Review
Are you ready for the spirit of Christimas? After you read this novella you will be. Devon is bitter and mad at the world for circumstances beyond his control. This short Christmas tale is sweet and poignant, you won’t be sorry you’ve take a few minutes to read this delightful story.

I give this 5 Dahlia’s

Buy Link.

Uplifting Reads

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

‘Saving Savanna’ by Sara Fitzgerald Book Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Saving Savanna by Sara Fitzgerald!

I received a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review of this book, as a part of the Cedar Fort Book tour.

Book blurb:

Devan can’t help but blame God for his wife’s death, so the last thing he wants to do this holiday season is celebrate. But when his daughter, Savanna, makes a special Christmas wish, their little family will never be the same. Filled with faith and tenderness, this heartwarming story is sure to remind you of the real power behind the magic of Christmas.

Read an excerpt:

Devan swallowed and then changed the subject. “We only have three days left until Santa comes down our chimney. What do you want him to bring you?”

“There’s only one thing I want from him,” she whispered, leaning toward him.

He forced a smile. “And what’s that?”

“I want Mommy back.”
**My thoughts**

That excerpt alone was enough to do me in, and I knew I needed to request this book for the tour. The pain of losing a parent was horrible enough at the age of 33. I can’t imagine having it happen at the mere age of 5. How do you explain that to a young child? 

Devan has been struggling with his faith since his wife was brutally taken away from him and his daughter. It doesn’t seem fair that God would do this to them, especially not a just and loving God. He cannot understand that everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t understand it. It’s hard for him to function, even though he needs to be there for his young daughter. aaaaaaa

Sometimes, all it takes is one significant event to bring everything back into perspective. His revelation may surprise you and will definitely make your eyes moist.

This is a short story, only 16 pages long. But it is a powerful one.

About the author:

Sara Fitzgerald was named the 2006 Writer of the Year for the League of Utah Writers. She lives with her husband and daughter in Salt Lake City. She loves the Christmas season. To find out more about Saving Savanna and the author Sara Fitzgerald, visit her website: http://www.sarafitzgerald.com.

Getting Your Read on

Savannah Blog Tour

Devan can’t help but blame God for his wife’s death, so the last thing he wants to do this holiday season is celebrate. But when his daughter, Savanna, makes a special Christmas wish, their little family will never be the same. Filled with faith and tenderness, this heartwarming story is sure to remind you of the real power behind the magic of Christmas.  (Paperback, 16 pages)

This was less like a book and more like a booklet.  It is a super quick read that will put your mind and heart in the Christmas spirit for sure.  If the sweet pleas of a young, innocent child cannot touch your heart, I’m not sure what can.  

Saving Savannah was the perfect reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.  Within it’s short pages you will find warmth and love.  It certainly left me with a good feeling and put me right in the mood to get Christmas started!  I love the magic of Christmas.

This would be a perfect gift for friends and neighbors this holiday season.

Links:

Cedar Fort

Amazon

My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Paper and Parchment

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

Saving Savannah by Sara Fitzgerald is a tender Christmas story that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your heart as you read. Devan Smith clings to the bitterness he feels at his wife’s death. The innocent sweetness of his daughter Savanna wedges itself into every fiber of his being. His family tries to love and support him. But neither can chip away at the hate he feels for the drunk driver that killed his beloved—until something surprising and unnerving happens at the Nativity program on Christmas Eve.

This book will make a wonderful Christmas gift, and the memory of the story will keep on giving throughout the year.

Posted by Christy Monson at 6:46 AM 3 comments: 

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My Amateur Adventures

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Saving Savannah

I’m so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Saving Savannah because I have a huge soft spot for Christmas stories full of heart and messages of Christ.

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we often don’t make time to read. That’s why this small booklet, Saving Savannah, is such a great gift – for yourself or a friend.

This sweet story of a man pushed to the brink of spiritual blackness finds renewed strength through the Light of the World. With his innocent little girl leading the way, Devan struggles through his bitterness and into a Christmas Eve program where he experiences his own Christmas miracle.

I enjoyed this short Christmas story. I’ve long-since been a believer that more miracles happen at Christmas than any other time of year because our hearts are softened as we look for ways to make our family and friends’ faces light up with joy. It’s the one time of year when we are more worried about other people than we are about ourselves. If you find yourself in short supply of Christmas spirit, or love to be reminded of the goodness inside us all, take a little break and read Saving Savannah.

Posted by Christina at 8:30 AM No comments: 

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Labels: book review, Christmas booklet, review, Saving Savannah

BLOG TOUR: Saving Savanna by Sara Fitzgerald

SAVING SAVANNA
by Sara Fitzgerald
Sweetwater Books, 2012
ISBN13: 9781462111008
Christian Fiction (Short story)
E-book received for blog tour.
All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Devan can’t help but blame God for his wife’s death, so the last thing he wants to do this holiday season is celebrate. But when his daughter, Savanna, makes a special Christmas wish, their little family will never be the same. Filled with faith and tenderness, this heartwarming story is sure to remind you of the real power behind the magic of Christmas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Fitzgerald was named the 2006 Writer of the Year for the League of Utah Writers. She lives with her husband and daughter in Salt Lake City. She loves the Christmas season.

Taken from Sara’s website.

REVIEW

A tender story of loss, love, and faith, Saving Savanna touched my heart. It amazed me how much depth Fitzgerald fit into 16 pages.  Because of the shortness of the book there weren’t very many details provided and so the book felt rushed.  The changes Devan makes definitely seem rushed.  But the story makes up for the lack of detail with lots of heart. Savanna, Devan’s five-year-old daughter is adorable and provides the impetus that leads Devan to face the loss of his wife’s death.  But it’s not until he visits the Nativity Pageant with Savanna that something happens to lead him back to God. I recommend this as a quick tender read about love and faith.

I am a Reader Not a Writer

Welcome to Author Sara Fitzgerald

Sara Fitzgerald was named the 2006 Writer of the Year for the League of Utah Writers. She lives with her husband and daughter in Salt Lake City. She loves the Christmas season.

To find out more about Saving Savanna and the author Sara Fitzgerald, visit her website: http://www.sarafitzgerald.com.

Interview:

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

My favorite ice-cream is Chocolate Mint

What is you favorite way to spend a rainy day?

My favorite way to spend a rainy day at home is to make hot coca and curl up with a book.  Later watch a movie or favorite TV show,  and to take a long hot bubble bath.

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

If I could travel in time, I would go to the future.  I would want to see how my life played out and if I get any grandchildren.  Plus it would be super cool to see all the technology and how amazing our lives would hopefully be.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

If I was stranded on a desert island I would want my husband, daughter and lots of sunscreen with us.  A bookshelf of books would be nice too.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

If I could have a superhero ability I think I would like the ability to be invisible

What do you do in your free time? 

With my free time, I love spending time with my husband and daughter.  My daughter and I have lots of fun exploring Salt Lake City.  We love the zoo, parks, Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetary, ect.  We also love to hit the movies.  I love to read.  I also love just hanging out with my husband and watching our favorite TV shows.  I love to work out at Curves. I absolutely love my AVON business and all the wonderful people I meet through selling AVON.  I enjoy lunch with my sister and friends. And I love walking our dog, Angel.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?

The best advice anyone gave me came from my husband, “Do what makes you happy.”

What is your favorite Quote?

My favorite quote is “Just When the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly.”

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live in Salt Lake.  I love being near my family and friends; and I think Utah is a beautiful place to be.  I love the mountains and all the wonderful activities year around.  I would however, love to visit New York City often.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

The best thing that happened to be since being published was to be named Writer of the Year by the League of Utah Writers and having a big party with family and friends to celebrate.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

What inspired me to be a writer?  That is a tough one.  At first I wrote because I loved it.  Then I wrote to become published.  I guess I just feel like there’s something inside me that I want to share with the world.

Saving Savanna

Devan can’t help but blame God for his wife’s death, so the last thing he wants to do this holiday season is celebrate. But when his daughter, Savanna, makes a special Christmas wish, their little family will never be the same. Filled with faith and tenderness, this heartwarming story is sure to remind you of the real power behind the magic of Christmas.

Review: 

This book is short and sweet (only 9 pages of story line). Devan struggles to make sense of his life now that his wife has been gone for 7 months. His adorable daughter Savanna is full of questions about where her mother is and if she is in Heaven.
This is a good Christmas short you can share with your children, parents, siblings, especially those who have lost loved ones and are finding it hard to adjust. I truly believe that children are there to help us grow, just as much as we are there for them. Read this book this holiday season and follow Savanna’s example to just have faith, and give love to those who may have lost their way.

Posted by Colleen at 6:26 PM No comments:

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The wind whistled down the avenues

that cold December night as Devan Smith

trudged across the murky, slush-filled street

with his little girl, Savanna, by his side. The street’s curbs

were covered with dirty piles of snow from yesterday’s

storm. The blackened snow reminded him of how dark

his soul felt without Vivian.

“Look, Daddy,” Savanna said, tugging on his sleeve.

“Look at all those shining lights. Mommy would love to

see them. Do you think she can?”

Devan glanced down at her tiny face dominated by

big, innocent eyes that were the same shade of blue as

her mother’s. He paused for a moment, deciding what to

tell her. She looked at him with such divine trust, a trust

unlike any he had ever experienced, except the trust his

wife had in him. He had failed Vivian.

“Daddy? Can Mommy see the lights?”

He bit his lower lip and stooped by her. He fought

back the lump forming in his throat. He wished that she

would stop talking about Mommy. Each time, no matter

how much he thought he was prepared for the subject, the

pain threatened to destroy his soul.

S a r a F i t z g e r a l d

2

He inhaled deeply and then slowly exhaled. Fog circled

around Savanna’s head; for a split second she looked

like an angel as the cold from his breath danced around

her brown curls.

She was waiting for him to tell her everything was

going to be all right, that Mommy was in heaven looking

down at them, but how could he? He no longer believed

in heaven and hell. No loving God would have allowed

what had happened to Vivian to take place. Devan

couldn’t let Savanna become disillusioned.

Savanna placed her arms around his neck. “Grandpa

says she’s in heaven watching out for us.”

He swallowed and then changed the subject. “We’d

better go shopping, or else we won’t be done before

Christmas. We only have three days left until Santa comes

down our chimney. What do you want him to bring

you?”

“There’s only one thing I want from him,” she whispered,

leaning toward him.

He forced a smile. “And what’s that?”

“I want Mommy back.”

Tears blurred his vision. He wanted her mommy back

too, more than anything in the world, but not even Santa

Claus could do that. Vivian was dead, buried in a cold

cemetery with only the snowfall as her blanket against the blanket against the

storms of winter.

Connections

monson

Monday, October 1, 2012

Saving Savannah by Sara Fitzgerald is a tender Christmas story that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your heart as you read. Devan Smith clings to the bitterness he feels at his wife’s death. The innocent sweetness of his daughter Savanna wedges itself into every fiber of his being. His family tries to love and support him. But neither can chip away at the hate he feels for the drunk driver that killed his beloved—until something surprising and unnerving happens at the Nativity program on Christmas Eve.

This book will make a wonderful Christmas gift, and the memory of the story will keep on giving throughout the year.

Posted by Christy Mons