Thursday, November 14, 2019

My Story BEFORE The Story ~ Candi Reynolds ~ Meant For Her

Hello, my name is Candi Reynolds, and My Story BEFORE The Story may be a bit more than you can deal with. It might possibly trigger something in you that would be best left unread. Read with caution.

Although, I had some things happen when I was younger that I've managed to push out of my mind, my big brother, Cam, helped me move on and we lived together at what used to be our parents' horse farm until I graduated from Schoolcraft High School and entered Western Michigan University.

In my Freshman year, I met a guy there, and his name is Harper Davis Bryant III, and we dated the entire four years there, and we became engaged after graduation.

Harper's father, a senator, purchased a house for us in Bloomfield Village near Detroit, MI. A large, multi-million dollar home, in fact.

My home had been with Cam before I started at the University and during school breaks. Since it was close to a three hour drive between the two cities, Harper and I decided I'd move into the house and work on redecorating it, so it'd be ready to live in as soon as we married in December of 2014.

Harper wasn't pleased about me doing the work myself for fear too many people would find out and feel he and his father couldn't afford to hire everything done. That would never do, since it made them look bad in the eyes of their peers. I explained it was more like a labor of love than sheer hard work, and he finally agreed. I just wasn't to go around telling people. He had nothing to worry about on that point. I didn't know anyone in that area, except the few I was introduced to at the country club or church he and his parents attended.

He also made it difficult for me to keep him at arms' length when he visited, once I'd moved in. I insisted, and he complied, more for the sake of his reputation and the political name he held than for the sake of his spiritual or moral values. That was something I was struggled to come to terms with  way too often.

One night, he was supposed to be picking up his mother at the local country club and joining his father at a campaign rally. Since I hadn't been invited along, I stayed at the house and continued working on painting an upstairs bedroom.

I heard someone at the door, and I thought it was Harper stopping by the house to surprise me before going to get his mother. I went to let him in. I checked the peep hole first, even though I had to stand high on tiptoes to look out. I couldn't see him there, so I thought he was playing a trick, and I opened the door. Probably the worst mistake of my life.




Two men pushed their way into the house,  searched for anything they could sell or use, and  literally kidnapped me.

They hauled me out to a decrepit, old car and made me lie down with my face shoved into the backseat of the stinking vehicle they drove for a very long time.

I couldn't tell where they'd taken me, until we arrived, and they led me into a remote cabin.


What happened next is much too sordid for me to share with you. In fact, I find... it's much easier to push those memories into a closet in someone else's home rather than deal with them myself.

I only know, I was left to die a cold and horrific death... until...




Well... you'll have to get a copy of Meant For Her to find out what happened to me NEXT!

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My Story Title:   Meant For Her

My Story Genre:  Christian Contemporary Women's Fiction

My Story Releases:   November 14, 2019
(TODAY)

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The Author of My Story:    Joy Avery Melville



Joy Avery Melville’s heart’s desire is to be the author God has called her to be by sharing Him with readers in such a way they long to have a deeply committed personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.

Fully intending to write Historical Romance—had in fact— she had no plans to deviate from that. God had something else in mind for that ‘call’ He’d made on her life back in 1967. A mere eighth grader at the time, she had no clue about the topics she’d be drawn to write about.

Surrendering to the genre God placed on her heart has given Joy new insight into the hearts and lives of those who too often hurt in silence.

The settings of Joy’s books are near where she lives in Schoolcraft, Michigan with her husband of nearly 46 years and their one-yr-old Yorkie pup, Is-A-Bella Bindi, (Is-a-beautiful little girl) who thinks she’s a much larger breed with tomboy tendencies.

Joy loves to hear from readers and will respond!

To enter the drawing for a copy of Meant For Her  - Please answer the following question:

What does Candi do whenever something traumatic happens to her?

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Get Connected:

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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I will be honored to gift a signed copy of Meant For Her  to one who comments, leaving the right answer about Candi and/or her situation above. Each one who comments correctly gets their name in the drawing. 
ALSO:
For anyone who signs up for my NEWSLETTER (see right side bar) and CONFIRMS SUBSCRIPTION when you receive an email requesting it,  AND INFORMS ME BEFORE DRAWING IS HELD
 ... gets your name in a second drawing - 
That person will receive an unique gift  - either a treasured bookmark - or - a uniquely wrapped pen with MEANT FOR HER on a bed of fall leaves - done in bead work.....both prizes work perfectly! *smile*
Be sure to leave  an email address in your comment where you can be reached should you win.

I WILL NOT USE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE

DRAWING TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY EVENING ~ November 20, 2019.

6 comments:

Debbie A said...

This story is one that touches hearts and the characters will nestle in your heart and bring peace.

Lady Bibliophile said...

Answer: She pushes the memories out of her mind.

Congratulations, Joy!! My fondest memories in ACFW were your encouraging words in our Novel Track group. You're a blessing, and I hope the release of this story blessed all your hard work!

Email: theirishdaughter[at]gmail[dot]com

Joy Avery Melville said...

Lady Bibliophile,
You are correct! She does that indeed.

So, so glad you stopped by my blog today - I STILL pray for every NTWriter each month - even when I cannot be there pushing, prodding, encouraging each one along the way - THAT LOOP AND ITS WRITERS/TRACKERS HOLDS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART!

Thank you for those kind words!

Please keep in touch!

(PS) My wounded warrior story book one comes out next - then book 2 of this series - etc etc

HUGE HUGS!

Joy Avery Melville said...

Debbie A

I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR FEEDBACK AS AN ALPHA READER (a first reader of even unedited material for those who are not aware here)

I won't tell everyone here - but those words have NEVER left my overworked brain!

I am SO glad it touched your heart!

Deb Mader said...

I just finished reading Meant for Her. I could see the locations towns you talked about and enjoyed the accuracy you write with. Having worked at the Pregnancy Helpline for almost 20 years I have seen many clients come in as broken as Candi was and have held their precious newborn babies and seen the new trust in their eyes because they have been loved for who they are and introduced to our Lord. Thank you Joy, praying this book will find its way into the hands of the men and women who need healing and those who need an extra nudge to volunteer for life!

journeystojoy.net said...

Dear unknown

THANK YOU - That prayer has been on my lips, bursting from my heart for more years than you might think. Meant For Her has resonated so heavily on my heart at times, I felt Candi's plight was identical to someone - I HAVE NO IDEA WHO - who was going through the very thing she did.

So many times, satan has tried to kill the story, rip the heart of the message out of this story - but - When God gave me the word Perseverance for 2019 - I could not figure out how anything more could happen - the book was so close to publication.

Book signings and all that is happening with them, is proving he is still extremely bent on blocking Meant For Her from the very hands you and I are praying will get Meant For Her and read it.

THANK YOU, UNKNOWN, FOR YOUR POST - It has helped make a very difficult day more tolerable.