Tender Grace by Jackina Stark

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Tender Grace
Bethany House (February 1, 2009)
by
Jackina Stark


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I have also spoken nationally and internationally at many retreats and seminars and enjoy running into many readers and former students. I have written frequently for both Christian Standard and Lookout, periodicals of Standard Publishing. Years ago I wrote two non-fiction books, published by College Press, but currently out of print. These days, I’m exploring fiction. My first novel, Tender Grace, will be released by Bethany House January 30, 2009, and a second, Things Worth Remembering, will be released in October, 2009. I’m working on new projects, including a third novel, as time permits. Whether speaking or writing, I love the opportunity to tell about Him whom Jesus called “Holy Father” and “the only true God.”

She lives in Joplin, Missouri with her husband, and she spends most of her free time doing is reading and writing. That is what she usually do when she's not teaching, enjoying the children and grandchildren, or sitting on the back porch drinking a Diet Coke and watching her husband till the garden!


ABOUT THE BOOK

Audrey Eaton awakes at three in the morning and gets up to retrieve her husband, Tom, from the recliner where he has fallen asleep watching a ball game. But when she enters the living room and looks at his gentle face in the soft lamp light, she knows their time together is over. Grief attacks her until all she can think about is how much she wants her old life back. Determined to find healing, she embarks on a journey to the one place Tom and she always intended to visit but never did. Along the way, she discovers, through shared experiences with friends old and new, the meaning of the "tender graces" God provides each and every day.

I've quit reading--even bestsellers, even the newspaper, even my Bible. I've also quit listening to music. This lack of appreciation for things I once loved is beginning to define me. More mornings than I can count, I say to myself before I open my eyes, "I don't want to do this." In the days shortly following Tom's death, that made sense, but what does it mean now? That I'm in trouble? One of the best qualities of the former me was thankfulness. As I was trying to sleep last night, needing Tom to be curled up behind me, his left arm slung across me, I realized to my horror that I couldn't remember the last time I was truly thankful. I think of a line from an old hymn: "Awake, my soul, and sing." I miss Tom. I also miss me. Determined to find healing, Audrey Eaton embarks on a trip to the one place she and her husband always intended to visit but never did. When things don't go as planned, will she embrace the unexpected graces that guide her journey?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tender Grace, go HERE




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Posting Information

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764205757

Author's picture is:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SEqw5pQH9F58pfdrlJaurn_EnNelmpwv77HE0MUeHRz5cCHWJgk3AwhTbQLT08Fg9V0GrHkfCYmVGBqAi6rvngqa_lwfd7WSuIXfD6A1lCarfJBxuyyPICbcqiyt42I3gihn/s1600-h/profile_pic01.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SEqw5pQH9F58pfdrlJaurn_EnNelmpwv77HE0MUeHRz5cCHWJgk3AwhTbQLT08Fg9V0GrHkfCYmVGBqAi6rvngqa_lwfd7WSuIXfD6A1lCarfJBxuyyPICbcqiyt42I3gihn/s320/profile_pic01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303980432117920946" /></a><br />


The book cover photo is:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsnYoFjZ8UNnCjJXg3d54ar3jxBio7_FmVo3cn8AUNIV9f78gUcit8DYm48TvNHVmN_i5dBgaNEOcOsoh5IT4Jbz5fWhAVGd7cejAvlhI0DVml8yHMfIN6lX0CGvAsQt0HH2T/s1600-h/tendergrace.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsnYoFjZ8UNnCjJXg3d54ar3jxBio7_FmVo3cn8AUNIV9f78gUcit8DYm48TvNHVmN_i5dBgaNEOcOsoh5IT4Jbz5fWhAVGd7cejAvlhI0DVml8yHMfIN6lX0CGvAsQt0HH2T/s320/tendergrace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303978653518115346" /></a>

The code for this post is: <div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/1600/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/320/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif" border="0" /></a></div><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;">This week, the</span></center><br /><center><a href="http://www.christianfictionblogalliance.com/"><span style="font-size:100%;">Christian Fiction Blog Alliance</span></a></center><br /><center><span style="font-size:100%;">is introducing</span></center><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764205757">Tender Grace</a></span></center><br /><center>Bethany House (February 1, 2009) </center><br /><center>by</center><br /><center><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><a href="http://www.jackinastark.com/">Jackina Stark</a></span></center><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ff6600;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SEqw5pQH9F58pfdrlJaurn_EnNelmpwv77HE0MUeHRz5cCHWJgk3AwhTbQLT08Fg9V0GrHkfCYmVGBqAi6rvngqa_lwfd7WSuIXfD6A1lCarfJBxuyyPICbcqiyt42I3gihn/s1600-h/profile_pic01.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SEqw5pQH9F58pfdrlJaurn_EnNelmpwv77HE0MUeHRz5cCHWJgk3AwhTbQLT08Fg9V0GrHkfCYmVGBqAi6rvngqa_lwfd7WSuIXfD6A1lCarfJBxuyyPICbcqiyt42I3gihn/s320/profile_pic01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303980432117920946" /></a>I have also spoken nationally and internationally at many retreats and seminars and enjoy running into many readers and former students. I have written frequently for both Christian Standard and Lookout, periodicals of Standard Publishing. Years ago I wrote two non-fiction books, published by College Press, but currently out of print. These days, I’m exploring fiction. My first novel, Tender Grace, will be released by Bethany House January 30, 2009, and a second, Things Worth Remembering, will be released in October, 2009. I’m working on new projects, including a third novel, as time permits. Whether speaking or writing, I love the opportunity to tell about Him whom Jesus called “Holy Father” and “the only true God.” <br /><br />She lives in Joplin, Missouri with her husband, and she spends most of her free time doing is reading and writing. That is what she usually do when she's not teaching, enjoying the children and grandchildren, or sitting on the back porch drinking a Diet Coke and watching her husband till the garden!<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffcc00;">ABOUT THE BOOK</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsnYoFjZ8UNnCjJXg3d54ar3jxBio7_FmVo3cn8AUNIV9f78gUcit8DYm48TvNHVmN_i5dBgaNEOcOsoh5IT4Jbz5fWhAVGd7cejAvlhI0DVml8yHMfIN6lX0CGvAsQt0HH2T/s1600-h/tendergrace.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsnYoFjZ8UNnCjJXg3d54ar3jxBio7_FmVo3cn8AUNIV9f78gUcit8DYm48TvNHVmN_i5dBgaNEOcOsoh5IT4Jbz5fWhAVGd7cejAvlhI0DVml8yHMfIN6lX0CGvAsQt0HH2T/s320/tendergrace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303978653518115346" /></a>Audrey Eaton awakes at three in the morning and gets up to retrieve her husband, Tom, from the recliner where he has fallen asleep watching a ball game. But when she enters the living room and looks at his gentle face in the soft lamp light, she knows their time together is over. Grief attacks her until all she can think about is how much she wants her old life back. Determined to find healing, she embarks on a journey to the one place Tom and she always intended to visit but never did. Along the way, she discovers, through shared experiences with friends old and new, the meaning of the "tender graces" God provides each and every day. <br /><br /><em>I've quit reading--even bestsellers, even the newspaper, even my Bible. I've also quit listening to music. This lack of appreciation for things I once loved is beginning to define me. More mornings than I can count, I say to myself before I open my eyes, "I don't want to do this." In the days shortly following Tom's death, that made sense, but what does it mean now? That I'm in trouble? One of the best qualities of the former me was thankfulness. As I was trying to sleep last night, needing Tom to be curled up behind me, his left arm slung across me, I realized to my horror that I couldn't remember the last time I was truly thankful. I think of a line from an old hymn: "Awake, my soul, and sing." I miss Tom. I also miss me. Determined to find healing, Audrey Eaton embarks on a trip to the one place she and her husband always intended to visit but never did. When things don't go as planned, will she embrace the unexpected graces that guide her journey? </em><br /><br />If you would like to read the first chapter of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764205757">Tender Grace</a>, go <a href="http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2009/02/tender-grace-chapter-1.html">HERE</a>

Jackina can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

Come and Visit with some of those posting for this tour:

Amy at My Life
Andie at Radiant Light
Angela at God Uses Broken Vessels
April at Projecting A
Becky at Savvy Mom
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Caleb at Reviews Plus+
Camille at There is a season
Carolyn at Serenity
CeeCee at Book Splurge
Christy at Christy's Book Blog
Dave at The Plot Thickens
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Debra at Soul Reflections
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
Delia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats
Gina at Upon Reflection
Gretchen at Inspire Me
Heidi at Reviews By Heidi
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy
Jenn at One House Schoolroom Reviews
Jessica at Praise, Prayers and Observations
Kate at A Simple Walk
Kim at Window To My World
Krista at Welcome To Married Life
Kristi at Stamped With Grace
Kristinia at Loving Heart Mommy
Linda at Mocha With Linda
Linda at Reading For His Glory
Lori at Noggin Bits
Melissa at LifeWithTwo
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
Michelle at Michelle's Great Blogs
Nora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Rulan at Fiction Showcase
Sally at Book Critiques
Sunny at That Book Addiction
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tara at Tara's View Of The World
Tiffany at Snapshots Of Life