About the Book
Book: I Know the Plans
Author: Melissa Wardwell
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October, 2018
All the plans Tiffany and Brad made for their lives as individuals were thrown to the wind the moment they met. Now, after almost a decade of marriage, they spend more time apart than together. Though plans remain unfulfilled, their hearts seek to remain steadfast and connected.
After Brad returns from his latest tour in Afghanistan, it is evident that the man Tiffany married is no longer the same. As Brad struggles with reacquainting himself with his life, Tiffany questions how it could be part of God’s plan. Have the sins of their past finally come back to haunt them? No matter how much support they have in their family and friends, the choice is still theirs. Will they continue to trust God with their lives or will they choose their own course?
My Thoughts
This is the third book in the "Promises From Above" series. I think you would get a fuller experience if you read the other two books first. You get quite a bit of overlap with the characters from the first books and it would be best to "meet" them in their own story. I found the story to flow well and it had a nice faith element that wound through it. I liked Brad and Tiffany and cheered with them in the highs and cried with them in the lows. I look forward to reading more books from Melissa Wardwell.
About the Author
Melissa Wardwell resides in the quant town of Owosso, Michigan with her husband and their three teen aged children. She began her writing journey in August of 2014 with her debut novel “What God Brings Together”. She decided to give writing a try after she shared a story that nagged at her with a friend. Unsure in her own abilities to craft a story she plunged ahead anyway. After reading the first draft of that first book, she then understood that God had a much bigger plan. “God does not give his children a desire just so that it can go to waste.” Since then, she has added three more novels and taken part in two anthologies. Melissa also has a review blog and is a contributing blogger for Heart”wings” Blog.
Being a mother and wife herself, Melissa understands the importance of taking care of yourself from time to time. So, all her stories revolve around women who are mothers: single mothers, widowed mothers, young mothers, married mothers, and even women who have a mother’s heart but no children of their own.
To see the full list of her work, visit www.melissawardwell.com
Guest Post from Melissa
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
This verse has been my “Go To” verse since the day I married. It is a constant reminder that no matter what struggles I endure, God has a plan. I may not be able to see through the fog, I may not like or understand the journey, but it is all part of a plan. All I can do is trust God’s design for my life and be willing to move when He tells me to.
God used the writing process of “I Know the Plans” to remind me that He has a plan for me and book and I need to just trust the process. This book has taken me over a year to complete. If it wasn’t one thing to keep me from committing to it, then it was another. I don’t begrudge the events that kept me away, but as soon as I would begin to grumble to God about not having the energy or the brain power to write, I would get this preverbal reminder that I was not the one in control. If I am going to write faith lessons in fiction, I need to trust the Master Author.
In “I Know the Plans”, Sergeant Bradley Jones and his wife, Tiffany, are hit with one whopper of a plot twist that leaves them wondering if they can get through some major medical issues, PTSD, and infertility in one piece. Their family and friends do their best to support the couple but sometimes, trusting God’s plan is all they can do. Something we all try to learn to do in our own lives.
Due to the military thread in this book, I asked my veteran friends what charity they hold in high esteem. Almost every single one of them suggested “Wounded Warrior Project” and offered rave reviews of their humanitarian efforts in the military community. So, a portion of my royalties from this book will be going to “Wounded Warrior Project” in honor of their service and the service of thousands of others.
There is another group of people I wanted to honor. Those who fight with infertility. I know many who have fought the battle to have children of their own. Some eventually find success, while other have not. Some have even taken the route of adoption and have saved the lives of young ones who needed all the love in the world. Then there are some that just choose to embrace the fact that children of their own was not going to happen and have given all their love to others. All of these groups of people fight a battle that is riddled with pain, confusion, endless medical procedures, and thousands of dollars. There isn’t one group or anther that could support these people as much as our love, prayers, and thoughtful kindness can. So, I encourage you to embrace those around you and shower them with love. Sometimes what they need is just a friend that will listen and not try to mix the problem. Just as you have received the Father’s love, now you can give it away.
Finally, I want to thank the CelebrateLit blog team for signing up for this tour. I am honored that they choose to read this story and offer their honest opinions on this book. As always, I pray it ministers to the readers as much as it ministered to the author. “You all are amazing!”
Blessings,
Melissa Wardwell
Blog Stops
Christian Author, J.E.Grace, December 13
Real World Bible Study, December 13
Connect in Fiction, December 14
Inklings and notions, December 14
Godly Book Reviews, December 15
Blogging With Carol, December 15
Blossoms and Blessings, December 16
Mary Hake, December 16
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 17
Carpe Diem, December 17
Maureen’s Musings, December 18
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 18
Texas Book-aholic, December 19
Christian Bookaholic, December 20
cultivating us, December 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 21
Bibliophile Reviews, December 22
A Baker’s Perspective, December 23
Simple Harvest Reads, December 24 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Janices book reviews, December 25
The Becca Files, December 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Melissa is giving away a grand prize that includes an “I know the plans” coffee mug and print copies of books 1, 2, & 3 from the Promises From Above Series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d76f/i-know-the-plans-celebration-tour-giveaway
"I Know the Plans" is available in paperback:
- Series: Promises from Above (Book 3)
- Paperback: 335 pages
- Publisher: Independently published (October 25, 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1729181090
- ISBN-13: 978-1729181096
- Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 8 inches
and in Kindle edition:
- File Size: 1560 KB
- Print Length: 337 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1729181090
- Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- Publication Date: October 30, 2018
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B07HWKZ4VZ
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
Love the cover can't wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Becky, for taking the time to read this story. I am happy to see that you enjoyed it
ReplyDelete