More about Deep from the Heart

Praises For

Deep from the Heart

 

“Woven with grace and sensitivity, Mary Lou Cheatham takes us on a journey with Ava Molino as she leaves the comfort of her hometown in Mississippi and travels to Texas to pastor a small-town church. The poignant plot will grip your heart from the beginning as she reaches out to the downtrodden and draws them to the church and to Christ. It was a blessing to see how the town changed from the inside out.”
—Patricia Bradley
Author, Justice Delivered, releasing April 5, 2019
Memphis Cold Case Novels

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 “The theme of the book is to follow your heart and always be open about your feelings.”
—Nancy Hutson
Retired Assistant Professor of English
Louisiana State University, Shreveport

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 “This lovely romance was entertaining from the first word to the last!  In this insightful story, one cannot help but notice the unfortunate similarities to the widespread unrest we have seen in the current arena.  Deep from the Heart illustrates the relationship between two perceptive, discerning individuals who are unfairly affected by interventions beyond their control.  Mary Lou Cheatham offers a poignant, timely description of how easily lives can be destroyed in the wake of misguided agendas. As always, reading Mary's work was a sublime pleasure!”
—Jodi Hockinson
Author, Between Two Worlds
Southeast Media Productions

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"A modern-day Father Brown or Father Tim from Mitford in the body of a female Methodist Hispanic minister. Inspiring read full of humor, love, and acceptance.

"Quotes I loved:
'I'd have to find my safe places where God would breathe new life.'
'They need to hear about him in the words they understand.'"
—Marguerite Gray
Author, Bring Me Near
Revolutionary Faith Books

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"Filled with complex characters and heart-tugging conflict, Deep from the Heart reveals the struggles embedded in ministry...and love. This story tenderly reminds us that a life surrendered to God doesn’t just change a church...it can change a whole community." 
—Tara Johnson 
Author, Engraved on the Heart 
Where Dandelions Bloom

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Deep from the Heart

Other Books by

Mary Lou Cheatham

 

The Covington Chronicles Series
Secret Promise
The Courtship of Miss Loretta Larson
The Dream Bucket
Manuela Blayne: A Life Apart
Travelers in Painted Wagons: On Cohay Creek
(Co-Author: Sarah Walker Gorrell)
House of Seven

Christian Biblical Fiction
Abi of Cyrene

Contemporary Inspirational Novel
As Doves Fly in the Wind

Daily Devotional
Do You Know How God Loves You?

Children’s Books
with Christie Marie Underwood
Bubba, the Firedog
Brother Star, Sister Moon
Seth, the Shepherd Boy

An Excerpt from Deep from the Heart

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Of the three motels in town, I selected the one where I had travel points.

A few minutes before six o’clock, I drove to Taco Grande. Jack stood leaning against his fancy red pickup. I needed to like him, needed to treat everybody in the church with respect. The smirk on his upturned pink lips—a repulsive shade of pink—revolted me. I hoped he never got an urge to kiss me. Why did I have such a thought? I wasn’t planning to kiss anybody, such as anyone attending Grace and Peace Church, especially someone on a church committee. 

His cold blue eyes stared at me from underneath his dirt-stained cowboy hat. With his head leaning forward and his eyes boring into me, he sent a seeking look that reminded me of a trapped rat. I wasn’t sure what his expression meant, but I didn’t like the looks of his face. After seeing the place he selected for me to live, I considered him trouble, but I’d try to be cool, not showing him I was wary.

He walked toward me.

Quick as a bullet, I opened my car door to step out before he’d try to offer to help me. I felt a little flustered as my eyes caught the hair exposed through the open buttons of his blue chambray cowboy shirt. I hoped he didn’t notice; I wished I hadn’t.

He licked his lips. “Good to see you again, Reverend Ava.”

“Yes.” Did he expect me to offer my hand? I didn’t have to.

At the hostess podium, a woman hid her smiling mouth behind a menu. Her eyes met mine. “How many?”

“Two, please.”

Was the hostess amused because Jack had a female accompanying him to dinner?

He ordered first. “The chicken enchilada combination plate for eight dollars: fried rice, beans, enchilada, taco, and guacamole.”

I placed my order. “I’d like the same thing except for beef.”

“That will be way too much food for you.” Jack looked askance at me.

I glared at him. He needed to stay out of my business. Jack Perry, a bizarre combination, repulsed me with his insulting comments while he looked me over with hungry eyes.

I’d have to guard all my remarks, but I’d make sure he did certain things to help me get started at Grace and Peace. He would fulfill his obligations.

“Where are you going to stay tonight?” Jack tilted his head toward me.

“Oh, I’m not sure.” Placing my napkin on my lap, I dried my sweaty palms. Lying was not my nature.

His widening eyes and slack mouth conveyed disbelief.

My shoulders tightened. With my napkin, I wiped sweat beads from my forehead.

The waitress approached our table and refilled our glasses. “Something wrong?”

The man’s evil eyes sent a negative message to my spirit.

“No, everything is fine.” I was telling the truth as far as she was concerned—nothing was wrong with the service or the food.

She shifted her weight. “Anything else?”

“A to-go box when you come back this way.” Having lost my appetite, I sat holding a chip while I stared at nothing.

I’d considered spending the night in the church office again, but the parishioners might not have been impressed. I couldn’t spend too much money on motel rooms though. I’d stay two nights—Friday because the house wasn’t ready and Saturday because I’d need to be ready to meet the congregation for the first time Sunday. Tomorrow I’d secure the doors. How does one replace door locks? Or only the insides of locks? Until someone helped me, I could use a screwdriver well enough to put up latches.

Also I needed a new mop.

I was glad I made my reservation at the motel before coming to eat.

“Ava, you aren’t listening.” Jack spoke through a full mouth.

“Oh, I’m sorry. There are so many concerns I have to sort through. What did you say?”

“I haven’t had time to go by the church to pick up a check from Sylvia.”

“I see. When—”

He was playing gotcha. “Since you need your money so bad, we can ride over there after dinner and pick it up. She left it on her desk.”

After we finished, I paid for my dinner, most of which I carried in a Styrofoam box. Since he tipped fifty cents, I laid three dollars on the table. Outside, he opened the passenger door of his truck. “Come take a ride in my new pickup.”

My belly felt rock hard. “I—I’ll just follow you.”

The location of the church was only two blocks from Taco Grande. He led the way, and I pulled up behind his shiny red truck.

He approached me. “Let’s go. I’ll show you around.”

My new job wasn’t getting off to a smooth start. “Jack, I’m too tired. I’ll wait here in the car for you.”

“Lock your doors. You never know what could happen.” He winked at me and turned crisply toward the first-floor door behind the plump shrub on the corner.

When he returned, he handed me the check through my open window. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“You need somewhere to stay.”

“It’s okay.” I closed my window, started my car, put it in reverse. I jerked away so fast my tires squealed.

He sprinted to his pickup and hopped in.

I managed to go a block before he caught up with me. I saw him in my rearview mirror.

What to do? Wal-Mart. I’d go buy a few supplies, such as door latches and a screwdriver. Bleach, window cleaner, a mop, a broom, rags.

I selected a hammer, an assortment of screwdrivers, and three door latches. Soon my cart was full.

Around the corner of each aisle, I looked for Jack. Once I thought I saw him, but when the man turned, he was some other cowboy. Most men in Flat Rock wore cowboy hats.

If I hadn’t been rattled, I would have appreciated the incredible beauty of the lingering sunset when I stepped out the door. I walked as fast to my SUV as I could without running and calling attention to myself. I slung my purchases into the back.

Was that his red pickup behind me?

“Siri, give me directions to Redemption Canyon.”

Thank God, I filled up my gas tank this afternoon.

Following the directions blaring from my cell phone, I drove north a few miles on Highway 84, wound through El Conchos, then crossed the railroad track toward Redemption Canyon. In three or four minutes, I felt a thrill as the road plunged to the bottom of Yellow House Canyon. The sun shone into my window with a spray of blazing colors.

The surprising turns of the landscape fascinated me, but this was not a time for studying geography.

I coaxed my SUV to climb out of the canyon. This was one of the moments I appreciated my dad. The owner of a car parts house, he made sure my car was in perfect running order. I didn’t feel afraid to challenge my sweet little car because I knew Daddy always sent me off in a well-maintained vehicle.

I turned toward the sunset. My rearview mirror revealed the red truck maintaining the distance of five car lengths behind me.

Tight throat and mouth dry with a bitter taste, my wrists pulsating, I shivered at the thought of Jack following me. Beads of perspiration popped out until I was drenched.

In a few seconds, my cell phone directed me to turn left. Would the turn provide an opportunity for me to lose Jack?

The whirl to the left almost caused the wheels of my SUV to leave the pavement. I held my breath. My rearview mirror showed Jack still behind me. 

Deep from the Heart...I like Ava, the narrator.

Although I’ve never known anyone quite like Ava Molino, she has become real to me. I like

her. She isn’t perfect, but if she were, we’d find her disgusting.

She needs encouragement, and I’m hooked on her situation…cheering for her. I’ve been obsessed with recording her story exactly as she told it.

Where did this character come from? Mississippi, but where in the ethereal region that authors invade to recruit characters did Ava exist? She’s nothing like me. Maybe she’s like some who will read about her.

At times she’s a needy millennial. Her district superintendent, her immediate supervisor, dreads seeing her walk through his office door. On the occasions when she doesn’t feel needy, she’s capable of managing challenging situations.

When we first meet her, she says she wants romance in her life. She has several blocks to romance. She’s moving to a town where there won’t be many eligible men. If she meets any men in the town of Flat Rock, I don’t expect her to start relationships with them. A guy named Ray claims her attention, and she seems to have no interest in anyone else. She sets her sights on him. Although she doesn’t pursue him when she arrives in town, she welcomes his attention.

I wondered whether she had a relationship in Mississippi before she left. Evidently not…. Now she’s looking for a serious commitment. But with such a cute guy?

At first, she’s a bit of a mess. Imagine a minister with chipped red fingernail polish. Her clothes don’t fit right, and she has spilled something on her best dress.

As I said, I like her. She’s qualified intellectually and she’s an accomplished musician. She has a good starting point. No matter how small or large her church is, she must feel overwhelmed as she leaves her pleasant existence and moves to an unfamiliar, potentially hostile place. Let’s hope things go well for her, but how can they?

A Bumper Crop--Multiple Book Releases

Writing fiction is exciting, especially exciting now. Bunches of friends have book releases, and some more have contracts for new books. It's like a snowball rolling down a mountain or a tumbleweed gathering circumference as it blows about.

My dear friend Kathy McKinsey has a new book, ALL MY TEARS.

It's being released April 2, 2019. I blogged about it a few days ago.

Now she's blogging about DEEP FROM THE HEART.

The words she wrote in her blog, Kathy's Voice, touched my heart. Here's what she said:

Deep From The Heart by Mary Lou Cheatham

Mary was one of my first critique partners and has stuck with me for five years. She’s patiently given me many helpful suggestions about the writing craft, and she’s honest and gentle when telling me I need to add things which are missing from my stories.

Also, I love reading her work, from historical to contemporary. I appreciate Mary so much and highly recommend you check out all her books.

Here’s what she says about her newest book.

A Dangerous Love

DEEP FROM THE HEART, releasing March 25 by Mary Lou Cheatham, takes us on a journey of romance and suspense.

Ava Molino, a millennial, travels to places where she finds her mission of reaching the hurting and the dying—the troubled souls in a crumbling west Texas town. It’s a romantic thriller about a Methodist minister who leaves the security of pastoring churches near her friends and dear ones in Mississippi to revive a dying church. She also hopes to fall in love.

She rescues others. Who’ll rescue her?

DEEP FROM THE HEART can be pre-ordered in Kindle form now and delivered on March 25. Also close to that time, Southeast Media Productions will release the paperback form. A few days later the recorded version will be available on Amazon.com and Audible.com for purchase.

Mary Lou Cheatham’s heartfelt sympathy for the downtrodden has served as an inspiration for many of her novels, including The Dream Bucket.

Go to http://maryloucheatham.com to read more about DEEP FROM THE HEART.

DEEP FROM THE HEART released on March 25, 2019

 It’s exhilarating to have a new book to publish.

On March 25, DEEP FROM THE HEART will be released.  The novel of what happened to Ava

Molino is a love story spiced with the fear brought on by adventures gone wrong. It’s a romantic thriller with a balance of romance and thriller. If it were a movie, it would seem to have equal parts of these two story elements, but when written on the printed page, the romantic scenes, including both time of the ones together and the longing of Ava to be with her love, take longer to tell than the action scenes.

DEEP FROM THE HEART is the story of a journey taken by a Methodist minister who leaves her secure spot in Mississippi, where she has friends and a dear family to travel deep into the heart of Texas. She’s looking for love, but she doesn’t really expect to find it as she travels to a desolate little town that at first appears to be dying.

One reason I enjoyed writing this book is that it gave me an opportunity for you and me to delve into the lifestyle of the downtrodden.

DEEP FROM THE HEART can be pre-ordered in Kindle form now and delivered on March 25. Also close to that time, Southeast Media Productions will release the paperback form. A few days later the recorded version will be available on Amazon.com and Audible.com for purchase. I.t would be good to pre-order it to guarantee you don't forget to obtain a copy.

Kathy McKinsey's New Book Release

Kathy is a dear friend and critique partner. We've never met in person, but we know each other well. Her writing has inspired me for years. I've watched her grow

as a writer. I don't think it is possible for Kathy to grow as a person, because she has lived the life of a mature, happy, joyful, Christian woman as long as I've known her. She radiates a kind of beauty that amazes me.

All My Tears

It's time to pre-order it on Amazon in Kindle form. Here's the link:  All My Tears

Here's the release she sent me for this blog:

ALL MY TEARS, releasing April 2, is a collection of five novellas about women fighting battles within themselves. Fear; addiction; regret; anger at God and other people; anger at ourselves; inability to accept forgiveness; loneliness; depression.

All of us have faced some of these, or other enemies, inside ourselves. The main characters in my book are people like any of us, fighting these villains in ordinary daily life.

What I hope to show through these real-life battles is the true hope and grace from God we can find to be healed.

Meet women whom I pray you will like and who may remind you of yourself or people you know. Share their stories with their friends and families, through struggle and joy, fun and stress, falling and getting up again.

The stories in my book are not autobiographical. However, I have dealt with depression for many years. I know what it means to not believe God can forgive me. I have faced the struggles to keep a marriage and a family going strong. And I know how God’s grace can fight, and win, these battles.

Psalm 56:8: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

And here's a link to her blog: Kathy's Voice

Deep from the Heart ...Is Ava Molino strong enough to go on her mission to the scary edge?