Looking out the Window: Award-winning Author Regina Andrews Shares Thoughts On Jesus and Love. Talks about Her Split Time Novel, Glory of the Heart. Giveaway.
A Warm Welcome to Regina Andrews
Regina will give away a mobi copy of Glory of the Heart. To enter the Rafflecopter contest to win, leave a comment and an email address below.
Gail, thank you so very much for inviting me to visit your outstanding blog. It is always so interesting and enlightening, as well as beautifully presented. This particular topic is extremely engaging and I am so grateful to be included as one of your guests to discuss this subject.
It's my pleasure to have you. Thank you for participating in the series of blogs about Jesus.
Regina shares what she learned about Jesus's commandment that we love one another and how it helps her today.
I can remember Jesus‘s words “love one another as I have loved you“ from when I was very, very young. I was fortunate enough to live right down the street from a Catholic school, which I attended for eight years, from grades one through eight. During that time we were instructed by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion. They were a very formidable order, dressing entirely in black, including black headpieces held in place by a broad white brim extending from their foreheads. (Many years later, I learned that they were affectionately called “penguins“ —but I never heard that when I was a child!)
Attached around their waist was a string of wooden rosary beads. They were worn rather like a belt, and they used to click loudly every time the nuns moved. There was no mistaking when they were there, or what they were there for. They were keeping the peace, instructing us, and making sure that we all behaved!
To me, they seemed like another species, because they were so different from the kids in the school, and the parents. The nuns all seemed to be around the same age and they all looked the same, more or less. On top of all of that, they all sounded the same, too, but drastically different from the kids. This was because the majority of the nuns came from Ireland and they had thick accents. The brogue that they had just made them seem more exotic and mysterious to me and to the other children, too. I had one friend, Paul, who actually used to deliberately get in trouble just to hear them scream and see their faces get red.
But they persisted with instructing us, every day. Especially in our religion classes. This is where I first heard the words “love one another as I have loved you.“ In my childish mind, the words “love one another as I have loved you” were instructions to us from Jesus so that we would all be happy.
As I grew older, though, my understanding of that phrase deepened when I realized that everyone’s value system is not the same. I saw this in high school with kids cheating on tests. It continued through the workplace when I saw coworkers cheating, scheming, and lying just to get ahead. These values were in direct opposition to the values I hold. Then, the phrase “love one another” would come to mind, and along with that, I would remember the nuns, and try to be tolerant.
The dramatic physical difference that fascinated me then translates now as an adult to the invisible differences that we encounter when we come across those who have different values than ours. But I still remember His words in those times when I am tempted to make a sarcastic comment, or pick somebody up on something. And, I remember the nuns who taught me what Jesus said. Most of all, I am humbled by the memories of the wonderful nuns who were doing what Jesus was asking us all to do.
Perrin Marlowe Stafford, a war hero, has shaped his life on the ideals of his father: honesty and hard work. He has pursued a career in the realm of stonework and he is now internationally acclaimed. Returning to Sterling Lakes, he finds a box of letters stashed in the attic of his childhood home. The truth that is revealed in those letters from World War II Italy is a betrayal so deep that it shatters everything Perrin believed about his father and his family. The house is now owned by Police Detective CC Cogshell, a newcomer to town who has moved there from Boston to escape from a dangerous relationship. Only through confronting the past will they each be able to face the future. But will the future be one that they share together?
Excerpt: When she heard the steady pounding again, Cydney “CC” Cogshell realized it wasn't the bass beat of the Christmas music blaring on her headphones. Someone was knocking on her front door.
"Be right there," she called, dusting off her hands on her favorite holiday apron, then brushing her blonde curls away from her face.
Who could be visiting her? She wasn't expecting anyone. She hardly knew anyone, after only moving into her cozy house in Sterling Lakes a few months earlier.
More than likely it was probably yet another visitor looking for Patty O'Malley's Bed and Breakfast, just around the bend and a bit further down the pine-laden road from her Sterling Lakes cottage.
"We have company, Bella!" She gently elbowed her elderly black and white cat, reclining lazily against the icing bowl on the counter. "Mind that icing for me, will you? You know that's for the cookies later on."
Bella glanced up her way, then snuggled in closer to the glass bowl while nonchalantly grooming her paw.
Peering through the sheer curtain, she craned her neck to get a look at who was outside. All she could see through the fairytale snowfall was a broad back in a sheepskin jacket topped with a knit hat.
"Who's he? And he came on foot, not in a car? What's with that?" Right then her cell phone rang. She plucked it out of the pocket in her apron and glanced at the caller ID. "Hi, Patty."
"You busy, CC?"
"Still making the cookies for the potluck supper. And getting the door. There's a guy outside."
"A guy? You're a detective. Who is he?"
"I don't have a clue!"
"Are you getting repairs done on the house?"
"Not yet. I have no idea who he is."
"Is he cute?"
The teasing tone of Patty's voice made her smile. "Hard to tell. Looks like he might have nice shoulders."
"Well, keep him then, honey. Grab him. Time's marching on, you know. Maybe he's your Christmas present, coming a little early. The answer to your prayers."
"No way, Patty, you know me better than that," she answered quickly. "How many times have you heard me say 'I just turned twenty-six, I'm single, and I'm loving it?'"
Patty's hearty laugh rang out. "Maybe so many times, I'm starting to wonder why you keep saying it. Call me later about the potluck tonight. I'll be getting to the church in a little while."
"Okay." SheCydneyC slipped her phone into her pocket, and after another check saw that the man was still standing on her front steps. His breath was making steam vapor clouds against the crimson December twilight.
Opening the creaky wooden door, she gave a small smile. "Hi. Can I help you?"
He turned around and faced her. A friendly smile lit his ruddy face, then flickered and disappeared. "Hello." His expression remained pleasant as he removed his cap and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
She caught her breath. Snowflakes danced and swirled around him, settling on his dark hair and longer-than-legal eyelashes. CC guessed he was around thirty.What wasn't up for guessing was the fact that she definitely categorized him as the walking definition of gorgeous.
What People Are Saying
CC and Perrin help each other heal their past.
“This novel by Ms. Andrews is the fourth book of her Sterling Lakes series. The character portrayals were excellent. It is about CC, the heroine and Perrin, the hero. Their clean romance develops throughout the novel. I felt one of the high points was Perrin and CC going to the attic and discovering the loose board under which Perrin's deceased father stored his journal…that segment of the story really touched my heart. I loved it and Ms. Andrews did an outstanding job.”
Larry Hammersley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read, page-turner, great plot!
Ms. Andrews provides her readers with a tale of the trials and tribulations of life, the hope in trusting one’s faith, and the joy that ensues when in the company of kindness and love. Her vibrant and thoughtful style generates an enjoyable read… A page-turner!
Olivia Hewitt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Worlds Collide
When two worlds collide, will it create something great? In this delightful Christian Romance, we learn about two different couples with their individual trials. One couple is engaged to be married while the other just met for the first time, each coming from two completely different worlds. I enjoyed some romantic humor throughout this story, which makes for a lighthearted read.
Linda Weaver Clarke
5.0 out of 5 stars
on Amazon
Bio: A resident of Providence Rhode Island, Regina is inspired by the beauty of the natural world, especially the stars and the planets. Some of her hobbies include museums, theater, choral singing, classical music, and French culture. She hopes to inspire her readers with the hope and joy of God’s love through her books, which always have a happy ending despite many obstacles faced by the heroine and the hero. And pets play an important role in her books, too…you might be able to tell that she is an animal lover!
Regina is the author of The Sterling Lakes Series: Light of the Heart, Angels of the Heart, Praise of the Heart, and Glory of the Heart. The first book in her new series, Sisters of Sterling Lakes, is titled Reflections of the Heart and will be released soon. She is also the author of stand-alone books such as Spotlight on Love, The Perfect Proposal, and the soon-to-be-released Through Tomorrow’s Door. She has two other series: One is called The Dunbar Falls Romance Series, which includes In Good Faith and Act of Faith. The other series is called The Designs of Life Series and features Destiny's Designs and Designs of Providence (coming soon). Destiny's Designs was awarded 2010 ENovel of the Year AKW Books
Regina enjoys hearing from her readers and welcomes their comments and feedback. Connect with her
on Facebook, Website, Publisher's Author Page and GoodReads
Comments
It's my pleasure to have you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Jesus's commandment that we love one another. Congratulations on Glory of the Heart.
I have read many of her books, in fact nine as I count. Her stories are heart felt and so interesting. I really like clean romance and the obstacles the characters overcome. Thank you, Gail for having Regina and Regina I am looking forward to your next "heart" story.
By the way, Gail I left a comment on Barbara's turn on your blog. Sorry I missed that one last March. I love Bible character stories of the women in the Old and New Testament as you know.
It's my pleasure to have Regina, and I enjoy her stories too as well as yours. Thank you for your support of both of us.