Dance and Be Glad

Dance and Be Glad Blog Tour

 

History, Mystery and Faith is very excited to be a stop on Melissa Wardwell's Dance and Be Glad blog tour. Pull up a chair and get to know this first time author.

Dr. Michael Emerson is on the cusp of opening his own practice when his brother and sister-in-law are killed in a car accident, leaving him as guardian of his ten-year-old niece, Emily. Even though he is a Christian, he struggles with why God allowed her parents to die? What does Mike know about raising little girls? Widow Jill Matthews has everything she needs: a beautiful daughter, a close circle of friends, and a successful dance studio. She doesn’t need any complications in her life, but when Mike brings Emily to dance class, he seems to be drowning in his grief and efforts to care for the little girl. Jill offers to help him as a friend, but doesn’t count on the feelings he rekindles within her.

Dance and Be Glad is a well-written love story that effectively weaves themes of forgiveness and God’s love through the story. Too many romance novels on the market are fluff pieces that offer cardboard characters and formulaic writing. This was not the case with this book. I could relate to Jill’s and Mike’s struggles with trying to figure out why God allows certain things to happen-the age old question of why do bad things happen to good people. Jill’s girl friends are fun and quirky, without being shallow. Author Melissa Wardwell does a great job of developing Mike and his friends, portraying them as decent, God-fearing men without seeming sissyish or caricatures, as often seen on television.

Giveaway: To celebrate her tour, Melissa is giving away a wonderful package that includes a hand-crafted necklace. Click Dance and Be Glad Giveaway to enter.

Purchase Dance and Be Glad

Melissa's Bio: I am an independently published author of Christian romance.  I wear many hats from one day to the next. I am a devoted wife, basketball and dance mother, teacher, taxi service, friend, caregiver, daughter, sister, and now, published author. Seeing all that is enough to make my head spin. But more importantly, I am the Daughter of the Most High King.

I was raised in and still reside in a little farm town in Mid- Michigan called Corunna. It’s quiet and simple, just the way I like it. If I can’t live out in the country among the corn fields and trees then living in this small town works for me.  My husband and I have been together since high school and have 3 children, all of whom we homeschool. It has been quite the journey, but I couldn’t ask for a better life.

I decided to give writing a try because I needed something to occupy my down time, but after reading  my first draft of my first book, What God Brings Together, I then understood that God had a much bigger plan.  God does not give His children a desire just so that it can go to waste. I never anticipated the journey God would put me on through writing, but I am excited to see what He has in mind for the future.

I have always felt a call to reach out to women and mothers, to encourage them in their lives. So naturally, all my stories revolve around women who are mothers: single mothers, widowed mothers, young mothers, married mothers, and even women who have a mother’s heart but no children of her own.

My greatest hope is that each story touches your heart, gives you hope, or just gives you a moment away from the chaos of life. Lord, knows we have earned it.

Be sure to check out the other stops on Melissa's tour:

July 14: Sue Stinnett

July 15: KarensKrayons

July 16: Chas Rays Book Nerd Corner

July 17: Splashes of Joy

July 18: Blogging with Carol

July 19: Reviewing Novels Online

July 20: Faithfully Bookish

July 21: Jeanette's Thoughts

July 22: Smiling Book Reviews

July 23: His Grace is Sufficient

July 24: Quiet Quilter

July 25: A Bakers Perspective