I had set a goal to complete my first draft of a new romantic suspense novel by Jan 31, 2021 — and I did it! This title began as a novella project, but it quickly grew into something far too big to contain within the confines of a novella. I don’t have a title yet, and I would love your suggestions. Some keywords to consider are:
holiday (Christmas)
stalker
mountain lodge
winter
second-chance romance
army chaplain
writer
You can comment below and share your brilliant title ideas or email me personally. I can’t wait to read your ideas. Maybe one will become the actual title! How cool would that be?
New to You
In the past few months, I’ve partnered with several authors for cross-promotion. Several of you have emailed to express your thanks for the title recommendations. I have a few more for you to check out today. I have NOT READ these titles. The first two are discounted novels, and the last one is a link to several FREE reads you might enjoy. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: When I reach out for these kinds of “swaps” (that’s what authors call this kind of cross-promotion), I am extremely clear that my readers are clean Christian readers. I explain that means I request swaps for titles with no foul language, no intimacy before marriage, no skin on the cover, and no sorcery. I ask for titles that contain an inspirational tone or message. I take the author’s word that their title meets the criteria. If you stumble across a title that does not meet these conditions, I would appreciate it if you would send me a quick message so that I can make a note.
Looking for a few free reads? This link takes you to several clean, inspirational, romance and romantic suspense titles FREE until March 28th. Feel free to send the deal to your friends, who might also enjoy these titles.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
I have returned to this verse several times over the past year out of great need. They are words of hope for a weary soul.
Jesus said these words to his disciples while his cross waited around the next corner. He was also preparing his disciples for his soon departure and for the unknown difficulties that waited for them around their next corner.
Jesus knew that his followers most needed peace in their hearts despite their many troubles. He also knows that’s what you and I need.
I’m writing to you today because, despite our many troubles, I long for you to have that peace from Jesus, too.
What in the World Is Going On?
A few weeks back, I sat on my couch and watched footage of the protests, riots, and insurrection in Washington, D.C., and wept. The civil unrest, political pettiness, and self-righteous violence are a burden that is too heavy to bear.
Then, we all heard the news of our imminent return to Square One in our fight against a year-long pandemic, the burden grew heavier still.
As I digested the announcement of the stay-at-home order, it hit me like a fresh wave that there are some people in our church family I haven’t seen in person for almost a full year. Some who I haven’t seen at all. There is no judgement in that statement; if anything, there’s much grace. It’s simply an observation that (speaking transparently) breaks my heart and makes me sad.
Life is hard these days for everyone. Perhaps it’s helpful for you to know that it’s hard for pastors, too. I see the weariness every week in our staff and our elders who are trying their best to shepherd and lead when we can’t even be in the same room as you. Most people don’t see how they walk with a limp because they’ve listened to another opinion or complaint about the pandemic that was spoken with more political zeal than Christian love. Not to mention the embarrassing in-fighting and name-calling among Christians across the wider Church.
As Jesus would say, my heart has been troubled. A lot. At times, my heart has even been afraid. Afraid not only of our future but also of the growing instability of our present.
Thankfully, Jesus had more to say.
Real Peace
What strikes me most about Jesus’ statement in John 14:27 is that his greatest concern—knowing his horrific death was literally only hours away—was that the people he loved would have peace.
Not just any peace. Real peace. His peace. The kind of lasting and perfect peace that you and I crave.
Jesus says that it’s not a peace the world can give to you. Pay close attention to that. The end of a pandemic will not give you peace. A vaccine will not give you peace. Being released from a lockdown will not give you peace. A politician of any persuasion will not give you peace. Winning a debate will not give you peace. The latest report or theory will not give you peace. And maybe most importantly, being “right” will not give you peace.
Jesus gives peace.
We need to hear this again during these days because we often worry and fear and think and speak like peace depends on us, not on Jesus. Even still, in all the unhinged craziness of our world—knowing that, maybe, your heart has been troubled and afraid like few other times in your life—he wants you to have his peace.
Jesus’ peace is unshakeable, unflappable, immoveable. He is the author of peace, and he wants to give you his peace.
He wants you to know his peace.
He wants your heart to be softened and your life to be changed by his peace even when the cracks in this broken world grow wider and deeper.
He wants his peace to reign in our hearts. What a loving Saviour.
A Word of Encouragement
Loved ones, my heart longs for you to have this peace. But implied in Jesus’ statement is that to have this peace, we must take our eyes off a world that guarantees nothing and fix our gaze on him. The only remedy for a heart troubled by this world is for this benevolent, compassionate, peace-providing Jesus to be worth more to you than anything this troubling world can offer.
This pandemic and all its adjoining unrest have rightly awakened in us a longing for a new world, a better world where the Ultimate Peace-Giver will wipe away every tear from our eyes, a world where death will be no more, a world noticeably absent of mourning or crying or pain or viruses or pandemics or protests or riots or pettiness or in-fighting or isolation or loneliness or distancing because all the former things have passed away and he has finally made everything new (Revelation 21:4).
Friends, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus stands ready to calm your fear and steady your troubled heart.
Are you searching for peace? One lucky commenter will receive a FREE PDF of Kevin’s book, Anxiety Attack. The winner will be randomly drawn on March 11, 2021. To enter, leave a comment and share what Scripture verse or verses have most encouraged you during this time.
There is an epidemic plaguing our culture. Sadly, Christians are not immune to it. In fact, as followers of Christ, we may be more susceptible to the outbreak than we realize. And if we’re not careful, it can incapacitate us before we even understand what’s happening.
Some of you might remember my friend, Erin. I dedicated Mistletoe Movie Star to her, and she inspired the main character, Char. Erin is passionate about compassion ministry, and that did not stop when Char’s story ended. Erin is still raising awareness for those in our community who need our help. She wrote the post below.
It’s cold out there.
Frigid. Almost unbearable. Last night at the centre where I work, I was once again reminded of the severity of homelessness in our community. Two old friends from “Welcome Love” (our former tent city) came by. Their circumstances are complicated and sad. For various reasons that most of us could never comprehend, they “choose” to sleep in the rough. To them, it is the only option. Last night, they came by Why Not Youth Centre with frostbitten faces and ash-covered hands. They were invited in for a moment of reprieve from the harsh reality of their everyday lives. They experienced a moment of warmth, food, acceptance and kindness.
Last year, the issue of homelessness in our community was front and centre. All over social media, in the news, in the papers, top of the to-do list for council, “tent lit on fire!”…you could not ignore it. Many good things came out of those days, but last night I was reminded that just because we cannot SEE tent city does not mean that those beautiful God-created people are not still out there living in tents when it is -15 outside.
IN. A. TENT.
Hunger, a lack of viable resources, and safe, affordable housing are a daily battle for many of our youth and those experiencing homelessness in our city. It is literally a moment-to-moment game of survival. Last night, God freshly reminded me that there is still much work to be done. We hope and pray our youth will never experience this as their “normal.” We have some amazing supports in our community; Why NotYouth Centre is one of those places, but there are some massive gaps in services to the marginalized.
I see these gaps every time we advocate for youth or try to connect those deemed “hard to serve” with supports that could change the direction of their current life course. This is not a new problem. Still, we press on, show up and advocate for change because, despite the dire circumstances, we SEE God at work and these lives matter. When I said goodbye to our visitors last night, I truly wondered if they would survive the night. I prayed for them. I wept at our broken world. Then I decided to do something about it.
Be part of the solution
On February 20, together with thousands of Canadians across the country, I am walking and fundraising to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. Why Not Youth Centres is supported solely by generous community supporters and initiatives like this. We need support to keep our doors open. I have named the team the “WayMaker Walkers” because only God can fix this problem. I am praying He uses our team to affect change in our community in practical ways. Would you join me? Walk with me & pray with me as we call out to the LORD to do what only He can! If you cannot participate in the walk, you can still pray at home and donate to our team!
Marilyn Darby makes bad decisions. That’s what landed her in New York, working meaningless jobs as she strives toward dreams that insist on never coming true. It wouldn’t make sense for her to go after someone like Bo Sutton. Mr. Perfect Superhero—respectful, responsible, and exactly the kind of man her parents would want her to date. Bo is too nice. He’d be a fool to look at her. And she’d never be interested in him. So, why can’t she stop pushing his buttons and hoping he’ll change his mind about her?
Bo Sutton landed the perfect job, which also meant a perfect living situation and a life plan that finally looked solid, if only he ignores that he’s spent the last few years lying to his family about what he does, where he is, and who he spends time with. Details. Sometimes Bo hated details. One thing he didn’t need was a relationship to screw it all up. He’d be an idiot to get mixed up with Marilyn Darby—all that chaos and spunk. He needs a plan to get rid of her before she ruins everything for him. Or worse, he falls in love with her.
Her Best Bo – click the cover image for the buy link
Her Best Bo is an opposites-attract follow-up to Picking Daisy and Pushing Robby, featuring Daisy’s bodyguard Bo Sutton and her dance teacher, Marilyn Darby. This book can be read as a standalone novel.
Megan McCormick doesn’t leave Atlanta looking for love. Far from it. She runs to the mountain town of Laurel Crest to flee from her past and a broken heart. When she’s knocked over by Lee Grainger, handsome veterinarian and lover of small-town living, Megan’s life takes an unexpected turn.
Tired of fast-paced city life, Lee is considering a permanent move to the mountains. His run-in with Megan has him believing he’s in Laurel Crest for more than a partnership in an animal hospital.
After a case of mistaken identity is cleared up, Megan and Lee strike up a friendship. Lee is everything Megan ever wanted—smart, loyal and dedicated to his faith. But Megan has experienced deep betrayal twice, and she’s reluctant to give romance another try.
Can Megan come to terms with the secret that haunts her, get past her distrust of men, and accept the love Lee offers or will her heart be broken again?
Someone to trust – click on the cover for the buy link
“My desire for writing Someone To Trust was to take readers on a journey of forgiveness. A journey that not only encompasses the power and grace to forgive others but also one of accepting the forgiveness God offers us and forgiving ourselves.”
Because she survived a botched abortion, Piper McCormack has a super-sensitive skill which she uses in her job as a Fragrance Chemist.
Piper meets OBGYN Dr. Jake Connors on a blind date. Piper doesn’t know Jake fights a secret war. During Piper’s third date with Jake, three professional thugs kidnap him.
Piper uses her super skill to help the police track the kidnappers. Both Piper and Jake have difficult, life-choices to make. Will they choose danger and love? Or will they retreat into safety?
Will the baby have a voice?
A Small Voice – click the cover image for the buy link
Readers who love to read about contemporary issue as well as romance and suspense will love A Small Voice.
Gianna Harper is living on borrowed time. Newly widowed, she’s struggling to hold things together at home and keep her business afloat while dealing with her late husband’s effects. But something’s not right and now Gianna is convinced that he was involved in something a lot more sinister than shady business dealings.
Brock Hennessey fled California to make a fresh start in northwestern Montana. He hopes he’s put enough miles between him and danger, banking on a promised job to give his family a new start in a safe place. Circumstances pit Gianna and Brock against one another, and neither one is willing to give an inch. As their professional dealings grow more acrimonious, their daughters become best friends and suddenly, the four of them are thrown into situations that have them acting, looking, and sounding like a real family.
Sisters Ever After – click the cover image for the buy link
Set against the stunning backdrop of northwestern Montana, Sisters Ever After is the first book in the Canadian Meadows series.
