Favorite Love Inspired Reads

Obviously more a product of my generation than my age group here---- it took me a while to find this new - fangled thing and now that I'm here, I apparently can only comment here!  How do I talk on the historical thread and where are the goals/writing things going to be?

Hey Dream, I've been playing on and off here throughout the day. When my kids got off the school bus, they raced over and have been looking over my shoulder to see what all the commotion is about since I've been talking about it a lot.

My main concern is the tag cloud 'shouting' out the words erotica and sexy at them.

I mean, I know this site isn't for kids, but it makes them wonder what I've been doing when they're at school, you know?

Just my thoughts.

 Anita mae.

Sexy, a problem??  Don't get near Proverbs 5:19 then, it's about as sexy as you can get......

VERY frustrated old maid speaking.......I don't want to be one!!!  If I ever get a husband I'm going to find out all about that passionate love stuff that God made for us to enjoy----the sexy passionate love of marriage.......

As you may have noticed, we removed the tag cloud on the Steeple Hill
area so you'll find the same safe content you were used to on the old
boards.

Dream--please send along my thanks for this. Wonderful customer support. Thanks!

It's probably good it got removed though, I bet this line has younger readers than some of the others....I started out on Victoria Holt's when I was in 5th or 6th grade, I knew that "passionate mushy" stuff was out there, but that was for when you got married.....I never read those "young adult" things, Victoria Holt was the first romance novels I read. 

 If he doesn't propose by the time I finish grad school then I just might turn into a saucy wench and do so myself!!  Or I'll just move somewhere like the Yukon where my odds are better.....

AND---I LOVE that the pictures are much clearer on these boards---they were kind of fuzzy on the old one.

That just occured to me about possible younger readers. 

Sometimes I'd love to and even the friend I mentioned who got married quick after not having male attention for years wondered if "silence" was a no---but first of all, this man is 45 years old and has NOT had a very good picture of how things should be between a man and woman....just because he's not knocking on my door at the moment, doesn't mean he's not it.  It does stretch my patience at times, I wonder why everyone else gets it while I wait and wait.....But I know that I asked God to pick the man out since I was never around any single men at all, I asked my feelings to be clear.  They are and he has been the only one to give me attention, attention that goes beyond "just being nice" and I think we are both learning something that God wants us to know while we wait.  I always figured I was saved for someone real special and I think he's it.  I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd stayed at this church when we first met 5 years ago instead of going back to my old church.  I thought he was too shy and would never speak to me, but when I came back a little over a year ago, he remembered me and that's when this whole thing started. 

I went back to grad school last semester.  I'm getting my MA in Professional Writing and also getting licensed to teach English and History at the same time--I found out it won't take any more time to do that, so I thought that would make a good plan B. With the Professional writing I can get a job in many different companies, I'd kind of like to work for one of my favourite hockey teams!  I had to do something though, my undergrad wasn't doing me any good, I kept making less and less money and was working retail until July.  God decided I was going back to school and since I LOVE writing! 

I totally don't want to read a bunch of physical description, but I totally agree that if you don't have a "zing" or something---maybe you've got the wrong one??  And I agree I don't understand either how it can be a love story and not have some mention of the passion, the feelings that well inside you just seeing the person---feelings can be tricky, it can be real or not, but if you don't feel something, why on earth are you wanting to get attached to that person?  God created passion, and coming from a very demonstrative family, I can't separate the physical from teh emotional--I do not see my brother and just stand there and say "hi."  I give him a BIG sister hug! There are those different kinds of love and if people would read the Bible they would find that God fully intends for us to share the passionate kind with our mates.

  I find myself explaning that Harlequin Historicals run the range from 'sweet' to 'no way I'm reading that one'.  One reason I've chosen to target HH, is for the above reasons, although they are sweet (hey, I haven't even been kissed--my imaginations good, but not that good) ones, I wanted to be able to mention the 'zing' and I'm a good girl, but I do notice below the man's neck and I know from listening to my father and brothers that although good men each, they have eyes in their heads and when like my dad met my mom, he didn't just notice her face and nothing else.  To me that's part of the struggle to stay good Christians, to see that, to have the pure desire in your heart and to still do the right thing despite the tingles in the arm from that handshake!

Well, I definitely don't chase.  I keep on with school and sing in the choir and do my medieval reenacting and continue to be surrounded by married people and women at every turn!  No exaggeration.  I'm not just sitting about waiting, and I'm not chasing anyone.

I have NEVER no matter what I've tried, gotten attention from men.  Period.  None.  I stopped 'trying' a long time ago.  The handful of single males I have managed to come into contact with have shown no interest whatsoever--except for him....Now, because I this isolation I have, and not for lack of trying to meet unattached males, I prayed that God would have the right one speak up, give me attention, and my feelings would be clear.  If he's not it---then no one else has shown any interest, and my feelings are for no one else.  I can't just sit and act like I don't want a man---and once upon a time men wanted women!  I do my work and my play, I do things at church, and I literally have not, until recently, even had unmarried men in my acquaintence.

I am so tired of being around women I could scream.  I have tried to move to other cities with NO luck, God must want me here.  I've asked God if He wanted me to be a nun because of my isolation....I feel safe in saying I got a no on that.  The Church needs to go back to encouraging marriage---like St. Paul said, to avoid you know what.  I want the man God wants me to have, he's going to have to speak up, whoever he is.  My friend, she didn't get any attention from men for 9 years, nothing --- then one day at church she met the guy she's married to, 6 months after they met.  He was quick.  My dad was quick, he was a confirmed bachelor, but when he met my mom, 5 months later they were married.  I think some men have forgotten what to do, they are so surrounded by uppity-feminst women that they don't have a clue what to do when a traditional woman shows up. 

If the man wants a career-minded feminist, he doesn't want me.  God created women to be helpers to men, not to be competition with or equal to them.  If he wants a woman who will be wise with the household budget, cooks well, hates to shop, is bursting with love and affection, loves to go for walks and hiking, enjoys good music and good books, and is active in church, then that would be me.  Yes, we're supposed to be partners, but the man is supposed to be in charge---it's more like a law firm kind of partnership where you have a senior partner and a junior partner.  No, women shouldn't be walked on, but I don't have to be a career-minded, self-absorbed, ladder-climber like some of the single women I know in order to have an opinion and be strong. 

Oh please lla - don't be a nun!

Wow - you're definitely keeping your mind of other things. That's great! That takes care of the sitting, waiting part.

I'm glad to read you're looking to the future as well and have an open mind about moving if that's what the Lord has in His plan for you. (You had me worried for a bit there.)

I will add you to my prayer list. I will pray not only that God's choice finds you soon, but also to give you patience and wisdom while you wait for this special man who/whom? God has hand-picked to fulfill your wildest dreams.

Anita mae.

 "oh, a man is speaking to me!!"   Been there. Know how you feel. At the time, I was so excited, I missed everything he said. Then, I felt stupid.

Ahhh no - what do they say about asking for patience?

Anita mae.

Dream said it, when you ask for patience, God gives you something to test it and I've had enough disaster the last couple of years, so maybe some easing of the 'frustration' instead of patience is what I need.

And Dream, I do know my boundaries, even without ever dating.  I want to be a good girl and I know that what I've got is saved especially for the man.  It's actually something that my Muslim women friends are very surprised about with me---my sense of modesty and that my body is especially for this one man is much closer to theirs than what they get from most "Christians" they see.  He'll have the honour of knowing he's the only one to kiss me, the only one to see my shoulders, my legs, everything is just for him.  And knowing my older sisters and their struggles in waiting for the right man, it's just safer to have the good old fashioned "hands-off" policy!     It is so rough sometimes though!!  Like I said, good thing God has kept men away from me until the right one is ready to speak up!!  And I hope it is him---he is special and should get the chance to know what true love is! 

I'm just dropping in to say "Hi." I finally found this place. I hope I can find it again.

Merrillee 

It's so good to see everybody!  I missed you all while I was unable to get into the site. 

Ila, I'm still praying for your situation. ((((hug))))  Glad you are still studying.  No learning is ever wasted for a writer.  I remember on one of the other threads before we changed formats, someone was saying about some nonfiction book she'd read, and she was applying it to her characters.  ("You know you're a writer when" was the line, I think.) 

Speaking of writing, I am having trouble deciding what to have happen with my Hero.  There's the possibility of something wonderful happening or something terrible, and I can't decide which one would cause more conflict between him and the heroine...   If the bad thing happened, it could cause him to be permanently disabled; on the other hand, if the good thing happened, it could change his career and make the heroine wonder if she's good enough for him....  Ah, the dilemma!  (I miss :coolfrown:)

Desert Dreamer 51,108/55,000 = 93%

Debbie! So fabulous to see you. Spell check is still in the works. So... whatcha writing? When do we get to see it? Tell us all the important stuff. Oh, and what's for dessert?

Hi! If you missed a LI or LIS book and now you can't find it, I may be able to help. I have a ton and I was surprised to find out how many of the series and continuity books I have (all of the Faith On The Line and Faith At The Crossroads as an example). But, alas, with my upcoming move, hubby insists I get rid of them - okay, it really was my idea,  I just don't want to move 1,000 books across the country when I'm never going to have the time to read them again  . So, if you want to take a look at my list and see if any of the books you missed are there and maybe pick them up, here's your chance. www.jandmenterprises.com/mdrwriting/booksforsale.htm.

All books are $.50 each (yes you read that right ) plus shipping.

Michelle

Ok I'm testing this. I just wrote y'all a big long post and it dissapeared!!! I don't know where it went. If this one shows up I'll try to remember what I wrote and try again!!! LOL

Hi everyone,

I must be computer challenged. I had a terrible time trying to find my way over here. I posted on a couple of places last week, but I couldn't find my way back. And I still haven't figured out how to put in my picture or the other stuff. I'll keep trying to figure it out.

Merrillee Whren 

Debbie,

I loved all the pictures on your Web site. I'll have to show it to the lady who does my Web site. I like how you have them scrolling across the bottom. What a cute baby on the cover of your next book.

Merrillee 

and look what ya do to me! Yikes. And this thing HATES me. It didn't want me to post, but I arm wrestled it.

It's good to be back!

Dream, I will try. I may need your help.

Good to see you here, Pammer.

Margaret

Dream - It's nice here.  However, as everyone is, I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing.

Oh, does this thing have spell check?  I hope so, my spullingz louzy. 

Ila - All I can say is if you want to meet men, do volunteer work for the USO.  I just found out that NYS has two USO offices, and the one they just renovated, is quite near to me...so I started volunteering last week. 

Now they're not all single.  I met a married couple in NYC for a short vacation with their son (from Ft. Drum) who got free tix to a show through their little trip into the USO office.  Then there was a young man who had the most adorable itsy bitsy daughter with him, so natch I'd guess he was married.  I tried to give this darling little girl a cookie, but she was shy.

Haven't got a clue what the marital status of the others was...it's not my business.  But there was no shortage of testosterone there. 

I've always supported the troops.  I volunteered in the Protestant Chaplain's Office at the Brooklyn VA Hosp for four years...that was before we took in foster children and subsequently adopted.

In addition to my support for the troops, I count this as research for my writing.  All of my books and book outlines have major and/or minor ex-military types running around.  I learned last week (from the military wife who runs the office) that "TDY" means temp deployment (usually in the USA).  She was wanting to get her hubby out of her hair for a while.  LOL 

I'm also doing something called Operation Shoebox, which has nothing to do with the USO.  I've got a soldier I'm supposed to send a small box (toothpaste, soap, bandaids, books, magazines, etc.).  They'd like a box sent out approx monthly.  The soldier I've got through them is female, I think.  The soldier has to fill in a few brief things about themselves and I think mine is female.  I'm NOT going to be sending a pink hair ribbon, however, in case I read the form wrong and I've got a 6'5", 290 lb MP.

So glad you're finally here.

Glad you made it here!

I haven't even started my bio.  It's too daunting.  LOL