Devotionals for the Heart: How to find hope in broken relationships

Finding Hope in Broken Relationships
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.”—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Have you ever loved someone who ended up disappointing you? Maybe they hurt you emotionally, or betrayed you, or perhaps they did something to another person so awful you had to cut ties with them?

Broken relationships are one of the hardest things we humans navigate during our lifetime. The pain we experience, and the decisions we have to make, can be difficult and even traumatic. In my life I’ve rarely had to completely break ties with someone I’ve loved, but I’ve had to put firm boundaries in place. Even that can be tremendously challenging.

Perhaps because it’s so hard, it’s one of the topics I find myself coming back to over and over again, not only in my faith blogs and other nonfiction but in my fiction. I’m particularly drawn to difficult family relationships—mostly because you often feel “stuck” with your family, so you’re forced to find creative ways to deal with tension and brokenness. And sometimes those methods are decidedly imperfect. For instance, the sibling relationship is one of the most complicated and extraordinarily beautiful that we’ll ever experience. But sometimes, horribly painful circumstances can erect walls between siblings—walls so high they cause permanent damage.

That’s the crux of my latest novel, Tangled Roots, explores the broken relationship between Tiff and James, a brother and sister who were once so close they relied on each other for survival—but now they can barely speak to each other.

Tiff and James grew up in a dilapidated former mill town, two children of abusive, alcoholic parents. James was Tiff’s protector throughout her childhood—her hero—but their lives took two very different paths. He joined a gang and wound up locked up in prison for a hate crime, while she got a college scholarship and moved far away, burying herself in her faith and her future. Now, in peaceful Dahlia, South Carolina, she’s finally built the respectable life she’s always craved. With a proposal from her upstanding boyfriend Bobby, everything seems perfect.

Then she gets word that her brother has been released from prison—and his parole officer wants him to join Tiff in Dahlia. But Tiff hasn’t told anyone, including her fiancé, about her past—or about her brother. Nor has she forgiven her brother for the wrongs he’s done, or for abandoning her to survive the chaos of their family alone. And she can’t believe her brother really has become a born-again Christian and wants to turn his life around, despite his letters and his pleas. She’s also not convinced that she herself won’t repeat the cycle her family started.

I won’t tell you anything else, because I hope you’ll read the book and see how Jesus Christ triumphs over this seemingly irredeemable situation. But here’s the not-so-secret real-life secret: Jesus does fix our broken, seemingly irredeemable, seemingly unfixable messes.

I’m fascinated with Christian redemption stories, the way that deeply flawed people undergo a profound, miraculous transformation as they see the proverbial light and begin to walk God’s path for their lives. Perhaps it’s because I myself am a redemption story, and I’ve seen the powerful and beautiful ways God works in our lives. At its core, that’s where this book originates—in the notion that no matter how far away someone seems from Christ, no matter how many wrongs they’ve done or how bad a sin they might have committed, no one is exempt from the saving grace of Jesus Christ. No one, no matter what. There is room for everyone at God’s table.

God’s love is that powerful. One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV). It reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” That’s how big God’s love for us is—we who genuinely believe have the opportunity for a do-over, a rewrite, a truly fresh start, no matter what. In our relationships, sometimes that’s not possible or healthy. But with God, it’s different. God wipes our slate clean.

If you’re someone who, like me, has had to navigate your share of broken real-life relationships, take heart. On this side of Heaven, things don’t always get resolved. But sometimes they do. Yet no matter what, you can be certain Jesus is walking right beside you. He knows your pain and your heartache, your baggage and your guilt, your anger and your anguish. And he can help.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for your willingness to shine your pure and holy light into the darkest of circumstances and the darkest of relationships. Thank You for meeting me in my pain and understanding the whole situation. I surrender all to You and your healing mercy. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: "I Surrender All" by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: "The Master's Hand" by Annie Herring. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "Broken and Beautiful" by Mark Schultz. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: "Testimony" by Terrian. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Her two Christian contemporary novels, The Memory Garden and Tangled Roots, are Amazon bestsellers. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Devotionals for the Heart: Quarantine

Quarantine doesn't mean separation
A devotional by Wade Webster

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” –Romans 8:35 (NIV)

Quarantine is a word we seldom used before 2020. There was never a situation in our personal lives that demanded such drastic measures. But that pesky little COVID-19 virus changed all that.

I came across the word when I drove for Conway Freight. We transferred freight of various sizes around the world for several companies. In the wintertime, a blizzard or ice storm would make driving in a particular region unsafe and/or impossible. A hurricane would cause the same scenario during the summer months. The company would call a quarantine for that area. No freight was allowed to go there until the situation improved.

To slow the spread of this Coronavirus, we've been asked to quarantine our bodies at home until further notice, especially for those at high risk of infection. Technology makes it possible to remain in touch with loved ones but that has its limits. Seeing a face and hearing a voice is nice but there's nothing like a human touch to build a bond.

Introverts handle such isolation better than extroverts do. Extroverts thrive on human interaction. They need it to recharge. Introverts prefer to be alone to get back in touch with themselves.

So, we isolate ourselves to protect us and to keep from adding to the statistics. Then the loneliness settles in ... even for introverts. God told us in the opening chapters of the Bible that it's not good for people to be alone. When that forbidden fruit was eaten by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a separation occurred. That perfect, face-t0-face relationship Adam and Eve experienced with God, died. They were quarantined out of the Garden of Eden for the rest of human history on Earth.

The following chapters of the Bible are filled with failed attempts at restoring that broken relationship with God. Sin was the virus that kept the statistics high. It took God's Son (Jesus Christ) becoming a man and sacrificing His life, to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Sin still tries to step between us and forever quarantine us away from God.

While it feels at times like we will be forever separated from God, we can rest assured that’s not possible because of what God says in His Word (The Holy Bible). Let’s read His Words in Romans 8:38-40 (NIV). The Apostle Paul, who wrote this book of Romans, underscores this point in the very last verse of that magnificent chapter. He said: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That's quite an exhaustive list. We can add any virus, pandemic, or personal quarantine as well. Sin still taints our relationship with God as long as we walk this earth. But because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, we have hope of experiencing a time that will never end. A time when we'll know God as He is and fully realize face-to-face with Him that we are His precious child. God will be that perfect Daddy who we've always longed for.

Hold on, my friend. Quarantines will be lifted. Hugs will be all the sweeter when they come ... especially that hug we receive from Jesus Christ when we see Him face to face.

~*~
Author Bio:

Wade Webster is a farm boy turned city slicker, heathen turned born-again Christian, truck driver turned writer doing his best to point folks to his best friend, Jesus Christ. 

He currently lives in Plano, Texas.

Wade is the author of 100 Prayers of a Writer, a book that didn't begin as a book, just weekly prayers to a group of writer friends.

He enjoys spending time in nature, running for exercise and dark chocolate, though not necessarily in that order. Apart from driving 18-wheelers for a living he has a part-time job painting houses on the side...and the front and back and inside.

As a teenager, he told his friends he never wanted to be considered normal. So far he's done a pretty good job of living up to that aspiration.

Falling for Books: Sally's book

Interview with Sally Bradley about her book, Homestands:

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Sally: It started years and years ago just as a what-if. What if a superstar athlete had a child he didn’t know about? And what if he and that child met at a game and he autographed a baseball for his own son? What would happen next?
 

Alexis: What does your book’s title, “Homestands” mean?

Sally: Homestands is what you call a bunch of baseball games that are all played at the home team’s stadium, all in a row. A team may have a ten-game homestand. That means those ten games in a row are all at home. And since this was a story of a broken home being put back together, there was a play on words in there too.

Alexis: Homestands is book number one in your Chicago Wind book series. What inspired this series? Tell us about it and give us a hint about the plot for book number two.

Sally: The inspiration behind this series is second chances for people, for couples, for families. Book two, Shelf Life, is about a woman who has become a Christian while her husband has not—and instead of helping their ailing marriage, her new faith only makes it worse. And then there’s that pesky death threat her husband’s receiving that makes life difficult!

Alexis: Why do you call Homestands a Christian reconciliation romance?

Sally: Honestly? To make it clear to book buyers what they were getting into! When my book released as a stand-alone (it had first released in a box set that hit the USA Today bestseller list), a lot of my readers had already bought it and it somehow seemed that general market romance readers found it instead—I think because the cover was so amazing. But the problem was that those general market romance readers HATED it! They absolutely hated the forgiveness aspect, which I found so interesting. They did not want to see my heroine forgive a man who had hurt her. So I added that little phrase to information about the book so people would realize what kind of a book they were going to be reading.

Alexis: What role does your faith in God as an author play in your storytelling?

Sally: It colors everything! My plot, my characters and how they think and behave… I don’t believe every story by a Christian has to be solidly Christian. I am fine with a good story that’s just a great read. But when I sit down to write a book, what I’m learning in my relationship with God will bleed into the story. It just does. God is so important to me that I can’t keep Him out of my books.

Alexis: Let’s talk about the hero of Homestands, Mike Conner. Describe his looks, background, and purpose in life. What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Sally: Mike is that extrovert who really knows how to get along with people. He’s the life of the party, but he’s not an attention grabber. He can have fun with people and not have it be all about him. He’s got a bit of a baby face—he’s always looked younger than he is. He’s tall, dark-haired, and extremely athletic. That’s how he makes his very good living!

He’s also the youngest of three kids and was a surprise who came along when both his sisters were in high school. His sisters adored him, and he felt the same about them. So family has always been important to him, but because his parents were so much older than him, he wanted to have kids—and lots of them—immediately. This was a big issue between Mike and Meg, who wanted to wait to have kids so she wouldn’t be raising them alone while Mike traveled the country and played baseball.

Alexis: Who is Terrell and what role does he play in this story?

Sally: Terrell is Mike and Meg’s little boy who got away from Meg to ask his hero—who just so happened to have the same last name as him—to autograph his ball. He was a lot of fun to write. He’s the entire reason Meg and Mike are reunited and forced to be together, and sometimes he could just say things that no adult would say!

Alexis: Let’s talk about the heroine of Homestands, Meg Conner. Describe her looks, personality, and heart. What are her biggest dreams and fears?

Sally: Meg’s biggest fear is that Mike would find out she’d hidden her pregnancy from him. It was also her best way to take revenge on him, which she now regrets. She’s much quieter than Mike, more content to be alone and work on her business, interior design. She’s made a life for herself without Mike, but it’s been very hard and she’s struggling now with doing the right thing—telling Mike he has a son—when Terrell just lays it out there for her.

Alexis: What brings Meg and Mike back together and what threatens to drive them apart forever?

Sally: Terrell brings them together, but it’s holding on to their own hurts and refusing to acknowledge their part in their failed marriage that could drive them apart.

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

Sally: Meg is a new Christian who’s growing—until she realizes she’s done wrong by keeping Mike from his son. For the first time, she’s faced with dealing with something she’s done wrong and moving forward—or not—in her Christian walk. None of Mike’s relationships since Meg have worked, and he begins to think it’s because he threw the perfect girl away, when the reality is that he needs fulfillment in God, not in a woman.

Alexis: What was the most challenging part for you as the author in writing this book?

Sally: Getting inside my male character’s head. This was the first contemporary novel I wrote, and early drafts had Mike thinking and acting too much like a woman would! I’d like to think I fixed much of that before the book met my readers.

Alexis: What’s your favorite scene in this story? Why?

Sally: I love the scene where Meg visits Mike’s house for the first time. You can see how they would have complemented each other as a couple if they’d just worked at loving each other instead of themselves. And then so much happens in that scene that it leaves you wondering how they will ever get back together. 

Another favorite scene I just remembered is when they spend some time on one of Lake Michigan’s beaches as a storm is nearing. Meg and Mike are starting to feel their way back to each other—and then Meg asks a simple question that sends them both reeling. Love the drama in that scene!

Alexis: If you could step into your story as a licensed marriage counselor, what counsel would you give to Mike and Meg? Why?

Sally: Focus on loving God. If you love God, you’ll be deep in His Word, and you’ll be obeying it. If they would just commit to following God and what He says before anything else, they’d find their way back to each other.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sally!

~*~
Author Bio:

Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. 

A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for the crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. 

She now lives in South Carolina with her family, but they get back to Chicago from time to time for important things, like good pizza and a White Sox game.

A USA Today bestselling author, Sally has won a handful of awards for Homestands, Kept, and another work-in-progress.

~*~

Book Blurb for Homestands:

A Christian reconciliation romance from USA Today bestselling author 

Sally Bradley

When baseball star Mike Connor stumbles across his ex-wife six years after their divorce, he’s stunned to find that she's the mother of a kindergartner who wears his jersey. And shares his last name.

The last thing Meg Connor wants is to be around Mike. After all, he was the one who hurt and abandoned her. But she can’t deny him—or their son—time together to build a relationship, which means Mike is around too often, reminding her of why she fell in love with him so long ago. If only she could forget their past… The painful and the good.

Between their guilt and closely held hurts, Meg and Mike struggle against each other, their feelings, and God as they fight their own desires for the future, a future that might never happen when the past that tore them apart collides with their present.

~*~
Buy Sally’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Sally:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SallyBradleyAuthor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sallybwrites/
Website - sallybradley.com

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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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Interview with Natalie Hallie, character, from The Road to Austin

Jessica Alyse returns to the blog today with a fun interview featuring Natalie Hallie, the leading lady (character) from her new novel, The Road to Austin!

I found this book to be poignant, multilayered and complete with solid storytelling skills by its author. It's evident that Jessica Alyse has a passion for writing stories that are solid, relatable and don't shy away from tough topics.

But don't take my word for it, go buy a copy of The Road to Austin and read it for yourself! :)

Remember to enter the book giveaway contest toward the end of Natalie's interview, for your chance to WIN an e-book copy of The Road to Austin.

Enjoy!

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Interview with Natalie Hallie, character, from The Road to Austin:

Alexis: Natalie, your author pegged you as a “woman on a mission.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

Natalie: That’s one way of putting it. Yes, I would have to say I agree. Maybe because I always seem to have somewhere to go, things to do, people to see. You know? Life’s been busy since the wedding and if I can get a chance to add one more thing to my planner, I probably won’t turn it down. I like to accomplish things – Austin can tell you. If there’s anything in the world I love, it’s being able to put a checkmark next to a project. *Makes a checkmark through the air.*

Alexis: Your goal is clear: Get home in time for your sister’s wedding. You try to fly in an airplane but fail. So then you’re resolved to take a road trip with a man (Austin Brooks) whose love for spontaneity gets underneath your skin. Why?

Natalie: If I’m being honest with myself, Austin is really the only man I trust – for reasons I’m sure you know after reading our story. It is absolutely true that he gets under my skin at times, I mean the man lives life by the seat of his paint-stained jeans – whereas I do not. But Austin has a gentleness about him, an assurance, if you will, that he’ll be there for you no matter what. When I realized taking a plane wasn’t going to be an option for me, having Austin show up out of nowhere and offer to drive me home…it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

Alexis: Growing up, you and Austin were friends. What made you drift apart? How did you feel about reconnecting with him on this road trip?

Natalie: I wouldn’t say we were really friends – although the younger me would have loved it if we were. If it were up to me, Austin and I would have never drifted apart. Back when we were both eighteen, things happened in our lives that would take a lot of time to overcome – ten years to be exact. It was hard to let him go and let him find his own way in the world. It created a lot of resentment and confusion in me. When God opened the door for us to reconnect, I was hesitant because I thought I was still angry with him for leaving. I didn’t want to hurt again. And I certainly didn’t want to revisit those old feelings. But God had other plans for us, and I’m grateful we were able to travel that road back to Austin, Texas. 

Alexis: Describe The Road to Austin. If you could sum up your journey in just one word, what would you say? Why?

Natalie: One word? I would have to say…beautiful. I think that perfectly sums up our journey because it perfectly sums up who Austin is. That’s really what this journey was about; getting to know Austin’s heart all over again. All this time I thought I was trying to get home to Austin, Texas. But now that I look back on it, there was more to it than that. As it turns out I found my home in him. In Austin Brooks. 

Alexis: What was your most memorable moment on the road to Austin? Why?

Natalie: I remember it vividly, it was the first time Austin held me right after we heard about the plane crash…I still get chills thinking about that day. I was a mess, shaking and crying, I couldn’t get a grip on reality. And he was there, holding onto me, keeping me strong and helping me stand. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t been there. If he hadn’t been who he is and randomly offered to drive me home…I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Austin. He saved my life without realizing it.

Alexis: What were your first thoughts when you found out that Austin is an artist—a very talented one?

Natalie: I was blown away. I had no idea he was capable of that kind of emotion. The thing is, Austin comes over as this man who doesn’t care or who doesn’t take life seriously – but the truth is, he sees the world differently than the rest of us. He sees people differently, with a love that I think can only come from Christ. That’s what you see in his art. It’s not just pictures and paintings. Austin pours his soul into everything he does and to witness that firsthand in his art, you can feel the passion. It’s inspiring – that’s probably an understatement. Austin makes you want to be a better person. That’s what makes him Austin.

Alexis: Austin wants you to lighten up and not take life so seriously. Why?

Natalie: Austin is aware of how rigid I can be at times. I like to adhere to a schedule and stick with a routine. I’m very much a perfectionist and when things are out of order, I tend to stress out and take the fun out of life. He hates that. Austin is all about fun and finding something to laugh at and admiring the simple things in life. I don’t always remember to slow down and appreciate it. We make an amazing team because his colorful outlook on life reminds me to breathe and my knack for details reminds him to stay on track. He keeps my head in the clouds and I keep his feet on the ground. 

Alexis: Three days was enough to go full circle in your relationship with Austin. How did he go from annoying you to melting your heart? 

Natalie: It was all in my perspective. The first time I set foot in Austin’s truck, I was a hard, cold person. Everything in my life had led me to think there was no hope in life. That’s why I found Austin so annoying. Because his sense of adventure is built on a foundation of hope. He sees only the good – whereas I could only see the bad. This road trip really wore us both down emotionally, the broken deadlines and never-ending problems and all of the life-and-death situations, we were tired and drained, so we dropped our guards and really got to see the other for who we were. We saw the worst and best of each other and those are the parts we fell in love with. Once I could see his strengths and weaknesses side-by-side, I knew no other man could compare to Austin. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

Alexis: Would you say that you love Austin? If so, describe how he won your heart.

Natalie: Yes, most definitely. Truth be told, I’ve always loved Austin. Since we were eight. I would say he won my heart by just being himself, but that’s so cliché. He won my heart when I realized I’d found someone who wanted to hold me gently. Someone who was appalled at the idea of seeing me hurt, after all I’d been through, and who wanted to show me what love really felt like. His touch goes through my skin and runs into my soul. He’s healing parts of me that had been destroyed. I can feel it every day. 

Alexis: What is it about your past and Austin’s past that used to bother you?

Natalie: His leaving ten years ago. I think that’s where my resentment started to grow from. All of my life – my young life – I thought I’d found someone I could lean on, someone who could protect me if given the chance. But when Austin left home, he took that hope with him and left me reeling for security. I had to find my footing after this foundation of my childhood dreams had been ripped out from under me. Truth is, it wasn’t healthy for me to live in that world. It took tearing our lives apart to build us both from the ground up. Seven years after Austin left, I was tired of falling apart so, as a last ditch effort, I decided to mimic the faith I always saw in Austin. I quickly found out that faith can’t be mimicked, but it can be inspired. When I gave myself to Jesus Christ, faith became my own, something to cherish and nurture. Austin’s faith may have led me to that point in my life, but it couldn’t save me. It took knowing Jesus for myself to realize there were greater things waiting for me.

Alexis: What role does faith in God play in The Road to Austin and beyond?

Natalie: Our faith in God is most definitely the foundation of our story, of our future. But I would say, more specifically, it’s our hope in God that keeps us living, breathing. I had no problem trusting in Him when I was still a hard and bitter person. But it’s the warmth of His hope that melted my cold walls. He used Austin to set my focus on better plans and sweeter dreams. Every day I get to wake up knowing He has a plan and purpose for me. That’s hope.

Alexis: If you could do one thing differently in your life, what would it be and why?

Natalie: This might sound crazy, but I would have to change my career. If given the chance, I would have pursued photography from a very young age. But it was because of my father’s desire to have a family of lawyers that I chose his course and went to law school. Some might think I would change being born into a loveless family, but not meeting Austin isn’t something I would risk. 

Alexis: What do you want readers to learn from your life story?

Natalie: Hope exists. Keep your chin up and eyes on Jesus Christ. Never give up on hope, I don’t care what happens in the world. True love also exists. Austin is proof of that. If that kind of loyalty and passion lives in the heart of one person, then it exists in the world and is worth waiting for. Nobody is perfect, but the love that God puts in your heart for that one special person is enough to carry you through a lifetime of tests and trials. Just hold onto each other.

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

Natalie: Only that this was fun and I hope to do it again soon.

~*~
Author Bio: 

Jessica Alyse is a Louisiana girl with a heart for Texas. 

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, she has a passion for storytelling, romance, and Jesus Christ.  

When she’s not writing, you can find her bookbinding, daydreaming about the day her stories are adapted into movies, or in the event of a football game, cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

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Blurb for The Road to Austin:  Natalie Hallie is a woman on a mission.

She needs to get home in time for her sister’s wedding.

Austin Brooks is a man of spontaneity. And he needs coffee.

To get to Austin, Texas, Natalie refuses to step foot on a plane. She'd rather accept a ride from the reckless and wild boy from her childhood who, in her opinion, hasn't changed all that much. If she can just get through three days of his witty commentary and cheesy jokes, then life will return to normal. That is, if bad eggs, thieving monkeys, a tornado, a dilapidated motel, and a stolen truck don't do her in first.

The world looks better in watercolor. Or so Austin believes. He finds it easier not to take life so seriously, unlike Natalie. Things change when they spend three days together and her long-buried feelings start to surface. That’s when Austin finds himself getting serious…about praying for Natalie’s heart.

On a journey where the skies aren’t always blue, graffiti isn't always illegal, and bathroom breaks aren't always a good idea, the past starts to catch up with them. When secrets of her brother's death, Austin's past, and Natalie's family begin to come to light, they'll learn there's more to life and love on the road to Austin.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website - http://www.jessalyse.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/writer.jessalyse/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/WriterJessAlyse
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/writerjessalyse/
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Alyse/e/B015S1RSH8
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/jessicaalyse

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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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Book Review: The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories

Book title: The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories
Author: Celeste Fletcher McHale
Reviewed by Alexis A. Goring

This story was a rare read for me because, for the first time in months, I enjoyed every single page of this full-length novel from the prologue through the epilogue.

Normally, novels that are full-length bore me before the end and I find myself skipping over the details and speed-reading. But not with this book! The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories piqued my interest from the first page of the prologue and made me keep turning the page. I think part of this was due to the captivating characters that are not only relatable but very REAL. This is not your standard HEA (Happily Ever After) Christian fiction story where no one gets hurt too deeply and happiness prevails. No! This story is filled with fictional characters that deal with real issues that people in the REAL WORLD face and the way they handle their issues and come full circle inspired me.

This story is about a man named Colin and a woman named Jacey. She’s a magazine writer, he’s a preacher. They are very attracted to each other, for all the right reasons. But it’s much more than your average “guy meets girl, they date and fall in love, they have a black moment but it all works out in the end” story. No! Jacey and Colin’s relationship had its mountain highs, valley-lows and loads of personal issues to work through but the author handled their story with great finesse. I’m amazed at how she carefully introduced readers to their backstory, their individual struggles, their heartache, and pain. She did it in a way that kept me turning the page to find out what happens next and along the way, I grew to really care about these main characters and want the best for their fictional life stories.

The premise for this story is not only original—it’s relevant. The author took her inspiration from the flood of 2016 that devastated Louisiana. She began the story with her hero and heroine saying goodbye after being stranded on the roof of a house in a rural part of Louisiana that was engulfed by floodwaters. Their goodbye was not final because they were being rescued but it was the catalyst that propelled them into the Hero’s Journey, which is a term used by screenwriters and well played out in this story.

The author paid great attention to detail in carefully creating a journey for Jacey and Colin that’s not only believable but heartwarming. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, every scene of this story is important in taking the reader to the core. And just like peeling an onion in real-life, you don’t survive without crying. But this story is not sad and won’t depress you. You might cry as you feel empathy for the characters’ tribulations but you will also shed tears of joy, especially as you read the epilogue.

I can’t say much more about this story without giving a way every glorious detail of the characters’ journey. So I will close by saying that this book is well worth your time. So pour a glass full of your favorite beverage, carve out two or four hours of your time to curl up on a couch and read this story. Drink deeply. It’s very refreshing!

*Disclosure: I received this book free from Fiction Guild. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Spring into Love: A story about abuse and God's healing power

Interview with Jo Huddleston, author of Tidewater Summer:

Alexis: Does the title of your book have special significance? Explain.

Jo: The story in Tidewater Summer equates the turbulence and danger of the ocean’s tidewater to the heroine’s recent experience of physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé.

Alexis: What is the theme for your story, Tidewater Summer?

Jo: Tidewater Summer is a story of renewal from brokenness.

Alexis: Rose Marie Henley is your story’s heroine. What qualities make people like—and strongly dislike—her? Describe her looks, personality, and heart.

Jo: Rose has brown eyes, she’s a brunette, and is tall and athletic. Her personality is subdued, damaged from the physical abuse she has encountered. Before the abuse, her heart was full of love that she shared with her fiancé, her parents, and longtime best friend.

Alexis: Why is Rose seeking solitude?

Jo: Rose is seeking solitude to escape additional abuse from her former fiancé, and to heal from her wounds.

Alexis: What, in her heart of hearts, does Rose really want?

Jo: When the story begins, Rose wants only to be alone. As the story continues and her character grows, she becomes more receptive to others.

Alexis: Rose was in a romantic relationship with a man who was physically abusive. Why did you make him abusive? What were the challenges of writing those scenes?

Jo: I find visits to beaches have a cleansing effect, a balm for whatever ails you. My premise was to write a story about a woman who visits a beach to get over a traumatic event in her life. The most traumatic event humans usually experience relates to their relationships. Tidewater Summer is the result of my story's premise and imagination.

Alexis: How does Rose’s ex-boyfriend’s abuse impact her life story?

Jo: The abuse Rose experiences fill her with fear, she’s broken and confused. Where romance is concerned, Rose must find a way to deal with the past in order to move on in the future. 

Alexis: Rose’s Great-Aunt Clara opens her beach home to Rose for the summer in North Carolina. What moves Rose to take it? How does staying there benefit her life?

Jo: Rose has fond memories of many family vacations spent at her Aunt Clara’s beach house in South Carolina. It is a stable place of safety. 

Alexis: Frank Sutton is your story’s hero. Why does Rose think he’s “over the top handsome”? Describe his looks, personality, and heart.

Jo: When Rose meets Franklin Sutton, she isn’t looking for another relationship and only regards his physical appearance—blond hair, blue eyes, tall—that she describes as over-the-top handsome. Frank is a patient, godly man, a true Southern gentleman. He senses Rose has been treated badly and is gentle in his approach to her.

Alexis: Despite her attraction to Frank, Rose doesn’t want a man in her life. Why?

Jo: Rose has thankfully escaped marrying her abusive fiancé. Her physical and emotional wounds are raw and she doesn’t want to give another man the opportunity to do to her the same as her former fiancé.

Alexis: Frank is smitten with Rose. What does he see in her that enthralls him?

Jo: Frank senses Rose’s hurt, her victim personality. He wants to protect her, care for her, help her recover. Her brown eyes almost mesmerize him.

Alexis: What does it take for him to win her over?

Jo: Frank must break through her defenses and convince her to open her heart to trust him.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about Tidewater Summer?

Jo: God didn’t create us for self-reliance or isolation. Scripture says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Those in the New Testament church relied on close friends or brothers and sisters in Christ for support—bearing one another’s burdens! If we share our burdens, our load is not as heavy, and with a lighter load, we know relief.

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

Jo: Alexis, thank you for having me on your blog for a visit.

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Author bio: 

Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. 

Novels she has written include her West Virginia Mountains series, her endearing Caney Creek series, and her standalone novel, Tidewater Summer. These are sweet, Southern historical romances. 

Jo is a member of ACFW and the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN). 

Learn more at www.johuddleston.com where you can read first chapters of her novels and novellas and also sign up for her mailing list.

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Book blurb for Tidewater Summer: Will Rose find the solitude she seeks during her island summer or is solitude what she really wants? 

A compelling story of one woman’s pursuit of restoration from physical abuse at the hands of her fiancé. Rose Marie Henley’s Great-Aunt Clara convinces Rose to spend the summer at her South Carolina beach house.

Aunt Clara’s handyman sends his nephew to repair Rose’s water heater. Last year Rose would have been excited to see his over-the-top handsome nephew, Frank Sutton. But now she doesn’t want any man in her life again.

Frank has an instant attraction to Rose. Can he break through her defenses? He’ll do anything to protect her, but will she open her heart to trust him?

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Buy Jo's book on Amazon

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Connect with Jo:

Website and blog (Read novel first chapters here): http://www.johuddleston.com

Sign up for Jo’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/1ZFaZwG

Amazon Author page: http://amzn.to/2cfSroU

Facebook Author page: http://bit.ly/2aqFEeT

Facebook personal page: http://on.fb.me/1Ubic69

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1QAPtFv

Inspirational blog: http://bit.ly/1QAPRnr

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14 Days of Sweet Stories: "Harvest Blessings" by Christina Lorenzen

Interview with Christina Lorenzen, author of Harvest Blessings:

Alexis: What’s the significance of your story’s title, Harvest Blessings?

Christina: Well, it’s harvest season for the family apple orchards and unbeknownst to Tacy and Brody, they are both blessed when they come together for a common cause–picking the apples to help fund the church preschool. Not only does the preschool benefit, but they both learn to trust and open their hearts.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine Tacy Clark. Why did you make her a musician? What are her greatest joys and deepest sorrows? 

Christina: As I was creating Tacy, I had watched a story on television about the amazing time and work that goes into the making of a violin. That stayed with me and like a flash of light I knew that Tacy was going to play one. Her uncle blessed her with the violin that led to her love of music.

Alexis: What brings Tacy back home to Hill Top Orchards? Why did she leave in the first place? Now what makes her want to stay? 

Christina: Tacy gets an email ‘from her aunt’ asking her to come home and help with the orchards. It raises her suspicion because she knows her aunt doesn’t have a computer nor keep up with technology. But because she hasn’t been home in a number of years, she has to check for herself. She’s also propelled by the guilt of not having come home to help her aunt when her uncle was ill and eventually went to be with the Lord.

Going back to her love of music, Tacy left the orchards and the small town of Hill Top to pursue a career in music, hopefully to play in a large orchestra in New York City. The last thing she was expecting was the pull to stay in her childhood home but between her growing affection for both Brody and his daughter, and the new growth in her relationship with her aunt, she desires to make a life in her old hometown.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s hero Brody Porter. What are his greatest strengths? What are his worst weaknesses? Why is he important to telling this story? 

Christina: Brody is a devoted dad. I’d say his greatest strength is his desire to protect his daughter and give her the very best life he can as a single dad. His worst weakness is that because of the experience he had with Cami’s mother, his ex-wife, he now judges all women in show business as the same as his ex. He’s an important character not only because he is the love interest for Tacy but because he is responsible for bringing Tacy and her aunt together.

Alexis: What is the significance of harvesting apples for the annual festival in this story? Why do the fictional town people look forward to this event? 

Christina: For many years the harvesting of the apples from Hill Top Orchard was a significant event because the funds from the apples went to the church or another need in the small town. Beyond that, the annual festival is one of the biggest events in town and the people in town look forward to as a way to socialize and celebrate their community.

Alexis: What role does Brody’s 4-year-old daughter Cami play in this story? What is Brody’s relationship with her Mom? 

Christina: Cami is a precocious adorable little girl that softens Tacy’s heart. In Cami Tacy is reminded of her own childhood, something she may not have thought had she not met Cami. Like Cami, Tacy lost her mother at a very young age and they share that common bond. When Cami’s mom leaves, she cuts all ties not only with Brody but with her daughter, a deep wound for Brody. 

Alexis: What is it about Tacy that makes Brody consider taking another shot at love? 

Christina: Because Brody is a protector, he is drawn to Tacy’s vulnerable personality. As he sees how much Cami likes Tacy he begins to open up to getting to know her. 

Alexis: What is it about Brody that attracts Tacy to him? Explain. 

Christina: Tacy’s sweetest memories as a child were those she shared with her Uncle Jerry who was like the father she never had. As Tacy gets to observe Brody with Cami, she finds herself taken with his fathering skills and his deep, unconditional love for his daughter.

Alexis: Why do Tacy and Brody need each other? 

Christina: Tacy needs someone that will care for her and make her feel her future is secure, something she hasn’t gotten on her own. Brody needs a woman first and foremost who will love his daughter and prove she is trustworthy.

Alexis: What do you want your readers to learn from this story? 

Christina: I think when I wrote the story I wanted to share with readers that when it comes to family sometimes we don’t know everything we think we do, as Tacy found out about Aunt Ruby. And that if we open our hearts and trust we can find the love we so need.

Alexis: Who is your favorite character in this story? Why? 

Christina: Though I am fond of all of the characters and hated to end the story, I do have to say my favorite was sweet little Cami. She was so much fun.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: When I was writing Harvest Blessings, I craved ________________________ because _________________________.

Christina: When I was writing Harvest Blessings, I craved being out in the country air because it brings me such peace.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Christina! God bless you.

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Author bio:

Christina Lorenzen started writing as a young teen, jotting stories in wire ring composition notebooks. Her first typewriter made it faster to get all those stories out of her head and down on paper. Her love of writing has sustained her through a myriad of jobs that included hairdresser, legal secretary, waitress and door-to-door saleswoman. 

Luckily for her, writing proved to be successful and a lot less walking than going door to door. Harvest Blessings, a sweet small town romance, is Christina's fourth book. She is also the author of A Husband for Danna, its sequel, A Wife for Humphrey and her recent Christmas release, Snow Globe Reunion. She is busy working on a modern retelling of the classic tale, Rapunzel. 

When she isn't writing or reading, she can be found walking her dog, talking to her herd of cats and spending time with her family.

To find out about Christina's upcoming releases, visit her website at http://christinalorenzen.com/.

Subscribe to Christina's newsletter and be entered automatically each month to win a $5 Amazon gift card at http://christinalorenzen.com/connect-with-christina

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Blurb for Harvest Blessings: Professional musician Tacy Clark hasn’t been back home to Hill Top Orchards since the death of her beloved Uncle Jerry. When she gets an email from her aunt, the guilt she’s been feeling since her uncle’s death forces her to make the trip back home.. When her car breaks down, a ride from her aunt’s neighbor, Brody Porter, is the beginning of a roller coaster of emotions, as Tacy is forced to deal with guilt and the pain of never having known her mother. 

Intending to stay only as long as it takes to harvest the apples for the annual festival and be free from guilt, Tacy is determined not to get involved with Brody Porter and his little girl Cami.

Brody Porter was burned by his estranged wife, Carrie Ann, a struggling actress, who came into his life during a lull in her career and then left him alone to raise their daughter, four year old Cami. He’s vowed never to play the knight in shining armor again. His only interest in Tacy Clark is making sure she gets those apples harvested for the town's annual festival. Without that harvest, the festival might not raise enough funds for the church preschool. Without a place for Cami to go every day he won't be able to put the time he needs into his livelihood, his coffee shop, Brews & Bites.

Tacy Clark and Brody Porter are both determined to get what they want and go their own ways. Will the sweet scent of apples and a harvest moon soften the hearts of two people who need each other more than they know?

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Buy Christina's book on Amazon

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Connect with Christina:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/chrisfoxlorenz/
Facebook Author page - https://m.facebook.com/ChristinaLorenzenAuthor/
Website - http://christinalorenzen.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christina_lorenzen/

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