Julie Arduini's Blog, page 32

Jodie Niznik: Crossroads Part 1

Part 1 of an Interview with Jodie Niznik,
Author of Crossroads

Q: Your new Bible study, Crossroads , examines the lives of Esther and Jonah, which seems to be an unlikely pairing. What did these two have in common?
 
Esther and Jonah were very different people with very different callings. Esther was called by God to save a people she loved, her people. And Jonah was called by God to save a group of people that he most likely loathed. To say the Ninevites were enemies is putting it kindly. While Esther and Jonah were very different, they also had much in common. They were both providentially placed in their time and space in history and given gifts and skills that made them the perfect people—really the only people—that could fulfill the task God was asking of them. They were invited by God to follow him on a journey of obedience. Neither knew what the outcome would be.
 
I love studying Esther and Jonah together because they responded to God so differently. Esther walked forward in brave, bold obedience, while Jonah literally ran the other way. It’s easy to applaud Esther and shake our heads at Jonah. But the truth is, we have a little Esther and Jonah in each of us. There are moments we feel brave and bold, and moments we turn away. Studying them together not only helps us see how to choose faithful obedience but also helps us to know God better and understand his lavish grace for us—even when we run away.
 
Q: What makes Esther different from any other book in the Bible? How does this “absence” point to one of the main themes of the book?
 
A quick read of the book of Esther reveals something very interesting: there is no mention of God in the entire text. In fact, Esther is the only book of Scripture that doesn’t explicitly mention God. The absence is glaring. How can an entire book of Scripture not mention God? Where is he? As we discover in this study, he is actually everywhere. He is the unseen main character who orchestrates every moment, every twist, and every “coincidence.”
 
This truth points to another main theme of the book: the providential care of God. Providence simply means that God is working in our normal lives, providing care and provision even when we can’t see him. He is in control; he always is. Many believe the purposeful lack of mentioning God is part of the genius behind the book of Esther, because even when he isn’t named, he is still there. He is unseen but holding everything together.
 
What I love about this seeming absence is how it mimics our lives. God is also the unseen main character in our story. He is providentially overseeing every aspect of our journey—offering care and provision for every moment. What a gift and what a relief.
 
Q: In one lesson, you also compare Esther to Daniel—both were called before a king while in captivity, but they displayed their faith and background differently. How does that apply to us today and our own calling?
 
Jews in both Esther’s and Daniel’s time adhered to strict dietary laws. When Daniel was in captivity, he felt led to refuse the food that wasn’t in compliance with Jewish dietary regulations. Esther, on the other hand, did eat the food that was offered to her and thereby broke the dietary laws. The Lord blessed both Esther and Daniel in these very different circumstances.
 
I think this provides necessary instruction for us that there isn’t always one right answer—and an answer provided for one person may be different than the answer for another. This emphasizes the importance of staying in an active and intimate relationship with God. We need to continually seek him and what’s best in every situation we find ourselves in. God asked Daniel to refrain from eating the rich foods offered to him, and God asked Esther to blend in by eating the food offered to her. Both were following God’s best in their specific situations.
 
Q: What can we learn from Esther about how to approach our own “for such a time as this” moments? How can we prepare for those crossroads moments?
 
The most inspirational part of the book of Esther is when she stands at her crossroads and confesses that she knows what must be done and that perhaps she has come to her royal position “for such a time as this.” She also knows it could cost her life but boldly declares, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). And then, she actually followed through. She did exactly what she knew she needed to do.
 
How did she remain brave and not talk herself out of this risky but necessary next step? There are a few things she did that helped her stay strong. First, she invited others to be on the journey with her by declaring her intentions to them. Second, she sought God through fasting and prayer—as did those around her. And then finally, she took the brave and scary step and went.
As we prepare for our own crossroads moments, we should do just what Esther did. First, share the next step with trusted Jesus-loving people. Then start praying and ask them to do the same. I’d also recommend that you try fasting—from food or something else—to help you seek Jesus with more intention. Finally, when you sense it is time, go. Be brave and bold and walk into your “for such a time as this” moment.
 
Q: Patience and timing are a significant part of Esther’s story. What can we learn from Esther about God’s plan for us?
 
Esther, at great risk to herself, went before the king without being summoned. As we see in other places in the book, he was a man prone to making rash decisions and could have had her executed on the spot for coming to him without being called. Once she finally did go to him, he extended his scepter to her as a sign that she was welcomed. Then oddly, she decided not to tell him what she needed but invited him to a meal. At that meal, she still did not disclose what she intended and invited him to a second meal. For one reason or another she felt led to wait, and it’s a good thing she did because the king learned some very needed information from an unlikely source between these two meals.
 
Waiting seems counterintuitive for us. We live in a hyper-fast and immediate world, yet God’s timing, while often slower than we want, is always the perfect timing. Had Esther jumped ahead, the king wouldn’t have had all the information. How did she know to wait? The text doesn’t tell us, but I imagine that as she fasted and prayed, she was listening to God, and he was instructing her. This is just one more reason why it’s important to slow down and listen to the Lord. He will guide us, and when he does, the timing will be perfect.
 
Q: Fasting is an activity you suggest more than once. What are some examples of fasting we can do today in order to hear God’s calling for us?
 
Fasting is simply a way to help us become more attuned to what God is doing. We don’t fast to get anything from God but to become more attentive to him. There are many things we can fast from. The most obvious and common fast is from food. Fasting from food creates physical pangs and longings in our bodies that are hard to ignore. These physical cues help us remember to seek God with more intention in those moments.
 
However, not everyone can or should fast entirely from food, and that’s OK. We can still have an effective fast as long as we choose something that we do with regularity and, when we take this thing out of our lives, it would be noticed. So, for example, you could fast from a specific food or drink, social media, the news, or even listening to anything while driving in your car. The ideas are endless. If you are wanting to do a fast to help you seek the Lord and discern your next steps, take a few minutes to ask him in prayer what some good fasting ideas could be. Choose something, decide on a time frame, and then try it out. Every time you want to engage with or have the thing you are fasting from, turn to God in prayer instead.
 
Q: What are the elements in each lesson of this Bible study? How is Crossroads designed to be used?
 
Each lesson starts with a short practice section. Many people use the term spiritual disciplines to describe these activities. And while I do like that phrase, I’ve settled on practices because it feels more like an invitation to practice something in our relationship with the Lord, often something new. These practices don’t take a lot of time, but they often require planning—which is why I start each lesson with them. My hope is that readers will find something that brings new life to their relationship with the Lord as they try these things out.
 
Crossroads is broken into five daily sections for each lesson. Each day shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes to do. The study can be used in a group or individually. Click here to read an excerpt of Crossroads. About the Author Jodie Niznik is the women’s and adult ministries pastor at Irving Bible Church in Irving, Texas. She has served in various roles on the pastoral team at her church over the last twelve years. Her calling and passion is to equip people to take the next step in their journey with Jesus. She loves to write about and teach scriptural truths in practical and easy-to-understand ways. Niznik has an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in Christian education with an emphasis in women’s ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the author of Crossroads: A Study of Esther and Jonah for Boldly Responding to Your Call and Choose: A Study of Moses for a Life That Matters, and the coauthor of Galatians: Discovering Freedom in Christ Through Daily Practice with Sue Edwards. She is also the host of the So Much More podcast. Niznik and her husband, Tim, have two young adult daughters, Taylor and Billie. The Nizniks miss their daughters but love their quiet Saturdays. Niznik believes gummy bears and coffee are sweet gifts from the Lord that provide fuel as she writes Bible studies and prepares biblical teachings. To learn more about Jodie Niznik, visit  www.jodieniznik.com . She can also be found on Facebook (@JodieGNiznik) and Instagram (@jodieniznik) .What Others Are Saying“From time to time, we all stand at crossroads, big ones that alter our life’s direction and small ones that keep us on God’s good path or divert us onto painful detours. Esther and Jonah stood there too, and each responded differently, teaching us valuable lessons for today. Niznik’s fresh approach tells it like it really was . . . and is. Each weekly lesson includes a practice session to help us apply gleaned wisdom for navigating our own crossroads. Jodie’s studies move us toward transformative biblical literacy and an action-packed faith that lives what’s learned. I trust her studies and you can too.”
~ Sue Edwards, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and author of the Discover Together Bible Study series
 
“Every follower of Jesus comes to defining moments of deciding either to follow the whispers of God or to ignore that voice and go our own way. With tremendous skill and insight, Jodie Niznik digs into two remarkable Old Testament stories—Esther and Jonah. This study will stretch and challenge you as Jodie guides with wisdom and practical application each step of the way.”
~ Nancy Beach, leadership coach with the Slingshot Group and author of Gifted to Lead

Carol McClain: Joy Comes in the Morning

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING

BUT UNTIL IT DOES …?

Sin’s not all it’s cracked up to be—but after sorrow, comes joy.

Numbers 14:18 and similar scriptures always caused me to stumble. “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation” Numbers 14:18, KJV. (emphasis mine).

 Of course, it wasn’t the fact that God is longsuffering and of great mercy that give me pause.

That he forgives me, brings me joy.

But why would he hurt the offspring of the iniquitous? They didn’t cause the sin of their parents.

However, I’ve come to see in my life how this happens. My parents had been alcoholic (past tense—forgiven and forgotten). However, my siblings and I mimicked their pattern of behavior. I won’t reveal the foibles of my siblings or the specifics of my own. I had dabbled in alcohol and drugs. But praise be to God (and not a Christian platitude—genuine praise), I accepted Jesus and swore off anything bringing inebriation.

Throughout my life, though, I’ve battled the consequences of my youthful foibles

In similar patterns, we see children of abuse, abusing their children. Offspring of cheaters, cheat. Even as they despise what happened to them, these individuals repeat the process, unless something breaks the cycle (e.g., salvation and mentoring).

Recently, I moved to a county which, at one time, had the third-highest opioid use in the nation. I involved myself with mentoring and sadly watched so many fervent individuals relapse into addiction.

Why? Patterns learned enthrall us. And, sin has consequences.

Oh, aren’t you glad you’re reading this blog?

Here comes the good part.

Salvation and mentoring work.

Through my coaching, through Celebrate Recovery, and my time on the board of a drug rehabilitation organization, I heard many horror stories of those who have been conquered by hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Despite their overwhelming odds, I’ve rejoiced with many who conquered their past.

From this, Borrowed Lives was born. From this, I know the issues confronting people and the wonderful way they’ve conquered them—whether it be from drugs or human cruelty. (You’ve never faced a miserable human, have you? I didn’t think so. Although I believe most people are good-hearted, miserable humans thrive. Surprise!).

Borrowed Lives

Tragedy broke Meredith Jaynes, then she found three abandoned children.

This novel creates a world where things aren’t perfect, even for devoted Christians. As sin is overcome and as we walk in God, we may not get our “happily ever after.” With dependence on Christ and His ways, we will live happily.

So, why should you read this novel?

Humor. Even when I’m not trying to be funny, I am. I can’t help it. Move over Carol Burnett. This Carol’s taking over.Spiritual truth. Even when I’m entertaining, I’m guided by Scripture. By now it’s in the very fabric of my being. If you’re battling issues, this reading-escape may point you in the direction of healing.Local color. I’m still enamored of my new home in Tennessee, so I set the book in Jacksboro—my new hometown. Hopefully, you can see Tennessee’s beauty.

God Only Lends Us Those We Love for a Season

Distraught from recent tragedy, Meredith Jaynes takes pity on a young girl who steals from her. Meredith discovers “Bean” lives in a hovel mothering her two younger sisters. The three appear to have been abandoned. With no other homes available, Social Services will separate the siblings. To keep them together, Meredith agrees to foster them on a temporary basis.

Balancing life as a soap maker raising goats in rural Tennessee proved difficult enough before the siblings came into her care. Without Bean’s help, she’d never be able to nurture these children warped by drugs and neglect—let alone manage her goats that possess the talents of Houdini. Harder still is keeping her eccentric family at bay.

Social worker Parker Snow struggles to overcome the breakup with his fiancée. Burdened by his inability to find stable homes for so many children who need love, he believes placing the abandoned girls with Meredith Jaynes is the right decision. Though his world doesn’t promise tomorrow, he hopes Meredith’s does.

But she knows she’s too broken.

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of four novels dealing with real people facing real problems. She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, an avid hiker and photographer. She lives in East Tennessee. Her most recent interest are her two baby does Peanut & Buttercup. Like all babies, they love sitting on our laps and being bottle fed.

You can connect with her at carolmcclain.com.

On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/author.Carol.McClain

On twitter and Instagram: @carol_mcclain

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14030286.Carol_McClain

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carol-mcclain

Joanna White: Shifter

In honor of my novel, Shifter, Book Two in the Valiant Series, as today’s throwback feature here at juliearduini.com, I thought I would share a few facts about writing the book that hasn’t been revealed anywhere else.

The size of Nsi’s village caused a great discussion between my husband and I. At the time, he and I were still dating and I remember having certain acres and amount of people listed in the scene but thought I should talk to him about it, since he is smarter than me at things like that. It turns out, my size was either too big or too small (I can’t remember which) and we had a long discussion trying to figure out what would be best. Then, my editor changed it when she was editing it anyway.Beroan and his appearance was based on a character from a movie called Crazy Horse long time ago. The actor for Crazy Horse was played by Michael Greyeyes who is a really good Native American actor. When I wanted to make a character picture of Beroan, I actually took a picture of Michael Greyeyes and tried to give him a blonde tint to his hair (like Beroan has)There is a scene toward the beginning of Shifter where Nsi encounters a little girl. Nsi mentions how the girl pronounces her name wrong and I did that on purpose to show and explain the correct way Nsi’s name is pronounced (nee-see).I didn’t know the ending of Shifter until I wrote it. As I did, the ending few scenes felt as if they were correct and that that was the way Shifter was meant to end. And yes, I’m saying this while avoiding all spoilers.The four types of breath that dragons can breathe (fire, frost, acid, and lightning) was inspired by the video game Skyrim. In it, different dragons shoot out different types of energy but fire and frost are most common. I didn’t want to be cliché or keep the exact same idea, so I added in lightning and acid because those two had never been used before.Out of all the words I invented for the dragon clan’s language, I never thought of the way to say hello. I don’t know why.Likewise, when I invented just a few words for the wolf clan, their version hello was the first one I made – translated into English as “greetings.”Nsi’s escape from her village after the dragon attack was based off the song I See Fire by Ed Sheeran. Some of you may know that, but the fun fact you may not know is that when I wrote that scene, I challenged myself to make it read as if you can feel or almost hear the song playing. The scene wouldn’t be written well, in my eyes, if you couldn’t.Gran (Nsi’s grandmother)’s name is actually Msi. It’s pronounced the same way as Nsi (me-see).Without spoilers, one of the biggest twists in Shifter actually came from when I was writing a scene. One of the side characters made a comment to someone and this comment made me really puzzled. As I thought about his comment, the twist idea instantly came to me, to be revealed later in the book. Once readers know what the twist is, they might see this comment and think I did it on purpose to foreshadow it. I didn’t.One of my favorite phrases in the dragon language is Ym-yah’h, pronounced yee-am-yah-eh-eet. Essentially, it means all will be well.The images I have in my head for the characters aren’t exactly how they’re described or supposed to be. Sometimes my mind takes actors or actresses that are familiar to me and replaces what the characters are actually supposed to look like. It’s weird.The story of the two moons is my favorite story and snippet in the entire book of Shifter (though my favorite scene is the boss fight)The story of the two moons somewhat foreshadows an event later in Shifter.In Shifter, when Nsi decided to leave, I had trouble figuring out why her grandmother and cousin would let her. Or why she would even want to. I wanted to make sure that it made perfect sense and didn’t seem unrealistic or random.When I wrote Rallavast’s lines I used multiple s’s for the words that started with S. The multiple s’s were cut by my editor and instead, we edited the description to describe it.When one of the characters was explaining the Shifter clans and how they worked, I had one of the other characters laugh at the idea of a unicorn clan. The reason why was because I thought it was ridiculous and I thought people would too. So if a character was laughing about it, maybe the readers wouldn’t judge it too harshly.The names of the cat clan characters are all made up but Egyptian sounding. I did that even though I didn’t base their culture on Egyptians, just because cats were important in Egyptian culture.The cat clan is actually called the Pride Clan in the book. I’m not sure why I just say cat clan any other time. Likewise the bird clan is called the Fowl Clan in the book. It sounds weird though.Originally, I was going to include a clan strictly for dinosaur shapeshifters but I thought meshing the two would be slightly odd—fantasy and dinos. So instead, I just included a few vague ones like sabercats. Technically, according to shifter information not in the books, I consider pteradactils—flying dinosaurs—as a part of the thunderbird clan. Which is also another clan but it was unmentioned in the book. These, are now of course, not “canon” to the story anymore.For the final one… Beroan and Nsi’s ship name is…

Bersi!

As a bonus fact: when Shifter was free to read on wattpad.com, it originally got over 30,000 reads!

Joanna White is a Christian Author and fangirl. Hunter and Shifter are the first two books in her debut series, called the Valiant Series, published by Christian publisher Ambassador International and there are more to come. In December 2019, one of her short stories was featured in Once Upon A Yuletide, a Christmas fairy tale anthology by Divination Publishing. Dark Magi, Book One of the Republic Chronicles came out in November 2019. Glimpses of Time and Magic, a historical fantasy anthology, also featured one of her stories. The Crystal Heist was her most recent release, in August 2020.

She graduated from Full Sail University with a BFA in Creative Writing For Entertainment. Ever since she was ten years old, she’s been writing stories and has a deep passion for writing and creating stories, worlds, characters, and plots that readers can immerse themselves in. In 2020, she reached her personal goal of writing a million words in a year. Most of all, Joanna loves God, her family, staying at home, and being a total nerd.

To stay updated and find out more about her novels, where her inspiration comes from, games, giveaways, and more, visit her website at: authorjoannawhite.com.

Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated about me and my books, and receive a free copy of Forgotten, a short introduction to Hunter, Valiant Book One. Only the Chosen can stop the spread of Corruption across the galaxy. Jared is a Chosen but when the Hunters find him, what price will he have to pay? Sign up now.

Here is the link to by a signed paperback copy of Shifter directly from me:

 https://authorjoannawhite.com/product/shifter-paperback/

And to purchase it on Amazon: 

Fiction Finder: April 2021 New Releases

April 2021 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter — It’s finally time for Sophie Lawson to follow her own pursuits. Brother Seth has a new job, and sister Jenna is set to marry her college beau in Piper’s Cove. But the destination wedding reunites Sophie with best man Aiden Maddox, her high school sweetheart who left her without a backward glance. When an advancing hurricane strands Aiden in Piper’s Cove after the wedding, he finds the hotels booked to capacity and has to ask Sophie to put him up until the storm passes. As the two ride out the weather, old feelings rise to the surface. The delay also leaves Sophie with mere days to get her bookshop up and running. Can she trust Aiden to stick around? And will he find the courage to risk his heart? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan))

Surviving Carmelita by Susan Miura — When Josie Caruso accidentally kills her best friend’s young daughter, she runs to the Florida Keys, unaware that a trailer park pastor, a battered horse, a pregnant teen, and a mysterious beachcomber might set her on the path toward inconceivable hope and redemption. (Contemporary Womens Fiction from Crossriver Media Group)

The Amish Teacher’s Wish by Tracey Lyons — She wants her own happily-ever-after… As an Amish bachelor repairs her school… can she heal his heart? With the school damaged during a storm, teacher Sadie Fischer needs Levi Byler’s help repairing it. Levi has one condition—he won’t become a part of her search for a husband. He’s been hurt before, and love and marriage aren’t part of his plans. But Sadie might just be the perfect woman to mend his heart…and convince him forever isn’t just for fairy tales. (Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

General Contemporary:
Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli — A contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women, readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear. (General Contemporary from Hope Creek Publishers)

Second Helpings by Linda Wood Rondeau — Can her marriage be saved? Today is Jocelyn Johnson’s forty-fifth birthday. Unhappy with her marriage of twenty-two years, she has planned a noonday tryst with her talk-show cohost. A phone call from her college daughter, a peek into her teenaged son’s journal, a sick preschooler, a Goth daughter’s identity crisis, a middle-school son’s prank, and her husband’s inflamed suspicions, not only interfere with her hopeful birthday plans but throw her family into more chaos than a circus on steroids. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)

Every Window Filled with Light by Shelia W. Stovall — Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way.

Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope. (General Contemporary from Elk Lake Publishing)

General Historical:
The Storm Breaks Forth by Terri Wangard — World War I rages in Europe, and now the United States joins in. Peter Bloch heads to France with the Wisconsin National Guard, but his wife Maren is the one under attack. She’s German born, and anti-German hysteria is running high.
Simple suggestions for coping with wartime measures lead Maren into an active role in the community, but her service doesn’t help deflect suspicion from her. Zealous patriots target her with a vengeance.
Peter caught the eye of a major who seems intent on using him as a spy. He’s been fortunate to avoid injury so far, but these activities are likely to get him killed. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:
Biltmore Girl by Dawn Klinge — New York City, 1968. Elka Hansen, a former teen cover girl, is done with modeling. Now she’s a hostess for the Palm Court restaurant in the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. As she sees it, Elka’s other job is to watch out for her younger sister, Colleen, an idealistic but reckless college student at Barnard.
With her sister, Elka attends her first civil-rights protest, and there, she runs into Jacob Lewis, a co-worker from the Biltmore. He’s a student at Columbia University and a friend of Colleen’s. Jacob becomes an unexpected ally when rescuing her sister from trouble becomes more than Elka can handle independently. Out of this turmoil, a romance grows between Jacob and Elka, but can it last? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Bent Tree Bride by Denise Weimer — Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Lieutenant Sam Hicks, he’s leading a string of prisoners into a frontier fort, and he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. As both Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. He wants a better match for Susanna—like the stuffy doctor who escorted her to Creek Territory. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Rekindling Trust by Sandra Ardoin — Abandonment. Betrayal. Injustice. Two broken hearts given a second chance to mend. Widow Edythe Westin yearns for a peaceful home and independence from her controlling father. The goal seems within reach until her rebellious young son is suspected of arson and assault. With nowhere else to turn, she defies her father and appeals for help from the only man she ever loved—the man who once deserted her when she needed him most. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Mystery:
Spring Betrayal by Sally Jo Pitts — t was supposed to be a routine investigation—catch the cheatin’ spouse of a client. And the perks weren’t bad either—set up shop at a luxury resort. So yes, Robert Grey and Jane Carson from Grey Investigations are on the job. But when they discover the suspect is a princess wrongfully accused of abdicating and her companion dies under suspicious circumstances, the investigators find themselves in the middle of a Caribbean conspiracy to overthrow a monarchy. Suddenly Jane must take the place of the princess to secure the throne of an island nation. Can Grey Investigations untangle a royal mess before a revolution overtakes paradise? (Mystery/Crime from Winged Publications)

Blue Plate Special by Susan Page Davis — Campbell McBride drives to her father’s house in Murray, Kentucky, dreading telling him she’s lost her job as an English professor. Her father, Bill McBride, isn’t there or at his office in town. His brash young employee, Nick Emerson, says Bill hasn’t come in this morning, but he did call the night before with news that he had a new case. When her dad doesn’t show up by late afternoon, Campbell and Nick decide to follow up on a phone number he’d jotted on a memo sheet. They learn who last spoke to her father, but they also find a dead body. The next day, Campbell files a missing persons report. When Bill’s car is found, locked and empty in a secluded spot, she and Nick must get past their differences and work together to find him. (Mystery from Scrivenings Press LLC)

Speculative Fiction:
Traitor: Tales of the Mystics, Book 2 by Laurie Lucking — Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn’t require betraying her new fiancé. She has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept. Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger. (Speculative Fiction/Romantic Fantasy from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing)

Thriller/Suspense:
Long Shadows by Cathe Swanson — Mona Vickers isn’t running. Not hiding. She and the girls are just keeping a low profile until she’s done with school and gets a good job. She doesn’t need charity, especially not from Roy Strough and the Unity Plenkiss Community Center, either. But when the past catches up with her, she needs to decide who she can trust. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard — Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors. When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.
(Romantic Suspense from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Fifty Days by Katie Vorreiter — Three days ago, Maggie Lehman’s beloved mentor and friend, Jarrett Adams, was murdered on live television. Grief stricken, Maggie traverses a Washington DC under curfew, but when she arrives at the morgue, the body is missing—and her presence is recorded on the security video. As dawn breaks over the city, Maggie encounters Jarrett on the street—and he’s very much alive. Either she’s gone mad—again—or Jarrett really is back. While the US loses its grip on democracy, government thugs eager to contain what Maggie knows hound her every step, and the good intentions of a man from her past only tighten the noose. The powerless and bewildered Maggie seeks Jarrett and the return to how things were, but finds she must give up what she wants most to gain what she can hardly imagine. (Supernatural Suspense from Elk Lake Publishing)

Shielding the Amish Witness by Mary Alford — Seeking refuge in Amish country puts everyone she loves in danger. On the run after discovering her brother-in-law was behind her husband’s murder, Faith Cooper can think of only one safe place—her Amish grandmother’s home. But when danger follows Faith to the quiet Amish community, her childhood friend Eli Shetler is her only protection. And their survival depends on outlasting a relentless killer…one who has nothing left to lose. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin))

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson, After five years abroad, Charity Halliwell finally returns to Loxby Manor, the home of dear friends—and her lost love. When her friend, Seline, disappears the very night of her arrival, Charity is determined to uncover the truth. (Historical Mystery)

Dreams Rekindled by Amanda Cabot, But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood. (Historical Romance)

Amish Midwives by Amy Clipson, Shelley Shepherd Gray, and Kelly Long, From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance. (Amish Romance)

Hunt for Grace by Andrew Huff, First he left the CIA. Then he left pastoral ministry. Now John Cross has been imprisoned in one of Great Britain’s most infamous prisons. Has he reached the end of his rope? Or is this another move in a dangerous spy game? (Thriller/Suspense)

Right Cross by Andrew Huff, Heart-pounding action meets spiritual choices in this thrilling finale to John Cross’s saga. (Thriller/Suspense)

Smashing the Friend Zone: Natasha by Barbara James, She had no idea what he was feeling. (Romance/Contemporary)

Reconciled from Heartache by Cindy M. Amos, Aley Halstead laterals out of a harassment situation at work, but peril soon follows her relocation, leaving rookie rancher Hake Warren her only hope for a last-minute rescue. (Romance/Contemporary)

Inheritance by Colleen K. Snyder, Three hundred MILLION dollars. Your inheritance. Buy anything you want, go anywhere you want, do anything you want. All yours. Except… (Thriller/Suspense)

Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello, The stakes are high, secrets prevail, and treason is just a kiss away. (Historical Romance)

Love and Joy by Elsie Davis, Can these two put their differences aside long enough to discover what’s really important? (Contemporary Romance)

Secondhand Sunsets by Gail Kittleson, The day’s warmth still hovered, and with it, a sense that all was well. The sky flamed for several more minutes. This beauty and my love for you are one. She hugged the message close. “Perhaps, after all, I am loved.” (Historical Romance)

The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar by KD Holmberg, Torn between the silent gods of Egypt and the powerful presence that surrounds Sarai, Hagar’s world falls apart around her. She must acknowledge the terrible price of truth, and decide for herself who she will serve. (General Historical)

Dandelion Floofums by Kristen Joy Wilks, A bold chicken must save her human from kidnappers and rogue forest creatures! (Children’s/Middle-grade/Chapter Books)

Deadly Heartbreak by Marissa Shrock, Georgia discovers a limerick scrawled on the wall of her kitchen that dares her to solve a mystery designed specifically for her. A mystery that promises to be quite deadly. For her. For Cal. And for anyone who gets in the murderer’s way. (Cozy Mystery)

Amish Country Murder by Mary Alford, An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer is the only living witness… (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock, You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Or until someone wants to kill you for it. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton, Two women, half a world apart, will have their lives changed for ever when a series of tragedies cause the Texas-Mexico border to vanish. (General/Contemporary)

A Song for Her Enemies by Sherri Stewart

A Song for Her Enemies

Historical Romance

Release: March 1, 2021 on Amazon

By Sherri Stewart

Our Story before the Story

By Tamar Kaplan and Neelie Visser

Hallo. That’s hello in the Nederlands language, but a lot of people call it Dutch. My name is Tamar Kaplan. I really don’t like to say my name. It seems to evoke the most puzzling reactions. The worst was the time my so-called friends at school burst out laughing at some private joke when someone called out, “Tamar.” I asked my mother about it later that night while she was doing dishes. I said, “Eema, what’s wrong with my name?”

She dried off her hands on a dish towel and took off her apron. “Nothing, sweetie. It’s a lovely name from the Bible.” When I pressed for more information, she waved a dismissive hand and said we’d talk about it when I was older.

Well, I’m older. And I’m facing the biggest challenge of my life in less than an hour. As the understudy for La Traviata’s Violetta, I’ll be playing the lead soprano role, since Margot huffed out of rehearsal when the producer made a comment about her weight.

I’ve been waiting for this night forever. Nerves invade every part of me. The producer doesn’t think I’ve experienced enough angst in my twenty-one years to play the role of a middle-aged courtesan. Angst? Sure I’m young and still live with my parents and brother, Seth, above the family’s jewelry shop in Haarlem, but there’s something about my religion that makes people back away. And I’ve seen the word, Juden, written across shop windows as if it were a terrible thing. And there’s those Nazi soldiers standing on street corners. Papa says not to worry about them. They mean no harm.

Fifteen minutes to curtain. I need to focus on playing Violetta, and I should pray, though it seems God is so distant. Maybe He doesn’t care about Nederland. Still, I will pray for angst, and maybe He will answer my prayer.

—

My name is Neelie Visser. Ever since Frans died last year, I’ve been wandering aimlessly around our house on the canal, wishing I had someone to talk to, something worthy to do with my free time. I still chat with Frans as if he were in the room, but my words seem to echo off the walls. Jan comes home once in a while. He’s always in such a rush, but I make him sit for a meal because he’d getting much too thin for a nineteen-year-old college student.

Jan is involved in something dangerous. Mothers know things like that. I’d bet a plate of boterkoeken he’s involved with the Resistance. It doesn’t surprise me since he always had a heart for the underdog, even if he got in trouble for defending them.

There’s talk among the other violinists at the opera that things are going to get worse here in our country. How could they get any worse? The ration card is depleted in a month. And neighbors are afraid to stop for a chat—they just hurry past with their heads down. I’ve seen the debris outside looted shops on the Barteljorisstraat, and nobody does anything. Haarlem has always been a proud and tidy town. Well, I will do something. But what can a forty-two-year-old second-chair violinist do? Maybe Jan will have some ideas when he comes for tea.

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food and visiting the sites. Sadly, her trip to Wales and London was cancelled due to COVID, but she did visit Atlanta, and she’s still learning Welsh for a future visit. A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9

Links to Sherri Stewart

https://www.amazon.com/author/sherristewart/

https://www.facebook.com/sherristewartauthor/

https://twitter.com/machere

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/758893.Sherri_Stewart

www.stewartwriting.com

https://www.instagram.com/stewart_sherri/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sherri-stewart

Sherri Stewart: A Song for Her Enemies

Sherri Stewart, author of A Song for Her Enemies, presents:

Our Story before the Story

By Tamar Kaplan and Neelie Visser

Hallo. That’s hello in the Nederlands language, but a lot of people call it Dutch. My name is Tamar Kaplan. I really don’t like to say my name. It seems to evoke the most puzzling reactions. The worst was the time my so-called friends at school burst out laughing at some private joke when someone called out, “Tamar.” I asked my mother about it later that night while she was doing dishes. I said, “Eema, what’s wrong with my name?”

She dried off her hands on a dish towel and took off her apron. “Nothing, sweetie. It’s a lovely name from the Bible.” When I pressed for more information, she waved a dismissive hand and said we’d talk about it when I was older.

Well, I’m older. And I’m facing the biggest challenge of my life in less than an hour. As the understudy for La Traviata’s Violetta, I’ll be playing the lead soprano role, since Margot huffed out of rehearsal when the producer made a comment about her weight.

I’ve been waiting for this night forever. Nerves invade every part of me. The producer doesn’t think I’ve experienced enough angst in my twenty-one years to play the role of a middle-aged courtesan. Angst? Sure I’m young and still live with my parents and brother, Seth, above the family’s jewelry shop in Haarlem, but there’s something about my religion that makes people back away. And I’ve seen the word, Juden, written across shop windows as if it were a terrible thing. And there’s those Nazi soldiers standing on street corners. Papa says not to worry about them. They mean no harm.

Fifteen minutes to curtain. I need to focus on playing Violetta, and I should pray, though it seems God is so distant. Maybe He doesn’t care about Nederland. Still, I will pray for angst, and maybe He will answer my prayer.

—

My name is Neelie Visser. Ever since Frans died last year, I’ve been wandering aimlessly around our house on the canal, wishing I had someone to talk to, something worthy to do with my free time. I still chat with Frans as if he were in the room, but my words seem to echo off the walls. Jan comes home once in a while. He’s always in such a rush, but I make him sit for a meal because he’d getting much too thin for a nineteen-year-old college student.

Jan is involved in something dangerous. Mothers know things like that. I’d bet a plate of boterkoeken he’s involved with the Resistance. It doesn’t surprise me since he always had a heart for the underdog, even if he got in trouble for defending them.

There’s talk among the other violinists at the opera that things are going to get worse here in our country. How could they get any worse? The ration card is depleted in a month. And neighbors are afraid to stop for a chat—they just hurry past with their heads down. I’ve seen the debris outside looted shops on the Barteljorisstraat, and nobody does anything. Haarlem has always been a proud and tidy town. Well, I will do something. But what can a forty-two-year-old second-chair violinist do? Maybe Jan will have some ideas when he comes for tea.

Sherri Stewart loves a clean novel, sprinkled with romance and a strong message that challenges her faith. She spends her working hours with books—either editing others’ manuscripts or writing her own. Her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She loves the Netherlands, and she’s still learning Dutch, although she doesn’t need to since everyone seems to speak perfect English. A recent widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her lazy dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who can fix anything. She shares recipes, tidbits of the book’s locations, and pix in her newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/gZ-mv9

A Song for Her Enemies https://amzn.to/2YJBkRn

After Nazi soldiers close the opera and destroy Tamar Kaplan’s dream of becoming a professional singer, she joins the Dutch Resistance, her fair coloring concealing her Jewish heritage. Tamar partners with Dr. Daniel Feldman, and they risk their lives to help escaping refugees. When they are forced to flee themselves, violinist Neelie Visser takes them into hiding.

Tamar’s love for Daniel flowers in hardship, but she struggles with the paradox that a loving God would allow the atrocities around her. When Tamar resists the advances of a Third Reich officer, he exacts his revenge by betraying the secrets hidden behind the walls of Neelie’s house. From a prison hospital to a Nazi celebration to a concentration camp, will the three of them survive to tell the world the secrets behind barbed wire?  

A Song for Her Enemies is the story of a talented young opera singer and the bittersweet love that grows amid the tyranny and fear of World War II. Set against the backdrop of neighbors willing to risk their lives in the German-occupied, war-torn Netherlands, A Song for Her Enemies is an inspiring and beautiful novel celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the determination of Christians in the face of persecution. It is a novel for everyone seeking to understand the pain of the past and be inspired to embrace hope for the future.

https://www.amazon.com/author/sherristewart/

https://www.facebook.com/sherristewartauthor/

Tweets by machere

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/758893.Sherri_Stewart

www.stewartwriting.com

https://www.instagram.com/stewart_sherri/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sherri-stewart

Sara Beth Williams: Anchor My Heart

Anchor My Heart: A second chance novel #3

By Sara Beth Williams

Publisher: Anaiah Press

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: 03/16/2021

Amazon / Goodreads / Print / Bookbub

About the book

In the aftermath of tragic loss, worship leader Matt Lawson is grappling debilitating anxiety. The blessings he’d taken for granted—a dream job, a woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with, and his God-given musical talent—have crumbled at his feet, leaving him reeling in despair, unable to face the wreckage of the life he’d envisioned for himself.

Tara Pierce is ready to put past hurts behind her as she prepares to graduate college and take a leap of faith in her career. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.

Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. But Matt’s not ready to give himself away again. Can Tara risk her heart and their friendship and let God step in to heal where she can’t?

PRE ORDER PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY AVAILABLE

 ANCHOR MY HEART

Enter to win a grand prize pack full of books and bookish swag. THREE winners will be chosen in all. All chosen winners will be invited to join me on a Zoom coffee or tea date

Pre Order Anchor My Heart HERE:

Click here to find out all the info you need to enter to Win

About Sara Beth Williams

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Bookbub.

Receive a FREE short story when you sign up for her newsletter.

Where to find Sara Beth Williams

Amazon / Goodreads / Bookbub / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

  Website / MeWe

Excerpt

Matt stepped through the door behind Tara, with three grocery bags in his hands. The intimacy of being at her place—just the two of them—caused his pulse to race. Nervous energy coursed through his veins. Come on, it’s just Tara. No big deal.

But not once in all the years he’d known her had he ventured inside her apartment. She flipped on the lights to reveal a pint-sized kitchen, and a small front room with one couch and a small flat screen TV. Two bookshelves and a standing lamp flanked the TV.

Has she always lived in such a small space?

Somehow, it suited her with its cozy, simplistic layout.

“Where would you like these?” He lifted his bags.

            “In here on the table is fine.” She walked into the kitchen. He followed and set down her groceries.

Her body, in such close proximity, radiated heat as she moved eggs and milk from the bags on the table into the refrigerator.

He emptied a bag of dry goods and stepped forward. “Can I help?”

She nodded and directed him to the upper cabinets.

While she focused on the refrigerated goods, he placed the dry boxed and canned goods up high above the stove. A soft flowered scent wafted through the heated air, teasing his nostrils.

“Would you like a drink?” she offered as he placed the last of the groceries into the cupboard above the fridge.

He brushed against her arm; a rush of electricity passed between them. He stepped back with deliberate nonchalance, and waited for her to remove a pair of mugs from the cupboard.

He scratched his chin. Hmm. First, she’d invited him inside, and now she was inviting him to stay longer?

Not like he had anything else to do. Except return to an empty home and try to find ways to distract himself from his crushing grief.

Susan Aken: Unshakable Unbreakable Joy

1. How long have you been writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing my thoughts and for years kept them mostly private. I began collecting and keeping my writing when I was in college in the early seventies. The first time I shared openly was when I self-published a book of poetry in 1997. Before that I mainly shared with individuals. I’ve continued to share through self-publishing, my blog, online devotions, and in recent years for Wholly Loved Ministries through articles, devotions, and contributions to Bible studies and devotional books.

2. When did you first begin writing study content?

The first time I contributed to a Bible study was when Jennifer Slattery of Wholly Loved Ministries asked me to write for the study, Becoming His Princess, published in 2018. Earlier I wrote a few studies over the years for personal use in studies I led.

3. What do you enjoy most about writing Bible studies?

What I enjoy most is writing a Bible study causes me to go deeper into Scripture and learn for myself first. I have to learn and grow myself before I can offer it to someone else.

4. What do you find most challenging about writing Bible studies?

Most challenging is knowing I can’t write truth if I’m not living it or seeking to live it myself. So, it often involves personal reflection and repentance. In terms of the mechanics, writing meaningful questions is the most difficult.

5. What would you say to someone wanting to get into Bible study writing?

Begin by studying the Bible for yourself. Read daily. Journal and write down your thoughts. Be willing to go deeper and use study aids to learn background and context. Read commentaries. Over all pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you what to write. Consider writing a study for a group of friends and doing it together. See what works and ask for suggestions on making it better.

6. What fears or insecurities did you have to work through in order to embrace the call to write?

The biggest insecurity I continually face is the question, “Who am I to write for God?” I see all my weaknesses, failings, and sins and often feel like I’m not living up to what I’m writing. I have to continually remind myself or be reminded by those close to me that none of us are worthy and no one lives up to truth perfectly. We write what we aspire to become. The key is to be moving in the right direction.

7. What are some ways you remain motivated to write? 

The biggest motivation for me is when someone tells me my writing helped them or they give me any kind of positive feedback. Not in terms of praising me but when I know it encouraged or helped them in some way.

Also, God’s call is the most powerful motivation. He always brings me back to writing. He opens doors and gives me the words. At one time when I felt like no one was listening or reading even though I wrote regularly, I prayed about it and asked God if this is what I was supposed to do. I felt He spoke to my heart to say, “If I’m the only one you’re writing for, will you write just for me?” So, I try to remember I mainly write for an audience of one—the One that truly matters.

I have also learned that having an editor or mentor is a great motivator. Jennifer Slattery has done so much to keep me motivated and growing as a writer. I’ve moved from dreading editing to appreciating it as essential.

Unshakable Unbreakable Joy: A 10-Week Bible study:

Joy. We all want it, and in Christ, we can all have it. Regardless of our circumstances, our blessings or challenges, we can have unshakable unbreakable joy in Christ. And this joy begins by understanding what true biblical joy is, where it comes from, and how we can best cultivate this precious spiritual gift.

We can experience unshakable, unbreakable joy no matter the situation because true biblical joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances. Joy is a gift God gives us come to know Him better and deepen our intimacy with Him. This study helps women experience the abiding joy of an ever-deepening relationship with Christ and reliance on His grace.

A ten-week study with:

Weekly video sessionsGroup discussion questionsTake-home lessons

Promo video link: https://vimeo.com/495012636

Buy it on Amazon HERE.

Find it on the Wholly Loved Website HERE.

An Oklahoma native who has lived in Nebraska since 1987, Susan has been in public education for over thirty years. She and her husband have one son and a daughter-in-law. She is a contributing writer to Wholly Loved Ministries. Besides writing she has a passion for sharing Jesus through special needs and prayer ministries. She enjoys time with family, reading, photography, movies, walking in nature, and a nice cup of tea.  

Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook

Linda Shenton Matchett: Rayne’s Redemption

Trumpet Tuesday: Rayne’s Redemption

By Linda Shenton Matchett

Twins run in my family, and I always wondered if my husband and I’d had children whether twins would have made an appearance. Instead, my sister was the sibling in our generation blessed with twins, beautiful fraternal twin girls. While thinking about my next story, my nieces celebrated their birthday, prompting me to write a mail-order bride story that featured twins.

Research into twins, especially in the 1800s, was challenging. Many women gave birth at home either alone or with the help of a midwife. Records and statistics are sparse from the time period, however I found a study from France that indicated approximately 15 births per 1000 in the early 1700s. A century later, the number was half that.

Currently, as many as one in thirty babies a twin. Scholars feel the increase may be due to the fact that more women over the age of 30 are having children and more are using fertility drugs which increase the likelihood of multiple gestation.

Read on for some intriguing facts about twins:

Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints. Fingerprints are not solely generated based on DNA.Massachusetts has the highest rate of twin births followed by Connecticut, then New Jersey. Something in the water? One researcher theorized that more multiple births occur in the Boston area because of a higher concentration of wealthier women who pursued careers, putting off having children to a later age then seeking reproductive assistance.Mirror image identical twins have reverse asymmetric features, meaning they become exact reflections of one another. This accounts for about twenty-five percent of identical twins.About forty percent of twins develop their own language called cryptophasia. Some scholars believe that twins use each other as models when developing language. The “language” consists of inverted words and onomatopoetic expressions.Kansas natives Leota Ruth Andrews Clogston and her sister Evelyn Marguerite Forren are the world’s oldest living twins at 107. As an aside, male twins rarely live as long as female twins.Unlike actresses-turned-fashion designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who are both well-known, many celebrities have less-than-famous twins such as Ashton Kutcher (Michael), Rami Malek (Sami), Kiefer Sutherland (Rachel), and Gisele Bundchen (Gabriela).

Do you know any twins? Are you a twin?

About Rayne’s Redemption:

Will she have to lose her identity to find true love?

Twin sisters Rayne and Jessica Dalton have been swapping places their whole lives, so when Jessica dies on the eve of heading west to become a mail-order bride, Rayne decides to fill her sister’s shoes. The challenge will be faking Jessica’s faith in God. Can Rayne fool her prospective groom without losing her heart…or her soul?

Flynn Ward fled England to escape his parent’s attempts at marrying him off, but locating a woman to love in the Wyoming mountains is harder than finding a hackney in a rainstorm. Then the Westward Home & Hearts Agency offers him the perfect match. But when his prospective bride arrives, she’s nothing like she seemed in her letters. Is he destined to go through life alone?

Can two desperate people overcome their differences to find common ground…and love?

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WR9KL8S

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is currently working with the museum curator on her first exhibit, Shaped By Conflict, which will be on display from May 1 to June 30, 2021. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. 

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

YouTube Moments in History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b-o_6cD8HkHNyFP-wZwJg?view_as=subscriber

Judy DuCharme: Lainey of the Door Islands

Behind the Story: Lainey of the Door Islands

How did Lainey come to be? I live in lovely Door County, a jewel of a peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. We are surrounded by a few islands embracing lighthouses full of history along with shipwrecks, many that can still be seen in the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan.  I had six award winning books published in a variety of genre but sensed there was a story set in Door County that I needed to write. I considered several possibilities, but nothing settled. Then one day, after continued prayer and thought, the story of Lainey dropped into my spirit. I sat down to write and later said to my husband, “I’m writing, and I can’t stop.”

Over the next two years, I visited the lighthouses, listened to the docent’s historical stories, walked the perimeter of Rock Island, and took the boat trip to Pilot Island where the story begins. It is no longer possible to be on the tiny island, but the tour guide shared the history and pointed out the shipwreck remains. I talked with many who knew Door County history and maritime history. I studied books of shipwrecks and the indomitable people who forged victorious life in the islands.

Lainey grew in my heart and on the page. She became my friend as she became a light to those who knew her in the book. She was spunky and funny. She faced many hardships with spunk and grace and became a strong survivor.

The book released in late July, 2020. To help promote it, I created short videos that had a ‘chamber of commerce’ feel. I went to a dozen places that Lainey visited or lived in Door County, shared a teaser about the book and encouraged the viewers to visit those same places as they read the book. So, not only did I want to entertain the reader, build up faith for difficult times, and share the amazing history of Door County, I also wanted the reader to visit Door County and appreciate the beauty that so many enjoy.

If you love lighthouses, learning about shipwrecks, the history of beautiful places, and people who learn to survive well despite hardship, this is a book you’ll love.

Check out the trailer and videos about Lainey of the Door Islands at my website, https://www.judithducharme.com. There you’ll find trailers to two other books: Blood Moon Redemption, a suspenseful book about Israeli history, prophecy, and a terrorist plot, and Society of the L.A.M.B., which was written as a futuristic book, but now seems a manual for present day. It’s about learning to live strong in the days when having life within is considered a crime. You’ll find interviews, blogs, and info about my other books there as well.

Other social media: https://www.facebook.com/judy.ducharme.18, https://www.facebook.com/Judy-DuCharme-Author-1360359084069983, https://twitter.com/PackerJudy,                         https://www.instagram.com/leejudyducharme/, judyducharme7@gmail.com

Judy DuCharme grew up with Lake Huron next to her back yard and has always loved the water. She, her husband, daughter, and son moved to Door County in 1984. After teaching 5th Grade at Gibraltar School for 22 years, Judy followed the calling that tugged at her all her life to write. Lainey of the Door Islands is her 7th published book and she is the recipient of numerous awards. Her 8th book, a children’s story, I Want a Water Buffalo for Christmas, will be released this year. She also writes for Guideposts Magazine. If you visit Door County, you may find her hiking in the woods, jet skiing on the bay, worshipping at her church, teaching a Bible study, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, playing with her amazing grandson, or sitting outside enjoying the beauty around her.