Today I'm spotlighing a non-fiction book, just because it looked so good. I’m happy to welcome Jacqueline von
Zwehl’s latest release. She will be
giving away a $50 Amazon/BN gift card to one randomly chosen commenter.
BLURB:
Do you Believe in Miracles?
Do you Believe in Eternal Love?
Do you Believe in Answered Prayers?
YOU WILL
The Prayer, A Love Story is the inspirational true story of one
woman who discovers the secret to living a life filled with miracles,
unconditional love and answered prayers.
The journey begins with a divine promise, continues with
unforeseen life challenges, and eventually leads to Jerusalem. Inside the Old
City, a prayer will unlock the key to a life of miracles. This journey is proof
heaven is real and its gifts are available to you now. Whether you have stopped
believing in God or not, God believes in you.
The journey holds a promise for everyone. No matter how much
darkness exists in your life, it cannot diminish the flicker of even the
tiniest light. That light will lead you to your destiny and it will change your
life forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
Destiny
As soon as I got in the car, I
almost changed my mind. I was exhausted. It had been a long week and, quite
frankly, I was not in the mood for a party. Still, I had to go. I’d just say
hello to Todd and leave early, I decided. I fumbled around in the dim light,
looking for the directions. I had gone to Fort Lauderdale only a handful of
times, and I still wasn’t sure how to get downtown.
Todd and I had known each other for
years. He was the friend from Long Island who had organized the dismal raft-up
that made me decide to leave New York. He was one of the most sociable and fun
people you’d ever meet. Once you get on his email list, you’re a friend for
life. That’s how he is. Todd was one of the last people I said goodbye to when
I moved to Boca.
The previous Tuesday night, he had
called. In his classic, larger-than-life style, he said he knew a guy who had a house in Fort Lauderdale, and he and
a big group of friends from Long Island were flying down to stay there for the
upcoming boat show. They were throwing a huge party on Saturday night, and I
just had to be there.
I was not in the mood even early in
the week. I was working long hours at the time, and I was men- tally drained. I
also didn’t look forward to partying with a bunch of single guys from Long
Island. If it had been anyone else but Todd, I would have politely declined,
but we hadn’t seen each other in over a year and a half.
Reluctantly, I accepted, but I added
one little white lie. I told Todd I had a boyfriend. The last thing I want- ed
was for any guy at this party to think I was single. I did not want to get hit
on by any out-of-state guys on vacation. I’d just make a quick appearance and
get home early, I told myself.
I pulled up to the house a little
after dark. It was a spectacular, newly constructed mansion on the inter-
coastal in the Las Olas Isles of Fort
Lauderdale. The home was impressive and stately, surrounded by stunning
landscaping tall palm trees and a gated entrance. Although the house was huge,
it looked quite warm and inviting, as well.
Suddenly, something odd hit me.
There didn’t seem to be a party. In fact, hardly any cars were parked on the
street. I double checked the address and checked the number on the gate.Yes, it
was the right house.Was I too early?
Flashbacks of the cancelled raft-up
went through my mind. The last time I got an invitation from Todd for a supposedly huge event, it turned out to
be a small disaster. I swore that if Todd had invited me to this house and
there was no party, he was going to owe me big time.
As I started toward the gate, my
doubts took over. What was I doing there? I couldn’t hear any music. I
considered turning around and getting back in my car, but just then, someone on
a Harley parked next to my car. He spotted me right away and made his way
towards me. I thought I would look foolish if I turned around and got back in
my car.
The tall man from the Harley
approached.“Hi, I’m Joe.”
“Hi, Joe, I’m Jackie.”
“Hey, Jackie. So, how do you know
Chris?”
“I don’t know Chris. My friend Todd
invited me.” “Oh. I have no idea who Todd is.”
I was starting to feel a bit
awkward, but there was no turning back by then, so Joe and I walked in togeth-
er. From a grand center hall foyer, we stepped down into a sunken living room
accented by a vaulted ceiling and twenty-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The first thing I noticed was the
angel above the fireplace. It was a stunning, hand-carved, six-foot- tall
wooden angel with a four-foot wingspan. I stood there staring at it,
mesmerized. He was beautiful. For a
moment, I completely forgot where I was or how I got there.
I began to notice my surroundings.
This was not the house of a bachelor, as I had assumed. It was defi- nitely a
family home. Family photos were everywhere, adults and children covering every
wall and counter. In the foyer, an ornate antique Bible and a pile of rosaries
graced a coffee table. Crosses and religious pictures adorned every wall. I
could see that this home had been decorated by a mother, a woman of faith. It
was a gracious and welcoming home.
The moment we walked in, Joe had
left my side and slipped through the sliding glass doors leading to the back
deck. Obviously, he’d been there before and knew the house well. I’m not sure
how long I stood there, taking in my surroundings.
I quickly realized there was, in
fact, no party. I was standing in a stranger’s home, completely
alone. No crowds, no music, and definitely no party. Once again, I
contemplated discreetly leaving. Then I heard a voice that seemed to be
addressing me.
“Hey, there. I’m Carlos. How do you
know Chris?” I followed the voice and walked through a break-fast room to get
within view of whoever was talking to me. The voice had come from the kitchen.
A casually dressed guy was seated at the island, enjoying his din- ner, and I
guess he had noticed me standing by myself in the living room. I probably
looked ridiculous just standing there, staring at the angel.
“Hi, Carlos. I’m Jackie. I don’t
know Chris. I was invited by my friend Todd.”
“Who the hell is Todd?” Carlos
blurted out.
At that point, I definitely felt
like I had just crashed someone’s home. What was I doing there? Nothing about
this made any sense. Why had Todd invited me to that house? Why had he told me
there would be a party
there that night? Why
didn’t anyone there know who he was?
I needed to leave, and by then I
didn’t care whether anyone saw me walk out the front door with no explanation.
However, as I made my way back through the breakfast room and across the living
room, I was intercepted.
A dark-haired man in blue swim
trunks barreled through the sliding glass doors into the living room. He didn’t
have a shirt on, just a towel wrapped around his shoulders. He was soaking wet,
obviously just out of the pool. Oh my goodness, but he was cute! He was also
half-naked and smiling at me—and that smile was melting me.
Full of excitement and exuberance,
he put his hand out to shake mine and announced,“Hi, I’m Chris.”
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Jacqueline
von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York
University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the
country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding
their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT
TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That's the
Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in
Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog.
The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book. Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith
based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA
from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a
motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul
mates.
Author
Profile:www.goodreads.com/jackievonzwehl
Amazon Paperback
Amazon
Kindle
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