Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Christian fiction

5 on Friday: inspiring quotes from books I've read recently

Sometimes, a story says it all. And lately I’ve found that while reading fiction, a line of text or a word picture will hit directly where I’m at and speak to my soul. Here’s a sampling of some quotes that have inspired me and caused me to think, from books that I’ve read in the last couple of months. I recommend each of these books for the storylines, truths and soul-stirring writing.

  • Like so many things Henry had wanted in life it had arrived a little damaged. Imperfect. But he didn’t care; this was all he wanted. Something to hope for and he’d found it. It didn’t matter what condition it was in. —Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie FordOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • “See that light?” he asked me when the firefly lit up his hand. “This light is bright enough to light up a little speck of the night sky so a  man can see it a ways away. That’s what God expects us to do. We’re to be lights in the dark, cold days that are this world. Like fireflies in December.” — Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
  • Eliza knew she should go below. But she had never been very good at obeying authority. Besides, she’d rather be blown to bits on deck than die below cramped in the rank belly of the ship. —Forsaken Dreams by Marylu Tyndall
  • Be still and I will fight for you. Only instead of comfort, the words brought fear and doubt. Because as much as she wanted to believe them, the Lord did not fight for Micah when she’d begged Him to more than four years ago. She knew firsthand that her definition of deliverance did not match up with God’s. A small part of her thought maybe she was better off fighting for herself. But the words whispered over and over again. Be still and I will fight for you. — Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert.
  • She’d called her young infatuation love, but when she looked into her heart now, nothing there resembled those girlish feelings. Everything was so much richer and deeper–as if what had come before was simply an artist’s preliminary sketch, void of detail and color, and over the last few weeks, that same artist had brushed the canvas of her heart with masterful strokes, creating a vibrant work that left her breathless. — Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Letting go and moving on: Review of Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Late last year, I read an interview with debut author Katie Ganshert on a friend’s blog. Her down-to-earth Midwestness caught me and I snagged a copy of her novel Wildflowers from Winter. I. Loved. It.

The follow-up, Wishing on Willows, releases this month, and it’s another not-to-miss story. Before I tell you more about the story, check this out: If you pre-order Wishing on Willows, you’ll get a bonus 7 devotionals written by the author and based on the book. What a neat extra! Click here to sign up for the bonus. willows cover

Now, back to the story.

Robin Price lost her husband, Micah, love of her life, four years ago and found out she was pregnant with the child they’d longed for at the same time. The grief sent her spiraling into a pit, but a dream fulfilled–opening a cafe in their hometown of Peaks, Iowa–pulls her out and becomes her passion. Between the cafe, a grief support group, raising her son and a community ministry, Robin is stretched. Her cafe is barely making a profit, but Robin’s commitment to it, and the dream she and her husband shared, is unwavering.

So, when developer Ian McKay comes to town with plans to help the town build condominiums to attract new residents, plans that include tearing down the buildings including Robin’s cafe, Robin fights with all she has to hang on to the cafe, the community ministry and her memories of Micah. Ian has his own past to battle and is determined to make this deal a success to prove to his father that he’s worthwhile and to forget the personal failings of the past two years.

They can’t both get their way. The question their story seeks to answer is whether they’ll let God have His way, even if His plans differ from theirs.

Want a preview? Read the first chapter here.

I’ve loved this set of books and characters because they remind of my hometown, which is not all that far from the Iowa setting. The small-town people, businesses and get-togethers make me homesick and remind of people I know and circumstances I’ve read about and reported on as a journalist. Robin’s grief is realistic and her struggle to do it all is common to mothers whether single or married.

Ganshert’s word pictures give the story a heartbeat, and I found myself nodding “yes” along with an emotion a character was feeling.

I hope you’ll check out these books. You won’t feel out of the loop if you haven’t read Wildflowers from Winter, so don’t hesitate to read this one.

And just for you, I have TWO, yes TWO, advanced reading copies to give away. Find details about the giveaway at the end of the post.

But first, I’ve got a short interview with the author to share with you.

ganshertHere’s a fast five with Katie Ganshert.

I grew up in the Midwest and after moving to Pennsylvania, I found I missed my homeland (except for the bitter cold!). What do you love about the Midwest? And what could you do without?

I love the Midwest. I love the friendly people. I love the four seasons – even if spring and fall are too short. I love the country roads and the farmland (that is sadly becoming less and less). I could do without winter in April, although that didn’t happen last year.

What authors do you enjoy reading?

So many! One of my favorite new authors, as well as a good friend, is Becky Wade. We’re discovering that readers who read and enjoyed My Stubborn Heart also seem to enjoy my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, and vice versa. So if you haven’t checked her out yet, I highly recommend! My Stubborn Heart made me laugh and cry and I seriously could not put it down.

Who would you cast to portray the main characters in your novels?

Oh, what a fun question! I imagine Robin to resemble a slightly younger Jennifer Connelly and Ian is a taller, tanner version of Matt Czuchry, complete with that adorable squinty-eyed smile. In Wildflowers I always imagined Bethany to look like a not-so-stunning version of Kiera Knightley and Evan as a scruffier, hazel-eyed version of Chris Pine.

What story in the Bible inspires you?

Rahab. She is “that girl”. The one who seems hopelessly lost and beyond redemption. She’s a prostitute. Her reputation is scandalous. Women would most likely cross the street to avoid her. Yet God used her in a huge way. He invited her to be a part of His story and she said yes. Through her lineage, came our rescue–Jesus Christ. I can’t get over that story. It just goes to show that God can use anyone, even the most broken among us.

How do you feel when you come to the end of a novel you’ve written?

Giddy and satisfied with a tiny twinge of sadness, because it’s hard to say goodbye, even to fictional characters.

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And now for the giveaway (for US and Canada residents only).

1. Leave a comment here. You can tell me a) an experience you’ve had with grief and how you got through it or b) a dream you have/had that you would fight for no matter the cost. That’s one entry.

2. Like Katie Ganshert’s author page on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment that you did that. That’s an extra entry.

3. Follow @katieganshert on Twitter, and tell me that you did that. Worth one extra entry.

4. Follow me @lmbartelt on Twitter. Worth another entry.

5. Share about this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. Help spread the word about this book and author! Worth one total entry.

Five chances to win! I’ll pick TWO winners on Saturday, March 9.

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In exchange for my review, I was given a free ARC of Wishing on Willows from the author and Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.