Into the Fire

Tuesday Tunes

 

 

Then and now. The great Eric Clapton and one of his huge hits. 

Lord, you know Eric. He went through all kinds of things, and you rescued him. Thank you for all those who yield to you, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Monday Musings . . .

Random favorite things . . . 

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

The smell of fresh cut alfalfa 

Ice cold Coca Cola in the morning or very sweet Spice Chai

Always horses and German Shepherds

Various kinds of boots 

Vince Flynn novels/Mitch Rapp, #1 thriller hero

The way Charles Martin writes

My novels 

And there you have it for Monday, Monday . . . 

 

Father, thank you for the amazing beauty you've created for all to see "so that men [mankind] are without excuse." (Romans1:20 NIV) In spite of all the evil, nothing outshines your light. Please continue to open eyes to see and ears to hear and rescue the lost. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Sunday's Offerings

     The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He IS risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you." 

      So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him and clasped his feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 

Matthew 28:5-10 (NIV) 

 

The Cross and the Tomb are empty. Jesus Is Risen. Meet Him while you still have breath. It's Resurrection Day! 

Excerpt

Part of Chapter 32 from Seeing . . . 

He pulled into the parking space at the motel where they’d spent their last visit. He turned off his rig and undid his seat belt, lifting up the arm rest so he could angle toward her easily. “So, you want to talk about it?”

     Silence crept into the cab until she finally spoke. “I have a way of ruining everything, don’t I?”

     He heard the regret in the softness of her voice. “Sometimes you do. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you prefer conflict—that things don’t feel right when they’re going well for you.” He didn’t condemn her but he worked to make a point.

     She turned to face him. “I shouldn’t be with you, Micah.” Tears shoved their way into her eyes. “I always find a way to darken anything good you do for me. You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, and I’ve been so . . . awful.”

     “You haven’t been ‘awful’, but you definitely seem compelled to nix all the good things in your path—or at least you put up roadblocks to enjoying them.”

     She searched the floor for his small box of Kleenex and snatched a couple to wipe her nose. She sat back and exhaled hard. He climbed into the sleeper to ready things to take in the room.

     “I’m jealous, you know.”

     All he heard was jealous, so he shifted around and sat in the middle of the bed. “What?”

     “I’m jealous of your dead wife.”

     His lips parted, the prelude to his jaw dropping, but he caught his reaction and shut his mouth.

     She turned in her seat, tears overrunning their boundaries like floodwaters. “I know you’ll always love her. I know I’m as opposite from her as anyone could possibly be. I can’t be her.” She blew her nose. “As much as I wish I could be, I can’t.” The hands came up to cover her face as severe sobbing took control.

     The quick picture of a little girl in the same position snapped in Micah’s mind. He leaned forward and pushed up her armrest, gently pulling her back to him. He slid her to the back wall with him and held her close as her cries wrenched his soul.

     When she stopped, she sat up. “I’m sorry, Micah.” Her tissues were saturated so he got up to find her the box.

     “I know, Bonita. But couldn’t we just try to have a good time?” He handed her the Kleenex. “I’m going to go book your room. Be right back.”

 

Father, thank you for these characters, the words, the love story. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Throwback Thursday

If you ever wondered how I turned out to be the way I am, my two-year-old self said it all right here. 

 

Thank you, Lord, for watching over me my entire life, for being so gracious to me from the beginning. I love you, Lord. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Reviews

Reviews matter. Here are a few words from those who enjoyed this love story. 

"Putting a long-haul trucker in the story made me think there was going to be some bad guys dealing in drugs or human trafficking. But the action in this story goes much deeper and is much more profound than stopping a crime and putting a criminal in jail."  

"This story has such a great message. In addition to that, I loved all the characters. They seem like real people. The main character Micah is a widower, and the portrayal of his response to losing his wife is so beautifully written."

"Nicole Petrino-Salter lives up to her tagline--Raw*Romantic*Redemptive--in SEEING, a unique story of how God rescues and heals the broken and a romance demonstrating agape love."

"Petrino-Salter also captures the pain, anger, shame, and defensive attitude that so often manifests in the lives of women who have been sexually abused. Bonita has a difficult time receiving love and acceptance from someone who does not want to use her."

Deepest thanks to those who've taken the time to read and review any of my novels. Your words matter so much. 

 

Father, please bless my readers whoever they might be. May my words bless them in some unique way. Thank you for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Tuesday Tunes

 

The best version of this sacred song by Twila Paris so many years ago. Thank you, Jesus - it's never enough. Resurrection Day is coming. If you don't know Him as your Savior, believe me when I say there's no better Friend. It's time to meet Him. In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus. 

 

 

Who is . . . The Keeper

The Keeper by Charles Martin is the fourth installment of A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series. 

Reviewing a Charles Martin novel is always difficult because I want to begin with superlatives, high praise and recommendations, and all the rest of it which makes me sound like a typical fan-girl raving about a favorite author. While I'm not disputing the prior claims, I will take exception to the "typical" reader status - which is certainly not a slam to any "typical" readers. I take exception to the term(s) because I'm an author of love stories. And, believe it or not, I'm a very picky reader about everything I read and like and review. As those of you who know me have seen me write ad nauseum, I only read a very few romance novelists - because most romance novelists don't necessarily write love stories. And because Charles Martin (aka David Bishop in this series - just kidding) writes the most insightful and unusual love stories, he is in my top five all-time favorite novelists. 

So. In Book 4, it begins with the extreme loss and mourning of Murphy ("Murph" aka David Bishop) Shepherd's mentor "Bones" (aka Ezekiel Walker). The one who taught him everything he knows about toughness, skills, rescuing those who've been stolen and trafficked, and delivering them back to their crushed families or to the "city" in the Rockies they've built to honor and heal their lives called "Freetown." Murph is devastated with no end in sight until he absolutely has to pull it together for another critical rescue of three young girls who belong to someone who is not only a special and longtime friend, but he is also the Vice President of the USA. 

A young former Spec-ops man ("Camp") who looks at Murph as his mentor - an uncomfortable designation for Murph - readies their small team for this daunting job. They have the unlimited videos provided by the VP's home but somehow the team that snatched the girls knew it all and were able to pull it off, leaving 9 dead Secret Service men plus the girls' guardian dogs dead.

The problem is that this has been such a sophisticated capture, it has left very little to discover. Not only that but when Murph receives a call from a specific Senator about unlimited resources available for their help, it strikes a strange chord with Murph, Camp, and the rest of the team listening on speaker phone.

Time is the major factor in reported needs for rescue. This rescue has left the team with virtually nothing to go on. A quick trip to Israel helps in one way but ultimately provides very little other than the offer of unlimited aid if anything develops. 

As with every Charles Martin novel, the layered, deeply investigative plot and subplots wind their ways around the subject of love - and of evil: of how to face, handle, disrupt, crush, and live another day to do the same again. The victories come with consequences, some with joy and others with horrific, long-lasting scars. 

Now some more superlatives: Charles Martin is an exquisite master of words, writing beautifully captured metaphors, images, and descriptions, characters that speak to you in familiar ways causing you to identify with them and those who repulse you in their depravity, plus authentic, well-researched information with weaponry enthusiasts will absolutely love. For those of us who write, it's positively inspirational to read one of his novels. I love this series and if any one of my references here move you to read these books or any of his others, I contend you won't be disappointed. 

Highly Recommended

 

Father, you know Charles' emotional makeup. You created it for him to use for your glory. Please continue to bless him with the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

 

  

Sunday's Offerings

 

     Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

    "Yes, Lord," she told Him. "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

John 11:25-27 (NIV)

 

Friday Fare

You know you're reading an exceptional book when the author's words cause you to write down their words. Here are two short examples of amazing sentences that evoked a powerful and/or visceral reaction for different reasons while reading them. 

From Kill Shot by Vince Flynn: (page 238, Chapter 29 [hardcover]) 

     LeFevre was an intellectual dynamo with a tireless thirst for the truth and a mind that could quickly dissect the incongruities in an argument, movement, or philosophy. He remembered her saying on that walk, "If communism is so wonderful, why do they control the press? Why do they have to spy on their own people?" 

From The Keeper by Charles Martin: (the 4th book in A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series)

     Evil is the currency. Power the prize. 

There are so many more lines and authors with remarkable sentences that move readers to seek after every novel they've written with the objective of reading them all. 

 

Father, you've given such amazing gifts to so many authors. I know these two particular authors would give you all the credit for their amazing work. We miss Vince, Lord, but we're comforted knowing he's with you now. Please bless Charles with everything he needs to continue his calling to write absolutely beautiful literature. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Throwback Thursday

This is a snippet from my novel Destination.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Seemed like no matter how early or late he went to sleep at night, he would wake up at or right around 5 AM. But just the same with the summer sun seeping through the white pine shutters into the shadows of his magnificent room, he reached over to the nightstand and checked his new pocket watch. Five o’ five. He’d always wanted a pocket watch, even as a kid, but he’d never had one until he got out of prison. He hated the sound of the words “out of prison,” but it was foolish to deny the reality. Besides, it hadn’t all been bad. And he knew shortly upon arriving there he had a debt to pay. Funny thing was he learned he couldn’t pay it. Ever.

     He got up and took another shower, so thankful he could in the privacy of this splendid home. He was ready to work, to get his hands dirty, his muscles sore, to sweat. Sweating would be no problem in this eastern Washington desert heat. He put on a pair of his oldest worn jeans and another T-shirt to start with, and he walked out to the kitchen barefoot. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Grams at this early hour, but he suspected she might be up and about, and he was right about that.

     “Mornin,’ son. You an early riser?” A hint of humor danced in her voice.

     He looked at her expression. “You don’t think this is early, Grams?” He smiled at her.

     She took a drink of her Coca Cola. “Ah, I suppose it’s not late,” she conceded. “You know how hot it gets here so early in the mornin’ and all. Truth is I just can’t sleep past four, you know? That Lord is pretty persistent about me tending to my prayer time. He gives me an extra half hour in the wintertime—big of Him, huh?” She laughed.

     Thomas smiled at the petite woman, feeling better than he’d felt since . . . maybe since he was a boy comin’ over here to visit all the time.

     “Coke?” she asked.

     “Yes, ma’am.” A woman after his own heart. “I can get it.”

     “No foolin’ you can,” she said matter-of-factly. “Look, Tommy, I’m only goin’ to say this once,” she began with a look that could’ve brought a soldier to attention.

     He stopped in his tracks.

     “Everything in this kitchen belongs to you and me. You want something to eat—you fix it or look for it or ask where it might be. When we go into town to get groceries or anything else for that matter, I expect you to get what you want as well as what you need, and don’t be askin’ me if it’s alright. I ain’t your momma. Turns out I’m your friend—in fact, I’m more like your sister, you know? In the Lord? So, you and me are goin’ to live here for as long as you want to or as long as you need to, and you’re goin’ to have everything you need to live your life while you’re here. It’s nice havin’ a man in the house again. I raised two sons and had a helluva man—pardon my French, Lord—for a husband. The Lord Jesus has kept me company since, and it’s been good, but I figure He knew when I needed a friend again, and He sent you, Tommy. So, don’t go gettin’ all syrupy about bein’ here and bein’ in my debt—I won’t stand for it.” She actually tapped her cane on the floor to emphasize her point. “Now I know I called you hired help yesterday, and, believe me, I’m goin’ to put you to work. Stupid darn hip goin’ out left me in a fix tryin’ to get some things done, so I’m happy to have your help. But this thing between us is more than just boss and servant—you got that?” and she glared over at him.

     “Yes, ma’am.”

     “Now I know with your kind of conscience, it ain’t goin’ to be easy at first gettin’ all comfy cozy here right off the bat, but I ain’t kiddin’ ya when I say make yourself at home. This ol’ place has been empty and way too quiet for too long. I expect you to live here, you understand?”

     “Alright, Grams,” he said quietly. “I’ll try.”

     Grams softened a bit. “Son, I don’t know what all happened to ya over there in Seattle, but it’s over. You better start livin’ your life anew now because, let me tell ya somethin’,” and she paused and took in a breath. “You of all people know that sometimes it just up and goes away. Life is a precious thing, Tommy. We only got so many days. Make the most of ‘em, son, because if ya don’t, your time here has all been wasted. The Lord has somethin’ special for you, Tommy. Mark my words. He does. So you better be settin’ your mind to findin’ out what that somethin’ is or you’ll be miserable for the rest of your days. You hear me?”

     “I do.”

     “Alright, let’s drink our coke, and then we’ll get started with our work for the day. Sound good to you?”

     “Yeah, Grams,” and he managed another smile.

 

Father, characters, words, stories I love. Thank you is never enough. Please, keep me writing, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

My novel audience . . .

What defines my novel audience? I write love stories with a passion, heavy on the romance with a Christian theme. They portray the world as it is, romance as it's felt and acted out (without graphics), and these factors are what give it the Raw Romantic Redemptive identity. Let's take a look at those who are likely not to be my reading audience. 

If you're a fan of the standard romance novel that follows the formula of "boy meets girl, sparks fly, conflict develops, misunderstandings disrupt, more conflict, couple makes up (graphically in secular fiction), and so on until there's finally resolution and either a happy ending or a satisfactory one," chances are you might not be my audience.

If you're a diehard secular "steamy romance" fan, there's definitely heat in my stories but zero graphics, so, no, probably not my audience.

If you are solidly opposed to an organically spiritual plot point woven into the relationship discoveries, you're not one who's going to read my work.

If you're a Christian who, no matter how frustrating or maddening a circumstance presents itself to be, is never once tempted to utter a foul word, you probably will find a way to be offended at some of my characters. (No graphic language is used.)

If you're a Christian and prefer that the sexual attraction and temptation(s) that accompany it are not realistically portrayed (with no graphics), then you are not my audience. 

So who's left to read my work?

If you came to know Jesus after having spent a part of your life in the world, you'll identify with many of my characters.

If you've found that you really enjoy "love stories" as opposed to formulaic romance novels, you might enjoy one of mine.

If you believe in the power of the Lord to redeem people in hard places, you will find those redemptions in my stories. 

If you love true romance from the moment of sizzling attraction to the challenges faced by that attraction, you will appreciate its portrayal in my novels. 

That's the rough draft of those who are not and those who are my reading audience. 

 

Father, I can never thank you enough for my stories. You've given them all to me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Tunes

 

 

 

Great group. Great songs. 

Father, may each one know from whom their talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

Monday Musings . . .

So. There are things authors willingly discuss, and there are things some authors will not discuss.

Engage an author about a particular novel they've written or the characters they've created, and you've got a conversation that will go for as long as it takes to cover it all. 

The taboo topic is politics. Rather than risk the wrath an opinion might induce, many authors are completely silent about how they feel concerning this subject. 

I understand. If an author has readers at the other end of a political spectrum, chances are an opposing confession can alienate those readers. 

I've been insulted for my outspoken thoughts in the political arena by those who've never read my novels but saw fit to criticize them anyway. 

I will not stand down. It's not something I can do. But that's just this author: not a bestseller, not known, but a writer nonetheless.  

 

Father, you make us all. Unique and yet so many similarities. We live in this flesh, and one day this flesh will live no more. You've numbered our days, and you know the number of hairs on our heads. You're amazing. Thank you for rescuing and redeeming me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Sunday's Offerings

 

Evil will slay the wicked;

   the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems His servants;

   no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:21-22 (NIV)

Friday Fare

So much to be said about beauty. Talk about it being in the eyes of the beholder, the person examining it with their eyes. Does it impact their emotional awareness? Does it excite them with a gasping reaction? Is it so stark and startling that adrenaline is released? Is it so tiny or intricate amidst its gigantic counterparts? Is it so vast as to overwhelm its location. 

What does beauty look like to you? I imagine you might get a slew of examples clambering for recognition in answer to that question. 

The Lord God Almighty did not have to leave this fallen planet with any beauty to contrast its sinful state. But He did. And the incredible collection of all types of beauty is here to point man to His divine hand in its wondrous creation. Just one of His many gifts to fallen man. He alone created beauty. And He couldn't resist leaving some of it for human creation to see and experience. That they might look to Him and seek the vastness of what He has to offer.

Thank you is never enough. Thank you, Jesus. Help us to always seek you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Throwback Thursday

Not too long ago. My only mystery/police procedural. 

Father, thank you for keeping me steady on this one when you knew it would be hard for me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Please keep me going on this present novel. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

Who is doing . . . The Haunting of Hallows House

The Haunting of Hallows House (The Casebook of Atticus Priest 3) by Mark Dawson

Mark Dawson was born to write the Atticus Priest novels, including the recent novellas narrated by his assistant/partner private investigator "Jez." Atticus Priest is one of the most fascinating characters - not entirely unusual with all of his idiosyncrasies because many characters have them. It's just that his social skills are also unique, and he really has no time to mess around. Where there's a mystery needing to be solved, he wants to get about his business. Atticus is one of my all-time favorite characters. And his partner "Jez" is the perfect sidekick, filling in the necessary blanks that Atticus usually omits. 

Hallows House has been purchased by a wealthy couple unaware of the magnitude of the folklore surrounding this ancient, one-family-owned mansion/estate. The last of the local family was forced to sell it because of his rising debt. With the residual money that remained, he purchased a local pub in this small English town and did his share of ranting about having to sell it and to whom. 

The wealthy couple hoped to make it into a fabulous hotel/resort for an elite clientele and really didn't take into account how the townspeople might react to their presence and intentions. When things began to crash and go boom all over the house in the middle of the night, the crazy stories of Black Nell whose bones reside in a coffin in the basement are starting to make sense. So much sense that they enlist the services of Atticus Priest to determine what is really going on because they fear the spirit of Black Nell will be their undoing.  

Arrangements are made for Atticus and Jez to stay at the house to discover the mystery. Jez is nervous, not thoroughly convinced there isn't a ghost doing dirt at Hallows House, but Atticus relishes the challenge. 

It's a fun mystery, and Atticus invests his clever mind and semi-secretive ways to uncover what is truly happening in the haunting of Hallows House. 

I highly recommend all of the Atticus Priest novels and these novellas. 

 

Again, Lord, please supply all that Mark needs to do what you've called him to do. Bless him and his family and may they know from whom their talents are given. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Tuesday Tunes

 

Ahh, another great Bee Gees tune filled with e-motion. Gotta love the Bee Gees. 

 

Lord, you've given gifts to us all. Some don't acknowledge from whom they're given, but for all that do, bless them, Lord. Encourage them. Thank you for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Bringing justice to . . . Vultures

Vultures by Mark Dawson is Book 24 in A John Milton Novel Series. 

In Venice, Italy, John Milton becomes aware of a destructive crypto-currency scheme that has robbed hard-working people of their life-savings. It's a polished and convincing ponzi-scheme with testimonies from those who claim to have transformed their lifestyles. The "face" of the presentation is given by a beautiful young Italian woman whose story, confidence, and empathy convinces audiences of all kinds to buy into "True Coin."  

One of Mark's other former MI6 Group characters, Charlie Cooper, joins Milton to help find the head of this outfit, their goal being to recover the money lost to these vultures after shutting them down and legally prosecuting all who are involved. 

In order to facilitate that, John must find a way to contact the female featured in the presentations. After that happens, and she is discovered, she is whisked away to one of the locations occupied by this heartless psychopath leader of True Coin. She intuitively knows it's not a pleasure trip, but she follows orders secretly given her by Milton - even though Milton and Cooper know they're compromised which is the only way they can discover where the leader is located. 

Needless to say, immense precision is needed to pull off the plan Milton and Cooper have concocted, but they do have a few elements of surprise and contingencies. Even with their best efforts, it's almost too late for Cooper and the girl. Almost.

This is an interesting venture, a little out of the norm for Milton. I haven't yet read the Charlie Cooper series, but it was a seamless entrance to bring him aboard in this story. He and Milton formed a good partnership with mutual respect and a cohesive relationship to accomplish their goal. I particularly enjoyed the ending as each of their needs for closure in this case were met. 

I always enjoy John Milton. He's aging realistically and facing it well. Tough as nails and never gives up. A truly good thriller character. 

I highly recommend the John Milton Series.  

 

Father, please continue to give Mark whatever he needs to continue these multiple series. Let him know apart from you, none of us can do anything. Guide him, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.