Andrea Boyd's Blog, page 4

In Spite of Ourselves

Jennifer Rodewald never disappoints. I love all of her books. Anyway... This is the second story featuring the Murphy brothers and so far it is my favorite! If you love realistic romance, then you should give this one a try. If you love swoon-worthy heroes, then you should give this one a try. If you love a good redemption story, then you should give this one a try. Get the point yet?

Buy it on Amazon

Blurb

Who could build a life on such a monumental mistake?

Jackson Murphy: family prankster, class clown… and now, smack in the middle of a Vegas-sized mess. All he’d wanted was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After failing that goal, he slipped into a deep, sulking valley, only to emerge from it with a much bigger problem. He’s married. To a complete stranger! Forget making a world-class marathon so that his family will believe that (1) he’s capable of being grown up and serious on occasion and (2) he doesn’t need the ongoing pity about his brother and a certain ex-girlfriend.

Now? Now he has no idea what to do.

Mackenzie Murphy: independent woman and excellent student—but not a med student. Because those pesky MCATs were H-A-R-D. She doesn’t particularly mind that much, seeing as she’s never really wanted to be a doctor, but her mother will be…uh, displeased. Exceptionally. That’s nothing, however, compared to how Mother will respond if she finds out what else happened in Vegas.

Mackenzie wants out. Jackson wants a chance. Neither of them is prepared for what’s coming. Caught in the middle of a disaster that keeps getting bigger, they hardly dare ask: Can God take their monumental mistake and turn it into a beautiful life?

In Spite of Ourselves, Book 13 in The Potter's House Books Series Two, is an uplifting and inspiring story of hope, redemption and second chances. It is also book Two in Jennifer Rodewald's Murphy Brother Stories (book One is Always You). Grab your copy and be encouraged today.

Recently released books from The Potter's House Books Series Two authors:

The Hope We Share by Juliette Duncan

Beyond the Deep by Kristen M. Fraser

Honor's Reward by Mary Manners

Hands of Grace by Brenda S. Anderson

Always You by Jennifer Rodewald

Her Cowboy Forever by Dora Hiers

Changed Somehow by Chloe Flanagan

Sweet Scent of Forgiveness by Delia Letham

When Love Abounds by Juliette Duncan

More Than This by Kristen M. Fraser

Faith's Favor by Mary Manners

Song of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson

In Spite of Ourselves by Jennifer Rodewald

and more to come...

Murphy Brothers Stories:

Always You

In Spite of Ourselves

Everything Behind Us (coming in January, 2021)

,,Visit Jennifer's website

On Wings of Devotion

I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it- Roseanna M White is a genius! On Wings of Devotion is the second in The Codebreakers series. It could be read alone, but I suggest starting with A Name Unknown, which is actually the first in the series before this one. You won't regret it!

Blurb

,,On Wings of Devotion

The Codebreakers, 2Against Every Warning, She’s Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as “Black Heart”All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well.With Camden‘s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive.

You can purchase a signed copy directly from her website. www.roseannamwhite.com

Happy Tell a Fairy Tale Day!

To celebrate, I'm sharing an excerpt from Upon A Dream- my modern-day retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

Imagine a grand theater with a warehouse full of costumes and props that you've only heard about and you've dreamed of seeing it, like forever, but no one is allowed inside without authorization. But someone left the door ajar, so what do you do? Sneak in, of course!

This is where we find Philip in this scene. See if you can guess which part of the Disney adaptation this scene relates to.

*For those who don't know, Talia is the name given the sleeping beauty in the original version.

Soft humming echoed through the room for a few notes, then went quiet again. Philip stopped and peeked over the top of the racks around him but couldn’t see anyone. He moved down to the end of the aisle and listened.

The humming started up again interspersed with a few words now and again. The voice belonged to a female if he wasn’t mistaken, and it came from somewhere to his left. He quietly made his way in that direction. Whomever it was, he didn’t want to startle them.

As he got closer, he realized the tune was from Sleeping Beauty—the one where Briar Rose meets the prince for the first time. The person singing it was definitely a female and he doubted very seriously that the sweet soprano came from Carol. Her niece maybe?

He finally caught a glimpse of movement. Philip stretched up on his toes to get a better look over the top of a rack of clothing. A blond with delicate features and a messy bun at the back of her head grabbed a dress, scanned a tag inside the collar, and hung it on the rolling rack next to her. She stopped singing and the sound of her fingers tapping on the keys of a laptop took over before the song started up once again.

As she turned for the next garment and repeated the process, he could picture her dancing across the stage as the lead in Sleeping Beauty. If she switched out her oversized glasses for contacts and let her hair down, she’d be the spitting image of the iconic princess. And she definitely had the pipes for the job.

When she started singing again, almost to the part where the prince would join in, Philip swallowed to clear his throat and waited for his cue before he sang out the beginning of his lines like they were already performing together. “The way y—"

She belted out a scream that made his ears ring.

Philip rushed around the end of the rack he’d been hiding behind. She stumbled backward, bumping the rolling table she used as a desk and sent it careening down the aisle. One of her hands covered her throat while the other swung behind her as if searching for a weapon as she backed away. Frightened blue eyes stared at him through plastic frames that looked like they belonged back in the ’80’s.

He held his hands up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Philip, you idiot, what did you think would happen? He hadn’t been thinking at all. He’d been too caught up in the moment. Something his father never ceased to complain about. Maybe this one time, his dad had a point.

With his hand over his chest, he gave her his most charming smile. “I’m really, really sorry.”

He expected her to say something, smile at him, something to indicate that she was no longer frightened and accepted his apology. She backed further away, the look of terror still on her face.

“I’m such an idiot. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Philip Noble and I’m involved in the play to be performed next, Sleeping Beauty.”

He took a step closer and tugged on the skirt of one of the fairy dresses hanging from the rack she’d been working on. “I’m sure you know about it since I see you’re already making preparations.”

She stepped to the side of her computer table and then rolled it around to sit between them. “You’re not supposed to be back here.”

The barely audible voice didn’t sound like the one he’d heard singing. Had that scream she let out damaged her voice somehow? He sure hoped not. “You must be Miss Carol’s niece. She said you’d show me around.”

He hadn’t thought her baby blues could stretch any wider, but they did. It wasn’t really a lie. Carol had said if they needed anything, they’d have to go through her or her niece. She had probably meant for him to wait for permission first, but it was too late for that. “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

She mumbled something, and he chanced a step closer. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that?”

“It’s Talia.” The poor girl could barely look at him as she nervously tugged on the hem of her t-shirt.

Apparently, she wasn’t yet over the fright he’d given her. He did feel bad about it. He needed to find some way to get past her first impression of him. He’d have to if they were going to work as a believable couple on the stage. Because if he had his way about it, this girl would be playing the role of Aurora come opening night.

Favorite Reads- 2019

You may have noticed I didn’t title this my ‘top ten’ reads. If you like to read, you don’t have to ask why. I mean, come on! That’s just too hard!It may surprise some of you that I have more historical books on my list than contemporary. In case you’re not one of those who reads in multiple genres, like myself, I separated them for you.ContemporaryLake Season by Denise HunterWhatever Comes Our Way by Jaycee WeaverHistoricalThe Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann HunterThe Rebel Bride by Shannon McNearThe Number of Love by Roseanna M. WhiteA Light on the Hill by Connilyn CossetteShelter of the Most High by Connilyn CossetteMore Than Words Can Say by Karen WitemeyerWith This Pledge by Tamera AlexanderThe Noble Guardian by Michelle GriepLove’s Awakening by Laura FrantzThe Earl and His Lady by Sally BrittonHis Bluestocking Bride by Sally BrittonThe Social Tutor by Sally BrittonFantasyEmerald Illusion by J. RodesTop Christmas Reads- If you haven't read these yet, there's always Christmas in July!One Enchanted Eve by Melissa Tagg- ContemporaryThe Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck- TimeslipHistoricalThe Hope of Christmas Past by Stephania McGeeCircle of Blessings by Deborah RaneySilver Bells by Deborah RaneyLet me know if any of these made it onto your favorites list!I hope 2020 blesses us with many good books to read. Blessings, Andrea

Christmas Scavenger Hunt Round-Robin: Mistletoe Kiss

Merry Christmas and welcome! I hope you are having fun with our Christmas Round-Robin! In case you are starting in the middle, this is how it works. At each author’s blog post, you will find a question that can be answered by checking out the free Amazon preview of their book. Provide the answer at this ->Google FormNote: You must answer the questions for every author in the round-robin to be considered to win this fabulous (prize). At the end of my post is a link to the next blog, who will provide a link to the next blog, etc., to the very end.Mistletoe Kiss came about as a result of a contest I heard about on the radio. A Guinness World record had been broken- the most people to kiss under the mistletoe at once. Over eight-hundred couples visited Six Flags in various locations to help break the record.I began to imagine all the couple types. Long-time married couples, dating couples, strangers who met for the first time at the park that day and decided to go for it—but the one that flowed rapid-fire through my brain was of two people who decided to go as friends but ended up wanting more after that one kiss- Chase and Rachel.Chase Spencer had been firmly planted in the friend-zone ever since he first met Rachel Anthony back when they were in grade school and it looks like that’s where he’s destined to remain. And her latest scheme is bound to be torture. She wants them to help break the Guinness World Record for the most couples kissing under the mistletoe at one time. How should he handle this? Should the kiss be a chaste, friendly kiss like she envisions? Or should he do it in a way that leaves Rachel without a doubt that he wants to be more than friends?It had always been Rachel’s dream to break a world record, and who better to do it with than her best friend Chase? And it wasn’t as if they hadn’t kissed before—sixth grade, spin-the-bottle at Iona Puckett’s party—a peck of the lips and it’d be over. Except she missed the part where they had to hold the kiss for ten seconds. And no one warned her of how she would feel afterwards—confused and longing for more. How can she convince Chase to change her status from friend to girlfriend?Mistletoe Kiss wasn’t supposed to be the start of a series but… I absolutely fell in love with the Spencer family and decided their stories needed to be told! Waiting For You releases January 7. It's about Chase's eldest brother, Wade.Bonus: There's no need to view the preview, Mistletoe Kiss is FREE for the entire month of December!Now on to the scavenger hunt! Go to the book on Amazon using this ->linkformThank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Julie Arduini, who is telling us about her Christmas book titled Restoring Christmas. You can find it at this link http://juliearduini.com/2019/12/09/ch.... Remember that the round-robin will end on December 16th at 11:59 PM EST!

Aunt Gloria's Lemon Cookies

In Upon A Dream, my soon to be released novella in the Once Upon A Christmas collection, Talia’s Aunt Gloria was… a little on the ditzy side. She was famous for adding unusual ingredients in her cooking. But her lemon cookies, they were melt-in-your-mouth good.Here’s a little tidbit from the book.Aunt Gloria held out a plate of cookies as soon as she stepped into the room. Talia scrutinized the yellow hearts, then looked past Aunt Gloria to Eva who gave a thumbs up. So the cookies were safe to eat, but how did they taste?She thanked Gloria and took a nibble from one. Lemony sweetness melted across her tongue. The heart-shaped cookies didn’t scream Thanksgiving, but they were good. She took a couple more, putting a huge grin on her aunt’s face.To tell the truth, I used to make these for Christmas and yes, I used a heart shaped cutter. My family didn’t think they were ‘Christmassy’ enough. I guess there’s a little of Aunt Gloria in me.Aunt Gloria's Lemon Cookies2 c all-purpose flour2 T cornstarch½ tsp salt2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)2/3 c powdered sugar2 tsp lemon zest1 tsp lemon extractFew drops of almond extractLemon Glaze1 c powdered sugar1 T lemon juice1 tsp lemon zestYou’ll need- a baking sheet, various sized bowls, cooling rack, wax paper, and a rolling pin.Clear out a long, flat area in your refrigerator for a place to chill the rolled-out dough. (see alternative)Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl, set aside.In a separate bowl, mix butter and sugar until creamy. Add zest and extracts. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add in flour mixture until blended.With a rolling pin, flatten the cookie dough between two sheets of wax paper until it is about 3/8 inch thick. (See alternative)Place in refrigerator to chill for 20-30 minutes while the oven preheats to 325°FUse a floured cookie cutter to cut out the cookies and a floured spatula to carefully transfer them to an ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart.Bake 15-16 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack and cool 10 minutes.Meanwhile, mix glaze ingredients in a small bowl with a fork until blended. (You may have to add a tiny bit more liquid.)Carefully dip the top side of each cookie into the glaze. Place them back on the wire rack with a sheet of wax paper beneath to catch drips. Allow glaze to set for 20 minutes.Alternative: For cut and bake cookies, form dough into a ‘log’ on the wax paper. Roll it into a tube and twist the ends closed. Chill for at least an hour. Unwrap and slice into discs.

Upon A Dream- 1st Chapter

oneSomething was amiss.She felt it as soon as she sat down to breakfast.The aunts had something up their sleeves.From over the rim of her coffee mug, Talia’s gaze made its way around the table, starting with the eldest and stopping on the youngest of the three. Whatever was going on, Eva would be the first to break. And if she was the instigator…Lord, please don’t let it be another setup attempt. You know her track record. The woman’s been through more men than Taylor Swift.It was true. Eva seemed to attract the worst losers on the planet, but she still hadn’t given up on a happily ever after—for herself or for Talia.Eva glanced nervously at her and then back to her breakfast. If a setup was in the works, she’d be giving her a moon-eyed look right now.A little of Talia’s tension eased away. She could handle anything else the aunts cooked up better than a setup. The thought of having to make awkward small talk with a blind date ranked somewhere between stubbing five toes at once and having all the hair plucked from her head one at a time.Aunt Gloria slid a plate stacked with blueberry pancakes across the table. “Aren’t you going to eat, dear? I made your favorite this morning.”And why is that?Talia eyed the middle of the three sisters as she slid two of the pancakes onto her plate. Aunt Gloria smiled back at her with that guileless, wide-eyed look of hers. Nothing to read there. She was the only one of the siblings to have found true love, but her husband had passed away before the ink had time to dry on her marriage license. Bless her heart.According to the rest of the family, Gloria hadn’t been quite right ever since. The fact that she made what she considered to be Talia’s favorite this morning was the only tell that something wasn’t right.“Thanks, Aunt Gloria. What did I do to earn blueberry pancakes?”“Nothing, dear.”Talia took her first bite and tried not to grimace. She’d ordered blueberry pancakes at a restaurant once and had mentioned how good they were, and that’s what put the idea in Gloria’s head that they were her favorite. Only this aunt’s idea of cooking was to ‘doctor up’ prepackaged food. She liked to experiment, so you never knew what to expect. This morning, the pancakes tasted—lemony. Not necessarily horrible, but unexpected.She turned her attention to Aunt Carol, who stared right back at her. Nothing phased this woman. Being the eldest, Aunt Carol was in charge of everything—or maybe it was her iron-will personality that made her the boss. Whatever they were up to this time, she was the one behind it. Maybe it had something to do with the theater.The sisters owned the Grand Rose Theatre. Their grandfather had built the theater in 1906 and had passed it down to them when he died almost thirty years ago. Carol ran it, of course. Eva did hair and makeup for all the actors, and Gloria… well, she helped in her own way, but mostly she handled things around the house.Talia worked there too. She did the behind the scenes grunt work, like digging props out of storage—which was on her agenda for the day. She and her assistant spent Monday clearing out all vestiges of Oklahoma. Today they would be getting ready for a production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Unless…“We are still setting up for The Grinch today, right?”Aunt Carol set her coffee cup down on the table and looked at Talia. “About that…” She glanced at the other two as if seeking moral support. Uh oh. This hardly ever happened. Usually Carol was the one everyone else leaned on.The two bites of pancakes turned to stone in Talia’s stomach. “What is it? What’s going on?”Carol’s lips formed a thin line and her brow puckered. “You know I was never really sold on The Grinch. A young man contacted me a couple of weeks ago with a different play in mind.”Two weeks? She’d known plans had changed two weeks ago and she was just now bringing it up?“He wants to be a director, and this will be his first play put on solely by himself. You know I always give precedence to those with the initiative and the desire to get into the business.”No doubt about whom that last remark was aimed at. Aunt Carol had been trying to get her to take over as director for years now since she would eventually inherit the business. When the time came, Talia planned to hire someone. She had no desire to be in the position where she had to tell people what to do.“If this is his first time, how do you know he’ll be any good at it?”“Talia, you know the answer to that. I won’t allow him to do anything to jeopardize our reputation. It’s in his contract.”Right. Having grown up in the theater, Talia knew how everything worked. She had hoped that once Carol started talking, she’d spill whatever it was they dreaded her finding out. Talia closed her eyes and massaged her forehead. It hit her that there could only be one reason behind their hesitation. “What play are we putting on?”“I know it isn’t a Christmas play, but we’re doing Sleeping Beauty. The director—his name is Mr. Downing—has decided to do the traditional arrangement, but I have asked that there be some Christmas elements added since it will be put on in December. We don’t want to disappoint our patrons.”What about me?Tension knotted her stomach. She looked around the table at her aunts’ faces. Aunt Carol’s eyes held compassion but there was a firmness around her mouth. Talia could almost hear what she’d say to a protest. I’m sorry you feel the way you do, but we’re doing this.Talia looked across the table at Aunt Gloria.“You haven’t had a spell in almost a year.” She pushed the plate of pancakes toward her. “Have another pancake, dear.”More pancakes were not going to help. Besides, she’d only taken a couple of bites from the ones on her plate. Talia felt a squeeze on her hand and turned to look at Eva.“Sweetie, you’re twenty-six years old, and Gloria’s right. It has been a long while since the last episode. I’m sure you’ve outgrown the family curse by now.”The Family Curse. Kleine-Levin Syndrome—or more commonly, Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. But it was nowhere near as glamorous as the fairy tale name suggested. Sleeping up to twenty hours a day for weeks, sometimes months, on end. Having no memory of anything during that time. No friends. No boyfriends. She wouldn’t even be able to hold down a job if not for the family theater. KLS was her own version of a living nightmare.It was so rare that only one in a million ended up with the disorder. Because of its rarity, some suffered with it for years before being diagnosed. But she had been fortunate, or so she’d been told. One of her ancestors had been plagued with it before they even knew what it was. Family lore had it that the original Sleeping Beauty was part of the line. That’s why the aunts referred to it as the family curse. When Aunt Gloria had mentioned it to the doctor in that witless way of hers, he had been able to diagnose Talia more quickly. “Talia, it’s been nine years since the last time we did Sleeping Beauty. This used to be your favorite play. Don’t you think it’s time to enjoy it again?”She glared at Aunt Carol. “The last time we did Sleeping Beauty, I had the worst episode ever. Over three months of my life that I can never get back.”Carol huffed. “We don’t know that those two things are related.”Talia pushed her chair away from the table and took in a cleansing breath. “It doesn’t matter. The decision has already been made and I have no choice but to go along with it. It isn’t like I can go out and get a job somewhere else.” She stood. “Speaking of which, I need to go get ready.”“Talia, don’t be like that.”She ignored Aunt Carol and headed through the living room to her private sanctuary. Her bedroom had been added on to the sprawling craftsman-style house the year she was diagnosed with KLS. It was complete with a sitting area, a kitchenette, and her own private patio. She never had to enter the main part of the house unless she wanted to, and about now, she was tempted to keep to herself for the next little while.Her two African grey-headed lovebirds, Dunkin and Frita, chirped a happy greeting when she entered. She opened the door to their cage and fed each one a dried fig treat. “I hope your morning so far has turned out better than mine. The aunts are making me prep for Sleeping Beauty today. Can you believe it?”Dunkin answered with birdy noises and bobbed his head, as if he commiserated with her plight. It did make her feel better.Three years ago, she had awakened from a five-week episode to their happy chirps. The aunts had brought them in while she slept, hoping they would bring her out of her slumber earlier. It hadn’t worked but the two lovebirds had been the sweetest gifts she’d ever received. Most days they were her only companions outside of the aunts.Moping around wasn’t going to change anything. As much as she dreaded what was to come, she needed to get to work. After going through her routine to get ready, Talia headed out to her own private garage. It was built to look like part of the house and only big enough to hold her Honda Clarity—another gift from the eco-minded aunts.She stopped short at the sight of the car. My aunts have been so good to me and I’m acting like a little snot all because of some stupid play that has nothing to do with me. Lord, please forgive me.She still didn’t want to do the play, but she would change her attitude. The aunts deserved better.Upon A Dream is part of the Once Upon A Christmas Collection.Preorder from Amazon now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VQN13BM

Love's Redemption- chapter 1

Jeremiah 31:3 …Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.1What did it say about Izzy Tanner—that she had been happier with her sister living on the hurtful side of a bad marriage? They had always been complete opposites, but at least before Vivie moved to Walden Beach they had seen each other more often and talked on a regular basis. Things had been more equal between them. Well, not equal. Vivie had always been everything pure and lovely, and Izzy… just wasn’t. And never would be.Now everything revolved around Vivie’s future husband, Bo Manning. Which was as it should be. Vivie was a saint. She’d earned the right to be happy. And Bo made her happy. Despite the disheartening gap that continued to grow between her and her sister, she loved Vivie more than anyone else and wanted nothing more than for her to finally have what she deserved.Izzy made her way through the throng of women making over Vivian as she readied for the wedding, in search of her liquid courage. She zeroed in on the pink plastic cup with seashells glued to it. She’d picked the gaudiest one she could find. Wouldn’t do for someone else to mistake her cup for their own. A long sip from the plastic straw made everything right again. The cherry Coke soothed her tightened throat and the bourbon sent a calming warmth through her limbs.The closer it got to time for them to head to the sanctuary, the more her stomach churned. She could blow any minute now. A beach wedding would have made more sense. For one thing, the reception would be held there. The groom-to-be had a nice home with an ocean view. He’d hired a deejay and had a makeshift dance floor set up. He’d even prepared some of the food himself. Plus, Vivie loved the beach.But no, Izzy was forced to darken the doorsteps of a church—something she had successfully avoided for over twenty years. If the whole building didn’t implode the minute she walked in, it would be a miracle.“Doesn’t your sister look lovely?” Her mom put an arm around Izzy’s shoulders and squeezed. “Just goes to show, it’s never too late to find love.”Izzy looked at the bride, hoping her mom didn’t smell the whiskey on her breath. Someone like Jackie Tanner would never understand why anyone might need a little something to help them through a difficult time. The woman had never lacked confidence. “She’s beautiful. I helped pick out the dress. What do you think?”The white material of the simple gown flowed with every movement. One side was strapless while the other had a row of ruched fabric roses lining the wide strip over her shoulder. The skirt stopped just at the ankle, making it perfect for the dancing to come later. And it suited Vivian more than any other she’d tried on.“You picked it out?”Izzy looked at her mother, hesitating to answer. Maybe she had been wrong about the dress being the right one for Vivie. “Yeah. You don’t like it?”“No, it’s perfect. It just doesn’t look like something you would choose.”Oh. She got it now. She was being measured and judged. Again.Normally, it didn’t bother her. Her sharp tongue could deliver a cutting remark that would put the judgmental person in their place. But this was her mom. Exceptions were made when it came to family, so she kept her mouth closed this time.Her back stiffened when her mother’s gaze traveled down the length of the dress she wore. “Did you pick this one out too?”Izzy’s dress was made in the exact style of Vivian’s, except hers was coral and the hem stopped just above the knee. When she’d helped pick out the dresses, Izzy had put her own sense of style aside and focused on what she thought her sister would want instead. It was Vivian’s day, after all.“Yes.” Brace yourself.“I love it. You should wear stuff like this more often. And this color looks good on you.”Izzy didn’t need a translator to know what her mom really meant. Even with one bare shoulder and a shortened hemline, this dress was conservative compared to what she usually wore. Her mom’s remark was meant as a hint as to how she should dress.Vivie’s new roommate, Felicity Sutton, held up five fingers and had somehow forced her mousy voice to rise above the drone. “Five minutes, y’all.”As much as Izzy didn’t like the woman, she was glad for the interruption. Careful not to breathe out, she kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll see you out there in the sanctuary.”Just saying the words caused the twisting sensation to return in her gut. She lifted the plastic straw up to her lips and took in another long draw.You can do this. The ceremony will be over in minutes. Pretend you’re somewhere else. It might do better to pretend she was someone else. She didn’t belong here.Vivian’s daughter, Aimee, was the last to leave the Sunday school room they were using as a dressing room. Pregnancy had already given her a belly, causing her to lean slightly as she gave her mom a hug. “Momma, I’m so proud of you for doing this. I know y’all will be happy together. Bo is a good guy.”Yeah, one of the few left on the planet.“I know. It’ll be great.” Vivie patted Aimee on the cheek. “Could you do me a favor? Make sure your pawpaw knows it’s time. I’ll be heading to the vestibule right behind you.”Vivian looked about two minutes from falling apart. Izzy took her by the hands, hoping to offer her reassurance. “Are you nervous?”“Yes. I know this is right. I know God means for me to be with Bo. But after…”She didn’t need to finish that statement. Her first marriage had been a disaster. Cold feet were to be expected. Izzy rubbed her thumbs across the backs of Vivie’s hands. “He is no Craig. You couldn’t ask for better than Bo. But if you decided to back out, I made sure my Mustang didn’t get blocked in. I can have you out of here in no time at all.”Vivie smiled and shook her head. Izzy was only half-joking and they both knew it. But she also knew Vivie wouldn’t take her up on the offer. Once she made it up in her mind that God told her to do something, no one could convince her to veer from that path. Despite the fact that Izzy didn’t trust God with her own future, she admired Vivian’s faith.A knock sounded on the door just before their dad stuck his head through. “There’s my two girls. Are you ready for this?”No.Vivian met their father across the room and gave him a hug. He put his arm around her and smiled at Izzy. At seventy years old, Haywood Tanner still looked good in his uniform. He had served in the Army for twenty years before becoming a mail carrier. He and their mother had moved to Colorado after he retired five years ago, making it easier for Izzy to ignore their disappointment in how her life had turned out.They were headed for the door when Vivian pivoted to look at her, panic coloring her features. “The flowers! And do you have the ring?”Izzy hurried across the room to retrieve the bouquets. It was a wonder that Vivian hadn’t picked someone else to be her maid of honor. Any one of her friends would have been better suited for the job. She checked to make sure Bo’s ring was still tied to her bouquet. She could just picture the thing slipping from her fingers and rolling out of sight beneath one of the pews when it came time to hand it over.Don’t screw this up, Izzy.Her gaze caught on her gaudy cup of courage. It was tempting to take one more swig, but if she did, it might become obvious that she’d been drinking. Her limbs were already beginning to feel like rubber.She handed Vivian her bouquet and then followed the two of them into the vestibule. Felicity peeked out at them as soon as they arrived. She motioned for Izzy to come forward and then opened the door wider.This is happening too quickly. I’m not ready.It became harder to take in a decent breath as panic set in. She could hear her own heartbeat. Why does it have to be in a church?“Are you okay?”She looked at Vivian and the concern she saw there set everything right again. She could do this for her sister. A nod of her head was all she could give due to the tightening of her throat.Izzy took a couple of steps into the sanctuary. She scanned the front of the church trying to find a focal point.Anything besides the preacher. Whatever you do, don’t look at him.Bo looked past her, no doubt trying to catch his first glimpse of Vivian in her wedding dress. Then her eyes locked with the groomsman.Of all the people Vivian had become involved with here in Walden Beach, Izzy felt most comfortable around Bo’s son, Gabe. Even though he claimed to be a Christian, with his tattoos and motorcycle, he seemed like her kind of people. He and his girlfriend had just announced that they were expecting their second child together and they didn’t seem to be in a hurry to march down the aisle.Izzy breathed a sigh of relief. She had made it to the front of the church without stumbling or throwing up. The vows were said, and she handed off the ring without dropping it. If she could just make it back out of the sanctuary, she’d be home free.♥Her nerves were as frayed as her favorite pair of Levis—minus the comfort. But she had gotten through the worst of it. Now to the reception. Izzy unscrewed the lid of her cup and dumped the watered-down contents at the edge of the parking lot. No drinking and driving for her. She’d get a refill once she got to the beach. But not too much. She wouldn’t lose control in front of her family.The warmth of the mid-September sun had heated the interior of her car to a toasty level. For now, it felt like a wonderful embrace, chasing away the chill of being in church. However, the sun was on its way down, and she’d soon be hunting for something warmer to wear. Shouldn’t be a problem since Bo’s place was right down the beach from where she and the rest of her family were staying.She relaxed back in her seat and pulled her phone from the small purse she’d bought to match the dress. No missed calls. Only one text message from Cade.Tonight?He had gotten way too casual about asking for what he wanted. It was time to end things between them. She shook her head and deleted the text. There wasn’t really anything to end. If she ignored him enough, he’d go away. That’s the way it worked with guys like him.Her thumb hovered over Holden’s name for only a few seconds before she convinced herself that it was okay to call. After all, he managed her restaurant. She had every right to call him for an update.“Hello?”“Hey, Holden.”“Izzy, I thought you’d be at a wedding right about now. What’s up?”Her family were the only ones who called her Izzy. Everyone else in Bethel Ridge knew her as Blaze, but Holden refused to call her that. When he’d first come to work for her three years ago, he called her Elizabeth. It was only after meeting Vivian that he shortened it to her childhood nickname.“The wedding’s over now. I’m about to head to the reception. How did things go today?”“Same as always.” There was a long pause before he spoke again. “You know I’d call if something came up, right?”Her shoulders slumped. “I know. I just…” wanted to hear your voice, “…thought I’d check in.”“Everything’s fine. I’ll see you when you get back. Goodnight, Izzy.”“Goodnight.”After ending the call, she let her hand drop down to her lap. Thinking about—talking to—Holden Armstrong was her one guilty pleasure. He was too wholesome for her, and there’d never be more than a working relationship with him. But it didn’t hurt to occasionally imagine what could be.The parking lot had almost emptied out in the little bit of time it had taken to make that call. She should already be at the reception. But there’d have to be a stop at the store on the way. She was almost out of cherry Coke.

How a scene is born.

It started out with this inspiration picture(on the right) I found on Pinterest for one of my characters for the book I am working on right now, Love’s Redemption. Elijah Burris runs his own smokehouse business. He is an AA sponsor and a mentor to one of my main characters. (I have two mentors in this story, and God has used both to speak directly to me. But I’m saving that for a later post.) When I saw this picture I thought, At some point in this story, he is GOING to wear a hat like this. I love it!I mulled this over as I wrote and then I remembered this wallhanging(on the left) I made years ago. It was for a challenge put on by the York County Quilters. We were given the blue checked fabric and told that we had to use it somewhere in an art quilt and we had to have a house somewhere in the scene. So I made this one featuring Billie Holiday and labeled it “House of Blue.”This is how I came up with the idea for a Jazz Club. A one-time party for recovering alcoholics with a 1940’s vibe and live jazz music.Here’s a little taste from Love’s Redemption. (Keep in mind, this is a first draft. Feel free to point out any errors you see, though. I can use all the help I can get!)Surreal.That was the only word Izzy could think of when she and Holden stepped into Mr. Cordell’s barn. The outside still looked like a weathered old… well, barn. But the inside… it was like the swankiest old-school nightclub she’d ever seen. Thick black paper, like the kind used for roofing, covered the interior walls. Candles placed in the center of tables lining the edge of the room and strings of lights across the ceiling added a romantic appeal to the atmosphere. The plywood covering the floor wobbled slightly as Holden led them to one of the tables where Sheba and Elijah already sat. As she followed, Izzy took in more of the barn’s interior. A collection of instruments, including an upright piano, sat on a platform at the back of the room waiting to be played. At the moment, a lone man stood on the stage playing a saxophone. At few couples swayed around on the dancefloor to the soulful tune.I can’t wait for y’all to read this! Expect to see it sometime early next year.

Persuaded- Chapter 1

One pull of a cord and they were flying. Below, the sound of the motor powering the boat as it skidded across the surface of the water competed with the roar of the ocean. Up here, nothing but the gentle flap of the brightly colored parasail above them could be heard.Felicity looked over at the man beside her. Hands that used to hold hers had a white-knuckle grip on the bar in front of him. And his lips… oh, she remembered the searing kisses those lips had delivered. Right now, they were pressed tightly together.It wasn’t fear causing his tension. Jaylon Briggs had always been somewhat of a daredevil. Parasailing didn’t rank high on the list of stunts he had no doubt pulled. How could he still be angry with her after all these years? Eighteen of them, to be exact. She remembered the breakup like it was yesterday, and apparently, he did too.Even though she had truly loved him, she had been the one to end their relationship. Would he ever forgive her?His sister was to blame for this awkward situation. Caleigh usually played the part of friend except when it came to her brother. No way had Jay known Felicity was coming on this trip when Caleigh invited him. This was a perfect opportunity to rub it in Felicity’s face what she had given up—like she didn’t already know.“Caleigh tells me you are back to working in your dad’s old shop now.”Of course she did.Despite the politeness of his words, they were full of venom. For one thing, no one had ever referred to her father as dad. Everyone called him Pappy, including Jay. Pappy had been the one to influence the breakup. He had been the one to push her into going to college to make something of herself. Had even planned out her career trajectory. And now she was back in her hometown, working in a shaved ice hut turned coffee shop.Boy, Pappy’s plan worked out great, didn’t it?All those eighteen years ago, Pappy had pointed out that though Jay had graduated high school a year ahead of her, he had never held a real job, nor did he have any plans to go to college.Jay had used the excuse that he had been waiting for her to graduate so they could start a life together. He would take a menial job working in his uncle’s shipping yard down the coast in Charleston after they married, but he swore he’d make it big one day.Evidently, his lofty dreams had come true, minus the part about her being at his side. Every time the opportunity presented itself, Caleigh would bring up the fact that Jaylon owned a successful shipping business. Apparently, she was also keeping her brother informed on what a failure Felicity had become.“Pappy had a stroke a couple of years ago. I moved back home to take care of him.”“I heard about that. And he still needs your help?”Felicity looked out over the choppy, gray ocean beneath them. It neared as they were being reeled back into the boat. Jaylon always did know how to cut to the core of every issue. Truthfully, Pappy probably no longer needed her, but she had no desire to go back to the life she had before. “No, but I’ve decided to stay anyway.”“I see.”Silence prevailed again as they were drawn back into the boat to join the rest of their group. Besides Caleigh and her husband, Dalvin, two more had come along on this adventure. Vivian Emerson, who had recently moved to Walden Beach, and Bo Manning.Bo put his arm around Felicity’s shoulder as soon as she was released from the harness. “How was it?”Jay looked their way for a moment and then walked over to lean against the boat railing. Did he think she and Bo were a couple? They never had been but were often mistaken for such. The two usually paired up together whenever they went out as a group. She had expected to be Bo’s partner today, but ever since Vivian moved to town, his attention had been focused on her. Not that Felicity minded. She and Bo were always meant to be nothing more than friends.She smiled up at him, glad for the friendship he offered. “It was great.”Bo squeezed her shoulder and then moved away to take his turn at parasailing. Felicity doubted he was aware of her and Jaylon’s past relationship, unless Caleigh or Dalvin had mentioned it. She hadn’t known Bo back then, and there was no use bringing it up now.She and Jay would never go back to what they were—two people so in tune with each other, so much in love, that the only next step should have been marriage. After all these years of separation, she still felt a connection to him somehow. But the bitterness he displayed today let her know that he didn’t feel the same way.After everyone had gone up and the boat delivered them back to the shore, they discussed where they would go to eat later in the evening. Hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, it was easy to look her fill at Jay without anyone being the wiser. He wasn’t the lanky teenager anymore. Muscles stretched the fabric of his blue t-shirt across his chest and upper arms. His hair was a darker shade of auburn. And the manly stubble on his face had filled out from the adolescent beard he’d tried to grow back in high school.“I’m afraid I’ll have to miss out on dinner. I’ve already made plans.” Jaylon’s declaration was unsurprising—and a relief. They had managed to avoid each other for the last two years since she’d been home. Caleigh usually mentioned an upcoming visit from her brother, making avoidance easy for Felicity. But that would no longer be necessary. The ice was broken, at least. The difficulty of seeing each other again had been lessened even if her regrets had not.If possible, Felicity Sutton was even more beautiful at thirty-six than she had been at eighteen. He’d always loved the fact that her height nearly matched his. Time had filled her body out in all the right places. Wisps of light brown hair had come loose from her long ponytail, accentuating her flawless features. Only, her smile was missing, and the one glimpse he had gotten of her gray-green eyes revealed a sadness that he had only seen once—on the day she left him, bound for college.“So, what are these plans that you didn’t mention before? I know the real reason you aren’t going out to eat with us is because of her. I’m sorry the two of you can’t let bygones be bygones. I thought you’d be over it now that you’re engaged to someone else.” Caleigh glanced over her shoulder from the front passenger seat with her lips pressed together, making sure that he was aware of her displeasure.“Kathryn and I broke up.”Her jaw dropped open, and she turned further around in her seat. “What happened?”Jay looked out the side window, watching the world go by. “I’m not ready to talk about it.”“How can you drop a bomb like that and then refuse to give details?”“I just don’t want to talk about it, okay?”Her lips pushed together in a pout just before she turned back to face the front of the van. “Whatever you’ve done, she’ll forgive you. Kathryn is a smart woman. She’s not going to let someone like you get away. Wait and see, you’ll get back together.”No, they wouldn’t.His recent breakup had only fueled the bitterness he felt for Felicity. The more time he had spent in her presence today, the more his resentment grew. It had taken a year after high school for him to decide which direction he wanted his life—their life together—to go. And that year of contemplation had cost him the woman he loved.The plan he’d come up with had been a good one. He’d go to work in his uncle’s shipping business, starting at the bottom and working his way up. Money would have been tight at the beginning, but they would have gotten through it together. And he’d had no plans of staying at the bottom. He would learn everything there was to know about the shipping business until he became owner of his own shipping yard.Then Pappy had convinced Felicity that there was no future for a man without a college degree. She had accused him of having no ambition, no way to finance their future. It had all come down to money.His breakup with Kathryn had been about money too. Ironically, this time because he now had too much of it. He worked too many hours, cared more about his business than about her. Said she was sick of coming second to his job.Women.The trip to Caleigh’s this morning had been on impulse. A few days to reflect on what had happened between him and Kathryn. He had planned to share the news with his sister as he was leaving. Now there would be no rest. She would bug him about it until he spilled the details.The last person he expected to see on this trip was Felicity. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. They had managed to avoid each other in the past, but as soon as Caleigh said where they were going, he knew she would be there. What had he hoped to gain from seeing her again?Maybe it was closure he needed. Did she regret breaking up with him now that he owned a multi-million dollar business? He certainly had no intention of ever asking her about it. With the instant bitterness that cropped up the minute he laid eyes on her, he’d decided it was best not to acknowledge her at all.Jay had tried keeping his mouth shut while trapped in the parasail’s seat next to Felicity, but the fact that she had given up her sought-after career in advertising to come back and run her father’s old nothing shop stuck in his craw. It wasn’t right.According to Caleigh, she wasn’t even running the place. She had tried to bring the business out of the red by turning it into a coffee house, but Pappy wouldn’t give up control. No surprise there. Without a doubt, the old man had been the one to get inside her head, making her think she could do better than Jay. If anyone was to blame for their breakup, Pappy Sutton carried that guilt.