I’m so excited to welcome fellow historical romance author, Kathleen D. Bailey, back to Romancing History. Kathleen has a timely message for us about how the Babe of Bethlehem is the answer the world needs, at Christmas, and throughout the year.
Kathleen’s newest release, The Widow’s Christmas Miracle, is part of Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza. Here’s a little bit about her new release. Kathleen is also giving away an e-Book copy of The Widow’s Christmas Miracle and a New England Gift pack to one Romancing History reader. Give away details are at the bottom of the post.
From the Back Cover
Red Dawn’s world was shattered in a single vengeful act, an act that brought her to into the home of the enemy. She couldn’t love a white man, not after what they did to her people. Could she?
After losing a limb serving his country, Laban Jones has built a life from nothing. He’s got more than he dares ask for, but what woman would accept a one-legged husband? Can he offer Red Dawn three-quarters of a man, and will she be content with that? The answer they receive on a Christmas Eve is a miracle neither will ever forget.
“The Widow’s Christmas Miracle” is part of Pelican’s “Christmas Extravaganza” and is available at Pelican Book Group and Amazon.
Christ is the Answer
by Kathleen D. Bailey
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
The Babe of Bethlehem is placed under the Last Supper in the Chapel at Our Lady of La Salette, Enfield, NH.
It’s never been easy to be a Jew, and it wasn’t easy in 1 BC. Rome controlled Israel and every aspect of Jewish life, from taxes to burden-bearing. The people longed for deliverance. There was poverty, especially after the Jews paid their taxes. There was corruption, as the local and regional officials took a piece of those taxes. And those earlier days had their own plagues and diseases, including the dreaded leprosy, which could devastate a family for generations.
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
But the Gentile world also longed for a deliverer. Many had had their fill of the made-up gods who weren’t any better than the humans who followed them…the gods who cheated and manipulated and rutted like animals and exploited humanity. They wanted something better. They wanted something real. Learned men from an Eastern land were pretty sure they’d found it. Or Him.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy.”
We live in a world with its own corruption and unfairness. The Coronavirus changed the world as we knew it, every facet of modern life, from ordering a coffee to visiting a loved one in long-term care. Our world has suffered a sea-change, which has left many of us struggling to reach a life preserver.
But He’s already here. He was the Jews’ hope as they lived under the humiliation and rapaciousness of a foreign power, as their dignity was stripped on a daily basis. He was the Gentiles’ hope as they searched for a better way than unscrupulous “gods” who didn’t exist in the first place.
The guest blogger with her family Nativity set some time in the 50s. The wonder never grows old.
I write historical Christian fiction, and I’ve made it my mission to establish Him as the Better Way for my characters. I write historicals because every human emotion, and condition, is magnified by the strictures of earlier times. People on the Oregon Trail didn’t have the CDC to tell them how to deal with cholera. They had to figure it out themselves. Regency heroines couldn’t just go out and get a job when Papa lost his fortune. They had to hope, pray and hang on for dear life until the right suitor came along. Women died in childbirth and desperate men ordered mail-order brides to care for their children. Christ was and is the answer, leading the pioneers to an understanding of that disease, leading the Regency spinster to the man meant for her, helping the lonely widower find love again in a woman he barely knew.
And, Christ was the answer for the young couple in my Christmas novella, “The Widow’s Christmas Miracle.” Red Dawn, the young Cheyenne woman, loathes the white race after two rogue Cavalrymen burn her village and kill her young husband. The last place she wants to be is with white shopkeeper Laban Jones, who takes her in while her brother-in-law tries to avenge their village. She hates whites, and hates gentle Laban by association. Laban lost a leg, ending his Army career, and while he manages on his trading post and homestead, he doesn’t think any woman, especially Red Dawn, wants to be saddled with “three-quarters of a man.”
Who can bring these two stubborn souls together, and help them to be more than the sum of their parts?
The Babe of Bethlehem, who will heal all our diseases – and our land.
About the Author
Kathleen D. Bailey is a journalist and novelist with 40 years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. Born in 1951, she was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a turbulent, colorful time to grow up, and she’s enjoyed every minute of it and written about most of it.
Bailey’s work includes both historical and contemporary fiction, with an underlying thread of men and women finding their way home, to Christ and each other. Her first Pelican book, ‘‘Westward Hope,” was published in September 2019. This was followed by a novella, “The Logger’s Christmas Bride,” in December 2019. Her second full-length novel, “Settler’s Hope,” was released July 17, 2020.
She lives in New Hampshire with her husband David. They have two grown daughters.
Connect with Kathleen on her website, Twitter, Facebook or Linked In. Or if you prefer, you can email her at ampie86@comcast.net.
Giveaway**
This Giveaway is now closed!
Congratulations to our winner, Rebecca Waters!
Kathleen has graciously offered an e-Book copy of The Widow’s Christmas Miracle and a New England gift pack to one Romancing History reader. To be entered in the drawing, please comment below and tell us how, despite the many unique challenges that 2020 has presented, have you seen the light of Christ’s hope in the world reminding you that He alone is the answer?
Rebecca Waters
The challenges of the year have been there, but there is also something incredible happening. Fewer distractions and more time to connect in creative ways. And those connections are leading to new opportunities to share Christ. In a way, I see it as a blessing…a slowing down of the busyness of life. And an opportunity for those around me to ask questions…seeking to know God. One man I know who lives in Europe has for the first time had a glimpse of God. He is an older gentleman who told me he has prayed for the first time in his life, saying, “There has to be something or someone bigger out there.” Yep, it’s Jesus.
romancinghistory
Oh Rebecca, how wonderful! I’ve tried to find those silver linings too. People are resourceful and I think desire to be connected. It’s been a challenge but it’s also been exciting. Thanks for visiting Romancing History!
Karen Malley
I enjoyed this post thoroughly – such a good perspective. Yes, this year has been difficult, but certainly not compared to many more difficult years in history. Even if we don’t go anywhere, we still have access to clean water and fresh groceries whenever we need them. This year, while we’ve been disappointed to miss out on many things, and have missed spending time with extended family and friends, our immediate family is closer than ever, since we’ve had more time with one another. Sometimes God’s voice is easier to hear when we clear out all the other commitments.
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Karen, so true. And we have so much more than people did in previous plagues and other types of devastation. We HAVE the Internet, we have phones. We have toilet paper. In the Black Plague it hadn’t even been invented yet! Thanks for stopping by.
romancinghistory
Hi Karen, I love the last line. So true. We have to drown out all the noise. Thanks for visiting Romancing History.
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Joan, that is so sweet. I think it’s taught us to look out for one another, and that is one of the many lessons of 2020. Thanks for stopping by.
Pamela S Thibodeaux
Such a lovely post and great reminder of our Lord and Savior, Kathy!
Thank you for sharing.
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Thank you, Pam. Always nice to hear from you.
Deena Adams
I confess it’s been the hardest year ever to see Christ’s light shining in this world. With so much hate, violence, killing, and division my heart has ached for this country and for the young people in our world who don’t know Christ and are so drawn into the lies of the enemy.
Yet, even amid all the chaos, Jesus brings me peace in knowing that He sees it all. He’s in control and He has a plan. My trust is in Him, and I’m encouraged when I see believers giving Him praise amid the trials of their lives. Many have gone through such horrific circumstances this year yet they lift their voices in praise to God and point others to Him. That gives me hope for a better future for the generations to come if the Lord tarries.
romancinghistory
Hi Deena — Amen! I have found that I’ve needed to be a bit more intentional this year about being grateful and finding peace. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. A good skill that will serve us well during rough times. As Believers, we take hope knowing that God sits on the throne and is ALWAYS working behind the scenes for our good. Blessings and Merry Christmas, dear friend!
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
deena and kelly, it would be so easy to take our eyes off God right about now. I thank Him for the strength He gives us to get through things like 2020.
JOAN ARNING
I’ve seen people caring for one another. I’m an older widow and a neighbor frequently asks if I need anything so I won’t have to go to the store.
romancinghistory
Hi Joan, I love this! It can be easy at first but then over time, people tend to forget to keep ministering, reaching out, and checking on each other. I’m so glad you have someone checking on you. Blessings and Merry Christmas!
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Joan, that is so sweet. I think it’s taught us to look out for one another, and that is one of the many lessons of 2020. Thanks for stopping by.
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Kelly, it is always great to be here and I’m so pleased to introduce Laban and Red Dawn to the reading world. “The Widow’s Christmas Miracle” is part of my Western Dreams series and introduces White Bear, the Cheyenne brave and love interest for Jenny Thatcher, who will take center stage in the final book, “Redemption’s Hope.” But Red Dawn’s and Laban’s story also stands on its own. It’s not a sequel to any of the other books, or a prequel. I guess you’d call it a “side-quel.”
I enjoy blogging with Kelly and would love to hear what you think about, well, everything.
romancinghistory
Hi Kathy,
I love having you on Romancing History. You engage so well with the readers! Since I’m getting a sneak peak at Redemption’s Hope, I’ll need to make sure and read the novella as well. I love what you shared about Christ being the answer. I’ve been doing a Bible study with some dear writer friends focused on Advent. Such a glorious reminder that despite the trials, setbacks, losses, and loneliness of 2020 that indeed, Emmanuel, is with us. God made a way, despite our sin, for us to feel His presence through the birth of His son. So as we see rising cases of Covid and face new rounds of lockdowns, take heart, for Emmanuel is with us now and always!
NNnRe9EC7Kathy+Bailey
Thank Kel. To whom it may concern, Kelly is one of my beta readers for the final book in “Western Dreams.” I’ve got one more chance to get it right…