I Believe! I Believe! THE TURNING

Do what God Asks of You!

Kudos and three cheers to Davis Bunn for writing an awesome book about the marvelous ways of of our awesome God. How He plans and directs and sends us help and encouragement and victory in the face of our enemies. Davis weaves a tale so believable, I could have been seeing it all happen on Fox!

He brings together the most unlikely candidates: John, middle aged father with a secret and a wife who adores him, Jenny, the young highly intelligent oriental girl at odds with her father, Alicia, a black choir leader who loves nothing more than praising God, a doctor trying to finish his residency, and a beloved lady, Ruth, widow of America's greatest evangelist.

God calls each of them for His purpose. With human frailties, fears, and self preservation instincts, will they choose to do the hard thing God asks of them? The answer - to my heart's thrill and God's glory - is a resounding YES! But can they follow through when the going really gets tough? I was reminded of "God works all things together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

You know, as an author, learning the craft of creative writing has truly detrimentally affected my reading, and editing professionally for thirteen years hasn't helped either!. It's very hard to get into a book that was'es me to distraction and jumps all over the place introducing characters that don't seem to go together, getting into each one's head, but I promised to read THE TURNING and kept at it. I'm uncertain when the story took over and all the was'es faded from my view and the characters became friends I loved and could easily keep them apart, but I can say it happened early in this book, and I did not want to put it down again until I found out what happened.

And while these brothers and sisters consider or go straightaway to the turning God speaks to each about, another young man on the rise is taking the money moguls to town. Dripping with success, money, and the beautiful girl Trent Cooper plays a bad guy you're praying for! With his career on the line, he's out to convince the world Hope is Dead!

But God has a plan.

You will not be sorry you pick up THE TURNING! It's a wonderful book with heart warming messages filled with truths of God's love. It will lift your spirit and build your faith. And if you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior, read it because you will enjoy it, too, and you may just get saved!    

Davis Bunn
Angel Gray Photography LLC

BIO: Davis Bunn is a self-proclaimed renaissance man who left his career in business to start a successful writing life. He has been honored with Christy aad Carol Awards for contemporary and suspense fiction. A sought after speaker, Davis teaches in the creative writing programme at The University of Oxford. He and his wife Isabella split their time living between Oxford and Florida.

CONTEST TIME! I have a book to give away courtesy of Davis' publisher Moody!
FOUR Entry Opportunities!
(1) Leave a comment here, answering this question: Has God ever asked you to do a hard thing?
(2) retweet this:  Review of award-winning Christian author DAVIS BUNN's THE TURNING at http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com  #Giveaway, visit & enter @CarylMcAdoo 5 stars!

(3) Like my author's FB page :) http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author
(4) Follow my blog :) right here!

Blessings and thank you for coming by!

It's Hard to be Thirteen!

Rebecca fumed silently. Nothing could be better than having Daddy home, except if Levi had come with him. After the third full day’s work and once Mary Rachel and Gwendolyn’s breathing eased into a rhythmic chorus, she turned up her lamp and carried it to her desk. She retrieved paper and ink, then dipped her quill and wrote in a swoopy loopy cursive. She loved how pretty she could write.

May 29, 1836

Levi Bartholomew Baylor –

            Why didn’t you come home before you lit a shuck to join the stupid rangers? Daddy’s been home three days, and it’s taken me this long to calm down enough from being mad at you to write.

            When I first looked out and saw him riding in alone—without you—my heart stopped. I thought you were… Never you mind what I thought. You should have come home! We prayed for you and Daddy every day and night. Do you know how worried we were?

          The night breeze caused the light curtain to dance. She looked up and gazed out the window at the stars, then sighed. She wasn’t really ever worried…

           Well, as you know Mama always says worrying only hinders every promise of God, but you know what I mean. Of course we trust God to watch over and keep you—even if you are nothing but a heathen. And now you’ve gone and signed up to put yourself in more danger. I hate it! What’s wrong with you?

           I hate you being gone. And I hate how angry I am with you that you made me think for even one minute that you were…

          Oh, bosh! That’s all I’m writing tonight because I know all I’m doing is gripping and complaining. Mama told me men folk don’t like that and even the Bible says it’s better to live in the corner of an attic, than in a big house with a nagging woman! I’ll write more when my insides are calmer.

          I had something I really wanted to talk with you that I’m all balled up over, but now you’re not here and you’re not coming home. You best be proud I love you so much, ’cause if I didn’t, I’d hate your guts for sure and certain.

                                                             Your teenaged sister, Rebecca

What would he think about her being in love? Lifting the partial page of writing, she waved it in the air, blowing gently on it while she corked the inkwell. She wanted to ask him about the best way to tell Chester Robbins how handsome he was, and how wonderful she thought he was. Once the ink dried, she folded the paper, stuck it inside her novel, and climbed into bed next to Mary Rachel. Sure would be nice to have her own room.

June 7, 1836

           Me again. I guess I’m not angry with you anymore, but I’m still very sad. I don’t know when Daddy will want to post my letter, but I’ll keep writing until he does. May be my first book! He says we have to send it to the Ranger Office at Washington-on-the-Brazos, and you can pick it up when you’re by there. So I guess I won’t know when you might actually get it.

           I can tell I am not going to like this arrangement. I miss you so much every day. Things here are getting back to normal. Nothing will ever be normal again though without you here.                                                     Can’t you just come home?

         Daddy’s working on the house again. Him and Mama said I could go ahead and move into your room if I’ll box all your things. That’s a benefit to you being gone, but I’d rather have you here even if Mary Rachel is a terrible bed partner, rolling and kicking and climbing over me all night. Best hurry back or you won’t have a room to come home to.

  

She dipped her quill again. What did she want to tell him? What might he find interesting? How she could possibly persuade him to come back home and forget rangering altogether? What was it that caused men to like fighting and danger, wars and the like? She hated it all and wanted everyone to mind their own business and stay home and get married and have babies.

            I guess you know since you aren’t here, me and Mama have to haul the boards up the ladder for Daddy. He’s putting on a second story to double the space and make bedrooms for all the baby girls. Anyway, it’s hard work for women to do, and if you were here, we wouldn’t have to.

          Oh, and guess what! We have a cook now. Captain O’Mally sent them to Clarksville and Daddy picked them up from town. Are you wondering why I keep saying them? It’s on account of Mammy, that’s the cook, has a son. His name is Jean Paul, but he isn’t as dark skinned as her. He’s all grown up, older than you, and he knows powerful lot about cotton. They used to be slaves!

         Can you imagine what it would be like if somebody owed you like we own our horses? Mammy said their old master’s done gone to Glory and he set them free in his will. Freedmen is what they are now. Don’t tell Mama I said, but Mammy sure can cook. Ha! You don’t even know what you’re missing? When are you coming home, Levi?

          Gotta go, Mama’s calling me. Mary Rachel’s hollering, too. She’s really talking up a storm all of a sudden and says the cutest things. Ask me the other day if I ever ate a worm! If you don’t come back directly, she’s liable to forget who you are. Think you’ll be here afore summer’s gone? I hope so.

                                                                        I love you and miss you heaps.

                                                                        Your Bitti Beck

p.s. um, guess you figured out Jean Paul’s actually carrying most the boards now, but that’s no reason for you to stay gone!

“Long live the Republic, Levi! Now come home!”

Daddy described this as our  new flag.

Cover Reveal Party x2 for Holly Michael's CROOKED LINES --and-- Caryl McAdoo's HEARTS STOLEN

HEARTS STOLEN COVER REVEAL

          As the author of this book, I am so very blessed to have my cover designed by DogEared Design, amazing graphic artist Kirk DouPonce. He did the cover to VOW UNBROKEN as well and I may even love this one more! See at Kirk's website 

          Starting with Rosaleen "Sassy" Fogelsong Nightengale, also called Rose, my beautiful heroine: She's young, almost sixteen in Chapter One. That summer of 1839, two Comanche braves captured her and carried her far from home.Then in Chapter Two, it's 1844, and she's turned twenty-one and weary of being held captive.

          Enter Levi Bartholomew Baylor, famed Texas Ranger, who rides into the peace camp of Bold Eagle (teepees on the cover) that October with a detail sent to recover white women who've been stolen according to the Tehuacana Creek Treaty negotiated by Sam Houston.

          But Sassy's name wasn't on the list. She determines that she will leave with her four-year-old son Charley, named after his father Charles Nightengale, but born as the son of the Comanche chief. She'll either be free or she'd be dead. That she recognizes the handsome Ranger as the brother of her childhood friend Becky makes her more determined. Freedom or death, she won't spend one more day as a third wife.

          I wholeheartedly believe that the only other character who earned a spot on the cover of HEARTS STOLEN is sure to steal your heart away like he did mine--that's Charley. Born in the Comanche camp, he was raised as the chief' own son though he's blonde and blue-eyed. To say the least, he's a little wild man, but all together adorable and a big scene stealer!

For the Veggies and dip Lovers

Fruit-n-herb flavored water

  I hope you'll enjoy some refreshments:

Sweet Tea

Jalapeno Cream Cheese Meatballs

Watermelon Hedgehogs

Peach Salsa Dip

Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese muffins

 

Banana Cream Pie Bites

Pecan Poe Cupcakes

Yum, guess you could call me a pepper belly because I do love those jalapenos! And no gathering in the south is a party without Sweet Tea to drink, but for those of you health conscious party-goers... That flavored water is excellent as well and I chopped and peeled all those veggies just for you! 

1840s farm dress 

And here's what I'm wearing to the party today - it's period 1844! and GREEN! What an elegant and feminine time, when ladies wore such beautiful, modest dresses. I still wear only modest dresses, but do enjoy my modern conveniences such as washing machines (clothes and dishes) and dryers and for sure, I do enjoy my conditioned air!!  

Here is a code you will need in the scavenger hunt:
Scavenger Hunt Clue #2

          I love writing historical (1832, 1844, and 1850) Christian (glorifies God!) western (Texas) adventure (lots!) romance (love) novels! Having Simon and Schuster publish VOW UNBROKEN was an experience to be sure! I thrilled that so many men are reading and enjoying it, too! And many HEART STOLEN readers (helpers to get reviews ready and catch errors and type-Os) are saying they even like it better!
          Music to an author's ears :) Y'all be blessed! Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you! 

All together, I cannot choose a favorite between this and VOW UNBROKEN's (my first historical Christian western adventure romance :) cover. Which do YOU like best?
HEART STOLEN debuts September 5, 2014 and I'll send one copy to the winner of this contest. 

#1 Leave a comment on this post answering WHICH DO YOU LIKE BEST? (and your email so I can contact you)! 

#2 Like my Facebook Author's page at www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author for another entry

#3 And re-tweet the tweet below for a third entry! 
TWEET: Cover Reveal Virtual Party! @CarylMcAdoo Enter 3x for FREE copy HEART STOLEN, Christian western historical romance
http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com 

BLESSINGS from Texas!   

     

William Sirls: Penitentiary Pennings Lead to Christ and a Movie Deal

Today, we are blessed! Well, actually all this week :)

At India's Crown In Christian Literature Excellence (ICICLE), I've had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author with a very interesting story! William Sirls' novel THE REASON hit the #1 in the United States and England over it's first year and is now being made into a Christian MOVIE! He tells us all bout his journey in the in-depth interview here: https://indiascrown.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=121&action=edit&message=1

And you won't want to miss THE REASON's book trailer! Take the few minutes to watch it...awesome!

And William Sirls is giving away a DOZEN FREE copies of his Christian novel THE REASON at ICICLE!

When facing the impossible, will you believe? Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out. All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two. When the storm ends—the search for answers begins.

James Lindy, the church’s blind minister, wonders how his small congregation can repair the cross and keep their faith in the midst of adversity. And he hears the words “only believe.”

Macey Lewis, the town’s brilliant young oncologist, is drawn to Alex, a young boy who’s recently been diagnosed with an aggressive leukemia. She puts her hope in modern medicine—yet is challenged to “only believe.” And Alex’s single mom, who has given everything she can to her boy, is pleading with God to know the reason this is happening . . . to save her son. But she only hears silence and wonders how she can possibly “only believe.”

The Reason is a milestone debut novel, opening with a thunderbolt and never letting up as it introduces us to everyday characters who are wrestling with the questions: Where is God when bad things happen? And does God ignore the prayers of the faithful? The answer each character receives will astound readers while offering an unforgettable call to hope, to change, to . . . only believe.

William Sirls has experienced 'God's time-out'.

Visit ICICLE now and enter to win one of William's The Reason novel! There's more than one entry available :)