Shannon here: I met Helen Gray at the ACFW Conference in St. Louis, 2011. She was pursuing publication then. Now, I get to feature on my blog with the release of her second historical romance, Ozark Reunion. Comment on any post dated June 9 – 13 to enter the drawing. Deadline: June 21st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Helen:
Ken and I grew up in a small town where practically everyone knew everyone else. But it’s different in school. Young students basically know their classmates and students in the classes right behind or in front of them. But I didn’t know Ken because he was five years ahead of me. It wasn’t until my senior year that I came to know him.
The small rural church my family attended had lost its pastor and been without a shepherd for several months. So one weekend we decided to visit a church up the road that had a young pastor about whom we had heard good things. We enjoyed the service and continued attending there.
One Sunday as we were leaving the service, the young pastor asked me to step aside and wait until he could speak to me privately. I had no idea what he wanted, so was pleasantly surprised when he asked if I would attend a gospel singing with him the next weekend. I said yes, and married him two years later.
In Ozark Reunion the hero and heroine have known one another most of their lives. He is the brother of the heroine’s best friend. There has also been an attraction between them. But they parted ways when Jolene, knowing that she could not marry a man who was not a Christian, tried to lead him to the Lord. Riley left to work for the WPA, but now he is back. And they meet again.
About Helen: Helen Gray grew up in a small Missouri town and married her pastor. While working alongside her husband in his ministry, she had three children, taught school, became an amateur ventriloquist and directed/accompanied church music programs. Now that she is retired and the children are grown, she has resumed the writing she began when they were small.
Her stories are meant to honor God and depict Christian lives and problems as she knows and observes them. If her writing in even a small way touches others, she considers it a blessing and thanks God for the opportunity.
Learn more or connect:
http://www.helenbrowngray.com
https://www.facebook.com/helen.gray.9081
About the book: COMING HOME IS BITTERSWEET FOR RILEY BLAKE
In the aftermath of the Great Depression, it’s time for Riley to start over. And the first step is winning the trust of his Missouri hometown. But it isn’t easy for a man with a troubled past. Especially when his first love, Jolene Delaney, seems to believe that the new rumors about him are true.
After Riley broke her heart, Jolene threw herself into teaching school and caring for her father and little sister. But she knows something is missing from her life. Especially when she comes face-to-face with Riley again. Can he convince Jolene that he’s truly a changed man? Or will he succumb to old temptations and destroy her faith in him once again?
Come back June 11th for Helen’s story behind the story!
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would love to win.
Hi Helen,
Love how you met your husband! Congrats on your latest release!
Cheers,
Sue
sbmason@sympatico.ca
Welcome Angela and Susan,
Last week Ken and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
congrads on your 50th anniversary! It says a lot about you to stay with the same man for that long ! My parents celebrated 56 years together last October before my mom died in april! Love to win your book!
Hi Helen, I so enjoyed your post. I love reading love stories and long marriages. It is a shame that so many marriages do not last. My husband and I will celebrate our 39th this October. Happy writing to you and thank you for sharing your talent.
melback at cebridge dot net
Thank you for the chance to win “Ozark Reunion”. I don’t remember if I’ve read any books by Helen but I have several by Heartsong Presents and like their quality and they are quick reads.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Sheila,
Thank you for the congratulations.
Melanie,
Yes, 50 years together is not very common these days. I’m enjoying my retirement. It’s great having time to focus on writing.
Wendy,
This is only my second book. The first one released in March. The third is scheduled to release in Sept.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. You’re all in Shannon’s drawing.
Helen, I love your real life romance story and HEA! Happy 50th anniversary! May you enjoy many, many more years of blessings!
Your newest book sounds quite touching. I like the setting of a challenging time period. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds like it will be a good book, would be great to win.
This sounds like it will be a good book, would be great to win. Thanks for the chance.
Hello, Sherida. Good to see you here in addition to Seekerville.
I found it touching to research and learn more about that time period.
Galinda, you’re in the drawing.
I first met Helen when I read “Ozark Sweetheart” and I loved it. I was impressed that she married her pastor! What an interesting person. I love the review of “Ozark Reunion” and I would be much delighted to be a winner of this book. I definitely want to read it. I am already following Helen on Twitter and Pinterest and of course, she is a friend on FB. I love her work and I find that I am fast becoming a fan of the Heartsong genre. Thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway.