Delia Latham's Blog, page 44
March 30, 2012
Introducing Journey's Edge by Dora Hiers
Journey's Edge is the second inspirational romance novel by Dora Hiers. It releases TODAY
through White Rose Publishing, and I am thrilled to introduce McKinley Frasier, the heroine
of this new romantic suspense.
Here's McKinley:
Hi. I’m McKinley Frasier. An Auditor with a CPA firm, not my dream job, but it pays the bills and keeps a roof over our heads. I’m a mom to an adorable nine-year-old daughter, Tessa. I’ve cherished a lifetime friendship, and I’m single by choice. People may think I have my life together.
Hah! They’d be wrong. Right now I’m desperately ducking the creep who followed me to the hotel, this week’s client, Malcolm Brugman. Or should I say, fraudster?
And avoiding the ex-fiancé who dumped me ten years ago, Renner Crossman, who happens to be staying in the same hotel. Why am I thinking about Renner Crossman now anyway? I haven’t thought of him in what? Two days? Not since his totally-off-the-radar phone message. Yeah, well, that apology was about ten years too late. Did he really think I would come running to accept his face-to-face apology? As if!
So explain to me how I ended up wrapped in Renner’s strong arms, hearing his heart thump and shivering when his breath whispered against my hair? What is it about him that latches on to my innermost dreams and desires and won’t let go? His grin? His have-no-cares-in-the-world attitude colliding with my organized, have-to-know-everything-beforehand outlook?
OK, so maybe I’m not totally over him. But I will be when he finds out about Tessa. And Tessa’s father? It’s probably best not to go down that road…
I love it! McKinley sounds like a feisty little spit-fire. I think we're all going to fall in love with her character.
About Journey's Edge:
A Routine Audit? Hardly.
Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?
I'm lovin' the sound of this one! I must say, I very much enjoyed Dora's first novel, Journey's End. You can read my review of that one right here on Living the Write Life.
Who's Dora?
After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son didn’t want her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing heart racing, God-gracing books. Dora belongs to the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Carolina Christian Writers. Dora and her husband make their home in North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Dora enjoys reading and family gatherings. She despises traffic, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with happily-ever-afters.Connect with Dora:
Website: http://www.dorahiers.com/ Autographed copy and blog: http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/ Facebook: Dora Hiers AuthorTwitter: @DoraHiers
July 31, 2011
Guest post by April W Gardner
Clash of the Titles is...
Guest post by April W Gardner
Clash of the Titles is proud to announce that author Marianne Evans with her novel, Hearts Crossing, is our newest champion!
About the book
: Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.
Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God, and the community of Woodland. Lately though, she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.
A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists, but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better. Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.
Can Daveny trust in Collin's fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?
Marianne competed withAdam and Andrea Graham, and their YA book Tales of the Dim Knight.
What readers said:I'm amazed--can't wait to read more!
These books have very different plots and backgrounds, but both sound as though they are great books. Congratulations to the writers.
Both were so well done and packed with emotion. This just keeps getting harder and harder!
A glimpse at Marianne's winning excerpt:
Officer Lance Edwards banged hard on the front door of the home. A cacophony of sound increased. "Saint Clair Shores PD. Open up." Seated in the squad car, Collin Edwards watched his brother cast a quick glance back at the squad car then up and down the street.Lance trotted back to the vehicle, opening the door. "I'm calling for back up." He was laser focused. "Stay where you are, and keep alert.""Yeah. Got it." Collin frowned as Lance barked into the car radio and activated the roof top light bars. He left the car to return to the front door.This time the door was yanked open. A hulking, angry man filled the entrance."Step outside, sir." Lance rested a hand against the butt of his gun.
READ FULL EXCERPT HERE
About her Clash Marianne said:"It has been an honor to "clash" with such a worthy opponent! :-) I love Clash of the Titles."
Next week, April Gardner hosts a special "Author's Choice" Clash. Anything goes with this one - authors chose their favorite excerpts from their own works to submit, and we narrowed it down to the top two for readers to vote on. Spread the word!
-April W Gardner, Sr. Editor at Clash of the Titles and author of Wounded Spirits
July 29, 2011
Review: God Gave Us You (Children's Book)
by Lisa Tawn BergrenArt by Laura J. Bryant 
Absolutely delightful! What a wonderful way to answer the inevitable question that every child eventually asks: Where did I come from?
This sturdy children's board book offers a beautifully illustrated story about a young bear cub who presents that very question to her mother. Mama's wise, thoughtful answers are sure to build self-esteem and confidence in young listeners and/or readers, as each reply to Little Cub's numerous queries reinforce the overall answer: You are a treasured gift from God.
God Gave Us You was the first of the charming God Gave Us books that originated in 2000. It now has the honor of being the first of those stories to be offered as a board book.
Expertly illustrated animal characters make it attractive to young eyes; it is sized for easy handling by tiny hands; and the thick, board pages make it a sturdy option for less-than-delicate usage by little ones who have yet to learn how to properly handle a book.
Parents and children alike will love God Gave Us You. It's sure to be a treasured keepsake and a basis for developing self-esteem in many, many curious kids.
Purchase the book/find out more on the publisher's site: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307729910
Purchase the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/God-Gave-You-Lisa-Bergren/dp/0307729915/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308683190&sr=8-1
Check out books and the author's facebook/blog/twitter and more at the author's site: http://lisatawnbergren.com/
Follow the author on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisa.t.bergren
Follow WaterBrook Multnomah on Facebook for contests, prizes and info about new releases! http://www.facebook.com/WaterBrook
Join the publisher's Blogging for Books program for free books to review: http://www.bloggingforbooks.org
July 25, 2011
Gut-Wrenching Scenes in Fiction
Guest post by Michelle Massaro, Asst Editor for Clash of the Titles
This week COTT is focusing on gut-wrenching passages, which are some of my favorites! So it got me wondering, why do we so enjoy reading those scenes that tear our hearts out and end with an empty box of tissues?
Most of us already know about stress hormones and how they build up in the body, causing all kinds of problems. According to one article I read, emotionally-induced tears contain protein-based hormones as well as leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller. So "a good cry" flushes all those stress hormones out of our system.
Well, the science is all fine and dandy but I still wanted some experiental answers. Here's what some of you had to say:
Diana Prusik: Tears are cathartic. There's nothing like a good cry during a touching scene . . except for a good cry followed by laughter. (Think Sally Fields' stellar graveside scene in Steel Magnolias. Poor Ouiser!) Something about reading or watching a scene like that feels emotionally cleansing.
Brian Heffron agrees: Catharsis
Barbara Robinson: Because a book has to touch us emotionally or it's nothing to us. It must evoke reader emotions. If I don't feel anything when I read a book, the book is not any good, and I wouldn't finish it.
Christine Lindsay: I think we need to cry as much as we need to smile and laugh. Although when we cry, it's because we are always reaching out for hope. That this sad situation will not remain, but that the sun will shine again. It's about hope.
Jessica Patch: God designed us to connect with others. The bible says rejoice when others rejoice and weep when others weep. We're built to care. We want to. Real life or fiction, we're drawn to it and good writing makes us feel like it's real even when it's not.
Those are some great answers! What about you? Why do you love those gut-wrenching scenes? (Or if not, why don't you care for them?)
~ Connect with Michelle at her blog, Adventures In Writing .
July 19, 2011
Review: Daffodils
by Donna B. Snow A word from the author:
Do you honestly believe that people learn from their mistakes? I do. Well, at least some of them do anyway... And do you believe that not all bad timing is a wrong choice? I certainly do.
So, do you believe in giving second chances—to someone who really hurt you...but someone you truly loved?
What did God say to Peter when he asked, "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?"
Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven." Matt 18:21-22
No, it's not in our power to forgive that perfectly, infinitely, the way our Father does, but forgiveness is the answer. Without forgiveness, there is no love. Without love, there is no life.
So, I believe in giving second chances to the ones we love—and that's what Daffodils is all about.
My review of Daffodils:
The love of her life rejected her when she needed him most. Ten years later, he's back and wants a second chance.
But Margaret Ellington is no longer the lovelorn young girl to whom Lukas North said goodbye even as she mourned the loss of her father. She's a grief-stricken widow who harbors a tremendous amount of guilt for not having loved her husband enough. Peter was a good man, a beautiful soul, and he adored her. But Margaret's heart had never been completely his, having already been lost to Lukas a decade before.
Margaret flees her life in Jamestown. Teaching in the same school where Lukas also teaches is too hard; memories of Peter in the house they shared are too vivid and painful. She starts over in a new town, with a new job, a new house…a whole new life.
But Lukas has no intention of letting her go this time, and Margaret finds herself reluctantly involved in a long-distance relationship. Slowly, she begins to trust again, and opens herself to the possibility that she might still have a future with the love of her life.
Can their blossoming romance survive the revelation that Lukas is hiding something from her?
This debut novel is an excellent showcase for the author's talent. Daffodils is a sweet, touching story that makes the reader believe in love. Margaret's heartbreak, sorrow, guilt—and cautiously re-emerging love—are expertly portrayed, tugging at the heart strings and tweaking the emotions. The pieces of the storyline come together, amidst a charming display of buds and blossoms, into a beautifully woven romance that won't be easily forgotten.
July 18, 2011
COTT's Ellie Gustafson and The Stones
This week, COTT's Book Club is taking a further look at The Stones by Eleanor (Ellie) Gustafson!
Much of it is narrative, but when Ellie pens dialog, she does it with expertise. The things her characters say either crack me up or sober me with their depth of wisdom. Ellie is indeed a master at crafting compelling dialog.
The event that stood out to me the most during the second quarter of the book was David's move from Hebron to Jebus (which he renamed Jerusalem). I'm not sure if I just glanced over it every time I've read it in Scripture or if there just isn't much there, but it was practically new information for me.
Ellie wrote a nail-biting account of the take-over of the city from the Jebusites. I never thought about who occupied Jerusalem before David or for how long. For those who haven't read the book, the Jebusites had control of the city for hundreds of years before David decided he wanted it for his capitol. But that's all I'm saying! You'll have to buy the book if you want to find out exactly how David entered the highly-defended and, up to this point, unconquerable fortress.
Before the battle David addressed the troops. This is what he said:
"Look up, all of you, to the hill above Jebus, Mt. Moriah. Abraham brought his son Isaac from Beersheba to this place to sacrifice him in obedience to God's command. He stood right where you're standing now. He looked up in dread, yet set foot to the mountain, confident that God—somehow, in some way—would provide. And he did. As Abraham raised his knife, the angel of the Lord stayed his hand. So shaken he could hardly stand, Abraham looked around, and there in the thicket, caught by its horns, was the sacrifice God provided in place of Isaac.
"Abraham called the mountain, 'The Lord will provide,'" David continued, "and we'll hold to that word today. We'll climb Mt. Moriah, and there Yaweh will provide. Here, in the name of the Lord, we claim that miserable shelf called Zion. It shall be cleansed of Jebusites and be forever known as Jerusalem, Mt. Zion, the Holy City of God."
That passage deeply impacted me. Having grown up on the Thoene's work, I've always been fascinated with Jerusalem, but Ellie took me back to the beginning and drew a thread through the centuries, through David and to Christ. Although you didn't mention it, the reader easily draws the thread the rest of the way through to present-day and the ongoing struggle for God's Holy City.
Our God is an awesome God! History is already written and he sees the big picture with perfect clarity. We can only hope to catch a glimpse.
Head over to COTT's Bookclub Blog, or join us on Facebook, to hear what the author has to say!
Have any of you visited Israel? If so, share your favorite part of the experience. If not, tell us the first place you'd want to see if you were told you'd be flying there tomorrow.
I hope you'll join us over at our Book Club headquarters for more conversations on this wonderful book And if you'd like to read along with us next month, make sure you pick up your copy of COTT champ, Delia Latham's, Destiny's Dream. We'll be discussing this fun romance in August!
Much of it is narrative, but when Ellie pens dialog, she does it with expertise. The things her characters say either crack me up or sober me with their depth of wisdom. Ellie is indeed a master at crafting compelling dialog.
The event that stood out to me the most during the second quarter of the book was David's move from Hebron to Jebus (which he renamed Jerusalem). I'm not sure if I just glanced over it every time I've read it in Scripture or if there just isn't much there, but it was practically new information for me.
Ellie wrote a nail-biting account of the take-over of the city from the Jebusites. I never thought about who occupied Jerusalem before David or for how long. For those who haven't read the book, the Jebusites had control of the city for hundreds of years before David decided he wanted it for his capitol. But that's all I'm saying! You'll have to buy the book if you want to find out exactly how David entered the highly-defended and, up to this point, unconquerable fortress.
Before the battle David addressed the troops. This is what he said:
"Look up, all of you, to the hill above Jebus, Mt. Moriah. Abraham brought his son Isaac from Beersheba to this place to sacrifice him in obedience to God's command. He stood right where you're standing now. He looked up in dread, yet set foot to the mountain, confident that God—somehow, in some way—would provide. And he did. As Abraham raised his knife, the angel of the Lord stayed his hand. So shaken he could hardly stand, Abraham looked around, and there in the thicket, caught by its horns, was the sacrifice God provided in place of Isaac.
"Abraham called the mountain, 'The Lord will provide,'" David continued, "and we'll hold to that word today. We'll climb Mt. Moriah, and there Yaweh will provide. Here, in the name of the Lord, we claim that miserable shelf called Zion. It shall be cleansed of Jebusites and be forever known as Jerusalem, Mt. Zion, the Holy City of God."
That passage deeply impacted me. Having grown up on the Thoene's work, I've always been fascinated with Jerusalem, but Ellie took me back to the beginning and drew a thread through the centuries, through David and to Christ. Although you didn't mention it, the reader easily draws the thread the rest of the way through to present-day and the ongoing struggle for God's Holy City.
Our God is an awesome God! History is already written and he sees the big picture with perfect clarity. We can only hope to catch a glimpse.
Head over to COTT's Bookclub Blog, or join us on Facebook, to hear what the author has to say!
Have any of you visited Israel? If so, share your favorite part of the experience. If not, tell us the first place you'd want to see if you were told you'd be flying there tomorrow.
I hope you'll join us over at our Book Club headquarters for more conversations on this wonderful book And if you'd like to read along with us next month, make sure you pick up your copy of COTT champ, Delia Latham's, Destiny's Dream. We'll be discussing this fun romance in August!
July 16, 2011
Do something different...join a book club!
If your weekend is a true weekend...one in which you actually get to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself by doing exactly nothing if that's what you choose to do, then have I got an idea for you!While you're resting on your laurels and wishing you had something to entertain you while you veg, why not take a little cyber-detour over to Clash of the Titles and check out the COTT Book Club? Take a minute or two to clue yourself in on the current month's discussion, which revolves around The Stones by Eleanor Gustafson. (You might need to backtrack a post or two...) Haven't read the book? That's okay - hop on in and join the fray anyway. This month offers plenty of subject matter that's open to even those who haven't read The Stones. If you're anything like me, however, you'll come away determined to pick up Ellie's book and see what all the fuss is about.
Follow me... http://cottbookclub.blogspot.com/
July 12, 2011
Interview: Lillian Duncan
I'm delighted to welcome a fellow White Rose Author to My Book Bag today. Here's Lillian Duncan, talking about her new release, Pursued:
Welcome to My Book Bag, Lillian! You're fairly new to White Rose Publishing, and I don't know a lot about you just yet - but I'm looking forward to becoming better acquainted. Let's start with basics: Where are you from?
I'm from a small town in Ohio. We're located about half-way between Columbus and Cleveland. When I say small, I mean small. There's one traffic light. I love living in a town where I know the names of the people I see on a regular basis, like the store owner, the librarians, and the pharmacist. And in fact it's one of the themes in Pursued.
I love small towns too. I grew up in a little place like you're talking about - one traffic light, and everyone pretty much knew everyone else. It's not a bad way to live! :) Tell us when and why you started writing.
I know this is going to sound a bit strange, but I've always "made up" stories in my head when I was bored. Very detailed stories with characters and problems and happy endings. After two very specific events, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. Oh, these are the stories I should be writing down so I started writing that day and I haven't stopped since.
What makes you think that would sound strange? I thought everyone did that! Hmmm...maybe I'm a bit strange too. See, we've already found something in common. :D So, how long have you been writing, Lillian? Did you ever feel like giving up?
I started writing 16 years ago when I was 40. Yikes, that makes me so...never mind. And absolutely, I wanted to give up many, many times. And in fact, I did give up many times but I always started up again.
I don't know any writer who hasn't felt that way. The uncertainty of becoming a published writer can be frustrating and overwhelming at times to say the least. But if being a writer is your dream, you have to keep writing and waiting...and waiting...and...
But you persevered, and now you're a published writer. Tell us about your upcoming release.
Pursued is a story near and dear to my heart. I wanted to write a story that showed some of the differences between "big-city" and "small-town" living, but in the end those differences are only superficial. The important thing is a person's character not where they live or what they do for a job.
Amen! I couldn't agree more. Pursued is quite an interesting title. How did you come up with it?
The original title was Just An Old Country Boy but that didn't sound very suspenseful so I changed it to Pursued. In the story, Reggie is being pursued by an unknown killer, by the hero, and by God, so it made sense to me as a title.
Oh, Pursued is definitely more suspenseful! I take it Reggie is your heroine. Tell us about your hero and heroine.
My hero, Dylan, is a good old boy with a heart of gold who just wants to make life better for everyone around him.
The rest of the story...
Welcome to My Book Bag, Lillian! You're fairly new to White Rose Publishing, and I don't know a lot about you just yet - but I'm looking forward to becoming better acquainted. Let's start with basics: Where are you from?
I'm from a small town in Ohio. We're located about half-way between Columbus and Cleveland. When I say small, I mean small. There's one traffic light. I love living in a town where I know the names of the people I see on a regular basis, like the store owner, the librarians, and the pharmacist. And in fact it's one of the themes in Pursued.
I love small towns too. I grew up in a little place like you're talking about - one traffic light, and everyone pretty much knew everyone else. It's not a bad way to live! :) Tell us when and why you started writing.
I know this is going to sound a bit strange, but I've always "made up" stories in my head when I was bored. Very detailed stories with characters and problems and happy endings. After two very specific events, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. Oh, these are the stories I should be writing down so I started writing that day and I haven't stopped since.
What makes you think that would sound strange? I thought everyone did that! Hmmm...maybe I'm a bit strange too. See, we've already found something in common. :D So, how long have you been writing, Lillian? Did you ever feel like giving up?
I started writing 16 years ago when I was 40. Yikes, that makes me so...never mind. And absolutely, I wanted to give up many, many times. And in fact, I did give up many times but I always started up again.
I don't know any writer who hasn't felt that way. The uncertainty of becoming a published writer can be frustrating and overwhelming at times to say the least. But if being a writer is your dream, you have to keep writing and waiting...and waiting...and...
But you persevered, and now you're a published writer. Tell us about your upcoming release.
Pursued is a story near and dear to my heart. I wanted to write a story that showed some of the differences between "big-city" and "small-town" living, but in the end those differences are only superficial. The important thing is a person's character not where they live or what they do for a job.
Amen! I couldn't agree more. Pursued is quite an interesting title. How did you come up with it?
The original title was Just An Old Country Boy but that didn't sound very suspenseful so I changed it to Pursued. In the story, Reggie is being pursued by an unknown killer, by the hero, and by God, so it made sense to me as a title.
Oh, Pursued is definitely more suspenseful! I take it Reggie is your heroine. Tell us about your hero and heroine.
My hero, Dylan, is a good old boy with a heart of gold who just wants to make life better for everyone around him.
The rest of the story...
July 11, 2011
Guest post by COTT Senior Editor, April W Gardner
Si...
Guest post by COTT Senior Editor, April W Gardner
Since we're in the middle of Clash of the Title's two week summer break, we thought we'd introduce you to the book club COTT has recently begun. All this month we're delving into The Stones written by COTT champ, Eleanor (Ellie) Gustafson.
The Stones
is a historical/biblical novel based on the life of Kind David. Most of us know how the story ends (wink), but Ellie presents the details in such a fresh and unique way that I find it's almost as if I've never read the story before. It's hefty reading, but I'm really enjoying it. Ellie's prose is lovely and almost poetic. It's enchanting. And the historical detail simply fascinates me. Actually, I'm quite in awe of all the research she'd done.
My favorite so far in the book is Abigail, David's third wife. She was always one of my favorite female Bible characters. I think it's rather romantic that saving her wretched husband's life earned her the (future) king's love. Her dead husband was barely cold in the ground before David took her to wife. Talk about making an impression!
Quite the colorful character in The Stones , she's strong-willed (which wasn't a gift in those days) and usually the cause for tension. But it's generally because she's fighting for what she believes God requires of them. David's standing before God and the people is more important to her than her staying in his good graces, which she doesn't lose for long anyway. David loves her too much.
Care for a tiny peek into her personality? Here she is chiding David for bringing booty home from the Amalekites he's just raided and killed.
She says, "Did you consult Abiathar and the Urim and thummin to find out if you're the man to do it? It seems to me you're tearing off this 'vengeance' thing, when it's the Lord's business to—"
"Enough, woman! You have a fine hand on my faults and don't hesitate to say so." (great line, by the way) The flare died quickly, and David sighed as he wrung a cloth and wiped his dusty face. "Abigail, Abigail, you don't understand. We have our reasons. We—"
"You mean Joab has his reasons. This was his idea, wasn't it?"
"Yes, and it's a good idea." His voice grew irritable again. "We must get Achish to trust us. Once he thinks we've made ourselves odious to the Israelites… And besides, I thought you'd like clothes and jewelry."
"They're soaked in blood. I'd never wear them" (Wow. A scene with this feisty gal is always interesting!)
Historical/biblical fiction is my all time favorite genre, but I can't help but wonder the entire time that I'm reading - Which parts are real and which are made up? In a book club setting, I get to ask the author questions as I'm reading. How fun is that?!
If you've ever had a question about the life of David, Ellie's your gal. She will be available all month long at the Clash of the Titles Book Club to chat with her readers and anyone who would like to meet another of our amazing COTT Champs!
WANT TO BE A PART OF COTT STAFF?Clash of the Titles, is on the search for a new staff member! If you are a writer who's looking to gain exposure, connect with other authors, add bullets to you professional bio, and have a blast doing it, we would love to chat with you to see if we are a good fit. Please contact us for more details: contactcott(at)gmail(dot)com.
--April W Gardner is the award-winning author of Wounded Spirits.
Since we're in the middle of Clash of the Title's two week summer break, we thought we'd introduce you to the book club COTT has recently begun. All this month we're delving into The Stones written by COTT champ, Eleanor (Ellie) Gustafson.
The Stones
is a historical/biblical novel based on the life of Kind David. Most of us know how the story ends (wink), but Ellie presents the details in such a fresh and unique way that I find it's almost as if I've never read the story before. It's hefty reading, but I'm really enjoying it. Ellie's prose is lovely and almost poetic. It's enchanting. And the historical detail simply fascinates me. Actually, I'm quite in awe of all the research she'd done.My favorite so far in the book is Abigail, David's third wife. She was always one of my favorite female Bible characters. I think it's rather romantic that saving her wretched husband's life earned her the (future) king's love. Her dead husband was barely cold in the ground before David took her to wife. Talk about making an impression!
Quite the colorful character in The Stones , she's strong-willed (which wasn't a gift in those days) and usually the cause for tension. But it's generally because she's fighting for what she believes God requires of them. David's standing before God and the people is more important to her than her staying in his good graces, which she doesn't lose for long anyway. David loves her too much.
Care for a tiny peek into her personality? Here she is chiding David for bringing booty home from the Amalekites he's just raided and killed.
She says, "Did you consult Abiathar and the Urim and thummin to find out if you're the man to do it? It seems to me you're tearing off this 'vengeance' thing, when it's the Lord's business to—"
"Enough, woman! You have a fine hand on my faults and don't hesitate to say so." (great line, by the way) The flare died quickly, and David sighed as he wrung a cloth and wiped his dusty face. "Abigail, Abigail, you don't understand. We have our reasons. We—"
"You mean Joab has his reasons. This was his idea, wasn't it?"
"Yes, and it's a good idea." His voice grew irritable again. "We must get Achish to trust us. Once he thinks we've made ourselves odious to the Israelites… And besides, I thought you'd like clothes and jewelry."
"They're soaked in blood. I'd never wear them" (Wow. A scene with this feisty gal is always interesting!)
Historical/biblical fiction is my all time favorite genre, but I can't help but wonder the entire time that I'm reading - Which parts are real and which are made up? In a book club setting, I get to ask the author questions as I'm reading. How fun is that?!
If you've ever had a question about the life of David, Ellie's your gal. She will be available all month long at the Clash of the Titles Book Club to chat with her readers and anyone who would like to meet another of our amazing COTT Champs!
WANT TO BE A PART OF COTT STAFF?Clash of the Titles, is on the search for a new staff member! If you are a writer who's looking to gain exposure, connect with other authors, add bullets to you professional bio, and have a blast doing it, we would love to chat with you to see if we are a good fit. Please contact us for more details: contactcott(at)gmail(dot)com.
--April W Gardner is the award-winning author of Wounded Spirits.
July 7, 2011
New Release: Buried Treasures
by Mary Manners
When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects--or wants--is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again.
Matt is struggling with issues of his own...guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home--and her daughter--with nothing more than a fiesty attitude and a broom handle.
Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again...and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves...again?
Available publisher-direct or through most online book sellers (i.e., Amazon.com).
