The 2 winners of last week's drawing are: Melanie I and Hannah!!! Congratulations to these ladies! And than you all for entering.
But don't give up! I've giving away another 2 copies this week. Simply read the post below, leave a comment and I'll draw 2 more names next Friday!
Today, we will learn about the Hero in Surrender the Heart, Noah Brenin
Noah Brenin
Brief Description: Noah is a driven man. At age six and twenty, with brown hair streaked by the sun, tan skin, deep blue eyes, and the muscular physique of a seaman, he presents quite a dashing figure around Baltimore. But marriage is the last thing on his mind. He has more important matters to attend to, such as keeping the Brenin merchant business afloat. Recent embargos and his own failures have cost the business dearly and caused his overbearing father to demand more and more from him. Bearing the guilt of an accident in his youth, Noah pushes himself to the limit, hoping to make up for the incident to his father and mother. He has no time for God, nor does he believe in destiny. Nothing matters except making enough wealth to pay for the past—not the upcoming war, not his country, and certainly not marrying Marianne Denton.
Strengths: Natural leader, brave, confident, hard working, honorable
Weaknesses: Selfish, unpatriotic, shallow, loyal only to self and family
Quirks: When Noah gets nervous or angry, he rubs the back of his neck.
Inspiration: I took my inspiration for Noah from people I’ve met who have been burdened down with guilt. Guilt can do horrible things to people. It can cause them to do things they would normally never do. The guilty person is like someone carrying a huge burden. He’s always trying to unload it, by either shifting it to someone else, or pursuing a course he thinks will somehow pay the fee to have it removed. A guilty person is obsessed with self because guilt feeds on selfishness. In Noah’s case, his desire to appease his guilt has overtaken his life and caused him to not care for anyone, not even God or his country. But things change quickly when he encounters Miss Marianne Denton!
Oo, Isn't the guy (the photo I mean) from Persuasion?
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like a great character! Characters with pasts, make the book so much fun to read! Can't wait to read Surrender the Heart!
Rae Byuel
raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com
I love characters like him! I love getting mad at them and then feeling their pain. It makes the story so much better!
ReplyDeletePlease don't enter my name in the drawing. [=
I can't wait to read about Noah and how I'm sure God will turn his life around and free him from the painful guilt he carries. I can't wait to read the entire book. I love your books and read everyone I can get my hands on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding a pictures. I can't wait to read your book. I like the name Noah for your guilt ridden character for Noah means "peace" and I have a feeling that is exactly what Noah will find before the end of your novel. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteWow! Noah seems like an interesting character in your upcoming book. Guilt is one of the worst feelings a person can have because it grows worst over time. Thankfully there is One who can take that away for us by forgiving us for being so simple minded at times.
ReplyDeleteOh, he sounds absolutely fascinating! Guilt is definitely so hard for a person to deal with. Really we can only overcome it through Christ.
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to read the book.
mchapman (at) windstream (dot) net
Hi Mary Lu how are you doing? Noah sounds interesting! Isn't it remarkable that even the most selfish and self centered people do have some good qualities when you start getting to know them? Noah just made me think of those people. And yes, guilt is a horrible thing! We all wrestle with it in different ways. I'm just thankful forgiveness and restoration is available to us because we'd all be lost without it
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week
Blessings
Karien
Your books are always so good! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteLove this contest.....can't wait to read the book and learn more about Noah. Please enter me. Thanks!!
ReplyDeletejackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet
Sounds great! I love stories where one of the main characters is struggling with something that has a REALLY strong hold on their heart (and guilt is definitely on the strongest end of that catagory), and then they encounter the King of Kings and do a complete 360!
ReplyDeletesafe_1227(at)bresnan(dot)net
I can't believe that I missed week one! That is just so unlike me.
ReplyDeleteMaryLu, I CANNOT tell you how EXCITED I am for this new release. Excited doesn't even begin to describe how anxious I am to read it. :D I just love reading about how you create your characters. I truly believe that is why they come alive on the page.
I don't need to be entered, I am getting this book to review through CFBA, BUT would you mind entering my mom? She loves your books just as much as I do. Thank you!
caseymh18(@)gmail(.)com
So is Noah supposed to look like Rupert Penry-Jones? I know I have seen him act before, but just really noticed him for the first time a few days ago when I watched the newest version of Persuasion...and I was impressed then. Now I'll be thinking of Marianne as a bit like Anne Elliott. As always, MaryLu, it sounds like a good tale.
ReplyDeleteForgot to leave my address:
ReplyDeletecsteward@gmsa.org
MaryLu,
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read you latest book. Noah sounds like a complicated character. I'm curious, how much of this did you know about him before you started writing this book? How do you plot out your characters?
fictionfan1[at]cox.[net]
I think this will be my favorite of your books, or at least my second favorite! So far…
ReplyDeleteI still don't get who arranged the marriage...
~Abigail
Very good, MaryLu. Let me ask you this, how do you come up with your ideas? Dreams, random thoughts, experience? Just curious. However you do it, keep it coming.
ReplyDeleteYes... this is Rupert Jones. Isn't he a doll? Anyway, thanks for everyone's kind comments and interest in this book! To answer a few questions, I plot my characters pretty thoroughly in the beginning, strenghts, weaknesses, quirks, their pasts, families, goals, spiritual state..etc.. BUT always during the course of the book, I learn new things about them (or they show me new things!) And as to where I get my ideas from... several places, Life experience, movies, books, dreams, and mostly God, who likes to plop great ideas in my head when I least expect it! Have a great weekend, everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the character spotlight! I especially like the last sentence! Sounds like Noah going to get a wake up call! :)
ReplyDeleteKim
lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com
Noah seams so heartless, yet hiding beneath the pain, a man of worth. So intriguing! I'm looking forward to meeting him in Surrender of the Heart.
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com
These characters are getting me excited to read the book!
ReplyDeletedanielle at daniellesjourney . com
Sounds interesting. Thanks
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
ah captain wentworth!!!!
ReplyDeletecan't wait to read it, please enter me!
Congrats Melanie and Hannah! I hope that you both enjoy the book.
ReplyDeleteI am just dieing to read this book! I want to order it right away, but I have to wait a little longer. Thank you MaryLu for this post; it is really fun to learn about your characters. I think your main characters sound awesome. Have a good weekend!
He sounds like a very cool, interesting, intriguing, mystrious, somewhat dark character. He seems to be a manly man.
ReplyDeleteI love contests and give-aways...but mainly I just love a really good book...and I think this one sounds really, really good. I identify with the character of Marianne...
ReplyDeleteI think that Noah Brenin sounds like a dashing, handsome young man. He'll realize that Marianne is the perfect fit for him :) :) :)
Oh the picture looks like the guy from "Persuasion"...or was it "Northanger Abbey"...I love a good historical romance :) :)
Hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
July 9th, 2010,
ReplyDeleteHeh MaryLu,
I love the way you bring your characters to life ... and we can all relate to some (or many) of Noah's strengths and weaknesses. You write about believable people, caught up in the reality of believable circumstances. Can hardly wait to read this newest book !
Brenda Hurley
brennie7@hotmail.com
Oh, I just can't wait for this book....he sounds like a great character.
ReplyDeleteNoah sounds like a fascinating character. I can't wait to see how the characters of Noah and Marianne get along and how God helps them overcome their issues. Thank you for your wonderful books!
ReplyDeleteMegan S
Megerz844@aol.com
The character Noah has a personality of people all around me. Seeing Noah in the upcoming book would be wonderful to share with friends and family. Please keep writing these amazing stories!
ReplyDeletevanessa@peppypeople.us
This is so awesome! He sounds great! I cannot wait to read this book!!
ReplyDeletesarah45431@hotmail.com
I'm very anxiously waiting for this book. It sounds really good. All your books are wonderful, I love the mix of both romance and adventure that you put into all of them. It sets you apart from other authors. You hold my attention from beginning to end.
ReplyDeletedoubledutch84@yahoo.com
I don't if I like this male lead as I have in other books of yours but I can't really say until I read it! I look forward to reading this book and showing myself that I'm wrong! ^_^
ReplyDelete~Michelle F.
SailorJeanne@hotmail.com
Man, you are really grabbing me with the introductions to these characters! Kind of like getting to know someone's friends before you actually meet them!
ReplyDeleteNext...
~Mimi
mnjesusfreak at gmail dot com
Oh wow talk about a mismatched pair but of course that will only last till God gets ahold of them and turns them into a perfect match for each other.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading the whole book and seeing what God does with them along the way.
Please enter me for the book.
Melissa ( forest_rose [at] yahoo [dot] com )
Can't wait to read this one. I'm sure God's got a great plan for them...
ReplyDeletedibby602@charter.net
Oh, I'm so excited to see the sparks fly between Noah and Marianne! ;) I think the picture fits so well--some of my college friends and I really enjoyed seeing him in "The 39 Steps" (from PBS). I didn't care for "Persuasion" quite as much (though it was still good), but I recommend "The 39 Steps" for a good, intriguing, and romantic story!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, SOOOOOOO excited for this book, MaryLu! :D
~Amber
stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net
Wow, sounds great!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it!!
jbugeja6@bigpond.com
This sounds like a very interesting character. I can't wait to read the book and find out why he has all this guilt. Please enter me in for the free copy! Thanks You! God Bless!
ReplyDelete-Amber Minnehan
amberminnehan@yahoo.com
a great posting...thanks for the opportunity to read your masterpiece :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Noah sounds like a great character. I can't wait to read this book. I may have to go buy it this weekend instead of waiting to see if I win a copy this month. :)
ReplyDeletebrittanyehickey@gmail.com
Can't wait to read it! I love all your books, have read them until they fall apart!
ReplyDeletethis looks intriguing! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeletesuzannemcniel@gmail.com
Noah sounds like a very handsome man. I love the way you say is age! He sounds like a strong man who thinks he knows what he wants...but it looks like something else happens???
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the next book!
Mandy
lovenjoy16@gmail.com
I agree, like someone else said characters with a past make things much more interesting. Can't wait to see what happens when Noah and Marianne meet! :)
ReplyDeleteackoster@telus.net
i have a feeling i will get mad at him in the book. yes?
ReplyDeletei cant wait to read it! the characters sounds so interesting!
sounds like Marianne and Noah are perfect for one another!
thanks for the contest!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
I can't wait to read more about Noah, Sounds fascinating, please enter me: rachelmarie42@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete