There’s a bonus to participating in a writer’s critique group: you get to cheer when members of the group move from the unpublished to the published category.

Such is the status for Stephanie McCall. It seems like yesterday she submitted a WIP (work in progress) for us to review. Today, I’m reviewing it as her debut book available July 2nd from HopeSprings books.

Fiery Secrets is a Christian Romantic Suspense with a touch of Southern charm and a lot of secrets. Dr. Grace Taylor gives herself completely to her son and her pediatric patients, but to anyone else, especially men, she’s distant and cool. Chris Anderson is a tutor clearly gifted at his work, but he’s fighting a cough and a past he’d like to keep there. The two develop a friendship but both their secrets threaten them at every turn.

From Amazon:

When it comes to trial, God either spares you from it totally, asks you to walk through it, or delivers you from it by taking you to Heaven. Dr. Grace Taylor, a driven pediatrician and single mom, needs divine intervention if she’s going to heal from the actions of her cheating, abusive ex-husband. But she never thought God would work through Chris Anderson, a tutor at the local learning center whose secrets keep him from opening up to her. Both Grace and Chris have been asked to walk through their trial by fire; they’ve come out alive, but they still smell like smoke. Despite fears and distrust, love begins to take root in their hearts. But their fiery secrets threaten to keep them apart, and blister their souls.

Stephanie McCall worked hard to create multi-dimensional characters in constant conflict and it shows. The supporting characters include a cruel ex-husband that isn’t typical, and an ex-girlfriend that will tempt you to dislike anyone named Natalie strictly because Natalie Crenshaw from Fiery Secrets will drive you there. She offers a Civil War era “ghost” mystery that weaves throughout, ending in a nail-biter of an ending.

There’s so much to Fiery Secrets, yet it never feels forced or overwhelming. I can’t think of a better way to plan for a perfect July 4th weekend or summer treat than to order Fiery Secrets and prepare for a thrill ride peppered with memorable characters, mystery, and romance.

To pre-order Fiery Secrets, click here.

I received a .pdf from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The post Book Review: Fiery Secrets by Stephanie McCall appeared first on Julie Arduini.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

-Psalm 46, NIV

My amateur nature picture of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont.

Trust Him today. He truly is ever-present.

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The post Sabbath Sunday: Ever-Present appeared first on Julie Arduini.