WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS BOOK FEATURES PRESENTED BY
TEXAS BOOKAHOLIC
PERFECT GIFT FOR THE READER IN YOUR FAMILY
Friday, December 20, 2019
WELCOME TO DECEMBER CHRISTMAS BOOKS
PRESENTED BY TEXAS BOOK-AHOLIC
Looking for something special to give for Christmas? .
Here is the Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/gp/
One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase
1855 Devonshire, England
Wounded soldier Tristram Nowell returns home to indulge his mother’s
1855 Devonshire, England
Wounded soldier Tristram Nowell returns home to indulge his mother’s
wish for a family Christmas—and encounters Marianna Granville.
Can he forgive the former heiress who jilted him years before?
Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze
1875 County Durham, England
This Yuletide, Bennet Hett, Lord Harwood, offers Lady Celeste Sidwell
Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze
1875 County Durham, England
This Yuletide, Bennet Hett, Lord Harwood, offers Lady Celeste Sidwell
matrimony and the Star of Wonder diamond necklace, as their fathers arranged.
When the diamond disappears, will they find a greater treasure?
The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach
1900 near Washington, DC
A glass ornament. Love letters tied in red Christmas ribbon.
The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach
1900 near Washington, DC
A glass ornament. Love letters tied in red Christmas ribbon.
Lily Morningstar and British antiquities expert Andrew Stapleton
are drawn into a family secret that binds their hearts together.
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher
1857 Elmira, New York
SarahAnn Winnifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher
1857 Elmira, New York
SarahAnn Winnifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing
with pioneering doctors. Rufus Sedgwick, relocating
his English estate, seeks help for his ailing Mum. Christmas reveals the
secret wish of both hearts—for love.
A Christmas Vow by Gabrielle Meyer
1899 Cambrigeshire, England
Lady Ashleigh Arrington is hosting a houseful of guests for
A Christmas Vow by Gabrielle Meyer
1899 Cambrigeshire, England
Lady Ashleigh Arrington is hosting a houseful of guests for
Christmas when railroad executive Christopher Campbell
unexpectedly arrives from America with a mysterious agreement
signed by their fathers before their birth.
The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1867 Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan
When Canadian barrister Percy Gladstone finds his aristocratic
The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1867 Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan
When Canadian barrister Percy Gladstone finds his aristocratic
British family unexpectedly descending upon him for Christmas,
he turns to American social reformer Eugenie Mott and her
fledgling catering crew for help.
Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley
1837 Framlingham, England
How can widow Ophelia Hanover give her son a perfect
Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley
1837 Framlingham, England
How can widow Ophelia Hanover give her son a perfect
Christmas when his guardian, the Earl of Litton, arrives
early to take permanent custody of the boy?
Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad
1880 Blackpool, England
Widowed harpist Beatrix Kent believes love can only come
Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad
1880 Blackpool, England
Widowed harpist Beatrix Kent believes love can only come
once in a lifetime, but this Christmas, carpenter Hugh Sherman
hopes to pull on the musician’s heartstrings and prove her wrong.
The Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch
1887 London, England
Melisande Verity might be in over her head trying to
The Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch
1887 London, England
Melisande Verity might be in over her head trying to
create the perfect Christmas window display, but if she succeeds,
will she finally attract the attention of her boss, Gray Garamond?
______________________________
Thursday, December 19, 2019
WELCOME TO THE UNWILLING PROMISE REVIEW PROMO BLAST
PRESENTED \BY CELEBRATE LIT
Klarysa Tutko, a young single mother, moves to Caribou, Minnesota,
where her family is now living, to put her life back in order. All she
wants is to leave the past in the past; though a family friend has
other ideas and persuades her to make a promise that she is unwilling
to keep.
where her family is now living, to put her life back in order. All she
wants is to leave the past in the past; though a family friend has
other ideas and persuades her to make a promise that she is unwilling
to keep.
Emily Yager writes Inspirational Romance novels set among the lakes,
rivers, and north woods of Minnesota. Is the author of the Pursuing
Voyageurs series.
When Emily is not writing, she is doodling over her notes, listening
to music, searching for a new history book to explore, or dealing with
the dramas of a bi-polar prima donna canine and writing puppy
sidekick, Xian. She lives on the family farm in northwestern Minnesota.
Social Media Links:
Facebook @emilyyagerauthor (https://facebook.com/emilyyagerauthor/)
Twitter @TheEmilyYager (https://twitter.com/TheEmilyYager/)
rivers, and north woods of Minnesota. Is the author of the Pursuing
Voyageurs series.
When Emily is not writing, she is doodling over her notes, listening
to music, searching for a new history book to explore, or dealing with
the dramas of a bi-polar prima donna canine and writing puppy
sidekick, Xian. She lives on the family farm in northwestern Minnesota.
Social Media Links:
Facebook @emilyyagerauthor (https://facebook.com/emilyyagerauthor/)
Twitter @TheEmilyYager (https://twitter.com/TheEmilyYager/)
Purchase link:
https://amzn.to/2O4Y6ir
The story follows a young Ukrainian woman named Klarysa. She has not been lucky in the love department and finds herself divorced and carrying for her young child alone. Without going into much of the story she makes a promise to a dying friend that will be hard to keep. It was interesting to read about Ukrainian culture and learn words they spoke. That was the highlight of the entire story.
Sergey is a nice character who makes a promise to his dying wife that finds him uncomfortable carrying out her wish. The story was clunky at times and didn't quite hit the mark. I don't usually say much about grammar or errors in a book, but this one is in desperate need of an editing overhaul. It lacked the flow you want in a story and was hard to really like the characters.
It had divorce, death, abuse and little to no faith element in the story. I found it to be predictable and not very entertaining. The author has a good concept but didn't develop her characters well. There were a few funny moments but the drama and sadness outweighed everything that would make the story enjoyable to read. I didn't care for how the two got together and there was too much death in the story for my taste.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
About the Book
Book: Crown
Author: Nancy Kaser
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction, Biblical Marriage
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Whether you’re in the honeymoon stage or celebrating your fiftieth anniversary, you have never before been in this season of your marriage. Your family dynamics, finances, health, emotional state, location, ministry, employment status—all the factors of your life—are in a perpetual state of transition. As a married woman, you are continually wife-changing. The Scriptures never change, but they can always be freshly applied to every season of marriage.
Crown is a resource that combines solid Bible teaching, humorous and humbling tales from the author’s own marriage journey, and dozens of compelling stories from real women just like you. Based on Proverbs 12:4, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,” Crownincludes concrete Scriptural truths and real-life examples that will equip you to be the excellent wife God created you to be. Complex issues such as biblical roles within marriage, physical intimacy, communication, forgiveness, and home management are all addressed with candid honesty, encouragement, and biblical substance. In thirty wife-changing lessons, you will be instructed, challenged, and motivated to walk in obedience to God’s beautiful design for marriage.
Click here to get your copy.
About the Author
Nancy Kaser is a passionate pastor’s wife and veteran missionary. For over twenty-five years, she has taught women’s Bible studies, provided biblical counseling, and been a dynamic women’s conference speaker. Based in Southern California, Nancy teaches literature and history classes at The Writtenburg Door. She and her visionary husband also lead short-term mission trips with the Calvary Chapel movement and run a child-sponsorship organization.More from Nancy
Closing the church door after my seventh counseling appointment that week, I was overcome with the realization that every appointment had been relatively indistinguishable. The women I counseled from our congregation were generally unsatisfied, disappointed, and disillusioned with their marriages, and some were downright rebellious in their role as wives. The same anxieties, the same troubles, (and the same sins creating the anxieties and troubles) came up in almost every meeting. Though these church ladies may have been well-versed in the scriptures, no one had taught them how to live out biblical principals in their everyday lives.
As a pastor’s wife, I wished I could meet with every married lady in my church and offer practical discipleship with this hope: that a glorious, fulfilling, and God-honoring marriage—to the same guy she is married to right now! —is absolutely possible through obedience to God’s word.
Crown – 30 Wife-Changing Lessons is a resource that combines solid Bible teaching, humorous and humbling tales from my own marriage journey, and dozens of compelling stories from real women just like you. Based on Proverbs 12:4, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,” Crown includes concrete, scriptural truths and real-life examples that will equip you to be the excellent wife God created you to be. Complex issues such as biblical roles within marriage, physical intimacy, communication, forgiveness, and home management are all addressed with candid honesty, encouragement and biblical substance.
Whether you’re in the honeymoon stage or celebrating your fiftieth anniversary, you have never before been in this season of your marriage. Your family dynamics, finances, health, emotional state, location, ministry, employment status— all the factors of your life—are in a perpetual state of transition. As a married woman, you are continually wife-changing. The scriptures never change, but they can always be freshly applied to every season of marriage. In thirty wife-changing lessons, you will be instructed, challenged, and motivated to walk in obedience to God’s beautiful design for marriage.
The beginning of the book drew me in right away. The author talks about salvation in a way that is very clear and concise. I also believe that just because you said the sinners prayers once, doesn't mean you automatically will go to heaven. I loved the acronym she uses for GOSPEL. I encourage you to write it down somewhere so you can always see it. It is nice to see at the end of each chapter questions that are very useful in the study and helps you dig deeper into the Word.
The author is very upfront about what a Godly marriage is. She lays out exactly two reasons the Bible gives where divorce can be considered-sexual immorality and abandonment. The key here is that the Bible would consider those reasons, not that it is a get out of marriage free card. Many marriages have been through a spouse cheating found their way back and forgiven.
Do you remember saying your vows? I do and know how serious God takes those as well. We make a covenant with each other and God. We don't get to walk away when the going gets tough. We are to stick by each each in good and bad times. Believe me the enemy will throw temptation at us and if we are not working as one, he will find a way into your marriage.
There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. We don't live like Mrs. Cleaver with pearls on each day, the house in perfect order and home cooked meals everyday. We have busy lives and sometimes are distracted from the importance of spending time with our spouse. The key to any great marriage is communication. If we can't share our burdens with each other, we need to find out what is stopping us from doing that.
The book is very well written and each chapter is filled with examples, wisdom and encouragement. "The one thing you have to" do is to determine your husband is first in your heart and be intentional about staying connected to him." I do have to disagree a little with this statement. God should be first in our heart, then our husband. I do agree that our children need to see us honor their father to set a good example for them. They will learn to respect and honor their spouse when they grow up because they saw the example of that in their home growing up.
I want to mention the part in the book about guarding your tongue. So many women love to say bad things about their husbands. They complain they are lazy, never talk etc. Don't be part of that conversation. I have been know to shut down that type of conversation by these words;" I love my husband and would never say anything negative about him to others. I'm sure you would hope that he is doing the same by saying kind things about you to others." Remember we are to honor our husband and not be part of the "husband bashing" going on in conversations with other people. If someone is saying hurtful things about their spouse pray for them and suggest they speak to their spouse about how they are feeling. Remember communication, trust and respect is everything.
"As you guard your heart above all else, the rest of your life will be guarded as well."
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
The author is very upfront about what a Godly marriage is. She lays out exactly two reasons the Bible gives where divorce can be considered-sexual immorality and abandonment. The key here is that the Bible would consider those reasons, not that it is a get out of marriage free card. Many marriages have been through a spouse cheating found their way back and forgiven.
Do you remember saying your vows? I do and know how serious God takes those as well. We make a covenant with each other and God. We don't get to walk away when the going gets tough. We are to stick by each each in good and bad times. Believe me the enemy will throw temptation at us and if we are not working as one, he will find a way into your marriage.
There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. We don't live like Mrs. Cleaver with pearls on each day, the house in perfect order and home cooked meals everyday. We have busy lives and sometimes are distracted from the importance of spending time with our spouse. The key to any great marriage is communication. If we can't share our burdens with each other, we need to find out what is stopping us from doing that.
The book is very well written and each chapter is filled with examples, wisdom and encouragement. "The one thing you have to" do is to determine your husband is first in your heart and be intentional about staying connected to him." I do have to disagree a little with this statement. God should be first in our heart, then our husband. I do agree that our children need to see us honor their father to set a good example for them. They will learn to respect and honor their spouse when they grow up because they saw the example of that in their home growing up.
I want to mention the part in the book about guarding your tongue. So many women love to say bad things about their husbands. They complain they are lazy, never talk etc. Don't be part of that conversation. I have been know to shut down that type of conversation by these words;" I love my husband and would never say anything negative about him to others. I'm sure you would hope that he is doing the same by saying kind things about you to others." Remember we are to honor our husband and not be part of the "husband bashing" going on in conversations with other people. If someone is saying hurtful things about their spouse pray for them and suggest they speak to their spouse about how they are feeling. Remember communication, trust and respect is everything.
"As you guard your heart above all else, the rest of your life will be guarded as well."
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 13
Mary Hake, December 13
Inklings and notions, December 14
Artistic Nobody, December 15
All-Of-kind Mom, December 16
Just the Write Escape, December 17
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 18
Texas Book-aholic, December 19
janicesbookreviews, December 20
Simple Harvest Reads, December 21
For Him and My Family, December 21
A Reader’s Brain, December 22
As He Leads is Joy, December 23
Lots of Helpers, December 24
Quiet Workings, December 25
Godly Book Reviews, December 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away the grand prize package of 2 copies of Crown and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
About the Book
Book: Brand of Light
Author: Ronie Kendig
Genre: Christian Fiction, futuristic, space opera,
Release Date: December 3, 2019
There’s a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.
Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they’re not alone.
After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she’s borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.
Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order—not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted—or cursed—with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of over twenty titles. An Army brat, Ronie lives a shot train ride from New York City with her husband, twin sons, and two fur-sons, VVolt N629, a retired military working dog, and Benning the Stealth Golden. Described as an empath by her literary agent, Ronie has used her degree in psychology to write books that have won the coveted Christy Award, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT Medallion Award, and more. Her books have also hit the CBA Bestseller List multiple times.More from Ronnie
In November 2005, I lurched into a story that started with one small element—what if a hero could literally smell fear? And so I delved into the story with the characters, and felt like I’d fallen into the vortex. I wrote over 90,000 words in one month, this story just gushing out of me.
But I was a very new writer. And if you saw the first draft that gushed out of me, you’d snicker. I sure have. It’s appallingly bad writing, yet the story’s bones are healthy and intact. So, I teased the story into shape over the last fourteen years. In 2012, I took a hard look at it and tried to shape up the writing. I’d even gotten to know Kathy Tyers, who wrote for the Star Wars franchise as well as the much-beloved Firebird series (*insert reverent pause here*), and I bravely asked if she would take a peek at the first fifty pages or so. Being gracious as Kathy is, she agreed to take a look.
Um, yikes. Haha. Make no mistake—Kathy is a brilliant writer, and I will never write like her, but I learned so much her feedback and took it to heart. Clearly, I still had a long way to go before that story was ready for the world, so I delved into honing my craft and deepening this story. Honestly, I was afraid show Brand of Light to anyone again, because I love this story so much and did not want to see “her” fail. Nore correctly—I did not want to fail this story.
About three years ago, I sensed a deep conviction that it was time to stop hiding and, as an act of faith and obedience to what God had given me, to send Brand of Light out into the world. As I write this, she is still 1.5 months out from the release, and I’m scared. I want this beauty to be loved, but even if it’s not, *I love this story and know I honored God with my writing and sending her out. I can rest here for a long while, reveling in the gift God gave me with this storyworld and its characters. I’m excited to see her launch out into the deep now. As Marco and the hunters always say, For Honor.
Welcome to a world that collides with the likes of Star Wars and Star Trek. The imagination the author displays is exceptional. I wasn't sure I would like the book since I'm not a big science fiction reader. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It does have its flaws though. The beginning is very slow and the language was something I had to get used to. Like most science fiction /space movies I've seen, they all have a particular language only know to their own species. I did wonder at times if they were cursing or if I was taking the sayings out of context. There were so many characters floating around I had a hard time keeping up.
Now for all the good parts of the book. Without a doubt Kersei is a great character. She can defend herself and doesn't back down from a fight. She is someone you would want on your side. The most predominate part of the story centers around the kidnapping of Kersei. The torture she goes through is hard to read and I felt like there was an unnecessary amount of harm done to her. I would liked to have seen that toned down a little. I did think her rescuing went on far too long and good have been shortened by several chapters.
Now for my favorite character who is none other than Marco. He is determined to rescue Kersei and has gifts that will help him free her from her captors. His bravery does come with danger and this is where the story really gets good. I loved the scenes when he outsmarted the captors and stayed one step ahead of them. The book does not lack for action or bad guys because there is an abundance of both. I have heard the book referred to as a Space Opera. That does intrigue me and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Through the Fire Blogs, December 14
April Hayman, Author, December 14
Hallie Reads, December 14
amandainpa , December 15
Inside the Wong Mind, December 15
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 16
Wishful Endings, December 16
Pause for Tales, December 16
A Reader’s Brain, December 17
Faery Tales Are Real, December 17
Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 18
Where Faith and Books Meet, December 18
Texas Book-aholic, December 19
Mia Reads Blog, December 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 20
Betti Mace, December 20
Books, Life, and Christ, December 20
Just the Write Escape, December 21
Britt Reads Fiction, December 21
Blogging With Carol , December 22
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 23
The Artist Librarian, December 23
Emily Yager, December 24
mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 24
Bakerkella, December 25
Worthy2Read, December 25
janicesbookreviews, December 26
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 26
Just Your Average reviews, December 26
Inklings and notions, December 27
Splashes of Joy, December 27
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Ronie is giving away the grand prize package of a Tinted Prose edition of Brand of Light, Galaxy Tumbler, “Kersei” Dio Adorable Candle, 3 Character Cards (to include Marco, Kersei, Tigo), and 2 Maps (to include Drosero and the planetary map)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
About the Book
Book: A Season to Dance
Author: Patricia Beal
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Release Date: May, 2017
Ana Brassfield has her path to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House all figured out until her first love, renowned German dancer Claus Gert, returns to Georgia to win her back. Despite a promising start towards her ballet career and pending marriage to landscape architect, Peter Engberg, Ana wonders if her dreams of dancing at the Met are as impossible as her previous romantic relationship with Claus.
Then, an on-stage kiss between Ana and Claus changes everything.
Convinced the kiss is more than a one-time mistake, Peter breaks off their engagement. With an old dog crippled by arthritis and dreams deferred but not left behind, Ana moves to Germany to be with Claus. But the ghost of his late wife, Ana’s own feelings for Peter, and the pressure of earning a spot in a large ballet company are a high price for a shot at success. Ana seems on the verge of having everything she ever dreamed of, but will it be enough?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Patricia Beal is a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, May 2017). Her second novel comes out in February of 2020. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and has worked for the U.S. Army as a writer and editor for many years. Patricia writes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two children. You can find more info about Patricia on her website here.More from Patricia
A Season to Dance: The Book That Wrote Me
When I wrote the first line of my first novel in January of 2011, I wanted to get published because I was desperate to feel important.
I finished writing A Season to Dance that fall and hired coach Gloria Kempton via Writer’s Digest to look at the whole thing and tell me if it was any good.
She saw potential in the story of a small-town professional ballerina with big dreams, but explained I needed a clearer quest, more telling details, better scene structure, and better balance between sequels and dramatic scenes. I joined Gloria’s critique group and spent a year rewriting.
During that year, my husband got orders to move the family from Fort Benning, Georgia, to Germany, and he deployed for the sixth time soon after we settled on a lovely mountaintop in Idar-Oberstein.
When I finished rewriting, Gloria said the novel looked good and had everything a novel was supposed to have. But… “Something’s still missing. I don’t know what it is. We’ve covered it all.”
So of course I did what any writer desperate for validation would do. I told my coach that surely nothing was missing and that it was time to query. I hired a service to blast queries everywhere for me. I know… Shame on me… But God used that.
God’s Plan—Phase One
One query ended up with Mrs. Joyce Hart, of Hartline Literary. The novel wasn’t Christian—I wasn’t a Christian. She shouldn’t have received my query. But she did. She sent me a note saying she liked the storyline but that in Christian novels the protagonist couldn’t live with her love interest without being married. She was very kind and said that if she was missing the point and if the novel was indeed Christian that I should resubmit explaining the living together piece.
When I read it I laughed and rolled my eyes. I started typing a condescending reply. Something about Christian fairy tale brains and me living in the real world, but I decided not to send it.
Days passed. A week passed. A month passed. And all I did was collect rejections. I became bitter. Bitterly sad at first. Then bitterly discouraged. And then bitterly ugly. I’d never been ugly before. Not like that.
See, up to that point, I’d believed that there was some kind of “god” and that somewhere, somehow, being good was right and that it paid off. But with the disappointments of the publishing journey those beliefs became a joke to me. I stood in the middle of my empty German kitchen—husband deployed, kids at school, my first dog had just died. And I looked at that inbox full of rejections and stated to whomever or whatever was out there: “God is dead.”
Mercy. Surely I said that to the “god” of my imagination, and not to the real God—God as He reveals Himself in the Bible. But I know that He was in that kitchen with me. And phase two of His plan was about to start.
Luke 22:31-32: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
God’s Plan—Phase Two
As I lost all restraint and became the worst version of myself, God removed me from my green German mountaintop.
After less than eighteen months in Germany, we were sent back to America, to the Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas. To a place called Fort Bliss—a place from which you can see a Mexican mountain with the words: “Cd. Juárez. La Biblia es la verdad. Leela.” That translates to “City of Juárez. The Bible is the truth. Read it.” Gotta love it. God is good.
During the first six months back in America, I went to two secular writers’ conferences and met more rejection. My lack of restraint and my selfishness didn’t really make me happy. I wanted to go to therapy. I wanted a job. I still dreamed of that book deal that had to be just around the corner. I wanted, I wanted…
But nothing happened, and it didn’t matter how hard I tried to get help, get happy, and find any kind of relief for the pain I felt. Nothing. Happened. I’d never seen so many closed doors—slammed-shut doors—ever in my life. Even the shrink kept double booking, closing early, and somehow cancelling on me. It was ridiculous.
The One Open Door
When God planted our family in the desert, He planted us two blocks from a friend from the Fort Benning years. A friend whose claim to fame was church shopping whenever the Army moved her family. I asked her to take me to church on the first Wednesday of January of 2013.
I fell in His arms. Surrendered, defeated, and dependent. Or what God likes to call—ready. I was born again two weeks later and was baptized on Super Bowl Sunday that February.
Gloria’s “Something Missing”
I had tickets to go to New York for the Writer’s Digest conference that spring, but sometime in March, it dawned on me: “You silly goose of a girl. You wrote a salvation story without the salvation piece.” My first coach, Gloria Kempton, had been right all along. There was something missing!
A Season to Dance isn’t just the story of a small-town professional ballerina who dreams of dancing at the Met in New York and the two men who love her. It’s also the story of a girl desperately trying to fill the God-shaped hole in her heart with often misguided career and romantic pursuits.
I deleted Mrs. Hart’s email that week. Yes, it was still in my inbox. Job well done, Mrs. Hart.
Now, I had work to do. I spent 2013 and the first half of 2014 rewriting the novel. Five ladies from my Sunday school read chapter after chapter as I produced them and cheered me on through that gruesome process. I couldn’t have done it without their support. God is good.
Jeff Gerke edited my novel in the summer of 2014 and had me read Robert McGee’s The Search for Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God’s Eyes. God is good.
I went to my first Christian writers conference, the ACFW 2014 in St. Louis. Two weeks later, Les Stobbe offered to represent me. God is good.
ACFW 2015 was fantastic and many houses are looking at that first manuscript. God is good.
In early 2016, we sold the manuscript to Bling! Romance, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. A Season to Dance released in the spring of 2017. God is good.
My family got saved, too. My husband in July of 2013. Our son in December of 2013. My mom in the fall of 2014. And our little girl just this past summer, the summer of 2015. God is amazingly good!
I have never been so frustrated with a character like Ana. She is a strong willed woman who doesn't really know what she wants. I did enjoy learning about the ballet and how hard it was to be a ballerina. Ana was capable of being great but she was her own worst enemy. Her lack of confidence drove me crazy at times. The author does a good job of letting us see Ana's struggle with faith. I felt as if she was being torn between the secular world and the Christian world.
I was surprised at the numerous mention of alcohol and premarital sex in the book. Her dream has always been to dance at the Metropolitan, but she quickly put those aside when her heart gets broken. There are two men in her life that are as different as night and day. Claus is a dancer like Ana and they have history together. Right away I didn't like him and didn't trust him. He seemed to be shady and along the way we discover lies that unravel a relationship. Deceit, secrets and jealousy run rampant in the story.
Peter was a good match for Ana but something happens to shatter their dream of being together. I did like that he wanted to learn more about God but at times he didn't want to give himself to someone or something he didn't believe in. His story for me was very emotional and his unconditional love for Ana is worth mentioning. There is a lot happening in the story and one of the main points is for Ana to give her heart to God. Will she surrender her life to Him ? The story does have a few emotional scenes that made me cry. I did like parts of the story, but couldn't overlook the harsh language at times and the lack of morals Ana displayed. I would like to have seen the author tell the story in a more compassionate way without actually going into detail about using alcohol and having a relationship before marriage with several people. I also didn't care for the reference to abortion in the story at all. Did I like the story enough to recommend it? Perhaps I could if I give a warning about the story that is not a clean read and some mature subjects are discussed throughout the book.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I was surprised at the numerous mention of alcohol and premarital sex in the book. Her dream has always been to dance at the Metropolitan, but she quickly put those aside when her heart gets broken. There are two men in her life that are as different as night and day. Claus is a dancer like Ana and they have history together. Right away I didn't like him and didn't trust him. He seemed to be shady and along the way we discover lies that unravel a relationship. Deceit, secrets and jealousy run rampant in the story.
Peter was a good match for Ana but something happens to shatter their dream of being together. I did like that he wanted to learn more about God but at times he didn't want to give himself to someone or something he didn't believe in. His story for me was very emotional and his unconditional love for Ana is worth mentioning. There is a lot happening in the story and one of the main points is for Ana to give her heart to God. Will she surrender her life to Him ? The story does have a few emotional scenes that made me cry. I did like parts of the story, but couldn't overlook the harsh language at times and the lack of morals Ana displayed. I would like to have seen the author tell the story in a more compassionate way without actually going into detail about using alcohol and having a relationship before marriage with several people. I also didn't care for the reference to abortion in the story at all. Did I like the story enough to recommend it? Perhaps I could if I give a warning about the story that is not a clean read and some mature subjects are discussed throughout the book.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Among the Reads, December 12
The Power of Words, December 12
As He Leads is Joy, December 13
Through the Fire Blogs, December 13
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 14
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 15
For the Love of Literature, December 15
Hallie Reads, December 16
By The Book, December 16
Girls in White Dresses, December 17
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 17
Texas Book-aholic, December 18
janicesbookreviews, December 19
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae, December 19
Godly Book Reviews, December 20
Blogging With Carol, December 20
Christian Bookaholic, December 21
For Him and My Family, December 21
Inklings and notions, December 22
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, December 22
Emily Yager, December 23
CarpeDiem, December 23
A Reader’s Brain, December 24
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 25
Batya’s Bits, December 25
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Patricia is giving away the grand prize package of a themed basket of book-inspired coffees and chocolate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.