Caryl McAdoo shares the inspiration behind her latest release, Ringing the Belle, plus a chance to win an e-book copy of Gone to TexasGONE TO TEXAS, book one in her ten-book series, the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga. Comment or answer the question in any post dated Nov 4th – 15th to enter the drawing along with 3 other books in my Nov Book Bundle #1. Deadline: Nov 22nd, 11:59 pm central. Here’s Caryl:
Prayer on the Square is Powerful!
Hey, y’all! I’m so glad to be back on the Inkslinger! My newest release, Ringing the Belle, centers around the relationship that grows through prayer on the town square of Clarksville, Texas—my new hometown. Well, I’ve been here seventeen years now, but I still feel new.
Ron and I lived in Irving, between Dallas and Ft. Worth, fifty-plus years before moving to Red River County. Plus, you know how it is in small towns. I think newcomers are ‘new’ until they die—at least to all the old residents who grew up together. 😊
Ring the Belle is book eight in the Affection and Determination – Their Wild West Wins multi-author series. My hero in this love story is a young preacher, Brother Bradley James who’s recently been fired by the Baptist Church folks. Thing is, he knows God called him to Clarksville, so he’s staying until the Lord tells him to do something different. He spends time every day in Prayer on the Square.
Romance comes knocking when a lovely young Southern belle, Millicent ‘Millie’ Coppel comes with a hot meal from the Bistro, where she’s working for her cousins. Brad immediately starts praying for her when he discovers she’s grown up believing all the Biblical stories are fairy tales and that God isn’t real.
One of the reasons I ‘capitalized’ Prayer on the Square above because I go to that same square where Bradley prayed back in 1863! I go to the Square to pray weekly. Every Monday morning at ten o’clock, I pray with a group of Christians until the courthouse bell dongs eleven—well, we oft pray over but are usually finished by 11:30. We’ve been praying on the square three years this month!
It is such a privilege to live in a country where we are free to congregate on the public square and pray for our city, county, state, country, and the world. We pray for those in authority in all those places—that God will guide them and give them wisdom that we may live a peaceable life. We take prayer requests, too, of course.
Just this morning, a council member came to ask us to
pray for her. The Father has answered so many of our prayers! One passerby came into the Kingdom as we led him to pray for salvation, and we’ve have seen many healings.
We pray for the businesses on the square and those all over our little town. We pray for the churches and schools and our neighbors. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Sometimes we sing (I often sing my prayers to the Father.) or shout to the Lord or blow the shofar! On occasion, we take communion and remember Him. This year, we took Prayer on the Square to the Fair and prayed for folks there!
Week after week, the Lord gives us such pleasant weather. On those hundred-degree days, we have shade and the sweetest breezes! On too-cold Mondays or wet ones, we take refuge inside one of the businesses to pray. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Prayer on the Square went viral in this present atmosphere of more God-awareness with revivals popping out all over?
I used to wonder how one could “pray without ceasing” as Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to do like Peter when in prison (Acts 12:5) and mentioned also in 2 Timothy 1-3, Romans 1:9, and back in 1 Samuel 12:23. By Holy Spirit in me, I’ve come to realize it’s a constant conversation with God throughout our day from coming to consciousness in the morning to falling asleep in the evening.
Pray about it. See if the Lord will guide you to gather the prayer warriors in your life to pray every Monday morning at 10 am. Just think what could happen in your town, county, state, and country! The Father promises He will hear our prayer and heal our land if only we humble ourselves and pray.
Also, join our Prayer on the Square Facebook group and share your testimonies of answered prayer!
Reader Question: What has God done for you lately?
I’ll go first! I’ve been so excited! He gave Ron and I a brand new car! We got to pick out the one we wanted and then got to go pick it up. The downpayment, tax, title, and license were paid for us, and the monthly installments are paid for us as well, but it’s in our name. He GAVE us a brand new 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross! And of course, it’s green, my favorite color! See why I always answer “Hey, how are you?” with “I am blessed and highly favored!”
Nov Book Bundle #1
Gone to Texas by Caryl McAdoo, Historical Romance, e-book
The Cowboy’s Missing Memory by Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Contemporary Romance, print
Detecting Deadly Threats by Carol Post, Romantic Suspense, signed print copy
One Last Summer by Becky Sue Harwood, Women’s Fiction, print
About Caryl: Best-selling author Caryl McAdoo, praying her story gives God glory, loves God first, her
husband Ron, their children, and twenty-nine grandsugars, and then writing books—seventy-nine published titled! Her historical family sagas are loved around the world. The McAdoos live in Clarksville, Texas waiting expectantly for God to open the next door. www.CarylMcAdoo.com
About the book – Ringing the Belle:
Give ear to my supplication . . .
Though a Southern belle to the bone, Millie Coppell is not shy about speaking her mind—even when her tongue sometimes lands her in trouble. Delivering a basket of dinner leftovers from the local bistro is supposed to be a quick errand, an act of kindness, not an introduction to a preacher unlike any she’s ever met.
Bradley James, born and raised in Red River County, holds fast to his Christian upbringing. His faith runs deep, his prayers constant, and his outlook filled with hope for trusting God. Fired from his church, he isn’t discouraged but rather, convinced God has planted him exactly where he’s meant to be . . . and perhaps that includes crossing paths with Millicent Jane.
She scoffs at his unwavering beliefs and questions every story he shares, yet cannot ignore the warmth of his kindness—or the way his steady affections stir something new in her heart. Will Bradley’s prayers and steadfast hope wear down Millie’s resistance? Or will she slip away back to Virginia before she realizes God might be ringing the bell of her own heart?
When hearts collide, can love—and faith—ring true?
She delivers food. He delivers hope. God delivers love.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Caryl’s other titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
Ringing the Belle Caryl’s Books
Come back Nov 6th for Shannon Taylor Vannatter!
He helps us grow stronger in our marriage and our service in church!
He’s helped me to appreciate the what I have in my life.
I have a winner for my Nov Book Bundle #1! Sarah Taylor won the drawing. I appreciate Caryl for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.