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About the Book
In this poignant capstone to The Barabbas Trilogy, the man called Barabbas—infamous former thief, murderer and prisoner turned Christian—and his wife Chanah continue their mission of spreading the gospel across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire.
Nero is increasingly erratic, and it’s only a matter of time before the sharp knives of imperial politics finish him off. Various successors vie for position. Who will strike first, and who will come out on top?
Meanwhile, the rebellion in Judea has intensified, the Jewish zealots exerting great influence over the minds of the people. General Vespasian and his son Titus aim to put a permanent end to the insurrection. How many lives will ultimately be sacrificed on the great altar of Jerusalem? Can the Jewish nation survive the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy? What will become of the Jewish Christians and the apostles and sisters who lead them? And where will Barabbas and his family find lasting peace?
The Barabbas Legacy once again brings the early years of the church into vivid detail, concluding the journey of those first saints who sacrificed everything to bring Christ’s message to the world.
Excerpt
From Chapter 11, the perspective of Marian, daughter of Barabbas and Chanah
“Fourteen today? Again?” Terisa, the amazingly gracious woman who, with her farmer husband Paerin, had kindly offered to give Marian a place to stay, admired the harvest gathered in Marian’s apron. She stared at Marian, shaking her head and smiling. “Those chickens really like you. They’ve never produced this much for me.”
Marian didn’t know quite what to say. “Oh, I don’t know. I think they’ve just had a couple of good days.”
Terisa clearly didn’t believe that. “Well, keep letting them see you a few times a day. The community could use the extra eggs. And we may have to increase the flock.” She winked, then turned to find a bowl in which to place the eggs. When she located one, Marian helped her unload, then smoothed her apron.
“Is there any mending I can do this morning? I’d start on some new children’s clothes, but I’m waiting on material.”
Terisa thought a moment. “No, I don’t think so. You can check with Catherine, though, when she gets back from visiting some farms a few miles north with her husband. You have time to do some writing. I know you enjoy it, and you’re good at it. I’ve already heard people talking about the stories you’ve completed. You have quite an imagination, grounded in faith.”
Marian lowered her eyes, embarrassed at the compliment. “I’m trying to follow my mother’s example. She inspired a lot of what I write. The apostle Paul, too.”
“I’d love to meet Paul,” said Terisa wistfully. “I doubt he’ll ever come here, but that’s okay. Apostles and sister leaders have visited before, and I’m sure more will in the future. We saw Joanna give a sermon once but didn’t get to talk to her. She was breathtaking. What a powerful woman she was … well, still is, on the other side now.”
Marian nodded agreement as she sat on a stool at their small table in the kitchen. Unsure of how Terisa would handle the revelation, she didn’t mention she had met Joanna, too. Terisa was preparing to make a stew, but Marian wouldn’t be much help at this point, as most everything was ready. It would simmer most of the day.
“Thank you for being so kind to me.”
Terisa looked up from the pot she was filling with ingredients. “You can quit thanking us so often. You’re a blessing. We’re happy to have you. And even if you want to wait a while to get married, that’s fine with us.”
Marian blushed. “It’s not that I don’t want to get married … well, maybe it is a little. I don’t know if I’m ready yet, and frankly, it frightens me to contemplate how I should go about finding a good husband.”
Terisa nodded knowingly. “Well, the really good ones are hard to find. I got lucky, I suppose. The Lord helped, too, I’m sure of that, even though we weren’t Christians yet. Just keep praying and doing good things. He’ll help you figure it out.” She started humming as she continued chopping up vegetables for the stew.
“Yes, I’m sure he will … but part of me wishes I knew the timing, while the other part is afraid to find out.”
Terisa gave her a kind smile. “Don’t overthink it. I know you writers tend to do that sometimes. Be happy, and let it come.” She winked, then turned back to humming and filling her pot.
“Thank you,” said Marian, rising. “You’ve just given me a couple of ideas. I need to write them down.”
Terisa laughed as Marian left the kitchen and headed for her room, where she had a small desk and a chair. Ink and parchment were a little harder to come by in Nazaretum than she was accustomed to, but she was making do. She sat down and began taking a few notes in tiny script. Overthinking things. She would write a story about a young woman who did that in humorously exaggerated ways … a young woman very much like herself.
About the Author
M.D. HOUSE is the author of The Barabbas Legacy, as well as the first two volumes in The Barabbas Trilogy, I Was Called Barabbas and Pillars of Barabbas. He also authored the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star. Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, Michael lives in Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren. Learn more about Michael and his work at www.mdhouselive.com.
Learn more about M.D. House and The Barabbas Legacy at www.mdhouselive.com. The Barabbas Legacy is available on Amazon.
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About the Book
Author: Jennifer Uhlarik
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical fiction / Romance
Release Date: March, 2022
A Love Story from the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family
Walk through Doors to the Past via a series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. Among his effects is a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek the help of museum curator Brad Osgood to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it just another forgery?
Brad Osgood’s four-year-old niece, Brynn, needs a safe home, and Brad longs to provide it. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.
Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving God on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians arrive in St. Augustine, God changes their plans. Then when friendship develops between Sally Jo and Broken Bow and false accusations fly, it could cost them their lives.
Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a preteen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a BA in writing, she has won five writing competitions and was a finalist in two others. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenage son, and four fur children.
More from Jennifer
Florida has been my home since I was ten, and I’ve visited the city of St. Augustine several times in my many years here. There, I stumbled across the fact that the Castillo de San Marcos, the town’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, was home to several groups of Native Americans in the 1800s. Ever since learning this fact, I’ve considered writing a story about the three-year period from 1875-1878 when seventy-three Plains Indians from various tribes called the fort (known then as Fort Marion) their home. However, since I’m mainly a western and western romance author, all of my story settings to date have been west of the Mississippi—not in Florida. So this interesting historical factoid remained dormant in my imagination for years, waiting for the right opportunity.
That opportunity came last year when I was asked to submit an idea for Barbour’s dual-timeline Doors to the Past series. These stories must be set in or around a major landmark, the plot must focus on a newsworthy event, and there must be a bit of a mystery that connects the historical timeline to the contemporary plot. Obviously, as the oldest masonry fort in the United States, Castillo de San Marcos is an important and interesting landmark. Originally built by the Spanish, it later became a British possession, reverted again to the Spanish, and eventually became part of the United States’ holdings. With such a long and varied history, I’m sure you can see why this unique structure would make an interesting landmark around which to base a story.
The newsworthy event the plot focuses on is the incarceration of those seventy-three Plains Indians, deemed some of the “worst of the worst” offenders in the Indians Wars of the West. Can you imagine the buzz such an event would create? Once the Indians fell into their routine inside the fort, they were given quite a bit of freedom to interact with the locals and tourists. People came from far and wide to see these men and their historic surroundings along the banks of the Matanzas River. With a simple day pass from the fort’s commander, outsiders could enter, walk among and talk with the prisoners, see the historic fort, and even watch cultural events like dances, powwows, mock buffalo hunts, and archery displays. The Native men could also leave the fort and venture into town to shop or sell handmade goods, from bows and arrows to hand-crafted items made from locally-sourced seashells and plants, to their original “ledger art.”
It’s the ledger art that comprises the mysterious puzzle piece connecting the historical timeline of Love’s Fortress to the present day. When Dani Sango learns her long-estranged father has died, she inherits his rundown St. Augustine house. Inside, she discovers a book of Native American art depicting events from one Indian’s daily life. But because her father was a convicted art forger, Dani questions why he would have the strange and rudimentary artwork. She suspects it was his latest scam, so she enlists the help of Brad Osgood, curator of a western art museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, to help her discover where the art originated and how her father came to possess it. In the process, the pair digs deep into the history of the St. Augustine fort and its former residents.
I found it fascinating to research this brief period in the Castillo’s long history, and I hope you’ll enjoy the story that came from my efforts.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26
Remembrancy, March 26
The Christian Fiction Girl, March 27
Texas Book-aholic, March 27
Inklings and notions, March 28
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 28
Bigreadersite, March 29
For Him and My Family, March 29
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 30
Betti Mace, March 30
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 31
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 31
deb’s Book Review, April 1
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 1
Older & Smarter?, April 2
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 2
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 3
Life of Literature, April 3
Genesis 5020, April 4
For the Love of Literature, April 4
Connie’s History Classroom, April 5
Blossoms and Blessings, April 5
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 6 (Spotlight)
Splashes of Joy, April 6
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 7
Through the Fire Blogs, April 7
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 8
Pause for Tales, April 9
Labor Not in Vain, April 9
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and paperback copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1c10d/love-s-fortress-celebration-tour-giveaway
About the Book
But all is not as it seems. Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs. And Gabe is an investigator, searching for proof that her father is a swindler. When a series of apparent accidents threaten her life, Alexandra and Gabe will have to work together to discover the truth. And perhaps along the way they will discover that the sparks of attraction they've felt from the beginning are more than sparks--they're love.
My Thoughts
About the Author
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About the Book
Curl up with your own little lamb and Really Woolly My First Easter to celebrate the hope and joy of the Easter season. This inspirational Easter board book for kids is a perfect Easter basket gift, Easter morning Sunday School story time, or spring family read-aloud.
This book for ages 0 to 4 features
A fun and functional Easter basket-shape with a handle and glittered cover
An age-appropriate way to teach very young children how spring blessings of new life reflect the meaning of Jesus' resurrection
A hidden Easter egg hunt in each illustration that will keep children coming back to make new discoveries
Your favorite Really Woolly characters
Bible verses, sweet rhymes, and simple prayers that reflect the delight of God's promises
The Really Woolly® series from DaySpring® is known for sharing encouragement through the relationship the Shepherd has with His sheep.
Look for additional inspirational children's books from the Really Woolly series:
Really Woolly Easter Blessings
Really Woolly Goodnight, God
Really Woolly Christmas Blessings
Really Woolly Bedtime Blessings
Really Woolly I Love You, Little One
Really Woolly 5-Minute Bedtime Treasury
My Thoughts
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About the Book
You live with a massive amount of distraction:
desperate headlines
smartphone scrolling
an endless to-do list
Not to mention the nagging questions of your heart:
Am I making the right decision?
Am I with the right person?
Will my past mistakes keep me from my best future?
Through the pithy and inspiring storytelling that has endeared him to millions, New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff invites you to laugh with more gusto, dream with more confidence, and love with more intention in this disarming call to live Undistracted.
Bob’s stories are like the rumble strips on the road that make you suddenly alert to how far you have drifted from your lane. From visiting friends in San Quentin to accidentally getting into a stalker’s car at the airport to establishing Uganda’s first space program, Bob shows you the way back to an audaciously attentive life.
Your undistracted life is an adventure waiting to happen. What stories will you live with undistracted purpose and unstoppable joy?
My Thoughts
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In this new coastal series, Lin Stepp transports her readers into the rich, colorful lives of Burke and her sisters, Lila, Gwen, and Celeste, who grew up at the Deveaux Inn and Lighthouse on a windswept island, accessible only by boat. Get ready to be introduced to the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, challenges and adventures of a Lighthouse Keeper.
Life had grown hard for Burke Deveaux at the family inn and lighthouse since her father died. She missed his warmth and still expected to see him walking into a room, his big laugh booming. Burke and her mother were gradually adjusting to the change, and Lila had come home this winter to help, but the workload was heavy. With spring coming and tourism picking up in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Burke welcomed Hal Jenkins’ request for his son Waylon to work for them. Waylon, retiring early from the Navy, knew the island and the lighthouse, having grown up nearby. Burke also knew Waylon well since they’d grown up together. He’d always been older, and she wondered how he’d see her now.
Waylon had been away from Edisto Island for over twelve years now, traveling around the world in the military, but it felt good to be home. He’d hated learning Lloyd Deveaux was gone, the warm-hearted Lighthouse Keeper he’d followed around as a boy. But he liked the idea of coming to stay at the lodge at Watch Island to help the Deveaux family with the inn, lighthouse, and nearly five-hundred acres of land the Lighthouse Station occupied. He knew Burke had picked up many of her father’s old tasks and he looked forward to seeing her again. He’d kept feelings for her clamped down for years but one look at her brought them surging back. How would he handle that with them working together?
“This book feels just as tranquil as Edisto and has a wonderful, laid back flow, like beautiful ocean waves lapping up on the shore … you can’t help but fall in love with every facet of this novel.” – Christ F. JUST READS Review
“From the stunning backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry … this book was like going home.” – Kim Standridge Boykin, Bestselling Author of Palmetto Moon
“Each book showcases Lin Stepp’s natural gift as a novelist for originality and narrative driven storytelling.” – MIDWEST REVIEW
My Thoughts
Tour Giveaway
Ends April 6, 2022
About the Book
Author: Marguerite Martin Gray
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: February 15, 2022
Something sinister lurks in Pitti Palace.
Despite having spent eight years as companion to her cousins, Ana Geovani still questions her role and place in the Medici household. This uncertainty compounds and alarms as her cousin’s marriage approaches and a marriage is arranged for Ana.
With no say in her own future, fear and despair dulls even the splendor of the gardens she holds so dear.
As the newest under gardener at the palace, Marco Rossi should have everything he’s dreamed of–beautiful gardens to tend and master architects and gardeners to learn from. Yet a secret mission threatens his peace of mind, his position, and even the love of Ana. Although God is always with him, reminding him of a bigger plan, Marco feels the weight of the consequences he will face if he challenges a Medici member.
The desires of men and women, both royal and common, create costly dilemmas and potential disasters of hearts and souls. What will it take for Marco and Ana to prevail against everything driving them apart?
Click here to get your copy!
My Thoughts
About the Author
Marguerite enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband in north Louisiana. She writes historical fiction.
More from Marguerite
Are you a gardener? My mom calls me the accidental gardener. Is there such a thing? Well, I threw a pumpkin off my deck into a flower bed in December. By March, I had a garden full of beautiful, big pumpkins and luscious vines.
I love the idea of gardening, although I’m not very successful with my planting and grandiose plans. I stick with zinnias, potatoes, and onions. But I admire all kinds of gardens—flower and vegetable. Gardens are full of surprises—zingers in my ordinary life.
From the beauty of organized formal gardens like Versailles and Boboli to quaint, colorful English gardens, I relish the assault to all the senses. I’m refreshed, renewed, and relaxed just by being in a garden.
The birth of my Gardens in Time series arose from my travels. Labor of Love, set in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, springs from memories of wonder and beauty as I roamed the avenues and paths as a child and then an adult. I never had the adventures of Ana as she struggles and grows in the court of the Medici, but I walked in the Medici’s steps and let my imagination journey with Ana. She now has her own story.
I hope that you can experience some of the awe and amazement through Ana’s wanderings. I invite you to roam the Boboli Gardens with Ana.
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 19
Texas Book-aholic, March 20
Inklings and notions, March 21
For Him and My Family, March 22
Betti Mace, March 23
deb’s Book Review, March 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 25
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 26
Connie’s History Classroom, March 27
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 28 (Spotlight)
Mary Hake, March 28
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 31 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Persuasion, March 31
Blossoms and Blessings, April 1
Inside the Wong Mind, April 2
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1bc99/labor-of-love-celebration-tour-giveaway
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