This spotlight is going up a little later than I meant to. A crazy weekend (fun, but crazy) meant I barely turned my laptop on the entire weekend.
While I have yet to read any of Faith Blum’s Hymns of the West, she graciously was a part of my blog tour for Dare. I also recently learned she’s a big Louis L’amour fan, so now I have to check out her books. 😉
So without further ado, here is a spotlight on Faith Blum’s recent release Amazing Grace.
Caleb hurried to the post office. He had to get in and out before his sister finished at the general store. “Any mail for the Stuarts?” he asked the postmaster.
The postmaster took a lazy look at him over the top of his eyeglasses and gave a heaving sigh as he turned around to check. “Yep. Somethin’ from Ohio and somethin’ from Montana.”
Tapping his foot, Caleb waited until the large man put the letters lazily in his hand. As he left he wondered why Anna had written someone in Montana and who she knew in Montana. It was really none of his business, but he was still curious. He folded the Ohio letter in half and stashed it in his back pocket. It would get wrinkled, but at least Anna wouldn’t know about it.
As Caleb struggles through some inner battles, he secretly starts a correspondence with a widow and her daughter. Their unabashed faith in God convicts him and increases his inner struggles.
Unable to find a steady job, Maggie places an advertisement to become a mail-order bride. Her daughter, Rachel, is her motivation and encouragement, but if Maggie doesn’t find a job or husband soon, Rachel might not survive through the next year.
Can Caleb learn to trust God despite his past? Can Maggie and Rachel hold onto their faith despite all their trials? What will happen when they meet in person?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TUJTWQK
Excerpt from the Book:
Rachel waited outside the schoolhouse with James while their teacher talked to John and Tobias. Neither of them spoke, even in sign language.
They waited almost a half hour before John stepped out the door.
“What happened?” Rachel asked. “Are you in trouble?”
“Nah,” John said. “He just told me to watch my attitude and I shouldn’t be so willing to pick a fight, even if I was defending a girl.”
Rachel let her breath go rushing out of her nose. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t have wanted you to get in trouble because of me.”
John looked at her with confusion in his eyes. “Even if I would’ve gotten into trouble, it would’ve been my own fault because I knew exactly what would happen when I stepped in. I would have gladly taken a punishment if it meant he wasn’t hurting you. Speaking of which, how’s your arm?”
Rachel shrugged. “I’ll live.”
“You should have your ma check it when you get home.” He looked up at the sky. “And you’d better hurry home before she starts to worry sick about you being so late.”
Rachel put her right hand to her hip and glared at John. “What are you trying to be? My conscience? Mum will be fine.” She spun on her heel and looked over her shoulder. “See you two tomorrow.”
John watched her stride away with her nose slightly in the air and grinned. It was so easy and fun to get her mad. He looked over at James who was staring at him. “What?” he asked.
“Why do you treat her like that?” James signed.
John’s grin grew. “I dunno. It’s fun. Race ya home!”
John waited two seconds to give James a head start before he tore off after his brother.
An avid reader, Faith Blum started writing at an early age. Whether it was a story about the camping trip that summer or a more creative story about fictional characters, she has always enjoyed writing. When not writing, Miss Blum enjoys reading, crafting, playing piano, Captaining on the Holy Worlds Historical Fiction Forum and playing games with her family (canasta, anyone?).
As a history enthusiast who has been fascinated for years with the Old West, Faith has endeavored to create a clean, fun, and challenging Western story. Faith lives with her family on a hobby farm in the Northern Midwest, where she enjoys the many cats they have.
You can find Faith on her Website, Blog, Facebook, and Twitter
If you’d like to check out the rest of the tour (please do, all the interviews have been awesome!), here’s the tour schedule:
April 27………Faith Blum……………….Introducing the Tour
April 30………Jess Strong……………….Book Spotlight
May 4…………Annie Douglass…………..Character Interview
May 7…………LeAnne Douglas…………Book Review
May 11……….Shanna Hatfield………….Character Interview
May 14……….Dee Strawbridge…………Book Spotlight
May 18……….Dawnita Fogleman………Book Review/Author Interview
May 21……….Elizabeth Kaiser…………Author Interview
May 25……….Emily Kopf………………Book Review
May 28……….Kathryn Fogleman……….Author Interview
June 1…………Raechel…………………..Author Interview
June 4…………Faith Blum……………….Novella Cover Reveal
June 8…………Carlene Havel……………Book Spotlight
June 11……….Amanda Tero……………Book Review/Author Interview
June 15……….Jaye L. Knight……………Character Spotlight
June 18……….Claire Banschbach………Author Interview
June 22……….Tricia Mingerink…………Book Spotlight
June 25……….Karilyn Putt………………Book Spotlight
June 29……….Morgan Huenke…………..Book Review/Author Interview
July 2…………Faith Blum………………..The Wrap Up