Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 28

Guest Post: 10 Minute Novelists Conference Can Change Your Writing Forever!

[image error]In this saturated market, you can’t afford to be a mediocre writer.

For most of us, it’s not enough to read books or depend on beta readers to show what’s precisely wrong with our manuscripts. We plow on, submitting here or there, facing rejection after rejection, questioning our creative choices.   

What if we gave ourselves a weekend to really grow? What if we could sit with a well-experienced literary agent and get the inside secrets to writing good fiction? What if we invested wisely in instruction that could make a huge difference in our careers? What if we challenged ourselves to excel in ways we hadn’t before?  Don’t you think that your art is worth it? Don’t you think that your career is worth it?   

The writers of 10 Minute Novelists certainly do. Join them for their first ever writing conference, 10MINCON, August 9-11, 2018, in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a chance to spend the weekend with literary agent Donald Maass and hear from James Scott Bell and Janice Hardy.   

Mr. Maass will be spending the day speaking from his book The Fire in Fiction. Through this intense, exercise-packed, hands-on workshop, he will address multiple aspects of novel-writing, from the characters to the setting, to the plot, analyzing each piece carefully, demonstrating what can grip the reader the most.  Are you really satisfied with your opening pages? Mr. Maass will point out common errors, explain what kinds of protagonists are the strongest, and how to make them alive for your reader.  

Then Mr. Maass will delve into conflicts. He will challenge authors to really dig deep into the drives of their protagonists, create complex inner conflicts, and reveal their hearts.  Additionally, Maass will address the antagonist. Through examples, he will reveal common mistakes writers make with their antagonists and challenge authors to make them richer, sympathetic, and engaging.  

By the end of the day, the participants will have addressed:  

Three kinds of protagonists that appeal most to readers 
How to build rich characters and intriguing antagonists 
Scene-sculpting for maximum tension 
World-building  
The development of the narrative voice 
Creating an attractive reality for the reader 
Increasing tension in every scene 
The significance of stories for humankind 
How to tell a story with new passions.  

This day-long seminar will be intense, but the advice Mr. Maass will give could make the difference between a mediocre writer and a great one. What our attendees are going to hear that day will change their writing forever!   

But that’s not all: James Scott Bell will be delivering our keynote address on Thursday, August 9.  He has taught novel-writing at Pepperdine University and numerous conferences in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. He also served as fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine and has written five craft books for Writer’s Digest Books: Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, The Art of War for Writers, Elements of Fiction Writing: Conflict & Suspense, and Just Write. His Write Your Novel From The Middle was an instant #1 Amazon bestselling writing book. Mr. Bell will be bringing to the conference years of experience and applicable instruction for growing writers everywhere.   

And if that weren’t enough, Janice Hardy, an award-winning author, will be leading two workshops on Saturday:  Planning Your Novel in Ten Easy Steps and Revision Readiness: How to Revise. She runs the popular writing site Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing, including Understanding Show, Don’t Tell: (And Really Getting It), Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure, and the Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft series. 

 If you’ve ever sighed over a critique partner’s suggestions, argued with a beta reader, or cried over yet another rejection, you’re like the rest of us: you’re discovering that your writing needs to get better. If your manuscript needs help (and whose doesn’t?),  you can’t find a better opportunity than this to learn what to do to fix it. 

 How can you be a part of this fantastic opportunity? Click here to go to  www.10MINCON.com and register. The last day we’re accepting registrations is July 15! We expect to sell out, so buy your ticket soon! Then make your reservation at the Embassy Suites. Boxed lunches will be provided on Friday and Saturday and breakfast is free for guests of the hotel.  

 We’ve chosen these speakers because we believe that your art deserves to be the best it can be. You deserve to have opportunities to learn from some of the top experts in fiction writing today.   

Join us! Click here to register!

Katharine Grubb is a mom of five, homeschooler, baker, comedian wanna be, former running coward, Challenge A Director with Classical Conversations, and independent author. Her biggest joy in life is meeting aspiring novelists with big dreams and showing them how to meet their goals. She founded the Facebook Group 10 Minute Novelists and works with her staff of volunteers to create a vibrant and fun community for writers. She and her family live in Central Massachusetts where they cheer for the Patriots.

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First Line Fridays – The Solace of Water

I’ve been reading First Line Fridays at a handful of blogs for a while, occasionally chiming in. This week, I’m posting my own, starting with a beautifully-written novel I began reading this week.

The Solace of Water: A Novel
by Elizabeth Byler Younts
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My skin was the same color as the soil.

What a first line! So much is packed in those nine words. Immediately we know the person is not Caucasian and that fact is significant. This is a story about race. And then we wonder what is significant about the soil. Is something buried beneath the soil?

What’s the first line of the book you’re reading? Or the book nearest to you?

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the June 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Lately, I’ve gone from reading one book at a time to juggling an audiobook or two, a children’s book, and a couple of others simultaneously. It’s not my favorite way to read, but it’s getting the job done. There are two new books I’m eager to start next week!

[image error]The Solace of Water is the latest release by Elizabeth Byler Younts.  I’m intrigued by the premise of this Christian women’s fiction story of friendship between an African-American preacher’s wife and a reclusive Amish woman set in Pennsylvania in 1956. Kristine Wilson of  CBA Market Review says, “Byler Younts is a marvel with dialect and highly charged emotional scenes. Like a turbulent river, water is ever-present in this story of love, anger, and regeneration.”

[image error]I’m also itching to start the contemporary Christian romance Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh. The cover is just so lovely with those pretty flowers. And fitting, since Quinn is a flower shop owner paired with a haughty Olympic skier, Grady, as they renovate said flower shop.

[image error]The Vagabond Codes by J.D. Stone is a Young Adult thriller set in a dystopian America. I’m 3/4 of the way through the story of fourteen-year-old Ben and a small band of teens fighting for survival against artificial intelligence gone bad and roaming cannibals. In the early chapters especially, it struck me as part Falling Skies, part The Walking Dead, and part Battlestar Galactica. Lots of action, but as it progresses, more of Ben’s family history and personal conflict is revealed.

[image error]The last reading my oldest son did before finals started and baseball games littered the  calendar is William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This is one of the few Shakespeare plays I haven’t yet read (which is crazy for a Classics major), so I was interested to learn that it’s less about Caesar and more about Brutus, who conspired to assassinate the first Roman emperor. 

[image error]I’m not sure where I ran across The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dagliesh, but I knew this was a book my fourth-grade daughter would like. It is a true story about a girl who traveled with her father to build a new home for their family in the wilderness in 1707. There, she cares for her father and befriends her Indian neighbors. The book is a Newbery Medal winner.

[image error]Another Newbery Medal winner has been in my daughter’s reading pile: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. This is the first survival story she’s read and is the first book in the Brian’s Saga series. While traveling to visit his father, thirteen-year-old Brian’s plane goes down, leaving him alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothes, a windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother gave him.

[image error]Finally, the fourth grade class has been reading Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (yet another Newbery Medal winner). My daughter tells me she likes the book, yet seems reluctant to do the required reading. Could be end-of-the-school-year burnout. Shiloh is the adorable beagle depicted on the cover, rescued from an abusive home by Marty. Marty tries to keep Shiloh a secret, but, as you might guess, the secret coming to light could have big consequences.

[image error]I spotted Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese in my Goodreads feed. My knowledge of the Fibonacci Sequence comes entirely from the TV show Touch, so I thought this might round out my knowledge a bit while entertaining my little kids. I love children’s books that introduce kids to big or complex subjects in age-appropriate ways. Blockhead depicts the medieval daydreamer Fibonacci as a misunderstood boy with a facility for numbers.  Eventually, he connects those numbers to the patterns found in nature.

[image error]My youngest daughter brought home Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont from the school library. This book immediately reminded me of Jan Brett’s The Mitten, which I wrote about last month. Instead of animals cramming themselves into a mitten, in Move Over, Rover, they are squeezed into a dog house. Instead of being driven out by a sneeze, they are driven out by the addition of a skunk! This picture book is a cute and easy read.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbookTweet This

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Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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Top 12 Father’s Day Book Gift Ideas for Catholic Dads

Last month, I shared  gift ideas for Catholic moms, so it’s only fitting that this month Catholic dads get the same treatment.

As a non-dad, I’m a bit out of my realm here, but my husband is a Catholic dad, so I’m not completely ignorant of the species.

Dad deserves his day, too, and here are some ideas. One for every month?

The following books are a mix of fiction and nonfiction, a little something for everyone from contemporary fiction to science fiction to self-help and theology. Click through the titles below the image to read the descriptions!

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Pints with Aquinas: 50+ Deep Thoughts from the Angelic Doctor by Matt Fradd


Full Cycle by Christopher Blunt


Bleeder: A Miracle? Or Bloody Murder? by John J. Desjarlais


Manual for Spiritual Warfare by Paul Thigpen


Discovery by Karina Fabian


Man to Man, Dad to Dad: Catholic Faith and Fatherhood by Brian Caulfield and Archbishop Timothy Dolan


Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life by Mike Aquilina


Last of Her Kind by A.K. Frailey


Be a Man!: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be by Fr. Larry Richards


Drinking with the Saints:The Sinner’s Guide to a Holy Happy Hour by Michael P. Foley


The Catholic Drinkie’s Guide to Home-Brewed Evangelism by Sarah Vabulas


Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body edited by Erin McCole Cupp and Ellen Gable

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Bound by Brokenness Blog Tour

[image error] About the Book:

Since his wife’s tragic death, Matthias Mason has served as the only doctor in Bear Valley. When he ventures out on his spring circuit through the foothills, it’s obvious Death is on the prowl. With lives on the line, Matthias battles to stay one step ahead. But when Death comes looking for him, will Matthias face his own brokenness and allow God to heal the wounds festering in his heart?

While his sister is out on the circuit, assisting Doc, twelve-year-old Samuel Morgan sets out to prove he can be trusted to do what’s right and that his penchant for stories is more than a pastime. When his best friend’s brother returns to Bear Valley married to a city girl and buys back the old family homestead, things don’t add up. Sam knows where there’s a secret there’s a story. But he’s not prepared for how his well-intentioned decision to find the truth will affect everyone in Bear Valley.

In the continuation of this family saga, God shows Matthias and Samuel that healing begins with brokenness and some wounds only He can bind.

Sign up for Jessica White’s author newsletter and read the first two chapters of Bound by Brokenness for FREE!

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Bound by Brokenness by @Author_J_White Healing begins with brokenness, and some wounds only God can bind. #Christfic #newreleaseTweet This

My Review:

I’ll be reading and reviewing Bound by Brokenness in the coming weeks! I’ve previously read Surviving the Stillness, Book 1 in The Seasons of Healing Series, and look forward to reading this second book as well. You can read my review of Surviving the Stillness.

About the  Author, Jessica White:
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Jessica White

Jessica White lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband and two daughters. She is a prayer warrior who loves to encourage and teach others how to create safe spaces for the hurting and lost. When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up with a good book or helping fellow writers grow in the craft.

Links:

Website: www.authorjessicawhite.wordpress.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjessicawhite

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/Author_J_White

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: The Beginning of Life

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Because fiction excels at creating empathy, books that involve deeply personal, emotionally-intense issues help readers consider situations in a whole new light. Over the years, I’ve read many books that touch on life issues – both at its beginning and end. These books are ones that touch on abortion and related life issues.

The reviews may not even mention abortion, as these aren’t “message” books but rather novels that skillfully weave life issues into the plot. Beneath the reviews are several other books that merit being included, but for which I did not post a review. (There was actually a time when I didn’t review almost everything I read! I also haven’t reviewed my own book, for obvious reasons. )

And finally, there are four dystopian series listed, which were also included in the end-of-life post. I hope you’ll click through and read more about these exceptional books!

Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden

Anyone But Him is brimming with delicious romance, keep-you-guessing mystery, and a dose of humor. Wonderfully written with well-developed characters, and a solid plot – all hallmarks of Theresa Linden’s books. With her first novel aimed at the new adult market, I hope many, many more readers are introduced to her writing. It’s a joy to read novels both well written and underpinned by the Catholic faith and the values Catholics hold dear. [Learn more about Anyone But Him.]

Shadows of Hope by Georgiana Daniels

Shadows of Hope is a book-length exercise in dramatic irony that kept me engrossed until all was revealed, in dramatic fashion.

From the first pages – or from the book description alone – the reader knows that Marissa counsels Kaitlyn throughout her unplanned pregnancy and that, unbeknownst to both women, Marissa’s husband Colin is the father.

Tension builds as various conflicts unfold and layers of the characters are revealed: infertility, the absence of a father, infidelity, insecurity, and more bring great depth to Marissa, Kaitlyn, and even Colin.

The reader gets to examine the situation from each of the three characters’ points of view – closest with Marissa (1st person), but also Kaitlyn and Colin (3rd person).

Georgiana Daniels resists an easy resolution, instead delivering a true-to-life examination of the shared heartache, joy, and, eventually, hope, of three imperfect people bound by an unborn child.

Fans of women’s fiction will especially enjoy this well-written, thoughtful story. It’s a great debut, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Discovery by Karina Lumbert Fabian

If your mental picture of religious sisters is dour, old women with wimple habits and ankle-length skirts, then scrub that image before opening Discovery. The sisters in the Order of Our Lady of the Rescue are post-modern, brave pioneers with habits suited to work in zero gravity.

The challenges to their present mission on the alien craft Discovery are best summed up by Sister Rita’s exclamation of “Codists and Wiccans and evangelists, oh, my.” Sister Rita, along with stalwart pilot Sister Thomas and “spacey” but brilliant Sister Ann, have all sorts of conflicting interests to contend with: the brainy researchers, the working-class rockjacks, and, oh yeah, that alien ship.

Interwoven amongst the crew’s scientific discoveries are their personal discoveries, brought to light within the desolate alien craft. Karina Fabian does a good job of managing what could be an unwieldy cast of characters, two romances, devious intrigue, and a guilty conscience.

In the end, the most profound discovery isn’t an alien life form, but a relationship with God, whose love knows no boundaries, whose mercy overflows, and who calls us each for a unique purpose.

Just enough bread crumbs are dropped to keep the reader intrigued by the various interpersonal relationships and cryptic messages of Sister Ann, mounting to page-turning suspense in the final chapters.

Discovery is a journey worth taking.

Unfailing Love by Julie Lessman

I awaited Isle of Hope for months, eager to read Julie Lessman’s voice in a contemporary novel. She did not disappoint.

The characters have depth, are well-drawn, and inhabit their modern coastal Georgia isle so naturally they made me long for a beach vacation.

The dramatic plot turns in Isle of Hope call to mind a soap opera (as they often do in Julie Lessman’s historical novels), which is less a criticism and more a testament to the author’s savvy given the enduring popularity of soaps (and perhaps a nod to her well-known love of Gone With the Wind). The novel includes perhaps the best one-sentence chapter-ending cliffhanger I’ve ever read.

The faith element is organic to the story, but is more extensive than in most inspirational romances or women’s fiction as multiple characters’ arcs echo the themes of forgiveness, (re)conversion, and redemption. I highlighted several passages that struck a chord – something I typically don’t do. By showing the natural consequences of selfish actions, the narrative deftly demonstrates how no sin is truly private, and its repercussions affect many people besides the perpetrator.

Some beautiful, tender, heart-melting moments of grief and sorrow are interwoven with the painful longing and simmering passion you’d expect.

A little tightening to reduce thematic repetition and some of the analogies would only make this good novel even better. As it is, it’s an engaging story of love, forgiveness, healing, and rebirth that left me looking forward to the next book in the series.

Life-Changing Love by Theresa Linden

Not only is Life-Changing love an entertaining read, but it’s a great tool for launching conversations between teens and parents about their expectations for dating and relationships.

Caitlyn Summers is in love with being in love. She yearns for her first boyfriend and her first kiss. And she knows just the boy to make those dreams come true: Roland West. Only Roland, despite the mixed signals he sends, is not interested in having a girlfriend.

By contrast, Caitlyn’s gorgeous best friend Zoe has gone from zero to well beyond the speed limit in mere days with Roland’s dangerous older brother Jarret.

When Jarret’s twin Keefe returns from a trip to Italy with his father, he’s changed -unwilling to allow Jarret to manipulate him, introspective, pious, and intrigued by Caitlyn.

The lives of the West brothers and Caitlyn and Zoe turn topsy-turvy as they struggle to navigate obedience to their parents, the longings of their hearts, and the predicament Jarret and Zoe have created for themselves.

Theresa Linden does an outstanding job of capturing the tension of the teenage years. The result is a moving story that shows the consequences of premature sexual relationships and the value of pursuing friendships that honor God and respect the dignity of each person.

The Truth and Nothing But Lies by Cheri Vause

The Truth and Nothing But Lies is an engaging tale that could be ripped from the headlines if only the media delved so deeply. Its intricate plot and suspense hold attention and draw the reader to the end. Its greatest value, however, lies in its plain demonstration of the dire consequences of all-too-familiar actions cloaked in euphemisms of sexual liberation and freedom to choose.

Rapunzel Let Down: A Fairy Tale Retold by Regina Doman

“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” – Rom 5:20 In this modern adaption of the classic tale of Rapunzel, Regina Doman brings us the story of Hermes, a conservative senator’s son, who falls in love with Raphaella, the adopted daughter of a radical feminist. Hermes impregnates the innocent Raphaella and from there, sin begets sin and suffering. Fans of Doman’s fairytale novels and new readers alike will enjoy this adaption that brings to life both the dire consequences of sin and the graces borne of virtue. The contemporary setting meshes wonderfully with the timeless fairytale sprinkled liberally with a Catholic worldview. Reminiscent of Doman’s other novels, the heroic ending will have you on the edge of your seat.

Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body edited by Erin McCole Cupp

Even if you’ve read St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body from start to finish and a half-dozen nonfiction books about it on the side, I guarantee this collection of shorts will uncover the teachings in ways you hadn’t considered. It will challenge you in unexpected ways. One or two (or more) of the stories may make you uncomfortable. While the writing is polished, the varnish coating the darkness of our lives is stripped, laying bare the truths written on our heart and the lies we tell with our bodies.

Recommended for reading, reflection, discussion, and even entertainment. A gritty but beautiful introduction not only to the Theology of the Body as it is lived (or rejected), but also to the breadth and promise of Catholic fiction being written by contemporary authors. These shorts are accessible to any careful reader, whether familiar with the Theology of the Body or not.

[image error] Red Rose Bouquet by Jennifer Rodewald
Ornamental Graces by Carolyn Astfalk
Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable
Emily’s Hope by Ellen Gable


[image error]The Gifting Series by K.E. Ganshert
The Liberty Series by Theresa Linden
I Am Margaret Series by Corinna Turner
The Memoirs of Jane E, Friendless Orphan by Erin McCole Cupp

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My Proven Remedy for A Funk

I’ve been in a funk lately.

A combination of things have been wearing on me. Financial issues. Big decisions. Discouragement in just about every area, from mothering to marriage to writing to my spiritual life. My mother is in the care of hospice, hundreds of miles from my home. Nothing earth shattering. Just life. Or mid-life, as the case may be.

Not surprisingly, I process feelings through writing. Typically with a pen and a lined journal, in cursive. The journals stashed in our attic are teeming with emotions. Most of the near-daily entries spanning ages 12 through 26 will meet a fiery fate at some point in the future.

I let the journaling habit slide for years, as if the bliss of marriage would negate my need to work through my disappointments, anger, fear, or joy with a ball point pen.

Then, when the rosy glow of newlywed life wore off, as it inevitably does, I resumed writing in fits and starts over the last decade or so as the urge struck me. The result is a rather unbalanced look at my life from the inside, chronicling only my most extreme highs and lows and leaving wordless the even keel that marks most of my days.

There is a prayer journal, vacation journals, a Christmas journal, and a weight loss journal (yeah, that one is mostly blank). I’ve only glanced at some of my earliest journals, and the content makes me cringe, mostly due to its immaturity.

While I scribbled in journals, I wrote other things. Articles for my high school newspaper, my college newspaper, and then in a variety of formats as part of my jobs:  ad copy, news, newsletters, website content, newspaper columns, magazine articles, position papers, and, more recently, blog posts. Upon re-read, none of them make me self-conscious despite evidence of inexperience or discussion of personal topics including miscarriage, marriage, sin, and sexuality.

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Photo by Comfreak at Pixabay

Fiction, on the other hand . . .

I’ve been listening to chapters of two of my novels as narrators/producers share their completed work with me prior to the books’ availability in audiobook format.

Both are talented narrators, who bring life to the characters and the plot in unexpected ways – because they bring themselves to my stories, as every reader does. I’m awestruck at the way they bring out humor, grief, or nervousness in characters that were born in my imagination.

And, I think that’s what’s so amazing about fiction.

Readers bring themselves to the table, so to speak.

I bring myself – my hopefully older, wiser, and more skilled self – to the table when I re-read or re-listen to my work. Sometimes I marvel at a turn of phrase. Sometimes I cringe. But I never walk away unaffected as I do from any nonfiction I’ve written.

Fiction is where my insecurities still run amok. I hear this is par for the fiction author’s course. And while I hope that, say, ten books in, I’ll no longer be riddled by the fear of je ne sais quoi – failure? ridicule? – it may be endemic to the author’s life regardless of the slow but steady thickening of skin.

My Proven Remedy for a Funk – “Fiction is where my insecurities still run amok.”Tweet This

Because fiction is personal, both to the writer and to the reader. Little bits of the author’s heart and soul bleed into the manuscript, maybe not in a particular character or a particular plot, but in subtler ways. A persistent flaw woven into a theme. A pain so deep it echoes in a character’s backstory. A memory so vivid it writes itself.

The story draws from the author’s lifeblood as a needle draws a sample of real blood.

There’s a certain “magic” in novel writing, a point at which, at least in my experience, things click. A theme resonates across a story arc, a symbol reverberates through the plot progression. All of it unplanned. I attribute the so-called magic to the work of my subconscious and hope that just a little, if I’ve been properly disposed, comes from a deeper well, from the inspiration that breathes life into every creative endeavor. From God.

It’s that real and raw substance to which we, as readers, are drawn, bringing with us all of our baggage. Our families of origin, our loves and likes, our maybe narrow views of the world, our prejudices, and our pet peeves.

During this month’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk, Rebecca Willen wondered at how from squiggles on a page, we enter into entire worlds and fantastical experiences.

A primitive mind meld of sorts. It’s nothing short of miraculous.

I still work out my emotions with pen in a lined journal. It’s cheap and effective therapy. But I contemplate the deeper stuff at a level just below the surface, letting it spill onto a computer screen and, eventually, a printed page.

And so, despite the ever-present threat of ridicule, or exposing my folly or foolishness to the world, I haven’t yet tired of writing fiction. Nor reading it.

It’s a proven way to rise above the funk.

What’s your go-to way to overcome a funk? Writing, art, exercise, or something else?

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Becky Wade Falling for You Blog Tour

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Falling for You

(A Bradford Sisters Romance #2)

By Becky Wade

Inspirational Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 368 pages

May 1st 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family’s small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin–and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he’s never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he’s determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they’re forced to confront their past and who they’ve become–and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N │Book Depository │ Christianbook │iBooks │Kobo │GooglePlay

My Review

With Willow Bradford and Corbin Stewart, Becky Wade has created a chemistry that brings to life the inexplicable attraction that sends your heart pattering and your thoughts swirling.

By drawing the reader into the characters’ imperfect lives, broken hearts, and stubborn souls, the author has made an international model and a superstar professional quarterback relatable – and that, in itself, is a hallmark of good writing.

The dialogue is smart and wry, and Falling for You is the kind of book I don’t want to end (except then I’d never get to read Britt and Zander’s story, which I’m eagerly awaiting).

The references to the Sinner’s Prayer don’t resonate with me, but the portrayal of God’s steadfast love and forgiveness were well done. Corbin’s attempts to share his newfound faith with his dad were both real and humorous.

Sizzling romance, heart-wrenching loss, and a faith theme woven throughout the story make Falling for You a stand-out Christian romance.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Becky’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market before putting her career on hold for several years to care for her three children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. She loves writing funny, modern, and inspirational contemporary romance! She’s the Christy Award and Carol Award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, and the Bradford Sisters Romance series.

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Tour Schedule

April 30th:

Launch

Amy Watson Author

Remembrancy

Author Austin Ryan

Heidi Reads…

May 1st:

Author Kelly D. Scott

Radiant Light

Cafinated Reads

Jen Around the World

May 2nd:

The Barefoot Reader

Loraine D. Nunley, Author

Moments

The Mary Book Reader

May 3rd:

The Power of Words

Kat’s Corner Books

I Am A Reader

Book by Book

May 4th:

Getting Your Read On

cherylbbookblog

The Green Mockingbird

Author Toni Shiloh

May 7th:

Bringing Up Books

My Scribbler’s Heart

Katie’s Clean Book Collection

Hearts & Scribbles

May 8th:

Facebook Party at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT

Author Christen E Krumm

God is Love

100 Pages per Hour

Just a Little Creativity

May 9th:

Wishful Endings

Mel’s Shelves

Rockin’ Book Reviews

The Great Adventure

May 10th:

Jorie Loves A Story

`Candle Reviews Chivalrous Romance

Flowers of Quiet Happiness

Author Deborah Hackett

May 11th:

Redeemed Hope Dweller

Singing Librarian Books

Locks, Hooks and Books

Dawn’s Dreams

May 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

Celebrate the release of Becky Wade’s Falling for You by entering to win a fabulous prize pack that includes some of Willow Bradford’s favorite things!

One grand prize winner will receive*:

A model-worthy Kate Spade bracelet
A $100 cash card (so you can feed a housewares and home décor addiction like Willow’s)
A Seattle Candle Co. candle (that smells just like the setting of the book)
Roasted in Seattle Rainy Day Coffee
A delicious scone mix (so that you can enjoy scones just like Willow and Corbin do while having high tea)
Cozy book-lover socks
And of course, a copy of Falling for You

Two runner-up winners will receive*:

A Seattle Candle Co. candle (that smells just like the setting of the book)
A copy of Falling for You

*Due to shipping costs, US entrants only.

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 FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

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An Open Book

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Welcome to the May 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

[image error]From a Certain Point of View (40 Stories Celebrating 40 Years of Star Wars) is a short story collection that depicts familiar Star Wars events from different points of view. Stories include ones told from the perspective of rebels left behind on Yavin and even from the monster in the trash compactor! It’s a clever idea and includes authors of some Star Wars novels, including Chuck Wendig and Delilah S. Dawson, as well as actor/writer Wil Wheaton. My husband has been listening to this on audiobook in the car, and while, for the most part, he finds the stories interesting, he is disappointed that, like the franchise as a whole, it can no longer be considered what we’d call traditionally “family-friendly.”

[image error]I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to read a book by Kara Isaac, but I finally downloaded Then There Was You. First off, I love the cover, which captures the locale and the tone of the book quite well! It’s a charming, witty Christian romance set mainly in Australia. Sassy but suffering Paige McAllister is a worthy match for celebrity Christian bandleader Josh Tyler, whose family founded what sounds like the megachurch of all megachurches. This won’t be the last book I read by Kara Isaac.

[image error]In anticipation of May’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk, I’m listening to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, read by Nick Offerman. I only read this classic for the first time as an adult, and I’m immensely enjoying the audiobook version – both because of  Twain’s prose and Offerman’s interpretation. I look forward to running errands in the car, just so I can listen.

[image error]My son’s humanities class is not reading The Odyssey by Homer, but they spent time discussing its plot. Intrigued by the story, my son has decided to read it on his own, and is enjoying it more than he expected. (Old does not equal dull.) This is a classic that, along with Homer’s The Iliad, I’d like to re-read myself.

[image error]My fourth grader enjoyed The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall so much that she’s reading the next book in the series, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. From the book description, “Mr. Penderwick’s sister has decided it’s time for him to start dating—and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster. Enter the Save-Daddy Plan—a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it.”

[image error]For an enrichment project at school, my daughter is writing some book reviews for the newspaper they are creating. (Book reviews? Where do kids come up with this stuff?!) She’s chosen to feature several books that the school librarian informed her were not being checked out often. One of those is The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks, which I read to her when she was young. And of which she has no memory.  Now that she’s read it herself, she loves the book! She assured me that if she were to have a little live Indian, cowboy, horses, et al, in her care, she would not part with them willingly.

[image error]The Mitten, illustrated by Jan Brett, has long been a favorite of my children. Each of the four have loved it, but in recent years, it’s been a particularly fun bedtime read for the kids since the introduction of some printable fun.  As each increasingly large animal climbs into the boy’s lost mitten, the children take turns adding the paper animals to the paper mitten until the bear’s sneeze forces them to fly out in all directions. Beautifully illustrated!

[image error]The Curious Garden by Peter Brown was recommended reading in my daughter’s 4H project book. In the story, a city devoid of all plant life is revitalized by a little boy who cultivates a tiny garden on an abandoned railway. I read the story to the younger children, who were very interested in the illustrations that start out dingy and dull and become lively and vibrant as the story progresses. It’s a charming story of how given just the littlest bit of soil and the right conditions, nature finds a way. It reminded me of a hike my husband and I did years ago, which he and my oldest son (and a bunch of Boy Scouts) recently completed. Not far from the Appalachian trail stand some remnants of a forgotten town, including a steam shovel, left where it was last parked. A tree has grown up inside of it!

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbookTweet This

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Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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 FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

 

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Top 12 Mother’s Day Book Gift Ideas for Catholic Moms

I know “Top 12” isn’t a thing, but I had a tough enough time narrowing this list to twelve, let alone ten. Besides, if you want to go all out, you could buy every book on the list and Mom would have something for each month of the year!

You know your mom deserves it. Heck, she probably changed twelve diapers in a day for you as a newborn. But, no guilt here.

These run the gamut from self-help, biography, and prayer aide to romance, mystery, and literary fiction. Click through the titles below the image to read the descriptions!

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Good Enough Is Good Enough: Confessions of an Imperfect Mom by Colleen Duggan


Julia’s Gifts by Ellen Gable


Divine Mercy for Catholic Moms: Sharing the Lessons of St. Faustina by Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet


Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden


Fatima: The Apparition That Changed World by Jean M. Heimann


One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both by Jennifer Fulwiler


A Life Such as Heaven Intended by Amanda Lauer


Getting Past Perfect: How to Find Joy and Grace in the Messiness of Motherhood by Kate Wicker


Walk in Her Sandals: Experiencing Christ’s Passion through the Eyes of Women edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist


The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections edited by Lisa M. Hendey


The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro


Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body edited by Erin McCole Cupp and Ellen Gable

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 FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

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