Book Review: A Twist of Faith by Pepper Basham

A Twist of Faith (Mitchell’s Crossroads #1)

Author: Pepper Basham

Publisher: Firefly Southern Fiction

Published: April 6th, 2016

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love does not have an accent … 

Dr. Adelina Roseland has worked ten years in research as an accent reduction specialist to attain her dream job. But a secret wager to transform Appalachian cattle farmer Reese Mitchell into corporate material challenges Adelina in ways she never expected, threatening her new position.

 

For one, Adelina didn’t plan for the faith and friction of Reese, or the unexpected influence of his chaotic family. Now, drawn into a culture she’d tried to forget, Adelina finds the warmth of family, the hope of faith, and the joy of love melting away the deep wounds of her past.

But when Reese discovers that he’s a pawn in her climb up the academic ladder, will he forgive Adelina s deceit or will their miscommunication end in two broken lives?

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REVIEW:

Crossing the genre lines between historical fiction and contemporary fiction can bring about heated discussion amongst readers. Sometimes people tend to lean towards one genre or the other; history fans love reading about times past while contemporary fans like the ease of familiarity that comes from reading stories set in the present. Other times,    although admittedly not as often, readers–myself included–fall into both camps. In history books I can be whisked away to the romance of the Regency era, the adventure and drama of World War Two, or the retellings of fairy tales. With contemporary books the possibilities of a different life encompassed by what I know bring both comfort and newness to my world. No matter history or contemporary, when I put down a book I know I will be living a totally different life. That’s a beautiful prospect.

Publishing houses tend to prefer authors choose one genre to write in because, as creatures of habit, people like to know what to expect when they purchase a product. Authors who write in multiple genres face the possibility that readers will not know what to expect from their stories because different romance, contemporary, historical, suspense, thriller, and other genres are comprised of different elements. It is rare, then, for authors to cross genres between historical and contemporary fiction. Pepper Basham, author of the Penned in Time historical fiction series, has broken that rule, though, with A Twist of Faith, the first book in the Mitchell’s Crossroads series. From early twentieth century England to modern day Appalachia, Basham has proven with her latest novel that some rules are meant to be broken.

Set in rural North Carolina, Basham’s Appalachian background provides solid support for a novel that sets out to prove that labels do not define who we are. Dee, the heroine of A Twist of Faith, is everything a modern woman should be: successful, driven, poised, and focused on her career. Reese, a hardworking farmer with a strong love of family, helps set the Southern stage with his Appalachian accent and love of the land. Over the course of the novel Dee comes to accept, through the often painful idea that she has to let go, that God’s dreams and plans for her are not what she has expected but are just as beautiful. While Dee comes to find her place in Appalachia, Reese learns how to give his past over to God, which includes giving and receiving a hefty dose of forgiveness. These two unlikely heroes bring us on a faith-filled journey comprised of new dreams, challenges enlivened by grace, and the sentiment that pre-conceived notions rarely show us who people really are.

RATING: 5 stars

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, and has already garnered its first award with Readers’ Favorites International Awards. Pepper’s second and third books in the series arrive in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in April. You can connect with Pepper on her website, Facebook or Twitter.

 

Book Review: The Thorn Keeper by Pepper D. Basham

The Thorn Keeper by Pepper D. Basham (Penned In Time #2, Vinspire Publishing, February 2016)

With her past in shambles, how can she fashion a future of hope?

Catherine Dougall’s past of manipulation has left her future in threads. With a new faith, she longs to take the remnants of her life and make something beautiful, but shame, societies’ judgments, and the natural consequences of an unplanned pregnancy test her newfound hope. Dr. David Ross doesn’t help either. His kindness, sacrifice, and tenderness tempt her to impossible dreams. A fallen woman doesn’t merit a fairytale.

David Ross has made every effort to keep his life above reproach. His passion for the sick pumps fresh purpose through his choices, but without financial support to maintain his war hospital, all is lost. When his notorious aunt offers an easy solution, David is tempted to give in to her demands, but his growing affection for the reformed flirt, Catherine Dougall, unwinds the careful wall around his heart and offers an unexpected choice.

When the worst of war tears them apart, can love renew the memory of what was lost or will tragedy steal away their hope forever.

From the beautiful Derbyshire countryside to the trenches of World War One, Catherine and David must learn to trust in a God who designs a masterpiece out of brokenness and fashions hope in the most unlikely places.

REVIEW: 

A classic is said to be a work judged over a period of time to be of the highest value and outstanding of its time; whose lessons will forevermore be applicable to those who engage with the art. If the definition to what we define as classic novels today–Austen, Bronte, Shakespeare, Emerson, Thoreau, and the like–can apply to future generations, then I firmly believe that readers should begin compiling their lists now because some standout authors are emerging in the Christian fiction publishing industry. One such author, Pepper D. Basham, has written a work of art in The Thorn Keeper, a story that brims with redemption, forgiveness, faithfulness, grace, and love; themes we encounter every day, but ones that envelop a classic in that they apply to each and every one of us, regardless of when or how we live.

The Thorn Keeper, starring lady Catherine Dougall and Dr. David Ross, begins shortly after we meet its heroine and heroine in the first book of the series, The Thorn Bearer. Catherine and David are two characters who, on the outset, seem as unlikely to be matched as a couple could be; however, after meeting them in a redemption scene brimming with grace and romance, I knew that if anyone could bring two characters together so beautifully, it would be Pepper Basham. The author does that and much, much more in The Thorn Keeper.   Through the gentlest of touches, the most longing of stares, the purest of loves, Basham shows how God’s gift of romantic love is so much more than physical. Readers who love love stories, this book is for you.

Basham’s technique of weaving spiritual truths with gorgeous prose elevates her stories from the traditional to the classic. I’ve read her contemporaries as well as her historicals, so I can assure you that whether she’s writing about the hospitals in World War One England or the mountains of contemporary North Carolina, this author has a talent for wordsmithing. In The Thorn Keeper, the history of World War One England will draw you into a time where only redemption, grace, and love can fight the social stigmas and class divisions of the Edwardian Era. Catherine Dougall is a heroine worthy of praise and admiration–and by far a favorite of mine. I found that Her heart for helping others, bravery in the face of losing all she’s ever known, and steadfast love for her family drive this story. David’s part of the story, likewise, was a catalyst for the romance: ever the stoic hero who learns to let his guard down for love, I cheered for him as he pursued the woman he loved, chased after his dreams, and stood by his king and country.

The Thorn Keeper is a book to add to your pre-order list, or if nothing else, to the top of your to-be-read pile. Or both! I highly recommend this novel for fans of historical fiction, romance, and inspirational stories.

Rating: 4.5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, and has already garnered its first award with Readers’ Favorites International Awards. Pepper’s second and third books in the series arrive in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in April. You can connect with Pepper on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com, Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pepper-D-Basham or Twitter at https://twitter.com/pepperbasham.