Return of the “Mean Girl” ~ Engaged ~ Julie Arduini ~ Giveaway

Peg here: I'm pleased to once again welcome back author Julie Arduini as she takes us behind the scenes in the writing of ENGAGED, the third and final book in the Surrendering Time Series. Julie is also offering a free copy of this book. Details below.

Return of the “Mean Girl”

ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future

Book 3, Surrendering Time Series

Trish’s Story

Trish Maxwell returns to Speculator Falls with crushed dreams, egg on her face, and the chance to make a new start with the very people and places she used to make fun of.

Trish Maxwell’s back in Speculator Falls with egg on her face and a lot of apologies to make. She left the mountain town for her dream job in New York City, only to come back unemployed. With no prospects, she works at her mom’s department store and makes amends as she finds a new passion creating window displays for Adirondack businesses. She works hard and tries to convince the people of Speculator Falls she’s changed for the better.

As Trish pitches in with community events, she meets paramedic Wayne Peterson, the one man who doesn’t seem to judge her. She even makes friends with Jenna Regan, who helps Trish when people demand to know what’s next in Trish’s life. Living in New York City has been her goal, but the more she’s around Wayne and the Adirondack area, the more she’s drawn to revising her plans. Just when Trish thinks the plan for her life’s coming together, a second chance comes her way that could give her every career goal she’s ever wanted, but threaten to tear her and Wayne apart. Can Trish surrender fears about her future and discover God’s plan for her?

 Part of the fun in writing the third book in my Surrendering Time series was making the “mean girl” from Book 1, Entrusted, the heroine of Engaged. Trish Maxwell started out as the scandal of Speculator Falls, a small mountain village in the Upstate NY Adirondack Mountains.

Trish grew up in Speculator Falls and the residents and her high school boyfriend, Ben Regan, assumed she’d get married and stay in the area. Trish couldn’t contain her longing to leave the county so rural it was labeled pioneer land, and the first opportunity she had, she left Speculator Falls for New York City. Without saying goodbye. Without handing in her job resignation at the senior center. Even during a quick visit, it was too easy for Trish to make sure the new girl in town, Jenna Anderson, realize she was the darling of Speculator Falls and Ben’s life.

Fast forward and by the time Engaged begins, Trish is back in Speculator Falls without a job. She’s living with her parents again, working part-time at the department store. New York City life wasn’t as glamorous as she thought it would be. Now that she’s back in her hometown, she has no idea what she’s going to do.

And she has to face the same people she refused to say goodbye to when she left.

I loved Engaged because it was born in conflict. Right away Trish has to face one of the senior citizens who has a long memory and is bent on making sure Trish faces consequences for leaving the senior center without a director. She has to watch all the people she rejected move on without her. When paramedic Wayne Peterson comes to her rescue, she has a second chance. He’s one person who hasn’t been affected by her selfish choices. He understands scandal and how to overcome it. He sees Trish with a bright future when everyone else is focused on her pas

There was conflict for me as well. I had to create a transformation where Trish lets go of her mean girl qualities and becomes a woman who works well with others. There were times she had progress, and yet took a step back as a defensive mechanism. Winning her neighbors, Ben, Jenna, and the senior citizens over wasn’t an easy task.

Thankfully, readers loved Trish’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Trish was the perfect character to complete the Surrendering Time series with.

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past, and ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future. FINDING FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER is her 30 day devotional using the surrender themes and characters from the series. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her latest release, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL, is a book for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah. Julie blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, and also is a blogger for Inspy Romance. She resides in Poland with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

 Engaged Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Surrendering-Future-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B072K91W25/

The Giveaway:

What do you think of heroines who have a tarnished reputation? If you leave a comment, Julie will choose one winner to receive a copy of Engaged. US winner can choose either print or eBook. If you’re an international winner, it will be an eBook. Giveaway ends one week from today on Tuesday, August 20, at Midnight, CDT.

Feeling Small ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway

Peg here ... I'm so pleased to once again bring you author Donna Schlachter. Read about her trip to Peru and her reactions to that visit. She's also offering a giveaway. Scroll down for the details.

Feeling Small in a Great Big World

By Donna Schlachter

Machu Picchu Peru - Image courtesy Pixabay.com

I recently went to Peru on a mission trip with my church. As a right-brain thinker—after all, I’m an accountant by training—I had a list of things to accomplish: paint a Sunday school class; install playground equipment; visit a halfway house for recovering addicts; teach English to Spanish-speaking students; visit Machu Picchu and see as much of the country as I could.

My first mission trip, my first visit to South America—all neatly bundled up in a To-Do list.

Nothing went according to plan. Or let me rephrase that—nothing went according to MY plan. No paint or rollers or brushes on hand; walls not finished or dry-walled for the playground area; spent more time than allotted at the halfway house; traffic was really bad; I was really sick; and I couldn’t communicate in Spanish because I only knew about six words.

Failure, right?

Wrong.

When it became apparent that my plan was out the window, I tore up the list and resolved to ‘go with the flow.’ So we only painted one-quarter of the wall for the Sunday school class—I was blessed to spend time with my fellow travelers as we dipped our hands in paint and decorated a sweatshirt. The playground was indoors, not outdoors as I’d envisioned, but we did end up painting the walls in vibrant, happy colors. And all that was required for me to teach English was to read a book with the students and help them with their pronunciation.

All of this became so clear when I stood at the base of Machu Picchu, beside a river, and just waited to hear God in the midst of the roaring water. I gazed up at the gigantic mound of granite facing me, marveling at the rocks as big as cars and buses. I enjoyed the sun on my face and reveled in the lush jungle growth.

And then my eyes were drawn to the ground. Peeking out from between the rocks was this tiny plant struggled for a toe-hold to survive.

I felt so small in the face of a so-big God. All my plans, my ideas, my lists—poof! Gone.

If God could care enough for this tiny bit of greenery that He would ensure it had enough sunlight, enough soil, enough water to survive, surely He cares enough about me—and you—to give us what we need.

What we don’t need are more plans, ideas, and lists. What we do need is more time with God, in His presence, listening for His voice. We need more fellowship with other believers and less time in front of our television. We need more service for His kingdom and less work for our own. We need more quiet and less noise.

When we feel small in a great big world, we need to run to our Father and climb up in His lap, enjoying the feel of His arms around us. And pretty soon, we’ll understand just how important we are to Him.

 About Transformation:

If you've ever wished you could start a devotional at some time throughout the year other than January 1st, then this is the devotional for you!

Each day is numbered, so you can start any day of the year and still walk through the Bible in a year. 

If you like to start out the year on the right foot on January 1st, then this is the devotional for you! However you like to structure your quiet time, today is the absolute best time to start!

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a critique group, and teaches writing classes. Donna ghostwrites and edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

About the Giveaway ---

Question for readers: Briefly share a time when God spoke to you about how much He loves you.

A randomly-drawn winner will receive a free eBook copy of Transformation: A yearly devotional.

To enter, leave a comment below with your name and contact information. Giveaway ends one week from today at Midnight, Friday, August 17, CDT. 

The Timeoess Act of Waiting ~ Lauralee Bliss

 It is my great pleasure to bring you a thoughtful post from author Lauralee Bliss, and, as the title indicates, the act of waiting. Welcome, Lauralee.

The Timeless Act of Waiting

By Lauralee Bliss

Image from Pixabay.com

“Trust in the Lord and do good.Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.Delight yourself in the Lord,And He will give you the desires of your heart.”  - Psalm 37: 3,4  NKJV

How important it is to wait on God for the next dream in life, to be content with where we are, to remember His faithfulness until it’s time to move on. So it is with the hero and heroine in my new novella, The Belle of the Congaree, in the Southern Belle Brides Collection. Mason and Elisa are at crossroad in their lives during a difficult time in the post-Civil War era. They wish things were different and desire change yet it requires selfless action on their part while waiting for God to fulfill their dreams.

Sometimes we desire to move ahead to get out of the trap of trials. We want circumstances to change as quickly as possible. But instead of waiting on His perfect timing for the desires of our hearts, we forge ahead on our own. And oftentimes we end up in a worse situation because of it. Too often that has happened to me. I am naturally an impatient person when it comes to waiting on God. Of seeing Him bring to pass the work I feel called to do, especially when years have passed. I try to jumpstart the idea. Can You speed this process up a little, Lord?  Or try to do something out of His will. But He is the Creator of all, not only of this world but also of the hopes and dreams we each have. His desire is to move us from glory to glory, but only He knows the perfect time. And it is our duty to stay in faith and dwell where He has placed us for now.

So it is with Mason and Elisa. Both desire to move past their current situations. They meet and take time to discover things about each other and themselves. But when secrets are uncovered, it appears unlikely anything will work out for good. Which can lead to impatience, frustration, and anger. And we all know where that can end … to nothing good …

I enjoy writing stories that convey the essence of what I am going through. We do not exchange modern times for the ninetieth century but instead realize we are all human with weaknesses, but the God of yesterday still moves and directs us today.

I hope you enjoy Mason and Elisa’s journey to God’s perfect timing and how we too can wait in faith, even when it’s difficult. Be sure to pick up a copy of The Southern Belle Brides Collection with seven stories of a time long past but God’s working hand still active today.

  

About the Book:

The Southern Belle Brides Collection—where seven sweet and sassy ladies of yesterday experience romance in the southern states.

In The Belle of the Congaree, Mason Bassinger reluctantly travels to war-torn South Carolina, seeking lands his carpetbagger brother can buy. Elisa Anderson barely survives after her family’s plantation is destroyed. She welcomes visits by the handsome and wealthy Mason, who makes the cottage by the Congaree feel like a home. But when Mason’s true purpose is revealed, will her heart be broken by betrayal?

Find The Southern Belle Brides Collection at:

Amazon  

Christianbook.com

About Lauralee:

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of over twenty romance novels and novellas in both historical and contemporary with nearly 600,000 units sold. Lauralee enjoys writing books that are reminiscent of a roller-coaster ride for the reader. Her desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that speaks to the heart and soul.

Lauralee enjoys traveling this great nation, having been to 49 out of 50 states and learning unique historical lessons to incorporate into her books. She makes her home in the historic state of Virginia with her husband and dogs Eve, Buddy, and Skye. 

To find out more about Lauralee and her books online, visit:

Website:  http://www.lauraleebliss.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-of-Author-Lauralee-Bliss

Blog: http://www.blissfulwalk.com

Hiking Blog: http://www.blissfulhiking.com

Twitter:  @LauraleeBliss

Motivating Teens to Pursue Christ ~ Tessa Emily Hall

How Can Teens Be Motivated to Pursue Christ?

 by Tessa Emily Hall

There’s no denying that the youth culture today is in desperate need of an awakening. There are teens who are yearning for identity, approval, role models, and intimacy—yet they’re searching for this in the wrong areas.

Of course, this longing—to belong, find connection, and be understood—isn’t planted inside of teens only. However, it seems like it becomes more pronounced in the teen years. This longing only enhances as teens are faced with the typical issues that often arise in high school—such as bullying. Depression. Temptation. Pressure from school, friends, and home. Add this to emotional angst brought on by hormones, as well as life-altering decisions they often face during this time.

This is why so many teens today turn to the world in attempt to fill this void. To give them the identity, approval, and intimacy that they long for.

Yet what they’re really searching for is hope in the midst of pain, peace in the midst of chaos, and a friend to walk with them in their heartache.

Yes, what they’re really searching for is Jesus.

My desire is to tap into this longing within teens and show them that this is an emptiness that only Christ can fill. I want teen girls to experience the fulfillment that comes from having a relationship with Him. To know what it’s like to have Him bring meaning to every day.

This desire is what drove me to write COFFEE SHOP DEVOS: DAILY PICK-ME-UP FOR TEEN GIRLS (releasing September 2018).

I wanted to write a devotional for teen girls that could be non-intimidating and inviting. Because if we preach at teens by pointing at their sins and telling them they need Christ, they’ll most likely be motivated to run in the opposite direction. However, if we instead introduce them to Him by already tapping into their needs, then I believe they’ll be more willing to listen.

The devotions in COFFEE SHOP DEVOS are conversational and relational. This is why I chose coffee as the theme—in hopes to provide a warm and familiar atmosphere for the devotions.

Each devotional was written in a way that, hopefully, will show teen girls that God is the One they’re longing for. Through His eyes, we are understood. Accepted. Loved. Forgiven. And it’s from this relationship that we can receive the peace, love, joy, and hope that we long for.

In other words: Everything the world attempts to provide us can only be found in Christ. 

In this book, teens will have the opportunity to find devotions that speak to their current situations. The “menu” (table of contents) is categorized by their daily needs—Latte, Comfort in Trials; Espresso, Joy for the Moment; Americano, Everyday Issues, etc.

In each chapter, teens will find a coffee recipe based on that chapter’s specific drink. Then, at the end of each devotion, they’re invited to continue the devo’s conversation by answering a question on social media and posting a photo of their beverage using the hashtag #CoffeeShopDevos

This is all in hopes that girls will find what they’re searching for—and along the way, understand that a life with Christ isn’t restricting; in fact, it’s the opposite. It’s nourishing, satisfying, and fulfilling.

Even more so than their favorite lattes. ;)

Each of the 180 challenging and motivational devotions will leave you feeling refreshed and reinvigorated--almost as though you've shared a steaming pot of brew at a coffee shop with your Creator.

There’s no denying that the youth culture today is in desperate need of an awakening. There are teens who are yearning for identity, approval, role models, and intimacy—yet they’re searching for this in the wrong areas.

Of course, this longing—to belong, find connection, and be understood—isn’t planted inside of teens only. However, it seems like it becomes more pronounced in the teen years. This longing only enhances as teens are faced with the typical issues that often arise in high school—such as bullying. Depression. Temptation. Pressure from school, friends, and home. Add this to emotional angst brought on by hormones, as well as life-altering decisions they often face during this time.

This is why so many teens today turn to the world in attempt to fill this void. To give them the identity, approval, and intimacy that they long for.

Yet what they’re really searching for is hope in the midst of pain, peace in the midst of chaos, and a friend to walk with them in their heartache.

Yes, what they’re really searching for is Jesus.

My desire is to tap into this longing within teens and show them that this is an emptiness that only Christ can fill. I want teen girls to experience the fulfillment that comes from having a relationship with Him. To know what it’s like to have Him bring meaning to every day.

This desire is what drove me to write COFFEE SHOP DEVOS: DAILY PICK-ME-UP FOR TEEN GIRLS (releasing September 2018).

I wanted to write a devotional for teen girls that could be non-intimidating and inviting. Because if we preach at teens by pointing at their sins and telling them they need Christ, they’ll most likely be motivated to run in the opposite direction. However, if we instead introduce them to Him by already tapping into their needs, then I believe they’ll be more willing to listen.

The devotions in COFFEE SHOP DEVOS are conversational and relational. This is why I chose coffee as the theme—in hopes to provide a warm and familiar atmosphere for the devotions.

Each devotional was written in a way that, hopefully, will show teen girls that God is the One they’re longing for. Through His eyes, we are understood. Accepted. Loved. Forgiven. And it’s from this relationship that we can receive the peace, love, joy, and hope that we long for.

In other words: Everything the world attempts to provide us can only be found in Christ. 

In this book, teens will have the opportunity to find devotions that speak to their current situations. The “menu” (table of contents) is categorized by their daily needs—Latte, Comfort in Trials; Espresso, Joy for the Moment; Americano, Everyday Issues, etc.

In each chapter, teens will find a coffee recipe based on that chapter’s specific drink. Then, at the end of each devotion, they’re invited to continue the devo’s conversation by answering a question on social media and posting a photo of their beverage using the hashtag #CoffeeShopDevos

This is all in hopes that girls will find what they’re searching for—and along the way, understand that a life with Christ isn’t restricting; in fact, it’s the opposite. It’s nourishing, satisfying, and fulfilling.

Even more so than their favorite lattes ☺   

Back Cover Copy

There's something special about spending time at a coffee shop with a friend--engaging in a meaningful conversation, then leaving refueled and ready to tackle the rest of the day. What if your quiet times with God energized you the same way?

Coffee Shop Devos offers a warm atmosphere that will inspire you to discover your God-given purpose and live to your greatest potential. Choose your devo flavor in the Menu of Contents based on your current need. Then lean into deeper intimacy with Christ through reflection and prayer. Along the way, you'll pick up tips and recipes for making your own coffee-shop beverage--regular or decaf--to enjoy while you read. And don't forget to share your journey with your friends! #CoffeeShopDevos

Each of the 180 challenging and motivational devotions will leave you feeling refreshed and reinvigorated--almost as though you've shared a steaming pot of brew at a coffee shop with your Creator.

How do you motivate teens to pursue a relationship with Christ? What are some approaches that don’t seem to work? 

Available for pre-order now! Release date is September 18 2018.

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2K6XbrR 

Print: https://amzn.to/2AmyXue 

 

Author Bio:

Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic books for teens to show them they’re not alone—and because she remembers the teen life like it was yesterday (or a few years ago). In addition to being a frequent contributor to both online and print publications, Tessa’s debut novel was published while still in her teens. She’s the founder and editor-in-chief of PursueMagazine.net, a Christian teen magazine, and enjoys mentoring other young writers. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. Tessa’s favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, email list, and social media. See links below.

BOOK LINKS:

Pre-order (or have a sneak peek) of COFFEE SHOP DEVOS on Amazon

Mark “to read” on Goodreads

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: www.tessaemilyhall.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessaemilyhall

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tessaemilyhall

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tessaemilyhall

Nostalgia, A Writers Journey ~ Linda Shenton Matchette ~ Giveaway

Nostalgia

By Linda Shenton Matchett

My birthday falls in the month of May, and each year I become more nostalgic on that day, remembering previous celebrations and other heartwarming memories. This year my husband and I went away for the weekend to a cozy cabin in the White Mountains. Every morning was spent writing my latest work-in-progress. It is nearly complete, and I got to thinking about the fact that the manuscript is the ninth one I’ve written, six of which have been published.

I began to reminisce about my writing odyssey. It has been two years since my first book, Love’s Harvest, was published, but putting pen to paper started long before that. I made up stories in elementary school and a little bit in junior high, but I put writing in high school. I didn’t return to it until we moved to New Hampshire fifteen years ago to operate a B&B. As we pulled out of the driveway in Virginia, I wrote my first journal entry. Capturing our experience reignited my love of the craft, and I’ve been writing ever since.

Twists and turns littered my path: some freelance writing in travel and lifestyle magazines, a few guest blog posts, and an opportunity to write a monthly devotion for my church’s regional association. I enjoyed the non-fiction work, but telling stories is my first love, so I set out to write “The Great American Novel.” I wrote it, but great it was not! However, I didn’t know that and submitted it to several publishers, one of whom took the time to tell me she saw great potential but that I needed to improve my writing.

To make a long story short (which as a novelist is tough for me!), I took classes, attended conferences, and joined ACFW, which connected me with a group of authors who decided to create a collaborative blog: 

www.stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com. Three years ago, one of the authors suggested we band together and publish a collection of romance novellas. I was alternately excited and terrified of the opportunity. I had never written a romance before. Could I do it? Would anyone read it? If so, would they like it?

The questions continued, including the most important: what in the world could I write about? When the answer came to me, I couldn’t get to my computer fast enough. The biblical book of Ruth is one of my favorites. While I was growing up, my family moved quite often, so I appreciate that Ruth chose to leave her family and all that she knew to follow Naomi to a land where she may not have even spoken the language. Having read Francine River’s book Redeeming Love which is a retelling of the book of Hosea set in the American Old West, I decided to set Ruth during the WWII era. Research helped me find a famine (like the one in Ruth’s story) and the British Women’s Land Army, and a story was born!

It was a long trek to publication, but as I look back I see God’s perfect timing. I wish I had paid attention more during the journey. I think I may have missed some blessings. Are you waiting on God? Instead of chafing at the bit to reach the destination, ask Him what He would have you learn along the way.

Back Cover Copy:

Noreen Hirsch loses everything including her husband and two sons. Then her adopted country goes to war with her homeland. Has God abandoned her?

Rosa Hirsch barely adjusts to being a bride before she is widowed. She gives up her citizenship to accompany her mother-in-law to her home country. Can Rosa find acceptance among strangers who hate her belligerent nation?

Basil Quincey is rich beyond his wildest dreams, but loneliness stalks him. Can he find a woman who loves him and not his money?

Three people. One God who can raise hope from the ashes of despair.

About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, journalist, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places most of her life. A member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters In Crime, Linda is a volunteer docent at the Wright Museum of World War II, and a trustee for her local public library.

Social Media links:

Website: www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlindamatchett

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

LinkedIn: www.linkedin/in/authorlindamatchett

Giveaway:

Sign up for Linda’s newsletter (https://bit.ly/2DDLmI2)  to be entered in a raffle to win a paperback (US, or eBook international winner) copy of Love's Harvest. Everyone who signs up will receive her free eBook Devotions from a Writer. Once you've signed up, post "done" in the comments. The winner will be selected on May 31st.

Linda