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Christmas is Coming

Dayo Benson

ImageIt’s less than six weeks until Christmas and as usual I am nowhere near ready. I don’t even have a Christmas list yet. But I do have a Christmas novella that I will be releasing soon called Season of Hope, so I haven’t been completely slacking off. I’ve just been too busy writing.

Christmas makes me think of Jesus, innocent babies, roast dinners and Sister Act 2. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched Sister Act 2. It’s on every Christmas, but I never get tired of it. It’s one of my favourite feel-good movies.

Anyway, here’s the synopsis for my upcoming Christmas novella:

‘Tis the season of love and understanding…

Last Christmas, Robyn Kellett was distraught because her fiancé broke up with her. This Christmas promises to be even worse as Chad Ryder, the man she loved as a naïve eighteen-year old, resurfaces with an invitation to come to a university reunion in Blackpool. Robyn’s only hope of having a merry Christmas is the mysterious man she talks to every night online. They have a date for Christmas Eve, and Robyn hopes he’s as perfect in real life as he seems on the Internet.

Chad Ryder needs Robyn to come to Blackpool. It’s the only chance he has to win her heart before she finds out that the man she’s been falling in love with online for the past six months is none other than him.

At Blackpool, Robyn is infuriated by all of Chad’s efforts to win her heart, and Chad is frustrated with her constant resistance. As Christmas Eve draws near, Chad hopes for forgiveness for his deception, and Robyn hopes for the man of her dreams. Will either of them get what they want?

This is my first novella. I found it harder to write a novella than a full novel, believe it or not. I’m the kind of writer who constantly goes beyond my wordcount so writing a short story wasn’t easy. But I managed it. I hope it gets you in the mood for Christmas!

Book Reviews Pure Passion Series , , ,

Books Similar to Lust (Pure Passion Series)

Dayo Benson

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to give me feedback on my latest book, Lust (Pure Passion Series). To be honest I wasn’t sure how it was going to be received as it’s very different to anything I’ve written so far. I’m so glad you guys are liking it.

I’m hard at work on the next book in the Pure Passion Series. At the moment it’s called ‘Bondage’ but that might change. I can tell you that the main character, Savannah McPherson, is on the run from the organisation she works for. While in hiding, she runs into her first (and only) love, Rhys Cannon. I have already fallen in love with their story and I hope you will too.

I’ve been asked about books that are similar to Lust, so here are few books that I think you might like to read while you wait for your next ‘fix’ of the Pure Passion series (:-)):

Product DetailsThe Jewel Series by Hallee Bridgeman

So far, I’m only about halfway through the first book of the series, Sapphire Ice. It’s quite good and features a deeply troubled protagonist who was abused as a child and finds healing through love. The romance in this book is beautiful. It’s a Cinderella story (poor hard working girl meets rich guy) and Hallee proves that clean romance can still have passion. The other books in the series are Greater than Rubies, Emerald Fire, and Topaz Heat.

The Atonement ChildAtonement Child by Francine Rivers

I’m in no way comparable to the great Francine Rivers, she’s amazing, but this book is about the tough decision a young woman faces about whether or not to have an abortion after she was raped. To be honest, I never did finish this book because a friend gave me a summary of what happens and totally ruined it for me. I was happy though because I needed to stop reading and get back to writing.

Product DetailsLetting Go by Michelle Sutton

I recently reviewed this book on my blog. Click Here to read my review. Again, the main character has lived a troubled life and it’s great to follow her journey to healing.

 

 

The Retreat

The Retreat by Dijorn Moss

I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. It was sooooo good. The four main characters are men, which is pretty different from the books I usually read. I had a lot of laugh out loud moments, especially about the super ‘holy’ character who just didn’t have a clue.

This book deals with purity, relationship issues, and being a man of God, but you won’t feel alienated reading it as a woman. In fact, it gives you some insight into how guys think. And while the retreat the men in this book go on is not a sexual healing retreat, like in my book, you’ll still get a few thoughts on purity, such as: ‘when the Scripture talks about putting on the whole armour of God, the first thing you are to put on is a belt to hold your pants up. Christian men should never be caught with their pants down. We have to cut off the door of infidelity and fornication.’ Ha ha, I think that is my favourite part of the whole book. I’d say give it a chance. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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Upcoming Book

Dayo Benson

ImageI am very pleased to share the cover of my upcoming book with you. As usual, it was designed by my lovely husband and I absolutely love it. He really is a genius.

I’m currently editing the manuscript. My editor came back with lots of things for me to change or at least look closely at and I have to reduce the wordcount by 25%. This is so painful because I slaved over every word and now I have to remove chunks that I slaved over (arrgh!!!). But I know it’s for the best. I hate editing my work though. Writing is the fun part. Editing is too much like work.

The unedited synopsis of the book is:

David Steel is living the perfect life, now that he’s sworn off women. Hard work and long hours are all the companion he needs. Until Noémi comes crashing into his life and disturbs his steady equilibrium.

Noémi Casson has booked herself on a sexual healing retreat after struggling in silence for fifteen years. She’s done her best to contain herself, but it was just a matter of time before she gave in to her demons. Giving in was easy, and even felt right—at the time. It’s the aftermath that is painful.

David is convinced that his love is all the healing Noémi needs.

Noémi is convinced that David must be delusional.

As Noémi allows God to work on her, she begins to see herself and her problems in a new light. But just when all seems to be going well the unthinkable happens and Noémi’s private sin becomes public knowledge. Noémi doesn’t know whether to focus on saving her relationship with David or saving herself. It’s all she can do to stay sane!

Let me introduce you to some of the characters:

Noémi Casson – the main character of the novel is a child abuse survivor. She’s seeking healing as her scars run deep. She meets David and isn’t sure whether to take a chance on him since he’s so obviously out of her league.

David Steel – David tries to be patient and accommodating with Noémi, but how much can he take? He loves her but her self-hatred continually gets in the way.

Aaron Cass – Aaron is a temptation that Noémi has fallen for before and he’s out to floor her again.

Kadeigh Lovell – Kadeigh attends the same healing retreat that Noémi attends. She’s feisty and outspoken and she whips Noémi into shape near the end of the book.

Rita Moorcroft – Rita is Noémi’s best friend but Noémi is forced to reevaluate their friendship when she gets into trouble and Rita gives her some dubious advice.

On a completely different note, here’s a picture of the pretty little addition to our family, Esther Shola ImageBenson. She was born last week and she’s adorable. Me, my husband and our other daughter, Rhema, are absolutely smitten with her 🙂

Anyway, I better get back to editing xx

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Cravings & A Quote

Dayo Benson

plumsHi everyone,

I’ve been really busy the last few weeks with writing and preparing for our new baby which is due very soon (can’t wait!). I went for my graduation last week and it was fabulous apart from the fact that my daughter wouldn’t stop acting up and it was really embarrassing. It was a hot day and I think she was just sick of the heat. There was also the fact that my mum and dad came with us and she knows she can get away with anything around them. Oh, well. I really enjoyed the day, but it wasn’t easy with my huge bump. And my constant thirst for ice-cold water. And constant cravings for plums. Seriously, the picture above is making me hungry…

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to share a quote with you. I came across it when I was doing some research for the next book, which I actually finished writing last week (woohoo!!!). The book is about a woman who goes on a healing retreat to connect with God and learn how to overcome the things that have happened to her in the past. It’s tentatively titled ‘lust’ although that might change because it’s a bit ‘in your face,’ lol. I’ll do a post introducing the book and the main characters soon. Anyway, here’s the quote (it’s long but makes so much sense):

“Lust is not the result of an overactive sex drive; it is not a biological phenomenon or the by-product of our glands. If it were, then it could be satisfied with a sexual experience, like a glass of water quenches thirst or a good meal satisfies appetite. But the more we attempt to appease our lust, the more demanding it becomes. There is simply not enough erotica in the world to satisfy lust’s insatiable appetite. When we deny our lustful obsessions, we are not repressing a legitimate drive. We are putting to death an aberration. Lust is to the gift of sex what cancer is to a normal cell. Therefore, we deny it, not in order to become sexless saints, but in order to be fully alive to God, which includes the full and uninhibited expression of our sexual being within the God-given context of marriage.” – Richard Exley, quoted in Homemade, Vol. 13, No. 9, September, 1989.

He says it much better than I ever could so I might just pop this at the beginning of the book. I think the quote is spot on. What do you think?

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Moving on to New Books

Dayo Benson

ImageMay was a busy month!!! My brother got married (yay!) and I had to submit my Masters dissertation. I am so glad I have finally finished writing my dissertation. Now I can get back to the kind of writing that I really love!!!

Now that I’m done with Drew Ashley I am working on a new book about a girl who thinks she is a sex addict!!! She was abused as a child and engaged in all kinds of destructive behaviour as a coping mechanism, but even as an adult she is finding that she still struggles. The book starts with her as an adult and she has booked herself into a sexual healing retreat where she is hoping to find restoration. It sounds bizarre, I know. My husband just shakes his head when I tell him the plots for my books. Understandably so.

It’s also a love story, but I don’t want to give too much away. I love the hero in the this book. He’s understanding and accommodating, and all the things that a wounded woman needs. Obviously their relationship is not going to be all smooth sailing and there are a few twists.

My prayer right now is that I write this book in a way that does it justice, because I really do love the story. I guess that’s every writer’s concern. It’s one thing to have a good storyline, but how you deliver it is equally as important. I struggled with writing this one at first because I have only ever written in the first person, but this book is in the third person. Also, I have only ever written from one point of view, but this book is from two points of view so it’s been a bit tough getting to grips with writing differently. But I think I’m cool with it now. One good thing is that it’s set in England so I don’t have to research another culture.

I can’t wait to finish writing it and see what you all think.

God bless xx

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New Book!!! Blurred Vision

Dayo Benson

bv3I am pleased to announce that the second, and last, installment of Drew Ashley’s story is now available. It’s called Blurred Vision. Let me know what you think when you’ve read it.

I’m so excited to have completed another project. Writing about Drew has been so different from other main characters I have written about. I feel that Drew has been the most ‘normal’ of the bunch although she’s not really all that normal with her ability to see visions. Dana was very rebellious and Lexi was very resistant to God. I guess Drew’s defining traits are her female empowerment views and her ambitious personality.

Drew grows a lot in this book. You get to find out what happens with Kale (does she forgive him after the Gordon incident???), Harvey (does she like him or not???), and Drew’s friendship with Jazz (do they make up or hate each other forever???). You also get to find out who killed Travis. If you work out ‘whodunit’ before it’s revealed I want to know, lol.

Hope you enjoy reading Drew’s story xx

Read Blurred Vision Now