Aspects of Faith giveaway a success!

God is so good! The journey to completion of Aspects of Faith has been a bit of a whirlwind - in a great way, of course. Never has a project flowed so smoothly or had such a great release.

http://getbook.at/AspectsofFaith

I know this book was given to me, it's not my wisdom, but that of our Savior Jesus Christ who graciously opened my eyes to the truth. I count myself blessed to be able to share what I learned with others. In an effort to make it easily available to as many as possible, I offered the book for free for 5 days. During that time the book hit the top 20 list in its category multiple days in a row on Amazon. At the end of the promotion, 58 copies had been given away in 5 different countries: USA, India, Brazil, Germany, and Canada. That is what I call a successful start for a Christian Faith study guide!



The blessings just keep coming as readers comments start to come in. Author Rebecca Reddell, a fantastic storyteller in her own right, left a wonderful 5-star review on Amazon.



"As a fan of Author April Erwin, I was delighted to read her breakdown on faith. It gave a personal view of faith, the need to believe, and why Jesus isn't a magic button. Her testimonies, as well as her scriptural connections, give the book a more personal and relatable standpoint. I love her writing style and intimate look at a personal relationship with the Lord and how we can benefit from having even a mustard seed of faith. I feel it's a must-read in this day and age when our faith is lacking, and the world is overwhelming."



She also shared the book as a feature on her blog. It's an honor to call her my friend and I'm so touched she wanted to share this testimony of Faith with her readers.



Please click this link to visit her page and explore her many books as well. :)



Rebecca's Write Inspirations: Author April Erwin's Aspects of Faith: Most of us,  sometimes, feel as if our heads are barely keeping above water. Even Avril Lavigne felt that way as she dealt with health i...

NEW RELEASE! Get Aspects of Faith FREE!

NEW RELEASE!

Aspects of Faith is now available at amazon.com. To celebrate the release of this new study guide, I'm offering the ebook for FREE on Amazon. Follow the link to get your copy and please share with your friends and family. Hurry, it's only available October 23rd-27th. 

getbook.at/AspectsofFaith

“Faith is one of the most basic acts of being a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s faith that Jesus is the Son of God who sacrificed himself on a cross and defeated death and sin to rise again so that we could be free, that brings us to commit our lives to Him. I would even say it ’s the first step, because how can you come unto him and repent, if you don’t already have faith to believe He’s real?

Faith doesn’t stop there. Once we make that covenant, then our faith has to continue to grow and become active. It’s that type of faith that I think many of us struggle with the most. I certainly do and I know I’m not alone. It’s not something we often talk about as a group of believers, but maybe we should.

Why, if we have faith in who Jesus is, do we also struggle to have faith in what Jesus will do? Sure, He died for my sins, but can or will He really heal me? Or help me overcome my financial/personal/emotional struggles?

Personal faith in the divine is what I wanted to understand deeper. To go beyond the general or even abstract definition and understand the basic steps that build personal faith. I invite you to join me on my journey to learn the many aspects of faith.”

Enjoy and God bless!

New reviews for Creation's Ballad

Reviews are rolling in for my picture book Creation's Ballad and I'm so excited. It's such a blessing when a project is received so enthusiastically.

If you haven't already, be sure to visit the book's title page on my website for scripture references, bonus artwork, and a really cool video! You can see all of that here: http://www.aprilerwin.webs.com/creation-s-ballad

Want to purchase a copy? getBook.at/CreationsBallad

WINNERS of Dreams of My Heart by Barbara J. Scott Giveaway

Thank you all for participating in Mountain Brook Ink's "Romantic Reads Blog Tour." I hope you enjoyed meeting all the authors and discovering new books like Dreams of My Heart by Barbara J. Scott.
Winners have been chosen, check out who got lucky! :)


KINDLE FIRE (GRAND PRIZE) WINNER:

Steve Weber

$10 Amazon Gift Card Winners (Second Place Prizes):

Will Griesmer
Chanel Monroe
Wendy Newcomb
Trish Musgrave

Congratulations everyone!

Dreams of My Heart by Barbara J. Scott-GIVEAWAY

Song Stuck on the Brain: Trust and Obey. I've been teaching it to my 22-month-old nephew as we learn what it means to obey - and disobey. Time-outs have happened, but overall he's really good. :)

What a great new series! I've always been drawn to stories about marriage to a stranger - Mail-order brides, arranged marriages, marriages of necessity. I find the journey to love in these stores are more intense because the couple has more to lose. Especially in a period story, the option to walk away is less likely forcing them to face their issues and learn to struggle together.

In Dreams of My Heart, Kate and Buck find themselves in just such a position. Their personal histories complicate matters further, but I found their journey touching and inspiring. Historicals like this keep the genre alive and viable.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can A Reluctant Bride and Her New Husband Fall in Love Despite Their Wounded Hearts?
 
Plucky Irish immigrant Kate O’Brien struggles to hang on to her brother’s homestead after his death in a suspicious cattle stampede. If she’s unable to pay off the loan that paid for her ticket to America, she will be forced to marry the banker’s rogue son, Rafe Hamilton.
 
When Kate is attacked by a drunken gang, salvation comes in the form of a total stranger—Texas cattleman Buck McKean. He drives the men off her ranch and spends the night in her cabin to keep her safe. However, his act of kindness poses a profound threat to her reputation, and the two marry to prevent the impending consequences.
 
Kate makes it clear to her new husband that because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather, she’ll never allow another man to control her life. Left at the altar in Virginia City, Buck has made his own vow never to give his heart to another woman.
 
When Kate asks Buck for the unthinkable, her choice endangers both their lives.
Can God mend their hearts and save their love?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Barbara J. Scott: After more than twenty years spent acquiring and editing books by numerous bestselling Christian authors, Barbara Scott has returned to her true love—writing—with this first novel in the Reluctant Brides series. Barbara and her husband Mike live in the Nashville area, where sweet tea is a food staple, with their two Chihuahuas, Riley and Sissy, both rescued from puppy mills. Reading, writing, and research are her passions.

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-J.-Scott/e/B001H6O14M/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarbaraJScott01
Twitter Followers: www.twitter.com/@BarbaraScott01
Linked In connections: www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-scott-17065040/
Pinterest Followers:  www.pinterest.com/barbarajscott01/
Website: www.barbarajscott.com

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:
February 23: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Shannon Vannatter 
February 23: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Caffinated Reads
February 24: Angela Ruth Strong w/ Books, Music, and Life
February 25: Patricia Lee w/ Books N Baubles
February 25: Patricia Lee w/ Miralee Ferrell
February 26: Patricia Lee w/ Christian Shelf-Esteem
February 27: Janalyn Voigt w/ Among the Reads
February 27: Janalyn Voigt w/ Homemade Mythology
February 28: Janalyn Voigt w/ Debbie Lynne Costello
March 1: Barbara J. Scott w/ Kat's Corner Books
March 1: Barbara J. Scott w/ April Erwin
March 2: Barbara J. Scott w/ Petticoats & Pistols

RAFFLECOPTER FORM:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

February #TwitterTales - My Hero in Justice

Are you a Twitter lover? It's a question that usually sparks quite the debate. Recently I've joined with my fellow Solstice Publishing authors to explore a fun trend-Flash Fiction.

What a challenge it is too! Each month an image is chosen and we all write our own independent story centered on the image. What makes it so hard? Writing the story in only 8 Twitter posts with a maximum of  280 characters for each post. That's not a lot of words peeps! LOL

It was fun, though, and I'm looking forward to the next month's story. You can follow mine (and the others too) by going to Twitter and searching #TwitterTales. You'll find mine at @aprilerwin.

Now that February is over, I thought I'd share the full story here for your convenience. Be sure to watch for more Flash Fiction next month.

My Hero in Justice

April Erwin

“Justice Fire Department. Call out!” His voice cuts through the smoke like a lifeline.

“Here.” My voice cracks & my lungs burn. Eyes streaming, I search the dim haze for my rescuer. A gloved hand reaches out.  I lunge, gripping it with what strength I have left. I feel his arms go around me. My body lifts and I feel weightless in his arms. My vision tunnels as I hear him whisper, “You’re safe. I’ve got you.” I sigh in sweet relief.  

The cool air outside fills my starving lungs. I gasp, sucking it down. Settling me on a gurney, he steps back as an EMT straps on oxygen & checks vitals.

The flames engulfing my apartment hiss as timber groans under the onslaught of water.

He's removed his gear & Nomex hood now, revealing a strong jaw covered in dark stubble. Mahogany hair, damp with sweat, plasters his forehead. Gray eyes pierce mine. My stomach quivers & goosebumps run over my skin. I should have known it would be him

I want to crawl beneath his rough turnout coat and hug him for all I’m worth. To cling tight and never let go. “I was so scared, Jack.” I pull the mask down to whisper. “I thought I’d burn alive–that I would never see you again.”

Jack wipes the tears from my face and examines me from head to toe, ending with my left hand. He runs his thumb across the diamond before lifting my hand to his lips. Pressing a kiss to my palm he smiles.  “I’ll walk through fire every day to keep you safe. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”

I chuckle and break into a coughing fit. He slips the oxygen mask back in place and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. My fireman, my fiancé, my hero.

New Release: Creation's Ballad - My first picture book!

NEW RELEASE!! 

I'm so excited to share the debut of my first Children's picture book. The illustrations were done by my mom, Linda and they look awesome. I've been waiting more than 10 years to see this published and I'm so blessed that God has made a way for it to happen. :) 

getBook.at/CreationsBallad

Available now from Amazon in e-book and full color 8x10 paperback.
$7.50 Paperback and $4.99 kindle. Buy the paperback first and you can add the e-book on for just $1.99.

A Valentine for Book Lovers: Cupid's Arrow Vol. 2

Valentine’s Day encompasses romance for all ages. People go out of their way to show their affection for the one they love with flowers, candy, perhaps a special meal. Just how did this day come to be?

Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the third century when Emperor Claudius III of Rome decided young men made better soldiers than those with wives and families to care for. Valentine, a young man who preached the word, felt this was injustice at its worst. He defied the emperor and secretly performed marriages for young lovers in secret. Once his actions were discovered, the emperor ordered he be put to death.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B079SKVC45

Today, we honor his memory by celebrating romance with the one we love. To honor St. Valentine, Solstice Publishing presents Cupid’s Arrow Vol. 2, a collection of tales of love.

An essence of bliss makes everything delicious.

Her last word before kissing him was, “Hush.”

Never say never...

She's not your grandmother's matchmaker.

Separated by the winds of war

They meet time after time…

Can love possibly come again?

Real life isn't a fairy tale... or is it?

Love is a wonderful spell.

Love is a special feeling between couples. The sweetness of caring deeply for each other. A waterfall of romance is brought to you E.B. Sullivan, Jeffery Martin Botzenhart, A.A. Schenna, Adam Zorzi, K.C. Sprayberry, A.J. Kohler, Veronica Peters, Noelle Myers, and Palvi Sharma