Linda K. Rodante

SCARS by Linda K. Rodante is book four in the Spiritual Warfare series. While this book does stand alone, it takes over where book three ends with the same characters, so it is best to read them in order. This series focuses on a ministry within a church that helps ex-convicts and ex-gang members get back on their feet. This story focuses on Ryann, who teaches climbing when not volunteering with the ministry, and Garrett, a former gang member. Garrett has been given a second chance and has chosen to follow God and Ryann is still struggling with issues regarding her past and her faith.

This is an enjoyable story to read. It is well written with a variety of characters, mostly good. The story does touch on the results of gang activities and premarital sex. I enjoyed catching up with past characters and seeing what has happened in their lives. It is heart-warming to see the care the members have for others. While the pastor and his wife have responsibilities at home, they travel to help family affected by a hurricane. When they develop health issues, the people from the ministry are there to help and pray for them. The message in this story for me is that the church is there to help those in need, regardless of their situation, they do not need to get their lives in order before attending the ministry and they are not looked down on.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book through the JustRead Publicity Tour program, this is my honest review.… (más)

A Tamale Christmas by Linda Rodante
Starts with summary of the book.
The story begins with Jessica and she's at college in TN and she's 9 months pregnant when she meets a new man that wants to attend the college.
We find out as the story goes along about how she became pregnant and how other friends are trying to help her heal.
Story also follows the new boy that does attend the college 6 months later, Manny to his friends. He is outgoing being a Latino Hispanic in TN, like a fish out of water.
God guided him to make this decision in his life. As the story goes along we see the two just don't get along and neither knows why so they avoid one another.
His lays music and draws a crowd as others come together and she enjoys it. He has a plan for the stolen nativity scene for the Christmas holidays, he tells them of his family traditional holiday and how they can make it happen there as well.
One afternoon she just stops the car and goes walking in the snowy fields, getting lost but she has God to guide her and she gets to open up to Manny and he to her.
They all know most of what is going on, recreating the scene of Mary and Joseph trying to find a place for the night before Jesus was born. They never knew what the ending was...
Recipes are included at the end along with about the author. Other works by the author are listed.
Dedication page and there is a listing of music from youtube that inspires the author to write.
Excerpt from Honor respect Devotion #5 is also included at the end.… (más)

Fire, by Linda K Rodante, is book three in the Spiritual Warfare series. Even though this is part of a series, it makes a great stand alone story as well. I have not read the first two books in the series and did not have any issues connecting with the story. Chloe and Patriot (Travis) meet one morning while she is jogging in an area where a man is shot. Travis was an undercover cop that has returned to town to testify in a gang trial. Chloe works in the local ER. Chloe and Travis are connected to a church that helps ex-convicts and ex-gang members get back on their feet. Their church has come under fire from the outside world, literally.

This is such a good book. There is mystery and suspense with mild clean romance. The story is full of action that never stops. There are several things that stand out to me in this story. When the church suffers from the fires, a member in the construction trade helps to work up rebuilding plans and pushes for the new build to be what he wants. The story gives the impression he is doing this for his gain, not for the church's best interest. The pastor is such a loving person, just reading the story you can feel the love he offers. I like how this story shows that a church is there to heal and help everyone. People were not looked down upon or expected to get their lives in order before attending.

I received an e-book copy of this story from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.… (más)