Delia Latham's Blog, page 35

Release date approaches for Lexi's Heart

LEXI'S HEART, book one in the Heart's Haven Holidays collection, is featured this week on Shirley Kiger Connolly's blog, A Pen for Your Thoughts. Come on over and leave a comment for a chance to win a Kindle or Nook copy of Jewels for the Kingdom, the first book in the original Heart's Haven collection.



Also, you are invited to join Tanya Stowe, Mary Manners, Marianne Evans and me for a Facebook book launch party on Friday, May 3, to introduce my new Heart's Haven tale, LEXI'S HEART - book one in the Heart's Haven Holidays collection. You'll get sneak peeks into a number of our books, and we'll share some favorite Heart's Haven recipes with attendees. We'll also be giving some books away, as well as a couple of really special prizes.



Don't miss all the fun!

COTT: Get a Load of These Fab New Releases!

    

Summer's just around the corner, which means you, dear reader, need to be thinking about which books you're going to get lost in while lounging at the pool. Today, Clash of the Titles offers you a few excellent suggestions.

     Fresh from the editor's desk, these five new titles are some of our favorites this month. They're hugely diverse. Set in exotic locations such as India and Brazil, and ranging in time period from  the 1800's to present-day, at least once of them is bound to catch your fancy!

    So have a quick virtual browse, then vote on which you think will most likely make it into your beach bag.

How do you start a new life when you don’t know who you are? Lydia doesn't have a clue, but when she discovers the man who identified her in the train wreck has been lying, she must decide whether to listen to her heart, or her head.










Wings of Glass tells the story of Penny Taylor, a young wife who feels trapped in an abusive marriage until two women from two very different worlds help open her eyes to the truth of who she is, what she deserves and lend her a backbone until she can find her own.








Two women, one Indian, one English, flee to the tropical south of India only to be captured and imprisoned by their respective pasts—Eshana by her traditional Hindu uncle for her faith in Christ, the other, Lieutenant Laine Harkness by her former fiancé who crushed her heart years ago. Amid cyclones and epidemics, tigers and tiger cubs, clashing faiths and consequences of war, will the love of the True Master give hope to these searching hearts?










For Ellie O'Brien, finding the perfect partner for other people is easy, but now the townsfolk of Peppin want to return the favor by matching her with Lawson Williams who Ellie deems least likely to court a tomboy with a guilty secret. Lawson doesn't see marriage with anyone in his future, but what if his childhood friend has become the woman who can chase away the clouds of his past?







After witnessing the death and destruction caused by the Civil War, Colonel Blake Wallace is eager to leave his once precious Southern homeland for the pristine shores of Brazil and the prospect of a new utopian community. Harboring a dirty secret, Widow Eliza Crawford seeks a fresh start and passage on Wallace’s ship, but will dangers from the sea and from man keep them from the peace and love they long for?













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New Release: Terri by Sharon Srock

Allow me to introduce you to Sharon Srock, a fellow Pelican Book Group author (one I had the distinct pleasure of meeting before I left Oklahoma).



Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two
dogs in rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School
teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time.
Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the
ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s debut
novel, THE WOMEN OF VALLEY VIEW: CALLIE released in October 2012. The second offering in
the series, THE WOMENOF VALLEY VIEW: TERRI is a brand new release this month.




Connect
with Sharon here:



Blog
Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads









Today, we're featuring TERRI, book 2 in Sharon's Women of Valley view series. Take a look at this beautiful cover! 






 

Now tell me you didn't smile... Oh, yes, you did! :)  Want to know what it's about? Here's the blurb:

 

Despite a bustling day care center and a new foster
child, Terri Hayes hungers for a family of her own. Then a plumbing mishap
leaves her homeless and questioning God’s plan. Steve Evans’s gracious offer of
his basement apartment as a temporary solution is an answered prayer.




Steve is a successful writer and a good father, but
Terri is horrified when Steve’s book research leads him to a harsh
confrontation with the parents of her foster child.  She needs to distance
herself from Steve, but her efforts fall short as his two scheming daughters
plot to make Terri their new stepmother.




Will harsh words and sneaky plans drive Kelsey’s
family further apart and put a wedge between Terri and Steve? Or does God have
another plan in store?

 

 

Admit it, you're hooked, and you're dying to know more...well, I'm easy like that. Here's an excerpt from TERRI:

 



Terri
Hayes chewed her bottom lip and prayed. Outside her windows on this sunny
Friday afternoon, the Oklahoma summer persisted in spite of the September date
circled on her calendar. Her hands sweated, and she clasped them behind her
back. She would have raked them through her hair, but she wanted to telegraph
calm and collected, not the nervous anticipation churning like ocean waves in
her stomach. The weeks of preparation, the evenings spent in class, the hours
of prayer, all came down to this.

 

The
curly black head of her visitor disappeared under the kitchen sink. Terri heard
grunts and clanks as the woman shifted and examined the contents of the
cabinet. Her visitor stood and yanked the top of her crisply tailored suit back
into place, her stern face thoughtful as she scribbled notes on a clipboard.



Despite
Terri’s desire for calm, her lip chewing graduated to nail biting. Had she
missed something? “Ms. Wilson, I…”



Cindy
Wilson held up a hand. “Please, Ms. Hayes, I prefer to conduct my investigation
uninterrupted. We’ll discuss my findings when I’m done.”



Terri
swallowed her comments with a nod and trailed behind the imposing
African-American woman whose job it was to poke and prod into every corner of
Terri’s home. She ran through her own mental checklist as they proceeded from
room to room. Outlets covered, medicines locked away, cleaning supplies stored
out of reach, covers on all of her trash cans. A second perusal of Ms. Wilson’s
expression produced no further insight. Pass or fail? Terri shook her
head. I wonder if this woman plays poker.



Terri
opened the door to the larger of her two spare bedrooms. The odor of fresh
paint drifted out to greet them. This was the pride of her summer. She motioned
her guest inside, aching to point out the highlights of what she’d worked so
hard to accomplish, but she held her peace in the face of Ms. Wilson’s strident
and silent inspection. More notes on the clipboard, murmurs, and hums. Approval
or disapproval? How can I tell?



Inspection
completed, Terri followed her visitor back to her sunken living room and made
an effort to gain some control over the situation. “Have a seat, Ms. Wilson. I
have iced tea or soda if you’d like something to drink.”



“No,
thank you.” Ms. Wilson sat on the sofa and studied her notes. Her pen tapped an
annoying beat as she read. Terri took a chair across from her and waited in
helpless anticipation.



“It
says here that your decision to apply to our program was motivated by a
television show. Can you clarify that for me, please?”



Terri
clasped white-knuckled hands in her lap. “It was a documentary. I cried for the
whole hour. It broke my heart to see so much to be done and so few people willing
to make a difference.”



“So
this is an emotional decision on your part?”



“Yes…I
mean no. I—”

 

 

Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I know you want your own copy, so...here's where you can get your hands on both CALLIE and TERRI.

 

Click on the covers to go to

the Amazon purchase page.

Links to other online booksellers

are listed below the covers.




        



 
Barnes & Noble



Christian Book


 

Spotlight on Historical Romance Favorite, Lena N. Dooley

 




Prolific author Lena Nelson Dooley has done it again! She's released yet another stunning historical romance. The COTT Blog Alliance is honored to feature her latest work, Catherine's Pursuit. It is book three in the McKenna's Daughters series and follows Maggie's Journey and Mary's Blessing.

"A heartwarming tale filled with history, adventure, faith, and love." --Lisa Wingate, bestselling and award-winning author of Dandelion Summer and Firefly Island

ABOUT THE BOOK:


Raised by her father, Catherine McKenna has never lacked for anything, surrounded by people to take care of her every need. On her eighteenth birthday she discovers that not only did her mother die when she was born, but she has two identical sisters. Although her father vowed not to look for his daughters, Catherine made no such promise. Setting out on her own with one clue and her maid in tow, she's determined to find her sisters.




Collin Elliott has seen better days. After losing his ship to a violent and unexpected storm, he is trying to recover--physically and emotionally. When Angus McKenna sends him to find, follow, and protect his daughter, he wants nothing more than to finish his task and return home. Can he help her find her sisters?




And will the discoveries they make along the way teach them both what's most important in life?




PURCHASE ON:

AMAZON

CBD

NOOK




A Blogger's Review of the Catherine's Pursuit:



What a great book! As Lisa Wingate says on the front cover, it is indeed a “heartwarming tale.” The story is fully satisfying (once you reach the end) and provides a complete conclusion for the McKenna’s Daughters series. While I still haven’t had the chance to read book 2, Mary’s Blessing, I did read and greatly enjoy book 1, Maggie’s Journey – incidentally, I think #1 had my favorite cover…but this one is a close second. They’re all so neat! Anyway, back to Catherine…this book isn’t a stand-alone, but even though I’ve missed book 2, I didn’t have trouble following (though there were a few parts that weren’t clear because I hadn’t read it yet). Moral of the story – read both of the first ones before this one if at all possible. There are some series where you would be totally lost if all you read was book 3, but that’s not quite true here. Catherine was a lovely girl and made for a gutsy heroine. I loved the historical detail that seemed to be worked into each scene throughout the book, especially the travel scenes. This is a fascinating story and one I think you’ll enjoy!

-Charity at http://austenitis.blogspot.com








A bit about Lena:



Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 700,000 books in print.

Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with over 20 signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins, and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books.

Check out Avon's "Viva" cologne by Fergie

Live by Your Own Rules: "Viva is fresh and unexpected. A sexy daring blend of notes that brings out the duality of a woman. The Viva woman is powerful, yet seductive. She lives life by her own rules."

- Fergie

COTT's Five Fab Feb Releases

We have contestants in all five corners of the ring! 




Welcome to another thrilling contest brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Clash of the Titles. This showdown features books released in February 2013. Each is prepared to duke it out for the top spot in this all-out, no-holds-barred, literary sparring match. (Okay, okay, there are a FEW rules. Like no strikes below the belt, no brass knuckles, no slipping poison into the well water. But you get the idea.)




Below are each of the five contenders, listed in no particular order. Please vote for the one most likely to grace your nightstand first. Click on the images to purchase on Amazon:




Good, Clean, Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery by Traci Hilton 

 



Living on her own for her first time, Bible school student Jane cleans houses to make ends meet. But being independent brings big trials, like falling for a handsome professor, dealing with an obnoxious roommate, and then there's the dead bodies...



 







Catherine's Pursuit by Lena Nelson Dooley







In book three of the McKenna’s Daughters series, Catherine McKenna begins a journey to find her lost sisters that turns into a spiritual journey for the entire McKenna family and leads her to the love of her life.













Wounded Heroes Book Three: Betrayal  by Anne Patrick







Army veteran Drew Presley will stop at nothing to find the answers behind his wife's murder.  But will those answers destroy the life he's made for him and his son?
















Nothing Good is Free by Matthew Horn 





The last thing Jeff Scott wants is to end up like his vigilante predecessor, Jim, by letting a life of violence and evil get the better of him. So, in a pursuit to find the path less traveled, he seeks the truth about Jim and the life he led before the two joined forces.













Love's Journey Home by Kelly Irvin





Love’s Journey Home is the story of how the families of Bliss Creek’s Amish community learn to be still and listen for the Lord’s direction and then act on faith that His plan will lead them to a long awaited new life.























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What do you think of this month's selection? Have you already gotten your hands on one of these and have something wonderful to share about it? Leave a comment and let us (and the authors) know! We love interacting with readers. It's what we're all about. Hope you enjoy our site. Make it a great day!




Come back next week to find out who will stand victorious.

COTT Features Staff Titles

Clash of the Titles adores featuring new releases from Christian authors all over the world, but we'd be remiss to forget the authors on our very own doorstep. COTT is run by a bevy of talented writers--several of whom are published. In fact, in the last year alone, COTT staff has celebrated the release of no less than seven novels!




And here they are...






 

A miracle of love lurks within the branches of a solitary aspen tree.

 

****







School teacher Judy Winters sets out to solve the mystery surrounding her only living relative’s murder.



****








Her past isn't pretty, but it can't be changed. Will it destroy any possibility of a future with the man she loves?

 

****








Death in rural Wisconsin is only the beginning to new chaos in Robertsville. What do a stolen piece of revolutionary agricultural equipment, a long-buried skeleton in the yard, and an old quilt with secrets have in common?



****








Simon Hale finds the reclusive Rosetta both beautiful and intriguing, but when she seeks out the truth behind Shadow Bay Hall’s unexplained happenings, he is torn between hope for the future and his need to protect a dangerous secret.

 

****








When Ivy Preston roots up her entire life to start over in Apple Grove at the urging of her cat-loving friend, the mayor, and meets the love of her life, True Thompson, can their romance survive the sudden rise in crime?



****






 

She needs a temporary husband. He wants a forever love. Can even Solomon's Gate find a way to join these two hearts?

Song of the Tree--An Inspiring Contemporary Allegory

This week, Clash of the Titles is featuring a rare genre--

contemporary allegory. 

If you've been itching for something different, this one should do it! The Song of the Tree contains a message that applies to each of us at some point in our lives. It moves the God-seeker from fist shaking stance, down to knees before the throne.






PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON






About The Song of the Tree:


Despite promises of eternal joy given by the Tree of Life, a privileged young woman loses everything in a brutal war. Her husband disappears; her family is murdered; her home is burned to the ground. 



Desperate, starving, and burdened with an unwanted child, she now despises and rejects the Tree she once worshiped. Ripped from her land and people, forced into survival immigration, she becomes a lowly refugee, a servant in the homes of the rich. Her unusually gifted child thrives, but is an ever present reminder of ultimate loss and betrayal.  



Two women: one broken, the other rooted in bitterness, continue to be drawn towards the song of a Tree that will not let them go. Along roads of degrading poverty and equally destructive wealth, each much wrestle with the siren call of perfect love, and its altar sacrifice of perfect trust.  





About the author, Lotis Key:





Lotis Melisande Key has lived a life of wide travel and curious variety. She’s raised horses in the Australian outback; skied the Alps; run tours through a tropical jungle; bought & sold antiquities. She’s been a restaurateur; a breeder of show cats; a third world church planter. She’s worked in an orphanage, and run a ministry that puts children through school.






After a professional theater début at the age of twelve, she subsequently starred in over seventy five feature films for the Asian market. She’s also hosted numerous television and radio shows. Upon settling in the United States, she signed with Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis based talent agencies, expanding into American on-camera and voice over narration, industrial videos, trade shows, professional theater, television, and radio commercials. 








Retiring from secular work, she founded MESSENGERS, a Christian theater arts group based at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis (themessengersfeet.org). As artistic director, she toured the company throughout the US, Canada, and Asia. 








Vice-president of the Minnesota Christian Writers Guild, Lotis is a passionate storyteller. Her work focuses on the mystery of God, and His incomprehensible love for the unattractive, wayward parts, of His otherwise perfect creation.

COTT: Featured new release, THE KNITTING FAIRY

Before we introduce this week's featured new release, COTT would like to extend a quick, yet heart-felt congratulations to our first annual Olympia Award winner, Author Laura McClellan and her manuscript, Do No Harm. More on Laura and her exciting win next month. Stay tuned!




And now, our featured novel...




****

 








About The Knitting Fairy: 

Molly Stevenson rather expected her new job at Crabapple Yarns to be deadly boring... but somehow she just didn't expect the "deadly" part to be quite so literal. After all, what could possibly be more sweet and innocent than a yarn store and a bunch of ladies knitting?




As a librarian, by trade and by nature, Molly really ought to have known better. And, worse, she broke the first rule of librarianship - never, ever judge a book by its cover. Sadly, some of us have to learn the hard way. Perhaps that is why Molly didn't exist long as Assistant Librarian at Springgate Library.




The new job at Crabapple Yarns seemed like the only sensible thing to do at the time - until she could find something better of course.




But, working at a yarn store really didn't fit into her Life Plan.




She never expected to become a knitter.




Molly never expected her sweet little boss to be hiding the fact that she was receiving threats.




She never expected to discover a Knitting Fairy.




And, she most certainly never expected a Knitting Fairy to try to kill her either.




PURCHASE ON AMAZON




 

What others are saying about The Knitting Fairy:

What do you get when you combine a novice to the world of fiber working in a yarn shop with the owner, a mysterious, fairy-tale inspired character? You get Jaime Marsman's magical, whimsical story of "The Knitting Fairy" which is sure to be enjoyed by knitters everywhere. --Penny Sitler, Executive Director of The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA), tkga.com




Amidst the characters, humour, and mystery is the fun of witnessing a non-knitter's assumptions and observations turn to affection and obsession. It made me wish to be a new knitter again! --Sally Melville, sallymelvilleknits.com




A page turning mystery with yarn shops and knitting - what else could you ask for! --Carol Feller, Author of Contemporary Irish Knits




A heartwarming and witty novel, guaranteed to make you smile. Molly Stevenson's new found love of yarn brings her comfort and friendship but leaves her with many unanswered questions. Appealing to the non-knitter as much as the knitaholic, this wonderful and enthralling mystery detailing the weird and wonderful goings on in Crabapple Yarns knitting store, will have you totally hooked. --UK Hand Knitting Association, ukhandknitting.com




About the author, Jaime Marsman:



Since the age of three, Jaime Marsman has long been fascinated with the simple shifting of letters to create different words, thoughts, and sentences. As a knitwear designer for Live.Knit.Love, she has found the same thing to also be true of yarn. Perhaps that would explain the joy she feels every time she picks up her pen or her needles. Inspiring others with her work is one of Jaime's fondest goals and dreams. She wants people to realize the joy of creating and following their dreams in their own special ways. Jaime is so grateful to God for His love and guiding hand in her life. She prays that everyone comes to have the joy and peace of knowing Him.

Kristen Lamb: 7 Things Confident Writer's DON'T Do

LOVED this post! Kristen Lamb lays it on the line about seven things that, "in a world full of wannabe best-sellers," confident writers DON'T do. 



A powerful little punch of wonderful information and straightforward truth. (Thank you so much to Susan Hollaway for sharing it with me.)




Writers...you want to

read this article 

by Kristen Lamb, 

author of  

We Are Not Alone.