Paula Lynn McGrew
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Winter's Past by Mary E. Hanks

2/12/2014

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A beautiful and tender account of God's grace, Winter’s Past, written by Mary E. Hanks, is Winter Cowan and Ty Williams’s reunion story of love, redemption, and second chances. Entering into this heartwarming, uplifting story and engaging with the characters took no effort whatsoever. Well-written, the story flows smoothly and kept me interested in wanting to know what happened next. Writing every scene in enough detail so they seemed authentic, Mary drew me into the book in a way that made me want to stay within the pages and follow the characters on their journey of restoration and learning to trust again.

Clearly, Mary cares about her characters because they are so three dimensional and realistic that I didn't feel forced to believe they could really exist. Character development was smooth and natural, and as I read, I watched their true traits emerge. Mary showed how God's children – even those actively involved in Christian ministry roles – are not without faults or sin. I enjoyed them because they were far from flawless.

A decade has passed, and Ty doesn't want to hurt Winter any more than he already has. He still loves her and wants to be reunited, even though he knows he doesn't deserve that. Still, he can’t ignore the feeling that God wants them to be together. Selfishness and pride controlled him before he found God and allowed Him to work in his heart, and now Ty wants to be the man God wants him to be and the man Winter needs him to be. He wonders if she can ever forgive him.

As thoughts and fragmented pictures of her broken marriage assault her, Winter tries hard to keep from falling apart. When their church ministry plans abruptly change, she and her team members travel to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a home of many unhappy memories for her. She wonders what God’s purpose could possibly be in sending her there. That's when she hears Him speak two words: "Forgive him." She knows what those words mean – forgive her former husband Ty, unconditionally and without second thoughts – and the effort forgiving him will require.

Instead of letting her old feelings control her, Winter knows God insists on forgiveness. Throughout her ministry efforts, doesn’t she tell others how God's power can wipe the slate clean? Will she let Him do the same for her and Ty? Her desire to run from the pain of the past is strong, but God's urging her to do what’s right is even stronger and cannot be dismissed.

Winter hears God's words and knows He’s right, yet she wants to leave the hurt of her divorce behind and move on. Because she's been hurt by Ty, forgiving him sounds next to impossible. She's certain she's forgiven him already, but what if she hasn't? Determined not to give him another chance to inflict pain upon her heart, Winter dreads seeing Ty again. However, she soon discovers she is still in love with him, and what’s even more amazing is that Ty still loves with her.

Tender moments offset the gripping and tense scenes, and each time I thought I'd figured out what was going to happen next, Mary threw in a plot twist I wasn't expecting and surprised me. Authentically written, the dialogue helps move the story along in the right direction; and despite a broken marriage and trust issues, the romantic connection between Winter and Ty is unmistakable.

I love stories that include God as one of the main characters, and my favorite part is how Mary did a wonderful job of making sure He was front and center – exactly where He should be. Winter and Ty’s constant dialogue with God is refreshing, and their first instinct is to take their problems to Him, no matter what their situation is, or how difficult getting an answer to their prayers may seem.

This book is exceptional and I enjoyed watching this sweet love story unfold. The Christian themes are refreshing and touching, and Mary developed characters I cared about.  One I want to read again, this book is a great reminder that God is always by our side, guiding us, gently prodding us to do His will so we can experience His perfect plan.


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Mary E. Hanks shines her light for Jesus through writing for Him.  If you would like to read the first chapter of Winter's Past, visit her website. You can also watch the book trailer which I've included below.

Mary and her brother, Lance Simmons, wrote "Only You," a beautiful worship song for Winter's Past that is available to listen to on Lance's website.


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Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer

2/1/2014

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What is a locavore and farm girl from the prairie of North Dakota to do when she finds a farm lit romance available on the market?  Get a copy and review it!  That's what I'm doing here for Raspberries and Vinegar, written by Valerie Comer.

Spunky Josephine Shaw has dedicated herself to a sustainable lifestyle and is no less than fanatical about it.  She and two of her friends, Sierra and Claire, recently graduated from college and purchased a tract of land in northern Idaho they affectionately call Green Acres where they are building a straw bale house and living off the land.  Unpredictable, argumentative and somewhat stubborn, Josephine is bound and determined to defeat the mice infesting their mobile home and to convince the residents of their new town, Galena Landing, to eat a menu consisting of organic, locally grown food.

The friends' new neighbor, Zachary Nemesek, is jobless, and his friend, Gabe, senses he's drifting and encourages him to ask God what He wants.  Zach doesn't believe he's drifting, he has a couple of employment prospects, feels God is ignoring him and that praying is like talking to a brick wall, and he doesn't see the point in it anymore.  Even though he grew up in a Christian home, he and God aren't on speaking terms any longer.  He sees himself as an honest man, a trustworthy man, but wonders if he can ever become a God-centered man.  In recent years, he hasn't been in the habit of talking with God, and fears if he gives in, then God is going to want to meddle in every facet of his life, and he's definitely not up for that.


Dead set on city living, Zach temporarily puts his dreams aside to help his parents run their farm during his father's prolonged illness and convalescence.  He doesn't like rural life or living in a dead-end town, and he can't wait to be gone from Galena Landing.  He longs live and work in the city as a veterinarian where he believes life won't be so hard.


Even though Jo admires the way Zach tenderly interacts with his grandmother, an elderly woman she takes care of in her new job at the local care facility, she doesn't believe they'd ever be compatible, not with his attitude toward farming and living in a rural community.  Their differences abound and are magnified in Josephine's mind as she makes comparisons between the two of them.  Zach uses Styrofoam and eats greasy, calorie-laden fast food while she cooks from scratch and eats as organically as possible.  She majored in holistic medicine and is all about herbs and natural remedies, while he prefers modern medicine and prepackaged meals.  Will their attitudes regarding food choices, their relationship and dependence upon God, and their personal views on rural living hinder or help the romantic connection between them?  She's convinced he can't stand her and is secretly trying to undermine her attempts at the nursing home to serve his grandmother good, whole food.  He brings his grandmother treats of candy and fast food, while Jo is doing her utmost to make sure the residents have healthy snack choices.  Polar opposites, they are attracted to each other, but she wants a man who walks with God, who values rural life and the work of God's hands.  Zach has chosen to find a job in the city and live a life of convenience and comfort.

Zach thinks Josephine is a softie beneath all the bristle, but they struggle to agree on what constitutes healthy eating and the benefits of rural living.  He believes she is a high-and-mighty environmentalist snob and definitely doesn't think they're a match made in heaven.  He knows where he stands with her and knows he's not good enough and never will be good enough for her.  He struggles with his attraction to her and wonders if she is worth everything to him.  Could he stay in Galena Landing for her and give up on his own dreams?  He fears he will never be good enough, never environmental enough, never green enough to live up to her standards.

At one time, Zach had experienced peace and joy in being right with God and now longs to find his way back to Him.  Despite rubbing each other the wrong way on so many levels, both he and Jo come to realize putting their hopes and dreams into God's hands will cause the future to work itself out.  Being right with God is what really matters, a concept neither of them has considered in a long time.  God expects them to do everything within His power, not their own.

This book was really fun and entertaining to read, and I'm looking forward to the next story from Valerie's pen, Wild Mint Tea, which releases in March 2013.  On her website she offers her readers a preview.  Once you read it, you'll be hooked!


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Valerie Comer is a farmer, locavore, and beekeeper, as well as the author of the Farm Fresh Romance series.

She blogs where food meets faith, and if you’re interested in God’s perspective on the topic, she invites you to get to know her through her website and novels. 


She also owns and maintains How To Write a Story, a site teaching an overview of the fiction writing process via blog posts and a free course by email.

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    Paula Lynn McGrew

    I am a Christian wife, mother and author who strives to serve Jesus Christ in every area of my life and let my light shine for Him.

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