A Christmas in July Book, Dangerous Detour

This month, we are privileged to have an article from award-winning author Gail Pallotta.

It’s fun to enjoy glittering Christmas lights and silver tinsel in July, but no matter what time of year we celebrate Christ’s birth, it has a much deeper meaning. During Jesus’ life He taught a Gospel of love and gave us the greatest gift the world has ever seen. He suffered and died on a cross to pay for our sins. To have everlasting life, all we have to do is believe He is our Savior and accept the gift.

Many refer to modern times as the post-Christian era. We’re blessed with ministers, missionaries and other Christian leaders. Unfortunately, many people never attend a church or any Christian gathering. Yet church-goers see others on a daily basis. Thus, we’re encouraged to be disciples for Christ. How can Christians who have no formal ministerial training spread Jesus’ message?

We can keep our eyes and ears open to opportunities to speak about Jesus, or answer a question with a Biblically-based reply. For instance, a man humming a hymn recently wandered around a store. After a stranger asked him about the song, he talked to the man about his faith and his church. Another person was asked how he and his wife had stayed married for so many years. He said, “We go to church together.” That man’s conversation led to a discussion of a Jesus-centered church.

It’s often little things we say or do that speak to a person. All of the above stayed on my mind for a long time. When something nags me, I often write about it. Thus, a Discipleship Series began. Dangerous Detour, a Christmas in July romantic suspense, is book two in the Discipleship Series.

Here is the book description:

Four people face a winter storm in the wilderness. Two have lost their way. One has lost his purpose and one has lost his soul.

Headed home for Christmas vacation, Ruthie, a quiet professor, crosses paths with Moose, a football coach, on an icy blocked road in Western North Carolina. Amid a winter storm, they unknowingly take shelter in a killer’s hideout. Escaping under fire, they flee into a frozen, snow-covered forest. Trying to find their way out and shake the murderer, they dodge bullets each day until the temperature drops and the world turns quiet. Then, they set up camps to survive in the wilderness. Even though they grow attracted to each other, neither admits it until each of them suffers a frightening injury. Finally, they head to a house Ruthie sees in the distance. Will they meet a new friend, or a foe?

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZXWGF3P/

Dangerous Detour excerpt:

Chapter One

Twilight fell.

The fog grew thicker, and ice pellets hit the windshield.

Ruthie O’Donnell wished she’d waited to leave for home tomorrow, but the weatherman had forecast snow, not ice.

Her car skidded.

A drop-off on the right. An embankment on the left.

Holding the steering wheel so tight her knuckles hurt, Ruthie turned the wheel with the slide. Thud. The airbag deployed. Her horn honked.

The motor ground into the quiet night. After the airbag deflated, with her hand shaking, she turned off the engine, opened the door, and stepped out. The beams from the car’s headlights shone on the hood.

She’d smashed into a tall oak growing on the side of a cliff. Only the tree kept her from tumbling over the steep precipice. When her knees went weak, she braced herself on the doorframe, slid into the driver’s seat, and collapsed on the airless airbag.

Metal grinding against metal blasted, then the world fell silent. Ruthie stared at the soft snow. She could almost hear the mist.

Tapping. From far away? Someone coming to help? Or hurt her? Every muscle in her body tightened.

“Ma’am, Ma’am, are you alright?”

A large man holding a flashlight stood by the car.

She started closing the door, but he pulled it open. She scrunched her shoulders and recoiled.

Placing a muscular arm around her waist, the man gently pulled her out as though she weighed no more than a light grocery bag. After he stood her up on the highway, she stiffened at his size. Towering over her five-feet-four inches, he had broad shoulders, dark hair, and…wait. Did kindness glint in his big brown eyes, or did she imagine it?

“Ma’am, we need to get your belongings out in case your vehicle goes over.

Ruthie looked at her car and placed her hand over her mouth.

“Ma’am, I didn’t mean to upset you more than this disaster already has.” He sighed. “Before I left, I listened to a weather forecast for the Western North Carolina Mountains for snow, possibly heavy at times.”

“I heard snow too.”

“We’re lucky. I skidded into the guardrail sideways and stopped ten feet behind you. We came so close…” The man motioned toward the bluff. “But here we are.” He peeked in the backseat window. “We need to take only the most important things—suitcase, water, food. Any of that buried under all of those books?”

Trying to assess her situation, Ruthie pondered the words before she answered. “I have luggage in the trunk and one to-go box of food.”

“I’ll grab your bag if you’ll bring the leftovers.”

“What about my car?”

“The tree holding it appears pretty sturdy. Strong winds, ice and hail could damage it though. Considering the conditions and the one-hundred-foot drop, I wouldn’t try to move it. If it slides sideways, it could plummet over the edge.” He glanced at her backseat again. “Could you choose a few of those books and leave the rest?”

She held the duffle bag in one hand and the food in the other. “That’s all right. I don’t have to take them.” She valued her books like gold nuggets, but she could only carry so much. When the man had said one-hundred-foot drop, she had put her desire to read in perspective.

“I know how bookworms are about their pastime. Take a few. I’ll add your items to mine and carry them all.”

Wait a minute. Twilight had turned to night, and here she was, standing on the side of the highway in a storm talking to a strange man as big as Paul Bunyon. “Who are you?”

About the Author:

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, Mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. She’s a Reader’s Favorite Book Award winner, TopShelf Book Awards Finalist and a Top Author pick. She’s published eight books, poems, short stories and several hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums.