Pages

31 July 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews Sixty Acres And A Bride by Regina Jennings

Sixty Acres and a Bride

Sixty Acres and a Bride
by Regina Jennings
(Bethany House Publishers, 2012)


5 stars~*****
Tremendous Debut Novel!


Reviewed by Diana L. Flowers


In Sixty Acres and a Bride, Regina Jennings takes us on a epic journey to Texas in 1864; a beautiful land of vast prairies, verdant hills, giant cacti, and diverse ranches, but it is also a place of great dangers, fraught with prairie storms, prejudice, and manipulative, vile men.


The vivacious, dark haired Mexican beauty, Rosa Garner and her
mother-in-law, Louise, return to Texas from Mexico, where a mine cave in has left them both widows. Moving to Louise's Texas ranch seems the logical thing to do, until they discover the previous tenants left owing back taxes, and the widows have but three months in which to pay them. Rosa does what she can to help her mother-in-law earn the money, but she is not use to the customs of this strange land, and falls prey to prejudiced townsfolk, gossip mongers, and a deceitful man who is determined to use her naivete to have her.


On the neighboring ranch, lives Rosa's late husband's cousin, Weston Garner, a man torn by guilt from his wife's death years earlier, and determined never to marry again. But, why does this lovely widow get under his skin so?...and when Rosa dances The Mariposa, an alluring native dance at a ranch BBQ, what causes Weston to pull her away from the other dancers, much to Rosa's embarrassment? And what daring plan does Rosa come up with to help pay the taxes on Louise's ranch, and can she live with the consequences?


I am amazed that this is Regina Jennings' debut novel! Her characters were realistically flawed, and I fell in love with every one of them (almost!), especially the fiery and devoted Rosa. The plot was exciting, and I loved the correlation between Rosa and Louise's relationship to Naomi and Ruth in the Bible. With a climactic, satisfying conclusion, this is a must read for all historical fiction lovers. I simply cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us in the future!



Regina's books can be purchased through CBDAmazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book stores.  


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Regina's debut book in your choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.



29 July 2012

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings

REGINA JENNINGS is the author of Sixty Acres and a Bride. Her 2013 book, Love in the Balance is available as a pre-order through Amazon!

Regina, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?
Thank you for inviting me and thank you for the opportunity to share my testimony over my daughter’s struggle. First off, I’d say she’s really the one doing the overcoming with God’s help, but a Momma can’t stand by when her child is hurting without joining in the fight.

Our daughter was our first child—a delight and a joy, but by the time she was three years old we realized that she had some unique challenges. She suffered from migraines, slurred speech and walked on her toes. As she reached school age her physical and learning delays became more pronounced leading us to choose homeschooling in order to personalize her education. This year she is a senior, but I think I’ve received as much of an education as she has. She is now a lovely seventeen-year-old who is starting training as a nurse assistant this year at the local vocational training center, and we couldn’t be more proud. She has worked very hard to get where she is. Watching her struggle has taught me the meaning of overcoming. It’s made me realize how God can use those who rely on Him instead of relying on themselves.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?
I Corinthians 1:27-29 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. (NKJV)

God is interested in His glory, not ours. He will use the humble before the proud. This is a comfort when I’m afraid that I can’t do something. When I doubt that I can write another book, when I’m afraid I won’t be able to balance my responsibilities, I can rest in His strength. The inspiration and the ability come from God.

Sixty Acres and a Bride


Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 
Sixty Acres and a Bride has recently been purchased by Thorndike Press to be printed in a large print format. It is also available from DoubleDay Book Club in large print.
Sixty Acres and a Bride is also available on several ebook formats where you can enable the text-to-speech option and adjust the font size.


As a side note, because of my daughter’s learning disabilities we have been greatly blessed by our local library for the blind. If you have connections with a library for the blind, please request a recording of Sixty Acres and a Bride and perhaps they’ll make one.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?
First off, I hope they will be entertained. I want them to be drawn into the story, love the characters and be satisfied with the ending. Secondly, I hope my stories add something to the way they view God’s world. Whether a character helps them understand a family member better or a description makes them look at the world in a new light, I hope that some time, years from now, someone might think, “That reminds me of this book I read…”

As you researched your book, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
I knew from the beginning that I wanted to explore the themes of the Ruth and Boaz story from the Bible, but I needed to find a historically accurate setting.

While researching I stumbled  upon a tiny town in Texas named Prairie Lea. I also found a snippet reporting that many families left Prairie Lea after the Civil War to live in Mexico because of the violence and lawlessness of Reconstruction. This was the perfect set-up for a “Naomi” to return to her homeland with her foreign daughter-in-law, but it also showed the desperation of the times. They must have believed that Mexico offered more of a chance for prosperity and safety than the United States. Unfortunately, many of them gave up on property which the cattle drives would make profitable within a decade if they would’ve stuck it out.

Do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation? 
I hope that readers will finish Sixty Acres and a Bride with an increased understanding and patience for immigrants and other cultures. I’ve traveled outside the U.S. on mission trips, traveled away from the tourist spots and resorts, and have made my share of social blunders and broken taboos. If you ever spend a full day with no one else who speaks your language, you’ll soon find yourself reduced to caveman grunts and gestures. Not exactly sophisticated.
Viewing 1878 American culture through Rosa’s eyes was very fun for me. Although she could speak English I still had a blast coming up with her mishaps in Victorian-era Texas. I hope to write another non-Anglo heroine someday.

Thank you REGINA for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Thank you, Carrie, for inviting me! It’s been a blessing and an honor to visit!

Regina's books can be purchased through CBDAmazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book stores.  

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Regina's debut book in your choice of format* or her upcoming 2013 release as a paperback pre-order. Void where prohibited by law. (*International winners will only receive the debut book in ebook format not as a paperback and are not eligible for the 2013 book.)

28 July 2012

5 Reasons to Watch What You Eat While Traveling


By Carrie Fancett Pagels

1)      If you have food allergies you could either end up at the hospital instead of your destination.
2)      If you have sensitivities you could end up sick or in bed instead of enjoying your trip.
3)      Now you’ve just impacted the others on your trip, too, if either of the above happens.
4)      If you think something isn’t quite right—don’t eat it.  Better safe than really, really, really sorry!
5)      Sneaky ingredients make their way into all kinds of fast food and restaurant food.  If in doubt—ask the wait staff to check for you.  It is a little embarrassing but worth it.

Tips for the road. 
Pack an insulated carrier with carrots, apples, etc. (things you aren’t allergic or sensitive to) and refill by stopping at grocery stores instead of popping into fast food joints.  Pack nonperishable items such as raisins, nuts, and other dried foods that you are able to consume.  Keep a pack of bottle water and juice and order a cup of ice.  Many places will sell you an ice cup on the east coast.

Pack a small hot pot if your room doesn’t have a microwave.  Bring a manual can opener and cans of food you can consume such as gluten-free soup, tuna, etc.  Bring a couple of spoons and a large mug that you can eat from.

Request a small fridge. If your room doesn’t have one, some places will rent you one.  Goat’s milk is something that I can tolerate and since I must have coffee (or I growl!) and can’t have milk nor most artificial creamers, I’ve found canned goats milk to be something I can bring and refrigerate.  Also, if no fridge, those tiny Styrofoam coolers keep most things chilled—just keep replacing the ice. 

How about you?  How do you plan for trips and eating where your food concerns might impact you?

 Giveaway:  Last day to leave a comment for a chance to win one of Colleen Coble's 40 books!  Your choice. International winners--Kindle ebook only.

26 July 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

Blue Moon Promise

5 stars~*****


Deep In The Heart Of Texas!


Colleen Coble has crafted a wonderfully romantic, suspense filled historical set in Texas; a beautiful land filled with wildflowers, horse ranches and grazing cattle, but also fraught with the threat of Indians, rattlesnakes, and unscrupulous money hungry villains. Our lovely heroine, Lucy Marsh, finds herself in dire straights when she is left to care for her two siblings and loses her job in Indiana. She also finds herself in danger when a man begins to stalk her for reasons unbeknownst to her. When a friend of her late father shows up and offers her a marriage by proxy to his son, Nate, she has no choice but to take him up on it.

Along with his father, Nate Stanton runs the Stars Above Ranch, and is incensed when his father brings home a puny, (albeit beautiful), unsuitable wife for him-surely incapable of helping him run a ranch. Lucy is determined to carry her weight on the ranch and show Nate he is wrong about her, and finds herself attracted to the handsome, kind cowboy. When the man who stalked her in Indiana turns up again, and problems arise with a neighbor he and his father have had a longtime feud with, Nate unexpectedly finds he will go to any length to protect Lucy and her siblings.

Will Lucy quit trying to control things to prove her worth, and will Nate learn to love her as the Bible says a man must love his wife? Can Lucy help mend the breach between the Stantons and the man they have been feuding with for years?...and why is she being stalked? What surprise twist occurs in the conclusion?...revealing a betrayal that nearly breaks Nate's heart?

I have read many of Ms. Coble's books and have yet to read one I didn't like. She is a master storyteller that combines suspense, romance, and weaves a strong spiritual thread of forgiveness and second chances within the pages of her books. Her stories are action-packed and compelling, and I could not put this one down. Nicely done, Colleen Coble!


*I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review. 



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Colleen’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.


24 July 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble



4.5 stars~


Seaside Suspense!!


In Tidewater Inn, Colleen Coble has woven a captivating, suspense filled novel that takes place in the Outer Banks on Hope Beach---an island replete with fishing boats, charming houses, salty sea air, and the sound of the waves rolling onto the shore. Libby and her partner, Nicole, restore historical buildings in Virginia Beach, and Nicole finds herself on Hope Beach investigating the idea of restoring the downtown area. When she becomes a victim of a kidnapping, Libby races to the island to search for her friend, enlisting the aid of Alec Bourne, handsome captain of the Coast Guard.

Once there, Libby finds out not only that her deceased father has left her Tidewater Inn, but that she has half-siblings there as well...who are incensed that Libby (whom they previously didn't know even existed), is to inherit the inn. Danger and distrust lurk in every nook and cranny of the island as Libby becomes a prime suspect of Nicole's kidnapping, and someone seeks to drown her in the vast ocean waters.

Is Nicole still alive, and is someone trying to get rid of Libby to obtain Tidewater Inn? Is there any hope of Libby and her siblings ever reconciling?...and does Alec believe Libby had nothing to do with her friend's disappearance. Will Libby decide to sell Tidewater Inn since it would be too expensive to renovate?...and what of her growing feelings for Alec should she decide to do so?

Colleen Coble is simply a master storyteller. Her use of imagery in the seaside setting in this novel immediately drew me in; her storyline kept me there! Full of suspense, romance, compelling and lovable characters, and a spiritual thread throughout---this one will keep you flipping those pages 'til the climactic conclusion! Thank you for the exciting beach vacation I've needed for so long, Colleen Coble! :)


I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.


Colleen's books can be found on Amazon, CBD and other bookstores.


GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday, your choice of Colleen's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. * International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

22 July 2012

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Colleen Coble


Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble is the author of Tidewater Inn and of the Lonestar Series and the Rock Harbor series.



I met Colleen through some online groups, including American Christian Fiction Writers. She is CEO of ACFW.

Colleen, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?
I suffered with debilitating migraines for decades (40 years.) It was often hard to deal with everyday life, and even harder to write when the pain crushed me. I had to rely on God day to day. I searched all the time for relief and finally found what worked (bioidentical hormones) and am now migraine free! So grateful to the Lord for that.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
Romans 8:28. My family and I were involved in a bad auto accident. At the time I couldn’t see anything good in it. A teenage boy had been killed, and we were all injured. But through that accident, I came to know Jesus and so did my family. A year after the accident eleven people had come to Christ as a result of that accident. It’s difficult to go through challenges like that and we can’t always see the reasons, but God always brings good out of it in the end.

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 
Yes, Tidewater Inn will be available in audio and large print. Quite a few other books are in large print and/or audio.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?
You have the strength and courage in you to face challenges and overcome them. God will never leave or forsake you, and you can rise above any challenges you face. That’s the theme that runs through all my books. My heroines are all overcomers. I love seeing strong women take on the world and win with God’s help. 

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
I particularly enjoyed writing Tidewater Inn because Libby learns to take one step each day that will strengthen her character and her faith. It’s the little decisions we do every day that either take us closer to God or further away. So often sin is not something big—it’s a tiny step that reaps huge consequences down the road. So even as Libby learned how rewarding generosity was to her soul, the villain chased after greed to disastrous consequences.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  
I often have information about healthy diet in my books, but that subject didn’t come up in this book. For example, in Lonestar Secrets, my heroine has multiple sclerosis and she learns that gluten free eating will help her disease. I’m a huge believer in a paleo lifestyle and rarely eat grains. I never eat gluten. My new book, Rosemary Cottage, features a midwife who uses homeopathy and herbs to help her patients as well. God designed our bodies so well, and if we give it the right fuel, it can repair a lot of damage. I recommend everyone with an autoimmune disease watch this video of Dr. Terry Wahls and how she healed her MS with diet.

Thank you Colleen for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!
Thanks so much for having me! It’s a wonderful work you’re doing.


Colleen's books are available through Amazon. Tidewater Inn is also available through Barnes and Noble.  You can also find it at CBD.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Colleen’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.










21 July 2012

Anxiety and Faith by Carrie Fancett Pagels


Anxiety

Panic attacks and anxiety appear to have a genetic component to them. So people who experience this shouldn’t beat themselves up over this phenomenon. We’re wired for fight or flight. So the anxious or panicky person freezes while someone else runs. 

Some fear (FEAR=false evidence appearing real) are man-made, though. With the imaginative writer-types and readers, a mental exposure to a frightening event can invoke the same physical responses tied to truly experiencing it. Which prompts one to wonder—do we really want to watch scary movies or read terrifying books when our hearts begin to pound harder, our breathing is affected, and our galvanic skin response and electrical system thinks we are under attack ourselves?  Some people are adrenalin junkies, but I diverge from my point—by allowing ourselves to entertain thoughts of situations we fear, we experience the same negative physical result on our bodies as if it had truly happened.  So, if today, you are borrowing trouble by worrying over something that may (or may not!) happen in the future, you are submitting yourself to the negative effects and not only failing to accomplish something but you are bringing bad stuff down on your body!

One promising treatment for anxiety and stress is neurobiofeedback (see EEG info's site.)  As an example, if you are hooked up to the neurobiofeedback machine watching a lovely video and think stressful thoughts, the screen will go black—triggering you to recognize what is happening.  In many instances, the person is not even aware of the thoughts racing through their head until the screen keeps blacking out, forcing them to maintain a relaxed state of mind free from distracting worrisome thoughts. 

I love my Joyce Meyer nightly devotional book.  One recent devotion urged the reader to cast their cares upon Jesus because He was in control anyway and mulling them over does no good and furthermore negates our belief that God is the one who is looking after us.  And He is!

We thank JAMIE CARIE again for appearing with us this past week and for sharing her heart and testimony in our interview.  Giveaways for this week will end at midnight today. Leave your email address to be entered.

20 July 2012

Teresa's Mathews Reviews Jamie Carie's A Duke's Promise


A Duke's Promise
By Jamie Carie 
(B and H Publishing, September 2012)
5 Stars ***** 
Reviewed by Teresa Mathews

In this third book in “A Forgotten Castles” Series Jamie Carie once again sweeps us away to magnificent places that the Duke of St. Easton, (Gabriel) and now the Duchess of St. Easton, (Alexander) travel to in search of Alexander’s parents. Gabriel finally found Alex and was able to rescue her from the clutches of her deranged fiancé and took her home to London where they married.
                                                                                                            Gabriel has promised Alex he would help her search for her parents so he plans a magnificent honeymoon to Paris. The prince regent doesn’t trust them so he sends some of his men along to keep an eye on them. While in Paris, Gabriel has to figure out a way to outsmart the regent’s guards so they can make their way to Italy, which is the last place her parents were reportedly seen. After meeting with an old friend in Paris who helps them devise a wonderful scheme they are finally free of the guards.

Alex was so excited when Gabriel took her to see the famous aeronaut Sophie Blanchard, balloonist for the king. While watching her performance Gabriel begins to believe she is the answer to his prayers. When they meet with Sophie she agrees to fly them to Italy. The journey is both exciting and dangerous, will they get to Italy as fast as they had hoped or will the dangers be too great? Will Gabriel’s affliction come back even worse than before?

When Gabriel and Alex finally arrive in the Italy, Gabriel saves the life of an Italian Duke. If they had known then who he was and what he had done perhaps they would have let him die. When Alex looks him in the eye she can feel how evil he is, and is tempted to kill him. Could he be the one who knows where her mom and dad are? Will Alex and Gabriel be able to reach her parents in time to save them? 
  
I love the way Jamie described the various areas Gabriel and Alex traveled to, she made everything come to life in living color. There were a lot of twists and turns and a lot of dangerous villains; all in all, the entire story was beautiful and the adventures they had were exciting. The ending was so amazing but alas, I'll not put in a spoiler here. I promise after all the cliffhangers in the past two books all will be forgiven by the beautiful ending. Once again Jamie has done a wonderful job creating a beautiful story that I am going to remember for a long time.

Content Alert: In the first two chapters there is some content that might be a little too graphic for some ages. The reason I added this is I have noticed on our blog there are some moms that said they are reading this series with their daughters and since I wasn't sure of their ages I thought the moms might want to read this part first.

I was given an ARC from the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jamie Carie's books can be found on Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, and other book stores.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.


EXTRA GIVEAWAYS - "The Guardian Duke" a total of 11 copies will be given out this week in Kindle ebook format!!! 



18 July 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie



The Forgiven Duke  Book 2 in The Forgotten Castles series 
by Jamie Carie
(B and H Publishing House,  2012)
5 stars~*****


Forgiven But Not Forgotten!


This is the second book in The Forgotten Castles series; sweeping us away from the rolling gray green hills of Ireland, to the beautiful land of Iceland...the land of fire and ice. Our heroine, Alexandria, has reason to believe her parents are alive and follows their trail to Iceland, along with her fiance, John Lemon. However, memories of Gabriel, the Duke of Easton, standing at the shoreline as her ship sails away still haunts her, and she questions her hasty decision to marry John. Together her and John encounter many dangers amongst the Black Castles of Iceland, as many other evil people are also after the treasure her parents are searching for.


As Gabriel continues to follow Alex, he is kidnapped, beaten, and imprisoned on a Spanish ship. Will he ever be reunited with the woman he has seen but only once; the beautiful lady who has stolen his heart forever? One nightmarish night with John Lemon turns Alex's life upside down, and she wonders if her future will ever be the same again, for surely the duke would never have her now...and perhaps he never wanted her to start with. As plans are underway to marry John, will the duke's plan work to get off the prison ship and continue his search for Alex? Can the guardian duke save her from treacherous people and from herself as well? Are Alexandria's parents dead or alive? Will the duke regain his hearing and will Alex learn to trust God's plans for her life? 


Jamie Carie just "wows" me with her writing. There is never a dull moment in this series filled with twists and turns. I love the way the characters have evolved from the first book. I see a change in the duke's perspective concerning his affliction, and in Alexandria, who had alot of growing up to do! As always, Jamie's writing is superb---I love her use of imagery, and I could see in my mind's eye so clearly, every country they visited. I know she did extensive research on this series and I applaud her! Nicely done!


I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review.


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.

17 July 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie



The Guardian Duke 
by Jamie Carie
(B and H Publishing Group, 2012)


5 stars~ *****


A Delightful Cliffhanger!


Jamie Carie has spun a delightful yarn, that takes us on a journey to England; replete with crumbling, old English castles, dukes, and masquerade balls, to the beautiful purple heather-filled rolling hills of Ireland. 


Our heroine, Alexandria, receives word that her parents are presumed dead, while on a high profile treasure hunt, and Gabriel, the Duke of Easton, is ordered by the king to be her guardian. All of her life, Alexandria's parents have left her alone to pursue their treasure hunts, and she feels compelled to find them at any cost (refusing to believe they are dead), and ignores the duke's missives to come and let him watch over her.


Gabriel begins to have strange, unexplicable attacks of deafness and nausea, and finds strange comfort in Alexandria's return letters. As he realizes she has gone to Ireland to find her parents, he feels he must find her, only to be met with disappointment as she eludes him at every turn. Not only has Gabriel received orders from the king to protect Alex, but what else is driving him to seek out this woman whom he has only "met" through letters?


Will Alex find her parents?...and will Gabriel find her? And as he
unknowingly closes in on her, what happens at a masked ball that left my heart palpitating wildly? :) What is causing Gabriel's strange attacks of deafness and will he find healing...for his physical being and his heart?


I can honestly tell you that some of the above questions are not answered in this book (major frustration!), for Ms. Carie has left us with a wonderful cliffhanger, leaving the reader wanting more! And in Book Two, The Forgiven Duke, I'm sure we will get some answers. I love Jamie Carie's books, and this was no exception. I was actually covered in goose bumps at the conclusion, with tears in my eyes, and feeling frustration at the same time. What a mixture of emotions! Wow, does Jamie ever know how to tell a story! Jamie's characters wrapped themselves around my heart, and I found the duke particularly endearing, and I was so moved by the emotions he displayed in his affliction, for I have been there and done that. Well, my Kindle awaits me with The Forgiven Duke...I must get off this cliff I'm hanging on!


I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review.



Jamie Carie's books can be found on AmazonCBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, and other book stores.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.

15 July 2012

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Jamie Carie



Jamie Carie is the author of The Forgiven Duke and ten other books including The Guardian Duke and Pirate of my Heart.

Jamie, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?
When I was in my twenties, I started having panic attacks. I had always struggled with fear and anxiety due to a traumatic childhood (I’m working on my memoirs now so that story is coming eventually). My husband didn’t know how to help me which made him frustrated and afraid and I wasn’t getting much help from my church. I went to the doctor and they gave me medication but it barely helped and made me feel like a walking zombie. It got so bad that I could hardly leave my house. My husband had a second job delivering newspapers from 4:00 – 6:00 am every morning. I would always wake up terrified that he was gone (back when there were no cell phones) and I would walk in a circle around my living room just trying to breathe. My hands would go numb and tingly and my heart would race. I prayed constantly but only had small reprieves from the constant terror. After months of this, I was exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually. I had two little boys to take care of and I wanted to die.

What finally helped was Joyce Meyer and her cassette tape series, The Battlefield of the Mind. I listened to it countless times and believed the scriptures that she taught. I didn’t have an instantaneous healing but over time and with some later counseling, I did get much better.

Today, I praise God that I have come so far. I would have never been able to do the traveling, speaking and socializing that I now do as an author without God pulling me out of that pit.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?
In the context of this topic I would go with I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)

Disability friendliness:
Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do you have any in large print?  Some of my books are available in audio and most of them are available in large print. All are available as an e-book.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?
That God loves them in a way that we can only attempt to imagine and that He has a plan for their lives that is perfect and is preparing them for eternity. We are as fading flowers here but will shine forever throughout eternity reflecting His glory. This life is a test, a race, a trial by fire. God is preparing each of us for our time with Him forever.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?
So many things! Here are a few:

Snow Angel – The trek across Alaska to the gold fields in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada was an extreme adventure not for the faint of heart. I couldn’t believe how many people made that treacherous journey.
The Duchess and the Dragon – The Quakers believe in following the “inner light” which reminded me of my Charismatic roots in following the “leading of the Holy Spirit.”
Wind Dancer – George Rogers Clark had no reason to believe so steadfastly that taking the northwest territory (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio) would be so key to winning the American Revolution except that God just put a burning desire to see it through in his heart. I was amazed at how God gets His will done using fallible, wonderful people like him.
Love’s First Light – The French Revolution came right after our own American Revolution but the differences were astounding to me! While we had good, upright men to take leadership of our new country, the French had corrupt and evil men take over. I felt so thankful and blessed to have had Godly men (fallible yes, but men who loved God) lead us into our democracy.
Angel’s Den – The devastation of domestic violence and abuse is so horrible I almost couldn’t write this story. I kept praying that God would show me Emma’s way out. Some people never get that, they die in horrible circumstances and that breaks my heart.
The Snowflake – The intricate beauty of snowflakes astound me. Here’s a quote I was given permission to use in my book: “They sat that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?” – Jeanette Winterson, The Passion, 1987
Pirate of My Heart – One person really can change the world, or at least his/her world. I learned that the fruit of Spirit is power. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23 When it says there is no law it speaks to the power of these gifts – nothing can come against them.

The Guardian Duke – I delved into how people react when devastation happens in their lives. As a writer it’s easy to have the character react as you would. Both my heroine and hero have a devastating circumstance but they react completely different. That was interesting to explore.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
Not sure on this. I always pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to readers wherever they need it and if He chooses to bring healing through my books then I praise God for it!


Thank you Jamie for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!



Jamie Carie's books can be found on AmazonCBD, Barnes and Noble, Lifeway, and other book stores.



GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of Jamie’s books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format not as a paperback.

14 July 2012

Obedience Versus Seeking the Approval of Others



MaryLu Tyndall’s excellent post earlier in the week was put up in lieu of an interview, as we recently interviewed her.  And we’ve been playing around a little with our format here on OTT-WGH.  As she pointed out, seeking popularity via the approval of others, is a game most of us women get caught up in at least at one point in our lives. Men, too.  But the Bible is clear on this—we are to first seek God’s approval in all things and be obedient to His will.  And we certainly aren’t to go looking for approval from worldly and ungodly people.  But we do. 

If we’d get our priorities straight each day, that helps. Carving out that time for the Word, prayers, and seeking His will for the day. I recently posted on spiritual disciplines on the ACFW blog.  And when we walk in His will, He brings those to us that we are supposed to be associating with.  And if they are scurrying our way from his foe, hopefully we can discern from whence they’ve come.  And send them on their way again. Not always easy to do. Confronting the snarkers, the hateful, the insolent, boastful, proud, and merciless who break their promises is difficult. (See Romans 1:28-32.) “Worse yet they encourage others to do (these things) too.”  As MaryLu beautifully portrayed in this book, Veil of Pearls.

Have a blessed Saturday.  The next drawing will be tonight and announced as a comment on this post.  Still time to enter. 
What about you—have you had to cut ties with people, as Adalia did, to maintain your right relationship with God?

Google Analytics