CFBA Review ~ Through The Fire

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Through The Fire
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
Shawn Grady


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named “Most Promising New Writer” at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference. Through the Fire is his debut novel.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. From fire engines and ambulances to tillered ladder trucks and helicopters, Shawn’s work environment has always been dynamic. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn attended Point Loma Nazarene University as a Theology undergrad before shifting direction to acquire an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science Technology as well as Paramedic licensure through Truckee Meadows Community College.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood. The son of a fireman, O'Neill has a sixth sense about fire and often takes dangerous risks. When one act of disobedience nearly gets a rookie killed, O'Neill is suspended. His weeks off are supposed to be a time to reflect but instead he escapes to Mexico, where another rash act of bravery actually kills him. But only for a few minutes.

Called back to Reno, he's now haunted by visions of hell and paralyzed in the face of fire. And at the worst time, because an arsonist is targeting Reno. With a growing love interest with one of the investigators complicating everything, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the fires creep ever closer.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Through The Fire, go HERE

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Weekend Linkage ~ The BlogHer Edition

This time next week, I'll be surrounded by hundreds of fellow bloggers, filling my head with great new ideas for my blogs, and attending loads of parties. Toni has promised to run me ragged, and I know she will!

In an effort to familiarize myself with some of the other fabulous bloggers I'll be meeting, I've been doing some blog hopping. (I'll do anything in an effort to ease, even just a tiny bit, my painfully debilitating shyness.) So, I thought it would be fun to share some of the blogs I've been enjoying.

• Citizen of the Month
• The Sweet Life
• I Left My Heart At Preschool
• Mrs. CPA
• The Perks of Being Me
• What Did You Do All Day
• The Mother of All Trips

And now that I've written this post, I'm putting all thoughts, worries and preparations for BlogHer on hold for the weekend. I've got a birthday party to prepare... and 100 cake pops sitting in my freezer waiting to be turned into baseballs... and fruit to cut into perfect little cubes to stack on bamboo skewers... and floors to wash and walls to scrub... and prayers for no rain on Sunday to say.

Enjoy your weekend!

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Resurrecting Old-Fashioned Habits

Our condo is immediately surrounded by the homes of three elderly women. We love these women, and they love us. They enjoy watching the kids play, know them all by name, give them little Christmas gifts, and basically treat them like their own grandchildren.

Eric is the go-to guy when one of them needs something done around her home. He loves his role as protector and helper for these women.

Sometimes it feels like something from the good old days when neighbors weren't afraid to ask each other for help and knew each other more than just in passing. It's a wonderful thing!

And what a finer thing it was earlier this week when I was in the middle of baking and realized I was out of baking powder. Without hesitation, I grabbed a measuring cup and asked Isabelle to run next door and ask if we could borrow 2 teaspoons worth. The other three begged to go with as well, so I opened the door and watched them all walk next door. When that neighbor didn't answer the door, I told them to go ahead and go to the next house. Ten minutes later they came back with my two teaspoons of baking powder and chattering about all the neat things at Miss Virginia's house.

As much as we can not wait to move, Eric and I know it will be a sad, sad day when we move away from these wonderful women.

Find more Finer Things Friday over at Amy's Finer Things.

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Expanding My Thrift Store Horizons

For years, our thrift store shopping has focused on one place and one place only - Salvation Army. It's not that there aren't other thrift stores around, because there are plenty. It's just that they are expensive thrift stores, if you know what I mean. And even though I've always found Salvation Army to be somewhat more expensive than what I expect, it was the best option.

So a few months ago, when a new thrift store opened in the heart of our downtown area, right on Main Street, I figured it would just be another one of those places.

I was so wrong though!

First of all, this thrift store is run by and supports a vocational training program for developmentally disabled adults in our area. This is an organization that Eric and I were introduced to a few years ago by a friend and fellow business owner and we fully support all that they do.

Secondly, the store sells only clothing. Every item in the store - from kids t-shirts to women's dresses - is just $2. Except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when everything is 5 for $5.

This store has been a great find for us. Not only are we supporting an organization we firmly believe in, we're also getting some great clothes for very little. The kids have even started each taking $1 with them when we go. They get a little thrill of picking out whatever they want and paying for it themselves.

I would love to take a trip to that store with Frugal Fashionista Jen one of these days!

Stop by Life As Mom for more Frugal Friday and Hooked On Houses for more Hooked On...

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