Alicia G. Ruggieri's Blog: A Brighter Destiny

Hello, dear readers and friends!

You've come to my little nest here for the past couple of years. It's been a wonderful experience, getting to know you each, chatting about books and the way God works in our lives.

Now, I'm incorporating this blog into my new author website. The blog retain its hope-filled name of A Brighter Destiny, but this website gives me the opportunity to share more

It's always a joy to see a new, encouraging series take wing. Today, I'd like to highlight a new novella release - the first in a series - by Amanda Tero. At the end of this post, you'll find a giveaway to celebrate the novella's release. :-)



The Orphan Journeys Series:



Journey to Love (Marie's Story, 1901)



By Amanda Tero







About the Book


Now orphaned, Marie is swept miles

Hello, dear readers! I'm breaking my usual First-Fridays schedule because I have a delightful opportunity for you that I wanted to tell you about. :-)

I'm preparing to redesign the cover for my first published novel, The House of Mercy, so that the softcover and the e-book will "match." I've been gathering ideas for this on a secret Pinterest board for a while now, and I'm really looking forward

This post is part of a once-a-month series on A Brighter Destiny.


February is upon us! Here's what I've been up to and am looking forward to this coming month.


What I'm thankful for: snow enough for sledding in January; the blessing of watching a DVD of Reverend Adrian Rogers' memorial service; warm sweaters and hot coffee; the old hymns sung at a hymn-sing at our church the other evening;

One of the more interesting parts of writing is when my characters do something and God uses that Something to help illuminate the depth of something so familiar to me in the Scriptures.

That happened this week as I wrote through a pivotal scene in book three of A Time of Grace, and I'd like to share my thoughts with you -- maybe you'll find some food for thought, too. :-)

In that scene,

"See then that you walk circumspectly {"looking all around you"}, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5:15-16 {nkjv}



The Holy Spirit has been pressing these two verses on my mind and heart in recent months, and, as I pin a new calendar up on my door and see the year 2016

As a follow-up to my review of A.M. Heath's In the Shadow of Thy Wings (HERE), I thought that you might like to meet the lovely lady who pens the arresting Ancient Words series. :-)

Pour yourself a cup of coffee... or perhaps chicory might be more appropriate, given the Civil War background of A.M. Heath's novels! :-) I know that you'll find her as warm and engaging as I have... and will soon be

Literarily-speaking (if that's a word!), I live in dread and anticipation of sequels to books I love. Do you? :-)

For me, my dread stems from my fear that the second book will - just - not live up to the first. And my anticipation finds its root in my hope that maybe - just *maybe* - the sequel will live up to the high standard set by its predecessor.

So, last spring, when my friend and fellow

Well, December has certainly arrived here in New England!!! :-) We don't turn the heat on upstairs in our house until *we absolutely have to* -- so I am sitting here writing to you all well-wrapped against the cold, a bit like Jo March:


{click for source info}

The advantage that I have over Miss March, warmth-wise, is that I have a pug, whose purpose is To Keep Others Warm. ;-)







Now, in

You asked for it, friends! :-)



A CHRISTMAS SOFTCOVER SALE on the A Time of Grace books, perfect for gift-giving!



From November 27 through December 19, both softcovers of The Fragrance of Geraniums AND All Our Empty Places will be on sale for less than $10 each OR for less than $20 for both!









This offer is available only through Amazon:



http://amzn.com/1503022056



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