Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 53
May 21, 2020
"Passion with a Purpose"
Remember what I said a couple weeks ago about writing whilst everyone else is stuck at home? I take it back.
I've been writing, yes, and I was definitely working on my next manuscript when I posted that. But...uh...aside from a Christmas short story--I have a weakness for those, apparently--about two of my favorite secondary characters, I haven't been doing much. I just wrote 379 words yesterday in Bound and Determined, which was the first since...well, since I wrote that blog post on the 4th.
Maybe you count a 9,280-word long short story--it's becoming more of a novella--that I've indulged in as progress, but I don't. Thank God for self-publishing, or else I would have missed a thousand deadlines. 😅
So...what have I been doing, you ask?
Reading. And, no, not The Cost of Discipleship , which I started a few months ago and haven't finished. And, no, not the Lord of the Rings saga that has been sitting, untouched, on my shelf since Christmas.
Instead, I've been reading ebooks. I never read ebooks. To be honest, I hate them. I've discovered some greats through my several-month stint with my local e-library--like Karen Witemeyer and Kristi Ann Hunter--a few years ago, but I was turned off to popular Elizabeth Camden, famous Colleen Coble, and Kathleen Morgan due to, well, just not liking ebooks. I'm sure they're great authors, but I can't glean a lot from reading off a computer screen.
Anyway...
It was free, and I took the plunge. Next thing I knew, I was hooked. Somehow, in some way, Julie Lessman can make an ebook-hater pay good money for her ebooks. And, yes, I'm a penny-pinching miser, so my paying good money for something means a lot.
Well, two series and four weeks into Julie Lessman's wonderful universe of Irish Catholic womanizers--yes, you heard that right--and I'm getting kind of angry.
For real.
I love this lady's books. And I know only one person's going to read this blog post--you know who you are 😉😘--but I'm going take the time to preach a sermon anyway. (BTW, if you're reading this post, please like or comment just to let me know that I have an audience of more than one. It would be encouraging.)
I have a weakness for reading reviews. Especially before I write reviews. And especially the negative reviews.
A lot of books/authors--even the super famous, really good ones--get some nasty comments, bad ratings, or mess up a couple times. Most of the time, at least in the Christian fiction genre, it's usually the scenarios of a simplistic plot, 1-D characters, or--in the historical case--a lack of historic detail or an incorrect fact. (Which, if 'tis incorrect, wouldn't be a fact, but you get my point.)
However, I've never seen an author take this many hits. Everyone says the same thing about Julie Lessman and every stinkin' one of her books--too much. Too much passion. Too much "lust." Too far into the bedroom. (If that's a problem for you, I'd suggest you forget borrowing Redeeming Love from your grandmother and you put down Gone with the Wind or that Eugenia Price novel right this instant.)
All right, all right. I understand these concerns completely.
What I don't understand are the points these people make and the stands they take and the arguments they present.
Here's how I see things, firstly as a reader of romance.
#1: If you're reading a romance novel, then you've pretty much bet on a few heated kisses--even if it's "Christian." If that's not what you're looking for, but you accidentally stumbled upon a romance, read it, and didn't like it, then that's personal opinion. It was too much, for your tastes, because you're more of a light, inspirational reader. I totally get that.
#2: In the same way, I like kiss scenes. I will purposefully pick up one of my favorite books, flip to the longest one, and reread it several times. Disgusting? I call it human. So, for me, a little "too much" is not a problem.
#3: Heated kisses are reality. I like to read real things. Books about fictional people in fictional situations who have the same, real issues as the rest of us. I've never read anything more real than Julie Lessman.
I also write romance. How does that change how I see things like this?
#1: I like to write kiss scenes. (Don't look at me like that. Just because I might have never been kissed before doesn't mean I can't enjoy imagining.)
I wrote this one at twelve: "I wanted to jerk away, but his hold was too fast. I wanted to plant my fist in his face, but I was drowning in his touch. And I wanted to tell myself not to lean into him, to return his kiss, but the last of my common sense had fled me, and frankly, I didn’t want it back.
Xavier’s arms around me tightened, his mouth moving against mine in such a way that made me wonder if he had intended only to shut me up or if he had been planning to get his hands on me all along. Not that there was anything I was able to do about it, leastwise not when I was unwillingly enjoying kissing this devious scoundrel all too much.
My mind was spinning now, with warnings and objections and him. My heart was pounding, perhaps from fear of what the knave might truly be attempting to do or perhaps from sheer pleasure. And my hands, the utterly rebellious little limbs, were sliding up his chest to his shoulders, gripping onto him for dear life as I went overboard.
I parted my lips, deepening our kiss even as I told myself not to. Dash it all. What did it matter anyway? It was naught but a stupid kiss. I might as well make the most of it, aye?"
Then this one at fourteen: "'That you care'— he drew me closer, his arm around my waist, his hand on my hip—'about me.' He leaned in until our noses brushed, until the air I breathed in was the same he breathed out. Until there was no escape.
Even if I wanted to.
But I needed to.
'Elliot, you know—'
His mouth cut my words off. His left hand trailed up my arm, leaving tingles on my skin, moving up my shoulder and to the back of my neck. Tilted my head back, tangled his fingers in my curls. Parted my lips, blurred the lines between want and need, between reality and dream, between the warning bells and the thrum of my pulse.
My muscles ached, tightened with the gnawing pain of a long-ignored hunger. My fingers clenched into fists, balling up the fabric of his shirt in my hands. I had to let go. Needed to. So badly.
Because I was leaving. And it was for the best. And if I let this go too far, I’d regret it.
But then my back arched. All resistance fled, succumbed to the heady sensations his touch induced. My fingers loosened, climbed up his chest, over his shoulders. My mouth moved against his, melting into him. Then there were no bells. No thoughts. No oughts and needs and should’ves. Only Elliot. Only me.
Only us. Now.
And nothing else mattered."
#2: This stuff is important. I know you can easily write "he kissed her" and be done with it, but if you spend three paragraphs describing the exterior of a house, then the one-sentence thing is gonna be a little out of place. And those jolts of electricity? Um...they actually don't exist. And I don't believe in love at first sight. Attraction, yes. Love, no. (And I should know. Love is a choice. So are those tingles.)
#3: This goes hand-in-hand with reading reality. I write reality. And, for me, that means men speaking in tongues and women casting out demons--because I know that's real. And it also means writing some flying sparks. Like in this scene in Bound and Determined: "I leaned into her face, hovering over her until she had to bend back to continue glaring directly at me, watching as her gaze flitted from my jaw to my eyes to the pulsing vein in my neck. Pools of moist blue spilled over, almost lapping at her cheeks and trailing across the bridge of her nose…
'Do not pretend to know me, Daisy. You don’t. I’m not the same kid you used to know.'
Until she blinked. Stiffened and straightened, inclined her head ‘til my lips brushed against the feather-soft skin at her hairline. 'You should well know I’m not the same little girl either, Mr. Clarke.'
The heat radiating from her slender body was more powerful than it had ever been when we were younger. Her slender body was more full and curved than it had ever been when we were younger. I drew back, tracing my lips with my tongue and tasting her scent of honeycomb and lemongrass, morning dew and wildflowers—the taste of home. ‘Twas true; she was not the same either. She was taller—by half a foot or so—and surely weighed more. Her features had filled out, revealing low cheekbones, a perfectly rounded jaw, a pert nose, full lips.
Full, succulent, anticipating lips directly beneath mine, dripping with…
Seduction."
All right, all right. I could've done better with that one, couldn't I? Well, you got to understand where the point-of-view character is coming from--he's only pecked a girl's lips once or twice, so Daisy is a wee bit "too much," I guess you could say.
Now, as a Christian, surely I find the idea of reading such "lustful porn" distasteful? (To be honest, lustful porn is Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey and After. no. thank. you. I. will. not. period.) And what about as a teenage girl who is "easily influenced"?
Well, #1: It's better to marry than to burn--or at least that's what Paul says in 1st Corinthians--which implies that you do burn, and with passion, at that. He doesn't say that this burning is sinful, but that just as anger is a human emotion that even Jesus felt, one should be careful what one does with such passion. Acting on that passion, ruining one's purity and stepping over boundaries that should never be crossed? That's a sin. Disobeying God? That's a sin. Living with the demons of another person, bearing their illegitimate child, being disowned or despised by family, having a STD? That's the consequence of sin. Julie Lessman shows that through the guilt her characters are riddled with, through the consequences they have to endure. What else does she show, though? That Christ can forgive any sin.
#2: It's a beautiful allegory, that passion. If you'd just stalk the woman's blog posts--like I do--then you'd see that she doesn't write all that mushy-gushy nonsense for pleasure. (I mean, maybe. I know I do.) She writes about belly buttons like goblets and cheeks like pomegranates and lips like wine and breasts like roses because it reflects the love God has for us. Oh, wait. No. That was King Solomon. Ha, ha. I'm sorry. Ahem. She writes about impassioned married couples and lovesick rakes and desirable women because that reflects the love God has for His bride--whether that be His first bride Israel or His second, the Gentiles. Us. That reckless abandon and idiotic love that causes the characters to throw caution to the wind and chase after their hearts desire...is kind of like Christ's. Now, I'm not saying His love is reckless or stupid. Far from it. But for us to live out that love seems crazy to us.
#3: Now, how about that negative influence? Do I feel bad about myself because I'm not as "curved" or "sensual" as Charity O'Conner? Do I feel like I need a man to satisfy me? Do I feel like a less-than nobody on the outskirts of the crowd because I'm a virgin? Nope. Hands-down, nope. In fact, I might feel a wee bit proud about those things--that I'm a petite little girl who relies only on God and is as pure as a newborn lamb. I'm reminded by the stupid mistakes her characters make that, yes, beauty is very--very--vain, that charm is super deceitful, that my virginity is a gift I will only give my husband one day, that NO ONE can satisfy me like Jesus does. (I mean, even Selena Gomez apparently gets that, so... Not saying I know her heart, but she can talk the talk, or, well, sing the song.) And I am also reminded that some people--no, a lot of people don't know or understand or believe what I do. And a portion of those people are in my life. right. now. today. And they need God more than anything in the world.
So, yes. Her passion definitely has a purpose. I'm glad I realized that. I'm sorry others don't. I'm also sorry--not--that I got a little rant-ish and kind of prejudiced and maybe a bit biased. Hope you enjoyed the sermon, folks. And those kiss scenes. I got more where that came from! 😉
Excerpts from Held Captive and Prisoner at Heart: Copyright © 2019 Grace Ann Johnson
All rights reserved.
I've been writing, yes, and I was definitely working on my next manuscript when I posted that. But...uh...aside from a Christmas short story--I have a weakness for those, apparently--about two of my favorite secondary characters, I haven't been doing much. I just wrote 379 words yesterday in Bound and Determined, which was the first since...well, since I wrote that blog post on the 4th.
Maybe you count a 9,280-word long short story--it's becoming more of a novella--that I've indulged in as progress, but I don't. Thank God for self-publishing, or else I would have missed a thousand deadlines. 😅
So...what have I been doing, you ask?
Reading. And, no, not The Cost of Discipleship , which I started a few months ago and haven't finished. And, no, not the Lord of the Rings saga that has been sitting, untouched, on my shelf since Christmas.
Instead, I've been reading ebooks. I never read ebooks. To be honest, I hate them. I've discovered some greats through my several-month stint with my local e-library--like Karen Witemeyer and Kristi Ann Hunter--a few years ago, but I was turned off to popular Elizabeth Camden, famous Colleen Coble, and Kathleen Morgan due to, well, just not liking ebooks. I'm sure they're great authors, but I can't glean a lot from reading off a computer screen.
Anyway...
It was free, and I took the plunge. Next thing I knew, I was hooked. Somehow, in some way, Julie Lessman can make an ebook-hater pay good money for her ebooks. And, yes, I'm a penny-pinching miser, so my paying good money for something means a lot.
Well, two series and four weeks into Julie Lessman's wonderful universe of Irish Catholic womanizers--yes, you heard that right--and I'm getting kind of angry.
For real.
I love this lady's books. And I know only one person's going to read this blog post--you know who you are 😉😘--but I'm going take the time to preach a sermon anyway. (BTW, if you're reading this post, please like or comment just to let me know that I have an audience of more than one. It would be encouraging.)
I have a weakness for reading reviews. Especially before I write reviews. And especially the negative reviews.
A lot of books/authors--even the super famous, really good ones--get some nasty comments, bad ratings, or mess up a couple times. Most of the time, at least in the Christian fiction genre, it's usually the scenarios of a simplistic plot, 1-D characters, or--in the historical case--a lack of historic detail or an incorrect fact. (Which, if 'tis incorrect, wouldn't be a fact, but you get my point.)
However, I've never seen an author take this many hits. Everyone says the same thing about Julie Lessman and every stinkin' one of her books--too much. Too much passion. Too much "lust." Too far into the bedroom. (If that's a problem for you, I'd suggest you forget borrowing Redeeming Love from your grandmother and you put down Gone with the Wind or that Eugenia Price novel right this instant.)
All right, all right. I understand these concerns completely.
What I don't understand are the points these people make and the stands they take and the arguments they present.
Here's how I see things, firstly as a reader of romance.
#1: If you're reading a romance novel, then you've pretty much bet on a few heated kisses--even if it's "Christian." If that's not what you're looking for, but you accidentally stumbled upon a romance, read it, and didn't like it, then that's personal opinion. It was too much, for your tastes, because you're more of a light, inspirational reader. I totally get that.
#2: In the same way, I like kiss scenes. I will purposefully pick up one of my favorite books, flip to the longest one, and reread it several times. Disgusting? I call it human. So, for me, a little "too much" is not a problem.
#3: Heated kisses are reality. I like to read real things. Books about fictional people in fictional situations who have the same, real issues as the rest of us. I've never read anything more real than Julie Lessman.
I also write romance. How does that change how I see things like this?
#1: I like to write kiss scenes. (Don't look at me like that. Just because I might have never been kissed before doesn't mean I can't enjoy imagining.)
I wrote this one at twelve: "I wanted to jerk away, but his hold was too fast. I wanted to plant my fist in his face, but I was drowning in his touch. And I wanted to tell myself not to lean into him, to return his kiss, but the last of my common sense had fled me, and frankly, I didn’t want it back.
Xavier’s arms around me tightened, his mouth moving against mine in such a way that made me wonder if he had intended only to shut me up or if he had been planning to get his hands on me all along. Not that there was anything I was able to do about it, leastwise not when I was unwillingly enjoying kissing this devious scoundrel all too much.
My mind was spinning now, with warnings and objections and him. My heart was pounding, perhaps from fear of what the knave might truly be attempting to do or perhaps from sheer pleasure. And my hands, the utterly rebellious little limbs, were sliding up his chest to his shoulders, gripping onto him for dear life as I went overboard.
I parted my lips, deepening our kiss even as I told myself not to. Dash it all. What did it matter anyway? It was naught but a stupid kiss. I might as well make the most of it, aye?"
Then this one at fourteen: "'That you care'— he drew me closer, his arm around my waist, his hand on my hip—'about me.' He leaned in until our noses brushed, until the air I breathed in was the same he breathed out. Until there was no escape.
Even if I wanted to.
But I needed to.
'Elliot, you know—'
His mouth cut my words off. His left hand trailed up my arm, leaving tingles on my skin, moving up my shoulder and to the back of my neck. Tilted my head back, tangled his fingers in my curls. Parted my lips, blurred the lines between want and need, between reality and dream, between the warning bells and the thrum of my pulse.
My muscles ached, tightened with the gnawing pain of a long-ignored hunger. My fingers clenched into fists, balling up the fabric of his shirt in my hands. I had to let go. Needed to. So badly.
Because I was leaving. And it was for the best. And if I let this go too far, I’d regret it.
But then my back arched. All resistance fled, succumbed to the heady sensations his touch induced. My fingers loosened, climbed up his chest, over his shoulders. My mouth moved against his, melting into him. Then there were no bells. No thoughts. No oughts and needs and should’ves. Only Elliot. Only me.
Only us. Now.
And nothing else mattered."
#2: This stuff is important. I know you can easily write "he kissed her" and be done with it, but if you spend three paragraphs describing the exterior of a house, then the one-sentence thing is gonna be a little out of place. And those jolts of electricity? Um...they actually don't exist. And I don't believe in love at first sight. Attraction, yes. Love, no. (And I should know. Love is a choice. So are those tingles.)
#3: This goes hand-in-hand with reading reality. I write reality. And, for me, that means men speaking in tongues and women casting out demons--because I know that's real. And it also means writing some flying sparks. Like in this scene in Bound and Determined: "I leaned into her face, hovering over her until she had to bend back to continue glaring directly at me, watching as her gaze flitted from my jaw to my eyes to the pulsing vein in my neck. Pools of moist blue spilled over, almost lapping at her cheeks and trailing across the bridge of her nose…
'Do not pretend to know me, Daisy. You don’t. I’m not the same kid you used to know.'
Until she blinked. Stiffened and straightened, inclined her head ‘til my lips brushed against the feather-soft skin at her hairline. 'You should well know I’m not the same little girl either, Mr. Clarke.'
The heat radiating from her slender body was more powerful than it had ever been when we were younger. Her slender body was more full and curved than it had ever been when we were younger. I drew back, tracing my lips with my tongue and tasting her scent of honeycomb and lemongrass, morning dew and wildflowers—the taste of home. ‘Twas true; she was not the same either. She was taller—by half a foot or so—and surely weighed more. Her features had filled out, revealing low cheekbones, a perfectly rounded jaw, a pert nose, full lips.
Full, succulent, anticipating lips directly beneath mine, dripping with…
Seduction."
All right, all right. I could've done better with that one, couldn't I? Well, you got to understand where the point-of-view character is coming from--he's only pecked a girl's lips once or twice, so Daisy is a wee bit "too much," I guess you could say.
Now, as a Christian, surely I find the idea of reading such "lustful porn" distasteful? (To be honest, lustful porn is Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey and After. no. thank. you. I. will. not. period.) And what about as a teenage girl who is "easily influenced"?
Well, #1: It's better to marry than to burn--or at least that's what Paul says in 1st Corinthians--which implies that you do burn, and with passion, at that. He doesn't say that this burning is sinful, but that just as anger is a human emotion that even Jesus felt, one should be careful what one does with such passion. Acting on that passion, ruining one's purity and stepping over boundaries that should never be crossed? That's a sin. Disobeying God? That's a sin. Living with the demons of another person, bearing their illegitimate child, being disowned or despised by family, having a STD? That's the consequence of sin. Julie Lessman shows that through the guilt her characters are riddled with, through the consequences they have to endure. What else does she show, though? That Christ can forgive any sin.
#2: It's a beautiful allegory, that passion. If you'd just stalk the woman's blog posts--like I do--then you'd see that she doesn't write all that mushy-gushy nonsense for pleasure. (I mean, maybe. I know I do.) She writes about belly buttons like goblets and cheeks like pomegranates and lips like wine and breasts like roses because it reflects the love God has for us. Oh, wait. No. That was King Solomon. Ha, ha. I'm sorry. Ahem. She writes about impassioned married couples and lovesick rakes and desirable women because that reflects the love God has for His bride--whether that be His first bride Israel or His second, the Gentiles. Us. That reckless abandon and idiotic love that causes the characters to throw caution to the wind and chase after their hearts desire...is kind of like Christ's. Now, I'm not saying His love is reckless or stupid. Far from it. But for us to live out that love seems crazy to us.
#3: Now, how about that negative influence? Do I feel bad about myself because I'm not as "curved" or "sensual" as Charity O'Conner? Do I feel like I need a man to satisfy me? Do I feel like a less-than nobody on the outskirts of the crowd because I'm a virgin? Nope. Hands-down, nope. In fact, I might feel a wee bit proud about those things--that I'm a petite little girl who relies only on God and is as pure as a newborn lamb. I'm reminded by the stupid mistakes her characters make that, yes, beauty is very--very--vain, that charm is super deceitful, that my virginity is a gift I will only give my husband one day, that NO ONE can satisfy me like Jesus does. (I mean, even Selena Gomez apparently gets that, so... Not saying I know her heart, but she can talk the talk, or, well, sing the song.) And I am also reminded that some people--no, a lot of people don't know or understand or believe what I do. And a portion of those people are in my life. right. now. today. And they need God more than anything in the world.
So, yes. Her passion definitely has a purpose. I'm glad I realized that. I'm sorry others don't. I'm also sorry--not--that I got a little rant-ish and kind of prejudiced and maybe a bit biased. Hope you enjoyed the sermon, folks. And those kiss scenes. I got more where that came from! 😉
Excerpts from Held Captive and Prisoner at Heart: Copyright © 2019 Grace Ann Johnson
All rights reserved.
May 4, 2020
Bound and Determined Sneak Peek!
So...I'm in a "sneaky" mood today. Everyone's stuck at home--either working, finishing up school, or simply being bored. Which means I'm writing.
Which means the third novel in the Daughters of the Sevens Seas series, Bound and Determined is on its way.
I've made it to Chapter 12 with a total of--approximately--40,200 words. My story is coming to life. My characters are starting to experience some of their greatest hardships. (I'm starting to get overly giddy about this book, because it is crazy amazing! And I'm biased, so...)
I felt it was time to share a little piece of the fun.
Here's a tentative summary:
It has been two years since Rina Bennet has stepped foot on board her ship, and all she expects is a smooth return to the norm. Cloudless skies, still waves, a happy crew, and plenty of ships to plunder, she hopes. A mysterious stowaway whose very presence lifts her spirits and sends her hopes plummeting into the sea, is what she receives.
Whilst struggling to obtain balance upon her ship, Rina's good friend Keaton is revisited by a ghost from his past and her husband is caught in a precarious situation that he hadn't planned for.
If all goes well, Rina will be able to help her stowaway, restore her quartermaster's faith, plunder a few ships, and return to Port Royal in time to birth a baby.
But if not...her husband could lose a great opportunity and lose his life, she could lose her unborn child or her freedom, and a new friend could lose her sister and her life as well.
So. Yes. Drama. Action. Adventure. A lot of good stuff I really don't want to spoil...
It's all here. And, you know what? An earlier part of this story--within the first few chapters--reminded me of our situation now. Rina and her husband Xavier have to make a very important decision, one that could cost them dearly. They're praying for guidance and scouring the Word for wisdom, but even Rina does not hear God's Voice giving clear direction. Where do they go? What should they do?
Then Xavier is reminded of this: "There is always calm in Christ. No matter where it is that you go or what it is that you do. He will be glorified. He will watch over you. His will shall be done. In Him, there is peace."
Whether you're making a monumental decision or are stuck in quarantine, we know this to be true, that God is in control. Always. And that His Will shall be done, His Kingdom shall come, He will be glorified. Even in the good, and especially in the bad.
We just have to remember, like the hero in Bound and Determined, everyone's favorite Keaton Clarke, to look toward God.
I always choose a couple verses to go on my dedication page--verses I make a reference to in the book or verses that simply fit the story. Isaiah and the Psalms have been my go-to, because of their passages of forgiveness and the cleansing of sins. But for Bound and Determined and Keaton specifically, this scripture in Matthew 14 fit all too well...
"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
We've all heard this famous story of Jesus and Peter walking upon the water. But do we realize just how pertinent this passage is to our walk?
I also put together a soundtrack of songs that fit the characters' stories--whether personal philosophies, spiritual beliefs, or the romance. "Beautiful Things" by Gungor was the "theme" for Prisoner at Heart. So far, Bound and Determined has a crazy amount of songs--two of which are the "themes" for Keaton's past and his spiritual journey.
(I'd share the whole list, which is comprised of a smattering of Jeremy Camp--"I Still Believe" being one of the main ones, of course--Relient K, of course, and pretty much every single Lifehouse song EVER written, but it is SO long.)
The most important song on this list, however, is "Storm" by Lifehouse. It perfectly fits the above scripture and the story to a T. I'm crazy in love with it.
Check it out on Youtube here: my link text
Here are the lyrics too...
How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
Water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head
If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright
I know you didn't bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down?
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I'm so used to living underneath the surface
If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I could see you
This darkness would turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be all right
I know everything is all right
Everything's all right
Yeah
Everything's all right
Need I say ANYTHING?
So. Yes. I have enjoyed this extremely long sneak peek. I hope it makes you hungry for more, of course.
I also hope you remember Who to look toward in every situation, good and bad.
(Lyrics Source: LyricFind
Songwriter: Jason Wade
Storm lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs)
Which means the third novel in the Daughters of the Sevens Seas series, Bound and Determined is on its way.
I've made it to Chapter 12 with a total of--approximately--40,200 words. My story is coming to life. My characters are starting to experience some of their greatest hardships. (I'm starting to get overly giddy about this book, because it is crazy amazing! And I'm biased, so...)
I felt it was time to share a little piece of the fun.
Here's a tentative summary:
It has been two years since Rina Bennet has stepped foot on board her ship, and all she expects is a smooth return to the norm. Cloudless skies, still waves, a happy crew, and plenty of ships to plunder, she hopes. A mysterious stowaway whose very presence lifts her spirits and sends her hopes plummeting into the sea, is what she receives.
Whilst struggling to obtain balance upon her ship, Rina's good friend Keaton is revisited by a ghost from his past and her husband is caught in a precarious situation that he hadn't planned for.
If all goes well, Rina will be able to help her stowaway, restore her quartermaster's faith, plunder a few ships, and return to Port Royal in time to birth a baby.
But if not...her husband could lose a great opportunity and lose his life, she could lose her unborn child or her freedom, and a new friend could lose her sister and her life as well.
So. Yes. Drama. Action. Adventure. A lot of good stuff I really don't want to spoil...
It's all here. And, you know what? An earlier part of this story--within the first few chapters--reminded me of our situation now. Rina and her husband Xavier have to make a very important decision, one that could cost them dearly. They're praying for guidance and scouring the Word for wisdom, but even Rina does not hear God's Voice giving clear direction. Where do they go? What should they do?
Then Xavier is reminded of this: "There is always calm in Christ. No matter where it is that you go or what it is that you do. He will be glorified. He will watch over you. His will shall be done. In Him, there is peace."
Whether you're making a monumental decision or are stuck in quarantine, we know this to be true, that God is in control. Always. And that His Will shall be done, His Kingdom shall come, He will be glorified. Even in the good, and especially in the bad.
We just have to remember, like the hero in Bound and Determined, everyone's favorite Keaton Clarke, to look toward God.
I always choose a couple verses to go on my dedication page--verses I make a reference to in the book or verses that simply fit the story. Isaiah and the Psalms have been my go-to, because of their passages of forgiveness and the cleansing of sins. But for Bound and Determined and Keaton specifically, this scripture in Matthew 14 fit all too well...
"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
We've all heard this famous story of Jesus and Peter walking upon the water. But do we realize just how pertinent this passage is to our walk?
I also put together a soundtrack of songs that fit the characters' stories--whether personal philosophies, spiritual beliefs, or the romance. "Beautiful Things" by Gungor was the "theme" for Prisoner at Heart. So far, Bound and Determined has a crazy amount of songs--two of which are the "themes" for Keaton's past and his spiritual journey.
(I'd share the whole list, which is comprised of a smattering of Jeremy Camp--"I Still Believe" being one of the main ones, of course--Relient K, of course, and pretty much every single Lifehouse song EVER written, but it is SO long.)
The most important song on this list, however, is "Storm" by Lifehouse. It perfectly fits the above scripture and the story to a T. I'm crazy in love with it.
Check it out on Youtube here: my link text
Here are the lyrics too...
How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
Water's getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head
If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I'd see you
This darkness would turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
I know everything is alright
I know you didn't bring me out here to drown
So why am I ten feet under and upside down?
Barely surviving has become my purpose
Because I'm so used to living underneath the surface
If I could just see you
Everything would be all right
If I could see you
This darkness would turn to light
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be alright
And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
I know everything will be all right
I know everything is all right
Everything's all right
Yeah
Everything's all right
Need I say ANYTHING?
So. Yes. I have enjoyed this extremely long sneak peek. I hope it makes you hungry for more, of course.
I also hope you remember Who to look toward in every situation, good and bad.
(Lyrics Source: LyricFind
Songwriter: Jason Wade
Storm lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs)
March 27, 2020
An Appeal to Heaven
2nd Chronicles 7, verse 14 states “‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’”
Here is the first actual definition of an “appeal to heaven,” which is a phrase that was coined in the late 1600s and was used by General George Washington on what we now call the “pine tree flag” during the American Revolution.
The relevance of this phrase then and today has been argued throughout the years, but has basically been overlooked by the American public. A few years ago, my grandparents gave our family an “Appeal to Heaven” flag. It was only today that we finally had a flagpole put in and the flag raised.
The simplified meaning of the phrase “an appeal to heaven” is apparent. It means to call unto heaven and appeal for help. Many have said that because of its creator, British political philosopher John Locke, it has lost its value or else has none that is applicable to our world and government today. You see, Locke lived in England during the time of the Glorious Revolution and the reign of King James II. Our knowledge of the later revolt we call the American Revolution tells us that even then, in Britain and her colonies, the rule of the tyrant kings was oppressive and truly a heartless use of the legitimate power these kings had been granted.
In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke said, “And where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven, whenever they judge the cause of sufficient moment. And therefore, though the people cannot be judge, so as to have, by the constitution of that society, any superior power, to determine and give effective sentence in the case; yet they have, by a law antecedent and paramount to all positive laws of men, reserved that ultimate determination to themselves which belongs to all mankind, where there lies no appeal on earth, viz. to judge, whether they have just cause to make their appeal to heaven.”
People have taken the singular four words—an appeal to heaven—out of context and applied it simply to prayer. Historians discredit that use, as Locke obviously intended this to refer only to government and politics.
What very few people these days—or perhaps even during Locke’s time—do not realize is how simple this concept is. They want to complicate it or simplify it even further to create confusion about the truth and the employment of the idea to “appeal to heaven.”
Appeal does not necessarily mean what we use it for today. It stemmed from a Roman metaphor, meaning to steer a ship to a particular landing, and came to mean in the late 14th century a legal term for calling upon a higher judge or court. Don’t envision a scene of a shiny red apple and its “appealing” appearance beckoning you. Don’t imagine a man groveling at the feet of his accuser, begging and pleading to be freed from his debt.
Imagine a positioned man looking upon the malfeasance of a lower judge or a corrupt court and then going out and knocking upon the door of the only one who knew the truth and could justly and righteously solve the problem.
Appealing is steering one’s life or situation into the hands of the only One Who is rightly appointed to handle it. The One Who has been given all power and authority, Who is higher than any man-made government or man-appointed earthly position. The One Who is higher than even the spiritual forces that appear to control the corruption.
To appeal to heaven means to recognize that what is happening within your own life or within the government is not right and that the things the officials and authorities are doing are outside of their jurisdiction and their power, and to turn around and find the Greater Authority Who has the right and has the power to step in and take the lead.
This applies to politics. This applies to life.
But this should not be the last resort. It should not be that when we “have no appeal on earth” that we finally turn to God. It should be a continual, everyday occurrence that we lift everything up to Him and surrender the good and the bad to His all-powerful, all-knowing hands.
If we cannot change the situation on our own or with the help of another person or earthly power, that is our fault.
It is only when we call upon His name and seek His face that change can occur. It is only in His power and with His authority that we can accomplish anything.
He already knows everything that happens within your life and within the situation. Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia that “I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”
Our appeal should not be—cannot be—our unrighteous, wretched persons begging for His favor and His mercy. Our appeal can only be us, as children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, coming to Him and addressing our need for Him to come in and take everything. Everything does not always mean we receive what we believe is good or necessarily “for us.” However, it always does mean that what is right and just will happen and that His will shall be done.
In 2nd Chronicles, Solomon had just built the temple and consecrated it to the Lord and asked Him to dwell within it. Then the Lord came to him and said, in answer to his prayer, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”
As followers of Christ after the coming of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit, we are the temple. We have consecrated ourselves, sacrificed ourselves, and prayed for God’s Spirit to dwell within us. We are also His people, and now we have come to this time of drought, pestilence, and locusts—it is up to us to come to Him and admit our failure or the failure of our country as a whole and ask for His guidance.
Will you join me in appealing to heaven, along with the patriots of the American Revolution and the people of Solomon’s day? Will you humble yourself, seek His face, and turn away from wickedness? You cannot come unto His door otherwise, for He is the righteous Judge and Christ is our Defender.
Works Cited
“An Appeal to Heaven.” History is Fun, 15 May 2014, my link text
“Appeal (v.).” Etymoline, my link text
Benner, Dave. “John Locke’s Appeal to Heaven: Its Continuing Relevance.” Tenth Amendment Center, 16 April 2017, my link text
“The Constitution: God Governs in the Affairs of Men.” Our Lost Founding, my link text
Here is the first actual definition of an “appeal to heaven,” which is a phrase that was coined in the late 1600s and was used by General George Washington on what we now call the “pine tree flag” during the American Revolution.
The relevance of this phrase then and today has been argued throughout the years, but has basically been overlooked by the American public. A few years ago, my grandparents gave our family an “Appeal to Heaven” flag. It was only today that we finally had a flagpole put in and the flag raised.
The simplified meaning of the phrase “an appeal to heaven” is apparent. It means to call unto heaven and appeal for help. Many have said that because of its creator, British political philosopher John Locke, it has lost its value or else has none that is applicable to our world and government today. You see, Locke lived in England during the time of the Glorious Revolution and the reign of King James II. Our knowledge of the later revolt we call the American Revolution tells us that even then, in Britain and her colonies, the rule of the tyrant kings was oppressive and truly a heartless use of the legitimate power these kings had been granted.
In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke said, “And where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven, whenever they judge the cause of sufficient moment. And therefore, though the people cannot be judge, so as to have, by the constitution of that society, any superior power, to determine and give effective sentence in the case; yet they have, by a law antecedent and paramount to all positive laws of men, reserved that ultimate determination to themselves which belongs to all mankind, where there lies no appeal on earth, viz. to judge, whether they have just cause to make their appeal to heaven.”
People have taken the singular four words—an appeal to heaven—out of context and applied it simply to prayer. Historians discredit that use, as Locke obviously intended this to refer only to government and politics.
What very few people these days—or perhaps even during Locke’s time—do not realize is how simple this concept is. They want to complicate it or simplify it even further to create confusion about the truth and the employment of the idea to “appeal to heaven.”
Appeal does not necessarily mean what we use it for today. It stemmed from a Roman metaphor, meaning to steer a ship to a particular landing, and came to mean in the late 14th century a legal term for calling upon a higher judge or court. Don’t envision a scene of a shiny red apple and its “appealing” appearance beckoning you. Don’t imagine a man groveling at the feet of his accuser, begging and pleading to be freed from his debt.
Imagine a positioned man looking upon the malfeasance of a lower judge or a corrupt court and then going out and knocking upon the door of the only one who knew the truth and could justly and righteously solve the problem.
Appealing is steering one’s life or situation into the hands of the only One Who is rightly appointed to handle it. The One Who has been given all power and authority, Who is higher than any man-made government or man-appointed earthly position. The One Who is higher than even the spiritual forces that appear to control the corruption.
To appeal to heaven means to recognize that what is happening within your own life or within the government is not right and that the things the officials and authorities are doing are outside of their jurisdiction and their power, and to turn around and find the Greater Authority Who has the right and has the power to step in and take the lead.
This applies to politics. This applies to life.
But this should not be the last resort. It should not be that when we “have no appeal on earth” that we finally turn to God. It should be a continual, everyday occurrence that we lift everything up to Him and surrender the good and the bad to His all-powerful, all-knowing hands.
If we cannot change the situation on our own or with the help of another person or earthly power, that is our fault.
It is only when we call upon His name and seek His face that change can occur. It is only in His power and with His authority that we can accomplish anything.
He already knows everything that happens within your life and within the situation. Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia that “I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”
Our appeal should not be—cannot be—our unrighteous, wretched persons begging for His favor and His mercy. Our appeal can only be us, as children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, coming to Him and addressing our need for Him to come in and take everything. Everything does not always mean we receive what we believe is good or necessarily “for us.” However, it always does mean that what is right and just will happen and that His will shall be done.
In 2nd Chronicles, Solomon had just built the temple and consecrated it to the Lord and asked Him to dwell within it. Then the Lord came to him and said, in answer to his prayer, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”
As followers of Christ after the coming of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit, we are the temple. We have consecrated ourselves, sacrificed ourselves, and prayed for God’s Spirit to dwell within us. We are also His people, and now we have come to this time of drought, pestilence, and locusts—it is up to us to come to Him and admit our failure or the failure of our country as a whole and ask for His guidance.
Will you join me in appealing to heaven, along with the patriots of the American Revolution and the people of Solomon’s day? Will you humble yourself, seek His face, and turn away from wickedness? You cannot come unto His door otherwise, for He is the righteous Judge and Christ is our Defender.
Works Cited
“An Appeal to Heaven.” History is Fun, 15 May 2014, my link text
“Appeal (v.).” Etymoline, my link text
Benner, Dave. “John Locke’s Appeal to Heaven: Its Continuing Relevance.” Tenth Amendment Center, 16 April 2017, my link text
“The Constitution: God Governs in the Affairs of Men.” Our Lost Founding, my link text
January 2, 2020
On Wings of Devotion: Review
*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 will mean some spoilers, so watch out.
Wow. I am not in the right condition to be writing a review right now--especially this one. I got little sleep last night, consumed by this book. I'll try to make sense, be legible, convey what I want conveyed...but I doubt I can. I'm still in my "Camden" funk.
Firstly, I just want to say that if that gorgeous cover doesn't hook you, then this should...
Against 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.
And if that doesn't make you want to pick up this beautiful book, then what about this quote that just tugs at my heartstrings?
"He'd already bled out. Everything red and pulsing and alive long since gone. He hadn't a heart anymore, just a slab of rock. Black and hard and lifeless."
That's Phillip Camden--or Cam.
And this...this is Arabelle.
"You are everything. Everything. Everything good, everything bright. Everything worthwhile."
"He opened his eyes so he could look into hers. Golden. Specks of green, specks of brown. All light. He craved it. Wanted to pull her closer until that light had a hope of reaching him, edging out the black."
This is NOT a "Christian Historical Romance." This is a soul-deep spiritual love story that reaches into the depths of one's heart and extracts every long-buried feeling and brings it to the light of Christ. This is the romance of a man and his Creator, his Friend, his Savior, his Lover. And how one woman laid down all her dreams to show that man the light.
This story touched me...whew, did it touch me! One thing's for sure, I'll never be the same after reading On Wings of Devotion
Roseanna M. White is one of my favorite authors--has been for years. Maybe I'm biased. But after reading The Number of Love earlier this year, I was kind of like...eh. Maybe she's lost her touch, right?
Nope.
I think she got better, because this book far surpasses anything she's ever written.
I could nitpick. Lord knows I want to--I like to criticize. But I can't. The only thing I didn't like is that this book ended. And the villain of the story, of course. I didn't like that particular person, but that's expected, yes?
Firstly, I'll give a quick compare/contrast between The Number of Love and this beautiful story. The former precedes On Wings of Devotion, connected by entwining timelines, characters, events, etc. That's when we met Camden, the best part of both books.
I liked The Number of Love. But that's just it. I didn't love it. The suspense/action/mystery was good. So was the historic detail. The characters, the romance, and the spiritual fell short for me. Drake and Margot had more a friendship than anything else--there was no spark. And both characters make better secondary than primary. Drake was flat--Margot's faith in God made me screw my mouth up in a frown. The only reason I kept going was because I couldn't put it down--I was hoping it would get better. I was falling in love with Camden. And I needed to know how it ended, of course.
Not so with On Wings of Devotion. I could've put it down--I did for a minute, too. But I picked it back up, because this story wrapped around me, these characters stole my heart, and my mind wouldn't stop pounding with the words I'd read for me to sleep.
I don't think I could survive without this story.
At first glance, it's another White novel. Strong heroine, charming hero. Intriguing plot. Villainous villains and misled antagonists. History. Suspense. A distinct voice that makes you want to smile.
But deep down, there's so much more. More than any of her stories had ever had. A deeper spirituality--not like A Soft Breath of Wind, where the portrayal of the Holy Spirit and God's power gave me chills. But like a gentle breeze, a soft song. A love like a river--not a fountain, a geyser, or an ocean. A river--gentle, endless, pulling you with a current into something more, something greater, something better.
I had some reservations at first. The first few pages were eh. I was worried that I wouldn't like the characters. That there wouldn't be much of a plot. You see, Camden has been around for years. White has given him so many different stories--none of which were published, of course, but as an author myself I know how characters and their stories are. Sometimes they're stuck in them, and moving them is like moving an African to China--so obvious that they don't belong, that they came from something different and were meant for something else. I loved him in the brief moments he was in The Number of Love, but some characters are better secondary than primary. They're a good friend, but getting into their head...not so much.
Arabelle really had me worried. I was afraid she'd be bland.
She wasn't.
She's different than any of White's other heroines--still the same, strong and stubborn and determined and witty and clever. But there's something more.
I think it's the light in her hazel eyes.
Anyway...we've established the characters were simply too lovable. They beat Margot and Drake. They made me want to laugh and cry--oddly, I never wanted to hit them over the head. Hmm. Good thing?
The plot was great. It was eyebrow-raising at first, but as I got to know the characters more, I realized that this was actually character-driven rather than action-packed. They steered me in all sorts of different directions, took me on a journey I'll never forget.
I'm super excited for A Portrait of Loyalty. The hero and heroine of that story are met in here--and I'm pretty sure I'm in love with them too.
I'm once again astounded--because I always am when it comes to stories I was afraid of for some reason or another.
This is up there on my favorites list--Camden's fault? And if Roseanna doesn't write more stories with this same...feeling...then I might cry myself to sleep for a month straight and bestow my affections upon another author.
(Probably not. I'll just reread this one.)
Long story short, I love this book. I wouldn't change a thing about it. It's beautiful. Everyone should read it--if they don't, then they'll live the rest of their existence only half a person. Oh, and Chapter 14 was hands-down my favorite. Bookmark that one, readers. I could keep on going. I think I could write about how much I love this book until, well, until the world stops turning. There's so much more I want to say...but I won't. Read it for yourself. Please.
Even Camden is saying please over here, which is so unlike him.
You want this review summed up in one word? Wow.
BookWorm
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and in return gave my honest review.
#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 will mean some spoilers, so watch out.
Wow. I am not in the right condition to be writing a review right now--especially this one. I got little sleep last night, consumed by this book. I'll try to make sense, be legible, convey what I want conveyed...but I doubt I can. I'm still in my "Camden" funk.
Firstly, I just want to say that if that gorgeous cover doesn't hook you, then this should...
Against 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.
And if that doesn't make you want to pick up this beautiful book, then what about this quote that just tugs at my heartstrings?
"He'd already bled out. Everything red and pulsing and alive long since gone. He hadn't a heart anymore, just a slab of rock. Black and hard and lifeless."
That's Phillip Camden--or Cam.
And this...this is Arabelle.
"You are everything. Everything. Everything good, everything bright. Everything worthwhile."
"He opened his eyes so he could look into hers. Golden. Specks of green, specks of brown. All light. He craved it. Wanted to pull her closer until that light had a hope of reaching him, edging out the black."
This is NOT a "Christian Historical Romance." This is a soul-deep spiritual love story that reaches into the depths of one's heart and extracts every long-buried feeling and brings it to the light of Christ. This is the romance of a man and his Creator, his Friend, his Savior, his Lover. And how one woman laid down all her dreams to show that man the light.
This story touched me...whew, did it touch me! One thing's for sure, I'll never be the same after reading On Wings of Devotion
Roseanna M. White is one of my favorite authors--has been for years. Maybe I'm biased. But after reading The Number of Love earlier this year, I was kind of like...eh. Maybe she's lost her touch, right?
Nope.
I think she got better, because this book far surpasses anything she's ever written.
I could nitpick. Lord knows I want to--I like to criticize. But I can't. The only thing I didn't like is that this book ended. And the villain of the story, of course. I didn't like that particular person, but that's expected, yes?
Firstly, I'll give a quick compare/contrast between The Number of Love and this beautiful story. The former precedes On Wings of Devotion, connected by entwining timelines, characters, events, etc. That's when we met Camden, the best part of both books.
I liked The Number of Love. But that's just it. I didn't love it. The suspense/action/mystery was good. So was the historic detail. The characters, the romance, and the spiritual fell short for me. Drake and Margot had more a friendship than anything else--there was no spark. And both characters make better secondary than primary. Drake was flat--Margot's faith in God made me screw my mouth up in a frown. The only reason I kept going was because I couldn't put it down--I was hoping it would get better. I was falling in love with Camden. And I needed to know how it ended, of course.
Not so with On Wings of Devotion. I could've put it down--I did for a minute, too. But I picked it back up, because this story wrapped around me, these characters stole my heart, and my mind wouldn't stop pounding with the words I'd read for me to sleep.
I don't think I could survive without this story.
At first glance, it's another White novel. Strong heroine, charming hero. Intriguing plot. Villainous villains and misled antagonists. History. Suspense. A distinct voice that makes you want to smile.
But deep down, there's so much more. More than any of her stories had ever had. A deeper spirituality--not like A Soft Breath of Wind, where the portrayal of the Holy Spirit and God's power gave me chills. But like a gentle breeze, a soft song. A love like a river--not a fountain, a geyser, or an ocean. A river--gentle, endless, pulling you with a current into something more, something greater, something better.
I had some reservations at first. The first few pages were eh. I was worried that I wouldn't like the characters. That there wouldn't be much of a plot. You see, Camden has been around for years. White has given him so many different stories--none of which were published, of course, but as an author myself I know how characters and their stories are. Sometimes they're stuck in them, and moving them is like moving an African to China--so obvious that they don't belong, that they came from something different and were meant for something else. I loved him in the brief moments he was in The Number of Love, but some characters are better secondary than primary. They're a good friend, but getting into their head...not so much.
Arabelle really had me worried. I was afraid she'd be bland.
She wasn't.
She's different than any of White's other heroines--still the same, strong and stubborn and determined and witty and clever. But there's something more.
I think it's the light in her hazel eyes.
Anyway...we've established the characters were simply too lovable. They beat Margot and Drake. They made me want to laugh and cry--oddly, I never wanted to hit them over the head. Hmm. Good thing?
The plot was great. It was eyebrow-raising at first, but as I got to know the characters more, I realized that this was actually character-driven rather than action-packed. They steered me in all sorts of different directions, took me on a journey I'll never forget.
I'm super excited for A Portrait of Loyalty. The hero and heroine of that story are met in here--and I'm pretty sure I'm in love with them too.
I'm once again astounded--because I always am when it comes to stories I was afraid of for some reason or another.
This is up there on my favorites list--Camden's fault? And if Roseanna doesn't write more stories with this same...feeling...then I might cry myself to sleep for a month straight and bestow my affections upon another author.
(Probably not. I'll just reread this one.)
Long story short, I love this book. I wouldn't change a thing about it. It's beautiful. Everyone should read it--if they don't, then they'll live the rest of their existence only half a person. Oh, and Chapter 14 was hands-down my favorite. Bookmark that one, readers. I could keep on going. I think I could write about how much I love this book until, well, until the world stops turning. There's so much more I want to say...but I won't. Read it for yourself. Please.
Even Camden is saying please over here, which is so unlike him.
You want this review summed up in one word? Wow.
BookWorm
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and in return gave my honest review.
December 16, 2019
On Wings of Devotion
Today, my friends, is a day for gushing! In less than a month, upon the glorious day of January 7th, On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White will be released!!! Yes. I’m excited, to say the least.
Check out this intriguing synopsis…
Against 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.
(I’m sorry, but doesn’t “Black Heart” just sound so dark and brooding and wonderful?)
This is the second book in the Codebreakers series, which focuses on the codebreakers of World War 1, with a bit of a Downtown Abbey kind of feel as well. I’m only a couple chapters in myself, but I’m so captivated by these characters and their stories! You don’t want to miss this book!
Plus, look at this beautiful cover! Ah...
Absolutely beautiful! But I’m not one to judge books by their covers, of course.
I’ve long loved Roseanna M. White’s books—from her biblical fiction, Revolutionary War era, and Edwardian England. She has something for everyone, and she is hands-down an amazing author!
You can check her out on her blog: https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/ . And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/. And on her website too: http://www.roseannamwhite.com. You can see her inspiration on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwh.... And she’s on Instagram and Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwh..., https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
Doesn’t she just sound great? (That smile up there says to me, “Yeah, I’m totally an awesome author. You should so buy my books.” Can you see it?)
If I haven’t sold you yet, then you’ll have to see my review of On Wings of Devotion soon. I’ll post it to my blog—as soon as I’m finished with this wonderful story, of course! But if you are sold and you can’t wait to purchase it, then you can find it on the following sites for pre-order: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book, and Roseanna’s Shop (signed).
Anyway, enough gushing. See the book, buy the book, read the book, love the book, review the book… The End.
Check out this intriguing synopsis…
Against 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.
(I’m sorry, but doesn’t “Black Heart” just sound so dark and brooding and wonderful?)
This is the second book in the Codebreakers series, which focuses on the codebreakers of World War 1, with a bit of a Downtown Abbey kind of feel as well. I’m only a couple chapters in myself, but I’m so captivated by these characters and their stories! You don’t want to miss this book!
Plus, look at this beautiful cover! Ah...
Absolutely beautiful! But I’m not one to judge books by their covers, of course.
I’ve long loved Roseanna M. White’s books—from her biblical fiction, Revolutionary War era, and Edwardian England. She has something for everyone, and she is hands-down an amazing author!
You can check her out on her blog: https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/ . And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/. And on her website too: http://www.roseannamwhite.com. You can see her inspiration on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwh.... And she’s on Instagram and Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwh..., https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
Doesn’t she just sound great? (That smile up there says to me, “Yeah, I’m totally an awesome author. You should so buy my books.” Can you see it?)
If I haven’t sold you yet, then you’ll have to see my review of On Wings of Devotion soon. I’ll post it to my blog—as soon as I’m finished with this wonderful story, of course! But if you are sold and you can’t wait to purchase it, then you can find it on the following sites for pre-order: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book, and Roseanna’s Shop (signed).
Anyway, enough gushing. See the book, buy the book, read the book, love the book, review the book… The End.
December 14, 2019
Meet the Character--Elliot William Fulton
Of course, it’s always after the book is published and out in the world that I take the time to think about the main character. Ha! Since I’ve begun writing Book 3 in the Daughters of the Seven Seas, I have been giving a lot of thought toward that book’s MC, Keaton Clarke. Which brings me right back to Elliot Fulton, Keaton’s best friend and polar opposite. He’s only in this next book a couple times—in the prologue, where he is putting some of his signature humor to work, and toward the end, when the spotlight will be shining on two other characters instead. But I can’t keep my mind off of him.
Keaton himself has always been a black and white character, so while I’m figuring out what makes him tick, I’m also dwelling on what doesn’t make him tick and what makes him different from the last character I wrote. It was pretty easy for me to get inside both of their heads, but now that I’m out of Elliot’s perspective, I’m beginning to miss him.
Which is one of the many reasons I’m taking the time to go back and talk about one of my most favorite characters, the hero of Prisoner at Heart.
Elliot William Fulton Sr. was born in Portsmouth, England in the year 1655. His father was away at sea, and his mother cared for him alone in their home on the shore of the English Channel for the first three years of his life. Then his father returned and took young Elliot with him.
The next few years of his life were spent on board the Bella, a pirate ship captained by Maverick Blackstone, a cold and mysterious fellow who proved to be more of a father than Elliot’s own. His daughter Rina, who was Elliot’s same age, became like a sister to him. During this more carefree time of his life, Elliot was a mischievous lad like all boys are. But as the years passed and he lost his father in the same battle that killed Captain Blackstone and nearly Elliot as well, and married only to lose his wife in childbirth, Elliot changed.
He’d always been, as Rina would put it, stupid and reckless. He acted before he thought, spoke without choosing his words, and followed his heart rather than his head. Obviously, he got into quite a bit of trouble because of his foolhardiness. Even still, he remained jovial, happy-go-lucky, bright, and honest.
Growing up on board a pirate ship, you can expect that he didn’t have much manners nor any formal education, but that never kept him down. He excelled in every other skill he could learn. He’s a skilled fighter and knows near about everything there is to know about the sea—including a spot of history here and there. Keaton stills gets onto him about his limited vocabulary and mispronunciation of words.
It struck me the other day, as I was reading over one of my more emotional scenes in Prisoner at Heart, just how caring Elliot is. Yes, he can be a little bit selfish—but aren’t we all? As time passed, that selfish grew. He became dark, distant from pretty much everyone. The same smile that never faded rarely curved his lips, the light in his eyes had died, and he hardly listened to anyone. Oh, wait. He never had to begin with.
Then Crimson Wilde, the heroine, entered his life. She’s broken too, just like he is. And she has no hope or peace either. It takes him a long time to realize that, but when he does… Well, it made me realize something too.
Elliot’s always watching out for Number 1, right? Except there’s a part of him that basically never gives himself any thought. He’s constantly looking out for his two-year-old son, Elliot Jr. He’s always right there by Rina, his captain and surrogate sister. Despite their differences, he’s loyal to Keaton and thinks of him as a brother.
It was his and Keaton’s differences that really drew me to my final conclusion about Elliot.
Keaton’s a thinker. He sits there, calculating, analyzing. He never acts upon impulse, but only upon logic. Elliot, on the other hand, is a feeler. He’s led mainly by his emotions and his heart. That lends a compassionate component to his person. When he sees someone hurting, his first instinct is to comfort them. When he sees someone laughing, he joins in.
Of course, when he’s mad, he’s liable to kill someone—for real.
But he actually cares about people, in his own special way. I had never noticed that about him until I started easing into the comfort of Keaton’s stone-cold thought process. It really amazes me just how deep these guys are, though at the time I might not see it.
I always put a little bit—or a lot—of myself into a character. One of those I just really poured myself into was Elliot. We’re both heartfelt and stupid most of the time. Sometimes that makes us honest and caring, and other times it makes us bold and puts us into bad situations.
I prefer to think of the good, right? Or, as Elliot does, nothing at all.
As a reader, what do you see in the characters you read about that maybe others don’t? For authors out there, what about your characters do you not notice until much later—and what aspect of their lives/personality is like you?
Join me for my next “Meet the Character” to see what I’ve learned about Keaton Clarke, the hero of my next book, Bound and Determined.
Keaton himself has always been a black and white character, so while I’m figuring out what makes him tick, I’m also dwelling on what doesn’t make him tick and what makes him different from the last character I wrote. It was pretty easy for me to get inside both of their heads, but now that I’m out of Elliot’s perspective, I’m beginning to miss him.
Which is one of the many reasons I’m taking the time to go back and talk about one of my most favorite characters, the hero of Prisoner at Heart.
Elliot William Fulton Sr. was born in Portsmouth, England in the year 1655. His father was away at sea, and his mother cared for him alone in their home on the shore of the English Channel for the first three years of his life. Then his father returned and took young Elliot with him.
The next few years of his life were spent on board the Bella, a pirate ship captained by Maverick Blackstone, a cold and mysterious fellow who proved to be more of a father than Elliot’s own. His daughter Rina, who was Elliot’s same age, became like a sister to him. During this more carefree time of his life, Elliot was a mischievous lad like all boys are. But as the years passed and he lost his father in the same battle that killed Captain Blackstone and nearly Elliot as well, and married only to lose his wife in childbirth, Elliot changed.
He’d always been, as Rina would put it, stupid and reckless. He acted before he thought, spoke without choosing his words, and followed his heart rather than his head. Obviously, he got into quite a bit of trouble because of his foolhardiness. Even still, he remained jovial, happy-go-lucky, bright, and honest.
Growing up on board a pirate ship, you can expect that he didn’t have much manners nor any formal education, but that never kept him down. He excelled in every other skill he could learn. He’s a skilled fighter and knows near about everything there is to know about the sea—including a spot of history here and there. Keaton stills gets onto him about his limited vocabulary and mispronunciation of words.
It struck me the other day, as I was reading over one of my more emotional scenes in Prisoner at Heart, just how caring Elliot is. Yes, he can be a little bit selfish—but aren’t we all? As time passed, that selfish grew. He became dark, distant from pretty much everyone. The same smile that never faded rarely curved his lips, the light in his eyes had died, and he hardly listened to anyone. Oh, wait. He never had to begin with.
Then Crimson Wilde, the heroine, entered his life. She’s broken too, just like he is. And she has no hope or peace either. It takes him a long time to realize that, but when he does… Well, it made me realize something too.
Elliot’s always watching out for Number 1, right? Except there’s a part of him that basically never gives himself any thought. He’s constantly looking out for his two-year-old son, Elliot Jr. He’s always right there by Rina, his captain and surrogate sister. Despite their differences, he’s loyal to Keaton and thinks of him as a brother.
It was his and Keaton’s differences that really drew me to my final conclusion about Elliot.
Keaton’s a thinker. He sits there, calculating, analyzing. He never acts upon impulse, but only upon logic. Elliot, on the other hand, is a feeler. He’s led mainly by his emotions and his heart. That lends a compassionate component to his person. When he sees someone hurting, his first instinct is to comfort them. When he sees someone laughing, he joins in.
Of course, when he’s mad, he’s liable to kill someone—for real.
But he actually cares about people, in his own special way. I had never noticed that about him until I started easing into the comfort of Keaton’s stone-cold thought process. It really amazes me just how deep these guys are, though at the time I might not see it.
I always put a little bit—or a lot—of myself into a character. One of those I just really poured myself into was Elliot. We’re both heartfelt and stupid most of the time. Sometimes that makes us honest and caring, and other times it makes us bold and puts us into bad situations.
I prefer to think of the good, right? Or, as Elliot does, nothing at all.
As a reader, what do you see in the characters you read about that maybe others don’t? For authors out there, what about your characters do you not notice until much later—and what aspect of their lives/personality is like you?
Join me for my next “Meet the Character” to see what I’ve learned about Keaton Clarke, the hero of my next book, Bound and Determined.
December 9, 2019
Gone with the Wind...
...And back again.
Today, I took a moment to think about some of the main characters from the classic novel, Gone with the Wind. Of course, I’m hands-down one of the biggest fans of the movie—and the book, of course, but I’m talking Clark Gable here, people—and I probably think a little too much about it than I should.
But this time, something really stood out to me. Scarlett O’Hara, Rhett Butler, Melanie Hamilton, and Ashley Wilkes are the characters upon which Margaret Mitchell placed the most focus—and for obvious reasons. One thing that she couldn’t make a point of at the time was how her characters align with the people—and the culture—of today.
At first glance, it seems that all the characters are truly quite alike—all four of them are Southerners and each supported the Rebel Cause (although some not exactly willingly). Melanie, Ashley, and Scarlett grew up together on cotton plantations, giving them essentially the same morals, values, and beliefs. Ashley and Melanie are both down-to-earth, and Scarlett and Rhett are both, as the latter puts it, selfish people.
One thing that takes a little bit of soul-searching—of theirs and ours, too—is noticing how different they are. And how they are each just like us, the real people of today.
Ashley is the quintessential Southern gentleman, the embodiment of the antebellum South, and a perfect example of the long-lost Georgia aristocracy. As he and Rhett make points of from time to time, he is rooted in Georgia and his plantation. He has morals that Rhett certainly doesn’t—although he doesn’t practice them quite well mentally. He believes in the Cause...not to retain slavery but to preserve the way of life he holds dear, to keep the “olden days” that he knows alive and well for years to come. To put it simply, whilst all the nation wages a war and the world changes, he continues to live in the past.
Some of us are just like Ashley—in smaller areas of our lives and others much bigger. Wanting to remember the past is indeed a good thing, but living in it holds you back from changing in the ways you need to, accepting the inevitable, and remaining strong when your world and life does change. Just like Ashley had a difficult time adjusting to the South after the Civil War, so do those who hold fast to what has already passed instead of making good what has come.
Scarlett, on the other hand, is the downright polar opposite. Sure, she and Ashley were raised exactly the same. Sure, she loves her Tara just as much as he loves his South and his Cause. Sure, sure, sure...but something is drastically different in the way she thinks and lives. Instead of holding onto the past, she embraced the future. She was progressive in her thinking—and I don’t mean just that she wasn’t against the railroad. She thought ahead in her life, about how she could make more money, buy a larger house, gain more power. She didn’t dwell on the war or who was fighting it—she only cared about what came next and where she would be when it did.
Progressive thinking is good in the ways holding onto the past isn’t. But leaping for the future and forgetting what made that possible—the past—keeps you from enjoying the present, the only time that you’re guaranteed. The things that Scarlett focused on—herself and money—fought for precedence in her life until they won. In the end, she lost her chance to love Rhett and lost her children—some to the grave and others (Wade and Ella Lorena) to her own neglect.
Melanie proves to be completely different than both her husband and her sister-in-law. Yes, she appreciates and remembers the past. And yes, she looks forward to the future and prepares her family for it. But her main focus is the here and now. Instead of worrying about who will win the war and where that will leave her, she cares for all of those fighting it. Instead of caring about her reputation and position in society, she shows love to Belle Watling and Scarlett. She cares about her family—even the rotten members of it—and others around her.
The way Melanie lived is one abandoned by most people. We focus too much on the things that don’t matter—the things we’ve lost and the things we don’t have yet—instead of what we do have. We give more of our lives to a job, education, hobbies, politics, etc. and neglect our families and our faith.
Lastly, Rhett Butler is different from each of these three in his way of living. He doesn’t give any thought to the past—though he has quite the interesting one, so to speak—nor to the future. He is completely complacent in life and where he is in it. If the Yankees win the war, who cares? If the Rebels do, what does it matter? He has enough money for a game of poker and that’s that. If things stay the same, then he’ll be fine. And if everything changes, he go right along with it. But what, you ask, makes him different from Melanie and her present-thinking? Did you see?
All Rhett cares about is himself. This too is a corrupt mindset. He focuses on himself—and if he’s good, then so is everything else. The sun rises and the sun sets on yet another day.
What way of thinking have you adopted? Are you like Ashley, living in the past and unable to embrace the present and the future—like Scarlett, progressive and selfish—like Rhett, careless and complacent—or like Melanie, whose focus is upon the present and what truly matters? How can you change that mindset to become a better person?
Today, I took a moment to think about some of the main characters from the classic novel, Gone with the Wind. Of course, I’m hands-down one of the biggest fans of the movie—and the book, of course, but I’m talking Clark Gable here, people—and I probably think a little too much about it than I should.
But this time, something really stood out to me. Scarlett O’Hara, Rhett Butler, Melanie Hamilton, and Ashley Wilkes are the characters upon which Margaret Mitchell placed the most focus—and for obvious reasons. One thing that she couldn’t make a point of at the time was how her characters align with the people—and the culture—of today.
At first glance, it seems that all the characters are truly quite alike—all four of them are Southerners and each supported the Rebel Cause (although some not exactly willingly). Melanie, Ashley, and Scarlett grew up together on cotton plantations, giving them essentially the same morals, values, and beliefs. Ashley and Melanie are both down-to-earth, and Scarlett and Rhett are both, as the latter puts it, selfish people.
One thing that takes a little bit of soul-searching—of theirs and ours, too—is noticing how different they are. And how they are each just like us, the real people of today.
Ashley is the quintessential Southern gentleman, the embodiment of the antebellum South, and a perfect example of the long-lost Georgia aristocracy. As he and Rhett make points of from time to time, he is rooted in Georgia and his plantation. He has morals that Rhett certainly doesn’t—although he doesn’t practice them quite well mentally. He believes in the Cause...not to retain slavery but to preserve the way of life he holds dear, to keep the “olden days” that he knows alive and well for years to come. To put it simply, whilst all the nation wages a war and the world changes, he continues to live in the past.
Some of us are just like Ashley—in smaller areas of our lives and others much bigger. Wanting to remember the past is indeed a good thing, but living in it holds you back from changing in the ways you need to, accepting the inevitable, and remaining strong when your world and life does change. Just like Ashley had a difficult time adjusting to the South after the Civil War, so do those who hold fast to what has already passed instead of making good what has come.
Scarlett, on the other hand, is the downright polar opposite. Sure, she and Ashley were raised exactly the same. Sure, she loves her Tara just as much as he loves his South and his Cause. Sure, sure, sure...but something is drastically different in the way she thinks and lives. Instead of holding onto the past, she embraced the future. She was progressive in her thinking—and I don’t mean just that she wasn’t against the railroad. She thought ahead in her life, about how she could make more money, buy a larger house, gain more power. She didn’t dwell on the war or who was fighting it—she only cared about what came next and where she would be when it did.
Progressive thinking is good in the ways holding onto the past isn’t. But leaping for the future and forgetting what made that possible—the past—keeps you from enjoying the present, the only time that you’re guaranteed. The things that Scarlett focused on—herself and money—fought for precedence in her life until they won. In the end, she lost her chance to love Rhett and lost her children—some to the grave and others (Wade and Ella Lorena) to her own neglect.
Melanie proves to be completely different than both her husband and her sister-in-law. Yes, she appreciates and remembers the past. And yes, she looks forward to the future and prepares her family for it. But her main focus is the here and now. Instead of worrying about who will win the war and where that will leave her, she cares for all of those fighting it. Instead of caring about her reputation and position in society, she shows love to Belle Watling and Scarlett. She cares about her family—even the rotten members of it—and others around her.
The way Melanie lived is one abandoned by most people. We focus too much on the things that don’t matter—the things we’ve lost and the things we don’t have yet—instead of what we do have. We give more of our lives to a job, education, hobbies, politics, etc. and neglect our families and our faith.
Lastly, Rhett Butler is different from each of these three in his way of living. He doesn’t give any thought to the past—though he has quite the interesting one, so to speak—nor to the future. He is completely complacent in life and where he is in it. If the Yankees win the war, who cares? If the Rebels do, what does it matter? He has enough money for a game of poker and that’s that. If things stay the same, then he’ll be fine. And if everything changes, he go right along with it. But what, you ask, makes him different from Melanie and her present-thinking? Did you see?
All Rhett cares about is himself. This too is a corrupt mindset. He focuses on himself—and if he’s good, then so is everything else. The sun rises and the sun sets on yet another day.
What way of thinking have you adopted? Are you like Ashley, living in the past and unable to embrace the present and the future—like Scarlett, progressive and selfish—like Rhett, careless and complacent—or like Melanie, whose focus is upon the present and what truly matters? How can you change that mindset to become a better person?
November 30, 2019
The Things a Toddler Teaches
Lessons I’ve learned from a two-year-old.
Smile. Find joy in everything—including your uncle purposefully burping in your face.
Be Kind. Do the little things for other people, especially when you don’t have to, like picking up someone else’s trash and throwing it away.
Be Still. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop and wait, to be still and know that God’s got this. Or just take a nap on the way home.
Don’t Worry. Not even about ice cream all over your super cute shirt. It’ll wash.
Calm Down. Even if it takes a squishy snowman to do it for you. In the end, the problem isn’t as big as it seems.
Trust. And not just in your mother’s driving. Trust in the One Who holds you in the palm of His hand.
Have Fun. No matter the circumstances, there’s always fun to be had. Sometimes it’s found in a deck of cards or in a rocket ship that doesn’t move.
Sometimes the greatest teachers are children. What have kids taught you?
Smile. Find joy in everything—including your uncle purposefully burping in your face.
Be Kind. Do the little things for other people, especially when you don’t have to, like picking up someone else’s trash and throwing it away.
Be Still. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop and wait, to be still and know that God’s got this. Or just take a nap on the way home.
Don’t Worry. Not even about ice cream all over your super cute shirt. It’ll wash.
Calm Down. Even if it takes a squishy snowman to do it for you. In the end, the problem isn’t as big as it seems.
Trust. And not just in your mother’s driving. Trust in the One Who holds you in the palm of His hand.
Have Fun. No matter the circumstances, there’s always fun to be had. Sometimes it’s found in a deck of cards or in a rocket ship that doesn’t move.
Sometimes the greatest teachers are children. What have kids taught you?
November 22, 2019
Favorite Books of 2019
So, last year I went all-out for Christmas and received no less than fifty books. Of course, most of them were secondhand and sold for only a dollar apiece, but still. Fifty plus is a lot. Then, over the course of 2019—after I read those first fifty books—I read plenty more, as usual.
Here are my top ten favorite books from this year—and trust me, there were a lot to choose from.
#1: Unraveling by Sara Ella. This was one of those books that I just had to read. After loving the first book in Sara Ella’s YA fantasy series, The Reflection Chronicles, I immediately ordered this one and DEVOURED it. Such beautiful prose, deep characters, and intriguing plot! What’s not to love?
#2: Unblemished and Unbreakable by Sara Ella. So...this goes with the above. Unblemished and Unbreakable were books 1 and 2 of The Reflection Chronicles. Tearjerker Unraveling remains numero uno, but these two were otherwise unbeatable.
#3: A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers. This year, I took the plunge and read 6 of Francine Rivers’ novels, including the entire Mark of the Lion trilogy. Those three huge books made up part of my Christmas, and the first two are tied for third place on my Top Ten list. At times, I actually wanted to get down on my knees and pray for the characters. That says a lot.
#4: A Soft Breath of Wind by Roseanna M. White. Not trying to seem biased here...but Roseanna M. White is an amazing author, hands down! I read A Stray Drop of Blood—is it just me or are all biblical fiction novel titles extremely long?—and A Soft Breath of Wind during the summer, and loved them both. Still, A Soft Breath of Wind topped her predecessor.
#5: More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer. I have loved positively everything by Karen Witemeyer. She is the queen of the Wild West with beautiful prose, interesting and original plots, and amazing characters. I wasn’t quite sure about More Than Words Can Say when it first came out—although I’ve enjoyed everything before—because marriages of convenience are always tough to pull off convincingly (and are way overdone) but this novel really lived up to its name. I can’t honestly say anything bad about it!
#6: The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White. Again, she’s amazing. And though The Number of Love was not my favorite of hers, it was still really good and kept me on my toes. She pays such great attention to detail, and unlike some of her other historicals, The Number of Love is super suspenseful and intriguing with a little bit of action thrown in there.
#7: The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin. I don’t really like WW2 era novels—unless we’re talking Bodie and Brock Thoene here—but Sarah Sundin is just so good that I just can’t resist. The Sea Before Us stole my heart and won’t give it back. I absolutely love the story, the characters, everything!
#8: My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey by Amanda Barratt. I took the plunge, and I’m so glad I did. I read s short novella in a collection by Amanda Barratt really enjoyed it, so I decided to read one of her full-length novels. Adele’s Journey was amazing! Amanda Barratt has some of the most beautiful prose, and I really enjoyed learning about tightrope-walkers in the late 19th century. Such an interesting piece of history!
#9: The Ladies of the Manor series by Roseanna M. White. Is it just me, or do I read a lot of her? I read this series awhile back and came back this year to reread it. I think it was even better the second time! I absolutely love the upstairs-downstairs feel of Edwardian England and am super excited about a new series that Roseanna’s writing. My all-time favorite of the series is A Lady Unrivaled. Ah, so good! I’m in love with her hero Cayton!
#10: The Bachelor's Homecoming by Karen Kirst. I read a lot of “little tinies” this year—you know, Love Inspired Historical and Truly Yours by Harlequin and Barbour, respectively. One of which was The Bachelor’s Homecoming. Usually, these little tinies are missing something—plot elements, character depth, even the romance. But not this one. I could’ve sworn I was reading a full-length novel of 300+ pages with just how interesting and exciting the story was. The characters grew so well, and the romance element was perfectly executed.
Obviously, I read much of the same thing—at least this year. Maybe next year I’ll branch out and try something new!
Here are my top ten favorite books from this year—and trust me, there were a lot to choose from.
#1: Unraveling by Sara Ella. This was one of those books that I just had to read. After loving the first book in Sara Ella’s YA fantasy series, The Reflection Chronicles, I immediately ordered this one and DEVOURED it. Such beautiful prose, deep characters, and intriguing plot! What’s not to love?
#2: Unblemished and Unbreakable by Sara Ella. So...this goes with the above. Unblemished and Unbreakable were books 1 and 2 of The Reflection Chronicles. Tearjerker Unraveling remains numero uno, but these two were otherwise unbeatable.
#3: A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers. This year, I took the plunge and read 6 of Francine Rivers’ novels, including the entire Mark of the Lion trilogy. Those three huge books made up part of my Christmas, and the first two are tied for third place on my Top Ten list. At times, I actually wanted to get down on my knees and pray for the characters. That says a lot.
#4: A Soft Breath of Wind by Roseanna M. White. Not trying to seem biased here...but Roseanna M. White is an amazing author, hands down! I read A Stray Drop of Blood—is it just me or are all biblical fiction novel titles extremely long?—and A Soft Breath of Wind during the summer, and loved them both. Still, A Soft Breath of Wind topped her predecessor.
#5: More Than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer. I have loved positively everything by Karen Witemeyer. She is the queen of the Wild West with beautiful prose, interesting and original plots, and amazing characters. I wasn’t quite sure about More Than Words Can Say when it first came out—although I’ve enjoyed everything before—because marriages of convenience are always tough to pull off convincingly (and are way overdone) but this novel really lived up to its name. I can’t honestly say anything bad about it!
#6: The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White. Again, she’s amazing. And though The Number of Love was not my favorite of hers, it was still really good and kept me on my toes. She pays such great attention to detail, and unlike some of her other historicals, The Number of Love is super suspenseful and intriguing with a little bit of action thrown in there.
#7: The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin. I don’t really like WW2 era novels—unless we’re talking Bodie and Brock Thoene here—but Sarah Sundin is just so good that I just can’t resist. The Sea Before Us stole my heart and won’t give it back. I absolutely love the story, the characters, everything!
#8: My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey by Amanda Barratt. I took the plunge, and I’m so glad I did. I read s short novella in a collection by Amanda Barratt really enjoyed it, so I decided to read one of her full-length novels. Adele’s Journey was amazing! Amanda Barratt has some of the most beautiful prose, and I really enjoyed learning about tightrope-walkers in the late 19th century. Such an interesting piece of history!
#9: The Ladies of the Manor series by Roseanna M. White. Is it just me, or do I read a lot of her? I read this series awhile back and came back this year to reread it. I think it was even better the second time! I absolutely love the upstairs-downstairs feel of Edwardian England and am super excited about a new series that Roseanna’s writing. My all-time favorite of the series is A Lady Unrivaled. Ah, so good! I’m in love with her hero Cayton!
#10: The Bachelor's Homecoming by Karen Kirst. I read a lot of “little tinies” this year—you know, Love Inspired Historical and Truly Yours by Harlequin and Barbour, respectively. One of which was The Bachelor’s Homecoming. Usually, these little tinies are missing something—plot elements, character depth, even the romance. But not this one. I could’ve sworn I was reading a full-length novel of 300+ pages with just how interesting and exciting the story was. The characters grew so well, and the romance element was perfectly executed.
Obviously, I read much of the same thing—at least this year. Maybe next year I’ll branch out and try something new!
November 17, 2019
Look What's Coming!
To say I'm a reader is an understatement--I DEVOUR books! And one of my absolute favorite authors, Roseanna M. White, is only weeks away from the release of her latest novel, On Wings of Devotion. On Wings of Devotion is the second book in her new series, The Codebreakers, which is about--you guessed it--codebreakers in England during the Great War. I previously read Book 1,
The Number of Love
, when it was released in June--and you can view my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am SUPER excited about On Wings of Devotion! This series is perfect for lovers of romance, mystery, intrigue, history, and WW1. I encourage anyone interested to sign up for her newsletter and check out some of her other amazing work!
Don't miss out on exciting #BookNews coming SOON from @RoseannaMWhite! Sign up for her newsletter TODAY! http://bit.ly/2qkCHYR #TheCodebreakers #OnWingsofDevotion #SneakPeek
I am SUPER excited about On Wings of Devotion! This series is perfect for lovers of romance, mystery, intrigue, history, and WW1. I encourage anyone interested to sign up for her newsletter and check out some of her other amazing work!
Don't miss out on exciting #BookNews coming SOON from @RoseannaMWhite! Sign up for her newsletter TODAY! http://bit.ly/2qkCHYR #TheCodebreakers #OnWingsofDevotion #SneakPeek
