Experience the Happily Ever After

I want to welcome Jodie Wolfe and thank her for being the first of my Kansas Connections’ guest author, and what better day to introduce this feature than with a romance that releases, today, Valentine’s Day.

Jodie, can you tell us what the theme is for Taming Julia?

I think a lot of Christians are familiar with the Footprints in the Sand poem by Mary Stevenson. One of the most poignant lines is when the Lord said, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.” Let’s face it; there are times in our life that are like we’re hanging on by our fingernails to the side of the boat in the midst of a storm-tossed sea. We don’t always feel God’s presence in our life, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t with us, often carrying us.
At the start of my novel, Jules Montgomery has no idea what it means to follow the Lord. Throughout the book she learns more about God and who He is. She finds that each step of her life, the Lord has been calling her, wooing her to Him.

When her past catches up with her and she’s forced to confront it, she must make a choice about saving her family. Through a series of events she learns that she can trust God even in the midst of a dangerous situation. She can trust that He’s working in her life even when the outcome doesn’t have any hope of changing. In the same way, we can trust God to be working in our life. It’s important to have our heart seeking after Him. We can take comfort in Psalm 61:1-2 (KJV) “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

That is awesome. I remember this seemed to be mom’s favorite poem when I was growing up. Now, I’m curious, what is your connection to Kansas?

I had the opportunity to visit Kansas over 24 years ago when my in-laws moved there to take over as pastor at two small churches. One was set in the country and the other in a small town. My sons and I spent a month visiting them and we travelled to multiple locations. I fell in love with this mostly flat state and so enjoyed all the historical places we visited. It turns out that some of my husband’s relatives lived in Kansas, eventually leaving there and traveling to Oklahoma to participate in the Cherokee Land Run in 1893. I included some of their stories in my book, To Claim Her Heart.

Thank you, again. I’ve really enjoyed Taming Julia. Jules sure is fun.

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

As I said, Jules is a lot of fun. Look for my review on Wednesday, February 19th.