Daughters of the Heart

Authors: Caryl McAdoo

A Texas Romance

Book Five, 1853-1854

Praying my story gives God glory!

Five-Star reviews of Daughters of the Heart

Oh those teenagers! Raging hormones, sibling rivalry, heads that are empty of anything except the cutest boy on the ranch, rebellion against parental control, full of themselves, conniving, conspiring to get their way . . . on and on it goes. Teenagers! To think, all of us were teenagers once upon a time back in medieval ages . . . at least that’s what teens think about their parents. Everyone knows Mom and Dad are so out of touch and old fashioned!

Judging from Daughters of the Heart, nothing has changed today from the 1850s. Caryl Lawrence McAdoo has penned a book to tickle the funny bone and warm the heart. Her characterizations are spot on, her plot believable and her writing compels the reader to turn the page. With a villain or two who give rise to a span of time when the reader’s heart leaps into their throat and three teenage daughters whose common sense has been doused by a healthy dose of hormones, not to mention, two parents who are kept on their toes from the antics of their brood, for sure, Daughters of the Heart will take you hostage and keep you up well past your bedtime.

This reviewer loved Daughters of the Heart. I do believe it is Caryl McAdoo’s best book yet. Now up for pre-order, the reader would be well advised to reserve their copy. Can hardly wait to see what comes next from Mrs. McAdoo’s rich imagination and gifted pen.

--Cass Wessel, multi-published author of devotionals

A fun packed Christian romance novel with plenty of action, heartbreak, tears, deception, twists, and turns. Henry's daughters, Gwendolyn and Cecelia are coming of age. His oldest daughter, Mary, had broken his heart when she eloped. Therefore they along with their younger sister, Bonnie, made a pact never to break their father’s heart like their big sister had, but when suitors show up, it's hard for them to stay determined to keep their promises to each other. Will they ever know God's will for their life? Will they find true love? Will Dad accept a suitor for them and give his blessings? Their loving stepmom helps them by helping their dad to see they are growing up, and he can't hold them back. Will they realize that stepmom, May, loves them as daughters of her heart?

--Joy Gibson, a Tennessee reader and pastor’s wife

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, places, characters, and events are products of the author’s imaginations, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.


2015 by Caryl McAdoo

All rights reserved including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever- except short passages for reviews – without express permission. For information, address Post Office Box 622, Clarksville, Texas, 75426.

First Edition

September 1, 2015

Printed and bound in the United States of America

ISBN-13 978-1512-2737-9-3

ISBN-10 1512-2737-9-1

Cover Art by Kirk DouPonce of DogEared Design, Woodland Park, Colorado
www.dogeareddesign.com

Dedication

Because of what You’ve done
for me, I’ll praise Your Holy name forever. I long to wear Your wedding ring. Oh, purify this humble bride! So that when You come, I’ll be ready, pure and spotless, my lamp full of oil. At the sound of the trump, I’ll meet You in the sky and join the marriage feast. One with You! Oh glory! One with You! No One else in heaven or earth’s as true. What a celebration! Oh, the bliss… when You impart Your Holy kiss. (lyrics of a new song He gave me. I could never repay Him for all that He has done.)

I love You, Abba!

Then there’s my Ron, my love and my life. The kindest and most gentle man I’ve ever known. We’ve been together since sixteen years old, married at eighteen right out of high school, and enjoyed forty-seven years together—most of them.

But it’s fun to live life with your best friend. We love being together, talking, laughing, and loving. As scripture says, in this world, you will have tribulation—and we certainly have had our share—but we remain full of good cheer, because God kept us and helped us through every one.

I love you, Ron—more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow. I’ll love you until forever.

And the daughters of my heart. I only birthed one baby girl, Cathryn Elizabeth McAdoo Baily Chronister who brought an unfathomable joy and sorrow to my life. Next came Carisa Marie Black McAdoo DeCormier who I embraced without condition. Then my own Snow White, whom I chose at first sight, Janis Sue Bailey McAdoo. Melissa Victoria Massey McAdoo keeps me laughing—and weeping—as I go. And God blessed me with Dana Ann Woods McKinney McAdoo who continues to swell my heart. An honorary daughter is my precious and beautiful Margarette Combs, ever faithful and true.

These women, I love. They will always live in my heart and be in my prayers, and I dedicate this story to them.

Acknowledgements

In everything I do,
if there be any good, it is due to the One and Only You, Yahweh
!
I worship and adore You, lay my life before You, songs of praises singing! Alleluias ringing! Always and through eternity!

I acknowledge my head, Ron McAdoo, who does his best to love me as Christ loves the Church. I know for a fact—in both cases—that isn’t always easy. My husband’s been my man for forty-nine years (married forty-seven). I’d never achieve what I have if not for him and his wise counsel. He’s quite the story teller himself and the reason I have such strong, lovable heroes!

Thank you once more, Kirk DouPonce of Dog Eared Design for creating my beautiful cover. Readers keep telling me, this is my favorite story yet, and I can say the same of your exquisite covers. What a gifted Christian graphic designer and photographer you are, so evidently led of the Lord.

There’s a group I call the Christian eVALUaters. Members are the first readers (usually) after all the edits are made (five or six editors), and sometimes still find one or two more to help make it the best it can be. They support me on social media with every cover reveal, book launch, and promotion, and they review all my books! Authors need a few special volunteers, and every one of these ladies—and the few gentlemen, too—deserve and have my deep gratitude.

God-sent Lenda Selph who continues to bless my soul proofreading, my personal comma-kaziqueen
!
And Louise Koiner and Cass Wessel are such wonderful catchers, too! Thank you, ladies!

And I must acknowledge all my readers! Thank you for reading my stories, for leaving reviews, for clicking ‘Share’ and ‘Like’ on Facebook, tweeting, and recommending my stories to your friends. I need y’all and thank y’all and pray for God to bless you all for blessing me! My cup overflows!

Table of Contents