Romantic Reads: The Maritime Cure

Interview with Michelle S. Lowe about her book, The Maritime Cure:

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Michelle: I wrote The Maritime Cure in memory of my mom and her battle with MS.

Alexis: Describe your story’s heroine, Sage Patterson. What does she look/sound/act like? What are her primary passions? What is her best quality and worst character flaw?

Michelle: Sage Patterson is soft-spoken, with long auburn hair and green eyes that reflect how deeply she feels. She is passionate about helping others. Her best quality is her confidence as a nurse. Her worst character flaw is reliving the past, and of course, her hard-headedness when it comes to dealing with her estranged father.

Alexis: Why did you make Sage a nurse? What does she love about her job?

Michelle: I am a nurse and I love the nursing profession. I have been fortunate enough to work with so many wonderful nurses who put their patients first as Sage does in the story.

Alexis: Paint a picture with words of the beach house that Sage’s mother loves. Why is it special?

Michelle: Sage’s mother’s beloved beach cottage, once painted a bright beachy pink, is now weathered and unkept due to the last few years of neglect. The white porch and railings that were once pristine, now look abandoned and neglected under the tawny sunshine of late summer. The outdated cottage is surrounded by tall, invading dune grass swaying mockingly in the ocean breeze. The beach house is special because inside, Sage’s mother’s special touch remains in every detail and reminds her of her happy childhood.

Alexis: When did Sage adopt her rescue dog Molly? How does Molly help Sage in life?

Michelle: Sage adopts her beautiful Belgian Malinois, Molly, when the injured puppy is abandoned outside her clinic in Asheboro. Molly, with her unconditional love, is therapeutic to Sage during a year wrought with disappointment and the unimaginable.

Alexis: Why is Ocean Isle Beach a picturesque place? Paint a picture of it with words.

Michelle: Ocean Isle beach is serene with its ribbony sunsets of pink and gold against the beautiful blue-green ocean. Neatly manicured sidewalks and backstreets lead to treasured beach homes along the waterway. On quiet nights one can sit at the dock and hear the fish jump along with the low rumbling motors of incoming boats.

Alexis: What role does the unknown painter whose work Sage admires, play in this story?

Michelle: The role of the unknown painter is my favorite part of this story. This mystery man teaches Sage about forgiveness through his watercolor painting of praying hands without saying a word.

Alexis: Why does Sage feel that she needs to escape to Ocean Isle Beach to decompress?

Michelle: Sage’s personal and professional life have been turned upside down by someone she thought would never do her harm. She escapes to Ocean Isle in hopes for respite from all the shame and embarrassment she feels when in her hometown of Asheboro, North Carolina.

Alexis: Describe your story’s hero, Jacob Gable. What does he look/sound/act like? What is his motivation? What are his greatest strengths and worst weaknesses?

Michelle: Jacob Gable is a tall, handsome, distinguished attorney. But being down-to-earth and honest are his most endearing traits. He is dedicated to his faith as a Christian, and his greatest weakness would be falling for Sage the moment he sees her.

Alexis: Why did you make Jacob a real estate attorney? What makes him good at his job?

Michelle: I made Jacob a real estate attorney because having to sell her mother’s beach house has been something Sage has been avoiding for some time, and I really like the irony of her meeting and falling in love with the kind attorney who would ultimately be assisting her with that task.

Alexis: What is it about Jacob that makes Sage’s heart flutter?

Michelle: His strength, yet tenderness and composure, even when he’s upset.

Alexis: What is it about Sage that draws Jacob to her?

Michelle: Jacob is drawn to Sage immediately when he sees her accidentally squeal her tires at a stoplight, her loudly barking dog in the seat beside her. But he is especially moved when he witnesses the gentle emergency care she provides to a young boy having a seizure outside his office, with no thoughts of tearing her dress or ruining her sandals against the rough pavement.

Alexis: How does Sage and Jacob’s individual faith in God help them take a chance on love?

Michelle: Sage’s faith was there all along, she only needed a push from Jacob. At one point in the story, Jacob is forced to walk away from Sage, relying solely on strength from God.

Alexis: What is the theme of this story? Why?

Michelle: The theme of this story is forgiveness. I am amazed by a God that is willing to forgive me completely of my sins. This reminds me that we, as mere humans, should most certainly be willing to forgive others.

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

Michelle: I would like for readers to remember the freedom and healing that forgiveness can offer.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Michelle! Do you have closing comments?

Michelle: Thank you so very much for interviewing me Alexis. I am honored and I hope readers will enjoy my book.

~*~
Author Bio:

Michelle Smith Lowe lives in Asheboro, North Carolina with her husband of twenty years, Brian, and their son, Jake.

She is the proud owner of a very spoiled bluetick hound dog.

Michelle is a Registered Nurse as well as a Certified Multiple Sclerosis Nurse.

She has always loved to write and wishes to thank God most of all for her ability to write fiction.

Her hobbies include searching for Native American arrowheads on her property and cooking for her family.

~*~
Book Blurb for The Maritime Cure:

Forgiveness can heal even the deepest of wounds 

Nurse Practitioner Sage Patterson is accustomed to giving her time and resources to others—and she wouldn’t want it any other way. But when someone she thought she could trust puts her reputation on the line, she can’t find the strength to move past the embarrassment and hurt. To make matters worse, she must now sell her mother’s beloved beach house.

Sage, along with her loyal rescue dog, Molly, head to picturesque Ocean Isle Beach where she finds refuge in watching the work of an unknown painter in the evenings. This tranquility is exactly what she needs to decompress… And then she meets real estate attorney Jacob Gable.

He doesn’t just turn her world upside down; he steals her heart, too. But will Sage’s anger and fear of betrayal get in the way of everything Jacob has to offer? Or will they, together with God, be able to move on from past hurts to embark on a journey of forgiveness and love?

~*~
Buy Michelle’s book on Amazon

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Connect with Michelle:
Instagram: instagram.com/authormlowe
Twitter: twitter.com/Author_MLowe
Facebook: facebook.com/MichelleSLoweAuthor

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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: Offering God the best of you, not the rest of you

Distracted
A devotional by Malinda Fugate

Key Scripture:

1 Samuel 16:7b, James 4:8, Deuteronomy 4:29, Matthew 6:33,
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

I sit overlooking a cliffside ocean view, constantly distracted. I have one goal: to hear from God and write this post. Yet, what I hear isn’t God. It’s my own discomfort in the heat of the sun. I attempt to lower my mask when there are no other people, but even this far end of the trail is regularly visited by casual hikers. So, the mask remains in place as I try to focus on the Lord instead of the sweat that’s beginning to form. 

The Ocean Cliff in California (Photo Credit: Malinda Fugate)

His beautiful creation is admirable, but I am more mindful of my dog, who has parked herself in the shade under my bench. I regret not carrying water for her – I underestimated the sun’s rays. With the sound of every approaching footstep, I look ahead for other dogs in an effort to restrain her barks. My attention is divided, neglecting what was supposed to be the Lord’s time.

Giving up, I return to my car and give water to my panting pup. Parked in the shade with windows down, I think for sure I can spend some time with the Lord before my afternoon appointment. I pull up my Bible app to be inspired by the verse of the day. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b). 

This reminder from the story of David’s anointing caused me to examine my own heart. Surely, God knew my intention is to be with Him and share His message with dear readers. Other Scriptures came to mind: “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8) and “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). Was I double-minded in my scatterbrained distraction? Was I seeking Him with my entire heart and soul?

I was trying to fit God into my established schedule. Making time between car repair and errands, I genuinely attempted to balance everything and make it all work. Deadlines urged me to put inspiration into a desired word count that’s easily and quickly readable. But God can’t be confined to mere paragraphs. Almighty God isn’t another piece of the schedule puzzle. He looks at our hearts, and if my heart is divided among a task list, it’s not all His.

Of course, I’m not called to a life of total study and prayer (though those who are called that way are incredibly blessed), but I’m designed for a life of holy priorities. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). God knows the necessary elements of my day, and He will provide for them. But He must remain the centerpiece, the cornerstone, the heart of my whole life.

Tomorrow is a fresh start. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is [his] faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV). 

I will continue to call out to Him and allow Him to construct my day. The Lord who cares for sparrows knows the details that need attention and responsibilities clamoring for my time and energy.

When I offer Him the best of me, I can trust He’ll care for the rest of me.

~*~
Author Bio:

Malinda Fugate writes from the heart.

Though she serves full time as the Children’s Education Director at a church in Southern California, she is also a crafter of words published in books.

Her writing includes children's faith resources, commercial copywriting, and various faith-based stage and screenplays.

Malinda invites you to explore the various 3:16s in the Bible with her new book, The Other Three Sixteens (published by Ambassador International in May 2020).

She also invites you to read her previously published books: Bible Time for Active Kids, which is an activities-based devotional that is available for purchase on Amazon.com, and The Pen and the Sword: Connecting With the Word of God, which is an interactive creative writing journal.

Malinda earned a communications degree with a theatre emphasis from Azusa Pacific University, and then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA.

When she's not writing or working at church, Malinda might be creating art, reading, or exploring the many adventures to be found in the Los Angeles area. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.

Visit Malinda online via https://www.malindafugate.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Taking a moment to reflect on God's Creation

Creation Sings
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

–Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Not sure about you, but this week I think I finally reached peak media exhaustion. It seems as though the news cycle lately has been an unending supply of badness. I want to just say, “One thing at a time, please!” Like a lot of folks, I feel overloaded and overwhelmed.

If you’re an ‘80s kid like me, you may remember the comic strip “Bloom County.” When the news got to be too much for the characters they would take a “dandelion break” where they’d go off into a field and sit in a patch of dandelions. I loved that image so much that I used to draw little dandelion patches in my notebooks. It was a reminder to me that God’s creation was a place where I could go to find peace.

During college, at those times when it all got to be too much, I’d go to a beach near my campus where giant rocks formed a seawall of sorts. I’d climb to the top and lean into the wind with my arms outstretched. It seemed like leaning into Creation’s arms. At the time, I didn’t question why I was there or what I was getting from it. Now I understand that I was doing it to feel closer to God, to cast myself at Jesus’s feet. My faith was off in the weeds and seeking solace in God’s creation was a way to keep going and find my way back to the path.

In the verse above, the psalmist is reminding us that all of creation declares the glory of God. Romans 1:20 (NIV) says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Nature, the very earth, can’t help but preach God’s glory. It’s in every leaf, every creature, the air itself. That verse makes me think of the scientists whose journey to faith began by studying God’s creation and questioning their own atheism.

We all know that getting outside in the fresh air is good for us, but I’d suggest that for Christians, reflecting on the glory of God’s creation can do even more. It can call us out of our fear and anxiety and remind us just whose we are.

Think of the last time you saw a sunset so intense that the air around you seemed to have color. Or perhaps the ocean when a storm is brewing and the waves are high. For me, sitting in my back yard, leaning back and staring up at a clear, blue sky and seeing a pure white heron flying overhead is a soul-deep experience. For that matter, so is watching the progress of seedlings pushing through the dirt and stretching for the sun.

All of creation sings the praises of God. When things are getting grim, find a way to take a dandelion break. Get out in His creation and let it call your heart to praise. I pray that you also find peace and strength to keep your feet on the path, walking humbly with your God, to keep sharing the Gospel with this fallen world in the time and place that God has given you.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Sara's story

He is There
A devotional by Sara L. Foust

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)

My faith is thin. I am not gonna lie. I am physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. It has been that kind of year. You know, where you have wave after wave slam into you and by the eleventh month, your snorkel is the only thing above water. And that, just barely.

I am not the kind of person who has usually done a “word for the year” challenge. But this year, without even really thinking about it, the word “Courage” came to me very early on. I knew I would need immense amounts of courage to go on my mission trip. I thought that would be the biggest obstacle I would face. I was wrong.

My son has been diagnosed with autism.

My daughter has begun mental health therapy.

My marriage has come to the beginning of the end.

My TMJ needed joint surgery with a disc removal and skin graft.

My church isn’t my church anymore.

And the year hasn’t come to a close yet. What I’ve learned is this: Through it all, God loves me. No matter what decisions I make. No matter what mental state I am in. He loves me. Unconditionally. Unendingly. Unblamingly. Just love, like pure spring water. Clear, unaltered, unhindered love. And it is the only saving grace I have, the only beacon of light when things look dark. It is real. It is honest. It is time-tested and true.

So, rather than the above list in the cons column, here’s what I’m choosing to focus on:

My son spoke to his Pre-K teacher for the first time a few weeks ago. And he’s learned a ton of new words that he uses freely at home.

My daughter is sleeping through the night, most of the time in her own room, and she is confident and happy and growing.

My marriage produced three beautiful children and I learned immense amounts about myself.

I only have two TMJ joints, so, even if the other one goes caput, I’m halfway through surgeries.

My church family, though I am not able to be present with them, loves me still, and God will bring me to another church home.

God is never going to leave me. He is never going to leave you. And more than anything in this world, He wants us to cry out to him in the middle of that black ocean called worry, fear, dread, sickness, divorce, temptation . . . whatever your ocean is called, He is there. He is always there.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Her debut novel, Callum's Compass, won second place in Deep River Books' 2017 Writer's Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.