Serials and Scenarios ~ Love Starts with Elle

Rachel Hauck has visited the Dregs before. My review of her new book follows. If you want to peruse her interview and my review of Sweet Caroline, click here and scroll down.


My Review:

Rachel Hauck is solidly on my favorite authors list after I finished Love Starts with Elle. Hauck tells a good story, creates lovable characters and doesn't shy away from grit and reality. On top of all those great qualities, she brings a deep sense of spirituality into the lives of her story inhabitants. Subjects like forgiveness, grace and living breathing relationships with God are layered into her prose adding a depth to her novels.

Love Starts with Elle picks up where Sweet Caroline leaves off. With a cast of previously introduced characters and a sweet spot in low country, the reader gets to experience Elle's little corner of Beaufort. Having found love after her Operation Wedding quest's amusing results in Caroline, Elle is ready to meet the world head-on with her man by her side. Along the way she discovers that God has plans for her that she could never have believed or even dreamed.

Hauck doesn't shy away from death and sorrow. Her characters grieve believably, and then grow through it. Elle is not lightweight but it contains elements of romance and humor as well as the heavier subjects. I did find myself thinking like a critic on occasion, but then after reading further and after dashing tears from my cheeks three or four times I decided I didn't care one bit, the story sucked me in. Hauck fans will want to check out Elle. If you aren't a Hauck fan, you might want to work on that.

Serials and Scenarios - Diva NashVega

Happy Monday. This week I'm bringing you two reviews and two wild and crazy author interviews. Prepare to have your brain expanded.


Click on the book cover and visit Diva's page at Amazon. Or visit Rachel at her blog.

Rachel Hauck's interview will be appearing tomorrow.





My Review:




Diva NashVegas is a well-written dual first person point of view novel that made me laugh, tear up, and speed read.

Hauck writes tight prose and great characters.

I wasn't sure I'd like this book based on the premise. A spoiled superstar diva and her sad story. Self-proclaimed divas put my annoyance-alert sensors on high.

Seriously, I don't care for selfish people and high drama gets old real fast.

I ended up being very pleasantly surprised.

Aubrie pulled at my heartstrings. Should any of us actually feel sorry for the rich and famous? But I did. And then the male character who did her wrong -- boo hiss -- I ended up feeling compassion for him, too.

Not only did Hauck try an unusual point of view change up, she actually tosses in a few "inappropriate" words and shows the heroine in a not so great moral light. I applaud the reality factor of Diva. Both Hauck and Thomas Nelson have pushed the edgy envelope.

The Christian fiction I've read lately is a long way from prarie romance. Should you prefer the innocence of the prairie breezes, you might not want to pick up Diva NashVegas. But if you're looking for a good novel that tells a good story and might just convict you, or remind you, or even give you a glimpse of the light, I suggest 'Diva."

Serials and Scenarios - Sweet Caroline

Rachel Hauck has been here before. Click here to read it.


My review:

Sweet read.

Hauck is an honest and engaging author who creates living, breathing blemished characters and who is quickly moving up on my favorite author list.

Chick-lit lovers, low country fans and quirky character collectors should find much to love in Caroline's journey throughout the pages of this novel.

I do hope that Sweet Caroline is just the beginning of a long, long series. There is another book in Caroline, at least one in Hazel and who knows how many in Elle.

Keep 'em coming, Rachel.

Serials and Scenarios ~ My Book Therapy

So, you all know I need lots of therapy. Maybe I'll start here.


Writers/novelists pay attention. Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck have collaborated on a how-to book. (I've read most of Rachel's stuff and I want to pick up whatever she's laying down.) They are also writing a novel with input from readers. Go here to chime in.

You have a chance to do the same:

Want to win a copy of From the Inside…Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You for your very own? Leave a comment here and tell us what kind of novel you have in YOU.

AND

Do you already have your novel down on the page? Does it need a little THERAPY? Enter to win 10% off a Book Therapy Session (that’s a savings of $30+) by leaving a comment here telling us a brief synopsis of your story!

Click on the video about their My Book Therapy for more info. And here for even more info.

Serials and Scenarios - Rachel Hauck Belts It Out

Come on in and sit a spell with Rachel as she shares her answers on the Dregs.

Fiction character you would most like to be or most identify with and why?

RH: Maybe this is a kid thing, but I always identified with Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her life seemed so interesting, and at times very hard, but their family stayed close and endured. I love the romance of the prairie life.


If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question -- what question would you ask of whom?

RH: I’d ask Solomon why he let himself be drawn away from God by his wives when he saw and knew the wisdom and power of God.

Some out there in writing land have strange rituals. Share yours.

RH: I started to say I don’t have any, but YIKES I do. I have to check all my emails, blogs and blog subscriptions. It’s a routine like those who get their coffee and read email in the morning before starting work.


Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.

RH: Periwinkle giraffe. I love periwinkle. And it would be cool to be as tall and as graceful as a giraffe.


Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.

RH: Wow, this could become a book! I’ll pick two, though. I loved a line in Marian Keyes book, The Other Side of The Story. She’s writing about a character’s disappointment. This is my paraphrase. I can’t find the exact place in the book, I’ve looked! “It was like dying, seeing he transcendent beauty of the Divine and being told it’s not your time and you had to go back.”

I love the true concept of transcendent beauty of the Divine.

As for movies. I have several. From It’s A Wonderful Life. “We’ll wait for ya, baby.”

From Back To The Future. “This song’s in B, watch me for the changes and try to keep up.”

From Houseguest. “Good, fine and healthy. Baby, you it. BAM! Know what I’m saying?”

From my own writing.

Sweet Caroline, Mar ’08 Thomas Nelson. “Worse than dying? Never having lived.”

Lost In NashVegas, Nov ’06 Thomas Nelson. “How did the hounds of Freedom keep that bone buried?”


If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.

RH: I’d write a best selling chick lit about a woman achieving her dreams. She’s overcome her jealousy of others to walk in the life God’s given her and learn to find her value in His love for her, not her success in the world.

Then, of course, all kinds of fun stuff happens to her. She meets the man of her dreams. Her rejected manuscript sells to a large NY publisher, and her divorced parents remarry. I don’t know. Something like that. Funny, of course, beautifully written.


What period of history intrigues you the most?

RH: Early 1900s. I love the Teddy Roosevelt era. Hey, maybe that will be my best seller.


What would you write if there were no rules or barriers? (epic novels about characters in the Bible, poetry, greeting cards, plays, movies, instruction manuals, etc.)

RH: If there were no barriers, screenplays (movies.) But I really do love writing fiction. Absolutely.


What makes you feel alive?

RH: Two hours of prayer and worship with others. Finishing a manuscript. Helping others with their writing. Holding a newly published book in my hands. Holding a baby. Kissing my nieces and nephews. Telling someone Jesus loves them, and they get it!


How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?

RH: Truth or humor. I’m not easily moved by emotion or plays on my emotion. I’m skeptical. I’m moved by truth, by people who genuinely work hard to overcome.

And I love to laugh.


Book, music, person, food you would take with you on a very long trip.

RH: I’d take my husband and a pile of books from family epics to chick lit. Diet Coke, fruit and chips. And the music of Misty Edwards, some ‘70s and ‘80s oldies but goodies. And country music playing on the radio.


Where would you most like to travel ----- moon, north pole, deep seas, deserted island, the holy land or back to a place from your childhood, somewhere else? – and why.

RH: Definitely NOT the moon. Space travel has no appeal to me. I think I’d like to travel to a childhood city or town, then out west. I love the west.


Favorite season and why?

RH: There is absolutely NOTHING like spring in Florida. I’ve traveled the world in all kinds of seasons. Spring in Florida is amazing.


Favorite book setting and why?

RH: I loved the Nashville setting of my NashVegas books. And the South Carolina lowcountry of the book I’m writing now.


Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?

RH: Often people tell me how alive and real the characters seem. Many have said it feels like I’m writing directly to them. So, I love that the readers connect with the characters.


What criticism has cut the deepest and why?

RH: I had a review of my first novel, a category romance, and the person, not used to reading Christian fiction wrote, and I quote, “the writing sucked.” That was pretty harsh.


What would you do today if you knew you had only a week to live?

RH: Write that best seller, and fast!


What is your favorite word?

RH: Cake. Cake, cake, cake. Isn’t it an interesting word? Has such a weird sound.


What word annoys you more than any other?

RH: More of a phrase. “As well.” Seriously, can we ban it? No one says, “also” or “too” any more.

“We’re going the movies, as well.”
“It’s going to be rainy today, as well.”

Ack! It annoys me.


Superhero you most admire and why?

RH: I’m going with my own superhero, Jesus. No one, not even Superman, saved the world like this God/man did.


Super power you’d love to borrow for awhile?

RH: Jesus ability to love his enemies. While being nailed to a cross, He cried out, “Father, forgive them!”

I’d be like, “Father, do to them 10 times what they did to me!”

So, yeah, love!


Favorite chore

RH: I like doing dishes. It’s therapeutic for me.


Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.

RH: Too, many, commas. LOL


Societal pet peeve…sound off.

RH: So many live by their emotions. Make decisions by how they feel. While feelings and emotions are real and valid, they are not always fact or truth. Truth needs compassion. Compassion needs truth.


Unidentifiable antique, the scent of pipe tobacco and the drizzle of rain – make a scene.

RH: Rain splattered against the window. Pipe smoke rose from the tray on the light stand. In the corner, an old quilt covered a tall, misshaped object. Every now and then, it hissed.


Two middle-aged females talking animatedly. One wears a very short skirt, and she ought not to be……………. Give me a scene, dialogue, characterization, drama……

RH: Jane hooked her hand through the strap, fighting to stand upright on the train ride into the city.

“I tell you, he’s crazy, Suze. Hasn’t called me I a week.” Jane checks the faces around her. Thank goodness, no one she knows. Mam always said she talked too loud.

Suze leans her face close. “I told you. Dump him.”

Jane tugs at the hem of her skirt. “But I told you, I love him.”

“No you don’t.” Suze twist her lips. “You just think you do.”

About to answer, Jane yelps. A hand touched her leg. She whirls around and stares right into the moon crater eyes of the most handsome man she’s ever seen,

He grins. “Sorry, miss, I had to tug on your skirt. Your blue knickers were showing.”

Hope you enjoyed a little Rachel sass, Dregites!

Thanks again, Rachel!