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Monday, September 12, 2011

WINGS OF A DREAM by Anne Mateer - Review and Giveaway

Please welcome my friend, Anne Mateer, today. I'm delighted with her first book and have shared my review at the end of this post. There you'll find a sweet surprise as well. 
 
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Wings of A Dream
Bethany House (September 1, 2011)
by
Anne Mateer


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

While I have been writing for what feels like my whole life, I began seriously studying the craft in 2000. Since then I have completed five novels, had several pieces published in local periodicals, attended six writing conferences and managed to final in ACFW's Genesis contest in 2006, 2008, and 2009. My first historical novel, Wings of a Dream, will be released in September 2011, with another historical novel to follow in 2012. But writing is only a piece of my life.

I am mostly just a woman trying to live her life in a manner pleasing to the Lord. That involves being a wife to Jeff and a mother to my three teenagers--neither role coming easily but both roles stretching me, requiring me to press in closer to Jesus. And because of this, Jesus has taken an insecure, fearful, sometimes angry girl and is turning her into a more trusting, peaceful, grace-filled woman. At least some of the time. There is still such a long way to go!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of a life far beyond her family's farm in Oklahoma, and when dashing aviator Arthur Samson promised adventure in the big city, she is quick to believe he's the man she's meant to marry. While she waits for the Great War to end and Arthur to return to her so they can pursue all their plans, her mother's sister falls ill. Rebekah seizes the opportunity to travel to Texas to care for Aunt Adabelle, seeing this chance to be closer to Arthur's training camp as God's approval of her plans.

But the Spanish flue epidemic changes everything. Faced with her aunt's death, Arthur's indecisiveness, and four children who have no one else to care for them, Rebekah is torn between the desire to escape the type of life she's always led and the unexpected love that just might change the dream of her heart.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of A Dream, go HERE.

MY REVIEW: 

In Wings of a Dream, Rebekah Hendricks, a small-town Oklahoma girl, dreams of an adventurous life . . . and escaping from her controlling mother. When she’s called to Texas to care for an ailing aunt, she’s certain that God has granted her desire and that adventure is just around the corner. Set at the end of WWI against the backdrop of the Spanish flu epidemic, debut author Anne Mateer, gently guides the reader through one surprising twist after another. It reminded me of the old adage to be careful what you pray for . . . you just might get it.

Anne did a great job of keeping me guessing on which of the three possible heroes Rebekah would choose—the handsome pilot whose promises she wants to believe, the  sheriff who can’t stop “dropping in” for a visit, or the rather distant father of four children who need a mother. There’s a lot at stake in this book, and I think you’ll be swept away with this warm, engaging story. I know I was. 

Intrigued? Have you heard of the Spanish Flu? Please leave a comment with your contact information to be entered in a drawing for this book. I'll draw for the winner on Monday, Sept. 19. 


Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher for my honest review. Void where prohibited. Chances of winning dependent on number of entries.

18 comments:

Erica Vetsch said...

LOVED this book! The ending had be boohooing!

Cheryl Barker said...

No, I can't remember hearing of the Spanish Flu, and yes, I am intrigued :) Throw my name in the hat, please! :)

ckbarker at gmail dot com

Martha A. said...

Yes, I read about the Spanish Flu before. It was a little scary, as when they were talking about the more recent flus, it was similar to the Spanish Influenza, which killed so many people!
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Debbie Clark said...

I have heard about a couple of outbreaks of the flu that killed many people. I know that my great-great grandmother took care of people during the epidemic, but I don't know if it was during WWI or one of the outbreaks prior to that time. There is no one left in the family who knows anymore. That is so sad.
Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks for the chance to win.

Debbie Clark
debbiemcla(at)msn(dot)com

Sandee61 said...

I don't know anything about The Spanish Flu, but so curious now and would love to read Anne's book. Thank you for the entry.

Have a blessed day,
Sandee61

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

misskallie2000 said...

My former mother-in-law was born in Jan during the flue epidemic and the Dr who delivered her and many others died so her birth was not recorded. She had to get her school records to prove her birth and age for SS.
I can't wait to read Rebekah's story. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Judy said...

I haven't heard about the Spanish Flu but I am very intrigued. This book sounds so good. Erica Vetsch said she loved this book and it had her boohooing at the end. I love boohooing endings!!

I would love to win a copy of Wings of A Dream.

Blessings!

judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

Vickie McDonough said...

I've heard about the Spanish flu, but I don't know much about it. I just got over having a bad kidney infection, which left me sympathizing for people who lived in past centuries and didn't have the medicine we have now.

I'm an Oklahoma gal and would love to read your book.

fictionfan1 [at] me [dot] com

Anne Mateer said...

Hey y'all--thanks for stopping by Carla's blog to read about my book! Carla is one of my favorite people. :)

It's not surprising that so few have heard of the Spanish flu. For many years the people who lived through the pandemic didn't talk of it much. But it played a huge part in world history. Of course only a smidgen of the interesting facts about it made it into this story!

dmorris said...

I've heard of Spanish flu and would like to learn more. Oak intrigued by this book. Please enter me in the drawing, Carla. H e been enjoying your books. Donna Morris
Dmorris8275@gmail.com

Jo said...

I don't think I have heard of Spanish flu before.

Blessings
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

carla stewart said...

Terrific comments, ladies! I'm so glad to see the interest in Anne's book and the time period. Keep the comments coming.

Carol N Wong said...

I am very interested in this book. I have heard of the Spanish flu before. I had a literature teacher in college who had a mother and a father, brothers and sisters before the Spanish flu. After that, he had no one and had to finish growing up in an orphanage.

CaroLNWong(at)aol(dot)com

windycindy said...

My dad was born in 1918 and just turned 93 this year...If I am not
mistaken, the flu pandemic was
in 1918?! Her book sounds fascinating
and is one that I would love to read!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

lorlyn63 said...

I am interested in this book. I have never heard of the Spanish flu, but it sounds like it was something you did not want to have! Please throw my name in the hat!

Lori
triplel(at)evertek(dot)net

Josanne said...

Don't know much about the Spanish Flu, but I can tell you what it's like to be 14 years old and get the Asian Flu while visiting a friend in Chicago. It was summertime and days were mildly warm and nights were coolish. I fell asleep in a recliner by a blazing fireplace and woke up not feeling so good. The fever, loss of weight, tepid baths to bring the fever down, and the brain fog lasted for about a month. That was when my friend's family felt it was safe to send me home on a plane. Still tired, I missed the beginning of school until I could get my strength and energy back. If the Spanish Flu was like that, it's no wonder it was so devastating way back then. Anne, your book sounds like an epic romance, and I'd love to be the lucky reader on the 19th. And, Carla . . . outstanding review!

Theresa N. said...

No I haven't heard of the Spanish Flu. Your book sounds very good.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sharon Campbell said...

I have never heard of the Spanish flu but my mother in law told me about how her mother died from the flu epidemic in the early 1900's. We are lucky to live in the age of modern medicine. I found this site because I just finished reading Carla Stewarts' two books. How fun to find a site recommending Christian authors. Please enter me in your drawing. :-). angel43057@comcast.net