Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea.
Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.
When I miswrote the title of this post, I realized I had stumbled upon truth.
Instead of “Words aren’t Enough,” I wrote “Word aren’t Enough.”
But wait! The Word is enough.
Only Jesus, the Living Word, can comfort the Nova Scotian families* (and others) who are grieving.
Only He can wrap them in His loving arms and sustain them today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Only He can give them the strength to put one foot in front of the other.
Only Jesus can stir the compassion in our hearts and remind us to pray for those whose hearts are broken.
Only the Living Word is enough!
And only the Written Word, the Scriptures, are enough to satisfy our desperate need for answers.
We won’t find the specific answers to the whys of this tragedy, but we will find the answers to questions we didn’t even know we were asking.
Can God really be trusted?
Does He care about what we do to one another?
Does He leave us on our own?
Will He hear me when I cry out to Him?
What does He know about the pain I’m going through?
Dear readers, may you find comfort in the Written Word. And may you come to the Living Word, who promised His followers, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30 ESV).
I know it doesn’t feel this way now, but when we humble ourselves and acknowledge our need of the Saviour, we learn that He is willing to bear the heaviest part of our burden on His own shoulders.
My words most definitely aren’t enough, but I pray that you will come to know the One who is the Word.
*[Note: I thank Steph Beth Nickel for this very timely and personal guest post written for Nova Scotians (of whom I am one) in the wake of Canada’s largest mass shooting, which claimed over 22 lives April 18-19, 2020. With all the world dealing with COVID-19 and other issues, this post still has something for everyone! Many thanks, my friend. ~Janet]
Steph Beth Nickel
Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography
As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.
A Legacy of Murder is one of those books I don’t want to end: a clean and satisfying mystery, an engaging protagonist, quiet humour, complicated characters, charming English-village setting, evocative description, food, family dynamics, romance … and the promise of more books to come.
American antiques expert Kate Hamilton has an eye for details and patterns that helps her notice clues. She’s in Suffolk, England, to visit her daughter, Christina, who’s interning at historic Finchley Hall. When another intern is found dead, Kate has more than curiosity prompting her to look for suspects—she wants to protect her daughter from becoming the next victim.
Kate’s other reason to visit the area is to see Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, who she met in Scotland in the previous book. Who’s she kidding, though? What chance does a trans-Atlantic romance have when both parties love their jobs and are rooted in their communities? Not to mention having family members who disapprove.
As much as I enjoyed the story and the characters, it’s the descriptive language that encouraged me to linger on each page. I want to write like Connie Berry when I grow up.
Some samples:
The scent of beeswax polish mingled with the mustiness of old wood, the dust of the ages, and a hint of mildew—an antique dealer’s perfume. [page 15]
His hair, shaved at the sides, fell in a mop over his eyes. He looked like someone who might bring a manual typewriter to a coffee shop for the effect. [page 22]
In a time when current cozy mysteries often feel like light snacks, A Legacy of Murder is a full-course meal. Highly recommended!
A Legacy of Murder is Book 2 in the Kate Hamilton Mystery series. For more about Connie Berry and her work, including book discussion questions, visit connieberry.com.
Friendship, self-discovery, love, and a celebration of reading—and of independent bookstores.
Maddie Cullen had a knack for engaging with her customers and knowing the right book to suggest. When she died, she left envelopes for her two employees and her estranged niece. Each woman’s letter included a Bible passage and a list of books.
Madeline, her niece, inherited the store but doesn’t want to keep it. Claire and Janet, Maddie’s employees who supported her through her final days, wish the new owner would just let them carry on the business as usual. As the three women work together, each also reading the books Maddie’s letter “assigned,” they develop a strong friendship and each grow toward the potential Maddie had seen in them.
Each woman’s point of view is written in a different tense: first-person past, third-person past, and third-person present. I always find that sort of delivery jarring, and I confess I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. All three were a bit of a mess at first.
I’m glad I stuck with it, because it’s a heartwarming story. As it progressed I grew to care for each of them. And I wish I could visit the bookstore!
For more about Katherine Reay and her books, and for book club resources, visit katherinereay.com.
Claiming Canaan: Milcah’s Journey by Barbara M. Britton — When the tribal elders make marriage a requirement for claiming her land, Milcah bat Zelophehad must find a betrothed straightaway. The only problem in finding a husband is that all her suitors were slain while conquering the land of Canaan. Men avoid her in order to stay alive. After praying to God to send her a bold suitor, a man from her father’s clan plummets from a tree right on top of her. Is this God answering prayer, or a foolish antic by Eli, the war-scarred brother from one of her clan’s rival families. Will settling in Canaan sort out Milcah’s troubles, or have her woes just begun? (Biblical Fiction from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])
Contemporary Romance:
Ryan’s Father by June Foster — The rippling influence of Ryan Reid’s less than moral mother and absent father made a mark on his soul. Yet everything changed when the young school teacher accepted Christ—almost everything. An earthquake hurls the beautiful Sandy Arrington into his life, tossing his world upside down. When God calls him to build an annex for needy teens at his church, Ryan must face the carefully guarded secret he’s held deep in his heart. Though Sandy falls in love with him, Ryan’s forbidden affections lie elsewhere, and he must depend on the Lord to see him through a struggle he always hoped he’d never have to face. Sandy’s wealthy cardiologist father and the battle Ryan is powerless to win are hurdles to their romance. Can he dig his way out to find Sandy’s love? (Contemporary Romance from Winged Publications)
Historical Romance:
The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep — What Can a London Opera Star and an Escaped Dartmoor Prisoner Have in Common? Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett — A secret mission. A fake bride. A run for their lives. According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away-a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels. Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey and get home? And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Devyn’s Dilemma by Susan G Mathis — 1910, Thousand Islands, New York. Others may consider The Towers castle on Dark Island an enchanting summer retreat, but to Devyn McKenna, it’s a prison. Yet as she works as a maid for Frederick Bourne, former president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, her life blossoms under the kindness of his family and fascinating entrepreneurs such as J.P. Morgan, Thomas Lipton, and Captain Vanderbilt. But more than anything, the growing friendship of Mr. Bourne’s valet, Brice McBride, begins to pry away the painful layers that conceal Devyn’s heart. Brice is drawn to the mysterious Devyn even though he’s certain she’s hiding a secret, one far more dangerous than the clues they find in The Towers that hint of a treasure on the island. When Devyn is accused of stealing Bourne’s investment in Vanderbilt’s New York City subway expansion, he might not be able to protect her. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
A Life Renewed by Olivia Rae — In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason. But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived? Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes. Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart? (Historical Romance from HopeKnight Press LLC)
The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo — Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Mystery:
Cooking Up A Mystery by Gail Pallotta — In this romantic mystery Laney Eskridge battles insecurities, loss and a criminal who attempts to destroy her tea house and catering business. (Cozy Mystery from Inspired [Prism Book Group])
Romantic Suspense:
Flight Risk by Cara Putman — Savannah Daniels has worked hard to establish a small law practice, and her early career gambles have paid off with a life that she loves. Jett Mason Glover has almost reached the pinnacle of the journalism ladder in Washington, DC. He just needs one breakout story to seal his destiny. When a plane crashes into the 14th Street Bridge during take-off from Reagan National, everyone thinks it’s a freak accident—until the passenger list is released and the black box is compromised. Savannah does not expect to be connected to the crash until she learns her ex-husband was piloting the plane. She must manage his estate while his name is under a fog of accusations leveled by a journalist named Jett who now claims he wants to help Savannah find the truth. As the threads untangle, Savannah begins to question what she knows and whether she’ll survive the investigation. Maybe she’s as deceived as everyone else, but someone believes she’s closer to the truth than she is. And that belief may just kill her. (Romantic Suspense from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
Border Breach by Darlene L. Turner — When drugs are smuggled across the border, it’s their duty to stop the culprits…at any cost. Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
A single mother hiding from a gang. Her
young son. And a military intelligence officer discharged with an unexplained
movement disorder that causes seizure-like muscle contractions.
Pecca Gallegos loves her job as a nurse at
the Home for Heroes. Her son, Maceo, is unhappy at school. And Captain Colton
Crawford, her newest patient, may be what they both need—if he can see beyond
his limitations.
Maceo has a prosthetic leg and what seems
like an impossible dream to play football. Helping him may be what Colten needs
to help himself.
My personal preference is for an
understated romantic thread, so I found Pecca and Colton’s swoony thoughts
about one another a little much in the first half. That said, their first true
date was definitely an “aww” moment.
And there’s a lot to like in this story. I
appreciated the clean suspense and the frank wrestling with the tension between
faith and painful circumstances. I also enjoyed the camaraderie among the
“D-Wing” patients. Team dynamics, belonging, and purpose play an important part
in the book, along with faith and second chances.
Favourite lines:
You look at yourself as less than. Is that the message you want your life to reflect? [Kindle location 3755]
“…Allow yourself to believe that even though this isn’t how you planned your life, it doesn’t mean it’s not exactly where you need to be.” [Kindle location 3761]
Silent Shadows is book 3 in the
Harbored Secrets romantic suspense series. I haven’t read the previous books, but
had no trouble settling into this one. Books 1 and 2 are set in the same town
of Walton, Georgia, but feature different characters.
Natalie Walters’s author bio says that she
“comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is
passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing
stories that affirm no one is defined by their past.” For more about the author
and her books, visit nataliewalterswriter.com.
[Review copy provided by the publisher via
NetGalley.]
Livestreaming church services. Economic upheaval. Social
distancing. Self-isolation. Pandemic.
It’s what we talk about. It’s what we think about. It’s what
we pray about—when we can muster the energy to pray.
It seemed like a very good time to focus on some of those
things that simply never change. Here are 11 things to consider:
We are called to be outwardly focused.
As Christians, we’ve known this all along. But true
confession time … Until recently, I didn’t realize just how self-focused I am.
Am I really doing what I do to 1) honour God and 2) bless others? I want these
goals to be my motivation, but too often they haven’t been. These days are the
perfect opportunity to ask God to refine our motives. (All the while, we must extend
grace to ourselves and remember that self-care isn’t necessarily selfish or
self-centred. See below for further encouragement in these areas.)
There are always opportunities to minister to others.
Even now, there is so much we can do to bless others: post
something encouraging on social media; pick up the phone and check on a senior
who doesn’t have access to the Internet; offer to drop off groceries to someone
who is apprehensive about venturing out. Even with social distancing, there is
much we can do for one another.
Turns out our parents and Kindergarten teachers were
right; it is nice to share.
This truth needs no explanation except to say there will be
people who need financial assistance, a kind word, and/or a smile today. If we
have the opportunity, let’s be generous with what we have and trust the Lord to
provide for our needs.
We need one another.
Of course, this is another truth we’ve known all along, but
it’s crystal clear with the current situation. Kindness and acts of service are
crucial at this time. There may be restrictions as to how we can help, but we
certainly need one another.
Our healthcare workers need our prayers—as do our
government leaders.
There has never been a more important time to add our
government leaders and healthcare workers to our prayer list. With the
everchanging information about this virus that is circulating—even among the
professionals—it’s difficult for them to know what the right thing to do is.
They need the Lord’s wisdom and protection. (If you are either a healthcare
professional or a government leader, thank you so much for your service!)
During difficult, uncertain times, we have Someone to
turn to.
We’ve all gone through difficulty in our life: illness,
loss, economic hardships … God was faithful then, and He’s faithful now. When
we’re confused, overwhelmed, and struggling to make sense of it all, God
invites us to draw near to Him, promising that He will draw near to us (James
4:8).
God loves us.
Don’t you love the fact that the Bible teaches not only that
God is loving but also that He is love (1 John 4:7)? We can rest assured of His
love when things are going well—and when a worldwide pandemic has changed so
much.
God was not taken by surprise.
When the world changes overnight—and sometimes, hour by hour—we
don’t feel equipped to keep up. Could any of us have seen ourselves in this
situation a month ago? I know I couldn’t. Still, God wasn’t taken by surprise.
And whether or not we feel prepared to face the days ahead, He’ll see us
through.
No matter what happens in our world, we can rest assured
that God never changes.
This is, perhaps, the singular truth that sees me through
each day. While my life hasn’t changed all that much, I still sense the
heaviness of this new reality. I can vegetate on the couch and watch Netflix
and sleep more than usual—or I can trust in our unchanging heavenly Father and
seek to accomplish the tasks He has set before me.
We are called to extend grace—to others and to ourselves.
The word should can cause big problems. Of course,
the Bible lays out hundreds of clear Shoulds and Should Nots. However, when it
comes to facing our current, unprecedented situation, we must be careful how we
seek to impose our convictions—even God’s—on others. Even as believers, there
are many times we’d be in big trouble if it weren’t for the Lord’s grace and
Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf. We must remember that many of the people we
interact with do not know Jesus as Saviour, which I believe provides the
opportunity for us to show them we are Christians by our love—not our judgment.
There is a balance between self-sacrifice and self-care.
We can find several examples in the Scriptures that indicate that we are to put others’ needs ahead of our own. At the same time, we must remember that, unless we care for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, we will soon have virtually nothing to offer those the Lord has brought into our life. May we prayerfully seek God’s perspective in this area, as in all others.
As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.
I hope you’re doing okay in these uncertain days. The most important things we can do are to pray for one another (and for our leaders!) and to care for one another in whatever way we can.
One small thing I can do is to reduce the price of my ebooks — people who are spending more time at home need distractions from the never-ending news loops. Books are great for that, and books that remind us of God’s care are extra-valuable now. Many Christian authors I know have been able to reduce their prices, and we all seem to be saying “it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s something I can do.”
So for the rest of March and into April, each of my ebooks will be 99 cents worldwide.
For convenience, the buy links on my Books2Read page should lead to the appropriate country for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and Apple. Link: https://bit.ly/Books2ReadJanetSketchley
This applies for the three Redemption’s Edge novels (suspense/romantic suspense), the two Green Dory Inn Mysteries, and my daily devotional book. Feel fee to share this offer with your reading friends.
Their father’s near-fatal injury in a rock
slide (and the terms of his will, which he insists they obey immediately)
require Sadie Boden and her brothers Justin and Cole to live together on the
family ranch for the next year. It’s inconvenient for Cole, who prefers to run the
family’s mining interests from town. And it costs Sadie her role of working in
the town’s orphanage.
The avalanche may have been
deliberate—which means the siblings may be in danger. Who could be after the
ranch? And are they connected with past trouble?
No Way Up is a western
mystery set in 1880 New Mexico Territory. It’s also a romance, as ranch
employee Heath Kincaid proves his worth to the Boden family siblings.
I enjoyed the banter between the
characters, as well as the setting. The title No Way Up refers to Skull
Mesa, part of the ranch property that’s believed to be un-climbable and yet
from where someone seems to be keeping watch. Heath, loving a challenge, is
determined to reach the top. Never one to stay behind, Sadie insists she
accompany him.
Favourite lines:
Heath’s voice deepened until Sadie felt it rubbing like gentle sandpaper against her heart. [page 28]
Right now he saw the strongest resemblance between the three he’d ever noticed. First time he’d ever realized that stubborn could be a look. [Heath observing the Boden siblings, page 130]
This is the start of the Cimarron Legacy series,
and I suspect that through Heath it’s linked to the author’s Kincaid Brides
series. The prequel novella, The Boden Birthright, is available as a
free ebook. Click here: maryconnealy.com/books/cimarron-legacy/the-boden-birthright.
For more about Mary Connealy and her
books, visit maryconnealy.com.
Reads to Remember: A book lover’s journal to track your next 100 reads is now available.
Whether it’s a book a day or a book a year, in print, digital, or audio, this reader’s journal is the perfect way to track the next 100 books in your life.
Jot your reactions and reflections.
Note key details:
author
subject
format
date finished
rating
favourite lines
and more
Track your reading habits across genre/subject.
List those rare, life-impacting reads.
Manage your to-read list.
Includes bookmarks you can cut out and colour for the print books on your list.
At this point, these readers’ journals are only available through Amazon (only in print form… who wants to write on their tablet or e-reader?)
Iris Buckley and her recently-widowed
grandmother, Anne, are a good team. Add Quincy, a marmalade cat who thinks he’s
the real boss, and their Ruffles & Bows shop could be a hit. If the
skeleton they find in the cellar of their building doesn’t stop their grand
opening plans.
Welcome to Blueberry Cove, Maine: a quiet,
tourist town where everyone knows everyone’s business. Or at least they thought
they did—someone may be a secret murderer.
Iris is a skilled seamstress with a
special interest in vintage linens and designs. (Be prepared, “vintage” can
mean 1960’s!) I appreciate how it’s her grandmother, Anne, who’s the more
knowledgeable about online security.
Iris has been back in town for a few
months and has reconnected with good friends from school. Also back is her high
school crush, Ian Stewart, who’ll be doing the renovations on the new shop.
Hems
& Homicide is book 1 in the Apron Shop Series, and it’s a clean
cozy mystery in a charming setting. I enjoyed the descriptions of the rural
landscape outside of town. As you’d expect with a main character who’s skilled
with fabrics, descriptions often focus on colours and textiles. And as Iris and
Anne investigate the long-ago death, Iris gets a peek at Anne’s life as a young
woman.
This is a fun read, and a good start to a
new series. Book 2, Thread and Dread, releases later in 2020. For more
about Elizabeth Penney, visit elizabethpenneyauthor.com.
