I'm so excited, I don't even know where to start! I've been waiting for this story to release ever since I found out it was even being worked on. And when Kassie asked me to Beta? I was over the Moon! I was so excited to share this with all of you and so honored to participate in her blog tour! So without further ado, let's jump right in! (Points to you if you caught that I used Jump on purpose XD)

Where to even begin! This book made me laugh one minute and cry the next! It was such a touching story. The part that really got to me was when Layla was reading letters written to Mavericks mother...I've talked with a gold star mom on multiple occasions and she read me a similar letter...such a touching scene!

Andrew is probably my favorite character. I mean, he's a Ranger and a runner...and he's such a compelling lead.

That's not to down play Layla and Ranger and Jaydon though! This family is so sweet together and the dynamics of their relationship...and the tragedies that pull them tighter are so heart-breakingly beautiful!

The message of the story is so powerful. Hope, perseverance, God's hand in our lives and the desire to honor our heroes...ah! I can't say enough good about this book. And there's even a Police Officer line in the story! And of course, the balloons...

Because the story does deal with war injuries and PTSD, I would recommend this for 14+ for understanding. The book is clean and all, and there are no gory descriptions.

O To Be Like Thee still has my heart, but this book...nope, can't even compare them. They are both so good!

*I received an e-book copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own*

What inspired this story, especially the aspect of a double amputee?
Well, the story’s inspired by {a song} which isn’t about the Army or amputees unless you’ve got an imagination. XD The whole double-amputee part kind of just happened. I just wanted to bring together a three-legged dog and an amputee in a story. It was just an image I had in my head I wanted to write about.
 
What is one thing you want your readers to take away from this story?
There’s usually more to a person’s story than meets the eye. Maybe you’ll never know it. Maybe you will. People may be struggling in ways you will never know, and some heroes aren’t so obvious. And—maybe my favorite line of the story—you never know who’s trying to make a hero proud.
 
What has God taught you through the writing Tattered Wings?
If He tells you to do something, don’t give up. Not-so-little-known fact: I didn’t really want to write Tattered Wings. It’s my stubborn story for a reason. But not giving up is one of the themes of the story…and I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it. Because when you don’t give up, it will be oh so worth it.
 
How has your perspective on life changed through writing this story?
(how did she come up with these) Y’know, that’s a good question. Yeah, maybe the answer’s I’m more determined than ever not to give up. Or maybe the answer is that you can actually navigate between both the civilian and military world and it won’t always make sense and that’s okay.
 
Tell us about Maverick (just anything you want, girl). *He's a side Character that is never on scene in the story*
He’s my reckless Texas cowboy named after Lane Frost who loves animals and is such a softie but he will fight with a vengeance when he needs to because he’s basically a working dog at heart. (Don’t tell him I said that.)
 
If you could meet one of your characters, which would you want and what would you say to them?
I think I’d want it to be Layla, just so I could tell her the one thing she’s not sure she wants to hear: I know and I’m sorry. Everything’s gonna be okay and you are so brave. And by the way your dog is super cute, not that I’m biased.

(adds under my breath: “I know what I’d really want to say to a character. This is for you, Maverick.”)

*Reads that line and tears up...*
 
What piece of advice, based on your experience with this book, would you give writers?
Write the story that’s in your heart. I don’t care how hard it is. Just write it. Somebody needs to read it, and somebody’s heart will break in the best way possible over it. Don’t compare your stories to each other. Just don’t. You’ll still love them all, I promise.
 
How can we reach out to people like Layla and Andy?
In this essay I will…. X’D Just kidding. There’s a lot I could tell you. But at the end of the day, be respectful and just be a friend. Andrew’s struggles are a lot more visible than Layla’s. Saying not to treat them any differently isn’t helpful when they’re so unlike the average person you meet on the street. But don’t ever treat someone like they’re from a different planet just because, say, they’re a double amputee. Just say hi. How you doing. Crazy weather we’re having, right? And by the way…thank you; we really do appreciate it.
 
Okay, what inspired Isaiah?
(Fun fact: I don’t think I’ve shared this story before.) Okay, so I needed a battle buddy for Andrew, and Isaiah’s story just grew from there. My crazy Southern kid is based on a soldier from Alabama who was working the gate at Ft. Hood, saw my mom’s West Virginia license plate, and made it his personal mission to faithfully tell us “ROLL TIDE” every time he saw us. That was, one, how we found out WV was playing Alabama in the Super Bowl, two, how the poor boy earned the undying title Private Roll Tide, and three, how we ended up with a soft spot for all things Roll Tide. A good five years later, if pre-deployment Isaiah isn’t so Private Roll Tide… <33
 
Parting thoughts? (Literally, anything you want😉)
(First thing that came to mind; couldn’t resist and it’s kinda fitting…) “All we ask is that you don’t forget, ‘cause the war’s not over when the fighting ends—haunted souls and memories, Airborne Ranger Infantry.”

I'm not crying...<3

Okay, so that is it for now! Click here to purchase the eBook and here for a print copy!
Have a Blessed Day!
Rangers Lead the Way!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Welcome to our second missions spotlight! Brazil is February’s focus country and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation!

Country: Federative Republic of Brazil

Continent: South America

Population: 210 Million (2019)

Capital: Brasilia

Largest City: São Paulo

Motto: Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress)

National Anthem: “They hear stand on Placid Shores of the Ipiranga River”

Current Leader: Jair Bolsonaro

Language: Portuguese

Bordering Countries: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.

Religions: Catholic (64.6%); Protestant (includes Baptist, because for some reason Wikipedia is confused on that, lol! We’ll forgive them I guess 😉) (22.2%); Spiritism (2%); Other (3.2%); No Religion (8.0%). Approximately  78% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Jaguars, Capybaras, Armadillos, Anteaters, Tamarins (a kind of monkey), Maned Wolves, Amazon River Dolphins, Giant Otters, Piranhas, Three-Toed Sloths, and Poison Dart Frogs, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Feijoada (a stew of pork and black beans. I’ve tried this, but personally, I think it needs a tad more flavor, but it was good, nonetheless), São de Quejo (cheese bread; I’ve had this too!), Brigadeiro (chocolate truffles); Açaí (considered a super-food, you can have this as a sorbet or made into a parfait), Brazilian Lemonade (okay, this one is a favorite of ours. It’s basically lemon {or lime} juice, sugar, water and sweetened condensed milk! Tangy and sweet and a delicious specialty drink for a game night), Coxinhas (shredded chicken wrapped in dough and fried), and Pastels (pastries filled with combinations of meat, cheese, prawns, chicken with cream cheese, and heart of palm).

Fun Facts: Brazil is the largest country in South America! And it is the lone Portuguese speaking country on the continent! Only two countries in South America do not share a boarder with Brazil! Can you guess which ones? Brazil has three time zones! Brazil is home to a good portion of the Amazon River! 60% of the Amazonian Rainforest is in Brazil!

Missionaries: Pending—I will update this as soon as I can!

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation and turn it around from an idol worshiping nation to followers of Christ. FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Brazilian people will hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Brazil! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

I’m going to do things a little differently this month for our devotional. This month, I am simply going to give you some scripture references and a music video. This is not the original score of "O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus" but I was unable to find a decent on of the original. This one is a new tune; don’t worry, it’s not contemporary or ungodly in anyway and personally helps me focus on the message of the song easier. Without further ado, lets dive in to a look at the Word of God and the pen of a Hymn-writer!

All Scripture Taken from the King James Bible

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.