Defining "Goodness"

There are few books that truly rock me and shake my foundation - standing out as profound amidst the countless others I read. But "Saving Amelie" did just that, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Have you ever truly considered the essence of humanity? What it means to be human? Or even deserving of such a title? It breaks my heart to think back on Hilter's Nazi Germany and realize that the real tragedy of what happened was the devaluing of one life over another.

Hitler decided that one variety of humanity took precedence over every other. He trained a generation of young people to believe that anyone who was outwardly "broken" was undeserving of life. "Life unworthy of life." It wasn't just Jews - though such discrimination against race and religion isn't any easier to swallow.

But where then, do we derive this concept of inherent worth? Is there even such a thing... I'll dare to challenge you that every time we abort a pregnancy because of down syndrome, deafness or blindness, we are practicing the very same principle of eugenics Hitler valued.

When we discuss inherent worth, Christians fall back on the fact that we're all created by God, regardless of flaws - which are a side effect of "the fall." But somehow, we've come to see flaws as outward. Flaws are something that's obvious, like your appearance or abilities. We even throw in so-called "BIG" sins - like murder - everything else can be explained away and justified.

Still... the reality remains that we've all lied, envied, hated, blamed, cheated and hurt. And once those faults come to light - or at least we're made aware of them - it becomes painfully clear that each one of us is broken. No one is righteous, not one - all have fallen short Rom. 3.

If that's true... that we're all broken, whether physically or spiritually... then by Hitler's estimation, there is no one who is deserving of life. Whether earthly or eternal. So where on earth did this concept of "good person" come from? Have we all duped ourselves into believing we know goodness? Is there even such a thing?

For many, all they know is this life, so they hope to leave a legacy, praying that those left behind will forget their inadequacies.

For others, who hope for the hereafter, they trust that their "goodness" will earn them a place in heaven. Like a scale, they pray their good will outweigh the bad.

And for many Christians - who self proclaim their eternity is secure - God is too holy to approach. Once they become aware of their own shortcomings, they back away from the throne of God, hoping to fix themselves (make themselves good enough) before they come before Him, ready for heaven.

Yet, if the standard for deserving peace upon death is "goodness" and not one of us are truly good - then all of humanity is doomed and there is no hope. We're all broken.

If you're counting on a good reputation, rest assured - your flaws will come to light when your children open their mouths.

And if you hope you life was lived more "good" than bad, then how are you to ever know? The mind is unreliable, and all the lies, unkind words and thoughts blend together into a fuzzy haze. Your friends are likely to be gracious - but inside, well, who's to know if you were MOSTLY good?

And for the Christian... God's standard is perfection. You stand no chance of getting yourself right before approaching the throne. You could never be righteous enough.

Don't you GET IT? We're all broken.

It's all written down in the gospel. Jesus didn't count the self-righteous priests as worthy. For all their outward "goodness" they were broken inside. They broke their own rules either in secret or in their hearts. Yet, in the years he walked among us, Jesus embraced the broken - the tax collector who robbed citizens by overcharging them; the prostitute; the fishermen who likely flunked out of entering religious profession. They were broken and they knew it.

When Jesus entered the house of the tax collector, Zacchaeus, he told the astonished crowd (who considered themselves to be more "good" than this cheat), "Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man too, is a son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19.

It's humbling... It's so easy to place ourselves on a scale next to someone "more broken" and consider ourselves more worthy. More good.

But we're all broken - imperfect. Which entirely levels the playing field, leaving everyone in dire need of saving from death. After all, Hitler considered the broken to be, "life unworthy of life."

I'm sorry if bringing up Hitler's standard is shocking to you. It shocked me when I read Saving Amelie. But it proves a point.

In the book of Mark, chapter 2, Jesus encountered a man who is paralyzed. And before a crowd, he tells the man that his faults are forgotten (it says "your sins are forgiven," but sin means "to miss the mark" and forgiven means to give up claim... to let go... it doesn't matter anymore) When questioned, he tells the crowd, "Why do you questions these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."

When you think of Jesus, who is he? He claimed to be God. So was he just a good man who said a lot of good things? But I have to tell you, either he was who he claimed to be, or he was lying. And if Jesus was lying, then we can't label him a good man, because he based his life off of that claim to be the son of God. In John 10:30 he says, "I and the Father are one."

Do you know what else he says in John 10?

He compares his people to sheep and himself to their shepherd. There's only one way into the sheepfold, and that's through the gate. Anyone else is a thief and a robber.

There's only one way into heaven. And you don't have to be perfect to get in, you just have to be his. For this reason, he laid down his life for the sheep. He placed himself between his sheep and the wolves, sacrificing himself to protect them.

Therefore, his own blood was shed to cover our imperfections, so that they might be forgotten when we stand before the Father. Instead, God sees the blood of his own Son, and counts us as His own. That is how you enter by the gate into the sheepfold.

There is not other way to be certain of your eternity.

Because we're all broken, and what is broken cannot enter unless it has been made whole by His blood. Made perfect by the sacrifice of the one who lived a perfect life and died for those underserving. But He didn't stay dead, he arose, conquering an eternal death. And it is only through him that we can have eternity.

Because on my own, I'm just not good enough, and no matter how hard I try, I can't be. I say all the wrong things and I make more mistakes than could be recalled. My goodness looks pale in comparison to perfection.

And so, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the Dead, you will be saved, for everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved Rom 10:9-13.

Some Christians sum it up as the ABC's. And trust me, it's not all that complicated in concept to trust yourself into God's care.

We call it the ABC's, because it conveniently stands for Admit, Believe, Confess.

A - Admit to God that You're a sinner and ask for His forgiveness 

B - Believe that Jesus is God's son and that He came into the world as Savior 

C - Confess your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, because there is no other. 

It's really that simple. And you don't have to be perfect, you just have to be His. There are no other prerequisites, and nothing else with count in place.

Diamond of the Rockies Series (Kristen Heitzmann)

 I really do love Historical Fiction.

So its on this note, that I'm sharing one of my favorite series (though I do have a few).

If I have to narrow down what makes a book meaningful, enjoyable, and worth reading two dozen times (my record is about 15 times) I would say two things:

Historical accuracy and prose.

Kristen Heitzmann is well known for her Italian characters and suspense novels, but she has put out a few historicals, and her Diamond of the Rockies series is on my top ten list.

That's a hard list to make.

 To be on my top ten, a book has to be a really, REALLY good read. I have standards, you know!

But as I mentioned before, I have a short list of qualities, and my goodness, this series is beautiful - and words can be beautiful.

Just to start, in my own writing, I use this series as a standard. No exaggeration.  Someone once told me that the trick to writing a good historical fiction novel, is recognizing the fact that you're telling a story, not writing a history book. That said, if a historical anecdote is not relevant to the story, it's not necessary.

As a writer, it's SO easy to get sucked down endless holes and lost down rabbit trails of research. One little detail will lead to another so fascinating, it's difficult to resist putting on the page, whether relevant or not. But that's not even half the struggle. The real struggle is finding the perfect way to set the scene - blending foreign concepts into the story without confusing the reader.

 For this reason, I truly admire Heitzmann's style. The way she sets the scene - describing the Sonoma, California of the 1880s as well as the mining town of Crystal Colorado. The cities come alive without sounding unreal. They have a certain grit to them, like you're standing in the world of antiques - but come alive.

I can't exactly put words to it, but something that bothers me about Hollywood and novels, is the unrealistic nature of their settings. the places and scenes feel more fictional and corny than a place and time in history.

Heitzmann brings a bygone era to life, putting texture and taste to history - and I do mean taste. My mouth waters when I read about Carina's cooking. There is nothing quite like a word picture of Italian food.

Even the characters fit into this old world - their language, their clothing, mannerisms, values - it all feels so real. You can't impress modern values on a historical character. Heitzmann however, takes historical values and makes them relevant to the reader. And isn't that the point of history?

But I said I had two things on my short list - here's the second.

Prose...

Now, let me begin by saying that not all of my favorite books are poetic, metaphoric, and full of symbolism - I don't think that's always the best approach. Instead, Heitzmann enters into her characters and brings their unique perspective onto the page.

Carina Maria Degratia is Italian - a passionate spitfire - small, yet full of emotion. She speaks with her hands, pulls, her heart makes deep, poetic connections to those around her.  

Quillan Shepard is a loner. He's the strong, silent type with a rogue's smile. While extremely protective of every emotion he experiences, he has the heart of a poet, and can memorize entire books upon reading them. 

These two characters come through very strongly whenever they are featured as the POV character. Carina's passion and compassion are almost heartbreaking - moving - as a reader. You heart will bleed. While I LOVE reading Quillan's poignant wording. Like an artist, his thoughts paint word pictures. It's not flowery prose for the sake of it - it's the characters' unique perspectives. And it's beautiful.

On another note, if you are thinking about looking into the series, I would say that even for a Christian novel, consider the fact that the books follow a married couple and the more intimate side of their relationship is discussed (though not shown). Show discretion. I read them for the first time in High School. Make your own judgement.

Still, the moral values in this story are incredibly strong. Interestingly... Carina is Catholic, while her husband's journey is much more protestant. Still, the differences between Catholic theology and Protestant are not strongly emphasized. Carina crosses herself on multiple occasions and seeks advice from the local Father Antoine. Her favorite expression is "Madonna mia!" But much of the salvation content comes from Quillan's conversations with protestant preachers and a close friend. But as a whole, marital fidelity, even in the face of extreme hardship is a core and central theme. Other themes include forgiveness, trust and justice.

This series really is one one my favorites. I hope you'll give it a chance.

"Driven by hope and vengeance, Carina Maria DiGratia leaves her idyllic home in Sonoma, California, for a new life in the mining town of Crystal, Colorado. Though the town has a rough element, Carina is determined that it is the place her dreams will come true. Early on, two men vie for her trust, but neither is what he seems. Will Carina discern the truth in time to prevent tragedy?"

Click here to find in on Amazon (the first book is free on kindle!)
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Through Waters Deep (Sarah Sundin)

My first year attending the Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference, I met another writer of Historical Fiction - Sarah Sundin. Interestingly enough, that same year, she received, "Writer of the Year" for her book, "A Distant Melody."

I picked up that book, figuring it had to be good if she was awarded for it, and it quickly became one of my favorites. I've been purchasing her novels ever since and I've yet to read a book of hers I didn't like.

"Through Waters Deep" arrived in my mailbox about a week ago. And honestly, I didn't know what to expect - Sarah Sundin's previous books were very well written, historical romance, taking place predominantly in Europe with the characters' primary involvement in the Air Force, be it the pilots of B-17's or flight nurses. This novel, ventures into new waters (see what I did there?).

Here's the BCC:

War is coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead? 

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary.  

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

See what I mean? Still WWII, but now we're pre-war, home-front, Navy, and not just historical romance... but a mystery. Very Nancy Drew.

But while different... I LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

Sarah Sundin does not disappoint.

I haven't read a mystery novel since I was in elementary school, but my goodness, the ah-ha moment - you'll appreciate it. And the very sweet, budding romance between Mary and Jim was adorable. I think every young woman who's ever felt mousey will instantly love Mary. And Jim - he's wonderful in an out-of-step sort of way. The characters are perfectly endearing and you'll be rooting for them the whole way.

But I have to say... Sarah Sundin is a master of "will-they-or-won't-they." I was on the edge of my seat for several hours, frustrated (in the best sort of way) and worried for the characters as they press forward, facing challenges that only with God's strength and courage can they overcome.

Looking forward to #2 in the Waves of Freedom series

Click here to find it on Amazon
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I'm A Book-Geek

As I start, I must preface my post with the fact that getting the story straight matters VERY much to me. It bugs me to DEATH when a movie scripts ventures away from a perfectly good book.

Normally, when this conversation comes up, I mention Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. This mess is probably the worst I've seen. The book is amazing, just for the record and VERY different from the Anne Hathaway movie. I will say, I do love Anne Hathaway, but Ella is not a hippie, ogre/elf rights activist. Ella is more of a Cinderella character with a whole bunch of plot twists. And the book DOESN'T TALK. It's just a fairy gift.

But back to my main topic of conversation. For years, I have been lamenting the fact that Hallmark has been turning Janette Oke's books into movies. I actually saw the movie, "Love Comes Softly," before I read the books. The books, let me state, are very much in the style of L.I. Wilder, and are sometimes more biographical than storylike in nature sometimes. Especially when it comes to Marty's step-daughter Missy (who is never widowed in the books, by the way). For some reason, Hallmark though it would be a good idea to turn everyone into a widow. First Marty, then Missy and of course, Belinda - who by the way, was Marty and Clark's biological "surprise child." Missy never adopted her, nor did her husband die. She and her sister Ellie both live very happy lives in the west with a passel of children.

But OH MY GOODNESS - when I found out that Hallmark was working on the Canadian West series, I about had a heart attack. You have to understand that those books are my favorite of all things Janette Oke. The first book, "When Calls the Heart," is a wonderful story. I was completely petrified, worrying that they would ruin this perfectly good story.

It took me a while to get up the courage to watch the movie.

Anyways, to set the record straight, the movie really messed with the Thatcher family tree.

To begin with here's the REAL DEAL.

Elizabeth's mother was a widow with one son, Jonathan, from her first marriage. She then married Elizabeth's father and together they have, Margaret, Ruthie, Elizabeth, Julie and Matthew.

Jonathan left Toronto, Canada and moved to Calgary where he and his wife Mary have four children: William, Sarah, Kathleen and Baby Elizabeth.

It's this Baby Elizabeth that I think the movie is trying to tell the story of, but they completely mixed up siblings.

Wynn, was Elizabeth's brother Jonathan's Mountie friend. Jonathan's children call him, "Dee," which is half the reason Elizabeth was confused about Wynn's marital status (which the movie did get correct). The scenes with the smokey fire and the box social are in the book. Elizabeth never met her family's "very-single" Dee, but did meet the Uncle Wynn of Phillip Delaney. These events were true.

She actually found out the truth from her sister in law, not Lydia Delaney. Mary corrected her in private when Wynn showed up at the Calgary Thatcher home when Elizabeth come home on visit from her school near Lacombe. But knowing that Wynn isn't Lydia Delaney's husband isn't the the meat of the plot as the movie would have you believe. The real plot is merely hinted at in the movie by way of mentioning the, "why a mountie can't marry," speech.

Here's the speech, by the way:

"Other men can run their lives in this order: God, wife, work; but [a mountie's] has to be: God, work, wife, and [Wynn] won't as a woman to take the lesser position." 

Hence ensues the plot. following which are adorable scenes where Elizatbeth fakes a broken ankle and such to get time alone with Wynn in order to change his mind.

You really ought to read the book.

It's told in first person, and in some ways, is very much like the movie, SOME WAYS. It drove me nuts that they over simplified the situation with Andy. In truth, Andy got headaches because he got kicked by a horse in the head when he was little, and never fully recovered. That's why they held the box social. Everyone knew Andy was a little slow when it came to his schoolwork and why he got headaches. He wasn't sick.

And I'm sorry to say, Elizabeth actually stood Wynn up after he bought her box lunch (this was when she though he was married.) The movie was correct is stating that Phillip Sr. was in the hospital, however.

And about the mice... She did buy traps, but ended up letting her SINGLE mouse live in peaceful coexistence with her. And she wasn't late her first day. She was on time. And her students weren't near as bad as the movie made the out to be, most of them were simply incredibly uneducated. And she actually began creating lessons on nature because she wanted Wynn's help. She never got poison ivy.

If you can't tell, I'm going crazy right now.

What I'm trying to say, is that when a scriptwriter is working from a book, they ought to stick as close to the original as possible. I do understand that movies need more action than books sometimes provide, but I would rather they simplify scenes, or create plausible scenes, than modify facts about the story.

Maybe it's the author in me - I'm just a tad scared that one day I'll write a book and someone requests movie rights. Let me just state right now - I want to write the script, or at least oversee the writing of the script. No one is doing the same doozy on my book that Hallmark does on Janette Oke books.

But really - READ BOOKS people.

It's always better than the movie.

And for those of you who wondered at the end of the movie what happened to Wynn and Elizabeth, let me just say - Wynn finally figures out that a woman, if she loves a man enough, can handle the Northern frontier and not regret marrying him.

And Elizabeth does stay in touch with her brother's family, contrary to the movie. She sends letters at every opportunity. They even attend her wedding.

Anyways, I'm done. My rant is over. I just had to make a point about books being better than movies.

Ella Enchanted, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Love Comes Softly, and When Calls the Heart. All perfect examples. The book is always better.

I'm done now.

Emily

Oh... and one final thought. I am an avid watcher of Arrow and the Flash. When I realized that Stephen Amell was playing Wynn - that's half the reason I finally sucked it up and watched When Calls the Heart. Seeing him in period clothing was pretty awesome.

The Outlaw Takes a Bride (Susan Page Davis)

Finally managed to finish a new book today. It took longer than usual, but let me assure you - not because I didn't like the story. Seems like I have to eek out time for reading nowadays.

Anyways.

I found this one at Barnes and Noble the other day. I pulled out a few from the shelf to read first chapters. This is the one I liked best - and it may very well be because of the cover. For goodness sake! It's beautiful. I especially love the writing across the top (maybe from one of her letters to Mark?) But the BCC also sounded interesting and the first chapter was good.

So for your pleasure, here's the description:

Johnny Paynter flees Denver to escape being hanged for a murder he didn’t commit. At his brother’s ranch in Texas, where he thought he could take refuge, he finds his brother, Mark—dead. Taking advantage of his strong resemblance to his brother, Johnny assumes Mark’s identity. Soon Johnny discovers that Mark had been corresponding with a widow named Sally in St. Louis, and she’s en route to be a mail-order bride to Mark. Seeing no other option, Johnny makes a fateful decision to go through with the wedding, posing as his brother. But Sally has secrets she's hiding, too. How will a marriage survive with so much deception?

Now, if I'm honest... I may have an affinity for secret identities. I just find them fascinating to read because I spend most of the story dying to know when someone will find out. But this story had a lot to offer.

The Outlaw Takes a Bride is very much a classic, western prairie romance. There's plenty of great historical detail about ranch life in Texas that gave me the same nostalgia as Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Books and Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series. It just has that feel to it - with a bit of gunplay thrown into the mix.

It was definitely a good read. I enjoyed it and every minute I wasn't reading it, I was wishing I was curled up on my couch following Johnny and Sally (to be honest, I wish she went by Sarah and he by John, but that's just my personal preference).

The only thing that bothered me was perhaps too much attention to everyday life. I did appreciate it as a history buff, but it did create a bit of drag. I also hoped Johnny would get a backbone for the first half of the book. But he found it when Sally needed him. Good boy.

Happy reading

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The Doctor's Lady (Judy Hedlund)

Lately, I've been in a reading mood, which of course, means that I've been scrounging amazon for new books. So I decided to share my newest read with you.

As I always do, I skimmed a sample of the writing in google books, but I liked what I saw, so I bought it (It was a fairly cheap ebook). Honestly, I won't pay more than five dollars for an ebook. If it costs more than that, I prefer a hard copy. For a hard copy and a hard copy alone will I put out $10. But that's just me.

Anyways, Jody Hedlund's writing (I had never picked up anything by her before) was incredibly reminiscent of Janette Oke to a certain extent. I didn't expect that. But I believe, her style is largely in part due to the fact that the Doctor's Lady was inspired by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman.

I didn't realize the historical relevance until I read the author's note, but it was such a sweet story (and I do appreciate good research) that I wanted to applaud her for turning a true story into an engaging, novel-worthy story.

Here's the BCC:

Priscilla White knows she'll never be a wife or mother and feels God's call to the mission field in India. Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field.  

Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs. Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

I really enjoyed the book. For the most part, I don't read, "based on a true story" type books because true story don't always carry the same tension that something more fictional might. Still, I loved the historical details, many of which were direct parallels to the Whitman story, even the secondary characters of Mr. and Mrs. Spalding. And maybe I'm biased because one of my own characters is doctor, but Eli Earnest was amazing. He and Priscilla... oh my goodness, I looked forward to every scene where they were in the same space (I can't say "room" because they were on a wagon train) because they would have the best conversations.

If you enjoy the history of the west, or even the history of American evangelism and mission work - this book give great insight (with a wonderful flare of romance). She really captured the idea that often, People of the early 1800s (in this case, the 1830s) believed that the Native American ways (in this book, the Nez Perce) were heathen and inferior - it was their job to civilize them - rather than simply bring Christ into the culture. I suppose I never considered that. But Priscilla definitely enters the story with this worldview (Eli challenges her).

But in summary, I would count this book among my favorite combinations of "historical" and "romance" in the truest sense.

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A Most Inconvenient Marriage (Regina Jennings)

I swear - this might be one of my new favorite books (I have a runnings list). 

The other day, I was looking for something good to read and so I was browsing Amazon for Christian Fiction. Anyways, low and behold, this is the book I came across.

I scrolled down the page to read the reviews and I liked what I saw. Seems like this story is getting some good press (for a good reason). Considering I haven't read anything by Regina Jennings before, I might just have to keep an eye on any new books she puts out.

Let's get to the chase...

Here the BCC:

Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.Most Inconvenient Indeed. 

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them. After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

Anyways - why was this book so good? I laughed a lot and I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. Not to say that this book is entirely comical in content! By no means! My heart ached for Abigail, but sometimes I wanted to smack her for the stunts she pulled. She's a fantastic heroine. And Jeremiah - my O my. That boy. Equally well characterized.

There is a point in books where you place yourself in the shoes of one of the characters, and you feel the plot the way they experience it. Every scene between Abigail and Jeremiah... I'm be as red as a tomato at times, but I'm also a sucker for medical history, I loved the bits about massage therapy during the Civil War. I'm not even sure if it was massage therapy - but something along those lines (I ought to know since I tuck medical history into my own manuscripts, but I don't. Oh well).

I'm such a picky reader. But the friendship between these two, fighting against horse thieves and trying to help Jeremiah's sister, is so fun to read.

Pick up a copy of this book if you enjoy a good Civil War/Reconstruction Era Christian Romance.

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READER TIP:
I'm a new fan of the Amazon Kindle Matchbook. I have the kindle app on my laptop. So what I do is I buy a paperback copy of the book (I'm a sucker for a hardcopy!) and then I get the ebook for just a few dollars. It works well for me because what I do is I go to google books and I read the first few chapters of a book I'm interested in. But if it's a good read, I can't wait for it to come in the mail, I have to finish it immediately, so with matchbook, I get a cheap ebook copy.

Prairie Song

book cover

 Mona Hodgson has another book coming out in just a few days... August 6th to be exact... and I just finished reading it a little while back, so I thought I'd tell ya'll a little bit about it.

Personally, Mona is an expert at taking you back in time... not to simpler times, not by a long shot! But most definitely to "days gone by." She's personally told me about her historical explorations and this lovely lady puts a lot of work into making a story come to life!

Well, let's kick things off by saying that this book follows two women, primarily Anna, who has quite the hero complex. Anna's bravado revolves around saving her mother from her grief induced alcoholism and in order to so that, she must take her mother and grandfather west with the Boones Lick Wagon Company, where unbeknowst to her, the biggest risk to her mother's secret is in the form of a man who works the wagon company that she just can't stay away from!

a wagon train

In order for a story to be good, a character must risk what they want most in order to gain what they really need. And in Prairie Song, I believe Mona masters this!

It's a very sweet story that will keep you coughing/laughing into your hands all the way through. Irony has a way of doing that!

History buffs will love it! Mona cleverly paints a picture of life on the trail for these pioneers and immigrants, discussing family rolls, hardships and even food!

example of a Conestoga Wagon

a pioneer family

Excited

One of the perks of being a writer and knowing other writers, is I get to pitch in every now and then with their writing careers.

Mona Hodgson, a very sweet lady and good friend of mine from Mt. Hermon has allowed me to read a per-release copy of her book, "Prairie Song." It won't be out in your local book store for a while yet, but if I know Mona, this story is going to be just as sweet and "sigh-incurring" as her Cripple Creek series.

Before I can say anything in particular about this fantastic little book, I have to finish reading it. But if you like wagon trails and quilting... she has three e-book novellas that come before Prairie Song that you can find on amazon. I give her stories flying colors if you are in the mood for a cute historical romance.

find it on amazon kindle

find it on amazon kindle

find it on amazon kindle