Fiery Secrets by Stephanie McCall - REVIEWED

About the Book: (from  HopeSprings Books)
When it comes to trial, God either spares you from it totally, asks you to walk through it, or delivers you from it by taking you to Heaven. Dr. Grace Taylor, a driven pediatrician and single mom, needs divine intervention if she’s going to heal from the actions of her cheating, abusive ex-husband.  But she never thought God would work through Chris Anderson, a tutor at the local learning center whose secrets keep him from opening up to her. Both Grace and Chris have been asked to walk through their trial by fire; they’ve come out alive, but they still smell like smoke.  Despite fears and distrust, love begins to take root in their hearts. But their fiery secrets threaten to keep them apart, and blister their souls.

My Thoughts:

“Being brave means doing something you need to do, even when it frightens you.” (Chris to Jacob)

Stephanie McCall has created a cast of characters who need to brave in very significant ways in her novel, Fiery Secrets.  Stephanie, Chris and Jacob have truly come through trials that have seared their souls.  They struggle with fear, trust and the acceptance of forgiveness from both God and other people in their lives.  McCall’s story is both compelling and honest in the manner in which these situations are handled.  Life isn’t always neat and clean in its choices or its consequences, and many times we refuse to accept the grace and forgiveness offered to us through Christ’s death on the cross.  Our relationships with others are profoundly affected when we strive to achieve that forgiveness any other way.

Stephanie and Chris must also struggle against some pretty evil people as they try to follow the Lord’s direction in their lives.  They must learn to trust God’s protection, and there are instances that His protection is timed pretty tightly!  There are many nail-biting moments in this story both emotionally and physically, and I found myself whispering a prayer or two on behalf of the characters myself!!  Again, life circumstances aren’t always neat and clean, and Fiery Secrets masterfully displays that fact!

I came to care a great deal about McCall’s cast of characters!! All of them are well-developed and very believable.  She is very good at creating realistic relationships of every variety, and the relational issues dealt with in this story are both gritty and believable!  I’ve become a true fan of McCall’s work, and I look forward to her next novel!! I’m happy to recommend Fiery Secrets to all readers!!

About the Author:

Stephanie McCall is an English teacher with two Master of Arts degrees from Western Carolina University, one of which has a professional writing concentration. She also has a B.A. in Religious Studies. She lives in North Carolina with her parents and younger brother, where she enjoys reading, writing (and discussing her writing), and participating in Bible studies, prison ministry, and her church’s drama team. She also plans to adopt a cat in the near future. Her favorite Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11

Stephanie’s books published by HopeSprings Books:

• “Fiery Secrets”, a romantic suspense to be released on July 2, 2013.
  ISBN 978-1-938708-16-9 (paperback),
  ISBN 978-1-938708-17-6 (ebook)