Book Recommendation - The Best Summer of Our Lives

 

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times best-selling author of historical, contemporary and dual timeline Christian fiction novels, both in the romance genre and the women's fiction genre. She writes primarily character-driven novels, which makes her stories hit or miss for me as a plot-driven reader. However, this one fully intrigued me and I'm so glad I chose to read this one. Taking place in both the summer of 1977 and 20 years later, this one was in timelines that were different from the norm. Having been born in the summer of '77 myself, it was interesting to see a bulk of the story take place at that time, including some of the lingo of the time period (jive turkey anyone?). Seeing 1997 again was like a trip down memory lane as well. Here's a bit about the novel:

Summer Wilde is a wannabe country music star. But when her latest girl band abandons her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of her life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons, 4ever--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. Arriving with hidden secrets and buried fears, those two months changed their friendships and the course of their lives.

Now, thirty-something and with no direction for her future, Summer is at a crossroads. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she left and never wanted to see again. It's the place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

Celebrating the songs of our hearts, the joys of love, and the threads of friendship that tie us all together, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck's radiant story perfectly captures all the romance, heartache, and hope of the best summer ever.

Bethany House Publishers did an interview with the author. Here are a few of the questions and answers from that interview:

Can you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, The Best Summer of Our Lives?  

RH: When Summer Wilde’s music career crumbles, she returns to the place where secrets, wounds, and fears destroyed her closest friendships. It will take a reckoning with her past and the friends she lost to help her gain the closure she needs to move forward.  

What do readers need to know about each of the four girls—Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow?  

RH: At eighteen, on the verge of a new independence and going off to college, they have big plans.  They are very much like their seasonal names. Summer is passionate and bold. Autumn is the beauty of fall and somewhat caught between summer and winter. Snow is winter—simple, yet calculating, with an inner passion. Spring is beauty and grace, the one everyone wants to be. They are like all of us at eighteen—naïve, yet wise. Insecure, yet full of hope.  Some major themes that The Best Summer of Our Lives addresses are friendship, secrets, and forgiveness.

This novel is arguably a bit different than other books you’ve written recently. Can you share what inspired the idea for this story?  

RH: I was a teenager in the summer of ’70 and have wanted to explore that time in history. The original title was The Summer of ’77, and I knew the story would be about four friends right after high school. One day, while taking a walk, Summer Wilde’s character joined me! The rest of them, aka the Four Seasons, came along on subsequent walks. The title changed as the story developed into the idea of the four friends wanting “the best summer” of their lives. My husband gave me the idea for the girls’ camp setting, which anchored the story for me.  

Which character would you say you relate to the most—Summer, Spring, Autumn, or Snow?  

RH: There’s a little bit of me in all the girls, but by the end of the book, I wanted to be Summer—well, the woman she allowed herself to become. She was very real to me, and I could feel her heart.  

What lessons do you hope readers gain by picking up The Best Summer of Our Lives?  

RH: I hope readers are inspired to pursue friendships that may have faded. To forgive new and old offenses. It’s hard to face the pain that often comes with misunderstanding and hurts, but it’s worth it for healing and closure. I’m a strong believer in God’s love protecting our hearts. The Best Summer of Our Lives is about how the unexpected is often better than the expected. I also would love for readers to pause and remember a special summer or moment in their lives.  

Can you share what you’re working on next?  

RH: It’s top secret, but I suppose I can tell. It’ll be our little secret. I’m working on a story about a beautiful old skating rink called the Starlight. The timeframe will alternate between the 1930s and ’40s and 1980s, with three main protagonists. It’s a story of healing and restoration.  

This book releases June 27, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For additional information, check out the following links:

Rachel Hauck's website: https://rachelhauck.com/

Rachel Hauck's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rachelhauck

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5571604614

The full BHP interview with Rachel Hauck: https://baker-book.powerappsportals.com/bestsummerofourlivesinterview/

Book Recommendation - The Woman from Lydia

 

Angela Hunt has long been a go-to author for me. Spanning multiple genres, she writes women's fiction, historicals, contemporaries, mysteries and Biblical fiction. This book is the first in a new Biblical fiction series and her Biblical fiction is among my favorites. This book is about the woman mentioned in Acts 16 as Lydia. She lived in Philippi, but was from Thyatira, which was the largest province in Lydia. Since she would be an outsider, it was likely that her neighbors would call her "The Lydian woman" and may have shortened that to Lydia. The author chose to make her name Euoida, whom Paul references in the book of Philippians, which seems likely since the church met at her house. This book had a lot of added nuggets from scriptures, which I just loved!

Here's a bit about the book:

Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.

Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade in arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest slave of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.

When Euodia becomes aware that Sabina is being mistreated, she buys Sabina from Lucius, intending to set the girl free. But when Hector claims the sale was not legitimate, he takes Sabina back and swears he will find someone to restore her valuable "gift" . . . even if he must travel to the ends of the earth to do so. Following close behind him, Euodia and her servants set out to rescue Sabina, not for gain, but to rescue and set her free forever.

In her stirring series starter, New York Times bestselling author Angela Hunt dives into the perilous days of the early church as Christians struggle to remain true to their faith amid the highest of risks in a hostile pagan culture.

This book comes out July 11, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out!

For more information, check out the following links:

Angela Hunt's website: https://www.angelahuntbooks.com/

Angela Hunt's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/angela.e.hunt

My full 4.5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5581998231