Perhaps a Butterfly ...

ACRBA Tour - Her Tycoon Hero by Narelle Atkins

3 - 7 November 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Her Tycoon Hero

Heartsong Presents

By

Narelle Atkins

About the Book

Cassie Beaumont Believes in Second Chances 

Set on proving to everyone that she's no longer a party girl, Cassie is focused on her career as an event planner. But her dad's top executive, Ryan Mitchell, proves to be a handsome distraction. Especially when someone from Cassie's wild past tries to get her tangled in the life she's worked hard to escape.

Ryan is taken with his boss's beautiful daughter. But having been fooled by a brother who ran in her same circles, he is slow to trust. When Cassie's newfound faith works its way into his heart, Ryan soon finds he wants to claim both her faith and Cassie as his own.

About the Author

NARELLE ATKINS writes contemporary inspirational romance and lives in Canberra, Australia. She sold her debut novel, set in Australia, to Harlequin's Love Inspired Heartsong Presents line in a six-book contract. She is also a member of International Christian Fiction Writers group blog.http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com

Narelle is a co-founder with Jenny Blake of the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA). http://acrba.blogspot.com

Her debut book, Falling for the Farmer, will be a February 2014 release, followed by The Nurse's Perfect Match in May 2014 andThe Doctor's Return in August 2014.

Website: http://www.narelleatkins.com

Blog: http://narelleatkins.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NarelleAtkinsAuthor

Twitter: @NarelleAtkins https://twitter.com/NarelleAtkins

My Thoughts:

Narelle has written another nice Australian book.
One of the really good things about it is that one of the main characters is able to overcome their struggles with alcohol and does not give in to temptation.
My one concern is that Cassie's friend says nothing to her about dating a non-Christian. While some 'evangelism dating' works, most of the time the Christian will either walk away from their faith or end up being miserable in a marriage where their partner does not become a Christian.

The Introvert in Me

One of the worst things about being an introvert is that the negative voices in your head are generally the loudest, so you hear them the most and start believing what they are saying.

To counteract this an introvert needs a really good group of friends who will allow them to be themselves, while also pulling you out of yourself and your own head.

So really one of the absolutely worst things for an introvert is not to have a few close friends. It doesn't need to be many, because that would be too much for this introvert, but the friends that are there need to be aware that they are going to need to be the ones to initiate things, pull the introvert into their circle and find ways to keep them there.

I am one of these people.

And lately it has been the internal thoughts that have been taking over ... and most of them have been negative. As much as I try to stop those thoughts as they surface, there have been an overwhelming abundance of them of late.

Some of these thoughts have made it onto this blog, but not many - some because the issues are too sensitive to share, or just because I am trying my hardest to not let these negative thoughts take over my life.

Part of the problem and the source of some negative thoughts is the lack of friendship I have been experiencing. There are many reasons for this, some my fault, but most are not.

So if you are reading this, know me, and live anywhere near me, think about how you might be able to get into my life more, and help me get my thoughts off the negative and onto something else.

Stars - Bel Thomson

2014 TBR Pile Challenge - 3rd Quarter Update

So by now you are well aware that my progress is going really slowly in this challenge.
The year started off well, but that was because I was reading fiction, not non-fiction, which made up about half the pile.
Plus most of the fiction is historical, which I'm not as interested in right now (still not quite sure why).

So, since June I've only finished another 2 books:

• The Sword by Gilbert Morris
• Treasure in the Hills by Paige Winship Dooly

I am in the middle of another, but have hit a snag. There was an error in printing and some pages have not been included in the book, while others have been printed twice. I've been in touch with the publisher, but have not yet had a response. It is a book that I read a long time ago (during my teen years), but the copy I was reading is an updated edition.

With the 2 books above, I've now read 18 of 29.

At this point I doubt I will finish the list, but maybe I will challenge myself again for next year. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, how are you going with your TBR Pile?

Invited

When I was young I was taught that it was rude to invite yourself to something.

I've continued to follow that - if I'm not invited I won't go, even if I know it's on.

It wasn't so bad back then - no Facebook, no instant communication (other than phone calls), so mostly I just didn't even know something had happened.

These days you get updates before, throughout and after an event from all forms of social media. So it's hard to see everyone else doing things. Not to mention the fact that I already feel completely left out and disconnected from all my peers. So when I find out that I wasn't even invited to a significant event of someone I consider to be a friend, it hurts - A LOT!!

So, let me tell you, if you want me to be there, you need to invite me!!

Let it go

Is there something you need to let go of?

Waiting

I've been waiting for a long time.

14 years for a husband.

4 years for another best friend.

Sometimes it makes it hard to remember that God is in control and has a plan for my life.

Sometimes it makes it hard to trust that God will really answer my prayers.

Waiting is wearisome.

Added to waiting is grief - 

for missing loved ones who have gone before;

for friends who are hurting because of choices they have made,

or choices that others have made.

It's hard to remember that through all the waiting and grief there is hope!

Hope that prayers will be answers;

that longings will be filled;

that loved ones will be seen again in heaven;

and that through all this God really does have my best interests in mind.

Frustration

Why is it that whenever you have a good idea for a blog post, you have just turned off your computer or you can't get to one?

Last night I had a great idea for a post, but I'd just turned off my computer. I thought, sure, I'll remember that - but do you think I could remember it this morning? No. I really should have written it down, because now it's completely gone. My mind is ... BLANK!

So, next time I must remember to write it down.

The other thing that happens to me is that I get great ideas while driving. Of course I can't write them down then.

How about you?

When do you get your best ideas?

ACRBA Tour - Dynamic Ageing by Ray Hawkins

18th - 22nd August 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

Is Introducing

Dynamic Ageing
(Even Before 1 February 2014)

By

Ray Hawkins

About the Book

Discover how to make the ageing experience into an adventure. Join the Lord's plan for ageing dynamically. Understand why God's seniors are priceless. God's grace for dynamic ageing more than compensates for physical limitations. 

About the Author

Ray Hawkins, retired after over 40 years as a Churches of Christ minister, enjoys sharing themes from the Scriptures through Devotional writing. Married to Mary, multi-published inspirational romance author, they have three children and five grandchildren. Ray shares his insights in his first two books on Marriage and Children with more ideas to come about ministry and much more. Living in Beauty Point Tasmania Ray heads up a new Christian Fellowship as well as doing relief preaching, community work and writing.