Romantic Reads: Sweet Summer

The Story Behind the story Sweet Summer by Christina Sinisi:

First, thank you, Alexis, for this opportunity to share the story behind the story with your readers. I’m excited to share and hope to inspire others!

As soon as I could begin to write, I did—in third grade. I started with poems and then wrote a play in fifth grade. In eighth grade, I wrote a “novel” about the “monstrous goop” that evolved from dirty dish water and devoured everything in its path. In high school, I was “Creative Writing” student of the year as a senior. In college, I published poetry in the college magazine. Then, after graduating, I wrote another novel, submitted it, and received my first rejection letter. I didn’t know where to go from there, so I concentrated on graduate school, a day job, and raising children.

When my daughter began kindergarten, I started again. I'd been writing for pretty much my whole life, getting close to being published, but then getting a no every time. At the beginning of June 2019, after experiencing losses in my personal life, I read a call on the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) email loop for Christmas novellas. That was June 6. The deadline was the end of the month. With a lifetime of experience behind me, I sat down and wrote Christmas Confusion in three and a half weeks. Then, Anaiah Press bought the book!

Because of the rush to meet that deadline, I hadn't had time to send the manuscript to friends to proofread or even to my mentor to read. When my mentor, Eloisa James, did read the book, she said, “Now, I want to hear the sisters' stories.”

I had already started a new book, The Christmas Promise (I'm working on finishing it now), but I put it aside and started writing Shelby's story. I finished her book by December 2019. The book went to Anaiah and my editor was surprised it was a full-length novel. They didn't have space to publish a full-length novel in 2020. But they would consider it for 2021. Not wanting to lose momentum and not wanting to wait a whole other year before publishing something else, I sat myself down and wrote Christmas on Ocracoke and finished it by June.

But now it's 2021, and it's Shelby's turn! Let me tell you about her story … 

Shelby Marano is the youngest of three sisters and was always Daddy’s baby girl—until her father was murdered when she was only eight years old. Ever since, she’s been running from anyone or anything that could truly hurt her. Instead, she seeks calculated thrills that leave her exhilarated, but when she’s caught outside during a summer storm, she quickly realizes not all adventures are within her control.

Tyler Burgess struggles with the responsibility of caring for a mother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Forced to take a leave of absence from work and put his life on hold, his only reprieve is the volunteer work he does at the local museum. When a soaking-wet Shelby barges in, he offers her both refuge from the rain and a safe place to land. She’s the breath of fresh air he didn’t know he needed.

Tyler proves to be much more than just a nerd in a history museum, but what she finds out about him is a deal-breaker for her. As family health issues and an unknown stalker threaten Shelby’s perfect little world, she learns a hard lesson: no one can hide from the dangers of life. Can Shelby let her sisters, Tyler, and even more importantly, God, show her in one Sweet Summer that love is worth taking the risk?

Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear others’ stories of times where they struggled and persisted. God can certainly open and close doors—we just have to be willing to walk through!

~*~
Author Bio:

Christina Sinisi is a member of the ACFW. 

She writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a story that became a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest and the American Title IV Contest, in which she appeared in the Top Ten in the Romantic Times magazine. 

Christina’s published books include Christmas Confusion and Sweet Summer, the first two books in the Summer Creek Series, as well as the Christmas On Ocracoke and the upcoming Why They Call it Falling.

By day, she is a psychology professor. Christina lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband, two grown children, and Chessie (her Hemingway cat).

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Buy Christina’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Christina:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/christinasinisi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaSinisiAuthor/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csinisi123/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christina-sinisi
Website: https://www.christinasinisi.com/

My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Toni Shiloh's book giveaway

Welcome to the 29th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Toni Shiloh.

She's here to give away one of her books!

Enter the book giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget the end of this blog post. Only residents of the USA are eligible to receive a signed paperback copy of this author's books. International residents will only receive ebook copies due to costs of mailing books outside of the USA.

Let's learn a little bit more about Toni and her book ...

Author Bio:

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. 

Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Virginia Chapter.

You can learn more on her website at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Deck the Shelves:

Kendall Jackson is the proud owner of Heartfalls’ bookstore, The Cozy Shelf. 

Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she’s missing that leading man. 

Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance—the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding. 

Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving. 

Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves? 

~*~

Connect with Toni:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonishilohwrite

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh

My BookCave: https://mybookcave.com/profile/toni-shiloh/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gcMfqT

A blog that Toni founded: http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Christmas on My Heart: On Angels’ Wings by Ginger Solomon

The story behind the story On Angels’ Wings by Ginger Solomon:

One day as I was surfing through my social media, I saw a person standing in front of a drawing of white angel wings on a black wall. I liked the picture.

My son is a decent artist on his tablet, so I asked him to duplicate the picture for me (his wings are behind my characters on the cover). Then I had to decide how I would incorporate those wings into my story. Yes, I had my cover design almost before I started the story. That rarely happens.

Sadly, that meant killing a few people—my heroine’s family—before the story started. From their deaths, Jenna Wing, my heroine, received enough money to start her own business, Angels’ Wings Bakery. But it also meant moving away from her childhood home.

Fast forward several months to her first Thanksgiving without her family. Her former neighbor, a woman who had been like a second mom to her, asks her adult son to invite Jenna to dinner, but he forgot. On Thanksgiving Day, he shows up unannounced and refuses to take no for an answer, well, his mother does.

And that’s where Jenna is reunited with Thomas, my hero. Sparks ignite within her when he’s anywhere close. They had since she was a teen and had a huge crush on him. A crush that rushed back the moment he walked in her bakery.

The story just took off from there. I don’t want to give too much away, but Jenna and Thomas deal with the repercussions of an attempted suicide, grief, and the urge to protect themselves from additional pain of loving someone.

This story touched me in so many ways. Every time I reread one of the lines I highlighted as one that affected me, I remember God’s rebuke. And yes, He rebukes ME through my stories. Sometimes it’s very gentle, and sometimes it’s like a slap in the face.

One of the gentler ones came with this statement made by Jenna, “I have to remember it doesn't matter what other people think of me. All that matters is how God sees me.”

I’m a people pleaser. I always have been. I care what others think of me. Too much at times. But in this story, God reminded me that the world (in general) will not accept me and may even persecute me because of my beliefs. But I have to remember and be reminded that God’s view of me is all that matters.

Am I doing what He has asked of me? Am I writing the stories He puts on my heart? Have I raised my kids to love Him? Do I live the life I say I live? Is my heart focused on Him?

And so many other things I ask myself. I always say that I write for His glory and not for the monetary rewards (good thing, ‘cuz those are very limited) or accolades (those are limited as well). But do I really write for His glory? In my heart, yes. In my mind, sometimes I want the money and the pats on the back. Yep, I’m human. But at the end of the day, I come back to the 3x5 card I have posted beside my monitor. It says, “Write for God alone.”

With On Angels’ Wings, I think I did. I wrote a story that touched me in so many ways. It taught me valuable lessons about my lack of belief, lack of trust, and people-pleasing problems.

I pray it touches others in a similar way. But God has control of that. And if He’s pleased with me, with the words I put on paper, then I’m a success—no matter what the world thinks of me.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). 

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind. 

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

~*~
Book Blurb for On Angels’ Wings:

Bakery owner, Jenna Wing prepares to spend Thanksgiving alone—her first without her family. 

When her former neighbor, Thomas Hayes, invites her to dinner, she finds that she can’t say no. Their previous friendship turns to something more, but Thomas’s family issues threatens their new-found relationship. 

~*~
Book Ginger's book on Amazon

Ginger's book is part of a boxed set called, "The Heart of Christmas: A Romantic Christmas Novella Collection." 

Here's the blurb for the entire boxed set: Announcing five new stories filled with faith, hope, forgiveness, and of course happily-ever-afters. Each story focuses on an element of the Nativity, from the angels to the wise men. Be swept up in the love of the season and the promise of forever that the Christ child, the true Heart of Christmas, brings.

~*~
Connect with Ginger:
Website
Inspy Romance Blog
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
Pinterest
Amazon Author Page

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Devotionals for the Heart: Fear Not!

Fear Not!
A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?”
~Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT)

I’ve been dealing with a lot of fear lately. I’m not sure why. Crazy hormones? Bad eating habits? Too much stress? A teen with a learner’s license?

Two years ago, I also dealt with fear, but then I had a specific reason. I was facing brain surgery. My neurosurgeon was confident in his abilities, but any little thing could have gone wrong and caused my death.

At the time, I took out a notebook and searched for verses about fear. I wrote a bunch of them down. Not every verse applied to me, but many did. And God buoyed my faith in Him at that critical time.

Today, I struggle.

And, sadly, I have not yet overcome. I wallow instead of praying. *Shrug* What can I say? I’m human. I forget God’s promises.

I’m sure you’ve heard, but I’ll tell you again, in case you didn’t know and to remind myself. “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times. (Someone else says 366 to account for leap year, but I didn’t check it out.) Every day, God has given us a verse to fight against the fear.

And yet, here I am, living my life afraid.

What am I afraid of? In essence, it boils down to one thing—getting hurt. I don’t like to be in pain. But then who does? And I find this utterly amusing because for the last seven years, I have lived with chronic back pain.

I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of falling, or more accurately, of landing. I’m not afraid of cars. I’m afraid of car accidents (people are crazy drivers). I’m not afraid of writing stories. I’m afraid of disappointing God by not writing the right story. Do you see where I’m going?

But my fear is holding me back. And, more importantly, it’s starting to affect my family.

I’ve taught five children to drive (that’s scary, in and of itself). I should have this whole sitting in the passenger seat down, but I don’t. I still get nervous. My inexperienced child is behind the wheel of a four-thousand-pound vehicle. And there are IDIOTS on the streets (and no, I don’t apologize for that word because it is absolutely accurate). Anything could happen.

And therein lies the rub.

I’m scared of what could happen. It steals my joy of the right now. It makes my child think I don’t trust his driving abilities, and really, it’s not him so much as it is what the other people are doing.

What I need to remember, and yes, I’m still working on it, is that GOD is in control. My fear is in direct opposition to trusting Him. If I trusted Him like I should, I don’t need to be afraid.

I learned that lesson during the month before my surgery. I trusted Him like I never had before. It was a supernatural faith. And I want it back. I want to look at life through the lens of faith.

My Prayer: Dear God, whatever comes my way today, help me have faith. Help me to trust in Your divine plan and if pain is a part of that plan then help me rely on You to get through it.

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly).

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour for Cara Putman's NEW book Delayed Justice

Welcome to my blog's stop on Cara Putman's book tour!

Cara wrote a book called Delayed Justice. It's a legal romantic suspense story that will grip you by the collar from the start and take you on a journey where you cannot wait to find out what happens next!

Delayed Justice will release next Tuesday, October 16. You can buy it then!

Keep reading to learn more about Cara's book and enter the giveaway contest at the end.

~*~

About the Book:

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jamie, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

Click here to purchase your copy!

~*~

About the Author:

Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. 

In 2005, she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently working on book 30 and 31.

Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and currently serves on its Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.

Cara is also an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is.

She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!) and George Mason Law School, and Krannert School of Management.

You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com
~*~
Guest Post from Cara:

Delayed Justice was a hard story to write.

I’d known from Beyond Justice that Jaime had a hard story, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. She tried to hide from her past. She tried hard, but in the end, it slowly spilled out. A young girl wounded deeply by someone who should protect her. And now as a professional young woman, Jaime is still fighting the shadows.

She believes she’s okay, or as okay as she’ll ever be.

Instead, she has to learn that there’s so much more waiting for her. Freedom from the chains of a past she didn’t choose. A love that will never end. And a God who has always loved her even when she questions His existence because of her past.

I think we’ve all lived that. There’s a place in our hearts that seems beyond His reach. For some of us, it’s a barrier to knowing Him. To others of us, it makes us question what we thought we knew about God. And for others of us, it presses us deeply into Him. Jaime’s book, Delayed Justice, explores this space. It's the space where some days we scream at the heavens "Where are you, God?" And the days we just curl into ourselves because life is too hard.

And in that space of shadow and light, God ultimately shines brightest. This is a truth that is slowly revealed through friends and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

~*~
My Review of Delayed Justice:

This book was one wild, thought-provoking, page-turning emotional rollercoaster!

The characters were well-developed, multilayered and filled with their own issues that moved the plot forward.

As an author, Cara Putman knows how to grip the reader by the collar from the start and propel them forward through the story in a way that makes the reader feel like they are in the story and experiencing the scenes with the characters.

Delayed Justice tackles sensitive topics with tact and finesse. The ending shocked me but did not take away from the previous chapters because the entire story was well-written.

This is a good book for anyone who is seeking justice in their own real-life story.

*Celebrate Lit provided me (Alexis A. Goring) with a complimentary copy of "Delayed Justice". My opinions in this book review are my own.

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Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 29

Fiction Aficionado, September 29

The Avid Reader, September 29

The Power of Words, September 29

The Christian Fiction Girl, September 29

The Lit Addict, September 30

BBHfiction, September 30

Painting with Words, September 30

Real World Bible Study, September 30

Janices book reviews, September 30

cherylbbookblog, October 1

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 1

Back Porch Reads, October 1

Cafinated Reads, October 1

Faithfully Bookish, October 1

Because I said so – adventures in Parenting, October 2

Lighthouse Academy, October 2

Livin Lit, October 2

Inklings and notions, October 2

Bigreadersite, October 2

All-of-a-kind Mom, October 3

Reading Is My SuperPower, October 3

The Becca Files, October 3

Blogging With Carol, October 3

Lights in a Dark World, October 3

Genesis 5020, October 4

Cathe Swanson, October 4

Spoken from the Heart, October 4

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 4

100 Pages per Hour, October 5

Multifarious, October 5

Book by Book, October 5

Splashes of Joy, October 5

Rockin’ My Mom Jeans, October 6

Mary Hake, October 6

Godly Book Reviews, October 6

Two Points of Interest, October 6

C Jane Read, October 7

Daysong Reflections , October 7

Bibliophile Reviews, October 7

Buy, Borrow, Skip, October 7

The Mimosa Blossom, October 8

Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 8

Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses, October 8

Maureen’s Musings, October 8

Just the Write Escape, October 9

Simple Harvest Reads, October 9 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Remebrancy, October 9

Carpe Diem, October 9

Quiet Quilter, October 10

Margaret Kazmierczak, October 10

At the Fence, October 10

By The Book, October 10

God is Love, October 11

A Baker’s Perspective, October 11

proud to be an autism mom, October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 11

Henry Happens, October 12

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, October 12

Have A Wonderful Day, October 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 12

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a grand prize package that includes a Courage Dear Heart bracelet, a The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe print, a copy of Delayed Justice, and a box of Turkish Delight!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! 

Click the link below to enter. 

https://promosimple.com/ps/d5c4/delayed-justice-celebration-tour-giveaway

Summer Stories: Teacher's Pet

Teacher’s Pet
A guest post by Gail Gaymer Martin

Although Teacher’s Pet is the name of my new release with a story that has nothing to do with my experience, the title rings true for the novel and for me. I was a high school teacher, later a counselor at the same school, and I loved animals. We owned two cats and two dogs. As time passed and the pets grew older and with lots of tears, we said goodbye to Teddy, our samoyed. Along with two cats, we still had our oldest pet, a small terror, named Jinx who lived to be twenty.

As Jinx grew older, he began to lose a few of his faculties, but he was still a loving dog that meant so much to us. One day, we let him out in the backyard and not thinking when a meter reader had gone into the backyard, we didn’t check after he left. He forgot to close the gate.

When I opened the door to let Jinx in, he was gone. I panicked and we drove up and down the neighborhood streets and didn’t find him. Next, we called the humane society since dogs were not allowed to run loose in our neighborhood. I also called the police department to let them know. Jinx did wear a collar with his license number on it, so we put up signs in stores and everywhere we could with his name and how to contact us. I heard from a couple of people, but when we searched their home area, it was either not Jinx or he had already moved on.

We waited and waited with his licenses number by the phone. After a week of crying, my husband and I faced the truth. He had been hit by a car or someone had taken him. Every day I looked at his food and water dishes and kept telling myself to dispose of them, but I didn’t have the heart.

One day I received a telephone call from Jinx’s veterinarian. He asked if we still owned Jinx. I said yes but told him Jinx had been missing for over a week. His comment startled me. “We think Jinx is here. The clerk saw him outside the building and recognized him. She asked me to take a look and I think it’s him. He’s wearing a license. Do you have the number?”

My heart pounded as I shifted the paper in front of me and read him the numbers.

“It’s him. He’s a bit bedraggled, and the pads of his feet are worn, but otherwise, he is fine.”

I could barely speak to say thank you a ton of times and to tell him we would be there. My mind reeled, trying to image Jinx finding his way to the veterinarian’s office which was at least nine miles away with two major highways to cross with four lanes in each direction.

We left home for the vet’s office unable to understand how Jinx had survived that journey and that he’d found his way to his veterinarian’s office. When we picked him up, he smelled awful and his little feet were worn, but we didn’t care. While my husband drove home, I hugged him and let him lick me as I thanked the Lord that somehow Jinx had found his way home.

My one regret was that we should have contacted a newspaper with this happy ever after story. But I’m telling the story now, even though Jinx had been gone for many years. I still have wonderful memories, and I’m still amazed.

~*~
Author Bio:

Best-selling and award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin is the author of contemporary Christian and sweet romance and romantic suspense with 81 contracted novels and over 4 million books sold. 

Her novels have received numerous national awards, including the ACFW Carol Award, Booksellers Best, and RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. 

She is the author of Writer Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance and is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). 

Gail is a keynote speaker at women’s events at churches, civic and business organizations as well as a workshop presenter at conferences across the U.S.A.

She lives in Michigan with her husband.

~*~
Book Blurb for Teacher’s Pet:

Molly Manning loves dogs, and she uses shelter dogs with her Teacher’s Pet special education school program to provide discipline training and love for her students and the dogs. 

But her dream is a building of her own to run her Teacher’s Pet business, and Brent Runyan has that building. But Brent, a workaholic businessman, is not interested. He’s trying to raise his orphaned nephew who has special needs, and Brent is failing. 

His tragic past puts dogs on his no interest list, but Molly is persistent. Soon Brent finds himself and his nephew, tangled in Molly’s dream and, even more, in Molly’s life.

~*~

Buy Gail's book on Amazon

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Connect with Gail:
Website: www.gailgaymermartin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gail.g.martin.3
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GailGMartin
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/83354.Gail_Gaymer_Martin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/collection/sAX1kB

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Summer Stories: To Claim Her Heart

Dealing with Bitterness
A guest post by Jodie Wolfe

"Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many." ~Hebrews 12:14-15 (HCSB)

There’s a good chance that at some point in your Christian walk, you’ve struggled with disappointment and hurts which if unchecked, led to bitterness. Perhaps you’ve been treated poorly by others, you were blamed for something you didn’t do, someone said hurtful things about you or treated you unfairly, maybe you never measured up to your family and their expectations of you, someone didn’t listen to you or said things behind your back, or maybe you’ve had a friend who betrayed you by going against their word. There’s a myriad of situations that can lead us into bitterness if we don’t make a conscious decision to root it out.

There have been several times throughout my life when I’ve suffered blows that have rocked me to the very core. I believe women especially deal with holding onto our hurts, bringing them out on various occasions to remember how we’ve been wronged, only to stuff them back down inside us again until we feel the need to repeat the process.

When we’ve been hurt, we must make every effort to forgive and move on. Satan loves to have us recall the hurts and fall into bitterness because it keeps us focused on ourselves. It limits our chance to be effective as a Christian when our eyes are on us instead of the Lord.

Letting go of the bitterness isn’t always easy and may not be a once and done type of thing, especially since the devil loves to bring things up to us multiple times. Sometimes we need to continue to pin that bitterness to the foot of the cross, over and over again.

This struggle is what my heroine faces in my newest release, To Claim Her Heart. Elmer Smith (Elsie) is suffering after the loss of her father and childhood home. The Christians in her church weren’t there when she needed them the most to come alongside and assist her. In turn, she’s bitter about life and takes it out on those around her.

She participates in the Cherokee Strip Land Run to find the land her father wanted her to claim. She does so, as a way to honor him. Sparks fly when she finds out that she’s claimed the same land as a preacher. It takes a while for her to learn the important lesson of releasing the bitterness that has claimed her life.

I love this quote from my hero, Benjamin David. He tells Elsie, “You can’t keep holding on to the bitterness, or it’ll eat you alive. Don’t allow Satan to win. He desires for you to be discouraged, defeated, and unforgiving, but God has better things in store for you, if you’ll allow Him to work in your life again.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather choose to walk the road of forgiveness instead of stumbling along on the thorny path of bitterness.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. 

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and  Romance Writers of America (RWA). She has been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. 

A former columnist for Home School Enrichment Magazine, her articles can be found online on Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor for Putting on the New and Stitches Thru Time blogs. 

When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. 

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Blurb for To Claim Her Heart:

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.

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Connect with Jodie:
Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe
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Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2JZZcqw

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