YESTERDAY'S TOMORROW--A Review by Christine Lindsay

I love it when I find a heart-rending and ultimately satisfying love story that captures my heart and mind for years. I found such a story in Yesterday’s Tomorrow. Debut author, Cathy West, has written a new type of Christian inspirational, and one I find refreshingly authentic. What makes it even more exciting is that this author is a fellow International Christian Fiction Writer.

The main character, Kristin Taylor is haunted by the childhood memory of her journalist father leaving to go out on assignment to Vietnam in the mid 1950’s, and never returning. A number of years later Kristin, now also a journalist, follows in her father’s footsteps.

At the height of the war in Saigon, she meets Luke Maddox, a photographic journalist. Kristin isn’t really sure what Luke is doing in Vietnam, but suspects he’s more than just a photographer. As much as they’d prefer to avoid each other, events throw them together. Tension rises as they see the war from different viewpoints.

Author Cathy West drew me into this bravely written story with her amazingly researched details of Vietnam in the 60’s——the whisper of helicopters in the distance, the scents and color of the country and the people, the pathos of young American soldiers far from home. While Yesterday’s Tomorrow realistically portrays the war, it does so without using overly graphic images. But there is enough detail for the reader to grasp the emotional despair of Kristin and Luke as they watch soldiers laying down their lives for democratic freedom.

Kristin and Luke each in their own way try to salve their grief. As Kristin spirals downward in her emotional despair, she and Luke find solace in each other’s arms. But Kristin begins to wonder about Luke’s secrets, and she fears the exposé she’s written about the CIA involvement in Vietnam will tear them apart. When despair and passion leads Kristin and Luke to a level of premature intimacy, they both must deal with the guilt that brings. As Kristin’s life turns upside down, she receives the news that Luke is listed as MIA.

This story took me from New England to Vietnam to New York, and is a beautiful love story that satisfies my heart. But I love Yesterday’s Tomorrow because it’s about believable people—people like me with flaws. None of us come to the cross without the scars of sin. Once or twice, in moments of extreme stress in the middle of a warzone, some of the characters in this novel swear. Some struggle with the desire to drown the horrific images of war by drinking. Kristin and Luke’s spiritual journey as well as their emotional one, is a story that will encourage the struggling faith of readers in this decade.

Set against this very human drama is the war of Vietnam, showing the hearts of the courageous men and women who served in it. The author gives honor to these military and journalistic heroes, an honor they so rightly deserve.

Bravo, Cathy, a very brave and very deserving novel.

Leave a comment with your email address spelled out and I'll chose a winner on Sunday and contact you.

AUTHOR BIO ON CATHY WEST:


Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, will release in 2011, through Oak Tara Publishers.

I've enjoyed writing this review for Cathy. I hope I've inspired you to read her novel. Drop by Cathy West's website Catherine J. West to find out how to purchase her book, or to her publisher Oak Tara.

And if you'd like to find out more about me, drop by my website.Christine Lindsay

Winner number two of Tasmanian Calendar

Final word from Mary on this.
Sorry Fred Bassett, we are lesving home for the mainland in two hours and I'm not packed our luggage so have to finalise this! The second draw means Lena Nelson Dooley has now won the calendar of Tasmania. Congratulations, Lena!
A good reminder to all of us to make sure we check back on giveaways and send our snail mail addresses?
Happy Christmas everyone!
Mary Hawkins

Tasmanian Devils – and more about Tassie

Well, in my last post I did promise to tell you a little about this beautiful part of Australia that my husband and I have “retired” to. I use retired like that because I’m still not quite sure what this “retired” means – for us at least. Although he is now an officially retired minister, Ray is still preaching wherever he has an opportunity to share truths from the scriptures. For both of us our days are filled with reading, writing, family and our local church and friends. So, while we have now lived here for over six years, there is far too much of this island state that we have not explored.Tasmania is the large island across Bass Strait south of Melbourne. It became a penal settlement in 1803 and although such a beautiful place the history of early European settlement is not pleasant reading. It has been said that Tasmania's history is the most colourful but tragic of all the six Australian states. If you would like more information this is a good website: Discover Tasmania

We live on the estuary of the Tamar River north of the second largest city, Launceston and take nearly three hours to drive south to our capital, Hobart. This is the view from a hill near us looking to the mouth of the river and Bass Strait.

The population of Tasmania has almost reached 500,000 and has its own state government. As well as attracting many from overseas, it is a favourite holiday and tourist destination for the “mainlanders” - as Ray and I are learning to call anyone from the rest of Australia. The photos below are of a couple of well known places.

A friend from England is rugged up when viewing Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. This a favourite place - especially for those who like to go for long hikes. There is one that will take a few days in this beautiful wilderness area. And no, I haven't done that one!


But we do have the famous Tasmanian devil you may have heard about in the news. Scientists are trying very hard to discover why they are developing facial tumours that are threatening their existence. Although it is officially extinct, the Tasmanian Tiger is still claimed by some to be hiding out in some wilderness areas. We would all hate to see another creature only found in Tasmania disappear.

Mt Wellington looms over Hobart. These photos were taken when there was no snow as there often is during our winter- and spring and autumn sometimes!I only discovered a few months ago that the koala, one of our Australian animal icons, does not live here. Perhaps because we are so close to Antarctica it doesn’t like our cooler climate?


The devils are fascinating little creatures. I haven’t discovered yet just why they were given this name but they are carnivorous with a set of very strong, dangerous looking teeth and like to fight!





I also did manage to get acquainted with a fund-raising “devil” one day visiting our part of Tasmania! Of course, the question I am asked is “will you be writing a book set in Tasmania?” And that is something I’ve been giving some thought to. Ideas keep pelting their thoughts at me so I know I need to keep on jotting them down for when I can start seriously considering this. However, right now I am trying to get Book Three, Justice at Baragula, written and it is set back in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.

In fact, that is just what I should be doing right now – writing more of that manuscript!

However, I’d love to show you more of Tasmania and will send a calendar with photos of this beautiful island to a winner from those who leave a comment before 15th December.