Julie Arduini's Blog, page 105
March 30, 2016
Be Encouraged
Well, hello! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an update and I thought today I would do that. I’ve been busy behind the scenes building my business as an indie author and speaker. It’s hard when God’s given a vision with an end result, but there are a million steps in between. I’m not sure what number step I’m on, but I’m trying to keep that end goal in sight.
To encourage audiences to find freedom through surrender in Christ.
The biggest project I have is re designing and re branding what was the Adirondack Romance Surrender Series that started with ENTRUSTED. Coming this spring is the re release of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, and the debut of book two, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. The last release will be ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future. I’m nearly done with the covers and I’m excited. They capture the heart of the series. My desire is for readers to connect with flawed characters who ultimately surrender their fears to God through their relationship with Jesus. Hopefully they will want to do the same.
Friends have been sharing their surrender stories here, and if you’ve missed the series, I strongly recommend you take a look. I’ve loved putting these together and presenting them to you.
Take a look at the Surrender Stories here.
I’ve also wrote some posts for others. It’s a good marketing technique, but I love doing this in hopes of encouraging someone who might not be familiar with my writing.
Be encouraged with one of the resources I offer through guest posting.
Mama Monday: When the Parent is Tired
Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud: Your Spouse is not Your Enemy
Sarah Ruut: The Truth About Forgiveness
Christians Read: The Information Dump
This year I also created a weekly encouragement via email called Sunday’s Surrender and Chocolate. It’s a brief message delivered to your inbox with a positive thought and a chocolate mention. A little something to start your week with a smile. Subscription is free, and I’d love for you to join us.
Sunday’s Surrender and Chocolate
Finally, this year I’ve been intentional to give readers a monthly newsletter chocked full of resources to help them in their surrender journey. Beyond writing updates I share a devotional type message, introduce a Reader of the Month, a recipe, books I recommend, and more. This is also a free subscription and THE place to receive exclusive info on my writing and speaking.
Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues and Chocolate
Anything I do is with the prayer you finish feeling encouraged and hopeful. I pray you not only enjoy these resources, but you let others know about them. I can’t reach everyone, but together, we can. Can you imagine the world feeling free because they trusted God and let go of what was holding them back?
Tags: author, Be Encouraged, chocolate, encouragement, Engaged: Surrendering the Future, Entangled: Surrendering the Past, Entrusted: Surrendering the Present, fiction, Julie Arduini, speaker, Sunday's Surrender and Chocolate, Surrender Stories, Surrendering Time, writing resourcesDel.icio.us
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Book Trailer of the Week: Henry and the Bouncing Ball by Surviving Henry Sabbath Sunday: Chosen Book Review: From the Library of A.W. Tozer compiled by James Stuart Bell Book Review: Yes or No by Jeff Shinabarger Memorial Day: The Lord be with you AllCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Be Encouraged], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Be Encouraged appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 28, 2016
COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Book
At Clash of the
Titles we make things easy for book lovers everywhere–including
handpicking new releases we know you’ll love. This week, we present five of
Christian fiction’s hottest new titles. Surely, one of them will be the
right fit for you.
Introducing, February’s New Releases clashing novels…
Don’t forget to vote for the one that most catches your interest!
Will the quest for gold tear the Connor family apart?
~~~~~
He receives a diagnosis that alters the course of his life; she is an ICU
nurse on the verge of burnout. Faith doesn’t come easy for either.
~~~~~
When a pregnant widow returns from the mission field, family and friends
rally to help. However she harbors a secret that threatens her relationship
with God and may lead to her spiritual downfall.
~~~~~
Two women engineers race the clock to build the world’s first
nuclear-powered aircraft amid the backdrop of sabotage and murder, and
while trying to deal with their own muddled personal lives.
~~~~
Unwilling to deal with his cancer prognosis, Dr. Steven Moore retreats to a
happier time in his past—to the woman who once stole his heart, never
suspecting she might offer hope for his future.
~~~~~
Cast your vote below. Winner announced next Thursday, March 31!
Create your own user feedback survey
Tags: All that Glitters, An Informal Arrangement, authors, books, COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Book, fiction, God's Love Most Gentle, Heather Gray, Julie Arduini, Lisa J. Flickenger, Mary Marie Allen, Restored, Sylvia Bambola, Tanya Eavenson, The Babel Conspiracy, vote for your favorite bookDel.icio.us
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Surrendering Daddy's Girl Mother of Pearl: Mother Ship by Melody Murray Book Review: C.J. Darlington's Bound by Guilt Character Confession: I Swear to God The Things That Keep Me Up At NightCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Book], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Book appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 25, 2016
Grow Your Family’s Faith This Easter with Odyssey Adventure Club
If your family is like most, breakfast is rushed to get everyone out the door. Lunch is spent at school or work. So where does that leave dinner? Nourish your family’s spiritual health as you eat supper together. Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to give you a free resource to help you begin your new dinner tradition of making the most of your family mealtime, beginning this Easter season. Simply head to this page and fill out the form to receive a free sample of Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions.
Grow Your Family’s Faith this Easter with Odyssey Adventure Club.
Want new resources to continue to build your family’s faith, even after Easter is over? Consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:
Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.
To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.
Tags: devotions, Easter, family, grow your family s faith, Grow Your Family's Faith this Easter with Odyssey Adventure Club, Julie Arduini, membership, OAC, Odyssey Adventure ClubDel.icio.us
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Delia Latham Takes Crown in Latest Staff Clash of the Titles (COTT) Blogging for Books Review: Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer ILikeAdoption and ILikeGiving Book Review: Fistful of God by Therese Travis The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving by Nike ChillemiCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Grow Your Family's Faith This Easter with Odyssey Adventure Club], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Grow Your Family’s Faith This Easter with Odyssey Adventure Club appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 23, 2016
A Lesson on Trust by Jennifer Slattery
Have you ever felt like God forgot about you? Like when you’re caught in an impossible situation with nowhere to go, searching for the lifeline that never seems to come? Maybe your rope got stuck in the parcel post or passed through a few too many hands along the way. But it doesn’t matter. You’re in a bind and you need God. Now. But then, when you least expect it, God does show up, and contrary to your panicked thoughts, the world didn’t end. In fact, once the storm passes and you took a step back, you realized God had been there all the time. And He really did know what He was doing.
I’m always in a hurry, on constant overdrive. Not because I’m terribly ambitious, but because, sometimes, I struggle to let go of the reigns. I could rationalize this a million ways, but ultimately it comes down to lack of trust. In those moments when I fight against surrender, it’s like I forget that God is bigger than His creation, which includes my tiny little role in it.
This maybe be why I love the Bible passage about Martha and Lazarus.
In John chapter eleven, we are told that Martha’s brother is sick. And what did you do in first century Palestine when someone you loved fell ill? You sought out the Healer, of course. And I imagine if He was a close friend of the family, as Jesus was to Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, you’d expect a rather quick response. But what does Jesus do when he learns of Lazarus’ illness? He tarried, on purpose. Didn’t He love Lazarus? Verses five and six say He did: “So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days.”
When He finally arrives at Lazarus’ home in Bethany, it’s too late. Lazarus is dead. Martha is distraught, and even accusatory.
John 11:21 “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died.’”
Translation: God, You’re too late.
Lazarus had been dead for three days. Martha’s faith and hope had come and gone. She’d gone from fervent prayers to mourning.
Jesus’ response? “I’m bigger than that, Martha.”
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life.”
You may be familiar with the rest of the story. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and God’s power was revealed. And I’m sure when it was done Martha could have kicked herself for her lack of faith. Just like I frequently kick myself for mine, but the account of Lazarus has a way of bringing me back to reality. The God that made me, that saved me, is bigger than anything I could face. And His timing is always perfect.
So what happens when God is late? Now that is a question without a logical answer, my friend. The more rational question would be, when is God late? And my response would be never, even if it appears things have regressed to the point of decay.
Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and devotions for Internet Café Devotions, the group blog, Faith-filled Friends, and her personal blog. She also does content editing for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas’ Firefly imprint, and loves working with authors who are serious about pursuing their calling. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.
Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Breaking Free:
Breaking Free, the latest from Jennifer Slattery.
Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters. Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?
Read a free, 33-page excerpt here: http://newhopepublishers.com/2016/02/free-sample-of-breaking-free/
Buy it:
Christian Book Distributors: http://www.christianbook.com/breaking-free-a-comtemporary-romance-novel/jennifer-slattery/9781596694682/pd/694682?event=ESRCG
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-free-peter-maxwell-slattery/1119735612?ean=9781596694682
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-Jennifer-Slattery/dp/1596694688/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Connect with Jennifer
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter: @Jenslattery
See scene location pictures for Breaking Free on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/breaking-free/
Tags: A Lesson on Trust by Jennifer Slattery, author, Breaking Free, fiction, God's timing, Jennifer Slattery, Jesus, John 11:25, Julie Arduini, Lazarus, New Hope Publishers, perfect timing, resurrection, trusting GodDel.icio.us
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Like Forrest Gump's Mama COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Read! Have You Ever Ached For a Place? Sabbath Sunday: Get Your Feet Wet Mother of Pearl: Mizpah by Margaret McSweeneyCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [A Lesson on Trust by Jennifer Slattery], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post A Lesson on Trust by Jennifer Slattery appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 21, 2016
Surrendering Our Stories by Gail Kittleson
SURRENDERING OUR STORIES
Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, written in 1647, asks, “What is the chief end of man? [Not politically correct, but we get the meaning.]
The answer certainly applies to our busy modern lives. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”
Embracing this concept challenges us—what does it mean to glorify God, and enjoy him? Since our Creator made us in his own image, enjoying God implies finding pleasure in being alive. The question broadens: do I consistently delight in my life?
Enjoy Him forever—what a powerful statement. Made in His image—another one just as strong.
Though made in His image, we still struggle. Recollecting on what motivated my memoir writing, sometimes I marvel, because the struggle motivated me. The writing itself involved turmoil—the genre involves going down into our experiences—positive and negative—to garner meaning.
Surrendering Our Stories by Gail Kittleson, her book, In This Together.
More than two years have passed since the final editing with my publisher, yet I’m still hearing comments that tell me the process was worth all the effort. Of course, I already sense that internally, but hearing someone say, “Your book is motivating me to write down some of my memories,” or “I love how you find meaning in such mundane, inconsequential things,” reminds me.
Mundane, inconsequential things make up the bulk of our lives. And we’re to ENJOY those lives, right? This stops us right at the doors of surrender.
Realizing how grace carried us through “the worst of times,” how friendship supported us, and how we grew in character, informs us that our earthly experience has intrinsic value. We can embrace our experiences with joy, as we surrender the story.
But it’s our story, right? Yes, but maybe not so much. Our stories may be intended to help others glorify God more, and enjoy Him and their own lives to a deeper extent.
Women’s stories pepper my memoir—of course they do. Those stories, along with those Jesus told, encourage, inspire, reassure, and challenge us. We’re not alone, and treasuring others’ experiences is part of enjoying our lives.
In the process, we enjoy God’s wonderful works—in and through real, live people. From my present vantage point, it’s clear that memoir writing hinges on the difficult, lovely concept of surrender.
Contact Links:
http://www.gailkittleson.com/
www.facebook.com/gail.kittleson
https://www.facebook.com/Gail-Kittleson-author-1799350843625035/timeline/
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/gail-kittleson/43/935/b06
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3459831.Gail_Kittleson
Bio:
Gail, a late but sincere bloomer, taught college expository writing and ESL. Now she focuses on women’s fiction and facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.
WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Imprint) released in 2015. She also contributed to the Little Cab Press 2015 Christmas Anthology, and has a World War II series on the way.
Meeting new reading and writing friends is the meringue on her pie, as her heroine Dottie would say.
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COTT: The Hesistant Heiress by Dawn Crandall Character Confession: After the Whale Mermaid Moon Mystery E-Reader Prize Pack Giveaway COTT: Introducing the 2014 Laurel 12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 6 - Year of Adversity Brings Joy by Leslie GouldCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Surrendering Our Stories by Gail Kittleson], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Surrendering Our Stories by Gail Kittleson appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 20, 2016
COTT: Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering
A recency-ero costume party should be no more than an amusing diversion,
but it seems, wherever Drew Farthing goes, mystery–and murder–are on the
guest list.
Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering
Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-Era house party at
Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew’s
former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée,
Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody
is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to
believe she’d taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of
whether the death is an accident or murder. The police have their own
information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he’s
trusted and admired since his childhood—someone who’s been smuggling drugs
into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to
get to the bottom of everything, but Drew’s never felt more unsettled.
Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn’t
know who to trust, and he’s not ready for the secrets he’s about to
uncover—or the danger he’ll bring down on everyone he holds
dear.
PURCHASE
Amazon
B & N
About the author:
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of
storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along
with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her
tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation
Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when
not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching
NHL hockey.
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Character Confession: You'll Know Them by their Fruit Sabbath Sunday: Waving a Flag but Not Living Free Book Review: Lily by B.J. Bassett Book Review: The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets Book Review: Peter's Perfect Prayer Place by Stephen Kendrick, Alex KendrickCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [COTT: Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post COTT: Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 19, 2016
Odyssey Adventure Club: Easter Activities for the Family
Easter Activities for the Family
We’re down to the final two weeks before we celebrate Easter and Jesus’ resurrection. Do your children understand and grasp the full meaning of why we celebrate the holiday? Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to provide your family with a week of meaningful, fun Easter activities to help make the holiday come alive this year. Simply head to this page and sign up to download your free PDF full of family devotions, egg wraps, recipes, crafts, and cards. Oh, and as a bonus, here’s a free activity sheet from Focus on the Family!
If you’re looking to dig into the Easter holiday more and want to build your kids’ faith, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:
Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.
To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.
Tags: activities, Easter, easter activities, family, Julie Arduini, OAC, Odyssey Adventure Club, Odyssey Adventure Club: Easter Activities for the FamilyDel.icio.us
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COTT: Carol Moncado Shares Where Character Ideas Come From Guest Blogger: Going to College in Uncertain Times--My Story Featured Video: Mississippi Nights by D.M. Webb Saturday Confession: Wait, I'd Like to Break Up With You Christmas in September: Suzanne Woods Fisher and Revell Team Up For iPad Giveaway and Facebook PartyCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Odyssey Adventure Club: Easter Activities for the Family], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Odyssey Adventure Club: Easter Activities for the Family appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 16, 2016
Surrendering My Loved Ones by Christine Lindsay
SURRENDERING MY LOVED ONES – By Christine Lindsay
Growing up as the child of an alcoholic father who abused my mother and neglected us kids, taught me how to be a really strong protector, a really good nurturer, and a provider. I was well prepared to be a parent long before that event ever occurred.
There are two sides to every coin though. My childhood gave me the above strengths, but I discovered that most often my strengths actually hinder what God wants to do in the lives of the people I love.
The downside of my strength is: I had a hard time relating to a loving heavenly Father for all of my needs, and the nurturing aspect to my personality can lean in a mild degree towards a “savior type” compulsion. I was often guilty of trying to ‘fix’ the circumstances in my children’s lives so that they wouldn’t suffer.
Have you ever stopped in the middle of helping your kids or a friend out of a jam, and thought, “maybe it would be better if they took their lumps and let God teach them something from their situation?”
It wasn’t easy but I had to come to the point of surrendering my kids totally to God, meaning I had to assume a “Hands Off” attitude. I’ve learned that it’s safer to pray that God make the choices for the people I love, even if that means discipline, even if that means hardship.
That might mean not being there for a hand-out when one of my adult kids needs money.
That might mean keeping my mouth closed when it comes to advice and just listening and praying for them instead.
That might mean standing back as they hurt in hospital after a suicide attempt, and telling them to trust God and no one else, and crying buckets of tears with them.
Surrender your loved ones to God, and stop trying to save them yourself.
Sofi’s Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
This is the theme of Sofi’s Bridge, my latest historical romance, releasing this April 16 for digital, and May 1 for paperback at can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Books.com and Pelican Book Group.
To read the first chapter of Sofi’s Bridge, click HERE.
ABOUT CHRISTINE LINDSAY
Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.
Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming. Her newest release Sofi’s Bridge also features a dashing Irish hero.
Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.
Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Thankful Series Kicks Off Sabbath Sunday: Unexpected Snow in Spring Praying for Boston: This Time Feels Different The Lessons I'm Learning from Whitney Houston's Life and Death COTT: Chapel Springs Revival by Ane MulliganCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Surrendering My Loved Ones by Christine Lindsay], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Surrendering My Loved Ones by Christine Lindsay appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 13, 2016
COTT: Grace in the Flames by Michelle Massaro
Debut Release by Michelle Massaro:
Grace in the Flames
“I couldn’t put it down, consider yourself warned.”
~ Amazon reviewer
About the book:
Grace in the Flames is a debut novel from Michelle Massaro
Three people. One God of grace.
John Douglas thought he knew the future God had for him–raise a family and grow old with his bride, Hannah. But then a deadly house fire incinerates his faith, destroying the man he’d been.
Worship leader Jenni Dupont conquered her demons years ago and has the scars to prove it. But temptation strikes when her world is shattered, and this time she’s not sure if God can carry her through.
Bar waitress April Johanson lives with the secret trauma of an abusive past. Desperate to stay off the streets of Vegas, she’ll do whatever is necessary to pay the rent.
When their lives intersect, God will ask them to do the impossible. To love Him even if…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>Buy on Amazon<<
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What readers are saying:
“intense”
“I was hooked from the first chapter”
“outstanding debut novel”
“couldn’t put it down”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway:
Tweet or otherwise post online about the book with the Amazon link (http://amzn.to/1Y8EcPA ) ;and> ) and be entered to receive a free digital copy of the book. (suggested tweetables provided at end of this post.) Then, share a link to your post in the comments section of this blog, and tell me what your favorite Easter tradition or song is. Mine: The End of the Beginning (David Phelps)… chills every time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle, what made you write this story?
The story premise came to me as I was just pondering my faith, asking myself how deep does it go, would it survive if truly challenged? The characters wrestle with some of life’s toughest questions—How could God let this happen to me? Where is God when my heart is breaking? I believe in God, but my hurt is so big I’m not sure He’s enough. These are all thoughts that I’ve encountered in my life as well.
But even when life is unbearably hard, God is right there placing our tears in a bottle and inviting us into His arms to carry us through. I hope readers come away with a better sense of that truth when they read Grace in the Flames.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What’s next?
I’m about to release my second novel, a fun dual-genre story I co-wrote with the amazing April W Gardner called Better than Fiction. It’s a Women’s fiction wrapped around a historical romance set in 1916 Corona during the height of its auto racing glory. The short description is:
While creating a fictional romance between her 1916 heroine and a reckless racecar driver, a novelist falls prey to an emotional affair with the man who inspires her handsome hero.
Corona, California is my hometown and it’s been a blast to dig into our rich history. The release will coincide with the town’s 100th anniversary of the final race, and we are so excited! We have a Facebook page set up for the book: www.facebook.com/betterthanfiction2016 ;and> and will be offering a free digital copy to subscribers, so check that out, too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Author:
MICHELLE MASSARO writes contemporary fiction soaked in grace. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband of over two decades and their four children. She’s dabbled in homeschooling, teaching Creation Science, and leading worship. When she isn’t tinkering with words, Michelle enjoys old Rogers and Hammerstein movies, making kefir, and Sudoku. A new lipstick and a good French roast always make her happy.
Sign up for bonuses and insider info:
Connect with her online:
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tweetables:
“I was hooked from the first chapter” Check out Grace in the Flames! #NewRelease #ChristianFiction http://amzn.to/1Y8EcPA
***
“intense” Grace in the Flames is now in the #Kindle store! http://amzn.to/1Y8EcPA
***
“couldn’t put it down” ~ check out new #Christian #novel Grace in the Flames! http://amzn.to/1Y8EcPA
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What We Do On Misfit Island What 43 Looks Like On Me COTT: Vote for What You'd Read During Christmas Vacation Saturday Confession: But I Want the Bedbugs to Bite Sabbath Sunday: Get Your Feet WetCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [COTT: Grace in the Flames by Michelle Massaro], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post COTT: Grace in the Flames by Michelle Massaro appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
March 11, 2016
Walk Through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure Club
Odyssey Adventure Club has family activities for Holy Week.
The Bible is no doubt a timeless book, but often it’s seen by the younger generation as ancient and antiquated. How can we make the stories of the Bible—particularly the Easter story—alive and exciting for our children? Adventures in Odyssey has created a free activity kit for families to experience the Easter story brought to life through eight days of Christ-centered and fun activities. Click here to sign up and download the kit for free.
If you’re looking to bring the Bible to life further during the Easter season, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:
Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.
To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.
Tags: Adventures in Odyssey, Easter, family, family activity kit, Holy Week, Julie Arduini, Odyssey Adventure Club, Walk through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure ClubDel.icio.us
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The Love Boat Bachelor: Behind the Scenes in Cozumel Interview with Author Janice Thompson about Her Book, Queen of the Waves COTT: Reclaimed by Jennifer Rodewald, 2014 Olympia Winner, Now Available What 45 Looks Like on Me Character Confession from an Alleged Bon Bon EaterCopyright © Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate [Walk Through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure Club], All Right Reserved. 2016.The post Walk Through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure Club appeared first on Julie Arduini: Surrender Issues & Chocolate.
