Stop by there, you’re missing all the fun!

Maybe I’m biased, sue me. But when you’re dealing with an enemy who wouldn’t bat an eye before flipping the switch, who’s decapitated soldiers and civilians, and who’s tortured POWs, you don’t play tea party with them. Ask those POWs from every war America has been involved in about how they were treated in POW camps. It was ugly, it was deathly, and it was worse than anything Americans have done to their POWs in recent memory.

COME ON, PEOPLE! This isn’t the wars of yesteryear. The Taliban has no qualms about killing the infidels and degrading their bodies any blessed way they want. I’m all about good treatment of inmates as the next person, but when you’re trying to get vital information out of a person who would rather see you dead than talk, you need to find ways to make them talk.

Go ahead and slam me if you want. I enjoy a good debate. But if you decide to slander my military husband and his sacrifice, you’ve got a fight on your hands. And I welcome comments like this because it shows true ignorance on some Americans parts.

Now I’ll probably be put on the Department of Homeland Security’s watch list now for my “right-wing extremism.”

Reliving pieces of that difficult time is hard, especially when I’m spilling my heart out about how frustrated I was with the National Guard and my situation at the time. The message I wanted to convey struck me in the gut as I wrote it. And even now, after he’s been home for more than a year, I’ve forgotten at times where my true strength and help comes from. I love how God drops in those little reminders.

So, all that to say this. Sara has chosen my piece for the last chapter in her book. I’m contributing to a published book! I got the news on Friday when we were back in IA. I did a little Snoopy dance, much to my hubby’s amusement. His mom and sister were proud. I said a few weeks ago about how frustrated I was at not landing a publishing contract, but God seemed to be dropping writing opportunities in my lap. This is just one more unexpected surprise. He shows me in the little things what His plans are. They’re not always what I want, but this is how He gets through to me. Crumbs that soon turn into pieces, then the whole meal.

It’s never been no, just Wait!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chrisitine lives with her husband and two precious daughters in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in her home state of Arkansas. Her greatest earthly joy is her family and, aside from doing God’s will, spending time with them is her top priority.

She recently took a break from writing romance to pen a Christmas story with a twist. Her Mom Lit novella, My True Love Gave to Me, is part of a 2 in 1 anthology from Barbour entitled All Jingled Out. It’s also included in Simply Christmas, a 4 in 1 Barbour anthology. One of my holiday highlights was seeing Simply Christmas at Sam’s Club a few weeks before Christmas.

She has written two other novellas, both romance, which are included in Barbour anthologies, City Dreams, and Prairie County Fair and a serial for the Heartsong Presents book club newsletter – The Carousel Horse. The Carousel Horse can be read in its entirety on the Heartsong website, and you can read excerpts from all of her other books on her website, HERE

In 2003, Christine was honored by being voted #2 Favorite New Author by the Heartsong Presents Book Club members!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Actress Crytal McCord gave up the closeness of her big family in order to make a name for herself on the New York City stage. But when life in the Big Apple turns sour, she follows a country road back to her parents Arkansas ranch.

The last thing she expects to find in cowboy country is a new leading man. Still, she can’t help but imagine handsome rancher Jeremy Buchanan in the role.

Unfortunately, Jeremy’s been burned by Crystal’s type before. Or has he? Every time he thinks he knows her, the multi-faceted woman surprises him. Will the reluctant pair allow their hearts to guide them, or will their common stubborn pride keep them miles apart?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Reluctant Cowgirl, go HERE

Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker’s body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Would you kill an innocent man to save your daughter?

They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who’s abducted six young women. He’s the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.

Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.

Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan’s estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.

But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.

If your an avid Dekker fan, and would like wallpaper and counters for your blog, go HERE.

You can listen to an audio clip HERE

Watch the VIDEO:

If you would like to read the first chapter of Boneman’s Daughters, go HERE

Scott_Kesterson Talked to a 15yr old Afghan boy suffering from polio. He has not seen his family for 15 months. The US soldiers bring him toys and clothing. The boy with polio cried as he talked to the US Army CSM. He talked of how a doctor kicked him in his bad leg and patients stole his things. If ever one questions the heart of an American soldier… watch the compassion and care they extend to Afghan children.

If one ever questions the sincerity of any American soldier they need to think again. The tent where Dh had Sunday worship services in Iraq was backed by the hospital. Christ and suffering back to back. I pray what was preached and spoken next door gave those in the hospital much hope. Even if they aren’t Christian, our American soldiers are showing Christ’s love and devotion to those who are suffering.

Our country might be very materialistic, but when tragedy and war strike, isn’t it great that we seem to be on the front lines with aid and support. And that makes us infidels how?

So, while I’m pumping coffee into my veins, I’m making another loaf of bread, and planning on not doing a thing all day long. Well, maybe a load of laundry might get done. I’m down to 3 kids this week, since my cowgirl in training wanted to stay at her grandma’s house and hang out with her Aunt Becky and play with friends she doesn’t get to see as much as she’d like. Only 3 kids, wow, that hasn’t happened in six years. Perfect time to get as much writing done as I can with them home for spring break all week.

We’ve got one more trip back to IA this weekend for Veishea at Iowa State. I’m hoping and praying it’s warm and dry this year. Last year it was freezing, 20 some degrees with a biting wind and snow now and again. What a miserable time, and topping it all off Dh backed into someone and broke the van’s bumper, which still, a year later, hasn’t been fixed. Who’s got 800 smackaroos to toss around? Certainly not us.

Well, bread is probably risen and needs to bake. Hopefully by this afternoon I can sit down and get some words down on my new Historical.

Ciao!