Service Station Angel - review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

New Christian Fiction Novel, Service Station Angel, Is One Man’s Story of Picking Up the Pieces, Trusting God’s Plan, Spiritual Destiny and Faithful Forgiveness

God often place people in perplexing situations that seem purposeful. The question is can they trust his lead? New author explores that question in debut novel, Service Station Angel.

Highlands Ranch, CO – When trouble rocks a small town – leaving one man struggling with disabling injuries – a community is left to pick up the pieces. Their spiritual strife is the story behind author Lisa J. Schuster’s newly released debut novel, Service Station Angel, published by Outskirts Press.

Ernie Price is a middle-aged, humble-hearted man who owns and operates a service station in a rural Midwest town in Upper Michigan, back in a time when full service was the only service. Customers got service with a smile, windows cleaned and tires pumped for free. The man’s entire life is a reflection of God’s love: He gives of himself fully and graciously to his church and to the people of his community. As music director for the children’s choir or host of the annual Christmas party for disadvantages children in town, Ernie is loved by many and his life touches the lives of countless others.

But the town is rocked to its core when an accident leaves the beloved man physically incapacitated to offer his help to others. The community is left to pick up the pieces, mourn the turn of events and move on, while Ernie wrestles with troubling spiritual questions of his accident. Moving from grief to grace, Ernie is led by God’s healing touch and restored to his mission.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa J. Schuster is a first-time author; Service Station Angel is her debut novel. She enjoys creative writing, reading, musical theater, ministry work with teens and youth in downtown Denver, and traveling. Fond of her hometown of Hubbell, Michigan, and the memories of the close-knit community, she wanted the place where she grew up to be the setting for her first novel. She currently resides in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with her husband, Jeff, daughter Savanna and son Grant.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book is HANDS DOWN one of the sweetest books I have read in a long time! I felt as if I had traveled back in time when life was simple, and everyone in town new everyone! Service Station Angel is a story about Ernie Price and his life in Michigan as a Service Station owner. Ernie is a humble man who loves to serve all of those in his community. I fell in love with Ernie and so many others in this sweet town. 

It was such a treat to read this story by Lisa Schuster. To see a man who is so humble, and has given so much of himself and his heart to all of those around him, was very moving. I loved how they all were able to give back to Ernie in so many ways while he was recovering - brought tears to my eyes a few times! 

Service Station Angel is one of those books that is a feel good book, and one that you could read to any age- young or old will love it! 

Thank you Lisa Schuster for contacting me to read and review your debut book! I was so blessed to be given this opportunity! 

Once upon a Winter's Heart

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Once Upon a Winter's Heart

Center Street (January 7, 2014)


by

Melody Carlson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.




If you would like to read the first chapter of Once Upon a Winter's Heart, go HERE.





My Thoughts:

Once Upon A Winter's Heart is  a cute and quick read (155 pgs).  I was thankful for a very cold winter day, snow was falling and the fire was roaring, so I grabbed the book and commenced to reading.

For the most part I enjoyed Once Upon A Winter's Heart. There was just enough "cute and predictability" that kept me turning pages to see just how and when Emma and Lane would get together! I loved Nona and Poppi and the legacy of their love and character.

What I had issue with, was the dysfunction in this family.  Don't get me wrong, I know no one has a perfect marriage or perfect family, but I hated how childish and selfish Emma's mom and dad were while going through a rough patch in their marriage. While that was frustrating, it was the relationship that Emma's mother had with her youngest daughter, Anne. When a mother not only acts like she is above others, but then also acts as if she and her younger daughter are superior to the other daughter, well, that is just hard to read.  These issues covered the majority of the pages throughout the book, and then with just a few pages left, Emma's parents appear to have reconciled but without any word of how that all played out.

Overall I would give this 3 out 5 ♥'s

Thank you CFBA for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.