Catherine’s Comment–A Winter Wonderland Table Setting from Catherine Castle

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Catherine Castle, Catherine's Comments, clean romance, essay, Holiday table settings, inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, Winter wonderland

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Christmas is over, but don’t put your Christmas village away just yet or those special winter themed dishes you may have lying around, like these adorable Norman Rockwell tumblers pictured below.

Instead, use these selected pieces to create a winter wonderland table setting and this charming centerpiece.

For this table setting you’ll need

• Your winter village accessories. I used my skating rink, the snow covered trees and bushes, and as many village figurines I could find that showed people playing in the snow. If you don’t have a skating rink, don’t worry. Just add some more of your snow covered village buildings to make up for the lack.  The point is to create a winter scene. And who doesn’t think a Christmas village isn’t wintery?
• Some cotton batting for the snow
•  A white tablecloth.
• 4 blue plates. I had 4 turquoise blue plates that looked great on the table. If you don’t have 4 colored plates, mix with white, or use all white plates against a blue tablecloth. The point is to make a striking contrast between the dishes and the tablecloth.
• Cute wintery napkins. I pulled some darling snowmen out of my stash.
• Clear bowls. I had some with snowflakes on them.
• 2 white candle in glass holders

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Snowman napkin and snowflake bowl

Since I was using a smaller 48” diameter table, I set my skating rink at an angle to give more room for the village pieces.  If you have longer table you could spread the figurines out along the length of the table.

Honestly, the pictures I took did not do the table setting justice. It was so darned cute I wanted to leave it up all winter. But since that’s the table we eat at all the time, hubby would not have been happy.

snowman salt and pepper shakers

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Winter Wonderland table setting. If you don’t have a village, look at your Christmas decorations and see what you do have that represents winter. Some other options could include crocheted or plastic snowflakes, set on angles, in a snow bank of white cotton. Or maybe you have some snow-flocked small evergreen trees you could place in a cotton snowbank. Do you have a snowman collection? Use them. Let this setting inspire you.

Have a Happy New Year!

How about starting off your new year with a new read? Check out Catherine’s multi-award winning book The Nun and the Narc.

The Nun and the Narc

by Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

Catherine’s Comments–Age Doesn’t Matter by Catherine Castle

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acheivements, Catherine Castle, Catherine's Comments, essay about life, inspirational romantic suspense, Sweet romance, The Nun and the Narc, writing success

I got a text from my daughter the other day. It read, “You’re kind of like Laura Ingalls Wilder. She didn’t get published until 65.”

I took a bit of umbrage to that statement, and pulled a bit of pride from it as well. I’d love to be an internationally well-known writer like Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was one of my favorite authors –as well as my daughter’s favorite author, now and when she was young. I wasn’t so crazy about the 65 bit, however. I was under 65 when my first book was published, and well under 65 in how-young-you-feel-and-look years. (And isn’t that what really counts?)

However, my daughter’s statement got me to thinking about how our accomplishments aren’t limited to age. I was actually in my early 40s when I began writing professionally as a stringer for our local town newspaper. I’d always loved to write and had filled a notebook full of poems, written dozens of short stories that never made it past the Mom-thinks-it’s-wonderful stage, and composed countless school essays that always made great marks. The writing assignments that other students groaned about, I relished. I loved everything about them, from the research, to the actual writing, and even the editing—things that serve me well now as a published author.

Writing and reading have always been my passions, along with singing and acting. As a teenager I wanted to be a rock-and-roll singer or act on stage. At the time, writing never even entered my realm of careers. It was only a hobby I loved. I never made it to the limelight of center stage, in spite of the many times I tried out for school plays or musicals. I got chorus parts, but never the starring roles.

Ahh, but never give up. There’s a time and a place for everything and, for some of us, that time comes later in life. Today, I’m a published author—both as a solo author and co-authoring with my husband. I sing onstage at church, praising the Lord who gave me my voice. I’m also co-writing plays for our church (with my husband), acting and co-directing in plays for our church. Granted, it’s not Hollywood, which I have decided I wouldn’t want to be part of now anyway. Nor am I on the New York Times Bestseller list, to which I still aspire. But I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to. I’ve discovered doing what you love, at any age, is satisfying beyond belief.

Here’s the interesting thing: Age doesn’t matter–just ask Abraham’s wife. After all, if he could give Sarah and Abraham a child in their old age, at just the right time to begin his plan of salvation for the world, who am I to question why my bit of success didn’t come when I was twenty? Knowing how everything turned out, I believe I’m right where God wants me to be, at the time of my life he wanted me to be there.

Mine is not to wonder why, but just to do and be satisfied. So, if you’re bemoaning the fact that you haven’t “made it” yet in the publishing world, or with any other goal you’ve set for yourself, don’t. Just keep working toward that goal and relish the success, no matter how big or small, whenever it comes.

Catherine achieved her goal of publication and also won several awards with her debut book, The Nun and the Narc. Check out the blurb and read a sample on Amazon.

The Nun and the Narc

By Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

The Nun and the Narc is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

Catherine’s Comments–Forget the Autumnal Equinox. Fall begins with this…by Catherine Castle

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Autumn Equinox, caramel apples, Catherine Castle, Catherine's Comments, inspirational romantic suspense, recipe, The Nun and the Narc

It’s officially fall at my house!

 

Yes, I know the official date was September 22 this year, and I’m writing this post on October 1. I’m sure most of you think I’m late in my proclamation.  I also know the official calendar date occurs on the autumnal equinox when and day and night are almost equal—in most locations. I also know that now it’s officially spring in the Southern Hemisphere. But I digress.

As you might have guessed, I don’t follow the notion that fall begins on September 22, or sometimes on September 21 or September 23, depending on the difference between the Gregorian calendar and the time it actually takes the Earth to complete its orbit around the sun. Because it takes 365 and ¼ days for the Earth’s orbit the September equinoxes shift about 6 hours later each year, eventually moving the date by a day.

So, if I don’t recognize the Equinox as the start of fall, when does it start? Fall begins for me in the grocery store, night or day, and it depends upon when I spot this beauty on the produce stand.

.Yep, you see it right. Fall begins for me when I find caramel apples in the grocery. I start watching for them in early September, savoring the thought of a crisp apple covered in caramel and chopped peanuts.  They come in packs of three at my Kroger and when my daughter lived at home it was one apple for each of us.  Then when she moved out, I usually ate the third apple when the hubby was at work and then resisted getting another package and hiding it from the family. Now that Hubby’s retired I have to split the last treat. But that’s okay, because when they’re in season he always picks up an extra pack for us. Last night he brought three caramel and cinnamon streusel crusted apples home. Can you say apple pie on a stick?

I justify this sweet treat because apples and nuts in moderation are good for you. Caramel not so much. Apples are loaded with fiber and quercetin, a natural antihistamine. When eaten on a stick, or off the stick, apples are a raw food. Nuts have good MUFA fats (Mono unsaturated fat) which means the caramel apple has no saturated fats and lots of fiber. A great combo for lowering my high cholesterol. I ignore the sugar for this seasonal treat. It only happens once and year and I just eat more fiber to counter the sugar’s bad affects.

Have I made you hungry for a caramel apple yet?  Just in case, here’s a link to an easy recipe to make your own caramel apples. Enjoy, and welcome to fall!

Novice Sister Margaret doesn’t consume any caramel apples on her mission trip to Mexico, but she does eat some interesting things. Find out what in Catherine’s multi-award-winning inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc.

 

The Nun and the Narc

By Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

 

Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

 

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

 

A Writer’s Garden—An Unusual Garden Quiz by Catherine Castle

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A Writer's Garden, Catherine Castle, Flower Quiz, humor, inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing.

Today’s guest is me, Catherine Castle! And I’ll be sharing a garden quiz.

 

An Unusual Garden Quiz

I’ve been on a binge to clean out my office files. Unfortunately, or fortunately for this blog, I can’t throw anything out until I’ve read it. I found this gem in one of the long-forgotten garden files I came across. I thought it would be fun to share. I have no idea where I got it because it was written in longhand on a yellowed piece of tablet paper in a hand writing that sort of resembles mine, but isn’t. I put the answers way, way at the bottom of the post so you won’t be tempted to cheat.

I was able to come up with three answers, and two of those were not the ones listed on the quiz paper. Number one and eleven have two possible answers. And I hadn’t heard of the flower reference in number fifteen, so I looked it up on the internet when I finally gave up guessing. I learned a new gardening tidbit today. Yeah!

Take the quiz and see how well you can figure out the answers. I’ll give you a hint: None of them are depicted in the cartoon flower at the top of the blog.

 

Garden Flower Quiz

1. Plant a kitten and what will come up?
2. What flower is a very precise lady?
3. Plant a bag of flour and what will come up?
4. What is lost by men when they marry?
5. Plant a sunrise and what will come up?
6. Plant one of Cupid’s arrows and what will come up?
7. What flowers are fragrant letters?
8. Plant a kiss and what will come up?
9. Plant a preacher and what will come up?
10. What flower tells the time of day?
11. Plant grief and what will come up?
12. What flower is a well-dressed, ferocious animal?
13. Plant a tin horn and what will come up?
14. Plant a gilded cane and what will come up?
15. What flower is a tattered bird?

So, how many did you figure out without looking? I’d love to know what your answers were. Leave me a note in the comments, please.

 

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog

Catherine, and her book heroines love flowers. In Catherine’s inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, the heroine, Sister Margaret Mary, has the job of gardener in the convent. Check out the blurb below, or go to Amazon and pick up a copy of this multi-award-winning book.

 

The Nun and the Narc

By Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

 

Quiz Answers:

1. Pussywillow/cat tails
2. Primrose
3. Dusty miller
4. Bachelor buttons
5. Sunflower
6. Bleeding heart
7. Sweet peas
8. Tulips
9. Jack-in-the-pulpit
10. Four-o’clocks
11. Weeping willow/morning glory
12. Dandelion
13. Trumpet flowers
14. Golden rod
15. Ragged robin
16. For those curious souls, the cartoon plant depicts: Blue bells, bat plant, hen and chicks, lady slippers, snake plant, spider wort and snapdragons.

Musings From a Writer’s Brain—Jumping the Fence For Love by Catherine Castle

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book excerpt from The Nun and the Narc, Catherine Castle, Colton Underwood, inspirational romantic suspense, Jumping the fence for love, Musings from a Writer's Brain, The Bachelor, The Nun and the Narc

There’s a new term in town for the hero every woman wants—the man who jumps the fence for you.

Haven’t heard it? Then I know you’re not a fan of the television reality series The Bachelor. This year’s bachelor, Colton Underwood, jumped an eight-foot fence into the darkened night of Portugal after the woman he loved rejected him. Then he gave up the other two remaining women, who had already professed their love—and with whom he was falling in love—to pursue Cassie who had left him because she wasn’t sure she could commit to him at the end of the show.

The video clip showing the shadowy figure of Colton jumping a stark-white eight-foot fence aired all season long and was so remarkable that my daughter—who never watches the show and can’t understand why her parents do—called me, excited, and said, “You have to tell me what the fence jumping is all about!”

I have to admit the ease Colton displayed in leaping over that fence in one bound was a sight to behold. It reminded me of the athletes on the television shows Titan and Ninja Warrior who display almost superhuman strength while bounding over tumbling blocks, running up walls the curve inward, and dragging gigantic metal balls across the floor after performing other feats of amazing strength. What woman wouldn’t want a man who had that kind of strength and would use it in a positive way to protect her and his family?

But the thing that impressed me most wasn’t Colton’s ability to jump a fence two-foot higher than he was tall. It was the fact that he was willing to risk it all to follow his heart. He also was willing to take all the time Cassie needed to discover whether she could get to the same level of love for him that Colton had for her.

A love that is all in.

The patience to see that love through even when it’s not going your way.

And a man who’ll jump the fence for you.

What more could a woman in love wish for?

Here’s wishing you that kind of love in life and in literature.

And now here’s a peek at Catherine Castle’s multi-award-winning inspirational romantic suspense The Nun and the Narc. Featuring that same kind of all-in love.

 

The Nun and the Narc

By Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what

Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

Excerpt:

Another row of pottery shattered, sending fragments into the car like tiny projectile rockets. Sending up a quick prayer, she covered her head.

Slamming the door shut as he passed, the man leapt over the trunk. He jerked open the driver’s door then jumped behind the wheel. Jamming the car into gear, he roared out into the market street. Shoppers and vendors screamed, leaping out of the car’s path.

Margaret scrambled into the passenger seat. “Stop this car immediately!”

“Keep down,” he ordered, “unless you want to get shot.”

The rear window glass erupted into the car’s interior, punctuating his words. The man fired at the attackers through the shattered back window.

“Shot?” Her voice rose an octave. “Oh, dear Lord in Heaven, what have I gotten into?”

“Trouble, Lady.” He fired off another round. “Big trouble.”

Margaret slid deeper into the front passenger seat, grabbing the door handle as the car careened around a corner.

I’m going to die. In a car crash. With a strange man. Heart pumping madly, she let go of the door handle just long enough to cross herself then grabbed it again as the car swerved. A guardian angel would be good here, Lord. And make it Dale Earnhardt! They swerved around another corner and she held on for dear life.

Oh, Mother Superior, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not good nun material after all. Who else in the convent could get themselves into a mess like this?

 

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

 

 

Start the New Year with Tasty Tuesdays—Mountain Mist Tea recipe from Catherine Castle

Tags

Catherine Castle, Hot Tea Month, inspirational romantic suspense, New Year, Recipes, Tasty Tuesdays, Tea history, tea recipe, The Nun and the Narc

Tasty Tuesdays

Mountain Mist Tea recipe

from Catherine Castle

 

Hi, everyone! Happy New Year to you!

 

This year I’m starting the blog off with a new series called Tasty Tuesdays. On various Tuesdays I’ll be sharing recipes from my family’s recipe boxes and my original recipes. In addition to my recipes, I’ll have guest authors sharing their original recipes and recipes from the cookbooks and recipe boxes of their family and friends. You’ll also get a sneak peek at our books, so you’ll have something new to read with your cup of tea or whatever recipe you’ll discover on the blog this year. I hope you’ll follow us on this new blogging journey and discover some new recipes, books, and authors.

To kick off the blog I’m celebrating Hot Tea Month with a tea recipe. Did you know January is Hot Tea Month? There’s no better way to warm up on a chilly winter day or a cold rainy day than with a cup of hot tea, a cozy blanket, and a book. After all, who doesn’t love tea? I know I do.

Tea is one of the oldest drinks in the world. According to Chinese legend the discovery of tea dates back to 2737 B.C. when the Emperor Shen Nung was boiling water out in the open one day and the leaves of a tree fell into his pot and brewed, thus inventing tea. Over the centuries the Chinese developed the tea plant, Camellia Sinesis, and the tea ceremony surrounding the drinking of tea to such heights that at one point in history it was forbidden to export tea from China, which is probably why it took centuries for the drink to reach the rest of the world

The Portuguese were the first to bring tea to Europe. The Portuguese princess Catherine of Barganza brought tea to Britain in her royal dowry when she married Charles II in 1662. Tea had a rough start in England as coffee was well established. The clergy declared that tea, which had originated from a heathen country, was a sinful drink. Doctors claimed it was not good for one’s health, and brewers lobbied it for fear it would replace ale as a breakfast drink. The government decided they needed no better excuses for taxation, and so they laid a heavy tax on the foreign drink. The taxation on tea made it a drink of the wealthy until about 1784 when the taxation on tea was reduced and Britain became a nation of tea drinkers.

Today tea is a favorite drink across the world and comes in an array of flavors that is staggering.

My pantry is chock full of teas of all sorts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to go on tea kicks and drink the same one for a while until I tire of it, then I start on a new box. Right now, I’m drinking Mrs. Patmore’s Pudding tea from Republic of Teas Downton Abbey collection, and pumpkin flavored and gingerbread flavored teas. Pumpkin-flavored creamer goes great with the last two, and while it’s seasonal I make sure I get my winter teas in.

To start off the new blog I’m sharing a recipe for Mountain Mist tea. Years ago I bought a box of tea called Mountain Mist and I fell in love with it. When I went to buy a new box of the tea I couldn’t find it anywhere. So I started experimenting with the basic teas listed on the box, using loose teas, and came up with this blend which was pretty close to the original.

Here’s the recipe. It will go great with those leftover Christmas cookies.

 

Mountain Mist Tea (by the cup)

 

Ingredients:

½ tsp. (rounded) loose peppermint tea

½ tsp. (rounded) loose alfalfa tea

½ tsp. (rounded) chamomile tea

Directions:

Place teas in a tea ball and put in a cup. Add boiling water. Steep for three minutes. Sweeten with honey or sweetener of your choice. Enjoy!

Note: I think when I originally made this I didn’t have loose teas on hand and had no alfalfa tea. I did have peppermint and chamomile in tea bags. So, I bought some alfalfa tea bags and tore them open, along with a bag of peppermint and chamomile, and started experimenting until I came up with the right blend.

How about you? Do you have a favorite hot tea?

 

The Nun and the Narc

Multi-award-winning book

By Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

About the Author:

Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband, singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Her debut inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing was an ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2014 EPIC finalist, and the winner of the 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award and the 2014 RONE, as well as placing in several other contests. Her sweet romantic comedy/drama A Groom for Mama, also from Soul Mate Publishing, is the recipient of the 2018 Raven Award.

Connect with Catherine at here on her blog or at:

Goodreads Twitter @AuthorCCastle or Facebook

 

 

Wednesday Writers–Camp Hope: Journey to Hope by Sara L. Foust

Tags

Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, excerpt from Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, inspirational romantic suspense, kidnapping, Sara L. Foust

Today’s Wednesday Writers is welcoming back Sara L. Foust, a multi-published, award-winning author of Inspirational Romantic Suspense. She’ll be talking about hope and her book Camp Hope: Journey to Hope. She also has an excerpt of the book, so be sure to read to the bottom of the post.

 

Real Hope

Sara L. Foust

Hope. It’s a simple word we often overuse. “I hope I get to go out to eat on Friday.” “I hope it doesn’t rain.” “I hope we can make it.” We use the word hope in a lot of casual ways. My newest release is Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, and I hope (hehe) that I’ve done a good job projecting the truth of God’s hope, not the flippant, passing-by kind, with the words I’ve written.

The story’s faith journey is about two people, Amy and Jack, who have terrible scars from abusive childhoods. As grown-ups, Jack has found his faith in God, but Amy is still struggling to believe He cares for her. I wrote the storyline with some of my own struggles to find Jesus in the forefront of my mind. Though I had an idyllic childhood, I still struggled to believe Jesus would want a personal relationship with me. It wasn’t until nineteen I finally allowed His love to permeate and give me a new hope.

I think it’s easy to cling to “pretty” hopes sometimes. The ones we picture for our futures, with the shuttered house and the manicured lawn. Or the successful raising and flying the coop of our children. But sometimes it’s hard to look at the hope of death in a pleasant light. However, that’s exactly what we born-again Christians get to do. Yes, dying is scary and not something I want to do any time soon. But I know where my hope lies, in heaven with my Father. Amy and Jack’s stories aren’t always pretty. There’s some brutal ugliness in their pasts, but their futures are bright because of God, just like mine.

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Camp Hope

By Sara L. Foust

AMY DAWSON directs a summer camp for foster children near Briceville, Tennessee. A foster mom for the first time, her responsibilities as mother to a traumatized child bring a whole new set of challenges and joys.

But when Amy’s four-year-old foster daughter is dragged into the mountains of Royal Blue by a former employee, parenting challenges are overshadowed by a new nightmare. The Sheriff’s department fails to procure viable leads, and Amy can’t sit idle. Her childhood friend and first love, JACK EVANS, returns to lend his skills as tracker. Problem is, he also stirs up romantic memories Amy would rather leave buried.

Jack struggles to let go of his past failures and prove his reliability by bringing Mattie home, but fears when he left camp nineteen years ago and failed to keep a promise to Amy he permanently lost her confidence.

As Amy plunges into the wilderness on horseback to search for Mattie, she must decide who she trusts, let go of her childhood traumas, and learn to rely on hope in God. Facing dehydration, starvation, and a convoluted kidnapper, will she succeed in recovering her precious foster daughter or get lost in the vast wilderness forever?

 

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

The long awaited call came in the pre-dawn hours. When the farmhouse sagged and dared not breathe. Amy Dawson dug herself out of a deep sleep to answer. “Hello?”

“This is Diane with Child Protective Services. Would you like to take a placement?”

She bolted upright. This was it. After all the terrifying training classes, the long weeknights worrying about her decision, the moment was finally here. What was she supposed to ask? Amy took a breath to calm her shaking hands. “Can you tell me about the child, please?”

“Mattie is a nonverbal four-year-old. She’ll be coming from another foster placement. They’ve decided they can no longer keep her.”

“In the middle of the night?”

Diane clicked her tongue. “It’s complicated. Would you like to take her?”

Amy took another deep breath. “Why doesn’t she talk?”

“Doctors believe she can speak but chooses not to. Oh, and one more thing. She’s a type I diabetic, so she needs a strict diet and insulin. Are you familiar with the disease?”

Was she ever. Memories like dark photographs flashed in her mind. Injections twice a day, every day, whether her mother was conscious or not. “I’m familiar with it. Anything else I should know?” Could she handle caring for a child with diabetes? The memories that would barrage her?

“There isn’t much information to go on.”

Amy expected that. They’d taught her as much in classes. Especially with a middle-of-the-night placement. What if she couldn’t keep Mattie safe once the summer campers arrived? What if she couldn’t adhere to a strict schedule with the medicine?

“Ms. Dawson?”

None of it mattered really. Not if she listened to what her flying heart was telling her. “How soon can you get here?”

“Great. Give me an hour.” A long pause and Diane shuffled papers. “Maybe longer considering where you live.”

Amy chuckled. “That’s what everyone says. I’ll be ready.”

How her life was about to change. The solitude she’d been fighting to build all these years was about to be penetrated by a sweet child in need of help. Though she was the same age as most of the other people in the Parents as Tender Healers classes, they had been mostly young couples with experience raising children of their own. She knew how to be a good camp counselor. She’d been doing that half her life. What if she failed miserably as an actual parent?

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Want to read more? You can find Camp Hope at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author who writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest.  Sara also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Gain access to a FREE digital scrapbook detailing some real-life places from Callum’s Compass by signing up for her newsletter: www.saralfoust.com.

Connect with Sara on her social media links.

• Website: http://www.saralfoust.com/
• Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/SaraLFoust/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saralfoust

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers—Callum’s Compass by Sara Foust

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book excerpt from Callum's Compass, Callum's Compass, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, inspirational romantic suspense, Sara Foust, treasure hunts

Today’s guest on Wednesday Writers is Sara Foust, author of the Inspirational Romantic Suspense Callum’s Compass. She’s be taking about treasure hunts today and how they fit into her book. Welcome, Sara!

Some people have said the clues in Callum’s Compass seem way too challenging for everyday people to figure out. I even had one lady mention in an early critique that surely the first clue Kat gets would be too difficult for someone without code breaking experience to solve. I had to laugh a little, because that clue was one my husband, my brother, my two cousins, and I actually solved thirteen years ago on a treasure hunt facilitated by my uncle Jim. It was something of a tradition with Uncle Jim. And though I only was blessed to participate in a few of his infamous hunts, he had left my cousins ones all throughout their childhood.

This particular trip, we were staying at a house in Outer Banks, North Carolina, and he surprised us with our first clue early in the week, if I remember correctly. We didn’t know what the “treasure” was but, based on the last time, suspected it might be chocolate-covered doughnuts or another type of treat. All of his clues were difficult, but the one that stumped us the longest was the one using the Bible verse from Revelation that you will see in Callum’s Compass. I’m not going to tell you what the final solve was, I’ll let you read that for yourselves in my book, but I will tell you it took nearly all of a day to figure it out. And I can still remember him laughing each time we brought a new idea to him. “You’re thinking about this wrong, guys,” he would say. We even used a “phone a friend” to call his son in Nashville who was unable to make the trip. My cousin, Chelsea, is the one who finally figured it out. I figure it was all those years of practice he’d given her growing up at solving his riddles that made her so good.

At the end of the hunt, we used a metal detector to locate gold coins buried in the sand. You talk about a real treasure hunt! It was so incredibly fun. I can still picture the moment we found the treasure and looked back at the balcony porch to see the “real grownups” (I was 22 and married, mind you) grinning down at us.

Uncle Jim passed away from an aggressive brain cancer two years ago. There’s not a day that goes by we don’t think of him and miss him so much. I’ll never forget his laugh, his sense of adventure, and his love. None of us will. We are going to the beach as a family again this summer, thanks to Jim’s son’s generosity (our phone a friend). And he is working on the treasure hunt clues now. He’s already promised they will be in “Uncle Jim fashion,” which means our kids may never find the treasure without the “real grownups’ ” help, of which I am part now. But above all else, the memories we make will be the treasure we remember for the rest of our lives.

 

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Callum’s Compass

by Sara Foust

KAT WILLIAMS’S brother died in a gruesome accident in the mountains of East Tennessee. She blames herself.

RYAN JENKINS’S fiancée was murdered. He couldn’t protect her.

With the death of her brother, Kat believes she is unworthy of love from anyone—even God. When a good friend elicits a promise that she will stop living in the past and then leaves her clues to a real-life treasure hunt, Kat embarks on an adventure chock-full of danger. To find the treasure, Kat will have to survive wild animals—and even wilder men. Can she rely on Ryan, the handsome wildlife officer assigned to protect her . . . without falling in love?

Ryan swore off love when his fiancée was murdered, but feelings long-buried rise to the surface around Kat. He volunteers to help with her treasure hunt, vowing to keep her safe. Together they venture deep into caves and tunnels . . . and even deeper into the depths of their unplumbed hearts.

Excerpt:

The box lay on the ground, its contents strewn beneath her truck. She picked up a golden pocket watch, the surface worn smooth on both sides, and another piece of paper with a hand-drawn picture.

What in the world? She read the page in her hand.

“Revelation 6:8—

And I looked,

And behold a pale horse:

And his name that sat on him was Death,

And Hell followed with him.

And power was given unto them

Over the fourth part of the earth,

To kill with sword,

And with hunger,

And with death,

And with the beasts of the earth.”

She turned the note over to discover a series of tiny numbers written on the reverse side.

5:12; 2:10; 4:22; 10:11; 1:5; 6:3; 7:14; 2:18; 4:4; 6:1; 7:5; 9:9

More Bible verses?

Kat tucked the scripture verse and drawing back into the box and slid it safely onto the seat. The pocket watch clanked against the compass as she dropped it into her pocket.

Want to read more? You can find Callum’s Compass on Amazon

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About the Author:

Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author who writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest.  Sara also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, and her second novel in the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, Camp Hope, will be released in July 2018. Gain access to a FREE digital scrapbook detailing some real-life places from Callum’s Compass by signing up for her newsletter at http://www.saralfoust.com/.

Connect with Sara on her Social Media Links:  Facebook:   Twitter:

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Sara L. Foust

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book excerpt from Callum's Compass, Callum's Compass, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, inspirational romantic suspense, Sara L. Foust, wildlife biologist

Today, Wednesday Writers welcomes a new author to the series, Sara L. Foust. Sara will be talking about her contemporary Inspirational Romantic Suspense, Callum’s Compass and sharing an excerpt. I love the tag line she sent. Facing betrayal, wild animals, meth-addled drug makers, and their own fears, can Kat and Ryan discover the golden treasure and God’s love?

Welcome to Wednesday Writers, Sara.

 

Thanks, Catherine,

 

In Callum’s Compass, Kat Williams is a wildlife biologist studying salamanders in the mountains of East Tennessee. For a long time, I dreamed of becoming a wildlife biologist. I thought it would be so cool to be involved in researching and studying a wild animal. To be the one who got to catch them, sedate them, and actually lay hands on a bear or moose or some other such critter. As I got older, the idea still appealed to me, but I realized that I wanted to be a mom first and I didn’t pursue being a wildlife biologist after all. I did, however, get my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee.

For me, Kat’s character is a way of exploring a career I am fascinated by, and also a way of showcasing a unique animal that lives in East Tennessee. Salamanders are nocturnal, and I have always found them fascinating creatures with their beautiful colors and glistening, delicate skin. I find the challenge of locating them fun whenever we are near streams.

I realize not every reader is going to be as outdoorsy as I am, but I hope that Callum’s Compass will transport all of you into the woods of East Tennessee that I love so much! Maybe your interest will be piqued by my main character, Kat, and the next time you are out and about in the wilderness you can keep an eye out for some of the animal life I mention in Callum’s Compass.

 

Callum’s Compass

By Sara L. Foust

KAT WILLIAMS’S brother died in a gruesome accident in the mountains of East Tennessee. She blames herself.

 

RYAN JENKINS’S fiancée was murdered. He couldn’t protect her.

With the death of her brother, Kat believes she is unworthy of love from anyone—even God. When a good friend elicits a promise that she will stop living in the past and then leaves her clues to a real-life treasure hunt, Kat embarks on an adventure chock-full of danger. To find the treasure, Kat will have to survive wild animals—and even wilder men. Can she rely on Ryan, the handsome wildlife officer assigned to protect her . . . without falling in love?

Ryan swore off love when his fiancée was murdered, but feelings long-buried rise to the surface around Kat. He volunteers to help with her treasure hunt, vowing to keep her safe. Together they venture deep into caves and tunnels . . . and even deeper into the depths of their unplumbed hearts.

Excerpt:

As she and Scout hiked, listening to the songbirds trilling and the wind dancing in the trees, Kat could breathe again. She pushed thoughts of the handsome officer aside.

The way the sunlight drifted through the foliage in patches, playing on the ground before her, cast joy into her soul. The fragrance of the forest filled her lungs, the rich, earthy scent of wet leaves and half-eaten acorns.

Out of habit, she reached her hands to the sides and grazed the fresh green leaves next to the trail, absorbing the sensation of their smoothness. There was nowhere in the world she would rather be on a beautiful spring afternoon. Out here, she could remember the smiling, sweet boy, as long as the night did not overtake her. In the woods, she could connect with Callum and the memories she kept buried until she was alone.

 

About the Author:

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers. Her debut novel Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” appearing in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit  http://www.saralfoust.com/

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers—Catherine Castle and The Nun and the Narc

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award-winning romance, book excerpt from The Nun and the Narc, books by Catherine Castle, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, inspirational romantic suspense, spunky heroines, The Nun and the Narc

 

Hi, everyone, and welcome to my Wednesday Writers blog series. I’m filling an empty spot today on my guest list, and I’m going to share some background snippets about the characters in my multi-award-winning inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc. I’m also presenting one of my favorite excerpts from the book.

Everyone is curious about novice Sister Margaret Mary. She’s a spunky heroine with adventure in her soul. She eats chapulines (fried grasshoppers) from the Mexican market, wields a skillet against the bad guys, and rushes into situations when she should think twice before acting. A tomboy life with her brothers taught her how to be daring. She also likes to do less risky things, like garden, so she gets garden duty at the convent. Unlike a lot of the sisters in the convent, she can still kneel—another reason why you’ll find her in the convent’s gardens most of the time. Because she’s younger than most of the sisters, and because Mother Superior is questioning her commitment to her upcoming vows, Sister Margaret was chosen to go to Mexico on a housebuilding trip. While she’s there she befriends a teenage boy named Rafael who loses his mother as the charity is building their house. Sister Margaret can relate to his hurt, because she lost her mother and knows how that feels. Her attempts to keep the boy out of trouble land her in the middle of a drug deal where she gets kidnapped by the local drug lord’s thugs, along with the hero of the story, Jed Bond. And when Sister Margaret finds herself inexplicable attracted to Jed, he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows.

Jed Bond, which is his undercover name, comes from a long line of cops, but he’s the first undercover agent in the family. He started out as FBI undercover agent and later joined the DEA because a drug user killed his father. Jed has a sweet tooth, as witnessed by the amount of candy he consumes while waiting in the Mexican market for his drug contact. He also likes working alone. So when Sister Margaret comes on the scene, she complicates his drug bust operation, in sooo many ways. In spite of the way she hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion, Sister Margaret begins crumbling Jed’s defenses, and he finds himself opening his heart to the novice who shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor does. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Jed begins to question his own beliefs as he falls in love with the sister. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

 

Excerpt From The Nun and the Narc

By Catherine Castle

 

Margaret inched forward, hoping to hear what they were saying. A mariachi band nearby blared out a tune, the polka-like melody destroying any hope of eavesdropping. The shriek of off-key brass sent chills up her spine. She covered her ears and moved closer to Rafael and the stranger.

After a couple of minutes of conversation, the man removed an envelope from his jacket and pulled out a handful of bills. He folded them in half and then slipped them into Rafael’s extended hand. With a furtive glance around, Rafael moved closer to the man, blocking Margaret’s direct view, and handed something to the stranger.

A wave of apprehension swept over Margaret. The chapulines she’d snacked on earlier that morning threatened to see the light of day.

A drug deal! Of all the things Rafael could do, this was the worst.

Esperanza had fought so hard to keep her son away from bad influences. Now he appeared to be involved in the very thing she’d hated most. Margaret imagined Esperanza banging on the gates of purgatory, trying to get out and rescue her son.

She hesitated for a moment, hearing Mother Superior’s admonishment. Stay out of trouble while you are in Mexico, Sister.           

Silencing the nagging voice in her head, Margaret charged forward, protective instincts in full swing.

Stopping Rafael and talking to him about the dangers of drugs surely wouldn’t qualify as trouble. Bluntness, maybe, but not trouble. It was more like saving. Yes, that’s it. I’m saving him.

Margaret grabbed Rafael by the shirt. “I’ve been searching for you, young man.” She faced the stranger, giving him her best withering stare. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

The man stuffed the plastic bag into his jacket pocket. “Who is this?”

“Some crazy gringa.” Rafael shrugged, hard, trying to escape her grasp.

The plastic bag contained something white. Heroin? Cocaine? Margaret tightened her hold and drew Rafael closer. She would save him whether he wanted to be saved or not.

“Get out of here,” Rafael snarled.

“What would your mother say if she saw this?”

Rafael’s expression darkened. “Leave my mother out of this!” He wrenched out of Margaret’s grip and spun around to face her. His expression morphed from anger to fear. “¡Madre de Dios!”

The man’s head jerked around. “Get down!” he shouted.

Rafael took off running down the street as the top row of pottery in the stand exploded like popcorn.

Margaret jumped at the loud noise and whirled around searching for the source. The man removed a gun from his jacket, swung around, and scanned the area.

Margaret’s knees buckled at the sight of the handgun. Her body tensed, her gaze frozen on his weapon. He fired off a couple of shots. Heart thumping like a jackhammer, she ran for cover behind the open car door. The window glass shattered as bullets whizzed over her head. She scrambled into the car and crouched on the floorboard. Another row of pottery shattered, sending fragments into the car like tiny projectile rockets. Sending up a quick prayer, she covered her head.

Slamming the door shut as he passed, the man leapt over the trunk. He jerked open the driver’s door then jumped behind the wheel. Jamming the car into gear, he roared out into the market street. Shoppers and vendors screamed, leaping out of the car’s path.

Margaret scrambled into the passenger seat. “Stop this car immediately!”

“Keep down,” he ordered, “unless you want to get shot.”

The rear window glass erupted into the car’s interior, punctuating his words. The man fired at the attackers through the shattered back window.

“Shot?” Her voice rose an octave. “Oh, dear Lord in Heaven, what have I gotten into?”

“Trouble, Lady.” He fired off another round. “Big trouble.

 

The Nun and the Narc is the recipient of The 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award and The 2014 Rone Award and was a finalist in the 2014 Epic contest, 2014 Carolyn Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Genesis contest, and the 2^nd place winner in the Dixie contest.

You can find The Nun and the Narc in EBook and print format at Amazon and print format at  Barnes and Noble