An Amazing Series by 45 Authors

American Mail-Order Brides

The first one launched today. From Nov. 19 to Jan 7 a new book  will release each day.

There is a contest to win a Kindle Fire loaded with all 50 books. Click on the site above and check in.
The first book is Lottie: Bride of Delaware. 

Fear Not

Psalm 23: 4
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You can take God at His Word. 

Yes, the world is crazy and full of demented crazies who believe to kill others is their god-given duty. 

Hate will not fight them nor will it defeat them.

Be on guard, and yes I believe it is good to defend ourselves.

But guard your hearts and minds. For that is where the real enemy, the devil, fights.

Read Ephesians 6: 10-17 

We are victorious in Christ. Jesus overcame the world two thousand years ago. Thru Him, so do we.

Have a great day. The Lord is with you. 

I've got a story ~~

Maggie's Story

ONLY  .99



Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald is not going to wind up like a dried up old spinster. She agrees to an ad for mail order bride and leaves for Thornton, Texas.
Tom Logan doesn't ever want to get married. Never. He wants to keep his freedom. And then there are the haunting images of the Indian raid and his mother's lifeless body. He's not about to love a woman and risk losing her in such a way.

I've Got a Secret

Yes, SOOOPER SEEKRIT!
Come on over to our party on NOV 1 
FB EVENT for Sooper Seekrit Party
From 7-9  EST
I'll be there.
Ok, I better go before I tell ........

Introducing a New Collection I am in ~ Warm Mulled Kisses

I have a story in this collection.  Warm Mulled Kisses

ONLY  .99

Ten Christmas novellas by ten different authors. Step on in and read sweet stories of faith, hope, and humor. Contemporary and historical, you can find just what you're looking for and spend a few hours or days enjoying these great stories.

Reindeer Games - by multi-published author Lisa Crane 
Luke Anderson is only at the mall as a favor to his sister and her two children. A modern-day Cinderella story with a twist of mistletoe, Reindeer Games will have you laughing and sighing. 

No Thank You - by multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley 
Social Director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she doesn't count on is having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor. How far will daredevil Derrick Greene have to go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?

A Riveting Christmas - by multi-published author Jackie Castle 
In 1945, Charles Madison returns home from WWII full of hope and a fistful of sweet-scented letters from his childhood friend and girl of his dreams. Emma Rose Carter fought her own war while the men were away. Will she find her heart’s desire in her ol’ pal Chuck or in the ambitious factory boss who promises to sweep her off her feet?

Christmas Apples - by multi-published author J. A. Marx, and debut author Sydnie Shreffler 
Bailey Chapman's son asks for only one gift for Christmas—a daddy. Mason Tolman hasn't forgiven himself for the accident that almost killed his high school sweetheart. Can an old estate hold treasures that will change the future of the entire town and merge their mismatched paths into one?

Santability - by debut author Marilyn Eudaly 
Radio Personality Trudy Moore needs to impress the new owners of K-FOLK radio with her Santability promotion. Gunnar Stone is the corporate vice president and appears to be a grinch stealing the joy out of the Christmas season. Her career and future blurred by hurtful words, Trudy is caught between condemnation and forgiveness. 

Saving Christmas - by multi-published author Patricia PacJac Carroll 
In 1868, Priscilla Christmas Humphry stares at the bleak street of Al Drado, Texas. It has none of the holiday look of Baltimore. Rancher Steve Matthews isn’t really looking for a wife, but there is just something about Priscilla. A fun story of twists and turns and father knows best. 

The Gift Quilt - by debut author Kathy Wall 
Ashley McDonald intends to bury her guilt by becoming a medical missionary. Dr. Michael Davis is ready to start a family but needs a woman in his life. Learning the truth of the gift quilt opens Ashley’s world to new possibilities, but could it also provide the answer to Michael’s dreams for a family? 

No-L, No-L, No-L - by multi-published author Marji Laine 
When her father announces his retirement, Noelle Arcoli fully expects to be promoted to the head of the company. Instead, he presses her to settle down and raise a family. In an awkward moment, Nick Bannister learns he has been picked for the position. Could he hold the answer to her problems? 

A Groom for Christmas - by multi-published author Anne Greene 
Set in 1851, Felicity Daniels is stranded in Ft. Laramie, but she is determined to go on to the Oregon Territory. Ben Bonneville is committed to panning for gold to pay his mother’s medical debts. But after living for the past two months at Sal’s Boarding House, he’s become attracted to Felicity.

A Christmas Mosaic - by debut author Karen Jurgens 
Carlie Livingston is steering into her last year of college, confident that she and Lance Holloway are headed to the altar after graduation. Her dad’s infidelity caused her parents to walk through a messy divorce. Read and see how things work out or not.

Peace

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Peace, it is not the lack of tribulation or trials, but where you are. Abide in Him. Pray in the Spirit. Read and study His Word.

Be prepared dear friends.

Nettie's Love ~ Releasing today for the sale price of .99

Nettie's Love 
A new series, new town, and new characters. 

Get ready for a tender love story amidst the wild backdrop of 1867 Bluebonnet, Texas.

I think you're going to like this one.  : )    Enjoy the read.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011MA1M6C

SALE PRICE of  .99 TODAY

August 6, 2015

Abide in Him

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. KJV

Apart from Christ, we can not bear good fruit. We are his vessels only when we are surrendered to him.

But what an amazing place to be when we are in Him. How different our perspective when we see through His eyes.


Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being...

Fear Not. Seek Him. And Abide in Him.

Fiery Skies

There's fire in the sky.

God's handiwork is displayed for all to see. From the fiery skies to the smallest of flowers. From the brightly colored birds and butterflies to majestic mountains.

But the grandest creation, the last of the six days of creation, is mankind. God created man in His image.

Today, look around and recognize the hand of God on those around you. Treat those around you as if they were so valuable that the Son of God would die for them. 

Because Jesus did.

Love never fails.

Nettie's Love

I am delighted to share with you that my newest is up for Preorders and will go live on Aug. 6, 2015.

This is a sweet story of love between two who have been passed by in life. Together, they will work their ranch with various misfits they find along the way, and Nettie will take it upon herself to supply brides to the young men Reed helps.

Mail Order Brides of Misfit Ranch Bluebonnet, Texas.

Book 1 is the story of Nettie and Reed.


Nettie felt as cold as the ground her father was being laid to rest in. Always alone. Now, as the spinster sister, she was to live out her life helping her three brothers and their wives. The farm was gone. Sold by her brothers. She had nothing but the ad for a mail order bride.
Sheriff Reed Andrews stared at the paper the judge handed him. Seems the town wanted him to retire. Too old to chase outlaws they'd said. The hollow feeling in his heart told him what he already knew. He needed a wife to share the nights, to wake and see the Texas sun in the mornings, and to love. But could he convince a woman to come to Bluebonnet Texas and marry him?

Nettie's Love Sweet Historical Western Romance (Mail Order Brides of Misfit Ranch Bluebonnet, Texas.

Sign up for my newsletter and recieve updates when I have new books release:PacJac News 

VACATION !!!

Vacation

Relax. Refresh. Reset.

Nothing like leaving home to go and reset your batteries.

No household chores to be done.

No to do lists clamoring to be checked off.

No thing to do but enjoy, rest, and relax. 


Renew relationships with family members.

AND what I like best -- FUN. 

Have a grand summer.

(Oh, yeah. Have to say I'm still writing. I love the art of story so it's not work. Be watching for Nettie's Love ~ the first in my new series of mail order bride stories.)

FEAR NOT

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NASB)
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

Take heart. No matter what comes our way, He is our helper. 

Some are storing up money or food for times of trouble. I tell you this: 

• Store  up the Word of the Lord in your heart. Memorize verses from the Bible. Find those that speak to your heart.
• Seek the Lord while He may be found.
• Learn to get quiet and listen to Him.
• Fear Not. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ Our Savior.

Recommended verses to memorize:

The Lord's Prayer  -- Matthew 6: 9-13

Psalm 23

And pray for wisdom from the Lord.

FEAR NOT people of the Living God.

Through a Glass Darkly

1 Corinthians 13:12King James Version (KJV)

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

~~

Yes, the world has gone crazy. Of course except us.  : )

So, how are we to live in this world and keep ourselves on the right path when things get so foggy?

1. Focus - where you look is where you'll go. Keep your mind on what is true, just, of good report (Philippians 4:8)

2. Keep going - If you are on the right track, doing what you believe the Lord has for you to do, doing what needs to be done - then keep doing it. Stay the course.

3. If everything has gone downhill - reevaluate the path you are on. Pray for wisdom. (James 1:5)  Get still and listen.

4. If you get caught up in the world's craziness - stop listening, watching, and arguing with the world. Find the peace that Jesus left us with. (James 14:27)

5. Fear Not - The Lord loves you with a love so deep and wide and high that it is immeasurable. Trust Him. And lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

Have a peace filled blessed day.

I'm excited to share ~

I have a newsletter!  The first one will go out when I release my new series.

: )  Stay tuned by signing up ~ PacJac News


I hope you are all enjoying the summer.
Blessings,
Patricia PacJac Carroll

Lady and the Scamp ~ Fun Summer Read

Lady and the Scamp

Hank leaned his chair back, set his feet on the sheriff's desk, and tried not to think of Lilly. Her words persisted. "You're worth it." He could hear her voice as clear as if she were still here. Shrill barks and loud knocks stole his attention.
"Now what?" Annoyed by a dog's yipes, he threw open the door. "Shut the dog up."
The beautiful, well-dressed woman stepped away from him. Her jade, green eyes flashed alarm. She recovered. Her head went up, her shoulders straightened and her face set with an expression that said he wasn't worth her time.

Available on Amazon NOW

Have a fun read for the summer.

She's not a lady. He's not a Scamp. Nobody is who they seem to be.  

The Good Old Summertime

Summer.
Blue skies, swimming pools (or holes), shade trees, and gentle breezes.

Love it.

I do some of my best thinking under a big oak, sipping some Dr. Pepper, and watching bright white clouds sail across the azure sky.

Take some time and enjoy your day.  

Lady and the Scamp ~ out later this month : )

She's almost ready for publication.

Here's a snippet. It's a fun story with twists and turns. If you like Hank~you'll like this story.

Lady and the Scamp ~ Chapter 1

Lady Elizabeth Victoria Windsor gripped the seat cushion and hung on as the stagecoach bucked and yawed after another rough patch of road. Ladies of culture and prominence sit straight and proper, she reminded herself. The thought that such ladies wouldn’t be riding a stage alone crossed her mind, but there was nothing she could do about that now.

She also knew ladies wouldn’t be in a coach alone with the two slovenly dressed men. Fortunately, the men wouldn’t know what proper ladies were supposed to do as they were slumped across the seat and snoring louder than a tribe of banshees. They reeked of alcohol and should have been relegated to the boot, but the stage driver had ignored her protestations.

Relief washed over. No one out here would know. None would see through her pretense. She had it down. Act above others. Keep your head up. And never let anyone get the better of you. Yes, she was Lady Elizabeth Victoria Windsor.

She brushed the never-ending dust from her beige traveling skirt. If she’d known the west was so full of dirt, she’d have stayed in Baltimore. Well, if she could have. She pushed the small dog next to her, and the fluffy, white dog with red patches erupted with a series of growls.

“Genevieve Suzette Dubois, hush.”

Ignoring the still grumbling animal, she parted the curtains and gazed out the window. Her heart skipped with excitement as the terrain gave way to dramatic drop-offs and towering mountains. She inhaled deeply. Finally, the air cleared and she drank in the scent of pine and fresh air so pristine, she wondered if she were the first to breathe it in.

One of the drunks snorted.

She threw him a disgruntled glare. At least, she’d breathed in before he had fouled the air. A sigh escaped her tight lips. She hoped this was all worth her bid for a new life. She needed something new. Something that was hers and hers alone.

If only … well, she’d worry about that later. It had been such a long trip. Her muscles ached and her eyelids grew heavy. She was so tired. …                                                                   

A hard jolt awakened her. Somehow, she’d allowed herself to fall asleep and in the company of those scoundrels across from her. Embarrassed, she wiped the moisture trickling down her chin. The drunken sots had not awakened and a quick glance gave her relief that her items had not been disturbed.

The stagecoach stopped.

She peeked out the window. A small one-street town stretched out in front of her. No carriages. No bricked streets. Only one store amidst a cluster of buildings. Well, what should she have expected with a town named Hickory Stick. She fluffed her skirt, righted her hat, and awaited assistance.

The driver opened the door. “End of the line. You boys wake up.” He turned to her with the slightest of scowls. “You can get out now.”

Elizabeth extended her hand, and then gasped when the driver walked away. “Why of all the rude behavior.” She grabbed her dog and scooted to the edge of the seat. Unsteadily, she stood, bent over, and placed a foot on the step.

Genevieve barked and squirmed to be let go.

“Shush now.” Elizabeth took her hand off the door and tried to muffle the animal though she knew that never stopped the little dog’s nasty retorts.

Genevieve wriggled out of her grasp and jumped down. Off balance, Elizabeth grabbed for the door, slipped, and was left hanging on the side of the stagecoach.

“If you needed help, you should have said so.” The driver put his hands on her waist and set her down.

Embarrassed, she slapped him. “How dare you manhandle me?”

Rubbing his jaw, the driver narrowed his eyes. “Well, Ma’am. Since I am a man, I don’t know any other way I could have handled you.” He pointed toward the jail. “I got your bags and trunk on the boardwalk. But I think you might want to call that little dog back before it gets ate by a rat.”

She raised her hand, but the warning glare he gave her caused her to change her mind about slapping him again. Seems that those in the West had little knowledge of culture and manners. “She is a Papillion from France—”

The driver shook his head as he watched the little dog bark at his horses. “Maybe you ought to send her back there. She’s going to get stomped on.”

“Well, do something. How dare you allow your beasts to hurt my dog?”

With a heavy grunt, the driver walked to the lead horse and rubbed its nose. Then he bent down and scooped up her dog.

Genevieve nipped him.

Spewing a foul word, he grabbed the dog by the scruff and brought it to her.

Elizabeth fumbled in her reticule and brought out a leash, snugged it over Genevieve’s neck, and took her out of his arms. “Thank you. Although I am disturbed by the inappropriate language you used.”

Licking the bite mark on his hand, the driver’s eyes snapped to a glare, and then without another word, he left her.

She walked to her belongings and looked around. There were no porters to haul her luggage, and the boarding house was at the end of the street. “Well, Genevieve, let’s see if we can find someone to help us.”

Stoking her courage, she raised her head up, shoulders back, and walked to the door of the jail. She knocked, fervently hoping there were no hardened criminals inside. The little Papillion backed up and barked.

The door flung open and a rough looking scoundrel with a patch over one eye stormed outside. “Shut the dog up!”

She gasped and scooped the still barking animal into her arms. “There is no need for such rudeness. And may I say that you are a disgrace to the law.”

“Well, you already said it so you don’t need to ask. Besides, I’m not the sheriff. I’m his prisoner.”

“That is a relief.” Her heart thumped. Why was a prisoner answering the door? What if he had killed the sheriff? She set her dog down and backed away.

The one-eyed criminal stared at her. “Well? What do you want?”

“Nothing.” What had he done? What if he took it in his mind to ravage her? By the way his lone eye took her in that was a sure possibility. She hoped they were going to hang him.

She kept her still barking dog between the outlaw and herself and stepped back.

He cocked his head and pointed at Genevieve. “That’s a noisy little mop of a dog.” With an annoying grin, he stepped toward her.

Her blood ran as thick and cold as the Patapsco River in January. She swallowed and eased back another step. Then another. Her foot slipped off the boardwalk. Teetering, she fell into the arms of another. She looked up into what had to be the tallest man she’d ever seen and fainted.

A New Series is Born~Mail Order Brides of Windchime, Texas.

A new series is born.

Yep, Nettie Wellesley. She's a spinster in
Minnesota. 40 years old and tired of having no one or thing of her own.

She worked hard on her parents farm and took care of them until they died.

The farm went to her brothers who sold everything because they had their own farms. She was to go to her brother's farms and work and help out.

Instead, she found an ad from a sheriff who is being put out to pasture by the town. He's lonely and wants a wife.

So Nettie is on her way to Windchime, Texas.

I think it's going to be fun. Sheriff Reed Andrews has a way of helping misfits become good citizens. Nettie will help the former misfits find wives.

Take Heart!

Take Heart

Courage, good cheer, hope ~ all built on faith in the One who is able to hold us and keep us to the end.

John 16:33King James Version (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Even though the world may seem as if it has gone crazy. 

Take heart.

Even though problems rise up all around.

Take heart.

Even though your finances run dry.

Take heart.

Even though the doctor gives you or a loved one bad news. 

Take heart.

Jesus overcame the world. And through Him - so do we.

Take heart friends.

Things Left to Do

Procrastination. 

The practice of putting off things that need to be done. 

The picture is of onions that survived last year's garden attempt. I guess next year there will be oodles of little onions.

If I remember to look at the right time, I might have a field of onions. 

Ugh, I have been a master procrastinator. Working on that. Now. 

There is power in now. Knowing now and doing now. 

So my strategy is to do the one thing that confronts me. If I see a piece of paper on the floor, pick it up. If I think the floor needs to be vacuumed then I get out the vacuum and do it. 

Easy right?


Well, ask me next year when the onions should begin to grow.

Staying True

The cover for the next story in the Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick Series is taking shape, thanks to Jackie Castle.

The last book, Redeeming Lilly, was a little different from all the others. Some people have loved it ~ others not. 

And that is ok. Can't please everyone.

But there is One, I write for. 

I tried to make Redeeming Lilly follow along like the other stories, but she wasn't supposed to.

And now, writing Lady and the Scamp, I can see why. I'm finding it's important to let the stories play out and be what they are destined to be.

Trust.

Writing is a profession wrought out of faith and trust. 

I love the process of writing a story. I'm thankful to the Lord for giving me the stories. And very thankful for every reader who reads them.

Rejoice in the Lord, for HE is the author and finisher of our faith.

Wildflowers

I love wildflowers. 

Those beautiful creations of a loving Creator that pop up and give joy to anyone who wants to notice

Different colors, shapes, and sizes,

they brighten the landscape.

A nuisance to some, 

a delight to others. 

Kind of like people.

Take time to enjoy the flowers 

And those people the 

Lord plants around you.

NO Comparison!

The comparison trap.

We've all been there done that. And it never ends well. When peeking over at your neighbor, friend, loved one, even your competition, and comparing their success or material possessions with your lack thereof ~ you are really telling God He has failed.
Then there are the sour grapes.

And sour grapes make such a fine whine!

For there is no lack in God. He owns it all and would gladly give us what we need if we would ask with a pure heart and be capable of handling it. And even then He is God and knows what is best.

Instead of comparing, rejoice with others that they are having success, got a new car, or their life is going well. For when we can truly help one another and rejoice at their success, we might just be taking a step in the direction that will free up our own.

Scars ~ We all have them

Scars ~ A sight of past trauma.

This tree was struck by lightning. Amazing that it wasn't blown apart, but it received a glancing blow that left a mark on the tree.

Its bark is marred, yet, the tree lives.

All of us have scars. Some are on the surface. Others run deep and are often more damaging.

You've all seen them, been them. Those who are too quick to back away from friendship. Those who present a prickly front to protect themselves from hurt.

The angry, distant, prickly, and embarrassingly shy~ all giving proof of buried scars. Hurts from the past that all too often take captive that person into the lie that their unseemly behavior will protect them from further hurt.

But as lies often do, it works in reverse and deepens the hurt and causes them to believe that they are unworthy.

Even Jesus, the Son of God, has scars.

So be like this tree. Bare your scars. Acknowledge the lightning struck, but that it didn't kill you. Call on our Savior, the Lord of all, who knows the lash of betrayal, the beatings by angry people, the unbelief of trusted friends, and allow Jesus to touch your scar. To heal you from the hurt and allow you to be set free from the prison of bitterness and self-hatred.

Be free, my friends. Live and grow and blossom despite the scars.

Jeremiah 30:17 
 For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, saith the Lord.

May Surprise

Hearts of the West

My book ~ Bounty ~ is in this superb collection of wonderful stories of romance in the west.  Grab it now.

Redeeming Lilly ~ Live on Amazon

Redeeming Lilly


Lilly kept her eyes forward, her chin up, and her heart encased in stone as the 'good' sheriff led her to the train station. She'd been run out of more saloons and towns than she had fingers to count. Didn't matter.

She'd find another town. Another saloon. Another chance. She glanced at the shining sun and hoped the next town would be different.


Lilly is a bit of a different book as far as Mail Order Bride romance stories go. BUT she wouldn't have it any other way.


I tried to make her story fit in the mold, but no. Not happening.

So I hope you enjoy her story.Redeeming Lilly

May is almost here ~ And a surprise!

The first of May, Hearts of the West will be available on Amazon.

FOR ONLY  .99

~ Six Bestselling Christian Authors

~ Six Novels of Romance in the West

Hours of entertaining adventure, love, and excitement.

Get ready for that day at the lake, outside under the trees in the hammock, or a rainy day on the couch.

Abundant Life

These flowers look like they are trumpeting joy!

Jesus tells us He came to bring us abundant life in John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This flower hid in the earth during winter's grasp, but it knew the mystery. That life would return.

How are we to live?

In the promise. Regardless of what we are going through know this: God is good. He loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die and rise again.

We have the promise of life now and eternal.

Live as one who has hope. Rejoice and bloom knowing that He gave us eternal life.

Live boldly as one who knows the promise.

He Loves Me

Major confession time.
I am dry.
I have many Bibles.
I have many good intentions.

But I am dry.
My soul hungers and thirsts for Him.

Yet, HE loves me. Even in my bedraggled state of spiritual starvation, He loves me.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

So, if I am living on my own power, I am one of the walking dead. And it stinks like the rotting flesh of a zombie.

Yet, He loves me. He calls me back into sweet communion with the Lord of Life. He poured out Himself for me. HE loves me.

With excitement, I look forward to sitting at His feet. To engage in sweet communion with the Way, Truth, and the Life. To feed on the Word of God. His body broken for me. His blood shed for me.

HE loves me.

Historical Fiction ~ Truth and Lies

I'm watching Bill O'Reily's Legends and Lies: The Real West.

As a writer, I write my historicals with the truth in mind, but at times, I give a nod to the readers of today.

Though we write about days gone by, readers live in the now and future.

I do research significant facts, when railroads came to a territory, what people of the day might wear and eat. Did a certain city exist at that time.

Then there are words that are common now, but not a hundred and fifty years ago. 

Once I tried to write that my character was taking a NOSEDIVE off her horse.  I got to thinking and checked the etymology (not to be confused with entymology - study of insects : ) of the word, and sure enough - nosedive came about after airplanes were, well, crashing. So I scrapped that word.

Another occasion, one of my good writing friends and mentors, Lena Nelson Dooley, was writing a chapter and her character was using a receipt while cooking. Seems back in the day, women didn't use recipes to cook. It was called a receipt.  I chose to use recipe because I thought my readers might think I misspelled recipe and my computer decided to make it recipe. : )

So the next time you pick up a historical novel, notice the care the author used in researching the story and give them a thank you. 

Spring ~ Newness of Life

 Spring

Ah, what a relief it is to see new life bursting forth from the black and white scenes of winter.

Flowers showering meadows with colors of blue and pink, red, and yellow.

Trees that stretched out bare limbs just weeks ago, now are clothed in fresh green leaves ready to capture the sunlight and allow growth.

Life!   It is wonderful and full of wonder.

Take time today to notice one outstanding flower or scene that pleases your eye and makes your heart sing.

Then Praise the Lord of Life who promises us Life Everlasting.

Those Rascally Stories and Their Characters

I love writing stories.

The entire process is a thrill. Yes, the edits can get tedious, but wow! I just can't imagine doing anything else.

I am a seat-of-the-pants writer. Usually, there will be a nugget, a starting place from where the stories begin, but after that, well let's just say I enjoy the ride and see where the characters will take me.

And those characters! Well, they are characters. In Liberty Belle, the spinster Aunt Flora, wrote herself into the story. Initially, I was going to have her in the first couple of chapters and that was all.

Then, Flora throws me this line - Nobody notices me, but I notice everything.

I sat back and stared at the screen. Flora had just written herself into the story, and she needed to be there.

My newest book,( available for preorder now and releases on April 30th), Redeeming Lilly, is proving to be different if not a tad difficult. She is going against the grain of everything I have been taught about the typical romance story.

I'd tell you more but don't want to ruin the surprise.  : )

Did I say that stories have a mind of their own? And they have their own timing, too. After Lilly, I'm writing the Lady and the Scamp. Now that story was not even on my radar, but as I worked on Redeeming Lilly, Lady and the Scamp cut in line in and said they were next.

And you should see the line of stories and characters awaiting their turn. Whew! I better stop here and get back to the story.

Have a blessed day!

HE IS RISEN!

All of Creation shouts and proclaims the risen Lord.

Redeeming Lilly is available as a Preorder

Redeeming Lilly click for PreOrder    0.99

Publish date is April 30, 2015



Lilly kept her eyes forward, her chin up, and her heart encased in stone as the 'good' sheriff led her to the train station.

She'd been run out of more saloons and towns than she had fingers to count. Didn't matter. She'd find another town. Another saloon. Another chance.

She glanced at the shining sun and hoped the next town would be different.

Bounty is FREE March 25-29

BOUNTY    FREE

Ready for an adventure?

Cat Cahill loves her Wyoming ranch, home, AND her freedom.

Her mother wants her to marry an easterner and move to Boston.

Luke dreams of going west until his dying mother gives him letters to take to his outlaw brothers.

Frederick Broyles wants to take over the town of Bounty, the surrounding ranches, and Cat.

A story of sacrifice in the face of evil and love's eternal power.

Through the Mist

Ah, pictures like this just beg for a story to be told. 

It doesn't take much to ignite my imagination. I can see this as a story about a runaway.

Maybe a runaway slave in 1860. Or it could be a ten-year-old girl on an adventure in 2015.

Mystery. Intrigue. They are limitless if  you turn your imagination loose. 

So, what do you see? A white stallion running out of the fog? A German tank in WWII.  Maybe, a dragon forced from it's lair by troubling trolls and hungry for a meal.

Look deep. Look inside yourself. Unlock your imagination and let it fly.

Have fun  : )

Lilly is Almost Finished

The story is playing out, and I'm on the home stretch to The End.

Redeeming Lilly is a story full of twists as characters are confronted with their pasts ... and futures.

I think you're going to enjoy this one.   : )

She should be finished next week and tidied up for her Amazon publishing date before Easter.


This year ~ my theme for the Series ~Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick ~ is The Classics.

The first book was The Lone Stranger  of course named after The Lone Ranger.

Next will be Redeeming Lilly - named after Francine Rivers classic romantic tale ~ Redeeming Love. (This is the 20th anniversary of her book)

After Lilly, the next one will be ~ Lady and the Scamp ~ of course after Disney's Lady and the Tramp. 

Bride and Prejudice comes next.  And finally  Gone with the Twins. 


To finish out the Hickory Stick year of 2015 ~ I plan a Hickory Stick Christmas with all your favorite characters.

Always writing with the reader in mind. My hope is to Entertain and Encourage readers as they Enjoy the story.

Have a blessed week!

RUN your race.

I Corinthians 9:24 (NASB)
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

The Bible tells we are in a race, and we are to run it to win.

Are you running?

Far too often, I am diddling around. Backtracking, getting distracted, losing sight of the prize.

So, how are we to run?

What has the Lord set before you to do?

We know His Word says that in whatever we do, do it unto the Lord. Are we? 

Or do we let circumstances push us around? Maybe a disgruntled or lazy coworker tempts us to stop running and slack off like they do. Maybe we are not in the mood. The inspiration hasn't struck. Or a million other excuses.

Set your sights on the prize. Jesus. Follow Him. Shrug off the lies of the enemy and run for the truth.

Run, Christians, Run.

Snow Days and Change

Last week here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, we had snow. I  LOVE SNOW.

Unfortunately, I took almost the entire week off from my writing. I just couldn't keep myself on the computer. I think it was a combination of the excitement of snow, drinking cokes, and eating Kit Kats.

Sugar overload!

So, this is my week to change. Eat better and drink water. AND write like the wind. I have too many books waiting to be written.

CHANGE. Isn't that what books are about? Characters who must change because of circumstances they find themselves in. And isn't that what changes us?

This season we are entering into in response to the Resurrection of Jesus our Lord, isn't it about change? The power to change from a lost life to one that is assured of eternal life.

Many people do not like change, but it is not all bad.

As we see the weather change and the landscape change from barren brown or frosty snow to green, take it as a reminder that we too will be changed. And give those around you room to change.

I love snow. I love Spring. I also love change.

Tomorrow, I am hoping for change. A new diet, maybe some exercise, and a renewed effort to write the stories He has give me.

Change!

Where I Write and What's Next

Here's a picture of the closet I turned into a mini library. Yes, the walls are turquoise and the floor brick red. But it looks good.

I call this my Fun Room.

It is here that I write my books. AND it is fun.

I sit on a couch with my laptop and travel into worlds that I make up. Going back in time to the old west and meeting characters that have stories to tell.

But WHERE do stories come from?

Writing stories amazes me.  I sit down to write, stare at the blank screen and wonder where the characters and story will take me.

I begin, pick the character who is going to show what is happening in the scene or chapter and write what I see them do, think, and feel.

And here is what I am working on now.

Redeeming Lilly 

 COMING in March

The Answer for Troubled Times

Jesus is the answer!
He is the Lily of the Valley.  The Prince of Peace. The Lord of All. Life. Truth. Light. He holds all things together. The Rose of Sharon. The Alpha and Omega. The First born of the Dead. The Son of God. 



The time to put your trust in Him is now.
Just read the headlines of the day.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

A New Series is Coming

Solomon's Valley                                  Set in Montana

Book 1   The Feud.

Judge Solomon Taggert is a prosperous man. But he is lonely. Thoughts of ordering a bride have tempted him. The cold nights settled it. 

And then there are the two feuding families he has to deal with.

The Murphys : Ben - a rowdy man as big as the mountains.
Anna - his wife. She might be small, but she's strong enough to run her wild family.
Their sons - 25 yr old, Ben, James - 23, Thomas - 21, and Ronin 18.

They are bitter enemies with the Howards. Stephen is a gentle, thoughtful man unless he's near the Murphy's. His wife Nina is a smart, capable women who sees that their family doesn't do without.
They have four daughters - Ailene - 24, Rachel - 22, Cassidy - 18, and Betsy - 16.

Their feud turns the valley and town upside down. So intense is their dislike, Judge Taggert divides the town on Saturdays when the two families do their shopping.

To make things worse, The Murphys raise cattle, but to the anger of many  in the valley, the Howards raise sheep. 

Should be a fun story of adventure, turmoil, and of course romance.

The Lone Stranger ~ Available*** FEB. 5 ***

If you want updates when I publish a new book, you can click the Following button under my picture on my Author Page in Amazon. 

**Available FEB. 5, 2015

The Lone Stranger

The next book in my Mail Order Brides of Hickory Stick. 
It's the start of my Classic Series.

The Lone Stranger
Redeeming Lily
Bride and Prejudice
Gone with the Twins

All out in 2015.

Hope you enjoy them.

Blue Hydrangeas - an Alzheimer's love story.

Welcome to Marianne Sciucco.
she has written a touching story about one couple's love story and journey into Alzheimer's.

Blue Hydrangeas : An Alzheimer's Love Story
Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story by Marianne Sciucco
What if the person who knew you best and loved you most forgot your face, and couldn’t remember your name?


A nursing facility is everyone's solution for what to do about Sara, but her husband Jack can't bear to live without her. He is committed to saving his marriage, his wife, and their life together from the devastation of Alzheimer’s disease. He and Sara retired years ago to the house of their dreams and operated it as a Cape Cod bed and breakfast named Blue Hydrangeas. Jack has made an impossible promise: He and Sara will stay together in their beautiful home no matter what the disease brings. However, after nine years of selfless caregiving complicated by her progressing Alzheimer’s and his own failing heart, he finally admits he can no longer care for her at home. With reluctance, he arranges to admit her to an assisted living facility. But on the day of admission, Sara is having one of her few good days and he is unable to follow through. Instead, he takes them on an impulsive journey to confront their past and reclaim their future. In the end, he realizes that staying together at any cost is what truly matters.

What inspired you to write a book about Alzheimer’s?

One day at work as a hospital case manager, I met a fascinating couple who were in their 80’s. She was a lovely woman, so pretty, and had Alzheimer’s. I’d ask her a question and she’d try to answer, but then say, “Oh, I’m so mixed up,” and laugh, quite charming. Her husband was frail, an amiable sort of guy, and devoted to her. My job was to assist with the discharge plan, which was for her to go to a local nursing home for rehab (she’d broken her pelvis) the next day. I discussed the arrangements with her and her husband. Their son was also present, and he told me to make sure his parents didn’t leave the hospital without him; he planned to drive them to the nursing home and assist with the admissions process. Later on, I couldn’t stop thinking about that couple, wondering what would happen if they left the hospital without their son. Where would they go? What would they do? Thus, the seeds of Blue Hydrangeas were sown, my wild writer’s imagination took off, and the story began to grow.


I worked on this book eleven years. It sounds crazy, I know, but after I finished what I thought was the final draft and sent it out into the literary market place with no takers, I continued to tweak it, cutting scenes, adding others. In the midst of all this, I developed repetitive strain injuries from an inappropriate computer workstation at my job, and everything just stopped. I could no longer write. I put everything aside for a couple of years. But the story haunted me, and when I was able to I continued to revise and rework the manuscript. Two years ago a friend suggested I publish on Kindle and I figured I had nothing to lose. It took me a year to prepare and publish the book. My book is unique because there aren’t many novels about Alzheimer’s, although 5.5 million people are suffering from it right now.



An interview with Marianne Sciucco, author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story

http://youtu.be/W4UvTVY4en4

Here’s an excerpt from Blue Hydrangeas. Sara has had an accident and is in the hospital.

After dining on the cafeteria’s daily special, Jack returned to his wife, now sleeping peacefully, her face devoid of any stress. Jack stared at her for a long while, seeing vestiges of a young Sara, remembering the first time he had seen her fifty-seven years ago. Sara was nineteen, a blue-eyed beauty with rich auburn hair and tiny freckles splashed across her tiny nose. The face he saw now was older and well seasoned, but at seventy-six she was still a beauty.

The auburn hair had turned snow white and covered her shoulders like a silken shawl. Her blue eyes still sparkled like jewels, but now tiny lines framed them. He smiled, thinking of how she lamented those wrinkles, blaming herself, a redhead living her life in the sun. She had taken care, but her love for the outdoors, the ocean, and her gardens had gotten the better of her. Jack thought the wrinkles added character, a testament to a life well lived.

Her hands, though, revealed the most about her. Once as soft as rose petals, they had become calloused and worn by her life’s work. As a commercial artist, she had dipped them into oil paint and turpentine for decades. And, when her hands were not commanding a paintbrush they had dug deep into the earth, creating a spectacular garden that reaped awards from gardening groups throughout New England.

Jack loved those hands, and held both of them in his own. Over the years, he had lavished her with exquisite jewelry, but these days she wore one simple gold band on her wedding finger, delicately inscribed with the words: “Always, my love. Jack.” He stroked the ring, gazing at her with a mixture of love and grief. The last nine years had been tough and promised to get tougher. He sensed change, and loss, and death ahead and it filled him with fear deeper than he had ever known. The realization that one of them would die, would leave the other, paralyzed him. How could he live without her? What would she do without him?

“Oh, Sara,” he whispered, a catch in his throat. Tears formed in his eyes and he brushed them away. He did not know whom he pitied more: Sara or himself.

He pulled away from her bedside and went home to call their son.



Bio:

Marianne Sciucco is not a nurse who writes but a writer who happens to be a nurse. A lover of words and books, she dreamed of becoming an author when she grew up but became a nurse to avoid poverty. She later brought her two passions together and writes about the intricate lives of people struggling with health and family issues. Her debut novel, Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, is a Kindle bestseller, IndieReader Approved, a BookWorks Book of the Week, a Reader’s Favorite, and winner of IndieReCon’s Best Indie Novel Award. A native Bostonian, she lives in New York’s Hudson Valley and, when not writing, works as a campus nurse at a community college. She loves books, the beach, and craft beer, and especially enjoys the three of them together.

Connect Links:
Blog
http://mariannesciucco.blogspot.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/marianne.sciucco.1
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18002405-blue-hydrangeas?from_search=true
Google+
google.com/+MarianneSciucco
Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/mariannesciucco/blue-hydrangeas/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/MarianneSciucco

Buy Links:
Blue Hydrangeas is available in paperback, audiobook and ebook at these and other online booksellers.
Audible
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Blue-Hydrangeas-Audiobook/B00J5RELT0/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srTtl?qid=1420426871&sr=1-2
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Hydrangeas-Marianne-Sciucco-ebook/dp/B00CHU571S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389745973&sr=8-2&keywords=sciucco
Barnes and Noble
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=sciucco
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/blue-hydrangeas/id731472206?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=sciucco
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/505150