Thursday, August 30, 2012

Unseen

It looks like John Hileman has done it again. I was amazed at the storyline he created in Messages, just right on the edge...could it possibly be true. Well, he's created another story that is just so incredible that it makes you wonder...and just when you think you've got it figured out, he throws this gentle curve that makes you see everything just a little bit differently.

It's a great story! Check it out!

Blurb:

Life for Jake Paris is stable and ordinary--until a mysterious old woman pays him a visit and he begins to have encounters with unruly children everywhere he goes—children only he can see.

When Jake's estranged sister, Holly, finds herself the target of a national serial killer who has chosen her son as his next victim, Jake begins to wonder if there is a connection. Could these children be the ghosts of the killer's victims?

As the kidnapper's plan unfolds, Jake uncovers a startling secret about the unseen children that will change his life forever--and Holly discovers just how far she is willing to go to save her son. 

Unseen is a riveting story of rescue, restoration, and romance that will leave you thinking long after the last page has been turned.

"Prepare to have your core shaken, heart squished, and emotions rocked."
~Amazon Reviewer

"Suspenseful, thrilling, and thoroughly engrossing to the very end!"
~Amazon Reviewer
My Review

This is a wonderful story, very well written! The characters are great, well developed, and the story is beautiful!!! John Hileman is a master story teller and keeps you wondering until he puts the puzzle pieces in place. Very well done! Great story!

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/UNSEEN-ebook/dp/B008WCHCHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346377186&sr=1-1&keywords=unseen

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Miracles & Mischief

Well, here she is again, folks, Mary Manners! I don't know how she does it! Story after story just rolls out of her...and they're always so good! Look up the word prolific in the dictionary and I'm sure you'll see Mary Manners' name right there as a definition!

But as I said, I'm never disappointed, so as soon as I see a new one, guess what I'll be reading next! So here I was, just checking what's new from my favorite site, Pelican Books, and what to my wondering eyes should appear...but a new one from Mary. So let's check it out!

Blurb:

NFL running back Nate Saylor is the best in the league, a star in his own universe…until a brush with the law tarnishes his career. When his agent suggests he sign on with the Moments for Miracles Foundation, a charity organization that grants wishes to kids with life-threatening illnesses, Nate agrees with a half-hearted shrug, never expecting to be contacted. As the offseason begins, he retires to his property on the outskirts of Mill’s Landing, secluded from the press…and fans that are so quick to judge.

Shayna Grady is a single mom struggling to stay afloat financially while tending to the needs of her son, Zac, who’s been struck with childhood leukemia. A bone marrow transplant is Zac's only hope for survival, but a match has yet to be found. While they wait, Shayna plans to see that Zac’s special wish is granted…to spend a day with his hero—NFL running back Nate Saylor. Though Shayna has reservations about pairing her son with the player whose blistered more than his fair share of negative headlines, she writes a heartfelt letter to the Moments for Miracles Foundation, pleading for their help.

Shayna’s letter—and her love for her son—are a pick-six to Nate’s heart. He finds himself longing for more, but is it too late to grant Zac’s wish…and to prove to Shayna there’s more to him than newspaper headlines reveal?


Excerpt:


“Nice headline, huh? And get a load of that photo.”

“Let me see that.” Nate gasped as he scanned the print beneath a snapshot of him sporting a pair of handcuffs while he was loaded into the backseat of a police cruiser. The bold-print, oversized font screamed at him.

Playoff disgrace, Nate Saylor, arrested for assault following devastating loss.

“That jerk at the restaurant deserved to get his clock cleaned.” Nate tossed the paper aside. “Besides, one dropped pass and I’m a disgrace?”

“You were in the end zone, and the pass did land right in your sweet spot.” Stan pinched the bridge of his nose as he slowly shook his head. “And the touchdown would have launched the team straight to the Super Bowl.”

“Don’t rub it in. I’ve relived that moment I don’t know how many times during the past twenty-four hours.”

“I’ll bet. You look like you haven’t slept a wink.”

“How could I…with this hanging over my head?” He crumpled the paper. “It’s ludicrous.”

“Well, whatever we think now, the damage is done. There’s no point in rehashing it.” Stan took a roll of antacid tablets from his shirt pocket and popped one into his mouth. “Besides, you know how the media suffers from a love-hate relationship with the NFL, especially during playoff season.”

“As for the rest of it—what happened after the game—they’ve got it all wrong.” Could it get any worse? A flush of heat curled up Nate’s spine as his temper flashed. “They’re missing half the facts.”

“Thank goodness for that.” Stan chewed, swallowed, and slipped a second tablet into his mouth. “Should have bought stock in these.” He tucked the roll back into his pocket.

“You know it didn’t go down that way, Stan.” Nate leaned forward in the chair. “Off the field I don’t go around provoking people.”

“Of course, I know that.” Stan picked up the pen he’d tossed and jotted a note on the desk blotter. “But it doesn’t matter. Like I said, the damage is done.”

“Well, it matters to me.”

“Regardless…we have a mess to clean up. I got a call from Worldwide Sporting Goods. They’ve dropped your contract.”

“What?”

“That’s not all. By lunch, Pro Fitness did the same.”

Blood rushed through Nate’s ears as his pressure rose. “Can they do that?”

“You broke their image clause, Nate. They can do whatever they want.”

“I should call them and explain.” Nate reached into his pocket for his cell phone. “Once I tell them how it really went down—”

“No!” Stan lunged across the desk, toppling his foam coffee cup. Muddy brew splattered file folders. “Give me your phone.”

“But I can make them understand.”

“Understand what, Nate?” Stan grabbed Nate’s cell phone. “That the star running back for the Tennessee Titans had a meltdown after an embarrassing playoff loss and managed to get himself arrested?”

“I didn’t have a meltdown. I told you, I was—”

“Tell it to the judge, Nate.” Stan removed the battery from the phone and slipped it into one pants pocket. The case went into his other. Then he reached for a tissue and began to mop up the spill. “Take a breath before you dig a deeper hole.”

“It can’t get any deeper.”

“Oh, I assure you it can.” Stan lobbed the soiled tissue into the trash can.

“So, what am I supposed to do?”

“We did get a third phone call…one you might want to consider.”

“Tell me more.”

“Have you ever heard of a foundation called Moments for Miracles?”

“Nope.”

“Well, they’re interested in you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“They grant wishes to critically ill children.”

Nate sat back in the chair, resting his hands across his knotted belly. “You mean, kids who are going to die?”

“Some of them—most of them—will.” Stan nodded. “But the rest…”

“I don’t think I can handle that.”

“You don’t have a choice, Nate. You need damage control, and this is just what the doctor ordered—no pun intended.” Stan shook his head. “Besides, doing this might lead to a breakthrough of some sort for you, which can only be a good thing. If you don’t let go of the past, it’s eventually going to consume you.”

“You know what I’ve been through, Stan, as far as that goes. This whole mess…well, you know where it started.”

“That’s my whole point, Nate.” He picked up the pen and twirled it in his fingers. “Yes, I know. I was there, remember?”

“Then, you should know better than anyone that I just can’t do what you’re asking.”

“Yes, you can do it.” Stan tossed the newspaper into Nate’s lap. “Go home, Nate, and keep your nose clean. I’ll contact the director of Moments for Miracles, pull some strings, and orchestrate a measure of damage control.”

“I can fight this battle without your meddling.”

“No, you can’t. You’re in too deep, Nate. Trust me on this.”

Nate tossed the newspaper back onto the desk and raked a hand through his hair. Could he trust Stan? The two had been friends for years before entering into an agent-athlete partnership. Nate’s gut roiled as the ESPN ticker tape continued to flash news of the previous night’s escapades. From the look of things, he didn’t have much of a choice. Right now, Stan was his lifeline. “OK, I’ll let you deal with it.”

“Good. That’s why you pay me the big bucks.” Stan slipped the newspaper back into the file drawer. “Pack a bag, Nate, and head back to Mill’s Landing. Relax and enjoy some down time, now that the season is over. Just promise me you’ll stay out of trouble.”

“I can manage that—if you keep the press away.”

“I’ll do my best.” Stan nodded. “In the meantime, why don’t you catch up on a bit of reading?”

“What type of reading?”

“The type that will help screw your head back on straight.” Stan handed him a soft-cover book. “It’s a devotional. I have a copy of my own, and I’ve read it cover to cover. You should do the same.”

The words stabbed Nate. He had been caught up in the season, but this run of bad luck with the press was the wake-up call he needed. Maybe. He slipped the book into his jeans pocket. “Thanks.”

“I’ve got you covered.” Stan nodded. “Now, go home. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”


Review:

What a wonderful story! Be ready with a box of tissues, though, I've got to warn you. This one is a tear-jerker. Ms. Manners covers a sensitive topic with a very light hand showing her Christian heart to all the world through her characters.

Shayna, is a wonderful mother, striving only to be strong enough for Zac to count on no matter what happens. 

And Nate is a kindhearted soul, surprising even himself sometimes with the depth of his feelings for this mother and child.

If you like a sweet romance that tugs at your heartstrings, this is a good one!


Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband and teen-aged daughter. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.

During the school year, she teaches middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. In her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees.
Visit Mary at  www.marymannersromance.com

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Catch Your Breath

Welcome, Kathryn! Thank you so much for stopping by with your latest romantic suspense story. It's wonderful! I don't know how you do it. I can't imagine all the planning that must have gone into this story. You had me in the dark until the very end. Nice job!

Check it out!

Blurb:

Calley Regan only wants to get through her cousin’s bridal shower without anyone discovering her secret—she’s pregnant. Her sanctimonious family would never understand. Then the one person she confides in happens to tell the incredibly handsome, but seriously uptight, sheriff, Riley Owens—who’s just given her a speeding ticket! How can she trust the brooding, inflexible lawman when he’s everything she’s not? Riley Owens is instantly attracted to Calley Regan, but it won’t come to anything. For years, he’s lived mired in guilt, and carefree Calley is his polar opposite. But, when someone attacks Calley, Riley is determined to protect her no matter what it takes, and when her family deserts her, he takes Calley into his home. Years ago, he couldn’t save the woman he loved. He’s not about to let that happen again.

Want to hear more? Let's take a peek!

Excerpt:

A blue Nissan Versa whizzed by. According to the radar it was doing sixty-five in the fifty-mile-per-hour zone. Riley, thankful for the distraction, switched on his lights and siren and pulled out behind it. Less than a mile up, the car jerked into the parking lot of Fred’s Diner, the local greasy spoon. It pulled into a spot at the front of the building. Riley used his car to block the vehicle from backing up. A dark haired woman jumped out of the driver’s side door.

“Stop right there.” Riley placed his hand on his holster holding the Glock he carried as he emerged from his vehicle. The brunette didn’t look dangerous, but you couldn’t be sure.

“I need to use the restroom.”

“You’ll have to hold it until I get finished.”

“I can’t.” Her hands trembled when she wiped her forehead.

“Too bad.” He wrote down her plate number and called it in. The name on the registration information read Calley Regan of Atlanta, Georgia. From the DMV photo, she was the brunette. There were no warrants out for her. Riley figured there was nothing to worry about from the lady, but he’d keep his guard up just in case.

“Good morning, Sheriff. What’s new?” Dolly Swenson strolled up behind him. Dolly, a waitress at Fred’s, must have been arriving for the opening shift. The diner was opened for lunch and dinner during the week. It opened for breakfast on the weekend. She lived just a block down and usually walked to work. “Oh, she’s a pretty one.”

Riley’s jaw tightened. “Doesn’t matter how pretty they are if they’re breaking the law.” He pulled his ticket pad from the console in his car.

“You really need to learn how to have fun, Riley. A smart man would find out if she’s married, and if not, ask her to lunch.” She headed to the woman standing beside the car. “Don’t let the old curmudgeon bother you. He sees everything in black or white.”

Calley Regan nodded her head and glanced to the road she’d been on. The concern on her face redirected Riley’s attention to the street, but no one came or went.

“I need to see your license.” He walked up and joined both women. A glance in the driver’s side door showed a bottle of water in the console and a pack of opened saltines on the passenger seat.

“Can you write the ticket while I go inside?” Calley handed the license to him. “I promise I won’t crawl out the bathroom window.”

“This’ll take just a minute,” he said. Riley wrote up the ticket for speeding. “Sign here.” He passed her license back. Dolly continued to watch, obviously disapproving, if her hands on her hips were any indication.

Callie let out a heavy breath and swallowed hard. Her face was pale and sweat covered her forehead. Her hands shook as she signed her name.

“Are you on something?” That would explain her almost paranoid search of Plaskett Drive.

She rolled her eyes. “Prenatal vitamins. And if you don’t let me go in, I’m going to throw up all over you.”

“I suggest you listen to her, Riley,” Dolly said with a laugh. “I know how bad morning sickness can get, and when you need to hurl, there’s no stopping you.”

Riley looked into Calley’s hazel eyes. “I would think if it were that bad, she’d have stopped sooner. Besides, what kind of a mother drives like a maniac and puts her unborn child at risk?”

Calley took a step toward him. “Why you patronizing son of …” She lurched and turned to the side. Not far enough. She threw up on Riley’s polished black boots.

“She warned you.” Dolly placed an arm around Calley’s shoulder. “Come on, dear. Let’s get you out of this heat.” She paused and turned to Riley. “If you need her, she’ll be inside with me. I can’t imagine at this point you’d have a problem with that.”

Dolly didn’t wait for an answer. She led Calley into the diner out of Riley’s view. He shook his left boot. The smell was rancid. He almost thought she’d gotten sick on purpose. That was fine with him. He tore the hefty ticket from the book and slapped it on her windshield.


Review:

LOL I love it!!! And that's just the beginning, wait till you read the rest! This story is full of wonderful moments that will make you laugh, or smile, or cry. Ms. Bain certainly knows how to wring the emotion out of her characters and make you love or hate them!

Callie is a sweetheart and you'll just want to wrap your arms around her and help her through everything she's dealing with. You can't help but want to protect her from some of the people around her from both the past and present.

And Riley, well, he's a lot more than the strong silent type. Although he's that, too. But Callie certainly brings out the best in him!

I loved the twists and turns in the story - really threw me a couple of curves. Well done!


Kathryn J. Bain has been writing for over ten years now. She has two daughters, one a professional photographer, the other a student the University of West Florida. She is the President of Florida Sisters in Crime and the Public Relations Director for Ancient City Romance Authors. She enjoys critiquing for the new members of American Christian Fiction Writers. To survive and pay bills, she has been a paralegal for approximately twenty years and works for an attorney who specializes in guardianships, probate, and estate planning. She moved from Idaho to Jacksonville, Florida in 1983 and has lived in the sunshine since.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Lezlie's Lifeline

Well, hello again, LoRee. Nice having you back so soon! I hear you have a Dollar Download at Pelican Books - from the Frivolities series! What a deal! And this one sounds so heart wrenching. Love and trust, and loss and second chances all rolled into one. Sounds like a winner to me!

Blurb:

Lezlie Diamond and Jordan Marshall meet again after a disgruntled husband accuses Lezlie of allowing his wife to die. A night security officer at the hospital, Jordan sees Lezlie home safely. Her nervousness tells him she’s holding something back.

Jordan was devastated when Lezlie disappeared from his life sixteen years ago. Now she’s back and he discovers her secret: the birth of their son. How can he ever trust her again?

The two loves of Lezlie’s life unite. The teen immediately forgives his mother for her secrets and wants to know his father, but dare Jordan follow their son’s example and grant Lezlie a second chance?

Excerpt:

Lezlie Diamond waved her hand in front of the automatic door sensor and rushed through. The swish gave way to a rustle of clothing, and something solid hitting the door.

“You didn’t get the d
octor in time. I told you my wife was in trouble.”

Car, pedestrian, fatal. I tried.

“Sir, this is a restricted area.” Her heart thumped in her ears. She stopped all forward motion. “Let’s go back to the nurse’s station.”

“It’s your fault she died.” Mr. Hanson used heated hand gestures to accent every word.

The accusation mentally zapped Lezlie into the patient’s room, where the dreaded nightmare event happened moments earlier. The silence had screamed they were too late. Silence except for the flat-line beep. No one breathed. Then, at her “Code Blue!” command, organized chaos ensued. She’d grabbed the crash cart herself. As a team, they attempted CPR, Auto External Defib, Epinephrine, Endotracheal tubes.

Nothing saved the patient.

We can’t revive everyone. God has His say when it comes to life and death.

Back inside the public area, she leaned against the counter above the nurse’s desk. When she caught sight of a night security uniform at the end of the hall, Lezlie drew in a sigh of relief. Desk personnel must have called.

“Mr. Hanson, I am so sorry,” she said to the shocked and grieving husband.

With fisted hands on his hips, one corner of his mouth twisted low. “Save it. You let my wife die.”


Buy link: http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/lezlie-s-lifeline

Review:

Great story, LoRee. I love your characters. Jordan is a wonderful man who leans on God in ways we all hope to in real life. And Lezlie, full of human weakness, has learned to allow God to do the leading in her life - even when the way is unexpected and a bit frightening. Although the story is short, I really enjoyed it. Nice job!


About the author:


A lifelong Nebraskan, LoRee Peery has lived most of her life in the country, where she feels grounded in her sense of place.  She learned to read when she was four and has devoured books since. She values one-on-one time with her grandchildren and loves time spent with other writers.
LoRee clings to the word overcomer and the knowledge she has victory in Jesus. When she considers being set apart as a child of God, she is humbled. She feels closest to the Lord when she worships through singing. And one thing she’s sure of: “Jesus loves me, this I know. And He will never let me go.”

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The Wisdom Tree

Welcome, Mary! So nice to have you back! And thank you so much for sharing this sweet story! I love your characters. They're just so real! I can't help but wonder if your student's antics aren't reflections of some of your real students! LOL Well, Mary's not telling, so if you hear a little of yourself in there you'll just have to keep wondering.

Blurb:
Sometimes the last thing we think we need is exactly what God has planned. 

After the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his plate—including a fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger brother to raise. The last thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to contend with.

Carin O'Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an English teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns as King of Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in love with a man...especially a handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s brother Jake.

But when Corey's antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan for them.

Excerpt:

She tucked a stray curl behind one ear and trained those pretty green eyes on him. “I need to speak with the pastor of this church. I was hoping you could help me locate him.”
“Maybe I can.” Jake leaned lazily against the mower. She was neat and tidy, all business, while he stood sweaty and covered head to toe in mulched grass that had been swept up on a breeze. Maybe it was the heat, or her smug expression, or perhaps the fact he was in a bit of a foul mood and only human, after all, but he decided to have a little fun. “Which pastor are you looking for—youth or senior?”
“I…um…I don’t know.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, gnawed for a moment and then let go. “I didn’t think to ask. I suppose he must be the youth pastor. Senior pastors tend to be older, I assume.”
Jake stifled a groan. She’d conveyed the typical sentiment. By all accounts, he should be a balding, stooped over, crotchety old man. The thought raised his ire even more. “Well, the youth pastor stepped out for a while. Meetings and planning sessions…you know how pressing church matters can be. Was he expecting you?”
“No, but…I was hoping to speak with him, confidentially.”
The disappointment in her gaze caused Jake a slight prick of guilt. His voice softened, and he remembered why he was here at the church in the first place. “Is what you need to speak about an emergency of some sort?”
“No!” Carin emphasized the word. “I mean, no, I wouldn’t want to worry him. It’s not pressing. I just need to…” The words died in her throat.
“Are you sure it’s not an emergency?” He couldn’t leave her hanging if it truly was a pressing issue.
“Sure, I’m sure.”
Jake debated. It wasn’t an emergency, and she’d be back in a day or so if he played his cards right. Then he wouldn’t be in a hurry to get Corey, and he’d have all the time in the world to talk with her—a better prospect, all the way around.
“Tell you what,” Jake coaxed. “Why don’t you come back Sunday morning for the ten o’clock service, when both pastors are sure to be here, and I can personally guarantee that following the service whichever pastor you need to speak with will give you his undivided attention for as long as you’d like.”
 “You’re positive?” One eyebrow rose into a smooth little arch. “What I need to speak about could take a while.”
He nodded.
She jostled the bag on her shoulder and sighed, her gaze scanning the steps that led into the church. “Well…that’s just the day after tomorrow. I suppose it can wait until then. Ten o’clock, you said?”
“For the service, yes. And you can do your talking afterwards.”
“I don’t want to divulge the details.” Her forehead creased as her eyebrows knit together. “But perhaps I should leave a short message in the office, maybe a note with the secretary.”
“No need.” Jake tried not to glance at his watch. Corey would be waiting at the ball field, and who knew what kind of mischief he’d get into if Jake was delayed too long. “Besides, the secretary’s gone home for the day. But you have my word; the pastor will be OK with you showing up.”
“You’re sure?”
Jake eyed her…abundant ringlets of soft blonde curls, tidy appearance, and eyes that said she didn’t think he could possibly know anything about the pastor. The slight prick of guilt he’d felt fled. “I’m sure.”
“Well…‛ Carin wound a strand of curl around an index finger. “Thank you…I guess.”
“No problem.” The late-afternoon sun silhouetted her figure. She had to be a runner—or perhaps a dancer. Though her figure was slight, Jake noticed the definition of supple calf muscles below the hem of her skirt. He drew his gaze away. “I’d better get back to work now…unless you’d care to stay and help.”
She pressed a finger to the forehead crease and gnawed her lower lip again while readjusting the tote. “No. I’ve…um…got errands to run.”
Yeah, right, Jake thought as she backed away. You wouldn’t want to dirty those freshly-manicured nails.
“Well, the invitation’s open…anytime.” He swept a hand across the clipping-littered sidewalk. “There’s always plenty of lawn to mow.”
“I’ll…um…remember that.”

Here's the link to get it for yourself: http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/wisdom-tree-softcover

Review:

I loved this story! Jake is such a cool pastor, and the loving devotion he shows for his little brother is heartwarming after the loss they both suffered. Add to that a sweet, caring teacher who's willing to go the extra mile even with all she's gone through and going through. Corey really keeps them on their toes! I also love the way she and Jake slide into a relationship neither one is looking for and all they have to go through to work things out. Wonderful story!

About the author:

Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband and teen-aged daughter. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.


During the school year, she teaches middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. In her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees.

For more about Mary Manners and her books stop by her site: http://www.marymannersromance.com/

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Devotion


Welcome back, Marianne, I have got to ask...how can you go from the oh so sweet, Heart's Surrender series to this story of hearts torn asunder?

Well, there I was, innocently wrapping up my first-ever inspirational romance series for White Rose Publishing (part of the amazing publisher, Pelican Book Group!) I shed some bittersweet tears as I finished creating the story of Tyler Brock and Amy Maxwell.

But then, something most unexpected happened. I met a guy. Actually, I met a guy and his wife. And they stole my heart. Into my imagination charged Kellen Rossiter. What a guy. He fascinated me immediately upon his entrĂ©e into Tyler and Amy’s story. He’s seemingly got it all. A high-powered and successful career as an agent in the Christian music industry. A wife he adores completely. A faith-life he’s never questioned. Juliet, his bride, is his perfect compliment. She’s smart and sweet, Christ-centered, lives to serve and loves her husband above all others.

But as the couple came to life, I discovered their perfect life had a few cracks and fissures. The world, and the relationship they shared, was about to come crashing down around them…because of a surrender to temptation.

You may ask, rightfully so, ‘Come on, Marianne. How can a couple so committed, so devoted if you will, fall prey to a spiritual failure? Sadly, it’s an easier trap to fall in to than you may realize. As I journeyed with Kellen and Juliet through a turbulent season in their marriage, I discovered  something important. Temptation sneaks up on you. Seldom does it bang you over the head and cause you to fall. Rather, circumstances build. Circumstances left unchecked overwhelm. Goodness and light become tangled, swallowed into a shade of gray that leaves right and wrong, good and bad, in question.

Even for the most faithful person.

Another lesson I learned in writing Devotion is this: Christians fail. Christians aren’t perfect. Instead, we know enough to lean on God’s truth, his forgiveness and unfailing mercy to work past the sins we commit. When we approach Him with sincere regret and in authentic reform, God always welcomes us home.

I hope you enjoy the story of Devotion. I pray it blesses you the way writing it has blessed me!

I certainly did! Thank you so much! Now let me share it with our readers so they can see what I'm so excited about.

Blurb:

From This Day Forward

Christian Music agent Kellen Rossiter has everything he ever wanted: A-list clients from coast to coast, a loving wife who honors and respects him, and a faith life that’s never wavered—until now.

Juliet Rossiter has the perfect life: a rewarding schedule serving the underprivileged, a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church, and a blessed future as a mother—at least that's what she thinks.

For Better or Worse

But what happens when their rock-solid marriage begins to crumble under the weight of an unexpected and powerful temptation?  How does love survive when its foundation is shaken?

'Til Death Do Us Part

When human frailty and the allure of sin deal a harsh blow to their relationship, it will take more than love to mend the shattered trust and heartbreak. It will take a lifetime of devotion. 

Excerpt:

"I miss you when you’re not there." He refitted the shirt collar then double-checked the knot on his patterned silk tie. "I like hearing your thoughts and impressions, but mostly I just enjoy being with you."

Her shoulders sagged. Through the mirror, she tagged him with an apologetic glance. He had known the look was coming; she was ready for bed, after all. Plus, he knew the regret came from her heart. That’s why his statement about missing her, enjoying her, had lacked any form of condemnation. Just longing. He did miss her companionship and the feel of her at his side. 


With increasing frequency. 


"We used to have fun scouting talent at the local clubs, talking about anything and everything while we listened to music. Plus, this is supposedly a great new place, and we haven’t had a ‘date night’ in quite a while." He paused again, just long enough to look at her once more. Gentle refusal still lived in her eyes, so Kellen braced himself for her "no thanks."


"Sweetheart, you’ll be working. I get in the way when you’re shaking and moving.‛ She smiled at him, sincerely. Her eyes were so soft, a beautiful shade of deep green. "Next time, OK? I’m seriously tapped out, or I’d let you tempt me." She moved close and tucked in tight, resting her head on his chest. 



Kellen wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the bite of disappointment, the urge for recriminations, like: We have no children, Juliet, nothing that ties us down. I know you’re busy with a hundred different activities that help our church, our city, and I know that fills you up, but what about us? Where do we fit  together?


The thoughts launched, but with practiced ease, he shot each one down. He was being selfish. She was tired. The winter season was giving way to spring around Nashville, and she had spent the entire afternoon and evening volunteering at a soup kitchen and warming center sponsored by Trinity 
Christian Church, where he and Juliet were active parishioners. 


"Tell you what." Juliet leaned back in his arms. The curve of her lips, that promising sparkle in her eyes, almost cured his sadness. "I’ll wait up for you."


Kellen nodded. He dotted her nose with a kiss; his hands slid against the glossy fabric of her nightgown. The color highlighted her ivory skin, and turned spectacular eyes to absolutely dazzling. 


He made a vow to himself, then and there, that he’d get home early.

Review:

This story is phenomenal! I couldn't put it down - and when I did have to, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. All of it felt so real - the unwanted chemistry, the fears, the loss of trust. This story had me crying, hoping, and begging for them to make it.

This is so realistic to the dangers every marriage faces - even the most devoted of couples can let things slide, put things off, make excuses for the distance that can creep in. And ultimately, only God can make any marriage work. What a wonderful, heartbreaking testament to true faith this story is. I can't imagine how many tears Ms. Evans shed as she penned this work of art. Wonderful job!

Pelican Books Buy link: http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/devotion-softcover
Amazon Buy Link:   http://www.amazon.com/Devotion-Marianne-Evans/dp/1611161649/ref=la_B001KHZN0Y_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342476532&sr=1-1  


Author Bio:
Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God's love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Evans's novel, Hearts Communion, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors in the Romance category and readers have lauded her work as: 'Riveting.' 'Realistic and true to heart.' 'Compelling.' Evans has also won acclaim in such RWA contests as The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence where she has been a finalist twice, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Evans is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of Aneruca chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. She's also active in American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

her website at: http://www.marianneevans.com