Spring into Love: Jenna Victoria's devotional about her book

At the Crossroads
A devotional written by Jenna Victoria, author of Love Among the Lilacs

In my latest release, Love Among the Lilacs, several characters encounter challenges that put them at a crossroads. Do they turn left, towards anger, resentment, and defeat? Do they turn right, towards hope, strength, and resilience–embracing the difficulties of life?

It says in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

My heroine, Mollie Wright, needs to choose whether or not to forgive her stepbrother Bryce and mother Lucille for deep emotional wounds. Will she remain hopeful when circumstances point her towards being homeless again?

The hero, attorney Sean Grady, had his heart broken by his fiancé and younger brother, who left town together five years before. Professionally, he protects elderly clients from abuse and financial losses by ruthless relatives. He wears his mistrust of others like a shield. Will he forgive and forget or allow his heart to thicken into granite?

Bryce Wright is treading a dangerous path with his ‘gangsta’ friends. His latest theft pulls Mollie and Sean into a no-win situation. Will he repent and turn himself in?

We’ve all been there. Crossroads prompt us to choose the right path, or the wrong one. My own no-win situation occurred in May 2012, with a diagnosis of recurrent metastatic breast cancer. A mastectomy, radiation, lumpectomy, re-radiation and continual chemotherapy followed. I will be receiving chemo every 21 days until Jesus calls me home.

I could have chosen to blame God, to turn bitter and move away from Him. Instead, undergirded with strength from the Holy Spirit, claiming the truth in Joshua 1:9–I moved even closer to Him. At first, my confidence and faith was all “head knowledge.” I was like the father of the mute son in Mark 9:24: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Eventually, gradually, through consciously choosing that “right path” over and over - even when I didn’t feel a connection or felt my words were echoes in my empty room - my closeness with the Lord blossomed into a core heart knowledge. In time I experienced the truth and promise found in James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” 

Today, my head and my heart are in alignment, and at perfect peace, despite my circumstances.

The most brilliant of diamonds come into being only by intense pressure and high heat. Pastor Greg Laurie is quoted as saying, “Suffering does not create character, it reveals it.” 

May your own trials and crossroads reveal a heart willing to experience whatever is in store, remaining in faith and expectation of His provision.

In Him,

Jenna Victoria

*All Scripture in this devotional is quoted from the King James Version of The Holy Bible.

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Author bio: 

Ever since her grandfather co-created Twinkies, Snowballs, and Hostess cupcakes for Intercontinental Baking Company, circa 1955, Jenna has yet to taste a cake she hasn't liked.

Jenna writes books for readers who enjoy sweet and compelling romances, and also for those who look for her “fiction that feeds your faith” titles. 

She writes happily-ever-after romance and romantic suspense stories with a Christian worldview. Her stories emulate those she enjoys reading, ones with a heroine who is in grave danger and a hero who is smart enough to get out of her way as she kicks butt and takes down names. Jenna also enjoys stories that feature satisfying fairy-tale-endings.

Jenna's clean romances won’t put you into a diabetic coma, and her faith-based romances aren’t preachy or unrealistic. It is her glad purpose to glorify God and His sacrificial love through His Son, Jesus Christ through books that illustrate hope and peace in unbearable situations. Her first triple negative breast cancer diagnosis in 2012 has led to surgeries, radiation, reoccurrences and incurable metastasis. Still, Jenna continues to praise God and trust His oversight in her life, and she continues to write more books.

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Blurb for Jenna Victoria's book: Bookkeeper Mollie Wright knows about living on the streets, and her purchase of sweet Lilac Cottage is a dream come true. She is determined to stay and fight when a legal error puts her ownership at risk. 

Attorney Sean Grady never wanted his great-aunts to sell their cottage in Westchester County, New York, so when a paperwork snafu puts the deal on hold, he moves swiftly to evict the pretty, feisty squatter. 

Mollie finds unexpected allies in Grady Cove neighbors and a member of Sean's own family but knows the clock is ticking. 

Will a theft and her past secrets force a showdown to heartache, or will Mollie and Sean discover home is truly where your heart is? 

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Buy Love Among the Lilacs on Amazon

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Connect with Jenna Victoria:
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/author/jennavictoria/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/jennavictori
Facebook - www.facebook.com/jennavictoriaauthor/
Blog - http://bookishbydesign.com
Book Review Blog - www.jennavictoria.com/category/on-jennas-shelf-reviews/

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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: SaveSave

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A Prelude to Christmas: Jenna Victoria's story and personal essay

Welcome Jenna Victoria to the blog today! She's here to share a personal essay inspired by her Christmas novella, War of the Heart. It's a story that's part of the Snow Globe Christmas Collection published by Forget Me Not Romances.

Back cover blurb for War of the Heart: When a vintage snow globe sends Boston dress designer Louise Martin and British B&B owner George Walker back in time to London, December 1940, they race against the clock to reconcile a feud between their families and solve a 75-year-old mystery. As Louise relies on God and on George for guidance, friendship then love, will the future George envisions strangle her own dreams? Will their love survive generations of mistrust, the Blitz and being stranded in wartime 1940, possibly never to return to their former lives? 

Fill out the form on the Rafflecopter widget below for your chance to WIN a copy of Jenna Victoria's book:  

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Jenna Victoria's personal essay:

Thank you, Alexis, for allowing me to "pull up a sleigh" at your blog series, “A Prelude to Christmas”! I've been known to break into Christmas songs any time of the year, maybe it's because my birthday is three days after? There's something eternally hopeful and encouraging about the season.

War of the Heart is both a stand-alone book and part of a six-novella Snow Globe Collection on Kindle. I was quite enthusiastic about writing Louise and George's story, as I was able to feature two of my favorite things: London and snow globes. I specifically chose December, 1940, the first Christmas of WWII in the United Kingdom, as I wanted the setting to help reflect the message of their time-travel journey which is one of hope, perseverance and reliance on God despite circumstances.

I was struck by many things while researching that week in 1940. Londoners (and those in other larger cities in the U.K.) simply carried on. They ate far less due to mandatory rationing, created homemade or re-mended store bought clothing, did without necessities and reused everyday items such as newspaper and scrap so the men fighting on the front could have what they needed. Still, they still had peace and joy, something I focused on in the book.

There were no eight-foot Christmas trees for sale, but three-feet ones easily able to fit into air raid shelters quickly sold out. Christmas lights were banned so enemy aircraft could not see their reflection. Yet the tube (subway stations) repurposed as shelters held festive holiday parties, sing-alongs and appearances by Father Christmas.

This sacrifice was especially poignant that first Christmas, when most fathers and brothers were away at war and it was the Mums and grandparents that relied on their faith and their ingenuity to provide a happy Christmas even as bombs rained on the city. In direct opposite to their situation, they stayed the course, confident in the sovereign government to get them out of the war quickly.

Our faith as Christians is similar to that of Louise and George. At first, we assume our trial or difficulty will pass quickly. We pray for that. We believe in that. And for many, a positive resolution, a miracle, is what occurs. But what about those like the country of Great Britain which was not war-free until May of 1945, who don't receive the answer they have prayed for?

My personal struggle is recurrent breast cancer. We approached my initial treatment plan in 2012 with naive optimism, trusting God that mine would be similar to the normal path followed by 82 percent of women with BC (chemo, surgery and radiation) and then finally, I would be cancer free!

Rather, six weeks after my first tumor was removed, I was newly diagnosed as a triple-negative breast cancer patient as cancer returned in several locations. TNBC is the most aggressive and drug-resistant form of breast cancer which affects less than 20 percent of those diagnosed. Man like myself become metastatic, which is incurable. Four years later, I continue to receive IV chemotherapy every 21 days.

Like Louise and George, I find myself in a place I don't want to be. I want to return to my life before cancer, the same as they wanted to return to modern day London instead of being stuck in wartime England as snow is falling.

As their (and my) journey unfolds, something vitally important occurs. When you place your trust and hope in God, He never fails you. The answer may not be what you longed for or prayed for, but He never, ever leaves you with less. I knew this in my head, at that scary visit after my first biopsy. But, I did not feel it in my heart until much later. I was faithful in trusting God even when I did not have the emotional connection to that trust. I carried on, trusting Him despite my feelings. Now, I have a peace, a contentment, and a joy within my circumstances!

I won't reveal here how (or if) our two lovebirds in War of the Heart return to current day London. But they, like me, embrace the words of the Apostle Paul:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

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Author bio: 

Jenna Victoria lives on the eastern seaboard of the USA. She enjoys Hallmark movies and Christmas carols year-round. She writes Happily-Ever-After romance and romantic suspense stories with a Christian world view. 

Her book emulates those she enjoys reading…with a heroine who is in grave danger and a hero who is smart enough to get out of her way as she solves the case (with a little help)…and those that feature the sweetest of small-town, fairytale-ending love stories.

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Connect with Jenna Victoria:
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/author/jennavictoria
Facebook - www.facebook.com/jennavictoriaauthor/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/jenna_victoria_author/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jennavwriter/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/jennavictori
Website - http://jennavictoria.com
Email - jenna@jennavictoria.com

Heroes of Song Personal Blog,
http://www.jennavictoria.com/category/blog-heroes-of-song/

Book Review Blog - http://www.jennavictoria.com/category/on-jennas-shelf-reviews/

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