Finding Stefanie, Noble Legacy Series #3

By Susan May Warren

Description:

When she put her dreams on hold to help run the family ranch, she never imagined they would slip out of sight. Luckily for Stefanie, those dreams are about to come knocking at her door.

Lincoln Cash has gained fame and fortune on the big screen, but a crippling secret leaves him one last chance to make his mark on the movie industry. With dreams of hosting a new film festival, Lincoln intends to remodel a sprawling ranch in eastern Montana to make it the new Hollywood hot spot.

Unfortunately, a house fire threatens his plans. So does opposition from his new neighbor Stefanie Noble, who's not thrilled about his Tinseltown changes. What Lincoln and Stefanie don't know is that the fire won't be the last disaster to threaten Lincoln or his future. Someone is out for revenge... but who? And who is the real target?

Book Takeaway:

See "Why you wrote this book"

Awards:

Why the author wrote this book:

Writing this book couldn’t have come at a more difficult time. I’m not sure why, but I always seem to back myself into my schedule, turning around just in time to see it crashing down over me like a wave. If I’m well-balanced, I keep my feet and can ride the wave to shore. However, often the wave knocks me over, and I’m left scraping the ocean bottom, wedging sand in my teeth and gasping for air when I surface.

The spring of 2007 hit me like a tidal wave. I was homeschooling three of my children in fourth, sixth, and ninth grades. I had speaking engagements every weekend for three months, and I was trying to write Stefanie Noble’s story. I thought I might lose my mind.

My husband sensed that I was overwhelmed—perhaps because of the way I mumbled in my sleep—and he came to me with a plan. He would cook supper. Every night. For three months. Maybe some of you have husbands who cook. Mine is a fabulous cook, but I’m the primary chef in the family. And when you’re feeding a family of six, four of whom are men, you have to cook a lot. I could have cried at his feet with relief.

But his generosity didn’t stop there. Not only did he cook—he cleaned, carpooled, fixed my car, and occasionally brought supper up to my office. And he prayed for me.
He was God’s gift of strength to me.

So much of the time, heroes in stories are alpha males, able to leap tall buildings and swim through hurricane waters to save their heroines. However, in today’s world women are strong and often don’t need that kind of hero. Stefanie Noble was one of these. A woman accustomed to working with animals, she knew how to handle herself. But she needed someone who would stand beside her, believe in her, and encourage her. She needed a different kind of hero.

I love strong heroes, but I love strength of character in a man more. Especially when he surrenders his heart to the One who gives strength. This is the theme I brought to Finding Stefanie.

This book is also about seeing our world and ourselves through new eyes. As a mother, I remember those early days when I’d look up from my daily routines—helping with homework, doing laundry, cooking supper—and wonder, how did I get here? Last time I looked, I was newly married and about to conquer the world as a super missionary. Did I blink?

How did I end up living in Siberia, without heat, chasing down roaches. Or homeless for four months and living in our garage. I have come to believe that contentment is a mind-set, a submission to all God is doing in my life. His call is for me to be obedient to the life He’s given me and to embrace it with a tender heart—no matter what the circumstance. When I do, He has a way of making me see it with new eyes. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect. But it can still be good. Very good.
And those are the lessons I wrote into this book.

“Fill my cup, Lord. . . . Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!”

God can fill your cup with strength, contentment, and wholeness. I pray that today you find Him your hero in every way.


Thank you for journeying with me through the Noble Legacy!
God bless,
Susan May Warren