Paint Chips

Susie Finkbeiner

I'd like to introduce you to my wonderful friend and WhiteFire author, Susie Finkbeiner. Susie and her novel Paint Chips are both very special to me. I first met Susie by commenting on Novel Matters. I loved her spirit and her intelligence. So, feeling confident that she'd make a wonderful WhiteFire author, I started a friendship (yes, authors, when editors seek you out to "court" you, that's a pretty good sign.) When I heard Susie had finished her first novel, I immediatley let her know I would be interested in seeing it. And to my complete delight, she said she would love to send it to me. The book ended up being my first official acquisition for WhiteFire, not to mention the first book I edited.

Don't worry, you don't have to hate her. Yes, she made some of the typical newbie mistakes, but the energy, the life in that novel, blew me away. She had just the young, edgy, yet wonderfully spiritual vibe we look for at WhiteFire. (See adorable nose stud in her picture, not to mention those piercing eyes.) Her book kept me awake late into the night. I read it straight through, which is a rare thing for me to do, and yet another sign that it would be perfect for WhiteFire. And, Susie turned out to be a great author to work with. She was a quick learner and ate up everything we taught her. The resulting manuscript, in my opinion, is thought-provoking, life changing, and award worthy.

Since it seems odd to do a "review" under the circumstances, let me tell you some of the stand out features that drew me to this book. 1) The characters are so vibrant and alive that they jumped off the page and into my heart. 2) Her writing voice has an understated sort of elegance and artistry reimiscent of Lisa Samson. 3) The subject of the book, which involved healing from abuse and human trafficking, was so relevant and today. 4) The book brimmed with hope and youthful energy. 5) Susie looked at difficult spiritual questions without offering easy answers or platitudes. 

Here is the official blurb for Paint Chips. (written by yours truly and tweaked by the word wizard, Roseanna White)'

What lies beneath the layers of hurt?

Though haunted by her troubled past, Dot has found a safe haven. She has a fierce protector and a colorful collection of friends...but sometimes she wonders if her life will ever be normal again. Though college and romance await her, embracing them requires a new kind of strength--one she isn't sure she has.

Emerging from years of confusion, Cora struggles to latch hold of the sanity she needs to return to the real world. She yearns to find a place of peace...but first she must deal with the ghosts of her past.

Can this mother and daughter overcome abuse, betrayal, abandonment, and the horrors of sexual trafficking, and make it back into each others arms?

Facing the past is never easy. But as they chip away the layers, they might just find something beautiful beneath the mess.

The subject might sound a little depressing, but it's one of those books that will break your heart and put it back together, while making you laugh along the way. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book! Order it for your ereader today for only $3.99.
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The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

My interest was immediately piqued by the back cover copy of this novel. “With ten marriages between them, three Southern sisters wonder if they’ve inherited they’re grandmother’s tendency for serial marriage.” Although this book is at the heart a sisterhood-style relationship novel, Hunt’s vibrant imagination brings it to life and engages the reader right from the start.

Within the first few chapters we discover that sister Rosemary is planning her own suicide while Penny is about to embark on an affair with a handsome doctor. How’s that to get a relationship novel about love and commitment started with a bang? Trouble also seems to be brewing in the twenty-seven year marriage of the relatable, Christian sister Ginger.

Roesmary’s appointment with suicide is postponed when their deceased grandmother’s beach house is finally sold, and the three women plan to meet there to pack and clean. Their weekend together will reveal a lifetime of secrets and force them to see the world through new eyes. While Hunt takes ample time to develop the intricacies of sisterhood and delve into the past, the present moment crises in each of their lives keeps the story moving at strong pace.

No matter which character you relate to, responsible, duty-bound Ginger, flighty, defensive Penny, or wounded, heartsick Rosemay, this book will leave you in someway changed. Personally, as I approach the second half of my life I find I am more interested in books about how to maintain a marriage and raise a godly family than in books about fairytale romance. This one certainly fit the bill, providing a compelling read while presenting valuable truths. I found myself identifying with each of the women on differing levels and truly enjoyed this journey through the terrain of relationships.

With only one nominally Christian character, the spiritual content of this book is presented in a subtle and very realistic manner. However, by the end the reader is left with a clear Biblical worldview on the subjects of love, marriage, commitment, and forgiveness.

Amazing New Finds in Fiction!!!!

Lately I've been discovering more and more Christian fiction writers of a high literary quality. You've probably heard me go on and on about Lisa Samson and Roseanna White already. Now let me add to that list Tosca Lee, Patti Lacy, and Laura Frantz. Allow me to share a few thoughts on some of their new books.

Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White

Having read Roseanna's first novel, I knew to expect beautiful writing, heart-stopping romance, amazing characters, exquisite insight into history and human psychology, and even interesting philosophical conversations. However, this book came with an unexpected bonus in the form of a spiritual warfare thread reminiscent of Frank Peretti. And the author tied it in seamlessly with actual historical facts from the Greek accounts of their war with Persia. You may think you've read the Esther story, but never like this. It is told from the perspective of Kasia, one of Xerxes many wives and childhood friend of Esther. The glimpse into the struggle of being one wife of many is unique enough, but Kasia is also Xerxes's true love. She is torn between her very real feelings for the hunky king and her heart-ache over his often capricious actions, allowing the author to weave themes of love, forgiveness, and serving God that you won't soon forget. This book has everything. It's on my favorite list already.

Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

This incredible book will touch your heart. I confess that I struggled with the dense language and shadowy secrets in the beginning. However, due to the lovely musical quality and important themes of racism and legalism, I pressed on. I'm so glad I did. This book gets better and better with each turn of the page. The ending is one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of readng. It weaves an incredible portrait of grace with unexpected twists and turns. Beautifully paced, insightful, deep, and spiritual. You don't want to miss this book.

Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee
I'm still processing this book. It affected me on a very deep level. The writing style was simply to die for. Much of the novel reads like a gorgeous prose poem. The juxtaposition of explosive joy and unutterable sadness was almost more than my heart could bear. I never dreamed of reading a CBA book with such earthy sensuality. It ministered to my spirit something radical in the realm of sexual politics and the male/female relationship that my subconscious is still working out. All I know for sure is that this book changed my life.

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

I'm still reading this one, but I've heard so many great things about Laura Frantz. Here's what I've loved so far. Both the writing craft and the artistry of the book are impeccable. And while it is incredibly romantic, it doesn't follow some of the annoying rules of genre romance. We don't even meet the hero for quite a while. There are no overblown "motives" or "goals" driving the book. It's simply the story of a young woman who longs for love, family, security, and meaning like each one of us. And I adore that Laura has a half-breed Indian in a lead role in the story. This is supposed to be a no no in Christian fiction, yet there it is. I've avoided setting a historical in American because this is exactly the sort of plot that appeals to me: slaves, Indians, injustice, complicated relationships and emotions. And I've been told they wouldn't sell. Thanks, Laura, for proving otherwise.

A Time to Dance

Did you ever get just the right novel at just the right time? God seems to work that way a lot with me. This fall my husband went on a trip to Nashville and brought me a book for my “souvenir.” He figured with a name like A Time to Dance it would be a sure hit. I wasn’t quite convinced I would enjoy a Karen Kingsbury novel, but I kept that little tidbit to myself. I did, in fact, love the title as well. So into my TBR stack it went, and I promised myself I would get to it soon.

Once I finished my stint with reading sisterhood novels for my own research, I pulled out the Karen Kingsbury book. As some of you know, I have been going through some really tough times in my marriage, and around that precise moment I was closer to giving up than ever before.

So can you guess what A Time to Dance is about?

I’ll give you the brief rundown. After over twenty years of marriage, Abby and John are about to announce their impending divorce to their children. They’ve tried everything and have nothing left to give. But at the family meeting before they can share the news, their twenty-year-old daughter has her own surprise announcement to make. She’s engaged and getting married in the summer. Being the dedicated Christian parents that they are, Abby and John decide they will somehow figure out a way to paste on fake smiles and make it through six more months so their daughter’s day can be perfect.

The book is all about marriages. How do they fall apart? What makes them work? What happens when they end? Abby and John are surrounded by a lively cast of secondary characters who each reflect this issue in some way. And, as I’m sure you figured out by now, this novel touched me in a significant way. I can’t promise that you will respond to it as strongly, but I think anyone will find elements in this book to change them and help them grow.

Whether you have let yourself get caught up in the busyness of life and grow hard-hearted like Abby, escaped into an relaxing relationship with a supportive and flirtatious “buddy” like John, have given up on marriage like their future in-laws, or are looking forward to a perfect marriage like their daughter, no doubt you will find someone in this book to relate to.

I related most to John. Although he never had an affair, over time his escapism with his “buddy” Charlene Denton did serious damage to his marriage. The other woman in the book, Charlene, was quite a character indeed with her subtle and patient seduction of John. She will serve as a cautionary tale for me for a long time. But John played along all too easily and contributed in his own way.

Ultimately, the most important thing I learned from the book was this: it takes two people to destroy a marriage and two people to repair one. This novel encouraged me to do something God had asked me to do several weeks earlier, and that I had been wrestling with him over.

To take a leap of faith hand in hand with my husband.

So in a bold and unified move, my husband let go of some of his hurts and fears, and I let go of some of mine. We’re taking a leap of faith. I don’t know the end of the story, but I can tell you that things turned out well for Abby and John, and I’m hopeful that they’ll turn out well for us.

This book was originally written ten years ago, but has recently been rereleased, just in time for me. What books have come to you just in time? What fiction books have changed your life? What messages have touched you?