Heidi’s October – Have you read it yet?

There are many books I’ve read and loved. Bookaholics like me read wonderful books quite often, but it takes a lot to add one to the “love” column.

Today, I’m adding Heidi’s October.

 

For Heidi Jordan, young and lovely, life is neatly mapped out and right on target. Her university grades are high, her future in the medical field all but guaranteed and her only dark secret is well kept. Until the first of October, that is, when Heidi discovers that reckless choices can have desperate consequences, and pain and anguish cannot be outrun.

For Annaliese Miller and her handsome fiancé Ben, the party on the evening of October the first was just the beginning of their brand new life together. But by midnight, Annaliese is lying on the cold flagstones in a pool of blood, her devastated husband-to-be kneeling in horror beside her.

Will Heidi return and face those she has shattered? Can healing happen when dreams and relationships have been crushed and ripped apart? Or are some things just too big to forgive?

 

For months I’ve wanted to write a book review for Heidi’s October. Unfortunately, when I have something I want to do perfectly, I procrastinate. I’ve recently learned all that does is put things off.

Many of you may have never heard of author Penelope McCowen before. That’s probably because she’s not from our neck of the woods. Penelope is from the land down under, Brisbaine to be more exact.

 

I met Penelope, or Penny as I call her, a few years ago at a Christian writer’s conference in California. She was one of twelve winners of a world-wide talent search by the Zondervan publishing house. She learned of this contest online and enlisted her husband’s help to meet the deadline to send it in.

Penny lives on a 3,000 acre sheep ranch with her “Crocodile Dundee” husband Charlie, and her two beautiful children Andy and Aly. When Penny believed she’d missed the deadline, she was in tears. (Mail takes a wee bit longer to get to America, you know.) Charlie grabbed her manuscript and left their ranch on a mission. He drove to their nearest airport to ensure his wife’s work would make it.

The story is quite miraculous when you hear her tell it.

Her family believes in her. Charlie, her number one fan, wasn’t the least bit surprised when she was chosen as one of twelve winners in Zondervan‘s talent search. Her family pinched pennies and escorted her to America where she was courted by American agents interested in her gift of storytelling.

But, Penny loves her family more than a future in American publishing. She has a heart for the unsaved in Australia. Penny and Charlie loved experiencing America with their little ones in a campuh-van, as Penny would say, yet her heart is for the land down under, and from there the Lord is using her to spread the message of hope in Christ.

I may be a tiny bit biased about this book review, but I believe you’ll love Heidi’s October. I was hooked by the first chapter. Plus, I loved reading the subtle nuances of a story written by an Aussie-girl, words like Uny for University and colour for color. Things like that.

If you’ve ever desired to take a trip to Australia, but can’t afford the $1,000.00 round trip ticket, pick up Heidi’s October instead.

Enter to win a free copy of this book, leave a comment below letting me know you’ve included a link to Heidi’s October on your Facebook or Twitter. OR, click on the LIKE button below!

 

Now, head over and visit Penelope McCowen”s website or follow her on Facebook.

 

You will love her almost as much as her writing.