A Love To Come Home To

I'm so thrilled Alicia invited me to join her in the release of her newest book. 

THE BOOK:

A Love To Come Home To is the third book in Alicia's "A Time of Grace" trilogy. 

Purchase on Amazon: A Love To Come Home To

From July 21-25, 2016, book one, The Fragrance of Geraniums is free on kindle. Click here.

From July 22-28, 2016, book two, All Our Empty Places is $1.99 on Kindle. Click here. 

BACK COVER BLURB:

Hardened Ben Picoletti thought he'd turned his back on Depression-era Rhode Island years ago. Nothing remains there for him, except for haunting memories of an abusive childhood. Yet when a criminal accusation shatters his ambitions, Ben has nowhere to flee but back to his stepfather's home. There, he finds that redemption yet waits for him...but the sacrifice required to attain it may exceed the limits of his family's heart.

Meanwhile, his musical sister Grace continues her studies in New York. She longs to hear a word of affection from her high-school beau...yet only Paulie's silence greets her. Grace must decided whether she wants to live in the past or move into an unknown future with unexpected love.



Lyrical and sensitive to the aching heart, A Love to Come Home To affirms that God delights in being a stronghold in times of trouble; that He renews His mercy every morning; and that He will work every bitter thing together for the good of His children.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alicia G. Ruggieri writes grace-filled, Christ-centered fiction, including the A Time of Grace Trilogy. She's a graduate of Rhode Island College, where she studied Communications and History, and her adventures include children's theatre direction, restaurant management, and small business ownership. Alicia and her husband live in coastal New England, where she may be found drinking far too much coffee and penning stories with her emotionally-disturbed second-hand pug by her side.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliciaGRuggieri

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliciaRuggieri

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AliciaGRuggieri

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7361363.Alicia_G_Ruggieri

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alicia-G.-Ruggieri/e/B00GM5JL9S

INTERVIEW:

1. How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Ever since the character Ben appeared in The Fragrance Of Geraniums, I knew that he had a story of his own-and that it would be a strongly redemptive one. His character-that of a young man who grew up in a broken home with no one to model Christ's love for him, left to fend for himself-begged to be redeemed, begged to show how Christ's love can loose the chains on the most hardened criminal. As Charles Wesley says, "His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me."

2. What influenced you most in this book?

Probably Charles F. Stanley's sermon series on forgiveness. In the book, the character Ben has a lot of forgiving to do- and (though he doesn't always think so) he also needs a lot of forgiving himself. Stanley's sermon series helped me to delve into what forgiveness means in our lives.

3. What is your goal in writing?

To honor the Lord always, first and foremost, and to encourage other believers to walk with God in loving obedience-to discover for myself and to help others to discover what the Gospel-our redemption-means in our everyday walk with Jesus Christ.

4. What is one thing you want your readers to take away from this book?

Mainly, to quote Corrie Ten Boom's sister Besty, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." For Corrie, that meant the concentration camps. In this novel, I'm speaking more of the dark pit of the sin-soaked human soul-and the redemption Jesus Christ longs to bring to us. Then, there's also a secondary theme: to wait for God's fulfillment of your desires, rather than to rush ahead, even into something seemingly good.

5. What advice/encouragement would you give to beginner Christian writers?

First, take heart – As you submit to Him, your loving God will accomplish His purpose for you, even when you feel like there isn’t any fruit from your work. Second, work on your craft and read many good, classic books. I think that as Christians, we sometimes think that God should give us ability and skill without us having to work for it. This just isn’t true – There’s a lot to learn from writers who have gone before us and from practicing, even if it’s not always fun. Third, and most important, yield yourself to God to be used by Him as He wishes and spend time with Him and His Word to know and love Him more deeply.

   

6.  Is there any particular verse that has encouraged you during the writing of this book?

Yes! 1 John 3:16 – “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

7. What are five of your favorite books? 

Just five?! J In no particular order: Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, Donald Grant by George MacDonald, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.

8.  What's your favorite Bible verse?

One of my favorites is 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” Another is 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

THE GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive: a signed softcover set of the "A Time of Grace Trilogy"; Paulie's Pearls" ~ in honor of his first gift to Grace! Freshwater pearl earrings set in 10k gold; and "Better is One Day in Your Courts" Scripture-enhanced journal. (Open to U.S. residents only due to shipping costs.)

 



If you want to see Alicia's book reviewed on other blogs, the links are below. Have fun! 

Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Aubrey Hansen 
Alicia A. Willis 
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Rachel Rossano's Words 
Thursday, July 21, 2016 
 Bookish Orchestrations
Friday, July 22, 2016 (Release Day)
Christian Author: A. M. Heath 
Saturday, July 23, 2016
A Writer's Heart 
Monday, July 25, 2016
Iola's Christian Reads 
Precious Moments 
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
God's Peculiar Treasure 
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Ready to be Offered 
Thursday, July 28, 2016
A Northern Belle
July 29, 2016
With a Joyful Noise
July 30, 2016 (Wrap-up and giveaway winner announced)
Alicia G. Ruggieri