Her Heart's Jealousy: "Love is..." Series, #2

By Lila Diller

Now that Morgan has chosen the man who showed her true agape love, she must learn to reject jealousy and pride. Will she choose love and forgiveness so that their budding love will take root? ❤ Or will it wither?

 

A Thanksgiving story into Christmas, Her Heart's Jealousy, #2 in the "Love is…" series, is based on the Bible's definition of true agape love in 1 Corinthians 13 and is the next in the contemporary Christian Romance saga of Morgan Maxwell. Now that she has chosen Jason, after enjoying a brief period of euphoria, tension develops.

 

Morgan, jealous of Jason's new secretary, Cassie, lashes out at Jason. Jason begins boasting about their relationship to his co-workers, which Morgan finds distasteful. Add arguments with both her mom and sister, plus a stagnant relationship with the Lord, and Morgan is plagued by doubts and emptiness.

 

As they get more serious, will the suspicions and jealousy tear them apart? Will their budding love take root? Or will it wither?

 

If you like a clean, feel-good, relaxing, and easy read, with first-person point of view, character development, realistic relationships, and a Biblical approach, then you'll love Lila Diller's book! Read Her Heart's Jealousy today to find out if Morgan can discard jealousy and pride to choose love and forgiveness.

Other readers say: "Another great book by Lila Diller. I have read this one and the first one. Finished both of them in one day. I didn't want to put it down until I was finished! Good Christian storyline." - Gayle

 

"This book was awesome in the sense that Morgan and her beau (no spoiler alert), face struggles that a lot of couples encounter. I love how Morgan turns to the Bible when she's unsure how to proceed. I can't wait for the rest of the series! ;)" - Jessica Martinez Alvarado, February 14, 2018

"My wife never reads. The few times she has, she has never finished a book. Never. But she read yours in two days, finished it, and is already asking about the next one!" – Herb, April 2018

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lila Diller
• Release date: Jul 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393260172

Lila Diller

Lila is both a hopeless romantic and a grammarian. A “multipotentialite,” her interests reach across the creative spectrum, from photography to scrapbooking to music to painting to writing. She claims not to be an expert in anything but a life-long learner in many things. Her 42 years have given her a passion for fellow believers, and she tackles spiritual problems one blog post at a time at liladiller.com and through four Christian novels since 2017. Join her at www.liladiller.com.

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©2018 by Diller Designs

ISBN: 9781694593801

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at [e-mail].

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the KJV translation. Some content (Scriptures verses marked NLT) taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible by Copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. English Standard Version (ESV). Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover photo by Jack Moreh. Used by permission from Free Range Stock.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Thank you so much to my beta readers and editors! This could not have made it past my desk without you! Thank you to Jennifer Appel (Author), Gayle Long, and Cris Olsen (editor) for your honest feedback and creative suggestions!

Thank you to my sister, Rebecca, for letting me use some of her story (not all of Amy Grace’s story is true). You’re one of my best friends, little Sis!

Thank you to my husband Chris, for your unwavering support and encouragement. You kept me going so many times when I wanted to quit; even when you didn’t realize I was on the verge of giving up, you kept encouraging me. 

Thank you to my boys for putting up with me when I needed some alone time to write.  I love you guys so much!

DEDICATION:

To my mother,

Thank you for always believing in me and always encouraging me in my writing. And thanks also for introducing to me to romance novels in the first place. 😊

Love you so much, Mom!

(Readers should know that Morgan’s relationship with her mother is not exactly like mine with my mother.)

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Her Heart's Jealousy is the 2nd in the Love is... Series. It can be read separately, but the author recommends the reader first acquaint themselves with Morgan and Jason in #1, Her Heart's Decisions.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, ESV

"Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never ends."

1 CHAPTER ONE

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ‘good old times,’ when Jason and I first started dating? The sun always shone and the birds continually sang during the entire first month or so. No storm cloud ever pierced the bliss of that short, romantic prologue.  I literally would go to sleep with cheeks sore from smiling so much each day.

Every moment was precious. Every conversation felt like it should be recorded for posterity, a masterpiece of poetry.

Though no other girl would consider him any cuter than average, my infatuation transformed the average into the extraordinary. To me, every twinkle of Jason’s eyes, every smile on his lips, every move he made displayed his grace and manly splendor.

Even those who didn’t know me well perceived the elation oozing from me.

Well, someone certainly seems happy today!

I jumped. Hmm? Really? Why? 

Maybe because you’re humming to yourself.

Was I? I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize. Was I disturbing you?

Newly transferred to the dictation department the beginning of the week, I barely knew the staff and felt insecure about how much to share with this girl. Candy had so far welcomed me, but I’ve learned not to get too chummy until I know them better.

Oh, no, you’re not bothering anyone. I’m just curious if there’s a specific reason you’re so happy today? She gave me a teasing smile. Maybe a guy is involved?

Heat warmed my cheeks, and I knew I must have turned scarlet. I was just thinking about my boyfriend, Jason.

Aw, how sweet! Would you like to sit with us at lunch and tell us all about him?

Oh, thank you, but I already made plans to eat lunch with him today.

He works on campus? This is getting better and better! If I come by your table, will you introduce me to him?

Sure, Candy. That’s fine.

Great! I can’t wait to meet him! Candy continued past my cubicle toward the supervisor’s desk.

I hoped having a boyfriend wouldn’t hinder my relationships with my coworkers. They might consider me a snob for not eating lunch with them. I wonder if Jason wouldn’t mind sometimes eating with other people?

When the clock struck noon, everyone quickly hurried to the cafeteria. I followed, trying to catch the surrounding chatter, but I couldn’t focus on just one conversation.

Being on the short side, I peeped around bodies and under arms for Jason, but I didn’t see him outside or already in line. I caught myself. Since when had I become one of those women whose every decision centered on her boyfriend? I frowned at myself and shook my head slightly. 

Squaring my shoulders, I briskly swiped my card through the nearest scanner, pushed through the turn styles, and chose the line for one of my favorite meals, Tex Mex. Thankful for the option to build my nachos the way I liked, I licked my lips and anticipated the comfort of a full stomach and an eased stress headache, all from a heaping plate. I layered the tortilla chips, taco meat, shredded cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, a tiny dab of onions, and loads of sour cream. My mouth watered, and my stomach rumbled.

I scanned the seating area for Jason again. Maybe he had already saved us a table, but he was nowhere. There was only one seat left at the big, round table with my coworkers. If I took a table by myself, it would surely look like I was snubbing them. I wanted to hide myself from the group. Embarrassed at not knowing most of their names yet, and not seeing anyone wave me over, I darted to a sunny spot at a two-seater window table and sat with my back to the girls.

I bowed my head and thanked the Lord for the food. Even though I relished every bite of my nachos, it wasn’t fun to eat alone when I was expecting to spend time with my brand-new boyfriend.

I glanced over my shoulder at Candy’s table several times. The empty seat was filled now, relieving any guilt I felt. I had eaten all but just a few chips when Jason finally marched over to the table, plopped down his tray, and dropped into the chair across from me, breathing heavily.

Hi, Morgan! Sorry I’m late. I had a meeting with Dr. Donovan at eleven, and it lasted longer than we expected.

Is everything okay?

Oh, yeah. He just needed to appraise the new student workers he’s assigned to our production team. He had concerns about getting all of this started without knowing my new secretary.

You haven’t heard anything?

No, they sent me a couple of substitutes to help with dictation and filing just until they decide. None of them impressed me. Of course, no one can compare to you, Morgan. You were the best ‘personal assistant’ I’ve ever had!

He gave me a heartwarming smile, the one I had secretly dubbed his melting smile. As I gazed into his blue eyes, my worries about my coworkers faded into the happiness of knowing this man liked me, appreciated me, and even admired me. I will never regret taking the job as Jason’s personal assistant.

Thanks! But you’re just saying that because you’re supposed to, now that we’re dating, I teased.

Not true! The low chuckle rumbling in his throat made the laughter bubble up within me. You really were the best! No other secretary was as organized, as efficient, or as helpful as you. No one was as pretty, either. He winked at me and laughed again.

The warmth stole quickly up my neck and into my cheeks again, and I didn’t know what to say. I had been complimented—insincerely—before, but this felt different, genuine. Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. I laughed it off like it was just a joke. But I was serious. Sexual pleasure would wait until marriage no matter how much flattery was heaped upon me, even from Jason. I didn’t realize then how hard it would be.

So, he changed the subject, how did I know you would choose Tex Mex again? Is your new department stressful?

His knowing me well enough to know my comfort foods eased the tension in my stomach. I had to give him credit for being observant.

Yeah, you know me and Mexican. It’s my favorite type of food!

I know. My mom grew up in Mexico as a missionary’s kid, and she makes the best Mexican food you ever tasted—even better than many Mexican restaurants.

Oh, that sounds so good! At least you have your mom to cook for you. I haven’t had one of my mom’s meals since the last time I went home on vacation.

How often do you get back?

"I usually go back once a year, on our Christmas break. They’ve never been here for the holidays, because my dad doesn’t like to travel in the winter. They love to drive cross-country, but not when there’s a chance of snow or ice storms or getting stuck in a rinky-dink town out