Great new summer read from Mary Felkins

This I Promise You by Mary Felkins

The Heart of Moreland Manor prequel
Contemporary Christian Romance
Gardenia Press, May 2022, 186 pp
Ebook $2.99
Paperback $12.99

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About the Book:

What if finding your heart’s desire means entrusting it ... just once more 
... to the one who broke it?

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ADELYN ORMOND should not have been surprised when she was jilted at the altar.

Promises are meant to be broken.

When her supervisor tasks her with galvanizing support for a local food bank, she directs her energy toward the underprivileged in her community—some of whom are her own students. Problem is, the responsibility requires her to involve CELEBRITY CHEF BRYAN J. CARLYLE, her almost-husband whose participation assures great results.

For all his success, Bryan hasn’t come up with a recipe for how to be restored to his family. Doesn’t help that abandoning Adelyn threatens to spoil his reputation and ruin his career. But when he encounters hungry children scrounging for food behind his restaurant, Bryan agrees to get behind Adelyn’s worthy cause. The collaboration might shed light on the incriminating image he’d discovered minutes before the ceremony—her lip-locked with another man after the rehearsal dinner.

With much on the line, can Adelyn trust Bryan to make good on his promise—without risking her heart? Will the love that led them to the altar be the key ingredient for reconciliation? Maybe. But his absence on the big day to which he’d committed might be beyond forgiveness.

About the Author

Mary A. Felkins is an inspirational romance author, blogger, and contributor to writer’s blogs and online publications. Her debut novel, Call to Love, is set in Hickory, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband. They have four young adult children. She is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and My Book Therapy. 

Her purpose in writing is to reclaim God’s intention when he created the world–to enable readers to know his heart and experience his love.

The unmerited gift of a large, unopened bag of Peanut M&Ms® will lure her from her writer’s desk. A surprise appearance by her teen idol, Donny Osmond, would also do the trick—although she’d likely pass out.

Upon introduction, if she likes your first or last name, expect to see it show up in one of her novels.

To receive Mary’s story-style devotions, quarterly author newsletter with giveaways, and/or launch team opportunities, subscribe via email on her website, www.maryfelkins.com

Mary A. Felkins’ books on Amazon https://amzn.to/3cxll0d

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryAFelkins
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A Brief Interview with the Author:

In This I Promise You, I enjoyed writing a modern-day twist on Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, and his willingness to forgive his offenders. The redemption of family is a theme I often include in my stories. It was a joy to bring the hero’s tragic backstory to life and give him the closure he’d been longing for.

This book features a theme of love in action, seen primarily in fund-raising efforts for a food bank that supports New Orleans parishes and practical assistance to the least of these.

The offer of a pineapple was inspired by a real situation between two brothers in Christ in our church who were in conflict. Motivated by the Spirit, one humbly offered a pineapple to the other as a peace offering. It was a joy to include a fictional representation of this real-life event and weave Biblical narrative into it.

Currently I’m collaborating with the editor for book #2, Sweeter With You, in The Heart of Moreland Manor series contracted with Elk Lake Publishing Inc. Estimated release this December.

I’m currently reading Runaway Saint by Lisa Samson and A Far Way to Run by Lori Altebaumer. Intriguing reads!

My hope is that readers will tell others how This I Promise You inspired them to love in action over words and that forgiveness covers a multitude of sins!

Mary Felkins debut fiction Call to Love

Call to Love

Mary A Felkins

Pelican Ventures LLC

Inspirational Romance

November 2019

3840 pp

$5.99 Ebook

$28.99 Print hardcover

$ Audible

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About the Book

Tracy Cassidy a self-reliant ER nurse has to choose between pursuing her dream job in another city or staying to help support her mother's faltering ministry...even if it means falling in love with the kind of man she said she'd never marry.

Tom Delaney a hyper-vigilant cop and single father to an adolescent son and is happy to keep his wounded heart protected behind his Kevlar. But he can no longer deny his growing love for Tracy. Problem is she's not looking to be the community's next cop widow. Like her mom.

In order to free his heart to answer God's call to love again he'll need to dump the years of bitterness he's carried toward his ex and offer her forgiveness. And should the call come to pursue Tracy's heart, will he answer?

My Review

Mary Felkins’ debut fiction is a romance filled with twists and turns. The story opens on a surprise and just keeps going through a maze of traps and walls blocking the path to the peaceful and joyous respite at the center.

When a career medical woman is willing to leave her childhood home, her family, friends, and boyfriend since high school for a risky new position, you have to guess she’s running from something. Tracy is not only fed up with being passed by for a promotion at the hospital, she has a secret that she refuses to let interrupt her plans to stay independent. She’s never needed anyone or anything, to the point that she’s not interested in sharing her life or her house or her heart.

Career cop Texan Tom Delaney moved his teenaged son out of San Antonio for a new job in North Carolina. He’s out to prove himself the best of the best, even if it means butting heads with a fellow officer who already claimed the spot. But Tom has to wrestle with more than his self-determination when he crosses paths with a woman who refuses his help in his official capacity as a policeman. When her brother sets them up in the role of handyman and homeowner who needs repair work, sparks begin to fly. Even Tom’s son Stephen feels it and does all he can to help his dad find a new wife.

Both Tom and Tracy have issues of faith and ego to deal with during their lengthy, tantalizing warm and cool relationship. Tom has to decide how much he wants to help Tracy leave, and Tracy must come to terms with her pride when life throws her another curve.

Call to Love is a faith-filled tale on the old-fashioned side where adults are still referred to by Mr and Miss, and morality is taken seriously in spite of the mistakes we make. Second chances and forgiveness are at the heart of this love story.

Told through Tracy and Tom’s interweaving viewpoints, readers of chaste inspirational romance will enjoy following this contemporary love story between two hard-headed lovebirds. It’s a romance filled with a lot of internal quick choppy insider comments that may take a bit of time to adjust to reading. A favorite quote comes near the end: “Living alone on Tracy’s island…had lost its appeal. Courage to risk her heart in love breached her lead apron.”

About the Author

Mary A. Felkins is a contributor to writer’s blogs and on-line magazines. She also publishes a weekly story-style devo on her website. Call to Love is her debut inspirational romance. Raised in Houston, Texas – and forever a Lone Star girl – she and her husband Bruce moved to the foothills of North Carolina in 1997. They have four (adolescent to young adult-sized) arrows in her quiver. She can be lured from her writing cave if presented with a large, unopened bag of Peanut M&Ms. A surprise appearance by her teen idol, Donny Osmond, would also do the trick, though she’d likely pass out.