Romantic Reads: Until June

The Story Behind Until June by Barbara M. Britton

Over the years, I have heard authors say that they were writing the book of their heart. I didn’t understand that terminology until I wrote Until June. I’m known for writing Biblical Fiction, so why should I release a WWI Historical? Throughout my life, God was preparing me to write Geoff and Josephine’s story.

Veterans hold a special place in my heart. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the Vietnam War. I remember the conflict from television and the conflict from growing up in the home of the Hippies. I thought it was sad that men who had fought in battle had to come home and not debrief from their memories. Many soldiers had to hide their service in Vietnam. We understand now that many servicemen and women experience post-traumatic stress disorder and need to talk about what happened during their time of service.

Fast forward a few decades. My family and I were on an Alaskan cruise excursion outside of Juneau, Alaska. We visited the Taku Glacier Lodge and heard how a WWI veteran and his caregiver had lived at the lodge. In winter, the Taku River would freeze, and the man and his caregiver would be shut off from society. A man and a woman alone in a lodge? Seems isolating, but perhaps the veteran liked the solitude. Characters and a storyline began to develop in my mind.

I wrote Until June about a severely injured veteran and an inexperienced caregiver residing in a remote lodge due to the severity of the veteran’s wounds and the pandemic of 1918. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish my story. I continued writing other stories—stories from the Bible—and forgot about my Historical.

One day, my son texted me that someone had “stolen my story.” No writer wants to get a text like this one. My son had seen a movie trailer for “Me Before You.” The movie was about a quadriplegic man and his caregiver who happen to fall in love. Yes, this was the same trope as my Historical. When I read the blurb to “Me Before You,” I discovered the ending was nothing like my book. My character, Geoff Chambers, overcomes his hardships and disabilities from war and grabs hold of life again. The character in “Me Before You” (Spoiler Alert) chooses to end his life even though he has fallen in love with his caregiver.

Was it time to see if my caregiver-trope story would be accepted by a publisher and show readers that no matter how hard life gets, it is always worth living? Would I be able to show readers the honesty of a veteran’s struggles? Or that caregiving is a rewarding, yet a draining task? Could two people who needed healing find it in God and help each other along the way?

Eleven years after I began writing about Geoff Chambers and Josephine Nimetz, their story saw the light of day. Pelican Book Group published Until June in June of 2020—during a pandemic.

Each new day is a blessing from God. Geoff and Josephine grab hold of that realization after a little conflict and tension, and a lot of love from an author.

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Author Bio:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. 

She is published in Biblical Fiction and loves bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Her WWI Historical Until June released in 2020.

Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

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Book blurb for Until June:

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge to escape the influenza of 1918, there’s enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran, Geoff Chambers.

Geoff makes it clear that he isn’t too fond of the “runt” sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted amputee, pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively. Though, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

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Buy Barbara’s book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Barbara:
Website: www.barbarambritton.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14983213.Barbara_M_Britton
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/barbara-m-britton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-M-Britton-173432342754243/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraMBritton

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Falling for Books: Barbara's book

A Ringtone For God
A devotional by Barbara M. Britton

Many years ago, I purchased a smart phone. It sat in its perch and didn’t see much use. Then, my kids grew up and preferred that I text them reminders instead of calling them the traditional way. A family member became deaf, so community texting was invaluable for communication. And, I became an author and the expectation was that I be on several social media outlets and actively check for responsive readers. Needless to say, my phone didn’t sit in its perch very much anymore. My phone travels most everywhere I do. Does this sound familiar?

I thought about comparing the time I spent on my smart phone to the time I spent with God. Was I more focused on technology or God? I think the answer would be humbling. Technology isn’t going away, but what if I could use it as a reminder to focus on God and use it as a light for the world? What if…

First thing every morning when I picked up my phone to communicate with an elderly family member, I thanked God for a new day. I’m a cancer survivor and tomorrow is always a blessing.

I’ve never taken a selfie because at my age who wants a close up of your face? If I did take a picture of myself, could I wear a cross? Show a Scripture verse or the Bible? Hold up a Christian music CD? What if I showcased my Creator and His beautiful world instead of my features?

After texting with a friend or family member, could I pray for something specific for them? I Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray continually.” If I prayed for the people who texted me and commented on my social media, my prayer time would skyrocket. What if I chose the first three every day?

Sometimes, I have to admit, all the dings and hums stress me out. People want my attention. How much more does God seek my attention? What if I set an imaginary ringtone for God? I hear a ding, and I remember my Savior. I could praise God that I can hear the noise? I can praise God I have community. I can praise God I have a computer at my fingertips. I can pray and ask God for wisdom on how best to use this little computer.

1 John 5:21 says, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” How wonderful it would be if more people focused on growing their faith than scanning friend’s vacation photos on Facebook.

We serve an awesome God who gave Man the ability to create computers, smart phones, emojis, hashtag movements and the list goes on and on. Let’s shift our focus from the created to the Creator and remember to abide in Jesus. We can even change our ringtones to shine the light of Jesus.

What ringtone would help you remember all that God has done for you?

I’ll take “Jesus Paid It All.”

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Author Bio:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Wisconsin and writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. 

She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. 

Barb brings little known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Her latest book brings to light the story of Nehemiah and how this man of prayer rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall with the help of the daughters of Shallum. 

You can find out about Barb’s books on her website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Book blurb for Barbara's book, Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey:

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.

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Buy Jereusalem Rising on Amazon, B&N, CBD, or ask your library to order it and shine a light on God’s stories.

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Summer Love: A devotional about storms, survival, and The Holy Bible

Barbara Survives Her Storm
A devotional written by Barbara M. Britton

For many years, I taught chapel at an elementary school. What a blessing it was to be able to lead worship and sing with energetic students. One of my favorites songs referred to Matthew 7:24-27, a Bible story about the wise and foolish builder. The kids and I would stand tall with our peaked-hand homes built on the rock and then fall to the ground when the song referred to the house built on the sand. The kids knew Jesus was the “Rock” and the best and firmest foundation to build a life upon. I knew this too. But I looked at the scripture a bit closer when I went through the storm of breast cancer.

Breast cancer rocked my world (no pun intended). Long story short, I had two surgeries to remove the cancer. Eventually, I had both my breasts removed. I live as a breast-free woman in today’s world. I discovered I carried a genetic mutation called the BRCA-1. Essentially, I have an open door in my genetic code that ushers in several cancers. When I had my breasts removed, I had my ovaries removed as well. Nothing like instant menopause. Because Jesus is my Savior, and I have an amazing family, and church family, I weathered this storm. My house stood firm on the Rock.

But, after life got back to post-surgery normal, I realized that the storm of cancer left some residual storm damage. I had to wear prosthetics which led to wardrobe issues. My body temperature was out of whack due to menopause, so I didn’t sleep at night. My energy level lagged after radiation. It was then that I looked at Matthew 7 differently. I noticed that the winds that blew and beat against the house built on sand, and leveled it, were the same winds that beat against the house on the rock. The home built on Jesus stood, but that didn’t mean it didn’t have some minor storm damage--a possible shattered window or crumpled siding.

God had saved my life, but it was never going to be the same—until Glory.

Through my cancer treatments came an awareness that people going through the traumas of life sometimes carry some storm damage with them after the strongest winds have died down. The chaos in my life came from cancer, but others deal with chronic illness, or the loss of loved ones, or mental illness, or divorce. The list carries on. We all face our unique “storm” damage.

My novel “Building Benjamin” comes from Judges 19-21 where storm damage abounds. Naomi has lost two brothers in war with the Benjamites. Eliab has lost his mother, brother, and sisters during the same war—but he’s a Benjamite. Can Naomi and Eliab overcome their anger and grief and fall in love? God must heal their hearts and repair the damage of betrayal before they can have their happily-ever-after.

Philippians 4:13 states: “I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” 

God will give us the strength to keep on living life after a major storm, but Christians can help repair some of the damage. What can we do as the body of Christ?

Here's a short list:

~Pray for someone who is going through a storm. Send them a card or call to let them know that you are praying for them.

~Bring them a meal or take them out to lunch.

~Listen with understanding. Some storm damage may linger a long time, or may not be made whole until Heaven

~Accept someone’s new limitations. Ask how they are doing.

~Be aware of storm damage.

~Praise the Lord if you don’t have any storm damage!

I am truly grateful that God brought me through my cancer. I have had family members that were not blessed with a cure, but they have the hope of eternal life with Jesus. I thank God that he has given me His strength, and a sense of humor, to deal with my “storm damage.” With my cancer, came a renewed awareness that every day is a gift from God.

What has helped you weather the storms of life? Let’s add to my list on how we can help others with storm damage.

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Author Bio: 

Barbara M. Britton lives in Wisconsin and writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. 

She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. 

Barb brings little-known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. 

You can find out about Barb’s books on her website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Book blurb for Building Benjamin: Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot. 

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

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Buy Barbara's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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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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