Joy Massenburge and Free Books!

She’s afraid she’ll surrender the one thing she’s tried to protect all these years.

Last week I posted about Jim Miller's Christian romantic thriller, No Pit So Deep, but I posted pictures and links for the wrong book in the series. So we're going to run the updated version (below) for another week, and we'll draw for two book winners next week. Be sure to check out Jim's interview and leave your answer to his question so you don't miss out on the drawing.

And now let's meet novelist Joy Massenburge, author of the African American contemporary Christian romance, A Heart Surrendered (Harambee Press, July 2019).

Joy crafts the love stories of pastors and their kids. She was born the sixth child of a pastor. She married a football player turned pastor…they raised pastor’s kids; a son and two daughters.

During the week, she works as an assistant to Jacob George, CPA, PC. She serves as American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW East Texas Writers) chapter’s President. Her contemporary romance novel A Cry for Independence debuted February 2018.

She is also the audio voice of Beatrice “Mama B” Jackson in author Michelle Stimpson’s Mama B Book series. When she is not writing or recording, she is speaking at retreats and conferences throughout the East Texas area.

Joy resides near Tyler, Texas. You can find her curled up on her back-porch swing reading a good book with her four grandchildren, caretaking for her donkey and a dog, or filling her five-acre country home with fifty-plus people for a Blue Bell ice cream party.

What a full life you have, Joy!

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I thought I would be an actress. I attended the University of Texas in Austin on a theater scholarship.

I'm sure those acting chops help when designing your characters and when crafting your dialogue. I usually say my dialogue aloud, and being able to act out the emotion behind it is so helpful.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of A Heart Surrendered.

As the teenaged pastor’s daughter of New Hope Church, Sharonda Peterson knew finding comfort in Carl’s arms was a mistake. But how could the only night she ever felt beautiful be wrong?

When Carl leaves town to pursue an acting and singing career, Sharonda relegates herself to a life of church service—and solitude—rather than face the pain now associated with that one night.

Carl Ray Everhart has been caught up in the fast pace of fame … and female adoration. But a near-death experience has him questioning everything and vowing to set things straight … starting with the love that got away.

When Carl returns home to serve as the worship leader at New Hope, Sharonda finds that it takes every ounce of her resolve to resist his pursuits … not to mention memories that threaten to overturn the delicate balance she’s created. Can she finally surrender the one thing she’s tried all these years to protect?

What is it about Sharonda that will make your readers care about her?

Reader reviews say they related to Sharonda’s struggles with self-image and the pressure of living to satisfy other’s expectations. Sharonda also has a medical condition that threatens her ability to have children the older she gets. So many single women hear the ticking of the clock and they identified with Sharonda’s fears.

That's such a valid concern for many young women. It's one thing to trust that God might want one to marry later in life or even remain single. But when that desire for children is deeply felt, I'm sure single women face a struggle of patience and fidelity to God's will for them. 

What fictional character would you like to meet?

Marcus in Francine River’s Mark of the Lion series. I believe every woman wants to know what it was that won a man’s heart. For him to see past the heroine’s scars to the one thing that really matters, her heart. Marcus surrendered to God after having everything his world could offer. I believe this would make excellent interview material.

I haven't read that series, but one of my dear friends raved about it. I'll have to add it to my list!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Tamara Leigh’s Nameless. Oh, my! A delectable read. I love a good medieval romance. It’s number 3 in the series. There is never-ending action. The romance is believable. The hero and heroine are both so imperfect, the underdogs. They make you cheer for them the entire read.

What are you working on now?

Editing Bliss, book one in the Wounded Lamb Series. Karen Kingsbury’s and Gary Smalley’s Baxter family meets the Blackmoore family: A redemption story in another neighborhood.

Where else can readers find you online?

@authorjoymassenburge
Facebook
Instagram: joymassenburge
Sign up for my mailing list at my website: Joykmassenburge.com

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



You can read a sample of Joy's book HERE

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

I married my best friend because he was a man of integrity. He knew my story and accepted that I wasn’t in love with him and the possibility I never would be. All he asked is that I respect him. We overcame many struggles, but I remember the day, a year and some months after our wedding, I knew I loved him and told him so.

What struggles do you want to see couples overcome in a romance? What struggles do you have surrendering your own heart? How can I pray with you?

Thank you, Joy, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Joy has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE