Launch Issue
LIVE
Tips for Using Books in your Holiday Decor
INSPIRE
Kathie Lee Gifford shares her adorable new picture book for kids
READ
5 Titles You Missed But Shouldn't
Modern
Mrs. Darcy Anne Bogel talks literary confessions & home libraries
HOW TO BE BOOKISH GIFTS FOR EVERY READER & GIFTS FOR THOSE WHO (GASP!) DON’T READ
B E T T E R TO G E T H E R The CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible is an invitation for all women to find their stories within the tapestry of the greatest Story ever told—God’s Story of Redemption. Featuring devotions by over one hundred writers of the (in)courage community, the CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible provides exceptional resources for women to explore the Bible, dive deep into Scripture, record their own stories, and find themselves among friends.
incouragebible.com
PROLOGUE
embrace
YOUR BOOKISH SIDE
PHOTOGRAPH: E.A. CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
Does your dream day consist of staying in bed with a good book or binge watching Jane Austen movies? OURS TOO!
Have you adopted the Dr. Seuss method of home decorating (‘fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks’)? WE HAVE TOO! Cancelled plans don’t bother us because we’d #ratherbereading anyway. YOU TOO? Well, then, hey y’all! Welcome to our very first issue of Hope By The Book – a magazine for avid readers by avid readers! You’ll fit right in as we embrace our bookish sides and celebrate books and the reading life together. At Hope By The Book, we love books. We live books. In fact, to us, books and lifestyle are interchangeable. Books inspire us to change our lives, to refine our souls, to stretch our imaginations, and to deepen our faith. We are excited to chat with you about authors, books, bookish quirks and gift ideas. Want a home library that makes you smile but have a limited budget? As part of our cover feature, the fabulous Modern Mrs. Darcy Anne Bogel shares her budget-friendly tips along with some of the best literary confessions she’s heard from readers. You don’t want to miss this article (Page 8). Trust me! Shopping for the holidays? We’ve got you covered with a fun gift guide for those who read and those who don’t (Page 12), followed by a Books For Every Reader gift guide full of books recommended by our editorial team on (Page 14). Finally, make sure you check out our reviews, starting on page 18, including Gold-Star Reviews for Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry, The Making of Mrs. Hale by Carolyn Miller, Sacred Questions by Kellye Fabian, and The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford. Special thanks to Angelia White and Hope For Women for taking a chance on this book-nerd sister magazine. We’re going to have so much fun!
Carrie
Carrie Schmidt Senior Editor, Hope By the Book
Follow me on social media @meezcarrie
PS - As the editorial team, our first love is Jesus & Christian fiction. But in this magazine, we’ll cover a range of genres, including (clean) general market fiction, as well as non-fiction and children’s titles. We are book ambassadors to our core, and we invite you to join us as we find HOPE by the book.
contents 6
14 READ
LIVE
Live 5 How to Be Bookish Reader Life 101 By Beth Erin
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Deck The Halls... With Books! Incorporating Books into Christmas Decor By Rachel Dixon
12 Gifts For Those Who Read & Those Who (Gasp!) Don't
Grab your gift list and take notes! By Annie Sturt
Read 14 Holiday Gift Guide Books for Every Reader’s Christmas List By editorial staff
16 The World According to Your Bookshelves
Travel vicariously through the pages of your favorite reads! By Liz Johnson
26 A Life Undivided What Joy Davidman Lewis’ Life Teaches Us By Patti Callahan Henry
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Winter 2018
Embrace Your Bookish Side • Vol. 1 No. 1
28 INSPIRE
Inspire
In Every Issue
27 10 Writing Tips for the
1 Prologue
Serious Writer
Editor's Note
By DiAnn Mills
4
28 The Gift We All Can Give
18 Reviews
Kathie Lee Gifford discusses her new children's book
Recommended reads from professional reviewers in a variety of genres
By Rachel Dixon
30 Eat at Home
25 Turn Back the Page
One Sheet Autumn Pork Chops
5 books you missed but shouldn’t
By Tiffany King PHOTOGRAPH: ©CARLOSDAVID.ORG/ISTOCKPHOTO
Masthead
32 Epilogue
8
What we’re reading & loving right now
over Feature C It's a Wonderful (Reading) Life with 'Modern Mrs Darcy' Anne Bogel By Carrie Schmidt WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 3
hope by the book Launch Issue (Winter)
Embrace Your Bookish Side • Vol. 1 No. 1 Publisher & Founder Art Director Senior Editor Associate Editors Copy Editors Reviewers
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Special Guest Contributors
Admin/HR Coordinator
Beth Erin
Business/Finance Coordinator
Angelia L. White Kim Baker Carrie Schmidt Beth Erin, Rachel Dixon, Annie Sturt Erica Baker, Melony Teague Rachel Dixon, Beth Erin, Patsy Glans, Leslie L. McKee, Carrie Schmidt, Annie Sturt, Kerry Sutherland, Andi Tubbs, Suzie Waltner, Alysha Worthen Liz Johnson Patti Callahan Henry DiAnn Mills Tiffany King April Johnson april@hopeforwomen.com Sherrell Jenkins sherrell@hopeforwomen.com
Rachel Dixon
HOPE BY THE BOOK | P.O. Box 3241, Muncie, Indiana 47307 HOPE BY THE BOOK IS A SUBSIDIARY OF HOPE FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE LLC COPYRIGHT 2018 4 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
PHOTOGRAPH: ©THOMAS-BETHGE/ISTOCKPHOTO
Annie Sturt
LIVE
how to be bookish READER LIFE 101
BY BETH ERIN
What does it mean to be bookish?
Let’s start with the dictionary definition: an adjective meaning devoted to reading and studying rather than worldly interests (of a person or way of life). Whether avid readers utilize books as entertainment, an escape, an adventure, a pathway to deeper empathy or all of the above, books encourage, inspire and challenge us. Ask us book lovers for our thoughts on being bookish (which is exactly what I did in a couple of Facebook groups) and settle in because books are our favorite subject! “ Books are something that bring me joy [daily]… but also book related items, shopping in a bookstore, discussing books with friends, interacting with authors, or writing stories.” –Martha
PHOTOGRAPH: ©KUZMICHSTUDIO/ISTOCKPHOTO
“ I’m never bored, because I always have a world of entertainment within reach.” –Stephenia H. McGee, author Stories teach us and reach us in an intimate, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, deep and wide special place. Stories feed our minds and lift our spirits by drawing attention to all that is good and lovely in this world. The best stories engage the mind, challenge the spirit, strengthen the heart and unite us in our experience of living, loving and believing. “ Books have always been my haven and escape.” –Kathy “ I like long walks in the bookstore.” –Jenn “ The only pitfall [of a bookish lifestyle] is lack of sleep but I never regret it!” –Bobbie-Jo
Reader life isn’t all bookmarks and paperbacks. While many of us are content to live in denial, author Toni Shiloh admits, “I will never finish all the books in my TBR [books ‘to be read’] pile.” Jenny shared that, while a lack of enthusiasm from others over a book gift can be disappointing, sometimes those people end up loving the book and then ask for recommendations! Bookish folks do love to spread the book love! Author Melissa Tagg notes that being bookish means her purse is constantly heavy because it either has “one book or two books or [her] Kindle or [her] Kindle plus a book.” Rebecca admits, “I have a hard time not inserting ‘I read a book about that’ into nearly every conversation!” When there are countless books at our fingertips, how can we say no? We can’t! “ I’m always reading 2-3 books at a time. It’s ridiculous!” –Jill Kemerer, author “ [I am] always behind on the housework because the books are calling…” –Heidi While reading is generally a solitary experience, there is a rich and thriving community of avid readers sharing this bookish journey. Books recommend the best sort of friendships. By uniting in bookishness, we can experience the varied perspectives and raw truths that grant us a richer understanding of history and cultures from around the world, and we can do it together. We at Hope by the Book want to hear from you! Share your bookish joys, tips and trials on social media. Hashtag #bebookish and tag @hopebythebook (You can also use these popular bookish hashtags #amreading #ratherbereading #booklove #shelfie #avidreader). WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 5
LIVE
deck the halls... with books!
INCORPORATING BOOKS INTO YOUR HOLIDAY DECOR BY RACHEL DIXON
T
he holidays are just around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas Decor. Whether you are an artsand-crafts veteran, or you don’t have a creative bone in your body, we have some fabulous ideas to incorporate books into your decor this holiday season.
Nutcracker Bookends
Do you have a nutcracker collection? Or maybe just a couple. We have a plethora of them in our house, and this year, I thought it would be fun to use them as bookends. Grab a couple of Christmas books or regular books and place a nutcracker on each end.
Basket of Books
Do you have a few Christmas books in your house? Grab a basket and display them in a pretty arrangement under your tree. This is especially great for children’s books. Set the books under the tree and let your children pick their bedtime stories out of the basket. Put some boughs and twinkle lights around the basket. (Trust me. You want fake boughs, not real ones. The real ones create a mess.)
Christmas Book Advent SNOWMAN: Accessories made on Canva.com; Twinkle lights: Amazon.com; Poinsettias, ribbon, and boughs: Hobby Lobby;
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Advent is so much fun. This year try wrapping up 25 books, numbering them and opening one each day starting December first. There are several online resources where you can find scripture to read each day as well. I’ll let you in on a little secret: you don’t need to buy all new books. You can use ones that you already own.
FOR MORE HOLIDAY FUN, DOWNLOAD THE HOPE BY THE BOOK DIGITAL EDITION
Book Snowman
Are you inspired yet? Our next project is this lovely snowman made from books.
SUPPLIES:
• Books–Approximately 17 white spines and eight black spines. You will need a variety of sizes. Please reference the photo here for a guide. • Scarf –This can be a real scarf, ribbon, burlap, etc. • Paper – For the eyes, carrot, mouth and buttons. I printed these through Canva.com. You can also cut these out of construction paper.
PHOTOGRAPHS: RACHEL DIXON
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Y ou want to start the base of your snowman with the largest white spine books you have. Tip: If you don’t have enough books with white spines, flip the books around and use the pages side instead. • Stacking a few books on top, you will bring the shape into a triangle, of sorts. You’ll want a pretty short book to use as the neck. Add a few more books to create the head, and make sure you end with a fairly short book. The hat can be tricky to balance. You may need to set it a bit forward on the top book as I have done here. Tip: The “snowman” books are flush along the spines. The hat will most likely need to be set forward a bit so it balances properly. • Add the scarf, eyes, nose, and lumps of “coal” for the finishing touches, and you'll have a snowman that will never melt! Tip: For the hat, you want one bigger book and the rest to be the same size if possible.
Book “Tree”
If you are feeling especially adventurous, this is the project for you. Be warned – this one will take some patience. Be prepared to make several attempts until the result is to your satisfaction.
SUPPLIES:
• T ree Base–This can be a cake stand, a piece of wood or simply a stack of books. • Books – I used 31 in the tree pictured. Again, they should be varied in size. • Optional – Tree topper, ribbon, twinkle lights, snowflakes, bells, ornaments, etc.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Tip: Organize your books ahead of time, sorting them largest to smallest. • Place the biggest book on your stand and the next book directly on top, turning it at a slight angle to offset the corners. Do this with your largest books (I used three). When you get to the average-sized books, place them spine to spine and continue stacking and turning the corners in the same direction. I did 11 layers like this. Tip: Pair books of the same thickness spine-to-spine. If your books are unequal, your tree will be unstable and will likely topple over. • The “tree” should start taking shape now. With the last few small books, place one on each row just like you did in the beginning. When you are finished, you can choose a place for your tree topper or place your smallest book on an end on the top like I did. • Add lights, garland or other ornaments to your completed tree.
Did you try out any of these ideas? Share your photos with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @hopebythebook WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 7
LIVE
It's a Wonderful
(Book) Life A READERLY CHAT WITH MODERN MRS. DARCY’S ANNE BOGEL
I
BY CARRIE SCHMIDT
“I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I weren’t a reader.”
‘Modern Mrs. Darcy’ Anne Bogel lives books (and loves them too)! Bogel has made a career of celebrating the reading life. Her wildly popular website has been affectionately dubbed “a lifestyle blog for nerds,” and her toprated podcast, “What Should I Read Next,” has further cemented her role as a literary matchmaker. Bogel reads hundreds of books a year and, with almost 200,000 followers on social media, she has quickly become known as a respected tastemaker in the reading world. Yet, chatting with her about books, it’s easy to tell she remains engaging, down-to-earth and a genuine book nerd at heart.
Clearly, Anne is a “massive” Jane Austen fan (her words). However, she admits, “I don’t need my smelling salts when Curtis Sittenfeld wants to reinterpret Pride & Prejudice.” Claiming to have read these books more times than she can count, Bogel says her big three Austen reads (“oh shoot, maybe I have [a] big four”) … her big four Austen reads are Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility and of course Pride and Prejudice. “So much of what she writes about feels so timeless,” and this was a concept that was important to Bogel as she started her blog. “I was really interested in a timely contemporary take on the issues that have always mattered, especially to women. So I mashed up the idea of Elizabeth Bennet, all grown up, presumably married to her Mr. Darcy, with the modern.”
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PHOTOGRAPHS: ADELE REDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Why “Modern Mrs. Darcy?”
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LIVE
Ironically, Anne initially never intended for the blog to be so heavily focused on reading. Yet in a matter of months, she explains, “I started writing about the things that interested me, and that I thought might interest others, it naturally gravitated that way fairly quickly.” While some of her posts touch on travel essentials and wardrobe musts, most are delightfully bookish topics such as “Let’s make Autumn reading a thing,” reading challenges, and tips on using reading journals (including her own) to track your books.
I’d Rather Be Reading
I think we’d all rather be reading at any given time of day, and fortunately Anne Bogel is here to help. Recently, the reader, blogger, and podcaster became a published author as well. Her first book, Reading People, released in September 2017 from Baker Books, and her newest release (also from Baker), I’d Rather Be Reading, arrived a year later. In this smart and witty collection of essays on the reading life, Anne covers everything from literary confessions to book hangovers to personal libraries and much more. And what selfrespecting bibliophile wouldn’t love that cover, modeled after Bogel’s own gorgeous home library? (Can the book fairy please bring me a home library with a ladder and a comfy chair for Christmas?)
Literary Confessions
Being such an approachable authority on all things books and bookishness has its interesting moments, particularly when people feel obliged to confess their “literary sins” to you. These are the kind of confessions that you whisper to a trusted friend while furtively looking around to make sure the literati won’t overhear and kick you out of the bookworm club. For many of her followers, Anne Bogel is that trusted friend who won’t judge you if you dog-ear pages (I know this firsthand) or dare to say you didn’t like that bestseller everyone else is raving about online. “Oh I’ve heard some good ones,” she confesses with a chuckle. There are, of course, the “standard” confessions, she says, the lists of authors they don’t like or the creative (ahem) ways they actually avoided reading – including one person 10 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
who dictated a term paper on Jane Eyre over the phone to another friend, who turned it in and got an A, even though neither of them had actually read the book. And then, according to Bogel, there are the truly dedicated readers who see reading as an escape that they’ll take however they can get it. “Someone told me that they had family staying with them, in town, and they decided to run out for doughnuts for the family… And she said she came back half an hour later and said ‘Uh! Glad I’m back. There was a really big line!’ But she said there wasn’t a big line - it took her five minutes to get doughnuts, and then she spent 25 minutes sitting in her car listening to Rules of Civility on audio. And then there are the truly, oh-mygoodness-scandalous - like, one reader told me that she had never told this to a living soul but the real reason she crashed - she totaled - her family vehicle was that she was reading while driving. No one knows. Not even her husband really knows the real reason she totaled their car.” Never underestimate the siren call of a good book, friends.
The Pressure!
Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to read or love certain books? Bogel believes the answer lies in our tendency to assume we are all alone in our preferences. “Reading is something that happens in private, but it’s something that we discuss in public… And so, if there’s anything that we are a little bit embarrassed about or feel squeamish about or feel a little bit inferior or not quite smart enough, we assume it’s just us because no one else has gone first and said, you know, hand held high, ‘I dog-ear pages. I hate Jane Austen. That movie was so much better than that book.’ And you feel like that’s not the literary opinion or maybe not the popular or intellectual one, so you keep it to yourself and you think it’s just you. But talking about it is so much more fun. And you always find out - it’s not just you. I’m sure even that woman who crashed her car can find someone else who can say, ‘Oh honey. Me too.’”
Making the Most of Your Home Library WITH ANNE BOGEL
Having lived next door to a library for several years and now with a gorgeous home library of her own, Anne Bogel graciously shares her advice for readers who want to create a cozy home library (or reading nook) on a limited budget.
1. 2.
For readers who want to make the most of their home library, there are three things I would recommend.
3.
Stock your home with books you love. Whether this is a hundred linear feet of bookshelves or a tray on an ottoman. Books that you are excited to read, that you’re happy to have in your home, that make your heart do a little ‘oh!’ every time you look at them.
It is not a sin to have books in your home just because they are pretty. It’s ok to buy Readers Digest Condensed Editions that you have no intention of ever reading. I collect orange Penguin paperbacks. I will probably not read very many of them, but I don’t care. They were 50 cents each at the used book sale and they bring me joy. So they are in my home. Or you can find all manner of old books that you may or may not intend to read. Maybe they’re beautiful and that’s why you don’t want to read them because you’re [going to] read your cheap paperback edition and leave the pretty hardcovers on the shelf. But having books because they’re pretty is absolutely fine.
Find some good cheap books. There are probably ways to get cheap books in your community. And if having bookshelves would make you happier than a little pile on your side table, I would really recommend checking out your used book sales. I am undiscerning about my collection. I don’t care what kind of quality it is in. I don’t care if they are written in. I don’t care if they’re dogeared. I just really like to see the spines. They make me happy. That is all I need. But I didn’t start collecting them until I realized I could buy them for 50 cents at local used book sales. So find some good cheap books, and if it makes you happy to have more rather than less books in your home that will help.
I’ve got them. Now, how do I organize them? Organize them and display them in whatever way makes you happy. There is no right way. Whatever works for you - whatever lets you find your books and be happy when you look at them - is just fine. Even if other readers want to call you names because you’ve chosen to do them by Dewey Decimal or rainbow order or ... my assistant does it by Trivial Pursuit category.
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 11
LIVE
Gifts for Those Who Read & Those Who (Gasp!) Don’t BY ANNIE STURT
Christmas is just around the corner. Have you thought about what to give your bookish friends? How about your signifcant others who don’t quite understand your book fixation? Well we’ve got some great gift recommendations coming your way because, my dears, being bookish doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. Let’s start with the the ones like us: the bookish, the bookworms, the book-lovers, the book-nerds, or anyone who enjoys a good book, terminology aside. If you’re looking to get your bookish loved ones something other than a book, score some brownie points by giving them something that says “I get you!” The following gifts ideas will make any book-lover giddy with bookish delight.
Bookish Essential Kit
Any booklover would love to receive this bundle of essentials to enhance the reading experience, especially on the go! • Booksleeve – This handy tool protects, cushions and beautifies your cherished book, leaving room for some page flags, a bookmark or even a notepad and pen. For ereaders, no problem! This will be all you’ll need! I love this one from The Cozy Life Shop! (See image D). • Bookmark – How could we not include a bookmark in the bookish essential kit? You can choose one with an inspiring quote or fun design, or even the adorable magnetic bookmarks that make us smile! Mark your page! How about this sweet “Cozy Up and Read” one from Create Explore Read Etsy Shop? (Use code HOPE10 to get a discount!) (See image A). •P age flags – These are perfect when you don’t have time to jot down all the great quotes you come across. Just flag away!
Cozy Reader Kit
This kit (see image C) is all about curling up with a good book and all the extra comforts and feel-good items that will make any booklover happy for days to come! This kit includes all the items in the Essential Kit plus: • Cozy Throw • Candles • Bookish Mug (see image F) • Fingerless Gloves
Page Anchors
One look at these and the word “luxurious” comes to mind (see image B). Why not pamper your bookish friends with the beauty of these page anchors? Perfect for a book of any size, these make beautiful statements in your bookish photos too. Comes in a variety of colors! (Use code HOPE15 to get a discount through January 30, 2019 at page-anchor.com)
Bookish Fashion & Accessories
Scarves, gloves, hats, shirts, totes and any merchandise inspired by their favorite stories! (See image E). The possibilities are endless.
Now for the more difficult part: what to get those loved ones who just don’t share your bookish passions. Put a bit of fun and ‘understanding’ into your gifts for them. Though your loved ones may not understand your bookishness, these gifts will send the message, “It’s okay that we’re different. I still love you.”
A
B
C
D
E
F
PHOTOGRAPHS: ©JUSTCOMMONLY; ©PAGE ANCHOR; ©OBVIOUS STATE
Reading is Good for Us Kit
This kit will come in handy when a booklover’s habit causes a bit of tension in the relationship. • Eye Mask – Do you ever find yourself reading through the night while your significant other tries to sleep? A comfortable eye mask is the perfect solution to read to your heart’s content while your significant other enjoys a deep sleep. • Gift Card – Find a coffee shop or store near your favorite bookstore where your partner can shop while you indulge your inner book nerd. •D IY Personalized “Tickets” – These are perfectly customizable to your partner’s unique interests. Only you will know what works and what will be most special. Here are some examples: »» Boys/Girls Night Exchange – You spend time enjoying a cozy night in reading while he/she spends time with friends. »» Pizza Night (Or Takeout) – Cut out your usual meal prep time to pick up a good read instead.
Noise-Cancelling headphones.
A great choice for loved ones who like to watch a movie or sports game while you read. If they don’t like the
headphones, at least you can use them and accomplish the same purpose.
A Year-Long Audible Subscription
This one is perfect for commuters. Plus it’s a sneaky way of turning someone into a book-lover.
Anything That Inspires and Encourages His/Her Hobbies
Coffee lover? Chimex, Moka Espresso Maker, or Coffee Subscription. Sports lover? Tickets to an event or new racquet or uniform. Gadget lover? A leather case will be perfect. Whether your gift list is full of bookish or not-so-bookish friends and family, it’s possible to make considerate, heartfelt purchases for them this holiday season. We got you started. Now share your gift ideas with us on social media @hopebythebook. GIVEAWAY: The Cozy Life Shop is offering a Holiday Booksleeve to one of our readers. (US only) Stay tuned on social media (@hopebythebook) for more details and keep this code handy: LOVEBOOKSLIVEBOOKS
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books for every reader GOT ANY READERS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST? DO THEY REPRESENT A VARIETY OF BOOKISH TASTES AND PREFERENCES? NOT SURE WHERE TO START? Our editorial team picked their fave book from twelve different genres and put them together in this handy gift guide just for you and the readers on your list! FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. BOOKISH NONFICTION: I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel (Baker Books, $14.99)
2. PICTURE BOOK: When God Made Light by Matthew Paul Turner (WaterBrook, $11.99)
3. WOMEN’S FICTION: Where Hope Begins by Catherine West (Thomas Nelson, $15.99)
4. WOMEN’S INTEREST NONFICTION: It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst PHOTOGRAPHS: ©JUSTCOMMONLY; ©POVARESHKA/ISTOCKPHOTO
(Thomas Nelson, $24.99)
5. SPLIT-TIME FICTION: Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson (Tyndale House, $15.99) 6. PARENTING NONFICTION: The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin (WaterBrook, $15.99)
7. M IDDLE GRADE FICTION: Daisy’s Search for Freedom by Bertha Schwartz (Ambassador International, $12.99)
8. S USPENSE FICTION: The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason (Bethany House, $15.99)
9. S PECULATIVE FICTION: The Man He Never Was by James Rubart (Thomas Nelson, $15.99)
10. C ONTEMPORARY ROMANCE FICTION: The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano (Tyndale House, $14.99)
11. Y OUNG ADULT FICTION: The Orphan’s Wish by Melanie Dickerson (Thomas Nelson, $16.99) 12. HISTORICAL FICTION: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (Thomas Nelson, $25.99)
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 15
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the world according to your bookshelf BY LIZ JOHNSON, AUTHOR OF A SPARKLE OF SILVER
T
he world is a lot bigger than I gave it credit for as a child. As an adult, I stare at maps of the world and dream of visiting far-off places like Cleveland. Okay, so Ohio is still a fair trip from my home in Arizona, but the truth for most of us is that our travel dreams are limited. They have to be. We have work. We have family. We have limited resources. We may daydream and pinch every penny for the trip of a lifetime, but it’s just that – a once in a lifetime chance to explore the part of the world we long to see. What I wouldn’t give to hop on a jet at a moment’s notice to my favorite little corner of the world! But it’s not going to happen. That’s why I wrote about Prince Edward Island in the first place. After two idyllic trips to the Gentle Island tucked along Canada’s eastern shore, I didn’t think I’d ever get to go back. I couldn’t stand to let the feeling of PEI’s perfect red cliffs and towering pine trees slip away. What if I forgot the rhythmic clapping of the waves on the shore or the smell of earth and sky and everything in between? I didn’t dare lose that. So I wrote about it. I created a version of tiny North Rustico, a village on the island’s north shore, that is more real to me than the actual village. In fact, the real North Rustico doesn’t boast a single bed and breakfast, but don’t try to convince me of that. When I invented the Red Door Inn, it became an indelible part of the landscape in my mind. Most readers know Prince Edward Island as Anne’s Land—home of the precocious, red-headed orphan from the imagination of L.M. Montgomery. I can hardly fault them. Anne of Green Gables drew me to the island too. It was the gentle, quiet pace that kept me coming back. There’s a peacefulness to the island, a security in the knowledge that
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I can get lost on a two-lane road that will eventually lead me to the ocean. It’s the music that makes me tap my foot and the smile on every face. Quite honestly, I would have been blissfully unaware if not for Ms. Montgomery too. Well, unaware at least—if not blissfully so. I’d have been unaware of PEI and unaware of what I was missing. My whole world would have been smaller if I had never known about it. Even if I had never visited PEI, I would have loved it for the way Anne Shirley experienced it in all her delight and exuberance. This is what books do for us. They show us a world beyond anything we might ever get to see with our own eyes and show us that world through the eyes of new friends. They help us escape the world we know for one we can only imagine. And we love to imagine! Close your eyes, just for a minute. Can you see it—that far-off land filled with wonder and beauty? Maybe yours looks like the island of Guernsey. Perhaps it’s the beach on St. Simons Island. It could be the grandeur of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains or Yosemite’s cliffs. Do you dream of visiting that place, experiencing all that it has to offer? You can. Whatever the state of your pocketbook, the world is within reach. Yosemite is as close as Karen Barnett’s Where the Fire Falls, Guernsey as near as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Visit St. Simons Island in the pages of my book, A Sparkle of Silver, or take a tour of the whole world with Lindsay Harrel’s The Heart Between Us. God has created a majestic world filled with wonders that display His handiwork. And we can experience them, even if we can’t see them. The pages of our books contain the whole of the earth and a thousand other worlds we need only an imagination to visit. We can travel from Nepal to Narnia with a mere flip of pages. Maybe the world is bigger than I once thought, but it doesn’t seem quite so unreachable when it’s as close as my bookshelf.
Inspirational
Romance
A SPARKLE OF SILVER LIZ JOHNSON The secrets of a historic beach-front estate set in an idyllic coastal community take center stage in the first of Liz Johnson’s Georgia Coast Romance series. Millie and Ben have numerous obstacles to overcome in their search for treasure, yet their greatest foes are time and trust. Readers will be intrigued by the cleverly mysterious plot and authentic characters which this story boasts. The power of love, integrity, faith and forgiveness shines through as the author breathes life into the what-ifs of yesterday and their implications for today. (REVELL, Oct., 368 pp., $14.99) Reviewer: Beth Erin
Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet and On Love’s Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 17
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book reviews OUR REVIEW PHILOSOPHY: At Hope By the Book, we strive to take a step back and look at the bigger picture as part of our review process. As a professional review source, we put the book’s intended audience over our own personal preferences. Therefore, we have chosen to let our words speak for themselves instead of using a rating system, with two exceptions. Gold Star Reviews are given rarely, to books that are truly in a class by themselves. Bookmarked Reviews are the must-reads for the keeper shelf and are also given sparingly. All reviews are books we recommend for each book’s intended audience, at a minimum.
FICTION
contemporary
Contemporary Christmas
Contemporary Romance
CATCHING CHRISTMAS
HER HOPE DISCOVERED
Terri Blackstock
Cynthia Herron
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
SERIES: Welcome to Ruby #1
A short story that has more leverage to it than one would expect, Catching Christmas reminds readers not to take for granted the time they’re given. As the characters learn the value of time with loved ones, weigh past and present regrets, and find solace in prayers and goodness in people, readers are right there with them. Miss Callie may take the award for grandmother of the year, but her faith and trust in God’s plans are her real legacy. Sometimes, the unexpected makes more of an impact. Terri Blackstock masterfully does just that and hits it hard with Catching Christmas.
The quaint town of Ruby, Missouri welcomes visitors to stay awhile, which is exactly what Charla Winthrop decides to do - leave a high-pressure job in the city for the charming small town in the Ozarks. Handsome neighbor Sam and his daughters quickly find a place in her heart – and in readers’ hearts as well – and the budding romance that follows is sweet and heartwarming. An additional character and corresponding subplot add some emotional layers to the mix too. Tender, adorable and entertaining, this is a solid debut with the promise of more to come!
(THOMAS NELSON, OCT., 320 PP., HARDCOVER, $17.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
Reviewer: Annie Sturt
18 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
(MOUNTAIN BROOK INK, JAN., 338 PP., $12.99)
Contemporary Amish Romance
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
MILES FROM WHERE WE STARTED BOOK MARKED REVIEW
THE CHRISTMAS REMEDY Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall
Cynthia Ruchti
Everything Ruchti writes exquisitely takes readers through a range of perfectly-timed emotion, and her latest is no exception. With her dry humor and gracefilled insight, the author crafts another story that tickles the funny bone even as she speaks to the soul. A millennial couple on the verge of divorce after only a year of marriage, embarks on a cross-country road trip with a tiny camper pod and a troubled tween (who steals the show). The compelling pair of protagonists and keeps readers invested in the journey. A profoundly moving story, not to be missed.
This quick-read Christmas novella has a little bit of everything – a dose or two of romance, a dash of mystery and the charm of the holidays. Its strength lies in sweet Holly Zook, such a unique heroine for Amish fiction, with career ambitions at the local pharmacy. Marriage would nix those dreams, so she tries her best to ignore the attraction she feels for Joshua Smucker, even as they must work together to save the pharmacy. While it does slow a bit in the middle, this is a sweet Amish romance that Woodsmall’s fans will certainly love!
(GILEAD, OCT., 350 PP., $15.99)
(WATERBROOK, OCT., 208 PP., $14.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
WAIT FOR ME Susan May Warren
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
SERIES: Montana Rescue #6
Susan May Warren ramps up the suspense and romance in the final installment of her Montana Rescue series. This book focuses mainly on Jess Taggert and Pete Brooks (and not being held hostage to the past) although all of the PEAK Rescue team members make an appearance. The suspense is classic Susan May Warren, so hang on tight, readers. The romance is as breathtaking as the mountainous scenes Warren brings to life on the page. Wait for Me is a great conclusion to an action-packed series! (REVELL, NOV., 336 PP., $14.99)
Reviewer: Andi Tubbs
historical
Romantic Suspense
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
Historical Romance
A SEASON OF GRACE Lauraine Snelling SERIES: Under Northern Skies #3
Lauraine Snelling captures readers’ attention in the third book of her Under Northern Skies series with characters who are determined to leave their pasts behind them and have a peaceful future. Delightful heroine Nilda Carlson is finally able to escape her traumatic memories of Norway and embrace an exciting new job opportunity and a chance to learn about high society and commerce. Readers will be caught up in her struggle between her instinct to be wary and her belief in a second chance when she encounters a man who brings all her fears back to the surface. (BETHANY HOUSE, NOV., 320 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Patsy Glans
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 19
historical Historical Fiction
Historical Romance
BECOMING MRS. LEWIS
MY HEART BELONGS IN THE BLUE RIDGE
Patti Callahan
Pepper Basham
GOLD STAR REVIEW
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
Readers will be amazed and moved by this story of literary camaraderie, revelation and eventually love. Part biographical and part fiction, Becoming Mrs. Lewis tells the story of the woman who stole the heart of C.S. Lewis, author of many beloved literary classics. From cover to cover, readers are captured by the fierce force of Joy Davidman – her resilience, her independence, her flaws – and brilliantly transported to her world. Layered with personal reflection, poignant life events, and the Davidman-Lewis journey toward respect and love, Becoming Mrs. Lewis may very well become a literary classic of its own.
Pepper Basham continues to bring the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to life in her writing. In this case, she delivers another historical novel that takes readers right into the time period and setting. The tension between the locals and Jonathan, the new teacher from England, is palpable. The budding romance between Laurel and Jonathan is sweet and moves along at a perfect pace, bringing dimension to the story. This story shows both the beauty and the brokenness of the Appalachian people, and it not only entertains but also encourages the heart.
(THOMAS NELSON, OCT., 416 PP., HARDCOVER, $25.99)
Reviewer: Andi Tubbs
(BARBOUR PUBLISHING, JAN., PP 256, $12.99)
Reviewer: Annie Sturt
Historical Romance
Historical Romance/ Mystery/Regency
THE MAKING OF MRS. HALE GOLD STAR REVIEW
IN THE SHADOW OF CROFT TOWERS
Carolyn Miller SERIES: Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope #3
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
Abigail Wilson
Readers will be swept up by the soul-stirring message of hope, forgiveness and grace reflected in this third book of the Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope series. Within the first year of their elopement, the Hales are barreling through traditional vows like a checklist, richer and poorer, sickness and health, even narrowly escaping the parting by death bit. The stark contrast of desperation and tender, budding faith in the depths of their shipwrecked lives lends the characters, especially Thomas and Julia, a rare, authentic and tangible quality. The Making of Mrs. Hale reminds readers to bask in the richness of God’s extravagant love.
Danger is lurking around every bend, and it is doubtful that Miss Delafield will find anyone she can trust in this house of secrets. Abigail Wilson’s debut novel is a story rich in detail with a riveting mystery. Combining a swoon-worthy hero and a fiercely determined heroine, In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a story that will grip readers’ hearts. The passion, which is a driving force for more than one character, is tangible. With enough jaw-dropping plot twists to give readers whiplash, it would be a severe oversight to pass this story up.
(KREGEL, NOV., 336 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Rachel Dixon
Reviewer: Beth Erin
20 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
(THOMAS NELSON, JAN., 336 PP., $15.99)
mystery & suspense Amish/Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Romantic Suspense
BURDEN OF PROOF
AMISH HIDEOUT
DiAnn Mills
Maggie K. Black
SERIES: FBI Rapid Response #1
Black crafts stories full of action and ample twists to keep readers engaged. With someone out to silence her after sending a man to prison, Celeste proves herself to be an intelligent, strong heroine who has met her match with Jonathan. He is determined to keep her safe, though doing so could place him and his family in danger. As threats increase, they must determine if the wrong man was arrested. The characters demonstrate the power that can be wielded with technology and how finding balance between it and the real world is a must.
Spinning a tale of corruption and deceit in a smalltown environment, DiAnn Mills’ newest story (first in a new series) will have readers constantly questioning who is friend and who is foe. Well-rounded main and side characters, with their flaws and strengths, feel ‘real’ and are easily relatable. Mills delivers a riveting story of an FBI hostage negotiator abducted by a man desperate to prove his innocence. Along with a sinister plot which endangers many lives, this book will grab readers’ attention and hold it hostage until the last page.
(LOVE INSPIRED, OCT., 224 PP, $5.99)
(TYNDALE, OCT., 416 PP., $14.99)
Reviewer: Leslie L. McKee
Suspense
Romantic Suspense
STRATAGEM
TELL HER NO LIES
Robin Caroll
Kelly Irvin
Readers will be up all night trying to untangle the red herrings from the truth in Robin Caroll’s latest suspense novel. When a high stakes simulation adventure leaves Grayson Thibodeaux the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, he knows someone is framing him. He can’t count on the police to help, so it’s up to him to clear his own name. Caroll keeps readers guessing with through-the-roof suspense and great plotting. Stratagem is another terrific novel for Robin Caroll fans – old and new. (SHILOH RUN PRESS, NOV., 320 PP., $14.99)
Reviewer: Patsy Glans
Reviewer: Alysha Worthen
Irvin grips readers’ attention page after page with danger, suspense and two handsome men poised to stake claims beyond friendship from Nina. Complicated family relationships are under intense scrutiny after the demanding patriarch is found murdered in their luxurious home, yet the heroine’s devotion compels her to personally investigate the secrets surrounding the powerful man’s life, despite the increasingly alarming risk involved. Vibrant, realworld characters and an unpredictable plot keep the adrenaline level high while gentle nudges guide Nina to truth, faith and love. (THOMAS NELSON, NOV., 352 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Beth Erin
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 21
visionary
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
Fantasy
Dystopian Thriller
MARK OF THE RAVEN
THE LINE BETWEEN
Morgan L. Busse
Tosca Lee
SERIES: The Ravenwood Saga, Book One
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
Fans of Jill Williamson will fall into this immersive fantasy from page one, as the struggle between Selene’s desire to please her mother and fulfill family traditions comes into conflict with what she knows in her heart to be right. The lush and detailed world Busse creates offers an intriguing setting for this power play, and Selene’s target, Damien, with his leadership focus set on saving rather than destroying, is a hero readers will adore. (BETHANY HOUSE, NOV., 336 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Kerry Sutherland
Lee takes readers on a disturbing journey with 22-yearold Wynter, who has spent most of her life in a cult with her sister and is fearful after her banishment into the world, where the predictions of the charismatic cult leader seem to be coming true. Wynter’s conflicting emotions work against her knowledge of what she must do to save her surviving family, and the edge-of-your seat revelations shock readers just as they do Wynter. Compelling and unsettling, this story maintains a thread of hope, reminding readers that God is present even when it doesn’t seem so. (HOWARD BOOKS, JAN., 368 PP., $26.00)
Reviewer: Kerry Sutherland
young adult Young Adult Mystery
Young Adult Fantasy/Allegory
THE COLOR OF LIES
EMERALD ILLUSION
C.J. Lyons
J. Rodes BOOK MARKED REVIEW
This emotionally-charged murder mystery has a distinctive twist that adds to its appeal: Ella has synesthesia, which allows her to see the intentions of others through the images and colors they radiate. Alec troublingly has no aura but his interest in digging up Ella’s past, which he claims has a violet twist of which she is unaware, makes his sudden appearance more questionable. Readers are left wondering who Ella can trust and rooting for the sweet romance that ensues. (BLINK, NOV., 336 PP., $17.99)
Reviewer: Kerry Sutherland
Exquisite sentence crafting and soul-deep meaning grace every page of this not-just-another Oz adventure. On the surface the story seems simple and the setting familiar; yet this is unlike any Oz previously visited and the plot is, in fact, richly layered and Narnia-esque. Engaging characters immediately invest readers in the outcome, and the themes of truth vs. illusion and the Kingdom linger in the heart. Allegories are sometimes difficult to craft successfully, but Rodes’ latest has no such problems. A definite must-read! (ROOTED PUBLISHING, OCT., 325 PP., $14.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
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JUVENILE Juvenile/Biography
Juvenile Non-Fiction/Devotional
100 EXTRAORDINARY STORIES FOR COURAGEOUS GIRLS BOOK MARKED REVIEW
A KID’S GAME PLAN FOR GREAT CHOICES
Jean Fischer
Michael Ross and Christopher Ross AGES: 8-12
Fun and easy-to-read with challenging application questions, A Kid’s Game Plan for Great Choices combines personal stories and common middlegrade situations. This father-son team challenges kids to make the best choices, as athletes and in life. As Christopher Ross is only sixteen-years-old, he provides a peer-level example for children, giving them an ally who knows exactly what they face each day. Pro tips from athletes set solid examples for young sports enthusiasts and provide readers with relevant role models who are perhaps a bit further down the path.
Though marketed for middle grades, this is a book that any age group can enjoy. With bright colors and fun prints throughout, it grabs readers’ attention and makes them smile. The author has compiled a great selection of 100 courageous women – and role models - who did extraordinary things for God, some straight from the Bible and history books, and others who served God in quieter ways. Each bio is paired with a beautiful illustration, as well as an applicable scripture, all excellently presented to show young girls that heroism isn’t just for the boys! (SHILOH KIDZ, NOV., 208 PP., $16.99)
(HARVEST HOUSE, JAN., 208 PP., $12.99)
Reviewer: Alysha Worthen
DAISY’S SEARCH FOR FREEDOM Bertha Schwartz
NON-FICTION
Middle-Grade Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
Non-fiction/Christian Living
ALL THAT’S GOOD Hannah Anderson
Readers will feel the fear and desperation to be free as Daisy’s Search for Freedom unfolds. Schwartz introduces the Underground Railroad to young readers in a heartrending story where risks are taken and sacrifices are made to be free from slavery. Woven within this adventure is the importance of trusting Jesus and listening to His direction, along with a strong message of belonging, trust and safety within family. The nonstop action, with plenty of twists and turns, is sure to captivate young readers, and the included discussion questions make this book a great supplement for school.
In a time when the ability to share opinions as fact is at anyone and everyone’s fingertips, the need for culling the bad from the good – and the good from the better - is tremendous. Hannah Anderson examines the attributes listed in Philippians 4:8 and uses personal anecdotes, backed up with more scripture, to bring life to each virtue. Like a trusted spiritual mentor who has already walked the path, the author peels back the layers to expose the heart of the issue while offering practical and Biblical solutions for cultivating discernment and intimacy with God.
(AMBASSADOR INTERNATIONAL, DEC., 136 PP., $12.99)
(MOODY, OCT., 224 PP., $13.99)
Reviewer: Rachel Dixon
Reviewer: Suzie Waltner
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 23
NON-FICTION Non-Fiction/ Spiritual Growth
Non-Fiction/ Devotional
Parenting/ Christian Living
HEAVEN: YOUR REAL HOME… FROM A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE
SACRED QUESTIONS
THE BRAVE ART OF MOTHERHOOD
Kellye Fabian
Joni Eareckson Tada
Revised and updated, this popular book on Heaven retains the great content it’s always had but with a ‘higher perspective’ after nearly 25 years. A quadriplegic since her teens, and a breast cancer survivor, Tada includes a new ‘Climbing Higher’ section at the end of each chapter to invite readers to look back at God’s faithfulness and look ahead to Jesus. With engaging personal stories and reflections on Scripture, she keeps the focus on a Person rather than a Place and does so with the quiet and straightforward wisdom that readers love from her. (ZONDERVAN, OCT., 303 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
BOOK MARKED REVIEW
GOLD STAR REVIEW
Rachel Marie Martin
For anyone who wants to take their devotional time to the next level, Kellye Fabian has the book for you. Designed to guide readers in the daily practice of studying Scripture and applying it to their lives, it specifically focuses on drawing out questions about God, oneself and others from the day’s reading. Unlike passive devotionals where the application is done for you, Sacred Questions involves the reader in the application, making it that much more personal. The devotionals are not exceedingly long either, so even the busiest person can make time to read a little bit each day.
With great skill, Rachel Marie Martin tackles a topic that can both intimidate women and bring incredible joy: learning how to rediscover the joy of motherhood while making their own dreams a priority. With encouragement and truths that all readers can glean from, Martin’s focus and heart is for the mothers of this generation, specifically their self-worth and confidence. Her goal to promote action can be felt on every page, with a prominent emphasis on resting, dreaming and “jumping”, leaving mother-hearts everywhere bolstered and renewed.
(NAVPRESS, NOV., 485 PP., $22.99)
(WATERBROOK, OCT., 224 PP., $15.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
Reviewer: Rachel Dixon
Devotional/Parenting
Cookbook
THE BETTER MOM DEVOTIONAL
EAT AT HOME TONIGHT
Ruth Schwenk
Tiffany King
Schwenk has created a devotional that encourages moms in a practical way, giving them renewed strength as they take a few moments each day to focus on God, to breathe and to pray. The author covers a wide variety of topics that speak to moms in all different walks of life, keeping them grounded and focused amid the day-to-day battle of motherhood. Prayers and questions accompany each daily entry to reinforce the message. Whether you choose to read it or gift it, The Better Mom Devotional is a great resource for moms everywhere.
Eat at Home Tonight is more homestyle than couture but may be just the motivator (and tool) needed to cook tasty meals at home even if there’s nothing in the fridge! This cookbook is comprised of many easy-to-prep and tasty recipes, as well as gorgeous photos, but what really sets it apart are the unique categories such as “My Refrigerator is Empty” and “I Only Have 15 Minutes.” While finding the recipes could be a little more user-friendly at the outset, the thoughtfully-divided sections will nevertheless help readers save time and plan ahead.
(ZONDERVAN, OCT., 224 PP., $16.99)
(WATERBROOK PRESS, AUG., 224 PP., $22.00)
Reviewer: Rachel Dixon
24 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
Reviewer: Annie Sturt
turn back the page 5 TITLES YOU MISSED BUT SHOULDN’T BY BETH ERIN
Beth is an Associate Editor of Hope By The Book, a Christian fiction enthusiast, book reviewer and the blogger behind FaithfullyBookish.com. She is passionate about encouraging authors and fellow readers everywhere.
1.
Tara Johnson’s Civil War romance, Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale, July 2018) explores the inner workings of the Underground Railroad from the perspective of a former southern debutant.
2.
My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Karinya Publishing, September 2018) is rocking a new cover and making waves in the young adult genre with its riveting suspense and authenticity.
3.
Ready to dive into a new romantic suspense series? Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn (Revell, March 2018) is packed with pulsetripping, heartpounding action and attraction.
4.
The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection by Joanne Bischof, Amanda Dykes, Heather Day Gilbert, Jocelyn Green and Maureen Lang (Barbour Books, March 2017) features five stellar novellas spanning centuries yet connected by a single bronze bottle and hope.
5.
Two Amish young adults struggle with the aftermath of a horrific bus accident in Arms of Mercy by Ruth Reid (Thomas Nelson, June 2018), a unique storyline which raises compelling and unexpected questions.
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 25
READ
a life undivided
LESSONS FROM JOY DAVIDMAN BY PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY
I
mprobable love affairs have fascinated me for all my life. I’m not interested in the prince saving the maiden – we know that will happen – but in women and men who not only shouldn’t have met but also should never have fallen in love. They are the interesting ones; women who break the strictures of society’s expectations and trust God and the men who love them. C. S. Lewis and his late-in-life wife, Joy Davidman, are one of those couples. Often, after marriage, we relegate women to the mere title “wife of,” as has often been done to Joy Davidman, “The wife of C. S. Lewis.” But being deeply loved by C. S. Lewis is not the most interesting thing about her. Joy Davidman was a fiery, courageous, often complicated but always brilliant award-winning poet, novelist, wife and mother before she even crossed paths with C. S. Lewis (known to her as Jack). Yet, after a “mystical experience,” Joy chased after the truth and wrote to him. While the world berated and criticized and tried to hold her back, Joy burst through the bonds of expectation, and in doing so, took a chance on her own life. She knew her life could either crumble or become new again. She broke through obstacles, one after the other, with courage and strength, in order to be the woman she felt she was created to be and to love the man she loved. What can we learn from Joy? What messages do her improbable life changes and love story have for us as women? It’s not just about finding the love of her life, although that was her final destination. She called herself a seeker and never gave up in her quest for truth. As I wrote this novel, Joy taught me with her mistakes 26 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
and blunders, but also with her courage, wit and vulnerability. There were times I wanted to reach through the pages and shake her. Then there were the times she seemed to be reaching through the pages to shake me. For most of her life, Joy was told how and who to be, and she was having none of it. As a child it earned her slaps across the face. As an adolescent it gained her harsh criticism and punishment. As a married woman it caused her to tolerate infidelity, alcoholism and verbal abuse – until she couldn’t, and until she didn’t. When we look at Joy’s circumstances, when we pen the bullet points of her life, how could we claim that her life was better because she trusted God and changed her life? In many places and times, her life seems both tragic and difficult. But that’s where trust hit the rubble for Joy. She knew that her life was more profoundly relevant with her “deep desire for a mystical knowledge of God that could govern [her] daily life.” We might not need to pack up our children and board a ship to cross the ocean as Joy did, but we just might need to pack up everyone’s expectations and follow the light to our undivided self in God, to the place where our souls meet our lives. Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels. She was a finalist in the Townsend Prize for Fiction, an Indie Next Pick, an OKRA pick and a multiple nominee for the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Novel of the Year. Patti is a frequent speaker at luncheons, book clubs and women’s groups. You can learn more about her at patticallahanhenry.com
INSPIRE
10 writing tips for the serious writer BY DIANN MILLS
M
y career launched in 1996 when my husband challenged me to write a book. His words were, “Stop telling me one day you’re going to write a book. Do it now. Quit your job, and I’ll give you a year to get anything published.” I accepted his challenge, never looked back and never returned to a job outside the home. The day I decided to become a writer, I outlined a daily schedule: • Write • Develop the craft • Read the bestsellers • Study the how-to books • Attend reputable writing conferences • Help any serious writers along the way Did I mention prayer to ensure I followed God’s calling? My passion for entertaining readers with a powerful story and to inspire and encourage them to be better people continues to keep me diligent when it comes to my writing goals. We all need enthusiasm for our projects – a zeal that yanks us out of bed each morning. My method of growing in the industry hasn’t changed. Over the years, I’ve learned the value of social media, marketing, promotion, branding, and blogging. They’ve been incorporated into my schedule as reader-focused. The posts aren’t all about me. Instead the majority are about helping others with something I can provide. With over two decades of writing experience, I’ve created 10 writing tips for the serious writer. These are listed below in
1. Accept the challenge to be a professional writer. This requires the tenacity to stay informed of all areas connected to the publishing industry.
2. Attend writing conferences that push you to become a better writer and marketer.
3. Connect with writers and writing groups, not only for your own enhancement, but also to give back to others.
4. Edit. Embrace editing. Love editing. Tackle editing with a positive attitude. Writing is about presenting your best.
5. Eliminate three words from your vocabulary: I give up. 6. Establish priorities. Our faith, spouse and family, friends, and day job come before writing.
7. Incorporate a specific time each day to your writing career.
This may be early morning, late afternoon, or after everyone is in bed.
8. Pray about everything in your life, not just your writing career. God wants to hear from you.
9. Prepare to make sacrifices to follow your calling. Ask loved ones for their support.
10. Write when you don’t feel like it, when you’re tired, when the words refuse to come or when others attempt to draw you away for unimportant reasons.
Over the years, the publishing landscape has changed, and I’ve vowed to do what is necessary to keep my place in the writing world. My thoughts always go back to my husband’s challenge. He is my best cheerleader; he’s also my nightmare editor. He understands I’m a serious writer, and his support is unwavering. I hope my 10 tips for the serious writer will help you move forward with your writing dreams. DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, won two Christy Awards and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Connect with DiAnn at www.diannmills.com. WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 27
INSPIRE
the gift
we all can give KATHIE LEE GIFFORD DISCUSSES HER NEW BOOK FOR KIDS
K
BY RACHEL DIXON
Kathie Lee Gifford’s recent children’s book, The Gift That I Can Give, is a small but meaningful book with a big message. “Every person has a unique gift and the one universal gift is love. Everyone can give that,” says Gifford.
Raising Kids to Stand Out
When Gifford’s publisher asked her to write this book, she didn’t think of it as a huge message. Yet the response has been staggering, mainly because it is such an important truth – not only for children but for all people. “We’re raising a generation of kids who think that they need to fit in, instead of stand out!” Gifford’s emphasis in The Gift That I Can Give is clear: don’t try to be like everyone else. Be the unique person that God created you to be. After all, what’s the first letter in “unique?” You.
The Gift Inside Us
She reminds us that in the Psalms, David talks about how wondrously and fearfully made he is, how unique he is and how everything he could ever need in life is already there. In today’s world, we are taught to go out and find our gift when, in actuality, it’s already in us. We need to examine what’s already there! Gifford’s encouragement to Hope By The Book’s readers is that “It’s never too late” to step out in your gifting. “We keep asking our children, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I think the 28 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
better question is, ‘What are you already? And what are you going to do with that? And how are you going to grow that gift from the acorn that it is now into the Oak Tree of Righteousness [that] God wants you to become?’ Because it’s already there.” Gifford encourages parents to raise kids who are happy kids. Kids who are doing what they love. Kids who are excited about the gifts they carry inside of them. How do we know what their gifts are? She says to watch them. What are they drawn to? What do they cling to?
The Influence of Children
With two children of her own (now grown), Gifford recognizes the importance of a child’s influence. “A child reintroduces you to the world of wonder.” She explains that the world of wonder is when you stand outside for 20 minutes looking at a snowflake, watching the tide come in or looking at a leaf that’s changed. You can’t believe the wonder of it; therefore, you wonder at it. That’s the kind of wonder that children bring to us. Gifford’s heart breaks for those who would love to be able to stay home and raise their kids but can’t. She also says that we need to tell women who choose to stay home to raise their families that “It is a worthy profession.” She knows a little something about that herself.
At one point in her career, Gifford said “no” to Julie Andrews in order to stay home with her one-year-old daughter. She told Julie, “I can’t believe I’m saying no to you. But my daughter is one. And she’s only going to be one right now. And I just can’t. Broadway is always going to be there, but Cass is never going to be one again.” Julie replied, “Kathie, I understand. I had to make the same kind of choices when my children were little. And you will never regret putting your children first when they’re small. You have plenty of time.” Seven years later, Carol Burnett approached Gifford with the same question, to take one day a week on Broadway in Putting it Together. This time she said, “Yes!” A resounding YES. “It was one of the great experiences of my life. But it was the right time.”
The Gift of Books
Kathie Lee Gifford has written a sweet and endearing book for children, a wonderful addition to any home library. Her own favorite book, (besides The Gift That I Can Give of course), is The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson. After reading this story with her daughter, Cassidy, she became a woman obsessed. In fact, she fell in love with it so much that she turned it into a musical which she wrote in its entirety over their family’s Christmas holiday. “It is just the most kindly, classic book.” Little Women and The Little Prince are the two stories that Gifford says influenced her own childhood the most. As she grew older, the classics and anything by Dickens captured her attention. And that’s what she loves so much about The Family Under the Bridge. “It is so Dickensonian.” Currently, there aren’t any books on Kathie’s nightstand. With ongoing production for two films, she is a bit of a maniac right now (her own words). She is sure to reenter the world of humanity when both of her movies are out, but right now, she’s got a lot of work to do. Whether through films, television, nonfiction books or The Gift That I Can Give, she spreads God’s love every chance she gets. This is the constant gift that Kathie gives, and we love her all the more for it.
“ We’re raising a generation of kids who think that they need to fit in, instead of stand out!”
Children/Picture Book
THE GIFT THAT I CAN GIVE
GOLD STAR REVIEW
Kathie Lee Gifford
Adorable multicultural illustrations by Julia Seal perfectly complement the sweetly lyrical text. Not only does Gifford encourage children to embrace kindness and the gifts that make them unique – be it hobbies or personality traits – she also reminds readers of all ages of their shared gift to give the world: God’s love. Warm, rich colors give life to both the text and the illustrations, causing them to leap off the page and capture the hearts of adults as well as the target readers. Meaningful, cute and inspiring, this is a treasure to keep for years to come. (THOMAS NELSON, OCT., 32 PP., $17.99)
Reviewer: Carrie Schmidt
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 29
INSPIRE
Serves 4 to 6
Even if the leaves aren’t turning shades of red and gold, this meal will give you a hint of beautiful autumn flavor. The ingredients are few, but the simple seasonings allow the taste of the pork, apples, and sweet potatoes to really shine through. A sprinkle of cinnamon stirs up hints of fall.
One-Sheet
Autumn
Pork Chops with Apples and Sweet Potatoes
4 or 5 tablespoons olive oil 4 to 6 (1-inch-thick) boneless pork chops Salt and black pepper 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 4 or 5 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch-thick slices (see Note) 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a large baking sheet with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the oil. Place the pork chops on one end of the prepared baking sheet and season them with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes with the remaining 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the sweet potatoes into an even layer on the baking sheet alongside the pork chops, leaving space for the apples (set the bowl aside—no need to wash it). Roast for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in the same bowl you used for the sweet potatoes, toss the apples with the melted butter and cinnamon. At the 15-minute mark, remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the apples. Return the pan to the oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the pork chops are cooked through and the sweet potatoes tender.
NOTE: Any type of apple will work for this recipe. I use whatever I have in the fruit bowl: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, etc. Recipe excerpted from EAT AT HOME TONIGHT: 101 Simple Busy-Family Recipes for Your Slow Cooker, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot®, and More. Copyright © 2018 by Tiffany King. Published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
30 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
WINTER 2018 HOPE BY THE BOOK 31
EPILOGUE
epilogue books on my nightstand We asked a handful of pretty cool authors and avid readers to share what they are reading right now. Which books are on their (literal or figurative) nightstands? Here’s what they had to say… DEBBIE MACOMBER
A #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry
CYNTHIA RUCHTI Award-winning author, speaker, and literary agent Façade by Pepper Basham and Originals by Adam Grant
ANNE BOGEL Popular blogger, podcaster, author, and avid reader The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald Shoup (“I’m quoting parking, traffic, and residency statistics to my husband because they are so fascinating!”)
CHRIS JAGER Fiction buyer, Baker Book House The Seamstress by Allison Pittman, Virgil Wander by Leif Enger, Stratagem by Robin Caroll and Every Crooked Man by Steven James with Chosen People by Robert Whitlow, Tell Her No Lies by Kelly Irvin and We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels
ANGELIA STONE Publisher & CEO, Hope for Women brand I Thought It Was Just Me But It Isn’t by Brené Brown
32 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
Inspiring Nonfiction Written
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COMING
NEXT ISSUE Don’t miss our next issue, coming in February 2019!
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for Women by Women!
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Spring is all about a fresh start, and we’ve got even more pages in our Spring issue to help you refresh your reading life. Want a sneak peek of some of the great articles on tap? We’ll bring you bookshelf styling ideas from SwatchPop! and ways to refresh your library. Patricia Davids talks about the popularity of Amish fiction, and our editorial team rounds up reading recommendations to spark your interest in new-to-you genres. Plus, we’ve got more reviews and “How to Be an Author Fangirl”.
SUBSCRIBE NOW so you don’t miss out! Can’t wait for February? Check out tons of great bonus content weekly at hopebythebook.com! 1 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018
Clean and Wholesome Romance You’ll Swoon Over “Displaying a flair for comedy and witty dialog, Miller[’s] Regency rockets off the page with clever, snappy repartee. . . . Fans of GEORGETTE HEYER and JULIE KLASSEN will love this romance.” —Library Journal, starred review
R EGENCY BR IDES
Visit CarolynMillerAuthor.com for free book samples, study guides, and more from this best-selling Regency writer! 1 HOPE BY THE BOOK WINTER 2018