About the Book:
Count It All Joy is the sequel to Joy Comes In The Morning, and one of a three part Joy series. It’s the story of Alex and Joshua Bennings, newlyweds who are destined to learn about love and sacrifice. Although Alex is married to her dream man, soon to be minister Joshua Bennings, this sweet romance quickly turns sour when she begins to feel pressured to have Joshua’s baby. Although Joshua already has a daughter from his deceased wife, Joshua’s longing for the perfect family becomes an obsession. In the midst of a controversial offer to pastor his parents mega church, a relentless plan to father Alex’s child, a questionable friendship, an international adoption disaster, a church scandal and the everyday woes of trying to make an instant family work, their worlds are beginning to collide. Sometimes up and sometimes down, when marriage and ministry are put to the test will love be enough to make them count it all joy.
Excerpt from the end of chapter One
We spent the rest of the afternoon together, explaining to Kiano that we wanted to
adopt him but that the process would take a while. Needless to say, we made his day and his
lifetime all at once. Before we left, we were arm in arm discussing the adoption, and the plans
we had for our family.
“But I don’t want you two to leave me here.” Kiano started to cry.
“We’ll be back, I promise,” It was so hard to say goodbye. Tears were welling up in my eyes also.
“We will be back for you soon, we promise,” Joshua said.
I looked at my husband and with the strength of his words both Kiano and I wiped our
tears away. It was funny how a simple promise made it all better.
By the time we actually started walking toward the exit, Joshua started
rubbing my shoulders and talking about all that baby stuff again. I was hearing him but my mind
was far away.“It’ll be so nice to have Kiano, Lilah and the new baby-”
“Come on now. Give me a chance to settle in with Lilah and Kiano before you start
saddling me down with more babies.”
Joshua smiled and gave my shoulder a little squeeze.“At least one more.”
“But can I catch my breath first? I mean, I’m gonna be the mother of three kids.” I
gasped. “Wow.”
“Yep. I can’t wait.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled.“I see.”
“I can’t wait to have another baby.” He touched my stomach, the one I had recently
worked so hard on.
I slapped his hand away and he growled. “Ouch. That hurt.”
“Well there’s more where that came from. I just got my abs down to the size they are
now.” I twirled around showing off my newly toned figure. “Please don’t mess a sister up.”
“Don’t worry about that, you’re beautiful.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one that has to carry around an eight pound baby.”
Joshua laughed and shook his head.“Got that right.”
I playfully punched him in the arm and we let the conversation ween itself off like stars
in the dusk.
I remembered how I used to be in such bondage, worrying about my mistakes as if Jesus
didn’t die on the cross for my future, present, and my past. Today I was a different woman than I
was then. Even though I wanted babies, my past was trying to manifest a new fear in me, the
fear of conceiving and carrying Joshua’s child.
As we were walking out the front door of the orphanage, we ran into Seger Abasi again.
As if once wasn’t already enough, I sighed at the thought of having to stroke my husband’s
delicate ego one more time. Hmph, men.
Seger smiled with milky white teeth.“Well, Sis. Alex and Deacon uh…”
“Joshua.” Joshua’s chest rose and fell.
“Yes, Joshua. It’s good to see you again.” Seger extended his hand and Joshua shook it in
an obligatory way.
“Nice to see you too, Seger,” I said.
“I won’t be in Kenya much longer. Just a couple more months and it’s back to the
states for me.”
I remembered our missions work together. “Oh your missions assignment will be over?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be heading back home to the U.S.” Seger didn’t take his eyes off of me.
“Mmm.” Joshua glared at Seger. “I thought that Kenya was your home?”
“Yes, I was born here, but I was raised in the states,” Seger turned to face Joshua.
Suddenly Seger turned back to me.“Have you seen Kiano?”
“Yes.” I could feel myself glowing with the thought of being Kiano’s mother. “We’re
going to adopt him.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” Seger looked back and forth at our faces. “He always
wanted to be adopted so badly.”
Joshua squinted his chestnut brown eyes.“Oh, so you know Kiano too?”
“Yes, yes. Alex and I spent a lot of time with him, and the other kids too of course.”
“Right.” Joshua said.
Seger turned away from Joshua’s stare.“I’m sure he couldn’t ask for better parents.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Yeah, thanks.” Joshua yawned.
“Well, take care of yourselves. I’ve got missionary duties.” Seger, probably sensing the
tension, gave a quick wave and disappeared through the orphanage doors.
I smiled politely, and let out a semi-deep breath now that he was gone.
Joshua took me by the hand and spun me around.
“Why didn’t you tell me you and Seger were involved with Kiano?” Joshua squinted his brown eyes.
“We weren’t involved with him. But we did serve the orphans together, all of the
orphans. Sometimes Kiano just got a little more attention than the others. It wasn’t
intentional.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Now, what’s that supposed to mean? Would you have preferred we ignore Kiano and
all the orphans?
Joshua took a step back.“Of course not. But you could’ve given me a heads up that you
and Seger had a special relationship with him.”
“We had special relationships with a lot of kids. We worked together with them for
many weeks. I told you about that.”
Joshua gritted his teeth.“But you and he apparently had a special one with this particular kid.”
“Okay so does that change anything?”
“No, but I wish you had told me.” Joshua sighed.
“Well, I didn’t think it was important at the time.” I threw my hands into the air in mock
surrender. “I’m sorry.”
Joshua grabbed one of my hands as it was coming down.“I’m sorry too. Is there anything
else you’re hiding about you and Seger?”
About the Author
Ashea Goldson, originally from Brooklyn, NewYork, and now residing in a Metro Atlanta suburb, is a graduate of Fordham University who calls herself a kingdom writer. She is a down to earth author, poet, educator, and entrepreneur who loves her family, friends, and the ministry. She spends her days passing on her love of reading and language to her students at the preparatory school she co-owns and operates. By evening she transforms herself into writer extraordinaire,when she is able to fully indulge her creative passions. Her novels are The Lovechild and Joy Comes In the Morning, both published by Kensington. Her third novel, Count It All Joy, is the sequel to Joy Comes, and has recently been released. She is currently working on her fourth Christian fiction novel which is the final book in the “joy” series. She is also working on a number of other independent projects. In addition to this she hosts a blogtalkradio show called WordThirst literary Journal & Authors Showcase which highlights the work of other like-minded authors and visionaries.
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