Kari Trumbo's Blog, page 7
April 10, 2018
Teach Me To Love feature
My Book, Teach Me To Love was featured today on the Joy of Reading blog. Please, check out the excerpt teaser! [image error]via Spotlight & Excerpt: Teach Me to Love by Kari Trumbo
April 6, 2018
A month of releases
Today is April 6th, 2018. Sunday would’ve marked my mother’s 63rd birthday. The 23rd will mark the one year date of her passing. Needless to say, April is a tough month.
Add to it the fact that my spine decided now was as good a time as any to have a permanent flare and I’m feeling pretty low. But I knew that I would be, and I planned ahead. Last September, when I was making my schedule for April, I planned one release, Courting in Custer. I knew I’d have the Timeless Love collection as well and that would keep me busy. But, perhaps not busy enough.
[image error]Coming Soon!
God knew I would need more. He knew that one wouldn’t be enough to keep me busy, to keep me from sitting at my desk thinking of what “could’ve been”, “if only”. In December, my Cutter’s Creek group decided to box up all of our books. I got April. Get your copy HERE. Temporarily just $.99.
Then, a book that I’d been farming to agents and editors just came to the end of it’s road. So many professionals love the story, but there is just no room in traditional publishing right now for another pioneer/western author. At least, not one with a backlist as extensive as mine. So. That makes three.
Timeless Love features my novella, Teach Me To Love
You can find out more or order your copy from AMAZON
or Books2Read can take you to your preferred retailer.
I’ll have more on that third book next week. In the meantime, here’s a little tease for An Imperfect Promise:
A door behind him swung open, then closed with a soft click.
“Might I help you find something?” asked a soft voice from behind him.
He jumped at the intrusion and the woman’s proximity, slamming his head on the open cabinet door. He flung it closed, swallowing the harsh words that came too easy these days. Who in blazes could that be? White stars danced in front of his face, obscuring his vision. The brighter they flared, the more his head screamed at him.
He blinked the bright flashes and moisture from his eyes to reveal a young woman. Her hair was either the brightest red he’d ever seen, or the glow around her meant she was an angel. She stood maybe five foot, short for a full-grown woman. He felt as cumbersome as a giant next to her. She paused by the door, a small basket clutched close. Now that the stars were clearing, he could make out her pleasant smile and pale-green eyes framed by a mass of curly red hair, smothered by a great yellow bonnet he’d mistaken for a halo. He wanted to smile back, if only the pain in his head would let him.
The subtle tightening in his chest brought back thoughts of Margot, the woman he’d left back in Kansas, with dark hair and blue eyes. Remembering her would get him nowhere but angry, and he turned from the girl, scrubbing a hand across his face to erase both images. No sense living in the past. A man wasn’t a measure of what he carried with him, but he’d learned from it.
“I don’t think that’ll help.” She stepped farther into the room and he glanced at her as a smile flickered across her face. She laid a gentle hand on his arm. Too gentle. He pulled away. He wasn’t there for kindness. He was there to work, and to forget.
“Would you like a cool rag? I could get one for you. You might get a bump on your head.” Her voice was soft and coaxing, like she was speaking to a wary child, not a grown man.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and used the motion to wipe the water collecting there. “I can get a rag all on my own.” His tone was more abrupt than he’d meant, and when she stepped back from him with hurt in her eyes, he cleared his throat and tried again. “Who are you, and what’cha doing in my kitchen?” He pressed his palm to his forehead against the pain, praying the little angel would get what she needed and move on. If she asked where Martha was, he’d be in an awkward place, since she hadn’t shown herself yet.
Her smile faltered. “Your kitchen? Oh, you must be Martha’s brother. I didn’t realize you’d arrived. She’s been waiting for you for so long. I’m Gini. Martha lets me trade eggs for milk.” She set the basket on the counter and held out her hand to him.
He stared at her for a minute while he found his voice. The girl certainly wasn’t afraid to face a stranger. He reached for her hand, small inside his own. He’d never thought of himself as peculiarly large, but she made him feel so. Her hand was soft, though calloused with work, and she took it back as quickly as she’d offered it. A nervous smile bloomed and fell from her face.
“John. I’m John. Do you need me to get the milk for you?” He should just slug himself. Could he sound any more daft?
Was he imagining that slight smile or just seeing what he wanted to?
March 27, 2018
Michelle Griep has a Givewaway!
Do you love great books? I sure do and Michelle doesn’t disappoint!
Maybe you’re someone who’s never read either one? You’re in luck! She’s giving away copies of BOTH and it’s super easy to enter.
Go to her PAGE, like it, and tag a friend. That’s it!! Seriously, it’s that easy.
If you would rather not wait to see if you win (I know, I hate to wait too), you can buy The Innkeepers Daughter through all sales channels HERE!
March 24, 2018
Timeless Love, the collection to benefit LiveStrong
After over a year of planning and preparation, the Timeless Love Collection is now on preorder, for just $.99.
I can’t tell you just how excited I was to see this book available for sale. It started as a dream, a wee idea that wouldn’t let go. I wanted to write with some of my Christian author friends…but we all write in different sub-genres. The only way to pull it together would be for us to either step out of our comfort zones (and away from what our readers read from us) and all write the same…OR we could do what we did…
We wrote stories that span the ages.
Starting in 1812, Andrea Boeshaar weaves a tale of romance, danger, and spies! Followed by Misty Beller whose heroine is trapped on a freezing mountain! Next up is Stephenia McGee’s story of accepting our path for what it is, not what we want it to be. Dawn Crandall follows with a late-Victorian story of life redemption, so sweet! My story is next, a western/pioneer story, does your past make you who you are today? Pepper Basham brings us a WWII tale of unrequited love and espionage! Last, but never least, is Sarah Monzon who takes us on a journey to romance literally through the pages of a book.
There’s something for any Christian romance reader in this collection and I hope you absolutely love it. Even better, all proceeds from the sales of this collection go to benefit the LiveStrong Foundation. What’s better than getting to do what you love with your friends? Being the hands and feet of Jesus while you do it.
Find out more HERE
December 31, 2017
Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2017
So, I always wait until the last minute to write this post at the end of a year. You just never know what books you’re going to read that last day! What if it’s a real gem? Well, I’m mid-book and I won’t finish it before the end of 2018, so I feel confident that I can post my list. Click on any book cover to find out more. Here they are, in no particular order, my top 10 reads of 2018!
1. Anchor in the Storm, Sarah Sundin
First, NO SPOILERS!! Don’t say a word about book three. I have it, I just
haven’t had time to read it yet. Sarah is one of my all-time favorite authors. I’ve avoided reading all reviews of book three just so it’s perfect. I adored this story. I love how both hero and heroine weren’t perfect, they were flawed even though they both found each other perfect. Just love this book.
2. A Worthy Pursuit, Karen Witemeyer
I’ll be honest, I read quite a few Witemeyer books this year and it was HARD to choose my favorite. In the end, I love the chemistry between Stone and Charlotte the best of all. My second favorite was Worth the Wait, both excellent reads.
3. The Rogue Bride, Lynn Winchester
I know, shame on me for picking the fourth in a series. All of them are good, but of them all, this is my favorite. It’s a redemption story, I fall for those every time!
4. Dreamspell, Tamara Leigh
Oh. My. Word. I could’ve started this book right back up at the beginning as soon as I was done. I literally stayed up until 4AM reading. Then I’m not sure if I swooned, or just collapsed from exhaustion. I’m too old to love a book this much.
5. The Captive Heart, Michelle Griep
This book had me from page one. Eleanor made an immediately sympathetic heroine and that took me through the whole story. I LOVE a manly, flawed hero and Samuel fits that perfectly. This one is staying on my shelf forever.
6. The Thorn Bearer, Pepper D. Basham
Oh, sigh. I’m not sure if I loved this more for the rich historical fiction or the sweet wonderful tension between Sam and Ashleigh. It would be tough to name a story that I’ve read where hero and heroine were chased up more trees, but in the end, I savored every page.
7. Leveraging Lincoln, Stephenia H. McGee
This is one of the few books I read this year that wasn’t romance. What can I say, I love kissing books. While this book was light on the romance, I adored it. I kept wondering, flipping the pages, worried about Matthew and Annabelle. And, to fulfill my desperate need for a romantic thread in a book, the end. Sigh. Now, I need to read book 2!
8. Anna Finch and the Hired Gun, Kathleen Y’Barbo
This is one of Kathleen’s older books, but it made me a huge fan. I love the western feel of this book. Anna’s spunk and Jeb’s stalwart protection are just infectious. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I also want to say that I laughed out loud at the epilogue in this one. It was so fun! It was this book that made me a fan of Kathleen.
9. Too Deep for Words, Andrea Boeshaar
Any book that makes you bite your lip and pray that it doesn’t go the way you think you see it going, and squint, and pray some more… then sigh, because it’s just so good, belongs on a best list. Very well crafted read that begs you to turn the pages.
10. Wrapped in Red, Meghan Gorecki
Merry was a sweet heroine, I was totally clamoring for her to give up her hurt and anger and love her snowman, Sam. I was frustrated at the end and almost quit reading, but I kept reading because I didn’t want to give up. I’m so glad I did. Any book that can evoke real emotions where you laugh along with the character and want to ring her neck for her choices, is a well-written book. Bravo Meghan!
As you can see, I have an affinity for historical fiction. It’s kinda my thing. I did read some non-fiction in 2017. Here are my top two favorites:
1. The Inside Scoop, Janet Kobobel Grant and Wendy Lawton
This is an excellent go-to guide for anyone with questions about the publishing industry. It isn’t “pro” any path to publishing which is incredibly refreshing. Well-researched and even humorous, I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering which path in the publishing world they would like to take.
2. Mastering Amazon Ad’s, Brian Meeks
[image error]This one is a bit self-explanatory. I’
m an Indie author and, as such, I want to increase my visibility as an author. I didn’t read a single book that helped me do that more than this one in 2017.
There you have it. Not many were actually written in 2017, but that’s when I read and loved them. I hope you have a wonderful 2018.
November 18, 2017
Carrie Turansky ~ Waiting for His Return
[image error]
A Civil War Christmas Novella
By Carrie Turansky
[image error]Bio: Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of nineteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and five grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She enjoys connecting with friends on social media.
Website and blog: http://carrieturansky.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carrieturansky/boards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcarrieturansky/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carrieturansky
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/247470.Carrie_Turansky
Summary of the story:
The daughter of a wealthy Tennessee doctor falls in love with an injured artist-correspondent on assignment to cover battles near Union occupied Nashville.
The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on, impacting families in the North and South. British born James Galloway, who is a special artist for Harper’s Weekly, travels with the Union troops, sketching battle scenes to bring war news home to those in the North. It’s dangerous work, but he is committed to the Union cause. When he is captured by Confederate troops, he spends several months in a prison camp. Finally, he escapes and travels north, hoping to reach the Union lines, but a bushwhacker attacks him, steals his horse, and leaves him seriously injured at the side of the road outside Nashville.
Rachel Thornton, a kind-hearted doctor’s daughter, takes James into her home and nurses him while he recovers. Her feelings for James grow, but she has already lost one man she loves in the war. How can she give her heart to James, when she knows he may become another casualty of the war? With Christmas coming, will James return to Rachel or will she be left waiting for his return?
This novella was originally published in A Blue and Gray Christmas. It has been revised and updated for new readers to enjoy.
November 17, 2017
The 25 Days of Christmas Devotional
Many of us get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas. One way to prevent that is to focus on the reason for the season. Taking a few minutes each day with this different kind of devotional book will help your family think of others. Each day focuses on one word and includes a story from Daniel and
Holly’s family, a Scripture reading with the devotional, the YouTube link to a Christmas Carol, and an activity that the entire family can be involved in.
Reviews
“We love it! You posted it just the right time. God’s providence!”
“My kids love it! Especially the song and the activity.”
“The kids like to read the verses during the devotional part. It has been a good way to get the whole family involved.”
[image error]Bio
Ruth O’Neil has been a freelance writer for 20-plus years. She sees everything as a writing opportunity in
disguise, whether it is an interesting character, setting, or situation. You can find her book series “What
a Difference a Year Makes” on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or her website (http://ruthoneil.weebly.com/). You can also visit her on her blog at http://ruths-real-life.blogspot.com/. When she’s not writing or homeschooling her kids, Ruth spends her time quilting, reading, scrapbooking, camping and hiking with her family.
Links
Email – oneilruth@gmail.com
Website – http://ruthoneil.weebly.com/
Blog – http://www.ruths-real-life.blogspot.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RuthONeilAuthor
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Ruth-ONeil/e/B00AJ5S3YQ
Excerpt: Advent Story
“I have a surprise for you kids,” Mom said as soon as Daniel and Holly walked in the door after school.
“What?” They both wanted to know.
“Follow me,” Mom requested as she walked toward the family room.
Two-year-old Evie followed along behind, clapping her hands and giggling.
“She must know what the secret is,” Daniel commented to Holly.
Holly laughed when Evie shouted, “Sec-et! Sec-et!”
Mom smiled as well. “That’s her new word for the day.”
Then Mom held up a box that had a bunch of what looked like little doors. Twenty-five of them to be exact. They each had a number.
“What’s that?” Daniel asked.
“It’s an Advent calendar. Each day we’ll open one. Behind each door is a treat for each of you and a word we can talk about to help us prepare for Christmas.”
“Can we open one now?” Holly wanted to know.
“You may.” Mom pointed to the first door.
“Advent,” Holy read after she took out three small candies and handed one to Daniel and Evie.
“Advent is all about the days leading up to Christmas. We can talk about what Christmas really means and prepare our hearts to worship Christ.”
“Why did Jesus have to come to earth as a baby? Why couldn’t He come as a grown-up?” Daniel wondered as he picked up the baby Jesus from the Nativity set.
“Well, Jesus needed time to prepare, too. He needed to experience all the things we experience.
He experienced what it was like to grow up, have a family and friends, and be tempted by sin just like the rest of us. No matter what problems we face in life, Jesus truly understands.”
“But I thought Jesus was perfect and never sinned?” Holly questioned.
Mom nodded her head. “He was perfect. He didn’t ever sin, but He still went through a lot of the same things we do. Because He lived a perfect and sinless life, that’s what made Him a suitable sacrifice for our sins. Only a perfect Man could pay the price for us.”
Daniel and Holly didn’t say anything. For a few moments, the only sound heard was Evie slurping her candy and quietly repeating, “Sec-et.”
Mom continued. “God had to prepare the world for Salvation to come in the form of His Son, Jesus. It wouldn’t happen overnight. It would take Jesus’ entire life time here on earth.”
Daniel, always the one who wanted to learn more, said, “I think this will be interesting.”
“I think this will be fun,” Holly gave her opinion.
“I think it will help prepare us all and help us to understand Christmas just a little bit better.”
Devotion
Read Matthew 25:1-13
This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Luke 2:25b-26
Advent is a time of preparation. The Christmas Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Many families, especially those with young children, have Advent calendars. Each day the children get to open a door, receive a little gift, or remove an object in the countdown for and in anticipation of Christmas.
Children, for the most part, look forward to Christmas because of the gifts they will receive. That’s not a bad thing, but we as adults, should have a much deeper anticipation of Christmas.
We take the time to buy and wrap gifts, prepare food, clean the house for guests, buy new outfits, attend parties, etc. But how much time do we put into meditating on the actual birth of Christ and worshiping Him?
Many years, at least in our household, we spend time putting up the tree and decorating it, only to ignore it. We more often than not, sit in the room with the TV. Unfortunately, that’s often the way we are with God as well. We accept Him as Savior. We attend church on Sundays. Other than that, we pretty much ignore Him, too.
This Christmas, in anticipation of the celebration of His birth, let’s focus on Him a little more throughout the month. Let’s prepare our hearts by reflecting on why He came to earth. Christmas will be that much more special when we focus on the true Reason for the Season.
Activity
This activity will take some extra planning. Get together as a family; you can even invite your extended family members to take part in this one as well. Choose a family that is in need; try to find a specific need if possible. Gather together money to give to that family for the specific need that they have. If possible, try not to let them know where their Christmas gift is coming from.
That makes it all the more exciting for both them and you.
Song – The Twelve Days of Christmas (How I Want to Sing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZmyxUHWQm0
November 12, 2017
The Student and the Slave by Annie Douglass Lima
Take a look at this exciting new young adult action and adventure novel, The Student and the Slave, now available for purchase! This is the third book in the Krillonian Chronicles, after The Collar and the Cavvarach and The Gladiator and the Guard.
The series is set in an alternate world that is very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
First, a Little Information about Books 1 and 2:
Book 1: The Collar and the Cavvarach
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
Click here to read chapter 1 of The Collar and the Cavvarach.
Click here to read about life in the Krillonian Empire, where the series is set.
Book 2: The Gladiator and the Guard
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?
Click here to read about life in the arena where Bensin and other gladiators are forced to live and train.
And now, The Student and the Slave, with another awesome cover by the talented Jack Lin!
Book 3: The Student and the Slave
Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.
Meanwhile, Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?
Click here to order The Student and the Slave from Amazon for $2.99 a discounted price of just 99 cents through November 31st!
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and
later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her
husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at
Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since
her childhood, and to date has published fifteen books (three YA action and
adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her
students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides
writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction),
scrapbooking, and international travel.
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Now, enter to win an Amazon gift card or a free digital copy of the first two books in the series!
October 23, 2017
A little rebranding on an old series
My Western Vows series is now over two years old, and it’s on its third (and last) cover. I promise.
I started out with a premade cover that I felt kind of looked like Meg and had as close to a western feel as I could find.
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Then, I won a free cover from Stephanie Adams for my prequel and suddenly…the covers didn’t match as far as branding. So, a new cover was in order. And, while the new cover for To Honor and Cherish was so beautiful, it lost the western feel, and though Meg had the right color hair and eyes, she was far too dressed up for Meg.
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So, now I’m slowly having these books deeply edited and re-releasing them. To Honor and Cherish was released a year ago, For Richer or Poorer will release in about a week, and To Love and Comfort should release in January or February of 2018. Without further ado (even though I think it deserves some ado), my newest, and final, cover for To Honor and Cherish.
