Shannon here: Caryl McAdoo shares her inspiration for her latest Historical Romance, Texas Timbers. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an eBook copy, winner’s choice, of books one through six in the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga series. Deadline: Sept 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Caryl:
Have Faith to Trust
First, I’d like to thank Shannon for inviting me to visit Inkslinger. It’s a fun and familiar place I always enjoy!
Though I’ve been blessed to have found my soulmate at sixteen and never been alone in life or prayed for God to bring a man into my life, I can empathize with young—or older—women in that position. I’m not one who likes to be alone. I guess there are few who do; some are better with it than others.
The heroine in my new historical Christian romance TEXAS TIMBERS is a lady in a similar situation.
Autumn Hope Harrell missed her courting years, selflessly caring for her ailing mother, Liberty Worley O’Neal Harrell (GONE TO TXAS, Book One) until her death. Autumn is twenty-nine years old—quite the old maid by 1873 standards—but God . . .
He’s given her prophetic dreams since she was only nine. (LEAVING TEXAS, Book Four) Through the years, they’ve always been for others, never herself. Then one night she dreamed of a man, a lumberjack working in the woods.
Somehow, she knew the night vision was from God and this man, her future husband. Though she knew exactly where to find him in the Sulphur River Bottoms, she had no idea of his name.
Determined, she convinces Pap, the pastor in their Delaware Creek community, that it’ll be all right for her to travel north alone to find this man. She visits Mam’s grave then leaves on her horse not knowing when she’ll return, if ever.
Dallas is her first stop where she spends the night at her sister’s hotel, the downtown Lowell House where of course, sister Charity tries to talk her of going by herself then insists she at least stays with family friends, Henry and May Buckmeyer who live there.
And so her journey begins. The adventure of locating the man—literally of her dreams—and convincing
him she’s for one and perfect for him! She’s certain loving one another will come!
Faith in God keeps her on course, even when the man believes she’s a loony bird.
Nothing deters her, and she never doubts because her Father in Heaven has shown her. From past experience, she knows what He shows her comes to pass.
Now I have been in that place like my Autumn Hope. From experiences, knowing God’s voice and His provision, having the assurance that what He told me would come to pass. Trust is the foundation for such a relationship. When we trust Him—know that we know He is on the throne and in control—we can walk in peace and joy with no fear or worry.
That, dear readers, is one awesome place to be! Because God had been giving Autumn prophetic dreams for so long, she had the faith to trust Him at her young age. It took me many more years, but I thank Him and praise Him for guiding me to this place! I am so blessed!
I hope that reading TEXAS TIMBERS, book seven in my Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga series, will bless you! I believe it will! Though it’s book seven, it is completely a standalone. Of course, reading the other books in the series in order will surely increase your enjoyment!
Most of what I’ve shared is in the first pages of chapter one, so I’ve not given anything away! The story that follows is so much fun! Rife with faith in God, it brings out many principles of God’s Word, including the importance of forgiveness, for yourself as well as others, and trust, not unequally yoking yourself, waiting on Him, caring for others, and salvation.
About Caryl: Award-winning, Christian author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory. Of her best-selling novels, readers love her historical Christian romance family sagas most, but also enjoy her Christian contemporary romances, Biblical fiction stories, her mysteries, and tales for young adults and mid-grade booklovers.
A far majority of reviewers award her stories five-stars and praise Caryl’s characters, feeling as though they come to know them well.
The prolific writer loves singing the new songs God gives her almost as much as penning new novels—hear a few at YouTube! She’s been married to Ron fifty-three years. They share four children and twenty-one grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door. Learn more & connect:
Caryl’s Bookbub Caryl’s Website Caryl’s Newsletter
Caryl’s Youtube (Hear Caryl sing her New Songs!)
Caryl’s Facebook Caryl’s Jigsaw Puzzle
About the book – Texas Timbers:
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains the Lord’s favor . . . is the reverse true?
Can a romance born of prophecy thrive? Autumn Hope knows for a fact that the man she’s to marry cuts timber in the Sulphur River bottoms. She’s seen him in her dreams—exactly where he’s working and goes so far as to buy that block. Of course, she convinces her father she must travel the hundred and fifty miles to meet the man of her dreams. If he isn’t to be her husband, why would she kiss him in her night vision?
The lady’s sudden appearance baffles Sean. Craziness needs a keeper, but how did she ever find him or know his crosscut saw would break? Wounded by lost love, he cannot believe the tall tale the pretty lady is spinning. It has to be a scam, right? God doesn’t work that way . . . or does He?
Read all the Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga series!
GONE TO TEXAS, book one, 1840
TEXAS MY TEXAS, book two, 1841
TEXAS TEARS, book three, 1845
LEAVING TEXAS, book four, 1850
TEXAS TROUBLES, book five, 1860
TEXAS TRAILS, book six, 1869
TEXAS TIMBERS, book seven, 1873
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Caryl’s other titles?
Get your copies now! Caryl’s books – Amazon
Question for Readers: What has God revealed from your past experiences that has given you faith to believe? Something the devil just can’t get you to believe his lies about anymore?
Come back Sept 21st for Delores Topliff!
What has God revealed from your past experiences that has given you faith to believe? Something the devil just can’t get you to believe his lies about anymore? When I was 13 Epilepsy cam upon me. For many years I was under the impression that I was somehow damaged goods. I could not think like everyone else. I was not quick like everyone else. And I certainly could not react like everyone else. I was not like everyone else. So what was wrong with me? I didnt get these feelings from my family. Quite the contrary, they all loved and protected me just the way I was. But I knew something was wrong with me. Was it because I was born 2 months premature? I just could not understand why a loving God would allow this. Then one day at church they announced a womens retreat. Sigh here we went again. I constantly had to say no because I felt that so many women felt sorry for me and I didnt want pity from others. Especially other moms. But one woman who I admired, convinced me to just go with her for the weekend and just enjoy being away from home for those few days. Sigh What could it hurt. I could leave our two toddlers with my husband for the weekend. Actually that really sounded good. Even though I was a stay at home mom, I could use some “me” time. So I went. And I had a great time, and Iearned a lot. And God even put another woman in my path. She was having health issues and just wanted to give up. What? NO So I started talking to her and we would sit and talk or walk and talk. I kept up our relationship after the weekend. God gave me words to use to help her understand that she was not alone, that we needed to lean on each other for strength. She started to come to our church and over the year I could see her blossom and become friends with other moms. God let me know that weekend that my life was His and He gave me life and love because of who He was. Period. Wow. This weekend was 35 years ago. To this day I will not let satan ruin who God has made me to be. I found out that one of my God given gifts is “shepherding” YES!! I love helping other women. And it pulls me tighter with Jesus Himself. Nope, satan can not take that away from me.
Hallelujah, Lori! Thank you so much for sharing! What a wonderful testimony you have! I love it how when God does a thing, He does it so well! We truly serve a mighty God!! <3
I have a winner! Dianna won the drawing. I appreciate Caryl for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.