New! Angels in the Rough: the Serve Series by Cece Whittaker

The Call to Serve by Cece WhittakerIn 2015, when I started writing The Call to Serve, I had thought it would be a single story, to be followed by something entirely different. But when I got to the end of it, even though the story ends happily, I couldn’t resist asking my four main characters to come back for another book, which they agreed to do. But having two episodes wasn’t enough, as you can see.

Annie, Joan, Helen, and Bernice are four energetic ladies who see life Love in the Victory Garden by Cece Whittakerperhaps a little naively but with great zest and appreciation for the good in life. Annie’s fiancé, Sylvester, is a handsome, good-humored and smart fellow whose love for Annie is exceptional. She manages to hold steady throughout his multiple dangerous escapades because her faith in this funny but deeply loving character is strong. Joan, on the other hand, loves passionately but hasn’t quite gotten into a rhythm of communication with Dick, her dark and handsome, intellectual soldier from Washington, D.C. She leans on her great friendship with the other girls to help her stay strong and focus on the bright side of things. Bernice, whose true love is to be with God in solemn prayer, finds that while she is dedicated to God, she has a wide range of talents and strengths, and shares Indivisible Hearts by Cece Whittakerher boundless abilities and surprise gifts with her friends as well as many people she will never meet. Helen, married 30 years to her daring, stealthy husband Harry, shares her wit, love, warmth, and experience of the tough times with the girls when they struggle. She keeps a wonderful home where all are welcome for that cup of tea and if they are lucky, a tasty slice of her luscious cake or pie.

They want nothing more than to work toward all that makes the world Angels in the Rough by Cece Whittakerbetter and be in service to the men in military, their community, and to God. And back then, in the 1940s, those things might have been easier to see. They might not all be talented in the kitchen, but it’s still the place they gather to share meals, as well as in prayer at church, in conversations in each other’s living rooms, and of course in romantic moments with their beaus. Love in the Victory Garden follows as book 2 in the Serve Series, followed by book 3, Indivisible Hearts, and book 4, the newly released Angels in the Rough. (on SALE now for $0.99) More information is available at www.cecewhittakerstories.com.

Buy links:
The Call to Serve
Love in the Victory Garden
Indivisible Hearts
Angels in the Rough

Cece WhittakerCece Whittaker is a Christian Romance writer who lives at the southern New Jersey coast. She has created the Serve Series, stories that take place during the 1940s, featuring four women whose antics and romances are as entertaining as they are involved with caring for others. Cece’s website, naturally enough is www.CeceWhittakerStories.com.

Read Cece’s post on Christian Romance and why it’s the ultimate stress reducer.

Christian Romance: 2020’s Stress Relief Lit of Choice

Indivisible Hearts by Cece WhittakerSometimes, you just feel like reading something warming and happy, a book that leaves you upbeat and inspired. Most of the news sounds like copy from a bad gossip column, so finding a good book to read or listen to seems like a better bet. A good choice for those who want pleasure reading to be fun might be Christian Romance (sometimes called Inspirational Romance) or Christian Historical Romance.

Traditional and current definitions
Nikki DeMarco of Book Riot describes Christian romance as “novels [that] are love stories that have either overt or subtle Christian beliefs throughout.” Goodreads, though, comes closer to my idea of the genre; “Characters behave according to Christian tenets, eschewing alcohol, profanity and lying, and any sexual content is hinted at or avoided entirely to instead focus on the more tender aspects of love and romance.” In other words, in this genre, you’re not reading about Christian ideas, you’re simply enjoying a book that travels within them.

The escape factor?
The result is often superb. Readers who enjoy series books—the literary equivalent to network streaming—find a traveling refuge in the continual friendly reappearance of people and places without concerns about negotiating the sudden appearance of a bloody body part or being placed in the midst of an alcoholic orgy. But more importantly, the Christian Romance genre frequently features humor, ranging from subtle and highbrow to earthy or slapstick, which really delivers the mental holiday. “I always feel better for the experience,” says Ronnie, an avid reader of humor and romance. “Once I switched to reading Christian romance, I never left.”

Finding books
It’s no secret that Amazon has lots and lots of books for sale and lend. In doing a search in the Amazon books category, using simply Christian Romance Humor, I found hundreds of very interesting reads, most of them only a few dollars on Kindle or $12 or less for the paperback. Kobo, a Canadian-based book sales company also has a very wide selection of written and audiobooks. They have a sub-search arrangement, which is less familiar to many searchers, so I’ve included the link to the Christian Romance category. There are many other online and in-store sellers, one of my favorites being BAM (Books A Million). BAM is one of the few brick & mortar retailers that has found a way to prosper with a good balance of online and in-store sales. It’s a wonderful place to browse and find good reading.

On those days where finances, family, or any other kind of struggle is stressing you out, even if it’s just pouring rain or pounding snow, ice, and wind, a Christian Romance novel might be just the right medicine. – Cece Whittaker

Cece WhittakerCece Whittaker is a Christian Romance writer who lives at the southern New Jersey coast. She has created the Serve Series, stories that take place during the 1940s, featuring four women whose antics and romances are as entertaining as they are involved with caring for others. Cece’s website, naturally enough is www.CeceWhittakerStories.com.