#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara M Britton & Defending David!

 

Good Morning and Welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of July 2025!

Hope your Independence Day celebrations are safe and happy.

Today we bring Barbara Britton back with her book, Defending David, part of her "Tribes of Israel" series.

Thanks for visiting us again, Barbara. Tell us what makes Defending David so special...

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam.

King David is a popular Bible hero and recently people have taken a renewed interest in David’s life with the drama “House of David.” Amazon Prime takes a few licenses with Scripture, but viewers tune in to see how a shepherd boy rose to power and became king over Israel.

In my novel “Defending David,” I capture David’s life when it is in turmoil. David is older and his son Absalom is determined to kill his father and claim the throne. David flees Jerusalem like a criminal. David is not fighting with armies or even a sling. David retreats in weakness.

David is still the man after God’s own heart as we read in I Samuel 13:14, and God provides a helper for David. God has a sense of humor because He sends a Philistine exile to assist David. This enemy exile has hundreds of fighting men and is sold out to the One True God. Who is this unlikely hero to David? A man with a fun name—Ittai the Gittite.

I enjoyed shining a light on Ittai and showing how David trusted him during a tumultuous time. Ittai is front and center as the buff warrior who saves an aging king, and he also finds love along the way.

“Defending David” covers a chunk of Scripture in II Samuel, chapters 15-19:8. 

Wonderful! Give us more please...

Sure here's the cover, blurb and an excerpt...

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

 

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land. Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

Excerpt:

Stifling a laugh, Ittai surveyed the approach of the closest stranger. Why was anyone traipsing over rock and crevices in the dark when sunlight wasn’t far off? Some men had no sense. How many fools had he encountered in battle? Too many and they were dead. Crouching near a tower of rocks and a spindly sapling, Ittai unsheathed his blade. He breathed in cool air untainted with kicked-up camel dust. His eyes overcame the darkness to rest on a form breeching the top of the hill. 

Sandal slaps. Wheezing. One fool had made it to the crest. Hamuran would cut off the others. 

Nearer and nearer the climber came. Ittai swallowed. The sour taste of bile pulled his jaw tight. 

Lord, give me victory. 

The man stumbled over a rock and whimpered. 

Ittai lunged. 

He grabbed the stranger and pulled the thin frame taut to his chest. His knife rested against the flesh of the prowler’s neck. 

“Stay silent, or I will send your head thumping to the dirt.” 

His captive turned to stone. Trembling stone. 

A swell of breast rose and fell beneath Ittai’s arm. No stench of sweat or body odor offended his nose. This quivering climber smelled of scented soap even after a trek up a hill. An abundance of soft curls tickled his chin. 

He’d caught a woman. 

What was a woman doing out at night? In the wilderness? In his arms? 

He eased his blade from her neck. “I mean you no harm. I am not a foe. I will release you if you keep your voice low.” 

She nodded ever so slightly. A tiny whine escaped from her lips as if she were agreeing to his demand in earnest. 

He loosened his hold but kept her upright with a commanding grasp of her arm. A crazed or enraged woman could do harm. He had learned that in the most difficult of ways. He gave her enough slack to turn and face him in the shadows. 

“Help me,” the woman rasped. “Men are chasing me.” 

Securing his weapon, he kept his gaze centered on the gleam in her dark eyes. 

“They mean to cut out my tongue.” Her chest rose and sunk like the sea. “And sell me as a slave. My father is not a thief.” 

The woman’s eyes blinked without rest. He had only seen someone so undone under two circumstances—when he told his mother he was going off to war, or in war, when a man was pleading for his life. His mind became a fog of memories. His calm, tranquil night had been set ablaze.

AMAZING! I remember how much I enjoyed reading Defending David. Get your copy on Amazon (FREE in KU), you won't regret it!

Barbara M. Britton writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. She also authored a WWI Historical set in Alaska and created Christian romances set in Tennessee. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books on her website, barbarambritton.com, or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Hope you enjoyed Barbara's visit today folks and that you'll check back every week for another Saturday Spotlight. See Barbara's other spotlights HERE.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton @BarbaraMBritton & Jerusalem Rising!

Good Morning,

Well graduation ceremonies are over (for me) and my birthday has passed. I don't feel old enough to have a granddaughter and great-niece graduating high-school but the numbers don't lie...born in 61 & 61 yrs young. 😁 

'Nuf about me, let's welcome Barbara Britton back with her book, Jerusalem Rising! Take it away Barbara....

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam.

Recently, I taught chapel to elementary students at a Christian school. I spoke on the Bible building contractor Nehemiah. When I asked the students what Nehemiah was famous for, they knew he rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall. What they didn’t know is that Nehemiah had been on his knees praying long before he made the journey to Jerusalem to restore the glorious city.

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes and lived in the palace at Susa, far from his hometown of Jerusalem. When Nehemiah’s brother brought the report about Jerusalem’s wall being in disrepair and the gates burned, Nehemiah became sad. The Bible tells us he fasted and prayed. (Nehemiah 1:4)

Nehemiah was so sad about the news; his face was downcast in front of the king. A big no-no that could get you killed. Artaxerxes inquired about Nehemiah’s sadness and when Nehemiah replied, the king asked, “What is it you want?”

Nehemiah shot an arrow prayer to God for guidance. (Nehemiah 2:4)

Eventually, Nehemiah heads to Jerusalem to rebuild the city with the king’s blessing. The king also bestowed wood from the royal forest, letters of passage, and a cavalry for protection. Not bad for the cupbearer turned construction manager. Nehemiah’s troubles aren’t over because lots of bad guys show up. A writer’s dream! With all this drama, I couldn’t resist writing a book based on Nehemiah, chapters 1-8.

“Jerusalem Rising” follows the daughters of Shallum as they help restore the wall around Jerusalem. The reference to these women wall builders can be found in Nehemiah 3:12.

Nehemiah needs all the help he can get!

Book blurb:

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah's unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

Nehemiah challenges the people of God to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Will her father, who rules a half-district of Jerusalem, be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city's wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God's call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same stones they hope to construct?

Excerpt:

“So that is why you came?” Adah shifted her lamp. “Not to collect taxes but to set up an office here and bring in workers to rebuild the wall?”

He nodded. “You found me inspecting the wall tonight. The City of David will be a stronghold again.” The shadows dancing on his face could not soften his stare, which bore into her gaze like a hammered tent peg. “This wall will rise and these gates will be secured. God has made it clear to me what we must do.”

She trusted God. Or at least she had before her mother’s eyesight darkened. A year ago, she had prayed for a miracle from God for her mother. No healing came. And where was the rain? She had prayed for showers for the fields. Othniel had prayed. Her father had prayed. The soil remained parched. People went hungry. But if Nehemiah had truly heard God’s voice, perhaps Adonai was showing His favor to His people once again. “When will the stone masons arrive?” She didn’t know much about resurrecting a wall, but the king had renowned craftsmen.

“King Artaxerxes gave me letters for safe passage and a leave from the palace. I have access to the forests in the south. But as for workers, those already living here will secure this city.”

Her shoulders sagged. “We have no army. The drought has left families without food and coin—

“Adah.” His address held a tone of chastisement. “Do you believe in God’s provision? In answered prayer?”

“Uh, yes.” Her answer was not resounding, yet it was true. Once. She rolled back her shoulders and stood soldier straight. Gershom’s insult of her family would not stand. “Whatever you need from the household of Shallum, we will provide it for you.”

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. She also authored a WWI Historical set in Alaska. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books on her website, barbarambritton.com, or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

You can purchase Jerusalem Rising on Amazon, B&N, or wherever books are sold and check out Barbara's previous posts HERE. 

Great story, Barbara, thanks for sharing! Wishing you ALL the best of luck and God's blessings.

Until next time, friends, take care and be Blessed.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton & Providence Hannah's Journey!

Good Morning!

One more week and October is over. Can you believe it? We're already seeing Christmas commercials and movies and decorations out with urgings to buy now and PRAY we get our purchases before then! 

UGH.

When did everything become such a mess?

We could discuss that for a lifetime LOL! But we're not going to! We are going to welcome fellow Pelican Book Group author, Barbara Britton back to our spotlight. Take it away Barb.....

Thanks for having me in the spotlight, Pam. October is a special month for me. My debut novel released in print on October 1, 2016. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I had no idea that when my book launched, I would be a breast cancer survivor. The theme to Providence: Hannah’s Journey is “God is in control even in the chaos of life.” I lived the theme to my first novel.

I’d like to share the wisdom that I gleaned while battling cancer.

-Schedule a yearly 3D mammogram.

-Do not wait to biopsy if something shows up on your mammogram.

I had three clear ultrasounds the day the spot showed on my mammography. I was told to return in six months. The spot was cancer. If my cancer had been aggressive, my story may not have had a happy ending. I started my fight eight months late.

-Do not suffer in silence. I was on several prayer chains and could feel the power of prayer.

-Accept help from friends and family. People are scared of cancer and don’t know what to say to a cancer patient. Allow friends to bring meals or go to the store for you. Loved ones want to be there for you, but they may need direction on how to help. I used takethemameal.com to organize meals for my family.

My family, my church family, Scripture, Christian music, and cards from friends, all encouraged me during my journey.

One elder asked me if I was embarrassed to ask for prayer for breast cancer. I said, “No way,” rather loudly. I wanted all the prayer that I could get.

###

Great advice, Barbara we are SO very glad your story had a happy ending and you're here to share your wonderful books with us. Tell us more about Providence Hannah's Journey...

As the sole daughter of the chief priest, Hannah is publicly shamed when the prophet of Israel refuses to heal her.

Determined to restore her family’s honor, Hannah escapes Jerusalem in hopes of finding the prophet and convincing him to heal her deformities. Gilead, a young Hebrew guard sympathetic to her plight, willingly accompanies her. On their way, they are captured by a band of raiders.

Hannah is forced to serve in the household of the commander of the Aramean army, an officer who is in need of healing himself. Meanwhile Gilead is being used as sword practice for the Aramean soldiers.

Hannah must act fast to save Gilead and herself. But survival means coaxing the prophet of Israel to heal an enemy commander.

(A story similar to Naaman’s in II Kings 5)

Excerpt:

“Alabaster, beads, bangles,” a merchant shouted.

Leave it to a salesman to find opportunity behind the rump of a slow donkey. His father had taught him well.

The chants of the merchant grew louder, came closer. “Men, trinkets for the fair and lovely.”

Hannah believed the heckler was upon her. Did he mistake her for a man? She had no free hand to test his wares.

“Young woman.”

The address was too close to ignore. Her elbow rose to ward off his seller’s assault. Her heart rapped against her chest anticipating a run home.

“Ah, but your arm is bare. Can I not interest you in—”

She whipped her head his direction.

And stared.

At her bracelet. The rubies sparkled in the sunlight they captured.

At Gil. And his radiant smile.

“You do have interest.” He herded her without a touch toward a narrow side street. “Your father has coin, no doubt.”

She matched his pace not knowing where he was guiding her and not caring. Gil had found her, and she would follow him out of the crowd, out of the city, out to Mahanaim. “You came.”

He drew her into a doorway. The bustle of the city was but a memory. “Jewels are my business,” he said in a loud voice. And lower, “My mother spoke of a sad girl in need. I know very few who wear such wealth.” He held up her gold and ruby bracelet.

Setting her jar out of the way, she met his gaze. He grinned as if she had bought all his trinkets.

She let him take her arm and slip the bracelet on her wrist. His calloused fingers slid over her skin like a silk ribbon.

“It is a perfect fit,” he said, eyeing a passerby. His fingers cocooned her hand and wrist.

“We are in public,” she whispered.

“Did I not say it was lovely?” He winked and dared her with his just-made-a-sale eyes.

 

You can purchase “Providence” on Amazon, B&N, or wherever books are sold. Libraries can order it too.

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical Fiction and loves bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Her WWI Historical Until June released in 2020. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books on her website at www.barbarambritton.com.

You can also follow Barbara on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub and Goodreads AND check out Barbara's previous visits to our blog HERE.

THANKS so much, Barbara for sharing your story and a peek into your novel with us! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings moving forward in life and in your writing.

Hope you enjoyed Barbara's visit friends and that you'll check back each week for Saturday Spotlight and Wednesday Words with Friends.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Barbara Britton @BarbaraMBritton

Good Morning!

Well, we've moved out of freezing temperatures into warmer weather. Still below comfortable in the mornings but nice in the afternoons. More rain heading our way and I'm sure there'll be more cool fronts and cold snaps up through Easter. Speaking of which, we're a week into the Lentin season - How are you doing with your fasting, prayers and almsgiving or other Lentin practices? Whether your particular religion observes Lent, it never hurts to set aside 40 days each year to spend more, quality time with our Lord.

Enough from me though, let's welcome my fellow Pelican Book Group author, Barbara Britton back as she shares some thoughts with us on the importance of having writer friends. Take it away Barb!

Thanks for having me back on Wednesday Words, Pam. I’m sharing about some of my friends today.

Many people think that writers are introverts typing away in a writing cave on a story they hide from prying eyes. While many writers are introverts, a lot of books wouldn’t see the light of day without writers having friends. I am blessed to have friends who read and critique my writing before any publisher gets a look at my manuscript. I’m thankful for the comments that help shape my stories.

Recently, I sent my opening chapter to my critique group. Half of the group was confused by the first paragraph. They thought the dog was in the vehicle with my main character. The dog wasn’t in the car, so immediately I knew the picture in my head wasn’t translating to the page. 

Every writer has strengths and weaknesses. I love to write dialogue and action scenes. I struggle sometimes with inner thought and having a character reason their actions inside their head. My writing friends help me know when to go deeper into my character’s motivations or emotions.

Critique groups are also great for accountability. If I have a chapter due to my writer friends by Tuesday, then I have a deadline to meet. When I’m stuck on a chapter, well, I can ask for help brainstorming the scene. A flurry of ideas and possibilities is better than my lone train of thought.

You’ve probably heard Proverbs 27:17. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Building a writing support group is key to writing a successful story. Every writer has unique perspectives, talents, and experience. Don’t be afraid to have a trusted group of friends help you become a better writer. You could say that after my critique group on Tuesday, I’m crafting Wednesday’s words with the help of my friends.

After I finished my series on the daughters of Zelophehad, I was sad to end my time with these five brave sisters. In the most difficult of circumstances, they had each other for support and encouragement. The girls didn’t have a writing support group, but they had a similar sister support group. Make sure you have people to encourage you along your pathway to publication.

Where can you find a writing critique group? Professional writing organizations. Local writing groups. Online groups. Friends and family that will give you an honest opinion. Writing contests can give you feedback, but remember the comments are subjective and aren’t geared toward your writing level. Check local colleges and libraries, too.

BIO: Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Her Christian WWI Historical launched in 2020 with “Until June.” Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html  Connect with Barb on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or BookBub.

While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother. 

Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel. 

But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.  Find “Lioness” on Amazon.

You are so right, Barbara, having friends who are also writers can help us tremendously in our own endeavors. Thank you for sharing with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends, and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. You can check out Barbara's previous Wednesday Words with Friends post HERE and Saturday Spotlight posts Here and Here.

Until next time take care, stay warm and safe and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Tessa Afshar

Good Morning!

We arrived home late last night from Alaska so you still may not hear too much from me until I recover and catch up after 10 full days with little/no computer access LOL!

No worries though, I've got a very special guest today.... Tyndale author Tessa Afshar shares some thoughts and her new release with us.

Welcome Tesa!

Love Never Fails

If you have ever attended a wedding in a church, chances are you have heard someone read 1 Corinthians 13. It is such a familiar passage that we sometimes forget to listen to it. But the words in that passage are remarkable. At the end of the section, Paul makes the most extraordinary claim of all: “Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13: 8 (NIV).
     But those of us who have been touched by the wounds of wrecked relationships, strained marriages, broken friendships, divorce, and repeated disappointments have had a different experience. Love does fail. In spectacular, heart-wrenching ways. What are we to do with this discrepancy?
     This is the lesson that Ariadne, my new heroine in Thief of Corinth, has to learn. Ariadne lives in first century Corinth. After the wreckage of her parents’ divorce, she is very aware that other people’s love fails. By the end of the book, she becomes aware that her own love has failed as well. In the process of this transformation, of recognizing her own fractured love rather than focusing on how other people have failed her, she comes face to face with her need for God. She learns an important lesson.
     God covers our gaps.
     In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul prays something striking. He prays that the followers of Christ may have power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
     He prays for believers to have supernatural power, the Spirit’s power, in order to grasp the love of Christ. In other words, we need supernatural help from the Holy Spirit to receive love and hold on to it. Need the Spirit’s power merely to experience love. The kind of love God wants us to taste requires a move of God.
     The flesh that has never tasted such a love in this world is incapable of grasping it. We cannot live like beloved sons and daughters because we don’t know what the Father’s perfect love, offered to us through Christ, really feels like.
     But in Christ, we can learn to experience boundless love. And to give it.
     We will still fail to love perfectly. But like Ariadne, we learn two lessons: clinging to Jesus will mean we fail less often, and when we do, God’s perfect love covers our failures.
    One of the first things I learned about my husband was that he was an early morning person. By 9 PM his eyelids started growing heavy. While we were dating, I noticed a sweet tendency in him. He hated to say goodbye. Even though it was long past his bedtime, he would linger for one more word. One more minute with me. We didn’t spend the extra time on any life-shattering discussions or important chores. We merely enjoyed one another’s presence.
    He was willing to pay the price of sleeplessness, exhaustion, and mounting tasks left undone, just so he could be with me a little while longer. Now that I know him better, I realize how much those late nights cost him and am amazed by the sacrifice. It remains one of the sweetest memories of our courtship.
     I have come to realize that we need to linger with Jesus in the same way. To pay the price of staying with Him just a bit longer. Linger to enjoy one more moment with Him. To grasp how wide and long and high and deep His love really goes. His love never fails.

What a lovely thing Tesa....certainly some thoughts for us to ponder today. Thanks for sharing!

Tessa Afshar is the award-winning author of Bread of Angels, Land of Silence, and several other historical novels. Land of Silence won an Inspy Award in the general fiction category and was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious Christy Award in the historical romance category, and Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Christian Book Award for fiction. In 2011, after publishing her first novel, Pearl in the Sand, Tessa was named New Author of the Year by the FamilyFiction-sponsored Reader's Choice Awards.
     Tessa was born in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale Divinity School, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. She serves part-time on the staff of one of the oldest churches in America. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate. Visit her online at www.tessaafshar.com. Her newest release, Thief of Corinth can be found at Tyndale and at Amazon.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton & Building Benjamin

Hello from Packwood, WA!

It'll be a month tomorrow that I started my west coast vacation. You can see where we've been so far by visiting these four posts: #1, #2, #3, #4. I'll be sharing more with you next week.

Meanwhile, Pelican Book Group author, Barbara M Britton is in the spotlight with her newest novel, Building Benjamin. This is Barbara's first visit to my blog so please give her a great big warm welcome!

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. 

Barb’s debut novel, “Providence: Hannah’s Journey,” released in October of 2016 from Harbourlight Books and kicked off her Tribes of Israel series. Her second book, “Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey,” released in April of 2017. Her Biblical fiction series will continue in November with the release of “Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.” 

Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

You can find out more about Barb on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, or visit her website.

So very nice of you to drop by Barbara! Tell us more about Building Benjamin....

(fiction from Judges 19-21)

Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot.

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

Excerpt:

Eliab uncoiled the rope. “Isa tended my father’s flocks with my brother, Joshua. His word is trustworthy.”

“Must you bind my hands?” Her wrists ached at the thought of the prickly cords.

“You fled from me into the cave. Do I have your word that you will not run from me again?”

 Should she vow submission to Eliab? What if she had the opportunity to escape? Were they near the border? Near the lands of the tribe of Benjamin? Or still in the land of Ephraim?

Eliab grabbed her hand and tugged her close.

“Wait.” Should she agree? Her confidence began to crumble. “What did I do wrong? Would you not have gone off to help Isa if you thought he were in trouble?”

“Yes, I would have gone.” He snapped the rope and removed the gag from his satchel.

Saliva pooled in her mouth. She would not be bound like an untamed animal. Not again.

“I will not run away.” She spat out the words as if spitting sand from her mouth. “Do not bind me.”

She punched Eliab’s chest. He did not move. Not one step.  

He caught her arm, encircled her waist, and lifted her onto the mule.

“Rest, Naomi. You are a tower of stones. The mule listens to one master.” Eliab’s arms closed around her, holding her next to his body. His tunic wasn’t the most comfortable bed, but his body was warm, and up until this point, he had not harmed her.

She prayed her father would find her before Eliab desired a union and made her his wife.

Wow, Barbara! Great excerpt. I wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your series. Where can we get them?

Building Benjamin as well as, Providence: Hannah's Journey can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes&Noble or your favorite book retailer. 

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Linda Leonard and Avi

Good Morning Friends!

Is it fall yet? A cool front moved in a couple of days ago and it's mighty chilly....but warms up nicely. How about in your neck of the woods?

Today's guest is another Bayou Writers Group Member and has been on our spotlight before, so please welcome back Linda Leonard.....

Linda Leonard is a retired high school teacher/librarian. She is the mother of four, grandmother of six, and an educator who has taught in the public school system for 28 years as an English/Speech teacher (including 15 years as a Speech/Debate Coach and 14 years as a yearbook adviser.) She also served 2 1/2 years as a librarian, a total of 30 1/2 years in public education. She holds a B.A. in English and M.Ed. in Speech. 

Find out more about Linda by connecting with her on Facebook and checking out her interview on Bayou Writers Group website!


Now let's find out about Linda's new book...

After five marriages, Avi struggles to overcome the disappointments and mistakes of the past: the loss of her high school sweetheart and son, abuse, accusations of theft, embarrassment as people gossip, and the infidelity. She walks through life, a wounded soul, looking for someone she can trust.

Avi is a modern day story of the woman at the well.

Excerpt:  “No… No…”

Cole touched her arm. “Avi, wake up!”

Avi jerked and drew away from him, sweating and gasping for air.

“Avi, it’s me, Cole. What’s wrong?”

It took Avi a few seconds to recognize him in the dim light. “Oh, Cole, it was just a bad dream.”

“It was more like a nightmare. It sounds like the same one you had a couple of days ago. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I’ve had nightmares since I was a small child. I’m sorry. It isn’t something I can control.”

“Well, it disrupts sleep. Do you need to see someone for your nightmares? I mean, isn’t there something someone could do or some medication to help you sleep?”

“No, Cole, you can’t control dreams or nightmares. They just happen.”

“Well, your dreams or nightmares really mess up my sleep.”

“If we want to talk about lack of sleep, why don’t we talk about your snoring? It’s 1:15 now. We went to bed at 10:00, and you started sawing logs and loading them on a freight train. The last time I looked at the clock it was 12:35, and I still wasn’t sleeping because the freight train rumbled through this bedroom non-stop. I don’t complain. If you want to talk about lack of sleep, why don’t we start with your snoring?”

 “Avi, I don’t want to pick a fight. We both seem to lose sleep when you have those episodes.”

Sounds like a good book, Linda! Good luck and God's blessings wit it.

Purchase Avi at Amazon and Smashwords.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll return weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and more Saturday Spotlights.

#SaturdaySpotlight: One Touch A Woman's Journey to Wholeness by Melanie Purifoy!

Good Morning Friends,

You met Melanie on Tuesday when she shared something she treasures with us and again on Thursday when she shared some thoughts on invisible vs transparency, well today we're spotlighting Melanie's book, One Touch A Woman's Journey to Wholeness....

Melanie Purifoy was intrigued by her recurring thoughts of the woman in the Bible who touched the hem of Christ’s garment and was healed. Like this ailing woman, she knew what it felt like to search for answers for her own failing health. Melanie began to wonder what this woman of over 2000 years ago might have lived through and what her life’s journey may have been. The more she contemplated the possibilities, the less the two roads seemed different. The essence of her story is that we are all the same; our love, triumphs, hardships, and sufferings. Hence the story of Rebekah.

From her life in Bethany as a young girl to her fateful meeting with Jesus many years later, Rebekah’s tale follows an accurate timeline of the New Testament. The story explores the possibilities of how her life may have become enmeshed with others who are seeking the truth about this King of Kings born during their lifetime. Set in the 1st century, this historical fiction weaves very plausible lives into some very interesting, but vaguely described characters of the Bible.

Melanie draws from her own experience as a two-time cancer survivor. After being diagnosed with invasive cancer she began a one-day-at-a-time healing path to recovery. Her own miracle brought into focus that healing one’s mind, body, and spirit can only be attributed to God’s grace and her willingness to reach out for the gifts He bestowed upon her. 

One Touch is a result of Melanie’s compassionate insight into the lives of minor characters of the Bible.

Excerpt: 
Rebekah nodded, again forcing the tears back that had been so easy to fire up for many months now.  

“Where are you going?”

“To my grandmother’s house in Lystra.”

“Oh, my dear child, what has happened that you’re traveling all alone?”

Rebekah couldn’t overlook the differences in this young woman at first notice. She was a magnificent beauty of color placed in a backdrop of grey. Among the dusty and weary travelers she was refreshing and buoyant. Her voice was soothing and certain and Rebekah was immediately drawn to her. Unable to resist the comfort she offered, Rebekah told Lydia of the tragic incidents that led up to her being in the group of travelers. Rebekah was so entranced with the disclosure that she was finally able to release her emotions, and Lydia’s surprised look of credence went unnoticed.

“Does your grandmother know you’re coming?” Lydia asked.

“I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. Father gave me a letter to give to her.”

 “Well, you’ll travel with us from now on. It’s not safe for a young girl all alone,” Lydia replied.


Rebekah felt overwhelmed by the rush of emotion that coursed through her. Without realizing how much she had missed kindness and compassion, she responded to it instinctively, unable to stop the tears this time; they rolled down her cheeks leaving streaks in the dust that covered her face. “Thank you,” she managed to gasp, before sobs overtook her.

What people are saying about One Touch....

***** Rating on Amazon.com

Mary Charlotte-

“Her insight into the past also is a story that touches every family in one way or another today…”

Brooke Alvarado-

”This is by far one of the best books I've ever read! It's one of those books that you wish was longer because you just want to keep reading it!”

One Touch

A Woman’s Journey to Wholeness

Author: Melanie Purifoy

Genre: Biblical Fiction/Spiritual/Christian

 Format: Paperback

Released: July 10^th, 2015

Price: $13.00

https://www.facebook.com/onetouchthebook

Also available in Ebook on Kindle & at Smashwords!

Hope you enjoyed this week with Melanie as much as I did!

Check back every week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time....take care, God Bless and Remember to Let love be the driving force by which you live, breath, move & act

Something to think about!

Inspirational With An Edge! ™

#ThursdayThoughts with Melanie Purifoy!

Good Morning Friends,

Tuesday I introduced you to my friend, Melanie Purifoy who shared her treasured relationships with us.

Today Melanie is sharing some thoughts on Invisible vs Transparency....

There is a great deal of talk from a political perspective of illegal immigrants, public assistance benefits, and financial aid recipients. We boldly socialize in small groups and discuss our version of how to clean up this mess of a country we live in. No, these are not my thoughts on a political platform. I want to discuss people. Human beings. The invisible population that gets overlooked with even a kind word or eye contact on a day-to-day basis because we are not comfortable people with differences among us. Maybe we are afraid.  Whatever our reasons, everyone deserves to be seen, to be touched by random kindness from the people that surround them.

Recently my youngest daughter went to work in a very nice bank building in the downtown area of Indianapolis. She is required to wear business attire and is all over the building during her work day. During her first week she saw the custodian working near the bank of elevators and smiled and said hello. He replied with “Hola” and a big smile. They found each other on breaks and began to exchange pleasantries in brief meetings. Brooke found out that Carlos, a native Guatemalan, spoke very little English and at best, Spanglish. She searched for a translation app on her iPhone so she could communicate with him more easily. And they began to take their breaks and teach each other their native language. It is a precious friendship. Just a few days ago Carlos texted Brooke while she was at my house visiting and after translating it from Spanish to English in her app, the message went something like this.

“I want you to know that you are my only American friend. No one else has tried to communicate with me and most do not even see me. I have become invisible in this country. Your friendship means a great deal to me and you are a very special young woman.” This brought tears to both our eyes at the feelings that were behind these words.

Life is precious and we never know who our next insight or lesson will come from. I do know this. I am committed to conquering my limited beliefs of others.   At times, as I forge through my discomfort, my compassion and understanding grows immensely for others.

So I would ask from you that the next time you find yourself in a room with someone you would instinctively avert your eyes from, reject that instinct. Look them in the eye. Smile. Say hello.


Wow..what a story!

Melanie's book, One Touch: A Woman's Journey to Wholeness is about such a person...sort of LOL!

We all know the Biblical story of the woman with the issue of blood, and had she not been so bold (really rare for the time of Jesus) she would be just another invisible person in that place and time. In fact, had she let fear rule her and not stepped forward, we may have never heard of her at all!

Melanie took this character and created a whole life out of that one short miraculous meeting... Read all about it in One Touch A Woman's Journey to Wholeness which can be found at Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords.

Stay tuned for more on Melanie and her book on Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....when you expect miracles, miracles happen!

Something to think about!

Inspirational With An Edge! ™