Fiction Full of Faith

Review of Leaving Oxford by Janet Ferguson – FREE EBOOK on Amazon for a limited time!!

August 30, 2018 in my point of view

Currently available on Amazon for FREE, but this special will not last much longer so get it right NOW while you can!!

Leaving Oxford, reprinted with authors permission:

Leaving Oxford: Christian Fiction~Faith, Humor, Romance, Southern Style

Escaping home to Oxford, Mississippi, seemed like a good idea. Until it wasn’t.

A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. And she may well be stuck there forever. Suffering from panic attacks, she prays for healing. Instead, her answer comes in the form of an arrogant football coach and an ugly puppy.

Former celebrity college quarterback Jess McCoy dreamed of playing pro football. One freak hit destroyed his chances. Although he enjoys his work as the university’s offensive coordinator, his aspirations have shifted to coaching at the highest level. His plans of moving up are finally coming together—until he falls for a woman who won’t leave town.

As the deadline for Jess’s decision on his dream career looms, the bars around Sarah Beth’s heart only grow stronger. But it’s time to make a decision about leaving Oxford.

my point of view:

Ah…this was my very first read of Janet Ferguson’s and it completely made me a fan of her’s for life! I am a huge football enthusiast, and couldn’t be happier to read a story with a college coach. So, check for a football hero…..I enjoy books that are part of a series, another check, books set in the south, check times three! I knew I was going to settle down and dig right into this story!

Sara Beth’s heart breaking past and current struggles are so well written that I felt each touching moment right along with her. I am not giving any spoilers here by mentioning the panic attacks Sara Beth suffers from as it is part of the description above, but if you have never had them it is hard for people to understand. I, too was involved in an accident , back in the year 2000, and to this very day I cannot drive on the Interstate…I literally start to tremble and cannot breathe when I even think about merging….no, sir, not me! It may take me 30 minutes to drive my eight miles to work every day due to back roads and school bus stops, but so be it. I leave early and get there on time without stressing! I completely related to Sara Beth in this regard, and managed to admire and respect her for so many reasons…she has a great sense of humor and compassion for others to a selfless degree. When she prays about being lonely and The Lord drops a puppy at her door, well, I was done – hook, line and sinker!

Next up, enter Coach Jess McCoy, who has a great personality, a little arrogance (ha – find me a football star who isn’t a little over confident), but you can tell from the very first he, too, has a great sense of humor. He also has some interesting friends,who both help and maybe hinder Jess as he needs to find his way in this world, both spiritually and physically. I adored his passion for the outdoors and football! 

Taking this journey with Sara Beth, Jess, and their friends was a true delight for me, and as it was my very first book of Janet’s – upon finishing I needed to immediately purchase every other book in the series so I could keep up to date with Sara Beth and Jess and see what would happen with their friends, Nick, Sam, Jill, Dylan, Cole…..ah, yes I love a good series!!

I highly recommend you hurry to get this book while it is still FREE  – this special will end soon!

About the author:

Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

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Coffee with Jackie Castle and a GIVEAWAY!

August 27, 2018 in coffee with paula marie

I am so happy to bring you another Coffee chat, today we have Jackie Castle!

Paula Marie: I so appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me today to get to know you! I have been a fan of yours for a while, but only recently read some of your fantasy series. What genre do you prefer writing?

Jackie: At one time, I would have said fantasy. But, I love writing in both genres, actually. I had originally ventured into the romance genre because it was more popular, but I’ve grown to love writing about relationships as much as I enjoy writing about strange fantasy worlds.

Paula Marie: I will be honest with you, fantasy was never a really big draw for me, but I am really enjoying yours. What was your inspiration for the series, and how do you come up with all the ideas?

Jackie: I love reading fantasy because it’s out of the box and full of creativity. There are no constraints and one is only limited by their imagination.

I never intended the White Road Chronicles to be a series. I had a dream about Alyra one night and that she was trying to find her way home. All I knew was that she was a healer. The story began to take form and I wasn’t even wanting to write at that time. I was being a mom and going to college to be a counselor.

But I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a child. I wrote my first story when I was in the 6th grade. Illuminated was like my turning point on my life-journey. I’d been happily traveling along in one direction and that book set me back on my writing path. Which is where I think I was meant to be all along.

After I wrote Illuminated, I realized the story needed to keep going because there was more to tell about the group of friends that had formed. I’d intended just three books, until I got to the third and realized there would be more. I never intended it to be six books in all, but here we are.

Paula Marie: I was looking at your website, and it seems like you have had a winding road to becoming an author! Do you feel like you could have become an author sooner than you did, or perhaps God was taking you on this journey to better prepare you for this adventure?

Jackie: Ha. I started to answer this question before I even read it.

You know, as I said before, I wrote my first story in the 6th grade and my teacher liked it so much, she read it to the whole class. That’s when I knew that I knew that I knew that I wanted to be a writer. She even believed I would grow up to write books.

In my early 20’s I belonged to a wonderful writer’s group, and learned a lot about writing through them. I even attempted a couple of books that I finished, but did nothing with. They were my learning books, I suppose.

Then my kids came along. Writing can take up so much of my attention and thoughts, I felt like the Lord asked me to put it aside. So I did.

And when Illuminated came to me a few years later, I argued at first about writing it. I was learning to be a counselor. I wanted to be a teacher and thought I’d eventually become a school counselor. But I think the Lord was just waiting for the right time to give back what His true purpose was for me.

I’m in a much better place now to be a full-time writer than I was before during those early years. And life has taught me a lot. So, I guess, everything has been working out in His perfect timing.

Paula Marie: If you were forced to choose one of your previous careers over being an author today, which would you prefer to be doing?

Jackie: counseling. I like helping and encouraging people.

Paula Marie: What are some of your favorite hobbies, other than reading, when you are not writing?

Jackie: Oh, I’ve recently taken up crocheting. I get distracted easily and have a variety of crafting projects I’ve started: jewelry making, soap and candle making, painting and drawing and now digital art which I totally love exploring. I just enjoy making things. I see neat crafts on Pinterest and think, “I can do that.” Ha. Sometimes I can, sometimes not so much.

Paula Marie: If you had the chance, where in the world would be a place you’d want to visit?

Jackie: Italy.

Then I think that and come up with five other awesome places that would be fun to go. I like anywhere that’s green, has a lot of trees, and isn’t covered in concrete.

Paula Marie: I must be honest, I just received your newsletter, and I am so intrigued by your new adventure, Castle Creations! Can you give us all some more inside information?

Jackie: Ah, my seekrit project.

So, the Castle Creations store is a little place where I’ll be offering exclusive stories (either bundled books, or short stories that I don’t want to publish on Amazon and other retailers.) I’ll be selling signed print books, and reader goody boxes that go along with some of my book series. And I’ll also be selling a few of my craft items that I’ve made that relate to my books. I have some tree pendants that’ll go along with the White Road Chronicles and a few other things.

The store is a work in progress at the moment. I’m still figuring it out, but hope to be able to share more about it very soon. My head is bursting with ideas of things I can offer there. It’s going to be fun.

Paula Marie: I am curious, considering your fantasy books, what was your favorite movie or television show as a child?

Jackie: Well, I actually loved mysteries as a child and would read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys book, along with watching my fair share of Scooby-doo. (I love dogs).

I think I turned to loving fantasy while in high school when I started reading The Lord of the Rings, Watership Down and The Last Unicorn- stories like that hooked me into the fantasy worlds.

Paula Marie: When is your favorite time to write, and do you schedule it, or just wing it?

Jackie: No, I have a detailed schedule, it’s helped me stay on track and keeps me balanced. Otherwise I’d either be playing all day, or sitting at the computer all day.

I do my creative writing in the morning until lunch with a goal of 2000-2500 words a day. After lunch I break up my afternoon with editing projects, taking care of things around the house and running errands, and in the early evenings, I work on business stuff.

I have lists that I keep, otherwise I’m staring off into space not sure what to do next because there’s so much to do. And then I end up playing and looking at Facebook or Pinterest-ha.

So, I’ve accepted that schedules and lists really are my friends.

Paula Marie: How can fans keep up with your books and new releases?

Jackie: By visiting my website at www.jackiecastle.com or signing up to my newsletter here:https://www.subscribepage.com/u4d6k0

Paula Marie: Finally, thank you so much for joining me today, are you a coffee drinker, tea, or something altogether different?

Jackie: Both. Coffee to wake me up in the morning, but I do enjoy tea on cool days. Not so much during the summers here in Texas unless I’m sharing a cup with a friend.

Thanks so much for inviting me to chat today. Blessings to you and your readers!

Jackie has also generously offered a reader any one if her White Road Chronicles book in PRINT for a USA winner! If winner is International you will receive an ebook copy! Just comment on this post and tell us what you favorite “fantasy” childhood story was to enter! Contest is open for 7 days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Review of A Love Restored and a ~*GIVEAWAY*~

August 23, 2018 in my point of view


A Love Restored by Kelley Goshorn, reprinted with author’s permission:
With pert opinions and a less-than-perfect figure, Ruth Ann Sutton doesn’t measure up to Society’s vision of a perfect lady. When she accepts a position teaching in a Freedman’s School, it threatens the only marriage offer Ruth Ann is likely to receive. She’s forced to choose between life as a lonely spinster or reinventing herself to secure a respectable proposal. Determined to rise above his meager beginnings, Benjamin Coulter’s reputation as a fast learner and hard worker earns him the opportunity to apprentice with a surveyor for the railroad—a position that will garner the respect he craves. After a chance encounter with Ruth Ann Sutton, Benjamin is smitten with her pretty face, quick wit, and feisty personality. When others ridicule his choice, will Benjamin listen to his heart or put ambition first?

my point of view:
I must admit, I have always loved historical novels, especially when I was younger, but I haven’t read one in quite a while! So for me this book was sort of like taking a break from contemporary, and it was a real treat! It was also very, very good!

Ruth Ann is my kind of heroine – feisty, opinionated, not afraid to say what she thinks, and do what she believes she is meant to, with a heart for God, and a deep love of all those around her, i was entirely smitten from the beginning! Benjamin stole my heart as well at the very first…he is gentle, sweet, humorous, and obviously totally enamored with Ruth Ann!

I loved how Ms. Goshorn made sweet Ruth Ann a character that does not fit into the perfect size ‘small’ typical women you read about…she is described as everything from portly, large boned, plump, broad….well, you get the picture. Why don’t we see more over weight women in fiction? It’s not like we never find true love! Yes, I said we, I am way on the plumper side of the spectrum, LOL.

Of course, in the day and age of this lovely novel, relationships are seriously based on appearances, achievements, and what the other one can ‘bring to the table’ more than a love match! Ruth Ann’s mother means well, but seems to always be harping on her daughter’s looks and making a proper match for her. Thank goodness Ruth Ann has others surrounding her that look past all of that to her heart. Benjamin struggles with pride and respect issues, coming from humble beginnings and trying to make something of himself.

Naturally, they both have to go through ‘the fire’ before they can be God’s best for His will. Along the way they also have to deal with very real, very serious situations for the time they live in. I certainly don’t want to give too much away of the story, but trust me when I tell you that both the main characters have to find their own way to fully commit their faith in our Lord before we can step out in faith and love in others!

I have always enjoyed the ‘history’ lessons I learn whenever I am reading a historical novel, and Kelley does not disappoint! I thought I knew “a lot” about the Post Civil War Era, but I still managed to take away a new appreciation for the time period! Of course, all of which is so well written and heartfelt by this “new to me” author! I highly recommend this book! Looking forward to reading more from Kelley Goshorn!

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2LdKE6z

Here is an excerpt:

Loudoun County, Virginia

August 1873

Benjamin Coulter cringed as the shrill tune hung in the air. That woman sure knew how to ruin a Sunday afternoon. Sounded like something was dying and needed to be put out of its misery.

He shook his head. All he wanted to do was rest a while longer. His decision to go around his headstrong superior and talk to Mr. Farrell directly about his boss’s inaccurate measurements had made for a nerve wracking week. That decision could have cost him his job. Thankfully, his discovery had been received well, saving the struggling railroad both time and money.

Benjamin leaned against the sycamore tree and tossed his line into the creek. A slight hint of remorse nicked his conscience. He now sat poised to guide the construction of the Washington & Ohio Railroad through the town of Catoctin Creek and over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Winchester, but he hadn’t intended to get his boss fired. If only the man hadn’t refused to admit he’d made a mistake.

Yep, it was all coming together. Just the way he’d hoped it would when he agreed to leave Texas and take this apprenticeship in Virginia. All he had to do was pass that examination next spring and…

He shuddered. The woman’s screeching escalated to a bone-grating pitch. She’d frighten the fish away for sure. Like most folks, Sunday was his day off, and he didn’t intend to spend it listening to her sing off-key.

Wedging his pole in the mud of the creek bank, he set off to investigate. Her ear-piercing slaughter of The Merry, Merry Month of May led the way. He spied his first glimpse of the lyrical assassin through the thin limbs of a dogwood tree. Perched on a large, flat rock at the edge of the creek, she swirled her bare feet in the water. Behind the rock sat a pair of woman’s boots—fancy ones. Too bad she hadn’t spent some of her shoe allowance on singing lessons. Her voice cracked. “The skies were bright, our hearts were light, in the merry, merry month of May…”

Benjamin winced. That was the fourth time in a row she’d sung that part. For the love of Pete, didn’t Miss Fancy Boots even know the words? He needed to put a stop to this so he could continue fishing—and napping. He stepped forward then stopped. The woman reached up and removed a pin from her hair, then another. Mounds of long chestnut brown ringlets spilled over her shoulders into the middle of her back.

Curls. He groaned. Why’d she have to have curls?

“The skies were bright. Our eyes were light…”

Never mind. Curls or not, the woman’s voice could haunt the dead.

About the Author:
Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith and family set in nineteenth century America. Kelly earned a B.A. in Social Studies Education from Messiah College and an M.Ed. in History Education from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, received recognition as the winner of the 2015 COTT Olympia Contest and as a semi-finalist in the 2015 ACFW Genesis contest.

Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 28 years. Together they have raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, scrapbooking with friends, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.

Kelley has also GENEROUSLY offered to have a free ~*Giveaway*~ to one of our blog members!! Simply comment on this post with your favorite time period to be entered to receive the ebook of A Love Restored! Giveaway is open for seven days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Last days for these sales!!

in sump'n speshul on sale

If you’d like to try some wonderful books by my dear friend, Alexa Verde NOW is the time! Secrets of Rios Azules series, Color of Danger is FREE (limited time). And the three-book set, Dangerous Love, that has other two books in the series is at the special launch price of $0.99!!

These are both awesome deals, I have read them already, but still grabbed the box set at such a deal!

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Special sale for just a FEW days!!

August 21, 2018 in sump'n speshul on sale

FREE Christian romances for a few days only.

All are free now! Click on each of them to get your copy right now!

More Than Friends by Authumn Macarthur

Color of Danger by Alexa Verde

The Other You by Marion Morrison Ueckermann

5 Comments

Coffee with Kelly Goshorn and a PRINT Giveaway!!

August 20, 2018 in coffee with paula marie

Hello, everyone and happy Monday! I sincerely hope you are all doing well! I am delighted to bring you all a Coffee interview with a brand new author! I have only just ‘met’ Kelly, but I am certain I have found a new friend for life! I am posting the review on her book this coming Thursday, but you can enter on THIS post to get a chance to win a paperback copy! So please take a few moments to read and comment!

Paula Marie: Hi, Kelly, thank you so much for joining me today! I am so looking forward to getting to know you! I am currently reading your story A Love Restored, and I am so enjoying it! I have not read a historical book in a while, so this is a nice treat for me. I have always felt I might have been born in the wrong time, is that how it is for you when writing in the historical time frame?

Kelly: Hi Paula Marie! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I look forward to chatting with you and your readers today! I’m so glad you are enjoying A Love Restored. Yes, I often feel I should have been born 150 years ago. My husband on the other hand, doesn’t have as much faith in me that I could survive without servants. He teases me and says, “you might like reading about Caroline Ingalls, but you wouldn’t want to live her life.” Maybe, but I’d sure like to give it a try!

Paula Marie: Ha, your husband sounds like mine! He tells me just think about the outhouse, lol!! What are you reading for fun right now?

Kelly: I’ve been reading For Love of Liberty by Julie Lessman. She is one of my all-time favorite historical romance authors. No one writes a kiss like Julie!

Paula Marie: Oh, I love her too! The Daughters of Boston was one of my favorite series! I will need to check this new one out! Have you always known you had the writing bug (and ability)?

Kelly: Truthfully, I never saw it coming. So many writers I’ve talked to have wanted to be a writer since they were a child. Many have drawers full of half-written manuscripts. Me? Not so much. I had always enjoyed writing papers for my college classes, but I NEVER considered writing fiction. I’d been a successful in-home childcare provider for nearly twenty years, but I knew in my heart it was time to move on to something new. My husband and I began praying for God to give me a new direction, a new passion in my life I would undeniably know He’d planted in my heart. On a whim, I began tinkering with story writing and it didn’t take long for my secret hobby to become my God-given passion!

Paula Marie: That is pretty impressive, Kelly! I cannot imagine doing a major life change that way, took a great deal of courage and faith on your part, I am sure! I saw on your website that Little House on The Prairie was one of your favorite shows (mine as well), and I was wondering if you had read the books when you were younger? If not, what was your favorite reading material as a teen?

Kelly: My uncle gave me the complete Little House series, but I only read Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie as a child. I didn’t read the entire series until I was in my thirties. As a teenager, I enjoyed reading James Michener, John Jakes and Herman Wouk.

Paula Marie: That’s awesome, I love that you went back to them in your thirties! I enjoyed them as a child, myself, and still catch the show on when I can! With your busy family, when do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?

Kelly: After a lifetime of being the quintessential night owl, I’ve become a morning person. Gasp! I’m usually up between 4:45 and 5:00 a.m. I’ve been very productive writing at this time as there a few distractions. And quite honestly, I’m not getting up that early to do laundry or clean the bathroom so I tend to stay pretty focused and on task. I don’t have a particular place that I usually write, “have laptop, will travel.” LOL! In the morning, I tend to write at the kitchen table so I don’t disturb hubby who is still sleeping. Later in the morning I might be found in the recliner, the desk in my bedroom, or the back porch if the weather permits.

Paula Marie: I am having just the opposite happening lately with me, was a morning person and now I don’t want to get up til 8am, how odd. What is your favorite activity when not writing?

Kelly: Other than reading? I like to play Euro-style board games with my friends and family, take long walks with my dog, Levi, and venture to various historical landmarks with hubby.

Paula Marie: I will be googling Euro style board games when we are done here, lol! I love to hear how different authors write, some have a clear path of how the book will go, others put their fingers to the keyboard and let the characters run with it, and I know of ones who plot out each chapter with the major events then go back and “fill in” the rest. What would you call your writing style?

Kelly: I’m definitely more of a panster than a plotter, which is surprising to me because I’m a fairly organized, list-making type of gal in every other area of my life. When an idea hits, I write down any thoughts I have which usually don’t amount to much more than the story beginning. I do some character sketches where I let the characters tell me their back story. This process helps me to understand their deepest fears and vulnerabilities as well as their internal and external goals. I often do some basic research on setting then get started, stopping to do more research depending on where the story leads. If I get stuck, I brainstorm ideas with my husband and some great writing friends who live nearby.

Paula Marie: I bet you carry around a notebook or sticky pad, don’t you? I keep a notebook with me at all times for when inspiration hits!  What was your inspiration for A Love Restored?

Kelly: A Love Restored is based on my true-life love story with my husband, Mike—all of our ups and downs, including our emotionally devastating break up. Like my full-figured heroine, Ruth Ann, I’ve struggled with weight issues my entire life. That struggle plays an important part in our story. My own journey to self-acceptance, as well as what a loving God will do to grab a stubborn woman’s attention, are pivotal to the story line.

Paula Marie: I struggle with weight issues myself, my doctors cannot understand it either. They tell me I have the “numbers” (blood pressure sugar, cholesterol, etc) of the healthiest 25 year old though! What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?

Kelly: I haven’t said much about this on social media so here it is for your readers to find out first. They might be shocked to learn that I have lost nearly 100 pounds. I cannot believe I just typed that. In the fall of 2016, I was diagnosed with the complete trifecta of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. I cried. Not sure how I’d allowed myself to put on so much weight, I felt completely hopeless. You see, I’d lost weight on many occasions only to gain it back and then some. I’d sort of resigned myself to living life as an extremely overweight person. But God had other plans for me. He has been teaching me a great deal about faith and believing in myself and more importantly, in Him. I still have a ways to go, but I’m confident that the progress I’ve made is permanent. And BTW, the doctors are so happy with me, they’ve already lowered my medications and are talking about taking me off a couple of them! God is so good!  Amen!

Paula Marie: Oh my gosh! That is amazing! I am so glad that you were able to do that, and that the medications are already being lowered! Since you are a fan of historical times, can you name one modern convenience you could live perfectly fine without – AND – one you could NOT live without?

Kelly: If I traveled back in time I could easily part company with my hairdryer as I’ve learned to embrace my natural curly hair (it only took 53 years) but I sure would miss our gas furnace that keeps our house toasty warm in winter!

Paula Marie: That is so funny, more we have in common! I am 53 and seriously just learned to embrace my wild curls as well! How can your fans keep in touch with you and your news?

Kelly: Signing up for my newsletter is probably the best way to find out what’s coming down the pike for me and my writing. When readers sign up, they’ll receive a copy of my husband’s sugar cookie recipe that inspired the baking scene in A Love Restored.

Readers can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Paula Marie: Well, sign me up, I need that recipe! Finally….Coffee? Tea? Cream? Sugar?

Kelly: Hope this doesn’t get me banned from a return trip to Fiction Full of Faith, but I’m totally tea all the time. I don’t like the smell of coffee, let alone the taste. Earl Grey is probably my favorite tea, but I also enjoy Constant Comet, Cinnamon, Mint and well just about any black tea blend. No cream or sugar, just stevia. If I meet a friend at the local coffee shop, my go to drink is chai tea latte with skim milk, hot or iced.

Paula Marie: Ha! I don’t know, Kelly, I may have to think about letting you back…….just kidding! I love tea as well, but could not live without coffee!

Kelley has also GENEROUSLY offered to have a free ~*Giveaway*~ to one of our blog members (USA only) !! Simply comment on this post and let us now what your favorite cookie is to be entered to receive the Paperback PRINT Copy of A Love Restored! Giveaway is open for seven days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Review of A Love Song for Kayla and a ~*GIVEAWAY*~

August 16, 2018 in my point of view

A Love Song for Kayla by Kimberly Rose Johnson, reprinted with author’s permission:

When two strangers cross paths their lives are forever altered.

Kayla Russel has all but given up on finding love until a new guy to town walks into her flower shop. There is something mysterious about him that intrigues her, but when she finds out the truth everything changes.

Derek Parker wants to leave his old life behind, but it proves to be harder than he’d anticipated when his past finds him. Now the woman he has come to care for feels deceived.

Will his secrets come between them and destroy what could have been something wonderful?
Previously published under the title A Valentine for Kayla.

my point of view:

This was quite a fun read! I have read many of books by this author, and this one ranks at the top for me! How many times are people so disappointed in Valentine’s Day traditions? The thought of a florist business owner who can’t stand Valentine’s Day is hilarious, so let’s meet Kayla!

Kayla is by far a sweetheart, she is so generous of her time to everyone around her, and I just love that about her! Her dedication to her friends and business is such a blessing to everyone around her….but she cannot seem to find the love of her life. Why? Maybe her list of requirements is a little too long and not very practical? I mean, is there really a perfect human man?

Enter Derek….his life was once spinning out of his control, so he has decided to take it into his own hands and put a stop to his past wrongs and try to orchestrate his future on his terms. Trying to keep his past a secret in this new town he wants to call home is not going to be easy though, and he ends up hurting those he cares about when the truth comes out.

Now let’s mix in a vindictive ex girlfriend, a mother recovering from a stroke, a business partner who is in the midst of falling in love with a co-worker, a serious and possibly dangerous mystery, and Hollywood paparazzi descending upon their small town! How will Kayla and Derek ever find their way to each other?

Both of these main characters have huge hearts and want God’s best for their lives, the journey they take to get there, with each other, is one I am so glad to have been able to a part of!

Get your copy here!!

About the author:

Award winning author, Kimberly Rose Johnson, married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/

Kimberly has also GENEROUSLY offered to have a free ~*Giveaway*~ to one of our blog members!! Simply comment on this post and tell us your favorite flower to be entered to receive the ebook of A Love Song for Kayla! Giveaway is open for seven days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Review of Naomi: Beloved Mother-in-law and a ~*GIVEAWAY*~

August 13, 2018 in my point of view

Yes, it is MONDAY, and yes, that typically brings a Coffee with Paula Marie post with and author interview…but today we are going out of the box, so hold on to your hats I am actually posting a REVIEW today on a fantastic work of Biblical non fiction! 

Copyrighted and reprinted with author’s permission:

Naomi had a lot to be bitter about. Moved from her home to God’s “scrub bucket,” she lived for years in a foreign and idolatrous land. She experienced several devastating losses before she made the first of a number of huge decisions.

Join Shirley as she eases Naomi out from the shadow of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. If you’ve faced tragedy, felt afraid for the future, or been faced with decisions that seemed overpowering, this is the book for you.

Written in creative non-fiction, the story stays close to the biblical story, but is brought alive in a way that will help you identify with Naomi. Just as this lady of old faced life-changing decisions, so we too can face threatening situations trusting in Naomi’s God.

Reflections after each short chapter will enable you to walk in Naomi’s sandals as well as your own.

my point of view

Okay, yes – I know this book technically does not fall in to the “Fiction” part of this ‘Fiction Full of Faith’ blog, but it certainly hits on every other aspect! I cannot thank Marion Ueckermann enough for putting me in touch with Shirley Corder, and I fully intend to read all of her “Out of the Shadow” books. No one has ever been able to bring the individual Bible character to life to me as much as this book has.

I must have read the Book of Ruth at least a dozen times, if not more, and I always felt like I was missing something, like there should be more to Naomi’s story. What she felt, how was she so close to Ruth, why did she go back, etc, etc. Shirley has filled in those blanks for me in a big way! Not only do you get the feeling you are truly reading a woman’s life story, but Shirley includes the Bible passages to follow along with the story, and the creative narrative as well. I read it through the first time (yes, I said first time) as if it were a fictional novel and enjoyed every moment of it.

For the second go round I read all the chapters from the very beginning, and then all of the follow up Bible verses and reflections that the author provides. Shirley’s ministry and insight is so heartfelt to me, and women of truly any age can relate to the journey of Naomi! I found myself honestly reflecting on how Naomi’s story could be viewed in today’s world, and what all of it means to me and my life in the here and now.

I feel as though I can highly recommend this book to any woman I know, and honestly, I think it would make for an amazing women’s Bible study!

You can your own copy right here:

https://www.amazon.com/Naomi-Beloved-Mother-law-Shadow-ebook/dp/B01I22D1CG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

About the author:

In her previous life, Shirley Corder was a registered nurse and busy minister’s wife and mother. Following a confrontation with aggressive cancer in 1997, she turned her hobby of writing into a life-style, and has been writing for publication ever since. She has currently five books published on Amazon. 

“Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer,” is available in paperback format, or as an eBook.

“Naomi ~ Beloved Mother-in-law” is also available as a paper-back and as an eBook. It is the first of a four-book series titled, “Out of the Shadows”. In this series, Shirley brings lesser-known Biblical women out of the shadow that hovers over them and reveals them as real flesh-and-blood women. The remaining three books are currently only available as eBooks, but they will be coming out as paper-backs in the foreseeable future.

Shirley is contributing author to thirteen books to date including four Guideposts anthologies and some Chicken Soup books. She has published hundreds of devotional and inspirational articles internationally. She is also group director of CWOSA, an internet writers’ support group for Christian writers of Southern Africa.

Shirley and her husband of over 50 years live a few blocks from the sea in beautiful Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She has a daughter and two sons, all happily married, and is the proud grandmother to four boys and two girls, covering an age span of 21 years. When she’s not working, she and her husband enjoy long walks on the beach. She plays several musical instruments and is co-director of a local choir.

For more information about her writing, visit her writing website at www.shirleycorder.com. If you or a loved one is at any stage of the cancer journey, please visit her cancer website, http://riseandsoar.com, for inspiration and encouragement.

Shirley has GENEROUSLY offered to have a free ~*Giveaway*~ to one of our blog members!! Simply comment on this post to be entered to receive the ebook of Naomi! Giveaway is open for seven days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Review of Heart Unbroken by Alexa Verde and a ~*GIVEAWAY*~

August 9, 2018 in my point of view

Heart Unbroken by Alexa Verde 

Reprinted here with permission from the copyrighted author, Alexa Verde:

Can a widowed sheriff and a former drug addict believe God has the power to mend all broken hearts, even crushed ones like theirs?

Now a Christian, former drug addict Emma Hughes is back in the small town of Rios Azules.

She’s desperate to regain the trust of the son she once abandoned and change her life.

Meeting a vacationer, Rodrigo Ybarra, she fights her attraction to him. Even with her newfound faith, the risk of a relapse is too high.

On the two-year anniversary of his wife’s death at the hand of a junkie, Sheriff Rodrigo Ybarra comes to the ocean to mourn her. Romance is the last thing on his mind, but he’s drawn to a beautiful stranger who frequents the same spot. When he discovers her past could destroy his career, he struggles to guard his heart.

Then Emma’s life is threatened. Rodrigo won’t let her push him away or allow concern for his career to hold him back now. Will he once again lose the woman he loves? Or will faith and trust bring them safely to a future together?

Heart Unbroken is Book 3 of “The Potter’s House Books”, stories of love, hope, redemption, and second chances.

my point of view

I am trying to come with some eloquent words to describe to you guys how this book made me feel……but the best I can manage is WOW.

The Potter’s House series books are all about redemption and grace, in the words of one of the author’s of this series: “we live in a fallen world where people constantly mess up.” This installment form Alexa Verde shows us how we ALL need Grace in our lives!

This book and Emma absolutely touched my heart……drug addiction is such a heartbreaking and all too serious issue in this day and age. The courage it truly takes to recover and stay clean is beyond my personal understanding. I have been extremely unfortunate to have a family member who is struggling with drug addiction every single day, and he is right now on the good side of things, but has had so many setbacks with it in the past, I can only keep praying… but back to the story of Emma, Rodrigo……Junior, Dillon and Joy.

Yes, I am including Emma’s son Junior, ex-husband Dillon, and Joy – her ex-husbands new wife and stepmother to her son. They all play an important role in Emma’s continued recovery – and ultimately – with her new found relationship with Rodrigo. Joy is extremely important to this story, as she becomes one of Emma’s closest allies and staunchest supporter! I admired Joy in her own story (Season of Joy), but honestly, the self confidence that Joy shows in this story is truly amazing! I cannot imagine a new wife and stepmother defending and helping, and just being there for the drug addicted ex-wife, really? Urgh! Truth? I remembered Emma from Season of Joy, and my first gut reaction when I started this book was ‘no’. I don’t want to have sympathy for her, I want Joy and Dillon to tell her to go away……….how awful is that??

But Alexa Verde has a way of writing that just makes you stop and take a look at your own hurts and past struggles, and say, oh, Lord, I am so so sorry……please forgive ME for feeling that way. Ah, yes, I came away with a new found forgiveness in my heart, thanks to reading this book! The writing is powerful, and romantic………and yes, suspenseful! I so enjoyed the mystery and suspense factor – and I did NOT see that ending coming, I promise you! Frankly, I am pretty good at the mystery solving in many books, but this one definitely got the better of me!

I sincerely hope you all give this book a read – it is one of the best I have read to date!

You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Unbroken-Potters-House-Books-ebook/dp/B07BNWD8PS

Now, for some REALLY GREAT NEWS! Alexa Verde has the next book in The Potter’s House series available for pre-order! you all may recognize the name of the heroine, Miriam Lizzaraga from Season of Hope, I am so thrilled she is getting her own story! I cannot wait for this to be released later this month! Click below to make sure YOU do not miss out on this one!

Can a scarred man running from his past and a beautiful star running from her future survive a murderous attack and find healing in God’s loving arms?

Country music sensation, Miriam Lizzaraga, thinks her world’s crushed when she loses her voice. But that’s before her first love decides to marry someone else and the man who nearly killed her sets out to get her again. In desperation, she accepts help from a stranger, Philip Barlow. But with a target on her back and pain in her heart, can she love again?

When Philip Barlow goes on a vacation, he doesn’t expect to meet his celebrity crush. Realizing Miriam is in danger, he’s ready to die to protect her. But scarred after an accident and struggling with anger issues, can he hope the gorgeous star will one day return his feelings?

As the day nears when their lives will be in danger and their courage tested, can they find strength in God?

Alexa has GENEROUSLY offered to have a free ~*Giveaway*~ to one of our blog members!! Simply comment on this post to be entered to receive the ebook of Heart Unbroken! Giveaway is open for seven days from today and winner will be notified via email!

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Coffee with JoAnn Durgin and THREE Giveaways!!

August 6, 2018 in coffee with paula marie

Paula Marie: Thank you so much, JoAnn for taking time out of your oh so busy schedule to sit down with me and our readers for coffee!

JoAnn: Thanks so much for the invitation! I’m very grateful for the opportunity to get to know you and the readers of your blog. And over coffee? Even better!

Paula Marie: I am amazed at the amount of novels you have written over the years, several of which I have read and all of which I have enjoyed! I know you have held many “jobs”, Pastor’s wife, mother, paralegal, etc.! How did you ever find the time to write during those days?

Joann: You ask a good question, and it’s one I’ve often asked myself! I think the best answer is that I required very little sleep during the time I was drafting out my early books. When I started writing, I was a stay-at-home mother/youth pastor’s wife in Philadelphia, so I arranged my writing schedule around our three children and church activities. When we lived in the Boston area (my husband was a senior pastor), I put my writing—but not the passion for it—on the back burner.

A few years later, when we moved to my hometown in southern Indiana, I’d stay up writing until two a.m. during the week and then get up at seven (to be at work by nine). It also has much to do with motivation and determination! Being a little tired took the “edge” off my work, and I was able to keep calm and function well, thank the Lord! Believe it or not, I actually worked three jobs during that time when I was drafting the books that eventually became my “signature” Lewis Legacy Series. I primarily worked as an estate administration paralegal at a large law firm, but a few times each week, I’d literally cross the street at five o’clock to work at the Kentucky Center for the Arts as a floor manager. I supervised the volunteer ushers and made sure everyone got to their seats (and prayed no one fell, got in a fight, or had any issues). Then I’d sit outside the theater during the performance and work on my books. I also worked a four-hour shift on the weekends at a children’s clothing store (I’d started working at the same store chain in the Boston area to clothe my own kids well). So, you tell me, how did I have any energy left?! I couldn’t do it today, but I was blessed to quit my other jobs and step into full-time writing for God’s glory in mid-August of 2014! I haven’t looked back since.

Paula Marie: That is nothing short of amazing! I don’t think I have ever had that sort of energy, lol! I know we have a lot in common growing up in the same era, but tell me what was your favorite TV Show as a child and why?

JoAnn: The Friday night lineup on ABC was my favorite: The Brady Bunch (my favorite!), The Partridge Family, Room 222, and The Odd Couple. The Bradys embodied the so-called American Dream and they were so fun, cute, and relatable! I also liked Flipper, and my brother and I really enjoyed a short-lived show called Time Tunnel, a time travel/adventure show where the two male characters visited different time periods in history. I still remember the Titanic and Pearl Harbor episodes. Fascinating!

However, my absolute favorite TV program of all was only on once a year: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (taped live television musical) starring Lesley Ann Warren as Cinderella. The music! The costumes! The romance with a prince! I sent a letter to Lesley requesting an autographed photo, and I was so happy to receive one in the mail! I could tell she’d signed it personally, and I treasured that photo. Still do! Fun fact to know and tell: I even named my most recent heroine in Thee Will I Honor “Lesley Ann” in her honor.

Paula Marie: How sweet of you! I always liked Lesley Ann Warren’s acting as well, but never saw the program you mentioned, found this pic on Wikipedia from it though! Brady Bunch was high up on my list of favorites too! Where do you get your inspiration from for your characters? Especially your slight quirky ones?

JoAnn: I have quirky characters? Ha! Quirky is so much fun! All my characters are mostly created in my sometimes overly active imagination, but a number of them are based in part on people I’ve known. Like a lot of authors, I will freely tell you that anything you say is fair game to be used in a book one day! I’m also an avid people watcher/observer (airports, especially the international terminals, are terrific). I used to find inspiration in newspapers. The idea for mineralogist Seth Barnes (try repeating that word quickly three times straight!) in Heart’s Design came from a Philadelphia newspaper article about a region in Maine rich in gems and minerals. The basis for a pedicab owner/operator in Love So Amazing came from a pedicab ride in Indianapolis late one night when all the cabs were gone and a pedicab guy offered us a ride to our hotel. Now, I find more inspiration from internet articles, the line in the grocery store, radio segments, you name it! I’m telling you, with this gal, anything is likely to show up in a book sometime! A memorable little girl in Whisper to My Heart is based on a friend’s daughter from church who’s a little spitfire and says the cutest things.

Paula Marie: I’ll be sure to be careful what I say around you, hahaha! I find it fascinating how many different styles of writing authors have, what would define yours as?

JoAnn: Great question! I’d say my writing style is faithful (to the Lord’s teachings and intended to give Him glory and honor), entertaining, and sentimental…with a dash of humor added! I like to believe my books are easy to read yet intelligently written. I’m not “flowery” and prone to write a sentence where you need to back up and read it three times to try and figure out what I’m actually saying. In more of my later books, I deeply research various topics and most of my readers feel like they’ve actually learned something—NASA (I visited Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center and asked a ton of questions), woodworking, airplane prototypes, being a member of the U.S. military, Colonel Sanders, Charles Dickens, to name a few. You never know where my books will take you!

Paula Marie I love being able to learn something while enjoying a novel! I can play trivia games and everyone asks how did you know that? I laugh and say i read it in a book!! Do you often find yourself with your characters running through your head before you have even had a chance to write them down?

JoAnn: Not really. I might differ from other authors in that regard, but in some ways, I’ve always been a rebel. I don’t do (or write) things because it’s what others say I “should” do (or not do). With one exception, I’ve only written one book at a time and focused solely on those characters. That way, they can run around all they want, and I’m right there (or “write” there) beside them!

Paula Marie: I know I sometimes feel like the people in my favorite stories become friends, and seeing as how you have a few different series and several standalone books…do you find it difficult to “say goodbye” to your characters from the stand alone novels once you have completed them?

JoAnn: No, and that’s mainly because I keep them alive with mentions or appearances in other books. I have said “good-bye” to a few characters, but I have a peace about them. Still, with me, you never know! There’s a definite method to my “madness.” I have a series coming up with the children of the Lewis Legacy characters. Who’s to say some of those previous characters from another book or series might not show up again? God’s world can be pretty small sometimes, you know. Stay tuned…

Paula Marie: Hahaha! I will definitely be staying tuned!! I love how you have the Bible Verse Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”, on all of your communications can you share another one or two verses that have special meaning to you?

JoAnn: That’s a difficult question because I have so many favorite verses! I have a theme verse of Scripture, and often a list of verses, in all my books. Below are a couple more verses (taken from the New American Standard Bible) that speak to me personally. They’ve also given me great encouragement and comfort in my writing journey:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. ~Ephesians 2:8

Paula Marie: Romans 8:28 is certainly one of my mantras as well! I know you love spending time with your family, especially your new grandchild, and writing, but what are some of your favorite pastime activities when you aren’t doing something with the family or writing?

JoAnn: Is there life beyond family and writing? I adore traveling, and I’ve been blessed to take some fabulous trips and see many places in the world, especially B.C. (Before Children). I spent a semester abroad in college (we lived in London and then toured the European Continent for three weeks). I went back to Europe with my mother a couple of times, and she helped to foster and install an independent spirit and a love of traveling in me. Believe it or not, I used to be shy, but going places and meeting new people encouraged me to open my eyes and enjoy different cultures, customs, history, architecture, and experiences.

I like to cook, but I’ll admit we eat out more than we should. I love to decorate but don’t generally enjoy cleaning. I used to adore working counted cross-stitch pieces, but I was one of those weirdos who made the back of the canvas look as pretty as the front. Definitely a perfectionist, a mixed blessing.

Paula Marie: How can fans keep in touch with you and your upcoming books?

JoAnn: I’m the rare bird/writer in that I don’t have a newsletter. I know, I know. Try to cover your shock. As I said, I can also be a rebel. If I had a bumper sticker on my car, it’d read, “I’d Rather Be Writing.” The way I see it, readers are inundated with enough stuff. Plus, I’m an extrovert (also rare for an author, I’m finding), and I’m no stranger to social media. I’ve grown my author page on Facebook tremendously in the past year by posting memes with Scripture verses. The three main places to connect with me are the following:

Website: https://joanndurgin.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gr8tReads

Paula Marie: Finally – Coffee or tea? Cream? Sugar?

JoAnn: Oh, I definitely love a little coffee with my French vanilla creamer and Splenda, thank you so much! Just don’t ask how many packets of Splenda I add (depends on whether I’m making it myself or getting it elsewhere). I can’t go to the drive-thru at my local McDonald’s and order coffee or else they’d need to alert the nearby hospital to be on standby for a possible sugar overdose! I also adore hot apple cider in the fall and hot chocolate with marshmallows during the holiday season.

Paula Marie: Thank you again for sharing this time with me and my followers! It has truly been a pleasure getting to know you and becoming friends!

Now readers – JoAnn Durgin has GENEROUSLY offered to give away THREE ebooks to three different commenters here on this post! Winner gets their CHOICE of books, musty be in USA or have an USA Amazon account to receive the ebook! Choices are here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B004FELQDC?_encoding=UTF8&node=618073011&offset=0&pageSize=12&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&page=1#formatSelectorHeader

Please take a moment to to say thank you and enter to win any of JoAnn’s single ebook of your choice!

Contest will end Monday, August 13th at midnight!

65 Comments