Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 140

Interview and #Giveaway with Crystal Joy

Super happy to have author, Crystal Joy here with us on the blog today!! Please help us welcome her and stay tuned at the end for a giveaway! :)
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You’ve had a new release! Can you share a little bit about it and how you first hatched the idea for this story?

I am SO excited to share Shackled Heart with readers! It’s a contemporary romance novel about a man who is haunted by his past mistakes and believes he doesn’t deserve to find love again. His name is Charlie Grimm. Charlie has been in my head for a long time (seven years to be exact). At first, he was simply a character who had to go back to his hometown, but didn’t want to. From there, I had to figure out why he didn’t want to go home. I started brainstorming: What if he did something so terrible that home would feel like prison? What if he actually went to prison, then had to go home? Why would have to go home … parole. Enter MacKenna Christensen. She’s Charlie’s parole officer. I knew she would be the perfect female protagonist. She would have the opportunity to work with Charlie, despise him, then be able to look past his mistakes, and fall in love with him. I started this novel when I worked full-time, so it’s taken me years to write, revise multiple times, and publish. But like I said, I am SO excited it’s finally here to share.

What special research did you need to do for this novel and did you enjoy it or find it laborious?
Both. My initial research was a lot of fun. Growing up, my dad was a parole officer. He helped answer A LOT of my questions. He also connected me with other parole officers and a prison warden. The warden was kind enough to give me a tour of his prison. I enjoyed talking with many officers and getting a better picture of Charlie’s character.
Until someone I love went to prison. After that happened, it took me a long time to pick the book back up again. I just wanted to research someone who went to prison, I didn’t want to actually know someone. But Charlie had a hold on my heart and eventually I finished the novel. This time, I had a much better idea of Mac’s character arc—experiencing her anger, compassion, and love. This novel may be fictional, but my emotions and personal knowledge are threaded throughout the book.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
Bad choices do not define a person. All people deserve to be loved, no matter what they’ve done.
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
Right from the very beginning, I picked “Charlie,” but get this—when I looked up the meaning of his name it means “free man.” I couldn’t believe it!
I changed the female protagonists’ name several times. I finally asked readers and let them pick from a list of choices. MacKenna (nicknamed Mac) was their first choice.
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
Ray Meyers, for sure! He is the heart and soul of Maple Valley, Iowa. He is a retired football coach who opens a cute shop called the Canine Palace. He bakes bones, cakes, fries, and cookies for dogs. My beta readers loved Ray so much that I decided to make him a character in Book 2 of the Homeward Bound Series, Shattered Heart.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
Savannah from Nicholas Sparks’ novel, Dear John. She’s a sweet, yet sassy girl who sees the good in everyone. She’s family-oriented and loves the beach. I could probably add more, but it’s been a while since I’ve read Dear John. When I read the novel, I remember connecting with her well.

What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
Playing with my two little cutie pies! I have a three-year old-son and a two-year old-daughter. I get to stay at home with them while I’m pursing my writer career. It’s so much fun seeing the world through their eyes. You never know what they’ll say. When my son sat on Santa’s lap this year, he said, “I want a toy truck for Christmas. But … I can just get it at the store.” So practical, huh? I had to stifle my laugh.
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
I have the best Jack Russell ever. He’s energetic, but not super-crazy, and he rarely barks. He loves to cuddle and burrow under blankets. It’s so cute in the morning when he peeks his nose out of the stack of blankets on the couch. Charlie Grimm has a Jack Russell in Shackled Heart, too. If you look on the back cover, you can see a picture of his dog!

We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
When Jesus met sinners in the Bible, he didn’t judge them or mock them in a condescending way. He loved them and looked past their mistakes. That’s exactly what I want readers to do when they meet Charlie’s character.

Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
My husband. He’s a very practical person and he would remind me that there is no such thing as ghosts! If there was a real bad guy in the house, though, I would protect us—I’m a second-degree black belt.
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
I’m all about the romance. The entire plot of Shackled Heart centers around Charlie and MacKenna’s love story. When they start falling for one another, their relationship becomes quite tricky. Parole officers are not supposed to form close relationships with their clients. Even after parole is over, it’s very frowned upon. MacKenna is a workaholic who loves her job. By the end, she must make a decision— admit her feelings for Charlie and risk losing her job, or deny her feelings and live a life wondering what could have been.

And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
Jamie from Outlander. And yes, I know he’s not technically a superhero, but he sure comes close.
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would be and what would your ideal role be?
Outlander, so I could meet Jamie!
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
My favorite keepsakes are my kids’ ultrasound pictures and pictures of being pregnant with them. I’m one of those weird women who really enjoys being pregnant. It’s fun to look back and remember how I felt as they were growing inside my tummy.
We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! J Please share something below:
The band started playing Just Another Day in Paradiseand increased the volume. Charlie held out his hand, palm up. “Dance with me?” She stared at his hand as if it could bite her. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.” “It’s just a dance.” “I know, but …”         Charlie broke the distance and kept his hand held out. He understood her hesitancy, he knew the rules, but with the moon shining down on her, she looked like an angel. His heart skipped a beat, and he had a hard time thinking straight, making it difficult to find reasons not to enjoy the night together. She slowly set her hand above his open palm. Grinning, he pressed his other hand against her slender back, drawing her close. She hooked her fingers behind his neck, and he slid his arms tighter around her waist until there wasn’t any space between them. They were so close he could feel the rise and fall of her chest. He lifted her arm above her head and gently pushed her back, propelling her to twirl. Her arms relaxed as he reached for her hand again, swaying to the rhythm of the music. She looked up into his eyes. “Where did you learn to dance so well?”“My mom made me take lessons.” “I’m embarrassed. You’re much better than I am.” “You can’t be good at everything. You had to take a cut somewhere, right?”  She laughed. “You’re such a suck up. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were buttering me up. Trying to make sure I discharge you from parole, so you can get rid of me.”  “On the contrary, Miss Christensen. I enjoy spending time with you.” He tightened his grip on her back, dipping her as their gazes locked. “Honestly, spending time with you is the best part of my week.”With her back curled above his arm, she stopped moving and a smile spread across her face. “Is that so?”  He nodded and brought her back to a standing position. The moon cast a light on her face as she peered up at him, her lips parting. For a moment, it was easy to forget how their paths had crossed—until he glanced over her shoulder. Officer Tucker and Jen stood by the Road Closed sign, their eyes filled with disapproval.

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Snag your copy of Crystal Joy's novel here:

You can learn more about Crystal Joy at her website www.crystaljoybooks.com. If you want to sign up for her newsletter, “From My Heart to Yours,” you’ll receive exclusive giveaways, opportunities to enter contests, and noteworthy news. Click on this link to sign up:  http://eepurl.com/cHgfZ9
You can also connect with her at: Crystal@Crystaljoybooks.com

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Celebrating with Friends!

Yesterday was a big day for one of the Coffee Cups & Camisoles ladies! Jaime celebrated the release of her first full length novel with Bethany House Publishers. The House on Foster Hill  is a historical suspense split time novel and has already been well received by reviewers, endorsers, and critics. We're so happy to celebrate with Jaime and cheer her on with this amazing milestone.


Yesterday was also release day for another good writer friend of mine, Melissa Tagg. Enchanted: A Christmas Collection is a collection of her three Christmas novellas, One Enchanted Christmas, One Enchanted Eve, and One Enchanted Noel.


In this week of thanksgiving, I'm so thankful for friends, for dreams come true, and for wonderful stories to curl up with.

Please join me in celebrating with Jaime and Melissa! And let me know what you're thankful for this week. 

Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events.

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Writing Retreat

Gabrielle Here:

Last week, I had the privilege of hanging out with two of my favorite authors, Erica Vetsch and Lindsay Harrel. Erica drove three hours from southern Minnesota to come to my house, and Lindsay hopped on a plane with her seven-month-old son and came from Phoenix. We spent a few days brainstorming, writing, and having a lot of fun.

Being goofy as we are "working"On Friday, we met up with Susan May Warren for supper and then went to see Murder on the Orient Express (great movie!).


Saturday, we brainstormed some stories ideas and worked out a few plot holes in others. Erica and I both worked through galley edits for our upcoming Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers (releasing in February). And then we watched While You Were Sleeping on Saturday evening.

Sunday, we did some blogging work, talked, talked, and talked some more (my husband is always in awe of how much writers can talk when they're together), and we watched the Viking's win an incredible game. We laughed and played with Lindsay's baby, ate yummy food, and watched It's a Wonderful Life.

We're making a Viking's fan out of
Lindsay's baby!Monday, we did a little shopping, went out for lunch at a local cafe that serves some of the best comfort food around, and worked a little more on our stories. On Monday evening, we watched Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck and then we started Holiday Inn with Bing Crosy and Fred Astaire, but agreed it was getting too late to finish it, because Tuesday morning, they had to leave.

We had a great weekend, made lots of new memories, and are already looking forward to the next time we'll see each other.

Your Turn: What did you do over the weekend?

Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events. 

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Fake News & Fiction: Faith and Truth

Anne here again.
Hang with me for some stream-of-thought convo today. Somewhere in between, lets look for truth and faith together. Yesterday I forgot my phone at home. I'd like to think I could go a day without it, but it holds all my ability to email, look up treatments, drug treatment plans, accept pages, contacts for other doctors, ability to send certain prescriptions, so ya---nope. So when the last morning patient didn't show, I tootled homeward and picked it up before my noon meeting across town.


I flipped on npr news for an interview on 1A with author Kevin Young about "bunk"--fake news.
I almost flipped the station, but started to think about how the prevalence of fake news has jaded the public and changed our perception of truth and faith in media (or not).  He used words like jadedness, cynicism, discredited, hoaxes, false reports, tall tails, magic pills, and bunk. He talked about how it historically, how it's shaped our nation, our identities, and how it's been impacted by race and culture. But his voice wasn't buying it all. He hadn't drank the Kool-aid of cynicism. I could still hear faith, a deep desire to find truth, to not let all the bunk in life leave only a bleak canvas behind.

Suddenly, I thought, this could somewhat apply to fiction and faith. I know that's a broad stretch.
But is it?

He set out to find out if historically we have more hoaxes than before. He states he discovered there are more, and they are worse than before, including more pain and greater degrees. Bunk--comes from Missouri Compromise in 1820, it meant political posturing and phoniness, tied up with race issues of the time. P.T. Barnum started hoaxes in 1835, saying Joyce Heth was George Washington's nurse who was "161 years old, come see her", as if culture needed to touch history.



He talks about the con-artists, exploits, and penny-presses used to communicate with common man. As American's the internet was primed by our past. Young speaks of the connection between democratic right to decide what's true that crossed over to entertainment, in that the common person could enjoy silly stories and shows, decide for themselves how true it was and what to believe. He looks at these ideas through the civil war years, to WWI, to Orsen Welles War of World on the radio (about an alien invasion), to WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and beyond.


You get the idea. It's a secular review of our history and culture surrounding these thoughts. But he says, audiences know that the thin line between fact and fiction isn't so thin, that there's a clear difference between falsity and truth. Ahhh. So even in this interview, there's Truth, I thought.

Young asks "how can we get our hunches about the truth back?" How do we combat cynicism about truth? He said "If we believe nothing is real, then pretty soon, we can be easily fooled, but if we say there is a real, there are things that are true, we can talk about them, but not be manipulated over them... we shouldn't be made further apart over them."

If you like history, media, sociology, or at least human interest, you'll enjoy the 30min interview. For further interest, here's the link to the podcast: We've been 'had': how bunk became embedded in American life

I wondered what C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien would have said if they'd been a part of the interview? I wondered that because I think their fantasy and non-fiction have shaped our thoughts about faith and believing.



I want to be entertained by stories that make me believe that Aslan may have something to say to me, where I believe there's good in the world, where cynicism dies and faith wins. My favorite fiction and entertainment is any that inspires deeper faith, and greater understandings of truth. Can you think of your favorite examples?

Readers: 
How far is the hoax from fiction? Fakery from fantasy?
How do you discern truth as you read fiction?
How important is it for our world and culture to discern truth?
I welcome comments about how truth impacts your fiction reading and understanding of faith, but any unkind or political rants will be removed.

Let's be about Truth in our fiction. In our lives. In our stories and views of history, culture, race, and humanity. Let's be about faith in the goodness of Truth, and believing that Truth is still real and that Faith isn't a hoax to be manipulated by culture and political powers.

Let's remember words of truth:
Ephesians 1: 13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

-------------Blog post by Anne Love-





Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots. 





Nurse Practitioner by day. 





Wife, mother, writer by night. 





Coffee drinker--any time.

Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com



Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram

TBR Pile: What's Up?

Anne here.
I hit the local bookstore this week and had fun sighting my book in the "wild"...

Another New Release

Erica Here:

Do you love Christmas? I sure do. And I especially love Christmas and children.

That's why I'm so excited for the release of A Child's Christmas Wish.


ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Baby for Christmas

The only Christmas gift Oscar Rabb's four-year-old daughter prays for is one the widower can't provide: a baby sibling. And when his neighbor's house burns down, he's willing to open his home to pregnant and widowed Kate Amaker and her in-laws—but not his heart. Even if his little girl's convinced Kate's unborn child is the answer to her wish.

Kate quickly sees the generous but aloof Oscar has little interest in growing closer to his houseguests. Still, she intends to make the coming Christmas a season to remember for his daughter. And as Oscar starts to open up to her, Kate can't help picturing just how wonderful the holidays—and a future together—might be.


Filled with beautiful Swiss Christmas traditions, wrapped with holiday love, and lit with a gently-growing romance, I hope readers love A Child's Christmas Wish as much as I do! 
Also, today, I'm guest blogging over at Petticoats and Pistols! I'd love it if you could pop in over there and say howdy! (And enter to win a copy of the book!)
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ 


ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/

Nanowrimo

Erica here:

Do you NaNo?

Ask a normal person, and they will look at you with raised eyebrows and concern for your welfare. Ask a novelist, and they will respond with glazed eyes and concern for their welfare!



NaNo (NaNoWriMo) stands for National Novel Writing Month. Every November 1st, thousands of novelists from around the globe begin a 30 day journey to write a fifty-thousand word novel. That's 1667 words per day for 30 days. It's madness.

But it can be done. I've done it myself a time or two!

This year, I've got a new buddy along the way. I've talked Gabrielle into writing with me!

After all, insanity loves company.

Though this year we aren't quite tackling the entire NaNo experience, since we're both writing novellas for the same collection: Victorian Christmas Brides. (Cover art and more details to come!)

So we're both aiming for 20-25K words instead of 50K.



Have you heard of NaNoWriMo? Have you ever tried it? If you're not a writer, have you ever bitten off a big project with an insane deadline?




ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/

Regency Book Launch and Facebook Party!

Erica here:


November 1st saw the launch of my very first Regency romance! My story, Jamie Ever After,  appears in the Regency Brides Collection.   



About the book: Join seven ladies as they navigate the gauntlet of the Regency Era's rules and expectations for romance. From young women forced to marry total strangers to those empowered to choose for themselves, Charity, Adelaide, Caroline, Helen, Esther, Sophia, and Jamie go to great lengths in pursuit of matrimonial bliss. Will faith grow and love prevail?
I had so much fun researching and learning more about the Regency period and writing the story! Jamie and William need each other so much! And there are beautiful Gordon setters!



To celebrate this release, the authors are hosting an online Regency Ball over on Facebook. We'd love it if you could attend! There will be trivia, puzzles, character sketches, fancy balls, music, and more!

Accept your invitation by clicking HERE.

ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/

November #CBA New #Reads

New Releases 

 More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.


Contemporary Romance:
Rooted in Love by Valerie Comer -- A divorcé with a set of rambunctious twins falls for the boys’ daycare administrator, but does he deserve another chance at love? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)





  Prescription for Romance by June Foster -- Though history teacher Scott Townsend made a commitment to the Lord as a teen, he can't relinquish his bitterness toward his younger brother after he squanders their parents' money. When a beautiful, young pharmacist seeks affirmation in a way that challenges Scott's values, he must uphold his Christian upbringing. (Contemporary Romance from Forget Me Not Romance [Winged Publication])


  Believing in Tomorrow by Kimberly Rae Jordan -- Sammi struggles to accept the consequences for her actions and to live with her new reality—unwed mother instead of wife and then mother. Though it eats at her soul, she feels that the judgment she faces is her lot to bear. Can Levi get Sammi to see that their child deserves better? Or will she lose everything she’s dreamed of for her tomorrow because she can’t accept that forgiveness is hers for the taking? (Contemporary Romance, ACFW QIP)


Texas Christmas Twins by Deb Kastner -- Miranda Morgan’s Christmas will be twice as busy now that she’s guardian of her sister’s sweet twin babies. But the celebrity photographer is happy to trade a glamorous LA lifestyle for motherhood in her small hometown of Wildhorn, Texas. Unfortunately, the twins’ handsome godfather, Simon West, is unconvinced. The brooding rancher isn’t thrilled about letting sunny, spontaneous Miranda into his carefully managed world. Though they disagree on almost everything, Simon and Miranda discover common ground as they work to make the twins’ first country Christmas cozy and bright. Could this holiday transform Miranda and Simon’s tentative friendship into a forever love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])



Historical:

The Legacy by Carol Ashby -- A father’s martyrdom makes his son and daughter hunger for revenge on their brother who betrayed him and the people who led him to faith until God answers their father’s final prayer in unexpected ways. (Historical from Cerrillo Press)




  Jerusalem Rising by Barbara M. Britton -- When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit,God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David. Nehemiah challenges the people of God to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Will her father, who rules a half-district of Jerusalem, be forgotten forever? Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same stones they hope to construct? (Historical from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])


Historical Mystery:

Death at Thorburn Hall by Julianna Deering -- Amateur sleuth Drew Farthering and his wife Madeline travel to Scotland for the 1935 British Open, but instead of a relaxing holiday, they find murder, mystery, and international intrigue. (Historical Mystery from Bethany House [Baker])




  Waiting for His Return by Carrie Turansky -- The daughter of a wealthy Tennessee doctor falls in love with an injured artist-correspondent on assignment to cover the battles near Union occupied Nashville. (Historical Mystery from Flowing Stream Books)




Historical Romance:
The Virtuous Viscount by Susan M. Baganz -- Lord Remington falls for a woman he rescues and recovers in his home, but can Miss Storm trust his virtue when he risks his reputation to unbeknownst to her, saves her life. (Historical Romance from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])




  Lord Phillip’s Folly by Susan M. Baganz -- Lord Westcombe finds himself falling in love with his unexpected wife and having to rescue her from the devices of the Black Diamond with the help of his friends and newfound faith. (Historical Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])




  The Regency Brides Collection by Amanda Barratt, Angela Bell, Susanne Dietze, Michelle Griep, Nancy Moser, MaryLu Tyndall, and Erica Vetsch -- Romance is a delicate dance bound by rules and expectations in Regency England...Seven couples must navigate society’s gauntlet to secure the hand of true love.... Charity and Luke are strangers who were forced to marry three years ago. Adelaide and Walter share a love of music and disdain for elitism. Caroline and Henry are thrown together by three orphans. Helen and Isaac harbor his unlikely secret. Esther is empowered to choose between two men. Sophia is determined not to choose a man like Nash. Jamie and William face a daunting London season together. Will their faith grow and love prevail in a time when both were considered luxuries the elite could not afford? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)


  The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas -- Judd Markley is a hardworking coal miner who rarely thinks much past tomorrow until he loses his brother--and nearly his own life--in a mine cave-in. Vowing never to enter the darkness of a mine again, he leaves all he knows in West Virginia to escape to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It's 1954, the seaside community is thriving, and Judd soon hires on with a timber company. Larkin Heyward's life in Myrtle Beach is uncomplicated, mostly doing volunteer work and dancing at the Pavilion. But she dreams of one day doing more--maybe moving to the hollers of Kentucky to help the poor children of Appalachia. But she's never even met someone who's lived there--until she encounters Judd, the newest employee at her father's timber company. Drawn together in the wake of a devastating hurricane, Judd and Larkin each seek answers to what tomorrow will bring. As opposition rises against following their divergent dreams, they realize that it may take a miracle for them to be together. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])


Legal Thriller:

Guilty Blood by Rick Acker -- A desperate mother tries to prove her son's innocence, but shadowy forces want to keep him in jail--and kill him there. (Legal Thriller from Waterfall Press)





Romantic Suspense:

An Unexpected Legacy by Amy R. Anguish -- When Chad Manning introduces himself to Jessica Garcia at her favorite smoothie shop, it's like he stepped out of one of her romance novels. But as she tentatively walks into a relationship with this man of her dreams, secrets from their past threaten to shatter their already fragile bond. Chad and Jessica must struggle to figure out if their relationship has a chance or if there is nothing between them but a love of smoothies. (Romantic Suspense from Tulpen Publishing)


  Christmas Double Cross by Jodie Bailey -- Undercover Texas Ranger Colter Blackthorn’s convinced Danielle Segovia is really a wanted criminal—until she’s nearly kidnapped right in front of him. Now Colter must keep her out of the clutches of the notorious drug cartel leader whose traitor sister is a dead ringer for Danielle. The drug czar wants the drugs he thinks the pretty shop owner stole from him. And with the younger brother Danielle is raising dragged into the crosshairs, Colt has to find a way to protect them both. But a showdown at Christmas—with Danielle as bait—may be the only way to make sure they all survive the holidays. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

  The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright -- Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide. A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--including her own--are lost? (Romantic Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])


Speculative:

Awakened by Morgan L. Busse -- The monster has awakened. After her escape from the Tower and from her father's experiments, Kat Bloodmayne wakes up to discover the dark power inside of her has grown stronger. Now more than ever she needs to find the doctor who holds the key to healing her, but the only one who can help her find him is Stephen Grey, the very man who betrayed her. Stephen Grey cannot change the past or what he did to Kat, but he will do everything he can to help her now. But will Kat let him? Or will his transgression be too much to overcome? Time races against them as they travel with sky pirates through harrowing storms and across the war-torn country of Austrium in search of the doctor who can cure Kat. But can he cure what is broken inside of her? Or will the monster inside of Kat consume her soul? (Speculative from Enclave Publishing)

Hanging the Scarlet Cord

I wonder when my walls of Jericho will fall? Have I tied my scarlet cord tight enough for God to see and spare me, or shall I map out my escape route should I feel the foundation of my home begin to rumble?

I never dreamed I would empathize with a prostitute, or even find myself in her shoes, so to say. First I viewed her in all of her wicked sordidness. Stained and soiled by the mark of numerous men, selling herself to the highest bidder, perhaps with pride and certainly with an instinct of survival. Survival. Isn’t that what all of us seek to achieve? Perhaps Rahab sought it in the only form she knew how, but then what have I prostituted myself to? Maybe not men, but it could be a myriad of things ranging from career to fortune to vanity to pride to safety. Safety. I believe that if I were to define my two most important ambitions in life, truly I would have to write “survival” and “safety” at the top of my list.

I once described to a friend that I needed to have all my “ducks in a row” in life. “Since when do ducks swim in a row?” I was asked. “Well, my ducks do – and they quack on demand too,” I wanted to add. I sincerely believe that at one point, Rahab believed she had her ducks in a row as well. She was a survivor and she most likely provided for her own safety by sacrificing a part of herself. I do that too. My sacrifice is my own sanity, for the sake of planning and scheming and worrying about the next big change, and even small change, in my life. But then, something, Someone threatened her – and my - sense of survival in a way that caused a tsunami to overtake her ducks and drown them, feathers, quacks and all.

The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so fortified that the cities’ own endurance was rarely, if ever, question. It was a powerhouse so unshakeable that the gods themselves could not pass through. It was the ultimate wall of safety and survival and the smart people lived behind its security and questioned not their protection from the outside world. Until the wind blew stories of a God so gigantic and colossal that suddenly the walls seemed scrawny in comparison. Those who lived in Jericho lived in denial of an inevitable confrontation. Would their walls hold? No one dared to consider this. Except Rahab. Here the lone prostitute entertained men while entertaining musings of the God of Israel. I dare not even begin to imagine where she would go in her mind as she proceeded to act out her means of survival and security. Did she even dare to wonder about God while she welcomed a man to her bed? The ungodliness of such a thing strikes me as a sharp contrast to my life until I pause and consider … do I even dare to wonder about God as I welcome my own means of self-created survival mechanisms into my soul?

As she mused, she grew in convincing faith that the God of Israel was not a God to be challenged. Perhaps, one morning, Rahab stepped to her balcony that overlooked the wall of Jericho and she had visions of it crumbling and crashing to the ground, striking panic in her heart. Were I Rahab, I instantly would have begun to scheme. And I do. My wall of Jericho and my means of continued existence, whatever it may be, is my sanctuary and protection. It’s whatever I hold in this life to be my means of fortification and now that it is threatened, I take to my table like Rahab takes to hers and begin to map out multiple escape routes. The Israelites and their God are coming. They are looming in the distance, threatening my walls, threatening my way of life and promising that a drastic change, a shift of power over my life is on the horizon.

I don’t know that Rahab expected the knock on her door, or the Israelites spies hidden on her rooftop, or the deceitful web she would weave when questioned about the spies’ whereabouts. I do know that somewhere in the course of hearing about the God of Israel and her first visit with the Israelites, Rahab made a decision that would forever change her life. It would be marked in scarlet red.
This decision was unplanned, unexpected, unrealistic, and unadvised. This decision was to reach out and grasp hold of faith. Faith in stories of a God she had not experienced individually. Faith in a dream of a God so immense He could tear down the very walls around her that spoke of power and make them miniscule in His wake. Faith in a God that would rip from her the very existence she’d carved out for herself. Faith in a God that would demand that He be in charge of her survival and safety.
“…swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure a sign that you … will save us from death.”

Her entreaty to the Israelite spies begged for a sample of security that she could put her faith in. A sure sign. Something tangible that she could hold onto. A plan. A promise.

“Our lives for your lives!” they cried. “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window.”
Did her look of faith waver? Did her expectant smile droop in disappointment? I think mine would have. I want to rave, “thanks a lot! I say I’m willing to trust You and you give me a scarlet cord in return? Way to go God! A piece of cloth? A rope? A bright red woven cord? Where’s the military strategy in that? War is coming! You’re threatening to tear my walls down and I’m asking that You at least let me survive it! Give me some assurance here, Lord … my life is at stake! My security is threatened. Safety has been ripped from my grasp and You give me a piece of cloth?”
So, what’s my recourse. If I am Rahab, how do I respond to that offer? If I know my refuge is being threatened, then I figure that God gave me a brain for some reason! I’ll take the scarlet cord, hang it from my window and then think up my next line of defense. A means to fortify my walls. An escape plan. Two, three, four, five escape plans, for goodness sakes! Just in case God screws up. I’ll pack my bags. I’m ready to run and I know where I’m going and if that route gets blocked I have an alternate map in mind for a different road on which to flee to my next fortified city that promises … STOP!!!!! God? A scarlet cord? What’s with that, seriously, now? What good does a piece of red cloth waving weakly in the wind signify?

With a startling clarity, I believe Rahab understood, much quicker than I, might I add. There’s no cries of protest. No rampages of outrage. She immediately and without qualm replies, “ ‘Agreed. Let it be as you say.’ So she sent them away … and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.” No question. No argument. Just immediate obedience. Just tie that cord in the window and sit back and wait? Really, Rahab, really. I sigh and squirm as I consider this. Rahab, the prostitute, and her faith shame me.
I have experienced God in a personal way. I can write pages upon pages of ways He has proved His greatness in my life. Rahab has only heard the stories of others and yet without question, this sinful survivalist wraps that scarlet cord in her window, gathers her family to her, and waits to watch the walls fall down in complete and utter faith that God will not fail her now.

No back up plan. No alternate route. Just a scarlet cord. Just a submissive admission of her inability to survive in the face of God and a dependence on His mercy. Oh, that I would imitate the life of that prostitute. That I would hang the scarlet cord that my Lord asks me to hang. That I would watch Him tear down my walls of protection, and shake my foundation, and press on me with His mighty and dangerous Person. Then, in the dust and the rubble and the war cries … as the trumpets blare and the pressure becomes too great … I will see that waving scarlet rope and I will feel His presence descend, then pause, and then pass over me. My weakness held in the grip of the all-powerful God of the Israelites. And, when the dust settles and shows the wreckage of my city at my feet, I will see I am still standing, still breathing. I will know that my life was held in the Hands of the Almighty and that He spared me in return for my faith. Oh, what a Holy God who demands that His power be known and my weakness be plastered in public for all mankind to see. Tie the scarlet cord around my neck! Remind me daily of my open armed, unplanned faith in a God whose Majesty confounds the most brilliant of men.

“But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute …and she lives among the Israelites to this day.”
In the end, Rahab found her survival and safety in the hands of the God of Israel and she planted her walls there until the day she died. I can only imagine that as she left the destroyed city of Jericho behind, the smell of death and the putrid agony of her memories were set aside. The burden of creating a means for her own survival had been handed off to the only One capable of properly managing it. The only sure means of security. Her Lord. As she stepped forward she looked over her shoulder and up to the window of the home she’d once made her fortress. In the sudden stillness, she realized the war was over and God had willed her to survive. And the breeze blew, and the scarlet cord waved in triumph.

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Jaime Jo Wright Professional coffee drinker & ECPA/Publisher's Weekly best-selling author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing spirited turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Coffee fuels her snarky personality. She lives in Neverland with her Cap’n Hook who stole her heart and will not give it back, their little fairy TinkerBell, and a very mischievous Peter Pan. The foursome embark on scores of adventure that only make her fall more wildly in love with romance and intrigue.

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