Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

Just in time for the beginning of summer is Karen Witemeyer's Stealing the Preacher. Set in 1885 Texas, the book has a delightful start as Crockett Archer is forced from a train at gun point on his way to interview for a preaching position in order to fulfill a birthday wish. Surely this wasn't part of God's plan for his life.

Joanna Robbins has been praying for a preacher to come and minister to the needs of her community and bring life back into the church that has been abandoned. Maybe in the process a man of God can also help her to accomplish the promise she made to her mother. If only she can convince Crockett that God may have different plans in mind for him.

I always enjoy reading Karen's books, and Stealing the Preacher was no exception. If you need a break from the heat of the summer, this book will provide the enjoyment you need.

This book was provided free for review by the author and Bethany House Publishers.

A Single Act of Obedience - Part One

An impression. A prompting. A thought. A single step of faith. An act of obedience. As Christians, we often have them throughout the day. Times where we feel God (the Holy Spirit) is prompting us to do something. It could be as simple as expressing a word of encouragement, praying for someone, moving in a direction He is showing you to go. It can be a reminder to call someone.

I often have said to the ladies in the Bible study I lead that the more you obey those prompts from the Holy Spirit, the more He has to show you. Obey when He calls to you.

I had such an opportunity a week ago. I felt prompted to ask a question concerning a contest that was held just days before. I figured it was closed since it was to take place over the weekend and that entries were no longer accepted, but I couldn't get past the feeling that I still needed to ask.

The answer came back, yes the contest was closed, but the blogger was open to still taking a look at my writing pitch. I debated and prayed and almost didn't send back what was requested. But I couldn't deny the overwhelming sense to follow through.

Only God knew that my single act of obedience would provide so much more. He used that step of faith and multiplied it to something I never imagined. Because of following the prompt to send an email God provided a writing goal that I've had for quite some time.

Only God...


Here's the rest of the story.
http://shininggodslightthroughhistory.blogspot.com/2013/05/waves-of-grace-single-act-of-obedience.html

Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd

Sandra Byrd's Roses Have Thorns tells the tale of seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg. This plucky young Swedish woman leaves her homeland to set sail for England in 1565 realizing the unlikelihood of ever seeing her loved ones again. Running away from the knowledge that her fiance has fallen in love with her sister, she welcomes the unknown adventure.

Once in England, her circumstances change allowing Elin to serve in the court of Queen Elizabeth. In an era of uncertain times, political unrest, and never knowing who one can trust, the heroine strives toward a close relationship with the monarch.

Sandra's love for the time period and her interest in detailing the events shines through in each scene. Kudos for a well written and meticulous novel.

This book was provided free for review by the author and Howard Books.

Whispers on the Prairie by Vickie McDonough

Whispers on the Prairie by Vickie McDonough tells the saga of young, Sarah Marshall, who has no intention of ever leaving her home in Chicago. Raised by her uncle and aunt, she finds herself in a position of accompanying them for a short time on a wagon train with every intention to return to her beloved city.

Circumstances and obstacles arise causing Sarah to delay her plans. Instead she finds herself thrown into a situation of staying at the Harpers' Stage Stop with her aunt. Three eligible Harper men are eager to persuade her to find a reason to stay in Kansas.

Whispers on the Prairie is the first book in the Pioneer Promises series by Vickie McDonough (due out in July 2013) and is sure to please readers.


This book was provided free for review by the author and Whitaker House Publishers.

Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings

Molly Lovelace is in love with a penniless wrangler, only her well-to-do parents don't approve of their match. She longs for a life without concerns, but unfortunately Bailey Garner isn't the man to fill that role, despite her affection for him.

When an interesting, wealthy stranger stirs her interest, will she follow after wealth and prestige or find predilection in the simple, home-spun love of a good man?

Love in the Balance is not your typical 'formula' romance novel. It is a tale of love, loss, poor choices, mercy, redemption and second chances.

This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Info

About Love in the Balance:    Handsome Cowboy or Debonair Tycoon. How's a Girl to Choose? Molly Lovelace dreams of a life without cares in Lockhart, Texas. She also dreams of handsome wrangler Bailey Garner, her ardent but inconsistent beau. The problem is, with Bailey's poor prospects, she just can't fit the two dreams together. Then mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont sweeps into town-and her life-and for the first time Molly wonders if she's met the man who can give her everything. But he won't be in Lockhart long and while it certainly seems like he talks about their glorious future together, she can't quite get Bailey out of her mind. What's a girl to do with all these decisions when love is in the balance?    Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/iTdiA             Meet Regina:      Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.    Find out more about Regina at  http://www.reginajennings.com/.

Landing page: 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/rjennings

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

Readers will be swept away in Mary Connealy's latest series about Trouble in Texas. In book one, Ruthy MacNeil longs for an opportunity to be separated from the overbearing family who took her in after her parent's death, so she isn't heart broken when she is swept away from their wagon train in a sudden flash flood.

Luke Stone's one mission is to reclaim his family's stolen ranch and find restitution for his father's unexpected death. What he hadn't planned on was rescuing a woman on the banks of a river on his way home. He feels obligated to help Ruthy and take her with him since there is no other help nearby. What he hadn't counted on was finding himself drawn to the energetic, hardworking woman as he tries to organize a range war.

Mary's book is one that readers will have a hard time putting down as they are swept away to Texas in 1868. It's a book I highly recommend.

This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Info

About Swept Away:    When a cowboy focused on revenge encounters a woman determined to distract him, there's going to be trouble in Texas! Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't terribly upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future. Luke is on a mission to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men currently on the property won't let it go without a fight. Luke plans to meet up with friends who will help him take back the land, and since he can't just leave Ruthy in the middle of nowhere, she's going to have to go with him. But the more time Luke spends around the hardworking young woman, the more he finds himself thinking of things besides revenge. Will Ruthy convince him to give up his destructive path and be swept away by love?    Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/iwbMo            Meet Mary:      Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters. Find out more about Mary at http://maryconnealy.com/.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy 

God's Touch

I'm always amazed at the many ways and times God touches our hearts, especially when we ask Him to do so. I have had the wonderful privilege of attending a writer's conference/residency in Manitou Springs, CO the past few days. There are only about 20 of us in attendance, allowing us the opportunity to get to know each other better. We are learning many things about the writing world. I appreciate all the information I have been learning and know it will be incorporated into my future writing career. But the times where God has touched my heart the most was through one of the devotional times and one of the speakers. I appreciate all the practical knowledge I've learned, but I'm even more thankful for God's touch and reminder of His love.

God continues to remind me that He's the one who has put me on this journey, and I can trust Him to lead me where He wants me to go.

I praise God for caring about us so much that He chooses to speak to our hearts - to uplift and encourage us, to show us the direction He desires for us to go. Or perhaps it's to make a change or go on a different path. He desires for us to seek Him so we can know His ways and share the hope we have with others.

When was the last time you experienced a touch from God? Is He asking you to do something today that will help show someone else about His love?

On Our Own Terms

I was feeding my son's guinea pig a few moments ago. She's an antisocial pet, except with my youngest. Whenever he holds her, she loves to snuggle up next to him, or crawl in the pocket of his robe. She definitely has a connection with him. So when I went to feed her, she did what she typically does---runs and hides in her cage, trying to avoid my touch.

Since my son wasn't here to love on her, I made a point of petting and talking to her. She tolerated it, but I could tell she wasn't liking it one bit. As soon as I closed the door to her cage, she took one sniff of her food and then ran to the wire frame, standing on her hind legs, wanting attention. She desired affection on her own terms.

Her actions reminded me so much of how we often tend to be in our Christan life. We want things our own way, and on our own conditions. We want God to give us patience, and to do it right NOW. We desire to be changed, but then don't enjoy the trials we face to bring about that change. We need to turn our eyes to the Lord, and seek out His terms instead of demanding our own. Only then will we truly learn what He has for us.

Encouragement

I was working on cleaning off my desk before I start revisions on a writing project. I had a few reasons for my desire to do this household chore. One, I think better when I have a clean desk. Two, I was trying to find where I had written a scripture that I wanted to incorporate in my changes to my novel. Three, I was procrastinating a bit after pouring my heart and soul into a project only to have it not quite meet standards. Satan was doing his best to discourage me, and succeeding in some areas.

But then, my dear son sent me some encouragement. He didn't realize I was floundering. The short video he sent me, made me smile, laugh, and even cry. Most importantly though, it reminded me to keep on the race, and push toward the areas where I believe God is calling me.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Is there someone in your life that needs encouragement today? What can you do to share God's hope and love with them?

And in case you are interested, here's the video my son sent to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o
 

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

Julie Klassen weaves an amusing tale of Emma Smallwood in The Tutor's Daughter. Set in England in 1817, Emma is a stickler for details. Perhaps it comes as a result of being an only child, and lone female in her father's Academy for young men. But after the death of Emma's mother, her father no longer has interest in running the school. To Emma's surprise, he agrees to be a private tutor for a baronet's two sons. She has mixed feelings since they will need to live at the employer's estate, and she'll be in close contact with the two older sons - Phillip and Henry Weston, former students at her father's academy. Thoughts of Phillip make Emma's heart pound with excitement, while musings of Henry only bring about anger and annoyance.

The novel is riddled with mystery and suspicious acts. It's set against the backdrop of the coast of Cornwall during times of shipwreck and danger.

I especially enjoyed the fastidiousness of young Emma and her delight in making detailed lists, from books she wanted to read, to observations of those she came in contact. Julie Klassen has written a delightful book, which I highly recommend.

This book was provided free for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Book Info

About The Tutor's Daughter:    Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast-a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions-where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits. Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes? The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems-and secrets-of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her... When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/gI7qC    

 

Meet Julie:  

  

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. 

 

Find out more about Julie at http://www.julieklassen.com/. 

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Landing page:    http://litfusegroup.com/author/JKlassen