ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Fabry has a variety of titles to his credit including At the Corner of Mundane and Grace, Spiritually Correct Bedtime Stories, Away with the Manger, The H.I.M. Book, and The 77 Habits of Highly Effective Christians. His latest work is a collaboration with Jerry B. Jenkins and Dr. Tim LaHaye.
Chris has recently completed the final book in the Left Behind The Kids series, available Fall 2008. Readers of all ages have followed the lives of Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and the others. Now read how their exciting stories culminate in book 40 of this beloved series. Dogwood is his first adult fiction.
Chris and his wife, Andrea, are the parents of nine children and make their home in Colorado. Chris has worked in Christian radio and now enjoys narrating audio books as well as writing. He believes his career as a husband and father is the real evidence of God's grace in his life.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the small town of Dogwood, West Virginia, Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance from her deep passions and conflicts leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt, she tries to raise three small children and "do life" the best she can.Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved--only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn't survived the tragedy that knit those two together as well as tore them apart.
The trigger that will lay their pain bare and force them to face it rather than flee is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman who leads Karin so deep into her anger against God that it forces unexpected consequences.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Dogwood, go HERE
MY REVIEW:
I have to be careful in my review not to give too much away... this is a good book with lots of twists and turns that are best enjoyed curled up in bed frantically turning pages toward the end as everything starts to come out and be explained in a frenzy...
Dogwood has 3 parts to it. The first part was a little confusing for me - each chapter throughout the book is written from the viewpoint of one of four people. It took me awhile to grasp that and get them all straightened out in my mind. The other confusing thing was that the tragedy that is the center of everything is kept secret for pretty much the whole first part and I couldn't figure out why it was such a secret. Also the town of Dogwood shows itself to have no forgiveness for an accident and I wasn't sure out where the maliciousness came from, I mean being upset is one thing but sheer hatred is another.
Those minor things aside - this was a great book! I figured a few of the twists and turns out before the end, but Chris managed to blow my mind with the last chapter. Overall I was very impressed with this book - I loved the mentorship between Ruthie and Karin - we all need someone in our lives like Ruthie but so few of us have that. And all I can say about one of my other favorite parts is that Chris does a great job of showing the love of the Saviour in this book - you'll have to read it to fully understand what I mean.
If you would like a chance to win this book then leave a comment telling me about a mentor in your life - someone that has influenced you for the better. Be sure to leave your email address and I will do a drawing for a winner! Good Luck!
15 comments:
I had a retired pastors wife that mentored me as I led Bible studies. She had taught every book of the Bible. Enter me in the drawing. spowell01(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Janna,
Please enter me in this drawing. I have had a few different people in my life who were mentors and either were or became friends as well. The two I remember or think of first were a woman from a few years back who happened to sit next to me at church, we had never met and didn't know one another at all at the time. It happened to be mother's day sunday which as a single with a heart's desire to be a mother had always been tough for me. It doesn't seem to hit me as hard now as then but that Sunday by the end of the service I was bawling (and I normally try to save those floods for a less public place). This woman took the time to ask what the situation was and pray with me that day and then also invested time in one on one meetings to go through and discuss a number of bible studies overa period of years.
The second who is a friend of mine as well as being a mentor in my life was the one who has encouraged me to pursue my dreams of a job that I will love and how to discover that. She also pushes me when I want/try to stick to the old comfortable way of hiding in the corner.
Melissa
forest_rose[at]yahoo[dot]com
Please enter me in the drawing. The two people who have influenced me the most are my two grandmothers. One took care of me during most of my preschool years while my mom was ill, and this grandmother also fought (and eventually lost) a courageous battle with cancer. My other grandmother is a fairly healthy 97 year old role model for her family and lives each day to the fullest!
Mary Jo Robertson
rcmjrobertson (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
I have never really had a mentor. :( My aunt has been a great prayer warrior on my behalf, though, but we don't talk very often.
Please enter me in the drawing!
asyouwiiiiish@gmail.com
I have been blessed with a few older ladies in life whom I knew I could look up to. They were who I wanted to be "when I grew up" to be in my 60's. Two are retired pastors wives. One is a prayer warrior who continually points me to the Lord. I'm so glad to know them!
Thank you for the chance to win.
author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com
Love the sound of this book.
Please enter me in the contest.
Thank you.
Becky C.
rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net
My grandmother who raised me and taught me everything. Her principles, values and the importance of education, family and integrity. I have a great deal of respect and love for this wonderful woman who shaped my entire life and future. Thanks for this great giveaway.
saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
What a lovely giveaway. My mentor is and has always been my mother. Her selflessness, determination, and sacrifices have made me understand life and what it means to be a giving and loving person. She had a belief that by helping others she would derive a great deal of satisfaction. I hope to follow in her footsteps. Her heart and soul were too big even for me to comprehend. Now I feel a great loss.
rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com
This book would be wonderful. A mentor who meant the world to me was my grandmother. A warm, thoughtful and kindhearted woman who did everything for me. She read to me, took me to performances, taught me to cook and bake and showed me what was vital in life.
bencanada1(at)yahoo.com
I love serving the Lord as a church pianist today, but this would never have happened had it not been for my youth minister's wife when I was a teenager. At a time when I hated practicing but couldn't talk my parents into letting me quit, she mentored me each week by showing me how to play "church style" music and encouraging me to stay with it. She is with the Lord now, but I hope she realizes how strong an influence she had on me.
I appreciate your review and would love to read this book. Thank you for the giveaway.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
I HATE unexpected consequences but in a book, CAN'T keep myself from reading through it. Please enter me! Thanks.
Pam Williams
cepjwms at yahoo dot com
Wow. This book looks great. As for mentor, I guess I would have to say that I have a group of women I have been involved with for many years. Since I am the youngest of the group, they would all be mentors!
Hello! My sister is ten years older than me. I was like a nanny aunt to her two girls. We have always been very close. She and I can talk about anything with unconditional love. Please enter me in your delightful book giveaway drawing. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
My older sister and Mom are my mentors, they never fails to pick me up and inspire me whenever lifes struggles are determined to pin me down. I love them to pieces:)
Thanks for the chance to win!
And the winner is...
Ellie!
Congratulations!
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