Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 20

Featured Story: Miss Verona by Linyang Zhang

You know how life is. You can't get everything you want...just like you can't pick every story to go in your Christian romance anthology (definitely a situation we can all relate to, am I right?). So when push came to shove and I had to pick only a few stories (twelve being the exact number), I reserved a few to publish here on my blog! Give you a little taste of what you might find in the anthology, eh?

Our first featured story is by my dearest friend Linyang Zhang...y'all, I adore this girl's writing. She's got a very unique and interesting style - one that can take some getting used to, but soon comes to life with a vibrancy all its own - and her stories are all intriguing and captivating in a mysterious, enigmatic slice-of-life kind of way! (Basically, her writing is a reflection of her personality. *winks*)

For all this, though...she never writes romance. Like...never. Maybe a subplot or two, I think, but never a full-fledged romance with the words "I love you." She literally asked me upfront if her submission had to have "I love you" in it. *snorts* You see what I mean.

So when this story came through the form, I was in total shock. She had actually written me a romance.

And y'all.

This is definitely not a conventionally romance story (obviously, even though we did manage those three little words), and I'll warn ya, there's a lot of drinking and whatnot in here, but the dynamic between Miss Verona and Elisha...the way Elisha cares for her...THAT. ENDING. (Y'all, the ending ripped my heart out, I legit could have cried, I just...augh. I need more.)

So suffice to say, I adored this story, and I hope y'all will too!

Without further ado, Miss Verona by the lovely Linyang Zhang!

The raindrops glistened in the lamplight on the window, almost more dazzling than the jewels within. Verona Davenport stood there, close enough that her breath almost misted up the glass, gaze caught by the necklaces and earrings and rings on display.

“When do you plan on returning, Miss Verona?” A dark-haired man stood by her side, tilting an umbrella over her head. The back of his suit was lightly damp, and a couple of raindrops were splattered across his shoulders, caught on the strands of hair over his brow.

“Soon,” Verona replied, unwavering.

“You’ll catch a cold, Miss Verona.”

“It’s barely autumn, Elisha. I’ll be fine.” She blinked, and Elisha stared at those long lashes of hers, and those beautiful, shining eyes behind them. But his expression was impassive, and he was so still he barely breathed.

“You have plenty of jewels already, Miss Verona.”

“There is one in particular I want.”

Elisha flicked his gaze to the glass. “Which one? I’ll buy it for you.”

Verona gave a laugh. “You? Buy it for me? Where would you get the money?”

“Well…” Elisha glanced back at her. “You’re paying me. And I’ve been saving.”

“So it’s still my money, in the end.”

“No. My money.” The corner of Elisha’s mouth twitched. “Which one do you want? How about that pearl ring over there? It would match your earrings and necklace.”

“That? It seems so simple.”

“But I think a simple elegance suits you.” Elisha found himself staring at her again. “And it’s probably the only thing here that my pocketbook can afford.”

She laughed again, and her laugh was like bells, like a fresh gust of wind on a slightly cloudy spring day. And Elisha had wondered when she had looked this beautiful to him.

He had been a former bodyguard, working for the president of some large company, but after his client was killed, he was laid off, and subsequently no one was willing to hire him. After all, the person he was supposed to protect had died on his watch.

And so he was out of work for several months, and he spent his time wandering the streets or haunting the local libraries, perhaps sitting in cars parked by the curb, wondering why he had quit smoking so long ago. But he couldn’t bring himself to take up another cigarette; he could only roll it between his fingers, unlit. It seemed that he had dulled his feelings already, ever since the day his former employer had died.

At some point his savings began running out, and Elisha knew that he had to find another job. But there wasn’t much else he could do, besides bagging groceries and shelving books. So he reached out to a couple of friends, acquaintances, asking if they had any connections.

“You any good at mixing cocktails?” Cal Hathaway asked, stirring his vibrantly colored drink.

Elisha shook his head, barely touching his own tequila. He tried to tune out the sounds of the bar around them, and it seemed to work, for soon all the chatter and the clinking of glasses and music had all faded, save for Cal’s voice.

“Well, that’s a pity.” Cal took a long sip from his glass. “I bet you could be a waiter.”

“I don’t like talking to people.”

“Shame. You’d look mighty good in waiter’s dress. At least, that’s what my sister says.”

“No offense, but I don’t particularly care what your sister thinks.”

Cal scoffed. “Well, neither do I. Look, how about this? There’s this rich young lady–”

Elisha held up a hand. “I can’t be a bodyguard anymore.”

“You didn’t even let me finish! No, she doesn’t want a bodyguard, she wants an attendant. A personal aid, to accompany her sometimes when she’s out walking. To hold an umbrella for her when it rains. Nothing more.”

“Nothing more?” Elisha lightly tilted his glass, watching the liquor swish around within. “Interesting.”

“Really? Because so far you haven’t been interested in any of the jobs I’ve recommended you.”

Elisha gave him a side glance. “I said it was interesting.”

“How so?”

“Wouldn’t a young lady prefer another female?”

“No, no, she says she wants a man, tall and dark and considerably strong, enough to carry her shopping, at least.”

“And…does she want anything more than just an attendant?”

Cal let out a scoff of disbelief. “Man, if you had seen her…”

“I just don’t want her or myself to be uncomfortable.”

“Well, you’ll have to ask her. So, what do you think? Want me to mention you to her?”’

Elisha downed his glass, wincing at the strong twang of the alcohol. “Go ahead. Tell her I’d be delighted.”

On the day they first met, however, she stared at him, unimpressed.

“You certainly don’t look delighted.”

He didn’t change expression. “Trust me, I’m absolutely ecstatic on the inside.”

“Hmph.” She began walking slowly around him, examining his attire. “Then I suppose smiling must be hysterical for you. Stand up straight. No slouching.” She prodded him in the back with her golden pipe. “And where did you get these clothes? Don’t you have any nicer ones? These are practically falling apart at the seams.”

“I’ve been out of work for months; what did you expect?”

“I expected someone professional.”

He let out a small sigh through his nose and straightened up, removing his hands from his pockets. “I assure you, I’ll buy myself some new clothes after my first paycheck.”

“Well, no need for that. Come. We’re going out now.”

He was taken by surprise, the way she so breezed past him, her steps fast and elegant. The confidence of rich people, surely…

She took him to one of the largest department stores in the city, several stories high and all lit up like a Christmas tree, one that he had been to a couple of times with his previous boss. But all those times he had merely stood around with his hands in his pockets, not even touching the railings. The things they sold in those kinds of stores weren’t for people like him. No, people like him shopped at stores with only one floor. There wasn’t any need for a second.

“Here, try these on.” Verona Davenport was quickly sifting through the clothing hanging on the racks, occasionally taking out a jacket or a pair of pants and holding them up to him for size. “Changing rooms are that way.”

Elisha took the armful of clothing, surprised. But still he kept the same stony face, pretending like this happened every day.

When he came out of the changing room she was waiting there, and she had him stand this way and that, and she looked over him and nodded at her own fashion decisions. “I suppose plain black does look best on you, though it’s too formal for a lot of occasions. How about this dark gray? And how do you feel about ties?”

“I don’t suppose I feel anything about them,” he replied, as she draped a dark purple tie around his neck.

“Then tie it. I want to see.”

He fumbled with the silk, and left it draped rather loosely around his neck. Tighter, and he felt like he was going to choke. And his previous employer had always had him tie them too tight.

She dragged him over to the mirror, and they both stared at his reflection, she, squinting; he, averting his gaze. He never did like to see himself, and he seemed quite out of place next to this rich young lady.

“This tie can be for special occasions,” she finally decided. “Or a black bow tie will do. On the streets you can do without.”

When they approached the exits, he briefly wondered how he was going to pay, but before he knew it she had already brushed through.

“Isn’t this - ?”

“I already paid beforehand,” she replied, not slowing her stride. “I’m a valued member.”

Figured. Elisha tried to stifle a sigh and hurried on after her, shopping bags in his hands.

“I want you to wear the suits I bought you when you’re working, and I want you to be on time. Punctual. Not one second late. Do you hear me?”

“Certainly, ma’am.”

“And don’t you ‘ma’am’ me. ‘Miss’ will do.”

“Certainly, miss.” He smiled a little on the inside. She was obviously young. He had only called her “ma’am” to see her reaction.

“Right, then. Work starts tomorrow. You’ll be here at when?”

“At three o’clock.”

“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”

Most days Verona Davenport went out at three, usually around town, sometimes to shop, most days to visit various cafes, but always for a fresh walk, even when it was raining. Elisha usually arrived at her residence half an hour before he was needed and waited out by the gardens, pretending to read a book, trying not to look too out of place. What a boring job Cal had set him up with. He was never good around women. He never knew what to say.

“You’re awfully quiet, Elisha. Couldn’t you say something?” Verona said one afternoon.

“I didn’t know that was part of my job description, miss.”

“Well, it isn’t, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to make small talk once in a while.”

“Only if you ask me to.”

Yes, he never knew what to say. Always so stiff, so quiet, so cold. Like a corpse, his former employer had said. And Elisha, true to his nature, had kept his mouth shut.

On one such afternoon as they were passing by a boutique Elisha felt Verona tense up, and her breath stiffen. “Walk a little faster, won’t you?” she muttered, slipping her arm into his.

Elisha’s bodyguard senses tingled back to life, and he scanned the street, trying to see who had aggravated her in such a way. There was a shiny black car, and a man sitting within along with his chauffeur, and they were driving at an unusually slow pace. So Elisha quickened his feet and almost carried Verona along until they had turned several corners and had wound up somewhere more private, near the library. He hadn’t meant to bring her here, but it seemed that his feet had acted on their own.

Elisha waited for her to catch her breath. “Who was that?”

Verona rolled her eyes. “One of my former suitors. He used to take me out and buy me chocolates and roses. Apparently he doesn’t think our relationship is over.”

“Ah.” Elisha cast another glance down the road. “And how many more of these suitors might there be, miss?”

“He was the only serious one. He scared the others off.”

“So an aggressive type?”

“Perhaps. I don’t wish to think about him. He makes me quite unhappy.”

Elisha gave a sigh and sat down on the front steps of the library, ignoring the dirt and the dust. “So, might the reason you have hired me, was to scare him off?”

She gave him a hard look, almost bordering on a glare, and said: “What makes you think such a thing?”

“Oh, I don’t know. You can sit down.” He brushed the spot on the concrete step next to him.

She hesitantly did so, then relaxed a little and changed the subject. “The way you call me ‘miss’ sounds so stiff.”

“Oh? Then what would you like me to call you?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to call me?”

What was this, playing a game? “Miss Davenport?” he guessed, giving her a sideways glance.

Her expression remained unchanged. “No. Too formal. Too impersonal. Like those teachers at school.”

“Miss Verona, then.”

Her expression relaxed, just a little, and he felt his heart lighten a little. He had guessed right, though it had taken him two tries.

“You may call me Miss Verona.”

“But I don’t suppose you want chocolate and roses.”

“No,” she agreed. “Not right now.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“What’s there to remember? You’re just my attendant.”

His heart dipped a little. He had thought, perhaps, that they were companions. No, that was getting his hopes up, and he wasn’t thinking straight. Women, he could never tell what they were thinking. And they clouded his mind of clear judgment and rational thoughts.

But there were times when she called him irregularly, too. Once, after midnight, he was called to a bar to pick her up. And when he arrived, he found her completely wasted.

“Why didn’t you call me to come drinking with you?” he asked, wrapping his coat around her shoulders, trying to get her to lean on him.

“Because…you didn’t seem like…the type to drink.” She gave a slurred laugh, and he winced at the heavy smell of alcohol.

“I’d drink if you wanted me to,” he replied, doing his best to guide her out of the bar. “Or I’d stay sober and drive you home.”

“It’s no fun to…drink alone.”

“But you were drinking alone tonight, weren’t you?” He hailed a taxi and helped her in, and told the driver a place not too far from her residence.

As they sat in the back, she gradually dozed off against him, and he tried not to move, instead staring at the moonlight passing over the inside of the car and touching the edge of his sleeve. Why was the moon so quiet, yet the sun so loud? And he asked this to her, quietly.

“You can actually…look at the moon. You can’t…stare at the sun. The moon is…prettier.”

His old boss had tried to set him up with women on various occasions. The kind that sat in bars, talked too loud and too fast, wore too much makeup and too short skirts, the kind with that odd gleam in their eye. He had always taken them to be rather fake, like plastic. And he had assumed Verona Davenport to be the same. No, if he ever settled down, he wanted a girl who was more real, one with beautiful eyes he could get drunk in.

But here, underneath the moonlight, it seemed that Verona Davenport had shed a layer of plastic to reveal something a little more real. And Elisha found his gaze lingering on her longer than usual.

As she fell asleep again, he wrapped his coat a little tighter around her. And as they arrived, he picked her up so that she wouldn’t be disturbed, and carried her all the way back to her residence, and handed her off to her butler.

“Make sure to give her something for her hangover tomorrow.”

“Thank you for coming out so late, Elisha.”

Elisha shrugged. “Just doing my job.” He wanted to ask why she had been out drinking, but he didn’t suppose that she would remember the next time they saw each other, either truly or intentionally. So he didn’t pry, and he never brought it up. But it had looked like she had been crying…

On a certain day in mid-February, the snow was flying outside, so Elisha decided to head in, to see if she would like to leave for her usual walk.

But as he entered her room, he found purple petals scattered all over and her sitting on the floor, eyes red.

"Something the matter, Miss Verona?" he asked, crouching down.

"That old fool…" She was tearing up the stems of the roses between her fingers. "He thinks he can still win me over with flowers? As if! My word, I wish he were dead! So that I wouldn't have to go through this every day…"

"You're bleeding." He gently took her hands and pried open her fingers, removing the stems from her grip. "Where are the medical supplies?"

She sniffed. "As if I'd know!"

He resisted a sigh and stood. "I'll have one of the maids come in. In the meantime, go get yourself cleaned up, Miss Verona. The snow is beautiful today."

He didn't have the heart to tell her the roses were from him.

Outside, he offered to open an umbrella, but she declined. There was a new rhythm in her gait. Snowflakes caught on her hair, her lashes, and her cheeks were tinged pink not from tears but from the cold.

"Do you like snow?" she asked, as if her previous emotions were forgotten.

"It's very pretty to look at," he admitted.

"Oh, but it's so much more wonderful to see it out here! Especially when it comes down!" She gave a little spin.

He gave a thin smile. "I don't see this side of you often, Miss Verona."

"Well, can't I act like how I want?"

He swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat for no reason at all. "Today is a…good day for being yourself. With the snow and all."

Cal was right. She truly was beautiful.

“So what happened in your previous line of work?” she asked him once.

“I thought you knew.”

“I want to hear it from you.”

Elisha sighed. “Well, I was guarding the president of this company…and some hitman came and shot him dead, right in front of my eyes.”

“And you didn’t do anything about it?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Your eyes are sharp; didn’t you notice?” Verona seemed unperturbed.

“I did notice. It was just…I suppose it didn’t occur to me to do anything.”

“You’re a bodyguard; that’s your job.”

“I know. And I have taken bullets and knives for others before. It’s just…I don’t know. I suppose I didn’t like my boss very much, and that seeped into my subconsciousness so that in the moment, I failed to do anything.”

Verona laughed. “I’m glad I didn’t hire you as my bodyguard, then.”

One day, he came at his usual time, but Verona was nowhere to be seen. After quite a while, Elisha went to the door to inquire, but the butler informed him that she was feeling under the weather.

"Oh? Is something wrong?" For while she had been sick occasionally she had never been "under the weather."

"Well, perhaps you can come see her. Perhaps you can make her stop."

"Stop? Stop what?"

Verona Davenport was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest, glass of alcohol between her fingers. By the looks of it, she had almost downed the whole bottle. Shards of glass lay on the floor, both from another glass and from a picture frame. Elisha knelt down and began to gingerly pick up the larger shards.

"Elishaaa…you're here," Verona mumbled, burying her face in the crook of her arm. "Are we going…out walking today?"

"I don't think so, Miss Verona." He paused as he picked up the broken picture frame, the picture soaked in alcohol. There was Verona, and he recognized the man who had made her uncomfortable.

"Elisha…tell me you love me."

Elisha cleared his throat uncomfortably and put the glass off to the side. "I don't like it when you drink, dear," he said quietly.

"Elishaa…" She threw her arms around his neck, taking him by surprise. "Tell me you love me."

"And why should I?"

"Do you love me?"

"You reek of alcohol, Miss Verona."

"So?" She pulled him closer, trying to focus on his eyes. "Do you mind?"

"I think it'd be best if you let go, Miss Verona," he said, even more quietly. "One of the servants might come in and misunderstand the situation."

"Then let them misunderstand." And she kissed him.

Perhaps it was the alcohol on her lips affecting him, but he closed his eyes and let her, his heart pounding louder and louder. Something he had only dreamed about having, and that she would surely forget tomorrow…

He came to senses and opened his eyes, pushing her away. "That - that's enough, Miss Verona. And you've had quite enough to drink."

He found himself breathless, somewhat, and his heartbeat going faster than it had ever before. What was going on? Why did he feel so hot? Was it the alcohol?

"Well, Elisha?" She gave a slight pout. "Do you love me?"

"Yes," he said. "I do love you." And he meant it.

And though he hated it when she was drunk, he found that they could only have their realest conversations when she was so, and sometimes he drank with her, just enough for him to open up as well. Because he knew that she never remembered.

"Let's run away and get married," she said on one such occasion.

"I don't think I have the money for that," he replied. He was in a rather unusually good mood, most likely from the buzz of the alcohol.

"What do you need money for?"

"Well, to buy you a ring, of course. Can't get married without a ring."

She laughed. "You can just use my money, then."

He smiled, and shook his head. "I'll only marry you after you stop drinking."

"Well, that just isn't fair!" She put a whine in her voice. "It sounds like you just don't want to marry me after all!"

He couldn't help but think that she was cute when she pouted. "Well, it's not that I don't want to marry you, it's just that I don't think I'd have the money to buy you fine wine."

"There you go again, about money." She crawled over to him and laid her head on his chest. "I told you, just use mine!"

He wondered if she could hear his heart beating, and gently kissed her on the forehead. "I like you better when you're not drunk, Verona Davenport."

"You're drinking too," she mumbled.

"Yeah. I'll stop."

And then, when they were both properly awake and out on their daily walk, him, his usual quiet and inexpressive demeanor and she, brisk and taking the lead, he wondered if that had all been a dream, and whether or not that Verona Davenport was real, because the one before him had no scent of alcohol on her whatsoever. And she treated him about the same as before, having him carry her bags and accompany her on long exhausting shopping trips and hold an umbrella over her head when it rained. And she said nothing of love or marriage and he couldn't tell if she thought of them at all, behind those eyes of hers. So he said nothing, and instead looked quietly forward to three o'clock in the afternoons.

"So how's the new job going?" Cal Hathaway asked the next time the two of them happened to frequent a bar together.

"It's going fine," Elisha replied.

"Oh? What does she have you do? Assistant? Bodyguard? Boy- "

"Just to keep her company, really." Elisha was about to down his glass, then thought better of it and put it down. "I think she's lonely."

"Lonely? Her? Really?" Cal scoffed. "She has all that money!"

And she spent quite a lot of it on alcohol, Elisha thought to himself. But he would never say that out loud, not to anyone.

"Well, thanks for the drink and the job, Cal. I'll see you later." He got down from the bar stool and dusted himself off.

"Wait, where're you going? You haven't even finished your drink yet!"

"I don't need it," Elisha replied.

Cal stared, then gave a short laugh. "Well, well, well…"

But he knew he was deluding himself. He knew that he had become too enchanted with her, and that he should have never trusted his feelings. There was no way that there was actually anything between the two of them. Perhaps he wanted to believe that they were in a relationship. But they weren’t. And Verona, during perhaps the last time she was wasted, was unusually serious, because, perhaps, she too had come to this realization.

"Don't say anything to me when I'm sober," she mumbled.

"Why not?"

"Because people will think that you're a fool."

"A fool?"

"Many men have tried to love me before. But they were all fools. They were after my money, my beauty…"

"So are you using me as a replacement?" Elisha asked, tracing the carved edge of the crystal cup.

She gave a laugh. "I suppose you could say that. When you're out with me, no one dares to touch me. You, you're dressed merely as a bodyguard. They know from your attire and appearance alone that there's no way you're with me. With you by my side, I'm free to go where I wish with no worry of men."

"And I suppose I am also in that category of men?" Elisha's voice was quiet.

"I'm paying you to be with me. At least, my sober self is. What you do here with me now is merely part of your job."

Oh, how he hated working with women. Their unexplainable thoughts and flighty feelings, when they said one thing and meant something else, how were you possibly supposed to know what they want? Elisha knew that anything he said, anything they did, any “I love you”s exchanged between them when there was alcohol present meant nothing, because when they were sober, they were to pretend that they had never been drunk. And he knew that he could never bring himself to say those three words to her when they were both wide awake, because she would never allow it, and that was outside of his job description.

And so that night, they stood there by the jeweler’s window, having stayed out for much longer than they usually did on their afternoon trips. And Elisha found himself staring at her, a pain in his heart, and he wanted to say something but couldn’t. And he had tried, all night, to phrase what he wanted to say to her, but nothing seemed right, and it seemed that the air was sucked out of his lungs every time he opened his mouth.

“Is something the matter, Elisha?” Verona asked, turning to look at him. “It seems like you want to tell me something.”

“It’s nothing, Miss Verona. I just…” He trailed off, seeing the look in her eyes. Sadness, a sort of pleading, perhaps, “Please don’t say it.” And words that had been said so casually in the light of alcohol had been lost under the bitter rain.

He held the umbrella over her head, and his arm wasn’t tired, he could do this forever…

He was about to suggest that they begin heading back when he noticed the strange swerving a car along the wet roads. And all too quickly he remembered his previous boss, and what he had tried so hard to forget…

“Miss Verona!”

The umbrella was knocked from his head, and it rolled around the rainy pavement, crumpled.

“You’re here again, Verona Davenport.” The nurse’s voice was cool, but not unkind.

“So I am.” She bit her lip. “How is he?”

“Oh, the same as last time. Still no sign of waking. I wouldn’t keep your hopes up, if I were you.”

“I see.” Verona took a seat by the bed, clutching her purse, her hands trembling ever so slightly. It had been so long since she had touched a drop of alcohol, and even just a whiff of it reminded her of what had happened with that drunken driver. She wanted to escape, but it was too painful to. Because every time she did, she remembered the times that they had shared together then.

And because there was a trailing silence, and the nurse had lingered in the room, Verona found herself speaking, perhaps to alleviate herself of some heavy weight, or to fill the quiet in the room.

“You know…it’s funny. I didn’t even hire him as a bodyguard. He had no reason to do that for me.”

“You don’t think he…did it because he loved you?”

A smile twitched at the edge of her lips. “I was cruel. I knew he did, but I pretended he didn’t. Because I couldn’t bear the thought of…” And, realizing that she was saying too much, she shut herself up. “You can leave now.”

The nurse took his cue, and Verona sat there, and took Elisha’s still hand between her own, and let out a small sigh.

“One day, when we’re sober, I’ll tell you I love you too.”

about the author

Linyang Zhang is a Chinese-American Christian who has an affinity for coffee ice cream and lemon pastries. She enjoys learning new languages and dabbles in translation. She writes to glorify her King and to touch the souls of others. When she's not studying, sleeping, or working on a project she enjoys Christopher Nolan movies, listening to music, and watching anime. She currently resides in Eastern Mass as a student. Connect with her at her website zhanglinyang.weebly.com!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#featuredstory #tellmeyoulovemeanthology #shortstory #romance #contemporary #imnotcryingyourecrying #signmypetitiontogetlinyangtowriteasequel #ineedmoreineedmoreineedmore

Guess What! I'm on Instagram!

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Better question: when did you stop hunting Easter eggs?

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Naturally. I move onto a new platform and immediately give away free stuff.

I'm not financially prepared to give away anything cool, BUT if I can reach 100 followers by the end of April, I'll be giving one lucky follower a free digital copy of ANY of my books (including With Fear and Trembling but excluding Bound and Determined...BAD is too rough at the minute).

SO. If you're on Instagram and you'd like to follow yours truly, you can find me RIGHT HERE or you can drop your handle below and I'm follow you! (Please note: I don't follow everyone who follows me. But if I know you...which I probably will if you follow this blog...I'd love to follow you!)

AND (one more thing), if y'all have ANY suggestions for stuff I should post or ideas for my aesthetic (still working on that), PLEASE drop 'em in the comments! THANK Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!!

Before I leave y'all to your Easter candy...

bound and determined update

I've been kinda quiet about Bound and Determined since I finished it at the end of March, and that's because I've been hard at work procrastinating - I MEAN EDITING. *cough cough* Seriously, though, I've been going through my first round of edits, and I'm almost halfway done! My betas have really been hard at work reading and editing the first third - Iris, Kristina, Vanessa, Libby, Diamond...y'all are AMAZING!!! Y'all have seriously saved my life. Thank you. *bows* I'm hoping to get the second third up soon and put the rest of my betas to work! *winks*

If y'all are interested in reading deleted scenes and exclusive articles all about my self-editing process, I advise y'all to become a patron! All my patrons will have access to my exclusive posts and bonus/deleted content from my books, and all you have to do is pledge at least $3 a month! Y'all can learn more HERE!

And, lastly...

preorders are still live

BUT NOT FOR LONG!! If you want a SIGNED copy of With Fear and Trembling + a Scripture bookmark, y'all need to preorder while you can!! The preorder page/form closes on April 27th (release day), and books will be ordered/shipped soon after! To learn more and preorder your copy (either your print copy or a Kindle copy), hop on over HERE!

Welp. I reckon that sums up my much-longer-than-expected Instagram announcement post. What about y'all? Have you preordered your copy of WFAT? Are you on IG? Where do you struggle the most with editing? Lemme know in the comments!

Y'all have a fantastic spring, my lovelies! I pray God has blessed you deeply this Easter season and will continue to work wonders in your life!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#instagram #editing #boundanddetermined #announcements #updates #patreon #preordernow #preorder #devotional

New Release: Refuge from the Storm by Kristina Hall

Y'all...the sequel to Fled for Refuge by Kristina Hall is HERE!!! I just finished reading this intense Christian dystopian novel, and I can't wait to share my review...but FIRST, allow me to introduce y'all to Refuge from the Storm!

(Pst...read through this post for more posts AND an epic sale on the first book!)

about the book

Doubt. Persecution. Forgiveness.

Tony Dorence should be dead. But after months in prison, he’s home. Yet even at home, he’s not safe from trials that hit from every angle.

Merri Dorence couldn’t be more thankful her brother is home, yet doubts have attacked her newfound faith and left her questioning all too much.

When they face a threat greater than either of them could’ve imagined, will they find refuge from the storm or be overcome by a relentless evil?

snag your copy the sale

Fled for Refuge (the first book in the Refuge series) is on sale for $1.99 during the launch tour! You can purchase a discounted copy from your preferred retailer HERE!

the tour

Monday, April 18th

Vanessa Hall - Spotlight (blog)

Kaytlin Phillips - Review (Goodreads and Facebook)

Grace A. Johnson - Spotlight (blog, Facebook, and Pinterest)

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote (Instagram)

Kristina Hall - Tour launch (blog and Instagram)

Tuesday, April 19th

Madi’s Musings - Spotlight (blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest)

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote (Instagram)

Kristina Hall -

Lillian Keith - Spotlight (blog)

Wednesday, April 20th

Judith McNees - Review (blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads)

Joy C. Woodbury - Review (Goodreads and Instagram)

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote (Instagram)

Kristina Hall -

Thursday, April 21st

Charity’s Books and Tea - Quote (Instagram)

Kristina Hall -

Books Less Travelled - Review (blog, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub)

Friday, April 22nd

Abby Burrus - Review (blog and Goodreads)

Issabelle Perry - Review (blog)

Vanessa Hall - Review (blog, Goodreads, BookBub)

Emma (The Book Dragon’s Alcove) - Review (blog and Goodreads)

Grace A. Johnson - Review (blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and BookBub)

Saraina Whitney - Spotlight (blog)

Kylie Hunt - Spotlight and Review (Instagram and Pinterest)

Charity’s Books and Tea - Review (Instagram, Facebook, and BookBub)

Autumn - Spotlight (blog)

Kristina Hall - Tour Wrapup (blog and Instagram)

about the author

Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin. Follow her on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, and her website, and subscribe to her newsletter!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #christianfiction #indie #suspense #dystopian #blogtour #onsale

Man of Sorrows

Man of sorrows

Smitten by God

Pierced

Crushed

He who bore our iniquities

He who carried our grief

He who lifted

The burden of shame

The yoke of guilt

And placed it upon His shoulders

Man of sorrows

Without honor

Lost

Alone

He who had no home

He who had no bed

He who had no place

To lay His sweet head

But upon hay

And upon stone

Man of sorrows

Grown of dry ground

Despised

Rejected

He who was unlovely

He who was undesired

He who was hidden

From the eyes of those

Who passed Him by

And scoffed as He walked on

Man of sorrows

Silent unto death

Oppressed

Afflicted

He who was led away

He who was cut off

He who was taken out

Of the earth upon which

He had walked

And had lovingly created

Man of sorrows

My strength and joy

He whose death was my satisfaction

He whose life was my ransom

He whose blood was poured out

Upon the Mercy Seat

To blot out my transgressions

And welcome me home

Man of sorrows

Hold me tight

You whose hand wipes my tears

You whose voice quiets my fears

You whose tender love

Leads me into Your arms

When troubles roll

And whispers Your peace to dispel my sorrow

- Inspired by Isaiah 53Yours in spirit and script, Grace

Review: The Element of Love by Mary Connealy

*Warnings*

#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.

Stars: 2

Synopsis: When their vile stepfather’s intentions to marry them off to the highest bidder forces the Stiles sisters to run for their lives, the youngest of the three heiresses, Laura, finds Parson Caleb Tillman’s mission group and uses them as an escape...and perhaps much more.

Here I go again, eh? Taking of one of the industry’s most popular new releases and blasting it to bits. Y’all, even some of my friends, who’s bookish opinions I usually agree with wholeheartedly, thoroughly enjoyed this book...and I absolutely hated it.

Of course, I must preface this by saying I knew I would. You see, I read a few Connealy books back in the day (even then knowing she was one of the most popular Christian western romance authors out there) and just couldn’t get into them. Sure, the plots were interesting and kept my attention, but even twelve-year-old me knew something was lacking.

Just-as-naive (almost) seventeen-year-old me had the bright idea to pick up Connealy’s latest release, The Element of Love, and give her another try. Bethany House’s publicist basically convinced me that this book was worth the read and I thought, if nothing else, I could enjoy the story itself and that absolutely gorgeous cover.

(Y’all. That. Cover. I have no words.)

I mean, surely her 2022 novel would be leagues above her 2008-2010 releases, right? Surely her writing had gotten better within the last decade?

Yeah. Nope.

Before I start complaining, as I am wont to do, I will say this: people have enjoyed this book. You might enjoy this book (actually, I put money on it). It has an interesting premise, and it’s a short, fast-paced read, which is just about all most people want out of a story.

Keywords: most people. I, for one, am not most people, and I require a great deal more than a short, quick read and interesting concept.

I need strong development and good writing, the two main things this book lacked.

Since my pet peeves go beyond those two things, I’m gonna divide this review into subsections (no, I’m not changing my review structure again...just trying to contain my scrambled thoughts).

(This is what happens when I go to review a book the day after I finished it. *groans*)

prose

The first of the Six Ps of a Novel, prose is one of my all-time favorites. I’m a sucker for lyrical, poetic prose...classical, philosophical prose...emotional prose that captures every element of the story and perfectly conveys it.

Or, well, anything well-written.

Unfortunately, Connealy’s prose of none of that. I hate to say it, but to me, there was more telling than showing. There was no emotion or deep connection to the characters’ perspectives (which made it so hard to tell who’s POV each scene was in, especially since we had so many POV characters). Really, the book read like a first draft—very threadbare in both the prose department and the…

plot

Y’all. The concept was so interesting (if a little unrealistic), and it really had so much potential! BUT (always a but, y’know), it was so poorly executed and I just felt like plot had never really been plotted. And this is coming from a pantser (which means I don’t follow a specific plot structure or outline for my novels). It seemed like Connealy just made things up as she went along and threw stuff in whenever it popped in her head.

And, since we’re talking first drafts here, the plot was never polished or developed. You can wing your story and figure out your premise as you write it, but you have to finish it. You can’t just pass your pantsed story off as a polished novel; you have to fix inconsistencies, tie loose ends, foreshadowed things, omit anything that’s pointless. The list goes on. Unfortunately, Connealy didn’t do that.

On top of that, she added a lot of extra plot points and subplots that really took away from the main one. Considering how short this book was, I feel like the emphasis needed to be solely on Laura, her sisters, and finding husbands. All the drama with the miners (especially at the end) and the whole deal with the gold could’ve been (1) handled better or (2) omitted entirely.

Or we could’ve made the book longer...just sayin’.

pacing

It’s honestly hard to find a book with bad pacing; it’s kinda difficult to mess that up. The Element of Love was fast-paced and—like I said—short, and I think that pacing would have worked really well (especially considering it’s part of a series) IF the story had been developed better! We breezed through the beginning, skipped over character development, and jumped headfirst into a marriage without any foundation! Worse, the ending was terrible. I’m sorry, but it just was. All the subplots were wrapped up hurriedly, while the main plot points were left hanging. Of course, not everything could be resolved in this book, but there’s no denying that the ending could’ve been better.

people

For a 304-page book, we had a TON of characters. Laura and her sisters. Caleb and his friends. The miners and their wives. Zane and his men. Not to mention Margaret and Edgar. In short, there should’ve been half as many characters and twice as many pages.

Why?

Because the characters were positively skeletal. Laura was lacking characterization and development that she sorely needed—because she could’ve been an amazing, unique character, but instead she was just a smart blonde. Jilly and Michelle were more developed, and only from other characters’ perspectives rather than their own.

Speaking of the three sisters...it bothered me how much emphasis was put on their intelligence. Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking: “It’s the whole point of the story! They’re smarter than any woman—or man—of their time!” And that is an amazing and unique trait, but it was used just like beauty.

Seriously.

Everyone was captivated by their intelligence (which was real, but confined only to book learning rather than wisdom or common sense, which I personally value more), and their smarts were their only good quality, their definition. In the end, people didn’t like the Stiles sisters because of their kind hearts or insight or helpfulness or cheerful attitudes or Christlike qualities.

They liked them because they were smart.

And the last thing I wanted to do was like them just because they were smart. I wanted true depth of character and authentic faith in God and genuine compassion. Not mathematical minds. (Speaking of, though, I personally think Roseanna M. White’s Margot de Wilde was written better. Her intelligence stretched a little farther than a good education, and she actually had a convincing mathematical mind. Still didn’t like her much either, though, go figure.)

Caleb...whoo, boy. It’s one thing for me to not like the heroine or connect with her, but the hero? I’m supposed to adore the hero!

Not Caleb. He had so much potential—caring missionary pastor with a hidden past of shame—but his entire character was rushed through and discarded. All his struggles and internal conflicts and feelings and arc could’ve been defined and made him an amazing, relatable hero...instead, he was nothing but a—you guessed it—love interest. I don’t do love interests. I do heroes and heroines. Not main character and love interest. I need equality.

In the end, Zane was the best character. I absolutely adored him (strong, stubborn, tall, dark, and handsome; what’s not to love?), and the only reason I might read the next book is because of him. Out of everyone, his personality came through the strongest and he intrigued me the most.

(Also, y’all will probably hate me for this...but Edgar needed more development too. Like, c’mon, y’all. Even the villains are people. Unless they’re aliens, of course. Or animals. Or robots. Or...you get my point.)

purpose

This section is technically for themes and messages, but I’m gonna go overboard and cover a lot here.

First of all, there was no theme or message. There should have been one...about trusting in God or forgiveness or true love. But there wasn’t. *sobs* The faith elements were there...but they weren’t defined and they had no impact. And, of course, the sisters’ faith in God was limited to “knowing their Bible” (even the devil knows his Bible; that doesn’t mean a thing), and they never sought God, His will for their lives, or His precepts.

Rather, there was this twisted idea that marriage is an institution created for the sole purpose of serving oneself. If your husband is perfect, be married. If not, you need to leave. If your marriage gets you an inheritance, get married. If you don’t gain anything, forget it. Marriage was not treated as “an honourable estate...signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprized, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.” (Quoting from the Puritan vows, in case you’re wondering.)

Speaking of marriage, y’all. This was one of the worst romances I’ve ever read...mainly because there was no romance. There was no connection between Laura and Caleb, no development of their relationship at all, so their sudden marriage seemed really uncalled for, you know? Had the characters been developed and their romance actually there, I might not have minded the quick marriage so much.

(As it were, I would’ve rather had a marriage of convenience that occurred within a day of acquaintance.)

Also, this whole “marrying you would be a sin because you couldn’t have a mission” was. so. weird. (Is that a spoiler? I dunno. I feel like I’m past spoilers at this point.) Like, if God called Caleb to that, only He can call him out of that...and we’re all called to serve others and share the Gospel, whether we own a lumber company or not. Ya dig?

Just seemed like a dumb excuse when she’d could’ve went with “Dude, we don’t know each other from Adam’s house cat.”

And Caleb told her he was in prison, but apparently Laura thought that he’d been imprisoned for jaywalking, so when it came out that he’d been a swindler, she immediately gets ticked and vows to run off. LIKE C’MON HONEY HE TRIED TO TELL YOU AND MAYBE IF YOU HADN’T MARRIED HIM WITHIN A DAY YOU WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN SO SURPRISED TO FIND OUT HE WAS A CRIMINAL!

*clears throat* My apologies.

Before I get on another rant...the last big thing that bothered me was that everyone was a wife-beater. If you weren’t perfect, you beat women. And that was that. There was no development of the issue of abuse or really anything aside from just lots of gratuitous violence. What could’ve been an impactful theme was very poorly dealt with, I think.

But I’ve got to move one before I get mad again…

preachiness

(Technically, this section is for faith elements...not preachiness. I just needed a P-word.)

Y’all know it ain’t a good book unless it’s got the Lord in it. Naturally, there were Christian elements, because Caleb was a parson...but, like I said, there weren’t any themes or messages, what could’ve been was never dwelt on, and everyone’s relationship with God was defined by how well they knew Scripture (not that they ever quoted any). There was really no substance to everyone’s faith, nor did I see any witnessing going on. *shrugs* I just needed more authenticity. More...everything, really.

long story short

To sum up all my whining, the story needed more development, stronger characters, and better quality writing. The characters and concept had great potential—and Zane was awesome—but I feel like the execution left a lot to be desired. There were no definite themes, arcs, or messages either, which was really disappointing for me, because I love gleaning from stories, feeling inspired by them, connecting with the characters, and learning something new!

(And I could kick myself for writing in nearly two thousand words what I just summed up in seventy-three words. Y’all, I need help.)

If you don’t mind hopping all over the place in terms of characters and plotlines, and you’re just looking for a fast and unique western read, then you’ll probably enjoy The Element of Love! But if you, like me, want a story to tug at your heartstrings and rope you in, I suggest picking up a Karen Witemeyer novel instead! (Hmm...should I start adding recommendations to my book reviews? Might not be such a bad idea!)

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

snag your copy about the author

Mary is the bestselling author of over 70 books and novellas has nearly a million books in print. Her most recent book series are The Lumber Baron’s Daughters, Brothers in Arms, High Sierra Sweethearts, Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, and Kincaid Brides.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for taking her readings on a fun, action-packed adventure. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary lives on in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #christianfiction #western #historicalfiction #historicalromance #romance

Review: Fled for Refuge by Kristina Hall

Stars: 4

Synopsis: In a world that hates Christianity and everything it stands for, the lives of Tony Dorence and his sister Merri begin to crumple amid the persecution of the government and the betrayal of those they know and love. When everyone else lets them down, will they too succumb to the pressure of the world or will they choose to stand and fight for what they believe in?

Kristina Hall has done it again, folks! She’s jumped into a new genre, new world, and new cast of characters while still retaining her same straightforward style and inspirational themes of God’s sovereignty and the amazing gift of His salvation! Fled for Refuge is a dystopian novel, set in the “near future,” but it’s still feels very familiar and relevant for the time we’re living in!

I love how Hall’s main focus in FFR is apologetics and how it important it is to stand up for God and His Word, even to the point of imprisonment and death! Of course, she seamlessly wove in so many other themes and messages—witnessing to others, the importance of prayer, trusting God’s will, the evidence of God’s existence—that worked to create a well-rounded, impactful story!

Not to mention throwing in those conservative ideals! Because, yes, I wholeheartedly agree that skinny jeans on guys is pure evil.

I did like the concept, of course, but, I don’t know...I just felt like something was missing or lacking in the execution, per se. For example, in FFR, Christians and conservatives have to deal with a Religious Freedom Mandate that requires all churches/preachers to have their sermons monitored and basically written by the government. The food and water supply has been tainted with cancer-causing chemicals. Abortion is rampant. Schools teach evolution. Etc., etc.

Don’t get me wrong...this is all very, very evil, and Tony (our main man) dealt with a level of persecution we’ve yet to fully face...but schools already teach evolution, abortion is already rampant, food and water already causes cancer. I guess I wasn’t feeling the impact of all that was wrong in Tony’s world...especially considering there was never any mention of things like homosexuality, transgenderism, pedophilia, jab mandates, witchcraft, and stuff like the bill in Maryland that allows babies to be killed up to 28 days old outside of the womb and the bill in Canada that prevents people within the church from talking about biblical sexuality.

I mean, it could’ve been a lot worse. In some ways, we now already deal with a lot worse, on a more sexual level, that is.

So maybe, since this seemed so close to the end of the world and Christians were being persecuted so badly, I was expecting more. (Not that I enjoy mentally torturing myself by going over all that’s wrong with the world, but you get my point.)

All that aside (pardon my rant there), on a more technical level, I seriously felt like I was missing a prequel. Like, we just jumped right in to Tony getting mowed over by a car and I’m just like “Wait. Who’s this dude? What’s going on?” Hall did a great job of explaining everything later, of course, but it was kinda like there was a chapter or a short prequel story missing from the beginning there.

And even though the story was suspenseful, of course, it kind of dragged a little bit and seemed maybe a teensy bit anti-climatic. Maybe it’s because I (and the characters) had been on pins and needles for chapters (or days) waiting for something to happen to Tony that (SPOILER) when it did, it was just kind of like...finally.

That sounds terrible, but surely you get my point.

Speaking of Tony...he was seriously a mashup of all Hall’s previous heroes. He was tough like Moretti, spiritual like Davis, kind like Harry...I mean, best of all the worlds here, eh? And he seriously reminded me of my dad. Like, the way he talked, what he talked about, kind of his general attitude about some things...had Gracie’s dad written all over him. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. *winks*

As for Merri...I couldn’t really connect with her (surprise, surprise), but she was definitely different than most characters. For one, she had serious social anxiety (#relate), was agnostic, and was pretty down-to-earth. So I certainly appreciated her unique qualities, and I loved her arc!

Hall always crafts such believable, emotional, and relatable struggles for her characters, and the way she writes their arcs is perfect!

So even though I felt like some things were missing, Hall hit it out of the park with her characters and her messages and her emotions and THE DADGUM CLIFFHANGER YALL I CANT.

(I’m reading Refuge from the Storm as I write this, so it’s not as heartwrenching as it was when I finished FFR, but y’all.)

Kristina, you can’t get on to me about cliffhangers anymore. You just can’t. Sorry.

So there ya have it, folks! This review is...dang, it’s really short, mainly because a Kristina Hall novel is automatically a must-read for anyone and the only purpose of this review was to hand out just a few non-positive opinions to balance out the gushing I could give y’all.

Seriously. If you like suspense, dystopian fiction, relatable characters, gut-wrenching struggles, tons of action, and lovely faith arcs, Fled for Refuge is for you! (I’m still making a petition for a prequel story so we can learn more about Tony and Merri and their parents and their grandparents and how the world came to be so rotten and everything...any signatures?)

Also, when you do start reading this, make sure Refuge from the Storm is right. there. beside you. Trust me. You gonna need it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the lovely author. All opinions expressed are my own!

snag your copy about the author

Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin. Follow her on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, and her website, and subscribe to her newsletter!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#review #bookreview #christianfiction #dystopianfiction #suspense #endtimes #newrelease #indie

Tell Me You Love Me Anthology Winners Announced!

I have just been through the most torturous experience of my life.

I've just read 20+ AH-MAY-ZING stories that were so unique, so heartfelt, so beautiful...and I've had to only pick a few.

Naturally, I couldn't pick only six out of twenty-two...I've selected twelve for the anthology and four to post on my blog (with the authors' permission, of course). After I announce the lucky winners here, I'll proceed to email the authors and begin editing their stories (for which I will probably need to bring in outside assistance).

Before that, though (yes, I'mma drag this out as long as possible), I would like to thank each and every single one of y'all who submitted. Y'all...this is insane. I've had old friends, published authors, and writers I've never heard of come out of the woodworks to submit their stories to me. That is a tremendous honor, and mere words cannot express my gratitude nor the weighty responsibility I feel.

Whether you were picked or not, your story was amazing. I greatly appreciate all the time, effort, thought, creativity, and courage you put into writing and submitting your story! God has a plan and a purpose for you and your writing, and I pray that He would lead, guide, and direct you into your destiny and use you to further His Kingdom!

Now, without further ado...

the winners Always by Michaela Bush As Beautiful as the Stars by Karynn Heckler Until You Call Me Yours by Mackenzie Hendricks Forever Loved by Lydia M. Jupp For Better or Worse by H. S. Kylian Love is the Little Things by Brooklyn O'Brennan The Day Tragedy Strikes by Maggie Copeland Old Time Devotion by Lulu Molano To Be Loved by Saraina Whitney Till Death Do Us Part by Sarah Lawton He Wanted My Heart by Katherine Perry Untitled by Amelia Cabot (don't worry, we'll get a title soon *winks*)the runnersup The Sweetest Gift by Judith McNees Walk the Garden by Louise Taylor The Time Thief by Abigail Ellison Miss Verona by Linyang Zhang

I don't know about y'all, but I am SOOOOO EXCITED for this anthology!!! When I read Until You Call Me Yours, my heart just began to swell with delight and the purest happiness, and I realized just how much I (and the rest of the world, naturally) need these stories. I've been saying all along that the world needs more Christian romance...but more than that, we need true romance that's tender and sweet and warms your heart. We need true love that comes from the Father above. We need true Christianity that flows from every fiber of our (and our characters') beings.

We need truth.

And that's what these stories deliver...messages of hope, words of God's truth, reflections of Christ's love and sacrifice, purity and innocence. From fantasy stories of diversity to contemporaries that deal with feelings of belonging and worth, from first love as teenagers to lasting love as a married couple to finding love later in life...these stories capture it all, and I pray that they will be as much of a blessing to you as they've been to me!

I'm still hoping for a June release, but I'll leave that up to the Lord, and I will keep everyone posted as time goes on about our progress! Thank you all for your encouragement and enthusiasm and support! I can't wait for this anthology to be in your hands!

If y'all have any questions or comments, feel free to drop them below! And let me know what you're most excited about for this anthology, whether it's a specific story or theme! (And, y'know, if you think this might be something fun to do again in the future...maybe a fantasy anthology...or a pirate anthology...all ideas are welcome!)

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#tellmeyouloveme #anthology #winners #contest #submissions #romance #christianfiction #shortstories #christianromance #fantasy #historicalromance #contemporaryfiction #youngadultfiction

The Bookworm's Tag #3

That's right, folks! Nearly back-to-back bookworm tags! This time, I've got the lovely Tasha Van Kesteren to thank for this tag and these fantastic questions! Y'all can check out her blog here!

Now, without any ado...

The Rules Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you. (Thank you so much, Tasha!) Include the tag graphic in your post Answer the ten questions the blogger asked Nominate between five and ten bloggers Ask your nominees ten book-related questions! Don’t feel bound to these rules (Most importantly) Have fun!The Questions

If you could mash two fantasy worlds together, which would it be?

Oh. That’s a good one. Hmm...I’ve not visited quite as many fantasy worlds as I would like (I’ve been to a few, but I swanny if I could only remember half), so of course I’d mash anything with Narnia…

But let’s be unique here.

I’d probably mix Sara Ella’s Reflections from Unblemished with Daisy Torres’s Inside from Smoke and Mirrors (which is her blog serial that you absolutely must. read. like, now)! Both kinda mirror our world (no pun intended), so I think it’d be cool to combine the two for maximum fantasy awesomeness.

You can meet and marry one fictional character, who would it be?

*glances at her harem of fictional guys* Um, yeah. About that. I guess this is the one question where I have to pick one.

Well, I’ll put it like this. My romance novel is a love square, so I’ve got a variety of options...Mr. Darcy, Rhett Butler, Mitch Dennehy, Ky Rhyen (the list goes on, actually)...all vying for my coveted attentions, of course.

In the end, though, it’s a tie between Mr. Darcy and Mitch. But I think Mitch and I would probably be a wee bit more compatible, because he’s a hot-headed grouch.

And I’m a hot-headed grouch.

So there.

How many books are you currently reading?

All of them, feels like. Actually, probably only two that I’ve actively reading, but I’ve got, like, ten on the currently reading shelf right now.

What two characters do you think would make the ultimate team?

Basically anyone and Rina. Because even if they hated each other’s guts and couldn’t get along at all, it’d be absolutely hilarious.

But as for characters who aren’t mine...

Who is your favourite fictional character?

Don’t, Tasha. This is the forbidden question. I cannot allow you to ask me this.

AUGH!!! I don’t know!!! There are SO. MANY. AMAZING ONES. How in the great googly moogly am I supposed to pick a favorite???!!!

For the sake of the question, I’mma go with Mr. Darcy. I don’t even need to explain that one, do I?

Which fictional world would you visit?

I mean...Narnia? The Reflections (Sara Ella’s Unblemished trilogy)? The Inside (Daisy Torres’ Smoke and Mirrors)?

I only remember a handful of worlds (the names of them, at least) from the fantasies I’ve read, so… OOH!!! Goldstone Wood from Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Tales of Goldstone Wood! I wouldn’t mind going there (or to Farthestshore, of course)!

Read on your bed, couch, or comfy chair?

I’m good with either, but I end up reading in my bed more often because I read at night, so…

Who is your favourite author?

The other forbidden question!!! Seriously, I’m tied between Julie Lessman, Tamara Leigh, Roseanna M. White, Laura Frantz, Kellyn Roth, Hannah Linder, and Victoria Lynn. (The list goes on, in case you’re wondering.) They’re all SO talented and inspiring!

You have to ship one fictional character to a different world. Who would it be and what world would it be?

Either Han Solo comes here, or Rina goes to Tatooine. (We’re Star Wars people up in here, BTW.) I honestly don’t know! I feel like Rina would flourish anywhere, so naturally she’s my first pick of characters to ship off (in a pirate ship with rockets, of course *winks*), and any world would do. Or, I dunno, a space Pride and Prejudice! We could send Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to the Star Wars world!

(And Star Wars totally counts because they do have novelizations/adaptions.)

Or...we could bring Ky (from Unblemished) to be part of Rina’s crew...*waggles eyebrows*…and I could get a chance to write his fantastic self…

You have to kill one character you love. Who do you kill?

Rina.

*clears throat*

Maybe I shouldn’t go with my characters, eh? I dunno, this is tough. Should totally kill Rhett Butler and put him out of his misery. *sobs* Or kill Elizabeth Bennet so I can have Mr. Darcy all to myself. *cackles* Nah, I don’t know. I just...don’t know.

My Tags + Questions

I tag...

Ryan Elizabeth @ Ryan Elizabeth Writes Alicia Marentette Saraina Whitney The Maidens of Green Gables Madi’s Musings Lillian Keith Sisters Three

My questions for y’all are as follows!

Book to movie adaption or book to TV series? Would you rather...be in your favorite book or write the book? What’s the most you’ve read in one sitting? Favorite bookish merch/swag? Worst. Book. Ever. In your opinion? Most recent DNF (Did Not Finish)? What’s your most unpopular bookish opinion? (Just...don’t say anything bad about Jane Austen, okay? I’m sensitive in that area. XD) Have you ever cosplayed as your favorite character(s)? What’s your favorite book setting (time, world, country, etc.)? If you could be the main character of any book, which one would it be?

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! The question for my commenters...

If you could brutally annihilated *clears throat* lay to rest ANY of my characters (except the ones I've already killed off), who would it be??? And why?

Ooh, I'll do you one better...how would you kill them?

I'll leave the plotting up to y'all. *winks*

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookworm #reader #aboutme #thebookwormstag #blogtag #books #reading #noiwouldntreallykillrina #orwouldi

Preorders, Patreon, and More!

Yaaaaaall, I have got a TON of AH-MAY-ZING stuff to share with y'all! I'm gonna forgo the boring ol' introduction anyway and just jump right in! Y'all might wanna buckle up! *winks*

preorders are live

Not for Bound and Determined (yet)...but for my devotional, With Fear and Trembling! I'm doing print preorders for the. first. time. EVER!!!! So, if that sounds like something you're interested in learning more about, just click the button below! You'll also find information about Kindle preorders (which are only $2.99) and the link to the book on Amazon there too!

The release date is currently set for April 27th, 2022, at which point the book will go up to $4.99 on Amazon, the paperback version will go live at $9.99, and I'll (hopefully) get started on the special edition hardcover version! (Another new thing that I'm pretty excited for!!!)

If, however, you'd prefer to take things a step further and preorder a SIGNED print copy + a beautiful bookmark for only $15 (that includes shipping), then you'll definitely wanna check out my preorders! Since this is my first time doing this, it's a little crazy, so you'll submit your address to me, then pay for the book through PayPal. Lord willing, everything will work out fine, and I'll have your book (and bookmark) to you a few weeks after release! (Yes, it'll take weeks, because I've got to have the books printed and shipped to me first, which often takes about two weeks or so. Then I've got to ship it to you, which usually only takes about three to five business days.)

Also, I hate to say it, but yes. The print preorders are only available for US addresses. *sobs* Still, there are always Kindle preorders, and if you'll submit your proof of purchase (aka, email me a screenshot of your receipt or forward it to me), you'll receive a printable bookmark!

If you have ANY questions or concerns AT ALL, don't hesitant to drop me in a line in the comments or through my contact form on the homepage!

six o'clock is free

In honor of spring break (which, where I live, is this week), I'm running a three-day promo for my short story Six O'clock! From midnight (PST) April 4th (today) to midnight (PST) April 6th, you'll be able to snag yourself a free copy of this story!

Just hop on over to Amazon and get ready to read!

become a member

I have done the unthinkable, that which I once vowed never to do.

I set up a Patreon page.

I honestly thought Patreon was kinda like begging people for money so that you could make money (which is actually a totally respectable thing, so I’ve learned in my business studies). But it’s not! It’s really a way for followers and readers (like your lovely self) to support the creators they love and crowdfund their future projects...AND for creators to cultivate a community of fans and produce exclusive content! It’s the perfect place to share all those back-burner stories, gush about your new projects, and share book covers and sneak peeks!

So, yeah, I’m part of Patreon now, which means you can click the button below and become a member to gain access to all those exclusive goodies I mentioned! Everything’s pretty simple and straightforward right now, but I’ll be adding more tiers and more benefits as time goes on! I can’t wait to have you join me on my writerly journey!

subscribe

That's right! You can now subscribe to S&J Editors' newsletter for exclusive offers and updates!

If you (or a friend) is interested in high quality but affordable editing for your medieval fantasy epic, romantic sci-fi short story, or whatever project you're cooking up, then I highly recommend S&J Editors! (That was totally a self-plug. I apologize.)

But seriously. E.K. Seaver and I would LOVE to work with you on your manuscript to get it sparkling and ready for publication, whether you're going trad or indie! If you'd like more information about our prices and what we offer, just click the button below and scroll down to subscribe to our newsletter!

Welp. I think that sums things up! But before I close...a shout-out to Maggie and Sarah...y'all were SO close to guessing the Christmas songs I parodied (in my moment of weirdness Saturday)! Y'all were right...two of them were We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Christmastime Is Here...but the other one was Merry Christmas, Darling by The Carpenters! (Yes, I listen to Christmas music from the 70s and 80s. Actually not that bad, believe it or not.)

Now, what are y'all most excited for? What will y'all be working on over spring break? Lemme know in the comments below! *waves*

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#news #booknews #updates #preorders #preordernow #signedbooks #bookmarks #bookswag #devotional #withfearandtrembling #subscribe #newsletter #sandjeditors #editingservices #patreon #becomeamember #jointhecrew #support #sale #spring #springbreak #freetoread #kindle #free #sixoclock

Review: The Reflections by E.K. Seaver

Stars: 4

Synopsis: The day Em Gades received the summons letter that she, of all the nine thousand people left on earth, had been chosen to compete in The Reflections, she had no idea what she’d be up against. When she arrives a few days later, she’s met with a corrupt government, danger on all sides, willful murder, betrayal, and more questions than there are answers.

Y’all, it seems like just yesterday that I was signed up to beta-read The Reflections, and yet it’s been a year and a half! I’d only just “met” E.K. the month before on Kingdom Pen (a Christian writers forum), and we’d talked back and forth about biblical worldview in fiction, portraying death and murder, and more.

Here we are many months later, and this amazing dystopian novel is finally coming out into the world! (And Seaver and I are buds now...who still talk about death occasionally.)

First of all, I am SO excited to see Christian elements woven into The Reflections (there weren’t originally)! Seaver did a fantastic job of weaving the faith elements (or...lack-of-faith elements...maybe?) into this story in a way that was relatable, simplistic, and genuine! Em’s doubts and questions were geared toward the circumstances of The Reflections, but we’ve all asked the same ones ourselves, and I really enjoyed reading about her spiritual struggles and what will hopefully become her relationship with Christ!

Second, I personally though the death/murder was portrayed rather well. A bit gruesome at times (which doesn’t bother me), but Em saw it as wrong and even without her perspective on it, there were still obvious consequences and affects that drove the point home. Murder certainly wasn’t brushed off like it is in secular fiction (or in the absolutely vile Lady Alyssa’s mind).

Now, on to the meat of the story!

For me, this was a unique concept. I don’t read a lot of dystopian/speculative fiction, so naturally I didn’t have a lot to compare this too and I thought the premise was intriguing. Yes, it’s a lot like The Hunger Games (from what I’ve read on Wikipedia about it *winks*) and To Best the Boys by Mary Weber, but it has its own style and personality (some of which can be attributed to Seaver herself). For some, maybe it’s cliché. For me, I enjoyed it!

I feel like there could’ve been a little more development, though, because the beginning and ending were so rushed! I know most people advise writers to jump into the action on the opening page, but I prefer to get to know the main character and come to care for them before they’re thrust into that precarious situation. As for the ending...either I read it too fast (I was cramming so I could get this review in, after all) or the Death Maze and everything came and went very quickly. It did leave things open for the second book, though, which works out great!

Some instances didn’t flow well, as if we were missing scenes or information, and I still feel like there should’ve been more on how everything operated! Maybe I wanted Lady Alyssa’s POV...or I needed some explanation on why she did what she did and how it furthered her plans (then again, she could just be insane). Hopefully that’ll be addressed in the next book, because I do feel like there were some serious loose ends.

On my final negative note, the writing. Like, to me, Seaver’s third-person novella The House That Didn’t End had better prose. It was sarcastic, it was poetic, it was balanced, the characters’ voices shone...but in TR? Nope. I hate to say it, but there were so many instances where the story read like this: “I trip and fall. I hit the ground. I land on my hands and knees.” Very stilted, unemotional, unengaged (not a word, but you get my point). I felt more like Em was narrating rather than experiencing at times, which didn’t work for first-person present tense.

I needed more flow, more balance between action and emotion. Even more clarity sometimes too.

That said, there were times where paragraphs flowed better, and Seaver made use of many fantastic metaphors/similes/analogies that gave her prose some of the flavor it was missing!

As for the almighty characters...y’all. Em was great. Sure, she wasn’t the best narrator and I didn’t connect to her character (I rarely ever connect to heroines; y’all know that), but she was still fabulous. She was real. Relatable. Normal. Not a feminist! Like, thank You, Jesus, because I am SO fed up with bratty, sarcastic heroines who act like they’re better than everyone else...when they’re not and they have no personality at all.

Not Em. Nope, she was just an average sixteen-year-old who was struggling with everything. She cried. She ran and hid. She trembled with fear. And then she had moments where she stood up. She dried her eyes. She helped others. So, yeah, perfect balance. Loved it.

And the secondary characters? Y’ALL. They were so vibrant and real and perfect and I just loved them all. I needed more. So. Much. More.

Like Flinn, for example.

*pauses for a moment*

You’ll understand after you read.

The characters really were the best part, I think.

Oh, and this: “I thought I had nothing to live for...but I found something better to die for.”

I think that about sums it up, folks. Would you die for your friends? Would you die for a stranger? Would you die to further an evil agenda?

More than that...what—or who—would you live for?

Long story short (actually not that long this time)...The Reflections quite literally had its ups and downs. Some things could’ve been paced better, written better, developed better...but in the end, the beautiful characters and themes redeemed this intense, insanely high-stakes YA dystopian novel!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the lovely author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Snag Your Copy About the Author

To find an E. K. Seaver, you must set a trap. The best option is to lure her in using chocolate, blankets, and a typewriter, but if none of those are on hand, spare books and Broadway music can be easily substituted.

She prefers to be wild and free, though. Whether it includes adventuring through the Rocky Mountains or curled up at a local bookshop, she uses her freedom to produce art. From books to scarves to paintings, Ms. Seaver strives to honor her King in every aspect of her creative works. She desires her stories to hold meaning beyond the tale and attempts to follow in the footsteps of storytellers who came before her.

You can find her and her wild adventures at ekseaver.wordpress.com or on Instagram @ekseaver.author.

The Tour

Interested in reading more thoughts on The Reflections? Wanna know more about this exciting new release? I am glad you asked, dear! I just so happen to be a part of the blog tour for TR, which means I've got a whole list of epic posts to share with y'all!

April 1- https://kristinahallauthor.wordpress.com/blog/

April 2- https://www.graceajohnson.com/blog

April 3- https://discipleshipwithjoy.com/

April 4- onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com

April 5- https://thoughtsfromastumblingsaint.blog/

April 6- https://rmarcher.com

April 7- yourwriterlyfriendkads.wordpress.com

April 8- https://yeetarandomwriter.wixsite.com/laurelaburgess/blog

Happy reading, everyone, and don't forget to preorder a copy of The Reflections while you can!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #dystopian #christianfiction #comingsoon #indie #youngauthor #ya #preorder