Today’s Book Review: I’ll Know You By Heart by Kimberly Job

If you're looking for "clean" fiction, book reviews are the way to go especially when you're dealing with sensitive topics. How many times have you picked up a book thinking it would decent and by the third page you're disappointed? I'll post some suggestions for book review blogs later in this post. If you have any you'd like to add, feel free to post your comment.

Clean fiction that deals with hard topics. I can suggest such a book. I had the privilege of reviewing Valor Publishing's latest romance novel; I'll Know You By Heart. One woman's emotional journey of overcoming abuse, saving her family, and finding new love. Author, Kimberly Job, deals sensitively with the topic of domestic violence, but also doesn't sugar coat it. I'm a sunny-side up kind of reader so when I know a book deals with a hard topic sensitively I appreciate it.

Kimberly allows her main characters to fall in love through friendship, which makes the love story between Stephanie and Jared believable, although, the book doesn't deliver the whole story simply because it can't. Lasting effects of abuse can't be tidied up just because it's the last page. I'm a bit of a skeptic in that way. I believe writing about abuse can be tricky, yet, it can be done cleanly. I can assure you that the author tastefully writes about a broken marriage and family life, but wraps a love story around it that leaves you feeling hopeful and happy—for the main character and for her children.

I've never had to heal from a wrench in my gut because the someone I loved physically betrayed me. I've not known such personal pain, but, through my work with women at the House of Hope, I know women who have. If we don't talk about it, we can't understand it and we can't help fix it. I believe that.

Domestic violence affects one in every four women (Bureau of Justice Statistics). That's a statistic I hope someday we can eradicate. May the Stephanie's of the world find the Jared's of the world. Now that would be sunny-side-up.


Question of the Day: What Book Reivew Blogs do you recommend? Post your comment.

 Me?  Where do I go?  ANSWER:  I go to my friend Holly. She knows exactly what I like and every recommendation she gives me I love. Too bad I can't give you her phone number.

Book Review Blogs

http://ldswbr.blogspot.com/2010/03/ill-know-you-by-heart.html
http://www.queenoftheclan.com/2010/04/book-review-ill-know-you-by-heart-by.html
http://writing4me2.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-ill-know-you-by-heart.html
http://galesears.blogspot.com/,http://www.kathiswritingnook.com/2010/04/interview-with-tristi-pinkston.html,
http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/http://www.daronfraley.com/2010/04/book-review-ill-know-you-by-heart-by-kimberly-job.html

"Women of Virtue", An Emergency Room, and A Coffee Table

"Thank you for giving my book, 'Women of Virtue', wings.

Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of being in an emergency room with my father.  He had fallen off a tall ladder and was seriously injured.  After x-rays and doctors examinations, we were lucky to hear the news that his back was only sprained, not broken.  Whooh!  After a while, when things had settled down a bit,  my father and I began talking about an upcoming book signing I was scheduled to do.  A nurse overhead us talking and asked me, "What book are you talking about?"

"Oh, I wrote a book called 'Women of Virtue,'" I said.  It was her response that surprised me.

"Oh, my neighbor has your book sitting on her coffee table.  It's got a purple cover, right?"

I was a bit awestruck.  I probably looked a little pale.  My book? Sitting on someone's coffee table?   I had never thought about that before.  My dad, lying there in his hospital bed, beamed with pride.  That was the only part of him being in an emergency room that was remotely memorable.  Wow!  My book in someone's living room.  I guess that's how it works.  You write a book.  People you don't even know buy it and read it.  And it ends up on their coffee table. 

That was an "ah-ha" moment for me. 

So, today, I, first, want to express grattitude for my father's good health.  He recovered from that fall as if her were thirty years younger.  A true blessing.  And secondly, I want to thank all of you, those I know and those whom I've never met, who have helped give my book, "Women of Virtue", wings. 

To those of you who have my purple-cover, "Women of Virtue", sitting on your coffee table, or in your bookshelf, or in your purse.  Thank you.  It's a message that all girls and women need to hear.  I needed to hear it, and I am so thrilled when I'm introduced to complete strangers who have read it or at least know about it. 

It's a big world for unknown authors and small books to get noticed.  It comes down to word of mouth.  Friends telling friends.  Neighbhors telling neighbors.  And so I thank you.  Thank you for believing in the message and for sharing the message with others.   

My book is being featured on a Book Review Blog:  so check this out. 
FREE BOOK OFFERED ON Sheila Staley's Book Review Blog
If you haven't, yet, read "Women of Virtue" and would like to WIN a copy, enter her contest.  Follow the link below and it will take you to her blog to enter. 

Let's keep talking about the beauty of virtue.  And how true beauty is felt more than it is seen.  For that is the only way to truly be happy.  Have a wonderful week.  CLICK ON "what are people saying about women of virtue" and you will be directed to the http://www.whybecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/.

What are people saying about "Women of Virtue"?

Latest Review of Women of Virtue by Book Reviewer Karen Hamilton

REVIEW BY KAREN HAMILTON

"As a mother with a daughter in the Young Women's program, this was atitle that caught my attention. The new Young Womens¹ value that wasadded, is Virtue. While I can tell you a basic concept of what virtue isand how it is a part of daily life, I was surprised at how much morethere is to virtue. With my limited understanding of virtue, I did notcompletely comprehend virtue as it is meant to be. Jodi Robinson takes virtue and details the what, how, why, where andwhen virtue is used in daily life. She has a series of subtitles withinthe chapters that cover many thoughts on virtue. For example, in thefirst chapter, "The Beauty of Virtue," some of the subtitles are: "Virtue makes a Woman Beautiful." "Defining Virtue,", "Seeking Virtue," "We are confident because of Virtue," "Virtue is what makes us Strong" and "Beauty is more Spiritual than it is Temporal."

"So, you're writing about virtue. Mom, what exactly is virtue?" "Well," I said, letting out a sigh of desperation, "virtue means beinggood and making right choices.² I figured that answer would suffice the curiosity of a ten-year-old" (p.1) This begins the authors' exploration on the importance of virtue and how it will be tested as her daughter grows up. "Satan would try to convince her that virtue doesn't matter, when in fact it does matter." (p.1) Robinson writes about women in the scriptures and in modern history that exemplify virtue. "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. ­Proverbs 31:10" (p.11) This is but one of the scriptures that is used in this book.

Jodi Robinson gives a brief description of precious gems and how rare it is for rubies to exist. The same chemicals that give them their color arealso the same chemicals that can destroy the gem, making it impossiblefor the ruby to form. This is why the Lord compared virtuous women tobeing more precious than rubies. Helen Keller said, "The most beautiful things in the world cannot beseen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." "This is whatbeing beautiful is about. To a virtuous woman of God, beauty is something that is felt far more than it is seen. (p.7) Jodi Robinson uses an experience that she had with her Grandmother just before she passed on and comments, "Grandma taught me a lot about whatit means to be beautiful because her beauty was felt far more than itwas seen. Thank you, Grandma, for letting me see in you the beauty ofvirtue." (p.8) The concepts that devalue virtue are addressed in this book in simple to understand words and phrases. They are further illustrated by stories pulled out of scripture, history, and personal experiences.

This is abook that I recommend that everyone read, but especially young women,young men and their parents. It is another tool to helping our young women and young men to understand that there is so much more to virtue than sexual purity.