How are you preparing for your best marriage?

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There aren’t very many young females out there that don’t have some kind of wedding dream. Pinterest has certainly fed this desire with the opportunities to pin elaborate wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, decorations and all the perfect photos we will want taken on our special day. I certainly can’t judge or deny anyone this privilege. Good grief, of my 1900 pins, 300 plus are wedding or romance related. We are created for romance after all by the great Romancer of our souls.

But how many of us actually think about the days beyond the white dress? I can raise my hand and be guilty of this myself. There is nothing wrong with these dreams, but would like to challenge you, while challenging myself, to dream beyond that “perfect day” and into the future you will be spending with the one person you have vowed to love and honor until “death do you part”.

Be proactive in your dreaming, learning to become the wife God is calling you to be. We are only single for a short period of time. A shorter period of time than we will be a wife. What are we doing right now? Are we being a good steward of this time of singleness? What is God wanting to teach us in this?

Are you learning to keep a good home? A home that honors God and your husband?

If you live alone, are you filling your home with the light of God? If you still live at home, how are you honoring those in authority over you? How you respect your father, mother, siblings, etc, will be your default for how you respect your own husband someday. Wow, what conviction this is to my spirit!

Are you experimenting with food? Learning how to cook?

The old adage is the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Hopefully we don’t find a man quite so shallow (wink), but food is a form of communication. It’s a love language on many levels, because it takes time. Time to prepare and time to present. Time to enjoy. A place of connection and bonding. Take the time now to have fun with food and share the fun with others!

Are you studying what it means to be pure in singleness and pure in marriage? Are you communicating with like-minded singles and long-married couples about the importance of your current role and your future one?

Being single is not a solitary time in life. I’m continually learning to find fun and joy in simple activities with other young people. But it can be so important to talk about your desires and dreams with other like-minded people. Search (and pray) for a strong Christian married woman (or man) as a mentor during your single years. Learn from these people and prepare yourself for a lifetime of commitment.

Understand the meaning of commitment. The value of waiting. And cultivate a desire to never “settle”.

Much as you would clean and prepare a home for selling, clean and prepare your heart for marriage. You might not have the timetable or the diamond, but now is the time regardless. Examine the soul of your intent and pray for God to continue the good work He has started in You, just as the scriptures promise. Don’t fall into the trap of yearning for marriage, just for the sake of being married. But yearn for today, for tomorrow and the good work God is doing to prepare you for your marriage. And pray your future husband cares the same for you as you do for him. 

Burning Sky by Lori Benton ~ Review

 Fans of Laura Frantz will find a beloved new favorite in the pages of “Burning Sky”, a novel due to hit shelves in August, 2013.

            

Very reminiscent with strong themes of strength, courage and determination, Willa is a young woman trapped by her past and yearning to be set free, but unsure how to allow herself to move forward. The love triangle in the story plays strongly to this effect and made for much tension both romantic and otherwise.

            

What I enjoyed most about the story was the heart of our heroes. Yes, I did refer to them in the plural and I feel as though I could have equally cheered (and did) for both. The details truly are within the story, one I feel historical fiction lovers will find great pleasure in exploring.

          

  I did find the book a bit too long. I feel in many places the story could have been tightened and shortened as after a while I skimmed toward the dialogue. However, that is not to say that the lyrical quality of the story was good. An 18^th century novel is no small piece of fiction by any standards and I have great respect for the obvious research that went into the story.

           

Overall, a good historical read with plenty of emotional investment for the reader.

            

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the Amazon Vine program for my copy to review.

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More about the novel...

“I remember the borders of our land, though I have been gone from them nearly half the moons of my life. But who there will remember me? What I have seen, what I have done, it has changed me.

I am the place where two rivers meet, silted with upheaval and loss.

Yet memory of our land is a clear stream. I shall know it as a mother knows the faces of her children. It may be I will find me there.“

Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence—her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land.

When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure.

Willa is a woman caught between two worlds. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage--the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?

Giveaway! An Open Heart by Dr. Harry Kraus!

Welcome to Writing for Christ, Dr. Harry Kraus, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know? 

I’ve spent most of the last decade practicing surgery in East Africa. I’ve treated people injured by hippo, elephant, lion, and cobra!

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write? 

I write contemporary medical drama with a dash of romantic suspense.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing? 

A writer friend once told me, “Don’t get it right; get it written.” It’s good advice for powering through the first draft and not getting too caught up in revision as you go along. Pages pile up and psychologically, even if you have to revise later, it’s a good feeling.

5 things you love?

I love Kenyan coffee, my wife, watching my sons (young men) make great decisions, worship music, and cheese (not in that order!).

What novel have you recently read that has stood out to you that both teens and adults will find enjoyment in? 

I was intrigued and challenged by Jim Rubart’s novel, “Soul’s Gate.”

Places for readers to learn more about you? 

Visit my blog, www.3menwalkintoablog.com or stop by my website:www.harrykraus.com.  

Thank you for being with us today! 

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Harry's book!

Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:

~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on August 9th

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

A Hero in the Making ~ Devoted and Heroic As Told by Their Creator (Interviewed by Rel!)

Casey here: Welcome to interview III in Rel's fantastic series I'm excited to host here on my blog!! It was only a matter of time before we featured a Ronie Kendig hero. If you visit Rel's blog at all, you know they are among some of her favorite of favorite books. And it's no secret Digitalis is my favorite book by Ronie. But enough chatter from me...on with Rel's interview...

So, for those who follow my blog, it will come as no surprise that I’ve had a literary love affair going on with Ronie Kendig’s leading men from the intriguing Reece Jaxon in her debut novel, Dead Reckoning to her lastest hero from Talon, the enigmatic Dane Markoski.

Ronie has a unique talent when it comes to writing the male perspective – she does it authentically and with great heart, creating men who ooze integrity, loyalty, and courage, yet mess up enough times to be real. I’ve spotlighted and/or interviewed them all on my blog so once you’ve read this post you can click here from more!

Introducing the enigmatic, observant, and resourceful spook

Dane Markoski

From the imagination of romantic thriller author

Ronie Kendig

Featured in Talon: Combat Tracking Team

Why Dane?

Dane is man whose protective instincts for others has been honed through great tragedy. He is devoted to his work because he believes he can make a difference to the safety of others. While his dedication to the task is admirable, he can appear a little cold at times but his heart beats truly. He’s the guy who will keep you safe while ensuring you have the freedom to be yourself. Loyal to a fault, Dane is a man to admire and trust.

So, Ronie, how did you choose Dane's name? 

So, I know this will sound weird, but I don’t feel like I “pick” a character’s name. I generally have a pretty strong instinct about who that character is, so I just wait for the name to pop into my head. Sometimes, it’s immediate. Other times, it comes by trolling baby name sites (generally, I keep their names appropriate for their ethnic heritage). The name just sort of “hits” me.

Is Dane inspired by anyone you know? 

Dane’s past is pretty dark (poor guy), so I can—gratefully—say no, he’s not modeled after anyone I know.

Describe Dane in 3 adjectives 

Controlled, intense (yet), intense.

What are Dane's standout physical characteristics? 

He’s tall and athletic, not powerfully built or uniquely muscular, but he stays in shape as much physically as he does mentally.

Age/Height/Vocation 

6’3, early thirties, covert operative

What scars does Dane carry from his career of choice? 

Dane’s scars come in a round-about way from his career, but more directly from his father’s career, which is one that Dane is duplicating (in a sense)—military intelligence. His father was extremely controlling, abusive, and cruel.

What is Aspen's first impression of Dane? 

When Aspen first meets Dane, it’s at her grandfather’s boxing club—and they end up pitted against each other in the ring. Aspen is pleasantly surprised that Dane is willing to fight her, not the way the other men do with light taps, but he forces her to hold her own.

How does that first impression change over time? 

Over time, Aspen comes to appreciate the way Dane gives her room to be who she is and yet pushes her to dig deeper into herself. At the same time, there are elements of his life and events in the story, that he will not surrender to anyone because he does have a powerful need to control.

What's on Dane's bookshelf and in his Netflix queue? 

Dean’s book includes Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Dante’s Inferno, and other classics that challenge him to think, consider, and weigh his life and actions.

What's Dane's beverage of choice? 

Water.

What is Dane afraid of? 

The past and repeating it.

  

What are Dane's spiritual strengths and/or weaknesses (as applicable)? 

From the beginning, Dane’s vulnerability comes in his need to connect with a higher power for some mental peace/quiet—which is why he’s often found in cathedrals. But that is also his strength—he recognizes that there is something powerful and meaningful in the church. He’s searching for God, finds Him, but doesn’t have all the answers.

What motivates (or one motivation) Dane in his personal life? His professional life? 

Dane is motivated to aid those willing to step into the fight. If someone’s not willing to fight for what’s important to them, he’s not going to do it for them. That’s both in his professional life and his personal life.

As always, thanks Ronie, for introducing readers to Dane ~ he’s a keeper!

My bio: Passionate about my family, faith, reading, and blogging, I find myself squeezing in time to read where I can, thanks to my Kindle, but will never forsake the feel of a real book in my hands. I blog at Relz Reviewz, am the Romance and Historical correspondent for FamilyFiction.com’s digital magazine, and review for TitleTrakk and most Christian publishing houses.

Make That a FUN Author Interview! My Guest? Ruth Logan Herne!! (and a giveaway!!)

Sometimes we just gotta let loose. Have a little fun.  Thus I had this crazy idea…and I’m pretty excited about it. Hope you love it and if you have suggestions for questions, leave them in the comments! :- )

The Basics:

Name: Ruth Logan Herne  “Ruthy”

Home State (completely with address so we can stalk you):  Upstate New York and please… do stalk me!!! Remove the same old, same old tenor of my days!!! I love a good stalking!

Occupation: Author/Day care provider

Height: 5’ 2 1/2”  tall. That half inch is dreadfully important because I could start SHRINKING any moment, and I must cling to any vestige of height and power I can muster!

(Casey here: right there with you, Ruthy! I'm not giving up my 1/8" for anything! No sir!!

Available now!
Order here

)

Hair Color: Blonde. Some days. Light brown others. Depends on sun time and how much time between colorings!!!!

Goin’ Deeper:

Celebrity crush: Gibbs. Gibbs. Gibbs.  Wait. More Gibbs.

#1 favorite pastime: Writing. Writing. Writing.

Best book of your childhood: TOO MANY!!!! First was Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher where I realized I wanted to be Cousin Ann when I grew up and had kids. I believe I accomplished my goal, LOL! And then there was the Janet Lambert “Penny Parrish” series about an army brat who grows up wanting to be a Broadway star… and gets her wish! So many faves!!! But those are two of them.

Go to comfort food: Chocolate

Worst job you ever had: None. I’m such a stinkin’ stick-in-the-mud that I really worked hard at all of them. I’ve always believed that if someone is paying you, do your best. And make it your favorite. 

In Ten Words or Less:

Coming August 2013
Preorder here!

Happiest moment of your life: Birth of my children

One thing on your bucket list: To vacation on an ocean

Quirkiest aspect that annoys your spouse/friends: Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, ad infinatum…

Greatest dream: Already lived it, got to see my kids grow up into wonderful people. Grandchildren. If I died tomorrow, I’d be singin’ God’s praise for the opportunities I’ve already had.

Biggest fear: None. I don’t fear things, I don’t worry, I think that’s such a waste of time… and I have a hard time with wimpy heroines, probably because of that! So if your heroine is a fretter… a worrier… a hand-wringer… Pray to the sweet Lord above that your contest entries don’t come HERE… J Oops, I went over, clearly we’re back to the Talk, talk, talk, etc!!!

I love Ruthy Logan Herne. 

I mean really...who couldn't? She BUBBLES the love of God and always makes me laugh. And laughter = happiness.

You can visit Ruthy online on her website.

And chat with her here as well, so join the conversation!

Oh! I almost forgot!
Ruthy is wanting to give something to YOU today! 
Leave a comment to win one of two copies of Ruthy's latest novel Falling for the Lawman AND a rooster towel...because according to Ruthy, every kitchen should have a rooster towel. ;-)

Standard giveaways rules apply. U.S. only. One comment left below or emailed to me at: caseym(.)writer(@)gmail(.)com

Happy Friday. :-))

Giveaway! If the Shoe Fits by Sandra D. Bricker!

Welcome to Writing for Christ Sandra Bricker, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

I have a sort of obsession with handbags. Can’t have too many of them!

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

As a reader, I’m a big fan of romantic suspense. But as a writer, I was accidentally branded in romantic comedy. Now it’s my first love.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

When I was in film school learning how to write screenplays, my instruc

tor announced at the first class that anyone who doesn’t go to the movies (or rent one) each and every week should get up and walk out because they were wasting their time and his. I took that piece of advice along with me into my career as a novelist. If writers don’t also read, there’s something very wrong.

5 things you love?

1. Jesus
2. My dog, Sophie
3. The Pacific Ocean
4. Coffee & Carbs
5. Really good storytelling

What novel have you recently read that has stood out to you that both teens and adults will find enjoyment in?

James Rubart’s novel, Rooms. I love all of his books, but this one really grabbed me and made me wish I was a member of a book club so I could talk about it with a group of other readers.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

My website: www.SandraDBricker.com

My Facebook reader page: https://www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker

Thank you for being with us today! 

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Sandra's book!

Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:

~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on August 2nd

Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

Of Craig's List Car Shopping and Pinterest Browsing

Photo Credit

Ever spent an evening just browsing the internet?

You really should probably be editing. Or exercising. Or cleaning. Or doing any other handful of things other that what you are doing, but hey, you're tired so why not just run with it. Or rather, with as tired as you are, just stagger with it. ;-)

There aren't really many parallels between Craig's List and Pinterest.

One induces stress with the number of things you could potentially look at and spend your money on. Even when that thing is only a car. But a car that needs to have a V6 engine. 4 wheel drive. Cloth seats. Good mileage. Not too many miles. Not too old. Doesn't cost too much. Ahhhhh! It can be enough to send a non-car-shopper kind of girl run screaming from the room.

The other beckons with relaxation. Laughter. Inspiration. Good food. Soul searching. Comfort. Time to waste simply scrolling through delightful pictures and crafts far too crafty for me to attempt putting my non-crafty self into. 

Ever have one of those nights that the place you're in is suddenly not really where you want to be? That cloistering feeling filling your chest and bursting to be released? And all it feels like is you're spinning tires you don't have in mud that is a mile deep? All you need is that push to get you un-stuck and rolling down the freeway. 

It can be hard to accept where  you're at, when you want to be someplace else. It's hard to be willing to be patient and yet also know when it's time to take that leap of faith. (If anyone has the keys to this answer, I wouldn't complain if you unlocked my jammed door. ;-) 

Growing up is never always easy. Ha! Wouldn't that be nice if it was?! Celebrating a birthday earlier this week was awesome and fun--I think I stood a little bit taller in 22 than 21. ;-) But life isn't all Pinterest pleasures. It's more Craig's List frustrations. Of learning to be patient and wait for that right deal. Of being choosy and making the right choices. 

Life isn't all impulsive doing just for the sake of doing and taking everything that strikes your fancy. 

We all get a little bit of Pinterest and Craig's List in our lives. And then we get those moments that are pure God-gifts. Moments when we face heaven and say, "yep, this, this, makes it all worth it.". 

I guess tonight, even in my heavy-lidded tiredness and yawns-a-second, I had a lesson to learn. Who'd have thought car shopping and quote-and-brownie browsing would have taught me anything??