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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: Inspriational romance

Wednesday Writers–The Shenandoah Road by Lynne Tagawa

19 Wednesday Sep 2018

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Romance, Wednesday Writers

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Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, colonial America, excerpt from The Shenandoah Road, historical fiction, Inspriational romance, Lynne Tagawa, The Shenandoah Road, theological themes

Today Wednesday Writers welcome Lynne Tagawa to the blog. To pique your curiosity, she’ll be interviewing a character from her historical novel The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening. She’s also sharing an excerpt from the story, so keep reading to the end. Welcome, Lynne!

The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening

 

An Interview with John Russell

 

Q: Mr. Russell, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself. What brings you to Philadelphia? I understand it’s a long trip from the Shenandoah Valley.

A: Aye, it’s a good distance. We need supplies. For good linen, flour, molasses and such, ye need to come—at least as far as Lancaster. Or east over Rockfish Gap. And I have family here.

Q: Oh?

A: My father and my brother and his family. And . . . well, I wrote Da about a wife.

Q: You mean to marry?

A: [clears throat] Aye, I need to marry. My wife . . . died. Was killed. It were an accident, ye see? Not a massacre, not really. A stray musket ball. The valley is not as dangerous as some make out. The Indians rarely trouble us.

Q: I am sorry for your loss. You mean to marry again?

A: Aye. My daughter, Susanna, is four. [pause] She needs a mother.

Q: Your father is going to help you?

A: He wants me to meet the daughter of the chandler he does the books for. He says they are godly folk, but they’re New Englanders, ye ken? So we’ll see. I had hoped to meet a young woman at the Reverend Tennent’s meetinghouse, but they all know how Janet died. The mothers aren’t quite sure about me.

Q: Tennent? Is he the Presbyterian minister who supports George Whitefield’s ministry?

A: Oh, aye—ye’ll know of Whitefield’s preaching? I’ve not heard him in person myself, but Mr. Franklin carries his sermons. And have ye seen that huge meetinghouse they built for him? Philadelphia is a changed place since I’ve been here last.

Q: I do hope you find what you’re looking for, Mr. Russell.

A: Thank ye kindly.

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The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening

By Lynne Tagawa

John Russell’s heart aches from the loss of his wife, but the Shenandoah Valley frontiersman needs to marry again for his daughter’s sake. At first he believes he has found the right young woman, despite their differences in background, but his faith falters when time reveals she isn’t quite what she seemed. Can he truly love her? And what about his own failings?

Unlike her disgraced sister, Abigail Williams obeys the Commandments. At least, she thinks herself a Christian until a buckskin-clad newcomer courts her. He treats her kindly but also introduces her to a sermon by the controversial preacher, George Whitefield. Her self-righteousness is shattered, and she wonders about their relationship. If she confesses her lack of faith, will John continue to love her?

“Lynne Tagawa transports readers into the faith and hope, and sorrows and fears of 18th century colonial America. While other books feature the raw grit of frontier colonial life, this book goes deeper and reveals the heart.” —Douglas Bond, author of numerous books, including War in the Wasteland and Hostage Lands.

“Raw, realistic, and historically packed, this story will make you think. If you enjoy stories with deep theological themes, you will enjoy this.” —Amber Schamel, author of Solve by Christmas, winner of the 2018 Christian Indie Award

 

Excerpt:

She almost didn’t recognize him. Blinking against the brightness of the sunlight, Abigail stood in the doorway, paralyzed.

An Indian. No, the face was wrong. Blue eyes gazed down at her under concerned brows. John’s face, but he was wearing Indian clothes. A button-less buckskin jacket, belted in place, fell to mid-thigh, where long leggings covered his breeches.

“Abigail, you may sit in the keeping room.” Her mother’s voice seemed far away.

“Yes, Mother.”

Stepping back, Abigail motioned for John to enter. The smell of herbal salve and new sweat accompanied his strong presence as she led him toward the hearth. An object hung from his belt. Some sort of axe?

She settled on her stool and found her voice. “Welcome.”

Incongruous against the backdrop of buckskin and gleaming steel, a large book nestled easily in John’s broad hand.

Noticing her gaze, he stood and stepped toward her, book in hand. “For you.”

Abigail scanned the front of the leather-bound volume. The title was in Latin. Pharmacopoeia extemporanea. What did that mean?

“My father told me ye like botany. Plants and such.”

She nodded, opening the beautifully embossed cover. “Oh,” she murmured. This was wonderful. She turned a page, transfixed. Some plants she knew, but now she had instructions on their practical uses. Grind finely, steep in hot water …

The sturdy pages crackled slightly as she turned them. Sassafras. Jesuit’s bark. Finally she looked up. “Thank you. I don’t know what happened to my manners.”

“Ye like it?”

“Oh yes. What does the title mean?”

“How to make medicine.”

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Want to read more? You can find The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening at Amazon , Grace and Truth Books and other major book sellers.

 

About the Author:

Lynne Tagawa is married with four grown sons and three marvelous grandbabies. A biology teacher by trade, she teaches part-time, writes, and edits. She’s written a Texas history curriculum in narrative form, Sam Houston’s Republic, and two novels, A Twisted Strand and The Shenandoah Road. Lynne lives with her husband in South Texas.

Connect with Lynne at her website and Goodreads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tuesday Wedding Tales–Carolina Mercy by Regina Rudd Merrick

10 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Romance, Tuesday Wedding Tales

≈ 4 Comments

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Carolina Mercy, Catherine Castle's Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series, Excerpt from Carolina Mercy, Inspriational romance, Regina Rudd Merrick, Southern Breeze Series, wedding stories

 

Welcome to Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series,  where wedding-themed stories are the fare.

Today’s guest is Regina Rudd Merrick, who will be talking about her book Carolina Mercy.

Welcome, Regina!

 

Weddings. Ah, the mere thought brings forth thoughts of white satin and organza, romantic music, flowers, wedding cake, and LOVE.

As a musician, I have played for my fair share of weddings. Some have gone off without a hitch, and some have been fraught with disaster. Like the time I was supposed to play “Somewhere, My Love” for the parents to enter, and after playing it for twenty minutes learning that the father of the bride was LATE, and they wanted me to play that song until time for the Bridal Chorus – another ten minutes. Oy. I haven’t played that song since that night.

Those experiences, plus hours on Pinterest and binge-watching “Say Yes to the Dress,” make me look forward to the opportunity to plan my daughters’ weddings, but it hasn’t happened yet. The next best thing? Writing about it.

Carolina Mercy, book 2 in the “Southern Breeze Series,”is written from the perspective, for the most part, of Maid-of-Honor Lucy Dixon and Best Man Tom Livingston. They take on most of the wedding planning for their best friends, Sarah and Jared (introduced in book 1, Carolina Dream) in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Lucy is a ball of fire whose motto is “very organized people have time to be spontaneous,” and Tom is a neat-freak whose attention to detail has probably scared off more women than have enticed them.

Both Lucy and Tom learn a lot in the course of events that lead up to their friends’ wedding — about weddings, about their relationship with God, and about marriage. They find out that it’s not about having the perfect wedding, the perfect house, or the perfect situation, but about trusting God and being thankful for His mercy and grace.

Here’s an excerpt, from Tom’s point of view:

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Lucy coming down the aisle toward them was a sight to behold. Her dress swirled around her feet, and the sparkling shoes on her tiny feet peeked out with each step. She was as beautiful as the bride, in his opinion. After giving her a wink, he smiled as she blushed. It was like having a super power, to be able to make a woman blush like that.

Walking past the flower-laden pews, the three little girls strewed flower petals along the aisle. Yeah, somebody would have to clean that up, but he wouldn’t think about that, now. Jared’s nephew, Alex, named after Alex Crawford, had done a good job of ushering in the greats and grands.

As the girls got to the altar, finishing up their task and taking their places next to their mothers, Tom turned to smile at Lucy before Sarah came in.

What he saw scared him to death.

She was staring at him, her face looking like she’d seen a ghost. What was wrong? Had he forgotten his tie? He reached up to his hair. Had he messed it up after she’d fixed it?

Carolina Mercy

By Regina Rudd Merrick

She’s always gotten everything she’s wanted. He thinks he has to give up everything.

Her best friend’s wedding is foremost on Lucy Dixon’s radar. Her biggest concern is once again meeting Tom Livingston, who has ignored her since an idyllic date on the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach the previous summer.

At least, it is her biggest concern until tragedy strikes. Where is her loving, merciful God, now?

When Tom Livingston meets Lucy, the attraction is instant. Soon after, his mother is diagnosed with an untreatable illness and his personal life is pushed aside. His work with the sheriff’s department, his family – they are more important. He knows about the love of God, but circumstances make him feel as if God’s mercy is for everyone else, not him.

Can a wedding and a hurricane – blessing and tragedy – bring them together?

Buy links: Carolina Dream Carolina Mercy

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About the Author:

Regina Merrick began reading romance and thinking of book ideas as early as her teenage years when she attempted a happily-ever-after sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” That love of fiction parlayed into a career as both a school and public librarian, and more recently, as a full-time author. Married for nearly 35 years and active in their local church, Regina and her retired-teacher husband have two grown daughters who share her love of music, writing, and the arts. She resides in a 100-year-old house in Marion, KY with her husband and their dog, Cedric, whose late litter-mate, Oliver, was the model for Sarah’s Schnauzer-mix.

Connect with Regina at:

Facebook: Twitter: Website:

 

 

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