Whew, been a busy week but that's nothing unusual LOL!
Today we welcome Christine Lindsay back to our blog with her book, Shadowed in Silk, Winner of the 2009 ACFW Genesis, the 2011 Grace Award, finalist in the Readers Favorite 2012---Book 1 of series, Twilight of the British Raj.
Irish-born
Christine Lindsay writes multi-award-winning inspirational historical novels. Her
great-grandfather and grandfather both worked as riveters on the Titanic. Several more of her ancestors
served in the British Cavalry in India, seeding Christine’s long-time
fascination with Colonial India, and became the stimulus for her series
Twilight of the British Raj. In her novels, SHADOWED IN SILK and CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT, Christine delights in weaving the endless theme
of God’s redemptive love throughout stories of danger, suspense, adventure, and
romance. The
Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home.
Like a lot of authors, Christine’s chief editor is her cat.
She was invisible to those who should have loved her.
After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to
India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British army.
She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women .
. . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. It will take more than her American
pluck to survive.
Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss
of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in
Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of
his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he
is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.
Amid political unrest, inhospitable
deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the
freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and
Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of
the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.
Excerpt: A
sigh escaped as Abby’s anger changed to an overwhelming sense of loss. She
could love a man like Geoff. Oh, help me . . . I do love him.
Geoff
moved closer. “Aim at the target. Gently. Squeeze the trigger.”
The
gun exploded into sound. Her pulse pounded, and her breath went shallow. But it
wasn’t from the shot. She was used to that. With his nearness the soft hairs on
his forearm brushed against hers. She bit down on her lip.
“There
now,” he said. “You did fine. Exceptionally fine . . . for a beginner.” His
brows drew together, but he talked in that soothing voice he used with the
people he cared for—Eshana, the children at the mission, Cam. And her. Just one
of the many.
But
she wanted more from Geoff. She wanted him to hold her hand. Hold her. Wanted
him to help her at night to tuck Cam into bed, and his gentle smile as they
watched her son go to sleep. Her lip bled a little, and she tasted the metallic
tang of blood. She wanted Geoff’s kiss.
Tears
pricked at the back of her eyes. God would never allow that. And Geoff could
not––or more accurately––would not ever give her that. Like Joseph in his
treasured Bible he’d run from her with disgust filling his face. She was
married. Even if she divorced Nick, Geoff would never marry her.
The
beating of her heart seemed to clang inside an empty steel vessel. She lifted
the rifle, pressed the butt into her shoulder, laid the stock next to her cheek.
She and Geoff could never be more than friends, and they must remain friends
from afar. But for this moment she would be herself with him. Nick would never
be interested, but she wanted Geoff to see the person she was.
Each
muscle along her spine uncoiled. She checked the breeze, adjusted her aim, and
squeezed the trigger. With her focus on the bull’s eye she hardly noticed the
bang. She shot back the bolt and emptied the spent cartridge onto the ground at
their feet. Sliding the bolt in, a fresh cartridge now in place, she began to
rapidly empty the MK III, creating a small wreath of spent bullets on the
target.
It
felt as though every inch of her skin warmed in Geoff’s silent awe. Someone
she—yes she would say it—someone she loved was interested enough to look at her
and . . . see.
As
the last shot reverberated in ever decreasing waves, silence shyly entered and
filled the glade. She turned her back to Geoff. With her whole being she
yearned to love this good man. But because of his impossible standards, she
would have to hide her love from him and cast him from her life. Get rid of his
big brother forbearance before it shred her heart further.
He
followed her out of the clearing.
Could
he not see into her soul as she walked at his side, that she’d longed for him
and had thrust those longings away, all in the space of half an hour? The
lonely years ahead opened before her like a dark chasm.
Before
they reached the campsite he put out a hand to stop her. His gaze lowered to
her mouth. He reached into his pocket, removed a clean white handkerchief and
pressed it to her lower lip. All breath left her at his touch. When he removed
the handkerchief, he glanced at the speck of blood, his eyes a somber gray.
“Why
didn’t you tell me, Abby?”
“I
just did,” she whispered.
He
shook his head. “Are you as proficient with a handgun?”
She
nodded.
He
placed his hand on her shoulder, indicating they go on. When he withdrew his
hand, a piece of her heart felt as though it fell to the ground, spent.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Shadowed in Silk is available now @ Amazon in Print and for Kindle. Find out more about Christine and her work by visiting her website!
Well Friends, that wraps up another Saturday Spotlight. Be sure and stay tuned for more great info on Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight. Oh and don't forget, there are only 3 days left to enter the drawing for the soundtrack CD from the movie Grace Unplugged!
Until later...take care, God Bless and remember...Miracles happen when you believe in them!
Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)
1 comment:
Pamela, thanks for hosting Christine. She's an extraordinarily gifted writer that makes the story, place, and time leap off the page. I've enjoyed her novels so much.
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