Robin E. Mason's Blog: Robin's Book Shelf, page 190

BOOK REVIEW - THE THORN HEALER

The Thorn Healer

Jessica Ross has seen things. She had seen men bleeding and dying, she has seen bodies dismembered, she has seen unthinkable disease. She has seen death.

She has seen war.

Jessica returns from the ravages of war wounded and with her own scars, scars that have left her lame. And scars that have left her soul crippled. She comes home to the town that nurtured her as a child, only to find the enemy has preceded her there—a German internment camp is now situated right there in town.

And a certain German sailor continues to cross her path.

August Reinhold is well familiar with emotional wounds. A father’s disapproval and a Fatherland on the warpath. A path August could not reconcile with. And yet, through all the turmoil life has pitched at him, his deep and profound faith is his hallmark. One that flies in Jessica’s face.

Can Jessica allow that faith to be the balm to her battered heart, and allow her own battered faith to emerge again? Can she release her heart from the grip of prejudice toward the Germans and embrace the man? Can she let her heart love, truly love again—and be loved?

Ms. Basham is magical with words. She weaves her stories and draws the reader right into the story world. The struggles and heartaches that both Jessica and August face are very real, as are their reactions. Ms. Basham has poignantly illustrated the juxtaposition of living in love, and running from it. I felt Jessica’s terror as it returned to her again and again, and I felt her heart as it melted, oh so slowly, like snow in the sunshine. I felt August’s certainty, and his assurance as he fought his way through her shell of armor.

I received a free copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own volition, The opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

Pepper D. Basham

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus. Her debut historical novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015 and has garnered awards such as Reader's Favorites Award, finalist in the Grace Awards, shortlisted for the Inspy Awards, and a finalist in ACFW’s Carol Awards. Her second historical novel, The Thorn Keeper, released in Feb 2016 and her first contemporary romance, A Twist of Faith, released in April 2016 with a 4 star review from Romantic Times. You can get to know Pepper on her website, Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer's Alley.

Book Review, The Thorn Healer, Pepper Basham, Penned in Time, The Thorn Bearer, The Thorn Keeper

Tuesday Reviews-Day – 13 December 2016 – THE THORN HEALER by PEPPER BASHAM

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Series: Penned in Time

Genre: Fiction, Historical, Romance, Christian

Publisher: Vinspire Publishing

Publication date: December 6, 2016

Number of pages: 327Fiction, Historical, Romance, Christian

Jessica Ross’ scars run much deeper than the wounds of war. Determined to escape the ghosts of her past and the German influence on her nightmares, she returns home to the sleepy Appalachian town of Hot Springs, NC, only to find the renowned Mountain Park Hotel has been converted into a ‘prison’ for displaced Germans. To Jessica’s dismay, her grandparents have befriended one of the treacherous internees.

August Reinhold has not only found kinship with Jessica’s grandparents, but as they share their granddaughter’s letters from the Front, he discovers a

surprising bond drawing him toward the independent and beautiful woman. Displaced by a war and a painful history, he finds Hot Springs and the intriguing Jessica Ross a tempting place to start over. Determined to scale the heights of her bitterness and show her the power of love, August faces more than just Jessica’s resistance but a more devious design to harm the civilian sailors housed in Hot Springs.

Will August’s tender pursuit bring Jessica the healing and hope she needs, or will bitterness force her into the hands of a “true” enemy waiting to destroy much more than her heart?

GOODREADS  |  AMAZON

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[image error]Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus. Her debut historical novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015 and has garnered awards such as Reader’s Favorites Award, finalist in the Grace Awards, shortlisted for the Inspy Awards, and a finalist in ACFW’s Carol Awards. Her second historical novel, The Thorn Keeper, released in Feb 2016 and her first contemporary romance, A Twist of Faith, released in April 2016 with a 4 star review from Romantic Times. You can get to know Pepper on her website, Facebook, Instagram, or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley.

GOODREADS  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  PINTEREST  |  AMAZON  |  WEBSITE

 

 

 

 

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1.What do you want readers to take away from reading The Thorn Healer?

The Thorn Healer is really a book of hope – hope for healing, in particular, and peace. Life is not easy. It’s a broken place filled with broken people who all need to know there’s a love much bigger than our suffering – a Savior who can mend our brokenness in a way nothing else can.

2. Do you ever travel for research?

Oh YES! I would at every chance I could get if I had the money J In this case, the setting for TTH is only an hour away from my house, so I did get to travel to Hot Springs for my research.

3. What type of research did you do to write the Penned in Time series?

Lots of reading! I have several books, both fiction and non-fiction, related to the history of this little town in Western North Carolina’s history, but I also did lots of interviews with people in Hot Springs as well as the authors of some of the research books. Of course, using the same time period as the previous two books in the series helped with basic information and also being a product of the Blue Ridge Mountains helped with culture J

4. I know you have a season pass to the Biltmore.  What makes you love the Biltmore so much?

Oh goodness, I’ll share pics of the Biltmore ANY TIME!

BLOGWORDS – Monday 5 December 2016 – WHO DID NANO

BLOGWORDS – Monday 5 December 2016 – WHO DID NANO

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WHO DID NANO

 

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Well, I did it. I pulled it off. A whole month of writing, every.single.day. There were a couple of days that barely passed that bar—lowest daily word count was on the 19th with 26 measly words. I mean, 26 wonder phenomenal words! Highest number of words in a day was on the 29th—crunch time—with 4471 words!!!

 

Had some tumult early in the month that hijacked my good intentions. But I did it, I finished, and it was such an accomplished feeling! Pretty close to typing “The End” on a novel.

 

Not “The End” though, but the half-way mark. I worked on Long Shadows of Summer, Book 1 in my new series, Seasons and I like the way this story is shaping up!

 

I’ve know my main characters for each of the four books in the series—Mercedes, Scarlett, Pearl, and Simone—and the conflict for each one: Mercedes is keeping a secret from the others; Scarlett, too, is keeping secrets, though not her own; Pearl elopes; and Simone, well, she’s not dead.

 

And now I know Mercedes a whole lot better.

 

 

What about you? Did you NaNo?  Did you win? Tell me your story.

 

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The southern town of Saison lies at the crossroads between North and South, progressive and genteel antebellum life. Between East and West, between history and heritage, and new frontiers.

 

In a world where slavery is dying and women’s rights are rising, four young girls share a bond—and experience a tragedy.

 

Seasons is the telling of their stories and Mercedes Renaldi’s story is first in The Long Shadows of Summer.

 

 

 “I once said I should write down all the story ideas in my head so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”

 

 

 

BLOGWORDS, First Friday Feature, NaNoWriMo, 50K, Seasons, New Series, Long Shadows of Summer, Mercedes Renaldi, #PantsernotaPlotter, #NaNoWri Mo10216

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 4 December 2016 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – WHY THIS TITLE (when you’re tired)

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 7 August 2016 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – WHY THIS TITLE

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FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – WHY THIS TITLE (when you’re tired)

reposted from 7 August 2016

 

Because sometimes you can’t make it to church. Or, what the world commonly thinks of as church.

 

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But what is church, really?

 

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And sometimes that fellowship is one on One, deep calling unto Deep. Everyone has their special place of personal communion. For me, that “place” it outdoors. Preferably under a canopy of trees. Preferably in the mountains, with a creek singing nearby.

 

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But that doesn’t always happen and sometimes church is right here on the couch. Or better yet, outside… you guessed it, on the front porch. Just me and Father God.

 

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Even better if it’s raining. And yes, thunder and lightning’ing.

 

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No great theological discourse. No lamenting prayers—or maybe there are. Not hours of reading the Bible. No singing and dancing and praising Him, even. Just abiding.

 

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Sitting, quietly, still, in His presence. For truly, we walk in His presence 24/7. We just don’t pause to acknowledge—and we usually don’t yield to His call, nay His whisper to be still.

 

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Learning to be still. Learning to hear His voice. To recognize and acknowledge His presence. And learning how to walk and talk with Him in every moment of every day as good friends should and do.

 

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Because He is a friend. And friends do stuff. And sometimes they just sits. Quietly. Being friends.

 

So yes, come sit on the front porch with me, spend some time with me, with Father God. Come, let us fellowship together, right on the front porch.

 

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And tell me what are your favourite moments with Father God? Where do you find Him? What is your secret place, your place of communion?

 

 

Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, Why This Title, Deep Calls Unto Deep, Canopy of Trees, Cathedral, Abiding, Psalm 46:10, Friends

BLOGWORDS SPECIAL EDITION – 1 December 2016 – CHRISTMAS SABBATICAL

BLOGWORDS SPECIAL EDITION – 1 December 2016 – CHRISTMAS SABBATICAL

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CHRISTMAS SABBATICAL

 

Robin’s Nest will be down for December. Not closed, not fully. Some posts and features will show up. But most are on sabbatical til January! Can you believe Christmas and the New Year are already upon us! I can’t!

 

I’ll be reorganizing and restricting some so all of my features will be more consistent. And I’ll pay attention to my sadly neglected website—I spend most of my time here! (This IS where the action is!)

 

I plan to have a Vote for Your Favorite in three categories: New Week New Face, Guest Posts; Chat Thursdays, Interviews; and Tuesday ReviewsDay, Book Reviews.

 

Merry Christmas to each of you, my happy followers, and thank you for being part of my writing journey. I wish you a most Happy and Blessed New Year.

 

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Christmas Sabbatical,  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year

Open Our Eyes

There’s a book that sits on my office desk, right next to my Bible. It’s worn and the pages are yellowed now, after years of being read. I’ve written notes in the margins. Page co…

Source: Open Our Eyes

BRAND NEW FEATURE COMING IN DECEMBER

BRAND NEW FEATURE COMING IN DECEMBER

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WREADING WEDNESDAY

 

Each week, on Wednesday, I will feature an author and a book.

No review—so many books, so little time (to read)

but a shout out to respected authors and author friends and their books.

And to kick it off, on 7 December, there is a

multi-author event,
Jingle Bell Authors,

with

OVER SIXTY AUTHORS!

You won’t want to miss this!

New Blog Feature, Wreading Wednesday, Feature Authors, Feature Books, Jingle Bell Authors,

#JingleBellAuthors

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NaNoWriMo2016 – WORD COUNT UPDATE

NaNoWriMo2016 – WORD COUNT UPDATE

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Total Word Count, 38821
NaNoWriMo Word Count, 38149

NaNoWriMo Word Count Update, Long Shadows of Summer, Seasons, Saisons,  Upstairs Downstairs, Gone With the Wind, #NaNoWriMo2016

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 27 November 2016 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – THE LOSS OF A FRIEND

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 27 November 2016 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – THE LOSS OF A FRIEND

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FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – THE LOSS OF A FRIEND and SISTER IN CHRIST

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Wanda Jean Mabe
6-9-1970 – 11-24-2016

 

I knew her for just over three short years. But in that time I came to admire her for her strength and unwavering faith, her joy and kindness to all she ever knew.

 

I don’t pretend to know the reason she is gone from us, but I know she is with Father, and that’s where our, my, focus must be. He did not curse her with disease, not did the enemy come in and ravage her body. He doesn’t have that power. She defeated the enemy at every turn. And he has no say in our life or our death. I don’t understand but I don’t have to.

 

Wanda, thank you for being my friend and sister. Thank you for loving me, and speaking into my life. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me every time you saw me, even in the midst of your own battle. I am ever thankful Father saw fit to bring you into my life. I am blessed to have known you, and rejoice with you in the presence of the angels before Father’s throne. I rejoice that you are no longer in pain, no longer suffering, but are free to do what you love most, and that is worship our Father.

 

In three short years my life has changed more than probably all the prior years combined, and you played no small part in that. I know even when we didn’t get to speak, you were praying for me, and so many others. I felt the power of those prayers, and still do every day.

 

The legacy you leave behind is widespread and far reaching, and we will never know how many lives you touched til we are home with you, and see with Father’s eyes.

 

Wanda, thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j_YpZQi-I4

 

 

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Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, The Loss of a Friend, Sister in Christ, Prayer Warrior, Thank You for Giving to the Lord

 

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COMING IN 2017 – WHAT’S IN YOUR KITCHEN – FAVORITE RECIPES

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COMING IN 2017 – WHAT’S IN YOUR KITCHEN – FAVORITE RECIPES

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 COMING IN 2017 – WHAT’S IN YOUR KITCHEN

What’s in Your Kitchen, New Feature, Favorite Recipes, Cooking Techniques and Secrets, Family Recipes, Shared Recipes

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