By The Book

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sounds Like a Plan by Lorna Seilstad, Eleanor Bertin, Sara Davison, Brenda S. Anderson, and Stacy Monson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Title: Sounds Like a Plan: Stories of Change and the God Who Doesn’t
Authors: Lorna Seilstad, Eleanor Bertin, Sara Davison, Brenda S. Anderson, Stacy Monson
Publisher: The Mosaic Collection
Release Date: July 10, 2024
Genre: Christian Fiction Anthology

A Baby in the Mix by Lorna Seilstad
Not By Chance by Eleanor Bertin
Five Things You Know About Me by Sara Davison
Mercy’s Detour by Brenda S. Anderson
Piper’s Sweet Dream by Stacy Monson

What Reviewers are Saying About The Mosaic Collection Anthologies:

Each is a picture of God’s grace working in the hearts of hurting people through individual writing styles.

Each author has her own voice, yet somehow they all fit perfectly together.

The stories are just the right length to relax with at the end of a long day.

I love these Mosaic author anthologies. These are stories about real people with real problems and emotions.

Such beautifully written, inspirational short stories with themes of grace, forgiveness, love, and peace.

Uplifting stories of ordinary people dealing with their faith and life’s struggles.

Thank you to all the Mosaic Collection authors for giving us more lovely stories to remind us that we will never be alone as God is always with us.

Each of these faith-based fiction stories in Sounds Like a Plan is uniquely and beautifully written with believable characters sustained by the amazing grace of God. Memorable, touching, inspiring, and a true reading pleasure. May you be blessed by this collection.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Excerpts

A Baby in The Mix

At Buy the Book, the cowbell clanged as she entered, and she reached behind the door to still it. If Sarai was sleeping, she didn’t want the cowbell to wake her. She found Micah’s Aunt Trish behind the register and asked her where Micah was. The eccentric woman didn’t even look up from her romance novel. She simply pointed to the far corner. 

Aimee tiptoed over and found him occupying an old recliner in the children’s reading nook. Sarai lay sleeping on his chest, and an empty baby bottle sat on the table beside him. 

Aimee crouched down in front of him. She must be seeing things. “You fed her?”

“I did, and I changed her diaper,” he whispered. “We’ve had a good time.” He pointed to a copy of The Lord of the Rings. “I thought I’d get her started on good literature. She seems partial to Frodo.”

Sarai looked so small against his expanse of chest. “How did you know how to—”

“Change a diaper?” He chuckled and patted the baby’s back when she stirred. “You might not have a horde of nieces and nephews, but I do. You’ve met my sister. Don’t think for a minute that she’d let me escape without changing diapers.”

“But yesterday you didn’t want to even hold Sarai.”

He met her gaze and exhaled a long breath. “I was afraid I’d become attached.”

“And now?”

He placed a soft kiss on Sarai’s head. “And now I am. Two girls have my heart.”

Five Things You Know About Me

The place had been updated although, thankfully, it still smelled of roasting coffee beans and fresh-baked scones. Andrea drew in a deep breath in a desperate bid to quell the emotions swirling through her like the foam designs on most of the hot drinks she could see. 

Mario half stood as she pulled out her chair, and she gestured for him to sit.  

“I hope you don’t mind. The line-up was long, so I took the liberty …” He nodded at the paper cup sitting at her place, steam curling from the hole in the lid. A massive chocolate chip cookie lay on a napkin next to it.

Andrea settled on the seat and wrapped her fingers around the cup, lifting it closer to inhale the steam. A frozen drink would have been more appropriate, given the weather, but it was never a bad time for chai tea latte.

Mario inclined his head toward the cup. “Still your favorite?”

“It is, actually. Thank you.”

“The cookie too?”

“Of course not, since I’m a grown-up now and only eat grown-up desserts.”

“Grown-up desserts.”

“That’s right.”

A gleam ignited in his eyes as he grasped the edge of the napkin and dragged it closer to himself. “Then you won’t mind if I …”

With the tip of her finger, Andrea stabbed the corner of the napkin nearest her to hold it in place. “Leave it.”

Mercy’s Detour

Paige Cunningham danced a jig in her chair as she signed the last line of the last page of too many pages. She was now officially homeless.

And she could at last fulfill her promise to Kellen. How had her husband been dead for fifteen years already? As usual, the thought of him put a damper on her joy. If not for her, he’d still be alive to share in this journey he’d laughingly called their Midlife-Together Crisis. Why hadn’t she trusted him?

“Here’s your check.”

Paige shook off the grinning image of Kellen from her mind and looked up at the also-smiling title company employee who’d just entered the room and handed her the check.

“Enjoy your midlife crisis.” 

Paige stared down at the check, and her eyes widened. “Thank you,” she managed to squeak out. Never in her life had she imagined holding a check made out with six figures, especially one that began with the number three.

“You’re quite welcome.” The woman nodded and left the room.

“You’ve done well for yourself.” The title agent seated across the desk from her straightened the paperwork and secured it in a manila folder. 

“I have.” Forty-five years old and debt free. How many other people could say that?

Gathering her wits, she tucked the check into her billfold, which she stuffed in the bottom of her purse. She retrieved her laptop, stood, and shook the hand of the title agent, thanking her for facilitating the process seamlessly. All proof to Paige that she was hearing God correctly.

Now, she prayed her driving trip around the United States would go just as smoothly.

Not by Chance

Engrossed in her search of the Classics bookshelves, Lily did not see the crash. But the deafening bang of metal slamming on brick made her jump, her whole body flinching. Glass sprayed the room when the front window to her right shattered. Screams from the bookstore clerk and others outside on the street pierced the air. Pinpricks peppered her right arm and leg. She brought her hand to her cheek, gasping when it came away bloody. 

The shock rooted her to the floor. She gaped at the broken store window below which the crumpled front end of a car intruded through the cracked wall. Behind the spiderwebbed windshield of the vehicle, a woman’s head slumped onto the steering wheel.

In a moment, a warm presence enveloped Lily from behind. “Are you alright?” A deep, reassuring voice urged in her ear, “Let’s get you to the back, out of harm’s way,” 

Mute, Lily pointed to the injured driver, then cast a panicked look at the man behind her. 

He rushed to the shop door, yanking futilely on the handle, then scanned the smashed window, calling to the victim, who stirred slightly. He turned back to Lily. “The whole wall has shifted from the impact. But she’s alive. We can only pray the ambulance arrives quickly.” He pulled a phone from his pocket and punched in the number. A deep crease between his dark eyebrows only relaxed once the message had been relayed.

Piper’s Sweet Dream

“Well, what makes Chocolate Brews unique is our array and combinations of cocoa flavors,” Finn said, “which a lot of people also add to their coffee.”

Mary wrinkled her nose. “You’d have to sell me on that idea. I’m a coffee girl, although,” she added with a smile, “I could be persuaded to try something new.”

“Then for you I suggest one of our most popular mocha drinks.” He turned toward Piper. “Coffee or cocoa?”

“Oh, she’s 100% cocoa,” Mary said. “She knows more about chocolate than Google.”

“Really? Interesting.”

Piper raised her eyebrows in a friendly challenge. “What would you suggest for me?”

He studied her for a long moment, a smile in his eyes, and her toes curled in her sandals. 

“I’ve got a new drink I think you’ll like. I’ll be back in a few.” He slid a bowl of what looked like popcorn and trail mix in front of them before stepping away.

“You didn’t mention meeting him at the bookstore,” Mary hissed. “He’s gorgeous. Those eyes.” She took a handful of the mix. “Wow. Even this trail mix smells like cocoa.”

“It’s not like we had a long conversation,” Piper whispered, sampling the snack. “I don’t even know his name.”

“So he’s fair game?”

Piper’s hesitation made Mary hoot with laughter, which stopped when she received Piper’s elbow. “Fine.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “I’ll leave it alone for now but if you take too long—”

About The Authors

Lorna Seilstad delves into life’s complexities with a generous dash of humor. She is a Carol Award finalist and the author of nine novels including the Lake Manawa Summers series and the Gregory Sisters series. Her stories are part of several novella collections. When she isn’t eating chocolate, she teaches women’s Bible classes, runs a toy store, volunteers with 4-H, and is a wedding planner. She has three adult children and lives in Iowa with her Pyredoodle named Honey Bea.

Connect with Lorna at lornaseilstad.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

From her home in central Alberta, Canada, Eleanor Bertin writes fiction that ponders the depths of God’s love and mercy to humanity.

She is the author of The Ties That Bind series, Lifelines, Unbound, and Tethered, the Burning Bright series, Flame of Mercy and Flicker of Trust, as well as the memoir, Pall of Silence, about her late son, Paul. She lives with her husband of 40 years and their youngest son, in what will someday be a beautiful century home.

Connect with Eleanor at eleanorbertinauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara at saradavison.org to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic and gritty life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live sports and theater, walking along the shores of Lake Superior, sharing hot cocoa with friends and family, and taking road trips with her newly retired husband. She lives near Minneapolis with her husband and their mischievous twin kitties.

Connect with Brenda at brendaandersonbooks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Stacy Monson is the award-winning author of stories that reveal an extraordinary God at work in ordinary life. Residing in the beautiful, peaceful countryside outside of the Twin Cities with an old dog and 17 chickens, she has two kids, two wonderful in-law kids, and adores being G’ma to 7 amazing grandchildren.

Connect with Stacy at stacymonson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of Sounds Like a Plan, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a piano music CD by Eleanor Bertin’s son!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 9, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 16, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Tags: Brenda Anderson, Eleanor Bertin, general fiction, Lorna Sielstad, Sara Davison, Stacy Monson