When You Can't -- God Can! By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Spring is coming! Daylight Savings Time adjustments are made today! Time moves on.  Forsythias and daffodils bloom and cherry trees blossom!

Just as those good things happen and unfold, sometimes bad things do, too. Friends ill with serious diseases worsen. Some may go on to heaven this next year. My own struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis has worsened to the point that I'm about to try another Biologic after eight years since the last one almost killed me.

The beauty of Spring, the beauty of trusting in God, is the promise of an unfolding of His will. Regardless of what we do, Spring will come and progress. I have a friend who, like myself, has been restricted in her activities to the point of spending most of her days in a recliner. She's waiting on heaven. I'm waiting on improved health. Regardless, we're trusting God with our lives. I was given an extra eight years so far. None of us knows what God can do with our situations but we know He can do it! He can perform miracles. He can raise up dry bones.

Prayer: God bless those today too weak, ill, or discouraged to leave their homes. Give energy to those who need it to do Your will. Help us trust that when we can't, You can! In Jesus's precious name, Amen.

Giveaway and Review of Regina Jennings's New Release - A Most Inconvenient Marriage

A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Set aside a chunk of uninterrupted time for this novel--because you won't want to put it down once you start reading!  Regina Jennings has really come into her own with this book. Abigail, a nurse for the Union, promises "Jeremiah Calhoun", that she will marry him and go and care for his sister, an invalid with Rheumatic Fever, and his mother, and his farm. Abigail has no one to turn to as the Civil War comes to a close and accepts the dying man's offer. Except that the real Jeremiah is alive and has been waiting four long years to be reunited with his fiancee Laurel. Set in the Ozark mountains and faced with criminals who are stealing horses and killing people, the tension in the story will keep you turning page after page.

Laurel Wallace, in Jeremiah's absence, and having heard that Abigail had married "Jeremiah", who was pronounced as dead has become romantically attached to the local doctor. When the real Jeremiah arrives home and goes looking for his fiancee, he's not about to give up so easily despite the doctor's maneuvering to keep him at bay.

bibliotherapy: Jeremiah has suffered a mini ball injury through his thigh and initially his one leg is not even able to tough the ground because of muscle contractions. Abigail Stuart is a nurse and has leaned some new techniques to help recover muscle usage.

Jeremiah's sister, Rachel, suffers greatly with recurring Rheumatic Fever which has damaged her heart. I could really feel for Rachel, because I have rheumatoid arthritis and I know how those hot and swollen joints can pain you. But Rachel's issue is really more to do with unforgiveness.

A powerful romance! Highly recommend.

Giveaway: Winner's choice of paperback or ebook. USA only unless ebook or available through Book Depository.

Noela Nancarrow reviews A MOST INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE by Regina Jennings

A Most Inconvenient Marriage

A Most Inconvenient Marriage

by Regina Jennings

Bethany House Publishers (December 2, 2014)

Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow

5 Stars *****

 Regina Jennings’ books never disappoint, but this one just blew me away! Unique as always; intriguing as ever; but it was also beyond riveting, thereby making it impossible to put down. So my advice is not to plan on doing much once you begin reading! There were smiles, tears, and an incredibly satisfying feeling upon finishing that you’ve just read a great book.

It seemed simple at the time. Grant a dying soldier’s wish by marrying him so as to inherit his family’s property. She finally had somewhere to go, somewhere where she’d be wanted. And all Abigail Stuart had to do was to help the soldier’s mother and severely-afflicted sister on their farm. However, what was supposed to be a convenient marriage, turned out to be anything but.

The Civil War had recently come to an end and Jeremiah Calhoun finally returns home, injured, but yearning to see his mother, sister, and his sweetheart Laurel. Instead he arrives home to find an unfamiliar willowy blonde ludicrously claiming that he is an imposter since she’d married ‘Jeremiah Calhoun’ in a prison hospital shortly before he died. Should he send this scheming beauty on her way or avail himself of her assistance for the sake of his family until he’s more able-bodied?

Abigail doesn’t want to leave after feeling like she has finally found a home on the Calhoun’s farm in the rugged Ozark Mountains of Missouri. However, she knows it’s only a matter of time before Jeremiah sends her away and becomes engaged to his beloved Laurel. Can she persuade him to allow her to stay? Will she even want to after he unwittingly creeps into her heart but not her life? Furthermore, who was that dying soldier claiming to be Jeremiah, to whom she'd married?

There’s a captivating web of intrigue that weaves throughout the story in this tale of memorable characters and genuine heart. Tension abounds with treacherous marauders lurking about the mountain. A heart-pulsing romance slowly develops. And inspiration is embedded in this novel with words of wisdom on seeking God’s will instead of striving on your own, and the freedom and peace that forgiveness brings. A well-rounded story that is highly recommended!! 

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You can find this book at Amazon; CBD; Barnes & Noble; BAM; and other good bookstores!

GIVEAWAY: USA - Winner's choice of paperback or e-book! International - Ebook only unless available through Book Despository.