Today I'm excited to welcome author Barbara M. Britton as she shares about her journey through cancer at Christmastime, reminding us that God is never far away, and always has good plans for us. And read on through, as she's offering you the opportunity to win a free book.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

The apostle Paul gives us these encouraging words in Philippians 4:4. Who doesn’t want to rejoice?

In December of 2015, I was waiting on a gurney for a six-hour surgery to remove my breasts due to a large breast cancer tumor. I didn’t feel joyful, but I knew my rock, Jesus, would get me through this trial.

Some of my favorite verses in Scripture are found in Philippians right after the verse above. Philippians 4:6-7, tells us that we should not be anxious. We are encouraged to pray to God and His peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. At that pre-surgery moment, I needed a lot of guarding.

God is faithful. I’m writing this blog post as a six-year cancer survivor. Rejoice! This month, I am also launching a book where the female character is a breast cancer survivor, and the book is a romance. Rejoice!

Was a twenty-three-year-old woman too young to get breast cancer in my story? Unfortunately, not. More and more women in their twenties and thirties are diagnosed with breast cancer. This is scary since mammography doesn’t usually begin until age forty.

Why did I choose to write a story with a breast cancer thread? Since I was declared cancer-free, I have received several phone calls from friends who have received the same diagnosis. I am able to encourage them in their faith and relay information that helped me overcome cancer. Each morning, I praise God for a brand-new day. Something I took for granted pre-cancer.

In Christmas at Whispering Creek, Samantha and Cole use verses in Philippians to overcome the hardships in their lives. They use the same Scripture that helped me through my cancer valley.

My Christmas romance is fiction, but after the story ends, you will get a glimpse into my personal cancer journey. I wasn’t going to place my story in the book, but God nudged me to use the lessons He had taught me to help others.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage women to do monthly breast checks and to schedule yearly mammograms. Don’t wait to biopsy, or get a second opinion, if something shows up on your imaging. God has blessed us with great strides in medicine.

Even though I spent December of 2015 in a hospital, recuperating from cancer surgery, I could rejoice knowing God guarded me and bestowed peace--no matter what the outcome. I hope you will feel God’s love and peace shine through in a fictional story that begun with a real-life journey.

About Christmas at Whispering Creek:”

All Samantha Williams wants to do is to use her teaching degree to instruct a classroom of second graders. But, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-three, and failed reconstruction surgery, Sam finds herself without a job and temporarily living with her parents. This isn't the life Sam expected. When a family friend dies and leaves Sam a house and land in Whispering Creek, Tennessee, Sam must decide if leaving Wisconsin for Southern living is in her lesson plans.
 
Nashville native, Cole Donoven, left his family' s electrical business to write country music. When Cole' s song-writing partner and girlfriend dumps him for a country music star, Cole abandons Nashville to hole up in Whispering Creek and compose one more song. The last thing Cole expects to find in the sleepy small town is a deceased friend, estate squabbles, and a Northern beauty. Will the chaos in Whispering Creek help create a bestselling song for Cole and possibly help him find a life-long collaborator?

Find the eBook of Christmas at Whispering Creek on Amazon or B&N, or wherever books are sold. Your library can order it too.

(The print edition will release on December 1^st)

Giveaway

Those leaving a comment below will be entered into a drawing for a signed print copy of “Christmas at Whispering Creek.” U.S. participants only. Non-US winners will receive an e-book. PLEASE NOTE: Cleverly disguise your email address so the bots don't harass you. For example: donna AT livebytheword DOT com   Comments without an email address will not be included in the drawing.

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. She also authored a WWI Historical set in Alaska. Her Christmas story, Christmas at Whispering Creek, will be here for Christmas 2022. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

Find out more about Barbara’s books on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

A peek inside Christmas at Whispering Creek

    “I found an addition to our meal. Some cheese.” Sam rummaged in the shopping bag and held up the package of mozzarella. “I also have two water bottles to wash down dinner.”

     He patted a spot on the log at his side. “I never would have guessed a gal from Wisconsin would bring cheese.” A grin curved his lips. “The more to eat, the better. Though, I’d rather be grilling ribeyes and corn.”

     “Me, too.” As she sat, her knee bumped his thigh. Even through his jeans, he was muscled and solid. Strong inside and out. Her stomach flipped and not at the sight of the bubbled, slightly blackened hot dogs coming her way.

    “Ladies first.” Cole held the roasted wieners in front of her. He dipped his head and flailed his hand as if she were royalty.

    Playing along with his contagious humor, she grabbed a napkin and daintily slipped the top dog off the wooden skewer and bit into the meat. Her tastebuds declared the soft, yet crispy hot dog the best meal ever. Her jaw pulled tight as she swallowed. “This is amazing.” Cole was amazing.

    His eyebrows raised into his sexy orange and white baseball cap. “It doesn’t take much to impress you.” He bit into his meal, chewed, and tilted his head. “Not bad. Let’s see if you can do as well on the next round.”

    “Ooh, I love a challenge.”