meet Martha Rogers

Patterings


Martha Rogers is an example of perseverance and tenacity. Her book credits include the novella, Sugar and Grits, seven Bible studies, contributions to compilations by Wayne Holmes, Karen O’Conner, and Debbie White Smith. Martha has contributed devotionals to several anthologies including soon to be released Whispers of Wisdom for Step-Moms from Barbour. Martha served as editor of an eight page monthly newsletter for the writer’s organization, Inspirational Writers Alive! for six years and is the state President. She is also the director for the annual Texas Christian Writer’s Conference. She and her husband Rex are active members in their church in Houston, Texas and enjoy spending time with their ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

You can find her online at her website www.marthawrogers.com and her blog.


Becoming Lucy
After her parents’ deaths , seventeen-year-old heiress Lucinda Bishop travels to Barton Creek, Oklahoma in 1897 as the ward of Amelia and Ben Haynes, her mother’s sister and brother-in-law. There she meets Jake Starnes, a drifter now employed by her uncle. With Jake, she faces emotions she’s never before experienced. When Jake must return to Texas to face murder charges and certain execution, Lucinda is forced to go on with life which includes Luke Anderson. When Jake is found innocent, he heads back to Oklahoma, but can he arrive in time to prevent Lucinda from marrying the wrong man?



Here's an excerpt of Becoming Lucy:

Oklahoma Territory 1896
Chapter 1
Jake Starnes hunkered down in his jacket. He smelled frost in the air, but the cold in his bones came from fear, not the temperature. A gust of wind threatened to take his hat. He shoved it down tighter to secure it.

He peered ahead at the barren landscape and the outline of the town of Barton Creek. Naked trees stretched forth to the skies against a backdrop of prairie grass that spread as far as the eye could see toward distant mountains. It bore no resemblance to the beautiful hills of Texas where he grew up. He missed them, but he’d probably never get the chance to see them again. He sighed in resignation to the life that lay ahead. A life he hadn’t chosen. It had chosen him the day he chose to wear a gun.

Mrs. Haynes sat beside him and nudged his arm. “How much longer will we be? Dear little Lucinda. I pray she doesn’t have to wait too long for us. I thought Ben would be done with the stock, but when he wasn’t, I’m thankful you were available.”

“Happy to oblige, ma’am. Won’t be long now.” Mrs. Haynes had talked about her sister’s “poor orphan child” for the past two months. He could sympathize with the child because he lost both his parents just after he turned fifteen. She must be grieving terribly.

The pressure of Mrs. Haynes’s hand on his arm brought him to the present. “Jake Starnes, you’re not paying one bit of attention to me. If your mind is on the work you left at the ranch, don’t worry about it. Ben and the others can take care of your chores.”

“I know they will.” Gray clouds covered the late October sky. “It’s getting darker. Hope we get back home ’fore night sets in. That wind’s coming straight down across the prairie with nothing to stop it.”

“Dear me, I do pray Lucinda is dressed warmly.” Mrs. Haynes pulled her shawl more tightly about her shoulders.

“You said she’s coming from Boston, so she knows about cold weather.” He peered at the horizon. The few buildings of Barton Creek drew closer. Another ten minutes and they’d be in town.

Jake’s stomach began churning like those blue-black clouds rolling across the sky. Were it not for the little girl waiting for them, he’d have turned back home now. If the sheriff in Barton Creek recognized him, or had questions about his being a stranger in these parts, he’d be in a heap of trouble.

He’d avoided going into the settlement ever since he came to Oklahoma six months ago. His wanderings ended at the Haynes’s spread, where he’d stopped to ask for work. His first intention to stay only a month or so then move on changed when the Haynes showed him a kindness and love he sorely missed. They had become the family he had lost years ago.

Now the thought of entering the town caused fear to rise like bile. What would happen if the lawman in town recognized him, and Ben Haynes learned about Jake’s past, a past he wanted to forget?


You can purchase from CBD and Amazon:


Martha is giving away a copy of Becoming Lucy. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment and check back on Sunday, January 24th to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on each post in this spotlight. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

9 comments:

  1. This looks like a book I'd want to read. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6:11 AM

    This one looks good!
    Sunny

    ReplyDelete
  3. This looks like a great book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks. gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I enjoyed the sneak peek of Becoming Lucy. Please add me to the drawing. Thanks!

    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds WONDERFUL. Looking forward to the interview!

    ReplyDelete
  6. OOO!! Sounds interesting!! Please enter me:) Thanks!!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:07 PM

    please count me in...thanks

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a good book! Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!

    joann4us(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Becoming Lucy looks like a delightful book and I would love to read it. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

    ReplyDelete

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