Review: Hearts That Survive: A Novel of the Titanic by Yvonne Lehman

ABOUT YVONNE LEHMAN

Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic is Yvonne Lehman’s 50th novel. She is a best-selling, award winning author who founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years and now directs the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat held annually in October (www.lifeway.com/novelretreat). She lives in Black Mountain, amid the panoramic views of the Blue Ridge. She mentors students for the Christian Writers Guild. She earned her Master’s Degree in English at Western Carolina University and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level.
You can visit Yvonne Lehman’s website at www.yvonnelehman.com.

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ABOUT HEARTS THAT SURVIVE: A NOVEL OF THE TITANIC

In April 1912, Lydia Beaumont is on her way to a new life with a boundless hope, against all that Craven Dowd desires for her and himself. Her friendship with Caroline Chadwick deepens as they plan Lydia’s wedding on board the “grandest ship ever built.” Then both women suffer tragic losses when the “unsinkable” Titanic collides with an iceberg and there are only 20 lifeboats for 2207 passengers. They struggle to keep their families and dreams together.

Decades later, Caroline’s granddaughter, working at the museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, plans for the 50th memorial for the sinking and contacts survivors and descendants of survivors. Alan Morris feels like a failure until he discovers he is the descendant of an acclaimed novelist who lost his life when the Titanic sank. He becomes caught up in finding his identity in the past and must come to terms with his present and the meaning of true success.

Characters struggle to answer whether love is more powerful than the pain of loss and learn what it means for a heart to survive.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Hearts That Survive was such a great book. Yes, there was a lot of sadness (that can be expected from a book about the Titanic), but the characters and their journeys were so gripping.

I immediately loved John and Lydia's love story... it was so sweet and just overall wonderful. I cried when certain things happened and especially towards the end with the poem.

It was very interesting how Hearts That Survive covered generations (not just one person's life) - I loved getting to know Caroline, Alan, Beau, and others... it was great!

So, overall, I loved this book and recommend it if you don't mind reading a novel with some sadness... have tissues nearby! 

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

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Interview & Giveaway: Amber Garza ~ Author of Prowl!!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Amber! Will you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi! My name is Amber Garza and I live in Folsom, California with my husband and two children. I work in outreach at Lakeside Church. My favorite thing to do is read and write. My goal with my novels is to write books full of suspense that entertain, but ultimately give the reader a sense of hope and truth.

What is PROWL about?

It’s a young adult thriller about a seventeen-year-old girl named Mackenzie Smith who lives in Washington with her mom. When she is sent to her grandma’s house in Folsom, California for the summer she is fully prepared for the longest, most boring three months of her life. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past no one else knows. It’s almost like he can read her mind.

Only Wesley isn’t who he seems.

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She’s in too deep and he won’t let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved the written word since I was a little girl and used to make books out of paper and staples. My imagination has always worked overtime, creating people and worlds in my mind. Recently, I found a paper I wrote in second grade stating that I wanted to be a famous author when I grew up. I honestly can’t remember a time when I didn’t love to read and write.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Five. My favorite is “Engraved.” It’s an adult suspense novel scheduled for release in summer 2012. The novel mirrors my own story of redemption, so it’s very close to my heart.

Where do you get your information and/or ideas for your books?
 
Most of them stem from a personal experience and then grow from there.

What would you say is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?

The best part is creating characters, plots and worlds in my mind. There’s nothing more exciting to me then sitting down in front of a blank computer screen, knowing I can take myself on any journey I want.

The worst part is editing. I love writing the rough draft and letting my creative juices flow. It’s hard to then go back and tweak things, check for sentence structure and grammar and stuff. It doesn’t feel creative at that point –it just feels like work.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I have a wonderful husband named Andrew, and two kids – Eli who is 12 and Kayleen who is 9. They keep me pretty busy with sports and extracurricular activities. Outside of writing, my other hobby is singing which I do on a regular basis at church.

What are three things you wouldn't want to do without (besides the Bible, food, and family)?
 
Novels, music, and my friends.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

Hawaii.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

I’m currently loving John Mark McMillan’s new album, “Economy.” All the songs on it are great.

My favorite movies are sappy love stories like “The Notebook” and “Time Traveler’s Wife.”

Do you have any favorite authors?

I love Alice Hoffman. I think her writing is so haunting and enchanting. The way she strings words together is absolutely breathtaking. Jodi Picoult is another favorite.

For thrillers, my favorites are Ted Dekker and Frank Perretti.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

That’s a tough one because I have so many. I love Isaiah 40:30, 31 – Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will walk and not grow weary, they will run and not be faint.

I’ve loved that verse since I was a little girl. When we trust in God we find hope and strength. It’s such a powerful message.

I also love all of Ephesians 3. I pray it often as a reminder of how much God loves and cares for us.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you tell us a little about it?

I just finished the second book in the PROWL trilogy – ENTICE.  It’s due out by April 2012. I’m just starting to work on UNVEIL, the final book in the trilogy.

Thanks so much for being here! Where can we find you on the web?

My website is: ambergarza.wordpress.com
I’m also on Facebook under Amber Garza, author
The link to my book at amazon is: http://www.amazon.com/Prowl-1-Amber-Garza/dp/1467982172/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328655930&sr=8-1

Book Giveaway!!

Enter to win a copy of Prowl! This giveaway is only open to the US.

Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter below (here is a tutorial, if you aren't familiar with Rafflecopter). The mandatory entry is to leave a comment on this blog post - after you do that, the other entries will become available. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My Thoughts on Far From Here by Nicole Baart

~Review Copy~

Far From Here by Nicole Baart

Howard Publishing

About Far From Here:

How long do you hold on to hope? 

 Danica Greene has always hated flying, so it was almost laughable that the boy of her dreams was a pilot. She married him anyway and together, she and Etsell settled into a life where love really did seem to conquer all. Danica is firmly rooted on the ground in Blackhawk, the small town in northern Iowa where they grew up, and the wide slashes of sky that stretch endlessly across the prairie seem more than enough for Etsell. But when the opportunity to spend three weeks in Alaska helping a pilot friend presents itself, Etsell accepts and their idyllic world is turned upside down. It’s his dream, he reveals, and Danica knows that she can’t stand in the way. Ell is on his last flight before heading home when his plane mysteriously vanishes shortly after takeoff, leaving Danica in a free fall. Etsell is gone, but what exactly does gone mean? Is she a widow? An abandoned wife? Or will Etsell find his way home to her? Danica is forced to search for the truth in her marriage and treks to Alaska to grapple with the unanswerable questions about her husband’s mysterious disappearance. But when she learns that Ell wasn’t flying alone and that a woman is missing, too, the bits and pieces of the careful life that she had constructed for them in Iowa take to the wind. A story of love and loss, and ultimately starting over, Far From Here explores the dynamics of intimacy and the potentially devastating consequences of the little white lies we tell the ones we love.

Rating:

Did Not Finish

Pages read: 138 of 337

My thoughts:

When I requested this book for review, I had thought it was Christian Fiction and would be clean... well it wasn't what I expected. There was a lot of cursing and that on its own made my opinion of Far From Here lower. If it would have just be one or two swear words, I could have accepted that, but the "D" word, "B" word, and others were used (there might have been even more had I continued reading).

I also found parts of the story very slow and sad. I finally decided to just not finish it and skip ahead to see how the story ends... let me say, that did not help my opinion at all.

I've read other reviews and some people seemed to have really enjoyed Far From Here - I wish that would have been the case for me.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

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A Peak In My Mailbox...

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where we share what books we got in the mail the previous week!

Here are some of the books that came in the mail for me recently!

• Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words by Rachel Coker *
• To See The Sun by Peggy Blann Phifer *
• Nightshade (Discarded Heroes #1) by Ronie Kendig
• Digitalis (Discarded Heroes #2) by Ronie Kendig
• Wolfsbane (Discarded Heroes #3) by Ronie Kendig
• Powers: A Novel by John B. Olson
• Shade by John B. Olson
• Try Darkness (Ty Buchanan #2) by James Scott Bell
• Oil by Jeff Nesbit
• Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls #3) by Laura Jensen Walker
• Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard
• Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
• Lee: A Life of Virtue by John Perry

* for review

FYI, this is NOT a typical week... I got so many books! :)

So there is a little peak in my mailbox... what books did you get this past week?

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