Sometimes the last thing we think we need is exactly what God has planned
After
the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his
plate—including a fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger
brother to raise. The last thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to
contend with.
Carin
O'Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an
English teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns
as King of Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in
love...especially with a handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s
brother Jake.
But when Corey's antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan.
This
is a Tour Wide Giveaway-
Please enter by Rafflecopter BELOW THIS POST. Each
commentator from each stop will be entered into a grand giveaway for a
chance to win one of the two prizes up for grabs - a $50 Gift Card
(Amazon/BN - winners choice) and a print set of (5) books (Wisdom Tree when it debuts in October). Winners will be chosen August 14th.
I'm so excited to welcome Mary Manners back to Heart racing, God-gracing Romance with her fall release, Wisdom Tree.
Welcome, Mary, and congratulations!! Thank you so much for joining us today.
Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who
lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East
Tennessee with her husband and daughter. She is a member of the Romance
Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.
In
her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband,
and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees. http://www.marymannersromance.com/
Mary invites us to get into the holiday spirit with her post, Christmas Lights. So, light your pine scented candles, flick your fave tunes on, and kick back and relax with this sweet devotional.
Christmas Lights
You are my lamp, oh
Lord, the Lord that turns my darkness into light. ~2
Samuel 22:29(NIV)
Send forth your light
and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to
the place where you dwell. ~Psalm
43:3(NIV)
Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm
119:105(NIV)
When the subject of Christmas gifts
comes up, most people think of packages wrapped in colorful paper and shimmery
bows, sitting under the Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened.
When I think of Christmas gifts, I
think of my dad, who passed away ten years ago this holiday season. He was a
man of many gifts, including the joy he shared for the traditions of Christmas.
Dad loved light—especially the
light that brightened a fresh-cut pine tree in honor of the birth of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Each December first, like clockwork, Dad piled his
family—all seven of us—into our Chevy station wagon and drove us to the tree
lot where, shivering in the Chicago-winter cold, we oohed and aahed over each
and every tree until we found the perfect one.
Once home, with the tree safely
arranged in a metal stand and watered, Dad climbed the ladder to our attic (a
mysterious place, indeed) where the Christmas lights were stored. He’d lower
the battered cardboard box (re-used, season after season) to the floor below
and dust it off.
Then my brother and sisters—five of
us—gathered ’round him in the living room and waited, eyes huge with wonder, as
he carefully unraveled the strands of lights and tested each one. No matter how
stubborn the bulbs, dad always managed to get them working.
Beautiful, vibrant colors turned
the room to a kaleidoscope, dancing over walls and windows with the feel of
winter magic. One by one, my siblings and I each took the place of honor beside
Dad, helping him to adorn the tree with light. Pine sap clung to our tiny fingers,
but we didn’t care. All the while, our hearts soared with happiness and
child-like wonder.
Finally, Dad gently gathered the
Christmas star from the box. Hushed with awe, we waited while Dad chose one of
us to hoist to his shoulders for the greatest thrill—placing the treasured
beacon of light—the Baby Jesus Star—atop the highest limb. Somehow, Dad always
sensed who needed that extra touch of attention, and there was never any
argument.
With the lights in place (just in
time for nightfall—always) we circled the tree and held hands to sing Silent
Night. In the earliest years, the tune didn’t always carry and the words were sometimes
off, but Dad didn’t mind. He knew we understood what the tree—and especially
the lights—symbolized…the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The most
wonderful gift of all!
REFLECT
& PRAY:
It’s sometimes easy to get lost in
the tangle of this world—the troubles and stresses that everyday life presents.
Sometimes we feel as if the darkness will consume us. During these most trying
times, we must move toward the light, and the Father who loves and guides us.
He will remove the darkness and fill us with His holy light.
Heavenly Father,
I pray you take the darkness and
fill me with light. I ask to be a beacon to others, that they may know Your
goodness and the hope You bring. Please guide and keep me. Amen
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Labels: #booktour, #Christianfic, Book and Trailer Showcase, contemporary romance, inspirational romance, Mary Manners, Pelican Book Group, White Rose Publishing, Wisdom Tree
