Julie Arduini's Blog, page 53

Fiction Finder: July 2019 New Releases

July 2019 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

Hometown Hope by Laurel Blount — In the three years since her mother’s death, widower Hoyt Bradley’s daughter, Jess, hasn’t spoken—until she suddenly begs him to save her favorite bookstore from closing. Hoyt is desperate to hear his daughter’s voice again, but he and the bookstore’s pretty owner, Anna Delaney, share a less-than-friendly past. Working together is complicated enough…but can they avoid falling in love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Heart Surrendered by Joy K. Massenburge — Since her teens, pastor’s daughter Sharonda Peterson devoted her life to church service and solitude after the one night she gave Carl Ray Everhart everything. Sobered by a near-death experience, prodigal Carl returns home from an acting and singing career to serve as the worship leader at Sheronda’s church, and she finds that it takes every ounce of her resolve to resist his pursuits … not to mention memories that threaten to overturn the delicate balance she’s created. Can she finally surrender the one thing she’s tried all these years to protect: her heart? (Contemporary Romance from Harambee Press [Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas])

Starting Anew by Melanie D. Snitker — He’s afraid to trust. She has a secret that could change everything between them. Will they let go of their fear, or allow it to rob them of their chance at happiness? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Historical:

Underestimating Miss Cecilia by Carolyn Miller — Can shy, sweet Cecilia overcome her family’s prejudice to see a future with the recently returned prodigal son from next door? (Historical from Kregel Publications)

Benaiah: Might Man of God by PH Thompson — A novel of Biblical, historical fiction about Benaiah, one of King David’s mighty men, examining the premise: What happens when the king’s most obedient soldier is issued a wicked command? (Historical/Biblical from Word Alive Press)

Historical Romance:

Waltz with Destiny by Catherine Ulrich Brakefield — When the men and women of World War II marched off to war, they didn’t know what lay ahead. All they knew was that upon their young and inexperienced shoulders rested the plight of the free world. (Historical Romance from CrossRiver Media Group)

Thimbles and Threads by Mary Davis, Grace Hitchcock, Suzanne Norquist, and Liz Tolsma — Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When Tilly, a schoolteacher; Alice, a bridal shop owner; Sarah, a seamstress; and Melissa, a rag doll designer, put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to the surprising gift of love? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Refiner’s Fire by J.M. Hochstetler —

Will the promise their hearts cling to finally find joyful fulfillment, or will war’s refining fire separate them forever? (Historical Romance from Sheaf House Publishers)

Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson — To escape an arranged marriage, Cassie Kendrick enlists in the Union army as a man, taking the name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young photographer. Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase past guilt, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Matthew Brady to capture images from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships along the way, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding. Battling betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the darkest places? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

The Express Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse — Jacqueline Rivers manages a Pony Express station in 1860 Utah territory after her father’s death. There are daily stresses placed on her in this unconventional role—and now a government official is asking her to sniff out counterfeiters. When Elijah Johnson passes through on the stage while on an exhausting quest to find his boss’s heir, he doesn’t want to leave the beguiling station manager. In fact, he may never leave when caught in the crossfire of the territory’s criminal activities. Can she remain strong when secrets of the past and present are finally unearthed? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Legacy Rejected by Robin Patchen — She’s not giving up her home, no matter what threats come against her. Realtor Ginny Lamont’s family has abandoned her, leaving her with nothing but a warning that she’s in danger. But Ginny’s built a home in New Hampshire. After a childhood of nomadic living, she’s not running again, certainly not because of some nameless, baseless threat. Real estate developer Kade Powers is thrilled to go out with Nutfield’s beautiful new real estate agent. But the prowler they surprise after their first date offers a glimpse into Ginny’s past and the legacy of lies her parents left her with. She brings a mystery, one he’s determined to help her solve. With Kade’s help, Ginny searches for the truth of her parents’ criminal activity while her enemies close in. When mobsters show up in her quaint New England town, will she find a way to bring them down, or will she lose the home—and the man—she’s come to love? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Suspense:

Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig — Mentioned in the pages of the Old Testament but lost to history, the Book of the Wars has resurfaced, and its pages hold secrets–and dangers–never before seen on earth. Tasked with capturing the ancient text, former Navy SEAL Leif Metcalfe is once more given command of his own team. But their best efforts are ruined when a notorious Bulgarian operative known as Viorica snatches the volume right out from under them. Iskra “Viorica” Todorova is determined to use the book to secure the thing that matters most–freedom. But a series of strange storms erupts around the globe, and the coming dangers foretold in the text threaten crops, lives, and entire nations. Though both are haunted by secrets of their past and neither trusts the other, Leif and Iskra must form an uneasy alliance to thwart impending disaster. However, the truth hidden in centuries-old words could unleash a storm of their own destruction. (Suspense from Bethany House [Baker])

Speculative:

The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin — Deceiving an empire is a treacherous game. Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strands of an ancient cure that might save Gryfelle. But Tanwen has a secret–Gryfelle isn’t the only one afflicted by the weaver’s curse. As Queen Braith struggles to assert her rule, a new arrival throws her tenuous claim to the Tirian throne into question. Braith’s heart is turned upside down, and she’s not sure she can trust anyone–least of all herself. The puppet master behind Gareth’s rise to power has designs on Tanwen and the story weavers, and will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. A plot to incite the angry peasants of Tir takes shape, and those dearest to Tanwen will be caught in the crossfire. As the fight for Tir consumes the realm, no one can remain innocent. (Speculative from Enclave Publishing)

Rose Allen McCauley: July is a Busy Month!

July is a busy month! by rose Allen McCauley

Fireworks go off most of the
month around here. Is it because it is my birthday on the 3rd, or our country’s
soon to be 243rd birthday on the 4th? Or maybe to celebrate
Christmas in July when it is too hot to do anything else?!?

A few years ago Jeanie Smith
Cash came up with the idea of setting four stories in Gatlinburg, a small TN
town which goes all out for Christmas! Now we have come out with those four
stories in a collection so you can read them all at once without having to order
separately, saving you time and money!

Hope you will pick up a copy ( Kindle or paperback ) for yourself and perhaps one or more for a friend who loves Christmas stories year round like we do!

You can check us out on Amazon or our FB pages and we also have one on FB under Smoky Mountain Christmas to see what we are all about. Here is our blurb:

Claude Buchanan is turning 80. Ida Buchanan wants her husband to have an 80th birthday he’ll never forget. His one request is for all their children and grandchildren to be there for the party. They have four sons, and each one has a daughter—the heroines in each of the novellas. The cousins all share the last name of Buchanan. All four young women left Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the last few years—for reasons specific to each—and moved to another area or state. For that reason, they don’t want to return for the party. But because they love their grandparents, they do. Returning home forces each young woman to deal with what caused her to leave in the first place, and in each case, opens the door to true love. The birthday party takes place in Granddaddy and Granny Buchanan’s barn on Christmas Eve, and each of the four novellas end that same day, just prior to the party, which is featured in the epilogue accompanying the last book in the series.

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The epilogue ties all the
stories together with a bow as a wonderful Christmas present! If you like
happily ever after Christmas stories, you will LOVE these!

The authors also have others
books so if you like these stories, please check us out under our author names
on Facebook or Amazon:

Rose McCauley or Rose Allen
McCauley(author page) and www.rosemccauley.com

Amber Stockton or Tiffany Amber Stockton or http://www.amberstockton.com

Jeanie Smith Cash

 Delia Latham

New Release: Until Then by Gail Kittleson

March 3, 1943

Bethnal Green, London’s East End

Shortly after a quarter past eight, a siren split the air. Marian Williams lifted her sleeping daughter from her bed and darted down the stairs. Her mother and father-in-law, off on air warden duty, had left the front door unlocked.She hugged her youngest child close. The blackout made the going difficult, but her husband’s instructions echoed in her brain: “Whatever you do, get down inside the station fast as you can.”She hoped for a spot near the canteen, with access to milk. Uneven light shone over the paved steps. Then she tripped. Her knee hit the concrete, then something bashed her left side. Someone cried out. Another blow scraped her arm on the landing floor. Where was her baby? She attempted to get up, but an even heavier weight slammed her face down. A crushing burden descended, then all went black.Riding in the backs of Army trucks across North Africa, throughout the Sicily campaign, up the boot of Italy, and northward through France into Germany, Dorothy Woebbeking served as a surgical nurse with the 11th Evacuation Hospital.During World War II, US Army nurses worked and slept in tents through horrific weather, endured enemy fire, and even the disdain of their own superior officers, who believed women had no place in war. But Dorothy and her comrades persevered, and their skills and upbeat attitude made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of wounded soldiers.Dorothy and Marian’s stories converge on a simple, hand stitched handkerchief.

When Gail’s not steeped in World War II historical research, writing, or editing, you’ll find her reading for fun, gardening, or enjoying her grandchildren in Northern Iowa. She delights in interacting with readers who fall in love with her characters.

Women of the Heartland, Gail’s World War II series, highlights women of The Greatest Generation: In Times Like These, April 2016, With Each New Dawn, February, 2017 (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, and Word Crafts Press, December, 2017.) 

These heroines make do with what life hands them and face great odds with integrity. No easy outs or pat answers for their struggles – it’s the thick of World war II. The same can be said of Dottie in In This Together, Gail’s first historical novel (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Line), and of the women in her memoir, Catching Up With Daylight (WhiteFire Publishing.)

Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL before writing women’s historical fiction. From northern Iowa, she facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats, and enjoys the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

Purchase Until Then HERE

Carol McClain: A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek

Julie’s Note: Please welcome author Carol McClain as she shares a character interview from her latest release, A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek.

A Chat with Acclaimed Artist Kiara Rafferty

A new reporter from the LaFollette
Press earned the job of interviewing the acclaimed artist Kirara Rafferty.
This was her chance of a lifetime. When did Stinking Creek ever have someone so famous living here?

What brought you to
Stinking Creek?

A time bomb.

A time bomb? (I
waited but she offered nothing more.) What
do you mean?

I went to sleep one night. The next day, I was transported
back in time. Who ever heard of a land with no cell service, no Uber…no good
coffee?

But why did you
decide to come here?

My fiancée died suddenly. Little did he tell me his divorce
never finalized. His wife and kids descended on our Manhattan condo and–

Wife and kids?

Reporter’s note. The
glare from her amber eyes made me bite my tongue. If Kiara, the name the entire
art world calls her, wasn’t so famous, and if I weren’t so desperate to break
into journalism, I would’ve licked my pencil and gone home.

We sat awkwardly.
Then, with my reporter’s keen sense, I noticed her face soften. Her eyes
glistened as though she held back a world of hurt. I pressed on.

What do you think of
this place?

She inhaled and studied
her hands. Then with a tender voice that belied her earlier harshness, she
spoke. At first, I hated it. Only a rigid religious family lived near me.
We didn’t hit it off. Did I tell you this place is not part of the modern
world? No one even knows what a chai latte is.

We are rural. You
said ‘at first,’ what changed your mind?

It’s a long story. If I told it, it’d be a book. She
laughed. Maybe that’s what I’ll do, write a book. I’ll call it A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek. The
end of the story—now I’ll not give you a spoiler—is nothing’s as it seems on
Stinking Creek.

What do you mean
nothing’s as it seems?

I appear to hate it. My neighbor doesn’t like me. Shann, her
brother-in-law, is supposed to marry Jorie. I don’t like kids, but Shann’s
twins?

A smile etched her
cheeks. Her amber eyes sparkled.

Sometimes, living a simpler life isn’t as drab as it seems. Just when my neighbor and I think we figured things out we discover, nothing’s as it seems on Stinking Creek.

NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM STINKING CREEK

Alone, again, after the death of her fiancé, abstract artist
Kiara Rafferty finds herself on Stinking Creek, Tennessee. She wants out of
this hillbilly backwater, where hicks speak an unknown language masquerading as
English.  Isolated, if she doesn’t count
the snakes and termites infesting her cabin, only a one-way ticket home to
Manhattan would solve her problems.

Alone in a demanding crowd, Delia Mae McGuffrey lives for
God, her husband, her family, and the congregation of her husband’s church.
Stifled by rules, this pastor’s wife walks a fine line of perfection, trying to
please them all. Now an atheist Yankee, who moved in across the road, needs
her, too.

Two women. Two problems. Each holds the key to the other’s freedom.

Purchase on AMAZON

Purchase on BARNES AND NOBLE

Author Carol McClain is an eclectic artist and author. Her interests vary as much as the Tennessee weather—running, bassoons, jazz, stained glass and, of course, writing. She’s a transplant from New York who now lives in the hills of East Tennessee with her husband and overactive Springer spaniel.

She is the president of ACFW Knoxville and the secretary of the Authors’ Guild of Tennessee.

The world in East Tennessee intrigues her from the friendly neighbors to the beautiful hiking trails and the myriad wildlife.

Life is good in here.

Jennifer Hallmark: Jessie’s Hope

What a treat today. Not only do we have an interview with Jennifer Hallmark, we also have an excerpt from her latest release, Jessie’s Hope. She also shares all the places you can go on her blog tour because she has some ahhh—mazing prizes in store!

What’s the theme or message we’ll find in Jessie’s Hope? Forgiveness. Learning to forgive, then release the past, and let God redeem the present. You’ll see people dealing with adversity through faith, family, and friends. Not all my characters are redeemed but they all have the opportunity, just like in real life.

How do you name your characters? At first, I go with what pops into my mind. Then, while editing, I make sure the name matches the age and personality of the character. I look for last names to fit their background. I often use a name generator/app and look for the meaning behind the name, even if it’s only known by me.

The Toxic Train of Unforgiveness

Julie’s Note: I can’t believe it, but I have over 2100 posts on this site since 2011. I’ve blogged longer than that, but that’s what I’ve been able to save at this domain I know readers come and go, so I thought here and there I’d share some of those first posts, revised a little. This is from February 2011. Enjoy!

I’ve blogged about this before but on the other server that I had to erase previous posts. I think it’s worth revisiting.

Last year I struggled with letting go. No matter the promises made to me I was just certain my life was nothing more than Charlie Brown and his football around Lucy.

After I finished the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November I treated myself to the movie, Unstoppable.  This is the Denzel movie about the unmanned train threatening Pennsylvania towns. I was on the edge of my seat enjoying the drama and suspense when God in His loving way whispered something in my ear.

“This is what unforgiveness looks like to Me.”

I watched the train pick up speed loaded with toxic cargo. Without intervention the train had all power to inflict damage.

I realized how powerful the Holy inspired statement truly was. My fear and refusal to let go and truly forgive was the same as giving an unmanned train filled with chemicals acceleration. The damage had potential to be widespread and poisonous. It was an image I couldn’t let go, even after the credits rolled and the movie ended.

I can say a few months past this I feel the blessings and joy of obedience. Letting go of my fears and hurt was scary but far safer than giving access to the equivalent of a speeding out of control locomotive.

How about you?

Have you ever struggled with forgiving and letting go? Does the image of an accelerating  unmanned train filled with toxic cargo remind you of unforgiveness?

Can I be honest?

It’s the image God sees.

How to Land the Anxiety Plane

Sitcoms enjoy using the plot strategy where people are on an airplane and suddenly the pilot is unable to do his job, or, the plane is in trouble, or even both. An amateur takes the controls and through great, funny writing, they land the plane and everyone is safe.

Recently I thought about where I am mentally and emotionally, and I felt like if I were a plane, tower control was on vacation and everything in the sky was madness coming straight at me. My mind swirled with the questions, how to fix it, strategies, what if’s, and anything else I could cram into my brain.

I even said to God, “I can’t land this plane. My mind is racing out of control.”

And it hit me.

I’m not supposed to be the pilot. Or tower control. If anything, I’m a passenger allowed to ride this flight called my life.

As I calmed down and surrendered my anxiety, I got thinking about ways I’ve found peace before, and what I should have done in this case when I chose to lose my peace first. I thought I’d share what I discovered, in hopes that if you feel like your life is an out of control air disaster, you too can have a safe landing.

1, Breathe. It sounds so silly and simple, but I realized as I entered the situation, I wasn’t breathing correctly, and I was grinding my teeth day and night. That’s not living in peace. I participated in some sessions where a counselor taught breathing exercises for anxiety and even though I wasn’t the patient, I’ve put those techniques to practice. They work!

2. Pray. I’ve been down adversity road many, many, MANY times. Most of those times I was walking in a relationship with Christ as a flawed person. I’d still choose that over not having Christ in my life at all. I don’t always go to God first, and it shows when I don’t. But praying and laying it all on the line, another term close to the word lamenting, is healthy. God knows all, so I spill it so we can get my thoughts out of the way and move forward. In prayer He has given strategies, and even tough talk I needed. Always with love. If you get tough talk that’s mean and condemning, that’s not God you’re hearing. Don’t listen.

3. Be on the lookout. When there’s turbulence, I’m vulnerable. I tend not to sleep well and want to eat my stress away. Those aren’t good choices, and like I said, the atmosphere is bumpy anyway. I need to pay attention to my surroundings. This isn’t when I want to be sharing with everyone I know. Some people aren’t in a healthy place themselves, and their negativity or toxic life can bring me down. I’m very sensitive with my surroundings and the verse about how words can bring “life or death” is real, and very real for me. I can’t listen to any old music. Lyrics get in my mind and they tend to grow thoughts. If I have horrible words mulling through my mind from movies, TV, music, or people, it affects me. I pay extra attention to what and who I listen to.

I don’t know how my current flight is going to land, but I know I can’t let anxiety take the controls. With these three things I’m implementing, I can tell that the best place for me to be is listening to my Pilot, who has way more experience than I do.

Match Made in Heaven is a Christian romance novella that features a hero and heroine who have trouble surrendering their trust. Learn more below.

Book Review: Pressure Points by Shelby Abbott

This humorous, poignant, and conversational guide invites young men and women to practically apply gospel solutions to all of lifes pressures, big or small. From navigating failure, roadblocks, and spiritual warfare to tackling relevant, hard-hitting topics such as drinking, sex, dating, pornography, and the fear of missing out, Pressure Points by Shelby Abbott encourages college students to consider Jesus in the midst of everyday struggles. With twenty years of experience in college ministry, Shelby Abbott is keenly aware of the pressures young men and women face. Used for biblical reflection, group discussion, devotional reading, or large group Bible study discussion, Pressure Points is full of rich gospel hope for all readers. This flexible resource points to Scripture and Abbotts funny, easily digestible reflections to help modern-day college students maneuver their early years toward the gospel, challenging young adults to see their struggles through a biblical lens. By addressing relevant challenges and practical hardships with gospel advice, Pressure Points guides readers to see and lean on the person of Jesus, reflecting on important issues in light of the gospel. From waiting on the Lord with patience, learning to fellowship with him in his sufferings, to wrestling with purpose, relationships, and the growing challenges of todays culture, Pressure Points is a timely and refreshing voice for young people pointing to a bottomless pit of grace.

There are so many books and resources out there for the high school student and even the graduate. But that transition from high school to college? It’s a season that can be full of the best of times and the worst of times, yet little is out there to encourage this age group through such a hard transition.

Pressure Points not only embraces this age group, but thinks of every topic a young person needs. The author uses practical advice, humor, and the best guide of all, Jesus, to navigate them through very real issues like relationships, anxiety, and college life. There are questions at the end of each chapter to dive a little deeper. Pressure Points isn’t just a great read for individuals, but for a small group setting, too.

I definitely recommend Pressure Points for the college student/young person in your life. It’s a hard transition, and Pressure Points makes things much easier.

Purchase Pressure Points HERE.

I received a digital copy of Pressure Points from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated, nor was I told what to write. All words are mine.

Fiction Finder: June New Releases

June 2019 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

The Art of Rivers by Janet Ferguson — Can a woman whose life has been damaged by addiction trust her heart to a man in recovery? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Cross My Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher — Horse rescue farmer Ashley helps Ben start an equine therapy barn on his great-great grandfather’s farm. When they consider a relationship together, her bitter experience with her opioid addict brother reins in any hope for a future with Ben, who is five years in recovery from alcoholism. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Risking Love by Toni Shiloh — Nikki lives with a perfect trifecta of noes. No guys. No dates. No way. After years of keeping men at bay, Nikki Gordon has it down to a science. No one, not even sweet, hunky Shorty Smalls can change her mind. Period. So if she’s got it all figured out, why does her heart sink to her toes when she sees Shorty with another woman? (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit)

General:

Uncharted Destiny by Keely Brooke Keith — When Bailey sets out to rescue her lost friend in the Land’s dangerous mountain terrain, she discovers more about the Land—and herself—than she bargained for. (General from Edenbrooke Press)

Six Houses Down by Kari Rimbey — Two days after Sharon Webster’s distant husband returns for a surprise visit, their autistic son slips out of the house and is lost in historic Washington D. C. As they search for their boy, Sharon is forced to rely on the husband she believes no longer loves her. An elderly black couple down the street seems to understand her unspoken hurts. Has God sent them to help her find trust again? (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Historical:

In the Shadow of the King by Melissa Rosenberger — Beset by doubts and jealousy about prophecies spoken over her brother Yeshua, Hannah struggles to see the truth before her eyes until it is too late…or is it? (Historical from Carpenter’s Son Publishing)

Historical Romance:

This Healing Journey by Misty M. Beller — An adventure-seeking wilderness girl and an ex-cavalryman looking to settle down fall in love while caring for a wounded Indian child that shows up in his barn. Will their differences keep them apart or become their greatest strengths? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Cameo Courtships by Susanne Dietze, Debra E. Marvin, Jennifer Uhlarik, and Kathleen Y’Barbo — In 1851, a special cameo is gifted by Queen Victoria to Letitia Newton, who though considered an old maid, meets the perfect gentleman minutes after donning. Told by the Queen the cameo is to be shared, Letitia gifts the “Victoria Cameo” to a woman in her family, hoping adventure and romance will follow each of its subsequent wearers. Adventure indeed follows two competing journalists, one of whom carries the cameo while looking to expose a smuggler, a trouser-wearing frontierswoman and a reverend who are on a mission to ransom the cameo from a manipulative brothel owner, two Pinkertons who are charged with the care of the cameo but must rely on one another when the cameo is once again stolen, and a young woman who doubts the cameo can help her when a handsome Scottish library administrator ruins her dream of overseeing the new Carnegie Library children’s department and keeps a social chasm between himself and her father. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Mail-Order Refuge by Cindy Regnier — Carly Blair from Baltimore buys a train ticket to Kansas where she will become the wife of a man she’s never met. She must leave Baltimore to escape the evil plans her ex-fiance has for using her artistic talents for a counterfeit operation. Rand Stafford, Kansas cattle rancher is looking after his two orphaned nieces, but knows they need a mother. He’s not interested in love since being left at the altar so he advertises for a mail-order bride, willing to do whatever it takes to give Mary Jo and Jenna a proper home and upbringing. Can Carly and Rand find love where they least expect it, or will the shadows of the past dash their hopes for the future? (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky — Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans—but was that the truth? (Historical Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Random House])

Romantic Suspense:

Darkwater Truth by Robin Caroll — Adelaide Fountaine, general manager, is enthusiastically renovating parts of the Darkwater Inn. Her intentions come to a screeching halt when a skeleton is found behind a makeshift wall—an axe beside it. As Adelaide works alongside owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie, the two men who have been pursuing her heart, she learns the eerie death has tentacles that reach deep into the seedy past of both the Darkwater Inn and the evil underground of New Orleans. The past and the present collide as the stakes are upped—not only for Adelaide’s heart, but for her very life and her father’s life as well. The threats are deadly, the coils of evil are tightening around everyone involved, and they are more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Over the Line by Kelly Irvin — Gabriela’s brother is missing, he’s a suspect in a murder, and she’s in the cross hairs of a criminal organization. The only person who can help her is the one man she can’t trust. Will Gabby & Eli find her brother before it’s too late? (Romantic Suspense from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Long Walk Home by DiAnn Mills — As an Arab Christian pilot for a relief organization, Paul Farid feels called to bring supplies to his war-torn countrymen in southern Sudan. But with constant attacks from Khartoum’s Islamic government, the villagers have plenty of reasons to distrust Paul, and he wonders if the risks he’s taking are really worth his mission. American doctor Larson Kerr started working with the Sudanese people out of a sense of duty and has grown to love them all, especially Rachel Alier, her young assistant. But despite the years she’s spent caring for them, her life feels unfulfilled. It’s a void noticed both by Paul and by Rachel’s older brother, Colonel Ben Alier of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. When Rachel is abducted, Paul, Ben, and Larson agree to set aside their differences to form an unlikely alliance and execute a daring rescue. Their faith and beliefs tested, each must find the strength to walk the path God has laid before them, to find their way home. (Romantic Suspense from Tyndale House)

The Last Chaplain by Carl M. White — At the request of Pastor John Grant, the last chaplain of the United States Senate, Lisa Smithy embarks on the adventure of a lifetime: find a former Senate staff member and convince him to reveal to a DC reporter the plot that led to Dr. Grant’s removal and the discrediting of his best friend, a United States Senator. From the South, to the West, to the Midwest, evil men are desperate to stop her, and romance surprisingly finds her. Can she bring together the former Senate staffer who knows all and the Washington reporter who can tell all, while eluding the men who would end it all? (Romantic Suspense from Austin Brothers Publishers)

Ditching the Dye

Last month I shared a post about my vanity and low self-confidence in the outer beauty department. In that time frame that I saw our daughter adopting my terrible habit of avoiding pictures and hating what she saw in the mirror, God has been working on my heart. Sometimes with the bluntness of a sledgehammer, but always with love.

Like reminding me I’m HIS creation (as are you) and that He does NOT make junk. Every time I focus on how terrible I look, I’m telling God He makes crap. Not a good thing.

Well, another journey I’m on in that same department is my hair. A year or so ago I got tired of trying to straighten my thick, wavy hair and decided to go with what is called a Curly Girl Method. That took a little boldness because curly girls are not the norm. There’s something in society that wants everyone to blow those curls out and go straight. To work on juicy big curls isn’t something you see a lot, so people tend to notice.

While I’ve researched the CGM (Curly Girl Method,) I realized how much damage I’ve done with straighteners, silicones, sulfates, and hair color. My mom was gray at 16, I found my first at 25. When I met my now husband and he was considering our future, he remarked that seeing how young my mom looked showed him how I would look as we aged. I remember yelling her secret was Clairol. She has colored her hair as long as I can remember and she looks decades younger than her peers.

I noticed not too long ago when I colored my hair what used to work for 8 weeks has went from 6 to 4 to now 2 weeks. I quit salon coloring because I couldn’t justify the price for the short time the color stays. I tried to increase the color time at home and found what usually happened was too dark hair that at the same places, turned gray/white in the same two weeks.

It was at this time God was showing me my attitude, and I realized how authenticity is important to me. I want to be real with everyone I meet, and that usually is pretty overwhelming for people. Over the years God has healed me so much that there is little to no mask left when I greet others. For me, and this is my conviction and not a judgement on anyone else, I felt my constant hair coloring was not being authentic. That once again, in my case, the message I was telling God was He’s made junk when it comes to me.

So, I ditched the dye. At first, I was just too busy and tired to mess with it, especially knowing it would last less than a month. As two weeks plus went on and the usual hairline turned white’ish, I wasn’t horrified. My husband even remarked he wished I’d let it go. He finds gray hair sexy. Well, is he in for some eye popping.

A couple more weeks have sailed by and I mentioned to my stylist I might just let it go and see what happens. She explained a method to help transition, but honestly, it sounded like more chemicals that I really don’t want to mess with the curls I’m trying to nourish and hydrate. I even read a book about going gray by the founder of the CGM.

Then I found Instagram.

There is a movement called #ditchingthedye where women as young as 19 are finding grays and letting them come in. They aren’t doing anything but let nature take its course. These women have given me confidence and visual inspiration as they’ve been honest. 99% of the people they meet are NOT impressed. The transition process for some has taken 2 years, so there are different colors going on.

But when I look at their faces, I see a glow in them. I read their stories and they feel free and real in a way they said their color never gave them. They know they stand out and to others, perhaps for the right reason, but they feel bolder for trying.

I’m now probably 6 to 8 weeks without coloring. I have a terrible cowlick with my part so that sweet cowlick loves to bring a bigger attention to the changes. My hair remains thick, so often it wasn’t noticeable. Well, that’s starting to change. I see silver highlights. Even my daughter said, “Wow, you’re losing the red in your hair.”

Talk about being transparent. I am in my pajamas, with bedhead, no make up, showing off the gray. These are big baby steps!

I decided this was an opportunity to share with her. I explained that at least for now, I don’t feel that I’m supposed to color it. She was surprised, she’s heard me complain with the gray and that I have to run to the store. She’s seen her grandmother never have a white or gray hair showing. I explained what God was showing me about my recent attitude, and what I even saw in her that I knew was my false teaching. I told her I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she knows God doesn’t make junk.

So, that’s where I am. I don’t know how long i’ll last, but I’m excited that I’ve gone this long. I like the highlights and sparkle the gray brings. It’s a process, though. I don’t know where things will look two months, six, or a year from now if I stay as is. The vanity must still be deep rooted because I had a dream that I ditched the dye, kept wearing glasses, didn’t lose any weight, AND was wearing braces. Yikes!

Anyway, I am the one who writes about surrender issues, and I know whatever I write in fiction, God’s going to work through it in my own life. I promised God I would write what He wants, when. Ditching the dye is my conviction, that doesn’t mean that’s the message God is putting on you, nor am I. But if you’re struggling with the lie that you’re junk because of hair or weight, I hope my posts encourage you. I get it, I do. But more importantly, God’s got you.