REVIEW: SUBMERGED ~ DANI PETTREY

Bailey Craig first set foot in Yancey, Alaska at age 15.  Abandoned by her mother, the broken teenager was taken in by her aunt, Agnes.  In Yancey, Bailey came close to finding a home, and love, but seeking comfort in the wrong things and acting out to make Cole turn his back on her before he could realise for himself that she wasn’t good enough, soon destroyed Bailey’s reputation and any hope of staying in Yancey.  That’s how Bailey saw it, anyway.  She left after High School graduation and vowed never to set foot in Yancey again.  She has a tainted past, and the reputation to go with it.  Following the death of her beloved aunt, Bailey is forced to return to the small town she left behind; the town that symbolises her mistakes, regret and shame; the town where she is still labelled by some as Easy Lay Bay; the town where she left the only one who had ever touched her heart.  Scared and ashamed of her past, Bailey intends to lay low, get the funeral over with and get out of dodge.  

Cole McKenna, the oldest of the McKenna family, took over the role of patriarch upon the deaths of their parents.  Keeping his siblings happy and safe is his life’s mission.  Cole is prepared to face anything that might threaten his family or his town, but he is ill-prepared to see Bailey Craig, the girl who thoroughly broke his heart so many years ago.  Knowing Bailey’s reputation and how difficult returning to Yancey must be for her, the McKennas are determined to be friendly faces as she lays her beloved aunt to rest beneath the entire town’s scrutiny.  But Cole has no intention of getting too involved - he would never again give her the power to devastate him. 

Bailey expected judgment and resentment upon her return to Yancey, but what she receives from the McKenna family is, surprisingly, friendship; and while some townspeople still see the Bailey of the past, most can tell that Bailey is no longer the wild child she once was.  She has found the Lord and tries to live a life honouring to God.  As Bailey and Cole spend more time together neither can deny that their young love still lurks in both their hearts – but can Cole forgive Bailey for betraying him?  And more importantly, can Bailey finally forgive herself?

The McKenna family is dragged into mystery when their diving equipment is suspected of causing the death of a female diver.  Soon, however, it becomes apparent that the young diver was murdered – but why?  Suddenly Bailey’s intention to settle Agnes’ affairs and leave Yancey behind her for good has to be placed on hold when her knowledge of Russian-American history becomes invaluable to the case.  Could the Russian-American Trading Post Agnes ran and left to Bailey be at the centre of the danger?  When evidence suggests that Agnes’ death was no accident, Bailey knows she cannot leave Yancey before seeing justice served. 

Working with Bailey to solve the mystery, being a friend she so desperately needs (even though she would never admit it) and keeping the barricade around his heart intact might be the biggest challenge of Cole’s life - especially when Bailey’s life is endangered because of their search for answers. 

Submerged by Dani Pettrey is the first book in the Alaskan Courage series.  I started reading the series with Shattered, the second book in the series.  I enjoyed now reading the first and discovering how Cole and Bailey found love; so much so that I want to reread Shattered so that I can appreciate Bailey and Cole together.  I am completely taken with the whole McKenna family.  Pettrey does a good job of creating likable, though flawed and complex, characters.  The family dynamics are wonderful, and I can’t wait to read Gage and Darcy’s story in Stranded.  It was so hard to pick up book 1 first and not continue immediately on to Darcy and Gage’s story.  They thoroughly charmed me in Shattered, and I can’t wait to see more of their interaction.  And of course, Kayden and Jake’s story is the one I might be looking forward to most.  Such intense characters, those two! So many secrets to uncover…

The mystery in Submerged is intense!  Pettrey creates believable villains, and I feared for Bailey and the McKenna's safety several times.  The portions of Russian-American history were incorporated into the story without ever feeling like a history lesson.  I always say detail makes a story great, and Pettrey's detail greatly adds to the realism of the story and the mystery that keeps you turning the pages just as fast as you can.

Pettrey brings Alaska to life in a way few authors could manage.  I literally feel like I visited Alaska every time I finish one of her books.  And my favourite part?  The way Pettrey makes you feel.  Tears were falling as I shared every single emotion Bailey fought and felt.  At times it was hard to continue reading, feeling the weight of Bailey's guilt and regret.  I love how beautifully Pettrey uses Bailey and Cole's relationship to illustrate God’s love and forgiveness, and how Bailey comes to finally value herself as God’s daughter thanks to Cole’s gentle guidance.  

I was also part of every dive.  Pettrey makes me feel like I’m right there in the dark, ice-cold water, swimming alongside the McKennas – that’s how powerful her scenes are.  The best writers don’t tell you, they show you.  

Dani Pettrey is a very gifted writer and I could not be more grateful that I stumbled onto her work.

Product Information:

Title: Submerged

Author: Dani Pettrey

Pages: 320

Year: 2012

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN-10: 0764209825

ISBN-13: 978-0764209826

Related posts:

Review: Shattered ~ Dani Pettrey

KYLIE BISUTTI RETWEETED MY REVIEW!

Kylie Bisutti retweeted my review of her book I'm No Angel!

You can follow Kylie on Twitter at @mrsbisutti. 

Related post:

Tyndale Blog Network Review: I'm No Angel ~ Kylie Bisutti

REVIEW: SURRENDER THE DAWN ~ MARYLU TYNDALL

Cassandra Channing once had it all; a loving family and a privileged life.  But the war of 1812 stripped her family of their wealth and ripped her family apart, and in the absence of her father and brothers it falls to Cassandra to take care of her family.  With precious little money left, Cassandra realises the only way she can provide for her family, without getting married simply for security, is to invest in a privateer.  The only problem is, the men of Baltimore refuse to do business with a woman. 

Luke Heaton has always had a hard life.  Bearing the guilty of his parents’ death, Luke has gone through life taking pleasure wherever he could find it.  Notorious for his love of women, gambling and drink, Luke is the undisputed rogue of Baltimore.  When his drinking gets out of hand, Luke is fired from Noah Brennin’s ship.  When all seems lost, Luke wins a ship of his own through his gambling.  Unfortunately the ship is not fit for privateering and nobody in Baltimore will risk going into business with the likes of Luke. 

With no other option available to either of them, brought together by mutual desperation, Luke and Cassandra become partners.  Cassandra provides the initial funding, and Luke sets about making both of them a fortune in privateering.  It seems their partnership is doomed from the beginning; the people of Baltimore are scandalised that a proper lady like Cassandra would consciously be associated with the town rogue, and outside forces work together to see them fail – the man who will do anything to secure Cassandra’s hand in marriage (including sabotaging her precious investment and forcing her to live a life dependent on a husband), and the man who will do anything to exact revenge on the man who “stole” his ship (including setting Luke up to be caught by the British Navy - again). 

Despite the uncertainty and danger that surrounds them, despite the rules of propriety that must separate them, Luke and Cassandra grow closer as they get to know each other.  Luke discovers Cassandra is not the aloof socialite he always saw her to be, but a brave, intelligent, compassionate woman, and Cassandra realises that Luke’s tough exterior hides a wounded soul with a generous heart.  Despite Luke’s belief that Cassandra is out of his league, the way she sometimes looks at him makes him wonder; is it possible that against all odds, Baltimore’s most eligible beauty could come to love the town rogue? 

Just when it seems a happy future is secure, extreme circumstances force Luke to turn traitor and aid the British with supplies, risking everything and everyone he holds dear.  Can he hide his treacherous activities from a woman as smart as Cassandra? 

When the money sustaining her family dries up and Cassandra must seriously consider marrying a man she cannot stand, she sets about finding out what Luke is really up to.  If she were to find out Luke was a traitor, would she ever be able to forgive him?  And more importantly, when Luke and Cassandra are separated and placed in the most dangerous of circumstances, when they feel the most deserted, is that when they will finally come to realise that they have never been deserted at all?  Can the God they both believe has forsaken them use them to make history? 

MaryLu Tyndall’s Surrender The Dawn is the third and final book of the Surrender To Destiny series.  It follows Surrender The Heart, and occurs more or less simultaneously with Surrender The Night.  In this instalment we follow Luke and Cassandra, both of whom we have met in the previous two books.

Tyndall’s writing effortlessly combines action, intrigue, romance and faith.  Once again she combines fact and fiction so perfectly, it's very easy to believe Luke Heaton and Cassandra Channing truly existed and had a special role to play in the war of 1812.  Luke and Cassandra’s relationship is very accurately depicted considering the time, and the rules of propriety that goes with it.  The obstacles between them are very real; the struggles they face in their daily lives, their relationship and their faith is very realistic, making both Luke and Cassandra very real, relatable characters. Their doubts and fears don't make them weak - it makes them real and believable.  While their desire to love and be loved is powerful, their respective unnamed and unacknowledged desires for a relationship with the God they believe doesn't care about them is the most touching part of the story.  The way God provides for them, cares for them and protects them (even when they can't see it) is beautifully done, and their tentative first steps in the direction of the Lord is a joy to experience.

Tyndall’s flawless imagery takes you back to 1812, and places the reader in the middle of the war.  As she describes events you can feel the cold, smell the smoke and experience the devastation.  Equally, she makes you feel the passion, the joy and the elation in equal measure.  Tyndall’s writing is always a pleasure to read and this instalment is no exception. 

Surrender The Dawn is a lovely conclusion to the Surrender To Destiny series.

Product information:

Title: Surrender the Dawn

Author: MaryLu Tyndall

Number of pages: 320

Publisher: Barbour Books

Year: 2011

ISBN-10: 1602601674

ISBN-13: 978-1602601673

TYNDALE BLOG NETWORK REVIEW: RESCUE TEAM ~ CANDACE CALVERT

As a teenager Kate Callison ran away – from home, from hope, from God; she never really stopped running.  Amidst a daily battle of keeping her emotions from coming to the surface and keeping her past from catching up with her, Kate faces even greater challenges at her new job where she must fill the shoes of Sunni Sprague, the missing Director of the Emergency Department at Austin Grace Hospital.  Sunni was beloved by all she came in contact with, and from the very first day Kate finds it a fairly impossible task to fill Sunny’s saintly shoes.  Taking over this position would have been a challenge for any newcomer – but for cool Kate, who keeps a firm wall between her and her staff, becoming well-liked and securing permanent employment is a battle she might not be able to win.  But then, Kate is not looking for permanence anyway… is she?

Wes Tanner loves nothing better than to rescue the lost – whether it be physically or spiritually.  He devotes most of his free time to several rescue teams, eager to tell people “You’re not lost anymore”.  When he meets Kate Callison, the prickly beauty with the sad eyes who rarely smiles and never laughs, he meets a challenge he cannot walk away from.  Whether Kate is willing to admit it or not, she needs rescuing – and he is just the man for the job.

When a tragedy in the hospital brings Kate’s past screaming back, the whole Department is under scrutiny and jobs are on the line.  The only good thing to come out of the whole mess is a tentative relationship between Kate and Wes. 

Unable to let Kate continue living in the emotionless existence she has carved out for herself to keep the pain away, Wes slowly introduces Kate to life in Texas, delicately courts her heart and gently nudges her towards reconciliations with her father and God.  Though Kate is still skittish, life is good.  Wes claims to accept Kate just as she is, but when her past unexpectedly collides with his own, can Wes overcome his own demons and forgive Kate’s biggest mistake?  Or will Kate’s haunting past also destroy her future? 

Rescue Team by Candace Calvert is the second book in the Grace Medical series.  We first met Kate in Trauma Plan and it was clear that she had a lot of emotional baggage she had to deal with.  Her tendency to ignore colleagues’ emotional distress and place the good of the Hospital first was also introduced in Trauma Plan, and it was a joy to experience Kate’s growth in Rescue Team.  Calvert pays great attention to realistic, beautiful character development – something I value in authors.  This makes Calvert one of my new favourites.

What I love most about Calvert’s work is that while her plotlines are very realistic, her characters are even more so.  I believe them, and I believe in them.  Kate and Wes are wonderful characters that complement each other perfectly.  Kate is the wounded one who thinks she’s undeserving of love, who refuses to turn to a God she is sure will reject her; but inside her is a tiny spark of hope that refuses to be extinguished.  While she generally puts on a front of a strong, independent, all-business woman, Wes glimpses the repressed Kate in unguarded moments – a vulnerable and lonely woman desperate for the love and acceptance she insists she doesn't need. 

Wes is a kind, humble gentleman of great faith, but he has a dangerous tendency to be judgmental and unforgiving regarding a certain topic.  His intense (and sometimes unreasonable) anger was disturbing to witness, but it kept him from being too perfect.  This effectively illustrated that even the most devoted Christians struggle with sin and have issues to overcome.  Nobody is perfect – we all need Christ’s guidance, forgiveness and redemption. 

Kate’s plight was especially well depicted.  My stomach was in knots whenever she experienced pain related to her past, and I cried with her when it became too much to bear.  Calvert effortlessly places the reader in the shoes of her characters, making the reading experience a very emotional affair.

Aside from Kate and Wes, Rescue Team also features wonderful supporting characters who make the story even stronger and more entertaining.  The Austin Texas landscape was wonderfully described without becoming superfluous.  The book as a whole is a combination of all the right ingredients, perfectly combined to present a wonderful journey about letting go and letting God.  Past hurts and mistakes can drag us down and keep us down.  Rescue Team reminds us of the importance of letting go of the past and entrusting our futures to an Almighty God who can make the most beautiful mosaic of the shattered pieces of our lives.

Rescue Team by Candace Calvert is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good love-story, medical fiction and/or stories of hope.  I enjoyed every single page, and would recommend this book to… just about anyone, truthfully.  I can’t think of anyone who would not enjoy the Grace Medical series.  Calvert has already finished the next book in the Grace Medical series, First Responder.  Sadly, publication is only expected in 2014.  Since I’m late to the Candace Calvert party (shame on me!) I can at least soothe myself by reading Calvert’s previous series in the interim.   Mercy Hospital, here I come!

Product information:

Title: Rescue Team

Author: Candace Calvert

Number of pages: 384

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Year: 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4143-6112-3

Tyndale House Publishers has kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review, nor did this review lead to any personal gain other than the joy of being part of the Tyndale Blog Network. 

Candace Calvert

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines.  Calvert came to know God after the triple whammy that changed her life: “A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury". She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention. She is a wife, mother and proud grandmother living in Northern California.

REVIEW: HARVEST OF RUBIES ~ TESSA AFSHAR

Sarah lost her mother at a very young age, and her father withdrew from her as well.  Neglected by her earthly father, following the death of her mother despite her prayers with childlike faith, Sarah loses her faith in her Heavenly Father.  Convinced she can only depend on herself, Sarah teaches herself to read and write by age 12, and is delighted when her father takes an interest in her upon discovering she shares the talent of his profession.  Encouraged by her cousin Nehemia, the King’s cupbearer, Sarah soon proves to be an even better scribe than her father; consequently, Sarah comes to believe that her worth lies in what she can do and what she can achieve through her work as a scribe.  At a young age Sarah advances to the prestigious position of the Queen’s favourite scribe.  To thank Sarah for foiling a plot to cause a serious rift with dire consequences between the Queen and the King’s Mother, Queen Damaspia kills Sarah with kindness – she arranges for Sarah to be married to wealthy aristocrat, Darius – the King’s cousin.

Believing Sarah convinced the Queen to arrange this marriage because she wants to be a lady of leisure, Darius dislikes his bride intensely before he’s even met her; and when Sarah inadvertently makes a mockery of their wedding, Darius comes to despise her. 

Stuck in a marriage she did not want, stripped of her job - her only means of happiness and confirmation of her worth – Sarah is whisked away from Court to Darius’ estate, only to be abandoned by him immediately.  For several months Sarah must wander her husband’s vast estate alone, ostracised and miserable.  Stripped of her job, her personal measure of worth, Sarah must do serious soul searching to determine her true worth.  Seemingly also abandoned by her friends and family, the only one Sarah can cling to, is God; but can Sarah let go of old hurts and truly open her heart to the Lord once more?  Can she come to accept that He loves her, even if she can’t do her job (the only thing she believes she is good at)?

Sarah’s soft nature soon pushes her to befriend Darius’ staff, and she comes to realise his steward, Teispes, rules over them all with an iron fist.  Abandoned by her husband, it falls to Sarah to unravel the mysteries surrounding the running of his household and protect his most loyal servants.  However, Sarah’s meddling in Teispes’ affairs endangers her life, and every day on the estate becomes a dangerous game of cat and mouse. 

  

Believing her husband neglects his staff, and resenting his quick judgment of her, Sarah harbours a dislike towards Darius, just as he does of her.  Upon his return to his estate both Darius and Sarah come to realise that they need to re-evaluate their opinions of each other.  Sarah notices that contrary to her image of him, Darius seems to be a kind, considerate, fair and even loving man; Darius cannot deny that his loyal servants have come to love Sarah, and as he glimpses her humble spirit and kind heart he cannot help but wonder if he misjudged her.  Can two strong willed people driven by misconceptions, stuck in a marriage neither wanted, abandon their pride long enough to realise that each might be exactly what the other needs?

Tessa Afshar’s Harvest of Rubies was an absolute delight to read.  Sarah and Darius are lovely, though flawed, characters and are very believable.  The storyline is cleverly plotted and executed, and the book is an unpredictable adventure.  Sarah and Darius’ relationship is very much like I would imagine an arranged marriage to be – both are wary, proud and bitter at first.  The progression of their relationship is very realistically done – they don’t just wake up one morning and realise they’re in love (as many literary couples do).  It’s a very gradual process of first considering that they might have been wrong about each other, then getting to know each other, respecting each other, liking each other, trusting each other and eventually loving each other.  It was sometimes almost painful to walk this journey with them – especially the wedding.  Oh Sarah.  Afshar almost killed me with humiliation!  I literally had to put the book down several times, because I just could not bear to share Sarah’s mortification on this day.  Brilliant writing!

I loved absolutely everything about this book; especially the harvest of rubies – Sarah’s understanding of God through coming to understand Darius’ vineyard.  My only issue with the book, is that Darius never tells Sarah that he loves her.  I desperately waited for that moment, and it never came – I guess it goes to show that even as far as they’ve come, he still has some issues to overcome.  Luckily Sarah and Darius’ story will continue in Afshar’s next book, Harvest of Gold.  It is expected to be released mid 2013 – I can’t wait. 

Product information:

Title: Harvest of Rubies

Author: Tessa Afshar

Number of pages: 372

Publisher: River North, New Edition

Year: 2012

ISBN-10: 0802405584

ISBN-13: 978-0802405586 

AUTHOR SARAH ALDERSON READ MY REVIEWS!

I always get really excited when authors read my blog.  Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila and Losing Lila, has read both of my posts on her work.

Hunging Lila

Losing Lila

AUTHOR SARAH SUNDIN READ MY REVIEW!

My blog has had another visit by an author!  Sarah Sundin has read my review of her book A Memory Between US! :D

REVIEW: A MEMORY BETWEEN US ~ SARAH SUNDIN

Ruth Doherty is the oldest of seven children.  Having lost both their parents, it falls to Ruth to provide for her family.  Serving as a nurse during World War II, Ruth spends no money on herself, and sends every penny home to provide for her brothers and sisters.  Working hard for every cent, Ruth has no time for friendship or dating.  When she meets Major Jack Novak in her ward, a cautious friendship soon develops, and drawn to this man of honour Ruth starts to reconsider her strict no dating rule – but Ruth carries a secret that makes it impossible.  A terrible truth and a carefully constructed shield around her heart prevents Ruth from ever giving her heart to any man – not even kind, handsome, persistent Jack Novak.

Major Jack Novak was raised to follow in his father’s footsteps, to be a pastor.  While he loves the Lord, Jack also falls in love with military life when he becomes a pilot during the World War II.  While facing the decision of staying in the military or going into the ministry, Jack’s reputation as an excellent pilot and leader grows, and confidence soon turns into arrogance and pride.  Starting to trust in himself and his own abilities instead of the Lord, Jack grows reckless and an injury lands him in the medical ward, where he loses his heart to Nurse Ruth Doherty – the only problem is, she refuses to date; him or anyone else.  Devising a plan to win her heart before she realises what he’s up to, Jack penetrates Ruth’s defences by agreeing to only be her friend – but when he learns Ruth’s secret, will his love remain true, or crumble like his image of Ruth’s perfection?

A Memory Between Us is my first read of author Sarah Sundin.  I quite enjoyed her take on World War II.  Her portrayal of military life and the jobs of nurses and pilots is very detailed and her story is very well plotted.  The dialogue is, at times, a little cutesy for my taste, but true to the times so that can easily  be overlooked.

At the core of it all, A Memory Between Us is a story about two broken people relying on their own strengths instead of God’s, and wondering why God feels so far away.  Ruth and Jack must both confront fears and let go of their pasts, and learn to rely on God’s strength instead of their own in order to move into the future.  Only then will they see that God has given them exactly what they need: each other.

This is a lovely spiritual read every Christian will enjoy.  Jack and Ruth are faced with issues many Christians can relate to, and it was an absolute joy to share this journey with them.

Product information:
Title: A memory between us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Number of pages: 448

Publisher: Revell, Reprint Edition

Year: 2010

ISBN-10: 080073422X

ISBN-13: 978-0800734220 

TYNDALE BLOG NETWORK REVIEW: TRAUMA PLAN ~ CANDACE CALVERT



Trauma Plan by Candace Calvert

ER nurse Riley Hale has suffered an attack by an unknown assailant in the Hospital parking lot. The effects of her injury leave Riley with a weakened dominant arm and a numb dominant hand. As a result Riley has been taken off the ER team, but due to her influential family name the Hospital creates a permanent position of Hospital Chaplain to accommodate Riley. Riley is nevertheless determined to regain her strength and skills and return to the ER. It is, however, hard to regain her skills when the Hospital won’t let her use them – Riley is not allowed to work on patients.

Doctor Jack Travis is an adrenaline junkie with a passion for helping the disadvantaged. He runs a free clinic in a wealthy part of town, much to the dismay of the residents as homeless beggars, drug addicts and prostitutes are not an unusual sight in the neighbourhood, as they seek help at Jack’s clinic. Inundated with protest action and attempts to have the clinic shut down, Jack learns of Riley Hale – a wealthy, highly respected nurse with valuable family connections, desperate for a chance to work on patients. After getting off on the wrong foot he offers her a volunteer spot at his clinic, giving her the much needed patient treatment opportunities she desperately needs to hone her skills, hoping her involvement with the clinic will be good PR.

As Jack and Riley work together, she sees more than the aggressive maverick recklessly tempting fate at every turn – she sees a kind man with a good heart, a man she can believe in; Jack sees more than the broken victim – he sees a vulnerable but strong woman of faith who has a gift of helping people with her words even more than with her actions. As Jack and Riley find acceptance and comfort in each other’s arms, Riley’s overprotective family hires a private investigator to find out more about the new man in their daughter’s life.

When a horrific secret from Jack’s youth is dragged into the open it might not only mean the end of his relationship with Riley, but the end of his clinic as well. An agoraphobic patient of Riley’s carries a secret of her own – the secret that just might make everything right.

Trauma Plan (Grace Medical book 1) by Candace Calvert is a very enjoyable read. Her story centers around a theme of fear – fear of past events, fear of a repeat thereof, fear of incompetence, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of life. Fear, if left to grow, can become a debilitating reality in our lives, and Trauma Plan does a beautiful job of bringing that point across. Calvert addresses the importance of not letting fear take over your life, of trusting the One who holds you in the palm of His hand. I love how the several threads of the story ultimately come together, and once you see the bigger picture you see that everything was connected all along. Trauma Plan concurs with my belief that there is no such thing as coincidence – God has a plan and He’s bringing everything together even though we cannot see or understand what it might be.

The characters in Trauma Plan are wonderfully believable. Every single character has his or her own cross to bear, and it is an absolute joy to go through their emotional journeys with them. Calvert took great care to fully develop every character throughout the novel, and their emotional struggles are some most Christians can relate to. I especially love Jack’s friend Bandy (acting as his spiritual guide), and his little dog Hobo. The only unresolved issue, for me, is the character of Kate who does not get any kind of closure. She is still running from her past, running from her fears and running from her reality, but I suspect her story will form the foundation of the next Grace Medical book.

Calvert’s own experience as an ER nurse lends her work a level of authenticity – when she goes into medical jargon and medical procedures you can tell she knows what she’s talking about. Any fans of contemporary Christian literature will enjoy this book, as will anyone with interest in the medical field. Calvert’s work has been described as “Grey’s Anatomy with heart”, and I can’t think of a better description myself.

Trauma plan is a lovely book with a beautiful message.

Product information:
Title: Trauma Plan

Author: Candace Calvert

Number of pages: 399

Publisher: Tyndale House

Year: 2012

ISBN-13: 9781414361116

Candace Calvert

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. She got her inspiration for writing Trauma Plan from a debilitating injury she experienced herself! Though her books are about hope and faith, Candice only came to know God after the triple whammy that changed her life: “A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury" (much like Riley in the novel). She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention. She is a wife, mother and proud grandmother living in Northern California.

Tyndale House Publishers kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review, neither did this review lead to any personal gain, other than the joy of being part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH: SURRENDER THE NIGHT - MARYLU TYNDALL

My previous recommendation of the Month was Surrender the Heart by Marylu Tyndall, the first book in the Surrender to Destiny series. As you might recall, I loved everything about that book, and it is with great pleasure that I give a heartfelt recommendation for the second book in the series, Surrender the Night.

A pampered British Lieutenant falls for a lowly Baltimore farm girl. Step into a breathtaking novel of adventure and romance set amid the War of 1812. During an assault by an enemy sailor, timid farm girl Rose McGuire is saved by the least likely of heroes—a British Naval Lieutenant. Now that he’s wounded, she’ll have to heal as well as hide him. Alex Reed is being aided and abetted by his enemy—albeit an innocent and attractive one. But he might be doing Rose more harm than good if his presence on her farm is discovered. As their love blooms, trouble looms. Will this couple survive another British invasion? ~ as per Marylu Tyndall's website.

This second book follows the story of Alexander Reed and Rose McGuire, familiar faces from Surrender the Heart. While its prequel saw battles at sea; in Surrender the Night the British are now making their way onto American soil, destroying homes and assaulting women as they go. One night, home alone, Rose is attacked by the vile Garrick character who tormented Marianne so in Surrender the Heart, but is saved by the intervention of Alex Reed, the very man who protected Marianne and allowed her to escape. However, during his defence of Rose, Alex is shot and left unconscious. Though harboring hate in her heart for the British who killed her parents and are threatening her freedom, Rose begins to nurse Alex back to health in grattitude for saving her from a terrible fate. Too weak to make his way back to his ship, Alex is forced to stay on Rose’s property. Placing her family at great risk by secretly harboring a British Naval Lieutenant during the War, Rose hides Alex in the barn, but Alex’s intervention in another unsettling situation sees him unexpectedly appointed as the Drummond’s servant, Alex’s identity of course only known to Rose. Right?

Enemies at war, neither Alex nor Rose can understand the other’s motivation for their help. Initially distrustful of each other, Alex and Rose are forced to spend time together to keep up appearances. In doing so they are also forced to admit (at least to themselves) that their perceptions may have been wrong, and they must question their own views of the war, as well as the so-called enemy. Each haunted by events from their past, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, the rising threat of an unavoidable battle between their countrymen and the unwelcome interference of a jealous suitor seems to build up to more tension than these two confused souls can take. Their hearts reaching out to each other, their souls forbidding it, can an American farm girl and an English nobleman surrender their fates to God and allow themselves to love?

Surrender the Night is a beautiful sequel to Surrender the Heart. We again meet up with some beloved characters from the first book, meet some lovely new ones, and get a glimpse of Luke and Cassandra’s story which will be told in Surrender the Dawn. Sadly, this third instalment is not available in South Africa yet, but here’s hoping it might be in time for my Christmas stocking? I truly adore this series and can’t wait to pick up the next instalment.

Marylu Tyndall has a knack for effortless storytelling. Her characters are really well developed and very believable. You as reader come to care about them a great deal, and when they find themselves in danger you find yourself holding your breath. The chemistry between the characters, especially between Rose and Alex, is very real and tangible as well, and the description of dramatic events puts you on the edge of your seat. The British invasion and description of the historic destruction of Washington is really well written, making you as reader feel that you’re experiencing the events first hand. The sign of a truly gifted author.

I also love how Marylu leaves interpretation of the titles of the books up to her readers. I interpret the meaning of Surrender the Night as surrendering the darkness of your past to God; giving Him all of your hurts, fears and mistakes and trusting Him to heal you. You have to let go of what you're holding on to in order to receive something new. You have to surrender the night to embrace the dawn - a life full of light.

Happy reading!

Author Deeanne Gist read my blog!

Exciting news, friends! Deeanne Gist actually read my mini review slash recommendation of her book A Bride in the Bargain, and commented on it on Twitter! How cool is that?!

@NastassjaLoots Awww, thanks for the post, Nastassja. I'm glad you enjoyed the book!less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyDeeanne Gist DeeanneGist

I love authors who interact with their fans, so now I love Ms Gist even more. You can follow her on Twitter @DeeanneGist.

I WAS MENTIONED BY A FAMOUS AUTHOR!

I just thought I'd share something that really made my day with you. My blog was mentioned on Twitter by one of my favorite authors, Laurie Viera Rigler! :D
Check it out:

Check out @NastassjaLoots piece about Jane Austen & Austen-inspired books and films here http://nastassjaloots.blogspot.com/less than a minute ago via APILaurie Viera Rigler
austen_addict

If you're on Twitter, you can follow Laurie at http://twitter.com/austen_addict. If you feel like it, you can also follow me: http://twitter.com/NastassjaLoots

Exciting Stuff!