Devotional by Laura Thomas: Queen Esther and An Invitation

Invited
A devotional written by Laura Thomas

When Queen Esther made the decision to come before the King uninvited, she literally risked her life. As dramatic as it sounds, it was a reality, and one she did not take lightly.

“…any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives….” ~Esther 4:11 (NIV)

Esther knew she had to be in the right headspace and heart space to go through with the ordeal, culminating in either an audience with her royal husband or meeting her Maker. She carried the heavy burden of knowing the Jewish race was about to be slaughtered, annihilated, wiped off the face of the earth, and there was a chance that she could make a difference. She could save the lives of a nation.

On hearing about the dire situation facing her people, Esther informed her dear cousin Mordecai to instruct the Jews in the area to fast for three days. She would do likewise with her maids—no food or drink for three full days.

When it was time for her to go before the King, she dressed to the nines in her royal robes, even though she must have felt horribly weak physically, and she presented herself, uninvited, in the royal court. I can only imagine how beautiful that gold scepter must have appeared when the King extended it her way and invited her in.

At this point, I’m pretty sure I would have exhaled in sheer relief and simply blurted out the whole story of wicked Haman plotting to wipe out the Jews. Get it over with. But Esther procrastinated her plea to the King—she asked if he and Haman might join her for a banquet. Cool, calm, and confident Esther. She followed God’s guidance in complete obedience, and knew she had to be cautious even in her courage.

There’s more—at the banquet, clearly the King was in an awesome mood because he offered her up to half the kingdom! This would have been the time to spill the beans on Haman’s plan. Yet Esther requested that they come to another banquet the following day, where she would make her plea known. Intrigued by her beauty and wit, the King agreed. As a fly on the palace wall, I would have been a nervous wreck watching this transpire—the King could easily have become frustrated and enraged. Esther was not yet safe.

But she trusted.

Esther spent three intense days fasting and drawing close to the Father’s heart, seeking His will and guidance in this horrific situation. She knew she was unable to face her husband and tell him of Haman’s schemes in her own strength or her own timing. There was too much at stake to risk being ignorant or arrogant. She sought after God and He heard her.

How blessed we are today as God’s children to come before The King of Kings with confidence and boldness! We don’t have to wait and guess the mood of our King, whether He will want to accept us and hear us. Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we are invited.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”~ Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Esther’s plan worked out perfectly in the end—she bided her time and petitioned the King at just the right moment with just the right words. God used her and spoke through her in a mighty way. As a result of Esther’s obedience and longing to do God’s will, evil Haman was hanged and the Jews were saved.

Does it make you wonder what God might do through us when we seek after Him wholeheartedly, spend time listening for His voice, and then act in obedience like lovely Esther? We are invited to approach His throne today to “find grace to help us in our time of need.” And that, my friend, is the most prestigious invitation imaginable!

~*~
Author bio:

Laura is a published Christian author with a heart for inspiring and encouraging readers of all ages. 

She is truly multi-genre—with a published Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, children’s stories, devotionals for Union Gospel Press, musings on her blog, and she now has a literary agent representing her Christian romantic suspense novel.

Laura is English and Canadian, married to her high school sweetheart, mom of three, passionate about faith and family…and chocolate!
~*~
Connect with Laura:
Website - www.laurathomasauthor.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laura-Thomas-183771121724664/?ref=hl
Twitter - https://twitter.com/laura_thomas_
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lauracthomas/

Spring into Love: Jodie's story about an angel and a cowboy

Interview with Jodie Wolfe, author of "An Angel for a Cowboy":

Alexis: Essie Love is a sweet, creative name for your story’s heroine. How did you make her name up and what is Essie like? Describe her personality, heart, strengths and weaknesses.

Jodie: Essie's first name is actually Esther. I wanted to come up with a fun nickname for her, which is how I landed on Essie. When it came to her last name, I thought it would be fun to use love since she is a romance writer who has been burned by love.

She's the oldest and has two younger sisters. Her pa's dying words instructed her to care for her siblings. She'll do whatever she can to keep that promise. Essie is a strong and determined woman. She's willing to give up her own happiness in order to protect her sisters. Her weakness is trying to do things on her own. She's determined to marry a wealthy stranger in order to get the funds she needs to save her home and her sisters, as long as it isn't a cowboy.

Alexis: Jud Steele, with a name like that he sounds like a movie star! Describe his looks, hopes, character flaw and most redeeming trait.

Jodie: LOL. He's a rugged cowboy who is badly injured when he lands at Essie's door so he doesn't look so great then. His character flaw is that he's willing to be on the run instead of clearing up the misunderstanding in regard to him and his cousin. He does miss being a part of a family but hasn't given much thought to marriage. His most redeemable trait is that he'll do whatever he can to help Essie. 

Alexis: What is it about Essie that makes Jud fall in love with her?

Jodie: Essie has been growing on him ever since she's daily cared for him and nursed him back to health. His angel needs protection and he's the man to provide for her.

Alexis: What is it about Jud that draws Essie to him?

Jodie: Jud isn't anything like her ex-fiancé. He shows Essie a sacrificial love she hasn't experienced before.

Alexis: Why is the bank threatening foreclosure on Essie’s home? Explain how she reached this perilous point.

Jodie: After the loss of her pa, grasshopper plagues, and drought the farm has fallen behind in their bank payments. She has two months to come up with the amount due on the mortgage or she and her sisters will be without a home.

Alexis: Why does Essie feel that she is the provider for her sisters? What happened to their parents?

Jodie: Both of Essie's parents have died and it's up to Essie to take care of her sisters.

Alexis: How would Essie’s last resort of marrying a stranger save her and her sisters?

Jodie: She's banking on being able to find a man who'll be willing to pay off the money due on their mortgage note.

Alexis: How did Jud land on the wrong side of the law?

Jodie: Actually Jud is an innocent man but the only problem is that he happens to closely resemble his no-account cousin, Jesse, who is on the run from the law. Jesse's wanted poster is for him to be taken either dead or alive. Problem is, men are shooting at Jud before he gets a chance to tell them they have the wrong man. 

Alexis: Why does Essie decide to help Jud restore his health?

Jodie: Jud has a gunshot wound and is too weak to go anywhere else.

Alexis: In what ways does Essie and Jud’s individual life stories intertwine and bring healing to their hearts?

Jodie: They both are on the run. Jud literally is, and Essie is running from the hurts in her past. When they both stop running, healing can begin to take place.

Alexis: What was the most fun part for you as you wrote this story?

Jodie: I loved creating a character who wrote dime novels. I've always wanted to have a heroine that also wrote.

Alexis: What lesson do you want to teach your readers through this tale?

Jodie: That no matter what you are going through, hope can be found in Christ. In the story, Jud and Essie tried to keep secrets and it didn't get them anywhere. So too, the Lord knows everything about us. We can trust Him to work in our lives.

Alexis: If you could step into your story and spend time with your main characters, what would you do, where would you go and why?

Jodie: That's a hard one. I guess since Essie and Jud's story has already been revealed, I'd like to spend time with Essie's sisters, Teddy and Kitty. In fact, I'll get a better chance to learn more about Teddy since my publisher asked me to write another novelette. So be watching for her story in November.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jodie! Your story sounds fun! 

Jodie: Thanks for having me. It's always fun to chat with you about my characters and welcome others into my story world.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. 

She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests and is a member of ACFW. 

When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. 

Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

~*~
Blurb for An Angel for the Cowboy:

When the bank threatens foreclosure on Essie Love's home, it's up to her to provide for her sisters. She’ll do whatever it takes to save them, even if it means marrying a stranger
. 
Jud Steele is wanted for a crime he didn't commit. Wounded and left for dead, he lands on Essie's doorstep. While she nurses him back to health, he finds himself longing for a home and family.

Can two desperate people find a path that leads to what they both need?

~*~
Buy Jodie's book on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Jodie:
Website

Facebook 

Twitter

"Digging for Pearls" blog

"Stitches Thru Time" blog

Google+

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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 featuring Rose Allen McCauley, author of "Better Together Than Apart” novella

Welcome a familiar face to the blog today! Rose Allen McCauley returns to share insights from her new novella "Better Together Than Apart" which is a story in this book:

Read on to find out how K-LOVE (radio station) inspired this story, among other fun facts!

~*~

Interview with Rose Allen McCauley, author of the “Better Together Than Apart” novella in the Destination: Romance (Five Inspirational Love Stories Spanning the Globe) story collection

Alexis: K-LOVE is my favorite Christian radio station! I am delighted to see that you wrote a book set on their K-LOVE Cruise. What inspired you to write this story “Better Together Than Apart”?

Rose: It is my husband and daughters’ fave station, too. I usually listen to books on CD in the car because I have so little time to read since I started writing. Kim Sawyer had been on several K-LOVE cruises, and while visiting us one year, invited us to go on one with her and her husband in January 2016. The saying “Better together than apart” is something I wrote on the back of my picture when my husband and I were dating in college, and it is still true forty-nine years later!

Alexis: Jamaica is a beautiful island! Why did you choose to feature that island in your story instead of another place?

Rose: It was one of the two stops our K-LOVE Cruise made last year. Our oldest daughter went there twice on mission trips while she was in college. Our oldest granddaughter went on a mission trip while in high school. And I have been on three mission trips, so it seemed like a good tie-in since the K-LOVE Cruise actually takes passengers on a one-day mission trip if they sign up ahead of time.

Alexis: Natalie Brooks is the heroine of your story. Tell us about her personality, looks, fears, flaws and deepest desires.

Rose: Natalie Brooks is based on the granddaughter I mentioned in the last answer, and physically they look alike with brown hair and eyes, although there are also some differences such as what colleges they attend, and the whole romance is entirely fictional. But, my fictional and real Natalie are both oldest children and very responsible. They are both strong Christians with desires to help people, especially children through the legal system.

Alexis: Ken Worth is the hero of your story. Describe his looks, heart, strengths and weaknesses.

Rose: Ken is entirely fictional. His heart is for God and others, and that is a big strength. His background of growing up on the mission field sometimes kept him from understanding those who grew up differently, and that can be a weakness and also it can be a strength.

Alexis: Give us insight into the history that Natalie and Ken have together. Why did they become friends as teenagers?

Rose: Although meeting a mate should not be the reason for going on a mission trip, I do believe it can change a young person’s life forever. When my oldest daughter came home from Jamaica she wanted to go back again and did the next year. She told me she had no idea people could live without running water and other luxuries and still keep their children so clean. It gave her a whole new perspective on the rest of the world outside of Kentucky! I see the fictional Natalie as having her eyes opened to those kinds of realities, too. It was originally a teenage crush, and she and Ken corresponded for several months until he wanted her to choose some other vocation than lawyer so she could come back and help on the mission field. In the end, God uses Nat’s desire to be a lawyer to bring them back together as adults. I think it shows how God can use all things in His perfect timing!

Alexis: Why are Natalie and Ken “Better Together Than Apart”? 

Rose: God can use Ken’s mission experience and Natalie’s law degree to serve the orphans of Jamaica and other Caribbean countries better as a team than singly.

Alexis: As the author of this story, was it a challenge to create obstacles and scenarios to keep Ken and Natalie apart? 

Rose: Obstacles are often a challenge to me as I like my own life to be smooth sailing! But, I know God can use many things to teach us life lessons and draw us closer to Him. Why or why not? The differences in location and life goals helped to build conflict and obstacles, and also gave ample opportunity for my characters to trust more in God to work things out rather than trying to do it all themselves. 

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

Rose: Both the main characters have to have faith to trust God when they can’t see a way. And to ask Him to help them follow His leading.

Alexis: What role does Natalie and Ken's passion for mission work play in this story?

Rose: When they were younger it drove them apart, perhaps because God knew they weren’t ready to be together until later. But in adulthood, they are wiser and willing to trust Him to work it out.

Alexis: Where do Natalie and Ken see themselves in the next five years and how do their career goals affect their romance? 

Rose: I hope they will have a child or two by then (that could be a whole other story) and will still be serving God better together than apart!

Alexis: What’s the moral of this story? 

Rose: God knows the beginning from the end, and He can work things out perfectly when we get out of the way!

Alexis: Have you ever been on a K-LOVE Cruise in real-life to research this story? 

Rose: I’ve been on other cruises but this was my first K-LOVE Cruise, and I hope not my last. Kim and I had talked about writing a book together someday, so this was a great chance to do that after we did the cruise, and even brainstormed some story ideas while on the ship.

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

Rose: Thank you, Alexis, for hosting me and for doing so much to promote other authors!

~*~
Author Bio:

Rose Allen McCauley started writing over a decade ago when she retired from teaching school to write the stories of some of the characters roaming around in her head. 

Since joining ACFW in 2002, she has been published in several non-fiction anthologies and devotionals, and now is happy to announce “Better Together than Apart” in the collection Romantic Destinations as her sixth novella. 

She has been happily married to her college sweetheart for over four decades and is also mother to three grown children and their spouses and Mimi to five lively grandkids. 

Rose always enjoys hearing from her readers at rosemccauleywrites@gmail.com.

~*~
Buy Rose's book on Amazon and B&N (Barnes and Noble)

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Connect with Rose:
Website - www.rosemccauley.com
Facebook - http://on.fb.me/1LrXNoS
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RoseAMcCauley

Spring into Love: Character interview featuring Sloane Bradley

Interview with Sloane Bradley, heroine of the story, With No Reservations:

Alexis: What do you think of your author, Laurie Tomlinson? Did she tell your story well? Be honest!

Sloane: If anything, she exposed more than I was always comfortable with, but it was necessary. I could never write a novel like she does, though—too much chaos in her process for my liking! 

Alexis: How many years have you been blogging, Sloane? Tell us your blog’s name and describe its significance.

Sloane: I’m coming up on my blog’s ten-year anniversary! Can you believe it? It’s called Mise en Place, which is French for “everything in its place.” It’s a culinary term for getting all of your ingredients arranged before cooking, and I always include a photo of my own mise en place at the beginning of each post.

Alexis: What is the name of Cooper’s new restaurant and why were you wary about helping him to promote it?

Sloane: His new restaurant is called Simone, named after the woman who decided to sublet her upstairs to him when he lived in France. I was nervous about helping him promote it because I knew “the stories” about him. But it was mostly getting out of my routine. I have a little problem with control, but it’s getting better. 

Alexis: You and Cooper share a passionate love for food. In what ways has the kitchen (in the restaurant and at home) brought you together?

Sloane: We both speak the language of food, which gave us a common denominator when we thought we were nothing alike. Of course, we soon discovered we had much more in common with our pasts than we ever could have imagined.

Alexis: What is it about Cooper that makes your heart warmer than hot apple cider?

Sloane: He’s resilient. He’s been through so much and yet he’s constantly working behind the scenes and giving all he has. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, too. And he’s a good kisser. Did I just say that out loud?

Alexis: What made you fall in love with Cooper and never want to leave his side? Where do you see your relationship with him five years from now? Details, please!

Sloane: I don’t know what it was that finally did it, but I do know that I’ve never felt safer with anyone else. He helped me realize that I couldn’t keep living the way I was living, and I’m so much stronger because of that. I don’t know what the next five years will hold, but I do know I want to be with him for the rest of my life!

Alexis: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious disability that people often think only affects American soldiers who are trying to transition back into civilian life. But clearly, it affects you. When were you first diagnosed with this disorder and how do you cope?

Sloane: Yes, PTSD is something that affects a lot more individuals than people think, but I’m so glad that veterans programs have created more awareness recently so more can get the help they need. I was diagnosed when I was 16 and had discouraging experiences with many therapists and counselors, so I sought help but didn’t really want to be helped, if that makes sense. While PTSD looks different for everyone, it looks like OCD in my case. Control is how I cope.

Alexis: Paint a picture of your home studio, with words. Describe the layout, paint color(s) that coat your walls and the aromas that radiate from your kitchen.

Sloane: There’s a lot of white and clean lines. I’m a little ashamed to admit I have expensive tastes, so there are a lot of minimalistic European influences in my décor. But I do like to have a few rustic and colorful accent pieces. My kitchen always smells like butter and either garlic or vanilla, depending on what I’m making in a given day. But real, Irish butter is a must in my home! 

Alexis: What are your thoughts about Cooper’s pet dog? What’s her name and how did her unconditional love help you heal?

Sloane: Maddie! I wasn’t really a dog person before I met her, but she has taught me the importance of playing. She is so warm and comforting and has this sense when her presence is needed. Do all dogs have that or just her? 

Alexis: Do you have a Starbucks habit? If so, what’s your favorite fix there and how often do you drink it?

Sloane: I usually get my morning coffee fix from my home espresso machine and all the fixings I have at home. The companies I’ve worked with have been so generous to send me fun coffee products to try. But on the go, I enjoy an almond milk latte from Starbucks every once in a while! 

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sloane! Do you have any closing thoughts?

Sloane: Thank YOU so much for the kind and thoughtful interview, Alexis! It’s been my pleasure. I hope people are inspired by this story that they can have a full and healthy and meaningful life – no matter what they’ve been through!

~*~
Author bio:

Laurie Tomlinson is an award-winning contemporary romance author and cheerleader for creatives. 

She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles. 

Her novella "That’s When I Knew" was featured in the Love at First Laugh collection, and her debut novel, With No Reservations, is now available from Harlequin Heartwarming. 

You can connect with Laurie on her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

~*~
Book Blurb for With No Reservations:

There can be more than comfort in food…

What could well-known and wealthy Graham Cooper Jr. have in common with a blogger like Sloane Bradley, a woman with secrets she's kept firmly out of the public eye? That is, besides a love of food. 

Sloane still can't believe Cooper's the chef at the restaurant she's been assigned to promote. But she's boiling to prove to him that her "little blog" can put his place on the map. 

She can also fall head over heels for the guy, who has secrets of his own, it turns out…except for one thing. She can't get past the post-traumatic stress disorder that keeps her walled up in her home studio.

Available for purchase on:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin.com | Google Play | 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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Spring into Love: Pegg's personal essay about a horse and true worth

A Worthy Steed
A guest post by Pegg Thomas

Writing for The Pony Express Romance Collection gave me a wonderful opportunity to combine my love of history and my love of horses. "Embattled Hearts", my story in the collection, includes a one-eyed horse named Cyclops. He’s a solid black thoroughbred with attitude.

When our son decided that he wanted to be a cowboy, we put obstacles in his way. You see, I’d had horses as a kid and I knew the expense and the work involved. We told him he couldn’t get a horse until he was 13 and able to do the work involved. He also had to take riding lessons first, which we weren’t going to paying for. And he’d have to purchase his own horse. That should have deterred any youngster, right?

Wrong.

He cleared the last hurdle just weeks before his 13th birthday, and had his money in the bank. It was time to horse shop. We knew our son was going to be tall—he’d passed me at age 12—so we went looking for a tall horse, something he wouldn’t outgrow. The market was high at the time and Quarter Horses over 15 hands were bringing a small fortune. Then we heard about off-track Thoroughbreds. Retired racehorses ready to take up a new career.

That led us to Jason.

Jason was a 16.2 hand solid black gelding with a been-there-done-that-got-the-tee-shirt kind of sanity that a mother appreciates. He was as smart and level-headed as any horse I’d ever been around. But he also had attitude. Did I mention our son was 13? One attitude deserves another.

Our son, who had been active in 4-H for years, was thrilled to take his horse to the fair. People proceeded to tell him that he should have bought a Quarter Horse. They told him that he couldn’t contest with a Thoroughbred. Never throw the gauntlet down before a pair with attitude. Within the year, our son and Jason were weaving between poles, circling barrels, sliding to a stop between chalked lines, and bringing home the ribbons to prove it.

The big black taught my son a lot of lessons along the way. He taught him patience. He taught him perseverance. He taught him trust. He taught him to overcome obstacles, some physical and some mental. He taught him to stand his ground. And he taught him that mom meant it when she said to unplug the electric fence before riding in the paddock.

I started writing "Embattled Hearts" almost a year to the day after we lost Jason at the ripe old age of 25. It seemed only fitting to capture his spirit in the story—which turned out to be my debut. I think Jason would have approved, although he may have given me some grief about the one-eyed thing, since he had both of his.

~*~
Author bio:

Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years.

A life-long history geek, she writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” 

When not working on her latest novel, Pegg can be found in her garden, in her kitchen, at her spinning wheel, or on her trusty old horse, Trooper.

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Blurb for "Embattled Hearts": Alannah Fagan escaped from a battle she wouldn’t survive. Stewart McCann left behind a battle he couldn’t face. Thrown together at Horseshoe Station, can they find something worth fighting for?

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Buy Pegg's story "Embattled Hearts" in The Pony Express Romance Collection, available now at Amazon and Christian Bookstores

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Connect with Pegg:
Amazon Author Page
Twitter 
Goodreads
Website 
QuidProQuills 
ColonialQuills

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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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Thoughts on turkeys, life and God

Turkeys and Surprises from God
A guest post by Voni Harris

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” 

~Job 5:9 (NIV)

There we were in HellHole Canyon—it’s a real place, a county preserve outside San Diego. You should go, and you should definitely take water. I mean, it is called HellHole for a reason.

If you walk down the canyon and back up the other side, you can see Mexico and Catalina and San Diego County. Rich and I weren’t prepared to go that long and decided to turn back once we reached the creek at the bottom.

But just after we got to the bottom, we heard a strange noise.

A rustling in the bushes.

“Uh, is that a turkey?” Rich ventured.

“A turkey? Here?” Why would there be a turkey in HellHole, right?

Another rustle. It was a turkey! Cool.

“Let’s follow it!” I wanted a cool picture. So we did follow it on the trail up the other side of the canyon for a few more minutes.

Never could get a good picture because it’s a wild turkey, duh. It knows how to hide.

It was sure fun trying.

...

Isn’t that just like God, though?

You set your limits. You decide how far to go.

And God sends a wild turkey—a spurt of joy, of curiosity—that tickles you to move just outside your comfort zone. You’re just doing life as usual when *poof* God reveals a bit of Himself to you, draws you closer to Him.

Like He did when he split the Red Sea in half in front of the entire nation of Israel.

Or how about His bit of humor about a camel and the eye of the needle?

Or when He raised Lazarus from the dead? Surprise! Joy!

I admit that a wild turkey isn’t always a “good” surprise. A “turkey” can be all-out painful: A rebellious teen, a bad diagnosis, a divorce. A Cross.

But these surprises also come from God. They also do God’s work in drawing us outside of our self-imposed comfort zones and closer to Him … if we let them.

It’s so easy to just go through life without being open to those wild turkeys God sends in your path.

Singing worship songs.

Listening to a sermon.

Sitting down with your Bible.

Raising a child.

In a doctor’s office.

Out and about in nature.

What wild turkeys has God sent lately? What wonders is He working in your life?

~*~

Author bio:  

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the beautiful Alaskan island of Kodiak, with a husband, a golden retriever and a wheaten terrier to keep her from sitting at the computer too long at a time. 

She holds a radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance (edited by Linda Evans Shephard). 

Her Christian suspense manuscript Nothing Hidden won the 2015 Daphne du Maurier unpublished inspirational category. It was titled “Next of Kin” when it won ACFW’s 2013 First Impressions contest. Tutoring is the second love of her life (after writing). 

Connect with Voni by visiting her blog at, http://vonildawrites.wordpress.com.

Litfuse Publicity Group blog tour for Lee Wolfe Blum's book about beauty

Book: Brave is the New Beautiful
Author: Lee Wolfe Blum
Reviewed by: Alexis A. Goring

Author Lee Wolfe Blum’s heart of love shows in the stories that she’s shared in this book as she tries to encourage women to embrace all God’s created them to be in this life.

Brave is the New Beautiful was not an easy read. The author shares perhaps too many stories from different women. While each story has inspirational and life-changing qualities, the overabundance of viewpoints and glimpses into a variety of real-life situations made the flow of this story a bit choppy and difficult to follow. The reader can become a bit lost between the pages of this book.

The read may have been easier to digest if the author focused on a few stories and elaborated her points for each instead of sharing so many and having takeaway points for each one. It was overwhelming for this reader and at times, confusing.

However, this book is still worth reading. It’s a good collection of stories that will make the reader think and evaluate their own life story. The messages in this book will encourage their heart because the author proves her point that in God’s eyes, women are valuable, they are worthy, they are brave and they are beautiful. 

*Litfuse Publicity Group provided Alexis A. Goring with a complimentary copy of "Brave is the New Beautiful" in exchange for an honest review.

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Author bio:

Lee Wolfe Blum is an energetic and passionate speaker who loves to help women find hope in healing from perfectionism and addictions. She works as a mental health practitioner in the field of Eating Disorders and Chemical Dependency. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three boys. Find out more about Lee Wolfe at leewolfeblum.com.

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Book blurb for Brave is the New Beautiful: In a culture that bombards women with "thinspiration" messages and pressure to "do it all" while wearing the mask of perfection, women are left feeling alone and overwhelmed. How can they stop comparing themselves to others? How can they live out who they really are? 

Lee Wolfe Blum offers stories from everyday women who have answered these questions with their lives—and found true beauty in the process. 

In Brave Is the New Beautiful, Blum weaves reflections from her own journey with inspirational stories from everyday women who chose to take off their masks and live authentically. 

Through call-to-action questions and ideas, she encourages readers to be brave enough to be who they really are and the beloved that God knows they are.

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Buy Lee's book on Amazon.

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