After her husband’s death, Edythe is penniless and dependent on her domineering and abusive father for the sake of her three children. At first glance, Edythe looks weak, but inside is a vein of strength ready to be mined. Good thing! When her eldest child, Andrew, gets into trouble with the police, Edythe finds the courage to stand up for herself and her son.
Barrett Seton is a lawyer looking for justice. Or is it revenge? When he returns to Riverport to care for his ailing brother, he is determined the past will not be repeated. Judge Danby won’t bully him or his brother. Mrs. Edy Westin will not break his heart. He will have the upper hand and the last say.
Edythe and Barrett must put aside their pain and anger to work together for her son’s sake. Along the way, they rediscover the truth and the lies of the past.
Y’all, I love this book. The characters are diverse with flaws and wounds, making them relatable and memorable. The story is a second chance tale of justice, forgiveness, love, hope, and restoration. I felt the pace was perfect, and the romance sweet and enjoyable. The plot kept me anchored in another time and place.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Another reason why I like this story is the characters. I cheered Edythe on her newfound strength. I enjoyed the twins’ conversations, especially Timothy’s. I smiled over Sarah Jane’s love for animals. I hurt for Andrew and rooted for Barrett to get the bad guy. And finally, I hoped for Judge Danby to get his just desserts. He really needed that smirk wiped off his face. 😉
I highly recommend Rekindling Trust. But I warn you, like any decadent dessert, you must pace yourself to savor every delicious morsel.
I received a copy of this book from the author but wasn’t required to post a favorable review. The opinions are my own.
Good morning, dear reader! I’m excited to share author Linda B. Davis in this Women of Faith and Fiction episode. Believe me when I say, you’ll want to stay until the very end.
If this is your first time meeting Linda, check out her blog. I enjoy reading about her family history and book recommendations. Let’s get started, or as Linda would say, “Let’s chat!”
Personal
Good morning, Linda. Thank you for joining us for a “gab session”. Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and reared on a farm in the southernmost tip of Texas–the Rio Grande Valley. I attended Christian colleges and worked 40 years in special education. I have two grown children–a son and a daughter–who are both veterinarians practicing together in San Antonio. We live minutes from one another, and I love it. My husband Al is my hero. He and I worship and minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio.
Professional
Why did you choose to write in your particular genre?
When my first grandchild
arrived in triplicate form in 2005, and they were fighting for their lives in
the NiCU, I vowed to the Lord that I would devote the rest of my life to them
and leave them a legacy of faith in writing. Because family history interests
me–and I find preserving and passing it on to be important–the choice of
historical Christian was an easy one. When my daughter named my one
granddaughter Ella after my grandmother Ella, I knew the heroine of my first
novel had to be an Ella. Hence, The Calling of Ella McFarland.
What a beautiful idea, Linda. Please share something you wish the reader knew about the books.
The Calling of
Ella McFarland was born from
my brainstorming about how to present my family’s history as fiction. I asked
myself “What if?” questions: What if my grandmother Mama had gone to school
beyond 3rd grade? What if she had gotten a college education . . .
What might her life have looked like?
And the story of
Ella McFarland was born.
The second novel, The
Mending of Lillian Cathleen, follows a victimized young girl from Ella’s
story into adulthood and along the path of healing from childhood abuse.
The third novel, The
Awakening of Miss Adelaide, follows Ella’s and Lily’s friend as she pursues
her dream of the opera in Italy, only to be embroiled in the Great War and the
Great Influenza. All three women discover the importance of the vote for women.
Their stories highlight some key rights denied them as a result of being denied
the vote.
Wow! What an amazing series. Love the covers.
Reader, “The Calling of Ella McFarland, Book 1 of the Women of Rock Creek series won the 2014 Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel Award under the title Greater Still. It debuted on December 1, 2015 and won the 2016 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award in the Debut Category.”
Linda, in your opinion, what is the hardest part of the writing/working process?
For me, the hardest part of the writing is keeping the world at bay while I write. Demands live around every corner. So I’ve learned I must set aside writing time that’s beyond the reach of everyone except my husband.
I think all writers can relate to time issues. 🙂 Let’s have some fun. When writing your first draft, do you use pencil or keyboard?
I absolutely use a
keyboard. Aside from arthritic hands, the keyboard action seems to stir the
creative juices for me. So much do I depend on the feel and sound of key
clickity-clacking that I find myself unable to think well with my fingers off
the keys. Is that crazy or what?
Not crazy at all. I can’t seem to get words on paper unless I use pen and paper for the first draft. Plotter or pantser?
I thought I was a
plotter for years, but I’ve discovered how freeing flying by the seat of my
pants is, so I’ve learned to incorporate the two in a process. My current
process involves planning the key points along the story, character, romantic,
and spiritual arcs before I begin and then writing pantster-ish from each of
those points to the next. I find myself most creative within this framework.
Tea or coffee?
Both! Coffee with
plenty of caffeine in the morning and herbal tea in the afternoon.
Favorite thing to do when not working?
Family, Netflix, and reading!
Love doing all three!
Inspirational
Thank you for helping us to know you better! Moving on . . . . This year’s theme is sharing hope. In Hebrews, the writer tells us to encourage each other while it is called today. Would you please take a moment to share a brief testimony to encourage our readers?
Life is composed of
seasons far beyond those we find evidence of on trees and in the air four times
per year. These special seasons represent periods of change usually preceded by
shocking loss or unexpected gain or alterations of our personal landscape that
require us to grow in ways we never imagined. Sometimes such seasons knock the
props from us. At times like that I’m especially grateful for the hope found in
Christ’s presence, his footprints alongside mine or alone because He’s carrying
me. His immovable love for me allows me to rant and rave, accuse and question,
and discover He never lets go.
“Now may the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy
Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”
Romans 15:13 AMP
That is one of my favorite scriptures. What a beautiful testimony. Thank you for joining me, Linda.
Book: The Awakening of Miss Adelaide, Book 3 The Women of Rock Creek series
Giveaway
Linda is giving away the Women of Rock Creek series (two novels and a novella collection) in digital format, plus the 3rd novel in the series–The Awakening of Miss Adelaide, when it releases on July 9.
We can all agree this is a generous giveaway! With that said, I’m asking the winner to please post reviews for the books to show her gratitude. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, do you? Thank you.
Be sure to leave a comment to have your name added in the drawing!
Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway. The winner of Linda’s Rock Creek Series is Dorothy (dotluvs2write). Thank you for participating Dot. Congratulations!
The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~ James Bryce
For three years, Kati Walsh has hunkered down at a new place of worship to dab at church-inflicted wounds. Her one outreach is to her kickboxing friends at the gym, but she’s been praying for God to stir her heart again. But she’s not sure that the new assistant pastor and his friend Reece Jernigan are what she asked for—because Assistant Pastor Josh Corbin plans to win the hearts of the north-side neighborhood, mostly described as “the hood.”
When Josh plans a prayer walk in the neighborhood, both the congregation and the police are wary, but Josh insists that prayer works. He believes in spiritual warfare—prayer, praise, and the Word of God. Reece, on the other hand, has been on the streets before, and his weapon of choice is a 9mm Glock. Two close friends with differing perspectives and both with an eye on Kati. But they’re not the only ones—the gang leader from the north side has taken an unexpected interest in Kati, too.
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this story. The characters were believable. The plot was plausible, ripped from today’s headlines. And the spiritual warfare was perfect. Not overdone or underdone for this story.
The setting is a local congregation. There are two heroes, one heroine, and several supporting characters. My favorite scenes were the church services. During the preaching, I wanted to stand and shout, “Yes! Praise the Lord!” The call to service, I cried, “Lord, help us.” And during the prayers, I whispered, “Yes, Lord.”
One of my favorite quotes came from Pedro.
“Are those in our neighborhood not worthy of your love and concern? Where is this Christianity you talk about? Is it only for you? Your family and no one else? Or is it for everyone, as Jesus has said?”
Although the suspense and the spiritual threads were more than satisfying, I wasn’t crazy about the romance thread. However, I am incredibly picky when it comes to this subject. As a reader, I know what I like and don’t like. As a writer, I struggle in this area. I suggest reading the book for yourself.
This review is based on the suspense and the spiritual threads alone. And for those two threads, I give the book 5 stars because it made me question my love for others and my willingness to share the gospel. Am I doing enough?
We’ve all lived so long with Satan’s attacks that we no longer see them as such. We possess weapons of divine power that can demolish strongholds, and yet we don’t use them. Prayer, praise, God’s word. The name of Jesus. Weapons. He’s calling us out of our comfort zones, out of our safe zones, and asking if we are willing to take up the fight for our families, our neighbors, and for Him.~ Josh Corbin, assistant pastor at New Life Church
See what I mean?
In Warrior, Linda shares the truth of the Word and explains how to wield the weapons of the Spirit. Through her characters, she teaches us how to love the lost in our communities. I seldom find a book that challenges my heart and mind as much as this story did. It’s been two weeks, and I can still hear several quotes.
To you, dear reader, I apologize. I know I have to be the weirdest reviewer ever. I tend to judge a book by what I take from it, not on what I like or dislike about it. If it touches me emotionally and spiritually, well then, the writer has done her job. And in the case of Warrior, Linda did a great job.
Now . . . if you’d like to read an awesome review of this book by someone who knows what she’s doing, then please visit readingismysuperpower.
Warrior is free! That’s right! From today 10-26 until Monday 10-29. Check it out.
For three years, Kati Walsh has hunkered down at a new place of worship to dab at church-inflicted wounds. Her one outreach is to her kickboxing friends at the gym, but she’s been praying for God to stir her heart again. But she’s not sure that the new assistant pastor and his friend Reece Jernigan are what she asked for—because Assistant Pastor Josh Corbin plans to win the hearts of the north-side neighborhood, mostly described as “the hood.”
Gail Johnson 