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Tag: Caroline’s Lighthouse
Caroline’s Lighthouse Release Day!
“I think that’s what I’m guilty of. Focusing on winning, in softball and horses, at the expense of everything else.”
“God is gracious and will show us the way back to Him, welcoming us with open arms every time. He’ll send us a lighthouse that will shine in the darkness to show us the way back to Him. Dakota was mine. You just have to keep your eyes open so you can see yours.”
Caroline’s heart skipped a beat as the word lighthouse rang over and over in her ears. She looked at Kris, her eyes wide open as realization flooded her heart.
The Lighthouse.
She stood as quickly as she could with her knee brace, looking down at Kris.
“I think I already have.”
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It’s finally here! It’s release day! I’m thrilled that Caroline’s Lighthouse is finally in your hands. It’s been a project that has taken many years of not just writing, but growing and healing, too.
I pray God uses this story to touch hearts for Him. May He show us all that He’s working through everything for our good, even when we can’t see our way through the pain. He’s writing our stories, and there’s nothing more beautiful than that.
You can order yours today!
Sample Sunday Number Seven!
The video ended and a few tears spilled out onto her cheeks. She hadn’t let herself watch any videos of Beau since the accident. Seeing him on the screen made her miss him more than she had in a long time.
She was about to lock her screen and roll over when the next video on the website caught her attention. It was one she hadn’t seen before, one that she hadn’t even known existed. It was Beau and her. From the Young Rider Championships. Going cross-country.
It was the last time she’d ever ridden him.
Who would post a video of my accident? Caroline thought, anger swelling inside of her. She tapped the video, pressing her lips together to keep sobs from escaping as fear and pain tore at her heart.
There they were, galloping out of the start box to the first fence. Just like they had in the dressage video she had just watched, they moved as one. They cleared the first jump easily and continued along on the course. Caroline could remember the order of the jumps as if she had just walked the course that morning, not six years ago.
She gripped her phone tighter as they cleared the triple combination—a log, then two strides to a ditch, then four strides to a corner. Then they galloped down the path toward the fence that had ended it all.
To her surprise, the image of Beau and her faded out to a maroon background. Text appeared on the screen: “In loving memory of Beaus and Ribbons.” Then the video ended, and Caroline’s screen turned black.
She locked her phone and put it back on her nightstand, rolling over. Tears fell freely as her anger faded. No one had posted her wreck. They had posted her last jumps with her favorite horse as a tribute to him.
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Sample Sunday! ❤️
Some losses are so painful that even remembering the good times can hurt.
In Caroline’s Lighthouse, Caroline hasn’t been able to bring herself to watch videos of Beau since the accident. But one night, she stumbles across a video she didn’t even know existed.
This moment brings back a flood of memories and emotions, forcing Caroline to confront some of the pain she’s been carrying for years.
Caroline’s Lighthouse releases September 29! JUST TWO DAYS AWAY! Order here!
Tidbit Thursday Number Six!
Connor lifted his eyes back to the fields, blinking away the sting of tears. In the distance, he could see the yearlings. Most of them were grazing quietly, resting and refueling after their exercise that morning. But one stood out to him. Her dark coat looked almost black against the bright green grass of the fields. She was at their water, with both of her front feet inside of the stock tank, splashing and splashing away. Oh, Luna, he thought to himself, shaking his head.
His eyes locked on to the white crescent moon on the filly’s forehead as an idea crept into his head. Without hesitation, he grabbed his baseball cap back off the dash and pushed it down onto his head. He jumped out of his truck, taking long strides across the parking lot back to the barn. He slowed as he approached Dr. Carnes’s door.
He took a deep breath. The door was ajar, but he knocked anyway. Dr. Carnes looked up from his computer.
“Connor? Come on in,” the professor said as he slid his chair back. “I could use a break. What can I do for you?”
Connor sat down in the chair opposite Dr. Carnes. He wiped his hands on his jeans, suddenly nervous, but determined to make this idea a reality. “I just have a question.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
Connor cleared his throat. “How much would it cost to buy Luna?”
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Tidbit Thursday! Today we get to see a piece from Connor’s perspective. What could he be up to?
Release is in four days! Preorder now!
Readers’ Favorite Review
Thank you Readers’ Favorite for this review of Caroline’s Lighthouse! Preorder now so this book can be in your hands in just six more days!
One Week!
One more week.
In one week, Caroline’s Lighthouse will no longer just be a story that’s in my head, but a book that is in your hands.
This book is about more than horses. This book is more than a love story.
It’s about what happens when you lose what you’ve based your identity on.
It’s about relationships that don’t go the way you wanted them to.
It’s about grief and healing.
It’s about learning you don’t have to earn your worth.
It’s about realizing that God is at work, even in the circumstances you never would have chosen.
Caroline’s Lighthouse.
September 29.
Sample Sunday Number Six
“You don’t have to pitch again if you don’t want to. No one is making you. But I think it might help you remember your dad and all the good times you had with him.”
Jenny sniffed. “But what good would it do? Where would it take me? No college will touch me with those grades.”
Caroline again recognized herself in Jenny. All about the future, all about the end goal. “It doesn’t have to be about college. Not right now. You could just get back at it, work on your grades, and see what happens. See what purpose God has for you.”
Jenny scoffed. “I think He’s done with me after all I’ve done.”
Caroline smiled. “Not possible. God never gives up on any of us.”
“Maybe not.” Jenny had stopped crying and was tugging on a few of the strings on her glove.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Caroline watched as Jenny pulled her glove back on her hand.
“Can I try again?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.
“Absolutely. Whenever you’re ready.”
Jenny pushed herself up to her feet, picking up another ball. She set her feet again, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. Caroline could see the change in her face as she got ready to throw the ball. Her muscles relaxed, and light filled her eyes for the first time that afternoon.
Caroline watched as Jenny swung her arm back, took a long step, swung her arm up and around, and snapped the ball off at her hip. She watched as Jenny’s smile spread across her entire face as the ball smacked the net, perfectly in the green section.
She worked with Jenny for another half an hour, enjoying every minute. Softball was something she had avoided since her injury, and she now realized how much she missed it. No, she would never play again. And that was okay. Because she had discovered something else.
Helping others heal was also helping her.
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Sometimes God has a way of taking the things we think we’ve lost and using them in ways we never expected.
Here’s a glimpse into one of Caroline’s visits to Raintree Ranch—and a girl named Jenny who needs someone to remind her that God isn’t finished with her yet.
Caroline’s Lighthouse releases September 29!
Preorder your copy today!
Tidbit Thursday Number Five!
“Caroline, this is Kris Wells, owner of Raintree Ranch.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said to Kris. “Your ranch is so beautiful.”
Kris stepped back from Caroline’s handshake. “Thank you. It’s taken some time to build, but, by God’s grace, here we are. Well, do you have time for a tour, since Caroline has never been here before?”
Connor looked over at Caroline. “Sure,” Caroline nodded.
The three of them started walking toward the main barn. The aisle was wide and neatly swept. The white paint looked fresh, giving the barn a clean, welcoming feeling. Each horse had a twelve-by-twelve stall, with a sixty-foot run attached. A large chestnut-and-white paint gelding had his head over the door. His ears were pricked forward, and his eyes were soft and full of light as he watched the group walk his way. He gave a soft nicker as Kris got closer.
Kris stopped and scratched the horse behind his ears. He leaned into her touch, half-closing his eyes. “This is Dakota,” she said smiling. “He’s kind of the whole reason this place exists.”
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Today’s Tidbit Thursday introduces you to a very special character: Kris Wells. Kris is based off of and named after someone very special to me. She taught me so much about horses. She passed away a few years ago, but I wanted to honor her by bringing her to life in Caroline’s Lighthouse.
To see more of Kris and Dakota, preorder Caroline’s Lighthouse today! Release date is September 29! Here’s the link!
Sample Sunday Number Five
For Sample Sunday Number Five, we get a little glimpse into Caroline’s world.
Her heart sank as she watched her mom walking toward her, orange cones in hand. She fought the tears that sprang to her eyes.
Holly looked up at her as she set the cones in the shape of a fifteen-meter circle. “Your trot circles weren’t accurate. And your transitions between extended trot and working trot weren’t prompt enough. Pick up your working trot, do the circle around the cones, then lengthen across the diagonal, and repeat the other way.”
Caroline opened her mouth to speak, but the cold firmness in her mom’s eyes forced her to look down, staring at Benji’s mane. She knew this exercise wasn’t optional. At least not if she wanted to avoid another argument. It didn’t matter how sweaty they both were, or how long they’d already been at it. It didn’t matter that she was supposed to go to Connor’s house for lunch and to work with Edison. She picked up the reins, putting Benji back on the bit. Angry determination flooded through her as she asked Benji to trot. The horse willingly bounded forward, softening Caroline’s heart a little with his eagerness.
Caroline grit her teeth as they approached the cones, focusing intensely as she pushed Benji with her inside leg as they formed the arc of the circle. The gelding bent around her leg, softening to her cue.
They straightened out, continuing the working trot until they reached the corner before the diagonal. She balanced Benji as they turned, then pushed him forward into the extended trot. She lifted her hands a tiny bit, keeping the connection.
As they approached the end of the diagonal, Caroline slowed her seat, asking Benji to return to the working trot. They trotted around back to the cones, then did the circle again in the opposite direction.
Caroline repeated the exercise three times without a word from her mom before Holly called out. “Okay, Caroline. Let him walk.”
Caroline dropped her weight into her heels and closed her fingers around the reins. Benji immediately slowed, stretching out his neck as Caroline loosened the reins.
“Was that better?” Caroline asked timidly…
In Caroline’s Lighthouse, Caroline is trying to find her way back to riding after everything that happened to her. But getting back in the saddle doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes easy.
Sometimes the pressure comes from the people we love most.
And sometimes, all we want to hear is:
“Was that better?”
Caroline’s Lighthouse releases September 29!
Preorder your copy today!
Tidbit Thursday Number 4!
Benji’s ears perked as Caroline pulled the ribbon into the stall. She attached the ribbon to the buckle of the crown piece, letting the blue material dangle down alongside his head. Benji turned his head sideways, trying to nibble on the ribbon.
Connor chuckled. “You might need to feed him after this. The poor guy thinks he’s starved.”
Caroline rolled her eyes as she pushed Benji’s nose away from the ribbon. “His hay net is full.” She chuckled. “I guess he just thinks his award for winning should have been edible.”
Connor tapped his phone a few times, opening up the camera app. He took a few steps back from the stall so that he could see Caroline, Benji, the new halter, and the ribbon in the shot. “Alright, on three. One, two, three.” Connor clucked, drawing Benji’s attention toward him so he would look at the camera. He clicked a few pictures, then walked to Caroline. She peered over his shoulder, inspecting the pictures.
“This one is my favorite,” Caroline said, pointing at the camera roll. “But there’s one thing wrong with it.”
Squinting, Connor studied the photo. “What?” he asked. “You look beautiful, and Benji is looking right at me. The ribbon stands out.”
Caroline brushed her fingers along Connor’s cheek. “You’re not in it.” Connor blushed at her touch. “Oh, well. I think we can fix that.”
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Tidbit Thursday! 🐴
This week’s Tidbit Thursday once again features my horse, Cidney—the inspiration for Benji in Caroline’s Lighthouse! Here we are after winning our division at the Copper Meadows Horse Trials in 2016! 💙
And yes, that blue ribbon inspired a little scene in the book…
Caroline’s Lighthouse releases September 29! Want to get your hands on a copy ASAP? Preorder today for delivery on release day!
