Attention Readers! I can count on one hand the number of curse words in this book, other than that it is a clean read.
About Book
In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.
About Author
John A. Heldt is a reference librarian who lives and works in Montana. The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved reading and writing since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of both the University of Oregon and University of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. THE MINE is his first novel.
AUTHOR LINKS
Blog: http://johnheldt.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnaheldt
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754231.John_A_Heldt
BOOK LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mine-ebook/dp/B0078S9B6G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329362894&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mine-john-heldt/1110894833?ean=2940014427715
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/27051668/The-Mine
My Thoughts
In 2000 Joel Smith and his best friend take a well needed break from term papers and decide to leave college behind and go hiking in Montana. When they arrive in Helena, Montana, a quaint little town, Joel notices a sign post reading Gold Mine. So against the wishes of his friend he sets off in his RAV4 to visit the Gold Mine. He enters the gold mine finding much more than he expected. But when he exits the mine he finds himself in the year 1941. His RAV4 and best friend are nowhere in sight. Facing this crazy predicament he realizes he has no idea how to get back to his on timeline.
With no way to buy food with his credit cards or even the cash he had he knew he would need to search for a job. Joel rides the rails like many hobos in his new timeline. He meets and makes many friends some possibly people he recognizes from his own time.
Don't let the book cover hold you back from reading this book. I kept putting off reading the book and as you know you can not judge a book by it's cover. It was an outstanding read about time travel and dealing with the life and plight you are given.
This is not amateur writing. When I read the book I again was surprised at the talent of this author. You will want to read this book. Don't hold back I know you will enjoy this book.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
I gladly rated this book a 5 out of 5.
If you found this review helpful click here.
Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.
2012 Blog Tour Travel the virtual "Road to the Christys" blog tour from Mon., July 9 to Tue., July 20th, 2012. Blog tour participants will be celebrating the 2012 Christy Award nominees leading up to the Christy Awards banquet in Orlando, July 16, and the winners after they are presented. Follow @ChristyAward, or like www.facebook.com/ChristyAward for a link to the first stop on the "Road to the Christys" blog tour.
First Novel
and
Contemporary Stand-Alone
Author Ginny Yttrup
The opportunity to write is the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Words were my salvation as a child, until I met my true Savior, the Word. Through the tumultuous years of my childhood, I lost myself in the stories I read. There, in the world of fiction, I escaped the trauma I faced and found a place of safety and rest. Today, I enjoy the gift of combining my two loves—I write words that, I pray, reflect the glory of Jesus Christ.
As I write, speak, and work as a life coach, my prayer is that God will use my words to replace the lies so many believe about themselves with the truth of His unconditional love and grace. To see someone grasp, perhaps for the first time, the truth of God’s love, is truly an honor. Through a relationship with the Truth, Jesus Christ, the bonds of shame are loosed and freedom abounds!
When I’m not working, I love spending time with my two college-age sons or with friends. If I can spend time outdoors with those I love, it’s even better. And I thoroughly adore my dog, Bear. He’s a book lover too. (I’ll let you in on a secret–Bear has a starring role in my third novel.)
I’d love an opportunity to get to know you. Drop me a note and tell me a little about yourself. If you’re interested in learning more about what I do as a coach, visit http://www.crossingscoaching.com.
May you know the freedom of God’s love as you live in His truth…
Blessings to you.
About Book
"I collect words. I keep them in a box in my mind. I'd like to keep them in a real box, something pretty, maybe a shoe box covered with flowered wrapping paper. Whenever I wanted, I'd open the box and pick up the papers, reading and feeling the words all at once. Then I could hide the box. But the words are safer in my mind. There, he can't take them."
Ten-year old Kaylee Wren doesn't speak. Not since her drug-addled mother walked away, leaving her in a remote cabin nestled in the towering redwoods-in the care of a man who is as dangerous as he is evil. With silence her only refuge, Kaylee collects words she might never speak from the only memento her mother left behind: a dictionary.
Sierra Dawn is thirty-four, an artist, and alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes and chooses to bury her pain by trying to control her circumstances. But on the twelfth anniversary of her daughter's death, Sierra's control begins to crumble as the God of her childhood woos her back to Himself.
Brought together by Divine design, Kaylee and Sierra will discover together the healing mercy of the Word-Jesus Christ.
Five Star Review by author Michelle Sutton
Well, this book left me a little speechless. Funny since it's about words, right? I loved the quirky way the main character, Kaylee, was obsessed with words as a way of coping with stress, yet the lack of words (speech) due to her trauma was a large obstacle in her life. Some parts of the story reminded me a little of the movie Nell, starring Jodie Foster. But this novel had a unique angle to it that I haven't seen in many books -- especially not Christian books.
At first I was a bit overwhelmed with some of the details, but those details also made the story more powerful. I suppose my background of working with hundreds of sexually abused children didn't help because it made me think of all of the Kaylees that I'd gotten to know over the years and reminded me of their horrible situations prior to CPS removing them from their sexually abusive families. Like Kaylee, those children were also very conflicted regarding their families and loyalties. The author expertly described the mindset of an abused child in this story, and because of this, I think this novel should be required reading for all foster parents who are considering taking a sexually abused child into their home. Then when the child does something that seems disloyal, mean, or that doesn't make sense hopefully they will realize it's not about them (foster parents,) but it's just part of the healing process.
Not only was I impressed with this story in a general sense, but the writing, plotting, and pacing were also very good. Women who have been sexually abused might find themselves reliving some of their trauma while reading the first part of Kaylee's story, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Like in this novel, the truth of what happened needs to be dealt with in order to heal...and to set the person held captive by the painful memories free from those chains.
There are so many good things that can result from reading this book. I found it deep, insightful, and a quality story worthy of an award. The fact that the author says that she was Kaylee makes it that much more meaningful to me. This novel is a great example of how God uses our pasts to help others. He can make beauty from the ashes of our lives. I can see this book helping a lot of broken people, and for that reason (plus the fact that it's great story) this book is making my top fiction list for 2011. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.
