Saturday, July 25, 2015

Encouragement for the Waiting: A Time for Proving




Proving: (v.) to demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence.

 

·         Proving involves Soul-searching.



Psa 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.



Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:



Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.



Waiting is a time for God to show us evidence about ourselves, our sin, and our commitment to Him. While you wait, God is testing you, proving your faithfulness to him.



Also, waiting is a time for us to prove to the world God is true to His word. Others are watching you. Maybe we should rethink those times of waiting we hate so much and consider them as witnessing opportunities, places in our life to show that God is Who He says He is. That He is enough.




One thing we often find when we’re searching our hearts is fear.



Maybe fear of the unknown and what may happen.

Fear of not living, thinking waiting on God may cause you to miss out.

Fear of living and taking the next step by faith when God says move.



Fear is the opposite of trust. The devil tries to fight our faith with fear. But the Bible says in I John 4:18 perfect love casts out fear—let God who IS LOVE prove Himself to you during your time of waiting. When Jesus is the Lover of your soul, you don’t have to fear what He will bring into your life.



I’ll show my ignorance by admitting I’m not sure who Mary Oliver is, but I like her quote I randomly found on Pinterest:


 



God is not late. He has not lost touch. He’s not limited. He will fill you in your time of waiting.

Monday, July 20, 2015

A WORTHY PURSUIT by Karen Witemeyer ~ Reviewed



About the Book:

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?

Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.



My Review:

Karen Witemeyer must have a magical golden pen she's not telling anyone about. The prose throughout this sophisticated, romantic, Wild West adventure was a treasure trove sure to delight readers.

The characters: I fell in love with every single character, except the baddies, but I sure loved hating them! I'm still trying to figure out Karen's secret for creating such real-to-life, masculine heroes. My lands, but this one is swoon-worthy. *blush* His steady, determined pursuit of his love interest as well as his raw honesty and candidness make this leading man one to remember. He's the ultimate, rock hard Wild West hero, but where other novelists have tried to portray him, the effect has been a bit larger than life and too amazing to be real. Not so with Stone. No matter how many baddies he can take down with his impressive skill set, he still bleeds red and has a limit to his invulnerability, which softens the heroine's heart right up.

The plot: Alas, my copy of the book fell open to a pivotal scene and I glimpsed a spoiler early on, so I wasn't as surprised by some of the plot twists. But I'm sure others who guard their "first-read eyes" will find the plot to be a rousing page-turner.

The setting: Engrossed in the story, I only remembered the overall setting being somewhere in the "West." Probably Texas. Scenes were easily visualized and the important components of "close up" settings were effectively conveyed without encumbering the reader with too many details--a talent within itself.

The romance: Oh my. You'll just have to read it. The breaking down of walls comes very naturally but not without pain on both sides. These two hearts have waited a long time to find their match and the hesitance on either side makes the wooing so much sweeter, especially when Stone recognizes the heroine's weakness and makes it his heart's mission to fight through her pain and lead her to healing.

Karen's books are always a treat. If you've never tried any of her novels, you won't regret doing so. If you have, I don't have to tell you anything more, you'll already know this one is a worthy pursuit. :) 
 
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Susan Page Davis Interview and Blue Moon Bride Novella Featurette

Hi, Susan! So glad to have you back! Tell us a little about your new book.

This novella is a historical romance, and it’s a sequel to The Christmas Tree Bride, in which Polly had received a Christmas card from her friend Ava. In Blue Moon Bride, Ava rides the railroad to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to visit Polly. On the way, she finds danger and romance.

Gotta love the wildness of Wyoming! I was blessed to visit the historical Cheyenne Railroad station a couple years ago and took a photo beside the brass lady statue there (wish I could find the pic, I'd include it here). Fun! Alrighty, here's another question:

If you were in your heroine’s shoes when the story starts, would you react differently than she? How so?

Probably not. Ava’s younger sister is getting married before she does. I never had a younger sister, so I’m not sure how that would feel. I know being single does not have the stigma today that it did back then. But I would definitely see the trip to Wyoming as a grand adventure!

How would you label the overall mood of your stories: dark, gritty, poignant, sensitive, heart-warming, light, witty, humorous, adventurous?

Hopeful.

A sneak peek into what you're working on right now?

My son and I just finished writing a seafaring novel, about a nineteenth-century merchant ship manned by women. It was great fun writing the story, and we hope to continue the saga. Right now, publishers are looking at the concept.

What do you do for a fun break if you find yourself overwhelmed with writing pressures?

Where I live, Jeopardy comes on at 3 p.m. That makes a great break for me—relaxing, enjoyable, and not too long. I also have a piece of exercise equipment near where I watch, so I can work out while watching if I want to.

Do you blog? If so, leave us the address.

I’m a regular on www.hhhistory.com. The formal name of the blog is Heroes, Heroines, and History. It’s presented by 31 historical fiction writers. Once a month, each of us blogs about the historical topic of her choice. My day of each month is the 23rd. In June, I blogged about the color orange, and what English-speaking people called “orange” before they knew about the fruit by that name. It’s lots of fun, and the topics are widely varied. Come see us and leave a comment. We have several giveaways each month, too, so it’s a great place to win a book by a historical fiction author.

Bonus fun questions:
Where is your favorite spot to read?

In bed, under a cozy quilt, or out on the back deck.


Author bio.

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than fifty published novels and novellas. Her historical novels have won numerous awards, including the Carol Award, the Will Rogers Medallion for Western Fiction, and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest. She has also been a finalist in the More than Magic Contest and Willa Literary Awards. Susan lives in western Kentucky with her husband Jim. She’s the mother of six and grandmother of nine. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com

Book blurb.
In Blue Moon Bride, two young Easterners travel West, Ava to visit her childhood friend and Joe on business. They meet on the train and find themselves allies when they are robbed by an outlaw gang. While Ava emerges unscathed, Joe loses his job in the aftermath of the robbery. Will he land on his feet—and will he ever see Ava again? It only happens once in a blue moon.

Blue Moon Bride is available as an e-book in the Twelve Brides of Summer collection #1 for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XIW4FQ2 and for Nook at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-12-brides-of-summer-novella-collection-1-susan-page-davis/1121957907?ean=9781634095723



 
It is also found in the paperback anthology Old West Summer Brides, in Wal-Mart stores.














Susan is generously giving away either an e-book copy of Blue Moon Bride, or a paper copy of the collection it’s found in, Old West Summer Brides. Winner’s choice! Comment on the blog WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (email at server dot com) to win.

  
Comment fodder:
What about you, readers? Where is YOUR favorite spot to read? 

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Susan Anne Mason Interview


Hi, everyone! Please welcome Susan Anne Mason!

Hi, Sue! Give us a couple sentences describing what you write.
I write historical and contemporary inspirational romance. I describe my style as “romance sprinkled with faith” because in the midst of a wonderful romance, I love to spread God’s message of hope and love.

How would you label the overall mood of your stories: dark, gritty, poignant, sensitive, heart-warming, light, witty, humorous, adventurous?
I’d like to think of my stories as heart-warming, with some emotional angst (as is often the case when falling in love), mixed with a spiritual journey, and of course, a happily-ever-after!

What is the name of your latest book? My latest book is “Irish Meadows”, an historical romance set in 1911 New York. It’s a little different in that it chronicles two distinct romances of the O’Leary sisters.

Using any celebrity, past or present, whom would you cast as your main characters? And/Or give us a description, and we can give our own casting opinions in the comments!  Well, I have four main characters (two complete romances) in this story. I’ll concentrate on the main two. For the heroine, Brianna O’Leary, I picked actress Molly Quinn, who plays the daughter in the TV series “Castle”. With her red hair and pretty features, she definitely reminds me of Brianna. And for her love interest, Gilbert Whelan, I chose the very handsome Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) for his dark hair and blue eyes! If you like Pinterest, I have a board created for “Irish Meadows”. Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out! https://www.pinterest.com/susanannemason/irish-meadows/

 

What is the theme of your story and how did you come to it? Any real-life inspiration? The main theme of my story, one that all the characters struggle with in one way or another, is that of being true to oneself. It’s something that resonated with me, as I’m sure many people can attest to, the need to follow our own heart, and stay true to our own inner moral compass, even when it disappoints other significant people in our lives.

A sneak peek into what you're working on right now? I’ll be working on galleys for book 2 in the Courage to Dream series called “A Worthy Heart” which is Adam O’Leary’s story.  And I’m in the beginning stages of the third book in the series, working title “Love’s Healing Grace”. This book will chronicle Deirdre O’Leary’s journey to love, with her brother Connor finding his life’s partner along the way!

Describe your writing space. Right now it’s my kitchen table near our bay window. It’s the cheeriest spot in the house and the one with the most light! One day, I hope to have my own office (when the children fly the nest!) and will decorate it exactly how I wish!

Bonus fun questions:
Which is your favorite hot drink to sip while reading? Tea, coffee, hot cocoa, apple cider, wassail or other?    Though I drink coffee in the morning, I normally sip tea while I’m writing (or reading). My favorite is a red African tea called Rooibos.

Favorite movie for this time of year? I love romantic comedies any time of year. One of my favorites is “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Another is “Leap Year” with Amy Adams!








Author bio. 
Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She particularly enjoys exploring the themes of forgiveness and redemption in her stories. Irish Meadows is her first historical novel and won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Author chapter of RWA.
Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.com.





Irish immigrant, James O’Leary, has spent his life building Irish Meadows into a thriving horse farm and is not about to let hard economic times threaten its success. He intends for his daughters to marry prosperous men—ones who will secure the family’s rightful place in society, and at the same time, guarantee the future of Irish Meadows. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.
Brianna and Colleen O’Leary know their father expects them to marry well. Yet despite his wishes, Brianna, the quieter sister, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry—as long as her father’s choice meets her exacting standards. When stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from college and distant family member Rylan Montgomery stops in on his way to the seminary in Boston, the two men quickly complicate everyone’s plans. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Historical Quiz and Tidbits with Amanda Cabot


Little Known Bits of History
By Amanda Cabot



I promised Natalie a post about history today, but let’s start with a quiz.  Oh, you weren’t expecting that, were you?  Let’s try, anyway.  Here are a few questions to test your historical knowledge.  I’ll make it easy on you.  Instead of fill-in-the-blanks, which I hate, these are all true/false questions.

1.      Abilene was founded in 1867 as part of the Union Pacific’s expansion west.  Like most early railroad towns, it was characterized by saloons, gambling halls and so much rowdiness that it became known as “Hell on Wheels.”

2.      The Army post that was established to protect the railroad workers in Omaha is still in existence today, although it’s now an Air Force base.

3.      When it opened in 1882, Denver’s opera house was the only one west of the Mississippi.

4.      In 1883, San Francisco was the wealthiest city per capita in the world.

5.      The Inter Ocean hotel in Salt Lake City was the first anywhere to have electric lights in each of the guest rooms.

Are you ready for the answers?  Number one is false, number two is false.  In fact, they’re all false.  Surprised?  You’ll probably be more surprised to learn that if you substitute “Cheyenne” for the city names I used, the statements all become true.  Yes, in less than twenty years, Cheyenne went from a rough and tumble railroad town to become both the territorial capital and one of the wealthiest cities in the country.  That wealth brought with it many of the amenities you’d expect, including an opera house that attracted the likes of Lily Langtry, streets lined with mansions, some of which boasted their own ballrooms, and electric lights for both homes and streets.
Though Cheyenne was founded as a railroad town and though the Union Pacific, along with the territorial government were major contributors to the city’s growth, much of the wealth came from cattle.  Believe it or not, raising cattle in Wyoming came about almost by accident.  When bad timing forced one herd to remain in Wyoming rather than be driven east during the winter of 1854, the owner left, probably expecting the worst.  Instead, when he returned in the spring, he discovered that not only was his herd still intact, but the animals had thrived on the air-cured grasslands of eastern Wyoming. 
Cattle ranching grew rapidly in Wyoming Territory, in part because of the open range.  Who could resist the lure of free grazing?  The result was an influx of ranchers and cattle companies, culminating in what was called the “Great Grass Bonanza” of 1876 to 1886.  It was during that era that Cheyenne reached its pinnacle of wealth and influence, with cattle barons dominating the city’s social events.  But all things end.  Greed that led to overgrazing, and a particularly brutal winter with massive herd losses caused many of the cattle barons to declare bankruptcy during the spring of 1887.    
Depressing?  Some might say so.  I’m sure that if I’d lived in Cheyenne then, I would have been distressed by all the changes that the end of that first cattle era brought.  But as an author 125 years later, I found that final year of immense wealth and prosperity intriguing enough to use it as the background for “The Fourth of July Bride,” my story in The 12 Brides of Summer: Novella Collection #2.
So, let’s end with one more quiz:
1.      True or false: An author can find a story in almost anything.
True.  Definitely true.




The 12 Brides of Summer -- Coming July 1,2015
Fireworks start to fly as love finds its way into open hearts in the 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #2.

A Bride Rides Herd by Mary Connealy
Matt Reeves arrives at his brother's ranch to find Betsy Harden alone with the little girls during a cattle drive. Will the ladies be too much to handle when Matt steps in for the missing ranch hand?

The Fourth of July Bride by Amanda Cabot
Cattle baron Gideon Carlisle offers to pay for surgery that Naomi Towson's mother needs, if Naomi will enter a faux courtship with him while his mother is visiting over the fourth of July. It's a business arrangement, nothing more.

The Summer Harvest Bride by Maureen Lang
Sally Hobson is practically engaged to the mayor's son when Lukas Daughton and his family come to town to build a gristmill. She can't deny an unusual feeling growing for Lukas, but is he trustworthy?



With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled "All About Thermometers," were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she's sold more than thirty novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she's not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and - of course - reading.