Earlier this month I released a new Christian romance, Love Meant to Be, Book 5 in my Abundance series. It’s a stand-alone story, a second-chance romance featuring a herione who runs a greenhouse business and hero who puts in a solar farm.
Why a solar farm you ask?
Well, the hero in this book, more than any other hero I’ve written, has strong elements of my husband. Like my husband, the hero of Love Meant to Be makes decisions fast, will do anything for his little girl, and is a big believer in solar power.
As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, we’re moving to our hometown in Missouri after Christmas. Like you might expect, we’re frantically packing, trying to make the move to the new house as easy as possible.
And we’ve already made the new house feel like ours.
The week after the closing, we had solar panels installed.
Back in Ohio, the roof of our house faced the wrong direction and was blocked by trees. Our lot was too small to install solar panels on the ground. We lived in that house for twenty-five years, and all the while, my husband wanted solar panels. Now we have them, and we couldn’t be happier!
Here they are in my new backyard, already collecting sunshine.
Solar panels are quiet, they don’t cause pollution… How could anyone object?
Well, unfortunately for the hero in Love Meant to Be, someone could.
Love Meant to Be
When a big-city single dad relocates to his small hometown to help his troubled daughter, will he find his own happily-ever-after with the girl next door?
Greenhouse owner Meredith Lawson is eager to buy her uncle’s land, including the old family farmhouse. It’s the perfect location for the farm-to-table restaurant she and her sister hope to open.
Widowed entrepreneur Zach Gilcroft, desperate to help his unhappy thirteen-year-old daughter, jumps at a chance to relocate to his Missouri hometown. When he finds a lovely historic home with acreage for the solar farm he envisions, he quickly seals the deal. If the move will land him right next door to a girl he almost kissed in high school, it only makes the property more appealing.
When Meredith learns that her uncle has already sold his farm, she tries to regroup, but Zach unwittingly thwarts her at every turn. When he offers to help her brainstorm new options for the restaurant, the two spend more time together, and she discovers that his emotional wounds mirror her own. Attraction begins to grow.
But when she accidentally endangers Zach’s daughter, triggering all his past pain, their romance shatters, and Meredith is swamped with guilt. Can Zach and Meredith open their hearts to God’s grace, learn the power of forgiveness, and in the process find true love?
I’m giving away a free copy (one Kindle copy, available worldwide) of Love Once More, Book 4 the Abundance series.
To enter, just comment below. I’m still in the Thanksgiving mode, and I’m a big believer that remembering our blessings brings us joy, so I’d love to learn a book that you are thankful for today! If your answer is “The Bible”—an excellent answer, of course!—I encourage you to name a specific book.
I’ll start by saying I am grateful for all the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A.A. Milne. As I’ve been packing, I’ve found things saved from when my children were younger. I am moved by how much joy the Pooh stories brought me as a child and later as a mom sharing them with my own kids. They are just such kind, gentle stories!
What about you? What book are you grateful for?
If you’d like to be included in the drawing, please comment by Tuesday evening, Dec. 1, 2020. One commenter on this post will be chosen at random, notified by email, and announced in a Sunday edition. *Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.*
Sally Bayless writes contemporary Christian romance that features compelling characters, real-world problems, and uplifting endings filled with the power of love. She lives in the beautiful hills of Appalachian Ohio and has two grown children. When not working on her next book, she enjoys reading, watching BBC television with her husband, doing Bible studies, kayaking, and shopping for cute shoes. For updates on her writing and a free insider’s guide to her books, subscribe to her newsletter by clicking the newsletter icon below or visiting http://bit.ly/NewsfromSally.
Solar panels are really good. I am lucky my landlord had them installed on my roof. (of course the salesman said we would make way more money than we did due to the fact the tariff went down before they were installed and has been reduce the past 2 years.) I love not having to pay anything for electricity and actually making some money (which I give to the landlord)
As a child I loved Enid Blyton and about 3 series I read so many times. The magic faraway tree, Mr Galliano’s Circus and the naughtiest girl in school. I read those series so much and kept the books. I almost cried when a friends daughter basically destroyed a couple of the books.
Grace Livingston Hill books got me to liking to read in grade school. My favorite was “Crimson Roses” and ” Happiness Hill” those two are the ones that got me hooked on reading. That school library was my introduction to reading, so many years ago.
For any self help book that helps with anxiety and PTSD.
Solar has long been a dream of mine, but it was way too expensive for us last time we were in a renovation phase. We do have panels on our travel trailer which is amazing because we love to camp out in the wilderness, and it’s nice not having to run the truck to charge the batteries. Next spring we’ll be adding an inverter so we can also charge phones and laptops. I guess then we could also run the blender if we wanted, haha!
I’m thankful for the books of my childhood that introduced me to worlds and opinions and lives far from my own. Hard to even start, but: Heidi, The Five Little Peppers, and Trixie Belden would be a good start.
Growing up I read classics and Trixie Beldon, whatever the book mobile brought once a month. We had to walk at least a mile to get to it. When I was on bed rest with my last pregnancy the librarian helped me discover Grace Livingston Hill.
Books can be so dear and have such a big place in our hearts!
Hope you are having a great weekend and finding new favorites!
Ooh! I loved Grace Livingston Hill. I don’t remember Crimson Roses, but I think I have Happiness Hill somewhere! (Things are a little scattered as we are packing.)
I hope those books help you greatly and bring you peace. May God comfort you as well.
Hi Valerie,
How cool that you have solar panels on your travel trailer! I think we shared the same childhood library. I enjoyed all of those and wore the covers off my Trixie Belden!
Hooray for that librarian! Grace Livingston Hill’s books are always such a comfort! And I loved Trixie!!
I’m grateful for any book by Tamera Alexander. She writes such wonderful historical fiction and I love the details and love she puts into each book she writes.
The earliest books I remember reading, other than Dick and Jane, were the Bobsey Twins, Little Women, the Little House books. I got my first library card when I was about 4, and haven’t stopped reading since! I’ll admit, once I started working, I bought way more books than I checked out from the library at that point! Of course, though, my Bible ranks highest of any book, and I love the books of Daniel, Ruth, Esther, and Jonah the most! Since I live in FL, you’d think I’d do solar panels, but I don’t.
I am very thankful for all the books in the Mitford series by Jan Karon. There is so much strong theology in those books, as well as great story and unforgettable characters. When I retired I reread them all one right after the other–what a treat!
Two of my favorite books when I was growing up were The Little Engine That Could and Charlottes Web. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Hi Megan! Isn’t Tamera a fabulous writer? I had the privilege of taking a class from her at the ACFW conference in Nashville and she is just as delightful as her books!
Hi Trudy! Aren’t books a blessing? I can’t even imagine my childhood without the Little House books. I read them and read them and read them! And Ester is a favorite of mine as well!
I agree–the Mitford books are wonderful! I think I need to reread them myself. A good dose of Father Tim might be just what I need to calm myself during the stress of our upcoming move!
Have you read the Green series by Judy Christie? They remind me some of the Mitford books.
Oh, Alicia, you’ve got great taste! I can still remember when teacher read Charlotte’s Web to our class. What a fabulous book! Hope you have a great weekend as well!
Narnia and several other Lewis books (both fiction and non-fiction). I have also been helped by several IR authors to see hope and encouragement when circumstances are rough. I’ve read so many, though, that I can’t bring any specific titles to mind. I’m already the proud owner of all the Abundance books so no need to include me in the drawing, thanks.
Happy Book Release!
Around here, if you have them in a residential neighborhood, you don’t really reap the financial rewards because the utility is getting the biggest benefit. It’s best–in my region–to live in a rural area where the homeowner reaps the rewards of solar power.
Grateful for Once Upon a Christmas by Amanda Tru. It is a great reminder that sometimes we have only “once”.
“This book is all about “onces.” Every moment of your life is unique and never to be repeated. God chose every one of them and gave them to you for a reason. Whether that reason is something of great importance like helping or serving another or whether that reason is as simple as enjoying holding your baby, each moment has purpose and meaning.”
I loved The Bobbsey Twins, The Happy Hollisters, and Five Little Peppers. And any other books I could grab from the bookmobile. Then a little later, like some other commenters, anything by Grace Livingston Hill.
I honestly have to say I’m thankful for books in general and can’t just name one I’m particularly thankful for. Stories take me to a place I’ve never been before and are a welcome relief from everyday life. Characters become my fictional friends and I start to care about their lives, their families, and love watching a good romance develop between the hero & heroine. I’m SO thankful for Christian authors who not only give us feel-good stories, but who infuse the truth of the gospel and help me along my faith walk with the Lord. I look for those nuggets in a book that speak life into my everyday world.
One book in particular that really impacted me was “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. God used that to set me free of some pretty heavy bondage I had been in for many years! I will always treasure how the Lord used her words to break those chains. I love it when God uses authors to touch readers lives!
Hi Lincoln! Isn’t the work of C.S. Lewis amazing? Such a gifted, gifted writer and thinker! Hope you’ve had a lovely Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Denise! As for the solar panels, we should see some definite benefit, and we will definitely be rural, lol! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Natalya! What a beautiful, beautiful idea. I have not read that book yet, but with your recommendation I definitely will!
Hi Kathy! What great books! I’m finding it fascinating that the same books were so meaningful to so many of us! Thanks for your comment. :)
Hi Trixi! Thank you so much for your comment. I really means a lot to think that as a author I might help others in their faith walk. That has always been my dream. :) And I agree–Redeeming Love is a fabulous, powerful book!