Hey, Reader Friends!
Just dropping you a line to let you know Diversity Between the Pages will be observing a Spring Break to usher in Easter. We will be back April 4th with a book spotlight.
Blessings to you!
Spring Break
Month: March 2018
Book Spotlight: More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias
Happy Wednesday! It’s almost Good Friday which means it’s almost EASTER!! Hallelujah! To paraphrase a popular sermon, “It’s Wednesday but Sunday is coming!” So thankful that we have a Savior who purchased with His blood “persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation”! (Rev 5:9)
Ahem. Sorry about that little mini-sermon there – a freebie for all y’all. đ
Today, I’m continuing to spotlight the Extreme Devotion series from Kathi Macias with a look at More Than Conquerors.
About the Book
True love ignites their passionate pursuit of His call
With violent crime on the rise and the political climate changing throughout certain parts of Mexico, the opportunity for open Christian witness, particularly in some areas of Chiapas State, is rapidly decreasing. Hector Rodriguez pastors a small church in the tourist-popular border town of Tijuana. He also routinely carries Bibles deeper into the hostile areas of Mexico, where he ministers despite increasing difficulty and persecution.
Hectorâs mother accompanied him on one of those trips and felt God called her to stay in the little village of San Juan Chamula, where she uses the Scriptures to teach reading to the families who are open to it. In retaliation for Hectorâs bringing the Bibles into areas hostile to Christians and in an effort to dissuade him from continuing to expand his ministry there, Hectorâs mother is murdered.
Hector must decide if he will continue his work despite his worries about protecting his wife and children.
About the Author
Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 50 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, womenâs clubs and retreats, and writersâ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. Kathi âEasy Writerâ Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.
Kathi is passionate about The Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors. To learn more about the persecuted church, please visit VOMâs website and Open Doors Website.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
What about you? What do you think you would do in Hector’s position?
Interview with Regina Jennings, author of Sixty Acres and a Bride
Happy Monday, reader friends!
Join us in welcoming Regina Jennings to our blog today!
She’s here to talk about her debut book, Sixty Acres and a Bride.
About the Author:
 Regina Jennings is the winner of the National Readerâs Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history, Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children when not traveling the world.
Connect with Regina on Facebook and visit her official website.
About the Book:Â
She’s Finally Found a Place to Call Home . . . How Far Will She Go to Save It?
With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.
Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can’t help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future.
Buy Regina’s book on Amazon.
Interview with Regina Jennings about her book, Sixty Acres and a Bride:
Why did you call this book âSixty Acres and a Brideâ? Explain the significance.
Marketing is always a factor when choosing titles, and using the word âBrideâ is very popular with romance readers. That was one consideration, but primarily we took our cue from the biblical story of Ruth (which was the inspiration for the story) and played off the fact that when Boaz went to the city elders about buying the property from his kinsman, the fact that a widow came with the property was significant. Many historical novels involve saving or acquiring a farm, but rarely is there a wife attached to the deed. That made the title more enticing.
What is the main conflict in your story?
After the Civil War, Louise and her family had escaped from Reconstruction Texas to start anew in Mexico. Their time there was a disaster. After the death of her son and husband, Louise and her daughter-in-law Rosa come back to Texas to reclaim their ranch that had been leased, only to find that heavy back-taxes are due and it was on the verge of foreclosure. Louise and Rosa must beat impossible odds to pay the taxes.
Letâs talk about your storyâs heroine, Rosa Garner. What does she look like? What is her personality type? Whatâs her motivation in this story?
Rosa is a hard-working, energetic woman. Because of her status as a newcomer and her unfamiliarity with the customs, she feels that she has to repress her usual enthusiasm, but sometimes the mask slips and reveals her vivaciousness. She is a beautiful Nahua woman, without Spanish blood. She is very dainty and the people in Texas tend to think that sheâs younger than she is.
Rosa loves her mother-in-law, who is emotionally fragile, and is determined to protect Louise from the harsh realities of life. Louise was the outsider in Mexico, and Rosa has kept the role as protector even though they are back in Louiseâs homeland.
Would you say that your fictional story is a spin on the real Bible story of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz? Why or why not?
Absolutely. This story began when I was asked to write a Christmas play with the theme of Redeemer. I had to compose a few skits that showed redemption and I knew immediately that I wanted to do the Ruth and Boaz story. Because of the Bethlehem Christmas scene, we already had the biblical times costumes in one drama, so I wanted to do something different for the Ruth story. A wealthy farmer? A woman with her foreign daughter-in-law who are going to lose their land? This sounded very much like a story straight from the old west. After the play, I decided to expand the plot to a full-length novel.
What I really wanted to accomplish with this story was to use the much-loved character of Ruth to explore how hard it is to come to a new place as an immigrant and to highlight some of the comical cross-cultural misunderstandings that happen with anyone who travels internationally. Also, I wanted to give us a fresh look at the story of Ruth. How did the women of the town feel about a foreigner taking the most eligible bachelor? What did they say about how the marriage came about? (Going to his bed in the middle of the night could not have been that common.) Thereâs a lot of drama built into the story and it made an excellent framework for a historical romance set in the 19th century.â
Describe the countryside that Rosa fell in love with and explain why you chose it for the setting of this story.
The story setupâa family fleeing lawless Texas for Mexico and then returning to find the taxes had risen on the farm during Reconstructionâhas a solid historical footing behind it. Taxes were raised on the Southern states such as Texas to punish the rebellious and to help pay for the war. This fit nicely with what I was trying to accomplish with the plot. I live in Oklahoma, so the western culture is very familiar to me, but since Oklahoma was Indian Territory at the time, the story wouldnât work here, so Texas it had to be.
Why are American customs âpuzzlingâ to Rosa? What is she used to? Describe her home country and compare how itâs different from America.
The Victorian Era in America was marked by un-naturalism for women. Women wore whale-boned corsets and padded layers of clothes to disguise and manipulate their figures. Pregnancy was never mentioned in polite society and allusions to common body parts like âlegsâ were avoided. While women in 19th century Mexico werenât given equal rights either, women from rural areas did live less restrictive lives. Natural body functions werenât considered shocking and they had more freedom. Rosa had not been schooled to hide her emotions and opinions like other young ladies of society, and that leads to embarrassment and conflict for her.
Who is Weston Garner and what role does he play in this story?
Weston portrays the biblical idea of a kinship redeemer. Reconstruction Texas was a rough place and as the patriarch of his family, Weston is the leader and protector of several family units. He feels responsible for everyone. When Louise (the widow of his uncle) arrives, he immediately takes responsibility for her. While Weston had never met Rosa before, sheâs family by marriage and he always takes care of family.
How does Westonâs relationship with Rosa affect the storyline?
Westonâs main motivator is duty. Since the death of his wife he has lost his joy, but he never fails in his obligations to his family. In Rosa, he meets someone who is just as driven by duty as he is. The fact that she is also a part of his extended family, means that she falls under his care. Weston is immediately attracted to her but isnât interested in love. When circumstances force him to choose between protecting his family or protecting his heart, he does what chivalry requires, even though he knows itâs going to cost him.
As a White author, did you find it challenging to write about characters of color? Why or why not?
Rosa is different from my other heroines because of her culture and the experieces sheâs lived through, but I found the variety invigorating. In this case, the writing was made easier by 15 years of relationships Iâve cultivated in Mexico and I was able to have this character do things and say things my typical 19th century white heroine wouldnât be able to do or say. That much was really fun. Still, itâs always intimidating to put yourself in unfamiliar shoes. As with all characters, you just try to create a well-rounded character while being influenced by research and your knowledge of the human condition.
Would you like to see more White authors write stories for CBA featuring main characters of color? Why or why not?
One of my favorite tropes to read and write is the âfish out of waterâ trope. What happens when cultures clash? You canât have that when everyone in the cast of characters has the same background and understanding of the world. So yes, Iâd love to see more diverse heroes and heroines in CBA fiction by authors of every color, but I feel the impetus is on readers to support those efforts.
What do you want readers to remember most about Sixty Acres and a Bride?
Mostly, that it was a good story that made them laugh and sigh. Secondly, I hope reading Sixty Acres and a Bride will make readers more empathetic to people who are new to a culture.
Thanks for the interview, Regina! Would you like to share closing thoughts?
Thanks so much for letting me visit here at Diversity Between the Pages. I enjoyed getting to visit about my debut novel.
*Interview conducted by Alexis A. Goring, contributor
Book Review: Beneath the Surface
Happy Friday, Reader Friends!
Today I’m bringing you a book review of Lynn H. Blackburn’s Beneath the Surface. Leight Watson, the heroine in this book, was adopted from China. She’s in desperate need of protection and Investigator Ryan Parker is just the man.
About the Book
The Blurb: “After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she’d left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.
Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer–one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.
Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new voice in romantic suspense. Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn grabs readers by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final heart-pounding page.”
Links: Amazon, B&N, CBD, Goodreads
Review
This is a great start to a new series. Book 1 in the Dive Team Investigations, Ms. Blackburn has set up a great group that you want to get to know more of. The hero and heroine in this book were refreshingly different in my opinion. The heroine has some anxiety, but she’s determined not to let it shake her. I love that!
The hero wants to do right by Ms. Watson which ranks him high on the hero skill. Throw in an over protective big brother and you have a great romance.
But that’s not all this book is. The suspense is fantastic! I couldn’t figure out who did it until the story revealed it. I loved that because I was guessing throughout the entire story on who I thought was the bad guy. I did feel like there were some loose ends in the bad guy’s story. I’m not sure if those will be revealed in book 2 or I’ll be left to wonder forever.
Regardless, this is a series I’ll continue to read.
About the Author
Lynn Huggins Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. Sheâs passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (donât make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, COVERT JUSTICE (Love Inspired Suspense), won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Her second book, HIDDEN LEGACY (Love Inspired Suspense), released in June 2017 and her new Dive Team Investigations series kicks off in March of 2018 with BENEATH THE SURFACE (Revell).
Follow: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, Newsletter
Book Spotlight: Time to Say Goodbye
Happy Wednesday, Reader Friends!
Thanks for stopping by Diversity Between the Pages. Today we’re bringing you a book spotlight of Parker J. Cole’s Time to Say Goodbye. Have you read it? If not, add it to your TBR pile!
*P.S:Â This book is part of the Write Now Literary Book tours. Follow the tour here. Â Book your own tour here WNL.
About the Book
The Blurb: “Gargi Kapoor is the only one convinced her brother, Dev, is innocent of the crime he was convicted of. When he is sent to the hospital with an unexplained paralyzing disease she finds herself having to lean on the last person she’d ever want to depend on — a man who wants her brother to pay for stealing his mother’s life savings.
Leon Reckley is extremely satisfied to find the man who ripped his mother off suffering from an unknown disease that leaves him paralyzed and in need of rehabilitation therapeutic services. He’s even happier when he is given the opportunity to be the therapist that makes him fit enough to return to prison to finish his sentence. No one will work harder to make sure Dev Kapoor serves every minute of his prison sentence.
Gargi never dreamed the man who has utter contempt for her brother would be the man she slowly begins to trust. Leon never thought he’d be convinced Dev might be innocent, let alone be drawn to his enemy’s little sister. Together, will they find the truth? Or when Leon’s job is over, will it simply be time to say goodbye?”
About the Author
I am an author, speaker, and radio show host with a fanatical obsession with the Lord, Star Trek, K-dramas, anime, romance books, old movies, speculative fiction, and knitting. An off and on addict to Mountain Dew and marshmallows who writes to fill the void the sugar left behind.
Follow: Website, Facebook, Twitter
Spotlight posted by Toni Shiloh
Tour hosted by WNL Book Tours
Interview with Susan Valles about her book “Zimrah, Dream Singer”
Happy Monday, reader friends!
Let’s welcome Susan Valles to our blog! She’s a talented writer and musician. Today, she’s here to talk about her novel “Zimrah, Dream Singer.” Susan has a heart for God and a love for people. Her faith in God informs her writing too.
I hope that you will enjoy her author interview!
About the Author:
 For the past fourteen years, Susan Valles has been using her gifts to lead others into the presence of God through worship. Touched by this presence in a profound way at the age of ten, Susan developed a deep hunger to help others experience the love of God and the majesty of His presence. Writing, singing, playing the guitar and songwriting became extensions of this hunger, an outlet for the passion Holy Spirit stirs inside her to bring the lost and hurting into the healing embrace of the loving Father.
Susan is married and the mother of four children. She currently lives in the beautiful state of North Carolina.
Connect with Susan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Interview with Susan Valles about her book Zimrah, Dream Singer:
What inspired you to write this book?
Zimrah, Dream Singer was divinely inspired! I woke up one morning with a picture in my mind. I saw the Father, sitting on an easy chair by a window with a scroll in his hands. He was reading the scroll and singing into existence what was written there. (Like the picture portrayed in Psalm 139:16) I grabbed my laptop and wrote down what I saw. What I wrote is now the prologue of the book.
How did you decide on the title? What is its significance?
The title of my first draft was actually Scroll of Remembrance. My editor had me keep giving her options until I came up with Zimrah, Dream Singer. We both liked it much better. Zimrah is the name of my main character. She sings songs she hears in her dreams, so Zimrah, Dream Singer fit the book very well. Funny story, I was recently talking to some Jewish friends, and they told me in passing that the director of music in their synagogue is called Zimrah Mary. Mary is her first name and Zimrah is the Hebrew word for her function! I did not know that the minister of music is called Zimrah at the time when I decided on the book title. Thatâs the fun of walking with God! There is always more to be discovered.
Would you say that this is Biblical fiction? Why or why not?
It is Biblical fiction in the sense that the events and timelines are true to the Bible and historical records. For example, Zimrah grows up in a city of Refuge, in the house of a Hebrew man from the tribe of Asher. She learns to read and write from the Hebrew scrolls. In this first book though, there are no characters from the Bible mentioned. My characters are completely fictional. Although, Dream Singer definitely sets the stage for the second two books where my character does meet a few significant Biblical personalities.
Who was your favorite character to write in this book? Why?
I have to say, my favorite character to write was Theophilus, a Roman soldier who is Zimrahâs love interest. I didnât do this consciously â much of what I write is unconscious. I realize things later â but he is very much like my husband. He is patient, funny, kind, and good at breaking stereotypical norms. Theophilus sees things in Zimrah that she canât see in herself. She would not be who she becomes without his influence in her life.
Give us a glimpse into the research that you did for this story. Did you go on a research trip to the Middle East? What kind of resources did you use?
The research I did came mostly from the Bible. Zimrah is a slave in a Hebrew house, so Jewish history comes into play a great deal in the story. I also studied historical maps, rivers, and mountains. I wanted to know what Zimrah saw when she looked out of her windows. What was life like at that time? What did they eat? What was the furniture like? All these little things were fascinating to me. I did a lot of research online, read way too many articles on archeological discoveries. It was fun though. For this first book, I didnât get to go on a research trip, but for book two, (which is currently in the editing process) I did! I took a trip to Israel this past February 2018. It was amazing seeing the places Iâd written about and researched come to life!
Why did you choose Israel as the setting for this story?
Again, I donât know if I consciously thought about it. The story kind of emerged as I was writing. You could say Israel chose me. I think as Bible reading believers in Jesus, we all have a secret love affair with Israel. The Holy Land is in our DNA. It is part of all of our origin stories.
Talk about your storyâs heroine Zimrah. What does she look like? What does her name mean? What is her primary motivation in this story? Explain.
My college English professor always said to write what you know. Zimrah is such a representation of me, of my life experiences and journey with God. She is tall, brown-skinned with curly hair and grey eyes. She looks very different from the people in her city (no one knows who her people are or where she comes from) and they treat her pretty badly. Her motivation and greatest longing is just to be loved. Zimrah is one of the Hebrew words for praise, more specifically, âto play upon an instrument in praiseâ. She learns just how significant her name is the destiny she was born for.
How does being an orphan affect Zimrahâs worldview and persona?
Not knowing who she is or where she comes from definitely affects what Zimrah thinks about herself. She sees the world as a frightening place where she is not accepted and canât imagine anyone loving her or seeing her for more than a slave. She is alone and wears that persona as a badge, afraid to let anyone into her heart.
Why did you as the author decide to make Zimrah a slave?
I did not realize itâs how I felt until I wrote this book. Like Zimrah, I was a slave to my fears, my past, and my false opinion of myself. Freedom came only after learning the truth of who I was, from the One who made me. Zimrah being a slave is a representation of the bondage that comes when we believe the Tormentorâs lies.
What role does faith in God play with your characters in this story?
Faith is everything. My characterâs faith or lack of faith shapes their reality and their destiny. I believe one of the miracles of this story, and our lives, is the journey of faith. Some of my characters in Dream Singer are angels, so that was an exciting aspect of faith to explore as well.
As a woman of faith, how does your belief in God affect your storytelling?
I love how telling a story can change the way we think. Everyone has a backstory. There is a reason we become who we are, good or bad. The human story is that, historyâŚHis-story. As a woman of faith, my greatest joy is being able to tell a story that has the potential to change my readerâs life. I believe that God gave me this story (which is really my testimony), that can be like that answer in the dark, that comes when all other hope is gone.
What was the most difficult part of writing this book? Why?
It was probably how long it is. I am a songwriter and had never written anything as long as a novel before. I didnât even tell anyone that I was writing it until I was almost done because I was afraid I wouldnât be able to finish. It took a lot of prayers like, âLord, this is Your story. You started this! You have to help me finish it!â I was also homeschooling two of my four children at the same time, so that made finding time to write a challenge. (God gave me like, supernatural sleep! I would stay up all night, sleep an hour or two and feel completely rested!)
What was the most rewarding aspect of telling Zimrahâs story? Why?
It was very rewarding being able to incorporate songs into the story. Music has been such a huge part of my language with God. When the story touches my readers, and they can sing the same songs that God used to speak to Zimrah, and Zimrah used to speak to God, itâs beyond joy for me.
The cover of your book shows Zimrah as a woman of color. What is her heritage?
Zimrahâs heritage is a bit of a mystery in this first book. She doesnât know what she is. In a time when not many traveled very far, no one can tell her what people group her features resemble. She is a woman of color, and I could tell you what she is, but it would be a spoiler for book two!
Would you like to see more books featuring women of color who lived in Bible times, published by CBA? Why or why not?
Absolutely! I think because of our western culture, in the media and in paintings for generations, we have a mental picture of what people in the Bible looked like. The truth is, there was much more diversity than we have been led to believe, across gender and racial lines. Exploring culture in a broader view encourages us to see that God has created us with great purpose. We all have a role to play in history, past, present, and future. CBAâs have an important voice in every genre.
How does your own worldview as a woman of color affect your character creation and writing career as an author?
Like Zimrah, I was raised far away from people who looked like me. I didnât seem to fit peopleâs boxes. This comes out in my writing. The longing to fit in and belong somewhere, I felt this very acutely in my younger years. I think itâs a common human desire and struggle. Most people feel different in some way or another, so I think my characters are relatable. As a woman of color, I know what it feels like to be ignored or overlooked. But my characters overcome the boxes their society has for them and discover the calling of the great Author. I hope in my career, and in my life, I can do the same.
Thanks for the interview, Susan! Do you have any closing thoughts?
Thank you for interviewing me! Writing this book was a turning point for me. I feel like it helped me have a greater understanding of who I am and what my purpose is. My prayer would be that it does the same for others as well. No matter what our past is like, like Zimrah, we have a loving Father who has an amazing future for us. There is so much joy in the journey of figuring out who He is and what adventures He has in store for us!
*Interview conducted by Alexis A. Goring, contributor
About the book:
In the land of ancient Israel, in the days just before the miracles of Jesus the Christ began, there lived an orphan girl named Zimrah. A foreigner and a slave with no knowledge of who she is or where she came from, except that she was rescued barely alive and only a week old from a caravan of slavers, Zimrah has many demons to overcome. Living among people that despise her for being different, she finds shelter in the last Jewish house in a City of Refuge, only to find that her master has demons of his own. She learns that these dark spirits who have tormented her all her life can not only be battled, but can be defeated when she begins to heed the gentle Voice that speaks to her in her dreams.
Her obedience to the Voice leads her not only to freedom from the fear that stalks her in the night, but to the arms of a loving father who has been there all along. Following the Voice, Zimrah finds a lyre and the songs that have been hidden for her in her dreams. Singing these dream songs â an inheritance passed on through the bloodline of which she does not yet know- will determine the path to her heartâs desires, her future, and her destiny. Assisted by Rebecca and Garbar, the Warrior Angels that guard and protect her, and the love of a Roman officer who she must learn to trust, Zimrah discovers that her life has much more significance than she could have ever imagined. Her obedience and courage will shake the heavens and stir the hearts of all who touch Zimrah, Dream Singer.
Buy Susan’s book on Amazon
Book Spotlight: No Greater Love by Kathi Macias
I have recently the Extreme Devotion series by Kathi Macias and I’m looking forward to making my way through each book. Today, I’m featuring the first book, No Greater Love!
About the Book
Forbidden romance, an unlikely martyr and an even more unlikely hero. Orphaned four years earlier when their parents, active in the African National Congress (ANC) movement against apartheid, were murderedâ16-year-old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother Masozi now live and work on an Afrikaner familyâs farm.
When Chioma and Andrew, the farm ownerâs son, find themselves attracted to one another, tragedy revisits their lives. Chioma escapes to join an ANC rebel band in her effort to survive and gain revenge for her family and culture. When cultures clash in life-or-death struggles, Chioma must choose between violence and revengeâor forgiveness and selfless love.
Loosely based on historical events and set near Pretoria, South Africa, in the violent upheaval prior to ANC leader Nelson Mandelaâs release from prison in 1990 and his ascendance to the presidency of South Africa, this story of forbidden romance produces an unlikely martyr who is replaced by one even more unlikely.
About the Author
Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 50 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, womenâs clubs and retreats, and writersâ conferences. She won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and was the 2011 Author of the Year from BooksandAuthors.net. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also a Carol Award Finalist; her October 2012 release, Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named 2012 Book of the Year by BookandAuthors.net. Kathi âEasy Writerâ Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband.
Kathi is passionate about The Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors. To learn more about the persecuted church, please visit VOMâs website and Open Doors Website.
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What most interests you about this book?
Book Review: When God Made Light
Hi reader friends! Let’s be honest, some children’s books are annoying, especially when they are requested over and over and over. When I find one that I enjoy reading (even repeatedly over a long period), I simply have to tell all y’all about it!
About the Book
‘Let there be light!’ that’s what God said. And light began shining and then started to spread.”
Wild and creative illustrations from top children’s illustrator David Catrow pair with Matthew Paul Turner’s lyrical verse in this message of a God-made light that cuts through darkness to bring vision and hope to all young readers.
This light radiates, chasing away the shadows, providing the wonder and fun of stargazing or firefly chasing.
Most important, this light appears in each childâan inner God-given spark that grows and will be used to change the world.
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
Review
When God Made You, has been a favorite in our home since its release last year so we were all delighted when When God Made Light arrived! Each one of our children (ages 5 through 13) has taken a turn spontaneously reading the pages and/or perusing the whimsical illustrations, soaking up each detail and pointing out parts that make them laugh or stop to ponder.
This book blesses my reader mama heart! It is a joy to see our children pour over the pages of an encouraging and faith-filled book like this one. The engaging artwork and beautiful prose are soothing and heartfelt. The vocabulary used by this author rises above the usual simplified children’s storybook fare with words to enrich and engage thirsty young minds.
Reading this book aloud is a delightful experience and one I look forward to reliving often for years to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
This review was originally posted on Faithfully Bookish
Also Available
About the Author
Matthew Paul Turner has authored 16 books including Churched and Everything You Need to Know Before College.
He has written for publications including USA Today, The Washington Post, Relevant, Christianity Today, and The Daily Beast.
His unique blend of story with spiritual commentary has garnered him a large and loyal fan base.
Matthew lives with his wife, Jessica, and their three young children in Nashville.
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About the Illustrator
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Book Trailer
Doesn’t this story look adorable?!Â
Enter to win a copy of When God Made Light on goodreads!
Review by Beth Erin
Book Spotlight: Zimrah, Dream Singer by Susan Valles
Good Morning and Happy Monday, reader friends!
Today, we’re bringing a book spotlight to you. This book is Biblical fiction written by Susan Valles. Please welcome Susan to our blog today by saying “hello” in the comments below.
Enjoy this spotlight on her book:Â Zimrah, Dream Singer!
About the book:
In the land of ancient Israel, in the days just before the miracles of Jesus the Christ began, there lived an orphan girl named Zimrah. A foreigner and a slave with no knowledge of who she is or where she came from, Zimrah has many demons to overcome.
Living among people that fear and reject her because of her foreign features and strange grey eyes, she finds shelter in the last Jewish house in a City of Refuge only to find that her master suffers demons of his own. She soon discovers that these dark spirits who have tormented her all her life, can not only be battled, but can be defeated when she begins to heed the gentle Voice that speaks to her in her dreams.
Following the Voice, Zimrah finds a lyre and the songs that have been hidden for her in her dreams. Singing these dream songs lead her to the One true God, determine the path to her heartâs desires, and define the map to her future and her destiny.
Assisted by Rebecca and Garbar, the Warrior Angels that guard and protect her, and the love of a Roman officer who she must learn to trust, Zimrah discovers that her life has much more significance than she could have ever imagined. Her obedience and courage will shake the heavens and stir the hearts of all who touch Zimrah, Dream Singer.
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About the author:
 For the past twelve years, Susan Valles has been using her gifts to lead others into the presence of God through worship. Touched by this presence in a profound way at the age of ten, Susan developed a deep hunger to help others experience the love of God and the majesty of His presence. Writing, singing, playing the guitar and songwriting became extensions of this hunger, an outlet for the passion Holy Spirit was stirring inside her to bring the lost and hurting into the healing embrace of the loving Father.
âFor God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie on their beds.â~ Job 33:14-15
This has been Susanâs experience. Abba Father speaks to her in dreams and visions, giving her inspiration for creativity. Many of her songs have been written in this way, and this is how the idea for her latest project, Zimrah, Dream Singer began. This novel, a culmination Susanâs personal experience in her relationship with God, as well as a few of the songs (He continues to give), was the next step in a faith walk that began with her first album Small Beginnings, and continued with On My Way. The Lord put her on a path of obedience and simply learning to trust and follow has brought her great joy.
Susanâs prayer for this continuing journey, as she writes the second (Zimrah, Dream Walker) and third book of the Zimrah series in that many more will understand the true intimacy that comes with the knowledge of the Living God. Her desire is that through these books and songs many will know God and His benefits, that freedom from fear, and other strongholds is the result of living as citizens in the Kingdom of God.
For, as our beautiful Savior Jesus says, âI came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].â ~John 10:10 AMP
Hallelujah, Amen!
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Book Review: Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Hi, reader friends! This book is a must-read for vanilla folks (like me). If y’all remember our discussion on vanilla confessions, many white people honestly don’t know what they don’t know about diversity!
About the Book
There was another South in the 1960s, one far removed from the marches and bombings and turmoil in the streets that were broadcast on the evening news. It was a place of inner turmoil, where ordinary people struggled to right themselves on a social landscape that was dramatically shifting beneath their feet. This is the world of Valerie Fraser Luesse’s stunning debut, Missing Isaac.
It is 1965 when black field hand Isaac Reynolds goes missing from the tiny, unassuming town of Glory, Alabama. The townspeople’s reactions range from concern to indifference, but one boy will stop at nothing to find out what happened to his unlikely friend. White, wealthy, and fatherless, young Pete McLean has nothing to gain and everything to lose in his relentless search for Isaac. In the process, he will discover much more than he bargained for.
Before it’s all over, Pete–and the people he loves most–will have to blur the hard lines of race, class, and religion. And what they discover about themselves may change some of them forever.
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My Thoughts
Southern rural community culture plays an essential role in Missing Isaac, the setting is more than a simple canvas for this story to be painted on. It is the South and the collective pride and prejudices of her people that form the foundation and framework of this immersive experience.Â
I like Pete McLean. He is just a nice young man and I’m sure his mama is over the moon proud of him. Isaac Reynolds might be employed by the McLean family but Pete is unconcerned by age, social class, and skin color. As far as Pete is concerned, Isaac is simply his father’s friend and now his friend, too. The grief and desperation Pete must have experienced when Isaac goes missing tugs at my heartstrings.
If the culture of our setting is the foundation and framework, Isaac’s disappearance is the hallway that flows right down the middle of the story. Readers don’t necessarily spend a lot of time in the hallway but it’s a constant guiding factor. Picture, if you will, many doors on either side of this hall, these rooms are filled with people but few of them leave their own room and fewer still give a care about the simple hallway.
Except for Pete. He wants to experience it all and take those he cares about along with him. Pete encounters resistance yet inspires those around him to see with their hearts instead of their eyes, listen to the Spirit instead of the crowds. I cried no less than three times during this book yet there were also moments bursting with joy, full of hope, and some light-hearted mischief as well. I highly recommend this story and look forward to future works of fiction from this author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own. This review was originally posted on FAithfully Bookish.
About the Author
Valerie Fraser Luesse is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently a senior travel editor. Her work has been anthologized in the audio collection Southern Voices and in A Glimpse of Heaven, an essay collection featuring works by C. S. Lewis, Randy Alcorn, John Wesley, and others.
As a freelance writer and editor, she was the lead writer for Southern Living 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse has published major pieces on the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana’s Acadian Prairie, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana won the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society.
Luesse earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and her master’s degree in English at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She grew up in Harpersville, Alabama, a rural community in Shelby County, and now lives in Birmingham.
“…you think there’s just one world we all live in, but there’s not. There’s a bunch of ’em.
…the only people that don’t seem to know that are the ones that come from yours.”
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Diversity Between the Pages 