My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Terri Reed's book giveaway

Welcome to the 28th day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Terri Reed.

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 Terri and her book ...

Author Bio:

Award winning, multi-published author Terri Reed found solace from a chaotic childhood in the pages of books that took her far away to different realms and realities. 

When she discovered Christian fiction, she also discovered her own story telling voice. Now she writes books of heart-warming romance and heart-pounding suspense infused with faith. Her romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher's Weekly top ten and Nielsen BookScan top hundred lists, and have been featured in USA Today. 

She's a member of the Honor Roll of Romance Writers of America. Her books have finaled in Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers' Choice Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. One of her romance novels was adapted into a Hallmark movie for Christmas 2019. 

Terri resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and running the agility course with her Australian shepherd.

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Back Cover Blurb for Treasure Creek Dad:

Single father Jake Rodgers's daughter isn't happy about moving to tiny Treasure Creek, Alaska. So the former big-city businessman trades his suits for hiking boots and he books a father-daughter wilderness tour to acclimate her. 

But Veronica isn't buying it. Perhaps guide Casey Donner is just the person to help the girl appreciate the Klondike state's natural beauty. 

But could tomboy Casey, in her ponytail and cargo pants, also be what this city boy needs for a lifetime of love?

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Connect with Terri on Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads

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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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Devotionals for the Heart: Jo's story about God's Healing Power

Equipment for Valley Travel
by Jo Huddleston

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

My bedside vigil stretched into days as I watched meningitis suck precious life from the still form of my college-age child. Sunday afternoon I sat alone with my daughter, watching the disease apparently winning its battle. Gone were the twinkle in her eyes and the ready smile on her lips. The nurse had just left, the same one who had been coming in every 15 minutes to take vital signs. Pained and discouraged, I watched when she recorded on her chart a blood pressure reading only half what it should be.

Alone again in the hospital room, each of us experienced our own unique agony. Lying curled in a fetal position, my daughter moved only her eyes. With them almost swollen shut, she looked up at me through her consuming torture. "Mother, this may be my time to die," she whispered. No panic or fear registered in her words or in her fevered eyes.

The same thought had been silently hammering inside my mind all afternoon. Holding her limp hand in mine, I leaned closer and said quietly, "Darling, it may be." She shared a labored smile with me and slowly closed her eyes.

Amazingly, I did not curse God or offer him any arguments or attempt to bargain with Him to spare her life. I knew without doubt that my daughter believed in God's Son and trusted Him for her salvation and eternal life.

As precious minutes slipped away in that lonely hospital room, I trusted God for his comfort and everlasting strength to support me (Isaiah 26:4). I rested in the assurance that my daughter also claimed these same promises. I saw peace on her swollen face when she closed her eyes. We both accepted God's will.

Our pastor and his wife came by after evening church services. They barely concealed their shock at seeing my daughter’s hands and face twice their normal size. After speaking encouragement to her, they prayed with us in that still, quiet hospital room.

Looking back, I can only believe the Holy Spirit influenced every medical move my daughter's doctors and nurses made. The next day, her health made an unbelievable change for the better. Since she was fully recovered by Wednesday morning, the doctors released her from their care.

On Wednesday evening when our pastor found my daughter's hospital bed empty, he asked about her at the nurses’ station. Later he told us how much the nurses had marveled about her unexplainable recovery. "It's just a miracle that she survived," one nurse told him. We all smile now, knowing what absolute truth that nurse spoke.

Does a Christian experience valleys between the mountaintop experiences? Yes. Those trying days when it was evident I might outlive my daughter was one of the deepest valleys I’ve traveled. God promises His buffering strength and calming peace for valley travel. We can always cling to His promises, "For he himself is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).

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Author Bio: Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author who writes novels inspired by her fascination with the 1950s and her love of her native American South. 

Novels in her endearing Caney Creek series, her West Virginia Mountains series, as well as her stand-alone release, Tidewater Summer, are sweet Southern romance novels. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN), and holds an M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. 

Visit Jo at www.johuddleston.com. 

Cozy Christmas Reads: Susan's story

Joy to the World
A personal essay by Susan M. Baganz

My daughter is what is now known as a “rainbow baby.” A child born after a loss to miscarriage or stillbirth. I didn’t know I was having a girl and in spite of being pregnancy number four and she was ten days late in coming.

Then they announced it was a girl. I seriously was expecting a boy but was elated with this bundle of joy God had given. But he almost took her away as well. A shot given at birth resulted in seizures where she would stop breathing. Rejoicing turned to fear as she was transferred to a Children’s Hospital.

I forgot my Bible in my haste to get to the hospital. But I had my journal and had written the Scripture in there from the last Sunday’s sermon. Psalm 37:4 (a Bible verse) was written in there: “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

I was able to stay in a room at the hospital to be close to her as they ran all kinds of expensive tests. I prayed for my daughter. I told God: “She belongs to You, Lord. My desire is to keep Joy (her name) but if You decide to take her, I will trust You in that as well. And, Lord, while you’re at it can we leave the hospital on Sunday?”

Joy Lucille will become a teenager this December. We did go home that Sunday and long story short, she is seizure free due to the help of a naturopathic doctor since other doctors refused to treat her because we lacked insurance.

Maybe it’s not unusual then that I put a baby in my Christmas novella, Gabriel’s Gift. Babies are special at any time, but a baby born near Christmas makes the season seem more personal. And every year I remember the sorrow and anxiety of those days battling doctors to spend time with my baby who was 9 pounds in a NICU and kicked off her leads and sent the alarms off.

She’s grown into a lovely young woman. And God gave me the desire of my heart in allowing me to keep my baby with me. Having godly desire isn’t bad and it’s the core of my novella. Gabriel desires Mattie but she’s reluctant. He lays that desire on the altar of God much like I did my daughter. And then He waited in faith for God to work.

Joy’s middle name is after my great grandmother who I adored. Put together her name means “joyful light-bearer.” My hope is that my novella shines the light of God’s love as much as my daughter does. And every day I still need to entrust all my children to God’s care. They have problems and issues that they have to cope with. And as they become more independent I have less influence on their choices. I only hope and pray I’ve invested enough in them to bear fruit and impact the kingdom like my main characters do in their book.

My books, like my kids, have a life of their own and it’s fascinating to watch and see the impact they make in the lives of those who read them. Perhaps it’s for fun, but hopefully the truths buried in the pages will be the way God can get into those dark places He longs to touch and heal.

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Author Bio: 

Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Editor with Pelican Book Group and writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view. 

Susan speaks, teaches and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church.

Her favorite pastimes are lazy ones—snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.

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Book Blurb for Gabriel's Gift: Gabriel Morgan returns to the Northumberland village of Corby as the new church pastor. Eager to serve his parishioners, he settles into the position with energy and enthusiasm. He doesn't expect to run into Mattie Wilson, the girl he grew up with—the woman he fell in love with—and then lost years ago. 

Reconnecting with Gabriel stirs up long-lost dreams in Miss Matilda Wilson, but her father's overindulgences and shameful death, have brought her down in the world since her carefree, youthful days with Gabriel. Ashamed of her father's past and struggling to understand her Grandfather's quiet brand of faith, she struggles with believing anyone can find her worthy of love—especially Gabriel, whose love for God tugged him away from her once already.

As the two become reacquainted, and Gabriel recognizes Matilda's broken, hesitant spirit, his heart aches for her. While he eagerly shares with her the wonder of God, a small miracle binds them together—the discovery of an abandoned baby.

As Christmas draws near, can Gabriel break down the walls of Matilda's heart to see the wonder of it all? His affection for her blooms as he watches her uncover the greatest gift of all—unconditional love.

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Buy Susan's book on Amazon

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Connect with Susan:
Website - www.susanbaganz.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/susanbaganz
Facebook - www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz

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

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