Romantic Reads: Chasing Her Dream

The Story Behind Jennifer Slattery’s story Chasing Her Dream:

In the spring of 2019, landowners across Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota experienced perhaps the worst devastation of their lives. Ranches that had been in their families for generations, destroyed. Cattle swept away. Homes desolated. Decades of investments, consumed, leaving many wondering if they’d find the resources to rebuild.

But as hard as all that was to see, those things aren’t what stand out most in my mind. When I think back on the floods, I most remember the every day heroes that stood beside their neighbors. The hours upon hours that volunteers invested, digging through the rubble, praying with the hurting, or simply sitting beside them as they processed it all.

During times of crisis, that’s often when the best of humanity rises up to offer a hand, a kind word, a gentle smile. To offer themselves.

That was the spirit I wanted to capture, and perhaps even inspire, in my latest novel, Chasing Her Dream. I wrote the first draft while parts of my state remained inundated, while articles still circulated of extreme kindness and generosity. Of community members shouldering one another’s burdens in tangible, memorable ways.

I wanted to portray, and perhaps even inspire, that depth of care in my latest novel, Chasing Her Dream. Through the sacrificial actions of Rheanna Stone, the single mom who opens her already struggling Texas ranch to a large number of abused and neglected horses. Through Dave Brewster who risks losing his flooded Wyoming ranch aside to help her. And through the community that sacrificially and steadfastly come alongside them.

Demonstrating the beauty and healing that can occur when we seek to love one another.

We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “It takes a village.” Admirable words, right? Inspiring?

But may that catchy slogan do more than inspire. May it motivate and mobilize us all to find little ways to spread joy, offer a hand, and be the friend that our neighbors, coworkers, and fellow residents need.

And I’m speaking to myself here, because it’s all too easy for me to remain tucked in my office, oblivious to the world, the struggle, occurring without me. I experience joy and intense fulfillment, however, and the pleasure of God, when I widen my view.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and international speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. 

She’s the author of six contemporary novels maintains a devotional blog found at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.

She has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she and her team partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

She is also the host of the podcast Faith Over Fear, which you can listen to at LifeAudio.com.

~*~
Blurb for Jennifer's book, Chasing Her Dream:  

She needs his help…

But can she trust him again?

After she inherits her uncle’s mismanaged ranch, single mom Rheanna Stone’s not sure she can also handle saving abused horses from a nearby property. 

So when rancher Dave Brewster offers to stay in town to help, she can’t say no—even if he left her once before. 

As they grow closer, old secrets are uncovered…but can they heal past heartbreak to give themselves a new beginning?

~*~
Buy Jennifer's book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target or Walmart

My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Jennifer Slattery's book giveaway

Welcome to the 14th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Jennifer Slattery.

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 Jennifer and her book ...

Author Bio:

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and international speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. She’s the author of six contemporary novels maintains a devotional blog found on her website at this address: http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.

She has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, (http://whollyloved.com) she and her team partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact.

When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Connect with her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/).

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Building a Family:

Creating a circle of love together…

Can love for two little matchmakers unite their reluctant hearts?

Worried that Noah Williams is still the reckless bull rider she remembers, Kayla Fisher is convinced he isn’t the right person to care for their orphaned niece and nephew. Now she’s back home, determined to fight for custody.

But Noah is a changed man, and he intends to prove it. When Noah and Kayla start falling for each other, could raising the children together be the perfect solution?

~*~

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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Let Love Bloom: Dancing in the Rain

Interview with Jennifer Slattery, co-author of Dancing in the Rain:

Alexis: Why did you decide to write this book with Eileen Rife?

Jennifer: Eileen and I had been critique partners for years prior to this book, and we’ve always worked really well together. She’s one of those treasured writers who have the love and courage to tell you the truth regarding your stories and the patience to help you make them better.

This book was her baby, and I came in on the tail end as a critique partner. We got to talking about certain elements, and I think she felt I could add something to the story and the characterization. One afternoon, she sent me an email asking if I’d like to join her in the process. I felt honored and excited; the story premise really intrigued me!

Alexis: What was your collaboration/writing process like? Share details.

Jennifer: It is a bit hard to remember all of it as this was a while ago. We let the book lie fallow for a bit as she became busy with ministry and family, and I became busy with other releases that came out on deadlines.

I can’t remember how much of the book she had finished before I stepped in, but we passed the story back and forth quite a bit, chapter by chapter. She’d make tweaks, I’d tweak her tweaks. When differences of opinions arose, I deferred to her (I think. I hope!) as this was largely her baby, but for the most part, things played out really smoothly.

If I remember correctly, I took on a lot more of Michael’s voice and she took on a lot more of Loni’s voice. So that helped.

Alexis: What inspired you to create the characters with their unique individual stories and background? Describe how you brought your vision to fruition.

Jennifer: Eileen has a missionary and church camp background and a heart for bringing the outsiders, like Marta, one of the characters, in. So much of this story arose from her experiences at church camp growing up. I’ve always felt called to a rougher crowd, I suppose you could say. Those from tough upbringings, maybe who struggle (or have struggled with alcohol, so I had strong opinions as to Michael’s backstory, how that might’ve affected him, and how his father might or might not have behaved.

Alexis: Loni Parker is your story’s heroine. Describe her goals/motivation/conflict.

Jennifer: I have such admiration for Loni, a woman who faces ongoing challenges and insecurities related to her blindness. She really wants to be independent and prove herself, but she also wants to remain in God’s will. Sometimes she’s confused how to merge those things, especially when her heart becomes entangled!

Alexis: Michael Ackerman is your story’s hero. Describe his goals/motivation/conflict.

Jennifer: He grew up in an abusive home where he routinely saw his father beat up on his mom. He has a lot of baggage from that, and though he’s close to Christ and walking with Him, Michal still needs a lot of healing. He also has a lot of regret and shame for his past, which includes being the reason Loni lost her sight. These issues motivate his passion for kids and seeing them come to Christ and also his desire to suppress and hide his past as much as possible. 

Alexis: Why is Loni blind? What happened to her?

Jennifer: She was sideswiped by Michael’s car when he was drunk driving—the one time he drank. He’d snapped watching his father beat his mother, turned his anger on his father, then took off. Fueled by anger, suppressed and the fresh rage his father’s behavior triggered, he turned to alcohol. In that moment, in many ways, he became what he’d always hated most in his father.

Alexis: Why does Loni love music and desire to teach it to children?

Jennifer: Loni comes from a very musical family, and music is a huge part of her family’s bond with one another. When they’re together, they often play classical music, and even her service dog chimes in! Also, she feels music very deeply, even more so now that she’s blind. It speaks to her heart and brought her great comfort when she lost her sight. She wants to help children experience that same gift.

Alexis: Why is Loni struggling to find employment as a music teacher?

Jennifer: There are more applicants for the position than there are openings. She feels employers are overlooking her because of her blindness, though there’s no way to know if that’s true or simply her perspective based on her insecurities.

Alexis: What or who leads Loni to Camp Hope?
 

Jennifer: Her roommate, who’d been a camp counselor in the past, suggested Loni join her for a two-week camp experience. She felt it would help distract Loni from her disappointment regarding her unemployment.

Alexis: How did Michael change from ex-con to Director of a Christian camp?

Jennifer: He met a man from the prison fellowship whom he respected and fell in love with Jesus.

Alexis: What role does your characters’ faith in God play in this story?

Jennifer: It’s their lifeline. Without God, Loni would’ve spiraled into a dark world of bitterness after her accident, and Michael would’ve probably turned out like his dad. Similarly, without Jesus, Michael probably would continue running from his pain and his past instead of confronting it head-on, and Loni probably would put her dreams above God’s leading, potentially missing out on her greatest mission.

Alexis: If you were a counselor at Camp Hope and could spend a day with your main characters, what would you do? Why?

Jennifer: Go horseback riding for sure! It’d be so peaceful to ride through the trees, with the sun on my back and birds singing.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about this story?

Jennifer: That God’s forgiveness is all-encompassing, and He can turn our greatest sins and regrets into beautiful mosaics of grace.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jennifer! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Jennifer: I’m curious to know how many of your readers spent time at a summer camp when they were kids and what their favorite memories are.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and international speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. She’s the author of six contemporary novels maintains a devotional blog found at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com. 

She has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, (http://whollyloved.com) she and her team partner with churches to facilitate events designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. 

Connect with her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/).

~*~
Co-Author Bio:

Eileen Rife is a multi-published author in both fiction and nonfiction. 

She leads women's seminars, teaches creative writing, and runs Mission Manor, a respite for her missionary kids/grandkids while on furlough. 

You can visit Eileen on her website (http://www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com), Amazon Author Page (http://www.amazon.com/author/eileenrife) and Facebook Author Page (http://www.facebook.com/EileenRifeBooks).

~*~
Book Blurb for Dancing in the Rain:

On the verge of college graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks. To take her mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. 

Unbeknownst to Loni, Michael Ackerman, the director, is an ex-con responsible for the accident that caused her blindness. When Loni warms up to camp and wants to return as a summer counselor, Michael opposes the idea, which only makes Loni want to prove herself all the more. Though she doesn’t expect to fall for the guy. Still, her need for independence and dream of teaching win out, taking her far away from her beloved Camp Hope . . . and a certain director.

Camp director Michael Ackerman recognizes Lonie instantly and wants to avoid her at all costs. Yet, despite the guilt pushing him from her, a growing attraction draws him to the determined woman. She sees more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a past that may destroy his present.

~*~
Buy Dancing in the Rain on Amazon

~*~
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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Book Review and Excerpt from "Healing Love" by Jennifer Slattery

Please welcome my writer friend Jennifer Slattery to the blog. She's going to share an excerpt from her new novel that releases today! Her story is called, Healing Love. See the gorgeous cover?

I hope that you will support Jennifer by purchasing a copy of her book! Meanwhile, learn more about Healing Love in my review of her book and the excerpt below from her story.

God bless you!

~*~
Book Review by Alexis A. Goring: 

Healing Love is the story of Brooke Endress and Ubaldo Chavez.

Brooke and Ubaldo meet on the mission field in El Salvador. Ubaldo is a native of El Salvador where he works as a teacher and translator. Brooke is an All-American girl with a passion for broadcast journalism. When the reader first meets Brooke, she is focused on rising in the ranks at work. She wants to advance her career by becoming on-air talent at a TV station. Love is not part of Brooke’s life plan…until she meets Ubaldo.

Ubaldo’s world is rocked when he meets Brooke. He notices her beautiful exterior first but as the story progresses it’s her soft heart of gold and her passion for helping children that win him over.

This is a sweet, strong and wonderful story about what can happen when you allow God to write your love story and exchange your career plans for His life plan. I love the way that the author (Jennifer Slattery) brought Brooke and Ubaldo together. It was unexpected, filled with surprises and so beautiful.

The plot of this story is solid, believable and worth noting. The author writes in a way that’s engaging, heartwarming and real. The author’s heart for the mission field shines through in the way that she writes this story. She’s created characters that are likable, relatable and completely captivating. She paints a picture of the orphan children that draws the reader in and makes them want to advocate for their welfare even though this is fiction.

This story is a bit over 300 pages but is so wonderful that you may stay awake, paying full attention to this story until you reach “the end”.

~*~
Story Excerpt from Chapter One of Healing Love:

This was not what Brooke had gone to school for. With a huff, she dropped her pen on the mountainous stack of stories she’d been assigned to fact check. So far, the only errors she found were minor—grammar and spelling, largely mute points in television. Then there was the occasional hilarious lead-in she felt tempted to share on Facebook, like the one she’d just read: “Increased Unemployment Rates Lead to Joblessness in the Inland Empire.” You think?

She was tempted to slash through the line with her red pen. But not knowing this reporter and how he’d react to such “help,” she opted to leave it be. Unfortunately, she wasn’t paid to have an opinion.

“God’s got big plans for you, peanut. Trust Him. Follow Him, no matter where He leads.” The memory of her dad’s voice weighed heavy on her heart.

She inhaled a deep breath. Was this what you had in mind, Daddy?

Melancholy wouldn’t get her anywhere. He’d never encouraged the easy road. News broadcasting was a competitive field. Brooke knew that going in. So it was taking her longer to get her break than anticipated; she’d simply work harder. And smarter.

She let her gaze roam across the newsroom. Printers hummed from the long, rectangular table dividing two expanses of cubicles. Nails clicked on at least a dozen computer keyboards. Interns scurried about, some chasing down reporters to pitch stories or ask questions.

Brooke focused once again on her notes. She needed to come up with a fresh pitch—a story idea that would put her name on the station manager’s radar. If she could somehow secure an interview no one else had thought of, or maybe approach a hot story from a new angle.

What about women re-entering the work force?

No. That’d been overdone. What about teachers … losing their jobs over … She tapped her pen against her palm. Low test scores? Lack of funding?

Her phone, set on silent, vibrated. She checked the screen. Aunt Isadora.

“Hey.” She stood. “Everything okay?” She needed a change of scenery. And a snack to jumpstart her lethargic brain cells. She headed for the break room, changed her mind, then turned toward the lobby.

“Oh, of course dear.” It sounded like water was running on the other end, followed by clanking dishes. “I’m calling to see what time you think you’ll be heading home. Your sister needs a ride from study group, and I’ve got bridge tonight.”

Crossing the room, Brooke glanced at the clock above the long row of mounted televisions, each screen showing a different clip. “Hopefully around 6:30. One of our reporters received a last minute exclusive that needs to air tonight, which caused some shuffling around, which ultimately led to me receiving three more pieces, so I’m a bit behind.”

Aunt Isadora tsked.“They’ll run you ragged if you let them. You really need to set some boundaries.”

“Not if I want air time.”

“Oh, sweetie, that’ll come. I have no doubt about that.”

“Yeah, well, I have enough doubt for the both of us.”

“This reporter, the one who flubbed your day—he can’t have someone else do his fact checking for him?”

“I don’t know if I’d call our station’s biggest story a flub, but in answer to your question, no one as good.” She grinned and, once in the lobby, shot a wave to the station receptionist before slipping past her. She continued down a long, quiet hall to three large snack machines, one of which kept Skittles stocked.

“I know that’s true.”

Brooke’s heart swelled at the pride in her aunt’s voice. With all the rejections she received on a weekly basis, it felt good to know those she loved most stood behind her. If only her parents were still around. A painful lump lodged in her throat.

“Apparently,” Brooke fished in her purse for loose change, “his previous fact checker, an intern from the University of Missouri, missed some pretty big errors, like which political party Senator Wilkinson represented.”

“Wow. That’s bad.”

“Right?” Her phone chimed an incoming email, and she tapped the icon. Her pulse increased a notch—it was from KTLA’s news director. She paused to take a deep breath, wiped a sweaty palm on her pant leg, then opened the message.

Dear Ms. Endress,
Thank you for your inquiring but we are not hiring at this time. Best of luck to you in your career endeavors.

As close to a form rejection as one could get, and her third this month. So far, every major television station in a two-hour radius had rejected her.

“Sweetie, you okay? You got quiet on me there for a moment.”

She released a gust of air. “Just fabulous.” She relayed the message. “I’ve about run out of options. Seems I’m destined to do grunt work for the rest of my life.”

“You’re much too pretty for that.”

She cringed at the stereotypical assumption underlying her aunt’s words. “It takes more than good looks to break into television.”

“Good thing you’re smart and talented then, huh?” Aunt Isadora chuckled. “Keep your chin up. God’s got His hand on you, sweet pea.”

“I guess.”

“Have you thought of looking elsewhere, to stations with less competition?”

“It’s not like the Inland Empire is a metropolis.”

“No, but we are close to Los Angeles.”

True, but Brooke had no intention of moving, at least, not until her sister graduated from high school. She’d dealt with enough already.

“Aubrey will be just fine. I promise we wouldn’t feed her to the dogs, should you leave.”

Brooke forced a nervous laugh—it was kind of creepy the way her aunt always seemed to anticipate her thoughts. “I know.”

Whistling approached, and she looked up. Caleb Silvas, one of the station’s most popular personalities, was heading her way. He made eye contact and smiled, causing her stomach to catapult. “I … uh … I’ve got to let you go. I’ll see you tonight. And I can pick up Aubrey, no problem.”

“Thanks, dear. Love you.”

“You too.” She tucked her phone in her back pocket and faced the vending machine.

What had gotten into her? She was acting like a tongue-tied, socially awkward teen. Which was completely ridiculous.

So Caleb was successful, deemed one of the Inland Empire’s most eligible bachelors. So what he was a news room favorite, with ratings to match? And incredibly handsome, with his blond hair, green eyes, and baseball player build.

So what that a recommendation from him could quite possibly launch her career?

“Anything good in there?”

She startled and spun around. Forced a wobbly smile. “Uh, hi. I mean, no.” She straightened, donning her most professional stance. “Just the usual. Stale chips, cardboard flavored soup cups, and, from experience, near pulverized pretzel pieces.”

“Ah. Appetizing. I’m Caleb, by the way.” He extended his hand, and the two shook.

“Brooke. Endress.”

“One of our spring interns?”

“Uh, no. I’ve been on staff for over a year now.” Almost two, actually.

He angled his head, brow wrinkled, as if trying to place her.

Good luck with that. Not many people remembered the grunt workers. “My degree’s in broadcast journalism but I’ve been working as a fact checker.”

“That long, huh? You must be good then.”

Or stubborn venturing on desperate. “I do my best.”

“That’s all you can do, right? It’s a tough business, that’s for sure, but that’s how they weed out the professionals from the wanna bes. Most folks expect to find an easy in then quit after a couple years when that doesn’t happen.”

Was this meant to be a pep talk? If so, she’d take it. And the connection. “Listen, would you like my business card? I’ve got some story ideas I’d love to pitch.” Or more honestly, she had some vague ideas she planned to hone into pitches, given enough time. And chocolate.

His lazy smile caused her pulse to stutter. “Sure.”

She dug into her purse then stopped. She’d depleted her on-hand stash of business cards at a convention the previous weekend.

She frowned. “I’m sorry, but I’m all out.”

“No worries.” His grin deepened, and he pulled a wallet from his back pocket. Handed over a thick, textured card. “Shoot me an email any time.”

She blinked. Really? Or was he simply being polite? Didn’t matter. First rule of success in this business—follow every lead.

This one could be it, the door to a thriving career. But first, she needed an attention grabbing pitch.

Brooke spent the rest of her day fighting to stay focused on her assignments rather than brainstorming potential story ideas. For the most part, she failed, ending the day with take home work and a long list of useless blurbs. Many of which her sister tried to improve upon later as they drove home. Her aunt and uncle joined in the discussion over dinner, and by the time Brooke went to bed, her brain was swimming—with hope and insecurities.

The next morning, she woke an hour earlier than normal to research a few of her ideas further, then shoved her notes into her briefcase. Her television flashed on her dresser. She paused to watch Kyanne Louis lead into a breaking news story on LATV5. She studied Kyanne’s smile, counted every head bob, and noted each timely displayed affect.

Brooke eyed her audition tape growing cobwebs on her dresser and sighed. She needed to make a fresh resume reel, one with more punch. More unique stories.

She’d figure something out.

She turned off the television and checked her appearance—navy blazer and skirt, both pressed. Cream blouse, a simple yet sophisticated necklace decorated with pearl teardrops framed in gold. Shoes—leather pumps of appropriate height, also navy. A timeless wardrobe that spoke of responsibility and loyalty.

Perfect for a lawyer or criminal defendant, not an up-and-coming news anchor. But she didn’t have time to change. Besides, going through her wardrobe yet again wouldn’t suddenly bring fashion clarity.

She grabbed her cell phone and smoothed her hair behind her ears. She could do this. Had to. Today, this morning, she’d march—no, walk—into Mr. Echo’s office and ask for a promotion. With Caleb’s invite and Nancy, his co-host’s approaching maternity leave, Brooke couldn’t put off her request any longer. Too many other interns fought for attention.

She pulled her favorite verse, Ephesians 2:10, from her back pocket. “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” She tucked it back in her pocket. “Not sure about the masterpiece part, but I’ll cling to the promise none-the-less. No meeting, no matter how I flub it, can thwart the plans You have for me.”

Then why did she feel so unsettled?

The smell of fresh brewed coffee and fried bacon drew her to the kitchen. Her younger sister, Aubrey, sat at the table, her beads and twine spread before her. Aunt Isidora stood at the sink washing dishes. Uncle Lester occupied his usual breakfast chair, the one closest to the window. Dressed in a striped, polyester suit and polka-dot tie, he slouched over the newspaper, bushy brows pinched together. I need to take him shopping.

“Good morning, dear.” Aunt Isidora met her with a firm hug. “Hungry?”

Brooke grabbed a mug from the cupboard and filled it. “Mind if I take it to go? I don’t want to be late.”

Uncle Lester dropped his newspaper and rested his hands on his bulbous stomach. “For what?”

“I’m going to ask for a meeting with my boss. See if he’ll finally allow me in front of the camera.”

“About time.” Uncle Lester closed his paper. “After almost two years of pouring his coffee and emptying his trash—”

“I don’t empty his trash.” This was doing nothing to calm her nerves.

“Still, your uncle has a point.” Aunt Isidora pushed a lock of hair from her face with the back of her hand. “You’ve been doing all sorts of odds and ends for that station long enough. And you’re certainly well qualified.” She crossed to where Brooke stood and gave her a sideways hug. “I’m sure your boss will see how prepared you are to take this next step.”

Brooke raised crossed fingers.

Uncle Lester gulped down the rest of his toast, crumbs cascading onto his shirt. “Way I see it, them producers would be fools not to get that face of yours on camera.”

“I appreciate your compliment,” Brooke said, “but like I told Aunt Izzy, it takes more than good looks to make it in the news industry.”

“Yeah, like a hottie boyfriend able to whisk you up that ladder.” Aubrey shot her a wink.

“Stop being stupid.” Why had she ever told Aubrey about her brief interaction with the man? “I do not need any help advancing my career, thank you very much.”

Aubrey raised her hands in mock surrender. “Edgy. Like talons and everything.”

“You drive me crazy, you know that?”

“A little insanity never hurt anyone. But don’t worry. You’ll be free of me soon enough.”

“What do you mean?” She sipped her coffee.

Aubrey beamed. “Guess who’s going on the El Salvador mission trip?”

Aunt Isidora opened her mouth to speak but Uncle Lester touched her hand. “First, we haven’t made a decision yet.” He lowered a firm gaze on Aubrey. “There’s still a great deal to discuss. Second, we told you, if we let you go, it was under one condition.” He turned to Brooke. “That your sister go with you.”

Brooke coughed, spewing brown liquid across the table. She looked from her aunt to her uncle. “You’re not serious, right? This is such a bad time for me.” Had they forgotten how hard she was working to get in front of the camera? She couldn’t possibly take vacation days now. It’d kill her career.

Aubrey frowned. “This is so unfair.”

Uncle Lester crossed his arms. “Sorry, girls. That’s the rules.” He shifted his gaze to Aubrey. “But before you pester your sister to insanity, remember, your aunt and I still have to decide if you can go at all. That trip will cost a lot of money.”

“So I’ll get a job,” Aubrey said.

“To pay my way, too? Because I’m not spending my savings on a third-world vacation.” Brooke grabbed a slice of bacon from the counter and nibbled on the edge. “Besides, last I heard, they hadn’t found a translator.”

Aunt Isadora tidied a dishtowel draped over the oven handle. “The guy who runs the orphanage—what’s his name?”

“Don’t know.” Aubrey strung a blue and white marbled bead onto her growing chain.

Aunt Isadora flicked a hand. “Whatever his name is, he’s got a local teacher friend, a man from San Miguel, who speaks fluent English. Apparently the guy’s translated for North American groups before. Pastor T seems confident he’ll take the job.”

“Regardless, I can’t go.” Brooke crossed her arms and faced her sister. “I don’t care what you say, how much you whine, nag, and pester.”

“Says the woman who spends most of her time hiding in her bedroom.” Aubrey’s hands clenched. “Just because you’re afraid of absolutely every. Little. Thing. Doesn’t mean I have to suffer.”

“Quit being such a drama queen.”

“Girls!” Aunt Isidora rarely raised her voice, so when she did, everyone went silent. She removed her apron and folded it in half. “Let’s not fight.” She patted Aubrey’s hand. “How about you finish getting ready so Brooke and I can talk?”

Eyes hot, Aubrey gave a jerked shrug. “Well, good luck with that.” She stomped off, her flipflops slapping the linoleum.

Aunt Isidora waited until the teen’s bedroom door slammed shut then turned to Brooke. “We understand your feelings regarding this trip, believe me, but Uncle Lester and I are concerned…” She looked from her husband then back to Brooke. “I don’t know how to put this. We really want her to be able to go, but we don’t know Pastor T all that well. And he’s quite young.”

“But I can’t…” This was the definition of a lose-lose situation. Stay home and rob her sister of the opportunity to go on a rite of passage trip, or go and lose any chance of getting that co-host position she’d been pining for. 

~*~

Author bio:

Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. 

As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefly, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

~*~

Book blurb for Healing Love: 

A news anchor intern has it all planned out, and love isn't on the agenda.

Brooke Endress is on the cusp of her lifelong dream when her younger sister persuades her to chaperone a mission trip to El Salvador. Packing enough hand sanitizer and bug spray to single-handedly wipe out malaria, she embarks on what she hopes will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But Brooke is blindsided by the desperation for hope and love she sees in the orphans’ eyes. And no less by the connection she feels with her handsome translator. As newfound passion blooms, Brooke wrestles with its implications for her career dreams.

Ubaldo Chavez, teacher and translator, knows the struggle that comes with generational poverty. But he found the way out – education – and is determined to help his students rise above.

When he agrees to translate for a mission team from the United States he expects to encounter a bunch of "missional tourists" full of empty promises. Yet an American news anchor defies his expectations, and he finds himself falling in love. But what does he have to offer someone with everything? 

~*~

Buy Healing Love on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Jennifer:

Website – www.JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenslattery/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/SaveSaveSaveSave

Summer Love: Jennifer's story about love's healing power

Welcome Jennifer Slattery to the blog! She's written a new book called Healing Love. It is for the women’s fiction book market and it has a strong romantic thread. This book takes place in two very different locales: Southern California and El Salvador.

Read my interview with Jennifer and find out why this story is close to her heart.

~*~
Interview with Jennifer Slattery, author of Healing Love:

Alexis: “Healing Love” is an interesting title for a book. How did you create it?

Jennifer: The title arose in part from the theme of the book, which is that God’s love, which is often shown through others, brings deep healing. It also stemmed from my core conviction and experience that God is a God of love and healing, a healing that is facilitated as we grow closer to Him and get to know Him more. 

Alexis: Brooke Endress, the heroine of your story, is a news anchor intern who has her eyes on the prize (a career as a broadcast journalist). What can you tell us about Brooke? Describe her personality, dreams and goals.

Jennifer: Brooke is a planner who is incredibly uncomfortable with unknowns and uncertainty. As a planner, she believes her life will go a certain way, and she’s determined to make that happen. She wants to sign on with one of the bigger stations but struggles with “camera fright” that results in frequent blunders she fears will hinder her career.

She also has a deep and protective love for her sister. Though they both live with her aunt and uncle and have since the death of her parents, Brooke has assumed care of her sister and, due to the pain she experienced when her parents died, holds onto her very tightly. A little too tightly. 

Alexis: Why is Brooke so passionate about Journalism? What made it her lifelong dream?

Jennifer: When she was young, she and her dad often played “anchoring.” She’d get all glamoured up in her mom’s dresses and heels (which were adorably too big on her), and she’d read stories or perform while her father recorded her. He began each recording with great fanfare. Those mock recordings are special memories for her, and now that her dad is gone, she is, in many ways, trying to relive them through her career. 

Alexis: How does Brooke’s drive to succeed in that competitive career field affect her dating/love life?

Jennifer: When she begins to fall in love with Ubaldo, she feels confused and uncertain. She wants to surrender to God fully and trust Him with her future, but she harbors distrust having lost her parents. She feels if God didn’t protect her parents then there’s no guarantee as far as she’s concerned. 

Alexis: How does Brooke’s younger sister convince her to chaperone a mission trip to El Salvador? In what ways does this trip affect the heroine’s journey?

Jennifer: She basically begs, though it’s Brooke’s guilt that wins out. Her aunt and uncle make it clear—if Brooke doesn’t go as a supervising adult, her sister can’t go either. Her sister, frustrated and angry, says that if her dad were alive, she’d be able to go. This statement causes Brooke to process all the losses her sister has experienced and will experience because her parents aren’t alive, and she determines to do whatever necessary to ensure the mission trip opportunity isn’t one of them.

This trip is hard for Brooke on numerous levels. First, she must take two weeks off work when, it appears, she’s just beginning to gain traction in her career. Second, she’s a bit of a germaphobe, and she’s worried about her and her sister getting sick. She’s also incredibly frightened of flying and fears the plane might crash. Then there’s her need for control and her stranglehold on her safety net.

And yet, it is only when she’s thrust into this place of uncertainty that she begins to see the root cause of her fear and heal from it. 

Alexis: What is it about the orphan children in El Salvador that tugs at Brooke’s heart? Describe the thoughts that go through her head as she spends time with the kids.

Jennifer: Having lost both her parents and feeling like an orphan herself, she relates to them on a deep level. And yet, when her world fell apart, she had her aunt and uncle to lean on, whereas these orphan children appear to have no one. This realization helps her to embrace her aunt and uncle’s love on a level she hadn’t been able to before and deepens her empathy for the orphan girls. 

Alexis: Ubaldo Chavez, the hero of this story, works as a teacher and translator in El Salvador. Why did he choose a career in helping people? Describe his background, looks, personality and life goals.

Jennifer: First, he’s incredibly handsome. I had to state that right up front. His skin is the color of a Scooters latté (says the writer with the severe coffee addiction), he’s tall, muscular, has dark hair and eyebrows, and piercing eyes the color of dark chocolate.

He grew up in a small El Salvador village with no electricity or running water and where his family had to fight daily for survival. Though his family is better off than many forced to work in plantations or making bricks, they still struggled and were at the mercy of their circumstances. His father owns a small plot of land, which he farms, and the expectation was that Ubaldo would remain to help. He chose to go to school and pursue a career in education instead.

Having risen above the poverty he grew up in, where he and his siblings were chronically ill from drinking dirty stream water, and having seen first hand the dehumanizing cycle of generational poverty, he’s determined to help his students acquire a better life. If he could just keep them in school and out of the plantations. 

As far as his personality goes, he tends to be a black and white thinker, and he’s very driven in his mission. This can lead to some false perceptions and misunderstandings, and it causes a big wedge between him and his father.

Alexis: What is it about Ubaldo that draws Brooke in and makes him hard to forget?

Jennifer: First, he’s incredibly handsome, and he’s got a strong, protective side she finds attractive. He’s also tender, compassionate, and shows his love for Jesus in his love for orphans and the impoverished. She sees Christ in him, and she finds that irresistible. He’s also got a great deal of wisdom and insight, and as they get to know one another better, she realizes he understands her deeply. 

Alexis: What is it about Brooke that Ubaldo cannot get off his mind? 

Jennifer: At first, he doesn’t like her much. He assumes she’s materialistic and has come to his country to stroke her ego and gain publicity. But then he begins to see deep compassion in her, and that steals his heart, first in how she treats a poor man selling iguanas on the side of the road and then how she loves on the orphans. As he watches her with them, with the others, and with her sister, he begins to see her differently and comes to understand her on a deeper level. 

Alexis: When Brooke falls in love with Ubaldo, how does it affect her career goals?

Jennifer: She’s torn and confused. She carries in her Bible Ephesians 2:10, which tells her she’s God’s masterpiece and that He has a plan for her. Based on this and things her father used to repeat to her and her sister when he was alive, she believes God brought her to El Salvador for a reason. But she also believes she’s meant to be a news anchor. She feels torn and begins to question her original dreams and God’s direction for her. Can she reconcile the two or will she have to give up one for the other?

Alexis: Why does Ubaldo believe that education is key to rise above poverty?

Jennifer: First, this is how he rose above it, but second, in El Salvador, this is reality. So many parents work in the coffee or sugar plantations, where they’re paid maybe a dollar a day. This isn’t enough to live on, so they’re forced to have their children as young as seven and eight work long hours in the fields with them. (And children don’t make as much.) This causes the children to miss large chunks of school or drop out completely.

However, if a child graduates, their outlook is exponentially better. More so if they learn English (which is taught in El Salvador schools). Both of these things enable them to get clerical jobs and thus allow them to break out of the otherwise near-unbreakable cycle of poverty.

Alexis: What were the challenges and joys of writing this book?

Jennifer: This was one of the most painful books I’ve written. It began when our family took a mission trip to El Salvador and we fell in love with the orphans we met. There was one in particular that tugged on my heart. Her name was Jenifer, spelled with one n, and whenever I’d see her, she’d smile and say, “Dos Jennifers!” It was the only time I’d see her smile.

She cried the day we left.

We returned to the states convinced God was calling us to move to El Salvador so that we could love on the orphans and help teach them English and skills that would help them survive once they aged out of the orphanage. But then I got really sick, and we realized God had different plans.

As I was writing, processing my own experiences, talking with our translator (from our trip), and reading articles and reports on the conditions for so many El Salvador children, my heart broke. I couldn’t get these precious little ones out of my mind.

One afternoon, I went for a long walk where I was crying and asking God why He was allowing me to learn all of these things. And a thought, clear and strong, came, as if in answer—He’d allowed me to see but a part of what He witnesses every day as those poor children, His children, endure the unspeakable and cry out to Him for help.

I realized God broke my heart so that I could reveal theirs and His for them so that each of us could prayerfully find a way to be part of life change.

Alexis: What do you want readers to treasure about Healing Love?

Jennifer: God’s deep, unyielding never-failing love and the fact that He can use our deepest hurts, when surrendered to Him, to bring healing to others.

Thanks for the interview, Jen! God bless you.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Author, speaker, and ministry leader Jennifer Slattery writes for Crosswalk.com and is the managing and acquiring editor for Guiding Light Women’s Fiction, an imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She believes fiction has the power to transform lives and change the culture. Healing Love is her sixth novel, and it was birthed during a trip she and her family took to El Salvador that opened her eyes to the reality of generational poverty and sparked a love for orphans and all who’ve experienced loss. 

Her deepest passion is to help women experience God’s love and discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she travels with her team to various churches to speak to women and help them experience the love and freedom only Christ can offer. When not writing, editing, or speaking, you’ll likely find her chatting with her friends or husband in a quiet, cozy coffeehouse. Visit her online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her and her Wholly Loved team at http://www.whollyloved.com/.

~*~

Blurb for Healing Love: A news anchor intern has it all planned out, and love isn't on the agenda. 

Brooke Endress is on the cusp of her lifelong dream when her younger sister persuades her to chaperone a mission trip to El Salvador. Packing enough hand sanitizer and bug spray to single-handedly wipe out malaria, she embarks on what she hopes will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But Brooke is blindsided by the desperation for hope and love she sees in the orphans’ eyes. And no less by the connection she feels with her handsome translator. As newfound passion blooms, Brooke wrestles with its implications for her career dreams.

Ubaldo Chavez, teacher and translator, knows the struggle that comes with generational poverty. But he found the way out – education – and is determined to help his students rise above.

When he agrees to translate for a mission team from the United States he expects to encounter a bunch of "missional tourists" full of empty promises. Yet an American news anchor defies his expectations, and he finds himself falling in love. But what does he have to offer someone with everything?

~*~

Connect with Jennifer:

Website – www.JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenslattery/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/

~*~

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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14 Days of Sweet Stories: "Restoring Love" by Jennifer Slattery

Interview with Jennifer Slattery, author of Restoring Love:

Alexis: What is the inspiration behind your story’s title, Restoring Love?

Jennifer: Restoring Love picks up, in some ways, where Beyond I Do left off. The two stories are each a standalone, but in my debut novel, we catch a glimpse of Angela—before Christ. And man, is she blowing things, deeply hurting her daughter in the process. But then, she encounters Jesus Christ and He begins to change her trajectory. So, in answer to your question, I knew I needed to write Angela’s post-Christ story before I’d even finished writing the other. 

Alexis: Restoring Love is “missional fiction”. What does that mean for your readers?

Jennifer: Mission fiction is like any other story but with an added slant—it touches on the theme of outreach. So, for example, in Restoring Love, two of my characters feel led to reach out to a single mom and her kids. 

Alexis: What lessons do you want your readers to learn from your characters?

Jennifer: That God’s love is amazing! It can and does transform us, heal us and set us free. 

Alexis: Let’s talk about your story’s hero, Mitch. Why is he passionate about his work as a contractor and house-flipper? What is it about the restoration process of old houses that he loves so much?

Jennifer: He’s always loved working with his hands, and he has a fondness for traditional Midwestern homes with their covered porches and massive, old-growth trees with leaves that turn vibrant in the fall. He loves the history of Omaha that he sees in so many of her distinct neighborhoods, and he wants to help preserve that. He wants to restore those places that capture the traditional Midwest feel so they can remain. 

Alexis: Why did you decide to set your story in the Midwest? Which state is it set in?

Jennifer: This story is set in Omaha, Nebraska, where I’ve lived for the past four years. I never would’ve expected to fall in love with this area—with it’s insanely hot summers and bitter cold winters. But I did. I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful, four distinct seasons, the amazing arts culture, the people who truly are some of the kindest and most welcoming I’ve encountered, and the overall flavor of the place. 

But Omaha’s got its hard, too. Generational poverty. Single moms trying to do better for their kids but feeling like everything’s stacked against them. Kids wanting to dream but stuck in a vicious cycle of struggle, fear, and loss. In Restoring Love, I wanted to show the beauty and the hard, to put the two together, to show that love—God’s love—truly can turn the ugly into good. 

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine, Angela. Why is she filled with regrets? Why did she move to the Midwest? What is it about her life that she doesn’t think is perfect?

Jennifer: You can see much of Angela’s story in my debut novel, Beyond I Do, a novel that centers largely on her daughter’s journey. In that book, we see Angela living selfishly, using others and then discarding them for men. She’s made many poor decisions, and those choices have greatly hurt those she loves. 

But then she encounters Christ, and He begins to restore the relationships she destroyed. More than that, He begins to restore her from what she had become into the beautiful, grace-filled and grace-giving woman He created her to be. 

Alexis: Describe Angela and Mitch’s meet-cute. What were their first impressions of each other?

Jennifer: When Mitch first encountered Angela, dressed like a much-too-old eighties pop queen, he found her...strange. Perhaps a bit comical and...intriguing. When he learned she was house sitting for a military family he knows and cares about, he determined to keep an eye on her—for the family’s sake. 

When Angela encountered Mitch, she had one thought—that man is handsome! But a second thought immediately followed: I have no business thinking that way. With her relational history, she determined to steer clear of men, but, well, life has a way of unhinging our most determined plans.

Alexis: Mitch’s mission is to restore old houses. What is it that Angela is working on to restore? 

Jennifer: Angela wants to restore her life. She’s made such a mess of things, and as a result, she’s come to believe a lot of self-defeating lies—like she’s a failure, unworthy, unable. And yet, God continues to surround her, encouraging her to keep stepping forward. Because He’s got a plan. An amazing plan, one she is uniquely able to fill. 

Alexis: Why is Mitch struggling to keep his business afloat?

Jennifer: House flipping can be a huge risk. One never knows what’s lurking behind the walls, so to speak. In other words, a flipper can purchase a home that appears to be stable only to begin the restoration process and find the electrical work is shoddy. When this and other problems occur, the house flipper can go into debt quickly. 

In addition, Mitch and his business partner are holding on to a few other properties besides their current project. The market hit a down slope, and they’re having trouble selling homes they’ve plunked money into restoring. Then there’s the fact that they’ve rented out other property to people who struggle financial, and whom Mitch feels a great deal of compassion for. As a result, he’s constantly juggling his desire to do what is best for the business and what might be best for his tenants.

Alexis: What mistakes from her past is Angela working to overcome?

Jennifer: She has numerous mistakes, but her biggest desire is to locate and reconnect with her mother, whom she hurt deeply. Angela wants to pay her mother back for money she stole from her, decades previously, and to, hopefully, rebuild the relationship they had before Angela became rebellious. 

Alexis: What’s the moral of the story?

Jennifer: That Christ transforms—lives, hearts, and entire communities. 

Alexis: What was your greatest challenge and greatest joy in writing this book?

Jennifer: My greatest challenge was presenting Bianca, a single woman who Angela feels called to help, authentically but also in a way that those who’ve never traveled in her shoes can understand. If you’ve never encountered generational poverty and don’t understand the dynamics of it, you might be tempted to judge Bianca. Maybe even to strongly dislike her. But if you can step back and understand her history, her perception, her struggles, and her limitations, then I believe you’ll view her (and women like her) with more compassion. 

The greatest joy was getting to explore Omaha with my husband. Our date nights often turned into research trips, and we were able to visit some places right here in the Metro in which we live, that we’d never been to before. And even those we’d frequented numerous times—we began to view them differently, through the lens of the story. It was such fun! 

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jennifer! Would you like to share any closing thoughts?

Jennifer: To those who haven’t been to Omaha, and maybe those who think Nebraska is one big cornfield—come check us out! This is a great city with lots to do!

~*~
Author bio:  

Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. 

As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. 

She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefly, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. 

When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

~*~
Blurb for Restoring Love:

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. 

Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She's almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. 

As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband's incarceration. 

While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

~*~
Buy Jennifer's book:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ CBD

~*~
Connect with Jennifer:
Website – www.JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenslattery/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jenslatte/

~*~

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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