​Can a holy mission change Springville for the better?
Springville Community Christian Church is nestled in the foothills of North Carolina in a quiet, Mayberry-esque community. But when a ruthless businessman from out of town sets his sights on quaint downtown Springville as the perfect location to open a bar, the town's calm is disturbed and the church's pastor is pulled into the chaos.
Pastor Daniel Whitefield seeks only to do the will of God. Nothing more, nothing less. When he’s pressured to join the Springville League of Churches—a coalition in protest of the bar—he resists, causing tension with friends and congregants. Daniel further risks his credibility by organizing a taxi service for the bar’s customers, as a way to witness of God's love to them.
The seven members of New Wine Transportation Company are excited to minister in their community, despite the naysayers, but as damaging rumors about the pastor and his wife spread, Daniel begins to question the project. Is it worth the risks involved? And can they really make a difference by giving folks a ride home after a night out drinking? Maybe there's more at stake than they know.

Heather Norman Smith portrays small-town North Carolina with a deft hand. What I enjoy most is how she gets right down into the heart of her characters, their dilemmas, their failures, and their triumphs. When I started reading New Wine Transportation Company, I thought I knew right away how this story where this story was going. I was wrong. Smith’s story-telling is both imaginative and heartfelt. More than once, I was surprised by an unexpected plot twist, not to mention a strong pull on my heartstrings. Buckle up and hang on for the ride. The New Wine Transportation Company is a sweet thrill.

Can an ordinary life leave an extraordinary legacy?

In 1977, when nineteen-year-old Allison Middleton receives a proposal of marriage from Westley Houser, she eagerly accepts, having no idea the secret Westley carries—a secret that will change Allison’s life forever. But Allison rises to the challenge of raising Westley’s toddling daughter as though she were her own.
Over the course of their lifetime together, Allison, Westley, and Michelle form the strong bond of family. As Allison struggles with infertility and finding her way during a time of great change for women, others—some she knows and others whom she never meets—brush and weave against the fabric of her life, leaving her with more questions than answers.

From teen bride to grandmother, Allison’s life chronicles the ups and downs of an ordinary woman’s life to examine the value of what we all leave behind.

​Dust is one of those rare gems of a story that grabs you by the heart and hand, then pulls you—body and soul—to the finish. Relentless in honesty, bedazzled in southern charm and humor, and fearless—positively fearless. This is the kind of book everyone will interpret differently. It never tells you what it means. You simply live it, and feel it, which no two people will do alike. I love that best about Dust. Rather than a sermon, it's a life. Beautifully done!

​Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.

In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

And I've enjoyed every book I've read by Sarah Sundin in this genre. That's more than a dozen novels!

Just when I thought Sarah Sundin couldn’t get any better, then came When Twilight Breaks.

Munich, 1938.
​
A time and place I’d never wish to visit without a guaranteed escape route. I daresay no one who lived through the time period would want to go back either. And yet, this history should never be forgotten. When Twilight Breaks takes us there with meticulous accuracy and intriguing dramatic style.

Evelyn Brand and Peter Lang were so relatable. I could not put their story down! When an author can take such a well-known timeline and historical facts reported to the nth degree and still invest me in the characters and their plight, then I call that a winner.

Full of plot twists and turns, a dangerous and intense setting, and the classic themes of hope, courage, and faith--When Twilight Breaks is a WW2 reader’s delight.

Today's review is extra special to me because this debut novel is written by my friend and fellow local author, Heather Norman Smith. I am thrilled and honored to be sharing in the excitement of the release of her first novel, Grace and Lavender.

Let’s talk about your main characters for a minute. Colleen, Grace and Melody, three women from three different generations. I loved that each woman was unique, totally believable for her generation, and yet they connected to each other beautifully and providentially.

Amy- This question may be a bit like asking a mom to choose a favorite child, but which character was the hardest to let go when you had to write, ‘The End’?

Heather- I love them all, but the story started in my head with Colleen, so she’s probably the one I missed the most at the end. I connected with her the most.
 
Amy- Is it possible we will meet any of these ladies again in a future book?

Heather- I’ve heard a few people say they’d like to know what comes next for those characters. I might write a sequel one day, but for now, I’m working on another short novel that is set in their town. Colleen has a cameo in this story, and Melody and Grace are both referenced, but it doesn’t really carry on with their story. This book might become part of a “Springville Series” that focuses on different members of their church.

No spoilers, here. So, I’m going to try not to give away any of your surprises or plot twists. Grace is so much more than a name in this story, but the young woman, Grace, is key. Grace is a teen orphan who lives in a children’s home. She’s a kid with potential who has gotten herself into trouble.

Amy- Foster care and adoption are important issues to you. I can’t help but think this book may inspire some readers into action for the sake of the Graces out there. Do you have any suggestions of where they can get more information or find volunteer opportunities?

Heather- I love this question, because the desire to encourage others to consider foster care and adoption, or to help orphans in some way, is one of the reasons I wrote the book. I think a good place to start is an internet search for the department or division of Social Services in your county. Then call and ask for more information. Aside from county agencies, there are other local non-profits that provide foster care licensure and other resources. I encourage people to pray about it, just make a phone call, and see how the Lord would have them serve.

Amy- The theme of grace is also part of this novel. Did you experience a growing understanding of God’s grace through the process of writing?

Heather- I did! Not to give too much away, but there’s a scene in the book that is special to me, where Colleen defines grace as a special favor that isn’t deserved. And I think it’s so true. God lavishes His love on me. It’s completely unmerited, yet He does it anyway. That’s grace. 

Thank you so much for your willingness to answer these questions and give us an inside view of Grace and Lavender from your perspective. Reading your book was a pleasure. I look forward to many more!

Grace and Lavender is a heartwarming story of hope and home for a teen girl who begins this journey without either one. I will admit that I had to push through the beginning of this story as it was a little slow at the start. The reward was a beautiful story with relatable characters who left me satisfied at the end.

The book takes us into the world of a young teen who lives in a children’s home. Three generations of women tell us this story. I found myself cheering for all three women along their intertwined journey toward healing for the young protagonist.

While the story has a happy ending, it does not gloss over the emotional difficulties and painful experiences along the way. The theme of Grace is woven throughout by a new author with an exceptional gift of story-telling. 

​I cannot possibly over-rate this book. Romantic Mystery/Suspense is not something I read a lot, but I’ve read enough to know this one is different. The psychological and spiritual intrigue is as well written as the intense and complicated mystery. Every character has a well-planned role and yet none seem robotic or gratuitous. They are all believably real. The author’s talent amazed me.

​I felt a thrill being pulled into this story. Isn’t that how a suspense novel should be? I think so. I’ll keep reading mysteries, so long as ones like this are available.
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

What elements are a must have for you in a good book? I have two which never change, no matter the genre or my mood. First, I want relatable characters who struggle with true-to-life relationship problems. And secondly, I have to have a satisfying ending, preferably a happy one.

I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since reading Laurel’s first, A Family for the Farmer. She delivers on both of my must-haves and weaves a beautiful story along the way.

As a preacher’s daughter, I found the inner workings of this fictional church amazingly realistic. It wasn’t difficult to find myself rooting for the young minister and his cause. There are no perfect characters in this story, but there are definitely some who are easier to like than others. One of the most heart-warming aspects of the characters is how they come to terms with their mistakes and short-comings.

Laurel Blount has created a place many of us would love to call home. If only, Pine Valley were real after all. Thankfully, it's as close as your next best read.