The Lord Is With You, Mighty Warrior
I Know The Plans by Melissa Wardwell is the most delightful Christian novel that will warm your heart and ignite your soul. It is the third book in the Promises From Above series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The novel is such a wonderful read about the faithfulness of God and how we can trust His plan for our lives. “God knew what He was doing, even if she didn’t.” Sometimes life makes no sense even with God, we just have to trust that He is in control in spite of what our eyes tell us.
Life can be hard. We wonder if God cares or sees us. “Praying was the last thing on her mind. She wasn’t sure God even heard her prayers.” God hears every prayer and “God will give you the strength you need.” We need to cling on to God and trust that He will give us just enough light to see the next step. We do not need to see the whole staircase, we need to trust that God will guide us.
The novel deals with brokenness. We have an Afghan veteran with PTSD and memory loss and there is a character who suffers infertility problems and miscarriages. Both are broken in different ways. Both can trust God in their brokenness. She “cried out to the God she knew was there but couldn’t feel.” We empathise with the suffering of both characters. The reader is reminded that even though we may forget who others are, God never forgets who we are. We are always known by God.
God is the God of restoration. He makes all things new. He will restore the years the locusts have taken.
Faith is important. Faith keeps us going when all seems bleak. Our faith in hard times can inspire others.
Melissa Wardwell always writes such wonderful heart warming tales that both entertain and show the faithfulness of God. Grab I know The Plans today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
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?
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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.
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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
Bigreadersite, 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
Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I am glad that you enjoyed it so much.
Merry Christmas