Grace Awards Showcase ~ Southern Superstitions by B.J. Robinson

Welcome, B.J. Robinson to More Reason to Write. I'm glad to host you on this week's showcase for the Grace Awards.

(B.J.) Hi, I'm thrilled to be a part of the Grace Awards Showcase. Southern Superstitions is one of my favorite books out of the ones I've written because it was developed from a first-prize-winning short story I wrote in creative-writing class at Southeastern Louisiana University many years ago. The short story was published in Gambit, the university's literary magazine.

 

About the Book

Magnolia June Russell is a small-town Louisiana strawberry farmer determined to have a career besides the berry farm, despite her mother's advice that she doesn't need more education to run a farm.

Andy Allen is a strawberry inspector at the local bureau. He has to convince June's mother that he can be the son she's never had, since she's decided a local strawberry inspector isn't good enough for her daughter. Andy is going to have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one if their relationship is to survive. Can he persuade June that there is more to their relationship than friends?

Together, they both face the issue of superstitions, an April flood, and conflict after conflict. Will they ever convince Miss. Myrtle to let go of superstitions, or will she stubbornly cling to them just like she vows she'll never fly on those big-winged mechanical birds because man ain't got no business messing with God's plans?

Can love survive the obstacle course placed in their path--an accident, escaped convicts, Andy missing in a Louisiana swamp? Can two determined young people overcome each obstacle with belief, faith, hard work and the power of prayer?

Andy falls in love, but June's mother thinks her daughter can do better than a strawberry inspector. Can Andy convince Mrs. Myrtle he'll be the son she has never had and win her approval? He's going to have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one if their relationship is to survive. Can he persuade June that there is more to their relationship than friends? He doesn't want to be the big brother she never had. It's going to take more than Myrtle's superstitions to see them through an April flood, an accident, and escaped convicts when Andy goes missing in a Louisiana swamp while on a deer-hunting trip during Christmas season. Can love survive the obstacle course placed in their path? Will June be able to give Andy a child? Can two determined young people overcome each obstacle with belief, faith, hard work and the power of prayer? Will they ever convince Mrs. Myrtle to let go of superstitions, or will she stubbornly cling to them just like she vows she'll never fly on those big-winged mechanical birds because man ain't got no business messing with God's plans? June never gives up on Andy and clings to hope that he'll return to her. It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or dime declared, "In God we trust."

June couldn't keep bittersweet memories at bay. She remembered a New Orleans trip when Andy had convinced.her to stroll the Riverwalk. When she'd asked where he planned to take her in that big, wicked city, he'd laced his hand through hers and relied, "How about the zoo?" Her heart ached when she remembered how flippant she'd been when she'd answered, "As if I'd monkey around with you." She wanted nothing more than to have Andy in her arms again. Her hand darted to the spot he'd kissed her, and she pressed her fingertips against it. She'd turned her face, and his lips found hers. Then, he'd pulled her to her feet, took her hand, and said, "Come on. Let's enjoy the water some more before the sun slips away." Holding her by the hand, the two walked into the river together. After all they'd been through, convincing her mother to accept Andy, an April flood, struggling to have a child together, and working side-by-side, the love of her life, her soul mate was missing and nothing would ever be the same. How could she go on listening to her mother's superstitions? Was there no changing the woman's mind about them any more than changing it about flying on an airplane? She could hear her mother rave about those big-winged mechanical birds and how man had no business messing with God's plans, but deep in her heart she knew it was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a lucky penny or dime declared, "In God we trust."

Buy Southern Superstitions

Endorsements

Shawn K. Williams says, "Southern Superstitions is an inspirational story that's full of personality as well as intricacy in the way it explores the complexities of family life and the conflict between faith and luck. Barbara does a great job of pulling together the deeply rooted superstitions of the South and entwining them into a suspenseful tale of faith, romance, and endurance. I especially enjoyed the setting and the culture of the deep South."

Kathy Boswell says, "Very good. She never gives up hope that Andy will return to her someday. She puts it all in God's hands like she's done every crisis in her life. She knows He will take care of this for her."

Pam Cable says, "When I read Barbara Robinson's Last Resort, I thought it can't get any better than this. But, as a southern writer myself, I found myself caught up in this book of supersitions and the power of God. With a strong hand, the writer delivered the goods here. As good as a read from Eudora Welty. I was wrapped in the "pages" from beginning to end. Captivating. Loved the character of Andy ... Enjoyed the ride, BJ Robinson."

A review of Southern Superstitions from The Romance Studio. A four-star review, and the reviewer says I have created a most unusual book with the most intriguing suspense. Says she'd like to read more by me. I'm so honored to receive a four-star review from The Romance Studio, should say four hearts... :) Check it out!
Southern Superstitions
www.theromancestudio.com
June's husband, Andy, has mysteriously disappeared in the swamp while hunting for deer. Though June has faith in God and believes in the power of prayer and hard work, she cannot help but worry because of the often repeated superstitious warnings of her mother. Then too, the day he left on the trip,...See More: The Romance Studio

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  Read an excerpt and see the book trailer here.

 

A Favorite Line:

 It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even a

lucky penny or a dime declared, In God we trust.

About the Author

B. J. Robinson, an award-winning, multi-published author, writes inspirational southern-fried romantic suspense from Florida, where she lives with her husband, a cat named Frankie, a cocker spaniel named Sunflower, and a golden retriever named Honi. She developed her love for mystery through Nancy Drew books, her love for reading from her mother, who read fairytales to her before she began school, and her fifth grade teacher, who read the entire Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House series to the class. She promises to take her readers on a continuous journey to another world. Reading and writing are her passions, and Jesus is her best friend.

Find out more in an interview with southern romantic suspense writer B.J. Robinson discussing her latest work Weeping Willows and Southern Superstitions.

B.J.'s blog & book reviews

Author Page on Facebook

Find my available titles on my Amazon AuthorPage.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BJRobinson6

View the book trailer for Southern Superstitions here