Well, I got to see Margaret Daley from the sidelines at ACFW, but didn’t have the opportunity to meet her in person. She’s a busy lady, plus – she was the main coordinator for the volunteers at ACFW. BIIIIIGGGG JOB!! And, of course, she pulled it off beautifully.
And her website??? Oh my goodness! It’s outstanding. You can check it out at www.margaretdaley.com
Another thing you need to know about Margaret. She can shoot out the books! Seriously. Like an automatic weapon. Her FIFTH book since March is coming out this month from Steeple Hill LoveInspired.
Help me welcome her today with a BIG Howdy!!
Hi Margaret, so glad to have you here today.
So, what do you think makes for that special moment when a hero and heroine realize they are in love with each other?
When the hero and heroine first realize they are falling in love with each other, I believe they begin to realize that there is a strong emotional connection to the other person. That person is there as a support for them. Caring and loving another can be shown in large ways and small ones. I like to show both in my stories. A hand on the arm or shoulder when someone is hurting. A hug when they need it. There to listen to the other when she or he needs it. So much of this is what a good friend does and I think long lasting love has to also be a deep friendship.
Oh great, Margaret. And you’ve provided an excerpt from your NEW RELEASE, A Daughter For Christmas, just to show us how it’s done. Ooh, I can’t wait for my sneak peek.
She tilted her head. “Why are you here?”
Max panned the area behind her. His eyebrows sliced downward. “You know why,” he said in a low voice.
“I think it’s more than that.” She covered the distance to the front door, opened it and stepped out onto the porch. “What are you searching for?”
His frown strengthened. “What do you want me to say?”
“The answer to the question.” Tension poured off of him, blasting her. She treaded in territory he wanted left untouched. But if he was Taylor’s father—she couldn’t deny the similarities she’d seen—she wanted to know the real Max Connors, not the person he showed the world.
“I want…” He snapped his mouth closed and stared at a spot to her left. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times. “I want to get to know my daughter.” 
“Besides that. There’s something else driving you. What?”
“I want peace.”
The ragged thread of Max’s voice held Rachel immobile.
“I’ve seen so much death. I want to see life. I worked at a hospital that saw a lot of the seedy side—murder, gang fights, humans preying on humans. I thought I could handle it after what I’d done in the army servicing at the front lines. It didn’t prepare me, or rather I couldn’t any longer ignore what it was doing to me.”
In that moment everything that had happened in the past couple of days between them vanished. She couldn’t stand here and hear the depth of his anguish and not care.
“When I found out about Taylor, I thought it was my chance to make a change. I actually thought the Lord had sent me a second chance. I’d messed up my marriage. I’d stopped talking to Alicia. I was as much at fault for the marriage failing as she was. When she asked for a divorce, I was relieved because I didn’t know what else to do to make things the way it was when we first dated and married.”
“People don’t stay the same. The fact you got married changes who you are. You become a team, finding ways to work together.”
His arms stiff at his sides, he curled and uncurled his hands. “Alicia and I never did. That was the problem. Then I was gone more and more because I was deployed several times. At first she was upset, and even when she could come with me overseas, she refused to. Then later she just didn’t care if I was there or not. I won’t go through that again.”
His declaration erected a barrier between them as though he had posted a “Do Not Disturb” sign around his heart. And yet Rachel decided she wouldn’t give up. If Taylor were his daughter, no matter what she wanted, they would be connected. Before she wanted to get to know him, possibly beyond friendship, because she’d been attracted to him. Still was. Now though, she needed to know the type of man who’d sired her child. Might be in her life because how could she deny her daughter a dad if Taylor wanted a relationship with Max?
She’d gotten the impression he was angry with God. Maybe she could change that, give him that second chance he was talking about—at least with the Lord. “You mentioned you thought coming here was a second chance, that the Lord may have had a hand in it. Come with us to church on Sunday. It’ll be Taylor’s first performance with the choir.”
His eyes brightened, the stress melting from his stance. “I’d like that.”
“Then in the afternoon we can help you decorate your yard. I wouldn’t want the neighbors to band against you. In case you haven’t noticed, your house is the only one not decorated on the street. Even Doug has some lights out.”
“I noticed, but I’ve got the decoration problem taken care of. I’m getting it tomorrow and putting it out Saturday.” He turned to leave, stopped in mid-motion and peered back at her. “Call if the boys get worse. I can be here quickly.”
“I appreciate you being here for my children.”
One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “Any time.”
*Do Not Reproduce Without Permission
From A Daughter for Christmas
Love Inspired, November 2010
By Margaret Daley
Oh what a great excerpt, Margaret. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. How SWEET!!
Thanks for being here.
Inspirational Moment:
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a] ;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
As we think about God’s greatness, his abilities to create the universe with the word of his mouth…
How AMAZING is His love for us.
Another sweet excerpt by a talented author! Thanks for sharing that, Margaret and Pepper!
This really makes me want to grab Margaret’s book! Sounds like a sweet read!
Thanks, Renee.
Hi Pepper and Margaret,
Thanks for sharing an excerpt from your latest release Margaret and just in time for the holidays coming up. Wow, can’t wait.
I always love your writing Margaret.
Thanks Pepper.
Hi, Pepper & Margaret! Bragging here because Margaret and I are in the same ACFW chapter, so I usually get to see her every month or two! What a great friend and mentor!
Congratulations on your latest release, Margaret! And yes, Pepper, she does seem to shoot out the books like an automatic weapon! You’ll be hard pressed to find a more prolific novelist!
Thanks for sharing this scene, Margaret. Looks like a wonderful story!