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. 

A Few Fun Extras From Memoir

I’m still working on my memoir, believe it or not, and I wanted to share a few fun extras from 1997 that won’t make it into the book.

 

August 20, Sarah just asked me to get her the toy dishes to play with. As I walked with her to get them off the shelf, she said, "I'm smiling, because I'm a cute little girl."

 

August 29, Sarah had an ouchy which was irritating her, and she said in frustration, "I wish we were in Heaven!" Caleb agreed, "No crying, no sad, no mad, no dying."

 

September 9, Murray was looking at some mail at supper last night about his and Ping-Hwei's trip to Washington, D.C.for Promise Keepers. It said they would have to all take turns driving, so Murray told Ping-Hwei he would have to take a turn driving, too. Ping-Hwei said, "Uh-uh! Police take me to jail!"

 

September 11, Rebecca was complaining about her leg hurting tonight. I told her it was growing pains. Frustrated, she said, "Well, this is the one that always hurts. Is it going to be bigger than the other one?"

 

September 14, Last night Rebecca said, "When I grow up, I'm going to kill a big bug and cut off its face and save its eyes for a treasure."

 

October 10, While we were waiting for the bus this morning, Caleb said, "Sometimes I can feel myself grow if I stand really still."

 

October 17, This morning the three little rascals were playing while waiting for the bus. Caleb was Sarah's son, and she left him with Rebecca at church, because Rebecca was his Bible Schoolteacher. Later Rebecca was going to visit Sarah and Caleb in their home. She called them for directions. Sarah said, "Go straight on the street from the church and--" Rebecca said, "I'm not at the church; I'm at my house." Sarah didn't miss a beat. "Go to the church. Take the road straight, turn left, then right. . ."

 

October 23, Murray was cutting fingernails and toenails tonight. Caleb, when he was referring to getting his toenails cut, said, "Daddy, hang me upside down and do it."

 

Tonight we gave Ping-Hwei the car keys and asked him to put something in the car. He walked toward the door, jingling the keys and said, happily, "Good-bye!"

 

November 3: The other morning, Sarah told me, "I had a dream that Daddy bought a can of soup, but when he opened it, frogs jumped out instead."

 

November 5, At a party last week, Rebecca won for a prize a model of an eye, with wiggly parts inside. When she practices the piano, Murray usually sits with her and watches to help her. This afternoon, I asked Rebecca to practice her piano lessons. She said, "I need someone to watch me while I practice, so I'll get my eyeball."

 

November 24, At supper tonight, Caleb asked, "What if my school was built out of onions?"

 

December 1: Ping-Hwei's new nickname is Boss. The other day we were calling him Boss, and he said, "Benjamin, Little Boss."

 

December 22, 1997: The other day Sarah was noticing how many fingers and toes she had, five on each hand and foot. After she'd added them she said, "We have twenty things we can wiggle."

Sarah was playing with Benjamin's little musical bunny this morning, and noticing that its hands and feet and ears moved. She said, "He's moving his arms like he's praising the Lord."

 

December 25, The other night we had vegetable juice to drink for supper, but for simplicity sake, we told the kids it was tomato juice. Caleb picked up his glass and said, "I smell celery." Sure enough, when Murray checked out the ingredients, one of them was celery.

 

From memory-pictures I give to Murray at Valentine’s Day:

Whoa! What's going on here? You're at the library, and you've just slammed your finger in the car door and broken it. You grab Benjie and run in, handing him to a friend who works at the library. She shows you to a bathroom to run water over your finger. Soon another lady you know at the library comes in, acting very worried about what has happened. Then she calms down, says, "Oh, I thought it was the baby," and leaves you, although you're bleeding profusely. 

Living and Active, God's Gift

I never want to forget to thank God for the gift of his word.

 

I’ve been a reader and student of the Bible for 45 years. I’ve read every part of it a number of times.

 

And yet, often as I read, hope and delight in the nature of God still comes to me as if it’s something I’m hearing for the first time.

 

Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow,

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

What a miracle, to have God’s speech, living and active in our life. He knows our hearts and thoughts. He knows what we need to hear and understand from him at any moment.

 

Such a wonderful gift. Such a wonderful promise.

 

We can’t remember all that we need to remember. We don’t have the answer for needs that come our way or to those we care about. But, we have a glorious, living source.

 

John 14:25-27: “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Lamentations 3: 21-23: Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

More Summer Recipes From Kathy's Kitchen

ICEBOX BROWNIES

 

I haven’t made this one for years. I think it’s time.

 

Ingredients:

3 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs

1-1/2 cups nuts

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

½ cup margarine

12 ounces chocolate chips

 

Directions:

Melt margarine and chocolate.  Add graham cracker crumbs, nuts and milk.  Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan, and press the mixture into it.  Chill in refrigerator several hours, until firm.  Cut into squares.  

 

After my last post from Kathy’s Kitchen, my friend, Author Sharon K Connell, sent me a recipe she enjoys during the summer.

 

This recipe is just off the cuff. I make it for lunch every now and then. It's great for the hot weather when you just want a nourishing meal.

 

Open-faced Quesadilla Supreme

 

One flour tortilla (I use the butter tortillas)

Slice of your favorite yellow cheese (I like Colby Jack for this)

Picante (We like mild)

Sour Cream (I use the low-fat)

Black olive slices (optional)

 

Place the tortilla flat on a microwave plate.

Position the slice of cheese in the middle.

Microwave to melt cheese. (Since microwaves are so different in the way they perform, I won't tell you which setting to use. I use the defrost setting, which melts the cheese, warms the tortilla, and doesn't fry it to a crisp. LOL)

Spoon picante on top with a dollop of sour cream.

Decorate with the olives. 😬

 

Generally, I cut this into four pieces with a pizza cutter. YUM.

 

I replied to Sharon:

 

Well, yum. I'd have to make them only for myself. No one in my house likes olives except me.

 

Sharon wrote back:

 

You don't have to put the olives on them, Kathy. You could put out a veggie relish tray with olives, green peppers, celery, etc. to go with the quesadillas, and everyone can choose what they want on it or eat the veggies separately with a dip. 

 

Well, yum.