conclusion of The Barabbas Trilogy fiction MD House

 

The Barabbas Legacy by M.D. House

Christian Historical Fiction Trilogy

Imagining Life of Barabbas Concludes in New Book

April 2022

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$12.49 print

362 pp

Christians around the globe are preparing for the upcoming Lenten season and the celebration of Easter in a time that is frightening and uncertain for many. In many places Christianity itself is under attack, as is the right of people to freely worship. In this season of reflection and spiritual preparation, what better story to contemplate than the lives of the early church leaders, who spread Christ’s message at a time of great peril and persecution?

In The Barabbas Trilogy,  M.D. House has imagined the life Barabbas went on to live after being spared his sentence of death in exchange for Jesus Christ. His journey has intertwined with those of many of the apostles, including Paul, Peter and Luke, as they sacrificed everything to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

Now, author House concludes the story of Barabbas’ life in the final chapter of the trilogy, TheBarabbas Legacy, which follows Barabbas and his wife Chanah as they continue their evangelistic mission across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire.

About the Book:
In this poignant capstone to the trilogy, the man called Barabbas—infamous former thief, murderer and prisoner turned Christian—and his wife Chanah continue their mission of spreading the gospel across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire. Nero is increasingly erratic, and it’s only a matter of time before the sharp knives of imperial politics finish him off. Various successors vie for position. Who will strike first, and who will come out on top?

Meanwhile, the rebellion in Judea has intensified, the Jewish zealots exerting great influence over the minds of the people. General Vespasian and his son Titus aim to put a permanent end to the insurrection. How many lives will ultimately be sacrificed on the great altar of Jerusalem? Can the Jewish nation survive the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy? What will become of the Jewish Christians and the apostles and sisters who lead them? And where will Barabbas and his family find lasting peace?

Read an excerpt from Chapter 1
Emperor Nero sat in the first chair to his right, furthest from the audience. Manius had reported on a recent visit that Nero was becoming more paranoid by the day—not just of the people, but of the senators, the Praetorian Guard, his generals, and most of the Roman nobility. Cornelius pitied him sometimes. Thrust into the role of emperor at sixteen by his mother’s murderous machinations, he had probably never coveted the position. What right-minded man would? The knives were always out. Always.

Many of those knives were aimed at Cornelius now. He sighed deeply, just as Nero left his chair and took a position a few feet in front of Cornelius, facing the audience. It was commonly known that a younger Nero had aspired to be a thespian and perform on stage, especially in such a grand theater as the Marcellus. That innocent youth had likely never envisioned this scenario.

“Fellow Romans,” he began in a rich, dramatic baritone. He was nearly thirty, no longer young. He had married at least twice, and one of his wives was dead. So was his mother, on his orders. The apostle Paul had connected with a piece of Nero’s soul, but Paul was not here. Nor was Peter, who had sacrificed himself for the Church. Nor was Barabbas, as far as Cornelius could tell. If he had arrived, he would have announced himself immediately at the home where Cornelius had been loosely confined.

“We have proven our mettle through fire and rebirth. Rome is strong, and will become greater still. But to do so, we must have order. We must have loyalty. We must all do our duty to the empire.”
 
It had the beginnings of a fine political speech. Nero’s oratory skills probably comprised a large part of the reason he still lived.
 
“This man”—he twisted to his left and gestured elaborately toward Cornelius—“was once a decorated, highly respected centurion, a man of resolve and action, a soldier true to the laws of Rome and her people.” As he squared himself again to the crowd, he spread both arms wide. “Now he favors strange gods above Rome, above her emperor, and above her true gods. He has helped Paul of Tarsus escape justice, and he has sought to weaken the influence of Rome across the world.”
 
Nero offered no facts to support his last claim, but because Cornelius had publicly admitted to helping Paul escape—and also because Nero was emperor—nobody would challenge the assertion.
 
“The question,” continued Nero, “isn’t whether Cornelius of the Italian band has betrayed Rome, but to what extent, and what his punishment should be. I will withhold that judgment until we have heard a few words in his defense.”
 
Cornelius watched in mild surprise as Senator Aviola rose from the front row and ascended the stage. Nero returned to his seat. Cornelius had expected someone else to be assigned to his defense—someone who couldn’t truly represent him, and wouldn’t care to. One of the occupants of the other nine chairs, none of which held him in any regard. Having Manius speak would be a boon … unless they had somehow gotten to him. A steely knot of dread formed in the pit of his stomach.
 
Senator Aviola didn’t look at Cornelius as he took his place and faced the people. The knot tightened and grew cold.
 
“Wise Roman citizens,” he began, “I am not here to spin fanciful tales, or to rob justice of her full due.” Cornelius nearly groaned aloud. “I will speak truth to you, in honor of all that is good and noble in your hearts and minds.”
 
He paused a moment, gripping the front of his rich, senatorial robes, trimmed in purple and red. He could be almost as dramatic as Nero, which had served him well, too.
 
 
About The Author
M.D. HOUSE is the author of The Barabbas Legacy, as well as the first two volumes in The Barabbas

Trilogy, I Was Called Barabbas and Pillars of Barabbas. He also authored the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star.  Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, Michael lives in Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren. Learn more about Michael and his work at www.mdhouselive.com.
Learn more about M.D. House and The Barabbas Legacy at www.mdhouselive.com.
The Barabbas Legacy is available on Amazon.

Author’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/LiteraryThunder
Author’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/real_housemd

Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly debut historical fiction

 

Obedient Unto Death

Liisa Eyerly

Christian historical fiction

March 22, 2022

CrossRiver Media

355 pp

 

$15.99 Print

$4.99 Ebook

 

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About the Book

Christians under the rule of Emperor Domitian walk a lethal tight-rope between evangelism and martyrdom.  Sabina, a young Christian widow, knows this better than most, her Roman magistrate father is sworn to uphold the decrees of Rome and arrest any Christian who refuses to worship the Emperor.

     Her separate worlds collide when a young scribe is murdered at a house church, and her pastor confesses to the crime. With his execution imminent, Sabina sets out to prove his innocence, but to do so she must defy the laws banning her faith, and step beyond the privileged and sheltered world she has grown-up in.

     When a pagan idol is found hidden in the dead man’s robe, she soon discovers the life of this faithful scribe is anything but simple. Dogged by the scribe’s brother demanding justice for the death, they begrudgingly agree to join forces. They uncover fragments of a burnt scroll leading to the underworld of a mysterious Gnostic sect. The closer she gets to solving the murder, the more she endangers her family, the security of her Christian community, and her life. Can this collision between faith and Roman law bring anything but disaster? 

 

My Revew

Eyerly’s debut is a deeply moving mystery set in an exotic location during treacherous times. In ancient Ephesus, a death at a forbidden Christian worship service rocks the early church. One of the worshippers happens to be the daughter of the Roman magistrate of the cosmopolitan Greek city. Sabina is not willing to call her friend Benjamin’s death an accident or the will of God, and uses her unusual upbringing as the lonely daughter of a single father who raised her to challenge myth and tales through the lens of practical stoicism and facts.

 

Obedient Unto Death is a fascinating mix of faith and life in ancient times, told in a way that brings Ephesus to life. Readers walk with Sabina as she defies the Romans, the Ephesians who want to ban the Christian sect, other secret sects, and even her family and friends to get to the truth behind the death of a rising leader in her church.

 

Told through Sabina’s eyes, this inspirational story set during the era of the early church will keep you turning pages as she uses the four days her father gives her to unmask the real murderer or watch their congregation’s pastor die for the crime. Sabina finds Benjamin’s brother dodging her steps as he, too, is on a quest to find his brother’s killer, as well as learn more about his life. Colorful characters from Sabina’s cool, classic Roman father to her nurse to church members who all seem to have some sort of secret people this un-putdownable book. Standalone, but with future stories to come, readers who enjoy mysteries in any era will find much to love about Obedient Unto Death.

 

About the Author

Liisa Eyerly is the author of two Christian mystery novels set in ancient Ephesus. She is a retired elementary teacher and school librarian but will never retire from inciting the thrill of reading in all ages.

She has lived in some of the most beautiful areas of the U.S. The passion for exploring new places and connecting with people began there and inspired her writing. Her publishing career started after getting married, teaching, raising three children, opening a small business, closing her small business, and finally getting serious about writing. Check out her blog at www.liisaeyerly.com

Love Stumbled In with Nancy Bolton

 

Love Stumbled In by Nancy Shew Bolton

In the midst of tragedy and uncertainty, love stumbles in.

Inspirational Romance from Prism Lux, November 13, 2020

172 pp

About the Book:

In the years of World War I and the flu epidemic that followed, American society and its people underwent profound changes. Carrie and her adopted family are not spared these changes and tragedies, yet what can they do but continue on the best way they can? As Carrie comes of age, she is faced with a future very different than the one she hoped for. She gave her heart, only to have it returned back to her and now she must search herself to find a new direction or give in to the temptation to simply give up and let circumstances dictate her life.

Judd has spent his young adult years coping with the aftermath of war injuries and profound family losses. With no time to grieve or recover, he is thrust into the role of family head and pours himself into steering his brothers and Carrie to adulthood while also seeing to the needs of the family farm. Like Carrie, his losses have caused him to grow cold towards God, leaning only on himself to bear the weight of his responsibilities. The pressure has forged a resolute hardness in him and an unwillingness to be close to anyone. The life journey of both is in need of new direction, if they will choose to take a chance and step toward it.

Enjoy this Excerpt:

Her mind wandered back to days spent with Mama, watching her cook, and sharing the small triumphs while she learned. Memories warmed her and loosened her tongue. “I wish she could know how good I am at it now. With her gift for pies and cake, and mine for bread, maybe we could’ve run a bakery together. That would’ve been wonderful.”

Lucas rumbled out an indeterminate sound. “Two women running a bakery? Never heard of that.”

Carrie’s wistful, nostalgic mood shattered. How backward. Was Jesse the only man in this family with any foresight?

Quenching a sharp retort, she kept her voice airy. “It’s the twentieth century, in case you forgot. Women can do pretty much anything these days. Vote, get a job. Why, I read a story the other day about women policemen in California.”

Lucas sputtered out a laugh. “You just called them policemen. Wouldn’t they be policewomen?”

She scowled at his smirking expression. “Ha-ha. You know what I mean.”

About Nancy: Nancy Shew Bolton is a wife, mother of five grown sons, and grandmother to a boy and girl. Ever since she learned to write, she would jot down her thoughts and impressions in little snippets of inspiration in the form of poetry, song lyrics, or short essays.

Social Links: 

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Amazon Author Page

Group Blog

GoodreadsPage

Facebook Page

Books webpage: https://nancyboltonbooks.com/

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At 50% off: Love Stumbled In : Pelican Book Group Christian Fiction, Illuminating fiction

Healing Faith by Pamela Gossiaux

Healing Faith

Pam Gossiaux

June 20, 2020

Tri-Cat Publishing

$4.99 Ebook

$14.95 Print

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About the Book

A heartwarming story about trusting in your heart, even when it has been broken. By international bestselling author Pamela Gossiaux!

Faith is believing in something when the outcome seems impossible…

Rachel Walker’s husband left her for another woman, her parents are disappointed in her, and she is struggling with her job as a child psychologist. The only place she feels valued is at Three Hearts Ranch, the equine-assisted therapy center where she volunteers. It’s her safe space from the world.

Until Christopher Adler walks through the barn door. 

Christopher Adler is the only survivor of the attack that took the lives of the other men in his Humvee in Afghanistan.  Several years later, he has left a string of bad relationships and buried himself in a bottle until one cold night when he met God. Now, trying to turn his life around, he seeks help for his PTSD at Three Hearts Ranch. But he wasn’t counting on Rachel Walker – the girl he had hurt in high school– to be assigned as his therapist. 

Rachel detests Chris, and working together isn’t an option. But then Faith, an abused palomino mare, is brought to the farm. As they try to save her, old feelings resurface, and they start to question whether wounds can be healed and hearts restored. 

My Review

I love it when a story makes me cry. I’m not even a pet person. Gossiaux’s latest western Michigan-based horse therapy tale is much more than light romance. She touches on the very real trauma of adult-onset PTSD, as well as unfortunate consequences of teen angst and parental dysfunction. We all have choices, but sometimes I wonder what God is doing when He gives us enough room to…you know.

Rachel Walker is a psychologist whose specialty is working with children by day in a clinical setting, and volunteering on the side at an equine therapy center. The horse farm, her safe haven, grounds her when life overwhelms even the toughest human. Rachel’s friend/boss Gretchen at the clinic has given Rachel a lot of latitude to work out the lifelong anger that’s pretty much ruled every choice she’s made. Stemming from a devastating let-down in high school, Rachel has blamed every bad development on the one person who left her out to dry. But when that person, Chris Adler, shows up again a dozen years later and needing her help professionally, she faces more impossible choices. Now, Rachel’s boss/friend Kim, owner of the horse farm about to go under from potential financial ruin, isn’t about to let Rachel wiggle out of a responsibility to use her talent to help others. Especially when she’s Chris’s only hope of regaining a functional life.

When these lost and hurting souls team up to bring a special rescue horse named Faith back to face the world, they learn together that even if they can’t find a way to fix everything and everyone, a greater Presence will always have their backs.

Told in alternating viewpoints from Rachel and Chris, this story encompasses great love and the value of forgiveness no matter how hard it is to let go of anger, assumptions, and particularly the expectations we place on those we love. Beautiful story, well told, and highly recommended for those who enjoy chewy redemptive books.

About the Author

Pamela Gossiaux is the international bestselling author of the Russo Romantic Mystery series, the romantic comedy Good Enough, the YA novel Ordinary Girl, and the inspirational books, Why Is There a Lemon in My Fruit Salad? How to Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour, and A Kid at Heart. She is also a keynote speaker, freelance writer, and teaches writing workshops. She lives and writes in Michigan near a wonderful university town with her husband, two sons, and three cats. Visit her website at PamelaGossiaux

new contemporary Christian romance from Pam Gossiaux

Finding Hope by Pamela Gossiaux

TriCat Publishing, 231 pp, May 12, 2020; available after May 26 on BN

$4.99 ebook

$14.95 print

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About the Book:

An introverted horse-whisperer, a famous equine artist, and the mare who brings them together.

Tori Reynolds has never liked the term “breaking” horses to ride. Instead, she earns their trust, and can climb aboard a wild mustang the same day she meets it. Her farm, an historic bed and breakfast, sits along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in the small town of St. Ives, and her life as a B&B owner and sought-after horse whisperer is pretty much perfect. Until a visit to New York City changes everything.

Matt Cheval is a handsome, nationally-known artist. When Tori steps into his Manhattan art show, she unexpectedly finds herself and her horse in his paintings. Angry and frightened, she is now faced with the memory of a day she has spent years trying to forget.

Tori flees back to the security of her farm and the comfort of her horse, but Matt follows to apologize for a wrong he isn't sure he knows how to fix. Torn between anger and her growing feelings for Matt, she wonders if she has wrongly judged this sensitive artist. Maybe some wounds can be healed.

But when tragedy strikes, will their hope in the future, and their faith in God hold their relationship together? Or will they lose each other forever?

My review:

Finding Hope is for horse-loving, artsy romantics everywhere. Set primarily in Michigan’s windy upper west coast, an artist and a B&B hostess never forgot their perfect day. Except she was married horse trainer and farmer, and he was getting his art career underway.

Four years later, things have changed drastically. Tori, farm B&B owner, now widowed an author of several books on horse training, and Matt, the painter, have hit new highs. Tori is stunned to find herself and her beloved farm the as-yet-unidentified subject of Matt’s most famous traveling art show when she runs across him in New York where she’s come to demonstrate horse training and sign books. The mystery woman and her horse become a hot topic in the five-minute limelight world of the insatiably curious public, and when Tori’s worst nightmares come true, both Tori and Matt’s worlds fall apart.

Told in alternating points of view, Finding Hope is a story of healing, both from the past and from present wounds, and learning to forge new paths with the ones we can trust. Lovingly framed by Tori’s beloved horse, Hope, the characters learn to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, especially through the lens of their Christian faith.

Horse lovers and painters, and those who enjoy Michigan’s historic west coast will enjoy this sweet romance with a slight twist in the happily-ever-after.

About the Author

Pamela Gossiaux the international bestselling author of the books Ordinary Girl, Good Enough, Why Is There a Lemon in My Fruit Salad? How to Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour, and A Kid at Heart: Becoming a Child of Our Heavenly Father, as well as the highly acclaimed inspirational Russo Romantic Mystery series.

Pamela has been writing and working with writers for several decades. She has a dual BA degree from the University of Michigan in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature, and over 20 years of journalism writing experience. She teaches writing workshops and has been the editor for published books in a wide variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, including best sellers.

An avid horse enthusiast, she enjoys being outdoors and working in her garden. She also loves chocolate, and prefers to curl up with a good book in her downtime. Pamela lives in Michigan with her husband, two sons, and three cats. Visit her website at PamelaGossiaux.com.

Brooke Williams and Mamarazzi

Mamarazzi

Brooke Williams

Audio book

Print: 171 pp

Romance

Pelican Book Group, 2015

Ebook $3.99

Audio $19.99

Print $12.99

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About the Book

Danica Bennett isn't sure what she hates more...her job or the fact that she's good at it. As one of the many Hollywood paparazzi, she lives her life incognito and sneaks around trying to get the best shot of the latest star. When she is mistaken for an extra on a new, up and coming TV show, her own star rises and she becomes the one in the photographs. Add that to the fact that she's falling for her co-star, Eliot Lane, and Danica is in a whole heap of trouble.

My Review

Secrets layered on secrets layered on rumors and the glitter of Hollywood greed frame this story of a young woman trying to make her way in the world. As a photographer after her mother's fame, Danica Bennett bides her time and talent while building an undercover reputation as a paparazzi, one of the insidious interlopers who would do anything to get a candid photo to sell to the public. When she wandered onto the backstage of a new television show, she's mistaken for an extra, and one thing leads to another, including a mutual attraction and growing relationship with the megastar of the show. Danica's agent is the only one who knows the truth of her identity as the popular paparazzi nicknamed Mamarazzi and demands a photograph that would rock even Hollywood. When Danica learns a dearly-held secret, misunderstandings begin to weave a cruel web.

Danica's naiveté and innocence is the only thing that keeps her from falling into the depravity she abhors. As Danica's star rises and even her cousin crawls out of the woodwork to ask for favors, Danica comes under pressure from her agent who will spill her secret if Danica doesn't come through. As Danica learns what it’s like to be the one who's stalked by paparazzi, she realizes the enormity of the damage paparazzi can do. Coming clean has a high price. She wonders what could be left if she tells the truth.

About the Author

Brooke Williams is a former radio announcer/producer and script writer turned freelance writer and author. When Brooke's first daughter was born in 2009 she left her full time radio career to stay home. Eventually, she realized she could fulfill her lifelong desire to write while her daughter napped and she then entered into the freelance writing world. As her business grew, she took on clients from all over the world and began to dabble in fiction writing once again. Brooke has several books on the market including romance, thrillers, and romantic comedies. Get details on all of Brooke's releases on her website: AuthorBrookeWilliams.com

Uncharted Promises by Keely Brooke Keith

Uncharted Promises, book 8 in the Uncharted series

Keely Brooke Keith

January 1, 2020

191 pages

Edenbrooke Press

Ebook $4.99

Print $13.95

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About the Book

Sybil Roberts uses the warmth of delicious meals to lift the spirits of road-weary travelers at The Inn at Falls Creek. Her life at the inn would be perfect if she could just get her brothers and mother to move back home.

And if she could see Isaac Owens again.

He visited the inn once when he interviewed for the farm manager job, and she’s dreamed of his return to Falls Creek ever since.

Isaac Owens knows how to run a farm. His family might not have faith in him, but if he succeeds at Falls Creek, he’ll prove them wrong. He arrives at the inn thinking the job is his, but the inn’s senile owner offered the position to another man too. Isaac must spend the winter competing if he wants to win the job… and Sybil’s heart.

It will take more than warm meals on cold nights for Sybil and Isaac to find love while working at the isolated inn.

My Review

The more readers immerse themselves in Keith’s near future world, the more at home we feel. Returning to Falls Creek, not quite a community but more than a crossroads, is a comfortable place to be, even if the residents and guests sometimes cross over the lines between friend and foe. A parent sadly slipping further into dementia causes an uproar when he makes an apparent mistake in offering the same farm managerial position to two different people. This confusing order results in overriding his oldest daughter’s authority in running the family inn, and his youngest daughter Sybil’s future happiness, not to mention the young man in question, Isaac’s, sense of self-worth and desire to test his ability to make and stick to a plan for the future.

Guests both purposefully visionary and with criminal intent come and go to the inn at Falls Creek. One decision by the elders of the Land to declare the resident families a village and accept an overseer, a stranger to the area who will serve as leader and pastor, pushes many to face their anxieties as they defend their way of life.

Keith’s latest addition to her series explores the hopes and fears of the family of innkeepers in the Land; from the patriarch who must pass along the inheritance and break with tradition, to his youngest daughter who must grow out of her idyllic schemes to force everyone in her life to live up to her childish memories of perfect happiness. When Isaac must leave to attend to a family matter, he promises to return. But Sybil only knows that those who leave Falls Creek rarely return.

Told in alternating personal viewpoints between Sybil and Isaac, Uncharted Promises reunites old friends and new in this slice of life of people struggling to create and maintain a perfect, peaceable society. Fans of the series, and those who like a blend of near-future romantic inspirational tales with a twist will enjoy Uncharted Promises.

About the Author

Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a futuristic twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist).

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. She grew up in a family who moved often, which fueled her dreams of faraway lands. When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys teaching home school lessons and playing bass guitar. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

Jody Day and Joy Express

Book 3 in the Express series

The Washout Express, 2013

The Wedding Express, 2016

Joy Express
Pelican Ventures LLC, Harbourlight Books
November 8, 2019
Christmas inspirational fiction

$4.99

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About the Book:

Nearly a year has passed since Scott and Bailey’s Christmas wedding. Now they are expecting joy in the form of twins! The day arrives for the opening of Barkley House, a missionary retreat provided by Bailey’s inheritance, but an unspeakable evil descends upon Bailey as she awaits...

Shocking revelations accompany Bailey's ordeal. Will she ever find joy again?

My Review:

The third book in the series set in Texas, in this story we are re-introduced to Bailey and Scott West, and literally come in the middle of frightening action and dreadful secrets.        

Told in alternating first person, Bailey and Scott, who married a year earlier, are expecting their first baby…babies…like, any second. Complicating the matter is Grandpa Brown, on the lam with embezzlement charges on his head and serious anger issues, has a strange way of “just trying to talk” to his oldest daughter for the first time in twenty years. There’s much more to his story, and Bailey comes to learn just how dark the world can be, but also how big her heart can grow. With Bailey at such a desperate place, Scott fears not only for her, but worries over his own abilities to be the husband of strength and faith she can rely on.

As we come in the middle of a traumatic event, references to friends and family, an inheritance, settlement, and a dedication of a missionary retreat are somewhat vague in the early going. I recommend reading the stories in order to get the full picture.

Joy Express is a sweet, detailed episode in the Wests’ lives as Bailey faces peril and then she and Scott learn about parenthood and reliance. Set during Bailey’s favorite time of year, Christmas, Joy Express is a warm Texas holiday treat of a read.

About the Author: I am an author who looks at life through love-colored glasses. My passion is inspiring people to live a life that embraces who they are in Jesus Christ. I write poems, articles, devotionals, and novels from West Texas, where I am President of the Fort Stockton area writers group called Critique Café. I am a member of ACFW and Faithwriters.com. My debut novel, Washout Express, and the sequel, Wedding Express are published by Harbourlight Books/The Pelican Group. My poems and articles have appeared in Mature Living, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Christiandevotions.us, and EveryDayPoets.com. I'm published with Pelican Ventures under the imprints of Harbourlight and White Rose.

Christmas romance from LoRee Perry

Christmas ’Couragement

LoRee Perry

Audio version

December, 2016

Pelican Ventures Holiday Extravaganza ebook

$3.99

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About the Book

Liam once approved of helping others, but not anymore. He lost his mother due to a crazed street person, and he's hardened his heart. Now a successful photographer, he's returned to set up shop in his hometown--directly across the courtyard from his sister's best friend. Zoe runs an outreach center and encourages the homeless and needy, especially at Christmas. Nursing a soft spot for Liam that started as a girlhood crush, she sets out to help him by creating her unique brand of encouragement cards. Her hope is to reignite the fire and love for Christmas and God, which Liam once had. The cards and ornaments countdown to Christmas, but what if Liam doesn't want to be one of Zoe's projects? What happens when her crush grows into something more? What if they both receive more than expected?

My Review

Opening in the past, youngster best pals Zoe and Meredith put their youthful faith in action by crafting beautiful Christmas cards for the downtrodden of their hometown, Lincoln, Nebraska. The girls have their own traditions and secret codes, including a special word, ’couragement, a two-fold term meant to instill courage as well as inspire encouragement. Fast forward to adulthood. The pals have lost touch. Zoe has grown up, but harbors a dark secret she covers with an unshakeable faith and service, still to those in need in her home community.

When Zoe spies her kid crush, Liam, Meredith’s big brother, returned to Lincoln, she soon learns he has as much need of her special brand of ‘couragement as those who don’t hide their neediness.

Liam sees Zoe for the first time as an adult and realizes she holds the key to his broken spirit, but he strongly disapproves of her open door service to the down and out and needy. Zoe does all she can to restore his faith, but can she get past his walls? Sharing the events of her life, the good and the dark, since he and Meredith left Lincoln, is one way to reach him, and so are the Christmas cards and ornaments she gives him that explore the gospel through holiday traditions.

As Liam’s despair lifts, he still struggles with Zoe’s work until one day he’s given cause to change his heart.

I listened to the audio recording of this story. The male narrator used a softened voice when reading the female characters which was a distraction. Just reading naturally would have been fine. Throughout this book, the author reveals the stories behind our US Christmas traditions. Her holiday tale is highly inspirational with many prayers and Scriptures. Zoe is a wonderful role model, if somewhat naïve, and puts her faith in action. Recommended for those who love very sweet, religious romances.

About the Author

Christian author LoRee Peery wrote fiction for many years before her first novella was published in 2010. She smiles as she remembers that initial contract arrived on her birthday. She thrills at the writing process when ideas, words, or character voices resonate in her mind. Jotting notes in the middle of the night or trailing toothpaste across the floor on her way to pen and paper, get her pulse pumping. She often notices character quirks and conversation while she’s out and about, and is invigorated when she spends time outside.

LoRee is drawn to reunion stories for two reasons. She believes God is a God of second chances, and the past often needs to be dealt with before anyone can move on in life. Moselle’s Insurance is her first publication, where Frivolities is a crafty, kooky shop in a small fictitious Nebraska town. Her Frivolities Series and other publications are available from Pelican Book Group.

The Waiting by Carol James

The Waiting

Carol James

January, 2019

White Rose, an imprint of Pelican Ventures LLC

Ebook $5.99

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About the Book

When Katherine Herrington was a teenager, she made "The List" and believed God would bring her the husband she desired. That faith helped her to keep life under control just the way she likes it. But then Katherine loses her mother, her job, and her boyfriend, and after years of praying, she accepts the probability that God's answer is, "No." 

A professional soccer player, Sam Tucker has lived the life of a celebrity in the UK only to discover that, despite all the wealth and fame he has acquired, his life is empty. He returns to the one place where life last had meaning, and goes in search of the one woman he's loved since he was a teenager—Katherine. He wonders if she'll remember him after all these years... And fears she just might.

As God weaves together a rejected proposal, a mission trip, and a devastating storm to turn their hearts toward Him and toward each other, Katherine and Sam will have to let go of their fears, find forgiveness and trust, and realize that their future together was worth the wait.

My Review

Yes, I needed tissues at the end, which is saying a lot since at the beginning I really didn’t think I was going to like these people. They were too…realistic. I like my take-me-away fiction to take me away from all that. But I was compelled to follow these two oddball people in The Waiting, which is not Amish fiction, by the way; just really sweet and wholesome even with some pretty significant tension. Hence the reality part; hence the tension.

I am accused of not letting my characters out of the bag of life when I choose to let them exercise self-control and not use sex for recreational purposes. I think it’s awkward to forcedfeed vicarious lifestyle choices on others without opportunity to make choices and changes. James’s characters, Katherine and Sam, are certainly flawed, but modernly appropriate. Katherine is so wound-up following rules she made for herself, in being so regulated that she forgets to stop and enjoy life. Sam, the professional athlete with a self-realized dream life, wakes up alone one day and realizes his life is one meaningless mess, lived for all the wrong reasons. When these two hook up, you want to cheer for them. They have issues to deal with, of course. And they frustrated me, but in a good way. This is a romance, so of course it has a given outcome, but this is one journey readers of romance will enjoy.

Told in multiple perspectives, this lovingly created romance hits all the right highs and lows.

About the Author

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Retired from her "real" job, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, volunteering at and serving on the board of a nearby Christian school, and serving in the production department at her church.

She is also a soccer fan extraordinaire and keeps her DVR busy recording Atlanta United and English Premier League games.

And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

New from Carol McClain on Stinking Creek

About the Book:

NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM STINKING CREEK

Alone, again, after the death of her fiancé, abstract artist Kiara Rafferty finds herself on Stinking Creek, Tennessee. She wants out of this hillbilly backwater, where hicks speak an unknown language masquerading as English.  Isolated, if she doesn’t count the snakes and termites infesting her cabin, only a one-way ticket home to Manhattan would solve her problems.

Alone in a demanding crowd, Delia Mae McGuffrey lives for God, her husband, her family, and the congregation of her husband’s church. Stifled by rules, this pastor’s wife walks a fine line of perfection, trying to please them all. Now an atheist Yankee, who moved in across the road, needs her, too.

Two women. Two problems. Each holds the key to the other’s freedom.

June 21, 2019

Humminbird Press

$2.99 ebook

$12.99 print

Buy on Amazon https://amzn.to/2Xxxc4w

Buy on Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2KwEFNq

A brief interview with the Author:

Tell us about the theme of your novel.

The themes of A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek are nothing is as it seems and little difference exists in any extreme.

The five-year-old twins Macie and Dixon are mischievous, good-hearted children. They wander where they shouldn't, and thus, they run into snakes, fall into ponds and develop a strong friendship with the main character Kiara who supposedly hates children They can't believe she's an atheist, doesn't know how to pray, and doesn't go to church. Such oddity for a grown-up.

Macie loves Kiara's dreadlocks and tries to make her own. When her father forbids her from making a dreadful mess in her own hair trying to make it look like Kiara's, she practices on his beard. Macie wants to be an abstract artist just like her neighbor.   

What do you hope readers will tell others?

When the reader finishes this novel, she'll understand the fine line between extremes. She'll see, beyond a few inconsequential differences, the North and South, as well as the extremely conservative Christian and wild atheist. The two are more alike than different.

We can't judge superficially.

I hope to immerse the reader in the sweet and simple world of Stinking Creek, Tennessee. They'll laugh and cry and demand a sequel. 

What are you reading now?

Currently, I'm reading Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It's a clean, secular read about a burned-out teacher who unexpectedly finds himself taking two young boys on a road trip with him. Their father's jailed and had begged August Schroeder to take his boys while he serves his sentence. It's a compassionate, contemporary novel--my favorite genre.

What’s next for you, Carol?

As for me, the summer offers family visits and gardening and the world outdoors. I'm developing my marketing skills and planning my next novel where a woman discovers three neglected children whose parents overdose and die. The opioid epidemic in Campbell County is brutal. I want the reader to see its devastation.

About the Author:

Author Carol McClain is an eclectic artist and author of four books. Her interests vary as much as the Tennessee weather-running, bassoons, jazz, stained glass and, of course, writing. She's a transplant from New York who now lives in the hills of East Tennessee with her husband and overactive Springer spaniel. She is the president of ACFW Knoxville and the secretary of the Authors Guild of Tennessee. In her "free time" she teaches life skills in the local jail and supervises student teachers for WGU.

Deadly Decision by Regina Smeltzer

Deadly Decision

Regina Smeltzer

Harbourlight Books, a division of Pelican Ventures LLC

c. 2014

Christian Supernatural

Contemporary Ghost stories

Paranormal Romance

$4.99 eBook

$16.99 Print

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Amazon

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Publisher

About the Book

Bill Iver didn't expect anything more than hard work when he offered to help his daughter and son-in-law restore their rented historic South Carolina home, but then he sees two boys in the attic--and his hand passes through one of them. Bill has always believed that being absent from the body meant being present with the Lord, but if that is true, what did he see? And why does the boy dressed in 19th century clothing look familiar while the second boy, dressed in jeans and sweatshirt, look like the missing grandson of the house's owner? What is the connection between the two boys--and Bill? Hesitant to share his experience with his pastor, but consumed with the need to understand, Bill seeks a worldly explanation which leads him down a trail of decisions that are deadly to body and soul. Through the mire, he must undo the consequences of his choices, discover what his visions mean, and uncover an age-old mystery that will bring closure and reconciliation.

My Review

I confess I like scary stories, though the occult and demonology, not so much. While Smeltzer’s story contains elements of the above, those elements did not overwhelm the story. The driving force was supernatural. There is a difference. I also like being surprised, and while Smeltzer had me wondering which side of truth I might end up on, I enjoyed turning pages to follow the adventure.

I also confess Bill, the narrator and main character of this adventure, was not my favorite person. However, the author made him so real that I forgave him his foibles, even if I don’t want him for a close friend. It takes skill to weave a backstory into the present in a way that doesn’t feel like a report, and this Smeltzer did with aplomb. There is a reason for every character’s need to accept the challenge of a quest, and a familial, generational dream was an excellent prompt. On the other hand, using obvious secrets between characters to drive tension was uncomfortable. Other readers may certainly feel different and get a kick out of watching the interplay among family and friends, especially as Bill blunders along, trying to figure out how to be a heroic superdad, yet allow his heart to open.

This tale of misconceptions, age-old family history and a spooky house was fun. Told in first person through the main character’s eyes, readers who enjoy highly inspirational reading that explores some difficult truths behind Satan being alive and well on planet Earth will appreciate a good shiver from Deadly Decision.

About the Author

Regina Smeltzer writes Christian fiction that reflects God's love for us, his creations. A member of the SCWW and ACFW, she has won the Writer's Digest short story award and was named a semi-finalist in the Genesis Competition. She has served as a public health nurse and college professor for more40 years. She and her husband have four children, who have given her five grandchildren. www.ReginaSmeltzer.com

Holiday Read Mistletoe MixUp

Mistletoe Mix-Up

Jody Day

From White Rose, an imprint of Pelican Ventures LLC

A Christmas Holiday Extravaganza novella

$2.99

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About the Book

Mistletoe Mix-up - Evan Edwards faces another lonely Christmas in the dorm. His mom is on her fourth, or maybe it's her fifth, honeymoon. A rain-soaked ad promises free room and board in exchange for holiday decorating. Evan jumps at the chance to spend Christmas in a cozy home. The owners won't even be there until Christmas Day, so he'll have plenty of time to practice their piano for his graduation recital. He heads for Candle, Tx. Across the street, Rise' Larkin, also home from college for the holidays, has some bad news for her widowed father.

As Evan and Rise's friendship grows, Evan wonders if he might have a future with a family of his own. Evan realizes, nearly too late, that he's been living in, and decorating the wrong house! Will this crazy mistletoe mix-up ruin his Christmas, or possibly, even his future?

From the Author

Tell us why Mistletoe is part of your Christmas story.

Honestly, the theme of this story is a super crazy mix-up at Christmas time, and with a hint of romance, Mistletoe was the logical choice.

What would you like your readers to know about Christmas after reading your story?

Evan has retreated into his music to hide from his sad life. Music is the only thing that has never let him down. His one experience with church was a disaster. I hope readers will learn through Evan's experience in this book that God loved him all time, even when Evan didn't know him, and that God has a purpose for his life.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Our family has a tradition of coming over to decorate my tree. Even though all six children have their own households now, they still come, along with 14 grandchildren, to deck the halls. My husband serves his special red hot punch, and jalapeno cheese roll. One day we'll have decorations above the bottom half of the tree, but in the meantime, it's so much fun.

About the Author

Jody Bailey Day writes inspirational fiction from her home in West Texas. She is the author of the

Washout Series from The Pelican Book Group. She enjoys her job at the local library, and when not working or writing, can be found crocheting candy corn action figures to go with her children's book Yellow Bottom Bob, spending time with her grandchildren, or watching silent movies with her husband of 33 years.

Introducing Joanne Otto on tour with her new books

Write Now Literary Book Tours is pleased to be coordinating a book tour for author Joanne Otto. This is a two-month book tour for her books: The You-Song and Daughter of Jerusalem. This tour will run June- July, 2018.

                                 
 Introducing Joanne

Joanne Otto is a lifelong student of the Bible who has taken four exciting tours of Bible lands and done extensive research, including numerous courses. She has taught foreign languages and English and more recently, as an academic language therapist, has helped dyslexic children strengthen their reading and writing skills. Also a music lover and amateur pianist, she especially enjoys accompanying singers. 

 Website: http://joanneotto.com/

About the Book 

The You-Song celebrates, in a way young children can understand, the unique and vital place each of us occupies in God's world and encourages them to fill their place in it with joy. Written by a teacher who's helped many children overcome reading challenges, "The You-Song" is user-friendly, consisting of words that are either familiar or easy to decode. Lavishly illustrated with nearly 50 heart-warming photos, it's also fun to read aloud to pre-readers.

Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction                                                                                                    

About the Book

Daughter of Jerusalem" takes its 21st-century readers on a journey back to the first-century world of a young rabbi named Yeshua—better known to us as Jesus. Mara, the young heroine of this story, gets to mingle with the crowds who come to hear him teach during his visits to Jerusalem and, finally, to meet him face to face in a brief, life-changing encounter—one that comes at no small cost to herself. For middle-grade readers who want to use the book as a springboard for deeper study, there are Bible references and questions on each chapter, as well as a glossary. For others, the story itself will be the full journey. 

Genre: Christian Fiction

Purchase Link: http://amazon.com/author/joanneotto 

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