Book Monday-Author Cheryl Wyatt & Steadfast Soldier

Book Monday features Steadfast Soldier by Love Inspired Author Cheryl Wyatt, a fitting book for Memorial Day. Here's the scoop:

"Rescuing people is his job…

But the one person pararescue jumper Chance Garrison can't seem to help is his own ailing father, who refuses his much-needed physical rehabilitation. That is, until Chance hires unconventional occupational therapist Chloe Callet. To his surprise, Chloe and her sweet black Lab, Midnight, work wonders. And not only on the elder Garrison. Chance just may have met the woman who can get through his own toughened exterior. Can he persuade the lovely Chloe to take a chance—on him?

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Excerpt available here: http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?itemid=21723&cid=416

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PURCHASE LINKS:

Barnes and Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Steadfast-Soldier/Cheryl-Wyatt/e/9780373876051/?itm=1?tabname=custreview

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Steadfast-Soldier-Inspired-Cheryl-Wyatt/dp/037387605X

Christianbook: http://www.christianbook.com/steadfast-soldier-cheryl-wyatt/9780373876051/pd/876051?item_code=WW&netp_id=768707&event=ESRCN&view=details

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Author

Born Valentines Day on a naval base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. Her books have won a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for the Best Series Love Inspired in 2009 and garnered a Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence final.

Find out more: www.CherylWyatt.com

15-author blog! www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Edna T Pays Tribute to Her mother Virginia Shulz Deaton

Today's story of a strong woman is by Edna Deaton Tollison, a faithful follower of this blog and supporter of Christian writers. When she won a giveaway on this blog, she sent me a lovely butterfly she'd crocheted. That butterfly lives on my refrigerator now. Here's Edna and the story of her mother in her own words:

"My mother was born in 1898 and died 1980. She was forty five when I came along and she already had nine other children.
She was born to Johan and Elizabeth Schultz and her Mother died in childbirth when she was four. The baby was passed on to an aunt to raise, but Mama had to stay with my grandfather. He was a full German. He later remarried and the step-mom was not that great to my Mom. She went to school only to the forth grade, but she could read and write.

She married my dad when she was twenty years old and had the ten children. She never worked outside the home and they farmed and always had a garden. My dad passed away with cancer in nineteen fifty-one when I was eight years old and left my Mother with four children still at home. she received social security off my Dad until we reached eighteen. But that is what I was raised on, and she did sewing, washing and ironing, and she always backed cakes for anyone that wanted to pay a little for them. We lived in an old house that my Dad had built when they first married. But thank God I loved school so well that I was the only one of the ten children that finished high school. All of my siblings are gone down except the brother just above me that is seven years older. I am so glad that my Mother lived long enough that she didn't lose any of her children while she was here on this old earth.

She was very Religious but didn't accept Christ as her Savior until nineteen sixty-eight, but once she did she was a very good Christian.

She fell in nineteen eighty on her door steps as she came home from a Wednesday night service. She lay there for a good while before my brother heard her, he lived next door, and came and got her up. Then she could no longer stay at home by herself. We took her from house to house as she stayed with different children until on the night of my oldest son's graduation and she fell at my sister's house and we had to take her to the hospital. She seem to be doing well but on a Friday in June I was called as I live two hours away from all the rest, and I made it up there but she had tubes coming out of her and was bleeding inside. No one know why, but she left us that night and went to be with the Lord.

I have her picture in my family room and I look at her and still talk to her, she was the best Mother there ever was and I still miss her today after thirty years. I raised four children of my own and wish she could have known my grandchildren.

Edna Tollison
Laurens, SC

My blog is http://edna-myfavoritethings.blogspot.com

Thank you so much, Edna, for sharing such a wonderful life with us. --Lyn

First Page-The Wedding Garden-Author Linda Goodnight

There was a man in the house. Again.

Sloan’s stomach got that funny sick feeling like he was going to vomit. He hated when Mama brought someone home at night. Someone drunk and noisy. He knew what people said about her. Joni Hawkins was no good, like her jailbird husband. They gossiped, said dirty things about her. He was eleven. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what the words meant.

They were all big fat liars.

He tiptoed down the dark hallway to the door, careful not to be heard. Mama would tell him to go back to bed. But he worried when she brought a man home.

He could hear them in there, but he couldn’t make out the words. The man’s voice rumbled, rising at times. Then Mama’s soothing tones would calm him down. She was good at soothing.

A narrow beam of light sliced along the edge of the wooden floor. Breath held, he placed his right eye against the skinny crack and slowly, slowly, let the air ease out through his nose.

He couldn’t see much. A flash of Mama’s pink diner shirt. A man’s leg in dark pants. Dress-up pants. Sloan could see a big hand too, held out toward mama as though asking for something.

What was that on the man’s wrist? A watch? Sloan squeezed closer until the wood pressed hard into his face and his eyelashes folded back against his eyelid. Not a watch, a fancy bracelet with stones. Sloan held back a laugh, relaxing a little. Only a sissy would wear a bracelet like a girl.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373875959/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=01K0YR5DGCCNMEQR6CBR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

www.lindagoodnight.com

Author, Editor & Publisher Jeff Gerke Honors His Wife

Today's guest is Author-Editor-Publisher Jeff Gerke, the third of the three brave men who have blogged during MEGA May in honor of their wives. Here's Jeff:


"This weekend I watched Shrek: Forever After with my son. It's got a terrific message about staying with your spouse and family, that you need to notice and rejoice when you have the life everyone wants. It was a good reminder for me--because I really do have the ideal life: wonderful wife who loves me, three beautiful children, nice home in a great neighborhood. I even have the pleasure of working in the Christian publishing industry. Robin has been my strongest supporter in my writing and publishing career. Back before I was published, I was so angst-ridden over a novel I was writing that I tried to take the floppy disk (yes, it was that long ago) it was stored on and throw it out into the rain. Robin physically wrested it from me. That day I agreed to write the book, but I was doing it for her, not for me and not even for God. In fact, I had come to believe that if I wanted to do it then it must not be God's will. But as soon as I sat down to write the book for her, I found a overwhelming peace and I realized God was pleased with me writing it. When I couldn't hear God's voice, Robin voiced it to me for Him. Years later, after I'd had numerous books published, I felt God was leading me to launch my own small publishing company.

Once more, Robin was my biggest supporter. We received a small inheritance when my grandfather died. We needed that money to go toward the international adoption we were at that time pursuing (we now have our Sophie from China!), but Robin made me use ~40% of the inheritance to help get my company off the ground.

Marcher Lord Press (www.marcherlordpress.com) is in its second year now and going strong. We publish the best in Christian science fiction and fantasy, so give us a look.

Robin would much rather stay at home to be with our Sophie, but she keeps her part-time job at the school where our son attends, in order to obtain insurance for her and the family. Happily, summer is almost upon us!

May I never have to lose what I have in order to realize what I've got. I want to make Robin feel cherished now."--Author, Editor and Publisher Jeff Gerke

Thanks, Jeff. I'm so happy you and your wife make such a great team. My own dh has always been behind me 110% and he's about to start his own business and I'm rallying and working with him. If any of you would like more information about Jeff's publishing house, drop by my website http://www.LynCote.net and click Christian Book Publishers.
Thanks for sharing and make sure you tell your wife to drop by!

Book Monday-Author Marlo Shalesky & Shades of Morning

Today's Book Monday is SHADES OF MORNING By Author Marlo Schalesky.

Shades of Morning is Marlo’s third “Love Story with a Twist” (think a Nicolas Sparks type love story with an M. Night Shyamalan type twist!).

A BIT ABOUT THE BOOK: Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church - they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness. Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome - and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned. As Emmit—and Taylor—work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?

FROM ROMANTIC TIMES: Top Pick! 4 ½ Stars! “Schalesky has a knack for weaving a surprising spiritual twist into her tales. The touching plot will make readers examine how they deal with past regrets, and how God moves them through it. A not-to-be-missed, stunning novel!”

A BIT ABOUT MARLO: Marlo Schalesky is the award winning author of numerous books, including her latest novel Shades of Morning, which combines a love story with a surprise ending twist. Marlo’s other books include the Christy Award winning Beyond the Night, and its sequel If Tomorrow Never Comes. Marlo is also the author of nearly 700 articles, the mother of 5 young children, and holds her Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. When she’s not changing diapers, doing laundry, or writing books, Marlo loves sipping Starbucks white mochas, reading the New Testament in Greek, and talking about finding the deep places of God in everyday life.

FIND OUT MORE:

www.marloschalesky.com/fiction

www.facebook.com/MarloSchalesky

I've endorsed more than one of Marlo's books. She has never disappointed me.--Lyn

Jessica's Daily Affirmation-Enjoy!

Author Stephanie Grace Whitson & Her Mom & 16 Brides

My guest today is Stephanie Grace Whitson, a woman I personally admire for her perseverance and cheerful spirit. Here's Stephanie:

"Mother, 1913-1996

My Mother was born into the world portrayed in the film Titanic, but she never knew the delights of elegant teas and high-button shoes. Instead, she knew hard work and harsh words. She knew walking into the living room to discover her own mother laid out for a wake. She knew rocking her baby sister and handing that sister over to a "woman who is going to help us with the baby" and then never seeing that baby again, because Elsie Ruth was given to an adoption agency. She knew being taken to stay with relatives who didn't want her until she was old enough to keep house for her father. She knew being retrieved from those relative and relegated to the role of housekeeper and cook. She knew having the breakfast biscuits tossed across the room because they weren't fluffy enough. . . and other things of which she never spoke. She knew being told to pack her suit case when she was a teenager. She knew what it was like to be driven to a nearby town and put out on a street corner. She knew being wished a good life, and watching as her father drove away. And because of that awful day, my mother came to know love.

She went door to door looking for work. "Do you need your house cleaned? Do you need a cook? Can I do your laundry?" Climbing the steps to the front door of the biggest house in town, Mother found herself face to face with a woman who invited her in and allowed her to clean a room. In the process of cleaning that room, Mother found some pennies under the bed. When Mrs. W. came in to check her work, she literally pulled on a white glove and checked the furniture. Then she asked about the pennies. "I found those under the bed when I was cleaning," Mother said. "You're an honest girl," Mrs. W. said. "You have a job."

Mrs. W. expected a lot, but Mother worked hard. She went on to a job at a dress factory and, at last, friendship with a girl named Pearl who shared her own mother with a lonely girl. Bertha Mae Johnson was love in action. Her tiny shotgun house was lighted by coal oil lamps and filled with blooming African violets. At Mom Johnson's, my Mother felt safe, perhaps for the first time in her life. Pearl eventually arranged a blind date for my Mother with a tall, slim, truck driver named Grayson. Together they built a life and raised four children.

My mother wasn't always mentally stable. She had a terrible temper. Sometimes she lost her grip on reality. When I see my Mother in heaven someday, it will be the very first time I will see her finally, truly happy. In the meantime, I honor her ability to rise above the nightmare of her own youth and build a marriage that lasted for nearly sixty years and raise four reasonably sane children (the jury is still out on me). In her own way, my Mother was a great woman. She lasted. She stuck. She stayed. She served. She loved--as much as she could. And it was enough."--Stephanie Grace Whitson

I must agree, Stephanie. With that kind of history she could have let life defeat her. And I also look forward to seeing a mother happier in heaven than she was on earth.
More about this author:

Stephanie writes historical fiction. . . and rides a motorcycle. She writes contemporary fiction. . . and loves tromping around old cemeteries. Wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother, Stephanie Grace Whitson has made a career out of playing with imaginary friends, and it all started in an abandoned pioneer cemetery. This one's graves are scattered on a tiny corner of land near where the Whitson family lived in the 1990's--mostly providing comic relief for the real country folk in the area. That cemetery provided not only a hands-on history lesson for Stephanie's home schooled children but also a topic of personal study as she began to read about and be encouraged by the pioneer women who settled the American West. Since writing had always been a favorite hobby, it was only natural for Stephanie to begin jotting down scenes in the life of a nameless woman crossing Nebraska on the Oregon Trail. Eventually that story took on a life of its own and Stephanie sent off a query letter--expecting instant rejection.

God had a different plan. He blessed Stephanie's beginnings, putting two of her three first books on the ECPA best-seller list and making two of her first nine books finalists for the Christy Award. Other awards have followed, but Stephanie considers her most precious "award" the reader letters that share how God has used Whitson-authored novels to bless lives. "It's astonishing, humbling, and encouraging. I can't really put it into words--and I can usually find words for just about everything!"

With the spring 2010 release of Sixteen Brides (Bethany House Publishers), she will have eighteen novels and a non-fiction book on "how to help a grieving friend" to her credit. She's also working on a quilt documentation project to be released as a book about pioneer women and sod house homemaking in 2011. Along with antique quilts and pioneer women's history, French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture remain passionate interests.

"The flip side of writing," Stephanie says, "is being asked to teach writing or to speak at various events." She has developed a menu of lectures and workshops that "provide opportunities for me to travel and get to know not only other writers and history lovers, but also students and quilters. I love sequestering myself in a library to do research, but the speaking part of my career has provided some unique and wonderful memories."

And then there's Kitty. . . her motorcycle. "In some ways I'm 57," she says, "in others I'm probably about 17. It all depends on the day." On days when her virtual age leans towards the younger side of that equation, she's been known to wake up in the morning and decide to ride Kitty to Canada that day.

In addition to keeping up with her five grown children and two grandchildren, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her blended family (she was widowed in 2001 and remarried in 2003) and church friends as well as volunteering at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. She is currently in graduate school pursuing a Master of Historical Studies degree.

www.stephaniewhitson.com

stephanie@stephaniewhitson.com

Author Thom Lemmons Pays Tribute to His Wife

My guest today is Thom Lemmons, a Christy Award winning author, has taken this opportunity to pay tribute to his wife's creativitiy and excellence in her medium-human lives, futures. Here's Thom:

"My wife thinks she isn't creative; I do my best to convince her that nothing could be farther from the truth.

She has read my books (bless her!) and even likes some of them (bless her even more!). But as a result of observing my literary and other efforts, she sometimes compares herself unfavorably, lamenting her own lack of creativity.

But my wife is an artist of dynamic impact, even though she sometimes doesn't recognize it. Her medium? Human lives. Her format? Teaching. Karla is a professional educator, and she creates masterpieces every single day.

In fact, I tell Karla that she is the Michaelangelo of teaching.

You don't even have to take my word for it. Back in the late 1980s, when she started her teaching career in a tough inner-city school in San Antonio, Karla received the Outstanding New Teacher award for her school system. A couple of years later, when she moved to a school system in a smaller community, she repeated her achievement, winning the Outstanding New Teacher award.

Karla moved on to higher education, where she now inspires college kids to go out and become the type of teacher she was when she was in public schools. Her passion and commitment comes through loud and clear; I can't even count the number of letters and emails Karla has gotten from her students who have gone into classrooms of their own and got back in touch to tell her how much she impacted their desire to teach and their child-centered philosophy of education.

Just a couple of days ago, Karla was notified by the college of education at the university where she now teaches that she was selected by her students as a recipient of the college's Excellence in Teaching award. I'm so proud of her I could burst. And I'm not surprised. As I said, she's a master... a genius... a Michaelangelo.--Thom

Thom, thanks for letting us share this tribute to your wife. I also want to feature your latest book:

--Thom Lemmons is the author of Blameless (2007, WaterBrook), a contemporary retelling of the biblical story of Job.

To learn more about Thom, visit his website.

First Page-Rachel's Garden-Author Marta Perry

RACHEL’S GARDEN

By Marta Perry

Chapter One

A flicker of movement from the lane beyond the kitchen window of the old farmhouse caught Rachel Brand’s eye as she leaned against the sink, washing up the bowl she’d used to make a batch of snickerdoodles. A buggy—ja, it must be Leah Glick, bringing Rachel’s two older kinder home from the birthday party for their teacher already.

Quickly she set the bowl down and splashed cold water on her eyes. It wouldn’t do to let her young ones suspect that their mamm had been crying while she baked. Smoothing her hair back under her kapp and arranging a smile on her lips, she went to the back door.

But the visitor was not Leah. It was a man, alone,

driving the buggy.

Shock shattered her curiosity when she recognized the strong face under the brim of the black Amish hat. Gideon Zook. Her fingers clenched, wrinkling the fabric of her dark apron. What did he want from her?

She stood motionless for a moment, her left hand tight on the door frame. Then she grabbed the black wool shawl that hung by the door, threw it around her shoulders, and stepped outside.

www.martaperry.com

Author & Medical Missionary Harry Kraus Thanks His Wife

My guest today is the best-selling author of The Six-Liter Club, a man of many talents and one who knows how fortunate he is. Here's Author Harry Kraus about his wife:

"Sisters, imagine your response if your husband came home one day and said, “Let’s move to Africa.”

Would you be scared? Angry at your husband?

Angry at God?

Perhaps my wife was a little of all three, but she prayerfully considered my enthusiasm and then helped sell the dream house (twelve acres on a hilltop in the country), pack up our three sons and moved to Kenya.

I was asked on a TV interview today, as I often am, “How do you do it all? Novelist, surgeon, father, husband, missionary…what gives?”

My answer is always the same: grace. And for me God’s grace has a name: Kris.

I am the visionary, always wanting to rocket off on some new project. My wife has seen many variations of this theme. During my surgical residency, I said, “I want to write a novel.” Later, after years in private practice, I sprang the above news on her: “I think we should serve in Africa.”

But rockets get no where without planning. I may be the rocket, but Kris has her feet planted on terra firma. She is the detail gal, counting the cost, paying the bills, figuring out the ins and outs of mechanics and logistics while I am playing with imaginary characters and reaching out across continents with a hope to bring God’s love to the sick.

My wife has learned flexibility and adaptability. She has laid aside her dreams for her children’s and mine (after being in Kenya for a few months all three of our boys agreed, “We don’t want to go home.”) She agreed, ditched her own ideas for the future and stayed in Africa, filling in, teaching, mothering other boarding students at Rift Valley Academy who needed a little (or a lot!) of extra help.

Now, while we are home from Africa and I am running around promoting my latest novel, The Six-Liter Club (which, by the way is another story of a very brave woman…wonder how I get my inspiration, huh?), she has taken another brave move and started back to school. Approaching fifty, she is old enough to have given birth to many of her fellow students. But she uses her experience to her advantage. She is focused, studies hard, and her grades reflect her diligence and maturity.

Next summer, we will pack up again and return to Africa, yet another transition that will test my wife’s metal.

Do I doubt she can thrive in spite of the change? Not for a minute.

She is my brave woman. Thanks for giving me a chance to tell you about her.

She is a channel of GRACE to me."--Harry Kraus, MD www.harrykraus.com

Author bio: Board-certified general surgeon and best-selling author, Harry Krau laces his fiction with medical realism. He began writing as a surgery resident and has authored twelve novels and three works of non-fiction. His book, "The Six-Liter Club" was just released by Simon and Schuster in April and his next non-fiction release "Domesticated Jesus" is happening next month. He and his family have served as missionaries in Kenya for four years. They are currently on furlough in Virginia.

Thanks, Harry. So happy you have a great wife and know it.

Author Terri Reed & The Difference between Strong & Foolhardy

My guest today is Love Inspired Author Terri Reed and a story about a friend who found out that sometimes it's good to seek help.

There are many strong women in my life; it's hard to pick just one to talk about. I firmly believe that God has called me into friendships with the women in my life because each brings a unique perspective that has helped me to become the woman I am. For most of my life I've felt alone. I didn't form close friendships with very many kids while in school. And during my adolescent years, though I had friends I didn't have a best friend. It wasn't until college that I formed a bond with a woman, who to this day, some twenty-odd years later, I consider to be my dearest friend. Anne and I grew close when we worked at the same department store and then took some college classes together. We were there for each through our weddings and our children's births. Whenever we get together it feels like no time has passed since the last time, even though we live thousands of miles apart now.

Several years ago my friend caught a cold that turned into pneumonia. Being a strong woman, wife and mother, she thought she could beat the sickness on her own, she could tough it out. She didn't go to the doctor right away. By the time she did, her body started to shut down. She fell into a coma and for five months the doctors didn't think she'd make it. But Anne's spirit was strong. With the aid of experimental drugs, she slowly began to recover. When she finally awoke from her coma, she could barely speak, couldn't walk or really move. But she was alive. And for the next couple of years, she worked hard to recover not only physically but emotionally as well. Her marriage faltered but she wouldn't give up. Through her ordeal I prayed continually for her and her family. As I have witnessed her will to live, and live fully, I am reminded what a precious gift life is.

This past April I caught a cold that started with a sore throat, then a cough. I most likely would have let it run its course if not for the lesson that Anne's illness taught me. By day five, I decided I'd see a doctor, even though I was convinced he'd tell me it was a cold virus and to rest. I was sure I was wasting his time and my money. However, the doctor was pleased I had come in, because I had pneumonia. Thankfully, we caught it in the early stages. The illness still knocked me flat for another fourteen days.

Thank God for the lessons we learn along the way in this crazy thing called life. I hope you too will head this lesson. Go to the doctor if you feel sick. Don't try to tough it out. Sometimes we need to be weak in order to be strong. Asking for help, relying on others isn't a sign of weakness, but of wisdom.

This was one of the lessons my heroine in Covert Pursuit needed to learn. She was a tough cop who wanted to prove herself and uncover the truth, but she couldn't do it alone. Seeking help grated but in the end she discovered not only the truth but love, a most precious gift, indeed.

to learn more about Author Terri Reed, drop by

http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

www.loveinspiredauthors.com

http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Terri-Lyn

Author Elizabeth Johnson & Passionate Abandon!

My guest today is Author Elizabeth Johnson, a new Love Inspired Suspense Author. Here's Elizabeth:

"I’d like to tell you about my sister, one of the strongest women I know. She’s always been pretty amazing to me as my older sister and best friend. Like many sisters, while we were growing up, we fought and made up, battled and restored our relationship. By the time she got married at 21 and started a family shortly thereafter, our friendship had outgrown childish ways. But I didn’t have any idea how much I would admire the depth of her strength until very recently.

Four years ago my family eagerly anticipated the arrival of my first nephew, who was due on July 20. The nursery, adorned in fire trucks and Dalmatians, was ready for him to come home. My sister, the consummate planner, couldn’t have been more prepared with clothes washed and diapers stacked.

And then the unthinkable happened on June 17. The baby’s heart stopped beating. No explanations. No reasons. My sister gave birth to a perfect little boy, who weighed 5lbs, 5oz and had a full-head of dark brown hair. He was beautifully and wonderfully made. And gone.

I can’t even put into words the magnitude of pain that rocked our family. Sweet anticipation turned to heartbreaking agony, no one affected more than my sister.

Like it often does, time didn’t make us forget but rather helped to soothe the ache of such a great loss. Three years later, my sister found herself once again expecting a little boy and with that all the fear and anxiety from a pain still so fresh. While I wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned inside, focusing on her own fear and shutting the rest of the world out, she amazed me by opening her heart to others in need. Bringing together groups of people to reach out to those in need, she offered a level of compassion and kindness that could only come from knowing true loss.

As I thought about my sister, I began thinking about the heroines in my books The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn and Vanishing Act, who also had to decide how they would move forward in the face of loss. I realized that strong, brave women, aren’t promised not to face pain. Rather, the Bible assures us all that trials will come. Strong women simply have the courage to let that trial mold them into women who love God and love others with passionate abandon.--Elizabeth Johnson

Thank you, Elizabeth, for this story of your sister, a truly amazing strong and brave woman. For more about Elizabeth's writing and life, drop by www.lizjohnsonbooks.com

First Page-A Father for Zach-Author Irene Hannon

A FATHER FOR ZACH by Irene Hannon
Book 4—Lighthouse Lane series
First Page

Nathan Clay gazed out over the sparkling blue waters off Nantucket, scanned the pristine white beach and took a long, slow breath. What a change from the tiny, windowless cell he’d left behind four days ago—his home for the past ten, long years.
The juxtaposition was surreal.
Settling back in the white folding chair, he tugged at his unaccustomed tie, surveyed the seventy-five wedding guests assembled on the lush, garden-rimmed lawn that abutted the beach, and tried not to feel out of place.
But it was a losing battle. He doubted anyone else in this high-class group had served time in prison. Especially the Supreme Court justice on the other side of the aisle, who was a longtime friend of the Morgan family.
The family his sister, Marci, would be marrying into in just a few minutes.
Talk about moving up in the world. She deserved it, though. Marci had worked hard to build a better life. To rise above their tough upbringing. He wished he could have done as well.

Then again, his childhood had been even rougher than Marci’s or his big brother’s had been. Thanks to the secret that had darkened his life for more years than he cared to recall. Bile rose in his throat, and he forced himself to swallow past it, to suppress the ugly memories. Those days were history. They couldn’t hurt him unless he let them. And he’d resolved never again to give his past that kind of power. www.irenehannon.com

Author Sharon Dunn & Her Intangible Inheritance

Today's guest author Sharon Dunn tells of the Intangible Inheritance her mother bequeathed her. Here's Sharon:

"If I close my eyes, one of the clearest pictures I have is of my mother bent over in her garden in the evening. She straightens and massages her lower back while she looks out toward the horizon. Another time, I buried my face in billowing sheets as she hung them on the line and explained to me that the larger sheets and towels were hung on the outside lines to conceal the underwear and unmentionables on the inner lines. It doesn’t take much to recall the fresh sun kissed smell of cotton hung on a clothesline. My mother loved being outside, but could only justify it if she combined it with a chore that contributed to the family well being.

A family day out involved a picnic by a river where my siblings and I (there were six of us) trailed through clear cold rivers and sandy bottomed eddies catching frogs while my father panned for gold. It was the outing that my mother loved best and one of the few times I remember seeing her sitting still.

I inherited my mother’s silver tea service, but this love for nature, for the feel of the sun on my face is a far greater inheritance. Though I can’t touch it, I know it was my mother’s appreciation for God’s creation that influenced me to love hiking, fishing and sitting by rivers soothed by the sound of water traveling over rock.

Even in my writing with the character of Lucy Kimbol in Dead Ringer, I see my mother’s influence on my life. Lucy Kimbol is a fly fishing guide who says that being out on the river is when she feels the closest to God. My mother died when I was in my early twenties, long before I had my first book published, but I see the power of her intangible inheritance in my writing."--Sharon

Thanks, Sharon--Lyn

For more about Sharon and her books, drop by www.sharondunnbooks.com

Book Monday-Author Deborah Raney & Almost Forever

This Monday's book is Almost Forever by Author Deborah Raney. It's a Hanover Falls Novel from Howard/Simon & Schuster.

Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear. but could it also set her free?

Volunteer Bryn Hennesey was there at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter the night five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam.

Now a terrifying absence of memory has her wondering if she might, in some way, be responsible. Garrett Edmonds' wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. He was supposed to protect the woman he loved.now she's the one who's died a hero. How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss? And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer...

Deborah Raney books always captivate me! Almost Forever is a beautifully written and enthralling read. It made my heart sing, dance, cry, and turn more than a few flips!

~CindyWoodsmall, New York Times best-selling author

As a fan of the very talented Deborah Raney, I expected a great read and I got it in the richly emotional Almost Forever, a story of faith, forgiveness and redemption. It began with a gripping scene and proceeded to hold me enthralled to the end. Don't miss this one!

~Karen Young, author of Missing Max and Blood Bayou

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her 20th novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Almost Forever, first in her new Hanover Falls Novels series, will release in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four grown children and two precious grandsons, all of whom live much too far away.

Visit Deb on the web at www.deborahraney.com

Order her books here: http://snipurl.com/raneybooks

Author Lenora Worth & Dress for Success

My guest today Love Inspired Author Lenora Worth shares the way she helps women find their inner strength. Here's Lenora, bless her heart.

"I believe in helping other women so when I decide to support a non-profit organization, I always do research to this end. Therefore, I’ve been involved in Dress for Success for many years, as both a volunteer and a board member. Our local affiliate has a nice boutique where women who need a helping hand to get back into the work place can come and shop for an interview suit and later, a work day suit, including accessories. Being a part of this has been so rewarding for me, I wanted to share this with everyone I know.

We gather gently worn clothes for the boutique all year long and once a year, we have a “Send One Suit” clothes drive where several local businesses help out with dry-cleaning and donations. We have various fund-raising events throughout the year, too. And we have several national sponsors such as Dress-Barn, Avon, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Lia Sophia jewelry, just to name a few. These sponsorships are distributed accordingly throughout the many affiliates. I’ve work as often as I can in the boutique, helping to dress clients. It’s so much fun to help the women shop for the perfect outfit for an interview. The women are referred by other non-profit organizations and we have guidelines and rules, but helping to suit them is a life-changing assignment. We start with asking them about themselves and what type of work they have applied for. Then we pick out blouses, skirts, pants and jackets to fit their work. We also help them find the right shoes and purses to go with their new outfits.

Women enter uncertain and embarrassed at times, but emerge looking confident and professional. I think the best part of being a consultant in the boutique is watching the transformation. They beam with pride when we find the right suit and so do we. Dressing to impress, what some might consider frivolous, is really a very important component in building a woman’s confidence and courage. It does make a different, in their minds and in the eyes of an employer. Dress for Success began in New York in 1997 and is now Dress for Success Worldwide. To date, we’ve suited over 300,000 women in over 80 cities and in five countries (and counting.) We also offer continuing support with a Professional Women’s Group that mentors by bringing in speakers and consultants on a monthly basis. And most affiliates offer a Career Center where women have access to technology and can improve their professional skills by updating resumes, practice business writing and take care of any type of business tasks. I’m so proud to be a part of such a strong, vital organization and I encourage women everywhere to learn more about Dress for Success Worldwide. It’s a network of strong women working to help other women. And that’s something we can all celebrate."--Lenora Worth

Here's Lenora's latest Love Inspired romance. She is donating a copy to my MEGA May gift basket. Leave a comment to be eligible for the end of the month drawing. Thanks, Lenora--Lyn

http://www.lenoraworth.com

May 2010--Hometown Princess

June 2010--Risky Reunion

August 2010--Mission: Bodyguard

December 2010--The Soldier's Mission

First Page-Rodeo Sweetheart by Author Betsy St Amant

First Page today is from Rodeo Sweetheart by Author Betsy St Amant:

If wishes were horses, the Jenson family breeding farm would be full of stud mares and furry new foals—not teeming with greenhorn tourists in stiff new jeans and shiny cowboy boots.

Samantha Jenson loosened the lead rope in her hand, allowing Diego another couple inches of leverage. The hot Texas sun glinted off the gelding's chestnut hindquarters, and she swiped at the sweat on her forehead with her free hand. It looked as if this weekend would be another scorcher.

She clucked to the gelding as she studied his limber gait. "Just another lap or two." Diego's ankle injury was slowly healing. A few more days of exercise in the training pen and he'd be ready to hit the trail—though probably just to be manhandled by another wannabe cowboy.

Sam's lips pressed into a hard line and she drew in the rope, slowing Diego's willing pace to a walk. "Good boy." It wasn't the gelding's fault he'd fallen a few weeks ago. Thanks to a careless rider who'd ignored the rules of the trail, Diego had been pushed too hard over uneven ground and tripped in a hole. It was by the grace of God he had only sprained his ankle, rather than broken it. Of course, the tourist hadn't even been bruised—didn't seem very fair.

Sam pulled the rope in closer until Diego's gait slowed to a stop. That probably wasn't the most Christian attitude to have, but it was hard to feel differently in the circumstances. At least God was looking out for her and her mother with the little things if not for the bigger things Sam would prefer. Avoiding a vet bill was nice, but it wasn't going to help bring back her father's dream.

Sam met the horse in the middle of the paddock and patted his sweaty muzzle, drawing a deep breath to combat her stress. No, nothing other than a big wad of cash would bring back the Jensons' successful breeding farm.

www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com

www.betsystamant.com

RODEO SWEETHEART

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Sweetheart-Inspired-Betsy-Amant/dp/0373875932/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270825563&sr=8-2

Who can resist a rodeo cowboy??

Shirley from MS Pays Tribute to Her Grandmother

The first reader-friend to offer to share a story is Shirley S from Mississippi. Here's her tribute to her grandmother:

"The special lady that I would like to honor this Mother's Day is my maternal grandmother. She married at 16 and gave birth to 13 children. My grandfather was a preacher in a little country church that just met every other Sunday. Usually on the Sundays when that church was held, Grandmother had a houseful of company for dinner. There would be so many people at the house that we ate in shifts, but you never heard her complain about feeding them on her limited income. When I think of all the folks she fed on those Sundays I often think of Jesus feeding the 5000. The thing about Grandmother that made her so special to me was her faith. She had absolute faith that no matter what happened to her that she was never alone. She would tell you that when she buried two small children with three days of each other (one of them a newborn) that He was there for her. When you oldest remaining child died of unknown causes as a man with a young family He was with her. As she buried a young grandchild He was there. She knew that she was not alone as she battled cancer. In fact, her faith was what many of her family held onto in her last days. Her faith shone in everything that she did.

As a teenager and also as a young bride, Grandmother was a bulwark. She offered a shoulder to lean on and advice when needed. She didn't have a lot in the way of schooling having quit school in the eighth grade. She was well read in many subjects; however, her main source of knowledge and inspiration was her Bible. Her heart was open to God, and she shared His light with everyone she came in contact with. I can only hope to be the person that she was. I miss her dearly, but know that I will see her again one day. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."--Shirley

Thank you, Shirley. What a great example she set for you and all of us.--Lyn

Book Monday--To Be a Mother-Author Ruth Axtell Morren

Today's book is To Be a Mother, one novella of a pair under that title by Author Ruth Axtell Morren. Here's the scoop!

Rianna Bruce is a strong woman. She watched her husband die, nursing him in a Washington, D.C. hospital at the height of the Civil War.

But she couldn’t leave then, not after witnessing the desperate need for nurses. So, she remained for the rest of the war. She couldn’t have survived this ordeal without a strong faith in God. It was during this time that she began a closer walk with the Lord through the friendship of a fellow nurse.

This faith kept her going, even when she felt unsure and inadequate, even when she lost the baby she carried, and during the years of self-imposed exile from her native village of Woods Haven, Maine. This was the one area of her life where she felt weak, too weak to come back home an evident failure: a childless war widow. So, instead, she continued nursing private patients for several years after the way.

But always a part of her yearned to return home…home not only to her family, but to the young man who’d first awakened her heart when she was barely fifteen. She’d heard he was a widow. What she didn’t know until she came back was that he also had a little girl…who now needed a mother.


Ruth says:

To write this story, I drew on the kind of strength I read about in history books of the women of the past century. I also wrote this from my own experience in my thirties, when my walk with the Lord deepened and I discovered the fullness of God’s Spirit. Rianna’s joy is a reflection of the joy I felt when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and came to understand how real and how very near God is to us daily in whatever circumstances we go through."--Ruth

To find out more about this book, drop by

http://www.ruthaxtellmorren.com

http://ruthaxtellmorren.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/Be-Mother-Mountain-Rose-Historical/dp/0373828330/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270813981&sr=1-1

Thanks, Ruth!

How many of you enjoy a second chance at love stories?--Lyn