A2Z Take 2: Suspenseful Synopsis

Before the whole shoulder injury thing, someone contacted me about doing an author interview or book review on my blog. Now that things are finally a little calmed down to the more normal craziness, I’m finally getting that posted.

Fay Lamb writes my favorite genre—suspense. Her book Because of Me was recently released from Treble Heart Books and is available to buy in paper or e-book version. You can purchase it here: http://faylamb.com/book-store/

Though Issie Putnam is scarred from past trauma, she’s focused on being a strong single mother for her young son, Cole. She’s finally come to a place of healing and moved on when suddenly the past is thrown in her face. Her son is convinced he’s spotted  his “father,” but that declaration sends Issie reeling. Who does he think his father is, and why would that man be in town after all this time?

When Michael, the man Cole saw, shows up at their farm in the middle of a storm that has damaged the only road out, Issie is stuck with her former fiancé and the memories of all the turmoil and trouble that led to them being separated almost eight years ago. Most of all, she’s stuck with the lingering questions; is love still possible after all the time and all the trouble that has passed between them? Has Michael really returned to a faith in their God, and can they find forgiveness for all of them?

But things intensify when an evil man, enemy to them both, is released from jail on probation. Michael realizes too late that he’s led the men right to their target. But as the group of bad men are intent on capturing Issie to finish her off once and for all, they spot her son and suddenly just having his mother isn’t enough.

Now Issie has to decide who to trust. Even her sister and brother-in-law’s loyalties are unclear. Can she allow Michael to rescue her when it’s his fault she’s in this mess in the first place, and when he struggles to even look at her own son? Or will he just drag her deeper into trouble, and deeper into heartache?

As if the adults’ confusion isn’t enough, young Cole is faced with two men. One of them is desperate to get Cole’s allegiance and the other wants nothing to do with him. He believes he knows which one is his real dad, but is he right? And when it comes to love and trust, what does “real dad” mean, anyway?

You’ll have to read the book to find out. :-)

I’ll admit that sometimes the details about previous happenings mingled with and influencing the action of today were a little confusing. At times I wished Because of Me was two books—one about the past and one about the present. But everything was sorted out eventually and became clear. I also felt some of the suspenseful moments weren't as scary and tense as they could have been, but I found the characters very endearing and the behaviors realistic and the storyline was unique and interesting.

Next week for "T" we'll have an interview with the author herself, Fay Lamb, for a taste of life as an author. In the mean time, visit her website, www.faylamb.com, or check out her FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/fay.lamb

Thanks for joining me for "S" and please check out more posts in the From A 2 Z Take Two meme at www.pattywysong.com. Feel free to jump in and join us if you're a blogger!

A 2 Z: Zany Madi

When I joined FaithWriters in 2005, Lynda Lee Schab was one of the first people to welcome and encourage me. (Back then I called her Ikab, due to a misreading of her all-lowercase username of LSchab.)

Lynda has stayed a few steps ahead of me, paving the way in this writing journey that started with freelance writing of smaller works that led to novels, agents, and publishers. In fact, her first novel, Mind Over Madi, was accepted by a publisher and is coming out in print TODAY!

I was thrilled to get an advance reader copy a few weeks ago, though I will admit that chick lit and romance fiction are near the bottom of my list of preferred genres. But as I expected, Lynda’s writing is stellar and I never once groaned over something too sappy and never got the least bit bored. In fact, I enjoyed the book a lot.

Lynda’s character, zany Madi McCall, grew up in a somewhat dysfunctional home. Now with a family of her own, she is haunted by the fears her mother instilled in her to never, ever trust a man, because all men will cheat eventually. Yet so far her own husband Rich is a patient, Godly guy, and she has gotten to the point where she finally feels like she can trust him.

Then her worst fears are realized. She finds another lady’s lipstick on his collar. Her mother was right! And she recognizes the shade of lipstick, too. Only that sleazy Fawn Witchburn wears dark, almost-brown like that.

Madi orders Rich to leave the house immediately. After all, no explanation can possibly be a good one, right? He packs his bag, leaving Madi to answer the questions of their three kids. She tumbles into despair, the way paved liberally with Edy’s Dibs, her favorite chocolate ice cream dessert. Well, if she’s honest, maybe they are more of a coping mechanism than just a dessert. That and hours of playing Solitary on the computer.

With sometimes-hilarious twists and turns, Madi begins the zany life of a now-single mom to a tween and not just two teens, but twin teens, both in the midst of their own relationship dramas. Then Madi’s best friend calls and somehow manages to convince her that going to their high school reunion is a good idea.

Madi keeps on the go with her kids, her friend, and even a few meetings with a new therapist, resulting in her effectively avoiding God during the busyness. Her therapist reminds her that she is a true princess—a daughter of the King—but Madi sure doesn’t feel very royal. And the extra pounds those Dibs added don’t help.

Plus, it seems like Fawn is showing up everywhere she goes, and things come to a head when a Michigan snowstorm traps them all—the high school reunion goers, Fawn, and even one of the kids’ friends—in the same restaurant for a few hairy hours.

Madi comes face-to-face with “the other woman” and she begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, not everything is how it seemed. Will she find the truth once and for all about her husband? Is her marriage salvageable? Or is her mother right that men can never be trusted?

You’ll have to read the book to find out! Lynda uses lots of humor and wacky characters, mixed with real-to-life situations, as she brings Madi on a journey to accept that she truly is a princess of the Lord. Order a copy today (just in time for Christmas gifts) by clicking here. Find out more about Lynda and her other published works at her website, http://www.lyndaschab.com/.

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As always, check out other "Z" posts in the "From A 2 Z 4 U & Me" meme at http://www.pattywysong.com/. I can't believe we're already to the end of the alphabet! But keep checking back for weekly updates about my novel-in-process and other fun posts.