her suicide and happy memories with her sister, mother, and fellow theater geeks. Not only does concentrating on positive memories help her to grown in grace, it also enables her to see clearly the rashness of her life-ending decision.

While Nanette had seen death as an escape from her various troubles, she now realizes that not only has peace eluded, her but her absence has had profound effects on her family members as well. Her perspective matures and broadens, allowing her to see hope where in the past she felt despair and to recognize, in theater terms, that comedy and tragedy exist side by side.

There are several twists, turns, and revelations along the way to maintain tension and keep the reader engaged.

In the years following the suicide of a friend’s 15-year-old son (also by gun), I’ve become hypersensitive to its frequent portrayal in media. While its depiction here made me uncomfortable, the overriding, hopeful message integrated so seamlessly into Nanette’s memories and experiences convinced me of its valuable message for teens in particular, who think their life isn’t worth living and the world would be better off without them.

I listened to Angelhood on audiobook, which opens me to distraction more than reading print does. It can also be a challenge to hear over the noise level and kid interruptions in my home. I did, however, enjoy the narration, which fit Nanette’s voice well.








One Night With a Rock Star: part deux by Chana Keefer


I loved One Night With A Rock Star so much I re-read it, something I rarely do. I eagerly looked forward to the sequel, Part Deux.

What struck me most about this book was the author’s willingness to take on evil, essentially freeing her hero of a demonic obsession. Not ordinary fare for a fairytale romance.

Kudos to Chana Keefer for her sobering and gripping depiction of the subtle manifestation of evil in our lives. My only qualm was what amounted to a lay exorcism of sorts, something I’d have preferred to seen addressed by a trained priest exorcist.

Part Deux reads more like a memoir than a romance in its storytelling. The upside is that the reader is further drawn into the lives of Esther and Sky, whose newlywed love is endearing. It’s a joy to witness (“offscreen”) the consummation and continuation of their married union and loving intimacy. It is real and sensual without become tawdry or in any way pornographic.

The downside to this type of storytelling is a rambling plot, which at times did not seem cohesive. It may be that I’ve become a more critical reader since I read One Night With A Rock Star, but this book felt less structured, lacking in foreshadowing, and therefore less satisfying. Again, the draw here is the characters.

There were some good subplots involving sex trafficking and the “adult” industry. The struggles of marriage, difficulties of superstardom, pregnancy loss, and incorporating faith into life with integrity and without compromise are all addressed. They are handled well, but I wondered at times if the author tried to tackle too much.

All in all, an enjoyable continuation of Esther and Sky’s love story.








The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright


I’d read so many recommendations for this book, and I’d say, for the most part, it lived up to the hype.

The story moved back and forth between 1906 and present day in a small Wisconsin town, Oakwood. The constant threat of danger is centered on Foster Hill House, a mostly abandoned home and the site of at least one murder.

I enjoyed the historical heroine, Ivy, a complex, grief-stricken character with a fascination for the dead. Her best friend/childhood love turned investigator Joel works with Ivy to protect her while uncovering a murder and missing infant. During which time, of course, they revisit the past.

In the present, Kaine is running from the loss of her husband and a stalker that seems to have trailed her from California. She’ll find a protector/co-investigator in therapist/all-around good guy Grant.

The book moves at a nice clip between time periods, building to near simultaneous climaxes.

Fans of romantic suspense and a little spookiness will enjoy this novel! I listened on audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job varying voices. It was a pleasure to listen to.

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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Classic Catholic Novels

Here are a dozen Catholic novels widely considered to be Catholic (and literary) classics. In some cases, the entire body of the author’s work could be included on this list. I stuck to one work per author.

In the case of The Lord of the Rings, it was simply easier to link the first book in the trilogy. Summaries provided are taken from the Amazon description.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein



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In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh



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The wellsprings of desire and the impediments to love come brilliantly into focus in Evelyn Waugh’s masterpiece–a novel that immerses us in the glittering and seductive world of English aristocracy in the waning days of the empire.

Through the story of Charles Ryder’s entanglement with the Flytes, a great Catholic family, Evelyn Waugh charts the passing of the privileged world he knew in his own youth and vividly recalls the sensuous pleasures denied him by wartime austerities. At once romantic, sensuous, comic, and somber, Brideshead Revisited transcends Waugh’s early satiric explorations and reveals him to be an elegiac, lyrical novelist of the utmost feeling and lucidity.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene



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Mexico, the late 1930s: A paramilitary group has outlawed the Catholic Church and been executing its clergy. Now the last priest is on the run, fleeing not just an unshakable police lieutenant but also his own wavering morals. As he scraps his way toward salvation, haunted by an affair from his past, the nameless “whiskey priest” is pulled between the bottle and the Bible, tempted to renounce his religion yet unable to ignore the higher calling he’s chosen. Timeless and unforgettable, The Power and the Glory is a stunning portrait of both physical and spiritual survival by a master dramatist of the human soul.

Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy



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Dr. Tom More has created a stethoscope of the human spirit. With it, he embarks on an unforgettable odyssey to cure mankind’s spiritual flu. This novel confronts both the value of life and its susceptibility to chance and ruin.

Kristin Lavrensdatter by Sigrid Undset



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In her great historical epic Kristin Lavransdatter, set in fourteenth-century Norway, Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset tells the life story of one passionate and headstrong woman. Painting a richly detailed backdrop, Undset immerses readers in the day-to-day life, social conventions, and political and religious undercurrents of the period. Now in one volume, Tiina Nunnally’s award-winning definitive translation brings this remarkable work to life with clarity and lyrical beauty.

As a young girl, Kristin is deeply devoted to her father, a kind and courageous man. But when as a student in a convent school she meets the charming and impetuous Erlend Nikulaussøn, she defies her parents in pursuit of her own desires. Her saga continues through her marriage to Erlend, their tumultuous life together raising seven sons as Erlend seeks to strengthen his political influence, and finally their estrangement as the world around them tumbles into uncertainty.

With its captivating heroine and emotional potency, Kristin Lavransdatter is the masterwork of Norway’s most beloved author—one of the twentieth century’s most prodigious and engaged literary minds—and, in Nunnally’s exquisite translation, a story that continues to enthrall.

The Diary of A Country Priest by George Bernanos



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In this classic Catholic novel, Bernanos movingly recounts the life of a young French country priest who grows to understand his provincial parish while learning spiritual humility himself.

Silence by Shusako Endo



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Seventeenth-century Japan: Two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to a country hostile to their religion, where feudal lords force the faithful to publicly renounce their beliefs. Eventually captured and forced to watch their Japanese Christian brothers lay down their lives for their faith, the priests bear witness to unimaginable cruelties that test their own beliefs. Shusaku Endo is one of the most celebrated and well-known Japanese fiction writers of the twentieth century, and Silence is widely considered to be his great masterpiece.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather



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Willa Cather’s best known novel is an epic–almost mythic–story of a single human life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert. In 1851 Father Jean Marie Latour comes to serve as the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. What he finds is a vast territory of red hills and tortuous arroyos, American by law but Mexican and Indian in custom and belief. In the almost forty years that follow, Latour spreads his faith in the only way he knows–gently, all the while contending with an unforgiving landscape, derelict and sometimes openly rebellious priests, and his own loneliness. Out of these events, Cather gives us an indelible vision of life unfolding in a place where time itself seems suspended.

The Complete Stories by Flanner O’Connor



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The publication of this extraordinary volume firmly established Flannery O’Connor’s monumental contribution to American fiction. There are thirty-one stories here in all, including twelve that do not appear in the only two story collections O’Connor put together in her short lifetime–Everything That Rises Must Converge and A Good Man Is Hard to Find.

O’Connor published her first story, “The Geranium,” in 1946, while she was working on her master’s degree at the University of Iowa. Arranged chronologically, this collection shows that her last story, “Judgement Day”–sent to her publisher shortly before her death―is a brilliantly rewritten and transfigured version of “The Geranium.” Taken together, these stories reveal a lively, penetrating talent that has given us some of the most powerful and disturbing fiction of the twentieth century. Also included is an introduction by O’Connor’s longtime editor and friend, Robert Giroux.

The Complete Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton



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Father Brown, one of the most quirkily genial and lovable characters to emerge from English detective fiction, first made his appearance in The Innocence of Father Brown in 1911. That first collection of stories established G.K. Chesterton’s kindly cleric in the front rank of eccentric sleuths. This complete collection contains all the favorite Father Brown stories, showing a quiet wit and compassion that has endeared him to many, whilst solving his mysteries by a mixture of imagination and a sympathetic worldliness in a totally believable manner.

The Spear by Louis deWohl



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This panoramic novel of the last days of Christ ranges from the palaces of imperial Rome to the strife-torn hills of Judea-where the conflict of love and betrayal, revenge and redemption, reaches a mighty climax in the drama of the Crucifixion. For this is the full story of the world’s most dramatic execution, as it affected one of its least-known participants-the man who hurled his spear into Christ on the Cross.

Among his many successful historical novels, Louis de Wohl considered The Spear the magnum opus of his literary career.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller



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In the depths of the Utah desert, long after the Flame Deluge has scoured the earth clean, a monk of the Order of Saint Leibowitz has made a miraculous discovery: holy relics from the life of the great saint himself, including the blessed blueprint, the sacred shopping list, and the hallowed shrine of the Fallout Shelter.

In a terrifying age of darkness and decay, these artifacts could be the keys to mankind’s salvation. But as the mystery at the core of this groundbreaking novel unfolds, it is the search itself—for meaning, for truth, for love—that offers hope for humanity’s rebirth from the ashes.

What classic Catholic novels or authors would you add to this list?

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A Dozen Novels to Read for Respect Life Month

In reverse order of which I read them, here are a dozen reading recommendations for Respect Life Month. They are a varied bunch! Romance, dystopian, women’s fiction, mystery, young adult, short stories, and suspense. And, yes, even adventure dinosaur dystopian!

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For Eden’s Sake by T.M. Gaouette Death Panels: A Novel of Life, Liberty and Faith by Michelle Buckman Breach! (unSPARKed #0) by Corinna Turner Swimming in the Deep End by Christine Suzann Nelson Bound by Vijaya Bodach Shadows of Hope by Georgiana Daniels Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden Dying for Compassion by Barbara Golder Red Rose Bouquet (Grace Revealed #2) by Jennifer Rodewald Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body by Erin McCole Cupp and Ellen Gable (editors) Life-Changing Love by Theresa Linden Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable

For more recommendation, check out these blog posts:

Relevant Fiction Reviews: The Beginning of LifeRelevant Fiction Reviews: The End of LifeNovels for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month







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