Images Used by Permission via Celebrate Lit. |
Raining Fools: The Story
Stephen Gaines and Bekka Winters reunite after years of separation. They had been high school sweethearts until Bekka’s protective brother, Ethan, put a halt to their relationship. Ethan and Stephen had been music partners until a twist in their relationship sent them down separate paths. Now Ethan and his love, Haley, are working hard to build a future together around a warm and cozy small town bed and breakfast business. In addition to helping Haley build her bed and breakfast business, Ethan is working on opening a recording studio, but he needs Bekka’s and Stephen’s help to get started.
Bekka and Stephen must work together to create the video needed to help Ethan open his studio. Bekka swears she will never let Stephen back into her life. Is she capable of keeeping Stephen locked out of her heart?
Stephen comes into town with problems of his own. His life is complicated by a few real world realities to which many readers are bound to relate. Can he become the man Bekka deserves? Can he break the barriers she has set in place to protect her heart?
While Stephen and Bekka work together on the video, they notice Ethan’s peculiar habits that reveal a big secret. What are Ethan and Haley hiding?
What I Like About the Book
I like that most of the characters in Raining Fools seek God’s plan and direction for their lives. Young readers will surely be impressed by the example of the young people in this book.
I like that Mrs. Castle weaves real world problems and spiritual battles in her story.
I like that the reader will witness a steadfast faith in some characters and changed lives in others.
I love that the reader will realize that a person’s past holds no stronghold over his or her future when he or she allows the Lord to rule the heart.
About the Author
Jackie Castle, Author of Raining Fools |
Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins entertaining tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild.
Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through her imaginary worlds in search of another story.
Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle’s Story World: www.jackiecastle.com. There you can also sign up for her monthly newsletter.
Guest Post from Jackie Castle
I’m best known for my fantasy series, The White Road Chronicles, and I love the make-believe world of Alburnium. But as these stories have traveled towards the ending, I’ve decided to venture into a more modern world. I enjoy a good, clean romance as much as anyone else, and I love writing stories about communities where people band together for the greater good.
So, I came up with Madison Creek, a small town on the verge of dying out. But the people there aren’t ready to give up. They decide that if they band together, maybe they can revive their little lakeside town and make it thrive.
My husband is from Michigan. I’m from California. We met in the middle: Texas. He’s adapted quite well to the south, loving the hot summers, hot food, and well, he simply likes being warm. Though I miss my moderate California, I’ve also grown to love Texas. Whenever we travel up north to visit his family, we lament over to lack of flavorful food and the ability to stay warm. (Even in the summer we’ve had to wear winter coats!!)
We are often teased by his family for how we put two syllables into words such as fire, dead and y’all. (Yes, he’s been in Texas long enough now to have developed a bit of a twang). I don’t know how many times we’ve talked about moving up north to open a BBQ joint so there’d be somewhere good to eat. Except, we both hate the cold and I’m sure I’d never survive a Michigan winter. I spent two weeks up there once in December, and swore I’d never do that again. I mean, 4 feet of snow in one night? Good Lord have mercy!
Basically, that’s how I came up with Haley Madison, the blond Texas gal who inherited her grandpop’s farmland in Madison Creek, Michigan. Her life has been one big mess after another and she’s determined to take this opportunity to set things right. She’s lived on ranches for over half her life and loves to cook a lot of food for folks. (My family was always big on cooking lots of food at holiday gatherings, so it just seems natural.)
Haley ends up meeting Ethan Winters, who she calls the handsome Yankee that plays a violin. The first book, Snow Belle is about how they meet. The second book, Raining Fools, continues Ethan and Haley’s story in the background. But in Raining Fools, you’ll meet Ethan’s sister Bekka and his best friend, Stephen Gaines who have a history with each other that neither cares to remember, except those old feelings they had for each other refuse to go away. Bekka, though strong in her faith, is uncertain about what God wants her to do with her life. Stephen, a playboy with a troubled past, appreciates his friend’s strong faith, but believes God doesn’t care about the ‘little people.’ At least, not until a series of mishaps has him taking a second look at the Winters’ beliefs.
What
I hope people take away from my story beside an entertaining tale, is
that God loves them. That they belong to a kingdom that’s bigger than
themselves. That we are stronger together than apart. These are themes
that readers can find in my stories.
I have several more
ideas for novels and novellas that will continue Haley and Ethan’s
story while we meet various people who visit the B&B when they come
to Madison Creek hoping to start a new life. My hope is that readers
will come to enjoy visiting this quirky little town as much as I do when
I write the stories. Texas might have its spicy food and natural
ruggedness, but I do love Michigan’s wild beauty and kindhearted folks. I
just love it more in the summertime.
Blog Stops
November 3: Quiet Quilter
November 4: Bibliophile Reviews
November 5: Daysong Reflections
November 6: Proud to be an autism mom
November 7: Reviewing Novels Online
November 8: Janet Pecorella
November 8: The Power of Words (Spotlight)
November 9: Moments Dipped in Ink
November 10: A Greater Yes
November 11: Blogging With Carol
November 12: inklings and notions
November 13: Carpe Diem
November 14: Abundant Family Living
November 15: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
November 16: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
Giveaway
In honor of her tour, Jackie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! Click the link below to enter; be sure to comment on this post to claim your nine bonus entries for this giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/a81d
You’ll find Raining Fools by Jackie Castle here.
Images Used with Permission via Celebrate Lit. |