Christian Fiction Blog Hop--March 20th

From my current WIP Luke & the Christmas Decision (Book 1.5 in the Aubrey Christian Academy Series)

“You’re right. I’m cool.” I squeezed Andrea's hand and smiled. Then I let her hand go and slid back in my seat. “You know California is great this time of year. Sunny and bright and a whole lot warmer than Central NC.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” She crossed her arms pretending to be annoyed.

“No, I just thought it might make you think about coming to California with me.”

“What?” Her head jutted back and her eyes widened.

“Yeah, its perfect.” Brilliance had suddenly come to me. It was rash and ridiculous. Everything I usually avoided. “Didn’t you say you had an aunt or uncle in LA?”

“Cousins. Second cousins of mom’s, but…”

“So, see if you can stay with them. Maybe you can get a later flight in a few days. Then I can show you all my favorite haunts. It’ll be perfect.” I covered her hand which had been lying flat on the table.

That’s when I noticed her facial expression. It wasn’t full of excitement with her green eyes lit up at the possibilities like when I offered to drive her to see her favorite pianist play in Charleston.  She drew her hand away.

“Luke, I can’t. First of all Mom and Dad would never approve. Remember my parents? The overprotective ones. You have maybe confused them with some super cool parents.”

“I know I just thought that maybe if you were visiting family they wouldn’t mind…”

“Luke, it’s not just my parents. I can’t go. It’s what I wanted to tell you. I’m going to be in this Christmas Eve concert in Richmond. It’s a pretty big deal. It’s a charity concert and some big names are going to be there. It's a great honor that I was chosen out of my entire class.”

“Sure I get it. It’s important.”

“It is important. I mean you’re important too.”

Now she reached for my hand but I shifted further away and crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s OK, Andrea. You can’t come. I pretty much knew you wouldn’t.”

"I can't."

"You can't."

"You know I'm going to miss you," she smiled with a cute tilt to her head.

I smiled back. "Not as much as I'll miss you. So, come on, tell me about this concert."

I picked up my coffee mug and took another sip. I knew she wouldn't come and yet I’d hoped…I’d hoped that for once I wouldn’t feel second to her music once again.

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Christian Fiction Friday is a weekly blog hop where authors post short (400-word or less) snippets from their current works in progress. It is hosted by Alana Terry and Hallee Bridgeman. - See more at: http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/#sthash.w8U9kl3T.dpuf

Friday Excerpt Andrea & the 5 Day Challenge 3/13

Before she had a chance to answer, I heard my name called out. I pivoted, but I was totally unprepared to see Luke coming right up beside me. My face grew warm again. Oh, please, if only my skin wouldn’t turn all blotchy like it usually did when I blushed. “Uh, hi Luke.” I couldn’t say any more. If I opened my mouth, it would come out in gibberish, I was sure. Lord God in Heaven, if You’re listening, and I know You always are, please, please, don’t let him have overheard what we were talking about.When was that spaceship getting here, anyway? I’d settle for an invisibility cloak, too, just as long as I could disappear.

“Hi.” Luke smiled. 

Why now did his smile make my heart do cartwheels? I’d seen him smile dozens of times, maybe even a hundred, and my heart had never done that before. OK, that’s not completely true. There have been a couple occasions when my pulse tripped upwards, but I just needed some more vitamins or something. 

“I was wondering if we could go over that new proof from yesterday. I’m not sure I have it yet.”

Geometry? He wanted to talk about Geometry. 

My heart fell. I don’t know why I thought it would be anything else. I mentally slapped myself in the head. Of course. He just wanted to talk about Geometry. The quiz today.

“Well, I gotta go,” announced Amy with a conspiratorial smile as she adjusted her glasses and walked off. 

I turned to Luke. “You know, Geometry isn’t my strong subject.”

“I know.” He knew? His answer surprised me.

I stood staring at him for a second. His brown eyes looked a little sparkly as he grinned at me. I must have been seeing things. Yeah, I definitely needed some extra vitamin A.

“If I had to guess, I’d say history is your best subject.” Luke still smiled, in fact, I think it grew. 

How did he know my favorite subject? “Uh, yeah, it is. How…”

He raised his expansive shoulders slightly. “I can tell by the way you speak up in class.”

Class. Oh, yes, because we also had U. S. History together. I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t that much of a coward. I could stand here and look into his eyes…no, I couldn’t. They were somehow more fascinating than ever. I lifted my view to the doorway. “You know, I need to get to my locker and pick up my books for next period.”

“OK, me, too.” 

So, I’m walking with Luke Ryan. He is suddenly very interesting to me and seems to know more about me than I do about him. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Had I somehow walked through Alice’s looking glass without noticing, because this was unquestionably a wonderland.

Available Now at Amazon and other online booksellers 

Review Snippets for Andrea & the Five Day Challenge

"This is my first read by this author and I found it amazing."

"I  absolutely fell in love with Andrea."

 "This was soo good, fun, and such an easy read. I laughed which I love to do and I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book...I really recommend this book to everyone looking for a sweet, funny YA story."

"Going through this spiritual and emotional journey with Andrea was like riding a crazy (good) roller-coaster full of surprises and tests."

 http://www.bookcandystudios.com/

New Release! Andrea & the Five Day Challenge

When people ask me how things are, I usually respond with Good! Busy! Crazy! That has never been truer than the way things have been the last three weeks as I've prepared for this book release. Add to that homeschooling two boys and tutoring a class in Classical Conversations as well. And just to keep it exciting lets throw in a couple snow and ice storms. Somehow it has all gotten done, and today my YA novel Andrea & the Five Day Challenge releases from Pelican Book Group. Even better—you can download it for FREE off my publisher’s website as an eBook. And you’ll make this author really happy if you post a review of the book when you’re finished. Wishing you all a very happy Friday! And if you want to learn more about my book and possibly win an autographed copy, come on by my online release party tonight. 7pm EST. See you then!

https://www.facebook.com/events/743398242443200/

 

Fiction Fridays Blog Hop 2/13

Here is a piece from my upcoming YA Christian novel, Andrea & the Five Day Challenge.

Before she had a chance to answer, I heard my name called out. I pivoted, but I was totally unprepared to see Luke coming right up beside me. My face grew warm again. Oh, please, if only my skin wouldn’t turn all blotchy like it usually did when I blushed. “Uh, hi Luke.” I couldn’t say any more. If I opened my mouth, it would come out in gibberish, I was sure. Lord God in Heaven, if You’re listening, and I know You always are, please, please, don’t let him have overheard what we were talking about. When was that spaceship getting here, anyway? I’d settle for an invisibility cloak, too, just as long as I could disappear.

“Hi.” Luke smiled.

Why now did his smile make my heart do cartwheels? I’d seen him smile dozens of times, maybe even a hundred, and my heart had never done that before. OK, that’s not completely true. There have been a couple occasions when my pulse tripped upwards, but I just needed some more vitamins or something.

“I was wondering if we could go over that new proof from yesterday. I’m not sure I have it yet.”

Geometry? He wanted to talk about Geometry.

My heart fell. I don’t know why I thought it would be anything else. I mentally slapped myself in the head. Of course. He just wanted to talk about Geometry. The quiz today.

“Well, I gotta go,” announced Amy with a conspiratorial smile as she adjusted her glasses and walked off.

I turned to Luke. “You know, Geometry isn’t my strong subject.”

“I know.” He knew? His answer surprised me.

I stood staring at him for a second. His brown eyes looked a little sparkly as he grinned at me. I must have been seeing things. Yeah, I definitely needed some extra vitamin A.

“If I had to guess, I’d say history is your best subject.” Luke still smiled, in fact, I think it grew.

How did he know my favorite subject? “Uh, yeah, it is. How…”

He raised his expansive shoulders slightly. “I can tell by the way you speak up in class.”

Class. Oh, yes, because we also had U. S. History together. I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t that much of a coward. I could stand here and look into his eyes…no, I couldn’t. They were somehow more fascinating than ever. I lifted my view to the doorway. “You know, I need to get to my locker and pick up my books for next period.”

“OK, me, too.”

So, I’m walking with Luke Ryan. He is suddenly very interesting to me and seems to know more about me than I do about him. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. Had I somehow walked through Alice’s looking glass without noticing, because this was unquestionably a wonderland.

From Pelican Book Group 

 

Christian Fiction Friday is a weekly blog hop where authors post snippets from their current Works in Progress. It is hosted by Alana Terry and Hallee Bridgeman. - See more at: http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/#sthash.xEk5IpD9.dpuf

Christian Fiction Friday is a weekly blog hop where authors post snippets from their current Works in Progress. It is hosted by Alana Terry and Hallee Bridgeman. - See more at: http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/#sthash.xEk5IpD9.dpuf

Christian Fiction Friday is a weekly blog hop where authors post snippets from their current Works in Progress. It is hosted by Alana Terry and Hallee Bridgeman. - See more at: http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/#sthash.xEk5IpD9.dpuf

Christian Fiction Friday is a weekly blog hop where authors post snippets from their current Works in Progress. It is hosted by Alana Terry and Hallee Bridgeman. - See more at: http://www.bridgemanfamily.com/hallee/#sthash.xEk5IpD9.dpuf

Aubrey Christian Academy

In March I have a new book coming out from Pelican Book Group. I am incredibly excited to see this book released. Today I have a special treat for you. It is an audio clip of me talking about the setting for this entire series--Aubrey Christian Academy. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know and I will make some more  audios.