Guest Author, Sharon K. Connell

Today’s guest author is Sharon K. Connell.

 

I love Sharon’s stories. I’m sure you will enjoy this one too.

 

 

Please allow me to introduce you to my latest release, Trust Never After. A story of romance, suspense, and mystery set in the farm community of central Minnesota.

 

First a little about Trust Never After. The story was prompted by the area where my mother was born and raised. As a Chicago city girl, I spent many summers in Menahga and Sebeka, Minnesota, falling in love with the people and their way of life. I never thought of myself as wanting to live there, but as of our promotional tour to Menahga this past August, I can see that now.

 

Here is a blurb and endorsements from the back book cover.

 

Shattered by her experience in the big city, can a country girl ever trust again?

 

Máire returns to Menahga, Minnesota, but her troubles are far from over. She’s drawn to Ethan, who can’t escape his guilt. Will they overcome the hurdles life has tossed in their paths? Or will the source of Máire’s distrust follow her and cause pain for her… and those she loves?

 

“With Trust Never After, Sharon K. Connell has woven a suspenseful, romantic tale with a rich, descriptive setting and likeable characters. Fans of the genre will enjoy following Máire and Ethan’s story.” –Heidi Glick, author of Dog Tags and Hold for Release

 

“I love reading Sharon K Connell’s stories, and Trust Never After is no exception. Sharon has created a Minnesotan small town romance driven by a heart-stopping suspense plot. With her trademark humor, authentic settings, and carefully crafted Christian characters, Trust Never After is another page turner to add to your collection.” –Megan Short, ACFW Scribes member

 

In writing Trust Never After, I fell in love with Menahga, Minnesota and the beautiful Spirit Lake all over again. So much so that my husband and I plan to leave Houston, Texas and move to Menahga this coming spring. My relatives living up there are thrilled. When it came to the research for the book, my family, living in the area, was of the utmost help to make the story real.

 

All of my novels have a decided Irish influence. However, my mother was Finnish, so this story had to be a little different. Still, I managed to sneak in the Irish theme by making both my lead characters half-Finnish and half-Irish. This was so easy, considering I’m half and half myself.

 

The story starts off in Minneapolis, where Máire has been working in a bank since she graduated from college. There, she met the man she became engaged to, Ryan. After her shocking experience, finding that her fiancé has been unfaithful to her with her own roommate, Máire can't endure the idea of working with Ryan any longer and decides to return to her hometown, determined to never trust another man with her heart.

 

That’s all well and good until she comes face to face with her heartthrob from high school, Ethan, when her parents help her return home. But they can be friends, right?

 

If you guessed that her former fiancé wasn’t just going to let Máire walk away from him, you’re right. How much trouble will he cause her, and those she cares about? And what is the mystery of the death of the young woman Ethan thought he wanted to marry?

 

I hope you’ll give my twelfth book a read. And I truly hope you’ll enjoy it.

 

Thank you for allowing me to present my latest work, Kathy.

 

 

 

 

 

Links for Trust Never After

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1957246006

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/9QyaRXSD5Kk

 

To celebrate the launch of my 12th book, Trust Never After, on September 29th, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time Zone, I’m having a book launch celebration in my Facebook Book Group, The Works of Author Sharon K Connell. I would love for all of you to attend the party. Just click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/516338614013516 and you will be able to join the group and comment on the posts, play the games and puzzles, and get your name onto the spinner to possibly receive one of the gifts I’ll be giving out.

A Variety of Good Things to Read

I like to read about a lot of things. I hope you find something to enjoy.

 

The Mayflower bride by Kimberley Woodhouse. A story of the trials of the Mayflower voyage, with tales of faith, persecution and love.

 

Imposter by Davis Bunn. Bunn is a master weaver in this book of suspense, drawing many threads and skillfully weaving them together, a story full of action and surprises.

 

In the field of grace by Tessa Afshar. A beautiful retelling of the book of Ruth. Boaz and Ruth’s love story, their growing faith in God, and how God brings them joy from their sorrow.

 

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson. A great story of friendship and marriage, suspense and surprises to the end.

 

The Seeds of Change by Lauraine Snelling. A touching story of a family’s trip west on a wagon train after the Civil War, and of the home they find in Nebraska.

 

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin. An incredible novel of the Netherlands during World War II, from 1939 to 1945. Stories of families, their losses and survival, working to save Jews and others in danger, and how they learned again how not to hate. 

The Darkness Has Not Overcome It

John 1:1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 

Lord, we see so much darkness. People hurting people. Illness and death, poverty and tragedy; war and cruelty. The ugliness in my own heart. Often, it’s hard to see hope.

 

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that no darkness can overcome your light.

 

The light in the beauty in your creation. The miracle that you have reached out and still seek me. The comfort of your daily walk beside me. The hope, the truth of your salvation.

 

The darkness cannot overcome you. 

Happy Anniversary

Murray and I celebrated our 36^th anniversary on August 27. Without thinking about it, I caught myself that day singing “Just another woman in love” by Anne Murray. I sang that to Murray when we were dating.

 

That seems like a long time ago. I told our daughter Sarah, “Thirty-six years is ten years longer than I lived before I got married.”

 

It is a long time. We’ve gone through so many things together, good and bad. We have five kids who—the youngest is 26—still make my heart feel like it’s going to burst with joy. We’ve lost family members together. We’ve shared health issues, job issues—we’ve lived in six states.

 

We’ve discussed that we don’t fight nearly as much as we used to. I told Murray, “We’ve mellowed some with age.”

 

Recently, I’ve been thinking again how much I enjoy spending my life with Murray. It’s so good to share every day with someone I’m comfortable with, who I have fun with. So good to share time with someone who makes me laugh. To have someone I can talk to about my biggest fears.

 

And, we’re only in our lower 60s. We could have a lot of years, a lot of anniversaries, yet. However long God gives us together, I know that it will keep getting better. That there will always be support. Encouragement. Surprises.

 

We shared this verse from James when we announced children joining our family. Why wouldn’t I share it for our marriage?

 

James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.