The Trust Chronicles: Molly Lovelace
To Do List: Change My Name and Move to a New Town
Burn Every Last One of Bailey’s Letters
Buy Chocolates for Myself
Dear Rosa,
If I weren’t in such a tizzy I’d apologize for writing on a page torn from my journal, but I’m too furious to be concerned with niceties.
Can you believe that man? Has he taken leave of his senses? I could feel the disapproval of the whole congregation as Bailey confessed his temptation…namely me…so I surely couldn’t stay for the dinner afterwards, however much I wished to hear your thoughts after witnessing his scandalous performance.
So I ask you—What could cause Bailey to reject me so coldly when he claims to love me? Can he honestly believe he’s following God’s wishes? Would a loving God tell him to stop loving me?
Knowing you, all sorts of colorful Spanish proverbs are bubbling up. The only proverb that comes to my mind is:
A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the fool’s back.
That’s in the Bible. I looked it up, and if your husband Weston would like to impart this bit of Biblical wisdom onto his cousin, I’d be much obliged. I’d do it myself, but I’ve made a solemn vow never to touch Bailey Garner again, even with a hickory switch.
“Molly” by Monica Bruenjes
I only wish I understood what I’d done to deserve this treatment. I thought I could trust Bailey. I thought he cared for me and wanted what was best for me. My parents have failed me. Time and time again they’ve chosen what’s easy for them, what satisfied their ambitions. Bailey was different. I could rely on him. Even now he claims to be breaking our courtship for my own good. Not that I believe him—
So, who does that leave to champion my cause? And before you recommend that I take my problems to God (see how well I know you) I will remind you that God is the one who got me into this mess. If Bailey has broken our relationship because I’m a big sinner, then obviously God doesn’t want anything to do with me either. No, it looks like I’m on my own. I guess when it comes down to it, you can’t trust anyone but yourself. At least, that’s my experience.
And yet I can’t help but wish…
Maybe someday I’ll find a safe haven. Maybe someday I’ll clean up enough that Bailey won’t run when he sees me coming. Maybe someday I’ll be a fine lady and even God will approve, but I doubt it.
Yet, there’s nothing to do besides sally forth and try to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Don’t worry about me, friend. According to my father, in a week I won’t even remember Bailey Garner’s name. This pain will be long forgotten.
So he says.
And I don’t want to trouble you, either. In fact, I feel better already just writing these words. Whether I mail this letter or not is inconsequential, now. Instead I’ll go to the millinery and pick out a new hat. Fashion should remedy heartbreak…and cause less distress to my corset strings than chocolate.
I’ll find my way out of this mess. I can do it on my own. Just wait and see.
Optimistically,
Molly
Thank you for sharing in our fun project! And now for more information on Molly’s Giveaway Bundle:
Molly’s Giveaway Bundle includes a signed copy of Love in the Balance, a journal, and a Blue Bayou Navy Crystal Cuff Bracelet by 1928 Jewelry.
To be entered to win the Molly’s Prize Package please leave a comment on this post between May 13th and May 17, 2013. The winner will be drawn on May 19th and will be notified via e-mail and announced here and on The Trust Chronicles home page. (The giveaway is open for residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18 or older.)
What a neat idea! I thoroughly enjoyed “Sixty Acres and a Bride” but was skeptical when I heard that Molly was to be the heroine in your next book. However, after reading the excerpt on your Facebook page I was sold! Thanks for the chance to win such a lovely prize!
I loved reading the letters last fall. This is so much fun. I’ve not yet had the chance to read Molly’s story but I have it on my ever growing to read list.
What a beautiful give away. I would love a chance to win this prize.
I have loved both of your books! I love how at times I am laughing or crying with the characters… (But I have to admit I wanted to strangle Molly a couple of times.. Lol) I can’t wait to read your next book! 🙂
I am in love with these books!
Certainly enjoyed the first book – will be starting in this one soon!!
Thsnks for the chance to win such a great prize. Enjoyed the letter and looking forward to more.
What a great letter and makes me intrigued to read the book! =)
Loved the letter. I could very much see Molly writing it. I’m looking forward to reading the other letters!
I look forward to reading this book and following along with the blogs this week. Thank you for the chance to win.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
How many Molly’s have been in my life?!! Or how many times in the early days was I a “Molly”. This storyline looks to be a fun read and I’m adding it to my list. I have to know how Molly’s story ends! Thanks for the fun giveaway.
The letter has me intrigued – I’d love to win a copy of the book!
michelleheumann(at)gmail(dot)com
This is fun! thank you for doing this. I loved Sixty Acres and a Bride and look forward to reading this book!
I hope I win! I’ve been wanting to read your second book! It’s just so awesome the success you’ve had. Bravo!
Regina what a great post. Poor Molly!! I can’t blame her for being upset with that crazy man. It’s bad enough to be busted in public but to be busted in CHURCH now that’s almost unforgivable. I hope Molly finds the peace she craves and so deserves.
Thanks for the giveaways!!
Teresa Mathews!!
How exciting! WHat fun!
would BE BLESSED TO WIN THESE!!!!!!!!
Oh, I’m going to enjoy this! Molly sounds like a very spirited young woman!
Sounds like an awesome contest. Would love to win.
Thank you for the chance to win these beautiful items alongside this wonderful book. I got to admit I just went to amazon and added it to my order. Joanne Bischop knows how much I love to read books, I enjoyed hers very much. I can’t wait to read this one, as when I was reading it, I could picture myself writing the letter, truly a book I would enjoy reading. Blessings and thank you again!!!
would love to enter but as I live in Scotland I’m missing out. Will go on Amazon to find all those wonderful books.
this book sounds wonderful, thank you for the chance to read it
so excited for this contest again. I am a huge fane Regina Jenning’s books. I loved both books and can t wait for the next one.
The letter was great, can’t wait to read the book
A new author to me 🙂
Thank you for the contest!
Would love to win your book! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to try and win.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!!
I feel bad for poor Molly. It seems like she’s really having a rough time. I see myself in the line that says, “Maybe someday I’ll be a fine lady and even God will approve, but I doubt it.” lol
Thank you for the chance to win! 🙂
Love this idea of letters from the past!Love to win!
Loved these letters last year. They helped me decide which books to read (it was all of them.) I have an ever growing list of recommended books and will not live to finish them all. I just know that Heaven is really a big library so am not worried about getting to all on my list. I will spend the first 300 years in the fiction section. The books by the authors taking part in this project are my favorites.
What a cool idea! I love it! I can’t wait to read the other posts.
I loved this excerpt—and I love this giveaway concept! This book looks like a great read. Thanks for the opportunity to win one!
Very nice. I’m looking forward to hearing from you on the 19th. 🙂
Loved this book!
Love this idea, ladies! Can’t wait to read the rest of the Trust Chronicles. Molly sounds like a fireball! And I love how her story is connected to Rosa and Weston’s. God’s blessing on your writing, Regina!
Love your books, great gifts for the contest. Hope I win.
A very beautiful giveaway. I would love to win this giveaway. I have read some of your books ,but not this one. sounds so good.
Thanks & Blessings
lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
This giveaway is so much fun an a cool way to feel like you are connecting with the past. I would love to read Love in the Balance!
Thanks for the giveaway! I loved Sixty Acres and a Bride and can’t wait to read Love in the Balance!
I love the idea of the blog hop! I really enjoyed following along in your previous collaboration. This gives us the unique opportunity to learn about the heroines in an authentic and intimate way that allows us to see from the characters perspective. I think that you did an excellent job of giving us a snapshot of Mollie! Thanks so much for this interesting project!!
Love Historial Romance! What a pretty prize. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I thoroughly enjoyed Love in the Balance and it was so fun to read this letter from Molly. What a treat! I especially enjoyed her choice in Proverbs. 😀
Thoroughly enjoyed “Sixty Acres and a Bride.” Can’t wait to read this book!!
Wonderful idea, Regina. and I love the letter. So captures what happens in the book. Praying this brings you lots of new readers. The series is deserving 🙂
Love that your giveaway is today.
Today was my anniversary before my husband went to heaven
God bless You for writing a christian book
bless you
The letter certainly makes me want to read the book. Would love to win the give away
I truly appreciate you ladies doing this! I learn about authors I’ve never heard of before and get swept away in their letters! Of course, I would love to win, but I am blessed just being here. Have a great week and God bless.
Welcome back and love the post!
Blessings and thank you Regina for the sweet opportunity,
Hey thanks for this chance to win. I have only read this one book and I fell in love, it was a story unlike any other I read and helped encourage me to write my own. It’s such an inspiration. I hope to win so I have more to read! Keep up the great work!
I was hooked by the end of the 1st sentence. This sounds great!!!
Loved the letter, I can feel her indignation from over here!! Great blog hop too, very clever!
Thanks so much for this very fun giveaway!
I love this idea and maybe I’ll win myself a b-day present! ( Friday the 17th is my birthday : )
Just popping in to say hello (no need to enter me in giveaway). Molly’s letter is so spunky, just like her! I especially love her to-do list… so very Molly… and who of us *haven’t* at one time or another at least mentally put “buy chocolate” on our to-do list?
Off to search out a square of Ghirardelli’s…
I would love to win. This looks like a lovely book!
What a fun idea! Please enter me in this contest. This sounds like a good book. Look forward to seeing the other posts the rest of the week.
This sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m glad to join into this blog hop again!!! I love reading all the letters 🙂 looking forward to reading the rest of the posts 😉
I am so thrilled for this blog-hop & giveaway…this was a beautiful letter & makes me intrigued to read the book!
Blessings! <3
I love your books, thanks for the chance to win this one.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
What a blessing to have 5 Christian sisters writing together, via a blog. This one grips you, makes you think, because we have all been there. Whether it be heart ache or not. I can fix this and forget about God. Looking forward to tomorrow’s letter.
In God’s Grip,
Margie Terheyden
I read 60 acres and a bride and really enjoy the book. I loved it
I absolutely loved reading Molly’s letter. She sounds like so much fun! I have this book sitting right beside me on my nightstand and I am so eager to get to start it!
What a fun giveaway!!
I’ve never participated in anything like this before, but I think it’s wonderful. I enjoyed Molly’s letter and I am very curious what’s happening to her. This is exciting! Thanks for the opportunity to participate! Looking forward to the next letter!
This is fun! What a creative idea!
What a wonderful idea for a blog hop! I really enjoyed the letter from Molly 🙂
Such a fun letter! Even more fun having read “Love in the Balance,” and knowing just how much learning poor Molly will endure 🙂
May 19 is our 29th wedding anniversary! I would love to win a present my husband could bring up from our mailbox down at the road. Yes!
I wonder how many hats Molly has!? Oh, my. A wide brim to hide embarrassment under ~*
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The Message (MSG)
9-10 “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart
and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
not as they pretend to be.”
I can’t wait to read this book! The letter made me want to read it even more!
What a fun way to tell a story and to engage the readers. It’s like the old Progressive Dinners we used to have– one course at each home. Only this fare is far more delicious. Brava to a creative new way to spin a story– weaving all the parts together.
Such a neat idea! I’d love to win! I really enjoyed Sixty Acres and a Bride!
Molly is my favorite!
This book is in my to read pile. After reading the letter above, I’m really looking forward to reading the book. The earrings in the photo are lovely. Thanks for having this fun giveaway. I’m looking forward to the rest of the week!
Thanks for sharing the letter and for the chance to win such beautiful prizes. I look forward to reading these books! 🙂
I think the idea of the trust chronicles is wonderful. I am so glad I found out about it, and am able to participate. I wish I would have known about the hope chronicles. Thank you so much for being apart of this.
Thank you for the opportunity to enter this special contest. I am looking forward to reading the book whether I win or not. Love these kind of stories.
What a terrific idea; a way to be introduced to new authors, and good books to read during the summer months. I am an avid reader, and stories about who,en’s lives, whether current, or past, or historical. They all interest me. I will be looking forward to your posts….
I am hooked. Can’t wait to read the rest of the story. The giveaway sounds wonderful.
What a delightful idea and what a great team of historical authors! I enjoyed the letter and getting to know the heroine of your book a bit. It sounds like a great story!
What a wonderful book! Can’t wait to read it!
Thank you for the opportunity to get a wonderful glimpse that
Leaves us wanting more! 🙂
I loved Molly’s writing. So down to earth. Liked her Spanish proverbs and her knowing her friend so well that she’s writing to. I’m so excited about reading these books.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this contest! I love Christian fiction!
I would absolutely love to have a copy of your book and the cuff bracelet. I am a total romantic at heart and love love letters. Thank you for your consideration. Also thank you so very much for having such s tremendous give away. You are most generous.
This contest looks great.
I would love to win this giveaway.I am looking forward to reading this book…sounds great.Thanks
Loved reading the letter. Have yet to read the book but really intrigued me to start. What a fun contest too!!
Loved reading the letter. Have yet to read the book but really intrigued me to start. What a fun contest too 🙂
What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win.
thanks for sharing regina….loved molly’s story 😉
What an excellent giveaway! I would love to be chosen as the winner.
Such a neat giveaway! The letters are so intriquing! (and that bracelet is so pretty) I can’t wait to read your book! 🙂
Hi Regina! This contest is a lot of fun. Thanks for taking part.
Blessings,
Andrea
Gosh, now I HAVE to read the rest! 😉
I enjoyed The Hope Chronicles last year and am looking forward to the rest of The Trust Chronicles. Thank you for taking part in this blog hop and for putting together the lovely giveaway.
Blessings!
Jasmine A.
montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com
I think I would be just as hurt and ticked as Molly is. Bailey owes her an explanation! Will she get it? Can’t wait to read this book.
I would love to win Molly’s Prize Package!
Blessings!
Judy B
I can’t wait to meet this Molly character!
This looks like a good book about difficult choices and following God. I look forward to finding out. 🙂
Love the idea of “The Trust Chronicles” & getting to meet each of the heroines. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
bonnieroof60@yahoo.com
I loved reading 60 acres and a bride, what a beautiful take on Ruth 🙂 I am just reading love in the balance 🙂
Sounds like a great book! Adding it to my to read list! I love the spunk and honesty in Molly’s letter
From reading this letter I HAVE to read this book!!! This is an awesome opportunity for us lovers of Christian fiction this week!!
Love “The Trust Chronicles”, what a wonderful group of writers! 🙂
Cool idea and thanks for the giveaway! Love your website, btw. 🙂
Sounds like a really wonderful book!! I would love to win and read!! Thanks so much for the chance!!
Sounds like a lovely book! I am impressed with what you ladies are doing with these letters from your heroines. Love it!
I’ve read one but not the other yet…thanks for the chance to win and how fun! truckredford(at)Gmail(dot)com
I am loving the Trust Chronicles! Such a neat project – and the letters have been beautiful. I so relate to Molly – I always want to do it on my own 😉
Thank you for the chance to win!
Beth
I read Love in the Balance and just loved it!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Melanie
melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com
Man sounds like I’ve been missing out on a lot of good reading. 🙂
I have never actually known about your books before this link up, but sure am excited to start buying maybe winning 🙂 an best of all start reading.
Molly’s character sounds spunky and real. Your writing is fabulous!
I would love to read your book. I’m always looking for new authors to add to my list of favorites. This blog hop is a neat concept and I would love to win! Thanks for the chance.
I’d love to read Love in the Balance. Reading the letter was fun and interesting.
I loved the Hope Chronicles last year, and have been looking forward to the Trust Chronicles since it was announced. Thank you so much for being a part of this, and for offering up such a neat package.
Thanks for such a wonderfull giveaway. I would really like to read this after reading the letter. Pulled me in.
Blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
So looking forward to reading this. Thanks for the giveaway
Looking forward to reading the book.