I looked forward to the conclusion of Rowan’s story for months and I was not disappointed at all! This is a satisfying ending of Rowan’s quest to find the secrets that her family has hidden from her for years. She is joined in her quest by Sheriff Billy Brannigan, a hero unparalleled by others in his determination to help Rowan and to keep her alive. I really enjoyed discovering the secrets along with Rowan and following the twisted turns of this tale of a strange family history that is still affecting Rowan’s present. I was happy to find out more about Rowan’s background, especially her mother. I was angry at how inept the FBI seemed in protecting her, choosing to treat her as a suspect instead. My favorite character was Rowan, of course, because she was the central character, one who showed ingenuity and spirit in the face of grave danger. My favorite secondary character was Charlotte, a true friend to Rowan, who is ready to sacrifice all for her. I highly recommend this book to all readers of romantic suspense. Although it is the conclusion of a series, this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book is available to day at your local bookseller and online. Here are links to purchase:

Amazon: The Darkness We Hide

Barnes and Noble: The Darkness We Hide BN

I have got to start by saying that many times over the last couple of days, I have been close to tears. The whole Coronavirus and all of the news coverage, along with my husband’s reports to me once I have turned off the news, have led me to be anxious and upset. So, time to refocus. God is in control and nothing is going to happen today that He and I can’t handle together!

I have started a new gratitude journal as I face the challenge of each new day. I hope that you will all join me in this endeavor. As bad as things are, and the President says that it will get worse, there is always something for which we can be thankful. I am especially thankful for my husband who is my companion in all of this and who has taken such good care of me for the last five years since I had a stroke. I am thankful for being able to pick up a prescription at Walmart without going into the store. I am thankful for grocery pick-up also, again without going into the store at all. I am thankful for my cat Daisy who seems to sense when I am down and cuddles with me. I am thankful for my sister who shares my love of reading. I am thankful that each of my children and grandchildren is healthy now and that I can see them via technology. I am thankful for God who loves me in spite of my doubts, depression and weaknesses and calls me to His side to be refreshed, again and again.

Yes, the days are hard and sometimes seem long. But, God….You complete that statement. There are so many of these statements in the Bible. Just when you think that the situation is hopeless, but God….

Blessings, my dear friends and readers, for a day filled with hope and gratitude. That is how I am approaching today, so I pray that you will join me.

I didn’t sleep very well last night because I gave in to my fears. This is a hard time, especially for the medical workers and first responders. But, it is also hard for those of us who have medical conditions that mean that getting the virus could lead to serious consequences, even death. So, after hearing the President’s speech that we need to stay at home at least another month, I was feeling anxious as well as dismayed. I have been praying, folks, but somehow the enemy sneaked in and captured my attention. How? Well, as I was getting ready for bed, I started itching. At first, it was on my arm, then it moved to other parts of my body, including my head. I did an inventory: no new foods, no new detergents, no new soap. So what was this? What was I reacting to? I read and prayed and fell into a fitful sleep. About three this morning, I got up to go to the bathroom and couldn’t fall back to sleep. In those moments between sleep and wakefulness, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart clearly. This whole Coronavirus thing is God willowing the wheat from the chaff. Now, I have read the Bible numerous times, so I was familiar with the concept but I didn’t really know what it meant. Thus, I was forced to look it up. The grain is what is used to make bread. The chaff is what blows away in the wind or is burned up in the fire.

So, am I wheat or chaff? What are you? Think about it, my friends. The wheat is useful to make bread to feed others. That is our mission that Jesus left us to do. The chaff is blown away in the wind or burned with the fire that never goes out. Are we going to allow this virus to steal our faith in the Everlasting God? Are we going to turn away in fear? Are we chaff? I pray that I will be wheat during these hard times, looking to the needs of others and not just my own. So many people out there are afraid, and they, unlike me and you, are without hope. We need to give the world hope, my friends. I cannot touch the lives of many others in the physical world right now, but I can touch lives online. I am witnessing daily, with Scriptures and positive posts. I am contacting people by Messenger and checking on them. Yesterday afternoon, my husband was urged by the Holy Spirit to call members of our church who are also stuck at home right now. Message, text, call, post. Whatever we can do. Just be kind! We can make a difference, even in the small world that we find ourselves in right now. What can you do today to be wheat to a hurting world?

I hope that this post finds you well and acting like the wheat that God created you to be. Blessings, my dear online friends, for health and safety, and for finding your place in this new world and a way to reach out to our hurting world.

Today is March 26, 2020. My husband and I have been in self-quarantine for a week now. Since we live in a rural area (think trees, lots of trees), we haven’t seen anyone else for the entire time. My husband is planning on meeting our son tomorrow at a closed library in order for our son Scott to pass toilet paper on to us. It all sounds like a covert operation in that Scott will put the toilet paper on the sidewalk then get back into his car. My husband Harry will get out of our car and get the toilet paper. No personal interaction at all! I imagine that they will wave to each other from the cars. Since we may or may not have been exposed to Covid-19, we are taking extra precautions because we don’t want to infect others. Our son in Maryland got sick during our visit, but the Covid-19 response team that he called said they weren’t testing anyone who didn’t need hospitalization. I know he was very sick since he didn’t leave the bed for three days except to get soup or tea. I took care of him as a child and young adult and he always just powered through. Not this time! He had a fever, a cough, chest pain, and digestive issues. Since these are all symptoms of the deadly virus, I am thankful that he got better after about a week. We were already home and quarantined by the time he felt better. Anyway, we continue to watch the news (just not so much that I get into a funk), I listen to Christian music and I read and pray. Daily, I reach out to God and pray for His mercy and grace on our nation and on the other countries where this virus seems to be so destructive. I read Dr. Denison’s sermon this morning and thought that it might benefit my readers since it’s all about dealing with doubt when we reach out to God.

Dr. Denison Dealing With Doubts

Here is today’s prayer from the You Version App, although I must say that I wasn’t too impressed with this particular prayer today. I guess it just didn’t say enough about what my heart is feeling, so I had to add to it. We are a Global Church, but we are also an isolated church now. If you can get out and help others, then do it!

Here is the Scripture that blessed me today, and I hope that it will bless you.

I pray God’s blessing on each of you today as you go through your regular day, quarantined or out and about. If you have prayer requests, please send them along because I promise to pray for you. God bless you and keep you safe and healthy!

Let’s begin with the prayer. You may not like President Trump or whoever is your country’s leader. That’s okay, but the Bible commands us to pray for them. So, here is a prayer to help get you started.

We also need to remember to read and study our Bibles daily, for it is filled with wisdom and comfort.

Finally, here is the good news story of the day:

Jo-Ann Fabrics Offering Free Materials to Make Masks

That is it for today, my friends! Have a blessed day and remember to bless others. If you can’t go out to do that, you can call, text, or use whatever way possible just to reach out. You are blessed to be a blessing!