Was God really going to take me out with a supervolcano? He could have simply let me die.

Book Review | Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks

by Iola Goulton

Darby Graham was a forensic linguist, but now works for the mysterious Clan Fenian. She has been sent to the Mule Shoe Dude Ranch, an exclusive art retreat in the mountains of Idaho, both for her own benefit and to investigate a series of accidents.

The story is told in two points of view–Darby is first person and Bram is third person. This felt a little jerky at first, especially at the first switch from Darby to Bram), but I got used to it pretty quickly and it didn’t bother me after that. If anything, the switch from first to third was a subconscious cue that the point of view had changed … because I tended to miss the obvious cue, like the new chapter.

#FastReaderProblems

The retreat is very back-to-nature, with no cell phone reception and no internet access. Also no television, radio, electricity, or modern sewerage. There is no road in, just a trail that’s suitable for horses and the occasional horse and cart bringing up supplies. Other than that, access is by helicopter.

It’s the perfect setup for a suspense novel …

The accidents Darby was sent to investigate keep happening, and there are a couple of instances that seem more like someone trying to frighten her off. Then there are the earthquakes – the ranch is only fifteen miles from Yellowstone, so some degree of volcanic activity is to be expected.

But, as someone who lives within erupting distance of another of the world’s supervolcanoes, I can tell you that you can’t feel most earthquakes. When you can feel them, it’s time to get worried.

The story was effectively a closed room mystery, like Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (I haven’t read the book, but have seen a movie adaptation). In typical Christie style, there is a Big Reveal where Darby finally puts together all the clues and uncovers the real evildoer–predictably, the character I least expected, but one who make perfect sense.

Woman in Shadow is yet another excellent thriller by Carrie Stuart Parks, who never fails to impress me with her heroines. #ChristianThriller #BookReview Share on X

I’ve read several other novels by Carrie Stuart Parks, and she never fails to impress me with her heroines. They are intelligent and brave, and usually have a unique skill and fascinating skill or occupation. Darby is no exception. This is backed up by a tight and effective plot, outstanding writing, and the occasional welcome drop of humour.

The real heroes of this story are Holly and Maverick, the “stray” dogs Darby adopts as the story starts and takes to the ranch. They prove all the old sayings about dogs as protectors and friends.

Recommended for suspense readers, especially dog lovers.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Woman in Shadow

A woman off the grid.

Darby Graham thinks she’s on a much-needed vacation in remote Idaho to relax. But before she even arrives at the ranch, an earthquake strikes—her first clue that something is amiss. Then when a cabin on the edge of town is engulfed in flames and problems at the ranch escalate, Darby finds herself immersed in a chilling mystery.

A town on fire.

A serial arsonist sends taunting letters to the press after each fire. As a forensic linguist, this is Darby’s area of expertise . . . but the scars it’s caused her also the reason she’s trying to escape from her life.

A growing darkness.

As the shadows continue to move in, the pieces of the town around her come into sharper focus. Can she trust the one man who sees her clearly?

You can find Woman in Shadow online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

We're effectively cut off from the world with a badly injured woman and a homicidal maniac on the loose.

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week 193 | The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner, who writes beautiful novels with deep Christian themes. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

No matter how the world has changed over the course of my life, somehow crayons still smell the way they did when I was a kid.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About The Nature of Small Birds

When Mindy announces that she is returning to Vietnam to find her birthmother, it inspires her father, mother, and sister to recall the events of her adoption at the end of the Vietnam War during Operation Baby Lift. In this beautiful time-slip story, Mindy’s family reexamines what it means to grow together beyond genetic code.

Find The Nature of Small Birds online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Do you participate in online author groups?

Bookish Question #184 | Do you participate in online author groups?

by Iola Goulton

I’m part of several active Facebook groups for authors (as well as a few for readers).

I’m also a member of dozens of Facebook groups for authors which I never visit because they are nothing but havens for post-and-run spammers. I should probably do myself a favour and leave the groups, I forget I’m in the groups because I never see the posts.

Off topic, but that’s one reason (of many) why it’s not a good idea to spam Facebook groups: no one will see the posts, so what is the point?

Anyway, it won’t surprise you to hear my favourite Facebook groups are the ones where the admins keep a tight lid on spam. In fact, “no spam” is a rule in all the groups I’m admin for.

Off topic again: it always amazes me how many so-called writers can’t read group rules that say things like “no links” or “no self-promotion” or “no spam”. Either they can’t read the rules, or they think they’re above the rules. Why else would you spam a group that forbids spam, or post links in a group that says no links?

Several of the writer groups I’m in are member-only groups i.e. only paid members of a specific writing organisation or paid training course can join the group. Those are some of the most useful.

Others are general groups that anyone can join, as long as they agree to the group rules (e.g. no spam).

My favourite groups are:

Australasian Christian Writers

Christian writers (and readers) from Australia, New Zealand, and around the world. An excellent place to ask questions and get advice that’s not US-centric.

Christian Writers Downunder

The first online author group I connected with, thanks to Paula Vince inviting me.

International Christian Fiction Writers

In this group “international” means “not from the USA”, because it’s important to know there is more to Christian fiction than the books published by the major US-based publishers.

SPF Community

A free group by Mark Dawson of Self Publishing Formula. He also has paid groups of those in his paid courses. This isn’t a Christian group so the content is sometimes a little more adult, but Mark is one of only a handful of writer coaches who earns more from writing and publishing than from teaching. As such, he is walking the talk rather than talking the walk.

Association of Christian Writers

Yes, another ACW. This one is a writing group for British Christians, and they allow non-members to join their Facebook group.

Christian Authors and Writers

The biggest group I’m a member of, and which has a lot of new writers and unpublished Christian authors.

Strengths for Writers

Author and Gallup-certified Strengths coach Becca Syme discusses the application of Gallup Strengths for writers … and for life in general). If you’ve every wondered “why do I find it hard to …”, then Becca has the answer.

Each group serves a different purpose.

Some allow me to learn, some allow me to teach, some allow me to connect. All are important.

I’m also a member of many reader groups … but that’s a topic for a different post.

What about you? Do you participate in online author groups?

The war had taught Lena de Vries to do many things. Hard, impossible things.

Book Review | Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

by Iola Goulton

It’s been a while since I read a Lynn Austin novel, and I’d forgotten what a brilliant writer she is. In Chasing Shadows, she takes on what I think is a new time period for her: World War II.

She also introduces a setting that I haven’t seen before in WWII Christian fiction: the Netherlands.

The story stars at the end of the war, as the Allies finally free the Netherlands from the tyranny of the Nazis. We are introduced to Lena, a farmer’s wife, and to her (mostly absent) family, and to the shadow people … the people she hides in her barn and cellar.

The novel then slips back in time by six years, to June 1939, shortly before the war started (yes, American readers: World War II started in September 1939).

There are three main characters in the novel: Lena, a farmer’s wife; Ans, her rebellious eighteen-year-old daughter; and Miriam, a Jewish musician from Germany. Chasing Shadows follows each of them through the war – escaping from Germany, the outbreak of war, the invasion of the neutral Netherlands. Each woman is faced with hard, almost impossible choices, choices which challenge and refine their faith. They have to choose to do the hard thing over and over because it’s the only right thing.

In many ways, Chasing Shadows was a difficult novel to read.

While Lena, Ans, and Marian are all fictional characters, history has already taught us that these things happened, and that normal women like these had to make impossible choices to survive themselves and protect those they loved. And while we know the end of the story (the Allies were victorious and the Netherlands was freed), we don’t know what is going to happen to the characters in the story. At times, that tension was almost unbearable.

Chasing Shadows is a brilliant World War II novel that shows how the Dutch people reacted to the Nazi occupation, the choices they made, and the trials they faced. It highlights the oustanding yet dangerous work of the Dutch Resistance movement.

Most of all, it shows how much of this work was done by everyday Christians working to protect the Jews and other enemies of the Nazis. As such, it is both encouraging and challenging as it shows Dutch Christians loving their neighbours—Jewish and otherwise—as the Bible commands.

Overall, Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin is a powerful novel about the trials and triumphs faced by the Dutch in World War II, shown through the eyes of three very different women.

Chasing Shadows by @LynnNAustin is a powerful novel about the trials and triumphs faced by the Dutch in World War II. #BookReview #ChristianFiction Share on X

Recommended.

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Lynn Austin

Lynn AustinFor many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband’s work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she’d earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Along with reading, two of Lynn’s lifelong passions are history and archaeology. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 24 novels.

Find Lynn Austin online at:

Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

About Chasing Shadows

For fans of bestselling WWII fiction comes a powerful novel from Lynn Austin about three women whose lives are instantly changed when the Nazis invade the neutral Netherlands, forcing each into a complicated dance of choice and consequence.

Lena is a wife and mother who farms alongside her husband in the tranquil countryside. Her faith has always been her compass, but can she remain steadfast when the questions grow increasingly complex and the answers could mean the difference between life and death?

Lena’s daughter Ans has recently moved to the bustling city of Leiden, filled with romantic notions of a new job and a young Dutch police officer. But when she is drawn into Resistance work, her idealism collides with the dangerous reality that comes with fighting the enemy.

Miriam is a young Jewish violinist who immigrated for the safety she thought Holland would offer. She finds love in her new country, but as her family settles in Leiden, the events that follow will test them in ways she could never have imagined.

The Nazi invasion propels these women onto paths that cross in unexpected, sometimes-heartbreaking ways. Yet the story that unfolds illuminates the surprising endurance of the human spirit and the power of faith and love to carry us through.

Find Chasing Shadows online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction for July 2021

by Iola Goulton

We’re halfway through 2021. Some of us have read more books that we’d planned so far this year … and some haven’t (me). Whichever category you fit into, there are always more books being published that we can add to our to-read piles. Here are some new and recent releases in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers:

General Contemporary

Rocky Mountain Restoration by Lisa J. Flickinger — Josephine Thorebourne doesn’t deserve happiness. Not after the mess she’s made. Mid-voyage, on the steamship Jameson, she learns of the tragic loss of her family’s money. Money she stole with the hopes of turning a profit. What should be a delightful voyage up the Canadian coast turns into a journey of regret. Josephine seeks the solace of the man she loves, only to find out he’s an imposter. Left with no other choice, she must return to her home town of Stony Creek and face the anger of those she’s betrayed. Owen Kelly was given the opportunity of a lifetime to steward on the SS Jameson. The work meant he could escape his difficult upbringing along the wharves of Chicago. When his heart falls for the woman in cabin eight, Owen must decide if he will continue his work on the ship or follow the love of his life to her Rocky Mountain home. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)


Rescuing Her Heart by Cindy Ervin Huff — On visitation rounds as a lay preacher, the last thing rancher Jed Holt expects is to be shot at from the barn next to a burned-down homestead. But the soot-covered woman hiding inside needs protecting, and Jed is the man to do it whether she likes it or not. Delilah James’s nightmares began when she came to Kansas as a mail-order bride. Her husband was nothing like his letters. Now that he is dead, she can’t shake his abuse from her heart. Trusting men tops her never-again list, and taking a job on the Holt ranch as a housekeeper is a means to save money and bring her parents west. But her attraction to the compassionate former chaplain both angers and confuses her. Jed has his own nightmares from a POW camp and understands Delilah better than she knows. Can two broken people form a forever bond? (Historical Romance from Iron Stream Media)

Gold Rush Bride Caroline by Linda Shenton Matchett — Scarred in a childhood accident, Caroline Vogel has yet to find a man willing to marry her, so she heads to the Pike’s Peak goldfields to pan enough ore to become a woman of means. When she and the handsome assistant trail boss hit it off, she begins to hope her future may not be spent alone. Then she catches wind of dark secrets from the man’s past, and she’s not sure what or who to believe. Orphaned as a teenager, Oliver Llewellyn stole to survive, then used his skills for the army during the war. Nowadays, he applies his knowledge to catch dangerous thieves for the Pinkerton Agency, so guarding a young woman during a wagon train journey should be easy. But he didn’t count on the fact she’d angered a man bent on revenge. He also didn’t count on losing his heart. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)


Hollywood is Not Home by Annmarie M. Roberts — Would you trade fame for privacy? Movie star Maggie Malone has a glamorous lifestyle with everything money can buy―except privacy. Hounded by the paparazzi and ridiculed for her faith, Maggie secretly struggles with severe anxiety and loneliness. All she desires is to be herself–southern girl by birth, ranch lover by heart. When an anonymous benefactor invites Maggie to participate in a secret project, will her hopelessness find a new direction? Or will she become another celebrity travesty? What if she discovers Hollywood is not Home? Her faith, family, love, and future hang in the balance . (General Romance from Ambassador International)

The Scarlet Pen by Jennifer Uhlarik — Enjoy a tale of true but forgotten history of an 19th Century serial killer whose silver-tongued ways almost trap a young woman into a nightmarish marriage. In 1876, Emma Draycott is charmed into a quick engagement with childhood friend Stephen Dee Richards after reconnecting with him at a church event in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But within the week, Stephen leaves to “make his fame and fortune.” The heartbroken Emma gives him a special pen to write to her, and he does with tales of grand adventures. Secret Service agent Clay Timmons arrives in Mount Pleasant to track purchases made with fake currency. Every trail leads back to Stephen—and therefore, Emma. Can he convince the naïve woman she is engaged to a charlatan who is being linked a string of deaths in Nebraska? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

General Historical:

If it Rains by Jennifer L. Wright — It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.
Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband―and her new social class―expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading. (General Historical from Tyndale House)

Romance Contemporary

Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — In 1895, Cora Anderson jumps on a cross-country train to escape New York society and her domineering father. She leaves with only some spare clothing, jewelry that once belonged to her grandmother, her cherished violin, and hopes for an uncertain future. The tiny town of Chickadee Creek is idyllic and welcoming, but it’s only a matter of time before Cora’s new friends discover the secrets of her past. More than a hundred years later, Chelsea Spencer is fleeing a dangerous situation of her own when her great aunt’s antique shop in Chickadee Creek becomes the perfect haven. At the same time, up-and-coming Hollywood star Liam Chandler has returned to the town of his ancestors to grieve some painful family losses and ponder the direction of his career. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))


A Future to Fight For by Mindy Obenhaus — Widow Paisley Wainwright’s so close to taking her Texas event-planning business to the next level by turning Renwick Castle into a wedding venue. Only one thing stands in the way: her longtime rival, Crockett Devereaux, who wants the building to become a museum. When the building’s owners insist they collaborate to implement both plans, can Paisley and Crockett put their differences aside…and fight for their dreams together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

The Cowgirl’s Sacrifice by Tina Radcliffe — Needing time to heal after a rodeo injury, Kate Rainbolt heads to her family ranch to accept the foreman job her brothers offered her months ago. But the position’s already been filled by her ex-boyfriend, Jess McNally, and the only open job reports to him. With Jess as her temporary boss—and turning into something more—might he finally convince Kate to put down roots? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))


The Yes Dare by Kathleen Y’Barbo — After spending most of her adult life as a football wife and mother to twin sons, fashionista Coco Sutton is learning how to be single and fabulous. Emphasis on Fabulous. The sports trophies, memorabilia, and heavy masculine wood furniture in the home she used to share with Ryan have been banished to the attic, and her home is now a cozy haven of plush candle-scented comfort. She’s got big plans that include owning a boutique or maybe an art gallery, but she never planned to take on the biggest challenge of her life: staying single. Then her best friend gives her a copy of a book called The Yes Dare, and all her plans are turned upside down. (Contemporary Romance from White Glove Publishing)

Romantic Suspense/Thriller

Her Sanctuary, His Heart by Michelle Dykman — Five years ago, Braelyn Kane’s daughter died. Her marriage imploded, and Forest Hill became Braelyn’s sanctuary. She’s praying for her new life to start, but she doesn’t know where to find it. (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Ambassador International)

Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene L. Turner — Some secrets are dangerous…But uncovering the truth could be deadly. Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim? (Romantic Suspense/Thriller from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy

Journey to ChiYah by Kimberly Russell — JADE PEPPERDINE HAS A PROBLEM: Her life is crumbling beneath the weight of the past, events of the present, and fears for her future. Things need to change, but she doesn’t know where to start. Answers come in the form of an unexpected opportunity when Jade finds herself stuck in a mythical land. She meets Mayor Dudley, who insinuates she is emotionally broken and in need of repair … a fact she’d just as soon ignore. He offers to help her get home if she is willing to face her issues through a process of restoration. Frightened and skeptical yet out of options, Jade grudgingly agrees. And soon figures out that change is a journey, not a destination. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

Western

A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy — Falcon Hunt awakens without a past, or at least not one he can recall. He’s got brothers he can’t remember, and he’s interested in the prettiest woman in the area, Cheyenne. Only trouble is, a few flashes of memory make Falcon wonder if he’s already married. He can’t imagine abandoning a wife. But his pa did just that–twice. When Falcon claims his inheritance in the West, Cheyenne is cut out of the ranch she was raised on, leaving her bitter and angry. And then Falcon kisses her, adding confusion and attraction to the mix. Soon it’s clear someone is gunning for the Hunt brothers. When one of his brothers is shot, Falcon and Cheyenne set out to find who attacked him. They encounter rustled cattle, traitorous cowhands, a missing woman, and outlaws that take all their savvy to overcome. Ajs love grows between these two independent people, Falcon must piece together his past if they’re to have any chance at a future. (Western from Bethany House (Baker) Publishing)

Young Adult


You, Me and the Stars by Michelle Dykman — He thinks she’s shallow, she thinks he’s a nerd. What happens when they are forced to work together?
(Young Adult from Ambassador International)

 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

An Unexpected Legacy by Amy R. Anguish, Smoothies brought them together but would the past tear them apart? (Romantic Suspense)
Where Hope Begins by Heidi Chiavaroli, This is Book 2 in The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series, a contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women. (General Contemporary)

Discovering Emily by Carlene Havel, How can Emily rebuild her life after her husband deserts her? (Contemporary Romance)

The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan, A determined dad. A wary mother. Making amends is never easy… Injured in a kayaking accident, champion Evan Holland returns home to train rescue dogs. But his unexpected partner is the woman he left behind, Natalie Bishop. And she has a secret: a son Evan never knew he had. Now Evan must prove he can be a real father. But earning Natalie’s trust back will take hope, forgiveness—and risking everything on forever… (Contemporary Romance)
Amish Country Threats by Dana R. Lynn, Her brother was murdered. Will she be next? (Romantic Suspense/Thriller) 

Secrets in September by Doreen McAvoy, Will was looking forward to eighth grade. Will he even make it past September? (Middle Grade) 

It’s Mystery…Birds by Janetta Fudge Messmer, Follow the Early Birds, plus one, on an RV journey where snooping around leads them to more than clues. It may even include a little matchmaking amid criminal activity. (Mystery) 

Trapped in a Hot Air Balloon by Mark Wainwright, When angry siblings find themselves trapped and terrified in a runaway hot air balloon, their situation spirals out of control, forcing them to confront their fears in order to survive the crash landing. (Young Adult)
First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week 192 | Dual Power of Convenience by Chautona Havig

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Dual Power of Convenience by Chautona Havig, the first book in the multi-author Independence Island series. I haven’t read any of her books yet, and I also haven’t read any of the Independence Islands books, so I’m looking forward to it.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

This isn't what I had in mind decided to open a mobile bookstore.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Dual Power of Convenience

All they wanted was a happily-never-after.

When Richard Danforth inherits the family estate on Merriweather Island, he doesn’t have time to deal with it—especially not from halfway across the globe. He’s too busy working to become the world’s newest billionaire and avoiding the women who would detract him from his goals.

Enter Lyla Santana. Fresh out of Oxford University with a degree in antiques and a relationship that nearly killed her to leave, she’s eager for the isolation and treasure trove that is Danforth Hall. Lyla also is determined to avoid men at all costs. Forever.

It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again.

So, what’s Richard doing on Merriweather just weeks after the wedding? And how will his arrival test Lyla’s faith, not to mention stretch their so-called relationship?

You can find Dual Power of Convenience online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

And don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Have you read more or less books than planned in 2021?

Bookish Question #183 | Have you read more or less books than planned?

by Iola Goulton

We’re halfway through 2021 already (and I’m sure it’s a sign of age that the years are going faster and faster).

It’s been a busy six months, and the last few weeks have been beyond hectic. It’s “the season” at work, which means my three-day-a-week job has morphed into four days in a good week, and six in a less-good week.

As such, I haven’t had as much time for reading as usual. When I do finish work, I find my brain is often so fried that I can’t concentrate on anything longer than an email or blog post. This has definitely affected the number of books I’ve read. I’ve managed to keep on top of my reviewing list (well, I’ve managed to read them. Writing and posting the reviews isn’t going so well).

I volunteered to judge a couple of writing contests, and I’ve managed to get those books read and the scoresheets back to the organisers in good time. It’s a small win, but I’ll take it.

But my reading for pleasure has really fallen by the wayside.

According to Goodreads, I have read:

  • 45 books in total (against a target of 150)
  • 15 books off my to-Read list (against a target of 48)
  • 2 writing books (against a target of 12)

As you can see, I have a way to go … and possibly some books to check off as read. But “the season” will be over soon, and hopefully that means I can go back to a shorter work schedule and more time (and brain space) to read.

How about you? Have you read more books than planned, or are you also playing catch-up?

Eliza Jane had always been of the mind that enough lipstick could solve any problem.

Book Review | Paint and Nectar (Heirloom Secrets #2) by Ashley Clark

by Iola Goulton

Ashley Clark’s debut novel, The Dress Shop on King Street, was a powerful dual-timeline story that highlighted and humanised the tragedy and inhumanity of racism. The writing was brilliant, the research was excellent, the setting was fascinating, and the both stories were compelling—especially the horrible choice one mother had to make to ensure the best possible future for her daughters.

Paint and Nectar has the same brilliant writing, the same excellent research, and the same fascinating setting: the city of Charleston.

But I didn’t find the story nearly so compelling.

It was a variation of the Romeo and Juliet story. Two families each blame the other for stealing and hiding valuable Paul Revere silver (yes, apparently Paul Revere was famous for more than a certain night-time ride).

In the past timeline, Eliza and William Pinckney meet and fall in love, but are driven apart by their feuding families and the lust for silver.

In the present, Lucy Legare falls for Declan Pinckney before she finds that not only is he the Pinckney heir, but his father is trying to force her out of her house … partly because he wants to find the missing silver, which he believes is buried in her garden.

One reason was that the underlying intergenerational conflict wasn’t believable.

Even in the past timeline, an hour with a metal detector would have provided the answer to the mystery of the buried silver. The other thing that annoyed me was this line, which is Declan thinking about Lucy:

She wasn’t like the other women he knew.

It’s an overused trope that places one woman on an unachievable pedestal while dismissing all other women. (It’s even more annoying in reference to faith: she wasn’t like the other Christians he knew). Instead of telling us Lucy is different, show us … and show us without using tired and inaccurate stereotypes.

Having said that, I liked Eliza and William and their story.

While William was doing the wrong thing (forging Eliza’s paintings), he was at least acting out of a noble reason (providing for his sister). I was less keen on Lucy and Declan and their story. This was mostly because of Declan’s father: he was clearly the evildoer, but his motives weren’t clear. That made him feel like a caricature rather than a realistic character. That affected my view of Declan.

There were also several nuggets of wisdom in the story, and they kept me engaged. Overall, this was a solid story but it didn’t have the impact of The Dress Shop on King Street, which was excellent.

People go wrong in two ways in life. They either save all their blue paint until it's dried up and gone, or they waste it upon futile attempts at perpetuity.

Half of me says you should read Paint and Nectar before reading The Dress Shop on King Street, because that way you won’t be disappointed by the plot. The other half of me knows that’s impossible: while both are standalone novels, there is enough crossover between the two that reading Paint and Nectar first would spoil a few of the plot points in The Dress Shop on King Street.

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark has brilliant writing, excellent research, and a fascinating setting; the city of Charleston. #ChristianRomance #BookReview Share on X

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Ashley Clark

Ashley Clark writes romantic women’s fiction set in the South, and The Dress Shop on King Street is her debut novel. With a master’s degree in creative writing, Ashley teaches literature and writing courses at the University of West Florida. Ashley has been an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers for almost a decade. She lives with her husband, son, and two rescued Cocker Spaniels off Florida’s Gulf Coast. When she’s not writing, she’s rescuing stray animals, dreaming of Charleston, and drinking all the English breakfast tea she can get her hands on.

Find Ashley Clark online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

About Paint and Nectar

In 1929, a spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William’s passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he’s keeping . . . but setting things right will come at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds–including enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy’s been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family’s development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history’s sake but also for her own.

Find Paint and Nectar online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week 191 | Polarized Love by Lisa Renee

by Iola Goulton

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. Today I’m sharing from Polarized Love, the third book in the Single Again series from Australian author Lisa Renee.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Bethany Michaels stared at chunks of beige vomit splatterd across the Navy officer's polished shoes--her vomit.

I have visited Rottnest Island, and it was great fun (although our crossing was a little calmer than this one). I’m looking forward to “visiting” again in the pages of this book, and meeting more quokkas.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About Polarized Love

Polarized Love begins with a fun, romantic encounter on the shores of Rottnest Island. An American Navy chaplain meets a feisty Australian journalist investigating the Quokka mystery.

Why are the rare marsupials dying on the Island? Will the handsome American, Lachlan Peters, help Bethany Michaels with her cause or distract her from her mission?

Beth has served her family and father’s church faithfully, and now it’s her turn to leave the nest and spread her wings. But does her dad push her into the arms of the right man to launch his daughter into her God-given destiny?

When an American sailor, Nick DeHann, arrives on the shores of the West Coast of Australia, Beth is swept away with the promise of high aspirations. As the rushed relationship unfolds, Beth finds herself torn between following someone else’s dream or settling for the comfort of home and all she’s ever known.

Lachlan Peters returns to San Diego from his time in the Navy and tries to gain his footing in a life that has passed him by. Will Lachlan realize what he’s missing out on before Beth commits to another man?

You can find Polarized Love online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click the link which will take you to the master page of all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

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What's your view on chapter titles in fiction?

Bookish Question #182 | What’s Your View on Chapter Titles in Fiction?

by Iola Goulton

Chapter Titles in Fiction—Love, Loathe, or Ignore?

Most of the books I read are on Kindle, and the Kindle book often defaults to opening at Chapter One. As such, I don’t see the Table of Contents to know whether there are chapter titles or not (although I suspect not).

It’s therefore a surprise when I do see chapter titles.

As it happens, I saw this question on Twitter this week. Most of the respondents seemed to like chapter titles … but they were also authors who used chapter titles. I’m not convinced that was an unbiased sample.

Personally, I’m not a fan.

Why not? Because too often, the chapter titles feel like they are telling me what’s going to be in the next chapter.

Here’s an example (from the Twitter thread I read):

Table of Contents with Chapter Titles that tell the whole story

While there are a couple of clever chapter titles, some are too obvious and “telling” what’s going to happen. It almost looks like a copy of their beat sheet (a tool some writers use in planning their novel). I can see that being useful for authors.

I’m not so sure it’s great for readers.

I can see this being useful in children’s fiction, especially for parents or teachers who are reading aloud to children. Having a “spoiler” chapter title give the reader an idea of what is coming so they can choose to stop reading at an appropriate time.

As an adult, it feels childish. After all, why read the book if I can get the essence of the story by reading the Table of Contents?

I know some authors use chapter titles when writing, both to remind them what they’ve already written and to act as a prompt for what should happen in the next scene or chapter. But they typically get deleted during editing.

It’s hard to come up with good chapter titles. If they’re not needed, why bother? Why not spend that time and creative effort on polishing the writing instead?

Overall, I either ignore chapter titles, or loathe them.

What about you? Are you a fan of chapter titles in fiction?

If so, can you suggest a novel where the chapter titles enhance the story?