Rambles of a SAHM

My Heart

Every Beat Surrendered To Our Unchanging God

Julie Manning

Christian Living

What if you were told there's a possibility you would not be alive to see this afternoon or wake up tomorrow morning? Do you think you would live differently?

How would this reality affect every single moment of the life you have been given?

Julie Manning was in the middle of giving birth to her second child when doctors noticed an irregularity in her heartbeat. Within six weeks, tests revealed it was no one-time occurrence. This ultra-capable mom, wife, marathon runner, and pediatric nurse practitioner was in active heart failure, finding herself at risk for experiencing a sudden cardiac death.

My Heart is the first-person account of Julie's journey from then to now--from a healthy woman's normal expectations and self-reliance to the surrendering of her dreams, plans, and deepest desires into the hands of our unchanging God. Part retelling and reflection, part in-the-moment prayer journal, her story takes you with honest vulnerability into the jaws of fear and suffering, and speaks realistic hope into your own story, leaving you with well-fought, well-placed confidence for the road ahead. It's what her heart would like to say to you . . . about the faithful, loving, impeccably trustworthy heart of God.

My Thoughts
I think a universal fear of every mother is that something will happen to them while their children are young and they will be left to grow without her. I know it was an underlying fear of mine and that of my friends. In My Heart Julie Manning finds herself facing that scenario head on.
For all intents and purposes Julie's life had been relatively normal. She married the love of her life, she had a very fulfilling career, and they had a darling boy and were soon expecting a second one. Then out of left field an unknown heart condition appears.
I will admit that for the first half of this book I was in desperate need of Kleenex. Julie's story is gut-wrenching. All of those mommy fears came true. Second opinions didn't give different answers. Begging and pleading to God didn't change the circumstances. But what slowly began to emerge was beautiful. In the midst of such brokenness, healing was found. Her heart was still broken but her soul had found rest.
Julie's journey is one that we are all on. We may not have a life-threatening physical condition, but we all have broken hearts that need healing. I enjoyed Julie's willingness to let us look in on her private struggle. She allows herself to be vulnerable in order that you and I will see how Jesus broke through all the changes and became the unmovable and unchanging force in her life. You can't help but be inspired by her words and encouraged to take similar actions in your own life.
Connect With The Author

myheartbook.site

Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook

A Promise To Protect

Logan Point, Book 2

Patricia Bradley

Romantic Suspense

IN A STEAMY SMALL TOWN RIDDLED WITH

BROKEN PROMISES, ONE WOMAN'S SECRET

COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn't heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn't mean he can get her--or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago--out of his head. When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But all too soon, Ben is charged with a different task--protecting Leigh from the people after her brother. With Leigh doing everything in her power to avoid Ben, it's no easy task. And the secret she is keeping just may change their lives forever.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Patricia Bradley is quickly becoming one of my favorite romantic suspense writers. In A Promise To Protect she takes us back to the little Southern town of Logan Point. Ben Logan has been appointed acting sheriff while his father, the elected sheriff recovers from a shooting. Logan Point is usually a sleepy little town but an uptick of crimes seems to have coincided with the return of Dr. Leigh Somerall.

Leigh grew up in Logan Point but was from a not so upstanding family and earned a bad reputation through some of her antics. She was interested in Ben but he didn't take notice of her until college. Their romance seemed to be a match made in heaven until one fateful encounter changed everything. She's now a respected physician and decided to return to Logan Point to be close to her only brother Tony. Leigh has a very big secret to hide but the longer she's in town the trickier it is becoming.

From the opening scenes of the book there is a murder and it looks like Leigh may be the next target. But as with every good suspense book, everything isn't as it appears. Could Ben really be the target? If so, who's behind the attacks and why?

This fast-paced novel will keep you guessing up until the very end. Layer by layer the story begins to emerge of secrets, scandals and outright lies. I think you will enjoy uncovering the mysteries surrounding Ben, Leigh and the other residents of Logan Point.

A Promise To Protect is book two in the Logan Point series. Book one is Shadows of the Past. Each book can easily be read as a stand-alone title, but of course I think you'd enjoy reading them both.

Connect With The Author