That four-letter word

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lynettesowell

That four-letter word.

No, not that word.

It’s not dirty or profane, but it’s full of rottenness.

Envy.

I think most writers go through a time when they have to do battle with it head-on.

Envy just doesn’t play fair.

There you are, minding your own business in a bookstore, one of your favorite places in the world, and the latest books by not one, but more of your friends is on the shelf.

And yours? Ah, what book?

Even if said book exists, for some reason yours isn’t there with the others.

Some have said people who battle envy become that way because they’re not willing to work like the other person has for that splendid result. Not necessarily so.

Most days I can go through a bookstore just fine. Others, that old envy sneaks up and bumps into me.

Maybe you’re not an author, but you pop onto Facebook for a few moments and see photos of people’s vacations, perfect children who are doctors and lawyers and such, smiling friends squishing together in one massive selfie, or the latest craft project that would make Martha Stewart take notes. Or you read a gushing post about someone’s absolutely wonderful day. And gradually, what you have doesn’t seem as great. Or, if you’re going through a tough time, that time feels a whole lot tougher. You just want to breathe a little easier.

“Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.” – Jean Vanier

I don’t know who he was, but that’s pretty close to right-on. Many writers, though, if they know they can write—and write well—sometimes get the feeling of being passed by when it seems like others are moving forward. For me, when it arrives, it comes from frustration during those waiting times.

Envy comes from comparisons, too. If we’re not passed by, maybe it feels as if what others have is better, faster, prettier, newer, more special, you fill in the blank.

“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” – Harold Coffin

Ah, yes, envy involves counting and keeping score. Like toddlers, when we have a perfectly good blue car, we see another toddler with a red car. And that red car is THE car we want. Nothing’s wrong with blue. We want to hold onto the blue or throw it to the side and grab for the red.

Envy goes hand in hand with discontentment. They spin ’round and ’round together, each feeding off the other and becoming stronger.

“…envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galations 5:22

Oh, great. Envy is on the naughty list. As in, the really bad naughty list of works of the flesh. We feel pretty self-righteous when we skim over that naughty list and congratulate ourselves on how good we are if we don’t do those things. But that little envy thing…so sneaky.

“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” – Proverbs 14:30

Oh, envy. It can make us sick. Envy can make us feel like the victim, as if life or circumstances are just unfair. We believe we are the wounded ones, but we’re the ones hurting ourselves from the inside out.

Envy is a few steps from crossing the line to believing God has dropped the ball and He really doesn’t have our best interests at heart. Just like Eve. One little deception.

And it can start from one little stroll in the bookstore or one swipe of the screen on a tablet.

Lord, help us not to lose sight of what You’ve given us. Let us not tread a wilderness path coming from unthankfulness and ungratefulness. Help us know that what You have for us are good gifts, perfect gifts, in spite of our current trying or disappointing circumstances. – Amen.

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Speedy Days by Maureen Lang

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Maureen Lang

In recent years a few of my friends have retired. I’m not sure how it happened that I should already be at the point where people in my life are old enough to be in their “Golden Years” but here I am. Or rather, here we are.

One thing that seems universal to those who are now in control of how they spend their day is how fast they fill up. It’s incredibly easy to find something to do! Time never slows down, especially as we get older. I once asked my mother, then in her 70s, if time went slower after she and my dad were both home all the time. She just shook her head and said the days go faster than ever.

At the time I thought that sounded so impossible. How can time go fast for someone with health limitations and living a simple life of leisure? Well, I may not be in my 70s yet but it does seem to me that with each passing year time does seem to be speeding up, not slowing down.

So today my goal is to slow down time. I don’t have hurry through my Bible reading; I can take a moment to marvel at creation; I can certainly find the time to count my blessings instead of just hurtling through life not even aware of how grateful I am to be living where I do, with the people I have around me, and healthy enough to enjoy it all.

Next January will likely be here as quickly as this January arrived. I know I can’t really slow down the clock. But I can make a few moments linger along the way!

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Dear Hannah–by Hannah Alexander

Posted on January 20, 2015 by alexanderhodde

Image023Friends, today I’m not including the letter I usually do, because this time I received a telephone for help. Let’s call this dear lady Viv. The call was to tell me her husband died last week and to ask for advice. I think all I did was confuse her even more than she’s already confused, so in retrospect I’m answering her the way I would have attempted to had I not been in shock.

For the wounded:

When I have grieved one death after another after another–either of a destroyed life or marriage or simply a broken heart–no book written about grief was capable of helping me. They didn’t address MY heart, MY pain, MY experience. Only one book, written by a beloved friend of mine, helped me, and it was written for those whose friends have suffered a loss. The title is How to Help a Grieving Friend by Stephanie Grace Whitson. Having read it several times I knew what not to do with Viv.

For instance, I knew that no spoken words would help. I knew that sharing my own experiences wouldn’t help. I was able to give her practical advice about taking care of herself and not expecting to even recall our conversation, because when one is in shock one doesn’t know what she’s doing most of the time. I gave her instructions about finances–things I knew she would probably forget, but I focused on caring for her and helping her move forward so she could care for herself. I pray I gave sound advice. But there is one thing I didn’t tell her, and it’s something I’ll tell her later, when anger or bitterness threaten to set in. I’ll tell her this because I’ve experienced it over and over again. I’m sure you have, too, in some way.

I’ve been reading and rereading the passages in Hebrews the 12th chapter directly following the verses about God chastening those He loves–his true children. I’ve buried myself in it to commit it to memory. In this world we suffer, sometimes to the point where we want to die. But beginning in the 12th verse of the HSCB version, we are told, “Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.”

A broken leg needs to be straightened and placed in a splint or cast so it will grow back together properly. The same thing happens when the emotions are involved.

There are times in our lives when we endure such suffering that we might be tempted to rebel against God and the pain He’s allowed us to endure. We can begin to see all of life as a punishment, and those around us tend to retreat after a time because our words are often filled with sad thoughts, depression, even bitterness. I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still focusing on the climb out of that particular pit.

When we’ve been injured by death or a broken relationship or cruel words, the loss of a job or any number of other attacks, this is the time it’s most vital for us to keep our paths straight–to not rebel against God. It’s time to draw closer, to bathe ourselves in His word–something we’re less likely to do when we’re angry with Him. It’s the only way to keep our paths straight when we’ve been injured. We’re already hindered by injury, and physically speaking, we need those straight paths so that we don’t wander off into the rocky places and make the injury more severe.

You might be limping today after an emotional injury, a physical injury, or life-changing illness. Now is the most important time to keep your eyes focused on God. Read and reread Hebrews 12 until you can see more clearly. Tell Him exactly how you feel, and never sever the connection between yourself and God. Those who never suffer have never belonged to Him. I realize that isn’t a great sales pitch to bring in new believers, but for those of us who belong, it’s the plain truth. My warning for my friend Viv is to stay close to Him especially now. We can cause more damage to ourselves and others when we’re wounded. Don’t forget to keep your paths straight and walk with the Great Physician. He can keep you firmly in His arms. If you don’t walk alongside Him at this time you can walk away and incur further injury. That will not only hurt you more, but it could hurt your friends and loved ones.

May God be with you if you’re suffering from a loss or an injury today. May you allow God to bring you peace and may you treat yourself kindly as you heal.

Much love from Hannah Alexander

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BIG LESSONS FROM A LITTLE NEWS CLIP by Vicki Hinze

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Vicki Hinze
vicki hinze, Lessons from the Pope, lessons from a news clip

Courtesy Catholic News Agency

Messages from God and lessons to us are all around. We simply must slow down long enough to see and comprehend them. I’m as guilty as the next of sometimes breezing right past them, but yesterday, I saw a news clip of the Pope in the Philippines that stopped me in my tracks and held me there.

The weather there was awful; rainy and gloomy. In spite of it, six million people gathered and stood in the rain to hear the Pope’s message to them.

In the news clip, a priest in New York said this was the largest gathering of people in recorded history for a single individual. He also said some are calling the Pope a rock star. He disagreed; that many had never gathered for any rock star. All of this caught my ear and had me paying close attention.

Enough attention that I realized the Pope-mobile had ditched its bullet-proof glass walls; they were open. The Pope kissed babies, touched people physically as well as spiritually. And when a little girl who lived on the streets before being taken in by the church asked why such bad things happened to children, he admitted that answer was beyond him, and he hugged the child. She moved closer to him and hugged the Pope so hard, as one would her daddy she’d gone to for comfort. It touched me. Deeply.

The message he delivered was one of helping the poor, of working against poverty and corruption. I didn’t hear it all—just that recited in the clip—but it was a strong message. Yet I believe his strength is in his accessibility. He’s open and genuine, and people react to that and hear his message to them through that perspective.

While I attended Catholic schools early-on, I am not Catholic. Yet I learned a great deal from the Pope in this news clip and I expect as I think about it, and study on my own, I’ll learn much more. So I wanted to share those observations with you. Maybe you too will find something of value in them.

Lesson 1: The Pope is sincere and genuine in his desire to interact with people. He doesn’t come across as a man on a soap-box speaking at them. He talks with them and listens to them.

Lesson 2: He removed the walls from the Pope-mobile. This endangers his life. It makes him vulnerable to the crazies who would kill him. Yet he values his life less than he values the desire to be accessible to people. Those suffering and struggling, those seeking, see this, know it, and respect it. Sometimes the momentary touch of a hand offers reassurance where there has been none. Reminds people that God is, has been, and remains in control in a world gone wild. We are not alone.

Lesson 3: When the little girl asked the question, a lump raised in my throat. How do you explain man’s inhumanity to man to a child? To adults? How do you explain a child living on the streets? Hungry? Alone? It brings to mind a quote: If you condone it, you own it. I don’t recall but give credit to whoever said it first, but I agree with it. If collectively we decided to nurture, care for, feed and protect children, they would be nurtured, cared for, fed, and protected. We’ve haven’t . . . yet. But hope springs eternal.

The Pope could have offered the child a platitude. He didn’t. I respect that. And by her reaction, moving in for that fatherly hug, the child did, too. And that carried not one but two lessons:

  1. Kids can cope with honesty. They sense when someone is being honest, and they react openly to it. There’s no shame in not having the answer. There is shame in being dishonest.
  2. Sometimes all we can offer is a hug. It translates in ways we know and ones we can’t imagine, depending on just how badly someone needs that hug. Kids need their moms and dads. They play different roles in their lives, but both are crucial roles essential to their children.

And, for me, the most significant BIG LESSON from this little news clip was:

 

It’s not the messenger, it’s the message.

 

People are inundated with negative news, with hardships and tough times. They thirst and hunger for hope, for assurance that God is here, there, everywhere, and, while we might not understand all that is happening, He understands perfectly.

We want that assurance. We need that assurance. Because we are not just physical and emotional beings, we are spiritual beings, and for many, we see so much that is anti-spirit, we hear and feel the impact of so much that is an affront to our spirits, we find ourselves sinking deeper and deeper into despair even as we live out our day-to-day lives and appear normal.

That message is what drew six million people to stand in the rain to hear the Pope speak. It wasn’t the Pope. He is not a rock star. It was the message.

It was their thirsty spirits stepping out in faith, eager to hear a message of hope.

And delivering such a message, doesn’t require one to be a Pope, only to have a willing heart…✚

 

© 2015, Vicki Hinze

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MYIMPERFECTVALENTINE final2015_edited-2

 

 

Vicki’s new book is a sweet romance, My Imperfect Valentine.

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Fiction, Fellowship, Fun, and … Discounts!

Posted on January 16, 2015 by yvon63

By Yvonne Lehman, author of 55 novels, non-fiction compilations Divine Moments, Christmas Moments, Spoken Moments, and future moments…

My son is a runner. Almost every time he returns from a run he says, “I quit. I’m never doing this again. I hate it.” He turns red, pours sweat, breathes hard, gasps, and complains because he only improved his time by a fraction of a second or almost died going up that hill. I think he’d rather die than stop.

The next day he puts on his running clothes, running shoes, gets his water and ear buds, smiles like he’s going to conquer the world and off he goes. Why? Because it’s what he does. It’s fulfilling. He feels he is accomplishing and conquering. He is motivated by envisioning the end result. He is a runner.

NovelistRetreatDiscountPromo2_2015 - March-May Discounts BRNR

              It reminds me of my writing and that of many other writers. We can look at that blank screen and say, “I can’t do this.” But we do. Why? Because we’re writers. We have a goal ahead of us. We’re motivated.

I look back at the beginning of my motivation. It was decades ago at the Billy Graham School of Christian Writing. That opened up a whole new world to me. I’ve been running (sometimes walking slowly!) with my writing ever since. There were only two writers conferences back then, the Billy Graham one in MN and Mount Herman in CA. I knew one was needed in NC. After much struggle and many years, the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference was started. After 25 years of directing the conference I turned it over to Alton Gansky, whom I knew would lead it to even greater heights, which he has, along with his helpers Edie Melson, Eva Marie Everson, and many others.

My goal now is to concentrate on bringing encouragement, instruction, and motivation primarily to novelists. The Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelists Retreat is an intimate gathering of a limited number of students so focus and concentration can be devoted to the attendees’ needs and questions about every aspect of novel writing.

The Retreat is held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest NC October 18-22.

Our faculty is a profession group, multi-published, and with a mission to teach beginning and advanced writers how to improve their craft, increase their creativity, and find joy in using the gifts and opportunities God has given us.

Faculty includes (listings are bare minimum experience and expertise):

Yvonne Lehman, director, 55 novels, Candlelight Romance and Guiding Light Women’s Fiction editor (LPC)

Diane Mills, over 50 novels, suspense writer, two-time Christy winner, Best Books winner, former Craftsman Director CWG

Edie Melson, social media expert, author, co-director BRMCWC, blogger for Guideposts, Senior Editor of NovelRocket.com

Torry Martin, writer, speaker, actor, comedian, delightful entertainer

Eva Marie Everson, co-director FCWC, award-winning author, Southern Fiction editor (LPC)

Ann Tatlock, two-time Christy winner, Heritage Beacon Historical Novels editor (LPC)

Diana Flegal, Mentor, Harline Literary Agent

Lori Marett, Mentor, screenwriting

Others will be announced later. See our form for discounted tuition.

We also offer critiques and contests, including our highest award: the Golden Leaf Award. For more information: http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/event/novelist or google Blue Ridge Novelist Retreat, or contact Yvonne at: yvonnelehman3@gmail.com

Don’t walk… run to join us for this wonderful experience. Looking forward to seeing some of you in October!

 

 

 

 

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Delayed Fruit Tastes Sweeter by Julie Arduini

Posted on January 14, 2015 by juliearduini

Happy New Year! I missed my last December post not remembering what day it was thanks to the holiday schedule. I was also basking in what had to be one of our best Christmas celebrations to date.

After we had our first ever Christmas with the four of us in our new house, we traveled back to our hometown to visit family. This time we met my husband’s adult children en route and drove most of the way together and spent precious days with them as we caught up with both sides of my husband’s and my family.

I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed so much laughter.

All four Arduini children plus girlfriends.

All four Arduini children plus girlfriends.

I got thinking, it didn’t seem that long ago when I was praying for such a thing. When I first met the kids they weren’t even teenagers. The very week we started dating my now husband learned they were moving  from Upstate NY to Wisconsin. We didn’t see them often, but when we did, we poured a year’s worth of love and laughs into those visits.

The goodbyes were heart wrenching.

I kept praying.

The distance was hard, especially in a time before Skype and texting.

But as they grew up and became young adults, we saw the fruit. For kids of divorce, they were well-adjusted and very close siblings. They had a lot of family that loved them from all sides. Although it wasn’t a perfect situation, we understood God knew what He’d been doing all along.

As time marched on and not only were they adults, but we also had kids of our own, the fruit became a harvest. When his daughter married I got to watch former spouses chat with fond memories and laughter. Former in laws greet my husband with kindness. Everyone reach out to me and our kids with hospitality and warmth. I still bask in the blessing that their maternal grandmother switched place settings at the reception so she could sit by me. It was an absolute perfect day.

My husband asked how did I know things would turn out so well? I didn’t even hesitate.

“When you’ve laid down fifteen years of prayer, you know it’s not going to return void.”

This last visit was more bounty. Grown children with solid jobs and healthy relationships. All kids interacting together as if they saw each other every day. A beaming father. So much laughter.

As a young wife, I wanted the distance erased and tears gone. Thankfully God asked me to pray. When we gathered a couple weeks ago we remembered those goodbyes. As hard as they were, we realized the silver lining. The older siblings have a strong bond and took amazing care of each other when traveling. They were surrounded by their mom’s family and love, their dad’s, their step dad and sister, and me, my family, and their siblings. When we Skype and they are at their mom’s, it’s fun to watch my husband interact with her. They had good times, and I love that they are able to remember them.

If you’re going through a situation you’ve prayed and prayed for and it seems like nothing is happening, don’t believe the lie. I believed a lot of activity was going on in heaven before it pulled down to Earth. And although it took more time than I naively thought it should, the fruit of those prayers is sweeter than anything I can describe.

My prayers are with you!

***

Starting in February, Julie Arduini newsletter subscribers will receive the exclusive Upstate NY romance, Crumbs and Embers. To subscribe for free, complete the form in the right sidebar of Julie Arduini.com and watch for activation. For a limited time, new subscribers also receive the 2014 novella, Match Made in Heaven. Spread the word!

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Romance, Suspense and History

Posted on January 8, 2015 by bethrachg

I love my job!

 

Can I just say that? I love writing novels. It’s work, hard work. More than I could ever have imagined. But at the end of the day, would I really want to do anything else?

 

This week, I finished the manuscript for the 4th book in my MOUNTAIN COVE series for Love Inspired Suspense. I loved writing the story—the adventure, the suspense and the mystery. For this story, I had a lot of historical research. Yes, it’s still a contemporary romantic suspense, but the story involves a shipwreck filled with legendary gold.

SS_Islander

S.S. Islander ( public domain)

I’ve always been fascinated by shipwrecks and would love to write more books—more great escapes—exploring the many possibilities.
But for this particular story—due out in October—I found a gold rush era shipwreck in the Inside Passage of Alaska, where I’ve set my Mountain Cove series. The S.S. Islander sank in 1901, killing 40 passengers, and taking with it gold bullion worth millions, even then. Did you know they are still trying to get to that gold? Trying to find it? What fun I had with this one in my story. Of course, the shipwreck in my story is all fictional, but based on the S.S. Islander.

 

 

POP_MECHANICS_01

Public Domain

 

Many attempts have been made to recover the gold over the last century. Imagine how much the technology has changed, and still the gold has remained just out of our grasp. At least at the writing of this post.

After this, I thought how much fun it would be to write my romantic suspense and include a little history in each story. I’m might try to do that as often as possible on my novels from this point on. What do you think?

I’ve always loved reading historical novels, historical romance or otherwise, so it makes sense that I would enjoy seasoning my romantic suspense with history.

Which do you prefer–historical novels? Historical romance? Contemporary or romantic suspense?

 

 

 

I invite you to join the Mountain Cove adventure with BURIED, my Love Inspire Suspense January release, and book 1 in the series.BURIED cover

 

Many blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than a twenty romance novels. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated with a B.S. degree in computer science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of becoming an author. Find out more at Elizabethgoddard.com

 

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DEAR HANNAH–Advice to the Lovelorn by Hannah Alexander

Posted on January 6, 2015 by alexanderhodde


Sunset Nov 99 35 E Palmdale 02

Dear Hannah,

I’m a physician connected to the military. I can get called out for active duty at any time, and my employer knows about it. I made a huge mistake this year when I neglected to tell the lady I’ve been dating about my “other job.” When I did get called out for several months, she was furious with me. Now that I’m back at work she’s no longer interested in seeing me. I didn’t intentionally hide my military background from her, I simply choose not to talk about it when I’m working my civilian job. I try not to even think about it. But she told me last night that she promised herself years ago never to fall in love with a man with a dangerous job. I don’t want to lose her, but I did tell her I thought she was being shortsighted, which led to a fight. Safer isn’t always better, right? How do I keep from losing her?

Ian

Dear Ian,

I don’t think insulting her is the way to go about healing the breach between you. Has she given you any other concrete reason for her fears? I believe most women are drawn to heroes, but obviously she has a problem with your heroism. I’d want to find out why. Have you discussed this with her in depth without belittling her fear? A woman needs to be treasured and understood. Fighting her like this  will only drive her away. It seems to me that both of you have been holding back. That’s no way to build a lasting relationship. I suggest you both pull down a few walls and learn to communicate better, or you’ll both have trouble with relationships down the road.

Hannah

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New Year’s Reading Resolutions by Camy Tang

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

Happy New Year!! One thing I love about the new year is setting my goals for the coming year. That usually involved work-related goals, but the past few years I’ve also been including reading goals.

I used to think reading goals weren’t important, but this past year especially I’ve been seeing how my fiction reading has helped me. Obviously it helps my writing by keeping me up to date with other novels published in the book market, and it also helps refill my creative well.

But even outside of my writing, my reading helps me on a deeply personal level. God often uses fiction to draw me closer to Him. Sometimes a story can speak to a specific issue I’m dealing with or can touch me in a new way. Reading also relaxes me like a little oasis in my day, a time just for me and not anyone else. It makes me feel better equipped to handle the other stresses in my day.

So I’ve put more emphasis on my fiction reading resolutions and make it as important as my work-related and health-related resolutions.

For me, I’ve entered a few reading challenges on Goodreads. I hope to read about 50 books from my Kindle this coming year and 50 books from my physical TBR pile … which won’t really make a huge dent in it, alas. For fun I calculated how high my physical TBR pile would be if I stacked them on top of each other and found out my TBR pile would be at least 50 feet high!!!!

How about you? What are your reading resolutions?

TI cover webCamy’s latest romantic suspense is Treacherous Intent.

DANGER AT HER DOORSTEP

Private investigator Elisabeth Aday thinks her California women’s shelter is a safe haven—until skip tracer Liam O’Neill shows up. While searching for a missing woman, Liam unwittingly puts Elisabeth in the crosshairs of the deadly drug gang that is trailing his target. To stay alive, they must find the woman before the gang finds them. And when a second rival gang joins the search, the threats multiply. Deep in the lair of notorious drug dealers, Elisabeth can’t tell which is more dangerous—the criminals after her…or her growing feelings for the man at her side.

Buy Treacherous Intent on Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook.

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Book Release–BURIED by Elizabeth Goddard

Posted on January 3, 2015 by bethrachg

Hope your new year is off to a great start.

I’m excited to share with you that BURIED released on New Year’s Day, the eBook form anyway. The hard copy releases January 6th. BURIED is the first book in my new series called Mountain Cove and is set in the exotic and stunning southeast Alaska. It features a family of mountain search and rescue heroes.

 

In BURIED, you’ll meet avalanche specialist Cade Warren, also a search and rescue volunteer, and Leah Marks, a legal investigator who witnessed a murder committed by a police detective. Where do you hide when you’re running from the police? An off-grid cabin in Alaska.

 

I hope you’ll join the adventure with this first installment!

BURIED cover

NOWHERE TO HIDE

Fleeing to Alaska is the only option for Leah Marks after witnessing a murder. Afraid for her life, the legal investigator hopes a remote cabin will be a safe shelter. But the killer has tracked her to Mountain Cove. As he chases her into snow-packed Dead Falls Canyon, an avalanche buries them both. Saved by daring search and rescue specialist  Cade Warren, Leah longs to tell him the truth. But how can she, without bringing even more danger into Cade’s life? Especially when they discover the killer is very much alive and waiting to take them both down.

Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide

 

 

Visit my website at ElizabethGoddard.com to see multiple purchasing options, or you can purchase it for your Kindle today here.

If you’d like to stay connected and receive book news and updates, sign up for my newsletter over at my website or subscribe to receive my blog updates in your email inbox.

 

Many blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than a twenty romantic suspense novels. goddard-LR-2 (2)

 

 

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Merry Christmas from Christians Read!

Posted on December 25, 2014 by bethrachg

Psalm 98:4, Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.

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A GIFT TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS by Hannah Alexander

Posted on December 23, 2014 by alexanderhodde

Hallowed Halls 2000

I’m skipping the advice for the lovelorn for the remainder of the year–since this is my final post for the year. Today I’d like to give you a gift that will take very little effort to receive. It’s a book, of course. I happen to have several dozen giveaway copies of Hallowed Halls, the first novel in my Hallowed Halls Series. I’d love to share them with you if you enjoy reading Christian romance set in a small town with a medical theme. Let me describe this novel in more detail:

When Dr. Joy Gilbert is fired from a lucrative position in the city, she returns to her hometown along the Missouri River to find her former fiance, Zack, still single; her once vivacious mother, Molly, struggling financially and physically; and Tressa, the 15-year-old daughter of the boss who just fired Joy, popping out the back door of Joy’s SUV.

Tressa refuses to return to the city, where her divorced parents continue to battle in the aftermath of her brother’s unexplained death. Though the girl’s rebellion threatens Joy’s career, that threat means nothing when it appears Tressa’s life, as well, could be in danger.

Will Joy and Zack be able to work together again in time to safe Tressa’s life?

After more than thirty novels with traditional publishing, this is my first offering from Hannah Alexander Books, and it’s been a story on my heart for several years.

All you need to do to receive this book in the mail is contact me at askhannah@hannahalexander.com and mention this blog and give me your mailing address. I promise you will receive nothing more unless you sign up to receive notice whenever I have a new novel released. I will never share your address with others. If you enjoy the novel, I would love it, of course, if you wish to write a quick review, but I know how busy life gets sometimes, and word of mouth is just great. Tell your friends about a book you read, or share the book with others. I’ll be sending these free copies as long as I have any left, so give yourself a gift for Christmas. You may also read more about other books the Hannah Alexander husband-wife writing team has written at http://www.HannahAlexander.com

Merry Christmas, and may the next year bring you closer to Christ than ever before.

With Love,

Hannah Alexander

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Unshakeable Pursuit sale ends soon

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

UnshakablePursuit-EbookCover 600x800Book #4.2 in my Sonoma series, Unshakeable Pursuit, is only 99 cents, but sale ends December 31st. Get your copy before the price goes up!

Get Unshakeable Pursuit on Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook.

Doctor Geoffrey Whelan was in Japan when the tsunami hit, killing his cousin and grandmother. He has worked in medical missions for years to assuage his survivor’s guilt, and now that he’s back in Sonoma to help his family, he can’t figure out why he still feels so wounded and God feels so far away.

Then a mysterious young woman warns him that he and nurse Maylin Kinley are in mortal danger.

Maylin notices that Geoffrey is not the same arrogant doctor she met years ago in Los Angeles. Now that they are working together again in a clinic in Sonoma, she fights her attraction towards him because his confident, forceful personality reminds her too much of her abusive ex-boyfriend, who called himself a Christian.

She has been steering clear of her handsome coworker—until Asian hit men attack the clinic and they are forced to run for their lives. Now they must race to figure out how the threat is connected to a young teenager whose life they saved—before everyone they love is caught in the crossfire.

This is book #4.2 in my romantic suspense Sonoma series, although each book can be read alone.

Get Unshakeable Pursuit on Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook.

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Joyeux Noel

Posted on December 19, 2014 by kristenheitzmann

WP_20141218_003Last Christmas was the first my mother spent in heaven. There was a brutal kind of loss that overshadowed so much for me. Between then and now, we sorted through and sold her house. While an arduous and tearful a process, it was also like a treasure chest. There were so many things they had collected in all their travels and intended to give as gifts–some even labeled with our names. Mom was a great one for tucking things away, never to surface until now. Also there were things from all those years of life, among them Christmas boxes. One of these I found this summer but determined to leave unopened until Christmastime. I hadn’t envisioned that I would be alone when I opened it to decorate the tree, but that’s how it turned out. A tearful process again.

And yet I felt her with me. The delight she took in handmade, artistic, and just lovely things. This little Anri deer had been collected in Italy and hangs near the chair where I write beside the tree at night. Little things, but they bring joy and remind me the body of Christ is a cloud of witnesses here and before the throne. A chorus of carols proclaim the incarnation, love becoming flesh. In spite of turmoil and distress, our God is awesome and supreme. We are his beloved and He is everything. Wishing you a blessed celebration of his birth and the triumph of his love. Glory and praise!

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Christmas Is In the Air by Tara Randel

Posted on December 18, 2014 by tararandel

I can’t believe another year has come and gone. It’s almost Christmas!

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2014 has been a productive year, with two Harlequin Heartwarming releases, Magnolia Bride and Honeysuckle Bride. Rival Hearts came out in June. I’m now waiting for the word on proposals I sent to my editor.

I hope 2014 has been an awesome year for you. I pray you have a beautiful Christmas, enjoying precious time with family and friends. Catch up on quality time with those you love, curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa, or keep the season busy with shopping and visiting friends.

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Here’s hoping for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. 2015, here we come!

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