Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Beyond The Storm by Carolyn Zane

I don't read books that deal with natural disasters. No hurricane books. No crashing hotel books. No books about epidemics that ravage a country. I don't read about airplane crashes either. I was a little surprised at myself for requesting this book--especially now that I'm living in Oklahoma where tornados are common. Of course, the only reason I did is because I've read Carolyn Zane. She's an excellent storyteller. In fact, I challenge you to find a bad Zane book. Carolyn did an excellent job building tension. Every page I turned increased my anxiety. I read, I laughed, I cried, I constantly battled a heavy chest and a knot in my throat. Read more about her at the Christian Fiction Writers Magazine.

There was only one scene in the book that caused me concern. I thought, "Oh, how convenient was that!" SPOILER ALERT! Zane used a homeless man who happens to be a doctor to deliver a baby. I have to admit, when I bring Beyond The Storm back to mind--as I often do--I've grumbled at this particular scene, but guess what: It's not too much of a stretch after all.  Take a look at this article.

By the time you finish Beyond The Storm, you'll be wishing you knew these people. I can promise, you'll yearn to be part of Selma's make-shift family, sitting at her dining table, listening to her words of love and wisdom. And you'll definitely want to learn to quilt!

____________________
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beyond the Storm
Abingdon Press (October 2012)
by
Carolyn Zane


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author of 35 books, wife, mother and yes…hot (flasher) lives with her fabulous husband, Matt and their 5 children and 3 dogs in the scenic Willamette Valley in Oregon. When asked to describe her family, Carolyn likens her crowd to the Brangelia Bunch saying modestly, “Only we’re better looking.” Right now,Carolyn is back in the saddle with her new title: Beyond The Storm, coming out in October 2012! In the mean time, be sure to catch her on the critically acclaimed TOOHOTMAMAS Blog where Carolyn and Wendy tackle Marriage, motherhood and menopause: How to do all three and stay out of prison! They are hilarious! You'll wet yourself, guaranteed! Visit them at: www.toohotmamas.wordpress.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After a tornado rips through her town, store owner Abigail comes across a piece of fabric from a wedding dress among the devastation. Abigail is moved to start collecting other swatches of fabric she finds – her neighbor’s kitchen curtains, a man’s necktie, a dog’s bed – which she stashes in shopping bags. As she pursues her seemingly absurd quest, horrible realities spark the question, “What kind of a God would allow such tragedy?”

As she struggles to reconcile her right to happiness amidst the destruction, Abigail begins piecing together a patchwork quilt from the salvaged fabric in hopes it will bring some peace. But a new relationship with Justin, a contractor, may require too much of her fragile heart. Will her pain and questions of faith give way to the courage to love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Beyond the Storm, go HERE.

4 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Sounds really good. I'll have to have a look at this one.

Unknown said...

Carolyn Zane is the author of 35 books?! Holy cow! I'm really impressed. I've only written 3 and they were hard. I can't imagine writing 35.
Thanks for the review. Great stuff! :-)

MDM Searle said...

Thanks for the review. I recently read "Black Box - Inside the World's Worst Air Crashes" while flying in a twenty year old charter plane to Majorca. It really did add life to the subject matter.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.