Journey’s End by Dora Hiers

Finally! It’s here! What we’ve all been waiting for. OK, what I’ve been waiting for. Yay! Here it is.

Journey’s End by Dora Hiers

Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.

Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death.Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.

When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear and trust Trey with her life? Can she forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?

Where one journey ends, another begins…

Surely after that intro you can’t resist reading an excerpt!
“I suppose I should have been a vet.” Chelsea stroked the dog’s fur from his head all the way down his back, careful not to touch his wounded leg.
“Maybe. But I don’t think you’ve wasted your energy or your talents as a guidance counselor. Teenagers can’t seem to resist you, either.”
That produced a full-fledged smile in his direction. Way to go, Colten!
“Remember that natural charm I warned you about?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Yes. And after a few days in your presence, I’m inclined to agree with you.”
He pulled into the veterinarian’s parking lot and glanced her way, surprised to see her grinning. “What?”
“Saved by the vet.”
Her words hit him like a piano dropping ten stories. She was flirting with him.
He took his time walking around to her side of the truck. He opened the door and leaned in, planting his hand on the seat next to her shapely legs. His face hovered inches from hers while he savored the way her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, the lips that curved in that always graceful way, and the eyes that spoke everything his heart wanted to hear.
Her eyes closed, and her lips parted slightly.
Trey snapped out of it. He couldn’t do this.  He was on the job. She didn’t know the secrets he knew, the truth about her husband. 
Her eyes startled open. As much as he wanted to partake and enjoy, he couldn’t. He touched a silky curl framing her face and ran it through his fingers. “You need to know that right now I’m working. But there will come a time, soon, when I’m not.”

You can purchase Journey’s End in e-book and print formats at the following sites:
http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Journey39S-End
http://www.christianbook.com/
http://www.amazon.com/

Awed. Humbled. Thankful. Blessed.

Three more days.

Yep. That’s it. Three.

On Friday Journey’s End releases for all the world to see.

Wow!

I’m awed. Humbled. Thankful. Blessed.

Blessed to serve an awesome God. Blessed to share life with my sweet husband. Awed that on Friday I’ll finally leap over that giant chasm between published and unpublished. Did I mention humbled?

And thankful. Today I want to share my thanks.

First, I want to offer thanks to my awesome God. Thank you for loving me with a love I can only imagine and for adopting me through the precious blood of Your Son. For offering hope, forgiveness, grace, and an eternity with You. Thank you for planting the words in my heart. You’re my Rock, my Redeemer. Alpha and Omega. Lord of Lords. King of Kings. The Great I Am. I love You!

Thank you to my husband. For not poking fun of my dreams. For encouraging me to dig deep for pearls of wisdom in contest comments and to keep writing through the pain of rejection. For allowing me to stop working for a paycheck and never complaining at the loss of a second income. You’re my best friend. I love you!

And a humongous thank you to White Rose Publishing, for everything they’ve accomplished to ensure the success of Journey’s End. To Nicola Martinez, Jamie West, Lisa Dawn, Annette Irby, and every employee of WRP who worked on Journey’s End. For the precious WRP authors, who have quickly become my friends and my biggest supporters. For believing in my story and in me, an unpublished writer. I pray I earn your trust.

Journey’s End ~ Where one journey ends, another begins…
  available Friday, 5/20/11 http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Journey39S-End

PARADOX by JoAnn Carter

This morning while I was lying in bed in the early pre-dawn I heard a bird singing out a beautiful melody. Normally, this would make my heart happy, but then I’d just turn over and try to catch a few more moments of rest. But not today. Today was extra special. Why? Because crazy as this may sound, this little birdie was lifting it’s sweet praises in the midst of a thunderstorm. Amazing! God used two rather “ordinary” things to create and extraordinary experience for me—God showed me something awesome and real—a perfect picture of peace. Thunderclouds rolled in, lighting flashed across the dark gray sky, and rain teamed down the windowpane yet this bird was secure. In fact, it was more than secure, it was full of joy, willing and wanting to sing.
This sends Goosebumps up my spine as I think about it. It’s a paradox and truly a God thing. Especially since this word, paradox, has been near and dear to my heart. In fact, I kid you not; this is the very title of the book that I wanted to share with you today. Yet, perhaps paradox is not a word you’re familiar with, so let me explain. Paradox is flowers on snow, joy in the midst of trials, compassion for others as your own heart breaks. It’s what many of us just celebrated, Easter– Jesus laying down his life for me, someone sinful and undeserving. It’s victory and life born out of death and suffering.
Through this experience, God reminded me that He delights in using those ordinary things to accomplish His marvelous purposes. And that’s super news! If He can use Fishermen, tax collectors, birds, and thunderstorms, I know He can use me—a very average, ordinary person to do extraordinary things for Him. Perhaps you’re feeling “ordinary” today. Take heart, it’s through that very thing that God can show His creativity, His power, and even His love just like He did for me in the midst of this early mornings storm.
A CONTEST TO HELP ME CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF PARADOX:
Win a gift box filled with goodies! (A paperback copy of Teacher’s Plans, a gift certificate, a mug filled with a package of Green Mountain Coffee, pen and a Tee-shirt.)
How? Help me spread the word about Paradox by sharing the link to this post on your FB, Twitter, blog, etc. then e-mail where you posted it to joannwrites@gmail.com with “Blog Blitz” in the subject line. A winner will be drawn 5/26/11.
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JoAnn Carter writes stories that will encourage your faith through inspirational fiction novels and novellas. She resides in Vermont with her wonderful husband and four children.
JoAnn is available for speaking engagements to book clubs, reader groups, library groups, women’s ministries events, school events, and church retreats.
Find her here:
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I hope you’ll be able to pick up a copy of Paradox today @ http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-168/JoAnne-Carter-Paradox/Detail.bok
You can watch the trailer here ~ http://youtu.be/mnOQeNeQuUE