Don't harm the oil and the wine

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" Revelation 6:5-6

The recent economic crisis our country is facing brought the above scripture to mind. It's from the book of Revelation and describes a time during the last days when there will be famine scattered throughout the earth. A time when it will take an entire day's wages to purchase one loaf of bread. One preacher interpreted the statement about oil and wine to mean that the rich grow richer and the poor poorer. Are we there yet? No. I believe things will get much much worse, but I can't help but think that our recent problems are only a precursor of things to come. This age is winding down and as we watch the prophecies of the Bible come to pass, we can't help but be a bit fearful.

Yet for those of us who truly follow Christ, who have commited our hearts and lives to Him, we need not fear. His Word clearly states that He will take care of us. Now, I don't mean that we will not suffer or that bad things won't happen to us. I do not subscribe to the prosperity gospel, but I do mean that as long as we are here on earth, God promises to attend to our needs:I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we shall eat or drink or what we shall wear, He tells us "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I'm reminded of a story of a missionary in Jerusalem many years ago who ran an orphanage for Jewish children. It was during a time of war in Israel and food was scarce. Each evening at supper time, she would set the table for a grand meal for her and the children even though there was nothing cooking on the stove and the cubboards were bare. But she believed in God's Word and prayed each day for enough food to feed the children. And every night, God brought food in one form or another. Sometimes, people would leave a meal on her doorstep, sometimes friends would drop off leftovers from their own meal, or a chicken and eggs from their farm. They never went hungry. I love this story! It reminds me that if we love God with all our heart and take Him at his Word--have faith that He will do what He says He will do, then He is faithful to take care of us, just like He says.

I pray that as times grow harder and harder, we will grow closer to God, so that when tough times hit, we will have the faith to believe and receive all of His precious promises.

Book Signing!

Hi everyone, I hope your week has gone well. Forgive me for not blogging more often but I've been completely swamped beneath work since I returned from Minnesota! For those of you who are interested in what I'm writing, I'm working on the last five chapters of The Blue Enchantress, which is book 2 of the Charles Towne Belles series. I'm up to 100,000 words and still have a ways to go! The word count my publisher gave me was 80-100K words and I can't seem to stay within those boundaries. The Red Siren ended up being 113,000. The Blue Enchantress will probably end up being more than that! I suppose I'm just too chatty, although if you knew me in person, you wouldn't think so. I've always been far better expressing myself in the written word than when I speak.
The Red Siren, due out in January, is all turned in, edited, and ready to go. The last step will be the galleys, which I should receive sometime in the next few months. Galleys are the final version of the book printed just as it will appear in the novel, but without the cover. I have one last time to look it over for any "minor" changes. It is an exciting last step, but not equal to the thrill of receiving my author copies in the mail. Anyway, sometime next week, I hope to post the first chapter of The Red Siren on my website for those who would like a sneak peek!

But what I really wanted to tell you is that I have a book signing tomorrow in Modesto, California. It's about a 2 hour drive from my house and I'll be signing books from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at Beardsley's Book & Bible, 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 59. If you're in the neighborhood, please come by! I love to meet my readers!!! Even if you haven't read my books, drop by and chat with me.

Hope to see you there!
Have a great weekend!

Winner of Talk like a Pirate day contest!

Wow! Everyone did such a great job interpreting the pirate phrases! I'm a bit weepy jest at the thought of havin' such pirate hearts and tongues still around in this age.

Here's the answers:

1. Show a glim: "Show a glim, ye drunken dogs!" Move Quickly, get to it, let's go, come on!
2. Open yer lugholes: "Come over 'ere and open yer lugholes." Listen, listen up!
3. Scut: "Why, the yellow scut!" A scut is a coward or a spineless person
4. Cold-gutted: "Ye cold-gutted shark!" Heartless, unfeeling
5. Fo'c'sle: "Belay there ye fo'c'sle swab!" Common, brutish, insignificant. the Fo'c'sle is the foremost part of the ship where the non-officers berthed, hence the origin of this slang term.

And the winner is! LISA!

Thank you all for playing! I hope you had as much fun as I did. An' ye best be bonin' up on yer pirate speech fer next year!

Back from ACFW!

I flew in from Minnesota yesterday after attending the annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writer's) Conference. Wow, what an experience! Several hundred Christian authors all gathering to learn, to worship, and to meet with agents and editors! I was priviledged to meet several authors who I have only known online and also to attend the booksigning at the Mall of America! There were 127 authors there and I believe we made quite a stir right in the middle of the mall! Many people stopped by my table to chat and pick up a book mark. I sold a few books, but mainly it was such a pleasure to greet people as they passed by and help bring the glory of God into such a materialistic place. There was also an author panel which was quite a hit and afterward, I spoke with someone from Barnes and Noble who said they sold a ton of books and considered the event a great success. From a spiritual standpoint, my prayer is that many people who wouldn't normally pick up a Christian book, will now be more inclined to check out the genre and be introduced to the love of God!

Waving at those readers who drove all the way there to have me sign my Pirate trilogy!!! What a thrill to meet people who have enjoyed the stories God gave me!
Anyway, the conference was great, all the people I met were so nice. I only attended 2 classes due to time constraints but I learned something in each one. Being an introvert, I had to go back to my hotel room from time to time to recuperate and found that USA(I think) was running a Pirates of the Caribbean movies marathon! God is good!

Here are the ACFW Book of the year winners for 2007!

Debut Author
1.. Sushi for One? (Camy Tang) Zondervan, Sue Brower Yea CAMY!!!!
2.. Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
3.. In Between (Jenny B. Jones)

Contemporary Novella
1.. Finally Home (Deborah Raney) Barbour Publishing, Susan Downs
2.. Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky)
3.. Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover)

Historical Novella
1.. Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology (Mary Davis) àBarbour Publishing, Rebecca Germany 2.. Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills)
3.. The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough)

Lits
1.. Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh) àMultnomah Books, Julee Schwarzburg
2.. Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
3.. One Little Secret (Allison Bottke) & The Book of Jane (Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt)

Long Contemporary
1.. Within This Circle (Deborah Raney) àSteeple Hill Books, Krista Stroever
2.. Like Always (Robert Elmer)
3.. Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)

Long Historical
1. Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky) RiverOak, editors Jeff Dunn/Jon Woodhams and Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer) Bethany House, editor Charlene Patterson
2. Fancy Pants (Cathy Marie Hake) & Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
3. Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)

Mystery
1.. Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney) àThomas Nelson, Amanda Bostic
2.. Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
3.. Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)

Short Contemporary
1.. The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight) à Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Allison Lyons
2.. Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
3.. Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y'Barbo)

Short Contemporary Suspense
1.. Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper) àSteeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense, Krista Stroever
2.. Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
3.. Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti) & Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)

Short Historical
1 Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman) & Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
2. A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
3. A Time to Keep (Kelly Eileen Hake)

Speculative
1.. The Restorer's Son (Sharon Hinck) àNavPress, Reagan Reed
2.. Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
3.. DragonFire (Donita Paul)

Suspense
1.. Black Ice (Linda Hall) àWaterBrook Press, Traci DePree
2.. Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
3.. Abomination (Colleen Coble)

Women's Fiction
1.. Remember to Forget (Deborah Raney) àHoward Books/Simon & Schuster, Philis Boultinghouse
2.. Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Hawkins Adams)
3.. A Promise To Remember (Kathryn Cushman)

Young Adult
1.. In Between (Jenny B. Jones) àNavPress, Jamie Chavez
2.. Sara Jane: Liberty's Torch (Eleanor Clark)
3.. Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)


Congratulations to all the winners!

Talk like a pirate day!

National Talk like a Pirate day is coming up this Friday, September 19th. (Yes, there is such a day. Just google it and find out!) Anyway, in honor of this glorious occasion and since I've a bit o' experience wit' the gentlemen o' fortune, I thought it would be a fun idea to give you five pirate phrases and see if you can figure out what they mean. The person who comes the closest in meaning will receive (drumrolll) 3 Christian Fiction books.

1. Any one of my pirate novels you wish (The Redemption, The Reliance, The Restitution)

2. Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck

3. On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang

Here be the phrases:

1. Show a glim: "Show a glim, ye drunken dogs!"

2. Open yer lugholes: "Come over 'ere and open yer lugholes."

3. Scut: "Why, the yellow scut!"

4. Cold-gutted: "Ye cold-gutted shark!"

5. Fo'c'sle: "Belay there ye fo'c'sle swab!"

I'll judge the entries when I return home from my conference (Sept 18-21st. I'll be in Minnesota at the Mall of America for a book signing) and will post the winner on Sept 24th.

Good luck to ye and a fair wind!

Out of Town and Talk like a Pirate Day!

I'm flying out to Minnesota early Thursday for the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference. I'm very excited to meet for the first time several fellow authors that I've only met online and I hope to be able to encourage other writers in their craft and hopefully calm some nerves. Many aspiring writers attend this conference to pitch their book proposals to Agents and Editors and it can be quite nerve wracking. I'm very thankful to not be in that position!

On Saturday I'm signing The Falcon and the Sparrow at the Mall of America with over 100 other authors! It is the biggest Christian Book Signing in history and should be very exciting. here's the information:

What: ACFW booksigning
Who: 127 Christian novelists
Where: Best Buy and Bloomingdales' Courtyard and connecting hallway, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 1-3 p.m.
Why: To meet your favorite authors

In my absence, and in honor of Talk like a Pirate day (Sept 19th), I'll be posting a list of pirate phrases. For those who can decifer their meaning, I'm offering a prize. More on that tomorrow!

Why do we suffer?

Today, the sermon at church was from the book of Job. Many of you know the story. Job was a very righteous good man, blameless in his day and God was bragging about him to Satan. (Did you know Satan has access to the throne of God? Read Job 1 if you don't believe me. The Scriptures tell us he is the accuser of the brethren and is constantly before God's throne ratting us out.) But, I digress. So Satan tells God that of course Job is good, God has blessed him with everything he could want. But take all that away and then see how good he is. So God gave Satan permission (another key point which I won't go into here) to destroy Job, but not to kill him. So, Job lost everything. In modern terms, he lost his job, his house, his car, all his possessions, all his children died and he was inflicted with an extremely painful disease.

This story brought to mind things I often hear from Christians and Non-Christians alike. Why does God allow suffering? Why are some people born into poverty and disease in Africa and others are born rich in the US? Why does God allow child prostitution? We can explain many of these horrific things away by proclaiming that there is evil in the world--that Satan "roams the earth to and fro seeking whom he may devour" 1 Peter 5:8. and that these people have rejected God and therefore God is leaving them alone to suffer under their own consequences for suffer under Satan's. But what about those who truly love God, who've committed their life to following Jesus, who are righteous and blameless like Job? I hear so many horrible stories. One Christian couple's son died of a drug overdose, another person has cancer, another wonderful Christian family lost their house, another's son got into an accident and is paralyzed... and the list goes on and on. If God is so good, why does he allow His followers to suffer so much?

The truth is, we may never know the answer this side of eternity. Job didn't. He lost everything a man could lose and even at the end of it all, when God restored everything to him, Job never knew why all those bad things happened. He does now, I'm sure. Now, he knows that his suffering was all part of a cosmic bet between God and Satan and that through Job's faithfulness, God won and received great glory, which no doubt blessed many other people, perhaps even bringing many to God who never would have come.

When trials afflict us, we can either get mad at God, feel sorry for ourselves, or trust in Him and believe that He has a plan, a purpose that is far greater than ourselves.

So you can either Pound your fist in anger, Pout, or Praise God. Trust in His Love. Trust that whether or not you understand why something is happening, God has a good purpose in mind, not only for you, but for others around you.

I'm going through some personal trials right now that I just can't make sense of. Things that have torn my family apart. Do you ever notice that problems all seem to come at once? In the midst of all of this, I'm trying to write a novel, and somedays the creative juices are just not flowly. So this Word from God really helped me. Whatever you're going through, remember these 3 things.

1. You are not alone

2. God loves you more than you could imagine

3. There is a grand purpose in it all.

Just hang in there, and give glory to God, even when it hurts.

Another chapter a week!

The Queen of Sleepy Eye
(B&H Fiction ~ Pure Enjoyment, September 2008)
by Patti Hill

It's the summer of 1975, and Amy Monteiro believes it's high time her mother, Francie, the deposed queen of the 1958 Sleepy Eye Corn Festival lays aside her tiara and grows up. After all, Amy is California bound to college. Studious and focused, Amy is twilight to Francie's midnight beauty. Francie, gregarious as she is impetuous, can't imagine her life without Amy. Determined to detour her daughter's independence, Francie packs her beloved Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe, Jubilee Edition, and together they hit the open road. The journey becomes one unforgettable summer. Values clash. Belief sparks. Myths fade. A mother and daughter come to age.

"More than a coming-of-age tale, it's about life and loss, love and forgiveness, and discovering there is more to the world than what we see. In every way, it's a keeper."
--Susan May Warren, author of Finding Stefanie

WHERE THE HEART LEADS
By Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer's newest release follows up her award-winning
Waiting for Summer's Return. Using her Mennonite heritage for inspiration, Sawyer pens a story of a young man learning that he must step into his own future—and his own faith. With a style comparable to Janette Oke's, Where the Heart Leads is historically rich, immersing readers into the life and times of days gone by, and yet so relevant today.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

Remembering 911 and our true enemy

It's hard to believe that 9-11 happened 7 years ago! I remember the day so clearly. I was still working at IBM full time (I hadn't even started writing my first book, The Redemption). I walked into work around 8:15 am PST and everyone was crowded around my office mate's computer staring at something. I shrugged it off as a new joke or video that was being passed around the office, but no one was laughing. With wide-eyes and fearful expressions, they gazed at the screen and after I joined them, I realized why.

It was a shocking day for all of us. We Americans tend to live in this false sense of safety from the world here on our own continent. And that fateful event where a small group of men were able to penetrate that shield so skillfully, so easily, set us all on edge.

Now 7 years later, I wonder how many of us leave our homes in the morning and worry about another similar attack? I doubt that many do. We tend to become complacent, thinking our security forces must have all under control, that we don't need to take any precautions or worry about ourselves and our families.

I'm reminded of our Christian walk. We face a far more deadly and evil enemy than Al-Quaeda. Our enemy is not mortal. He has supernatural powers. He has legions of followers, and he is invisible. You want to know what his most deadly tactic is?

His most deadly and effective tactic is to make people believe that he doesn't exist.

And how many Christians go along in their lives, believing just that, or at the very least, ignoring the enemy and becoming complacent. Thinking they are safe just because they haven't been attacked in awhile, thinking they are safe simply because they are "Christians" and our security forces from heaven are keeping us safe?

If you are an American, I believe an attack by our enemies is inevitable.

If you are a dedicated follower of Jesus, I believe an attack by our enemy is also inevitable.

Don't live in fear, but I encourage you to do as Paul says in Ephesians 6 "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Paul wouldn't have said that if he thought we were perfectly safe just being "Christians". So remember today those who lost their lives in an unprecedented attack by Al-Qaeda, and keep on the alert for the biggest and most dangerous enemy of mankind.

Winner of Remembered by Tamera Alexander is...

SarahWoll!

Thanks so much everyone for entering! And for all your comments! I encourage you to go out and buy this book anyway. It's a great story!

God Bless,
MaryLu

Fiery darts!

Over the weekend, my husband and I watched the DVD, Pilgrim's Progress. It follows the story from the book, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan--a book which he wrote while in prison for preaching the gospel. It is an excellent book and though the movie could have been better and was a bit hokey at times, we enjoyed it. It helped to remind me that life here on earth is really a journey to Heaven and that the journey is not always pleasant. In fact, the main character in the book and movie, Christian, encounters nothing but trouble and heartache and attacks of the enemy along his journey. So why are we surprised when we encounter troubles?

In the movie, whenever Christian made progress in his journey or was about to make a huge advance, the enemy came at him with all he had, flinging those fiery darts at Christian, darts of discouragment and doubt. This weekend, my husband and I had a massive fiery dart tossed our way in regard to some shocking news from one of our children. The kind of news that takes awhile to sink in and when it does, it causes you to become extremely anxious and distressed. Neither I or my husband could sleep last night due to the torment of the enemy over this trial put before us. But, watching the movie reminded me that we are in a battle and our faith will be constantly tested as we journey. Not only that, but the enemy wouldn't mess with us unless we were messing with him! In other words, we must be doing something good for the Kingdom of God or we wouldn't be tormented.

Today is a new day, and the trial remains, but after spending time at the feet of Jesus this morning, I am refreshed and strengthened and reminded to put on my armor.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.......

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:12-16

It is Faith and faith alone that defeats the enemy. Faith in who, in what? Faith in God, Faith that He sits on the throne, Faith that He is in control, Faith that He loves me and Faith that All things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His Purpose.

So, whatever fiery darts you are facing today, get on your knees and pray, then rise and be strong, and have faith, for Everything is possible for him who believes Mark 9:23

Another chapter a week!

Bon Appétit
By Sandra Byrd

The sequel to the Christy Award finalist, Let Them Eat Cake

Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef. Just when life seems set, though, the recipe goes awry and her life with God undergoes a major transformation as well. Now, she's got choices to make from the array in life's patisserie display window and just like at a bakery, choosing among delicious options is never easy.

"I was caught up in Lexi's tug-of-war between her charmed life in France with its possibility of romance, and the pull to Seattle where her family and a very special man long for her return. What a perfect story…" –Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Leaving November

Stepping Into Sunlight
Copyright Sharon Hinck, 2008
Bethany House Publishing

One tragic event.
One project of healing.
One step toward hope.

A story for every woman who has wondered where God is when life hurts.

Penny, a Navy chaplain's wife, witnesses a violent crime and struggles with post traumatic stress while her husband is on his first deployment. She designs a project to speed her recovery: doing one small, kind act for a different person each day. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and often used by God in surprising ways.

"Sharon Hinck's authentic and endearing heroine is so convincing that I found myself praying for her!"
—Patti Hill, author of The Queen of Sleepy Eye

"Told with humor and lump-in-the- throat insight, Stepping Into Sunlight is a compelling story of learning to live again after trauma."
—Deborah Raney, author of A Vow to Cherish

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.
If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find great books that fit each person's particular taste.

Huge Christian Fiction Book signing on September 20th!

Come, join the party!



What: ACFW booksigning
Who: 127 Christian novelists
Where: Best Buy and Bloomingdales' Courtyard and connecting hallway, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 1-3 p.m.
Why: To meet your favorite authors



I'm going to be there signing, The Falcon and the Sparrow! I hope to see some of you there. Here's a complete list of authors:



Tamera Alexander
Jennifer AlLee
A.K. Arenz
Diane Ashley
Karen Ball
Janet Lee Barton
James Scott Bell
Joseph Bentz
Terri Blackstock
Robin Caroll
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Eleanor Clark
Debra Clopton
Gloria Clover
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Lyn Cote
Kathryn Cushman
Margaret Daley
KM Daughters
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Brandt Dodson
Lena Nelson Dooley
Cecelia Dowdy
Sharon Dunn
Wanda Dyson
Lynette Eason
Meredith Efken
Leanna Ellis
Sharon Ewell Foster
Miralee Ferrell
Tina Ann Forkner
Darlene Franklin
Jonathan Friesen
Rhonda Gibson
Terri Gillespie
Debby Giusti
Beth Goddard
Cathy Gohlke
Rene Gutteridge
Cathy Marie Hake
Kelly Eileen Hake
Karen Harter
Rachel Hauck
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Sharon Hinck
Joan Hochstetler
Steven Hunt
Angela Hunt
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Jennifer Johnson
Jenny B. Jones
Golden Keyes Parsons
Deb Kinnard
Julie Klassen
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Patti Lacy
Maureen Lang
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Michelle Levigne
Sherri L. Lewis
Elizabeth Ludwig
Christine Lynxwiler
Richard L. Mabry
Sharlene MacLaren
Gail Martin
Debby Mayne
Vickie McDonough
Andrew McGuire
Susan Meissner
Becky Melby
Dana Mentink
Amber Miller
Judith Miller
Sara Mills
Siri Mitchell
Nancy Moser
Janelle Mowery
Elizabeth Musser
Mark Mynheir
Jill Nelson
Mae Nunn
John Olson
Donita K. Paul
Trish Perry
Marta Perry
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Paul Robertson
John Robinson
Martha Rogers
Cynthia Ruchti
Gail Sattler
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Shelley Shephard Gray
Virginia Smith
Lynette Sowell
Candice Speare
Kathryn Springer
Denice Stewart
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice Thompson
Cindy Thomson
Missy Tippens
Carrie Turansky
ML Tyndall (That's me!)
Amy Wallace
Susan May Warren

Book Giveaway - Remembered by Tamera Alexander

The threat of war and a final request send Veronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood--her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But 25 years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Veronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarecely remembers.

His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans. . .and his life.

Remembered is a 2008 Christy Award Winner. Congratulations, Tamera! I really enjoyed this sweet, romantic story, and I think you will too. To win a copy, leave a comment, along with your email address, and I will draw a name next week, Sept 10th.