WOMEN AT SEA ~ Susan Page Davis ~ Giveaway

It's "Throwback Thursday" here on Whispers in Purple blog.

So . . .

Please welcome author SUSAN PAGE DAVIS

and let's talk about

 WOMEN AT SEA 

Take it away, Susan

In 1830, there were 7 men for every woman in Victoria, Australia. Both free settlers and female convicts were sent to Port Phillip, where the city of Melbourne grew up. The labor shortage was so severe that many single women sailed out with families, to work as domestic servants. The life was hard, and servants who lost their jobs or became pregnant found themselves on the street.

For female convicts, a sentence of transportation, or being shipped to England’s colonies in Australia, often meant unwilling prostitution. The conditions were so unbearable that some women chose execution over transportation.

Alice Packard, the heroine of The Seafaring Women of the Vera B., rescues several women from a brothel in Melbourne to help sail her ship. After her husband’s death, she feels compelled to deliver his ship and cargo to Massachusetts, but the crew deserted in favor of Australia’s gold fields. Desperate for workers, Alice meets several women who are willing to work hard and dangerous jobs to escape from their life in Melbourne. With help from her aging boatswain and a British noblewoman who is disillusioned with colonial life, Alice hires a full crew and helps the women flee.

My son Jim and I wrote this book together, inspired by the stories of courageous women who fought to make a better life for themselves.

In the second book of the series, The Scottish Lass, sailor Fiona Campbell is captured and forced to accompany a band of cutthroats on their quest for a lost treasure. Shifty Samuel Trafton has betrayed his friend Elwood Stark and stolen the new Stark’s commanding from under him. Stark approaches Alice Packard for help, but she’s not sure she can trust him. Fearing for her life, Fiona fends off her kidnappers and prays Captain Alice and her crew will come to the rescue. Meanwhile, first mate Tommy Mercer tries to help Fiona and suffers for his efforts. Can Fiona save Tommy’s life? Will the Trafton keep her captive when he leaves the islands?

Alice has many lives depending on her, and she can’t afford to make a mistake. Could Stark be in league with Trafton to gain control of the Vera B. as well as Stark’s schooner? The Hearts of Oak series is full of adventure, but it’s also about loyalty, forgiveness, and faith.

 Buy The Seafaring Women of the Vera B. at:

Paperback: https://bookstore.susanpagedavis.com/product/the-seafaring-women-of-the-vera-b/  

E-book: https://amzn.to/3aw21w0

Buy The Scottish Lass at:

Paperback:  https://bookstore.susanpagedavis.com/product/the-scottish-lass/

E-book: https://amzn.to/2K9Jqvb   

Both books are also available on Kindle Unlimited.

Author Bio: Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 90 Christian novels and novellas. She’s a winner of the Carol Award, two Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards, and two Will Rogers Medallions. She lives in western Kentucky with her husband Jim. They have six children and ten grandchildren.

Her co-author on this series, son James S. Davis, has spent time in Australia, Micronesia, and other far places. He has a degree in agriculture, and he and his wife live in South Carolina with their seven children.

Find Susan at:

Website: https://susanpagedavis.com

Twitter: @SusanPageDavis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor

Newsletter: https://madmimi.com/signups/118177/join

Susan will give away one copy of either The Seafaring Women of the Vera B. or The Scottish Lass, e-book or paper (paperbacks to US addresses only, please). Winner may choose. 

Giveaway runs for one week, ending Thursday, May 7. 2020, at Midnight, Central time.

Thank you so much, Susan (and Jim) for being my blog guest this week.

Both books sound fascinating.

WHOM ARE WE TO PLEASE? ~ Leslie L.. McKee ~ Devotional

People Pleaser or God Pleaser?

 ^"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

-       Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

I'm what many would call a "people pleaser." I've never been one to rock the boat, at least not on purpose. I like relationships (whether work or personal) to be as peaceful as possible. At times, that means taking on more than I should or keeping opinions to myself instead of voicing them. I don't like to upset or disappoint others. So instead, I end up adding to my stress level or feelings of overload. Perhaps this is something you struggle with or have struggled with in the past.

There is nothing wrong with wanting people to like us. However, if our motivation for pleasing others is to look for something in return, such as their love or acceptance, that could lead us down a slippery slope.

We weren't placed on earth to please everybody all the time. God didn’t call us to do it, yet many of us still do. It’s important to ask ourselves what’s matters most: God’s approval or the approval of others?

It’s important to have good relationships with those around us. However, our foundation and focus need to stay on the Lord. As it says in Proverbs 29:25: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” We should not seek approval from others.

Jesus knew this struggle. He dealt with challenging expectations, so He understands how we feel. But, He also knew His purpose. He knew when it was time to say, "no" and step away so He could stay focused on His Father (Mark 1:35). We can—and should—do the same.

Christians are called to serve others, but that doesn’t mean we are supposed to live our lives to solely please others. We may need to turn down activities, and possibly disappoint people, on occasion. And that’s okay. Resting in our purpose and reading the Word will help us keep our focus where it needs to be: on the Lord. If you’re unsure about your motivation for “people pleasing,” ask the Lord to help you discern when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”

Take time today to spend some quiet time with the Lord. Ask Him how to filter your schedule. Look to Him for approval … not society.

Lord, help me to see if, and where, I’m seeking the approval of others instead of You. I want You to be my focus. Amen.

Leslie L. McKee

A LIFE RENEWED ~ Olivia Rae ~ Giveaway

Please welcome guest blogger author Olivia Rae and her new release A LIVE RENEWED, an Historical Romance set during the time of the Tudor's reign in sixteenth-century England. A time  when being a 'royal' wasn't always a good thing. Oh, there's a giveaway, too.

You Vs Me

by Olivia Rae

When I tell people I write romance novels, most think I write light fluffy happily-ever-after stories with little substance. Some inappropriate comments until they find out I write Christian romance. It’s easy to pigeon-hole people. In today’s society, we do it more than ever. How often have you heard groups screaming at each other all in hopes to prove the other group is wrong? We do this in our daily life too, with our spouses, children, coworkers, etc.

Recently, I heard a friend state there are really only two emotions, love and fear. The more I thought about this, the more I believe it. Fear can trigger so many dark feelings. I’m angry because I am afraid you want to ruin my way of live. I’m sad because I’m afraid you won’t like me. I’m mean because I’m afraid you might hurt me.

My new book, A Life Renewed, takes place in Tudor England. It was a time when you could be burned at the stake if you had a different religion than the Crown’s. (Or if you were a royal, beheaded.) Sad but true, we still see this in some parts of our world today. Fear propels us to do many evil things in the name of religion, progress, or revolution. Fortunately, love can do the same.

If we love our neighbor (who is everyone), we listen and respect them no matter what their views are. We have honest and open dialogues minus the hateful words. If we love, we help others in their sorrow. If we love, we will sacrifice our own needs for others.

My book does end with a happily-ever-after all because of respectful love and the realization that, in Christ, we are more the same than we are different. So, the next time you are ready to blast, criticize or just plain ignore someone, think of what Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”   

Go forth in love and turn you vs me into you and me.

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason.

But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived?

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree to his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.   

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

About the Author: 

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town on the edge of a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world.

Olivia is the winner of the Golden Quill Award, New England Readers’ Choice Award, Southern Magic Contest, and the American Fiction Award. She is an Illumination Award Gold and Bronze medalist. She has also been a finalist in many other contests such as the National Readers’ Choice Awards, and the National Romance Fiction Awards. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Website: http://www.oliviaraebooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviaraeauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviaraebooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaraebooks

Book Purchase Links: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Wa3LaS

B&N: https://bit.ly/39LWEJLApple: https://apple.co/3cXtKbI

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3aP2vOr

About the Giveaway: Olivia is offering an eBook copy of her new release - A Life Renewed - to one reader of this blog post who leaves a comment below with name and contact information (ao we can notify you if you're the winner).

Giveaway runs for one week from today ending on Wednesday, April 29, at Midnight, central time.

THE CORONA VIRUS ~ June Foster ~ Faithful Frida ~ Devotional

The Corona Virus

A Faithful Friday Devotional

from 

Author June Foster

Lives have drastically changed since the advent of the corona virus. You only have to go to Walmart, Costco, or Sam's Club to buy toilet paper, bottled water, cleaning supplies, etc. to witness the ramifications for our society. "Don't leave your house and if you do, don't touch surfaces outside your home." The message potentially infuses fear in my heart. What if I or one of my loved ones catches the disease? Will I have enough to get by?

The Holy Spirit's gentle voice reminds me—He will never allow me to go without. Psalm 37:25 says: "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." But who are his children? The Bible says this in John 1:12. "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." NIV.

I can remember long ago when I called upon Jesus to be my Savior. That means I'm a child of God and anyone else who's trusted Jesus as Savior.

The Lord knows the day we were born, but He also knows the day we will leave this earth. I need not fear death and I need not fear the Corona virus. I trust that He will provide for me—and you, too.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 11Corinthians 9:8. NIV. For now, I can only praise and adore Him.

Prayer: Lord, I entrust myself and my life on this earth to You. Thank You that You did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Amen.

Author June Foster

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.

To date, June has written twenty-two contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. She loves to compose stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives. She's published with Winged Publications. Visit June at www.junefoster.com to see a complete list of her books.

THE WOMEN OF WWII ~ Linda Shenton Matchett - Giveaway

What’s New Wednesday with Linda Shenton Matchett

w/Giveaway

Spies & Sweethearts, my latest historic romance released today. The story is inspired by the brave women who worked undercover with America’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE). Located all over the globe, these women were often stationed in enemy-occupied territory. Their identities are only now being revealed as more and more documents are being declassified, but many of the gals went to their graves never having shared their role in the fight against evil.

Women who raised their hand to work as spies, saboteurs, cryptographers, cartographers, analysts and experts in propaganda, recruiting, and communications came from all walks of life. Wealthy, poor, single, married, and divorced, they were secretaries, actresses, socialites, royalty, nurses, home makers, musicians, mothers, teachers, and telephone operators to name a few.

I’d like to introduce you to just a few of these stalwart women who served in France:

Virginia Hall: A native of my hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, Virginia transferred from SOE to OSS in April 1944 after her cover was blown in occupied France where she established agent networks. Well-known by the Gestapo for her exploits, they wanted her dead, and the sooner the better. Nicknamed the Limping Lady, she wore a wooden prosthetic leg as a result of a hunting accident when she was a young woman. Reports indicate that she often hid important items in the leg. She changed her image, transforming herself into an older woman and was sent back into occupied France where she organized three units of more than 300 agents that took part in sabotage against the Germans. She also maintained radio contact with London, sending vital information to headquarters.

Many Frenchwomen worked for OSS in occupied France. Hélène Deschamps was the daughter of an officer in the French colonial army and took on the responsibility of reporting Nazi activities along the Mediterranean. She spied on German defense works and fortifications, the strength and movement of enemy troops, and the transport of equipment and ammunition. Jeanette Guyot was a member of the Pathfinder mission during which she was charged with locating parachute fields, organize reception committees, and arrange for safe houses and local informants.

Betty Lussier was born in Canada, the daughter of a decorated WWI RAF pilot. Her family moved to Maryland while she was a child. A pilot in her own right, she headed to England at the age of twenty to join Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary. Angry that only male pilots were allowed to fly into combat zones, she resigned. A month later she was recruited by the OSS, and after completing her training was assigned to Algeria where she collected intelligence and sent it to headquarters. She then moved to Cannes, France where she tracked down Nazi spies, many of whom she managed to turn into double agents.

Each of these women risked her life to save a world at war. I don’t believe I have what it takes to serve as an undercover agent. Do you?

About Spies & Sweethearts:

A secret mission. A fake bride. A run for their lives.

According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away—a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.

Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey?

And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.

About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. She writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a lecturer with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute through Granite State College. She is also a trustee for her local public library. Linda was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in historic places all her life. Now located in central New Hampshire, her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

Connect with Linda:

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lindasmatchett

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author_linda_matchett

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0

BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

About the Giveaway:

Linda is offering an eBook copy of Spies & Sweethearts to one reader of this post who leaves a comment below with name AND contact information. This is  so we can let you know if you are our winner. 

Giveaway runs for one week from today, ending at Midnight, CDT, April 22, 2020.

For an extra chance to get in the drawing, become a follower of Whispers in Purple (see sidebar at left) and mention it in your comment.

Thank you Linda for being my guest today. I'm a sucker for WWII stories.

JOBS, PART THREE ~ Christina Sinisi ~ Devotional

JOBS - Part Three

A Devotional by Christina Sinisi

When I wrote the first two parts to this series, the COVID-19 crisis was not on the horizon. My own personal worries and the troubles of those close to me were paramount in my mind. A job was an aggravation to some degree, politics and frustration with administration and stress from too much to do were the items on the list.

All that has changed with the onslaught of a little ball of a virus with tiny little antennae, or are they feet, all around it stomping all over the world.

Now that I can’t be at my workplace, I miss the people there. I’m still doing the work so that isn’t marked off my list, but I’m also very grateful for the job I have. So many people now are out of work or facing financial hardships that we don’t have to face (at least in the foreseeable future). We have a nice-sized house with space where we each can get away from the others, but also have each other to talk to and support and love. We have porches, a back yard, and walking trails that haven’t been closed off—we can get outside. 

And most of all, we have our health.

It’s funny, perhaps sad, definitely amazing that it sometimes takes being on the brink or even tipping over to force us to count our blessings. In my bible reading right now, I’m in Judges. Not the most pleasant of reading, but I read the bible straight through in a constant stream and that’s where I am. One lesson from that book, and much of the Old Testament, is how easy it is to forget God’s blessings and miracles. When we do forget, it’s so easy then to think we don’t need God or, the worst possible outcome, believe that He doesn’t exist.

Times like this teach us: He does exist, and we do need Him.

It shouldn’t take a pandemic or the parting of a sea for us to remember our first love. Talk to Him every day, read His word, and stay in His presence.

And we’ll be fine, no matter what.

Pray with me?  “Heavenly Father, please be with me, my family, friends, this country, and this world. Heal those who are sick and take those in your arms who are struggling. Let us never forget just who You are. Amen.”

Genesis 2:15  The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and finalists in a number of writing contests, such as the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

How can writers connect with you?

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: https://www.christinasinisi.com/

Social Networking Sites: 

Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Instagram: @csinisi123

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi

Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Confusion-Christina-Sinisi/dp/1947327690/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=christina+sinisi&qid=1584722142&sr=8-1  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-confusion-christina-sinisi/1135231104;jsessionid=0FF2FD7DE62ED81AC9C1DD3D0C389324.prodny_store02-atgap16?ean=9781947327696 

JOBS: PART TWO~ Christina Sinisi - Devotional

JOBS - Part Two

A Devotional by Christina Sinisi

On the Friday following the terrible Thursday, Portals of Prayer addressed jobs directly. By the way, do you ever feel that God is talking directly to you through his word and his people? He is.

The verses for the following Friday was Genesis 2:4 – 25. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

God values work. Even in paradise, Adam had a job. I could be wrong, but that implies (to me) that in eternity, we’re going to have jobs. Does that blow your mind or disappoint you?  I honestly don’t know how I feel about that since I’ve been teaching for thirty years and getting a little burned out—eternity sounds like an awful long time. 

Maybe we need to rethink work. God gives only good gifts. He also gives us everything we have. He created everything there is. So, work must not be a four letter word, or at least in the bad way.

At the same time, we do live in an imperfect world, tainted by original sin. Therefore, the people at work, the politics at work, the tedium, the physical and mental stamina needed to get everything done can all affect the joy we should find in doing a good day’s work.

Rather than general platitudes, I want to be specific about how to find joy in work. By the way, I’m a psychologist and professor in my day job so much of this is based on research.

Be careful in your choice. Most of us make career choices when we are very young and that may be an issue. We may not have enough self-awareness to know what is really the best choice for our lifetime, and that is why it is okay to change our minds. But, when making a decision, no matter at what stage in your life, ask God. Prayerfully consider more than just the obvious. Take interest surveys. Get some experience by volunteering or observing. And be patient with yourself--God is.

Fully engage while you are at work. Nothing breeds dissatisfaction more than distraction. If you need distraction from a thing, the thing must not be that great. I mean, vegetables just exist to get to the dessert, right? Hopefully, we know better, or learn better as we get older. Put away the phone, close all tabs other than the right one, and engage.

At the same time, take breaks. When you are on vacation, vacate. I mean, leave. Get out of there. Not just the place, but exit those corners of your mind..if I’m not taking my analogy too far. Just don’t answer the email for a day. That’s all I’m saying. Give yourself a real break.

Or, at the very least, fully engage for a period of time and then take a break. What? We’re all human.

Our Lord gives us our jobs and places us in our life. He places us to receive the Word as well.

Can we pray? “Lord God, grant that we may work and keep your gifts for Your service and glory. Help us to find joy in the mundane and to support each other through our mistakes and confusion and joy. In your son, Jesus’ name, Amen

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christina Sinisi writes stories about families, both the broken and blessed. Her works include a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and finalists in a number of writing contests, such as the American Title IV Contest where she appeared in the top ten in the Romantic Times magazine. By day, she is a psychology professor and lives in the LowCountry of South Carolina with her husband and two children and loves a good cooking challenge. Please visit her at Christina Sinisi-Author on Facebook and christinasinisi.com.

How can writers connect with you?

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: https://www.christinasinisi.com/ 

Twitter: @ChristinaSinisi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Sinisi-Author-105861987440664/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Instagram: @csinisi123

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/csinisi/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/101218889-christina-sinisi

Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Confusion-Christina-Sinisi/dp/1947327690/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=christina+sinisi&qid=1584722142&sr=8-1  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-confusion-christina-sinisi/1135231104;jsessionid=0FF2FD7DE62ED81AC9C1DD3D0C389324.prodny_store02-atgap16?ean=9781947327696