Positive Grace by Deb Haggerty

Deb’s Dozen: Fire is everywhere—in the forest—in the relationships—in the armed conflicts.

Light My Fire is the first book in Warren’s Summer of the Burning Sky series. She introduces new characters in a new environment although she refers back to Montana, scene of her last series. Tucker Newman has trained with the Jude County Smokejumpers—a group of firefighters who do not walk in to fire locations but are dropped by parachute into the hotspots. Because his boss’s wife, Kate, went into labor prematurely, Tucker is unexpectedly left in charge even though he doubts his own abilities. Seems he has some baggage from a previous incident and now doesn’t trust his instinct, but only follows the rules.

He should have followed the rules because as soon as his boss leave, he’s embroiled in a bar melee involving a woman, Stevie Mills, who says she can take care of herself. After getting out of the place, he takes Stevie the rest of his dinner—spicy chicken wings—and they talk. A romance is brewing, at least on Tucker’s end.

But they’re off to fight a fire on Denali mountain. And Stevie, a US Marshall, is off to pick up a murderer and transport him to a secure prison. But he’s not there—he somehow was allowed on a work detail hiking up-country to help the firefighters. So, of course, Stevie goes after him.

All the players are in place: a firefighter in charge for the first time who always follows the rules; a feisty female US Marshall willing to break rules to get her man; and a gang of cons, who proceed to engineer an escape—one of which is Stevie’s dad.

Warren has written a gaggle of good characters. You’ll enjoy the adventures and mishaps. I understand the fascination with fighting fires and bringing in the convicts adds spice to an already heated situation. Lots of twists and turns, romance and roguery, gunfights and grit. The series holds promise. I’d rate this one four stars.

Susan May Warren is a bestselling, much-awarded author of several series. She is a USA Today bestselling author and has won the HOLT, RITA, and numerous Christy Awards. She writes historical, contemporary, mystery-suspense, and comedy—all laced with a healthy dose of romance. Find her at susanmaywarren.com.

Revell Books gave me an Advance Reader Copy of Light My Fire, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.

Deb’s Dozen: Please like me! I want your approval. How to overcome approval addiction.

Addiction can take many forms. For some, it’s drugs; for others, video games; for still others, addiction is the need to be liked and approved. Dawn M. Owen’s book, Like Me or Not: Overcoming Approval Addiction, addresses the latter. Owens displays complete vulnerability and honesty in this book of suggestions and methods for overcoming the addiction. I can identify–I still find myself caught up in this trap on occasion.

I love Dawn’s ability to express how she felt and how she overcame those feelings. The chapter headings give us a clue: “Me, Insecure? That Chip on Your Shoulder, One Day at a Time, The Surrender Habit.” Her advice is sound and biblical. In “Me, Insecure?” she relates the story of a girl, Laura, who came across as poised and all together–Dawn tells that she was the opposite of Laura, as insecure as they come. Hey, Dawn! I was Laura–and I was as insecure as they come. The poise and confidence was an act, which tells us we shouldn’t judge others by their appearance.

Dawn shows us how easily we can be caught up in the addiction–when we compare ourselves to others, when we want to belong to a community, when we want success. Throughout the book, Owens shows us how to break those chains–and to build the habit of surrendering every day to God. God is the only One whose approval we need. Our identity in Christ gives us confidence, self-worth, and His approval–we’re kids of the King!

Dawn Owens is the founder and executive director of The Link of Cullman County, a ministry addressing poverty that serves over three thousand people a year in twenty-three locations. She has a radio show “Lunch at the Link” on Praise 97.9 FM. Like Me is her debut book, one I wanted to publish myself. Dawn and her husband and son live in Cullman, Alabama.

Worthy Inspired gave me a copy of Like Me or Not, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.