Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson - REVIEWED

“…what a woman does or doesn’t do should be up to the woman. She should be who she is, not what others expect her to be.” (p. 195)

Living lives as others expected them to had brought sixteen women to rather desperate circumstances. The Ladies Emigration Society promised something no one else would dare promise a lady in 1871 – the opportunity to own land and make a living independent of a man. This promise, along with some slick talking from a man who the women later learned could not be trusted, brought sixteen unmarried, mostly widowed women to Plum Grove, Nebraska, and once they arrived they learned a shocking truth. And thus begins the saga of Stephanie Grace Whitson’s Sixteen Brides.

Of the sixteen women who disembarked from the train in Plum Grove, six of them choose to pursue their original dream of owning land independently of any man and making a life for themselves in one of the most rugged landscapes imaginable. Zita and her rather homely daughter Ella, Ruth and her adolescent son Jackson, Caroline, Sally and Hettie form an unshakable bond that allows them to successfully pursue the desires of their heart. However, by the time their dreams begin to move into reality many circumstances are introduced that begin to carry them into entirely unexpected directions. After all, despite Nebraska’s wilderness-like setting, there are still plenty of men about who aren’t exactly opposed to the female half of the human race.

Lucas Gray, Matthew Ransom, Jeb Cooper…these are names that begin to take on significant meaning as the story develops. You see, it seems that this group of women, no matter how determined, can’t outrun what God has designed as the best plan for their lives. I have to say, I’ve never met a stronger, more independent, brilliant group of women in my life! I got very attached to each of them, and by the time I neared the end of the story I found myself cheering them on and anxious to see what developed for each of them! God is so good to bring wholeness out of our brokenness!

There are a lot of things taking place in Plum Grove, Nebraska folks! Come on out and join the fun! Pick up your copy of Sixteen Brides and begin your adventure today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and two time Christy Award finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty--her motorcycle--all rank high on her list of "favorite things". Visit www.stephaniegracewhitson.com

Chasing Charity by Marcia Gruver - MY REVIEW

It’s as plain as the nose on my face that I missed a humdinger of an adventure in Marcia Gruver’s first book of the Texas Fortune series - Diamond Duo! (I shared it with my mother-in-law to read and review) But all is not lost! Chasing Charity is filled to the brim with broken hearts, misunderstood dreams, budding romance and exciting discoveries! In short, it seems like everyone in Humble, Texas is chasing Charity Bloom for one reason or another, and the poor girl has to sort it all out before she winds up missing her third trip to the alter!

Humble, Texas has become a boom town for the oil industry, and Charity Bloom hates it. Despite the fact that she and her widowed mother, Bertha, have to scrape by on what she earns working as a house maid, Charity loves her home town and the loving memories it contains. Daniel Clark has ruined her chance at lasting happiness, but Buddy Pierce has come along, and Charity runs into him over and over again – literally! When Buddy discovers Charity’s mom chasing a chicken soggy with oil sludge the entire world begins to tilt on its axis!

Suddenly, Charity and Bertha Bloom are waiting to discover if their property holds the key to making their future brighter than the Texas sun. The prospect of a change in fortune brings folks slithering out from under every rock, leaving the Bloom women to discern between friend and foe. It’s a lot trickier than it should be! They discover a lot more about the folks in their home town than they ever wanted to know – included insights about their own hearts!

Chasing Charity will have you chasing first one idea then another as you follow the adventures of Charity and Bertha Bloom! Bertha provides a lot of hilarity in the story, and she turned out to be one of my favorite characters! Her faith in the Lord is absolutely contagious! Both women learn to trust God as they never have before, and with as many twists and turns as this story takes, you will too! It’s with much enthusiasm that I recommend Marcia Gruver’s story to you! It’s just plain fun! Yeee-haw!!


Marcia Gruver is a full time writer who hails from Southeast Texas. Inordinately enamored by the past, Marcia delights in writing historical fiction. Her deep south-central roots lend a Southern-comfortable style and a touch of humor to her writing.

Awarded a three book contract by Barbour Publishing for full-length historical fiction, Marcia is busy these days pounding on the keyboard and watching the deadline clock. Diamond Duo, the first installment in the trilogy entitled Texas Fortunes, is scheduled for release in October 2008.

Marcia won third place in the 2007 ACFW Genesis contest and third in the 2004 ACFW Noble Theme contest. Another entry in 2004 finished in the top ten. She placed second in the 2002 Colorado Christian Writer’s contest for new authors, securing a spot in an upcoming compilation book. “I Will Never Leave Thee,” in For Better, For Worse—Devotional Thoughts for Married Couples, was released by Christian Publications in January 2004.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Fellowship of Christian Writers, and The Writers View—and a longstanding member of ACFW Crit3 and Seared Hearts, her brilliant and insightful critique groups.

Lifelong Texans, Marcia and her husband, Lee, have one daughter and four sons. Collectively, this motley crew has graced them with ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter—so far.

Sinner by Ted Dekker

“Half of what you think you know has been subjected to deception. You think you know so much about what matters: we all do. But we’re blind to the real issue facing us. We’ve been sold a magic trick.” (p. 125)

The Circle Trilogy, Showdown, Saint, The Lost Books series…and now Sinner. The story began several years ago when a present day man found himself transported to another place and time, fighting a war against evil in two worlds. Then readers were introduced to the town of Paradise, Colorado and evil took on an even deadlier form…birthed from the Lost Books found in a monastery. Another world reopened and went even further back into the histories when The Lost Book series was introduced. All along the way Ted Dekker has celebrated the wondrous gift of God’s son and His redeeming blood shed for us upon the Cross. Now the Great Love Affair has come full circle with Sinner.

Ted Dekker is trumpeting the TRUTH of God’s word as powerfully and effectively as his character Johnny Drake called believers to Paradise, Colorodo. As Christians, we are all called to be light in this very dark world. Dekker’s novel, Sinner, dramatically portrays the war that Christians will face until Christ’s return as the “religious” tolerant shout foul and spew their lies about true Christianity.

The day has come – we are living within it – when good is called evil and evil called good. Ted Dekker has used his skillful writing and poured all of the basic truths of the Gospel into a thriller that will stay with you long after the final page. What makes it so powerful?

In a real sense, it’s not really fiction. Brilliant, Ted Dekker. Simply Brilliant.

“Remember the darkness and remember that it is dispelled by the light,” he said to them. “Hold your children close. Love your wives. And pray, Paradise. Pray that the light will illuminate the world.” (p. 248)

A View from Erin Healy's Window!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to introduce Erin Healy to my readers!! This very talented lady just released a novel with Ted Dekker entitled Kiss, and it is a phenomenal story! The blend of the two talents is truly exciting, and Erin recognizes this opportunity as one God placed before her.

Erin will soon be releasing some of her own titles in addition to another duet performance with Dekker later this year! As editor, writer, wife and mother, Erin wears many hats, so please give her a warm welcome to my Window! I know you will enjoy getting to know her just as much as I did!

How did you and Ted first become acquainted?

Ted and I met years ago at a CBA convention when I was acquiring fiction for WaterBrook Press, but we didn’t start working together until after I became a freelancer and Thomas Nelson hired me to work on his novel Blink. We were connected by a colleague, Traci DePree, who edited Ted’s earlier works and, incidentally, was the fabulous freelancer who worked on Kiss and our next novel, Burn. (And I had the privilege of editing Traci’s Lake Emily series years ago, so I guess you could say we’ve got a little love triangle going on. But I digress.)

Ted Dekker’s name conjures up fantastic stories and amazing adventures! You have been part of his work as an editor for years…what was it like writing together?

The process was a blast. Hard work, but very satisfying. We’ve worked together long enough now to know each other’s likes, dislikes, and tendencies when it comes to storytelling. We’ve done a lot of give-and-take over the years and managed to establish trust in each other. Writing with Ted is like speeding down the freeway at a hundred twenty in a Porche Boxter with the top down. Just try to keep up with this man’s energy and ideas! Brainstorming with him leaves me with a wide-eyed, windblown look. I need him to bottle his gifts so I can drink them.

Who was inspired with the initial storyline and how did you come to write as a team?

I came up with a concept for a story about a woman who can relieve people of their most painful memories, a mercy “angel” whose good intentions go all wrong. It was rooted in questions I’d been asking myself about how far a compassionate person could—or should—go in trying to relieve someone’s suffering. Maybe this story will find its footing one day in a sequel about Shauna. Who knows? Ted loved the idea of memory stealing and transplanted that device into a story concept that had bigger political and relational stakes, and Kiss grew from there.

I understand there will be a second collaboration, can you tell us a little bit about that?

I’m really excited about Burn, which is already off our desks and in the capable hands of our editors. Burn ups the ante. It’s an intense, brain-bending story about a woman forced into making a critical, life-changing decision … and what might have happened if she’d made a different decision. It’s a novel about the dramatic stakes involved in dying to self, and what life on the other side of that action looks like, for better and worse.

Will you continue to edit Ted’s other work, or are you in the process of transitioning from editor to writer yourself?

Yes, Ted and I continue will to work as an author/editor team even while we wear co-author hats. I have reduced my editorial workload considerably since I began writing more, but I don’t see myself quitting that entirely. I love to edit. Ideally, writing more will make me a better editor, and vice-versa.

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your writing goals and dreams for the coming year?

I’m blessed, and that sums it up. I’ve been editing for seventeen years and have enjoyed nearly every day of it. I’m busy at home with a full editorial workload as well as a ten-year-old and a five-month-old. My husband, Tim, is my hero and helper and most amazing supporter. Without him, I couldn’t do any of this. This will be a busy year of writing for me. My first two solo novels are both due this calendar year, and Ted and I hope to embark on novel number three as well.

Any closing words of encouragement you’d like to share. What exciting things is God doing in your life right now?

If this whole process of launching a career as a novelist isn’t exciting, I don’t know what is. I couldn’t have engineered the opportunities that God has placed in front of me; it’s all His doing. Somehow he directs me even when I’m stumbling around, blind and helpless! When you feel this way, I’d encourage you to commit yourself to excellence in whatever situation you find yourself in. Whatever you do, do it for the pleasure of God, even if it seems mundane or pointless. I believe God honors hearts that are content to please Him.

A beautiful story!! The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen

“We all have to make choices sometimes, and our decisions have consequences.” (p. 463)

These twelve words are the summation of a great truth in all of our lives. Each day we live, we make choices that will roll forward into the future and carry with them unfathomable results. Pamela Binnings Ewen has written an enchanting, haunting tale that re-captures the life of her grandmother Barbara during the roaring 20’s. While some of the story has been fictionalized, the heart and soul of the tale exists within a captivating, independent-minded young woman searching for truth and meaning in her life. Her search spans many years and several continents, and it will take you back into a vibrant, tumultuous period in our country’s history. It is a story that will linger in you mind just as the evening moonlight lingers in your heart.

Barbara and Harvey leave the familiar home of their Philadelphia upbringing to become medical missionaries in Siam in 1919. Barbara meets the challenge of life in the remote jungles of Asia with remarkable flexibility at first. However, she experiences a violent, spiritual rape by one of her fellow missionaries that leaves her forever changed. From the moment she encounters this harsh, unloving god of religion she begins to question what difference any of her husband’s service to these people makes in the scope of things. Once she begins to question the reason behind this mission work, it’s as if her heart and mind goes into an all-out rebellion against all she has ever known of Christianity.

When circumstances in Siam become unbearable for Barbara, Harvey takes her home to Philadelphia. They aren’t in the states long before they discover everything from creation to theological doctrine has come under fire. This philosophical earthquake sends Barbara into an emotional tail-spin while Harvey once again finds fulfillment in his medicine. My heart absolutely ached for Barbara the entire last half of the book. I think everyone has suffered through the throws of their own spiritual awakening. God works through every circumstance in our life – every thought – every decision – showing us the way by revealing the consequences of our actions and choices. He lovingly draws us to Himself even when we can’t see His hand in any circumstance around us.

A wise friend finally confronts Barbara at the very pinnacle of her struggle. “The value of life is not measured by success – neither ours, nor others – nor by happiness or tranquility, nor by what people think of us. There are right actions and wrong ones. It’s not decided by how we obey men’s rules, sometimes even the rules of a church. It’s neither simple nor easy. Faith is grace. But the value of our lives is measured by what we do, by how we live. The words are nineteen hundred years old; ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’” (p444)

Barbara’s choices are not easy ones, and dear Harvey’s love for Barbara has got to be the strongest, sweetest testimony of marriage I’ve read in a long time. Their story is rich and will leave your heart and mind deeply changed. For you see, all of us have lived this story to one extent or another. I’m so thankful God loves me enough to bear with me in loving patience as I travel my own life journey, and I’m very thankful that The Moon in the Mango Tree was part of that! Don’t miss this wonderful story! You can visit the author's website here to learn more about her work.