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Author: CAstfalk

Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother, and author of contemporary Catholic romances, including her latest, All in Good Time. She formerly worked as a communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and social media.

Relevant Fiction Reviews: The Beginning of Life

Published by CAstfalk on 05/21/2018

Relevant Fiction Reviews

Because fiction excels at creating empathy, books that involve deeply personal, emotionally-intense issues help readers consider situations in a whole new light. Over the years, I’ve read many books that touch on life issues – both at its beginning and end. These books are ones that touch on abortion and related life issues.

The reviews may not even mention abortion, as these aren’t “message” books but rather novels that skillfully weave life issues into the plot. Beneath the reviews are several other books that merit being included, but for which I did not post a review. (There was actually a time when I didn’t review almost everything I read! I also haven’t reviewed my own book, for obvious reasons. )

And finally, there are four dystopian series listed, which were also included in the end-of-life post. I hope you’ll click through and read more about these exceptional books!

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My Proven Remedy for A Funk

Published by CAstfalk on 05/14/2018

I’ve been in a funk lately.

A combination of things have been wearing on me. Financial issues. Big decisions. Discouragement in just about every area, from mothering to marriage to writing to my spiritual life. My mother is in the care of hospice, hundreds of miles from my home. Nothing earth shattering. Just life. Or mid-life, as the case may be.

Not surprisingly, I process feelings through writing. Typically with a pen and a lined journal, in cursive. The journals stashed in our attic are teeming with emotions. Most of the near-daily entries spanning ages 12 through 26 will meet a fiery fate at some point in the future.

I let the journaling habit slide for years, as if the bliss of marriage would negate my need to work through my disappointments, anger, fear, or joy with a ball point pen.

Then, when the rosy glow of newlywed life wore off, as it inevitably does, I resumed writing in fits and starts over the last decade or so as the urge struck me. The result is a rather unbalanced look at my life from the inside, chronicling only my most extreme highs and lows and leaving wordless the even keel that marks most of my days.

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Becky Wade Falling for You Blog Tour

Published by CAstfalk on 05/07/2018


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Falling for You
(A Bradford Sisters Romance #2)
By Becky Wade
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
May 1st 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family’s small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin–and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.

Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he’s never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he’s determined to make her give him a second chance.

When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they’re forced to confront their past and who they’ve become–and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

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Top 12 Mother’s Day Book Gift Ideas for Catholic Moms

Published by CAstfalk on 04/30/2018

I know “Top 12” isn’t a thing, but I had a tough enough time narrowing this list to twelve, let alone ten. Besides, if you want to go all out, you could buy every book on the list and Mom would have something for each month of the year!

You know your mom deserves it. Heck, she probably changed twelve diapers in a day for you as a newborn. But, no guilt here.

These run the gamut from self-help, biography, and prayer aide to romance, mystery, and literary fiction. Click through the titles below the image to read the descriptions!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Catholic Moms

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Interview with Catholic Teen Author T.M. Gaouette

Published by CAstfalk on 04/16/2018

Of all the genres, why write fiction for Catholic teens? How were you personally drawn to sharing your faith in this way?

Because there isn’t enough good Catholic fiction available for a demographic that needs God the most. Teenagers face so many confusing issues, not just the usual coming-of-age struggles that every teenager has to contend with, such as puberty, friendships, relationships, parents, and peer pressures, but also cultural issues that, as a result of the world we currently live in, present excruciating pressures. And in a world where God is literally pushed out, it’s become a crisis. Social media and this ever-growing device culture has significantly increased the anxiety of our teens, leading to more bullying, more depression, more suicide, more addiction, more teen pregnancy. I don’t envy teens in this society. The world is topsy-turvy and they need a balance. They need a light. And since we are all called to be lights in this dark world,  I strive to provide this light in my fiction.

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New in Science Fiction – NEWEARTH: Justine Awakens by A.K. Frailey

Published by CAstfalk on 04/10/2018

About the Book:Justine Awakens

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Found guilty of war crimes, Justine Santana, a Human-Android hybrid is shut down. Taug, an alien from Crestar, must eliminate his father’s mistake—a Human-Cresta crossbreed named Derik.

When Taug awakens Justine and charges her with the assignment to kill Derik, he never suspects that she might discover the meaning of love and her intrinsic humanity.

Cerulean from Last of Her Kind aides Newearth in her first tottering steps toward freedom . . .

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