Julie Arduini's Blog, page 57
March 7, 2019
Belief in the Wonderful by Michelle De Bruin
Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Belief
in the Wonderful
While I stood in the Christian book store studying the
clearance shelf, the floral design of a coffee mug caught my attention. I
picked it up and looked at the price. Yep, definitely on sale. I decided to buy
it.
Then I turned the mug around and discovered these
words scripted on the other side: Always
believe that something wonderful is about to happen.
Yeah, right, I thought. I don’t need that farce
staring me in the face every morning.
I put the mug back on the shelf. Maybe I didn’t want
it so much after all.
I went about my business looking for items that were
the reasons why I’d gone in the store in the first place. As I shopped, the
words on that mug stayed with me pressing me to wonder, can a person really
live as though something wonderful is about to happen? I could probably pull it
off once in a while, like when I know a special occasion is coming up, but all
the time?
I wavered. Sometimes terrible things happen. I have
difficulty enough trying to accept the tragic, the grievous, or the painful
situations that come my way. Once I’ve
dealt with those, I have no energy left to look for the wonderful, and even
less expectation that it might actually happen to me.
Belief in the wonderful sounded like a good way to set
myself up for disappointment.
I went deeper into the store and got lost in the
birthday card aisle hoping to forget about the coffee mug with its unrealistic
message.
We can believe in the wonderful yet to come because something wonderful has already happened. Jesus came. He paid the price of tragedy, death, loss, and sin so that we don’t have to. At the moment we become believers, the Holy Spirit enters into our hearts and lives. He fills up the places in need of healing. As this happens over time, we become new creations. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (I Corinthians 5:17). We also become strong. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4).
Michelle De Bruin
Faith brings the wonderful into our lives. When we
have faith in God, we no longer rely on ourselves for rescue in the midst of
our troubles. We look to God completely in full trust he can save us.
He always does. And that’s wonderful.
The world around us may appear to be falling apart on
the outside, but God uses the disasters and the pain to transform us on the
inside. And that’s wonderful.
The distraction of looking for a niece’s birthday card
failed to push the floral coffee mug from my mind. I returned to the clearance
shelf, picked up the mug, and read it again.
Grace is always happening. Mercy is always happening. Change in my heart is always happening. And that’s wonderful.
I didn’t put the mug back on the shelf this time. It now sits on my kitchen counter awaiting the daily opportunity to stare me in the face with its message. Believe in the wonderful. It’s all around you, inside you, and ready to happen…to you.
Michelle De Bruin is a worship leader and spiritual services provider. She lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always looking for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.
Visit Michelle at her website!
Hope for Tomorrow
When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden
death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he
discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle
with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision
to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some
extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.
Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach
high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country
school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a
new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in
ministry when she was a child.
Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to
serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together.
Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life?
Purchase HOPE FOR TOMORROW HERE
March 5, 2019
Middle Age Came and Got Me
I’ve blogged more than once about the struggles I’ve had the last couple years. Most of it has been related to menopause, something I first entered at age 38 thanks to surgery. A couple years ago, the symptoms accelerated and it’s been at times a bare-knuckle ride to fight the hungries, the sleeplessness, the volcanic heat, the bags under the eyes, and in my case, the weight gain.
That alone let me know that my middle age years were not coming up, but present and accounted for. I try not to think about it much because I feel overall pretty youthful. I’m the one parents ask about technology and youth trends (not that I partake in them, I just know what they are as a watchful parent/youth volunteer.) I try to find the balance of being informed and being that mom who joins in thinking she too is 16 and completely embarrasses her children to no end. My mom tried so hard not to be that mom that we ended up missing some opportunities to connect. But as a child and a parent I’ve seen those moms who try too hard, so I’m trying to find that line where I know my age and stay in my lane.
Anyhow, it wasn’t the decreasing time between hair color before the roots go white that really addled me, but it was a text from my sister. She’d messaged me asking if I knew about actor Luke Perry’s death. When I responded that it was indeed true and a sad day, she replied with this: “our younger years have officially died with him.”
Boy, that hit me hard.
In my mind, it wasn’t that long ago my floor mates were gathering to watch that new show on Fox called 90210. We didn’t love Brenda and her whiny ways, but to think of Dylan and Kelly? It was the ultimate betrayal. Although I had little in common with that zip code, that Generation X me so related. We brooded and craved love, but when we received things instead, we didn’t know what to do. The Peach Pit seemed to have all the answers. And although I knew I’d probably be the Andrea character, single for the duration and pining for the one who would only be a friend, I couldn’t help but wonder if a Dylan McKay would ever turn his mad face toward me and suddenly smile. Ah, the memories.
But those few years ago are almost thirty years ago. THIRTY. And I should realize it, because when our daughter wanted to check out Riverdale, I watched with her. Luke Perry went from being the brooding teen to the brooding teen’s dad. If he aged, well, so did I.
I mean, I’m not in college, I have a child in college and another in high school. The kids I met when I met their dad weren’t even teens. After twenty-two years of marriage to their dad, they are parents. Somehow between racing to the best chair to watch 90210, walking down the aisle, entering the delivery room and raising kids, something happened. Middle age came and got me.
Luke Perry’s death reminds me that I’m not 19/20 anymore, and it also reinforces that life is fleeting and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Don’t let the white hairs stop you. If there’s a relationship that needs some work, maybe it isn’t as dramatic as the Dylan/Brenda breakup, but don’t take time for granted. You just don’t know.
As much as I grapple with being closer to 50 than 40, 52 is so young to be reading about when it comes to death. Cherish each day. Your life is precious.
March 4, 2019
Sherri Wilson Johnson: The Bridge Between Us (The Erie Canal Brides Collection)
TITLE
OF BOOK – The Erie Canal Brides
Collection (My story is The Bridge between Us)
GENRE
– Historical Romance
RELEASE DATE – March 1, 2019
Sherri Wilson Johnson is
a multi-published Inspirational Romance novelist, speaker, and virtual
assistant. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
and is passionate about writing and publishing. Sherri has been published
in The Erie Canal Brides (Barbour Books), 101 Simple
Ways to Show Your Husband You Love Him by Kathi Lipp (Harvest House), Powerline
365 by Nicole O’Dell (Choose NOW Ministries), Open Hearts
Family: Connecting with One Another by Jane Seymour (Running Press,
Hachette Book Group), The Writing Academy’s Daily Devotions for
Writers, and several homeschool publications. She is the author of six
inspirational romances which she independently published.
She
lives in Georgia with her husband and her spoiled dog Sawyer. She loves
spending time with her adult children and friends or curling up with a good
book or her current work-in-progress. Sherri enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles in the
winter and counts the days every year until she can take another trip to the
beach. You can find Sherri on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Find
out more about Sherri at her website:www.sherriwilsonjohnson.com
Click here to enter the drawing for a FREE print copy of the book: https://sherriwilsonjohnson.com/2019/02/20/new-release-plus-a-giveaway/
Links to buy and social media
SIGN UP FOR SHERRI’S MAILING LIST!
Heroine’s back story:
My name
is Susannah Higley. Today, I am waiting to find out if my wax flowers won a ribbon
in the Orleans County Fair. I have been waiting for this day for so long! My
mother taught me how to make wax flowers, and she always said I was better at
making them than she was. She won several ribbons for her wax flowers and
always encouraged me to place my own in contests to see if I could win a
ribbon, too. Sadly, Mama passed away and will not be able to see my
accomplishments if I win.
Pa is
proud of me for my achievements. However, he is not proud of my ambitions of
seeing my wax flowers sold in stores in New York City. Pa thinks it is fine to
dream so long as those dreams do not take me away from our home in Albion. Pa
is not a bad man, just afraid of being alone since Mama has passed.
I had a
chance to leave Albion once, but it would have been a mistake. My former beau
Richard asked me to run away with him to California to seek gold. I could not
bring myself to go with him, could not leave Pa to run the house and lumber
yard alone. Richard said we would never marry if I stayed here, and so he left
me no choice but to carry on without him. He started over in California,
and I remain here wishing adventure would come my way every day.
I do
the bookkeeping for Pa’s lumber yard, a job Mama always did. It helps Pa and
I’m happy to help, but the desire in my heart to see places other than Albion
never quiets. The Erie Canal leads all the way from Albany to Buffalo. I
would love to take a boat ride all the way up and down the Erie Canal and see
all of the different towns. But Pa would never let me do that. Maybe someday.
For
now, I wait to see if my wax flowers gain the attention of the judges. If I win
the county fair prize, my flowers will go to New York City for the state
contest.
Everything
bad that happens reminds Pa of a family feud between the Higleys and the
Hawkinses. The feud started when Mr. Hawkins cheated Pa out of some lumber, and
they dissolved their friendship and declared never to do business with each
other again. That ended my childhood friendship with John Hawkins, who I
believe I would have married. Pa forbid me to see him again after their
business deal soured. Then when John’s family was run out of town, there was no
hope of us ever seeing each other again.
John
lives in New York City, so I hear, and if I am ever able to make it there, I
will try to find him.
Most
days after I work at the lumber yard, I come home, cook dinner, clean the house
and wash clothes. Sometimes I even have to repair a board on the house or clean
out the chimney because Pa is too sad to do anything around here. I hope if I
win in the county fair and go on to win in the state fair for my wax flowers
that the prize money could bring some joy to Pa’s life.
Some
days it feels like we will never recover from losing Mama and from the feud
with our old friends, but I keep the faith because I know God is with us and
he’s always watching over us. So I will not waste a moment fretting. I
will enjoy today!
To
start the county fair, George Williams from Brockport will walk across the Erie
Canal on a tightrope! His rope is strung from the second floor of the Mansion
House across the canal to the second floor of the Pierpont Dyer’s building. I
wonder how fast his heart is beating. Is it as fast as mine is beating in
anticipation?
I may
be adventurous, but I am not that adventurous for I would not want to fall into
the waters of the canal. So while I wait for Mr. Walker to do what I could
never do, I shall sample some of the apple fritters and popcorn for sale at the
merchant carts. Then I will come back and stand on the bridge with everyone
else so I can get a better look at Mr. Walker as he performs his daring act.
Won’t you join me?
Buy links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GkAN12
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-erie-canal-brides-collection-johnnie-alexander/1129071609?ean=9781683228677#/
Trumpet Tuesday
March 1, 2019
Fiction Finder: March New Releases
March 2019 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.
Children’s:
The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog by Daphne Self — Majesty, the firehouse dog, is missing. Willie and Jax are on the case to discover who is the dognapping culprit. Could it be their neighbor, Mr. Applebee? Or maybe it is Ms. Thornton? Join the Pintail Duo, Wilhelmina van der Coup and Jackson Barnaby, as they follow the clues to rescue Majesty in The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog. (Children’s from Ambassador International)
Contemporary Romance:
When He Found Me by Victoria Bylin — With his career and faith in tatters, a disillusioned baseball player falls for an optimistic single mom secretly battling cervical cancer. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
His Secret Daughter by Lisa Carter — He just found out he’s a father… But is he ready to be a dad? When veteran Jake McAbee learns he has a daughter, he’s determined to raise the adorable toddler. But Maisie’s foster mom, Callie Jackson, insists Jake stay at her orchard until he’s prepared for fatherhood. While Jake and Maisie bond, the trio begins to feel like family. Could the best home for Maisie be the one Jake and Callie create together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington by Annette M. Irby — Liberty Winfield lives with loss every day. She’d rather leave her history behind her, but when faced with moving back to her hometown, the past becomes unavoidable. She takes a job at the florist shop owned by her ex-boyfriend’s family from a decade ago. Now he’s unavoidable. Clay Garrison knows the pain of ruing his mistakes. Most of his regrets center around Liberty. If he could undo his poor choices, he would. Liberty is back. He has one more chance to make things right. She doesn’t believe anyone could love her unconditionally, so he sets out to prove her wrong. He must also try to right the biggest wrong of their past, knowing that in doing so, he could lose her forever. (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)
Whatever is True by Pamela S. Meyers — Bullfighter and ranch hand Clint Palmer yearns for a family of his own and desires a relationship with barrel racer Lacy Roberts, a fellow ranch employee. But what would she want in a guy who was abandoned by his father and has a mother who is an alcoholic? If he’s ever going to be seen in a different light by Lacy, he needs greater financial security than what a ranch-hand position provides. Lacy’s parents have scorned her ever since she opted for ranch life rather than pursuing a business career. She’s attracted to Clint, who has shown enough interest in her that she reveals a secret about her past—only to be rejected by him. She’s about to move on when Clint learns a secret related to his own life that changes everything. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus — Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Her Last Chance Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe — When pregnant single mother Hannah Vincent shows up professing to be the half sister of the Maxwells of Big Heart Ranch, horse trainer Tripp Walker is wary. Wounded before, he doesn’t trust easily. If only Hannah and her feisty five-year-old daughter weren’t so impossible to resist. Now, despite his doubts, joining this little family is quickly becoming the cautious cowboy’s greatest wish. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Buried Mountain Secrets by Terri Reed — Desperate to find her missing teenage brother, Maya Gallo ventures into the Colorado Rockies expecting rough terrain–not deadly treasure hunters. But when she’s caught in their crosshairs, rudely handsome mounted patrolman Alex Trevino come to her aid. The deputy sheriff knows what these bandits are capable of, so getting Maya–and her brother–home safely may be his hardest mission yet. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Cozy Mystery:
Like a Tree by Danny & Wanda Pelfrey — The movie making industry spreading across Georgia has finally made its way to the little foothill village of Adairsville. Bookseller and police chaplain Davis Morgan along with a young female clerk discover the body of a member of the movie company on a historic site at the foot of a large oak tree. Davis despite his promise to his wife cannot resist investigating the mystery. He and his young friend, policeman Charley Nelson, quietly dig into the case even though it is officially under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff. There is no shortage of suspects: the mysterious red headed man, sister of the victim, the fiancée and others. During the investigation an already troubled Charley is framed for a drug crime, and Davis receives word that an old enemy is on his way to Georgia after escaping from prison to make good a threat against him. Late one afternoon it comes to an astounding conclusion beneath the same sprawling oak where it all started. (Cozy Mystery from CrossLink)
General Contemporary:
Within This Circle by Deborah Raney — After a tumultuous courtship, John and Julia Brighton have a second chance at happiness! With tragedy behind them and their children grown, they’re looking forward to a new and promising era in their lives. Only, such a promise is never guaranteed. And life can change in a moment. The Brightons’ lives are turned upside down when John’s daughter Jana abandons her husband, Mark, and three-year-old daughter. John and Julia reach out to young Ellie, to give the young couple time to heal, but how can they help this child, so confused and longing for Mommy? And how much sorrow and stress can both fledgling marriages endure? (General Contemporary from Raney Day Press)
Grace & Lavender by Heather Norman Smith — Recently retired Colleen Hill is always busy, constantly on a quest to make life more interesting. When the ladies’ group at her church partners with the local children’s home, Colleen jumps in as usual, volunteering to share her passion for cooking with a troubled teenager named Grace. Colleen must balance the new project with her pursuit of becoming a contestant on a television game show, along with all the other ideas her brain continually spins out. Colleen’s daughter Melody is quite different. She lives a calm, simple life and is content with who she is. That is, until an unexpected opportunity to work with Grace, too, pushes her to reevaluate life and dare to take on bigger dreams. The path starts with a newly-found interest in soap-making and leads her to responsibilities she didn’t even know she wanted. (General Contemporary from Ambassador International)
Historical Romance:
The Erie Canal Brides Collection by Johnnie Alexander, Lauralee Bliss, Ramona K. Cecil, Rita Gerlach, Sherri Wilson Johnson, Rose Allen McCauley, Christina Miller — Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, and soon other states like Ohio created canals linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Suddenly the Midwest was open to migration, the harvesting of resources, and even tourism. Join seven couples who live through the rise of the canals and the problems the waterways brought to each community, including land grabs, disease, tourists, racism, and competition. Can these couples hang on to their faith and develop love during times of intense change? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
This Daring Journey by Misty M. Beller — The only hope to keep her newborn baby alive is to reach the safety of her Indian people… This mountain man is the last person she should trust to get her there. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
The Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin — In spring of 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries at the front, receives an unexpected message by carrier pigeon: it is an urgent summons from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life—a woman he believed to be dead. Leaving Britain’s shores to return into war-torn France, he hopes his reunion with her will ease his guilt and this mission restore the courage he lost on the battlefield. Colin is stunned when he arrives in Paris to discover the message came not from Jewel, but from a stranger who claims to be her half sister, Johanna. Johanna works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence; having found Jewel’s diary, she believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is at first skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them. When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, however, that trust is at stake, as danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])
A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot — As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change. Her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it. Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated — and that he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he seeks. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy — City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons’ supposedly lost grandson. But now that he’s out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She’s not like any woman he’s ever met–comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun. When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don’t have, both realize they’ve stumbled into something dangerous and complicated. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape. When they emerge back into the real world, they are confronted with a kidnapper who just won’t stop. They must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, even as this city man and country woman fight a very inconvenient attraction to each other. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])
To Win Her Heart by Candee Fick — Despite Emma Richards’ fanciful dreams growing up in the shadow of King Arthur’s castle and the manor on the cliff, the orphan is now trapped inland serving her wealthy cousins with no hope for her own future. Sir Grayson Wentworth spent his years at Cambridge dreaming of the Cornwall coast and wishing he could return to the happy days of his youth. Called home to his father’s deathbed, the young baron soon learns he has inherited a title, a neglected estate, and a betrothal agreement he knew nothing about. When the new Lord Danvers travels to execute the last matters of his father’s will, he finds himself promised to one woman and falling for another. Can he keep his vow to find a wife and win her heart? Or will honor be sacrificed in the name of love? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
The White City by Grace Hitchcock — While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Ian Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard. Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason — After her beloved grandfather’s death, Emmaline Moore is shocked to discover that her “deceased” father is actually living in Canada. Having no other family, Emma decides she must find him, and so embarks on a journey across the ocean, accompanied by her best friend, Jonathan. Unfortunately, Randall Moore and his well-to-do family aren’t thrilled by her arrival, fearing her sudden appearance will hinder his chance at becoming mayor of Toronto in 1919. Despite everything, Emma remains determined to earn their affection. Jonathan Rowe has secretly loved Emma for years and hopes that during their trip he can win her heart. Concerned that Randall might reject her, Jonathan is ready to console Emma and bring her home. When she informs him that she has no intention of returning to England, Jonathan begins to despair. Can he convince Emma to find value within herself rather than seeking it from a virtual stranger? And will she ever come to see that Jonathan is her true home? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])
Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis — Katelyn Kavanagh serves the famous George Pullman and President Grant in the enchanting Thousand Islands. Yet the transition proves anything but easy when she falls in love and can’t tame her gossiping tongue. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller — Can a very proper young lady of noble birth find love with a mysterious, fossil-hunting scientist in the smuggler-plagued coasts of Devon, England? (Historical Romance from Kregel Publications)
Sand Creek Serenade by Jennifer Uhlarik — Dr. Sadie Hoppner is called upon to nurse the gunshot wound of Cheyenne brave Five Kills after tensions erupt between the braves and the soldiers at Fort Lyon. Even as Sadie and Five Kills form an unlikely bond, danger threatens the fragile treaty that ensures peace for both their people…and their hearts. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)
February 27, 2019
I Love Someone Rare
Each February I try to write about our situation in case there are new readers who might not know, or perhaps they are living something similar and could use the encouragement. When I got sick from drinking the bottled water on the Mexican cruise, I was told I was one in 10,000. I had similar stats when it came to my PCOS severity. Then, when I had a reaction to the spinal in my c-section, I was told how rare it was. I laughed and said, “What can I say? I’m one in a million.”
Little did I know not long after that c-section, we would be thrust into a new normal. Once her breathing issues stabilized and her thyroid condition was receiving consistent monitoring, we were asked if we’d ever been asked about Albrights.
Nope, never heard of it. With that, we moved on to the more pressing issues at hand.
Years later, a specialist looked at our daughter’s hands and once again asked about Albright’s. She ordered an x-ray and additional lab work. Then we were told to visit genetics. It was there we were told between the x-ray, labs, and history, she most likely had Albrights Hereditary Osteodystrophy, AHO. Although additional testing was offered, he admitted it was expensive and whether I agreed or not, they were going to treat her as an AHO patient.
And that’s where we are.
Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy
Other Names: AHO; Albright hereditary osteodystrophy; Pseudohypoparathyroidism with Albright hereditary osteodystrophyCategories: Congenital and Genetic Diseases
Summary
LAlbright’s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) is a rare disorder with a wide range of signs and symptoms, including short stature, obesity, round face, subcutaneous ossifications (formation of bone under the skin), and short fingers and toes (brachydactyly).[1][2] When the disorder is inherited from the mother, the features of AHO can be associated with resistance to certain hormones, in particular the parathyroid hormone (PTH). This is called pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP1a). When inherited from the father, an individual will have AHO without any hormone issues, which is called pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP).[2] This condition is inherited in anautosomal dominant manner due to a mutation in the GNAS gene.[1] Treatment consists of calcium and vitamin D supplements. If there are high levels of phosphate in the blood, it may be recommended to eat a low-phosphorous diet or take medications called phosphate binders to help lower the levels of phosphate.[3]
For us, we’ve learned her situation is so rare that our specialist has consulted with doctors in Italy for information on the teenaged and adult years. We learned that bones can fuse and stunt growth—only after it happened. While many patients are able to have growth hormones and enjoy further height, that wasn’t for our daughter. Her bones registered at age 18 when she was 12, and she is 4’9″. We are not a tall family, so that helps, but she sees her friends growing. It is often the one remark they make when defining her. However, most see it as cute and helpful, not anything else.
The last year was definitely complex as puberty is a question mark. We don’t know what to expect with cycles and other hormonal issues. She receives regular lab work, about 5 vials worth, to check so many levels and systems. The most important are calcium and phosphorus levels. If they are off, she could experience joint tingling, numbness, and seizures. Thankfully, that has not happened.
I try not to read too much on everything, because it’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose faith. Because before she was born, God clearly promised this child would be an overcomer. I’ve learned to trust that, and also let go of what that might mean. He’s demonstrated it over and over in her 15 years, and I know He’s not done.
I don’t know what the future holds for AHO, I know there are two major hospitals in the US that are studying AHO. I do know this, our overcomer is one in a billion. We’re blessed to have her in our lives.
***
NOW AVAILABLE!Jazmin’s a natural at dance until a series of changes make her wonder if she should even keep up with her favorite hobby.
Lena’s a mom with young children overwhelmed with her schedule when a woman remarks that what Lena does isn’t even important.
Both Jazmin and Lena belong to Linked, a mentoring ministry where all ages encourage each other and build friendships.
Can these two surrender the lies they are believing and realize they are amazing?
A novella for tweens, teens, and women of all ages by mother and daughter team Julie Arduini and Hannah Arduini.
February 25, 2019
When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis
When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis
Excerpt from When Valleys Bloom
Again
Jolie
Fontaine
Main
Line Philadelphia
Summer
1942
Abby sat in the middle of a group of
children, reading aloud a favorite story. She looked up to see Carol at her
side. “Jim’s on the telephone. I’ll fill in here,” she said, taking the
storybook out of Abby’s hands. “He says it’s important.”
She rose from a stool, her heart
beating faster. Jim wrote whenever possible and only called occasionally—but
never in the middle of the day. It must be urgent.
When out of sight, she sprinted down
the hall, dropping breathless into a wooden chair beside the telephone. “Hello,
Jim,” she said, pressing the receiver tight to her ear, as if to draw him
closer.
“Hello, Darling. I had to call. But
I haven’t got long to talk.”
Silence.
“Jim … Jim?” Leaning forward, she
rapped the cradle switch. “Are you there?”
“I’m here. Sorry to call like this,”
he said, his voice cracking. “They’re shipping me out.”
She slumped back in the seat.
“When?”
“I board a train for New York next
week. Then a troopship.”
Abby attempted to speak, but a lump
rose in her throat.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry I won’t see
you before I leave,” he said in a subdued voice.
She swallowed hard. “Can’t I meet
your train s-s-somewhere?”
“I looked into that. There’s nowhere.”
The hopeless tone in his voice was unmistakable.
“Then I’ll come to New York.”
“No time for that.”
Her eyes filled. “No time for us?”
“Besides, there’s no more furloughs
or passes. Look. It’s not all bad. I’ll probably get to London. Maybe even see
your parents when I get a pass.”
Abby sensed he was struggling for
words.
“So, that’s at least a cheerful bit
of news, isn’t it?”
“S-S-Some,” she said, trying to
conceal disappointment in her voice.
“Darling, there’s a line of men
waiting to use this phone. I’ll have to go.”
She was losing the battle to stay
calm and accepting. “Must you hang up so soon?”
He cleared his throat before
speaking again. “I’m not so good at always saying what I feel. Still, you know
how much I love you.” His voice carried a wealth of emotion. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting for you,” she said,
then mumbled a muted, “goodbye.” With a click, their connection was severed.
She replaced the receiver and closed
her eyes, her lower lip trembling. She hadn’t reacted the right way to his
disappointing news. After all, Jim was being sent off. He was the one at risk,
not her.
When she got back to the room Carol
and the children were gone. She cleaned the blackboard and tidied up before
leaving. Then she strolled to the tower and sat there until the light faded.
How much longer would this war go on? Scenes from the latest Pathé
newsreel—devoted to the progress of the war—flashed before her eyes. Please,
Lord, keep Jim safe.
* * *
Returning to the house, she found
her uncle listening to the president’s weekly fireside chat. He pressed a
finger to his lips and motioned for her to take a seat. “Nearly done,” he
mouthed. On occasion she would join him and her aunt for these broadcasts.
Uncle Will proclaimed his liking for Mr. Roosevelt out of patriotism and Aunt
Val by way of a fondness for Eleanor.
When the president finished, Uncle
Will turned off the radio. “I see that Eisenhower’s in England and has command
of U.S. Forces in the European theater.”
Abby went straight to her complaint.
“Jim’s being sent to England.”
“Oh, dear,” he said, leaning back
and folding his arms. “This afternoon his sister hinted something was up.” He
furrowed his brow. “I know how disappointed you must feel. But look on the
bright side,” he said, grinning. “Perhaps he’ll get to meet your parents.”
“Yes, that’s what Jim thought.” She
forced a smile. “It’s something to hang on to.”
“Let me show you this.” Uncle Will
went over to the map on the wall that bristled with tacks of different colors.
He pointed to one section, motioning for Abby to join him. “The President says
that because of our navy’s victory over the Japanese here at Midway Island,
there’s been a decisive turn in this phase of the war. This affects everything
else to come.”
“Surely, this war can’t go on much
longer,” she said, her voice quivering.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I
wouldn’t go so far as to say that, yet. Your Jim is off to fight to ensure our
freedom. Pray God may help him to do what needs to be done for however long it
takes.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jim must do what he needs to do, and
you must have faith that he will come back to you.”
“You
always say what I need to hear, Uncle.”
<><><>
© Pat Jeanne Davis 2019 – When Valleys Bloom Again – Elk Lake Publishing
When Valleys Bloom Again
Book Blurb:
As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her
father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger
passes. Abby vows to return to her home in
London—but where is home? With her family
facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it
hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave
God behind in war-torn London too? Abby
becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.
Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in
England? Was it foolish to think she’d
consider him? He curses his poverty and the
disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope
for a happy marriage?
Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?
PAT JEANNE DAVIS lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John. They have two grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her husband. She is a volunteer in the nursery at the church she attends and at the local chapter of MOP’s.
Pat published
essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She has a keen interest
in mid-twentieth-century American and British history, particularly the period
of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in the British Eighth Army during
the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut historical romance
set in that era. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and
the Historical Novel Society. Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to
her newsletter here www.patjeannedavis.com
LINKS:
When Valleys Bloom Again can be
purchased here;
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Valleys-Bloom-Again-Jeanne-Davis/dp/1948888920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=154
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-valleys-bloom-again-pat-jeanne-davis/1130351044?ean=9781948888929
Social Media:
Website: https://www.patjeannedavis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43600391-when-valleys-bloom-again?from_search=true
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-jeanne-davis-34290422/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/115180148187668366845
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/patjeannedavis/
BoobBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-valleys-bloom-again-by-pat-jeanne-davis
February 18, 2019
Now in Print: You’re Amazing
It’s a series I never saw coming, but God did.
It started with middle school and some tough times for our teen daughter. So heartbreaking that she lamented the pain and expressed her desire to help girls before negative words hit them in their vulnerable years.
As she shared, she was telling a story. I realized that she had a message, a really important one that could not only reach girls her age, but older teens. Young adults. Women of all ages. I told her if she works with me, I’d write that story and see it published.
Hannah outlined a three book series.
Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ is the series, and You’re Beautiful released last year. You’re Amazing continues the journey with the Linked mentoring ministry and the girls and women who belong. Each book tells two stories with one message to encourage readers to find freedom in the truth. They are beautiful. Amazing. Brilliant.
You’re Amazing is now available in print, as well as eBook. Hannah plotted and supervised my writing. She had the vision for the covers and made sure I stayed true to that. I wrote, took the manuscripts through critique groups, revisions, editing, and the publishing process. It’s free for Kindle Unlimited. We really want to see females of all ages transformed by the empowering message we believe these books possess. We appreciate everyone spreading the word that these books are available. If you’ve read them and enjoyed them, please leave a review. Reviews are the best way for a book to gain awareness, so thank you for your help!
About You’re Beautiful:
Hayley Atkinson withdraws from her friends and new opportunities with the new mentoring group, Linked, after she is told a lie that she believes is true about herself. Sabrina Wayson is a mentor in Linked who feels she can’t help encourage girls because she’s struggling as much as they are. Can they surrender the lies and find freedom?
About You’re Amazing:
Jazmin’s a natural at dance until a series of changes make her wonder if she should even keep up with her favorite hobby.
Lena’s a mom with young children overwhelmed with her schedule when a woman remarks that what Lena does isn’t even important.
Both Jazmin and Lena belong to Linked, a mentoring ministry where all ages encourage each other and build friendships.
Can these two surrender the lies they are believing and realize they are amazing?
A novella for tweens, teens, and women of all ages by mother and daughter team Julie Arduini and Hannah Arduini.
February 14, 2019
Linda Hoover: Mountain Prophecy
Happy Valentine day! I’m Linda Hoover. Thank you, Julie for giving me the opportunity to use Throwback Thursday to talk about the book I published in 2016, Mountain Prophecy.
Mountain Prophecy is
a young adult book with romantic elements that adults will enjoy as well as
teens. It’s set in 1918 in the Kentucky Appalachians and features fifteen-year-old
twins, Dusty and Darla and seventeen-year-old Aidan, who is part of a
mysterious reclusive clan living in a cavern at the end of an old mine shaft.
Mountain Prophecy by Linda HooverThis
interview with Dusty will give you a condensed version of the summer from his
perspective. I hope you enjoy it.
Interview with Dusty
Q Will you tell us a little about yourself? Where you were born, what
your family’s like? Brothers or sisters?
A I was
born here in Cincinnati. My mom is from Kentucky and has a
big
family there. Dad owns a department store that my great- grandfather built. Dad wants me to take over
someday, but what I really want to do is play baseball, hopefully with the
Reds. I’m a good pitcher, but can play most any position.
I
have eight older brothers and one sister, who is my twin. Darla, and I
are
fifteen years old.
Q You see your cousins every summer. Do you look forward to going?
A I like spending time there. It’s a complete
change from the city and the
family is fun to be around, even if they are
superstitious and can’t get
along
with their neighbors. The exception is my cousin Jordy. He’s a year
older
and has always given me a hard time about being a city kid. That
changed
this year.
Q What made this year different?
A
Things were crazy from the time Darla and I got there. Right away we
found
out two young women from the other clans in the area had gone
into
the abandoned mine on our family’s land. Next thing I knew,
Darla
went into a trance and started into the mine, too, but I stopped
her.
People around there were talking about trolls, our oldest aunt was
shooting
at people, Darla and I were shot at and there was a snake
handling
preacher. I even got sprayed by a skunk.
The worst happened one night when Darla
ended up going into the mine.
I
didn’t find out until the next evening. She may be stubborn and make
me
mad sometimes, but she’s my best friend. I was frantic to get her out
of
there.
The
mine tunnel led to a large cavern. Now I’ve got to tell you, I’ve
never
believed in “Mountain Magic” like Darla. And I thought the folklore
about
trolls looking for brides was ridiculous, until I got inside that
cavern
and got a look at those people. The prince was all set to marry
Darla.
Of course, I couldn’t let that happen, even if she did think God had
called
her there to help those people. They had her in some kind of
trance
and she wouldn’t leave. It wasn’t until our uncles came in, armed
and
ready to shoot, that we made any progress. Then I came up with an
idea
that put my ace pitching skills to use and all kinds of good things
happened
as a result. One of them is, no one thinks of me as “just a city
kid”
anymore.
Q It sounds like your pitching saved the day.
A My
God given talent to pitch, and my willingness to use it, helped. The
mine
people had a prophecy that a heavenly being would come to them
and
lead them to a better life. Darla, even though she’s definitely not
heavenly,
was willing and God used her. Even our family and the other
families
in the area finally got past their hatred for each other and
pulled
together to help the people in the mine.
This
whole thing has been a humbling experience. I always felt like
logical
thinking would provide answers and I was sure of my ability to
rush
in and save the day. I found out you have to leave room for God to work and
rely on his guidance.
Thank
you for talking to us. Good luck to you and your family, and God bless.
I’m not going to lie, I’m not one bit objective about this story. It’s a lot of fun. I hope you’ll stop by my Facebook page and leave a comment or stop by my website. If you’re interested in buying a copy of the book it comes in print or ebook. There’s a Buy link on the BOOKS page of my website.
Linda lives in west central Ohio with her husband, daughters, grandson and a cat who thinks he owns the house. She earned a degree in psychology from Anderson University where she learned the voices in her head were actually characters from stories waiting to be told.
By day, Linda works as a library assistant at a branch of the county’s public library system where two of her duties include choosing books for the young adult and Christian fiction sections. As a result, she has a very long “To Read” list. In her spare time she writes the stories her voices tell her.
February 9, 2019
The Dream Changed
When I was a child, I had a recurring dream that either my mom or I was driving a car up the exit that led to our mall, and the brakes went out. Even as a kid I figured it meant something, and most likely, we both wanted to control something we couldn’t, and life felt like a free fall. True or not, those years at times felt like that, and as I grew up, the dream changed.
As a young adult, the dream switched to me being at my parent’s house. I was either outside or on the front porch and I could see a plane, and I knew it was crashing. It either crashed on the property, or nearby. I either was able to get to it and help, or I wanted to.
Then I grew in my Christian faith and had been married for a few years. This is where I’ve been for a few years. The dream is I am preparing to travel. I am either packing or I am at the airport. There are always delays and setbacks that prevent me from ever getting on that plane. Either I got the wrong time, I packed wrong, something happened at the terminal, whatever the case, I never got close to the plane.
In the last year, I’ve at least made it to the airport, but still, delays. Most of the time I got lost in the airport and missed the flight. I knew the flight every time was international. I was so frustrated because I knew I’d waited a long time for this, and I missed it.
Then last week.
I packed. I made it to the airport. I got lost, I even got held up in lines. I was even sent a few places within the airport and no one seemed to know what was happening. I remember being in the air and feeling nervous and excited. Suddenly I was outside trying to find my way. There was a path that went around a pond, and I knew it wasn’t where I wanted to be. When I asked for directions, I was pointed to another line with extra railcars near by. I knew I needed to watch for bad men who were trying to traffic people.
I also knew I was in France.
That’s it.
What does it mean?????
I do know God uses dreams as a means to speak to His people. I don’t think every dream is from Him, I know when I eat really late or take medicine, those dreams are just nutsy.
I do think the recurring international travel dream means something. I know that He has created me to write and in time, those books will open doors for me to speak. I believe that’s a global call on my life. As I speak, it isn’t the books or even the speaking that is my purpose in life. It’s after the crowds leave, and a remnant stays, wanting to share. When I pray for that group, that is why I exist.
Does it mean that after all the waiting and delays, there is now confirmation that yes, I’ll see the global, the speaking and prayer part come true?
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
I don’t know.
But I know Who does. So I’ll ask for interpretation and wait on it, still writing.
And dreaming.
February 7, 2019
Fiction Finder: February New Releases
February 2019 New Releases
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.
Amish Romance:
Convenient Amish Proposal by Jan Drexler — When Bethany Zook’s childhood friend returns to Indiana Amish country a widower, with an adorable little girl in tow, she’s willing to aid him in any way. But there’s just one thing Andrew Yoder needs – a mother for little Mari. And he seems convinced Bethany is the answer, just as she’s sure any union between them would be one strictly of convenience… Andrew thought Bethany had married another. Now, determined to keep Mari despite his mother-in-law’s interference, he offers Bethany marriage in name only. But she’s quickly becoming more than a housekeeper and a mamm. Can he leave the past behind to claim a family of the heart? (Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Contemporary Romance:
Ocean’s Edge by Cindy M. Amos — Tired of Kansas, Wynn Yardley places her wish to touch the ocean into Dreams Come True Director Teague Montgomery’s hands, and then launches into an adventure to the seashore with him to discover the tidal zone–and affections for her companion. (Contemporary Romance from Winged Publications)
Home Another Way by Brenda S. Anderson — Can a senator’s daughter and convict’s son overcome their differences and learn what it really means to love? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Love, Lies, and Homemade Pie by Sally Bayless — Cara Smith has a whole new life planned in Abundance, Missouri. If she can just avoid questions from that intriguing guy at the newspaper, no one will ever find out about her past. Will Hamlin, local editor, desperately needs a big story to keep his newspaper afloat, and Cara Smith is clearly hiding something. But after Will’s initial inquiries fail to turn up anything, he grows less interested in Cara’s past and more interested in winning her heart with slices of pie and stolen kisses. When a crime is uncovered at city hall just as Will unearths Cara’s dark secret, the repercussions shatter their romance. Has Cara really left her past behind? Can Will finally find a way to save the paper? And can they each place their trust in God and together find freedom in the truth and overcome the obstacles to their love? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Their Family Blessing by Lorraine Beatty — She owns the lodge but he owns the land. When single mom Carly Hughes the Longleaf Lodge, she gains a heap of trouble – her teenage crush Deputy MacKenzie Bridges. Her father left Mack the land around the lodge. While Carly wants to sell for her daughter’s sake. Mack wants to stay for his niece’s. and if they can’t work together, they’ll both lose everything… including the renewed spark between them. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Courting Calla by Hallee Bridgeman — Calla Vaughn is trying to get her life in order so she can go back to culinary school. No matter how hard she works, though, she feels like she is just treading water and can’t see any way out of the hole dug for her by a con artist who stole her identity. When flowers she sends to her best friend with a dinner invitation accidentally get delivered to Ian Jones, she decides to cook him the best meal he’s ever had. By the time she admits that the flowers were never for him, he is as convinced as she is that God orchestrated the mistake in the first place. All that’s left is to tell him the dark secret about her father’s widow. She waits a little too long, though, and is carted off to jail for questioning on felony charges before she gets a chance. Will Ian understand her situation, or will the deception surrounding Calla destroy any trust he has in her? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Different Season by Jennifer Heeren — How do you go on when your heart is broken? Twenty-two-year-old Lisette Carter is grief-stricken over her husband’s death—which occurred before she knew she was pregnant. Now in her last trimester, she meets David Baranski, who has a tragic past of his own. He seems to care for Lisette, but she’s not sure she can trust him. Besides, her sorrow and survivor guilt are all she can handle. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
One Thing I Know by Kara Isaac — Rachel Somers, ghost writer for America’s #1 relationship expert, is running out of ideas, but it’s keep up the charade or lose the income required to care for her father. The last thing she needs is her boss’s publicist concocting a scheme to pair her with some radio star in hopes it will spark the next book idea. Lucas Grant didn’t expect his fame on a late-night sports show to come with constant calls from women wanting relationship advice. Which means he has to waste hours on the phone with an expert like Dr. Donna Somerville talking about feelings when he’d rather be talking about his first love: football. Then a deal opens up with a big-time producer who suspects Dr. Somerville isn’t what she seems, and he wants Lucas to discover her secret. To do that, he needs to win over her tight-lipped assistant who holds the key to his success and—he begins to suspect—his heart. Can love find a way through the lies that force them apart? (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])
Season of Hope by Lisa Jordan — His dreams can all come true…but only if his ex-wife will agree! Jake Holland’s peaceful dairy farm is a sanctuary—one he wants to share with other worn and weary veterans. He just needs one more piece of land to start his program…and it belongs to Tori Lerner, his ex-wife. A collaboration could benefit them both, but with a past full of secrets between them, is there any hope for renewed love? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Carolina Grace by Regina Rudd Merrick — She knows about God’s grace for her life, but pushes it away. He hasn’t experienced it, but finds grace in a way he never expected. First-year Special Education teacher Charly Livingston demonstrates God’s love on the outside, but is resentful that God allowed back-to-back tragedies in her family. Rance Butler is a top-notch medical intern. He’s on his way to the top, and when he meets Charly, he knows things will only get better. When he discovers family secrets and a dying father he never knew, his easy, carefree life seems to disintegrate. Even in the idyllic ocean breezes and South Carolina sunshine, contentment turns to bitterness and confusion except for God’s amazing grace. (Contemporary Romance from Mantle Rock Publishing)
The Street Singer by Kathleen Neely — While planning her own wedding, a law student works to help her favorite recording artist who has fallen on hard times. She finds an attorney who will work pro bono, but will her growing friendship with him come between her and her fiancé? (Contemporary Romance from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])
Historical Romance:
A Love Most Worthy by Sandra Ardoin — During the Nome, Alaska gold rush of 1900, a merchant sends for a serious-minded bride to help him raise his young nephews but welcomes a cheery and adventuresome woman who tests his determination to hold her at arm’s length. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis — After fleeing impending war in England, nineteen-year-old Abby Stapleton works to correct her stammer and to become a teacher in America, only to discover this conflict has no boundaries and that a rejected suitor is intent on destroying her name, fiancé, and fragile faith. (Historical Romance from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.)
Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep — The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady, Cornish Coast, 1815: When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father—not fall in love with a smuggler. Will Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton’s unusual secret? The Doctor’s Woman (A Carol Award Winner) Dakota Territory, 1862: Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins. A House of Secrets, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1890: Ladies Aide Chairman, Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul’s ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a “haunted” house that’s secretly owned by her beau—a home that’s his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city’s most infamous madam. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Love’s Rescue by Linda Shenton Matchett — Sold by her parents to settle a debt, Rolande Bisset is forced into prostitution. Years later, shunned by her family and most of society, it’s the only way she knows how to subsist. When the Germans overrun Paris, she decides she’s had enough of evil men controlling her life and uses her wiles to obtain information for the Allied forces. Branded a collaborator, her life hangs in the balance. Then an American spy stumbles onto her doorstep. Is redemption within her grasp? Simon Harlow is one of an elite corps of American soldiers. Regularly chosen for dangerous covert missions, he is tasked with infiltrating Paris to ascertain the Axis’s defenses. Nearly caught by German forces moments after arriving, he owes his life to the beautiful prostitute who claims she’s been waiting for the Allies to arrive. Her lifestyle goes against everything he believes in, but will she steal his heart during his quest to liberate her city? Inspired by the biblical story of Rahab, Love’s Rescue is a tale of faith and hope during one of history’s darkest periods. (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin — Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in late 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion. Violet Lindstrom wants to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment and refreshments for the men of the 357th in the base Aeroclub and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement. Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near. And secrets can’t stay buried forever. (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])
Mystery:
The Watch On the Fencepost by Kay DiBianca — In a deserted park on a cold winter day, twenty-seven-year-old Kathryn Frasier discovers a gold watch on a fencepost, and she has an ominous sense that it was deliberately left for her to find. But when she identifies the owner of the watch, she uncovers a dark family secret and a suspicion that her parents’ recent deaths may not have been an accident. (Cozy Mystery from CrossLink Christian Publishing)
Coffee Club Mysteries by Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, and Janice Thompson — The coffee shop on the corner of First and Main in Oak Grove, Kansas, seems to attract a series of mysterious events. Or perhaps it is the six women who frequent the shop for book club who are the magnets for trouble. . . . Morgan Butler, owner of the Coffee Perk, finds a project worker hanged at her shop. Evelyn Kliff discovers a church meal organizer dead. Harper Daggett is being stalked for an antique jade owl she bought. Baker Jeanine Gransbury’s charity event money goes missing. Jo Anderson shares hazelnut coffee creamer, sending a man into anaphylaxis shock. Penny Parson finds a gun in one of her beehives. Join them as they unravel six unexplained events that have the potential to ruin business and spoil friendships if not handled with care. (Cozy Mystery from Barbour Publishing)
The Sleuth’s Dilemma by Kimberly Rose Johnson — A high school English teacher’s life is turned upside down when she becomes the object of someone’s anger. (Romantic Mystery from Mountain Brook Ink)
Romantic Suspense:
Restoration of the Heart by June Foster — Leaving his beautiful fiancé’s world of alcohol, parties, and nights at her apartment, Luke Chamberlain returns to his Christian values, rededicates his life to the Lord, and vows never to fall into the lifestyle again. When the state of Idaho’s Tourism Department offers his construction company the contract to renovate Silver Cliff, an 1890’s silver mining ghost town, he accepts. Janie Littleton, project historian at the restoration of Silver Cliff, Idaho–an 1890’s silver mining ghost town–believes no man would find her attractive, with her extra pounds, eye glasses, and mousy brown hair. So when contractor Luke Chamberlain shows an interest in her, she doubts his sincerity. But strange turns to worse when someone claiming to be the miner who founded Silver Cliff in 1890 intimidates her with frightening midnight visits. Can Luke convince Janie he’s in love with the godly woman she is? Can Janie hold onto her faith as she’s harassed by frightening appearances of old Ezra Barclay who died a hundred years ago? (Romantic Suspense from Forget Me Not Romance)
Innocence Denied by Mike Garrett — Derrick Walton, to atone for past sins, helps an Arizona socialite hide out in Alabama while a nation-wide manhunt ensues. Can he help Larissa see the need for her soul’s salvation in time? (Romantic Suspense from CrossLink Publishing)
Speculative:
The Soul Searcher by Erin R. Howard — Elnora’s parents gave her one rule: Stay hidden away at all costs. Elnora Scott is used to her survival depending on the decisions of others. Locked away in her safe house, it is easy to follow her parents’ dying wishes until an angel, demon, and seer show up on her doorstep. Now, waking up in a dirty cell, she wishes she would have gone with them when she had the chance, because the very ones who unknowingly ushered the kidnapper to her location may be the only ones who can save her now. When Thea learns that Elnora may be in danger, she doesn’t hesitate to go find her. Thea thought stepping through the portal would be her greatest obstacle, but it only reveals a more sinister threat. (Urban Fantasy from Mantle Rock Publishing)
Women’s Fiction:
A Vow to Cherish by Deborah Raney — When his precious wife receives a devastating diagnosis, John Brighton feels his world has fallen apart. As Ellen slips away from him day by day, their love is tested as never before. Desperately needing someone to confide in, John meets Julia Sinclair, a young widow who seems to understand his pain as no one else can. Torn between doing what he knows to be right and what his heart tells him surely can’t be wrong, John soon discovers that the heart cannot be trusted where true love is concerned. (Women’s Fiction from Raney Day Press)
Young Adult:
You’re Amazing by Julie Arduini and Hannah Arduini – Middle schooler Jazmin’s a natural at dance until a series of changes make her wonder if she should even keep up with her favorite hobby. Lena’s a mom with young children overwhelmed with her schedule when a woman remarks that what Lena does isn’t even important. Both Jazmin and Lena belong to Linked, a mentoring ministry where all ages encourage each other and build friendships. Can these two surrender the lies they are believing and realize they are amazing? (Young Adult from Surrendered Scribe Media)
