Riding Out The Storms!

Calling all West Virginians! Enjoy this second part of a romantic alliance established by God. Though Cal and D'Cerner know their assignment and they love each other, one is tempted beyond measure and the other's doubts lead to the loss of life. Here's rocking it with hometown girl who loves small communities!  THANKS LONDON COMMUNITY FOR CREATING MEMORIES!

Free eBook Limited Offer!

For a limited time and time is running out--I'm offering a free copy of myBook.to/Sword

If you enjoy this book, there are two others in which Tiffany and Tyson solidify their romance and keep defeating the bad guys. Please review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thanks!

The Purpose of My Books!

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” Toni Morrison

Though I will be the first to admit that I am not a particular fan of Toni Morrison's works, I agree wholeheartedly with her stance about writing. Before I even read this quote, I knew what type of books I wanted to read and wrote them--with the hope that I was not the only one who wanted to read--wholesome literature--devoid of voyeuristic scenes and profanity.

You see, as much as I love mysteries and romance novels, I started avoiding most of those on the market. Most of the suspense and thriller novels are so laced with profanity that I can't get past the first chapter. When that happens, I simply stop reading. The same is true of some of the books that people are trying to pass off as romance, when they're actually only about sex.

I'm not trying to tell other people what to write or how to write it, but I won't read literature that opposes my faith and my stance with moral issues.

Therefore, I've written a number of books--that are romantic in nature without making the reader feel like they're taking part in a perverse act--and have an actual story line, with lovable characters and those the reader can hate as well.

The suspense and thriller novels--are filled with all the stuff we love--intrigue, murder, human trafficking, kidnapping, but no profanity and the characters have developed "alternate" expressions that work well when they are emotionally charged.

I want to see a return of moral values and structures that all can read in the literature produced. So I have accomplished--at least I think I have--this goal with my books. Why am I saying this now? An author on Twitter posted that Indie Publishers should be blogging about their books, not their blogs. I agree and here I am.

I'd love to know what you think--regarding my purpose.  Did I accomplish my purpose or am I just whistling in the clouds of hope?

There are two fantasies for kids and I'm working on the third in the series. In these books, kids are empowered to overcome good with evil by relying upon innate powers within them-- myBook.to/SuperTweens and myBook.to/OtherSide.  Both were written to empower kids between the ages of 10 and 12 and beyond with the latest effort--not yet available. Kids need all the encouragement they can get to do the right thing and to know others see them as worthy and not just a nuisance to be tolerated.

The suspense/thriller works are: myBook.to/Sword about a serial killer in a small town in South Carolina. I introduce Tyson and Tiffany as they team up to find the serial killer. In the second book myBook.to/TNT Tyson is working for the FBI and Tiffany is battling demons from her past, but it is with the struggle they discover who's kidnapping mentally challenged girls and are able to defuse all the bombs the crazy Russian plants, except one. In  myBook.to/ElevatedHijinks Tyson and Tiffany and their team must find Swatere's kids who have been kidnapped as revenge against Tiffany. They find the kids, but will a blazing mountain fire defeat their attempt to rescue them?

Two of the romance novels are based upon two ministers who meet over the phone and begin the journey that is overwhelmed with obstacles. myBook.to/Gifts begins the story, but even after they overcome the barriers set before them, others attempt to cloud the issues in myBook.to/Storms.  The last romance is more secular in nature, but still provides insight into matters of the heart and love without being erotically perverse. There is a wonderful story line in myBook.to/MoneyTalks about love, trust and betrayal.

There are many more found on Amazon--mostly Christian Living and can be accessed through this link  viewAuthor.at/maryglobal.  My goal with this post is to entice you to read my books and let me know if I have accomplished my purpose. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Unfailing Love!

"the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:11 NIV)

As we approach the day many celebrate as a demonstration of their love for another (Valentine's Day), we see that God's unfailing love is not like our "temporary interest" love.

Of course His love for us is not "Eros" but "Agape" and God's love cannot be measured in time or by our standards. His love towards us--is infinite, immeasurable, enduring, no matter what. He did not "fall in love" with us, so there's no falling out of love with us--as we do with others. He simply--loves us!

The Lord delights in those who have a "reverential" fear (hold Him in reverence as an authority in their lives) and know that His love--will never fail. Do we dare have that kind of love for any other human being? I think not! Human beings do not have the capacity that God has to love us--no matter what we do.

The problem with our society and its understanding of love is that it has confused the word "love" with "lust" and this is why "romantic" relationships--sometimes flounder. We are attracted to other people because of one attribute or another, but it is primarily based upon our reaction to people that is stirred below the waist, not a heart-response. That is the lust in us for another.

The "romantic" relationship that begins with the heart (and no other body part involved) is the one that is more like God's love towards us and it means we love the person simply because we are to love them--whether we like what they do or not. Let's face it--none of us are perfect and we all have our shortcomings and habits that may annoy someone. But are the habits and shortcomings enough for us to "stop loving" the other? When we understand God's love towards us and allow His love to fill us to overflowing, that love should be overflowing onto everyone we come into contact and when the heart connects to another heart of like-minded interests, the love should stand the test of time and strengthen the relationship.

So, while planning the perfect celebration for your love interest, make sure your love is based upon The Word of God, you have received His unfailing love, and you are in a position to hear Holy Spirit to have the very best celebration that demonstrates your unfailing love. When we do things God's way, He delights in us and gives us the desires of our hearts--even to overflowing, unfailing love, coming our way!

Mightier Than The Sword--Live on Amazon!

The day has finally arrived when you can enjoy my completed project--after 15 revisions, but worth the wait. Mystery/suspense worth the read available on http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ/

Books always make a wonderful gift for everyone!

Deceptive Storms (excerpt 1)

She sat with a glass of wine in her hands, swirling the burgundy liquid slowly, reflecting, contemplating her life.  Taking a luxurious sip, she sighed and wished for more than what she had.  More money, more house, more of a man, more happiness—just more of everything.  Leaning back on the black leather chaise in her living room, she closed her eyes, glass still in hand.  Her thoughts vacillated between what was and how she was going to fast forward. 

“If I could just shake the past and move on, I’d be alright,” she thought.  “I just need to shake the past.”

Her past was a multicolored debacle.  One misstep after the other.  She tried hard to think about the last time she had actually done anything right.  She couldn’t remember.  Brain cells only seemed to recall the squirmy situations she had created or fallen into.  Fallen into—with deliberation.  She shook her head at her own recriminations.  Deciding to traipse down memory lane, she focused on the first real love of her life—the love that had left her dangling for years and finally cut off her emotions to the quick.  She had loved the wrong man as so many before her had done, but she just knew—Brian was the only man worthy of her love.  The real tragedy was that Brian was from Loser Street—and just didn’t know how to get off of it.  Appearances can certainly be deceiving.  Hefty and handsome as any movie star, Brian strolled into Charleston Café with his friends, easily the center of attention.

She had seated them at the best table in the house—near a window so they could keep an eye on the object of their discussion—the latest fast car purchased by the racing car company that was based in town.  Sleek, low to the ground, shiny black with yellow pinstripes and the company sponsor listed on the side, it was something to behold.  Apparently, the three men discussing the car thought so, too.  She heard someone say something about the most “horsepower that was legal” and that was as much as she needed to hear.  She really wanted to meet the man behind the smile and the talk. 

Standing at their table waiting to take their order, her eyes shifted from one to another.  The other two men were slightly older than the man talking and she could quickly detect that the younger man was trying to convince the other two to do something.  After taking their order, she deliberately brushed against the younger man, knowing he would have to pay attention, but he didn’t.  He moved slightly and kept talking.  After she had placed their drinks on the table, he glanced at her briefly and nodded.  She perceived the nod as recognition and invitation to something later. 

When they had finished their meal, the younger man eagerly picked up the check while the older men smiled, shaking each other’s hands, ready to go their separate ways. 

“Brian,” she heard one of the men say, “you’ve got yourself a deal.  Come into the office tomorrow and we’ll sign the paperwork.  It’s nice doing business with you.”  They left Brian in the Café.  She had asked if he’d like for her to take the payment to the cashier, but he said no and ordered a cup of coffee.  He leaned back in the chair and openly appraised the woman in front of him.  Heat began to crawl from her toes to her face under his scrutiny, but she smiled as he apparently decided he liked what he saw. 

He rose from the table and left her a tip with a note.  A telephone number.  A number that would eventually lead to more heartache than she could have ever imagined.

She had called him after her shift ended and they made plans for dinner and a movie.  The dinner and the movie were good, but his conversation was mesmerizing.  She couldn’t stop listening to him and encouraged him to keep talking. 

He was one of eight children, his mother was not very healthy and his dad was a truck driver, always on the road.  When he finished school, he decided that he did not like his life and was determined to recreate himself.  He left the hollow that he had grown up in and went to Texas.  There he attended college, but became more involved with racing than books.  When he discovered that he had a knack for driving fast cars, he quickly adapted by attending the races and eventually got a chance to show what he could do. 

He left ten experienced drivers in the dust during his first race.  No one watching understood how he had managed it, but he had easily won the race and a few hundred dollars.  The race itself was addictive, but the money was the jolt that kept him going.  He thought he had finally found his niche in life.  Not only was he good at racing the cars, he was an expert at finding investors to sponsor him in races.  He loved the feel and the smell of the cars, but he loved the stench of the jumpsuits after a race.   More importantly, he loved the attention he got wherever he went. 

“Oh yeah,” she remembered, he loved the attention.  In the three years they dated, she could barely keep him focused on their relationship because of all the attention he received by racing.  Every where they went, people wanted to talk to them.  Alone time was seldom, but he seemed to enjoy her company and she was totally lost to him.   Lost—that’s a word she would remember for a long time.

She thought they were on their way to a march down the aisles when she discovered that he was on his way—to another woman.  She didn’t see it coming.  Never had a clue.  The connecting line had been cut and she fell with a clump, thump, and a bump—heartbroken and hell-bent on revenge.

Available on www.amazon.com and www.smashwords.com Enjoy and review!

Revised Version--When Money Talks!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/373509

New version of "When Money Talks"

Deceptive Storms

This is the cover of my new book--Deceptive Storms.  In life, we face all types of storms--emotional as well as natural.  D'Cerner and Cal (from My Father's Gift) have embarked on a new ministry in a new location and as can be expected, have to learn to weather all types of storms.  Through all the storms--losses and revelations--they maintain their trust in God.  Book will be available within the next two weeks.  Working hard to revise and edit now!  Book Trailer available next week!  Hope you will enjoy!

By the way, I really welcome your comments about the cover. Yea or Nay and why if you'd like to include.