Excited about Reading

Excited about Reading: Love’s Unfading Light

/ Dora Hiers / 4 Comments

Do you ever get in reading slumps? It seems I’ve been in and out of one for a couple of years now. But, as a writer, I’m finding it increasingly challenging to dive into reading a book and getting involved with characters when I’m so invested in my own characters and their story. So, I tend to read less while I’m working on a book. And, HELLO, when am I not writing?? Can any of my writer friends relate?

But I just finished Love’s Unfading Light by Naomi Rawlings and knew I needed to tell you all about it. I snatched it up when it was free on Amazon and finally opened it, but it didn’t take long for the main and secondary characters to draw me into their circle and for me to feel as if I stood on the shore of Lake Superior under the lighthouse in Eagle Harbor, Michigan, in 1880.

Excited about Reading Love's Unfading Light Fiction Faith & Foodies book review Dora Hiers

The author did a great job of bringing the setting to life during the early stages of the US Lifesaving Service.

“The wind whipping across the lake, the waves froth-tipped and vicious, and the North Star caught in the uncontrollable swells.”

Can’t you just picture a boat being tossed about without any hope of rescue?

Tressa, a widow from a loveless marriage, left with a son, a bakery and a tremendous amount of debt. After her husband’s death, she seemed to do a decent job supporting her and her son, until a robbery unleashes all her dead husband’s creditors to conspire against her. Poor woman lost ground fast. Just thinking about her circumstances makes me so grateful that I wasn’t born in that time period. And Mac, an assistant lightkeeper, willingly sacrificed everything for her without expecting anything in return. Without coming across as preachy, Mac modeled Christ’s love for us.

Although subtle, Love’s Unfading Light packs a powerful message tucked inside those pages. Like how we judge others based on their associations. How sometimes we’re certain we’re following God’s path for our lives, but then He turns us around and points us in a different direction. How God has the power to transform an impossible situation into a blessing. I can’t wait to dig into Love’s Every Whisper, Elijah and Victoria’s story!

To Ponder: Sometimes we can’t see the bigger picture, the whole truth regarding our circumstances, but God knows. Do we accept the current situation as truth and allow the bleakness to overwhelm us or do we look past the circumstances to trust the God who loves us with a limitless love?

At the time of this posting, Love’s Unfading Light was still free on Amazon. Purchase here.

Disclaimer: I purchased my own copy of Love’s Unfading Light when it was free on Amazon. This review is my fair and unbiased opinion, and I was in no way compensated.

Excited about Reading: SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE by Jill Weatherholt

/ Dora Hiers / 5 Comments

Today, I’m introducing a sweet online friend.

Jill Weatherholt is the most encouraging, friendliest, kindest, sweetest person I have EVER known. One day I hope to meet her in person. I just know that we’d chat and laugh and that it would feel like we’ve known each other forever.

Jill’s a huge fan of NaNoWriMo. She’s participated the last few years and her debut book, Second Chance Romance, recently released with Harlequin’s Love Inspired line. So, for all my writer friends who are on the fence about writing during what has to be the crazy-busiest month of the year or who have debated entering pitch contests like Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, go for it! Here’s a little about Second Chance Romance and then let’s chat.

The Cover Story

Jackson Daughtry’s jobs as a paramedic and part-owner of a local café keep him busy—but the single dad’s number one priority is raising his little girl with love and small-town values. And when his business partner’s hotshot lawyer niece comes to town planning to disrupt their lives by moving her aunt away, Jackson has to set Melanie Harper straight. When circumstances force them to work side by side in the coffee shop, Jackson slowly discovers what put the sadness in Melanie’s pretty brown eyes. Now it’ll take all his faith—and a hopeful five-year-old—to show the city gal that she’s already home.

Second Chance Romance Jill Weatherholt Excited about Reading Dora Hiers

Buy on Amazon

 

Let’s Chat

Life has been yanked out from under Melanie Harper, and for the last year she’s slogged through a dark season, burying herself in her job. Jackson Daughtry struggles with trust issues, particularly with the female species. But you can’t help but admire and appreciate the single dad who dotes on his daughter, Rebecca, and is grateful for the support of the generous, compassionate people of Sweet Gum, where friends and neighbors come together to help when times are tough.

I enjoyed witnessing Melanie’s transformation from tightly wound attorney, focused solely on her job and her goal to move her Aunt Phoebe back to DC, to a woman who appreciates the warm and caring residents of the “valley,” including the handsome paramedic who rescued her. And Jackson? He was solid and sturdy in his faith and in his role in life and in his community, and reminded me so much of my own real life hero. 🙂

Country versus city made for some fun sparring, and big city lawyer pitted against small town dad in their battle over what was best for their beloved Phoebe. With a subtle faith element, Second Chance Romance embraces a big life question:

Why do bad things happen to good people?

“Sometimes bad things happen we don’t understand, but God knows…He’ll make it all good in the end.”

A sweet girl, a kind hero, a matchmaking aunt, all collide with a determined lawyer in Second Chance Romance, taking you on a journey that’ll leave a smile on your face when you reach the end.

Something to Ponder: Sometimes, like Melanie, we allow our identity to get so wrapped up in our job/career, that we lose our real selves in the process. How do we retain a sense of self outside our job?

Disclaimer: A free copy of Second Chance Romance was provided to me by the author with no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise. This review is my fair and unbiased opinion, and other than the free book, I was in no way compensated.