Wordless Wednesday

God's way of romancing

I've been reading through Genesis and came upon the tragic story of Dinah's rape in Genesis 34. It's definitely not one of those stories that gets talked about in church. In fact, I've never heard a sermon on it! In a nutshell, the story goes that Dinah, who is the daughter of Jacob and granddaughter of Issac went out on a trip to "see the daughters of the land"  A couple of things come to mind here.

What was she doing going out alone without protection?
Why was she friends with the daughters of the idol-worshiping nations?

Anyway, the local prince of a foreign nation saw her and the Bible says that he violated her. After the act, apparently this prince decides that he likes Dinah. It says "his soul was strongly attracted to Dinah... and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to her."
Now that strikes me as weird. First he rapes her and then he tries to be nice? In other words, he gets what he wants from her and then romances her. Kind of backwards, wouldn't you say?

Of course the story continues with his passion to have Dinah as wife. In fact, he takes Dinah to stay in his house while he sends his father over to Jacob to ask permission to marry her. Again, that seems a little backward to me.  The story has a tragic ending for this young prince and I encourage you to read it for yourself.
But right now I want to contrast it with God's way of doing romance found in Genesis 24
Issac needs a wife so Abraham his father sends his servant back to his people and the country where Abraham came from to choose a woman. This servant, whom many scholars believe is a picture of the Holy Spirit, goes on the journey, praying the entire way for God to show him the lady God has chosen. Once he finds her, he showers her and her family with many gifts and then asks permission of the father. Permission is granted. And the lady is also given a choice of her own whether she wishes to go with this man and marry Issac. She agrees and leaves her home with the servant. Some time later, Issac is in the fields and sees his bride from afar off and runs to her. They meet and he takes her into his mother's tent and marries her.

Now let me get to my point.  Satan hates God's way of doing romance. So, what does Satan do? He perverts it. He twists it around until its backwards and strips it of it's beauty and fulfillment.

He puts sex before love, dominance before romance, prison before permission.

He knows God's way is perfect and beautiful and will bring much joy to a man and woman. But Satan wants to ruin  your life and make you miserable. As I look around this world today, I think he's doing a pretty good job. Unwanted pregnancies, abortions, divorce, rampant STDS

Which type of romance do you want? Which one stirs your heart and which one makes you cringe? I don't believe Dinah set out to be ravished. But I think she was being stupid. She put herself in a dangerous situation by hanging out with the wrong people and leaving herself unprotected. Although the Bible doesn't specify, I don't believe this was a violent rape. I think this prince sweet talked her into it. Why else wouldn't she have run away from him instead of stayed in his house?

It also occurred to me that this is a picture of the way God romances us! Like I said in my last post, He's a gentleman. He seeks us out. He woos us. He showers us with gifts, whispers love songs in our ears, and gently urges us to accept Him. Contrast that with the way Satan approaches us. He forces His will on us, tries to steal from us, and demands our worship or else.


From someone who had experienced both types of romance, I"m here to tell you that God's way of romance is so much better!  Don't settle for anything less but His perfect plan for you! 

For more info on the topic :  http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/chastity.htm

Winner of Talk Like a Pirate contest!

We have two winners!  Both Christina Banks and Virginia C got all 7 phrases right!!  Wow, I do believe these ladies either have a pirate dictionary on hand or a bit of pirate in their blood!  Please send me your addresses and which of my books you would like to receive.

Congratulations to both of you!  I have to say I made these pretty hard this year!

Here are the answers.

Lower the boom: Scads, if that scalawag utters another word 'bout me, I'll lower the boom on 'im.
a. to flatten with a large piece of wood
b. to reprimand harshly
c. to blow up with a cannon shot
d. to throw overboard

Nippers and Half-pints: Gather the nippers and half-pints and send 'em ashore for some rum.
a. Mugs and cups
b. Sailors who had lost a leg or an arm
c. young boys
d. Slaves aboard the ship

By the boards: We have t' sail tomorrow or all will go by the boards.
a. following the pirate's code to the letter
b. sitting by the bulwarks or railing of the ship
c. drunk
d. a missed opportunity

Scupperlout: Get off me ship. I can't stand the sight o' ye, ye scupperlout!
a. Offensive idiot
b. Lazy person
c. Mutinous dog
d. Someone who steals food aboard a ship

Cockerel: So that be the way o' it, ye young cockerel
a. Arrogant person
b. Someone who cares for chickens on board the ship
c. a person who resembles a cockroach
c. a type of dog

Fond and feckless:  Ye be a good friend but a fond and feckless cap'n. 

a. Nice and clear-skinned
b. foolish and incompetent
c. Cheerful and daring
d. Carefree and stupid

Crossgrained: Ye crossgrained cur, ye're runnin' straight fer destruction.
a. cross-eyed
b. mixed up/confused
c. troublesome
d. a cross dressing sailor

  

Well, as you're reading this, I'm on an airplane to Minnesota for 3 book signings at Lifeway Christian book stores!  One tonight and 2 tomorrow. I'll try and get pictures so I can post them next week. 

Just a bit of writing news. I finally finished my edits on Surrender the Night. Those are the changes/fixes that I receive from my publisher's editor. Now, all that has to be done is several readings for last minute errors, including another one by me in a month or two, then the printing and binding and voila! A book is born.

When I return home, I'll continue working on Surrender the Dawn. Luke and Cassandra's story. I'm SUPER excited about this one. Luke Heaton is such a mysterious character, I'm not sure I even know what makes him tick yet. A bad boy terribly wounded with a sordid past and a hope for a better future. Oh, and he's one of those dark handsome rugged types. Yummy.

Call for reviews!

Hi everyone!
I normally don't do this, but my publisher has been working with me on enhancing my marketing skills (And boy, do they need enhancing) Hey, after all, I'm just a writer, not a publicist. Anyway, would you do me a favor?

If you've read any of my books (and liked them) particularly the last one, Surrender the Heart, would you mind writing a quick review and posting it on Amazon, Christianbook.com, Barnes and Nobles, Goodreads and any other book networks you'd like????   The review doesn't have to be more than a few lines. Nothing literary is required. Just write what the book meant to you. If you found it adventurous, romantic, if you learned something from it or it was just plain fun to read!  That's all a review has to be.  You can copy and paste it to each site so it shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.

I'm told that the more reviews there are for a book, the more likely someone else is to buy it.
If you post a review, send me a copy of it and a list of the sites you posted it on, and I'll enter your name in a drawing to receive and advance copy of my next book. Please give your honest opinion. Your name will still go in the drawing even if you give an unfavorable review.

I would REALLY appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Wordless Wednesday!

Ah, all me gold fer a fair wind and a clear horizon! Join me?

Wrestling with God

Remember the story in Genesis 32 where Jacob spent an entire night wrestling with God? If you don't, you should go over there and read the entire story. When you stop and think about it, it's actually fascinating. You see, Jacob and his entire family and all of his servants were about to be annihilated, wiped off the map, murdered by his brother Esau who was on the way with 400 fighting men to see Jacob.  The trouble was, Jacob deserved it. He had swindled his brother out of his birth right and then his blessing as the eldest son. This was a HUGE deal at the time. It would be like stealing your brother's car, house, and job today. Not only job, but any hope of making a success out of his life.

So, Jacob was in a jam. He had no where to turn. Perhaps you can relate. I know I can! Has there ever been a moment in your life when you felt like everything was falling apart? Perhaps you or a loved one were diagnosed with a terminal disease, perhaps you lost your job and would be out on the street in a matter of months, perhaps your husband or wife left you, or the love of your life dumped you or ran off with another. Or maybe like Jacob, you were in a very dangerous situation.  I mean, I'm talking some serious stuff here. Life altering circumstances.  So what do you do?

• Throw the biggest pity party you've ever had and cry yourself to sleep
• Go about in a rage, blaming everyone for what's happening to you
• Call all your friends and complain, hoping their empathy will console you
• Get mad at God and either yell at Him or ignore Him.

Aren't these the type of things most people do? I know it's easy to fall into one of these reactions. It's human. But does Jacob do that?
No, Jacob wrestled with God all night long. I actually believe He did wrestle with God. I believe this was Jesus in bodily form. Why? Because Jacob overpowered Him. Nobody can overpower God unless He's in a normal human body. In fact, Jacob wouldn't let Jesus go until He blessed him.  I often wonder how the wrestling match started. I imagine Jacob started praying. Maybe he was angry at God. Maybe he was pleading with Him for help. Whatever his mood, God showed up in bodily form. Perhaps Jesus prodded Jacob into the wrestling match with the intent to allow Jacob to get all his anger out. Or maybe Jesus told Jacob that if Jacob wanted His help, he'd have to work for it. Hey, you never know, right?

I have a true story that illustrates this. I knew a lady whose husband came home one day, packed his bags, told her he had another woman and was leaving. Though she begged him not to, he walked out the door, leaving her with 3 small children. Instead of allowing her anger to rage, instead of moping around crying and feeling sorry for herself, guess what my friend did?  She put the kids to bed and spent the ENTIRE night on her knees in prayer. And this just wasn't any kind of prayer. This was a wrestling kind of prayer. A heartfelt, sobbing, gut wrenching kind of prayer. (And no, she didn't pray that a large boulder would fall on her husband! though tempting, I'm sure)  She prayed for her husband. For his salvation, for him to repent, turn back to God and come home. She didn't just pray for an hour and get tired and fall asleep. She prayed and fasted ALL NIGHT long. She wrestled with God.
And you know what? In the morning, her husband came home and said he wanted to work things out if she'd take him back!

This is what I've learned from this scripture and this story. God wants to know if you're serious about this Christian thing. He wants to know if you truly believe what you say you do.  Are you willing to go the extra mile, spend a sleepless night, fast for a day or two, give up something precious to you, or are you the type who just flings a pitiful prayer toward heaven and then wallows in your sorrow and despair?


Are you willing to wrestle (spiritually) with God until He blesses you? I guarantee it, He would love nothing more!
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about demanding God answer your prayers or do things your way. That's not the type of wrestling I'm talking about. No, I'm talking about a true commitment to following God's will no matter the cost. Of demonstrating  your faith in Him when it hurts you the most. You may not get the answer you wanted as my friend did or Jacob did, but I guarantee you, you'll receive something far more valuable. You'll receive God's favor and blessing, along with the confidence that He's working all things in your life for your good and His glory.

Talk like a pirate day contest!

Well here we are again. Another year has passed and it's nearly our National Talk Like a Pirate day, celebrated each year on September 19th. In honor of this special occasion, I've listed 7 pirate phrases below. Choose the answer you think best defines the word or phrase and leave your answers in a comment, along with your email.

I'll choose a winner and reveal the answers on Friday October 1st. The winner will receive their choice of one of my books, some body wash and scrub and a rubber duckie. An' no cheatin' by lookin' them up!  So, the best t' ye!



Lower the boom: Scads, if that scalawag utters another word 'bout me, I'll lower the boom on 'im.
a. to flatten with a large piece of wood
b. to reprimand harshly
c. to blow up with a cannon shot
d. to throw overboard

Nippers and Half-pints: Gather the nippers and half-pints and send 'em ashore for some rum.
a. Mugs and cups
b. Sailors who had lost a leg or an arm
c. young boys
d. Slaves aboard the ship

By the boards: We have t' sail tomorrow or all will go by the boards.
a. following the pirate's code to the letter
b. sitting by the bulwarks or railing of the ship
c. drunk
d. a missed opportunity

Scupperlout: Get off me ship. I can't stand the sight o' ye, ye scupperlout!
a. Offensive idiot
b. Lazy person
c. Mutinous dog
d. Someone who steals food aboard a ship

Cockerel: So that be the way o' it, ye young cockerel
a. Arrogant person
b. Someone who cares for chickens on board the ship
c. a person who resembles a cockroach
c. a type of dog

Fond and feckless:  Ye be a good friend but a fond and feckless cap'n. 

a. Nice and clear-skinned
b. foolish and incompetent
c. Cheerful and daring
d. Carefree and stupid

Crossgrained: Ye crossgrained cur, ye're runnin' straight fer destruction.
a. cross-eyed
b. mixed up/confused
c. troublesome
d. a cross dressing sailor

Book Signing tour in Minnesota Sept 24-25th!!

I'll be in the Minnesota area at the end of this month at the following Lifeway Christian Book stores. Here are the dates and times. I would LOVE to meet any one who lives in the area. Please drop by and say hi! 

6-8pm on Friday, Sept. 24
Cobblestone Court
14150 Nicollet Ave. S.
Burnsville, MN 55337
952.435.8600

11am to 1pm on Saturday Sept. 25
Arbor Lakes Mall
12985 Elm Creek Blvd.
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763.420.3883

3-5pm on Saturday, Sept. 25
Valley Creek Mall
1750 Weir Dr.
Woodbury, MN 55125
651.738.9200

Wordless Wednesday

Hey maties, be sure an' come back on Friday when I'll be havin' me annual Talk Like a Pirate contest!

God is a gentleman

In my books, I like to write about gentlemen. Men who are honorable and noble and who do the right thing. But how often do we think of God as a gentleman? Depending on your background, you may picture him as either a gruff father type who's always chastising you for wrong doings, or you may think of Him as a big Santa Claus lovable type. Either way you'd be wrong. For years I thought of God as distant and unloving and judgmental. I couldn't have been further from the truth. But just because He is willing to forgive us, doesn't mean He is a soft wimpy pushover either. It's up to you to discover who God really is and the only way to do that is (like any relationship) by spending time in His Word and with Him.

One thing I have learned is God is a gentleman. The definition of a gentleman is a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man. He never forces himself on anybody and the minute He senses that He is not welcome, He leaves. You may have heard this sort of thing before, but recently I've come to realize another aspect that really impacted me.
And that is that each person controls how much God is involved in our lives. You don't want God, He won't bother you. You seek Him with all your heart, you get all of Him.
You only want enough of God in your life to not cramp your style, then you get exactly that much God in your life.  

This last statement scares me a bit because honestly, I wonder if there aren't moments when I get too caught up in my own life and sort of push God off to the side.  

• Moments when you're with some people who aren't Christians and you sort of change the way you talk and say things to exclude any mention of God. 
• Or the times when you really really really want a particular thing that God has said no to, but you go ahead and get it anyway. 
• Or you really want to get involved in a certain relationship and you rush headfirst into it without consulting God because you're afraid He'll say no.
• Or when you're just too busy to pray and too busy to read the Bible and you relegate God to Sunday mornings at church.  
• Or maybe you just want enough of God to get into Heaven, but living for Him day to day is just too hard.

Whatever the reason, when we do these things, God says, Okay. I'll step back. I'll withdraw my loving hand. And He gives us what we want, only a small part of Him. And then we wonder why our life gets so messed up and we get hurt or head down the wrong path and get into all sorts of trouble. And we wonder why we don't feel the presence of God, why miracles aren't happening in our lives and our prayers aren't being answered.  

If that's you right now, take a moment and see if you haven't wanted only a small part of God in your life. Because that's exactly what you'll get. And believe me, you'll be missing out on SO MUCH! I don't say that because I'm always seeking all of God, because I fall short many times, but I'm saying that because the times I have sought God with all of my heart and given Him complete control are the times when great things have happened in my life, sweet moments and fantastic miracles! Whatever God has done for you, He has so much more planned. Don't push Him away. Because He's a gentleman and He will grant you your wish. 

Back from Ohio and free book winners!

Hi everyone! A seriously jetlagged MaryLu here to announce the winners of my two recent contests.
Congratulations to Michelle F who won Healer by Linda Windsor and
Congratulations to Brenda Hurley who won Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough!!! 

Thanks to all who entered.

OHIO Trip
I had a wonderful time in Ohio at my publishers, Barbour. They rolled out the red carpet for me and my fellow authors, Kaye Dacus, Ronie Kendig and Kelly Eileen Hake and made us feel very special. I arrived rather bedraggled and already tired late Monday afternoon. (Let me tell you, the 3 hour time difference is a killer!) For some reason, I became the designated driver of the rental car! Me, who can't find her way around San Jose after having lived here for 30 years! Anyway, with my google map and Ronie's help, we found the hotel and enjoyed a great dinner. 
The next morning, it was up bright and early for an all day marketing seminar given by Rob Eagar with Wildfire marketing. (I had to get up at 7:00 am, which was 4:00 am Pacific time!)  The seminar was awesome and we all learned a great deal. In fact, you'll be seeing some changes to my website around the beginning of next year with lots more free goodies for my readers, downloadable bookmarks, screen savers, deleted scenes from books...etc..  and a place where you can sign up to become part of MaryLu's crew!  I'm still working out all the ideas. Basically I'll be doing a lot more for you, my loyal readers!!

After our seminar, Barbour took all of us out for a delicious dinner, then it was back to the hotel where I crashed!! and then up again early the next morning for individual meetings for each of us with Barbour. During my meeting one of the things we discussed was what I'll be writing next. That should be finalized sometime next month and I'll share it with you all then. I'm very excited!!

After our meetings, we had lunch and then it was off to the airport only to find out that my plane was delayed and I may not make my connection in Atlanta which meant I would have to fly into San Francisco at midnight instead of San Jose at 9:30 (Which by the way would be 3:00 am and 12:30 am for me now since I finally switched to east coast time!) 
But God is good! My flight from Atlanta to San Jose was delayed so I made it just as they were starting to board. I have to tell you, though, I hate sitting on an airplane for 5 hours!!  I'm so glad to be home!

I'd like to ask those of you who read my books and follow my blog if you have any ideas of things you'd like to see on my website. Any freebies you can think of that you'd be interested in, or any service I can provide for you. I'm open to all ideas. After all, I look at my writing as a ministry and ministering to you, my readers, is the most important thing to me.

Wordless Wednesday

Aye, to sail upon the glassy sea!

Was Jesus a Socialist?

I see so many in public office now perverting the Gospel, it makes me sick. They quote from the Bible, a book its obvious they rarely read or study, and create their own quasi-religion that will lead them straight to Hell.
So what exactly is Socialism?  Here's Merriam Webster's definition:

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property. A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

Basically, it's take from those who have and give to those who have not. It's a way to level out the goods in society and make things "fair".  The only way to do this is for the government to take over businesses and to expand charitable government programs such as unemployment and welfare, housing assistance..etc.. etc...
It all sounds so nice and kind, doesn't it? I mean nobody wants people to go hungry or live on the street, right? Why should one person have a huge mansion with a swimming pool and another live in a 1 room apartment in the worst part of the city?

My answer? Because most likely the guy in the mansion has worked long hours his entire life in order to be able to afford his high standard of living while the guy in the one room apartment has wasted his life in laziness and apathy.  Now, I know this isn't always the case. There are some rich people who have inherited their wealth, while others like movie stars and sports figures get paid huge salaries. Still, didn't the person's relatives work hard to earn the money? Didn't the actor get paid for his work?  Why should that be taken away from them and given to the poor?  Is that fair?

That's what is so great about our country. Each person is free to make their own way in life. Free to work hard and become rich or free to be lazy and be poor. It's your choice. But giving that poor person free money is the worst thing you could do for him. It will only make him lazier. I've seen this first hand in people I know.

Now, before you get angry, I'm not at all saying not to help those who can't help themselves.. like a widow with 5 kids or a mentally ill or physically handicapped person. Absolutely. But I still don't think this is the work of the government. This is the work of the church, of people who love God and are directed by His Spirit to help others.

But isn't helping the poor Biblical? Absolutely! Jesus often exhorted his followers to give to the poor. He even went so far as to say in Matt. 5 that  if someone sues you for your tunic, give him your coat also. Over and over again in the Bible, God demands that we help the widows and orphans.

But God never once said that the government should give to the poor. NOT ONCE. Do you know why I think that is

• Government is too full of bueraucracy to do anything efficiently
• Government is too big to regulate giving to those who REALLY need it instead of those who are milking the system.
•  A government that distributes wealth is a Huge government that will by necessity steal away the freedom of its people.
•  Individual people will no longer be charitable on their own because the government is doing it for them
•  Entrepreneurs will not longer work hard and come up with innovative ideas if the government will only take their profits away.
• Businesses will fail and jobs will be lost because all incentive to make profits will be gone
• Handouts produce a lazy, spoiled, nonproductive population

Search the Scriptures. You'll find much on laziness and being a sluggard. Jesus himself was a hard worker. Examine His life. He rarely even slept.  Paul and all the apostles were hard workers. But they also shared what they had with those who couldn't work, like widows and orphans. That's our job, not the governments!
Charity is an act of the individual and the church.

Here's what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3
For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty, being busy with other people's affairs instead of their own and doing no work. Now we charge and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.

Heading to Ohio!

My publisher Barbour is flying me to their headquarters in Ohio on Monday for an all-day marketing seminar on Tuesday and some meetings on Wednesday. So I'll be on a plane from 6:20 AM PST to 6:36 PM EST. A LONG day!  But it will be great to see the people at Barbour! They've all been so good to me and are really nice, godly people.
They are also flying out some other authors: Ronie Kendig, Kaye Dacus, and Kelly Eileen Hake, so I'll have a fun reunion with my girls!
I'll be back home late Wednesday night. Tired, no doubt, so if you send me a note or comment on my blog and I don't answer, that's why!
Oh, and no, I'm not flying a stunt plane. I'll be taking the usual commercial airpline. I just thought the picture was cool. :-)

Welcome Vickie McDonough and enter to win her new release!

The Anonymous Bride!  Book 1 of the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series

Welcome Vickie! I asked Vickie to explain how God worked through her to birth this new series.

When I first started writing The Anonymous Bride, I was a bit overwhelmed. I started out writing 20,000-word novellas and moved to short novels of 50,000 words for the Heartsong Book Club. I'd never written a 100,000 book before, and the task seemed daunting, even though I knew the plot of my story well. Writing this book--and the next one--became a walk in daily trusting in God to help me meet my word count and to make the book exciting and fulfilling for readers. I knew in my heart that since God had provided me the contract for the book, that He'd help me get it done on time. He did--with the first book in the series and with the second one. Now I'm working on the third book in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and once again, I need Him walking with me, guiding me along the path of this book. So many people I meet think it's exciting to write a book--and it is--but it's also a lot of hard work and can even be a spiritual battle. I firmly believe God uses Christian fiction to bring people to Him and to encourage Christians in their faith walk and that there are dark forces that don't want us to succeed. I'm learning to trust God more with each book I write. I've heard of many other authors who struggle when writing their books. Have you ever considered praying for your favorite author? I'd like to encourage and even challenge you to do so. We can use the prayers!

Amen, Vickie! I believe anyone whose goal it is to glorify God will run into some heavy spiritual battle! Whether you write, paint, are a student, or wok in an office.. etc.  I know I've felt under heavy attack while writing many of my novels.

Now about the book!
The Anonymous Bride Three mail-order brides arrive in Lookout, Texas , each expecting to marry the local marshal. But—he didn't order a bride. When a contest ensues to discover which bride will make him the best wife, there is a surprise fourth entry--an anonymous one. Mayhem occurs as the whole town tries to figure out who the anonymous bride is, and the mayor pressures the marshal to pick a bride or lose his job. Will Marshal Davis tuck tail and run for the hills? Or will he lose his heart and his bachelorhood?

Here's a sneak peek at book 2 which was just released this week!
Second Chance Brides

Rejected mail-order brides, Shannon O’Neil and Leah Bennett, are stranded in Lookout, Texas , without husbands or future plans. Thankfully, the marshal has ordered the rascally Corbett brothers to pay for the women’s lodging at the boardinghouse, but will the brothers’ idea of hosting Saturday socials really bring these women the kind of loves they long for? Will Shannon choose to marry just for security? Will Leah reject love when the challenges mount?







About Vickie!!
Award-winning author Vickie McDonough has lived in Oklahoma all her life, except for a year when she and her husband lived on a kibbutz in Israel . Vickie has had 18 books and novellas published, and historical Christian romance is her favorite genre to read and write. Vickie is currently the ACFW treasurer, and a founding member of WIN, an ACFW chapter in Tulsa , OK . She is a member of RWA, CAN, Women Writing the West, and OWFI. She is a wife of thirty-four years, mother of four grown sons and grandma to a feisty four-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books, visit her website: http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/

My Review of The Anonymous Bride.
This is my first book by Vickie McDonough and I was not in the least bit disappointed. What I thought was going to be merely a lighthearted fun western romance (and it was that!) turned out to be also exciting and adventurous as well. Rather than simply dwelling on the humorous situation the sherrif finds himself in when his friends set him up with three mail order brides, the author also treads into deeper waters with such important issues as rape, betrayal, parenting, and faith. Well written, funny, and page-turning, I'm sure you'll enjoy this historical romance!!

If you'd like to win a copy of The Anonymous Bride, please leave a comment with your email addy. I'll draw a name next Friday Sept 10th

Wordless Wednesday

Freedom on the open sea!