Wednesday Writers—Coastal Christmas Charade by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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Beach Reads, book excerpt, Christian romance, Christmas Anthology, Christmas romance, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest author is Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Shannon will be talking about her Inspirational Contemporary Romance novella Coastal Christmas Charade, which is part of the Christmas anthology Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams. She’ll be sharing a bit of background on the book, an excerpt, and a chance to win a copy of Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams to a lucky commenter who follows her blog tour. Information on the tour and the giveaway are at the bottom of the post. So, keep reading to learn more about this beach read Christmas extravaganza. Welcome, Shannon!

Thanks, Catherine.

This year, I wrote my first novella, which is also my first beach read. The novella collection, Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams, includes 5 different authors with stories set on 5 different beaches at Christmas. I chose Surfside Beach, Texas as my setting, since it has the best shelling in the Lonestar state. My characters knew each other as kids. But the heroine was a rich girl whose grandparents owned the fancy inn where all the snobby kids spent their summers. The hero was a local, the handyman’s son, who never felt like he measured up. In this excerpt, she’s back to spruce up her grandparent’s inn and sell it. She hires the hero to hang Christmas lights and a massive chandelier crashes down, like Phantom of the Opera. Of course, right after that, the bride/heroine’s high school nemesis arrives.

Do you like pretend romances? Leave me a comment and tell me, why or why not?

Coastal Christmas Charade by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Lark Pendleton is banking on a high-society wedding to make her grandparent’s inn at Surfside Beach, Texas the venue to attract buyers. Tasked with sprucing up the inn, she hires Jace Wilder, whose heart she once broke. When the bride and groom turn out to be Lark’s high school nemesis and ex-boyfriend, she and Jace embark on a pretend romance to save the wedding. But when real feelings emerge, can they overcome past hurts?

(Included in Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams – Five novellas, five authors, five beaches)

Excerpt:

Ever so, gently, he dabbed his thumb over her cheek.

The front door opened, and a brunette stepped inside behind Lark. Hillarie Chambers. Her mouth dropped open, then closed, and opened again.

Lark spun around. “Hillarie, what are you doing here?” She went to work trying to brush herself off. “I didn’t expect you until Friday.”

“What happened?” Hillarie’s high-pitched whine echoed through the massive space. “What about my wedding?”

“Don’t worry. We had a little chandelier mishap, but it’s a good thing we discovered the problem now. This could have happened in the middle of the wedding. Death by chandelier.”

Lark laughed.

But Hillarie didn’t. “Look at this mess. And there aren’t even any Christmas lights up outside.” She wailed in full meltdown mode. “You always did try to sabotage me, and now you’re after my wedding.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Hillarie. I hired Jace to have the lights done by Friday. He’s fixing this too. By Friday, right, Jace?” 

“Jace?” Hillarie focused on him, then squinted. “Tool Face Jace?”

“At your service.” Hillarie recognized him. But Lark hadn’t.

“Why are you here two days early?” Lark leaned on the staircase.

Hillarie tore her gaze away from the destruction. “Your grandmother said we could come early. I said no. But I’ve been stressed, so my fiancé talked me into it.”

“Technically, we’re closed.” Lark smiled. “To prepare for the wedding.”

The brunette splayed her hands. “I left a message on the machine late last night.”

“Is he with you?”

“Oh.” Hillarie’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” She grimaced. “Why are you here?”

Lark’s eyes narrowed. “Gran and Gramps had their name on a waiting list for a condo in Dallas. One became available. If they hadn’t jumped on it, they’d have had to wait at least six

months, so I offered to handle the wedding.”

“Great.” Hillarie’s fake smile looked more like a cringe. “Do you know who I’m marrying?”

The door opened again and a blond man with a suitcase in each hand entered. Familiar. One of the summer rich kids.

Lark’s ex-boyfriend. Thanks to Hillarie.

“Warren?” Lark frowned. “What are you doing here?” Her voice went up an octave. “Oh, you must be in the wedding party.”

“Right.” He shot her a million-watt smile, but it faded as he scanned the room. “What happened?”

“Just a little sprucing up before Hillarie’s big day.” Lark’s smile looked as fake as her nemesis’s. “Jace promised we’d be in ship shape by Friday.”

“Look, darling.” Hillarie sidled up against Warren. “It’s Tool Face Jace.”

“Nobody calls him that anymore.” Lark frowned. “They never should have.”

Lark defending him?

Her gaze narrowed, pinged back and forth between Hillarie and Warren. “Darling?”

“Um.” Hillarie’s baby blues bounced to the floor. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. Warren is my fiancé.”

Want to read more? You can find Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams – Amazon

About the Author:

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.

She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. Shannon is Scrivenings Press Acquisitions/Content Editor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Social Media:

Shannon’s Website           Shannon’s Facebook           Shannon’s Bookbub

Sign up for Shannon’s Newsletter to get a free e-book, recipes, behind-the-scenes info, & enter exclusive giveaways!

Giveaway details:

Follow my blog tour to enter the drawing for a copy of Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams:

Sept 28th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/shannon-taylor-vannatter-story-behind-the-story-part-1-of-1/

Oct 1st – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 2nd – https://www.inspyromance.com/

Oct 5th – https://jenniferheeren.com/blog/

Oct 5th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 6th – https://pattishene.com/theover50writer

Oct 6th – https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

Oct 8th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

Oct 12th – https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

I’ll pick a winner from blog tour comments and announce the winner on my blog on Oct 19th.

Wednesday Writers–All Your Heart by LeighAnne Clifton

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All Your Heart, Christian romance, excerpt from All Your Heart, LeighAnne Clifton, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest author is LeighAnne Clifton with an excerpt from her book All Your Heart and the story behind the book. Welcome, LeighAnne!

The idea behind the Together for Good series has simmered in my head and heart for decades. When I heard about or experienced tragic, funny, or unusual events, I stored them away, never realizing I’d one day weave them together, heavily embellish them, and create the story of the first book in the series, All Your Heart.

I believe most authors’ first novels, especially first drafts of first novels, rarely see the light of day in their original form. My original manuscript, written many years ago, was organized differently, abounded in shifting point of view, and contained the word “that” about a thousand times. Much of the writing advice I devoured in those early days recommended scrapping the first novel. I was advised to learn from that failed attempt and try again.

When I considered doing this, though, I felt a stirring in my heart. I truly believe God intends to use the words He’s inspired by my life experiences to help someone. With that in mind, I forged ahead. Polishing. Reorganizing. Polishing some more. I learned how to query a book. And I learned how to accept rejection. Not an easy lesson! God grew me immensely in the birth of this book.

The series, and the pregnancy care home featured in the book, take their name Together for Good from Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” (KJV) Recognizing His sovereignty, His undeniable desire to use us in His marvelous plan is a key aspect of the book. I want this truth to resonate with readers, inviting them to consider how He has and will use their lives to His glory.

The next book in the series, Ready to Forgive, is under contract, release date unknown at this time. The story continues to follow Alex in her journey with God toward emotional healing. There’s joy, sorrow, a wedding, a death, and a whole lot of ups and downs along the way!

All Your Heart

by LeighAnne Clifton

Alex is determined to use college on the other coast to escape her small Southern town and workaholic mother. However, a prom-night assault and the resulting pregnancy require a drastic change of plans. Alex flees with every intention of ending her cross-country trek at an abortion clinic. Instead, finding herself stranded and scared after wrecking her car, Miss Matilda welcomes Alex to town with love and open doors. It just happens that Matilda runs a crisis pregnancy home.

When Alex strikes a deal with Chad, the handsome mechanic with secrets of his own, the citizens of Burton discover Alex’s artistry, prompting a business partnership with Matilda’s nephew. Alex soon discovers the life-altering sweetness of trusting Jesus, but her past hurts make it difficult to trust Chad with her heart. Then, secrets within the pages of an old diary discovered at the home threaten to tear families apart. Can the people of Burton learn to heal the hurts of the past by trusting the Lord with all their hearts?

All Your Heart, a Christian romance, presents the love of God, His undeniable Sovereignty, and His love for the unborn, all woven into a story that will leave the reader surprised and wanting more.

Excerpt

Alex has been assaulted by her step-father. Scared and confused, she hasn’t told anyone. Not even her best friend Brittany. However, when she begins to suspect the attack has left her with more to deal with than emotions, she purchases a pregnancy test, eventually confiding in her friend.

Later, as they waited in Alex’s room for the little stick to reveal its answer, Alex told Brittany the whole story, starting with J.T.’s apology for her mother’s absence on prom night. The girls took turns snatching a tissue from the box on the bed whenever a T-shirt sleeve no longer controlled the tears. Being able to talk about the whole ordeal unburdened Alex in a way she’d not expected, and she admitted for the first time how ashamed she felt.

“Alex,” Brittany’s jaw dropped as she shook her head, “you have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing, do you understand? I can’t believe you haven’t already told somebody about this. Should you go to the police?”

Mortified, Alex answered, “Of course not. Do you know what kind of scandal that would cause? My mother would freak out! And besides, Britt, do you think anyone would believe me?”

Alex launched into her theory about the party being J.T.’s attempt to protect his reputation around Woodvale. She reminded Brittany how attentive J.T. had been to his clients at the party. And why had his clients been invited to a party for Alex anyway? Sure, they all knew Alex through her position in J.T.’s business, but Alex stressed how odd to invite a bunch of adults to an eighteenth birthday party. With each finger Alex raised to count off the reasons her theory was sound, she watched Brittany grow angrier.

…

They sat cross-legged on the bed facing each other. Alex reached into the nightstand drawer, wrapped her hand around the piece of plastic that would determine her life’s path, and pulled it out without looking. She told Brittany to close her eyes, and she did the same. They agreed that on the count of three, Alex would open her hand and they would open their eyes and find out together.

“One, two, three.”

Alex turned her hand palm up and opened her fingers, clearly exposing the plus sign in the test stick window for both girls to see. They stared in disbelief. Brittany hazarded a cautious glance at her friend. But instead of tears or anger, quite the opposite met Britt’s gaze. Stoic and quiet, Alex drew in a deep breath and exhaled through pursed lips.

“Now what?” Brittany whispered. She looked scared, and this wasn’t even her trial to face. Alex knew she had Britt’s unwavering support.

“I don’t know yet, Britt. I’ve got a whole lot of thinking to do. This isn’t how I planned for things to go.”

On this last word, Alex lost her voice and her composure, collapsing in sobs into her friend’s arms. Brittany whispered soothing words and stroked Alex’s long brown hair, giving her the time she needed to process the news.

The two of them had always supported each other during times of boyfriend breakups, test stress, mean girl bullying, or any other normal girl drama. They’d planned their future to include each other. But this current scenario had never even crossed their minds.

Pragmatic almost to a fault but reeling from the shock, Alex dried her tears, blew her nose and issued orders to Brittany.

“My hands are shaking too much to take notes, so I’m going to need some help making a list of the pros and cons of my alternatives. I can search for stuff on the Internet, but if you can write things down, I’d really appreciate it. I know we’ve had a busy day, but do you mind staying up a little bit later?”

“I’m here for you. Just tell me what you need me to do.” Alex knew she’d never forget the depth of sadness in her friend’s voice as she pledged her assistance.

“Okay,” Alex said, taking another deep breath and attempting to regain some control over her circumstances. “Here are my options as I see them.”

Thus, their all-night research, discussion, and planning began. By dawn, Alex felt more informed, even if the uncertain future ahead still terrified her. Now, she just had to put her elaborate plan into action. Still, she felt confident she could pull it off.

Buy Links

Pen It! Publications Amazon Books A Million.com

About the Author:

LeighAnne Clifton and her husband Bill call South Carolina home. After meeting while both earning their degrees in chemical engineering at the University of South Carolina, the pair married and settled in Aiken. They have two grown children, a son-in-law, and a pair of spoiled cats. Before writing All Your Heart, LeighAnne wrote The Little Vessel, a modern-day parable for all who need reminding that God has a unique purpose for their lives.

LeighAnne, like her main character, loves to upcycle old junk into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. She shares her thoughts on Christian living, easy DIY projects, and the latest book news on her blog: A Live-Leigh Journey

Connect with LeighAnne on her Social Media Links Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:  

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–Determining Mr. or Mrs. Right-for-Your-Life by Catherine Castle

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. Love at first sight, A Groom for Mama, Catherine Castle, essay about love, Finding Mr Right, Musings from a Writer's Brain, romance, Sweet romance

from Catherine Castle

How do you know it you’ve met Mr. or Mrs. Right—the one true love of your life?

Now that’s the question of the century. Sometimes you know right away with a “zing” goes the heart strings. Sometimes you don’t know until certain dramatic things happen in your lives. And sometimes true love is revealed only after the loved one is gone. I saw all three of these in the lives of my parents.

Let me tell you a story about my parents, who apparently got it right.

My parents met after WWII, right before Dad was going to enlist in the Foreign Legion. He came to visit Mom’s uncle. Mom peeked at Dad from behind a newspaper during that visit and her interest in him was obvious enough that he asked her on a date. Their courtship was a short one. They met in October and by Thanksgiving the following month they were married. All Dad’s family said, “Don’t marry him. You don’t know what you’re getting into. He drinks. He gambles. He carouses around with his brother.” But ‘Love is blind.’ And Mom didn’t listen to the naysayers. That’s the “zing” goes the heart strings moment.

The dramatic happening for my folks occurred early on in their marriage. True to the warning of his family, Dad did drink and gamble and run around with his brother, leaving Mom at home with two small children. After about two years of this kind of behavior, Mom gave Dad an ultimatum. “It’s me and your daughters or carousing with your brother. You can’t have both. Choose what you love most,” she told him. Dad chose us. He walked away from his old life and built a life around his family.

It took the remainder of their lives together to discover the last expression of love.

Dad was a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Dinner fare for us was always a meat, which ran the gamut from pickled pigs’ feet and cow brains to fried chicken and smoked pork. Some form of potatoes (usually fried) sat next to the meat platter. Then green beans and another vegetable filled out the menu. We’d often have bread, too, from sliced store-bought bread to homemade cornbread or biscuits. Dessert was rare and saved for company. Without fail, meat, potatoes, green beans and a second vegetable appeared on every dinner table.

No matter what combination of those four dishes Mom put on the dinner table, Dad ate it. He wasn’t choosy about what meat Mom served, or how the potatoes were fixed, or what alternate veggie she served beside the green beans. He ate it all, and as I remember it, with gusto. In all the years I sat at the table with them, eating Mom’s down-home meals I never once heard Dad complain about or critique Mom’s cooking. I thought he loved everything she made, even though I always didn’t.

Then, in 1987, Mom died of complications from pneumonia. After the funeral Dad was wandering around the house saying, “You girls should take this, or this. It belonged to your mom and I can’t look at it now that she’s gone.” We obliged him and took the offered items, because, as I’ve since learned, guys can’t deal with looking at stuff that belonged to their deceased wives.

When Dad walked into the pantry where Mom kept all her home-canned goods, he said, “Take all these green beans home with you.”

“I can’t take food off your table, Dad,” I protested.

“I hate green beans,” he replied.

I’m sure my mouth dropped open, because it still does when I think of this story. “But you ate them almost every night,” I said. “If you hate them why did you eat them?”

“Because your mother served them.”

For thirty-seven years and four months, my father ate a hated vegetable every day just because Mom served it. And he ate it without letting anyone at the table know he hated green beans. Now, if that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is.

Ain’t love grand?

Catherine loves to laugh at herself and loves to write comedy. Check out her award-winning romantic comedy, with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama.

Take your mind off the sound discrepancies between men and women with a copy of Catherine’s award-winning romantic comedy that has a touch of drama. You’ll laugh as Mama searches for a husband for her daughter.

One date for every medical test—that’s the deal. Allison, however, gets more than she bargains for. She gets a Groom for Mama.

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

Amazon Buy Link

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.

Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the 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.

Learn more about Catherine Castle on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out Catherine’s Amazon author page and her Goodreads page.

Wednesday Writers–Reality Show Romance by Shannon Kent

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book excerpt from Reality Show Romance, book giveaway, Korean Dramas, My Korean Crush Series, newletter giveaway, Reality Show Romance, Shannon Kent, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest is Shannon Kent, co-author of the My Korean Crush Series, Asian American sweet romances/Korean Dramas. I have to admit, I’d never heard of Korean Dramas, and I was intrigued. I found her excerpt to be charming and engaging, so make sure you don’t miss it. Shannon is also giving away a copy of Reality Show Romance (ebook or PB, it’s the reader’s choice) to one lucky commenter. Winner will be announced on the post’s blog comment section at end of day, EST, on Tuesday, August 17. So, without further ado, let’s welcome Shannon so she can tell you about her genre and books. Welcome, Shannon!

Cheers erupted inside the school gymnasium and I smiled. They must be playing the K-pop song again. The first time they showed the colorful, bubblegum sweet music video during morning assembly, the kids watched in confusion as the choreographed artists sang in the unfamiliar Korean language. But now the students applauded when it came on. I had done my job as a music teacher to broaden their minds and expose them to another culture. It’s no wonder South Korea affected not only my day job but also my writing. It ensnared me with its romantic television dramas featuring lots of humor and handsome, Mr. Darcy-like heroes who despise the heroine in the beginning and can’t live without her by the end.

I admit it. I’m a forty-one-year-old fangirl.

Did you have posters on your wall of your favorite actor or boy band when you were growing up? I think many of us may look like adults on the outside, but inside we’re still squealing over our secret passions. It can be for anything: reading, television shows, marathon-running, knitting. The important thing is to have one. Don’t let “real life” beat all the wonder out of you with its schedules and bills and dentist appointments. Spend a little time on something that gives your heart a ticklish feeling. (And if you’re not sure what that is anymore, look me up on Facebook and I’ll suggest a good Korean Drama.)

Reality Show Romance

By Shannon Kent

Letty McDonnell—a hug first and ask questions later kind of gal—stumbles into an unexpected scandal with her favorite K-pop star when she spots him at the airport. Is it bad timing or a blessing in disguise? The international publicity leads to a job offer from the reality show Marry My Stalker, where the two pretend to be man and wife as they complete a variety of crazy couple missions.

Wacky challenges, jealous fangirls, and a language barrier can’t slow Letty down. Especially when she has handsome translator, Ben Park, whispering in her ear. He steers her away from cultural faux pas and offers behind-the-scenes encouragement as she maneuvers the unfamiliar public arena. But is he sincerely interested or just doing his job? The affectionate words her fake husband says for the cameras are always repeated by Ben’s caring voice, and Letty begins to wonder if a romance without spotlights or red carpets is the real path to true love.

Excerpt from Reality Show Romance

“You.” An assistant rushed up to Letty. “Come now.”

He beckoned with both hands for her to follow him as Ji Ah’s ceremony wrapped. She scanned the room for Ben but didn’t see him. Letty rose from her camping chair and followed the unfamiliar man with shaky legs. Her head turned this way and that as she searched for her translator, but he was nowhere in sight.

She took a deep breath and the chilly air tingled in her lungs. She could do this! Letty’s vibrant red heels stepped onto the equally bright carpet, and she waited with trembling fingers clutching her white rose bouquet. She would have preferred something more colorful. Maybe old fashioned orchids or a romantic spray of forget-me-nots. That would have fulfilled the “something blue” tradition. The “something borrowed” was easy. She’d eventually have to give her pop star husband back, no matter how much she longed to keep him.

The lights around the heart shaped arch on the stage illuminated and her breath caught in her throat. A slender silhouette appeared behind the screen and struck the pose that Letty daydreamed about—hands in pockets, one muscular leg bent at the knee, and head tilted at a pensive angle. The screen rose inch by maddening inch, and she saw a pair of black combat boots, followed by white skinny jeans, a white leather jacket with metal studs, and then finally his face. His eyes blinked as he cast a wavering smile in her direction. Poor thing. He was probably worried she would charge down the aisle and attack him.

Letty took a hesitant step forward and paused at a familiar sound. The music played overhead like it was drifting down straight from Heaven.

“Only for you-ooooh-oooooh. Only for you-oooh-ooooh.”

She expected the wedding march that played for every other bride that day. Why was hers different?

“Someone told me this was your favorite.” She heard a cheerful voice in her earpiece. “Sorry I’m a little late. I was asking the sound guy for a favor.”

The familiar lyrics wrapped around her, blocking the cold and pushing every worry from her mind. They bolstered her courage and she walked forward again with her toes sinking into the plush carpet. Her feet carried her down the aisle until she climbed the steps up onto the stage and stood at the side of a very tentative Ki Tae.

“Hello!” Her unnatural tone sounded higher than normal. Letty cleared her throat and tried again. “Hello. I’m Letty McDonnell.”

She shifted her roses to her left hand and slowly held out her right. Letty tried to give him a smile that said “Welcome, friend” and not “I’m going to lock you in my basement and make you sing to me every day for the next twenty years!”

Ki Tae looked from her hand to her face and back again before he stretched out his own and shook hers. “H-hello.”

Letty wanted to squeal at the intoxicating combination of physical contact and adorable accent, but she managed to hold it together.

“Nice to meet you,” she said instead.

“Nice … to meet … you,” Ki Tae repeated.

Letty leaned forward a little, while still holding his hand, and whispered, “It’s not too late for you to back out.”

She could tell he didn’t understand her as his gaze wandered to the side while he listened as Ben translated her words to his earpiece. Ki Tae’s eyes widened and he looked back at her with a blank expression. Letty let go of his hand and held up both of hers near her face in a non-threatening posture.

“I promise. I won’t chase you down the aisle if you decide to make a run for it.”

Ki Tae’s lips twitched after a few seconds when he understood what she said. He replied in Korean and it was Letty’s turn to wait.

“You might not chase me, but my manager would,” Ben translated.

Letty laughed in delight, not a feminine, ladylike hand-over-mouth titter but a full out belly shaking chortle.

Ki Tae took a step back at the mirthful explosion but he smiled anyway at his soon-to-be-bride. Taking a step closer, he held out his arm like a courtly prince and said something.

“Are you ready to get married?” Ben asked.

Letty rested her hand in the crook of Ki Tae’s elbow and smiled. She knew she should say something witty and charming but only one word came to mind so she said it over and over.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

You can ease into the unfamiliar world of dramas through Shannon’s novella Flower Boy Tour Guide. Shannon’s giving it away as a gift to anyone who signs up for her newsletter. Newsletter sign-up link:

And if you’d like to read about another fangirl who finds romance in South Korea, check out the sequel Reality Show Romance available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

About the Author:

Shannon Kent is the pen name of Shannon Sue Dunlap. (You are correct if you assume the last name is a Superman reference.) Her penchant for happy endings began early, and she was thrilled to find more of these in the fun and flirty world of Korean Dramas. Her trip to their beautiful homeland offered many colorful experiences that she included in her two stories for the My Korean Crush Series, Flower Boy Tour Guide and Reality Show Romance. She likes to share her opinions with fellow fans under the pen name Dramarookie at the Dramas with a Side of Kimchi blog. Shannon has also released her first inspirational romantic suspense novel Decoy Valentine. 

Connect with Shannon on her Website; Goodreads;  Facebook 

Tasty Tuesdays–Sweet Summer Time Desserts from Jennifer Hallmark

Tags

Chocolate Cobbler, food blog, Homemade Ice Cream, Jennifer Hallmark, Jesse's Hope, Recipes, Summer Desserts, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays

Summer time growing up was full of memories, especially ones of the sweet variety. My Mom shared a birthday with our country on July 4^th and mine followed in August. A favorite we both loved to enjoy on our special day was homemade ice cream.

Nothing too fancy. Vanilla was good for me. And to spoon it atop Granny’s (Mom) chocolate cobbler made it a treat no one in the family could resist.

Both recipes are simple to make with a minimum of ingredients. They would be a recipe that I know Martha, the grandmother from my novel, Jessie’s Hope, would have made for her family, especially when the cousins and aunts and uncles were all over for a visit.

Check out Jessie’s Hope for a summertime Southern read, then invite the family over for cobbler and ice cream.

I believe you’ll enjoy the book and the sweets…

Vanilla Homemade Ice Cream

1 can of evaporated milk

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 ½ cups of sugar

2 Tablespoons vanilla

Whole milk

I mix the first four ingredients in my ice cream freezer tub, then add milk until I reach the fill line. A simple recipe for delicious ice cream.

Granny’s Chocolate Cobbler

¾ cup margarine

1 cup self-rising flour

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ tablespoons cocoa

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt margarine, pour into 13 x 9-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, milk, and vanilla together, then spoon over margarine.

Then take 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup cocoa and mix well. Sprinkle that mixture over batter. Pour 1 ½ cups of boiling water over it all. Don’t stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

While the cobbler’s baking and the ice cream making, check out Jennifer’s book…

Jesse’s Hope

By Jennifer Hallmark

Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith’s mobility. It also stole her mom and alienated her from her father. When Jessie’s high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, her parents’ absence intensifies her worry that she cannot hold on to those she loves.

With a wedding fast approaching, Jessie’s grandfather Homer Smith, has a goal to find the perfect dress for “his Jessie,” one that would allow her to forget, even if for a moment, the boundaries of her wheelchair. But financial setbacks and unexpected sabotage hinder his plans.

Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when additional obstacles–including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather–highjack Jessie’s dream wedding?

All Day Today (August 10^th) Jessie’s Hope is only 99 cents.

Jessie’s Hope on Amazon

About the Author:

Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction with a twist and her website and monthly newsletter focus on her books, love of the South, and favorite fiction.  

Jessie’s Hope, her first novel published by Firefly Southern Fiction, was a Selah Award nominee for First Novel.

You can subscribe to her newsletter here and visit her on Facebook and Instagram.

A Writer’s Garden–The Healing Garden by Christa MacDonald

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A Writer’s Garden, Christa MacDonald, flowers, Gardening blog, plants, Redemption Road, romantic suspense, roses, Sweet romance, the healing effect of a garden, tomatoes, vegetables

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 writer/gardener guest is Christa MacDonald who will talking about her garden and its healing and calming effect. I’m sure we can all relate. I know I can. Welcome, Christa!

Tomatoes in Grow Bags

It’s June and my garden is already overgrown. I have not been attentive this year. This is more of a problem than usual because I added two additional beds. Also complicating things, I decided to put my tomatoes in grow-bags. It’s my anti-blight experiment. For years I never had blight issues, but the last two summers have been pretty brutal so I’m seeing if the grow bags can solve it. So far, I’ve only seen the impact on my water bill. Yikes these things dry out quickly!

The roses have been outstanding this year. Is anyone else having a rose year to end all years? It’s a balm to my tattered soul.

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After a very rough few months managing a job heavily impacted by the pandemic, I went into this gardening year a bit ragged. This was followed by the sudden loss of my 17-year-old daughter, Eden, to an undiagnosed, asymptomatic intracranial brain hemorrhage. The shock, the struggle to save her and the devastation knowing we couldn’t has nearly finished me off. Grief is an angry ocean, and I am tossed about on its waves, struggling to keep my head above water. Sitting in my garden, especially in the evenings, is a way I’ve found to calm the seas. 

Gardens are healing places. I’m not sure if it’s being connected to God’s creation, the smell and vibrancy of life all around, or just the quiet and peace of it that does it. The garden offers a safe place to be your wounded self. Weeping is entirely acceptable with the plants, and so is staring off into the distance, lost in thought. And if you’re feeling the rage coming, take it out on the weeds. They won’t mind. 

Eden’s Rose

In my family, I’m the only gardener. Eden hated gardening, although she loved plants, specifically bright, vibrant, unusual ones. She even kept a moss terrarium up in her room. But the act of digging in the dirt, dodging bees (she was allergic to wasps), and dealing with the heat – not her thing. Every Saturday, though, we’d watch the BBC program Gardeners’ World together. I even planted a rose because it shared her name. 

As it happens, that rose was in the front yard and took a beating this winter. It looked close to death, so I transplanted it to my herbaceous border in the back. At first, things were looking grim, but it hung tough, and a few days ago, just after Eden died, the rose with her name gave me a bloom. It was as if the garden knew I needed to see that proof of life. I, of course, wept. 

But our family has something better than a bloom as proof of life after death. Eden was a child of God, saved by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Our souls are eternal, and it’s a comfort knowing that hers is with the Father. 

Sitting in my garden tonight, in the gloaming, I can’t help but think that those of us who garden, who hike forests, who farm, who seek out God’s creation, we are the lucky few. God is the original gardener; we are His apprentice. Time spent tending his creation is time spent with Him. What is more healing than that? 

About the Writer/Gardener:

Christa MacDonald is a lifelong gardener and writer living in New England despite its terribly short growing season. She’s the author of the Sweet River Redemption contemporary Christian romance series. All three books are now out on Amazon and the first in the series, The Broken Trail, is on audio at Audible

Connect with Christa on her Website.

Redemption Road

By Christa MacDonald

It’s redemption that he needs, and she’ll pay any price to help him find it.

As the new game warden in Sweet River, Alex Moretti is focused on enforcing Maine’s wildlife laws and little else. Moving from tragedy to a fresh start, all he wants is a way to fix his life in the tranquility of the north woods. Until he meets Annie Caldwell at Coffee by the Book. But his own bitter, dark life is a threat to Annie’s sweetness and light. It’s better for him to stay away.

Annie doesn’t know how to label her relationship with Alex, but she is determined to figure it out. After a few false starts and a kiss under the Christmas lights, their romance goes from fiction to fact. Annie has fallen hard. Then trouble shows up. Someone is stalking Alex, seeking to punish him for a mistake which ended in deadly consequences. When Annie becomes a target, he tries to push her away, but she won’t abandon him. Alex is desperate to keep Annie safe while he attempts to reconcile the past, but what he really needs is redemption. And she will risk her life to help him find it.

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–National Sing Out Day by Catherine Castle

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A Groom for Mama, Catherine Castle, essay about singing, Musings from a Writer's Brain, National Sing Out Day, singing, Sweet romance

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

May 25, (tomorrow) is National Sing Out Day—an unofficial fun holiday when people are encouraged to break out in song, belt out a tune, sing like a bird welcoming the morning sunrise.

You don’t have to ask me twice to sing. I’ve been singing ever since I was a toddler when my farmer grandpa and my dad taught me to sing “In The Garden”.  The old hymn was Dad’s favorite song. I still remembering them going over and over the same phrase I kept missing. Don’t remember that phrase, just the endless repetition of a measure of music when I just wanted to go on singing the rest of the tune. That first performance in a little country church hooked me on singing for the rest of my life.

Singing has always been second nature to me. When I was a teenager all I wanted to do was sing on stage professionally. That never happened, but I spent plenty of time singing anyway.

I passed the time singing while washing dishes as a teenager, and no, we didn’t have a dishwasher—my sister and I were it.  I sang in every choir I could get into: high school chorus, the elite high school singing group Studio choir, and the college women’s chorus. In the high school variety show, I sang “What’s it all about Alfie” as a soloist. I sang in the high school musicals in the chorus. While attending Cincinnati Conservatory of Music I sang in the city’s May Festival chorus, which was not my favorite thing since I had to travel downtown, alone, in a not-too-great-area of town after dark. I’ve sung in church choirs, and as a soloist, at all the churches I’ve attended. I’ve even sung in shopping malls at Christmas and as lunch-time Christmas entertainment at my daughter’s office. One of the most fun summer jobs I had as a teen was singing and playing my guitar for children in a summer school program. Although I never reached my dream of being professional singer, I even recorded a song that was played on the local radio show.

If it involved singing, I was there ready, willing and able. And, yes, I’ve even been known to sing in the shower. So, having found this fun holiday, you can bet I’ll be belting out a tune or two to celebrate.

If you’ve ever turned the radio on full blast to your favorite rock and roll songs, so you could hear it over the vacuum cleaner, and burst into song at the top of your lung capacity while sweeping the carpet, you probably know the uplifting and invigorating stimulus of singing. But singing has more benefits than just being fun. Studies have shown that singing can:

1. relieve stress
2. stimulate the immune response system
3. increase your pain threshold
4. help keep you from snoring
5. increase your lung function
6. enhance your memory (especially in people with dementia)
7. improve mental health and mood
8. help with grief
9. help improve speech among people with speech problems
10. and develop a sense of belonging and connection when you sing in a group  

Data from Benefits of Singing: 10 Ways Singing Boosts Your Health (healthline.com)

I can personally attest to benefits 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10. Singing praises in church always relieves my stress. I’ve been singing all my life, and I’ve got a high pain threshold that’s strong enough to drop a 16-pound bowling ball on my foot and then bowl three games afterward on a broken big toe.  I don’t snore—or so the hubby says. I’ll have to take his word since I can’t hear myself when I’m asleep. ☺ I’ve had to expel my breath for more than eight counts while singing a note and increasing the volume of the sound, and I haven’t passed out in the process—yet. I can still remember words to songs I learned in my youth, and I’m still memorizing new things rather quickly. Belting out a rock and roll tune from my teen years always puts me in a good mood, and I’ve experienced the camaraderie of singing with others who love to sing as much as I do.  

So, tomorrow, May 25, join me in celebrating National Sing Out day. Jump on the singing bandwagon and belt out your favorite songs. Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune. Just have a good time. Make a joyful noise and get ready to revel in the benefits and fun of singing. ♫

After you’ve exhausted your song repertoire, check out Catherine’s romantic comedy, with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama. Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

A Groom for Mama

By Catherine Castle

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

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.

Tasty Tuesdays—A Potluck Favorite from Judythe Morgan

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Fitzpatrick Family Series, food blog, green beans, Judythe Morgan, new potatoes, Potluck, recipe, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays, vegetables, When Love Endures

POTLUCK FAVORITE

There’s a church potluck scene in When Love Endures, which always makes me think about my favorite potluck dishes. These green beans and new potatoes are always a big hit. That’s why I chose to share with you today.

The recipe is an adaptation of how my grandmother and mother cooked green beans. You can also find dozens of recipes in Southern cookbooks or on food websites. But this one has family twists like cooking in chicken broth, using red onions, not white, and a secret ingredient—that dash of Worcestershire sauce. All of which give the green beans a flavorful taste.

I don’t think my mother or grandmother ever used a recipe. They simply washed and snapped the beans, quartered the new potatoes, and simmered on the stove all afternoon, filling the house with the most delicious aroma.

I usually cook our beans in my six-quart crockpot. They taste as wonderful as those cooked on the stovetop. I can tell you, folks gobble them up whenever I take green beans and new potatoes to church potlucks along with a batch of corn bread muffins.

Same as Nick pigs out on Sarah Fitzpatrick’s Zucchini cake at their church potluck.

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FRESH GREEN BEANS with New Potatoes

INGREDIENTS

6-8 slices of bacon, chopped

1 large red onion sliced

2-3 pounds of green beans, trimmed and snapped (can be left whole if desired)

8 small new potatoes, quartered or sliced

32 ounces chicken broth

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

Dash of Lea and Perrin Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS

Cook chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until evenly browned.

Drain the bacon pieces on a paper towel-lined plate.

Cook the sliced onion in bacon drippings until translucent.

Place cooked bacon and onions, green beans (snapped or whole), and quartered or sliced new potatoes in crock pot and cover with chicken broth.

Simmer on low heat until the green beans are tender. 6-8 hours. You can also cook in a Dutch oven on stovetop until done.

Before serving, sprinkle with vinegar, Lea and Perrin Worcestershire sauce, and pepper to taste and toss.

Yummy when serve with cornbread, rolls, or biscuits. It’s sure to become a family favorite and a hit at potluck meals.

FYI: All portions can be increased or decreased depending upon how many servings you want. Nutritionists recommend one cup cooked green beans per person. I find most people come back for seconds so I plan accordingly.

While you’re letting the green beans cook, check out Judythe’s  Fitzpatrick Family Series: Eight Preacher Kids Each with a Sweet Love Story of their own.

When Love Endures Fitzpatrick Family: Sarah

By Judythe Morgan

Sarah Fitzpatrick, pianist extraordinaire, gave up on true love when her high school boyfriend, Nick Stephens, ran off to marry his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

Nick’s daughter shows up in her music class eleven years later. One look at the man, and old dreams come back to life. She must find a way to keep the little girl and Nick out of her heart. She won’t risk losing everything again.

Nick Stephens has other plans. Sarah is, and always has been, the love of his life and he’s back in Burton, TX to prove it. But there are secrets Nick must keep, from Sarah and his daughter. Secrets that could destroy everything he hopes to build.

Can their second chance survive new secrets?

Want to read more? You can find When Love Endures on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Judythe Morgan traveled a lot as an Army brat then Army wife. She’s been a teacher, an antiques dealer, former mayor’s wife, and sometimes-church pianist. Mommy to an Old English sheepdog named Finnegan MacCool and a Maltese named Buster, there’s always a wild adventure brewing on their walks.

Her diverse experiences make her life full, her characters vivid, and her stories authentic and award-winning. Besides fiction, she writes a weekly blog at www.judythewriter.com  Sign up for her free newsletter at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ to keep up with her latest news and subscriber-only sneak peaks.

Connect with Judythe on Facebook: Twitter: Goodreads

Tasty Tuesdays–My Nan-Nan’s Special Coffee from Bonnie Engstrom…and a Giveaway!

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Bonnie Engstrom, Christian fiction, Clean fiction, giveaway, Natalie's Red Dress, recipe, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays

Nan-Nan and Pap-Pap lived in a small house on the back of our half-acre property. Pap-Pap and his son, my Uncle Jimmy, were master carpenters who built the small house so we could be close. As a child I often wandered to visit Nan-Nan, especially because I knew I would get a coffee treat. At eight years old coffee was a special big deal.

Nan-Nan had a special trick that I still use today when I make real coffee. Back then she filled a rose-patterned cup with lots of milk and then elaborately added coffee – probably two teaspoons! Plus a lot of sugar. Finally she took her kitchen salt shaker and shook it over the brew.

What she told me when I grew up and graduated to real coffee has become a ritual to me. Scoop the grounds into the filter. No there were no paper filters in her day! No electric coffee pots, either. But every night when I prepare my pot for the next morning I take a big pinch of Kosher salt and sprinkle it over the grounds.

Does it make a difference? Does it enhance the flavor of my Starbucks coffee grounds? I think so, but maybe it’s my imagination or embracing a memory. Try it. Can’t hurt. If you like it please say, “Thanks, Nan-Nan, for the tip.” Enjoy!

Coffee plays a big role in my CANDY CANE SERIES. Seven women meet at a Starbucks in Newport Beach, California where they pray for each other, and two of them fall in love there.

ABOUT THE CANDY CANES

Twenty years ago six high school freshmen in Newport Beach, California formed a swim team that became legendary. They won the state relay swim championship four years in a row. In addition to their skill and devotion to daily practicing, they prayed together and vowed to be sisters forever. Another thing that set them apart was they chose their own swimsuits making them a team within a larger team. They chose red and white diagonally striped swimsuits and thus, became known as the Candy Canes. They always will be.

There are nine books in the series. Each book is written as a standalone, although the stories begin when the women are in their twenties, they build on each other as the women progress in age. Each book touches on a social situation: abuse, alcoholism, interracial marriage, infidelity, serious disease. Finally, after being forgiven by Doreen for causing the accident that altered her life and her leg forever, Melanie is accepted into the group and has her own stories.

NATALIE’S RED DRESS is Book Nine, the final story in the series. It is about a life-threatening disease and a sensitive subject. Please read with an open mind.

Will Natalie, the one whose friends call “the tough girl,” overcome her fear with the help of her best friend, Melanie?

Maybe Alan’s impromptu proposal will boost her morale when nosy neighbor, Gladys, accuses her of being a loose woman.

Natalie’s group of friends, the Candy Canes, gather to pray for her at their favorite Starbucks and even have a silly, unconventional pizza party with crazy ingredients to cheer her up. But stubborn Natalie doesn’t cheer up easily.

Hoping a change of attire from everyday gym clothes to something fancy will calm her fears she goes on a rare shopping spree. The effusive saleswoman persuades her and she splurges on an elegant RED DRESS. So not Natalie! When and where would she ever wear it? Unless, maybe, she invites a special man to dinner. But will he accept? What if he really loves someone else? Could he love a deformed woman?

A SPECIAL SALE ANNOUNCEMENT!

The entire Candy Cane Series goes on sale next week for only one week as an eBook Boxed Set Collection for only $9.99. But you have to wait until Monday, April 26. Sign up for my newsletter so you will be sure to get the link. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Some readers like to read the last page of a book first. If you are a last-first reader and want to read NATALIE’S RED DRESS first it is on sale for $3.99 at Amazon

GIVEAWAY FROM BONNIE!

Have a read or a cuppa coffee on Bonnie!

“I would love to give away an eBook of NATALIE’S RED DRESS and a $5 Starbucks gift card,” Bonnie says.

To be entered in the drawing leave a comment for Bonnie on this post. The winner of the book and the winner of the Starbucks gift card will be randomly chosen from the commenters next Monday 11 p.m. EST. Winners names will be announced Tuesday in the comment section of Bonnie’s Tasty Tuesday post. Be sure to check back to see who wins these great prizes!

About the Author Bonnie:

I’ve decided I don’t like impersonal bios written in the third person. I would rather explain who I am since I know best who I am.

I am a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother who goes by the moniker Grammy. My husband and family are my life. But Jesus is first. He has led me down many paths from PTA volunteer, newspaper columnist, online prayer chain moderator and author. Each path has been lined with wonderful treasures of love. But the best path has been and still is the Grammy path.

I love the image in Exodus 17:12 of Aaron and Hur lifting up Moses arms. I am blessed to have many Aarons and Hurs holding me up when I get tired. To see six of mine and the one who has held me up for almost 56 years go to my website link below.

Life has taken me from Pittsburgh to Ohio to Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles to Newport Beach and finally to Scottsdale, Arizona living on a lake as I’d dreamed of for years.

Dogs are part of my life. Lola, the scruffy one, is on the cover of Melanie’s Blue Skirt. Lucy and Sam have cameo appearances in Cindy’s Perfect Dance and Melanie’s Ghosts respectively. Jake, our precious Min Pin on the cover of Connie’s Silver Shoes, is in doggy heaven. Sweet Arthur on the cover of Doreen Finds Her Groove was lent to me for the story by my friend Lisa. Sandy, the Golden Retriever on the cover of A Winning Recipe, is a characterization of Almond Roca, my friend Dorothy’s dog who jogged with me for many years.

Cats have always been important members of our family. Mr. Sunday was first. My mother named him because he came to our door on Sunday. Spats was a rescued laboratory cat when hubby was in grad school. He was super smart and could fetch and play tennis with a ping pong ball. Our kids had Licorice, Mudball who swallowed a needle, Dr. Pepper who insisted on jumping on all laps, and Aphrodite who lived to be 21 and a half. Our own children now have Blackey, Vader, Loco, Poco and Bingo – all black!

Now you know who I am. And maybe more about the stories I write. I hope you like the stories and will read them and post reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Please check out the links below to contact me. I love to hear from my readers.

Thank you for supporting my books!

Connect with Bonnie on her FB author page : Website/Newsletter sign up : Book Bub  and Amazon author page to see all my books: 

A Writer’s Garden–The Symbolism of Flowers by June McCrary Jacobs

Tags

A Writer's Garden, flowers, Garden blog, June McCrary Jacobs, Robin's Reward, spring flowers, Sweet romance, symbolism of flowers

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 writer/gardener guest is June McCrary Jacobs who will be sharing some of the flowers in her garden and the symbolism behind the blooms. Welcome, June!

I have loved flowers since I was a child. In the summer between fourth and fifth grades I used my allowance money and bought some pansies to plant in a barren flowerbed in our backyard. I spent a good amount of time weeding and watering that small patch of a garden. I enjoyed nurturing the plants, and spending some quiet time in my special area. I was really proud to take a picture of the flowers to send to my Grandma McCrary who lived two thousand miles away in New Orleans. I even wrote a poem about the pansies and typed it up on a 1950s typewriter. It’s in one of my scrapbooks somewhere . . .

These days I plant and cultivate a whole host of beautiful blooms on our property. Gardening continues to bring me peace during uncertain times. I never tire of the surge of joy I feel when I look out the window and see God’s handiwork a few feet beyond.

I have always been fascinated with the symbolism behind flowers, and I would like to share with you some photos of my garden flowers along with various words which describe what the flowers symbolize. A link pack of the sites where I found these descriptions follows at the end of the post.

Camellia:  A symbol of the transience of life

–White:  ‘You’re Adorable’  

Pink:  ‘Longing for you’

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–Red:  ‘You’re a Flame in My Heart’ 

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Crocus:  Symbol of the Resurrection, heavenly bliss, and youthful gladness.

Daffodil:  The promise of eternal life, regard, unequalled love, rebirth, honesty, truth, and forgiveness. 

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Iris:  Royalty, wisdom, hope, cherished friendship, valor, and respect. 

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Peony:  Happy life, romance, marriage, bashfulness, and an ardent love of God.

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During my research, I found a couple of biblical references to some of the above flowers:

Crocus or Meadow Saffron — Isaiah 35:1

Narcissus or Jonquil — Matthew 6:30

Do you find peace and solitude in your garden? Please share with us about your favorite flower and its symbolism.

If you’re interested in learning more about the symbolism found in your garden, here are a few sites for you to enjoy:

https://thesecretlanguageofflowers.wordpress.com/tag/christianity-and-flowers/

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/keep-tulip-flowerbed-98015.html

https://www.csu.edu.au/special/accc/biblegarden/plants-of-the-garden#R-Z

https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g2503/surprising-flower-meanings/

https://fieldofflowers.com/about-us/flower-meanings/

About the Writer/Gardener:

June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing’s 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, ‘A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom’. ‘Robin’s Reward’, a Christian contemporary romance, is set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the ‘Bonita Creek Trilogy’. The second book in this series, ‘Jorie’s Journey’, is set to release in 2021. June’s Christian historical romance short story, ‘Handmade Hearts’, was inspired by the true story of how her aunt and uncle met in New Orleans during World War II.

June’s debut middle-grade novel, ‘RES-Q Tyler Stop’, an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, was released in the spring of 2019. As a retired elementary school teacher and literacy mentor, June found writing for children to be a rewarding and challenging experience.

June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred and forty books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade plus. In 2019, June began publishing her sewing designs in sewing pattern e-books. She currently has fourteen patterns for home décor, children’s stuffed toys, gifts, and other items for sale in the Kindle Store.

When she’s not writing, reading, blogging, designing, or sewing, June enjoys gardening, cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.

Connect with June on  ‘Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic’ Author’s Blog:  Facebook: Pinterest:  Goodreads:

ROBIN’S REWARD

by  JUNE McCRARY JACOBS

Bonita Creek’s librarian Robin Bennett is heartbroken after being abandoned by her husband, Thomas. The mysterious and handsome Jeff Clarke arrives unexpectedly and touches Robin’s life with his wit and warmth. Then, without warning, Jeff’s harsh words and abrasive actions scare her off, and Robin’s hope of finding true love withers again.

Just when it seems Robin and Jeff might have a future, Susan Stinson, whose cruel taunting has plagued Robin since they met as young teens, decides Jeff should be hers, not Robin’s. Susan’s anger and jealousy escalate dangerously. Her vindictiveness threatens the foundation of Jeff and Robin’s young relationship.

Robin’s journey through the peaks and valleys of her life meanders along the twists and turns of new challenges. Is a relationship which began with both parties harboring secrets destined to survive? Can they move past their troubles and the obstacles in their path to find love and happiness together? When their pasts rear their ugly heads, Jeff and Robin must use their faith to remain strong and true. But will it be enough for them to embrace a life of love, trials, and blessings . . . together?

©June McCrary Jacobs, 2015.

 ROBIN’S REWARD is available on AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE