THE SECRET LIFE OF SARAH HOLLENBECK
by
BETHANY TURNER
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Publisher: Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group
Date of Publication: October 3, 2017
Number of Pages: 304
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Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she’s chosen. She’s still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she’s not sure she can write anymore. She’s beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a “scandalous” book. And the fact that she’s falling in love with her pastor doesn’t make things any easier.
With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn’t afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.
“The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is a rare treat packed with humor, hope, and heart. Sarah’s struggles are real and nearly tangible, and she feels like a friend we’ve all had. I laughed with her and fell in love alongside her and couldn’t wait to hear her whole story. What a charming, delightful book!”
—Liz Johnson, bestselling author of The Red Door Inn
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PLAYLIST TO
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck
By Bethany Turner
Listen to the complete playlist on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/user/seebethanywrite/playlist/5VsNz6scU54bRfTqdLAgck
I’ve often said that I write movies, in novel form, so creating a soundtrack for The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is right up my alley! These are the ten songs which perfectly capture the story, emotions, and spiritual journey of this story, and of the character, Sarah Hollenbeck.
- “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
This Stevie Nicks classic perfectly captures where we find Sarah – mentally and emotionally – as her story begins.
- “My Paper Heart” – Francesca Battistelli
When Sarah’s best friend, Piper, leads her to the Lord, she finally realizes that the hole in her heart that she’d been trying to fill actually could never have been filled with romance or ambition or praise and adoration, and that she’d been seeking out the wrong things.
- “Edelweiss (Reprise)” – The Sound of Music
Sarah considers The Sound of Music the source of all of life’s greatest guidance and wisdom, so of course this song had to be included!
- “You Make Loving Fun” – Fleetwood Mac
When Ben Delaney appears, the tone of Sarah’s life begins to shift. She’d been left so downtrodden from love, with so many battle scars, but then…Ben.
- “The Thorn Birds Theme” – Henry Mancini
In Sarah’s pop culture-obsessed mind, she becomes convinced that there is no way to be in a romantic relationship with a pastor without it somehow being illicit and doomed. For a time, The Thorn Birds is comically her litmus test.
- “Edge of Seventeen” – Stevie Nicks
In Sarah’s mind, the metaphorical angel and devil on her shoulder take the form of Roma Downey and Stevie Nicks, respectively. In the moment of her greatest weakness, she faces the shadows of her past to the sound of Stevie and her white-winged doves from this song.
- “Unpredictable” – Francesca Battistelli
At last Sarah is at peace about her faith and her relationship, and she believes she finally has things under control – and of course that is the moment the Lord must step in and remind her that the control she has fought so hard to win and maintain isn’t really hers at all.
- “I’m Letting Go” – Francesca Battistelli
When she finally relinquishes control and agrees to go where God leads, God finally begins showing her glimpses of the great things He has planned.
- “Write Your Story” – Francesca Battistelli
I like to think this song would be the hit single from the film version, and would play as the end credits rolled. It, more than any other, is the song which captures the heart of Sarah’s story.
- “Songbird” – Fleetwood Mac
This would be the second song, playing as the credits end. I love the juxtaposition of these songs in Sarah’s life, having journeyed from a broken “Landslide” beginning, full of despair, to a “Songbird” ending, full of peace, love, and maturity.
Bethany Turner is the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former VP/operations manager of a commercial bank and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she’s chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.
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Grand Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + a typewriter tote bag + a typewriter notebook + Columbia Jo’s coffee + Novel Teas teabags
2nd Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + a typewriter hardcover journal + typewriter enamel lapel pin
3rd Prize: Copy of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck + $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
October 19-October 28, 2017
(U.S. Only)
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 19-Oct | Author Interview | Forgotten Winds |
| 20-Oct | Guest Post #1 | Margie’s Must Reads |
| 21-Oct | Review | Texan Girl Reads |
| 22-Oct | Deleted Scene | Reading by Moonlight |
| 23-Oct | Review | A Page Before Bedtime |
| 24-Oct | Guest Post #2 | Texas Book Lover |
| 25-Oct | Review | Tangled in Text |
| 26-Oct | Playlist | Books in the Garden |
| 27-Oct | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 28-Oct | Character Interview | Books and Broomsticks |
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