Month: February 2014

Faith Readers Group Review: Shadows of the Past

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

It’s been a real treat having Pat here with us all week! If you missed out on Would You Rather or her No-Brainer devotion you can read them HERE and HERE! 

Over delicious cranberry-orange muffins and coffee, we discussed Shadows of the Past, a romantic suspense by Patricia Bradley and then we had the opportunity to Skype with her. If you don’t know Pat, we’ll tell you she’s a hoot! So much fun to chat with. 

Now on to our review. Here are few things that were said.

“She grabbed me on the first page.”

“She knows how to get your attention quick.”

“I thought the dreams Taylor had were very realistic to what dreams are like.”

“Toward the end, I wasn’t sure if who I thought the villain was, really was. That was a fun twist.”

“Where’s Robin?” 

“I’ll be reading all her books.”

GROUP RATING: 1-5 STARS

4.5 

Here’s a sneak peek at Pat’s debut novel. Grab it up! You won’t be sorry!

Buy the book! 
Psychology
professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to
solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve–the
disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on
his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to
investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is
stalking her.
Nick
Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is
how he can ever get over the death of his wife–a tragedy he believes he could
have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick
sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to
find is trouble.

Join the
chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys
to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and
love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a
promising and already award-winning writer.

No Brainer by Patricia Bradley

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
Buy the book HERE!
Welcome back, everyone! Thanks, Pat, for being here again and for this devotion!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)
Like Taylor in Shadows
of the Past, I have not always lived by this verse. I wanted to do things my way. And my way got me into a lot of
trouble. But God never let go of my hand, just as He never let go of Taylor’s.
And a few years ago, I embraced this verse and began living it.
That doesn’t mean that right away everything started
happening the way I thought it should. No, I had another lesson to
learn—everything happens in God’s economy of time, not mine. But if we wait on
Him, what He will do is exceedingly and abundantly more than we can think or
imagine.
An example: I wanted an offer for 1 book published, but when
I waited on God’s plan I received an offer for a three-book deal.
Waiting on God’s plan=A nobrainer.
Sneak peek!
Psychology
professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to
solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve–the
disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on
his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to
investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is
stalking her.
Nick
Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is
how he can ever get over the death of his wife–a tragedy he believes he could
have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick
sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to
find is trouble.
Join the
chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys
to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and
love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a
promising and already award-winning writer.
Visit Pat HERE!
What have you been waiting for? 

A Suspense-Full Week!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
Buy HERE!

Hey everyone, I’m not back from my blogging break, officially, but this week is going to be so cool because it’s a week full of suspense!

Today we’re going to play Would You Rather with Patricia Bradley, friend and author of Shadows of the Past and her hero and heroine, Nick and Taylor!

Wednesday, Pat is sharing a devotion that that threads her spiritual arc in her novel.

And Friday, Faith Readers (our local book club) will be giving our group review of Shadows of the Past, so hang with us this week for lots of fun. Le’ts play!

Would You Rather….


…stay in
for a nice dinner and a rented movie or go out?
Pat: Definitely
stay in and watch a movie.

Taylor: Definitely
stay in and watch a movie. 
Nick: Let’s go to the Blues Espresso…jam a
little. 
…travel
by car or plane?
 Pat: Well…if I could fly without having to travel
2 hours to get to the airport, and I’d be guaranteed no 10 hour layovers, I opt
for flying. Otherwise, I’ll drive. 🙂

Taylor: Well…if
I could be guaranteed no 10 hour layovers, I opt for flying. Otherwise, I’ll
drive. 🙂 
Nick: Love flying. Airports are great places to people watch. 
…sleep
in a scary, abandoned house all night by yourself with a lantern or, have to
walk through acres of woods in the pitch black with a friend? 
Pat: Always, share
scary things with a friend. Always.
Taylor: Always,
share scary things with a friend. Always. 
Nick: Can you
imagine the ideas a writer can come up with staying all night alone in a creepy
house? 

This was
fun, Jessica! 
Sneak peek!
Psychology
professor and criminal profiler Taylor Martin prides herself on being able to
solve any crime, except the one she wants most desperately to solve–the
disappearance of her father twenty years ago. When she finally has a lead on
his whereabouts, Taylor returns home to Logan Point, Mississippi, to
investigate. But as she is stalking the truth about the past, someone is
stalking her.
Nick
Sinclair pens mystery novels for a living, but the biggest mystery to him is
how he can ever get over the death of his wife–a tragedy he believes he could
have prevented. With his estranged brother the only family he has left, Nick
sets out to find him. But when he crosses paths with Taylor, all he seems to
find is trouble.
Join the
chase as this determined duo search the murky shadows of the past for the keys
to unlocking the present and moving into a future filled with new hope and
love. Readers will be swept into the sultry South in this debut novel from a
promising and already award-winning writer.
Visit Pat!

Join in! Answer all or one of the questions! Would You Rather…

Guess what?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I had a little shift in my writing direction, which is a good thing, and I’m excited, but it also means I have to take a blogging break for a few weeks to meet a deadline. 

Will you miss me? Say you will! I’ll be around Facebook and Twitter, so catch me there and in the meantime, enjoy this amazing song. This is romance. This. Is. Romance. And I love listening to it during certain scenes. 

Isn’t it wonderful? Sigh. 

Do you have a favorite romantic song? 

What’s the Buzz? Valentine’s Day

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

Well, it’s Valentine’s Day. Do you do something special or not? I’m not a fan of overcrowded restaurants so we generally do something early or wait till the weekend. I love Valentine’s Day because it’s the anniversary of our first date! 20 years ago today, I agreed to go out with my husband as just friends.

Yeah. You see how that worked out. Here’s our real life romance story and humorous texts. CLICK HERE.

I’m a writer and lover of romance, but I don’t go giddy for flowers. Never have. I’d rather have cash that I can spend on something that won’t wilt and fall all over my table or counter, causing me extra cleaning time. I could write at least half a scene in the time it takes to dump flowers, sweep up dried petals, and wash a vase. Actually, I could write an entire scene.

I’m moving slower on my new WIP. I had to tweak the plot which meant going back through the early chapters and revising, plus I have some weird sinus issue. So my head is fuzzy and I keep forgetting this is a romance, nobody is supposed to buried alive or  held at gun point. I might need to write a romantic suspense after this story. 🙂

Oh, and my daughter still doesn’t have her permit. I’ll be driving her around for the rest of my life. Sigh.

So what’s going on with you? Try any new recipes lately? Going anywhere special for Valentine’s Day? Fan of the day or not? Are you a flowers kind of girl/guy? What’s your favorite?

You Are a Creative Genius!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I took my son to see the Lego Movie this past weekend. That’s all he’s talked about for months.

It was a great message that we are creators. We’re special. And that reading the instructions and working as a team is the way to go. 

I love that we can create. That God made us in His image and gave us that amazing ability. Whether it’s scrapbooking, decorating homes, cakes, or yards, painting, writing, singing, playing an instrument, woodworking, refurbishing furniture, sewing ___________ fill in the blank.

God gave us unique creative gifts and He wants in on them! How often do you pull God into your creativity? Hobby or career? Doesn’t matter. He gets giddy over it.

“Out of the
ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air,
and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam
called each living creature, that was its name.” Genesis 2:19
God didn’t have to let Adam name the animals. And He certainly could have changed what Adam called them. But He didn’t. I imagine Him sitting on the edge of  His seat, next to Adam, just waiting for what he’d name an animal.
“Cow! Yes! I love it. It’s perfect. Go on, Adam…do another.”
I’m the kind of mom when my kiddo is coloring a picture, I encourage him to use “the right color.” But God let Adam take off and go. 
He’s waiting for you to invite him into your creations. Don’t think it silly to ask God, “What color do you think I should use for this next quilt? And could you lead me to a store with the right price? Lord, I pray it will bless this mom and her new baby. What is her favorite color?” 
“Lord, what is this character feeling? I have never suffered from this, but you know how people who do feel, so help me to feel what they would feel so that it can bless and minister to them. What scene needs to come next? Fill every page with your anointing! What’d you think of that line? He was a smart-aleck, huh?”
I could go into team-building and unity as well when it comes to building things–like the kingdom of God. But for today, let’s just take away God gave us imagination and creativity and He wants us to use it for His glory. And bring Him into every aspect. I promise if you do, you’ll discover more satisfaction and fulfillment than ever before.
What’s your creative outlet?

Today, I need God to…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

______________. (Fill in the blank)







We sang this song yesterday during Sunday morning. I just love it. With eyes closed, I let the Lord run away with my imagination and during the part where they sing, “I hear you breaking chains, I hear you breaking chains…”

I could see these heavy chains binding my wrists, binding millions of wrists. And in one fail swoop, I saw Jesus (mostly a white robe with a flashing sword–no face) move in, wielding a sword with all of these fancy moves to break the chains and my movie screen in my head froze and I heard a whisper to my heart.

“While I love the imagery, it’s not quite right.”

Because Christ didn’t need fancy moves or a physical sword.

“Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword…” Revelation 19:15

And the sword in his hand was gone and he whispered.

“Break.”

“Loose.”

The chains fell away and turned to rusty powder, then mighty yet soft hands took my wrist. Bruised from wearing chains. And he said, “I took the stripes so you wouldn’t have to.” Then he raised my wrist to his lips and kissed it. The bruises disappeared.

From there, I saw one wrist after another, different colors. Different sizes. All free.

With the spoken word. Just one word.

So we give it all away. Surrender ourselves to the One who made us free. Who continues to set us free from sin. From weights and hinderances that keep us from moving foward in Christ. 

He will meet your need right where you are. What do you need from him today? 

What’s the Buzz?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

The Buzz around my hive boils down to writing, writing, writing. Just started a new WIP. A contemporary romance (category). I’m excited about my characters. They make me giddy, so that’s a big plus.

I’ve been creating my secret Pinterest board of my storyworld and characters. And I’ve made the Spotify soundtrack. Listening to it while I write is such inspiration. 

Oh, I’m taking my son to see the Lego movie either this afternoon or tomorrow. Yes, I even bought him a Lego Movie T-shirt (clearance at Target–score!). I hope it lives up to his extremely high expectations!

Jane (as you know her on the blog) celebrated a birthday this past Tuesday. Happy Birthday, Janie-girl!

I’m finally getting over the crud and I’m wondering if I really need the Wild Cherry Luden’s cough drops or if they’re just candy? Remember Sucrets? In the metal tins? I hated those things. Made my tongue numb. And while we’re moving back in time, I’ve been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Netflix. I watched all the seasons back in the late 90s/early 2000s (is that right, 2000s?) and I still say that Buffy and Angel’s love is one of the best of TV. Agree or Disagree? Or  never watched the show. This is where I gasp! 

But then I never read Anne of Green Gables and I think I may have watched an episode or two of it but don’t remember. This is your turn to gasp! Now, we’re even.

No matter how many times I watch the end of Season 2, no matter how cheesy it may seem now, I always tear up. Waaaah! 

 



Not much buzzin’ over here, what’s the buzz over there? Did you watch the Buffy series? 
Do you now think less of me? (I doubt anyone who knows me is surprised lol!)

Who Knows the Cry of Your Heart?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Yesterday morning was a typical day. My daughter had already left for school and I was waiting on my son to finish up his routine so I could drop him off. His school I.D. tag was on my table so I grabbed it and went into the bathroom where he was brushing his teeth.

“Do you need this?” I asked.

“Mmm. Mmm…mmm….mmm…mmmm…mmmm.”

“Put it in your backpack. Okay.” I walked out of the bathroom and followed his instructions. And it hit me, wow, that was such a mom thing here. He never once pronounced a syllable let alone a coherent word, but I know him so well. I heard his mumbles clearly. It wasn’t a mystery.

Much like mothers translating their toddler’s babbles to those who don’t spend much time around them. 

You just know. If you’re a parent, you’re nodding right now. Or if you’re a babysitter, nanny, or day care worker who spends copious amounts of time with particular children.

And it struck me how thankful I am that God knows all my mumbles. Sometimes, I don’t have the words to say. I don’t even know what to say. Sometimes, they’re only incoherent sobs. Heart cries.

God knows every hiccupped, mumbled word. 

I asked my son when he came out of the bathroom, “Did it surprise you I knew exactly what you were saying?”

His reply: “No, should it?”

Child-like faith. He knows I know him. And it doesn’t surprise him that I understand every word out of his mouth whether it’s formed perfectly or not.

Don’t ever be afraid that God doesn’t know your heart and the cries that swell from within, even if you’re not sure. He is. And never doubt that he hears every single word. And that he loves you and plans to take care of you. 

                           Oh yes, you shaped
me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High
God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside
and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how
I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into
something.
Like an open book,
you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out
before you,
The days of my life
all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.
Psalm 139:13-16 MSG
Do you ever struggle with thoughts that tell you God doesn’t hear or understand you? How can these verses bring truth to light for you? Or do you have other verses that sink into your soul and bring security? Share one!