That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake

Synopsis:~

Though hesitant to believe in Taylor's doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the color red, for heaven's sake!

Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life's calling, despite the town's opposition.

The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

My take:~

Cathy Marie Hake is known for her quirky characters and humourous historical stories of love. That Certain Spark is no exception. Dr Taylor Bestman has many hurdles to overcome pursuing a medical profession in a time when women were expected to marry and use needles for fabric not flesh. Great conflict is established when the traditional Karl is confronted with Taylor's profession and her female appeal. The prose is a bit choppy in the initial chapters but settles as the story unfolds for an enjoyable and entertaining read. Cathy Marie's readers will enjoy this latest tale.

Thanks to Bethany House for providing this book to review

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Forevermore
Visit Cathy Marie's website
Buy Cathy Marie's books at Amazon or Koorong

The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan

Synopsis:~

Set in 1890s Montana, The Jewel of His Heart finds Juliana drawn to a handsome, gentle sheepherder--but sparks fly when he considers mining, the occupation that lured her father away from his family. Both Josh and Juliana must make a choice--the world's riches and promises, or the eternal value of love.

My take:~

Maggie Brendan's sequel to No Place for a Lady tells the story of Josh McBride who is making his own way far from the shadow of his father's success. Juliana is struggling to make ends meet after the loss of her mother and the two bond from their first meeting. I must admit it took me a a third of the way through to get into the story but I enjoyed the interplay between Juliana and Josh and the details of a sheepherder's life. Some incidents that impact Juliana are downplayed more than I expected yet Maggie tells a tender romance and it is easy to imagine Montana in the late 1800s from her descriptive prose.

Thanks to Revell for providing this book for review

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of No Place for A Lady

Character spotlight on Crystal & Luke

Interview with Maggie

Visit Maggie's blog

Buy Maggie's books at Amazon or Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ Denise Hunter's Sabrina Kincaid & Tucker McCabe

Today the spotlight shines on.........................Sabrina Kincaid & Tucker McCabe


Denise Hunter's Nantucket Love Stories are brilliant - I have loved each one and will reread them over and over again! Do not miss these books :) I hope you enjoy this insight into Sweetpea and Harbormaster.

Over to you, Denise:~

Brief physical description

Sabrina Kincaid is a willowy brunette, frequently seen wearing a ponytail, especially when she's jogging the streets of Nantucket or waitressing at the Cobblestone Cafe. She earned her nickname "The Ice Princess" with her business-only approach to life, and only makes herself vulnerable to others when she's hiding safely behind a screen name.

Tucker McCabe is the handsome, blue-eyed owner, of Cap'n Tucker's Water Taxi and frequent customer at the Cobblestone Cafe. Often seen in a ball cap, he's a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. And Sabrina is what he wants. His love for her knows no bounds, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to break through her high walls.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths and weaknesses

Sabrina is very independent, capable, and efficient. However, when she messes up, she had difficulty forgiving herself or imagining that others could forgive her. After having her trust betrayed once before, she's afraid to trust again, but Tucker makes it awfully tempting.

Tucker is patience personified. He's willing to wait for Sabrina, as long as it takes, though he's savvy enough to set plans into motion to help her along.

O(if any)

Quirk (if any)

Sabrina is scared to death of bees and subscribes to "Word of the day". She also wears a charm bracelet to remind her to guard her heart.

Tucker pretends to read the newspaper at the cafe every morning, just to be near Sabrina.

Your inspiration for the character

Christ was the inspiration for Tucker. In the entire Nantucket series, the heroes represent Christ and the way he loves us. It's been inspiring to contemplate how vast, complete, patient, and fervent God's love for us is!

Sabrina wasn't a jogger in my first (and third and fourth) draft. During the editing stage, my editor (Ami McConnell) suggested she take up the excercise, and I thought it was a great way to show the reader more of beautiful Nantucket, among other things. Strangely enough, Sabrina didn't even complain. :-)

The charm bracelet was also added during edits and came to be an integral part of who Sabrina is. For the cover art, they couldn't find a usable photo of a charm bracelet, so Thomas Nelson's cover artist Kristen Vasgaard) went to a hobby store, bought all the right charms, assembled it, took a photo, and worked it into the cover art. Amazing!

Thank so much for sharing with us, Denise! I love the way the bracelet came about :) Bring on book 4!


On Thursday, the spotlight shines on Debbie Fuller's Bebe and Rain, from Raising Rain. Do drop by :)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Seaside Letters, Surrender Bay, The Convenient Groom and Sweetwater Gap

Interview with Denise

Visit Denise's website and blog

Buy Denise's books at Amazon or Koorong

More goodies from Waterbrook Multnomah in 2010

Here we go - more great books from Waterbrook Multnomah to get your hands on in 2010!

Which ones grab you? Vicki and Wanda's books have been on my wish list for a while.

Raven's Ladder by Jeffrey Overstreet

In the fantastical tradition of Lewis, Tolkien, Herbert, and Donaldson, Jeffrey Overstreet weaves an epic story of a hero’s journey to save his lost people

A deadly menace is breaking through the ground. The people of Abascar must abandon their stone refuge and run into the dangerous forest. But their king has had a vision. Following the beacon of Auralia’s Colors, Cal-raven has discovered a destination for his weary crowd of refugees. It’s a city right out of the legends, and it gives him hope to establish a new Abascar.

But when Cal-raven is waylaid by fortune hunters, his people become vulnerable to a danger more powerful than the prowling beastmen––House Bel Amica. In this oceanside kingdom of wealth, enchantment, and beauty, deceitful Seers are all too eager to ensnare House Abascar’s wandering throng.

As his faith suffers one devastating blow after another, Calraven’s journey is a perilous climb from despair to a faint gleam of hope––the vision he sees in Auralia’s colors.

Releasing February, 2010



Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

For fans of Terri Blackstock, Dee Henderson, and Iris Johansen comes a gripping new romantic thriller filled with murder, conspiracy, and redemption. In Forget Me Not, the first book of the new Crossroads Crisis Center series written by awardwinning author Vicki Hinze, characters and readers learn that when everything else fails, faith stands fast.

Three years ago, tragedy left Ben Brandt’s wife and child dead and Ben tormented. Now a new victim appears at Ben’s Crossroads Crisis Center, a center established by his deceased wife. This victim remembers nothing of herself except her faith and uncannily resembles Ben’s murdered wife. Their circumstances are too similar to be conincidental. Searching for an explanation unearths facts that assassins clearly want to remain hidden. But daring to trust, Ben and this mysterious victim work together—she in faith, he seeking redemption. Pursuing painful answers that provoke desperation and mounting threats, they discover truths steeped in betrayal and enemies too close to home. They dare to risk their lives, but do they dare trust their weary hearts?

Releasing March, 2010



The Bridegrooms by Allison Pittman

It only takes an instant for love to strike

When the mother of eight-year-old Vada Allenhouse vanishes, Vada virtually raises her three younger sisters while her father loses himself in his medical practice in the basement of their Cleveland home.

By 1898, Vada is a grown woman whose days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra and whose quiet evenings are spent with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town and a line drive baseball wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.
Suddenly, the subdued house is filled with frequent male visitors and becomes a super-charged atmosphere of apprehension for Dr. Allenhouse and romantic opportunity for Vada and her sisters.

Allison Pittman’s growing fan base will relish every page of this heartwarming historical romance laced with humor and tension. With rich characters and a thought-provoking storyline, The Bridegrooms delivers a powerful message about divine providence and God’s sovereignty. Readers will see that the passage of a century does not change the soul of a woman and that the search for love—as exhilarating as it can be—is always more successful when God guides the heart.

Releasing April, 2010




Shepherd's Run by Wanda L. Dyson

A gripping thrill-ride delivering romance and suspense, while inviting readers into the world of a family of bounty hunters

Torn between family loyalties, sibling rivalries, and his own personal interests, Steven Shepherd is struggling with the choices he’s made and the important questions he has been avoiding. Will he always be tied to the family business, required to be a bounty hunter? Is he destined to forever come in second to his older brother? Is this what he had hoped to accomplish with his life?

But the answers Steven searches for are pushed aside when he gets framed for murder after posting bail for a beautiful kindergarten teacher, Andrea Morrow, who is innocent, trapped, and marked for death. Determined to protect her, Steven and Andrea are now on the run together—the evidence against them mounting. As they flee, few are willing to defend them, the real killers are hunting them, and constant
danger stalks them. With a grim fate and few chances for survival, they engage in a deadly game of wits with the killers. But one step in the wrong direction could put an entire city in peril.

A fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a thread of romance, Shepherd’s Run will entice readers to the end as one man breaks all the conventional rules in the name of faith, hope, and love.

Releasing April, 2010

Coming in 2010 from Liz Curtis Higgs & Waterbrook Multnomah

I love Liz's books! Her historicals are very well researched and fascinating, though I have to say her romantic comedy Bookends has a special place in my heart - I laughed and laughed!

Looking forward to this one, though :)

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

A mother who cannot face her future.
A daughter who cannot escape her past.

“No moon in sight,” Donald observed, resting his forehead lightly on the glass. “No Highlanders either.”

“They’ll arrive soon enough.” Marjory extinguished the candle by her bed, shrouding the room in darkness. “Sleep while you can. And keep that bonny young wife of yours close at hand.”

“Aye.” The smile in his voice was unmistakable. “So I shall.”

Edinburgh 1745

Dowager Lady Marjory Kerr, a widow of substantial means, has two passions in life: maintaining her place in society and coddling her two grown sons. Lady Elisabeth Kerr, wife of the elder son, harbors a dark family secret, buried long ago in distant Aberdeenshire. When tragedy strikes, Janet Kerr, wife of the younger son, finds the ties binding her to Marjory and Elisabeth slowly unraveling.

A timeless tale of loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Edinburgh, Here Burns My Candle reveals the many flaws of human nature and the bright hope of divine providence.

Releasing April, 2010

Getting to know Lisa Samson

Want courageous, thought-provoking and challenging fiction? Look no further than Lisa Samson's stories. One of the most highly respected authors in Christian Fiction today, I have been reading Lisa's books since the release of her Highlander series in 1994. She improves her craft with each novel - she is, simply put, a must read author!

I am delighted she was able to share some of her life in this fun interview. I trust you enjoy getting to know Lisa just like I did!

If you could have chosen your own name, what would it be?

When I was twelve the answer would have been Gizelle. I kid you not. Then I went through a classy Margaret stage. Then Ellie. Now, I think I'd like something friendly, like Daisy.

Your first pet's name?

Peppy

Your best friend's name in primary (elementary) school?

Louise.

Did you have a special toy that went everywhere with you when you were young? Please describe.

Yes. I still have him. He's a cloth rabbit with long, pink and yellow striped legs. I named him

Bunny. My kids are Baby, Boy Baby, and The Baby.

If you were stranded on a desert island what one object would you want with you?

A knife.

What's your favourite ice cream flavour?

French vanilla

What did you want to be when you grew up?

It's kind of like my name. An interior designer, a doctor, a financier, an artist. I never once thought I wanted to be a writer.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Rome. I'd love to see the catacombs, all the early Christianity sites, the Vatican, and the art! My dream is to someday be a liturgical artist, so that would probably provide inspiration for years.

Favourite book?

I'll admit it's totally cliché, but I'd probably have to say The Great Gatsby. Something about that light at the end of Daisy's dock. Oh my gosh! There's the name Daisy again! Coincidence? You decide!

Favourite movie?

My two favourite movies are The Godfather and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But if I could only watch one or the other for the rest of my life, I'd pick Willy Wonka for sure if only to dream there's a big room with candy flowers somewhere in the universe.

Blues, rock, jazz or classical music?

Rock. No question. Then jazz. After that, techno-fusion-folkmetal. I'm planning on inventing it someday when I want my kids to finally leave the house.

Scrapbooking, jogging, cooking or meditation?

I tried scrapbooking a long time ago and loved it. My oldest daughter has a great album up to age ten. Jake has maybe five pages. Gwynnie has a title page. Since jogging is a complete joke, and meditation (I'll go with contemplative prayer) is something I've no idea how to slow down my mind for, I'll go with cooking. I'm trying to learn how to make homemade pasta this summer. My first batchwas a disaster!

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

Swaziland, Africa.

(Photograph by Volkmar K. Wentzel, National Geographic)

Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock) or Sydney Harbour Bridge?

Great Barrier Reef. I love color.

What's your most fervent prayer?

My children will know God's love intimately and make people's lives and hearts better because of that.

What is your favourite Bible verse (or "one" of your favourites) and what does it mean to you?

For the past two years it's been Matthew 6:68 - 69.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Here Jesus has been talking about people eating his flesh and drinking his blood, pretty crazy words, and a great deal of his followers say, “I'm outta here.” Jesus asks the disciples, “Are you going to go too?” And Peter answers the words of that verse, which echo the cry of my heart. I'm 45 years old, the world has lots of systems and answers, and I've tried so many of them within the realm of Christianity. So many have left me confused and hardly with “the peace that passes all understanding” and all those promises out there! What was wrong with me?

But who else can I go to? It's gotta be Jesus. He has the words of eternal life. He's all there is.

Besides God, who has influenced you the most?

Growing up, it was Miss Gloria, the lady who lived behind us. I was friends with her sons. She taught me, by example, what a loving wife was, and how to love your neighbour and love God in a way that wasn't all showy, just day to day. I was over her house all the time!

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

Public speaking, anytime I've ever done it!

What was your most embarrassing moment in High School?

I have no idea! High school seems about a billion years away.

How did your husband propose?

He took me on a picnic, had the ring in a music box that played our song. (You are My Sunshine.) It was private and sweet. He knew I'd hate one of those grand, scoreboard proposals.

What is the best advice you have received about marriage?

Don't keep dragging up the past and having the same fights over and over. And then, after you have a baby, we made up this rule: Whatever is said between midnight and 6 a.m. doesn't count.

You have written Young Adult and Adult fiction - do you find one more taxing to write than the other?

Oh, adult fiction, hands down. I pour so much of myself into those books I think I walk around in a depressive funk have the time. The YA project I did was so much fun. I wanted to write something enjoyable and not so aching.

What has been one of your highlights in your writing career?

Two things. First and foremost, a woman once wrote me and told me that reading Straight Up kept her from committing suicide. Second, and not so personally reaching, was when Quaker Summer was awarded fiction book of the year by Christianity Today magazine. Never thought that would happen!

The Passion of Mary-Margaret

What or whom inspired you to write this story?

The incarnation. I was thinking what it might have been like for Jesus, perfect and pure, to come to humanity in all our stubbornness, sin and fragility. So I tried to tell that, as much as is possible, metaphorically, between humans, Mary-Margaret, a sheltered religious sister, and Jude, a tortured, promiscuous young man.

Describe each of your main characters with one word

Mary-Margaret: devoted

Jude: broken

Each of your characters in this story are brilliantly drawn ~ which one did you relate to the most?

Thanks for the compliment! Wow! Actually, though I grew up sheltered, I related to Jude because I'm a sinner in need of such love, even though I don't deserve it.

Mary-Margaret experiences God in a unique way ~ has that been your experience too?

I wish! I keep asking Jesus to come sit on my bed, but so far He's been a no show. At least in a substantive form! No, Mary-Margaret's relationship with Jesus is just the longing of my heart to be with Him face to face.

Sometimes your books are difficult to read because you delve into human angst in an honest and direct manner (I think it is great that you do!). Do you find some of your more confronting scenes difficult/emotional to write?

Not any more difficult than any other scene. In fact, I think they come natural to me, and I'll go back and think, “Oh man! What's the big deal about this?” I can't judge the pathos of my own writing. So when somebody tells me the emotions are raw and difficult, I pump a fist and say, “Yes!” How my writing takes its toll on me is deeper and less predictable. I get moody and irritable and even irrational at times. I don't know how my family stands it sometime.

What do you hope readers take away from Mary-Margaret and Jude's story?

I hope they realize, even a little bit, how much God loves them. That's all.

What is in your writing pipeline? No pressure but a sneak peek would be lovely!

I'm writing a story about a survivor of the Rwandan genocide (she was a missionary there) who hides herself away with an old farmer here in Kentucky for years. When she strikes up a pen pal relationship with a man on death row in a nearby prison who refuses to appeal his sentence, her life begins to grow again. It's called The Resurrection in May. The first part of the story is from the farmer's point of view, so I'll leave you with a few paragraphs. But before that, thanks Rel, to you and all your readers! I had a great time answering these questions. May God bless you with the peace of Christ!

Spring, 1994

He wasn't sure how he'd got to the far end of his life, or how he'd begun finding himself driving down to Natural Bridge and ending up on top of the great stone expanse. The wide earth far beneath his feet, the thousands of treetops, spread like so much broccoli out in the distance.

Claudius was a farmer though, and everything ended up looking something like a vegetable in his mind. His mother had favored paisley prints for her pillows, and he always thought of them as summer squashes. Whenever he saw a picture of a flying saucer--pattypans. Beads on necklaces, depending on how big they were could be either peas or cherry tomatoes.

He'd always lived right around here, and it wasn't like that wasn't enough anymore, but this vista did something for him he couldn't even voice--he just knew he enjoyed it, the freewheeling breeze, the small pebbles lining the precarious sandstone path with no guardrails, even the tourists who liked to sit on the edge and dangle their feet into that same expanse of nothing but air.

As he slowly meandered back home, pulling his white Galaxy over to the side for the hurried modern man or woman to pass along to a life obviously more pressing than his, which was fine with him by the way, he realized he'd forgotten to collect yesterday's eggs from the coop, he also realized he'd become nothing more than the old guy people waved to on the street, chatted with at the gas station, but who hadn't had a visitor in five years since his mother died.

Well, unless you counted the pastor of his church, but he were paid to do that, and Claudius had called him and asked him to come out so he could talk about willing his land, a little over forty acres, along with the house and the outbuildings, to the church once he passed.

And Ruth. But she was like a sister.

Claudius pulled his car over once more for a man in a grey Taurus and he turned his head to wave a finger or two and nod.

“Ah!” he cried out, realizing someone was crawling up the road, right in front of him on the verge, he jammed on his brakes, the bumper stopping within inches of her light blue high heeled shoes.


Thanks Lisa - what a privilege to have you here :) Can't wait to read The Resurrection in May.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Embrace Me and The Passion of Mary-Margaret
Visit Lisa's website
Buy Lisa's books at Amazon or Koorong

A spotlight computer glitch?!

Sabrina and Tucker have had a virus hit their computers so have not been able to join us for the promised spotlight on Thursday!

Both their laptops are at the local Nantucket computer shop for repairs and we hope that all will be resolved and their spotlight will be posted this week!

Stay tuned ;-)

Nicole Baart ~ What's Cooking?

Nicole Baart

I love good recipes :) Nicole

Sticky Toffee Spoon Cake

Ingredients

1 ½ cups butter

1 ½ cups dark brown sugar

6 tbsp. golden syrup

4 eggs, beaten

1 cup self-rising flour

¼ tsp. salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 6 ramekins. Heat ¼ cup butter, ¼ cup sugar, and syrup in a pan over low heat until smooth. Pour the sauce equally into the ramekins. Melt the rest of the butter and sugar in a pan. Remove from heat. Cool for 10 minutes. Mix in eggs.

Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour in melted mixture and stir until combined. Spoon into ramekins.

Bake for 20 minutes or until springy to the touch. Run a knife around the edge. Carefully turn onto a large plate. Serve with extra toffee sauce (if desired) and whipped cream.

Toffee Sauce

¼ cup butter

¼ cup heavy cream

½ cup packed brown sugar

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add cream and brown sugar. Stir until blended.

Stirring constantly, heat until boiling. Remove from heat.

Pour warm sauce over cake just before serving.

Yummy, Nicole :) We have a similar recipe here, Sticky Date Pudding, yep, basically the same but with dates - it is so good, just like this one sounds!

Nicole's Books

After the Leaves Fall ~ Summer Snow ~ The Moment Between

Relz Reviewz Extras

All things Baart @ Relz Reviewz

Visit Nicole's website and blog

Buy Nicole's books at Amazon or Koorong

Back on track.....

My family was privileged to celebrate the life of my dear Grandma yesterday with my Misses 11, 9 and 6 all contributing, sharing their memories of Grandma Gene along with my niece and nephew. It was a special time to remember a very special lady.

I will be back to blogging this week with close to my usual schedule.

Thanks again to those of you who have kept my family in prayer.

Last Mango in Texas by Ray Blackston

Kyle Mango is endowed with an odd name, a paranoid Uncle and an aversion to his fraternity brothers at Texas Tech. Lucky for him, he is saved from one of his burdens by an intriguing environmentalist and fellow student, Gretchen.

Hoping he is just as intriguing to Gretchen, Kyle ponders a possible future together until an unexpected inheritance in oil wells clashes with Gretchen's passion to deliver Alaskan birds from an oil spill. Realising Gretchen will no doubt spurn his newly found wealth, Kyle finds himself in a quandary of epic proportions. Pursuing Gretchen seems the only way Kyle can sooth his lonely heart but how can he keep his new status as an oil tycoon (albeit a slightly overstated title) from his bird loving, oil hating object of affection?

Many books claim to be funny and yet so often fail to deliver the goods. I'm delighted to say Last Mango in Texas does not fall into that category. Ray Blackston has perfected the art of comedic writing with genuinely funny dialogue, natural characters and a quirky tale, that will have you laughing and relating in spades with Kyle's predicament. Having enjoyed all of Ray's previous stories, it is great to see he hasn't lost his touch as Kyle, Gretchen, Regina and Chang epitomise the fresh and diverse characters Ray seems to create with ease. Touching on environmentalism, family ties and shady dealings, this is a story with heart. With enough insight and perspective to appeal to men and women, Last Mango in Texas is warmly entertaining, cheerful and satisfying. Ray Blackston's talent is a unique gift in the Christian publishing world and it would be a shame to miss such fun storytelling!

Thanks to Titletrakk.com for providing the review copy of Last Mango in Texas

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Par for the Course

Visit Ray's website

Order Ray's books from Amazon and Koorong

Seaside Letters by Denise Hunter

A world of emotional pain leaves Sabrina Kincaid hiding from the world, unwilling to share her true self with those who try to befriend her in beautiful seaside Nantucket. Only willing to reveal her true heart to an online friend who knows her as "Sweetpea", Sabrina is desperate to keep her identity a secret. The problem is Sabrina knows all too well the man she is sharing her soul with online, is the same man she serves every day in the Cobblestone Cafe, a man she loves deeply but can barely talk to, Tucker McCabe.

When Tucker seeks Sabrina out to identify and locate his mysterious "Sweetpea", Sabrina has no choice but to take on the job. The consequences of Tucker discovering the truth behind Sweetpea and the unforgivable secret she guards, are too damaging for Sabrina to contemplate.

Seaside Letters is a story of a soul deep hurt, an unfailing love and is a moving and tender reflection of God's gentle yet persistent beckoning of us into His presence. Denise Hunter writes with real heart, painting Sabrina's pain so it sears and Tucker's devotion in a way you can feel. The love story is beautifully rendered yet, if you are willing to look a little deeper, it is the underlying message that will penetrate your heart. Denise deals with the lasting impact of childhood hurts, the paralysing power of fear and the crippling effect of guilt, yet reveals that beauty can indeed rise from the ashes when forgiveness and love is truly grasped. Tucker and Sabrina's story will stay with me for a long, long time.

As seen at Titletrakk.com

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Surrender Bay, The Convenient Groom and Sweetwater Gap

Interview with Denise

Visit Denise's website and blog

Buy Denise's books at Amazon or Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ TL Higley's Sophia & Bellus

Today the spotlight shines on......................Sophia & Bellus



T L (Tracy) Higley's Seven Wonders series is brilliant! I love the combination of adventure, ancient history and romance and each book is equally fascinating. Be sure to pick up your own copy of Shadow of Colossus, City of the Dead and the newly released Guardian of the Flame.

I hope you enjoy this insight into the lightkeeper and her Roman soldier! Over to you, Tracy:~

Sophia

Brief physical description

Sophia’s in her early forties, a bit older than most of the main characters I’ve written. She has spent twenty years hiding from the world and denying her femininity, so she tends to dress a bit manly, and doesn’t bother much with her appearance. All that is about to change, however!

Actor/famous person to play the part

Sophia’s got a bit of attitude about her, and I see her as sort of a young Bette Davis. Tough-talking, but with hidden depth.

Strengths and weaknesses

She’s brilliant and underneath the tough shell, she’s compassionate. Sophia cares deeply about her country of Egypt, about her student Cleopatra, and about her late husband’s fellow scholars who are being sought by Julius Caesar. But her past has hardened her to relationships, and even though she cares deeply, she has a very hard time showing love.

Quirk (if any)

Sophia’s a recluse. She’s been hiding in her lighthouse in Alexandria for the past twenty years, and it takes an army to get her out!

Bellus

Brief physical description

Bellus is a Roman soldier, with all the muscles and wavy dark hair for the part! He’s got a killer smile that Sophia keeps trying to ignore, unsuccessfully it would seem. He’s been through quite a few battles with his general, Julius Caesar, and has become a weathered soldier who is looking for more than a soldier’s life these days.

Actor/famous person to play the part

Well, he’s Spanish, not Italian, but I’d have to say Antonio Banderas.

Strengths and weaknesses

Bellus is an anomaly in the Roman legion – a soldier who hates conflict. He does his job well, but he is a peacemaker at heart, and is baffled by the way Sophia is always trying to bait him into conflict. He has a pure love to give, but hasn’t yet found someone worthy of it.

Quirk (if any)

Bellus is well-read and loves to study philosophy, a trait which sets him apart from his fellow soldiers and makes him all the more intriguing to Sophia.

Your inspiration for both characters

Guardian of the Flame is the Beauty and the Beast story I’ve been wanting to write for years. I love this legendary story, in all its incarnations throughout film and books. Anyone familiar with the story will see the Beast in Sophia and the Beauty in Bellus. There are deeper truths here, too, about why we are drawn to this motif about a love that reaches out to transform us, even before we are worthy of love. I greatly enjoyed unfolding this relationship through the course of the story, watching Sophia change and open herself to love.

Background to the story

Guardian of the Flame is a Seven Wonders Novel, centering around the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The year is 48 BC. Sophia has spent nearly twenty years as the keeper of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, alone in her task and in her heart. But when the wealthy capital of Egypt is invaded by Julius Caesar and his Roman legion, Sophia’s peace is shattered and her lighthouse invaded. The Roman general would steal both her county and its queen, the Greek Cleopatra, and when his military strategy endangers the city’s best scholars and their secret invention, Sophia must discover a way to protect the men. But as the historic war erupts, tangling Sophia in its chaos, she finds that the Roman centurion instructed to invade her lighthouse is also invading her heart.
Now Sophia must do whatever it takes to keep him out – even if it costs her everything.

Thanks so much, Tracy ~ I adore these books and I can't wait to get into your new Lost Cities series!


On Thursday, the spotlight will shine on Denise Hunter's Sabrina Kincaid & Tucker McCabe from her latest release, Seaside Letters ~ woo hoo ;-)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Guardian of the Flame, Shadow of Colossus and City of the Dead

Character spotlights on Tessa (Colossus) and Hemiumu (City)

Interview with Tracy

Visit Tracy's website

Buy Tracy's books at Amazon or Koorong

The winners of Double Cross are.....

US winners ~ Carol and Kelly

Aussie winners ~ ad & Tracy

Congratulations!

Please send me your snail mail addy within 7 days to claim your book :)

My Grandma

My sweet and loving Grandma passed away on Wednesday 7th October, but our grieving for her was put on hold as we attended the burial and thanksgiving service for my dear Uncle Malcolm the following day, who passed away after a long illness.

Both their lives were a testament to the love of Jesus and they lived to pass on that love to others. They were marked by their gentleness, compassion for others and desire to serve their Lord faithfully.

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for my family as we work through this difficult time in our lives.

Both Grandma and Uncle Malc will be sorely missed.

Sneak peek at Don Brown's The Malaccan Conspiracy

Don Brown just let me know about his latest book, starring Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian of his Navy Justice series!

You won't want to miss this one :)



The Malaccan Conspiracy by Don Brown

When a dastardly plot is hatched in the Malaysian seaport of Malacca to attack civilian oil tankers at sea, to drive up the price of crude oil futures and to assassinate the Indonesian President and use fat windfall profits to finance a nuclear attack against American Cities, Navy JAG officers ZACK BREWER and DIANE COLCERNIAN reunite in a sizzling race against the clock to foil the conspiracy before disaster strikes.

Releasing June, 2010 from Zondervan

Denise Hunter ~ What's Cooking?

Denise Hunter

Here's my fav apple pie recipe. It was developed for my novel, Sweetwater Gap.
Denise

Aunt Lola’s Blue Ribbon Apple Pie


Flaky Crust

 3/4 cup cake flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons shortening
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
3 cubes ice
1/2 cup cold water

1. Measure butter & shortening onto a plate, put into freezer for about 20 minutes.
2. Measure cake flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, salt and baking powder
into large bowl. Mix.
3. Take 1/2 of the cold butter and 1/2 of the cold shortening, add to dry ingredients cut together with a pastry blender.
4. Take remainder of the cold butter & cold shortening and cut in very briefly leaving visible pea sized chunks. Do not over process at this stage!
5. In a measuring cup, mix egg yolk and vinegar together, add ice cubes and water. Let this get chilled, about 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Sprinkle approximately 4 to 5 tablespoons of this egg, water, vinegar mixture, a little at a time, over flour mixture, mixing gently with a fork. The key to this is, you do not want a wet dough,and you do not want to over mix. You will not use most of this mixture.
7. Place this dough into plastic wrap or plastic bag, chill in refrigerator for a few minutes. Remove from refrigerator and roll out on well-floured surface to 1” larger than pie dish, using as little flour as possible to prevent sticking.
8. Place dough in pie dish, turn under edges and flute dough. Set aside.

Apple Pie Filling

6-7 c. Sliced and peeled Granny Smith apples
1 t. Cinnamon
1 t. Lemon Juice
3/4 c. Granulated Sugar
2 T. Flour

Mix all ingredients for filling and place in 9” unbaked pie shell.
Top with Dutch Apple Topping.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes then 350 degrees for 40-50 min.

Dutch Apple Topping

1/2 c. Brown sugar
1/2 c. Cold butter
1 c. Flour

Blend with pastry blender or fork and set aside.

Yummy, Denise! It looks like the effort would be well worth it :)

Denise's books

Surrender Bay ~ The Convenient Groom ~ Sweetwater Gap ~ Seaside Letters
Mending Places ~ Saving Grace ~ Finding Faith

Relz Reviewz Extras

All things Hunter @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Denise's website and Girls Write Out blog
Buy Denise's books at Amazon and Koorong