Monday, January 26, 2015

"Out of the Storm" by Crystal L. Barnes "An anthology featuring the winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" contest"

Out of the Storm


An anthology featuring the winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" contest, sponsored by a chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).Contemporary category:

1st place: "Squall Line" by Jim Hamlett (Contemporary)
2nd place: "Dorothy's Carol" by Terrie Todd (Women's Fiction)
3rd place: "A Rumspringa Storm" by Steve Hooley (Amish)
4th place: "Tempest Tossed" by Annette O'Hare (Women's Fiction)

Speculative category (Fantasy / SciFi):
1st place: "The Grumpy Chronicles" by Susan Lyttek (Fantasy)
2nd place: "The Great Storm" by Karla Rose (SciFi)
3rd place: "Oddman" by Carla Hoch (SciFi)
4th place: "Aperture" by Linda Kozar (SciFi)

Others category:
1st place: "Just West of Clovis" by Ralph D. James (Western)
2nd place: "Husband Hunting" by Crystal L. Barnes (Western)
3rd place: "Detention" by Gretchen Engel (YA / Fantasy)
4th place: "Fire in a Storm" by Angela K. Couch (Historical)

Proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to the Scholarship Fund of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
My Review: This is a book of 12 short stories and I really enjoyed all of them except the SciFi ones, but I have no doubt that readers who do like that genre would enjoy these stories. My favorites are the first story in the book "Squall Line" by Jim Hamlett (Contemporary) and the last story in the book"Fire in a Storm" by Angela K. Couch (Historical).
I usually like longer stories but this was a nice change! The stories all had to do with a type of storm.
 I have to say that "The Great Storm" by Karla Rose (SciFi) left me wanting to read more and the ending wasn't enough of an conclusion for me! 
  "The Grumpy Chronicles" by Susan Lyttek (Fantasy) is a new take on "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
There is even an Amish short story for the Amish genre lovers! It was a great story about a new beginning!
The whole book was a real fast read and the mixture is one that any reader would enjoyed and if a reader hasn't tried any of these genre this book would be a good one to buy to try a different genre.
These stories are clean and no cursing or bad scenes and they are Christian based but even non-believers would like them.
I am giving " Out Of The Storm" four stars.
 I was given a pdf copy for an honest review!

3 comments:

Crystal L Barnes said...

Thanks for sharing such an honest review, Debbie! :) Glad you enjoyed the book.

Crystal L Barnes
www.booksbybarnes.com

Debbie Curto said...

You are welcome! And even through I didn't say so in the review "Husband Hunting was a good read too!

Anonymous said...

A friend pointed me your way and I'm glad they did. I'm also glad you liked "Fire in a Storm"! Thanks for the great review!
Angela K Couch
www.angelakcouch.com