TWICE BLESSED - Shelly Genovese-Calhoun - One Free Book

Bio: Shelly Genovese-Calhoun is an author, speaker, wife and mother. A former fashion model, she represented East Texas in the Miss Texas USA pageant. During her modeling career, she worked for Anne Klein, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Panhandle Slim, Dillard and many other notable companies. She resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is married to her best friend, Heath, and their two children. Daughter, Jacqueline, is a sophomore and psychology major at Texas A&M University, and son, Cash, is in middle school and is heavily involved in baseball, soccer and golf.

Welcome, Shelly. Why did you decide to write this book after all these years?
I never aspired be a writer. I was definitely not qualified to write a book, but on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011, God really started tugging at my heart to tell my story. So honestly, it was out of obedience to God. But through the long process of writing this book, God was continuing to heal my heart and grow me into the woman I was created to be.

When your husband died on 9/11, you became a widow and a single mom. What did you learn about God during those darkest days?
That He is my all and all. I knew all along as I watched others go through 9/11 that I had something not everyone had. I had hope! I knew God was going to take care of my daughter and me. And He did. God was faithful through it all.

You talk about refusing to believe that your husband was dead even though you saw his tower collapse, as did many family members of 9/11 victims. What kind of emotions did you go through during those first few days and weeks?
I was absolutely in shock and denial, but I also believe that God placed me in a protective cocoon. My spiritual gift has always been faith. So even though it seemed humanly impossible for anyone to survive the towers crumbling to the ground, my faith kicked in. I knew that my God was bigger than what I could see. I hid myself in the Lord and I refused to lose faith. In return, my faith grew stronger.

You talk about your reluctance to love again after your husband died. What would your advice be to widows about dating after loss?
I think if you’ve ever truly loved someone, you want that love back in your life. I was so afraid to allow myself to love again that I almost lost my chance at finding happiness. I would say completely give it to the Lord and stay under the umbrella of His protection by being in His will. Loving someone again doesn’t mean that you ever have to stop loving the other person. God will give you a big enough heart to love both.

How can the body of Christ be more helpful to widows and single moms?
Most of all by praying for them. I would not have survived everything I went through without prayer. The body of Christ was so unbelievable to me, and prayed me through my darkest days. We also need to offer help with the ordinary, day-to-day tasks of life such as food, money, housing, etc.  Helping them do simple tasks like babysitting, picking up their kids from school, or grocery shopping—things we take for granted— can be such a blessing to a widow or single mom.

9/11 was an emotional experience for the entire country, but obviously, it was thoroughly traumatic for the families of the victims. What was the worst moment(s) for you during the aftermath?
I would definitely say waking up each morning and realizing that your life will never be the same. It was very difficult for me to watch life go on as normal, when nothing in my life was normal. I thought I would never be happy again. But my God is a Redeemer and made all things new.

If you had to offer 3 pieces of advice to people experiencing tragedy, what would you say?
Realize that you’re not alone. God is always there. He is there to offer comfort in times of trouble and to give us hope when we feel hopeless. He is honestly our only hope. Secondly, surround yourself with the family, friends, and the body of Christ. They want to help you. In return, you will feel the love of Christ wrapping His arms around you by the precious people He places in your life. And lastly, take one day at a time. God will give you just enough light to take the next step toward your journey of healing. Unfortunately, there are so many tragic events in this fallen world today. I personally do not know how anybody goes through a tragedy without knowing Christ.

Where can my blog readers find you online?

www.TwiceBlessed911.com

Thank you, Shelly, for sharing your new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Twice Blessed: A Journey of Hope through 9/11 - Paperback
Twice Blessed: A Journey of Hope through 9/11 - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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LOST IN THE STORM - Tamera Lynn Kraft - One Free Book

Welcome back, Tamera. Tell us about your salvation experience.

When I was thirteen years old, I started going to church because I heard there were cute boys. My family didn’t go to church, so I went on the church bus that passed my house. What I heard was correct, but that’s not what kept me coming back. There was so much love shown to me there that I started going every time the doors were open. Within a month, I gave my heart to the Lord in a Wednesday night youth service. I was the first person in my family to be saved. Now most of my extended family is saved, and I’m the start of three generations of Christians.

That’s awesome. I’ve volunteered in both the children’s ministry and youth ministry. Reaching children often brings whole families to the Lord over time. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Wow. Only four? We’ll I think I would pick you, Lena Dooley, for one. You have such a wealth of knowledge about historical fiction. Second would be my friend and publisher partner, Michelle Levigne. She always has big ideas and is a lot of fun. There are a couple of male authors I would love to learn from, but since it’s a retreat, I’ll stick to women, but it would be hard to decide between Mary Connelly, Tamera Alexander, Julie Lessman, and Francine Rivers. I have enjoyed all of their historicals.

I love all those authors, too. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

I do, but not with writing although I have taught a few workshops. I am a children’s ministry consultant and evangelist. I go all over teaching over children’s pastors and doing children’s revivals. The name of my ministry is Revival Fire for Kids. You can find out more at http://revivalfire4kids.net.

Cool! What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I don’t embarrass easily because I laugh at myself when something like that happens, but I wasn’t always like that. I believe the most embarrassing thing was when I was a teenager. I took dance lessons for 20 years. One time, when I was performing on stage, the strap on my costume broke. I did the rest of the routine holding up my strap so my costume wouldn’t fall down. Everyone who saw the performance said it was the best I ever did. Go figure.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

First, I ask them if they like to read. Many who have said this to me don’t read and say they want to write the story of their life. People like that, I tell them to start a journal or a blog and start reading. For the others, the serious ones, I advise them to keep reading, keep learning, go to conferences, get critique partners, and be patient. It takes a long time to succeed at writing.

That is so true. Tell us about the featured book.

Lost in the Storm

Ladies of Oberlin Book 2

By Tamera Lynn Kraft

Will war bring them love or will they be Lost in the Storm?

Lavena, a journalist during the Civil War, wants to become a war correspondent. She finally gets her chance, but there’s a catch. She has to get an interview from a war hero, who has refused to tell his story to every other journalist, and she has to accomplish this impossible task in a month or she’ll lose her job.

Captain Cage, the war hero, has a secret that will destroy his military career and reputation. Now, a new journalist is trying to get him to tell what he’s been hiding. He wants to ignore her, but from the moment she came into camp, he can’t get her out of his mind.

Leading up to the turbulent Battles for the city of Chattanooga, will Lavena and Cage find the courage to love and forgive, or will they be swept away by their past mistakes that don’t want to stay buried?

Meet the Ladies of Oberlin, the causes they're willing to fight for, and the men who capture their hearts.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Lost-Storm-Ladies-Oberlin-Book/dp/1949564622/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-the-storm-tamera-lynn-kraft/1132278547?ean=9781949564624

Please give us the first page of the book.

September 18th, 1863, Cleveland, Ohio

Lavena Falcon, mouth drawn in a thin line, marched down Prospect Avenue with as much bluster as a Lake Erie squall. This time, she wouldn't back down.

She shielded her eyes from the bright sun and avoided plummeting into two women who chatted in front of the corner grocery. Yellow leaves crunched under her feet as she made a dash for the East Cleveland streetcar. She stepped up just before it rattled down the track.

The wooden benches were filled to capacity, so she grabbed hold of a strap hanging from the roof above them. An older chap with balding gray hair stood and offered his seat, but she shook her head, and the man sat back down. She wasn't about to take a seat from an elderly gentleman only because of her gender.

The car jerked, and Lavena strengthened her hold to keep from toppling. Her boss, Brian O'Brady, would have her resignation if he ever sent her to report on another Ladies Aide Society Meeting again. She sighed. Of course, she would never quit the only large newspaper that would hire a woman, but it was tempting.

She stepped off the streetcar and blew across Superior Avenue with a gust of yellow leaves falling from the green ash trees lining the street. Reaching the brick newspaper building where she worked, she pushed through the door.

The office bustled with activity. Because The Cleveland Leader had morning and evening penny editions, the newsroom never slept. Men with their sleeves rolled up sat at rows of desks writing out copy for typesetters and paid no attention to the roar of the steam-powered double cylinder rotary printing presses in the back. Suit jackets slung over their chairs, and cigar smoke circled their heads.

No matter how much she wanted to confront her boss the moment she returned, she had a story to write, and in the newspaper business, getting stories in on time were more important than any personal consideration. She'd never failed to do that yet, and she didn't intend to now.

The only thing more important to her than getting a story in on time was reporting the truth in a way that enriched society without destroying people needlessly. She’d always strived to accomplish both goals.

She removed her bonnet and let her dark brown braid fall over her shoulder then stepped over to the box stove in the corner of the room and started boiling a pot of water for bohea tea, a strong blend of black tea leaves.

Sitting at the desk nearest to the stove, she dipped her pen in a bottle of ink. She blew out a breath to calm her anger and wrote about the noble women who knitted socks and harvested fruit for soldiers far away from home and hearth. Their simple deed would help the Ohio Seventh Volunteer Regiment get through the cold winter.

She blotted the paper, marched to the office on the right, and knocked on the oak door. An indistinguishable grumble came from the other side which she took to mean she should enter. Pulling up her four-feet-eleven, ninety-pound frame, she squared her shoulders for battle and thrust through.

I’m eager to read the rest of the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Online Links:

Website: http://tameralynnkraft.net

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdybpb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334438.Tamera_Lynn_Kraft

Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tamerakraft

Thank you, Tamera, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

JUST ROLL WITH IT - Janice Thompson - One Free Book

Welcome back, Janice. I’m so glad to host you on my blog again. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

I’m still here. Hahaha. Many of my readers know me because of my romantic comedies, which were written years ago. These days I’m focusing on devotions and cozy mysteries. I might write first-person comedies again, but for now, this is what the Lord has me doing.

Tell us about your family.

Thanks for asking! I have four daughters and nine grandchildren. All of my girls are Jesus-lovers. Many of them are also worship leaders. My grandchildren are feisty and fun. All of them are being raised in godly homes, which makes my heart sing. Recently I went on a trip with them and it brought such joy to my heart to hear the little girls singing worship songs in the back seat as I drove.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, I’ve written a total of 113 books so far. (I say “so far” because there are many more in the works!) About half of those are non-fiction books, mostly devotions.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I’m working on a cozy mystery for Guideposts, even now. It’s set in Lancaster County (the Amish country) and is part of the Mysteries of Lancaster County series.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love to bake. When I’m not writing or playing with grandkids, I’m often baking cakes or cookies for loved ones. I’m also a dog lover. I foster for my local shelter. I’m currently sitting on the sofa with two fosters curled up in my lap with my own three dogs cuddled up nearby.

Why did you write the featured book?

Several years ago I obtained my food handler’s license so that I could turn my kitchen into a commercial bakery. I ran my business (Nina’s Cakes and Cookies) and sold hundreds of tiered cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. So many funny (and sweet) things happened along the way, so I decided to chronicle my stories in this devotional.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

Even on the craziest of days (when everything goes wrong) there are lessons to be learned and joys to be found.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?

Many of the stories in this book are about my mother. I was her caregiver for many years, until she passed away in 2017. She was an amazing baker and I learned a lot from her.

I loved meeting your mother and prayed for her. Please give us the first page or two from the book.

A Message to Readers from the Farmhouse Kitchen:

Welcome to my wacky, sugar-coated world, y’all! I’m Janice Thompson, Christian author and baker. In my world, books and baking go hand-in-hand. In my (somewhat messy) kitchen, you’re just as likely to find powdered sugar on the countertops as you are to find me wrapping up my latest novel or non-fiction book. That’s because I love to bake. Cakes, cookies, candies. . .you name it, I’m happy to make it.

 

I’m tickled to invite you into my disheveled domain, where you can watch me stir up sweet treats. . .and a bit of trouble. Pull up a chair and visit with me while I whip up a multi-tiered themed birthday cake or an order of hand-painted cookies. We’ll laugh and chat and talk about all of the things we’re learning about life—and faith—from my baking journey.

Why baking, you ask? Is there any finer way to forget your troubles? One minute you’re up to your elbows in flour and sugar, the next you’re sprinkling coconut and pecans on that delectable Italian cream cake or sneaking a nibble of that warm-from-the-oven snickerdoodle. One minute you’re softening butter in preparation for use, the next you’re adding dollops of homemade cream cheese icing to a luscious red velvet cake.

During those precious in-between moments—with your focus on mixing, scraping, and scooping—all of life’s cares disappear. You’re free to give yourself over to the process. There, with only the whirring of the mixer to distract you, God is free to speak into your situation.

And speak He does! He’s the Master Chef, after all, and you are His ready student, armed with mixing bowl and whisk. As you’re sifting powdered sugar, He’s sifting out the pain and turmoil of your day, leaving only peace. As you’re rolling out that pie crust or sugar cookie dough, He’s teaching you to let the cares of this life roll off of you. As you’re biting into that oozy chocolate chip cookie, He’s reminding you to taste and see that He is still good, no matter what you’re facing.

He is good, you know, and longs to meet you wherever you are. But why settle for an ordinary place when you can hang out with Him in the comfort and coziness of your home kitchen? There, between the mixing bowl, the pantry door, and the 350-degree oven, you will find your rhythm. Life will begin to make sense again. Hope will begin to rise inside your soul like bread dough rising in preparation for its eventual journey to the oven.

So, grab that rolling pin. Fire up that oven! Tie on that apron! Grab the baking powder, flour, sugar, and other necessities. It’s time to head to the kitchen to see what tasty tidbits God has in store for you, His precious child.  

Wag the Dog

I work with powdered sugar. Lots and lots of powdered sugar. And I’m notorious for getting it all over the place. It’s nothing to find the white fluffy substance on my floor beneath the mixer. You will most certainly locate it on the countertop, even underneath bowls and spoons. I’ve often found the sticky white powder in my hair after a baking spree! Nothing, however, tops my ultimate powdered sugar story.

I was making frosting for an Italian cream cake, and had creamed the butter until it was light and fluffy. I got ready to add the powdered sugar. Apparently, my male dachshund, Copper, decided this would be the appropriate time to hang out at my feet. (No doubt he was hoping for some overflow!) With the mixer whirring, I added the powdered sugar. Poof! The blades were moving so fast that white puffs of sugar shot straight into the air and flew to the ground below, coating everything in sight.

I slowed the mixer and kept working, my thoughts on the frosting, not the dog. Only when I finished mixing the buttercream did I glance down and discover that Copper’s back was completely covered in the white powdery mist! My black-and-tan Doxie looked like he’d been caught up in a snowstorm. He was absolutely giddy at his good fortune.

Now, dogs have a unique problem that humans don’t. They can’t reach their own backs. Had he really received this sugary blessing, only to find it out of reach? What a sad pooch! There was really no way to clean off the sugar, short of rolling around on the rug.

No problem! My female dachshund, Sasha, showed up moments later and went to work, cleaning Copper’s back. She had a blast, licking off that sweetness. Poor Copper! He got the powdered sugar shower; she got the benefits.

I got to thinking about how many times that has happened in my life. I’ve come so close to receiving a blessing, only to lose it in the eleventh hour to someone else. How sad, to watch as others reap the benefits while I go without.

We have two choices when we face near-miss blessings. We can either grow bitter or we can hang around at the Master’s feet to experience the next overflow. It is coming, you know. He’s got blessings in abundance for all of His kids. We’ve just got to be like Copper, ready to lap it up when the moment comes.

SCRIPTURE:
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.

II Corinthians 9:8 The Message

PRAYER:

Father, I long to sit at Your feet, not for the blessings You’re longing to pour down on me, but simply because I’m Your child. You are my loving Father. You shower me with sweetness when I least expect it. Praise You, Lord, for Your kindness! Amen.

I love that devotional. It’s so true. Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Website: www.janiceathompson.com

Facebook: JaniceHannaThompson

Twitter: booksbyjanice

Thank you, Janice, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m loving the devotional books you and Linda Kozar are writing.

  

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Just Roll with It: Devotions from the Farmhouse Kitchen - Hardback

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

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If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

SHAME OFF YOU - Denise Pass - A Special Rafflecopter Giveaway and One Free Book on This Blog

Bio: Denise Pass, author of Shame Off You, is an award-winning CCM recording artist and singer-songwriter, accomplished writer/blogger, speaker, and worship leader at women’s conferences as well as a worship leader on staff at her home church. After a crushing discovery of her former husband’s hidden life as a repetitive sex offender, and surviving a painful divorce, she now shares an inspirational message through her ministry, Seeing Deep Ministries, about seeing the deeper truth in God’s word when life hurts. Denise also founded and directed a home educational co-op for 12 years and engaged in many educational pursuits, including forming and directing a classical children’s choir. A graduate from the University of Maryland, Denise now resides in Virginia, with her “Kinsman Redeemer” husband and five children.

Welcome, Denise. Introduce us to your book, please.

Shame is an assault on the core of who we are. It assassinates our character, minimizes our worth, and dashes our hope. Like Adam and Eve, we often hide shame, but hiding never heals it. Left unattended, shame can develop into a crippling reality that paralyzes us. Like an infectious disease, shame impacts everyone . . . but not all shame is bad.

Shame can either be an oppressive and powerful tool of worldly condemnation or a source of conviction that God uses to bring his people back to himself. Having the discernment to know the difference and recognize shame in its many forms can change the course of one’s life.

In a transparently honest style, Denise Pass shares of her experience dealing with shame after learning that her former husband was a sexual offender. Having lived through the aftermath, she leads you into God’s Word where you will see for yourself that God is bigger than your pain, shame, mistakes, and limitations.

Shame Off You (available from Abingdon Press) shares how freedom can be found in choosing to break the cycle of shame by learning from the past, developing healthy thinking patterns, silencing lies, and overcoming the traps of vanity and other people’s opinions.

Can you start us off by sharing a little bit of your own story?

I did not realize just how significant of an impact shame had on my life until I started writing this book. I don’t think I recognized all I was experiencing in my life as shame. Shame affected me in profound ways—from worrying to the point of obsession about what others thought of me to shame from my past, present and in the future. Shame was pervasively impacting all of life: how I related to others, processed my perception of myself and responded in social situations. Shame was snuffing out my hope and life, and it felt like I had no way out.

Then in 2007, God revealed to me my (then) husband was a sex offender and some of our children were his victims. This revelation crushed us, and the ensuing shame was crippling. I had waited for marriage and married a Christian man. We were that homeschool family. It did not seem possible. But it was. Through that devastating season, my children and I drew nearer to God, reading the Bible through and clinging to His precious promises. I continued to home educate, and we put one foot in front of the other. Through a five-year long court battle. Through tragic new revelations. Through sorrow up on sorrow and financial woes. God was our God through all of it and the lessons we learned as shame lost its grip on our souls were priceless.

Now, my four oldest are all in college and walking with God, and my youngest son who I adopted from Russia is still home educated by the grace of God. And me? God brought a precious man into my life who I call my Kinsman Redeemer. There’s more about him (my “Bo”—short for Boaz) in the book.

At its root, what is shame, and why is it so detrimental to us?

There are many roots underlying what we call shame.  Shame is the broad term used, but there are so many things interwoven in our culture that we accept as “normal.” Shame is an accusation on our soul that says we are not enough. News flash—we are not enough—but God is. He is our righteousness and removes all of our sin and shame. Shame is peer pressure and the fear of man—we would not have shame if we did not have an audience. Shame is a label or box that imprisons our souls and steals our joy. Shame is detrimental because it gives us a false identity and keeps us from living the abundant life Jesus promises, distracting us from the mission we have been called to.

What are some of the most common underlying sources of shame? Is shame always caused by a sin a person commits him/herself?

Shame is a head game that we do to ourselves most of the time, but there is also plenty of social shaming that goes on—shunning and people condemning one another. While sin invites shame into our lives as a natural consequence, shame is prevalent within our culture. We come by it naturally and so we don’t question it. Expectations cause shame to rise when we don’t meet them. Comparison. Pride. These are huge contributors to the game of shame. The presence of shame in our lives is ultimately a spiritual matter. We feel the truth behind the statement that we are not enough. We accept this condemnation, but it can become our vindication. We are not enough. That’s ok, because Christ is our Righteousness. The enemy of our souls is always accusing us, but our Savior is always interceding for us. 

Shame typically surrounds a situation the public is aware of, at least in the mind of the person walking through it. How can the church community be more supportive of a member suffering with shame?

Great question. We would not have shame if we did not have an audience. It is this fear of man and focus on self that makes us feel so very exposed as we seek acceptance and to snuff out rejection. In my situation, I felt like the church did not know how to handle sex abuse situations, so they didn’t. I was told to be silent. The shame culture thrives in silence. However, being able to talk about it in a God-honoring way and having support instead of isolation would take the sting out of shame and turn it on its head. When we protect the violator and silence the victims, we are propagating and promoting shame.

In what ways do we intentionally or unintentionally heap shame on others?

We live in a society of labels. People try to define one another by false identities based on their performance—good or bad, or their status in this life. When we move away from our identity being in Christ, we find that our identity falls short. Shame was introduced to man in the garden of Eden. We left perfection and chose an insecure, shame-filled culture, instead. Discontent with our lot, comparison and the fear or man have robbed us confidence and plagued us with shame in all of life. Shame is also used as a tool of power by people who seek to subject others, shaming them into submission. And again, shame is in our culture, so it is fairly invisible. We just accept it as part of life, which can cause us to unintentionally continue in the shame culture.

How is Shame Off You set up and designed to be used?

Shame Off You is the story of a girl who shrunk her shame. It is a guide for recognizing the shame all around us and how to rid ourselves of shame biblically. There is a biblical lens of Truth, Humility and Grace that we view shame through, as well as Cycles of Shame and Redemption, a Shame Spectrum and Shame Quiz so we can evaluate how shame is impacting our lives. There is also a resource guide in the back of the book that covers 40 different common shames we might encounter along with Scriptures to combat that shame.

Shame Off You systematically covers everything from feeling shunned and rejected, to being shy, to worrying about what others thought or said about me to traumatic shame that paralyzes us.

What are the steps to overcoming shame?

Shame distracts us from the mission of God and keeps us from living on mission for Christ. It causes us to focus on self and limits our worth. It hurts our relationship with God and others and causes us to live defeated, discouraged lives. It has to be dealt with. Recognizing shame’s presence is necessary to be able to deal with it effectively.

From recognition, we need to discern whether we are dealing with condemnation or conviction. Condemnation is based on works whereas Conviction is based on relationship. Once we know what we are dealing with, we need to consult God’s word and use a biblical filter to evaluate our shame and then let it go. We defeat shame not by mere words. And hiding shame does not heal it. We have to face shame and deal with it biblically to be set free. We don’t get rid of shame because it humbles us—but because it prevents us from living the abundant life Christ promises, reaching those around us.

Find Denice online at DenisePass.com.
 www.facebook.com/deniseduboispass
www.twitter.com/thedenisepass
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Doubleclick this link to see Denise's Giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you, Denice, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I have a relative who needs this book.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Shame Off You - Christianbook.com
Shame Off You: From Hiding to Healing - Amazon Paperback
Shame Off You: From Hiding to Healing - Kindle

We will also be having the usual free copy giveaway on this blog as well.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

FOR TIME AND ETERNITY - Rosanne Croft - One Free Book

Welcome back, Rosanne. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I have many ideas for books and I hope I have time to write them. Writing’s not easy for me, but it’s my passion. I’ve prayed about what to write first, and my next project is a romantic adventure set in Africa.

But I won’t forget the Believe in Love characters who need their stories concluded, and I plan to write at least one more book in that series. My readership for comparative religion is a specific niche, and very loyal, which I thank them for!

Tell us a little about your family.

I live with my husband, Ray, and a small dog in Western Colorado. My mother was from this area, and it feels good to live near “my people” in the Rockies, and where I have distinct memories. Our 25 year-old daughter is in Oregon, as well as our son and his family. We also have a son and his wife and children in Wyoming. We’re able to see the Wyomingites often.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I have little time to read when I’m in the final process of writing a book. But I’m on a break now, and finally finished Eric Metaxas’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer biography. I’m also drawn to reading Russian masters again after a 40 year break . . . because I want to see what my mind thinks about them now. I just started Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. And I love that wonderful Alyosha all over again.

What are you working on right now?

I enjoy writing romance, and I’m working on a novel about medical missionaries in Tanzania, West Africa. It will be fun to develop this book. I received constructive critiques from my group, so I’m correcting, rewriting, honing, and thinking about the new characters. It’s a process that will take a while.

What outside interests do you have?

I like to tool around the neighborhood on my old-fashioned yellow bicycle. I also enjoy a hike or walk where I can get close to nature. I can and freeze food, and experiment with recipes. (I seem to have a collection of them that grows all the time.) And I like to meet weekly with church friends and share our lives. It’s such an encouragement.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The Utah/Italy setting for the Believe in Love series chose itself because of the comparative religions/culture theme. Italy became a counterpoint for Utah culture. The West African setting in my current novel was chosen because I always wanted to go there from reading Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa. My way of getting there is through my imagination and research.

I love that book. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

I’d have to say C. S. Lewis. I have a deep gratitude for the themes and emotions in his Narnia books that revealed the reality of Jesus to me, with his love, his mystery, his great authority. An evening with C. S. Lewis would be worth pure gold to me. And someday soon, in heaven, I really will get to talk to him.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

What hard work it is . . . how long it takes to get the right words written . . . and how rewarding it is, not for money, but because I am able to share my innermost thoughts with many people who might be encouraged or entertained by my story.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Right now, he’s teaching me about prayer and spiritual warfare. When I set out to write books about religion, I didn’t realize how much I’d “stir the pot” in the spiritual realm. I read and apply Ephesians 6:10-18 as often as I can. My Lord Jesus is gracious to show me to pray longer, harder, and with more faith than ever before. Prayer DOES change things.

That is so true. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

• Keep working hard. It takes years to hone the craft. Often, I walk away for a week, and come back to a specific problem in the manuscript and am able to solve it with God’s help. Writing takes thinking, and thinking takes time.
• Soften your ego to be able to take constructive criticism from a regularly meeting (or online) critique group.
• Trust God as you write and pray before you begin. Praise Him when things are going well, and never give up when they’re not. Just put it aside for a time. Maybe you can resurrect it. Write to glorify the Lord, and don’t obsess about sales. 

Tell us about the featured book.

Because this series is simple and easily read, it’s classified Young Adult, but I’ve had good comments from 12-year-old girls and 83-year-old men. I recommend reading the whole series in order. The featured book is number three in the Believe in Love series, entitled For Time and Eternity. The story is about a born-again Christian, Alex Campanaro, who moves to Utah and falls in love with a beautiful Latter-day Saint, Jennalee. Alex is an Italian-American and has family in Italy, so the setting in the second and part of the third book is Italy.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

The rich world of silk ties and luxury cars crumbles when Alex Campanaro finds himself in jail as a kidnapping victim of the Italian mafia. He determines to escape and take his cellmate with him. When a deadly earthquake strikes and frees them, a wounded Alex is able to get his friend to town for help. But there are aftershocks. At the end of his own strength, Alex must put his trust in an all-powerful God to survive.

Will he ever see Jennalee again?

Jennalee Young learns to rely on the biblical Jesus she’s grown to love when she breaks free from her LDS mission in Rome. Risking the disapproval of her parents and Church authorities, she resolves to find Alex, the Christ-follower she’s chosen to spend the rest of her life with. When she sees his bloody face in a televised report from the epicenter of an earthquake a hundred miles away, Jennalee and her brother embark on a treacherous ride to the epicenter to find him.

Will they be too late?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Forever Marked

Massimo’s hollow breathing terrified Alex. Pneumonia ravished his cellmate’s lung. He needed antibiotics! The only answer was to escape their prison. In desperation, he whittled at the jail door’s frame with a brittle knife blade he’d found in the gravel.

Their Camorra mafia captors delivered food and water via a boy named Fuglio. Glancing at the nearly empty bucket, Alex hoped the boy would show up with more water. And food. His pants were loose around his waist. They’d taken his belt and given him a piece of string to hold them up.

With the last cup of water, he bathed Massimo’s feverish head, using the blindfold he’d worn during his capture. How long ago was it? Ten days, the last two with Massimo.

He shuddered, remembering the road block and how he’d scrambled out of the Maserati before the crash flattened it. Such a beautiful car. If only he hadn’t agreed to meet the Putifaros in Abruzzo that day, the gorgeous car would now be safely parked at his uncle’s winery near Rome.

Alex remembered guns pointed at him, how they’d ordered him to drop his wallet on the ground. The mafia men came up behind him, poked guns into his back, and tied a blindfold tight around his eyes. Hours later, after a ride in the back of a van, they pushed him into a dank jail cell where he landed face-down on the gravel, tearing the knees of his thin suit pants.

The mafia probably wanted a ransom, but despite his fancy car, Uncle Lucio owed more money than he had. Already a week in solitary, Alex was sure his uncle hadn’t come up with the money. That’s why he’d talked his captors into allowing him to care for Massimo. They’d escape together.

In his old cell, he explored a dark tunnel, and discovered a cache of forgotten wine. With one taste, he concluded it came from the vineyards around the village of Taurasi, in Campania. Knowing this, he pinpointed their position to a cell in one of the ancient Lombard castles that towered above the valleys of the region. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to recall the map of Campania, so he’d know which direction to carry Massimo once they got out.

Possessing top sommelier skills was one thing, but now he wished he had the breakout ingenuity of Houdini. Massimo’s cell door just wasn’t easy to spring open. So, Alex continued to chisel off splinters of wood near the hinges of the half-rotted door. He vowed to use his waning strength to break free and find help.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

If you’re curious about my books, I’m at https://www.rosannecroft.com. I have an Author page on Amazon, and my books are sold there in both Kindle and Paperback. I will gladly send you a signed copy if you email me at rosannecroft@gmail.com to get on my mailing list. Thank you, Lena, for featuring me on your blog!

Rosanne, it’s my great pleasure to host you.

Readers, here are links to the book.

For Time And Eternity (Believe In Love) - Paperbck
For Time And Eternity (Believe In Love Book 3) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

SENT RISING - Erin Lorence - One Free Book

Welcome back, Erin. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I have the same question...what next? Right now, I’m at a crossroads in life—I’m about to pursue a Masters in Teaching, I’m a busy wife and mom, and I still love writing young adult fiction. Timewise, how am I going to make all these important pieces fit, especially when I start teaching?

I’m staring “change in the face.” I’m relying on God to show me how to use my time in a way that pleases Him.

Tell us a little about your family.

I grew up in a supportive Christian family, whom I’ve stayed super close. I met Brian, my best friend/husband, 20 years ago at Washington State University (WSU). We currently live in Bonney Lake, WA, with our two daughters, Savannah, age 11, and Brooke, age 8. We value family time, and until recently we were blessed by getting to live minutes from both sides of our family.

Tragedy struck not long ago when my mom died after a three-and-a-half-year battle with a super rare and aggressive lymphoma. We miss her every day but are comforted by the fact that she’s in Heaven as well as our new addition to our family—our beagle, Charlie. He’s such a funny, cheerful guy.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I read less! Once I pick up a book, I have a problem putting it down, so I have to be careful not to start a novel when I have a deadline or a personal writing goal I want to meet.

What are you working on right now?

My next young adult Christian fiction takes places off the Oregon coast. A rebellious teen must overcome her own ocean phobia, as well as her own anger at her deadbeat dad.

What outside interests do you have?

Teaching. Years ago, my husband and I joined a small, start-up church, and I got thrust into kids’ ministry...as in I be in charge of children’s ministry, otherwise our church wouldn’t have any program for the kids. As a nurse, I’d always enjoyed mentoring nursing students, but I discovered my passion for teaching kids, and later when my husband and I began our church’s youth group, working with teens.

My love for teaching young people Biblical truths definitely influenced my writing the Dove Strong Trilogy. I want all kids to understand how awesome it is to have a relationship with Him!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Dove Strong takes place in the Oregonian, pine-forest landscape I visit each summer. I decided on this setting before I chose my characters’ names or had hammered out the plot. My second book, Fanatic Surviving, detours to an opposite setting—the treeless Chihuahuan Desert, in order to test Dove’s survival skills. Sent Rising ties up all loose ends, while letting Dove experience ocean for the first time.

Throughout the trilogy, Dove repeatedly strikes out with a certain journey in mind...but God has other plans, and she ends up in unexpected places...like a rooftop in Portland or a Californian cave. Yet don’t we experience similar surprises in real life? We have tunnel vision about our own plans for the week, and sometimes God has other plans for us. When that happens, do we stay calm and accept his direction, or do we try to grab the steering wheel back from Him?

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

I choose Jesus! I can’t imagine what I’d say to Him...but I’m guessing if I came at Him with a list of questions and an agenda, He’d turn the conversation to whatever it is that I really need to hear.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Honestly...nothing. Having foreknowledge of the bumps in the road and long hours would have discouraged me, and then I might have thrown in the towel before I began. Who knows?

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Have patience in uncertainty. Don’t stop praying, even if you feel He’s not listening. He is. His answer could be “not quite yet.”

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

#1:  Discover the rules to writing your genre if you want to be published.

#2:  Write the story for yourself and not for what you think others want...but be okay with future changes to your “masterpiece” once editors become involved.

#3:  Finish it!

Tell us about the featured book.

Here is the blurb for Sent Rising: No more hiding. This has become Dove Strong’s motto since she accepted her role as a Sent Christian to live among nonbelievers for a year. But then her worst nightmare comes true. Her family disappears from their secluded tree home, and they’re not the only Christians in the nation who’ve been snatched. All clues about the numerous disappearances point to nonbelievers... and the remaining believers are not happy. While Dove and her cousin, Trinity, hunt for the missing Christians, Dove stumbles upon a secret plan to force the Reclaim. Already, vengeful Christians gather in local camps to train for battle, and Dove’s brother is one of the bloodthirsty. Will Dove have the strength to rise up, put a stop to this war, and save her family before a red stain covers the nation? 

Please give us the first page of the book.

My fistful of carrots flopped onto the pasture’s dead grass. I paused with the spear’s red-stained tip two paces from my heart.

A couple dozen pointed poles and pronged branches stuck out horizontally from the giant juniper bush at the edge of the forest, positioned to impale the unlucky trespasser who stumbled too close. While I’d harvested the summer’s early vegetables from Wolfe’s backyard, my brother had been busy beefing up Micah Brae’s home security.

I scratched the red wooden point with my fingernail. Not blood. Beet juice...from our garden patch.

“Gilead, this paranoia of yours is stupid. We’re here to live peaceably with these people. Not skewer them.”

His humming dropped off, though he continued to secure another spear. “Don’t stand there hollering in the open, Dove. You’ll attract the enemy. On second thought, keep hollering. I wouldn’t mind trying out his new defensive boundary while it’s still light.”

Trinity paused in the act of hanging what appeared be a glass wind chime above Micah’s prickly doorway. She jingled it at my lifted brow. “Burglar alarm. To wake Micah if anyone tries to sneak in while he’s sleeping. Plus, it’s the color of smoke.”

“And the color of your eyes. Subtle.” I snorted. Trinity had strewn reminders of herself everywhere in our neighbor’s cramped, juniper-bush dwelling—from a corn silk pillow the exact hue of her hair to duplicates of her tattoos scratched in the forest floor. She’d planted these subliminal messages in hopes that he would stop being blind to the fact that he liked her in the same way that she liked him.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://www.erinlorence.com . They can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you, Erin, for sharing the final book in this series with my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Sent Rising (Dove Strong) - Paperback
Sent Rising (Dove Strong) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNER!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Judy (MS) is the winner of She Walks in Love (and Book 1 in the series if you don't have it) by MariLu Tyndall.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.