Bookjunkie's Book Blog: NBtM Tour Land Of My Dreams by Norma Gail w/ Giveaway & Guest Post

Land of My Dreams

by Norma Gail

GENRE: Christian romance

BLURB:

Alone and betrayed, American professor, Bonny Bryant longs for a haven of peace. She accepts a position at a small Christian college in Fort William, Scotland, craving escape from her painful past. The passionate love which develops when she meets fellow professor and sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, is something she never anticipated.

Kieran harbors a deep anger toward God in the face of his own devastating grief. When Bonny’s former fiancé reenters her life, Kieran’s loneliness draws him to a former student.

How will Bonny decide between her rivals? Can they set aside the past to make way for a future, or will it drive them apart?

Land of My Dreams, Christian Romance Novel, spans the distance between New Mexico’s high desert mountains and the misty Scottish Highlands with a timeless story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.

Excerpt:

Kieran brought Bonny’s hand to his lips as they enjoyed the sunshine of the hospital courtyard. “The hours I spent in the hospital chapel praying for your life included healing our relationship. I cannot separate them. God saved your life for a purpose and I believe it involves me.”

He drew the small velvet box out of his pocket and revealed her ruby ring. “Bonny Faith Bryant, will you marry me?”

She wanted to talk and pray with Kari and Dan, but in the end, the decision was hers. Janet’s words came back. It’s possible you’re not in his life to marry him.

Her heart was pulsing in her throat. “Kieran, I need more time. It was wrong to relive those old memories.”

The color faced from his face. “They’re ours. They watered the seeds of our love. I never intended to hurry you. I thought remembering…”

“Kieran...” The touch of one calloused finger wiping her tears caused her to cry harder.

“You’re going to marry Adam.” There was defeat in his voice. How could she hurt him?

She saw her own pain mirrored in the blue pools of his eyes. The hand holding the ring—her ring, dropped to his side. He walked across the courtyard, standing with his back to her, snarling his fingers through his hair.

“I haven’t said I’d marry anyone. I can’t make such life-changing decisions when I’ve only now reached the point where I still have a life.”

Topic: What was the inspiration for having Bonny go to Scotland as the destination of peace?

Have you ever longed to escape—to run away from something that hurts so much you can’t stand it anymore? Have the memories evoked by familiar things become more than you could stand?

In Land of My Dreams, Bonny Bryant, a thirty-year-old college professor experiences just that. Death and loss haunt her on a daily basis. When a chance to escape it all comes along, she accepts the opportunity.

My husband and I spent our 30^th wedding anniversary in Scotland. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt at home—at peace. It is such a beautiful and welcoming country. I have ancestors who came from Scotland and it has always fascinated me.

We met a woman in a park who was from Phoenix. She married a Scot that she met while in the Peace Corps and moved to Scotland. We got to talking about the differences, like driving on the left side of the road. She loves living there. It sparked an idea to go along with the story already taking root in my mind from a dream. What would it be like to leave behind everyone and everything you had ever known?

We stayed at many small hotels and met the owners, spending a lot of time in smaller towns and rural areas since I don’t like big cities. As we drove through the countryside, the often-heavy clouds and rainy weather muted sounds and softened the views. It was a peaceful place for me because I had little of the fibromyalgia pain I struggle with every day because relaxed on vacation. I was at peace there too.

I observed the different attitudes and sayings, recognizing many characteristics similar to my husband’s family of Dutch immigrants. Holland is close to Scotland, and the weather is very similar. Some statements in the book are things I have heard them say.

Many people tell me the setting is like another character in the book, interacting with the characters and what they feel. Like it says in the book blurb: Land of My Dreams spans the distance between New Mexico’s high desert mountains to Loch Garry, in the misty Scottish Highlands, with a timeless story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.
Bonny Bryant escaped to Scotland. Why don’t you give it a try as well?

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

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

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/