Dear Reader:
In 1990 I was in Utah when my cousin Bob called, inviting me to visit him and his wife, Pam, in Jerusalem. On fire for Christ, I went. The experience was life changing. Easter in the Holy City was something I’ll never forget, and many of my experiences wound up in this novel.
I spent nearly a month in Israel and Egypt and over three days on a whirlwind bus tour of archeological sites with the École Biblique. There I was, hanging out with a bunch of priests and monks and scholars—“the boys and me”—in the middle of Israel! I witnessed a right-wing Israeli group take over a Palestinian block in the Old City, which culminated in protests and tear-gassing; the Old City at the height of emotion during Easter, Passover, and Ramadan; a Palm Sunday processional from Bethany; an Easter sunrise service from the Mount of Olives.
It was in Jerusalem that Bob talked about a man I had to meet, one he thought might be able to carry the other half of my own yoke, a man who two years later asked me to marry him. (I accepted!)
I cannot express what it means as a Christian to walk where the Savior walked. Biblical text comes alive; the Spirit moves in a palpable way; one stands still long enough to sense that God is present. These are the emotions and passions I hoped to convey in Chosen. My goal was to spin an adventurous romance, a hold-on-to-your-hat tale, while still touching upon something vital to us all: salvation. I hope it moved you in some way or, at the very least, gave you an armchair visit to Jerusalem.
All my best to each of you,
One body … One community … One shared search for a lasting love.
THE FULL CIRCLE SERIES
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Available now at your local bookstore!
REFUGE (Book 1) • When Rachel Johanssen dared Beth Morgan to answer a personal ad in The Rancher’s Journal, she never thought her citified friend would become a rancher’s wife. Now, Rachel, too, is falling in love with the glorious Elk Horn Valley—and with Dirk Tanner, a rugged Montana rancher who makes it his home. Rachel’s young friend, Jake Rierdon, has taken a shine to ranch life as well—and to beautiful young Emily Walker. But shadows from the present and past threaten to destroy both couples’ chances for a future.
TORCHLIGHT (Book 2) • After inheriting her family’s lighthouse and mansion on the coast of Maine, heiress Julia Rierdon—sister of Jake Rierdon (Refuge)—sets out to restore the estate with the help of a mysterious stranger. Motorcycle-riding Trevor Kenbridge is gorgeous, infuriating … and just the man she needs to help her renovate the home. He may also be the right man to claim her heart.
PATHWAYS (Book 3) • Doctor Bryn Bailey—cousin to Trevor Kenbridge (Torchlight)—has come to Alaska to tend those who cannot reach healthcare through the traditional routes and, with the aid of bush pilot Eli Pierce, begins to take trips into remote areas accessible only by plane. Then one evening during a freak storm their small plane goes down in the wilderness, putting Bryn on a desperate search for pathways back to civilization, to God … and to love.
TREASURE (Book 4) • Ever since she roomed with Bryn Bailey (Pathways) at Harvard, nautical archaeologist Dr. Christina Alvarez has been obsessed with finding her ancestor’s sunken treasure ship. Only one man—Caribbean treasure hunter Mitch Crawford—can help her, and he refuses to do so. But Christina’s fight to win Mitch over may lead them both to a treasure more valuable than either of them ever dreamed.
CHOSEN (Book 5) • As supervisor of the Solomon’s Stables dig in Jerusalem, archaeologist Alexana Roarke—grad-school friend of Christina Alvarez (Treasure)—knows she is in significant danger. Yet she will let nothing impede her excavation, not even the concern of handsome, world-renowned news correspondent Ridge McIntyre. Her stubbornness, however, could cost Alexana her life—and a future with the man she loves.
FIRESTORM (Book 6) • As a forest-fire-fighting crew boss, Montanan Reyne Oldre—friend to Rachel Tanner and Beth Morgan (Refuge)—once led a team of courageous firefighters into a blaze that ended in tragedy. Now that the flames of love have begun to flicker between her and smokejumper Logan McCabe, Reyne must face the fears from her past and battle the raging firestorm that burns in her soul.
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