Reviews and More Reviews
Three reviews of three different books I've enjoyed this year. A suspense. A post WWII romance. And a growing-old-with-me romance set in the Appalachian area of North Carolina. All exellent books. All I highly recommend.

The Scroll

by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky
Back Cover:
One last dig. One final descent into the twisted tunnels of ancient Jerusalem. Will the truth be found among the treasures that lie beneath the holy city?

Dr. David Chambers, leading archaeologist, has spent his professional career uncovering the facts in the artifacts. His work sets the standard for biblical research in the Holy Land. But surrounded by the evidence, David has sunk into an abyss of doubt. A painful experience with a seemingly unresponsive God has left him without hope. The Old Testament scriptures that used to fill his mind with wonder now drive him into frustration. His unanswered questions have ripped him from both his academic pursuits and the love of his life his fiancée, Amber.

An old friend and mentor reaches out to David, enticing him with the riches described in the enigmatic Copper Scroll. Losing ground with his peers, his love, and his faith, David Chambers has a choice to make. Will he undertake one final dig to unlock a secret that could alter the course of history? Do the mysteries of the Old Testament hold the key to the political turmoil of the Middle East?

In a world where faith has been eclipsed by the allure of doubt, The Scroll offers a different journey: a gripping adventure to find truth worth dying for.


My Take:
From the get-go, David Chambers seems like a self-absorbed, egotistical man, but likeable nonetheless because of the obvious flaws and personality traits Jeffrey and Gansky used for their protagonist. Obsessed with his work, he allows his faith to decline until it causes a wedge between the one woman he loves and himself. Determined to turn his back on any studies of Israel, he focuses on finding another interest to pursue.

Enter old friend and mentor Abram Ben-Judah who is successful in persuading David to join a special team for one last search of Israeli treasure. Unknown to David, his former fiancée, Amber Robinson, is part of the team, the one person who knows him and is not afraid to speak her mind around him. Add to the triangle another archeologist who’s also interested in Amber, and the setup is perfect for conflict and romance.

Danger stalks the team as they encounter terrorists determined to get their hands on the generations-old treasures. Bombs, threats, and bad press releases, in spite of one of the best security groups in the country available for protection, take the lives of several helpers. But the hope in finding the ultimate historical treasures from Biblical days keeps Chambers pushing on. The thrill of seeing the rich jewels and high priest articles is the supreme reward.

From hotel conference rooms and dining areas to tombs and tunnels, all in Israel, are the perfect settings for an exciting suspense that will keep the reader turning page after page to the end. I highly recommend this book.

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Unforgettable

by Trish Perry

Back Cover:

Rachel Stanhope tries to see the good in everyone. But Josh Reegan tests even the benevolent Rachel's good graces when they meet outside her Arlington, Virginia, dance studio on a brisk fall morning in 1951. Admittedly, he's attractive, yet his cynicism and cockiness are hard to tolerate.

A journalist and former WWII Air Force pilot, Josh considers a distraction like ballroom dancing a frivolous waste of time. Yes, Rachel's confident nature is a refreshing challenge, but he wouldn't tangle with her if his newpaper hadn't roped him into covering one of her studio's competitions in New York City.

Between Arlington and New York . . . between the melodrama of ballroom antics and the real drama of political corruption . . . between family involvement and romantic entanglement . . . Rachel and Josh have their hands full. The last thing either of them expects is mutual need and support. But once they stop dancing around the truth, the results are unforgettable.

My Take:

Anything to do with the WWII era or roundabout then, catches my attention. And this romance set right after that period succeeded.

Rachel Stanhope, determined to prove to her father that she is just as capable as her brother at creating a career, opens a dance studio where she is mildly successful. But after losing her main instructor, she hires two interesting dance instructors and starts a class for juveniles, and things take a turn for the better. Unfortunately--or is it fortunately?--she has to deal with a WWII hero named Josh Reegan who belittles her school as frivolous. Rachel, fighting the memory of a past dance partner who embarrassed her to such a degree she can't forgive or forget, is reluctant to trust another man--especially one who blows hot, then cold within minutes.

Josh, an ambitious news reporter, is disgusted when he's demoted to "society news" because of losing a main informational source. Secretly fighting to regain his previous positon which draws him into a political corruption scheme, he's angry when instructed to cover Stanhope's competition in New York. Yet that very move brings the one thing he's not sure is for him: love.

Josh and Rachel learn that letting go of their problems and trusting God will teach them the way to trust each other. Only then, will love blossom.

A sweet, enjoyable read for those who adore romance!

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Grow Old With Me

by Melinda Evaul

Back Cover:

A modern day Beauty and the Beast meet in their fifties when a disfigured carpenter becomes a guest at a bed and breakfast in the western-style tourist town of Love Valley, NC.

Benjamin Pruitt plans to repair the town’s buildings before retiring to a solitary life. Sarah Campbell longs for freedom since her long task as caregiver has ended.

Can Benjamin and Sarah piece the tattered remnants of their lives into a beautiful design to warm their waning years?



My Take:

Ah, Melinda, what a sweet, cherishable story of two hurting, flaw-able people who are drawn together.

Set in a charming bed and breakfast, small town, North Carolina state, Melinda draws a picture of love in an impossibly seeming way. Add to that, the darling quilt-named rooms, and you have a story setting that is rich in appalachianal history.

Benjamin Pruitt, carpenter, is disfigured due to an fire accident years before, lost the life he'd planned and the faith he was held dear. When he rents a room at the local bed and breakfast, all he wants is to stay clear of other guests and go about his work as quickly as he can. He doesn't plan on the sweet--and sometimes impatient--Sarah Campbell to quietly enter his life and draw him out of himself. Her growing need for help forces him to forget about his own suffering in spite of enduring the stares and an ugly rumor and accusation that points its finger his direction. But what is a man to do when the woman he loves is hurting? 

A love Benjamin once thought he'd never have. 

Life has escaped Sarah--or at least that's the way it seems. Forced into the care of her ailing parents, she's never known anything else, and has no other visible means of support, than to run the B and B. A charming place with quilt-named rooms--is nevertheless almost more than she can handle, in spite of a dear friend who does what she can to help the growing crippled Sarah, and a young couple and their child who care enough to love this couple regardless of their problems. 

Tentatively, slowly, cautiously, love advances and conquers the hearts of two real-life people who never dream that past dreams can come true--even for them.

A beautifully written story that will touch your heart and remain with you for long afterwards.

I hope you decide to buy/read all of these books. If you do, enjoy!

Blessings!

Please Welcome Melinda Evaul to My Blog This Week!
She's giving away a copy of her "Grow Old With Me!" Please leave your comment and email address.

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear “call?” Or have you just loved writing all your life?

I started writing about six years ago when my mother needed constant care and came to live with us. Writing became stress relief from the care giving and a break from her game shows and baseball games.

While communicating with people on a TV show forum site, I felt called to tell them that God had more to offer than the world. My posts communicated my faith. God gradually led me to attend conferences and online classes. I honed my skills so I could extend my witness for Him. Since then, I’ve written four novels, won several article contests, and published an article. Grow Old With Me is my debut novel. My other books may get a facelift in the future.

English was a strong point for me during school. I’ve always enjoyed creating stories in my head and I won essay contests back then. I never considered writing as a career. It’s my mid-life change of pace.

What is the genre you write in?

I write contemporary inspirational romance.

Would you explain what it is?

My novels are modern day love stories. I like to show the development of a true-to-life relationship where internal conflicts or external problems keep the hero and heroine apart. My characters grow closer to God as their personal relationship develops.
How do you spend your writing days?

I teach or attend water aerobics in the mornings and write during the afternoon and evenings. Add that to pastor’s wife, grandmother, and part-time nurse—life is very full. I’m in the research phase for my next book. It’s the time where I get to know my characters, learn about their spiritual needs, and form the plot in my head.

Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day?

I try to have a goal but it’s not a rigid plan. I make lists and end up ignoring them when other items take precedence. I never have enough hours in the day to accomplish the items on the “to do” lists.

Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

I’m a perfectionist. Letting go of my “baby” is hard. I allow myself a year to pull everything together and arrive at the point where the book is ready for viewing.

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us?

Grow Old With Me
Novel # 1 in the Quilt Trail Series
A modern day Beauty and the Beast meet in their fifties when a disfigured carpenter becomes a long-term guest at a bed and breakfast in the western-style tourist town of Love Valley, NC.


Benjamin Pruitt plans to repair the town’s buildings before retiring to a solitary life. Sarah Campbell longs for freedom since her long task as caregiver has ended.


Can Benjamin and Sarah piece the tattered remnants of their lives into a beautiful design to warm their waning years?
This back copy from my novel gives a hint at the story. Grow Old With Me pairs two middle-aged, hurting, and damaged people who discover they complete each other. Along the way, they develop a strong relationship with God.

It’s set in the real town of Love Valley, NC. Most descriptions are true to the town. You can view pictures of Love Valley on my website. The characters and some structural details are fiction. Mosey Inn doesn’t exist. The house on the cover is miles from Love Valley. I found it while following a quilt trail. The Unicoi County Heritage Museum in Erwin, TN was the home I’d imagined while writing about Sarah’s B&B. If the mention of a quilt trial leaves you clueless, visit my website to learn about quilt barns and quilt trails.
How and where can readers buy your books?

The paperback version is available from my website http://melindaevaul.com The e-book version is sold on Amazon. I’m formatting the book for Nook and other e-book readers. I’ll eventually have the paperback edition available in other locations. Those are items on that perpetual “to do” list.
What is the spiritual message in your book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

My focus verses for Grow Old With Me came from Heb. 4:15-16. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (KJV)

Just think about it! Christ faced every tough question and temptation of life. God lets us boldly ask questions. He can equip us to face every need and never turns us away when we seek answers. God longs for us to be totally dependant on Him. That was the message Benjamin and Sarah needed to learn. I’ve faced some tough situations in my Christian walk too. My works of fiction allow me to share answers with readers who face similar fears and questions.
Do you ever feel like giving up?

Of course! Writing is hard work but so rewarding when God uses the words I write to change lives.

Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through?

I sought agents and publishers for Grow Old With Me. I wrote this book based on a request from a publisher. I felt sure they would offer me a contract. After six months, they rejected it. I realized I could sell this series as niche books to an audience of quilters and people who value the heritage of rural America. Once I found that target audience, I established roads to reach them. The traditional publishing route didn’t fit my goal, so I chose to publish my own book. I didn’t want to wait several years for my book to release and my story won’t languish in some draw or hard drive. I believe I wrote a book worth reading. God will place it in the hands of those He wants to reach with its Christian message.

Who’s inspired you the most?

My husband believed in me and encouraged me to devote time to writing. He’s a great proofreader and doesn’t hesitate to offer the male perspective for the hero. More than once, he told me Sarah’s words would offend Benjamin’s male ego. I thought she’d said words of encouragement! I listened to the male in my life. My critique partner, Lynn Dean, saw me through many edits and pushed me to write the best book possible. She helped my husband create a beautiful cover design and drew the interior quilt graphics. I wouldn’t be writing blog interviews without these two special people God placed in my life.

Would you explain how you “chose” (or were chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go “inny, minny, miny, moe?”

It’s not a simple task in the world of traditional publication. As publishers shrink their yearly acquisitions, the field for new writers becomes very narrow. Agents and publishers reject most manuscripts. I decided to form my own publishing company, Winding Road Ink. In addition to creating the book design and hiring a printer, I handle the marketing. Most traditionally published authors fulfill that marketing task anyway. Thanks to e-books and POD technology, the cost was reasonable. I’m not sure I want the stress of a huge writing contract. I’d love to keep writing Christian fiction and living my life much as I do now. That’s another advantage to self-publication. I’m under no obligation to fulfill a deadline or contract unless I self-impose one.

Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

Hardly! In many ways, the work has just begun. Marketing requires time. I love traveling and meeting new people. Receiving emails from readers and invitations to speak or do a book signing brings me great satisfaction. Book sales are consistent and readers are spreading the news about the novel and my husband’s beautiful note cards. I don’t expect to earn huge money. Few writers ever become rich. I’ve given myself six months to work on establishing this novel’s reader base. Another book in this series will broaden that field, so I’ll switch to the task of creating my next set of characters and a new spiritual dilemma. It’s a constant cycle of writing and marketing. My goal is to have another novel ready by Christmas of 2011.
Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests?

• The swimming pool is my second home since I can do exercises in the water I could never do on land.
• In my younger days, our family enjoyed snow skiing, hiking, and camping. I’m getting softer as I age, so a tent isn’t home after a hike.
• Photography is my husband’s hobby so we share that by traveling the quilt barn trails or some rural back road.
• Reading and chatting with my FB friends are downtime events.
• Spending time with my grandchildren is special treasure.

Where would you like to travel if you could?

I love cruises and have taken several fabulous excursions in the Caribbean. I won a travel-writing contest with an article I penned after a cruise. I’d love to visit Alaska at some point.

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out?

• My blog and webpage are at http://www.melindaevaul.com/
• I also send a quarterly newsletter to readers who subscribe.
• I joined Goodreads.com not long ago and have an author page there.
• April and May are travel months with a long book signing tour. A list of events and locations is on my website and at Melinda Evaul-Author on Facebook. If you live nearby, come see me.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Many of my husband’s photos are available for sale as note cards, prints, or postcards. We make a donation to preserve barns and the heritage of quilting from these sales.

Promotional information?

Contact me through the webpage or my publishing company email windingroadink@att.net
I love to hear from my readers.
Thank you for hosting me today, Carole. I’m anxious to see who gets the free copy of “Grow Old With Me.”

And thank you being on my blog, Melinda. Loved having you!
Readers, Comments and email addresses.
Blessings!