Tag Archive | Lee Carver

Love Takes Flight (Book Review)

Dec5
Reading Time: 2 minutes

LoveTakesFlight copyLove Takes Flight is the latest novel by Lee Carver. Her first offering was a historical World War II novel called A Secret Life. This story, while contemporary romance is no less filled with adventure!

Camille Ringold is an American nurse whose dream of marrying a doctor and living a fine life in the suburbs is destroyed. To escape the shame and give herself time to heal she volunteers to serve for two weeks in the Amazon. She is forced to face the harsh reality of life in the jungle and the desperation of the lost souls she learns to love.

On a mission of mercy the Wings of Hope plane is hijacked and she and missionary pilot Luke Strong barely make it away alive but have to survive in the jungle. Luke has been a challenge for her, a woman used to finer things and afraid of flying. But his faith compels her to dig deeper within to seek God’s leading. Her heart plays tug of war with the growing attraction to the handsome pilot and her struggle to give up on the more comfortable life she temporarily has left behind.

Returning home she is confronted with the persistent pursuit of the rejected lying doctor and she discovers that the dangers of the Amazon are nothing compared to what was waiting for her at home from this man.

Does she have the faith to risk it all for love? Is that even what God is asking of her or is it another escape? And as much as she adores Luke Strong, would he ever consider her as a possible partner in ministry and life?

This is a fast paced book filled with adventure and a realistic look at the hardship faced by those who serve indigenous people groups who desperately need to hear the gospel. I loved the way Camille’s struggles are portrayed. No idealistic dreams of saving the world but the reality of just how much sacrifice is involved is told with brutal clarity. Luke Strong is not a perfect hero either but is steadfast and lives up to his name as he protects and guides Camille . . . only to find him being saved by her dedication.

I loved this story and highly recommend it. Lee Carver is a master story-teller with an eye to detail that will make you feel like you are right there with the characters.

World Wide Blog Hop

Oct27
Reading Time: 4 minutes

I’m answering four questions from Cheri Burbach for the World Wide Blog Hop.

Baganz 0524 Edited color

What am I working on?

I’ve got a lot of things going right now. I’m trying to finish up some editing projects for other authors with Prism Book Group so I can be ready for November which is National Novel Writing month. I’ll be writing my fifth book in a series (the first two are already contracted. Pesto and Potholes releases Spring of 2015). This will be my third full length novel this year. I’ve never accomplished that before. This will be my sixth year doing NaNoWriMo. I also am working on edits of my historical.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Every author has their own unique voice. The Orchard Hill series is set against the backdrop of Orchard Hill Church to show the importance of a viable faith in this crazy, mixed up world. I guess that would be the biggest uniqueness is that the church is its own character in the novels. I love the local church and have found my own biggest growth has taken place in community with other believers and especially under healthy, godly leadership. I want to show how wonderful and messy that can be . . . and how vital it is for any believer. I think I manage that without being preachy as I focus more on relationships than deep theology.

Why do I write/create what I do?

The world is scary and hard and I wanted to tackle the reality of those struggles for especially 20-30 something adults but make faith in Christ an integral and fundamental part of facing those challenges. I think my hope is to give them solid truth to cling to in a world that tells them compromise is acceptable. Ultimately our emotional and spiritual growth compels us to maturity in our faith, but it’s through the challenges we really grow. I’m a romance author so that is woven in. I love happily-ever-afters.

How does my writing/creating process work?

I’m a panster which means I write by the seat of my pants. I often will come up with a title and maybe my two main characters. Sometimes I will do a character interview with them before I start writing but sometimes the story just comes. I get that first inciting incident and I write it and the characters take over from there. It’s a wild roller coaster ride wondering what’s going to happen next and at times even I am surprised at the way things go in my story or how my characters react to events. I love the rush of a first draft.

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That’s enough about me! Here are three writers I’d like to introduce you to. Feel free to visit them as they continue with the blog hop:

Rachel A JamesRachel James

Born and bred in England, Rachel writes inspirational medieval romance, she is also a pastor’s wife, and has three beautiful little princesses. She minored in creative writing at university and strives to entertain, inspire and encourage others in their own spiritual journey. She’s also captivated by romantic tales… combine it with a little history and a hot cup of tea, and she’s smitten! Find her at www.rachelajames.com for more information.

Connect with Rachel: Website   Facebook   Amazon Author   Twitter   Google+

 

Renee Headshot2Renee Blare

Renee Blare’s nose has been buried in a book for as long as she can remember. Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, she started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to the awesome town of Laramie. She’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar.

After a brief detour to Texas, she back home, nestled against the Black Hills with her husband, crazy old dog and ornery cat. Add her son and parents dropping in for a home-cooked meal, and life’s never dull around her house. She serves the community of northeastern Wyoming as a pharmacist and pens her stories about struggling Christians as they travel along the journeys of their lives—meanwhile keeping things interesting with some action and intrigue, of course. She loves to interact with readers and invites you to check out her website, blog, and social media.

Social Media Contacts: Website   Facebook   Twitter     Groupblog   Pinterest   Goodreads  Tumblr    LinkedIN     Google+

HeadShotAug2014Lee Carver

Lee has lived in six foreign countries and studied nine languages including German and French. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout Europe while living in Spain. A five-week World War II history tour covering the areas where her father-in-law fought created the stimulus for this book.

Lee taught biology and chemistry, served as a volunteer church musician, and in retirement was a missionary in the Brazilian Amazon. She is a member of ACFW and president of its ACFW-DFW “Ready Writers” Chapter, and is active in Stephen Ministry and Kid’s Hope.

Lee is a member of ACFW and president of its local chapter, ACFW-DFW Chapter aka Ready Writers, and enjoys quite a few non-writerly endeavors.

Website   Facebook

 

A Secret Life (Book Review)

Aug29
Reading Time: 2 minutes

ASecretLife_ecoverWorld War II novels are popular but A Secret Life, by Lee Carver, stands apart in the world of fiction. 

As war breaks out around them, Karl Von Steuben, fears for his family’s safety. With dual American/German citizenship and a secret Jewish heritage on his mother’s side, the Christian family finds their faith and lives in danger. Kidnapped and forced into the German army rips Karl away from his privileged life and any hope of escape. He could never shoot an American and looks for an opportunity to cross the lines of war, risking being caught as an enemy. When the opportunity arises, he assumes a dead American soldier’s identity and crawls to the Siegfried Line carrying with him the secret hiding place of gold ingots melted from the jewelry of death camp prisoners. A battle injury robs him for a time of his memory, real name and history.
Eventually he gains awareness of the horrible truth but more secrets have to stay buried lest he be branded a war criminal in spite of the valuable aid he provides to the American side of the war effort. Eventually he is discharged and shipped to America under his assumed name. Alone in a foreign land, he rediscovers the faith of his past and the truth of God’s unmerited favor in a beautiful Atlanta nurse, Grace. The only problem is, Karl’s real name, identity and family fortune lies oversees in post-war Germany. Claiming them and owning the truth of who he is could give him the life he longs for with his new wife, but at the same time jeopardizes their marriage. Would Grace, and his adopted country, ever forgive him?
The twists and turns of this complex tale also covers the story of Karl’s family and their struggle during the war. Historically grounded and well researched the characters and their struggles come to life on the page. The heart-rending truth of the horrors of war and the choices that have to be made are well told without being gory. It’s a beautifully told tale of love, faith and difficult choices.