What Would You do...? Christmas Thoughts

What Would You Do…?

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Carole Brown

by Carole Brown

…if someone wanted to kill your baby? 

• Mary and Joseph fled.
• In the Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, Cara is mad with grief and anger at the death of her oldest daughter. A tough read? Yes, but well worth seeing what happens to this sorrowing mother.

…if you had to give up your business in a hurry? Or face destruction?

• Joseph did. He and Mary had to flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of the King and begin again in his carpentry business.
• In Sabotaged Christmas, Toni DeLuca must find the person casting doubt on her beloved father before her business is ruined and Christmas won’t be coming to Appleton, WV for her employees.

…if you were told you were having a baby, but you had no idea (at first) how it’d happened?

• Mary did. She heard the angel’s proclamation, but told no one and kept everything hidden in her heart, pondering.
• Starli Cameron was always told she couldn’t have a baby, but was it the truth? Only time would tell…after the struggles from the past vanished.

…if valuable items were given to you by kings?

• Baby Jesus was visited by the three Magi and given precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• Caroline‘s friend, Andy, had valuable paintings, but Caroline disdained them. When one is stolen, she’s pushed into a mystery that proves how valuable paintings (and relationships) can be.  

…if you were suspicious of three foreign kings who visited you?

• King Herod was, afraid that a new baby would take his place someday.
• Tyrell Walker in With Music in Their Hearts had a reason to be suspicious of so many in the boarding house. After all, there was a foreign spy determined to wreck havoc to the U.S.

…if you were about to lose what you loved?

• Mary and Joseph were. Baby Jesus was a precious gift from God. They were assigned a duty to raise him, and they would do anything to keep him safe.
• Jerry and Josie thought they were losing each other, and both were determined to battle the war for their lives and their souls. 

Interest peaked?

Read St. Luke Chapter 2 to find the answers to the above questions.

Go here to find my books that hopefully will keep you reading and warm through the coming winter! 

Amazon Author Page

Merry Christmas!

Announcement! Finalist . . . Again!

The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman

http://amzn.to/17gf97c

is a

* Genesis semi-finalist,

* a Selah Award finalist for debut novels

and now . . . 

* a Laurel Award Finalist

from the Clash of the Titles Contest!

About the book:

How far would YOU go to avenge the murder of a daughter?

Caralynne Hayman is angry and bitter over the abuse and death of her eleven-year-old daughter from the hands of her religious group, The Children of Righteous Cain. When her husband suffers a sudden heart attack, she does nothing to help him. In her eyes someone needs to pay, and if that means all of the men in the group, then so be it. 

Dayne MacFarland is sent away to college by the senior elder of the group to learn ministry. When he returns after finding salvation, determined to bring the truth to the people he’s known all his life, he rediscovers Cara and realizes the love he once felt for her is still deeply embedded within his heart. 

Dayne faces men unwilling to turn their backs on the cult training he despises. Cara faces men who follow their leader in abuse toward their wives and the young girls of the group. Cara is considered rebellious and inappropriate to befriend. Dayne is the apple of Elder Simmons’ eye—until he takes a stand against their teachings.

Can Cara overcome the feelings that have governed her most of her life? Can she learn to trust Dayne, and most of all a God whom she sees as uncaring—if he’s really there at all? Only Dayne’s prayers and love can reach Cara and show her the way to redemption, and Cara must recognize and accept God’s love and forgiveness before she goes too far.

February Contest

Valentine's Contest!

Who can enter? And which category are you in?
Anyone:

1. Those who've read one or both of my books, but HAVE NOT reviewed
2. Those who've read and reviewed ONE of my books before February 8, 2014
3. Those who've read and reviewed BOTH of my fiction books
4. Those who want to read my books but just haven't. Yet.  :(

When?

Contest runs from the day this posts thru February 14, 2014, midnight.

Why?

I want you to have some fun. 

I want to have some fun. 

I love Valentine's Day and love readers of my books.

I want more readers, faithful readers, reviewers and/or people who share news of my books.

What do you do?

Here's the rules and gift offers:

Category 1. Those who've read one or both of my books, but HAVE NOT reviewed.

I really appreciate you've taken time out to read it. Thanks much! 

You may enter by: 

• reviewing any or both of my books you've read, on Amazon AND 
• any other place you wish. If you don't know how, I will coach you thru it. It's easy. If I can write a book, YOU can review. It's like giving me a super great Christmas gift! :) 

Just let me know when and send me the link so I can put you on the list. 

You must do this or you can not be entered.

PRIZE: You will have your name entered into a drawing for 

• Book One (Hog Insane) or 
• Book Two (Bat Crazy) of the Denton and Alex Davies mystery series. 

(Your choice: signed print copy or digital e-copy)

 

BONUS: 

If you are one of the next 10 (TEN!) reviewers for either The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman or Hog Insane I will put your name into a drawing for your choice:

• a $5.00 gift card from Bob Evans or
• a $5.00 gift card from Amazon

Contact me by email, private message on facebook, or on this blog post comment section for questions, to notify me of your reviews and/or for help.

Category 2.  Those who've read and reviewed one of my books before February 8, 2014. 

Thank you so much for already reviewing one of my books! That means a lot. You may enter this contest by:

• Sharing about this contest (or even info about my books) on FB, the more times, the more times to be entered. (You must let me know how many and where) Mention this blog: Sunnybank Secrets
• Tweeting (about this contest or even about my books) (the more tweets, the more times you can be entered! (you must let me know how many and where) Mention this blog: Sunnybank Secrets

Make sure to let me know when and where by sending me the link so I can put you on the list: you must do this or you cannot be entered.

PRIZE: You will have your name entered into a drawing for:

• A signed print copy (or digital: your choice!) of Bat Crazy when it releases or Hog Insane (signed print or digital: your choice)
• A homemade Tablerunner by the Laugh and Craft Gals on Facebook

BONUS:  If you are one of the next 10 (TEN!) reviewers for either The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman or Hog Insane I will put your name into a drawing for your choice:

• $10.00 gift card from either Bob Evans or
• $10.00 gift card from Amazon

Category 3: Those who've read and reviewed both of my fiction books

Love you guys! You're a fantastic group of readers and hope you hang with me as I put out more books for your enjoyment.

To enter, you can choose and pick what and how much you want to do, but the more you do the more times you can enter (but you must let me know when and where! so I can put you in the list)

• Share about this contest on FB (the more, the better!)
• Share about this contest on Twitter (the more, the better!)
• Directly encourage someone else to review one of my books
• Buy one of my books for someone else (show me!)
• Tell someone today you love them.
• Tell me or someone else what you liked about one of my books. Better yet, post it somewhere! 
• Hug your kid, your pet, your companion today!
• Say a prayer of gratitude
• Do something crazy for me: make a book video and share! Make a poster and hang it! Buy a pair of shoes and say you're just trying to act like Alex Davies! Make a cherry pie and enjoy! Share, share, share with me and others. (worth TWO chances!)
• Stand up for the abused in honor of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman's theme. 
• Or let me know whatever else you've come up to help me and my books. 

PRIZE:

• A chance to win a copy (either a signed print or digital copy: your choice) of the next mystery series book: Bat Crazy.
• A chance to name a character in the following book after Bat Crazy (details will be given later)
• A homemade tablerunner by the Laugh and Craft Gals on Facebook
• A copy of my husband's children's book: The Adventures of Chipper from Amazon or a copy of West Virginia Scrapbook: From the Life of Caralynne Hayman

BONUS:

• A $15.00 gift card from Bob Evans or
• A $15.00 gift card from Amazon

Make sure to let me know when and where by sending me the link so I can put you on the list: you must do this or you cannot be entered.

Category 4: Those who want to read my books but just haven't.

What are you waiting for? Just kidding you. 

Well, obviously, the answer is easy; here's your ways to enter:

• Buy one or both of my books :)
• Review one or both

Be sure to let me know when and where you review so I can put you on the list. You MUST do this so I will know.

PRIZE:

• A copy of Bat Crazy after it releases (your choice: signed print copy or digital)

BONUS:If you're one of the first 10 reviewers on Amazon through February 14, midnight, you can also have:

• your choice of a copy of my husband's first book children's series: The Adventures of Chipper or a copy of West Virginia Scrapbook: From the Life of Caralynne Hayman.

Blessings, readers! Thanks so much for helping out, for being faithful to this blog, for reading my books, and well, for being a follower. 

Monday Morning Gratitudes

The Wisemen of Biblical times brought rare and precious gifts to Jesus. I can only offer what I have, and this month I'm sharing three things each Monday that are important to me. I'm grateful for:

• Eternal life available to me because Jesus came to this world. To me, a Christmas tree--green and alive--symbolizes this life. It's a precious reminder to me that I have life everlasting, thanks to Jesus!
• Christmas gifts. The older I get the more simpler I want Christmas, and to be surrounded with people I value and hold dear, is the greatest gift. 
• Pictures I can re-visit time after time to laugh and love anew, to cherish and hold for future generations--another priceless gift I can give. 

Thank you, Jesus!
Blessings

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book.

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Morning Gratitudes

Just as the Wisemen brought three gifts to celebrate the wonder of Jesus' birth, so should we do likewise. Throughout the month of December, I will celebrate Jesus' birth in a simple way by focusing on things that really matter:

• Miracles, especially at Christmas time: a wondrous star that appeared just in time for the wisemen to see; our own personal Christmas miracles that sometimes appear from no where. 
• The wonder of Christmas: children's lighted faces. The glow of Christmas lights. The packages wrapped--elaborately or simply in brown paper. The decorated homes. 
• Christmas plays. The fumbles and mistakes, the laughter and fun, tension and stress--all for? One night of happy recipients who brag on their children's efforts and the poor, worn-out director who's happy with the results but, oh so glad it's over.

Blessings!

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book. 

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Morning Peace

Stars From God!

I walked upon a lonely street
With steps the tired know,
When soft upon my sleeve there fell
A pointed flake of snow.

In solitary loveliness
The perfect crystal lay . . .
A star that knew a moment's form,
Then blurred and slipped away.

But beauty thronged the lonely place;
My feet were heaven-shod . . .
Because I held, just for a breath,
A little star from God.


Matthew 2:9b:
And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 

Blessings!

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book. 


As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B



a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Warm Welcome to Katie Lee

It's my pleasure to welcome Love Inspired author Katie Lee to ny blog today. 

For a chance to win a $200 Amazon gift card, go to the bottom of the page and read the information.

BIO:
As an Inspirational Romantic Suspense author, Katy Lee writes higher-purpose stories in high-speed worlds. Through her writing, ministries, and teaching, she dedicates her life to sharing tales of love, from the “greatest love story ever told” to those sweet romantic stories of falling in love. Katy and her husband are born New Englanders and love to travel with their three adventuresome children.  You can connect with Katy anytime at her website, www.KatyLeeBooks.com. There you will find links to Facebook and Twitter.  Please look me up!

Also on my site you will find details to take part in the Lighthouse Photo Contest.  I hope to receive lighthouses from around the world. So please, take part!




About Warning Signs:
GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT

When a drug-smuggling ring rocks a small coastal town, the DEA sends Agent Owen Matthews to shut it down. A single father with a deaf son, Owen senses that the town's number one suspect—the high school's new principal—doesn't fit the profile. Miriam Hunter hoped to shrug off the stigma of her hearing impairment when she returned to Stepping Stones, Maine. But her recurring nightmares dredge up old memories that could prove her innocence—and uncover the truth behind a decades-old murder. Yet Owen's help may not be enough when someone decides to keep Miriam silenced—permanently.


To buy her book, go here:
http://www.amazon.com/Warning-Signs-Love-Inspired-Suspense/dp/0373445598/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1378395186&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warning-signs-katy-lee/1115072845?ean=9780373445592

http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=29043

http://www.christianbook.com/warning-signs-katy-lee/9780373445592/pd/445593#customer_reviews





RT Magazine Review:
4 ½ Stars -   "Miriam is a strong character who is not held back by what others may perceive as a weakness. Acceptance is a key theme as Lee dispels some misconceptions regarding people with hearing impairments."









From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and Warning Signs is a featured book.

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of Warning Signs at any of the above selling places.

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book. 

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B

a Rafflecopter giveaway


  Blessings, readers!

Monday Morning Gratitudes

The Wisemen brought three gifts to Jesus to celebrate and worship his birth. This month I will offer three special things I'm grateful for.  This Monday I'm thankful for:

• Mary's humbleness and willingness to obey Angel Gabriel's announcement from God: You will be Jesus' mother. Without fully understanding and with many questions, she obeyed.
• Candles that offer wonderful, refreshing scents and cast their light for all to see, just as Jesus is the light of the world.
• Recipes, both new and old, to enjoy and share. The memories that come from them and the anticipation in eating the results are wonderful things to cherish this month. 

Blessings!

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book. 

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Morning Peace

This Holy Night

Come, let us go this holy night
To Bethlehem afar;
The faith within our hearts will be
Our bright and guiding star.

No royal gifts like Magi brought
Have we to take along,
But in our hearts will softly ring
The angels Christmas song.

We'll leave behind the hurried pace
Of Christmas man-made style,
And in the quiet of our hearts
We'll find the holy child.


The Annunciation:
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the vigini's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail, thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. But the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called The Son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  
--Luke 1:26-33.

* * *

From December 1 through December 16, the John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting a Christmas Book Launch and The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a featured book.

As part of the event, the Network is offering a $200 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, go to: http://bit.ly/Christian_Books and enter the Raffle copter (toward the bottom of the page. Be sure and pick up your Kindle version of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman for $.99 at http://bit.ly/Carole_B



a Rafflecopter giveaway