The Distant Heart by Tracey Bateman, Reviewed
December 20, 2007
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Distant Heart
(Avon Inspire January 2, 2008)
by
Tracey Bateman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, including Defiant Heart, the First in the Westeard Hearts series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and recently served on the board as President. She loves in Lebanon, Missouri, with her husband and their four children.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the second book in the Westward Hearts trilogy, will the promise of a new life out west heal the scars of Toni’s past?
This series tells the stories of three strong women as they struggle to survive on the rough wagon train and lose their hearts to unlikely heroes along the way/ Thin Little House on the Prairie meets Francine river’s Redeeming Love and you begin to get a sense of the riveting historical series that Tracey Bateman has created.
In this second installment, we follow Toni Rodden, a former prostitute who sought to escape her past and build a new life, and a new reputation, when she joined the wagon train. Despite much resentment and distrust from the other women, Toni has finally earned a place on the wagon train and found a surrogate family in Fannie Caldwell and her two siblings. For the first time in her life, Toni actually feels free.
But while Toni once harbored dreams that her new life might include a husband and family, she soon realizes the stigma that comes with her past is difficult to see beyond and that she’ll never be truly loved or seen as worthy. As the trip out west begins to teach her to survive on her own, she resolves to make her own living as a seamstress when the train finally reaches Oregon.
But despite Toni’s conviction that no man will be able to see beyond her marred past, Sam Two-feathers, the wagon scout and acting preacher for the train seems to know of a love that forgives sins and values much more than outward appearances. Will Sam have the confidence to declare his love? Will Toni be able to trust in a God that can forgive even the darkest past? Faith, love, and courage will be put to the test in Distant Heart.
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Distant Heart
(Avon Inspire January 2, 2008)
by
Tracey Bateman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, including Defiant Heart, the First in the Westeard Hearts series. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and recently served on the board as President. She loves in Lebanon, Missouri, with her husband and their four children.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the second book in the Westward Hearts trilogy, will the promise of a new life out west heal the scars of Toni’s past?
This series tells the stories of three strong women as they struggle to survive on the rough wagon train and lose their hearts to unlikely heroes along the way/ Thin Little House on the Prairie meets Francine river’s Redeeming Love and you begin to get a sense of the riveting historical series that Tracey Bateman has created.
In this second installment, we follow Toni Rodden, a former prostitute who sought to escape her past and build a new life, and a new reputation, when she joined the wagon train. Despite much resentment and distrust from the other women, Toni has finally earned a place on the wagon train and found a surrogate family in Fannie Caldwell and her two siblings. For the first time in her life, Toni actually feels free.
But while Toni once harbored dreams that her new life might include a husband and family, she soon realizes the stigma that comes with her past is difficult to see beyond and that she’ll never be truly loved or seen as worthy. As the trip out west begins to teach her to survive on her own, she resolves to make her own living as a seamstress when the train finally reaches Oregon.
But despite Toni’s conviction that no man will be able to see beyond her marred past, Sam Two-feathers, the wagon scout and acting preacher for the train seems to know of a love that forgives sins and values much more than outward appearances. Will Sam have the confidence to declare his love? Will Toni be able to trust in a God that can forgive even the darkest past? Faith, love, and courage will be put to the test in Distant Heart.
Sally Says: This is the first Tracey Bateman book I’ve read in a few years, and I found it a good break from the women’s fiction I typically read. The Distant Heart is a prairie romance complete with wagon trains and Indians but with humor and spunk thrown in. It’s a light read, not a long book at all, but for those who are romance fans, historical romance fans, or book readers wanting a change of pace, The Distant Heart is a great read. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the third book in the series.
December 11, 2007
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Cindy Woodsmall’s When The Morning Comes, Reviewed
December 11, 2007
Recently I got my hands on a copy of Cindy Woodsmall’s latest book, When the Morning Comes. It’s the sequel to When the Heart Cries, an Amish novel that really grabbed me and hooked me. I so had to read this second book in the series.
I’m not one to typically read Amish novels, but I heard so many good things about When the Heart Cries that I finally gave in and read it. It wasn’t the standard Amish novel I was expecting which was a nice surprise. The story built and built, and I had to keep reading to find out what happened. I highly recommend that first book.
But that book ended with a cliffhanger. Yep, a cliffhanger. Of all the nerve! I dove into When the Morning Comes, eager to find out how things in book one turned out in book two.
I’ve heard many say they enjoyed this second book and others say that they were a bit disappointed, and I have to say I’m part of the latter group. Only one tiny bit of the storyline from book one was addressed in book two. In other words, I’m still left hanging from book one, waiting to find out what happens to the characters. Somebody (don’t remember who) describe the second book as not necessary to the plot of book one, and I have to agree. It feels more like an interlude, like a rabbit trail.
The third and final book in the series comes out next fall, I believe, and I know I’ll read that book because I’m sure everything will wrap up then, but I am disappointed in what to me was the standard Amish novel that I don’t care to read — Amish girl leaves the Amish community, slowly adapts to Englisher ways, and attracts the attention of some male Englisher.
Am I saying you shouldn’t read When the Morning Comes? Not at all. If you’re a fan of the Amish genre, you’ll enjoy it. Cindy’s a great writer. But if you’re waiting with bated breath to find out how everything from book one turns out, you’ll be very disappointed.
Cover Power
December 6, 2007
For the past two months, I’ve been shelving books in every section of the bookstore. (Yes, I do mean every section.) And I’ve learned something very interesting about myself — I’m a sucker for a good cover.
For example, look at this cover for one of Philippa Gregory’s books.
And this one.
I love the look of her books. They have that hazy, historically lavish look to them that makes British history sound captivating. Which is interesting since I took British history in college and found it boring. (Nothing like cramming a thousand years into three months.) Just shows you the power of a cover, doesn’t it?
I’ve always been an avid fiction reader, turning my nose up at the non-fiction shelves in the bookstores and libraries, but now I’ve got a list of books from the history section that I’m dying to read, books in the cooking section and biography section that I’m eager to get my hands on. And what’s done that? A great cover.
What about you? What book have you picked up because the cover intrigued you?
In Case You Were Wondering But Were Too Afraid to Try . . .
December 5, 2007
In case you were wondering but were too afraid to try, if you leave a plastic jug of peanut oil outside (the jug with the leftover oil from the deep-fried turkey), the critters in them thar woods right behind your house will do their best to claw their way through the plastic into the peanuty goodness. In fact, they’ll even manage to make one big claw mark on the bottom that you don’t know exists. Until later.
In case you were wondering but were too afraid to try, letting the peanut oil in that clawed jug leak all over your garage floor overnight leaves your house smelling like overcooked meat.
In case you were wondering but were too afraid smart to try, cleaning up a couple gallons of peanut oil with newspaper only leaves you with a wonderful example of how long eternity is.
But I’m still thankful.
There is Oil Dry.
December Fiction Releases
December 1, 2007
Need some new books to stuff in family Christmas stockings? (Or your own?)
Here is the December 2007 line-up of new Christian fiction releases. Be sure to stop by and visit the websites of the following authors. Enjoy!
1. Bluegrass Peril by Virginia Smith from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When Becky Dennison’s boss at a retirement farm for thoroughbred stallions is murdered, she becomes entrenched in a high-stakes game of danger, money, and that famous southern pride.
2. Buried Sins by Marta Perry, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Caroline Hampton flees to her family’s inn in peaceful Pennsylvania Amish country after her husband’s death, but even there, someone with deadly intent wants her to believe he’s still alive.
3. Gavin Goodfellow: The Lure of Burnt Swamp Book One of the Burnt Swamp Trilogy by Candy Abbott from Fruitbearer Publishing. Dyslexic tween encounters Christ while battling witchcraft in Burnt Swamp where fires have been burning for ten years.
4. Heart of the Family 2nd in the Fostered by Love series by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A past secret threatens Jacob and Hannah’s newfound love.
5. Kansas Weddings a Heartsong 3-book compilation by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Barbour Publishing. Three Kansas women have difficult decisions to make and burdens to bear.
6. Missouri Memories by Deborah Raney, DiAnn Mills, Joyce Livingston, and Kelly Eileen Hake from Barbour Books. The beautiful House on Cranberry Hill in Hannibal, Missouri, holds love for four generations of couples.
7. Seasons of Love Book 3 Massachusetts Weddings by Elizabeth Goddard from Heartsong Presents. Riley O’Hare must revive her grandfather’s cranberry farm, but her brother’s untimely death thrusts her into his partner’s path and into the midst of a perilous cyber crime.
8. The Love Song by Anita Higman and Janice A. Thompson from Barbour Publishing (Heartsong Presents). With God’s help, Clair O’Neal lets go of her painful past and accepts all the laughter and music and love her heart can hold.
Happy reading~