Monday, November 19, 2012

The Grace Filled Christmas Blog Tour


WELCOME TO THE GRACE FILLED CHRISTMAS BLOG TOUR!

I am thrilled beyond measure to be participating in the first annual Grace Filled Christmas Blog Tour 2012, sponsored by the Grace Awards.  It's another dream come true for me to be in the company of all these talented and gifted authors.  I would like to suggest a Christmas read that took me on a great adventure of sailing the seven seas on a WWII ship, and living to tell about it.  Yes, Lady and the Sea is a novel based on my true story.  You can travel with me without wearing a life jacket or leaving the comfort of your cozy chair by the fireplace.  You'll even spend a white Christmas in Stockholm, Sweden on board the MS Restoration.  So come, sail away with me.

"You cannot discover new oceans until you are willing to lose sight of the shore"

After two failed marriages, forty-eight-year-old Rosie Atkisson struggles to rebuild her life with her husband, Jesse, in Southern California.  But the settled rhythm of her newfound comfort is interrupted in l994 by a tug in her heart when she encounters a haunting photo of another aging lady, the WWII vessel MS Restoration.

A special mission to transport Russian Jews from Sochi, Russia, to Haifa, Israel means an adventure of a lifetime; does she dare pass up this dangerous assignment that will take her thousands of miles from her family and comfortable life?  In spite of her fear of water and the unknown condition of the ship, Rosie says yes to that inner voice that says GO!

After surviving fourteen months on board the old ship--from a hurricane to a heart attack, from miracles to the M word--menopause--and now being held at gunpoint in the Haifa Harbor--Rosie wonders if she will ever return to her own safe harbor.

Christmas on board the WWII ship MS Restoration
 Stockholm, Sweden ('94)

What makes Lady and the Sea perfect for Christmas reading and/or gifting?  Once Rosie found faith to say farewell to her safe shore and dive into a new ocean, her fourteen-month journey full of adventure, romance, and miracles enabled her to find faith for her forgotten dreams.  After traveling with Rosie, you too will find faith for YOUR forgotten dreams!  From teen-agers to 89-year-old great-grandparents, women and men who are reading Lady and the Sea are bidding farewell to their safe shores.  Lady and the Sea is the perfect gift for this season of miracles.

Purchase Links:  sharonleaf.com  amazon.com Books A Million, Barnes and Noble, E-books

I wish you a Merry Christmas, smooth sailing and oceans of blessings for this holiday season!

Please continue the GRACE FILLED CHRISTMAS BLOG TOUR through December at www.graceawardsdotorg.wordpress.com/grace-filled-christmas-blog-tour-2012/

About Sharon Leaf
Born in sultry South Carolina and raised in sunny Southern California, since turning forty, Sharon Leaf has traveled to over fifteen countries, including living in Sweden while attending an international Bible College, traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and volunteering on the WWII ship, MS Restoration, whose sole purpose was to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel.  She received a degree in theology at the age of sixty, proving that it is never too late to fulfill another dream.  Lady and the Sea is Sharon's debut novel.  She lives in South Carolina with her husband and their malte-poo, Popcorn.
http://www.sharonleaf.com
http.//www.sharonleaf.blogspot.com


12 comments:

Meg Moseley said...

Sharon, this novel sounds intriguing and adventurous. I love to read about women who have a little mileage on 'em, like me!

Elaine Marie Cooper said...

Sharon, you are an amazing, inspiring woman. You take bravery to a whole new dimension and I shake my head in admiration and awe. Not only that, you are the sweetest woman. Thank you for sharing your incredible story!

Deborah H. Bateman said...

Sharon,
Thanks for sharing your post. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and God's blessings on you and your book.
Blessings,
Deborah H. Bateman-Author

Naomi Musch said...

Hi Sharon,
This sounds like a great story! First I've heard of it. Glad you're part of the blog tour.
Blessings~

B. J. Robinson said...

Sounds like a great read and great job on the blog. Love the picture. Blessings, BJ

Tracy Krauss said...

Sounds full of adventure. I am especially intrigued by the 'truth' in the story. I'm wondering if it is totally autobiographical or just some things like the sights etc.

Jennifer Richardson said...

sooooo wonderful, this tour of yours
and how your book is shining bright
after one year
(i remember the book signing
almost a year ago now, wasn't it)
and send up a cheer of joy
for how your dream has wings!
-Jennifer

Carole Towriss said...

This sounds like a very interesting book. I love how you have woven your personal experiences into it!

Anonymous said...

I'm old enough to remember the tension when the Russian Jews left Russian for Israel.

Merry Christmas

Grouchy Olde Lady (my handle online)

Unknown said...

Adventure and romance. Sounds great to me.

Sharon Leaf said...

Thank you everyone for such sweet comments. Life is one big adventure, but I have to admit, sailing the seven seas on a WWII ship was an adventure of a lifetime, and doing it for God was icing on my cake! Oceans of blessings for the Christmas holidays!

Nike Chillemi said...

I've been so busy with the interviews I'm just getting around to commenting now. But I love the idea of your novel. It catches the imagination.

On life's journey, whether traveling around the world or walking around your block, there's lots to learn about life, faith, friendship and fun! so lets dive into a new ocean together ... and lets keep that body movin'!