Serious Wednesday: Welcome to Valerie Comer!

Welcome to Valerie Comer,

a talented and award-winning author.

It's a real pleasure to welcome her to

Sunnybank Secrets!

Valerie is giving away ONE Ebook to some very fortunate person.

YOU could be that person!

Here's the deal:

*Comment

*leave your email addy

*Check back on a Wednesday within two weeks for the winner's name.

If YOU win, then you must reply on here, or PM me on Facebook.

***

Hi Carole! Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I really appreciate coming here and meeting your readers. Hi, everyone! I hope you love reading Christian contemporary romance as much as I love both reading and writing it!


Why do you enjoy writing romance?
I love finding small ways of mirroring the greatest love story of all: God’s passionate love for you and me. He woos us, He anticipates our needs, He gave up everything to make our relationship with Him possible. Christian romance novels can reflect aspects of that, and it’s an honor to write them.

I love reading them as well, mostly for the same reason!


Where do you get the ideas for your books?
I’m sure you find this, too, Carole — once you start watching out for ideas, they’re everywhere, like pollen in springtime! Several of my series are focused on characters who farm, garden, or otherwise participate in the local food movement. It’s always been my way of life, and I enjoy writing about it and inspiring others.

So that way of life is the backdrop for the Urban Farm Fresh Romance series, and I’ve explored various aspects of it in each of the books. Some of the stories are more focused on the lifestyle than others, but I’ve looked at goats in the city, community gardens, teaching gardening in schools, organic produce subscription services, etc.

The romance is always the center, not the “food thing.”


Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?
The heroine! Kenna came into the series way back in Book 4, married to a much older man, an alcoholic, who passed away in that story. Her late husband was actually Book 4’s hero’s father! And I wondered why a woman like her, a nurse, would stay with an alcoholic for the six years of their marriage, and what would happen to her after his death.

So now it is Book 9, several story-years later, and it became her turn. Kenna is determined to stand alone and never marry again, but takes on in-home care of an elderly woman who’d broken bones in a fall. Her client’s grandson, who just opened a restaurant and lives in Grandma’s basement, is frustrated because the nurse can’t cook… and he can’t nurse. Ah, a match made in fiction heaven!


How do you create your characters?
They partially create themselves, as Kenna did above. She strolled on as a throw-away character that refused to leave the set completely. By the time I got to her story, she already had several physical and personality traits in place.

But honestly? I’m a Myers-Brigg fan! So I took what I knew of Kenna and ran it through the MBTI testing, then did the same with the chef hero, Tony, who’d also been a secondary character in some previous stories. I rubbed my hands in glee to discover they were the same personality type then thought of all the ways they could grate on each other’s nerves.


Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
Yes, there are certain themes that crop up over and over again. Second chances are big in my stories, because how many times have we messed up and needed God’s forgiveness? Too many to count. Another recurring theme is belonging. Just as the characters are seeking that perfect relationship where the other person accepts them as they are and loves them anyway, we’re all searching for that on a deeper plane, too. Only Jesus can satisfy that longing deep inside.


When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Lavished with Lavender releases June 23. It is Book 9 in a series and, while there are cameos from previous characters, it can definitely stand alone.

About the book:
Nursing the neighborhood matriarch through her convalescence from a nasty fall gives Makenna Johnson the break she needs from the head nurse on her ward. The family is plenty involved. Maybe too much so, since it includes a disapproving grandson who lives in Marietta’s basement.

If chef Tony Santoro weren’t so busy launching his new restaurant, he’d take on Nonna’s care himself, but it isn’t possible. If only the nurse was more obsessed with decent meals and less obsessed with polishing baseboards, he’d rest a lot easier.

How can two driven professionals who clash over Marietta’s care — and everything else — ease up enough to see one another’s hearts?

Find it on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084JBLN93/ 

What is it about this book that means the most to you?

Something in Kenna’s journey that takes her from being obsessively standoffish to finding her worth in Jesus and a love in Tony was very rewarding to write. She was a broken and bitter character at the beginning. It can be difficult to build reader empathy with a woman like that, and when a writer is in the middle of writing it, it’s hard to know if you’re pulling it off.

I always hold my breath when I hit send to my beta readers. Will they love the story as much as I did? Or will this be the one where they tell me to go back to my computer and try again, or worse yet, take up crocheting instead?

So when a beta reader messaged me to say that though she’d read every single one of my books before this, she may just have found her new favorite… that just blessed my socks off.

Bio:  

Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner. She writes engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith into her green clean romances.

Valerie’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary Christian romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie grows much of her own food and is active in the local foods movement as well as her church. She only hopes her imaginary friends enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.

Social Media:

Website https://valeriecomer.com

Facebook https://facebook.com/valeriecomer.author

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer

Follow on Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/valerie-comer

Follow on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Valerie-Comer/e/B005GQYH5M/

Serious Wednesday: A Visit from Lisa Lawmaster Hess

I'm excited to have Lisa visit my blog again! We've been author friends for a long time, and it's a real privilege to enjoy reading this interview from her. Join in on the fun!

Thanks so much for joining me on Sunnybank Secrets, Lisa.

About Lisa:
Lisa Lawmaster Hess is a Jersey girl who moved to Pennsylvania for college, then stayed.

The author of three nonfiction books

• Acting Assertively, Diverse Divorce and Know Thyself 

and two novels

• Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance

Lisa has also written for online and print publications. Lisa blogs at The Porch Swing Chronicles and Organizing By STYLE and is a frequent contributor to CatholicMom.com, Teachers of Vision and Today’s Catholic Teacher. A retired elementary school counselor, Lisa is an adjunct professor of psychology at York College of Pennsylvania. Her latest book is Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff. 


NOW, on to the interview:

Is there a story behind your books?/What started you on your writing journey?

Know Thyself is my fifth book, but I’ve been working on novels, so it’s been over a decade between non-fiction books! This one (which took every bit of that decade to get from idea to completion) arose out of my own desire to get sustainably organized in a way that worked for me. An unexpected move that I didn’t initially want to make was the catalyst for working on my own organizational skills, and the ensuing research and journey led me to the conclusion that organization is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.


What kind of books do you enjoy reading? (Book recommendations very welcome!)

I enjoy a good novel but, lately, I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction. Last summer, I downloaded Audible and I’ve found that I love listening to audiobooks even though my commute is short. My recent favorites include Becoming by Michelle Obama, Still Foolin’ ’Em by Billy Crystal and Jodi Piccoult’s Small Great Things. I’m currently reading Biased by Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt and listening to Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before. I’m also reading an advance copy of Clarice G. James’s The Girl He Knew. Think I can finish them all before the semester starts at the end of August??


Which character in your newest release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Since Know Thyself is non-fiction, I’m going to take the liberty of changing the question a bit, and share the styles that best describe me. In Know Thyself, I share three personal styles (I need to see it, I love to be busy and I love stuff) and three organizational styles (cram and jam, drop and run and I know I put it somewhere) that influence our organizational success. I most identify with the I need to see it personal style and the drop and run organizational style, so I plan my organizational systems around those styles.


Why do you write in the genre you do?

I write both fiction and non-fiction. For fiction, the draw for me is the characters. I’m a total pantser, but I have to sketch out my characters and their backstories before I sit down to write. Once I know who the people are, I introduce them to each other and take it from there.

With non-fiction, I like that I can write about topics I find interesting and relevant. Know Thyself is my first non-fiction book with a spiritual aspect to it, written primarily for adults. Acting Assertively and Diverse Divorce were both written for the educational market and while the concepts transferred to adults, they were written for adults to use with children.


How much research do you do for each book?

Because I write contemporary fiction and my non-fiction is within my wheelhouse as a psychology instructor, I don’t usually do a lot of research. If I come up against a topic that’s important to the story that I want to know more about, that’s when I dig in. My goal is not to become an expert but, rather, to write accurately and knowledgeably about the topic.


Share a verse or Scripture passage with us that is special to you. (and why it's special)

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse hangs in a place of prominence in my office – in fact, I purchased a ceramic cross with this verse on it so I could see it daily. Seven years ago, I took advantage of an early retirement incentive and retired from my career as a school counselor. My daughter had just finished middle school and college loomed in four years. I knew the early retirement was the right choice – most days, anyway – but leaving behind a job with a great salary and benefits was a scary proposition. I read this verse a lot that first year until my next steps became clear and, to this day, it sustains me when things are hard.


About the book:
Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff, is meant for anyone who has ever struggled to get organized. So often, people who’ve struggled with this life skill have also lost faith in themselves, which is more demoralizing than any amount of clutter. Know Thyself takes a light-hearted approach to a serious topic, with the aim of building confidence alongside organizational skills by building on what we do naturally. This strengths-based approach helps readers to organize in a sustainable way, rather than merely clearing the clutter and hoping for the best.

Link to book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jtx6aH

Lisa on social media: 

Facebook: Lisa Lawmaster Hess, Writer
Twitter: @orgbystyle
Instagram: lisalawmasterhess
Pinterest: Lisa Lawmaster Hess
Organizing by STYLE blog: www.orgbystyle.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting, Lisa, and readers, check out her book on Amazon!

Serious Wednesdays: Excellent Reasons to Write Short

So you want to break into fiction? How can you do it?

Many say, "write a lot."

Or "begin with a series."

Or even, "look into the easier markets: romance..."

Build your platform first

Blog every day.

And on and on.

Overwhelming? Yep. It takes time to write anything, but a book? While taking care of a family and working a day job?

Why not start with short stories?

It's a good, traditional starting point to break into fiction writing. It can stretch your creature juices, build up a readership, and help you fine-tune your writing for longer projects. You might just bring in some added income too.

Here’s some reasons to write short:

1.  Easier to be discovered

Because the more you write, the easier it is for people to discover you. On Amazon, you'll have a far greater chance of being discovered, more people will begin to read your work, review and spread the word that you're a great author.  Have you seen the "Customers who bought this also bought" phrase on Amazon? The more work you have out there, the greater opportunity to be read. Once readers are acquainted with your work, the more apt they are to pick up your next piece of work and recommend you to their friends.

2. You also have a better price option to choose. 

For someone who doesn't know you or your work, it will be easier to pick up a short story for $.99 than a longer book selling at $12.99. It's easier to take a chance. Even fans will feel happy to pick up a short piece of work. Once you have the short stories under your belt, you can then move on to novellas and price them accordingly.

3.  Short Stories can give new readers a glimpse of your work before commitment.

New readers to your work may find it easier to put in the short time reading your work...at least until you've "hooked" them. Once they enjoy your writing, they can move on to your longer books, and hopefully, have a devoted fan for life.

4.  Gimmicks, Etc.

Giving away copies of short stories has several benefits: less time to write and less expensive for you. Not only that, but you can use them on your blog to draw new readers or newsletter readers, and if you wish, use them as kindle giveaways. 

5.  Writing Short Stories can help improve your writing.

You learn to write "tight." You can experiment with writing points of view you normally don't write with. Or you can tackle different genres or time periods. Even if it's not to your own satisfaction, have fun, maybe even get feed back from readers...there's all sorts of possibilities.

6.  This is one of my favorites:  Write about secondary characters from a longer work of fiction you're writing. This is an exciting way to include more information from a longer work. It expands the readers' view of the characters and give them an entirely different view from a new direction. Not only that, but it helps you expand your view and consciousness into your longer work. What connections your readers will gain...and even you!

7.  And, finally, writing short stories is a huge opportunity to combine them into an anthology or a series which means you have yet another new way to sell, and at a novel-price point. It also gives you another product for your list of works, and a way for readers to connect with you.

Happy Writing Day!

*****

Sabotaged Christmas

Perrin only wanted to be left alone to write. He didn't need a cute, curly-haired carpenter to disturb his concentration.

Toni wanted to save her business from destruction, but Perrin seemed the one person to whom she could point a finger. 

But there was more than snowflakes in the air. Trouble was abounding all around Appleton. And romance and sabotage is not a good mix. 

Buy your copy here:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

Story Sparks and Six Authors: Featuring Amber Schamel Today!

Welcome to the Story Sparks multi-Author Blog Tour. Between May 21-26, 2018, where readers get a chance to enter and win ebooks from six different authors. Today, Amber Schamel is the featured author. A lucky winner will win a copy of her 2018 Christian Indie Award winner, Solve by Christmas, PLUS she has a cover reveal to share. Amber will be talking about

Read on to discover what sparks Amber’s creativity and to enter the rafflecopter to win her inspirational mystery with a Sherlock flare.

“Too many books, not enough time” 

is a two-fold saying for me. 

On one hand, there are so many good books to read, and on the other hand, there are so many ideas to write. For me, ideas come from everywhere. They can come from passing a mailbox, walking by an abandoned building, overhearing a conversation in the grocery store, daydreaming, reading the Scripture, or from history reading. Other times the idea is just dropped into my mind like a Valentine from God.

Usually, though, the best ideas come from a combination of the above. With Solve by Christmas, the recent winner of the Christian Indie Award, I had a vague idea of a story. I wanted something with a tight timeframe that would create urgency. I’ve always loved detective stories, and those go perfectly with tight timeframes, so I started with that. From there, I wasn’t sure where to go…Then I thought, ‘what if Christmas was the deadline, and a Sherlock-ish detective had to stop some tragic event BY CHRISTMAS?’

From there, I didn’t really know where to go. Until the next piece dropped into my mind and stuck like a burr to a wool sock. What if the case the detective had to solve, wasn’t a case like he was thinking at all? What if he had to come up with a “case” for a loved one to continue living?

The Lord had given me an issue to address, and I knew it would be a hard one to pull off.

From there, I hit the history books. Researching the time period and location, I found all kinds of great information that added to the story depth. Such as the labor and Union wars in Denver during the 1910’s, which added great opportunities for tension and villains. Then the infanthood of detective work added to my character’s difficulty and need to prove himself. Researching organized crime and the development of the major detective agencies formed the backstory that drives Detective Jasper Hollock, even though it isn’t seen on stage in the book.

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life-threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

So, for Solve by Christmas, I guess you could say that it was a series of sparks that resulted in that story. Kinda like one of those fireworks that has multiple explosions.

History is one of my favorite places to look for inspiration, and I always hit the books when I come to writer’s block, even during a story. I love it so much, that I’m actually getting ready to release my very first non-fiction work, 12 Sisters Who Changed History. And today I’m revealing the cover! Would ya’ll like to see it?

I was researching Jane Austen and some other great heroines of history when the idea for Sisters Who Changed History came to me. Being the second born of twelve children, siblings are often on my mind. All the time we are taught of famous individuals and the impact that they had, but what about those that were sisters and how they influenced the world? A blog series was born, which then developed into a book of its own. The book will be releasing July 17^th!

Thanks for joining us today. Here’s the link to the Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Let me know what you think of the cover, and the oddest places that you have found inspiration in your life!

About the author:

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Buy Link for Solve by Christmas

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CJD6QR?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

ENTER to WIN BOOKS!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/831a42731/?

Story Sparks and Six Authors: Featuring Jodie Wolfe Today!

125^th Anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

By Jodie Wolfe

Welcome to the Story Sparks multi-Author Blog Tour. Between May 21-26, 2018, readers get a chance to enter and win ebooks from six different authors. Today, Jodie Wolfe is the featured author. Two lucky winners will be awarded either her To Claim Her Heart or Mrs. Wigglesworth's Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society. Jodie will be talking about the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. Read on to discover what sparked Jodie's creativity and to enter the Rafflecopter to win her heartwarming book.

September 16^th will mark the 125^th anniversary of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. It was our Nation’s last great race for land. 115,000 people showed up to race for 42,000 plots. I can clearly picture that day. It was hot and dry. Folks gathered along nine different starting places located along the Kansas border and south of the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory.

All manner of conveyances could be seen—people on foot, horseback, buggies, wagons, bicycles, trains, etc. I can easily imagine the clamor and chaos as all those assembled awaited the gunshot that would signify the start of the race at noon. People were desperate. The country had undergone an economic catastrophe with the plummet of the New York Stock Exchange due to the overinvesting in the railroads. Many businesses that depended upon the railroad were forced to close their doors. Quite a number of banks either closed or called in their loans. It was a difficult time.

Such is the backdrop for my new novel, To Claim Her Heart. This book is especially significant to me since it was my dear mother-in-law who introduced me to the history of the land run. It mattered to her because she had several relatives who completed in the landrace and found claims. I vividly remember the summer of 1997 when we stopped off in Oklahoma to see one of those original properties. My sons and I tromped over the land and saw the homestead that was built in 1894. The first home had been a soddy that didn’t last longer than a year.

The rock home I saw was partially built into the side of a hill and in a state of disrepair. A stream gurgled nearby and within a couple of miles, the Gloss (Glass) Mountains cropped out of the landscape. It didn’t take much for me to start imagining characters tromping through the area and choosing to settle there.

While Mom never lived to see this book finally published, she knew that I was working on it in her last days. I’m so thankful that she shared her rich family history with me. Quite a few of the family stories she told me were included in my book.

Here’s what the back cover blurb says:

In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his 'Promised Land. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancée. He hasn't counted on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he is sadly lacking.

Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith's only hope for survival, and not just any plot, she has a specific one in mind. The land's not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. She's willing to put in whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and Elsie's determined to keep it.

Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has no intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land . . . or her heart.

Links:

Purchase Link for To Claim Her Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Claim-Her-Heart-Jodie-Wolfe/dp/1946016470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525790723&sr=8-1&keywords=to+claim+her+heart

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Purchase Link for Mrs. Wigglesworth's Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society:https://www.amazon.com/Wigglesworths-Essential-Etiquette-Manners-Refined-ebook/dp/B07CMWB8KB/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525963859&sr=8-4&keywords=jodie+wolfe

Bio:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. The power of story to influence lives and change hearts is what motivates her to weave tales that tell of the Savior's faithfulness and forgiveness. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests and is a member of ACFW and RWA. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Here’s the first scene:

Chapter One

Competition should be relegated to the male species. Proper young ladies should avoid a situation which permits rivalry, particularly involving the male species. If unavoidable, allow the gentleman to win. Be above reproach in this manner.

Mrs. Wigglesworth’s Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society

September 15, 1893, Kiowa, Kansas—Border of the Cherokee Strip

“Elmer Smith?”

For once in all of her days, Elsie welcomed the name Pa had insisted on when her life began and Ma’s had ended.

“Is that you, son?”

“Ain’t your son.” Ain’t no one’s son. Elsie shifted her Stetson lower to ward off the man’s scrutiny.

“There’s no need to get your prickles up. Do you testify you’re at least twenty-one years of age and head of your household?”

Elsie nodded and bit back a retort.

“Then sign here.” The man shoved a paper across the makeshift desk. Beads of moisture dotted his upper lip.

She scrawled her name on the line. The page crinkled when she folded and shoved it into her shirt pocket, along with the copy of The Homestead Laws and Pa’s hand-drawn map.

“Get out of the way, kid.” A scraggly looking fellow jabbed into her shoulder.

Elsie stepped out of line, glaring at him. He ignored her and turned his attention to the clerk.

She elbowed through a crowd of men. How had her small town swelled to so many folks? Thankfully there were few she recognized, or, more so, who could recognize her. The less who knew her gender, the better. She certainly didn’t need no man to help her get the land she and Pa had dreamed about.

Elsie scooted her hat up and swiped at the sweat on her forehead before dropping it back into place, scrunching the thick braid she’d pinned up three days prior. Hefting her saddlebags to her opposite shoulder, she hiked the short distance to the livery and retrieved Buster. A short ride would clear her head and prepare her for what lay ahead.

Dust swirled and nearly choked Elsie as she rode in the opposite direction of the throngs, to see the old farm one last time.

Acrid smoke filled her lungs. Nearby fires, to deter Sooners from entering the strip before the race began, burned in the west, but not out of control.

Elsie urged Buster, careful not to tire him. Everything hinged on finding the land tomorrow.

Everything.

At the beginning of each chapter I created advice from a Mrs. Wigglesworth. Of course, most of my characters do the complete opposite. :) Because I’ve had such positive feedback in regard to these sayings, I created an ebook of her quips. I’ll be giving away a copy of it as well as an ecopy of To Claim Her Heart, so be sure to leave a comment.

Question for Readers:

What time period/historical event draws your attention?

ENTER to WIN BOOKS!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/831a42731/?

Reviews!

I Married an Idiot by Elaine W. Miller

Wow. What a wonderful, heart-touching devotional book.

I loved the title the first time I heard it. And now that I’ve read the book, I can’t say enough good about it. The ten valid reasons men and women can change about his/her marriage are thought-provoking. Every chapter was easy to read, understand and practical and was priceless with down-to-earth illustrations, some funny and many sad, but all real in today’s world. Every meditation was filled with appropriate scripture. Every reflection was icing on the chapter cakes, the added touch to bring home the truth. Each prayer rich with pleadings a sincere heart can pour out to God. And the suggestions in the Change sections? Brings to mind the words: Go forth and be fruitful. Powerful acts that can and will create results.

I highly recommend this book for ALL marriages. It’s never to late to fall in love again. It’s never too early to determine to keep that love preeminent in a new marriage. By all means buy this book. By all means share with your family and friends.

To Buy the Book, go here:
Amazon
　

　

　


　

The Cuban Christian Writer: Redemption, Encouragement, and Restoration Stories by Roberto Ornan Roche
This is a book of heart-touching stories and devotional-type writings filled with truth and love and scriptural behaviors for which every Christian should strive.

Some of my favorites include:

Sand in My Eyes: admonished us to live a godly life. Don’t ignore the warnings about free thinking and living without regard, a careless and self-centered existence. The end comes too quickly and afterwards we must meet a loving God who is also a just one.

The Friendship’s Secret: A joke conceived by one man upon his best friend is carried throughout a life time. In the end of these two lives who was the winner? A truly wonderful story with a well, thought out ending.

The Last Sheep: What a marvelous encouragement to all Christians who yearn for a loved one and/or family member who has not yet returned to Christ! My heart was touched to not give up hope, but continue with words of gentleness and hope to those yet lost for is not Christ’s longing for that one much greater than our own?

I believe you’ll enjoy this lovely little book from our Cuban brother. Catch a copy of it on Amazon.

To Buy the Book, go here:
Amazon

 

Casa de Naomi by Paula Rose Michealson

A lovely romance! Casa de Naomi is about a young Jewish teenager fleeing from a persecuted Spain. Growing up and committed to her work, she consciously hides her real roots as a Jew until one week after her marriage she is discovered! Seeing the horror in Chaz's, her husband, eyes and hearing the accusations from her new family, Naomi escapes all the hate when a young man--a friend, Alex--takes her to his own group of friends and family. There, Naomi is shown love and kindness and acceptance and eventually turns to Christ as a Savior.


But will her husband change his attitude toward her and come to Christ too? Can a once-upon-a-time-forever love be regained between a couple who hid so much from each other?

You’ll want to check out this romance to find what happens to Naomi and Chaz by going to Amazon as soon as you can. Paula has given us a unique glimpse into the life of the Jewish woman hungering for something real.

To Buy this book, go here:
Amazon


Blessings for your reading day!

The Fifty-Fifty Conundrum

Award winning author Linda Rondeau is here today with an interesting guest post. Read and enjoy!

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 KJV).

As reported by Phil Rizzuto in a radio broadcast: When Ralph Houk was manager of the New York Yankees, baseball schedules were even more exacting than they are now, with double-headers almost every week. Occasionally a player would get sick of the grind and approach Houk, asking for permission to sit out a game. "I know how you feel," the manager would say genially. "Sure, take the day off, but do me a favor. You're in the starting lineup. Just play one inning. Then skip the rest of the game." The player would honor Houk's request--and almost invariably get caught up in the spirit of the game and play it out to the end.

An interesting solution, one that put the game ahead of all else and benefited both the manager and the player.

Marriage, like baseball, takes the full commitment of each partner to harvest good results. When one partner tires of the grind and folds, the consequences can be devastating. It takes both partners committed to the joy of the game to make a marriage work, a 100-100 proposition.

According to Dr. Phil, fifty-fifty unions are at risk for failure. The mindset denotes an expectation of a reward for enduring a period of sacrifice. The fifty-fifty principle results in score-keeping, certain to spark controversy, a heated, “Okay, it’s my turn now.”

The dictionary defines compromise, the basic premise of a fifty-fifty relationship, as a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; something intermediate between different things. This is the reason, according to Dr. Phil, that a fifty-fifty philosophy in marriage simply doesn’t work. But where decisions are based upon a 100-100 plan, i.e. what is best for the marriage rather than the individual, the marriage wins. And when the marriage wins, everyone benefits.

Is this true of our relationship to God?

In many wedding ceremonies, theologians remind the celebrants that marriage as God ordained, most resembles the union between God and the believer. I wonder if we fail to experience full joy in the Lord, because we approach our Faith with a fifty-fifty mentality. We serve God, read the Bible, pray, do our good deeds and all with the expectation that eventually God will reward us. When we believe God is slow on His part, we remind Him, “Okay, God, it’s my turn now.”

But, God in His wisdom encourages us not to tire of doing good things. He tells us, “I understand, you’re tired and want to sit one out. Tell you what, just get out there and bat a few times.” When we get back into the game, without expectation, our joy returns, a joy based on our relationship rather than service.

Oswald Chambers writes “The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do.” Christ service emanated from his joy rather than service being a method to discover joy.

This is the unity God has planned for the believer from the beginning, the purpose for which Christ came, to reconcile the imperfect to the Perfect, the temporal with the Eternal. Our joy springs not from what we do for God, but from being one with God, a 100-100 experience.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Philippians 2:5-6 KJV).



A graduate of Houghton College, Rondeau has spent a previous career in the field of human services, often engaged with families in crisis. She credits these experiences in human drama as the edge in creating unforgettable characters. Furthermore, her prior work has shaped her vision of a future world should current sociological issues remain unchecked over the next several decades.

After more than thirty years in the Adirondack region of Northern New York, Rondeau now resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Steve and their cat Duffer. When not writing, she enjoys theater, golf, and hiking.

She is a member of the Florida Writers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, and several on-line writing groups. She is the owner and founder of Pentalk, a community of writers that features networking pages and a blog. Rondeau contributes a monthly column to her former community newspaper entitled, This Daily Grind and maintains a blog of the same name. Other blogs include Back in the Daze.

Also writing under the name of Linda Wood Rondeau, other books by this author include The Other Side of Darkness.

You may contact the author on Facebook, Linked In, Goodreads, or Twitter or visit her on the web.

The Amazon Kindle for the novel is : http://www.amazon.com/America-II-The-Reformation-ebook/dp/B008CGFVUI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340191492&sr=1-1&keywords=l.w.+rondeau


Check out Linda's websites and her books!
Blessings