Synopsis:
Lori Strickland (introduced in Tempered Fire) has always been known as her father's "wild child" with no desire to change until she meets ex-bull-rider-turned-preacher Rafe Judson. Her attempts to change her wanton ways come to naught until she realizes redemption only comes with true repentance.
Excerpt:
Lori headed toward Recluse, Wyoming after another round of rodeos where the cash and prizes vaulted her to the next level of achievement. She hadn’t thought of Rafe in months. Hadn’t allowed herself to think of him, and wouldn’t indulge in useless fantasies now.
She’d made peace with the fact she was nothing more than a bad seed and there was no way around it. Oh she tried to be good. She stayed out of the bars for weeks on end, attended the prayer services before or after each rodeo when available, even visited with a group of supposedly devout believers who traveled a state-wide circuit within the national itinerary, but nothing seemed to help or make an impact on her life. Nor had she found the support she’d hoped, only judgment and criticism. Answers to her questions only incited debates until she was scorned for her doubt and unbelief or shunned completely. Maverick was right when he said there was no in between and since she couldn’t succeed at being good, Lori figured she’d be bad.
Just as she had all of her life.
More than once she thought about calling Stanley or Amber or even Lexie for counsel, but was too ashamed to admit the total mess her life was in. She even considered quitting. Just give up and go home. But she was too close to making pro status, too close to the culmination of the dream that began in her heart nearly four years ago.
A dream she once thought came as a directive from God.
Now, she knew better.
God didn’t give success to losers; the devil lured them into it then left them to their own devices no matter how hard they tried to be good. Besides, even at her best, there was no way she’d ever be good enough for a preacher.
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About the Author:
Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”
Find Pamela at:Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter @psthib
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I love the review. Lori sounds like a troubled girl. I would love to read how it is to be on the rodeo circuit.
ReplyDeleteHi Misty! I really enjoyed this story as Lori was a real pain in Tempered Fire. Thanks for stopping by!
DeletePamT
Your characters are so rich and flawed! A "bad" girl on a rodeo circuit? Wow!
ReplyDeleteShe was a 'bad' girl from the get go Susan LOL! I loved this story cause in Tempered Fire she was a real pain...
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
PamT
Hi Pamela, oh how I love your inspiration with an edge! I am so intrigued by this story...I love "anti-heros" who get redeemed and a rodeo is always my place to go! Hugs and best wishes for much success, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya....I do believe everyone would love (hero) Rafe Judson...ex bull rider turned preacher.... I mean who wouldn't.... Right?
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
PamT
I love the idea of watching a bad girl like Lori find her redemption! Such a nice reward for your reading! Thanks for writing this. I look forward to reading it sometime!
ReplyDeleteThanks MJ! Redemption doesn't always come easy as Lori finds out but, like her father says....the farther the fall, the stronger the conviction, deeper the redemption and greater the testimony. :-)
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
PamT