Plus an interview with the author,June Foster!

Jillian Coleman is a successful doctor. On the outside, she seems to have nothing left to be desired. Jillian has great friends, a handsome and well respected boyfriend, and her job is to deliver her Creator’s precious gifts into this world. And yet, Jillian feels that something is missing. Can she ever forgive herself for that fateful mistake she made years ago. the one that led to a choice that has haunted her ever since?

Riley Mathis is free. After serving time in prison for dealing drugs, he is ready to start over, to forget his past and make a new life for himself. And then Riley meets Jillian and suddenly he is transported back to a night that he had all but forgotten. Not only does Jillian bring back unwanted memories of Riley’s tainted past, but she also finds her way into Riley’s heart and he just can’t seem to shake the new feelings he has for her. Will Riley ever be good enough for Jillian? Will she ever forgive him if she finds out who he really is?

Deliver Us by June Foster is book three in the Bellewood Series. An emotional and relevant read, Deliver Us touches on life, love, and the meaning of forgiveness.

Why I Liked it…

When a fiction book draws from truth, I am always pulled in simply because it feels so real. I read as a way of escape, and yet I have found that if something doesn’t seem realistic that I immediately write it off. I find myself saying “That would never happen” or “He or she would never do that”. Fiction authors have to be able to convince their readers that the world they have created does in fact exist. That their characters really would act that way. After reading Deliver Us I came to the conclusion that June Foster is one of those authors who has the ability to write “true fiction”, as I call it.

A major theme in Deliver Us is abortion, a subject that is not so easily dealt with. There are so many different views on the matter, and it would be easy to simply take the route more traveled and deal with a theme that isn’t so controversial. I applaud June for her courage in not only standing against abortion, but also in how delicately she handles the subject. Rather than creating a perfect protagonist, June used Jillian Coleman to show her readers that everyone makes mistakes, and our Heavenly Father will forgive us for those mistakes and will help us forgive ourselves for them as well. I was inspired by Jillian’s story and truly believe it will resonate with other women, whether they have experienced abortion firsthand or are simply dealing with the scars of their past.

Finally, I enjoyed the love story element in Deliver Us. The growing relationship between Riley and Jillian seemed natural, with plenty of bumps in the road. Their reactions and emotions were human. There were just enough conflicts and questions raised to keep me interested in the story, and the ending was satisfying and well-rounded.

Recommendation…

I recommend Deliver Us by June Foster to women who enjoy moving, heart stirring fiction. If you enjoy books by authors such as Karen Kingsbury, Denise Hunter, and Francine Rivers, I believe you will also appreciate June Foster’s writing. I look forward to reading other titles by June in the future.

About the Author…

June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She writes full time and travels in her RV with her husband Joe. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day,  As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, and A Hometown Fourth of July. June’s book, Ryan’s Father, will be available from WhiteFire Publishing January 2014. For All Eternity, Red and the Wolf, and Misty Hollow, God willing, will be published in the near future. June loves to write stories about characters who overcome the issues in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.

The Interview…

1. How did you come up with the idea for Deliver Us?

Deliver Us is the third book in the Bellewood Series. You probably won’t believe this, but the idea came to me while my husband and I were working in Campbellsville, Kentucky at a huge Amazon distribution center. We’re both retired and we were doing what is called “work camping” while living in our RV. All of a sudden I thought how I’d like to write a romance about an ex-drug dealer who became a Christian while in jail and later fell in love with a female doctor.

2. Jillian is an OBGYN in the book. Is it difficult to research the medical side of things when writing a fiction novel? How much time does the research take? Do you have a go to source for research info?

Yes, it did take a bit of time to research the medical facts in this story. I went on-line to various medical sites such as WebMD to find information. My husband’s niece is a nurse practitioner. She was very gracious in helping me understand difficulties involved with a breech delivery and other birthing issues. A good resource  is Jordyn Redwood’s blog. http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/

3. Riley is constantly beating himself internally, telling himself he’s not good enough for Jillian. Grace and forgiveness seem to be strong themes in the book. What do you hope to speak to your readers through Riley’s story?

When Riley first gets out of jail, he’s a maintenance worker. In contrast, Jillian’s boyfriend is a doctor. I want to convey my conviction that a person’s profession, as long as it is an honest one, doesn’t define his worth before God. I believe that the person who cleans toilets in a church can serve others just as the pastor does. I’d like the reader to understand that no matter what our failures are in this life, God can offer forgiveness and allow us to serve Him when we humble ourselves before Him.

4. Another strong theme is standing against abortion and the negative effects it has, particularly on the mothers who choose it. What would you say to a reader who might be considering her “right to choose”?

I would implore that woman to think again. Look at an ultrasound of your baby and judge for yourself whether it’s a blob of tissue or a baby. God’s word indicates a human is formed at conception. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1: 5. Jillian’s clinic is named The Jeremiah House after this scripture. Adoption is a good alternative for a woman or teen who can’t keep her baby. For women who’ve already had an abortion, as Jillian in this story, God’s grace and healing is available for you, too.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

The very first thing is to seek the Lord and ask Him for His help and direction. Pray that He’ll lead you in what He wants you to accomplish. Then read all the “how to” books you can, join ACFW and their writers’ loop, and write, write, write. Develop thick skin and don’t worry about negative criticism. Just keep on writing and learning.

6. Do you have a favorite Bible verse or quote that encourages you in your writing?

Proverbs 3: 5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

You can learn more about June by visiting her blog or by connecting with her on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to check out the book trailer for Deliver Us here.

Until next time, happy reading!

Yours in Messiah Yeshua,

S

Disclosure:

I received an electronic copy of Deliver Us for review from the author. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation for this review other than an electronic copy of the title featured in this post. This post also contains affiliate links. To learn more, please read my full policy.

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