Julie Arduini's Blog, page 83

Don’t Miss This: An Encore for Estelle by Kimberly Rose Johnson

 

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Book Blurb:

The theater ties them together but a painful past could pull them apart.

 

At a crossroads, former movie star Estelle Rogers, returns to the place that set her life on a new course. Although she expects a rough reception she is pleasantly surprised and quickly settles into her new position at the local children’s theater. But her road back to acting isn’t as smooth as she would like.

 

Tragedy brought Blake Price to Oak Knoll, Oregon, but it’s love that keeps him there. His late wife and daughter loved acting, and he owes it to them to honor their memory with the children’s theater, but his new assistant is making changes he isn’t ready for both at the theater and in his heart. Can he forgive himself and move forward, or will he forever be tied to the biggest mistake of his life?

 

Hook: A former A-list actress seeks to redeem herself in the most unlikely of places—a children’s theater. The writer/director didn’t anticipate a famous actress would ever show interest in his musical much less him. Will their pasts pull them apart or join them together?

 

Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing.

She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website at: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/index.html

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh

Amazon Follow: https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Rose-Johnson/e/B00K10CR6E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1435862403&sr=1-2-ent

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Encore-Estelle-Melodies-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B071Z3C5SG

 

Tags:  An Encore for Estelle, author, Don't Miss This: An Encore for Estelle, fiction, Julie Arduini, Kimberly Rose Johnson, New Release, The Twelve




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 Sabbath Sunday: That Brilliant Sun    Thankful for the Things That Are Easy to Take for Granted by Linda Maran  Book Review: Yes or No by Jeff Shinabarger  Walk Through Holy Week with Odyssey Adventure ClubCopyright © Julie Arduini [Don't Miss This: An Encore for Estelle by Kimberly Rose Johnson], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Stuck in the Middle with No Plan B

Hi, everyone!

I’m offering a short post to let you know I have two guest posts today that I believe you would enjoy.

When There’s No Plan B is my guest post over at Chirp and Chatter with Delia Latham.

Her site if offering a giveaway regarding her summer promotion, so make sure you read all about that, too!

***

It’s also my rotation at Inspy Romance, and this picture intrigues me every time I see it. Those animals are swimming in that gunk and it just gets me. I used that picture to talk about the writing process and the middle. I sure do struggle with that!

Read STUCK IN THE MIDDLE here!

***

Remember, to celebrate ENGAGED releasing the 26th, I am giving newsletter subscribers a FREE e-Read of Book 1, ENTANGLED!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

 

Tags:  Chirp and Chatter, Delia Latham, engaged, Inspy Romance, Julie Arduini, Stuck in the Middle with No Plan B




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 WFW: Do I Need to Add Anything More? Yes...  Chuck E. Cheese and the Last Days  Moonstone Secrets by Dawn V. Cahill  New Kindle or Echo? ENTRUSTED Free eBook December 26-28  Character Confession: You'll Know Them by their FruitCopyright © Julie Arduini [Stuck in the Middle with No Plan B], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Engaged #Giveaway Opportunity!

It’s been quiet in this corner for a lot of reasons.

End of school year madness. Why does it surprise me every year?
Travel
Loss of a dear, dear friend
Tom’s travel schedule
Co leading a small group study with Tom
Oh, and I’m releasing ENGAGED this month!

Engaged #Giveaway Opportunity!

ENGAGED is the third book in the Surrendering Time Series. ENTRUSTED was about surrendering the present. ENTANGLED was about surrendering the past. ENGAGED? You guessed it. Surrendering the future.

I loved ENTRUSTED, but the process was a challenge because it was new and I was full of doubt. I did not love ENTANGLED. The story has been a favorite with readers, but I couldn’t relate to Carla, so it made the writing process difficult. I struggled more with doubt. The second book syndrome is real.

ENGAGED has been fun to write. It brings back some humor and sass that I had in ENTRUSTED and carries a theme I know too well. Surrendering your dreams for God’s plans.

I’ll share more as time is closer, but for now, there is a chance for one US winner to win a signed copy of ENGAGED.

Here’s how:

Visit Patti’s Porch and leave a comment on the post. Of course, you need to read the post. It’s a good story, and all true. I’ll never forget how that all came together. Only God. 

***
If you aren’t a newsletter subscriber, now is the time! I am working this weekend on making ENTRUSTED a free gift to newsletter subscribers as a celebration of ENGAGED. Subscribe HERE!


Tags:  Amazon, contemporary romance, dreams, engaged, Engaged #Giveaway Opportunity, God's plan, June 2017, New Release, Patti Shene, Patti's Porch, Second Chances




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 Book Review: The Things We Knew  Book Review: The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets  COTT: Last Clash of 2012  You're Invited: Share Your Surrender Story in 2016.  Sabbath Sunday: Be a FireworkCopyright © Julie Arduini [Engaged #Giveaway Opportunity!], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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ACFW: June New Fiction Releases

Julie’s Note: Yes, it’s true! My third book in The Surrendering Time Series, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, will be out this month! If you missed ENTRUSTED or ENTANGLED, catch up now!

If you live in NE Ohio or Western PA, I will be hosting a book club for ENGAGED in Youngstown, OH Tuesday nights, August/September. Contact me for details.

 

June 2017 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

Engaged by Julie Arduini — Trish Maxwell returns to Speculator Falls with egg on her face and apologies to make as she tries to determine what’s next, especially when around paramedic Wayne Peterson. (Contemporary Romance from Surrendered Scribe Media)

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter — When Noah and Josephine Mitchell discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down. But when Josephine drives out to Noah’s North Georgia cottage to deliver the corrected papers, they are trapped there during a snowstorm. Things couldn’t get worse…until they are forced out into the storm and must rely on one another to survive. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Zondervan])

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac — Would you give up everything for a life you hate with the person you love? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

An Encore for Estelle by Kimberly Rose Johnson — A former A-list actress seeks to redeem herself in the most unlikely of places—a children’s theater. The writer/director didn’t anticipate a famous actress would ever show interest in his musical much less him. Will their pasts pull them apart or join them together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

The Cowboy’s Baby Blessing by Deb Kastner — When Ex-soldier Seth Howell suddenly becomes guardian of a two-year-old, he needs Rachel Perez’s help. Though she is gun-shy about relationships, this handsome cowboy and his adorable son break through. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Finding Love by Toni Shiloh — Delaney Jones is putting her life back together after widowhood when in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. Luke had a part in the death of Delaney’s husband–will his secrets widen the gulf in their relationship or will he finally find absolution? (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit)

Cozy Mystery:

The Copper Box by Suzanne Bratcher — When antiques expert Marty Greenlaw comes to Jerome, Arizona to search for a copper box she believes will unlock the secrets of her past, deadly accidents begin to happen: someone else wants the copper box, someone willing to kill for it. (Cozy Mystery from Mantle Rock Publishing)

General Contemporary:

Coming Home – A Tiny House Collection by Yvonne Anderson, Michael Ehret, Kimberli S. McKay, Pamela S. Meyers, Ane Mulligan, Chandra Lynn Smith, Linda W. Yezak — Tiny houses are all the rage these days, but what can you do with something so small? Here are seven stories about people chasing their dreams, making fresh starts, finding love, stumbling upon forgiveness, and embarking upon new adventures in tiny houses. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Katie’s Quest by Lee Carver — Katie Dennis hopes for fulfillment as a single missionary nurse after the death of her fiancé. She trusts God for a new direction, but she’ll never fall for a pilot again. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

 

A Sweetwater River Romance by Misty M. Beller — Rocky Ridge Stage Stop Manager Ezra Reid is put in a difficult situation when two ladies show up on his remote doorstep seeking refuge, one of them being Tori Boyd, the mysterious correspondence partner writing him letters for over a year now. Tori refuses the most proper solution to their circumstance—marriage. But when danger follows, it will take a lot more than luck to ensure Ezra’s heart is the sole casualty. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin — In German-occupied Brussels, a WWI nurse struggles to keep two life-threatening secrets. She’s in league with the British Secret Service, and she’s harboring a wounded British pilot. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection by Susan Page Davis, Susanne Dietze, Darlene Franklin, Patty Smith Hall, Cynthia Hickey, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Gina Welborn — Meet seven of Turtle Springs, Kansas’, finest women who are determined to revive their small town after the War Between the States took most of its men. . .and didn’t return them. The ladies decide to advertise for husbands and devise a plan for weeding out the riff raff. But how can they make the best practical choices when their hearts cry out to be loved? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Captain’s Daughter by Jennifer Delamere — When a series of circumstances beyond her control leave Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater that is presenting the most popular show in London. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage. A hand injury during a skirmish in India has forced Nate Moran out of the army until he recovers. Filling his time at a stable of horses for hire in London, he has also spent the past two months working nights as a stagehand, filling in for his injured brother. Although he’s glad he can help his family through a tough time, he is counting the days until he can rejoin his regiment. London holds bitter memories for him that he is anxious to escape. But then he meets the beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate can’t wait to leave behind. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M. Dickson — Set in WWII, an Irish woman must choose between her heart and her freedom when she finds a downed combatant pilot. (Historical Romance from Waterfall Press)

Mail Order Sweetheart by Christine Johnson — Singer Fiona O’Keefe must make a wealthy match to support her orphaned niece. Musically talented Sawyer Evans is a self-made, but not wealthy, sawmill-manager. Unwilling to live off his father’s railroad fortune, can Sawyer prove to Fiona he’s the man she needs when she’s already determined to mail-order a rich husband? (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Freedom’s Price by Christine Johnson — On a quest to find her mother’s family in Louisiana, Englishwoman Catherine Haynes enlists a dashing Key West man seeking revenge for his own family. When an incredible secret comes to light, she and Tom will face a choice. Can they relinquish their dreams to step forward in faith? (Historical Romance from Revell [Baker])

Sutter’s Landing by Betty Thomason Owens — Still reeling from tragic losses, Connie and Annabelle Cross face life with their signature humor and grace, until fresh hope arrives on their doorstep. (Historical Romance from Write Integrity Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Hidden Legacy by Lynn Huggins Blackburn — When someone threatens the baby she’s adopting, Caroline Harrison must rely on Detective Jason Drake, the man who once broke her heart, to figure out why. If Jason wants a chance at a future with with Caroline and her son, he’ll first have to help them outrun a hit man. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Weaver’s Needle by Robin Caroll — Pitted against each other to recover a map to the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, two recovery specialists follow the trail to Arizona. But someone doesn’t want them to find the map. . .or the mine. They must work together despite their mistrust and growing attraction, to save themselves. (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing)

Speculative:

The Revisionary by Kristen Hogrefe — Revisionary or Rogue? To rescue her brother, Portia might have to break every rule in the book she set out to rewrite. (Speculative from Write Integrity Press)

Women’s Contemporary:

Redemption’s Whisper by Kathleen Friesen — Desperate to escape her past, a suicidal young woman flies from Toronto to a Saskatoon pastor’s home, the only people who may be able to help her. If only someone could love her, in spite of all she’s done. On the flight, she meets a young man torn between seeking affirmation in the big city and helping his parents in Saskatoon. Can these two troubled souls gain the peace they need—and in the process, find love? (Women’s Contemporary from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Young Adult:

All Things Now Living by Rondi Bauer Olson — Her whole life Amy has been taught the people of New Lithisle deserve to die, but when she falls for Daniel, she determines to save him. (Young Adult from Written World Communications)

Tags:  A Sweetwater River Romance, ACFW, All Things Now Living, An Encore for Estelle, Betty Thomason Owens, Christine Johnson, Coming Home---A Tiny House Collection, contemporary romance, Deb Kastner, Denise Hunter, engaged, Fiction Finder, Finding Love, Freedom's Price, Grounded Hearts, Hidden Legacy, High as the Heavens, Jeanne M. Dickson, Jennifer Delamere, Julie Arduini, June releases, Kara Isaac, Kate Breslin, Kathleen Friesen, Katie's Quest, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Kristen Hogrefe, Lee Carver, Lynn Huggins Blackburn, Mail Order Sweetheart, Misty M. Beller, Redemption's Whisper, Robin Caroll, Rondi Bauer Olson, Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands, Sutter's Landing, Suzanne Bratcher, Sweetbriar Cottage, The Captain's Daughter, The Copper Box, The Cowboy's Baby Blessing, The Revisionary, Then There was You, Toni Shiloh, Weaver's Needle




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 Transformation: Relationships Need Change by Toni Shiloh  Book Review: Destiny by Tony Evans  Book Review: Intertwined by Jennifer Slattery  iBloom Black Friday Sale  COTT: Five Days in Skye by Carla LaureanoCopyright © Julie Arduini [ACFW: June New Fiction Releases], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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BOOK REVIEW: Driver Confessional by David L. Winters

Driver Confessional

Antonio, a law student and part-time  ride-share driver, cruises the streets of Washington, D.C. for his next fare. His gentle manner and Italian good looks lead many to confess more than they intended. On a particularly dark night, a mysterious woman bares her soul and throws Antonio into a world of secrets. With his police officer brother and close circle of friends, he must solve a murder and thwart international terrorists before its too late.

 

I love a creative premise. With Uber and Lyft as a major form of transportation in metropolitan areas, I wondered how long it would be before they would take place in fiction. DRIVER CONFESSIONAL uses the ride-share premise and wields a journey through DC that includes mystery, murder, and international intrigue. Antonio is a law student and driver who isn’t looking for trouble when he picks up his fares, but he finds it.

I loved the premise of this book and I wanted to love it. I had trouble getting into the book, and I believe more editing might have been helpful. The idea is there, but the follow-through just wasn’t there for me.

PURCHASE DRIVER CONFESSIONAL HERE.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Tags:  book review, Book Review: Driver Confessional by David L. Winters, driver, Julie Arduini, Lyft, mystery, rider share, suspense, Uber, Washington DC




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 Fifty Shades of Controversy over Fifty Shades of Grey  Week of Questions---What's Your Ideal Location?  Saturday Confession: The Parenthood Finale Headache    Love Your Spouse Challenge, Day 5Copyright © Julie Arduini [BOOK REVIEW: Driver Confessional by David L. Winters], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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CD REVIEW: Out of the Dark by Mandisa #GIVEAWAY

Out of the Dark by Mandisa

Mandisa wrote her song “Overcomer” in 2013 to encourage her close friend Kisha, who was battling breast cancer. Mandisa really believed and prayed that God was going to heal her, but when Kisha went to be with Jesus in 2014, Mandisa’s foundation was shaken in a way she never expected. She fell into a deep pit of depression for close to 3 years, shutting out her friends, family and the rest of the world. Mandisa believes if she had kept going down that road she was on, she would not be here today… but God stepped in and lifted her out of that pit by using her close friends to communicate their love for her and God’s love for her. This album is Mandisa’s way of letting her fans into her story – it’s called ‘Out Of The Dark’ because that is exactly where God lifted her out of!

You can watch her talk openly about this on Good Morning America last week here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mandisa-opens-overcoming-depression-47020463

The first track on Mandisa’s newest CD, OUT OF THE DARK, is a voicemail collage, and the messages set the tone for the journey Mandisa has been on since her megahit, “Overcomer.” By her own admission, the loss of a dear friend, her inspiration for the song, “Overcomer,” took her to a place so dark she isolated herself. Refused visits and calls. Re gained all the weight she had lost. Fought suicidal thoughts. With God’s love and guidance, Mandisa is back and her music is stronger for it.

Right from “I’m Still Here,” there’s something in her voice that conveys the strength in Him she’s gaining from her depression and grief. I don’t know how to explain it, a literal maturity that emanates, and I’m not saying it was something lacking in her before. There’s just something relatable in her words and voice that sends the message she’s not the same as she was. It wasn’t easy, it still isn’t. But God’s there.

This CD is perfect timing and for anyone fighting grief or questioning God, OUT OF THE DARK is a must listen. There are reflective songs and upbeat ones. Each song has a message, and by the end I realized as Mandisa emerges from the dark, she is now the overcomer.

This was an encouragement and blessing to listen to, and I highly recommend it.

YOU have a chance to win a copy! Leave a comment on this post or on social media on why you would like this CD and I will choose ONE US winner. Please leave a way for me to contact you when you leave a comment or I will choose an alternate.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Story Behind The Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df27myDpm1c

Acoustic Video for “Unfinished”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQFpXcvFI0A

To purchase “OUT OF THE DARK,” CLICK HERE.

Tags:  American Idol, CD REVIEW: Out of the Dark by Mandisa, Christian singer, depression, encouragement, FlyBy Promotions, giveaway, grief, Julie Arduini, Mandisa, Out of the Dark, overcomer, Propeller




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 Book Review: It Had to be You by Susan May Warren  Saturday Confession: My Marriage Reminder Courtesy of Donnie Love Jenny  OAC: Odyssey Adventure Club Printable Family Craft  Featured Video of the Week: Healing Love by Laura V. Hilton  Clash of the Titles (COTT)Winner's Announcement by April W. GardnerCopyright © Julie Arduini [CD REVIEW: Out of the Dark by Mandisa #GIVEAWAY], All Right Reserved. 2017.

The post CD REVIEW: Out of the Dark by Mandisa #GIVEAWAY appeared first on Julie Arduini.

BOOK REVIEW: The Good Book by Deron Spoo

The Good Book by Deron Spoo

The Good Book offers a user-friendly guide to the Bible’s biggest ideas. A chapter from the Bible accompanies each chapter of the book, which helps readers understand the context and content of the Scripture passages in a way that can open the whole Bible.

 

Designed as a forty-day journey through forty key chapters of the Bible, The Good Book will appeal to those who already love and read the Bible regularly as well as to those who are just beginning their Christian journey.

 

The Good Book:

is a great evangelism tool for explaining the major themes of Scripture to those who want to know more about God, Jesus, and the core beliefs of Christianity;
gives new believers an overview of the Bible and lays a framework to help them understand Scripture passages;
helps longtime Christians rediscover the basic themes of Scripture and experience these truths in a new way; and
encourages Scriptural literacy as it pushes readers to read both one chapter of the book and one chapter of the Bible each day for forty days.

The Good Book is great for individuals, and it can also be used by small groups in an eight-week church-wide program or a forty-week journey that focuses on one Bible chapter each week. The Good Book will help people understand and live by the transformative truths of the Bible.

THE GOOD BOOK by Deron Spoo is a 40 day journey that can help you know the Bible if it is new for you, or, learn deeper truths and grow closer to God. There is a Bible story followed by contemporary explanations and examples that help understand the Bible better. I loved this book. I thought going in it might be geared more for someone who is new to the Bible and that I might “know” everything. I loved the way the author gave further commentary and information, especially the history and personal examples.

There were things that enhanced each story without taking away the holiness of the Bible or its truths. One example that I still remember weeks after finishing is about integrity. The story was about the Statue of Liberty. Although I knew it was made in France and shipped over, I never thought about when it was assembled, planes weren’t around. When they were, pilots noted when they flew over the Statue that the top of the statue was just as ornate as any other part that was visible to people from the beginning. What an example of integrity. That really stood out to me.

That’s just one tidbit filled in a book that isn’t just a good book, it’s a great one. Check it out today!

PURCHASE THE GOOD BOOK HERE

I received THE GOOD BOOK from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed are my own.


Tags:  Bible, book review, Book Review: The Good Book by Deron Spoo, Deron Spoo, integrity, Julie Arduini, Statue of Liberty




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 Book Review: Pulling Back the Shades: Erotica, Intimacy, and the Longings of a Woman's Heart by Dannah Gresh and Dr. Juli Slattery  Thankful for Perspective  When You're One in a Million  Video of the Week: Dark Biology by Bonnie Doran  iBloom Life and Business Planner Available as FREE August SampleCopyright © Julie Arduini [BOOK REVIEW: The Good Book by Deron Spoo], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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My Affair Mentality Moment—Engaged Update

It’s been TOO long since I’ve checked in and said hello, and I hate it. This blog is my baby, and I miss it when I’m not personally posting. I thought I’d give you an update on my writing and the “Oh-oh” moment I had.

My Affair Mentality Moment came while finishing Engaged.

ENGAGED is set to release next month and I’m excited. This is the third story in my Surrendering Time series, and it’s Trish’s turn. Trish Maxwell was the bad girl in ENTRUSTED, but she’s back in Speculator Falls with egg on her face and a lot of apologies to make. Her dream job in NYC was a nightmare and now she’s living with her parents working at her mom’s department store. Her hometown starts growing on her, especially after she meets paramedic Wayne Peterson. Yet everywhere she seems to go, people want to know what her plan is. Will she stay in town? Go back to New York City, or something else?

This story has been easier to write than ENTANGLED, I think because I can relate more to Trish than Carla. However, the closer I got to the end, the more my mind drifted to what’s next. Not only did a six book series drop from heaven onto my lap, but then another idea to write a series with my teen daughter came to mind for the summer.

I’ve been filled with plot ideas, characters. Themes. Character traits. Names. Title ideas. So much new to work through that the thought of going back to the old had me dragging my feet a bit. I reached a place where I had to press pause on the new ideas and put all my attention on ENGAGED.

It was then I realized that’s an affair mentality. I’ve seen it play out on TV, country music, and sadly, real life. Marriage that feels lonely, selfish, distant, too comfortable, whatever—and the new person comes around. They say the right things. Listen. Spend time. Show affection. And the new person starts to be on the front burner. The spouse is old news, it’s too late as far as the drifting spouse is concerned, and sparks become a forest fire.

Okay, so my writing wandering isn’t quite the same as a marital affair, but the comparison was enough to send me back to ENGAGED and the current work before I move on.

That’s my update. How about you? What’s new?

***

At the end of the month I will be sharing ENTRUSTED with newsletter subscribers to prepare them for ENGAGED. If you’d like a monthly update with giveaways, author updates, recipes, book reviews and more, subscribe for free at juliearduini.com. Make sure to tell a reader!

 

Tags:  author, Christian romance, coming home, contemporary romance, engaged, Entangled, Entrusted, future, Julie Arduini, My Affair Mentality, Surrendering Time, writing update




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 Sabbath Sunday: Like God Likes You  Thankful for Splickety  My Upstate NY Memories of September 11th  COTT:Naomi Dawn Musch Wins July New Release Clash with the Black Rose  Character Confession: Like Drinking an Almond Joy Every DayCopyright © Julie Arduini [My Affair Mentality Moment---Engaged Update], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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Book Review: Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist

In this heart-warming picture book designed for girls, author Glenys Nellist tells the inspiring stories of incredible women in the Bible. With beautiful illustrations by Rachel Clowes and sweet lift-the-flap envelopes, each story delivers a special message for children to open as they read their own personal love letters from God. Full of warmth and love, this picture book will fill girls’ hearts with the wonder of the Lord. The stories of Eve, Miriam, Esther, Mary, and many more will delight children and remind them of the bond they can share with God, just like the women of the Bible.

This is a colorful book for girls ages 4-8 that features Bible stories that will help them learn about the Bible, important women who are part of “His-Story,” and draw closer to God. The stories are more for the elementary age, but it makes for a good nighttime routine where a parent could read to the girl.

The illustrations are colorful and feminine, very attractive for a little girl. What sets  the book apart is each story has an envelope flap that the girl can open. It is a letter that can be addressed to the reader, and it is an encouragement from God. Just reading it for myself was a special experience. I could see where a little girl would see her name (if you filled it in ahead of time) and be excited to see what God has to say to her.

I think this is a great book for any girl’s library. If they are the younger side, they will appreciate being read to and looking at the pictures. For the older girls, the stories they can read themselves and the letters from God make this is a book they won’t forget.

I definitely recommend LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD.

Purchase HERE

I received this book from the publisher and the review is my own honest opinion.

Tags:  Bible, Bible stories, book review, Book Review: Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist, children's bible stories, children's book, daughters, encouragement, girls, Glenys Nellist, Julie Arduini, love letters, Zondervan




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 Determined to be Thankful by Jennifer Slattery  Odyssey Adventure Club Celebrates First Birthday  From Transition to Justice: Year in Review  Sabbath Sunday: That Brilliant Sun  Entrusted: Interview with Kyle SwarthmoreCopyright © Julie Arduini [Book Review: Love Letters from God by Glenys Nellist], All Right Reserved. 2017.

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ACFW Fiction Finder: May 2017 New Releases

May 2017 New Releases

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

Contemporary Romance:

Amish Brides by Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber, Amy Lillard — Under bright blue skies, wedding bells ring–fulfilling sweet dreams, impossible wishes, and joyous new beginnings among these three new stories. (Contemporary Romance from Kensington Publishers)

Sprouts of Love by Valerie Comer — An overzealous community garden manager delivers more than the food bank manager can handle. Can love sprout amid the tsunami of vegetables? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Summer Dreams by Delia Latham — God’s love…reflected in the waters of the Pacific, and in the eyes of a young couple who walk its moonstone shores. (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Right Where We Belong by Deborah Raney, Melissa Tagg, Courtney Walsh — Three sweet stories of small-town romance by three tried-and-true authors. Whether in a quaint home bakery in Langhorne, Missouri, a cozy boho coffee shop in Maple Valley, Iowa, or a charming lakeside cottage in Sweethaven, Michigan, love grows best in small towns just like this! (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

A Spring of Weddings by Toni Shiloh and Melissa Wardwell — Two Spring wedding novellas, “A Proxy Wedding,” and “Hope Beyond Savannah.” (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

True to You by Becky Wade — Former Navy SEAL John Lawson hires genealogist Nora Bradford to help him to uncover the identity of his birth mother. As they work side-by-side, this pair of opposites begins to suspect that they just might be a perfect match. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Cozy Mystery:

What the Bishop Saw by Vannetta Chapman — A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly, Amish bachelor dead. Bishop Henry Lapp rushes to the scene, and he learns the fire was no accident. When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious, God-given gift—one he’s tried desperately to ignore all these years—to try and set the record straight. (Contemporary Romance from Harvest House Publishers)

General Contemporary:

A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal — The heart wrenching love story of a small town professional ballerina who dreams of dancing at the Met in New York, of the two men who love her and of the forbidden kiss that changed everything. (General Contemporary from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman — A poignant and relatable novel, Looking Glass Lies captures the war women wage against themselves, and the struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society’s unrelenting expectations. (General Contemporary from Waterfall Press)

Historical:

Blind Ambition by Carol Ashby — What began as a bored man’s decision to try a different road turns into an emotional and spiritual quest that changes the direction of his entire life. (Historical from Cerrillo Press)

Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette — A broken and bitter Canaanite woman dresses as a man to fight against the invading Hebrews, never expecting that she would live to be captured and married to one of her enemies, and certainly not to find love and healing among the very people who killed her family. (Biblical/Historical from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Historical Romance:

 

The Secret Admirer Romance Collection by Amanda Barratt, Lorraine Beatty, Molly Noble Bull, Anita Mae Draper, CJ Dunham, Jennifer Uhlarik, Becca Whitham, Kathleen Y’Barbo, Penny Zeller — Shy expressions of love lead to nine historical romances. Declaring one’s love can be hard–even risky–especially when faced with some of life’s greatest challenges. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickerson — She lost everything to an evil conspiracy . . . but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted. (Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho: Rebecca’s Plight by Susanne Dietze — It’s a mail-order disorder when newlyweds realize they’ve married the wrong partners with similar names. An annulment seems in order–and fast. But when the legalities take longer than expected, Rebecca Rice wonders if Tad Fordham wasn’t the right husband for her all along. . . . (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

A Love So True by Melissa Jagears — They begin with the best of intentions, but soon the complications pile up and Evelyn and David’s dreams look more unattainable every day. When the revelation of a long-held secret creates a seemingly insurmountable rift between them, can they trust God still has a good plan for them despite all that is stacked against them? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Road to Harmony by Sherry Kyle — When Jonas returns to Harmony, Elena’s heart is torn between her secret love, and the storeowner her parents hope she marries. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt — Can a young widow hide her secret shame from the Irish preacher bent on helping her survive? (Historical Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Romantic Suspense:

Fatal Mistake by Susan Sleeman — Each day could be her last…but not if he can help it. An FBI agent must protect the woman who can identify a terrorist bomber in bestselling author Susan Sleeman’s riveting romantic suspense novel. (Romantic Suspense from Faith Words [Hachette])

Tags:  ACFW, ACFW Fiction Finder: May 2017 New Releases, Fiction Finder, Julie Arduini, May 2017, new books, reading




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 Book Review: Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant  Valentine Memories: You Rock and I Got This On Sale  Guest Post: Reasons to Forgive and Not Hold Grudges  Don't Miss This: Paint the Storm by Dawn V. Cahill  Sabbath Sunday: New RoadsCopyright © Julie Arduini [ACFW Fiction Finder: May 2017 New Releases], All Right Reserved. 2017.

The post ACFW Fiction Finder: May 2017 New Releases appeared first on Julie Arduini.