Angela Ruth Strong's BOOK birthday and the inside scoop about her stories

Welcome my dear friend Angela Ruth Strong to the blog today!

She's here to share her thoughts on the story behind her "Finding Love" series of books.

This is a special day for Angela because it's the official release date of her latest book in the series, "Finding Love in Eureka, California"! So please wish her a "Happy BOOK birthday" in the comment section after you read her guest post.

God bless you! 

~*~

Four Weddings and a Symbol
A guest post by Angela Ruth Strong

When I first started writing Finding Love in Sun Valley, I didn’t want to preach a sermon on getting saved. I wanted to create characters who were already Christians and who learned to make better decisions for their lives by reading the Bible. With this goal in mind, I basically integrated a Bible study on water into the novel.

Unexpectedly, the book became the first in a series, and with every sequel, I picked another part of nature to study. It took me deeper into the Word so that the sermon was preached to me. In case you haven’t read my books yet, I’ll sum the messages up for you.

Finding Love in Sun Valley—Water. God hovered over the water on the very first day of creation. As water is essential for life, it plays a big part in Bible stories from floods to fishing to healing to baptism. Ultimately, my characters learn to trust God for living water. And they are drawn together by God’s call to “come to the water.”

Finding Love in Big Sky—Stars. Being a Christmas story, the star was an easy choice. The setting is even at Bright Star Ranch, and the movie producer who is developing this book for film, has retitled it Bright Star Christmas. In this one, I shared the idea that God leads us all the same way he led the Wise Men to baby Jesus. The symbolism here is about how precious we are to Him. Like stars in the sky that God calls all by name.

Finding Love in Park City—Mountains. Park City hosted part of the 2002 Olympics above Salt Lake City because of its majestic mountains, so it’s the perfect setting for my characters to overcome the figurative mountains in their lives. It’s also the perfect place for God to “meet” them as He does on so many occasions in the Bible. It’s through CJ’s love of her son that she sees how much God must really love us to sacrifice His own son on a mountain.

Finding Love in Eureka—Trees. Oh man. This one rocked me. I read every verse in the Bible on trees and made a connection I’d never made before. In the beginning, we are cursed and lose access to the Tree of Life. In the end, we are given the Tree of Life once again. All because in the middle, Jesus died on a tree and took our curse upon himself. This connection is especially powerful for my heroine who stops reading the Bible when she gets to the part about children being cursed for the sins of their fathers up to four generations. She doesn’t think this is fair to either her or the adopted siblings in her family tree, but eventually, she seeks understanding. Being set in the Redwood Forest made this lesson of redemption even more real for her.

Though I consider Eureka to be my “least Christian” novel, it has the strongest message for Christ. It humbled me and made me fall in love with my savior all over again. And that’s really why I write Christian romance. To show that a romance can’t be a love story if God is not involved because God is love.

So though I started out not wanting to preach on salvation, every wedding I ever write about will be a symbol of how God is the bridegroom and we are the bride. My characters may live happily-ever-after, but only because we get to live happily FOREVER after. And that’s worth writing about.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Angela lives in Idaho with her hubby and teenagers. 

She also works at an airline and teaches yoga because she'd rather get paid for her hobbies than actually work. 

That doesn't mean writing is easy, but her readers are worth it. She's got a lot more fun stuff headed your way, so check it out at www.angelaruthstrong.com.

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Blurb for Finding Love in Eureka, California: Raised in a family of six adopted siblings, Genevieve Wilson fights to keep her dysfunctional brothers and sisters together, but everyone still seems to leave. 

If she’s not good enough to prevent her birth parents or siblings from abandoning her, then there’s no way she would ever be enough to have a lasting relationship with the successful pilot from work…which is exactly what makes him a safe subject for her daydreams.

Matt Lake is dating the perfect woman and working a great job. Life is easy until he starts to enjoy hanging out with the airline employees more than with his girlfriend—one redhead in particular. He tells himself he’s only intrigued by Gen’s quirkiness, but nobody else makes him smile the way she does.

Can Matt give up the flawless life he’d planned in exchange for the messiness of love? And if so, will Gen risk her heart on reality when it’s never paid off in the past?

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Buy Angela's book on Amazon

Cozy Christmas Reads: Sharon's story

Excerpt from Sharon Srock's story "Hannah's Angel":

Terri secured the angel to a branch of the tree with its attached ribbon. She tilted her head. That’s weird too. All of the others have red or green ribbons. Why is this one white? She brushed the question aside, blew hard, and fanned it with her hand in an effort to dislodge it. Hannah’s angel fluttered but clung tight to its branch. Satisfied with its stability and confident that someone would pluck it soon—for all the good it would do them—Terri crossed to the toy store where the others waited. She surveyed the glittering stacks of potential gifts, rubbed her hands together, and grabbed a cart. “Come on. This is my favorite part.”

Hannah’s angel faded from Terri’s thoughts as she pushed the basket through narrow aisles crowded with Christmas shoppers. There were four girls and two boys on her list this year. She studied dolls and stuffed animals, tested remote control cars, and read the warnings and specifications on an assortment of skateboards before adding one to the cart. When she rounded the final counter she saw her friends huddled at the end of the checkout line.

Karla’s silver hair glinted under the florescent lights as she shook her head to a question Terri hadn’t heard. Callie’s face held a serious look of suspicion, while Pam gestured at something in Karla’s hand. Terri hurried over. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure,” Karla answered. “I was going through my notes to make sure I had everything and…” She shook her head and held out her hand to Terri. “Look what I found tucked inside my notebook.”

Terri lowered her eyes to Karla’s hand and felt her breath catch in her throat. Hannah’s angel stared up at her, ketchup stain and all. “You snuck out and picked that back off the tree.”

Karla shook her head. “That seems to be the general consensus, but”—she sketched an X across her heart—“I haven’t been out of the store.”

“Then how—?”

“Oh good grief, ladies, get a clue,” Pam said. “Someone’s playing a joke on us and we’re falling for it. Where was your notebook?”

Karla motioned to her cart. “I left it in the cart so I wouldn’t have to dig for it every time I wanted to check something off.”

“Well there you go. You know what pranksters our husbands are.” Pam waved at the bustling throng of shoppers out on the walkway. “I’ll bet they’re all four lurking out there somewhere. They saw us put the angel back on the tree and figured they had a chance to get our goats. I, for one, refuse to give them the satisfaction.” She held out her hand. “Give me that thing and watch my purse.” Pam left her basket and marched out of the store.

They watched as the angel was secured to the tree a third time. There were grins all around as Pam tugged on it and brushed against it to insure its firm attachment to the tree. Obviously satisfied, she dusted her hands together and returned to her friends. “Ok, ladies. Let’s finish up in here. We have clothing stores to visit.”

They had a formula they used for each name they drew. A toy, an outfit, and a winter coat with matching hat and gloves. Half a dozen stores later, Terri stood to the side while Callie paid for her final purchase, a purple hooded jacket for a teenage girl on her list. Callie dug in her purse. “Anyone got extra pennies. I really don’t want to break a twenty for three cents.”

Pam reached into her basket and pulled out the sweater she’d abandoned earlier. “I do. I’ve been dropping change in my pockets all afternoon. What the…” She pulled her hand out of her pocket. She had pennies all right. Pennies wrapped up in a winkled paper angel. “I don’t believe this.”

The harried sales clerk frowned as the four friends gathered around Pam.

Karla laughed. “They’re persistent, you have to give them that.”

Pam spread the angel out on the counter and pointed to the red stain on the wing. “Yep, same angel.” Her eyes roamed the crowded store and the corridor beyond. “They’re good. I haven’t seen a hint that they’re following us. Have any of you?”

Headshakes all around.

Callie plucked pennies and the angel out of Pam’s hand, paid for her purchases, and headed out of the store.

“Back to the tree?” Terri asked.

“Nope. Whoever’s doing this has had their fun, but enough is enough.” Callie paused in the middle of the walkway next to a trash can.

Terri frowned at her friend. “Callie, you can’t throw it away. Hannah—”

~*~

Author bio:

Author Sharon Srock went from science fiction to Christian fiction at slightly less than warp speed. 

Twenty five years ago, she cut her writer's teeth on Star Trek fiction. Today, she writes inspirational stories that focus on ordinary women using their faith to accomplish extraordinary things. 

Sharon lives in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma with her husband and three very large dogs. When she isn’t working or writing, she loves to read, cook, and travel. She’s still working on a way to do all three at the same time.

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Book Blurb for Hannah's Angel:

Needed: One Christmas miracle

When Jillian Rishi shared the news of her pregnancy with her boyfriend, Wesley Price, he left the country. Unable to stay away from the woman he loves, he returned five months later to reclaim Jillian and their unborn daughter. Now they’re on the run, hiding from the dishonest lawyer who’s determined to take their baby. And hope is running out…

More than just a girl’s day out.

A leisurely day of Christmas shopping, that was the plan when Callie, Terri, Pam, and Karla went to the mall. They never expected to be embroiled in a mystery, never expected the mystery to turn into an FBI investigation, never expected to deliver a baby in the middle of nowhere in a Christmas Eve blizzard.

Just a simple paper angel.

Hannah’s angel is on a mission from God and paper or not, she refuses to be ignored until her charge gets the Christmas miracle she so desperately needs.

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Review of Sharon's book, Hannah's Angel:

"I love how Sharon Srock's characters come to life. She isn't afraid to tackle the hard trials of life. Her characters are so alive that you end up praying that they find their ever after. I actually love reading about the Women of the Valley and their friendship and faith. If you ever want a book series that you cannot put down until the end, pick up any one of Sharon Srock's novels and novellas." ~Calliegh's 5-star review on Amazon (shortened)

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Connect with Sharon:
Website - www.sharonsrock.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SharonSrock
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448789.Sharon_Srock

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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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Cozy Christmas Reads: Interview with the author of Christmas Trinkets

Interview with LoRee Peery, author of Christmas Trinkets:

Alexis: What was the inspiration behind your story’s title?

LoRee: Last year while I watched Hallmark movies, I made a note to incorporate a piece of antique jewelry in my next Christmas novella. As executor for several relatives, my husband inherited a plethora of interesting jewelry and old items. I’m a tactile person and I love to touch those pieces, wondering about the stories behind them.

Alexis: Hayley Wolfe is your story’s heroine. What are her goals, motivation and conflict in this story?

LoRee: At first, Hayley’s only goal is a successful business. Then she meets Kameron. Motivated by growing up without a father present, she wants Kameron to realize how blessed he has been by his adoptive family. Conflict enters over the fact he doesn’t share her faith and she becomes pushy to share hers.

Alexis: Kameron Kohl is your story’s hero. What are his goals, motivation and conflict in this story?

LoRee: Kameron believes he should have never been born. He lives through the lost boys he writes about, which is his day-to-day goal. Hayley is a source of bright energy and forces him to switch his selfish focus to include others in his life. He also questions the Bible knowledge he’s never opened his heart to.

Alexis: Describe the special connection between your hero and heroine.

LoRee: Hayley and Kameron are lonely and don’t realize it until they meet. Each can identify with the way the other grew up. Once they conclude their jewelry was made to match, finding out the connection becomes a curiosity.

Alexis: Why does Hayley feel that she cannot always count on people?

LoRee: She’s lived a sheltered life, and became self-sufficient at an early age. Her mother moved them to a tiny town and immersed herself in an antiquities shop, which Hayley inherited. Questions about her absent father remained unanswered. She’s grown up relying on herself to trust the Lord.

Alexis: How did Hayley become a woman with strong faith in God? Highlight her journey.

LoRee: Hayley grew to trust the Lord as the only constant in her life. She attends the local church in Edgewood, which expanded into her family.

Alexis: How does she meet Kameron and what is her first impression of him?

LoRee: Kameron holds the door open for the father of Hayley’s best friend as they enter her shop. She’s a people person and tries to engage him in conversation. Kameron is in town to dog-house-sit for the pastor, who mentioned Auntie’s Antiquities as a good place for coffee and a place to write. She giggles at sight of his laptop on an antique marble-topped table. Then she sees him as good looking with brown eyes and a crooked nose, but preoccupied. She’s captivated and curious as she watches him work.

Alexis: When Kameron meets Hayley, what did he first notice about her? Why?

LoRee: He always has his head in his stories, but at first meet, Hayley distracts Kameron. Why had he looked into her amber eyes? He was aware of her as she moved around the place. How to shut her out so he could write? He studied every graceful move Hayley made. A woman had never before interrupted his concentration. Nice shape exposed in clingy athletic wear. Pretty. Then he sees her necklace.

Alexis: Why does Kameron have abandonment issues and how did that lead him to living a life without wanting God in the picture?

LoRee: As an infant, Kameron was left on the church steps. The pastor was single but lived with his sister, who adopted Kameron. If his mother didn’t value him, why does he even exist? He attended church because it was expected. He knows the Bible, but never let God’s Word penetrate his heart.

Alexis: How does God use Hayley to change Kameron as he’s falling for her?

LoRee: The main thing is that he changes his self-pity/station in life, to considering her. She influences him to look at people and life in a different way. His attitude toward his adoptive family, and the Bible he’s been exposed to, also switches to the positive.

Alexis: What role do actual Christmas trinkets play in this story? Explain.

LoRee: Hayley is passionate about family heirlooms, particularly jewelry. She found a double locket after her mother passed away. Kameron’s keychain matches her locket, obviously made by the dame designer. They discover a key and a connection that could only have been ordained by God. Another item that the pastor held onto is connected to Hayley’s grandmother.

Alexis: Why did you write this story, “Christmas Trinkets,” and what do you want your readers to remember most about it?

LoRee: I wrote the story because like Hayley, I’m curious about old items and the people who owned them. With such a romantic heart as mine, one thing led to another as I brainstormed. As in all my stories, I want there to be a spiritual take-away. Despite our place in the world, including the families we’re placed in, not one of us was born by mistake. God knew us before the beginning of time, and He covers everything that touches our lives. Nothing happens by chance. 

Alexis: If you could spend Christmas Eve with Hayley and Kameron, what would you do? Why?

LoRee: Oh, go to church with them in Edgewood. There’s a little white church with stained glass and copper-roofed steeple in the little town near where I live. As a child, I grew up attending a little white church like that. Christmas Eve was my absolute favorite time in the world. The Sunday school children lined up in the basement, youngest to oldest, and proceeded up the stairs and down the aisle to the front singing “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful.”

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

LoRee: First, thank you, Alexis, for including my story in your Cozy Christmas Reads.

Second, no matter what negative memories you may carry from your own childhood, accept and forgive. For some reason, we humans have a tendency to expect too much from others, be they parents, children, or other Christians. Everyone makes mistakes. We don’t know what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Third, take the time to relax this December, and ponder why we really celebrate. Hint: we can’t separate the cradle from the cross. Merry Christmas!

~*~
Author Bio: Christian romance author LoRee Peery writes to feel alive, as a way of contributing, and to pass forward the hope of rescue from sin. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. 

LoRee clings to 1 John 5:4 and prays her family sees that faith. She has authored the Frivolities Series and other e-books. Her desire for readers, the same as for her characters, is to discover where they fit in this life journey to best work out the Lord’s life plan. 

She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and author. She’s been a reader since before kindergarten.

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Book blurb for Christmas Trinkets: She was looking for coffee and conversation. He was looking for a quiet place to write. What they found was a connection that would make this Christmas unforgettable.

Hayley Wolfe shares a kinship with the lost and lonely. Growing up without a father taught her that you can’t always count on people. Her strong faith in God taught her that her Heavenly Father is unshakable. When she meets Kameron Kohl at her antiques and coffee shop, she’s immediately drawn to his warmth and charm.

After being abandoned on the steps of a church as a baby, Kameron Kohl has spent his life rejecting God and meaningful relationships. After all, his own mother didn’t care for him, so why should anyone else. But Kameron never expected to meet Hayley Wolfe. Her faith in Christ, her inner beauty and selfless openness towards strangers, has Kameron falling for her hard.

When Hayley notices a connection between Kameron's keychain and the locket passed down to her from her mother, she wants to investigate further. Kameron refuses. As friendship turns to love, Hayley will have to rely on God to soften Kameron’s heart.

Will the connection between their Christmas Trinkets lead them to love or unanswerable questions?

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Buy Christmas Trinkets on Amazon or Pelican

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Connect with LoRee:
Website - www.loreepeery.com
Pelican - http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk
Twitter - https://twitter.com/LoreePeery
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery

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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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