Heather Greer's Blog, page 12

June 19, 2023

Susan Page Davis: Meet the Author Monday

Susan Page Davis: Meet the Author Monday Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Susan Page Davis for a Meet the Author Monday interview. I had the pleasure of meeting Susan a few years ago, and I always enjoy getting to catch up with her when our paths cross at writer’s conferences. I know you’re going to enjoy getting to know her too.

Susan, to start us off, tell us a little about yourself.

I began seriously writing fiction in 1999, when I was a correspondent for a daily newspaper. My first published fiction was short stories in magazines. When I sold to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Woman’s World, there was no looking back. My first novel was published in 2004—Protecting Amy, a western romance. Since then I’ve published more than 100 novels and novellas in the historical, mystery, suspense, and romance genres.

100 novels and novellas. Wow! I feel like I’m a little behind now. That takes a lot of dedication and imagination and, I’m guessing, quite a bit of self-discipline. Do you have any writing routines or habits you follow for a productive writing day?

Yes, I’m generally at my desk around 7 a.m. or 7:30. I work for about an hour on writing-related tasks and then get breakfast. After I eat, I usually put in several hours of writing on my work in progress. In the afternoon I clear up any other business, such as interviews, editing, and uploading. Because I’m a hybrid writer, I have many self-published books as well as about 70 traditionally published. Keeping my backlist in print takes quite a bit of effort, but I get help from on of my children on that.

Speaking of your traditionally published books, you have one releasing tomorrow called, Backstory. What prompted you to write this book?

Backstory is book 3 in the Skirmish Cove Mysteries series. I decided to write this book to bring Kate Gage’s former fiancé into the narrative. Readers have wondered about him, and why Kate didn’t marry him. Luke Brantley walks back into her life after a ten-year absence single—or nearly single. Will Kate fall for him all over again?

I love it that you were prompted to tell this story through listening to your readers’ remarks. I know you’re a reader as well. What is your favorite book you’ve read in the last year?

I really enjoyed The London Rose, by Rosanne Lortz Speares. I used to devour regencies but not so much nowadays. This one was sweet and fun, a good diversion.

What’s the biggest blessing you’ve ever received as an author?

Feedback from my readers. The Lord has blessed my heart many times with an email or note from someone who was uplifted by my books.

Reader encouragement is a sweet part of writing. They don’t know how much their words can encourage our words. As a reader, do you prefer eBooks, audio books, or paperbacks?

Never thought I’d say it, but I’ve become very fond of e-books. While they have some disadvantages, I love being able to carry 200 books around in one little case smaller than most paperbacks, and being able to adjust the print size when my eyes are tired.

I admit, I’ve felt the same way. Love having that real book in my hands, but having options of what to read when I’m out is great too. We’ve talked about you a bit. Why don’t you tell us a bit about Backstory. Can you share the back cover copy with us?

A hurricane lashes the Novel Inn, forcing guests to remain when they’d hoped to leave. Add an elderly neighbor, Kate’s ex-fiancé, and a clandestine thief. When a guest is found dead in the Hercule Poirot Room, it’s time for the Gage siblings and the local police to go into action.

A hurricane, a death, and an ex? You definitely know how to shake things up for your characters. I know readers are going to want to find out what happens at the Novel Inn. Today is the last day for $1 off the eBook price of Backstory. Tomorrow the book releases and the price increases. So, don’t hesitate, click the link below to get your copy today.

https://scrivenings.link/backstory

Thank you to Susan Page Davis for joining me on a Meet the Author Monday. I’ve enjoyed having you. Congratulations on Backstory! I know readers are going to enjoy this mystery.

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Published on June 19, 2023 09:17

June 12, 2023

Skye Jones: Main Character Monday Interview

This week we’re sitting down with Skye Jones from Amy R. Anguish’s Operation Find a Job Guy for a Main Character Monday interview. Welcome, Skye. Let’s jump right in. Our readers may have met you in Amy’s previous Roadtrip Romance books. For those who haven’t, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I love adventure. A boring life is not for me. I love to travel, especially in my red convertible, Rosie.

Travelings in a red convertible definitely doesn’t sound boring. Tell me something about you that readers may find surprising?

I actually love and admire my sister, when she’s not trying to act like a second mom. Our mom passed away when I was in high school, and for some reason Rain thinks she needs to take her place. She does not. But besides that, the wedding planning business my sister has built, it’s pretty impressive. Just don’t tell her I said so.

I imagine that could be a difficult situation for both of you. It’s great that you’ve not let it influence your love for her or your pride in her accomplishments. If you could solve one world problem, which one would you solve?

Not enough fun job opportunities. When I do a job search, there are an endless number of desk jobs, jobs that chain you to one place in a dark office and never let you go anywhere. I need something with more freedom. And more fun.

That’s certainly not an answer I’ve heard before in my interviews. But I can see where it would be an issue when you’re trying to find what you want to do with your life. I think everyone wants to enjoy and be passionate about their job. The New Testament tells of Mary and Martha. Two sisters who react to a visit from Jesus in very different ways. Mary chooses to spend time with Him, while Martha chooses to take care of the physical needs. Are you more Mary or Martha?

I guess probably Mary. I mean, Martha was the one working in the kitchen while Mary sat at Jesus’s feet. And you’ve already heard some of my feelings on work.

Yes, we have. And I have to agree, at least to some extent. Housework and. cooking for a crowd do not sound like a job I’d enjoy either. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 – Do you think living out this verse would make a difference in your life? How?

Honestly, I’ve never given much thought to widows and orphans. Funny, considering in some ways I feel like an orphan. After Mom died, Dad lost himself in work, leaving me with Rain. You’d think I’d have more sympathy for others in that plight? I need to be. Rain says I’m selfish and spoiled, but I’m not. I just have to solve some of my own problems before I can focus on others. But soon. After all, I have a deadline here.

A deadline, huh? That’s intriguing. I can’t wait for our readers to dive into your story to find out about this ultimatum you’re facing. So the James verse doesn’t really resonate with you. Is there a verse of scripture that holds great meaning in your life?

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” Enough said.

Hmmm. Could this have something to do with that deadline you referenced? Don’t answer that. Let’s let readers find out for themselves. If you could leave readers with one message, what would it be?

Be very careful if a bowtie-wearing attorney starts hanging around. Those guys can get under your skin and ruin so many well-laid plans. Or maybe change is a better word than ruin.

I feel like this is spoken from experience. Maybe we should have this bow-tie wearing attorney on to give his side of the story. For now, let’s have some fun questions. We know you like fun. So, they should be perfect for you. If you could buy one thing, without worrying about the cost, what would you buy?

A different road trip every year with all my friends. I absolutely hate that our road trips together are no longer going to happen … at least not with just the three girls.

What one hobby would you keep if you had to give up all other hobbies?

Does traveling count as a hobby? Photography is a hobby, right? I always take selfies when I travel. Does that count?

I think both of those count as hobbies. And they both sound great. Just a few more this or that questions for you.

Apples or Pears? Pears

Indoors or Outside? Indoors

I have to say, for an adventure loving girl, that one surprises me. Reading or Writing? Reading, though I’m not terribly fond of either of these (don’t hate me)

And one final question. Using only three words, how would you describe Amy R. Anguish?

Motherish, instigator, ironic

I want to thank Skye Jones for joining us on this Main Character Monday interview. I’ve enjoyed getting a look inside what makes her who she is. I hope you have too. Keep reading to find out more about Skye, Amy Anguish and where you can get a copy of Operation find a Job Guy.

A little more about Amy R. Anguish:

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all Amy Anguish south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Connect with Amy:

http://abitofanguish.weebly.com http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor https://twitter.com/amy_r_anguish

Find out more about Amy’s books here: https://www.pinterest.com/msguish/my-books/

More About Skye Jones and Operation Find a Job Guy:

Skye Jones has one goal for the summer—keep her father from taking away her convertible. That’s the only reason she agrees to work at her sister’s bridal shop in Boulder, Colorado, while she searches for a non-boring job. Why else would she have anything to do with weddings when she has no interest in marriage?

Benjamin Smith somehow ended up as a groomsman in two weddings over the summer, so he’s spending a lot of time at Happily Ever After events. Falling for a blonde with no dreams of settling down wasn’t in his five-year plan, yet the more he sees Skye, the more he wants to figure her out.

But all she sees him as is a boring attorney−her complete opposite.

Besides, romance is supposed to be for Skye’s friends, not her. And she’s in Colorado to get a job, not a guy. Right?

You can read the first three chapters of Skye’s story for free! Find them here: https://scrivenings.link/operationfindaguypreview

Until Tuesday, June 13, 2023, you can save $1 on the eBook price. Get your copy here:

https://scrivenings.link/operationfindaguy

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Published on June 12, 2023 09:36

June 7, 2023

Conferences and Creativity: Wednesday in the Word

Conferences and Creativity

Conferences and creativity? They don’t sound like a perfect match. But when you’re attending a writer’s conference, creativity is there in abundance.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is one of my favorites. It’s also one of the biggest conferences I attend. It amazes me that six hundred writers can get together and each has their own unique message, their own writing journey that’s theirs alone, their own style of telling the story.

God is so good.

He’s also the father of creativity. I can’t deny His love of beauty as I drive into the Blue Ridge Mountains or watch the sun set bright orange on my way home. (I’m not a morning person, but I assume the sunrises are beautiful too.) God did creative first. Read Genesis 1. Take a look at the world around you. Consider how God crafted DNA to make us each unique. No person, throughout history, is exactly you. How creative is that?

And what did God say after He created each piece of His masterpiece? It is good.

We, the creation, are invited to know God more through expressing creativity. Whether you write, draw, create music, arrange flowers, decorate cakes, decorate homes, or plant beautifully planned flower gardens, there is some way you can express creativity.

I encourage you to find your creative niche. As you express yourself creatively and take joy in the finished product, consider what joy it must have been for God to create and then be able to proclaim, “It is good.”

Take the time to enjoy the creativity and creation of God. Draw inspiration from what He’s done. Put that into your own creative outlets. God wants us to enjoy His creation. How might He want us to use our creative endeavors to bring joy to others?

Conferences and creativity may not seem like a perfect pairing. But joining with others who enjoy the same type of creativity you do can be encouraging and just plain fun. Find your people. Meet with them on occasion. Swap stories, praise and pray together, and share crafting tips and tricks when you get creative together. Let creating together be the catalyst to draw you closer to God and other believers.

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Published on June 07, 2023 09:03

June 2, 2023

Shadow Dancing Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

Shadow Dancing Review

About the Book

Book: Shadow Dancing

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction/Southern fiction

Release Date: April 18, 2023

Wading through grief is like dancing with shadows.

Bekah Casey’s been on a tear for near a year, and the anger clings to her like cheap perfume. If only the Lord would wash it away like He did with her sins, she might could find her way out of the mire. Instead, she escapes from the one person to blame for all her ills—her husband Mitch.

Now she’s living with her mama and daddy, working two jobs, and facing a future that looks bleak as a middle-Tennessee winter. Her mama’s all the time telling her that the good Lord works in ways too confounding to comprehend, and if she’d learn to trust in Him, her life will look a might brighter. Easy for her to say.

When things go from dark to disastrous, Bekah figures she’s got two choices—sink in her sin or dig her way out.

Mitch Casey never did put a whole lot of stock in faith. Didn’t appear it helped Bekah any either since hers went sideways the minute things got hard. Still, he’s willing to take whatever abuse she throws his way if it helps her muddle through the grief. Then one poor decision, a night in jail, and a divine assignment with a local pastor puts Mitch on an unexpected path.

When you’re dancing with shadows, who gets to lead? Find out in the next book in the Bedford County series.

SHADOW DANCING REVIEW: MY THOUGHTS: Wow! This book was such a surprise. Having read the back cover copy, I thought the story might be good, but it would be heavy. I have to be in the right mood for overly heavy stories, those that don’t leave for hours after you’ve finished the last chapter. I thought I’d have to trudge through the story, through no fault of the author’s storytelling but because of the content. There is only so much I can take at a time.

This story did deal with extremely heavy life topics. Grief, loss, the breakdown of a marriage, testing of faith. Even the spiritual topics like God’s sovereignty are less than light. But the author does a wonderful job of keeping the style of the story conversational and real. She doesn’t veer away from the questions that need answers, but it doesn’t weigh down the story or the reader.

I don’t know if this was accomplished through the completely southern feel of the book and dialog, the characters who could be your next door neighbors, or the sprinklings of wisdom the main character’s mama and daddy add throughout the story. Whatever the reason, or maybe its all of this working together, the result is a beautiful story of life that keeps drawing you back in but doesn’t wear you out even with all the struggles it holds.

I give Shadow Dancing five stars. I’m so happy I chose this book, and I know you will be as well.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

May 26, 2023

The Title Wave Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

The Title Wave Review

About the Book

Book: The Title Wave

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 25, 2023

All he wants to do is help people, but local women want to help themselves… to him!

When Henri Tupuola returned to Suamalie to open his holistic mental health clinic, he had no idea what he was getting into. After ten years in Australia getting his degree and practical experience under his mentor, the locals had all but forgotten the quiet “boy” who had always made them feel like he could see right through them.

Not anymore! The ladies of Lafoina are eager to meet the island’s therapist and spend hours staring deeply into his eyes on their weekly dates… ahem, sessions.

Desperate for relief, he hightails it down to The Title Wave and begs Ezra to order him a couple dozen copies of his own book. Yes, author copies would be cheaper, but he needs these things fast. Maybe if he hands out his book like an old-time quack handed out pills, the ladies will get the hint and leave him alone.

But when he tells his troubles to Ezra (who’s the therapist now?), and she jokes at how much her father would love to have people flocking to his “sessions” so to speak, Henri gets an idea that could save his sanity… if only Ezra will agree.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

THE TITLE WAVE REVIEW: MY THOUGHTS

Before I get into the story, I have to say,I love this book’s name. Anything that plays on words and deals with writing or reading is a winner in my book. It makes me want to immediately read the book.

I also love revisiting characters from previous books. I enjoyed another book in this series not too long ago. So, when I saw this one dealt with the main side character’s story, I knew I wanted to read it too. I was not disappointed. There is a quirkiness to the writing style that I enjoy, and I love the idea of a floating bookstore. Plus, there’s the romance.

Fake relationships aren’t my favorite because of the lying aspect, but I love the twist the author includes to address and fix that issue. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it written that way before. It allowed me to enjoy the story despite the fake relationship trope.

Overall, I enjoyed The Title Wave. It was fun and fast and a pleasure to read. And I’d say, given its setting, it would make a perfect beach read for the summer. I give The Title Wave a solid four stars.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

May 22, 2023

Liesl Schrader Interview: Main Character Monday

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Liesl Schrader on Main Character Monday. Liesl is the main character from Ellen E. Withers’ book, Show Me Betrayal. Show Me Betrayal is the first book of the Show Me Mysteries series, and I am excited this book is finally out. I’m absolutely in love with this book’s cover, and I’m excited to read Liesl’s story. But this is a Main Character Monday. So, let’s get started with Liesl Schrader’s interview.

Liesl, tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Mexico, Missouri, raised by my great aunt and uncle, who took me in when my parents died. I was four years old when they gave me a home. When I grew up, I went to college in Houston and starting a writing career. I came back home when alerted my aunt was seriously ill.

After Aunt Suzanne passed, she left me her Victorian home and a mystery to solve about her death and a decades-old death of her best friend. Show Me Betrayal shares all the details of the teamwork and determination needed to investigate both mysteries.

I’ve moved back home and own the charming house where I was raised. It is a delight to live near my best friend, Nicole, again. I’ll continue to write, do good things to help people, and investigate any unsolved mysteries along the way.

As far as romance, there are two men I’m interested in. I invite you to stick around and see how that turns out.

I was a bit surprised to find out there is a Mexico, Missouri. But why don’t you tell us something about you that readers may find surprising?

I’m growing curious about my mother’s side of my family. I was so young when she and my father passed. Since my father’s aunt and uncle raised me and I’m surrounded by a million cousins in our town, I have a lot of family ties. Yet, none of them are associated with my mother. Perhaps I’ll consider that search a mystery and one day write a book about what I discover.

That sounds like a great plan. Of course, I always think writing is a great plan! If you could solve one world problem, which one would you solve?

A nurturing home environment for every child currently without a family would be my dream world problem to solve. Every child deserves to be raised in a safe and loving home. A “parent” doesn’t have to share flesh and blood with a “child.” I wish every family would consider adoption or fostering because the need is so great.

I have to agree. The need is great. And it takes some very special people to fill that need. Speaking of needs, the New Testament tells of Mary and Martha. Two sisters who react to a visit from Jesus in very different ways. Mary chooses to spend time with Him, while Martha chooses to take care of the physical needs. Are you more Mary or Martha?

I’m a Mary. I’d want to spend time with Jesus and hear his stories. As a writer, I can’t imagine a greater gift than being taught by Jesus. Anytime I can listen to someone’s stories about their life and experiences, it’s a blessing.

You’ve touched on this a bit already, but I’ve always loved this next verse. So, we’re going to revisit the topic. ”Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 – Do you think living out this verse would make a difference in your life? How?

As an orphan myself, I was blessed to be raised in a loving family committed to helping others. We were a little different from the standard definition of a family, but that didn’t matter. Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Max gave me the gift of a Christian home, an enormous amount of love, and taught me to always reach out to help others. With both of them now passed, it’s my mission to carry on their good deeds for others. A lot of what they gave was anonymous and I plan to carry on that tradition, as well.

Is there a verse of scripture that holds great meaning in your life?

Proverbs 19:17

“Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.”

That is a great one, and it goes well with the ones we’ve already discussed. You seem to have a giving and serving heart. I wonder if there is a message you’d like to gift our readers with today.

Help others. You will receive blessings beyond anything you could imagine when you offer help and lift others who are struggling. I believe he has called me to help people and to solve mysteries to bring peace to those damaged by a mystery.

Now my next questions are just for fun. Whatever comes to mind, just say it. If you could buy one thing, without worrying about the cost, what would you buy?

I would purchase what money can’t buy, which would be more time with Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Max. I will work to honor their memories in ways that give back to my community—anonymously.

What a great answer. I’m sure they’d be proud. What one hobby would you keep if you had to give up all other hobbies?

I’m a reader and always have been. I don’t think I could ever give up reading and listening to audiobooks.

I’m with you on that one. Now, these next are either or questions.

Apples or Pears? Pears

Indoors or Outside? Outside

Reading or Writing? Both. My occupation is a writer, and I read every day.

Last question. How would you, Liesl, describe Ellen E. Withers in three words?LAST

Mystery solving partner

That is a great answer. And I’d like to thank you for joining me, Liesl. Readers, if you’ve enjoyed this Liesl Schrader interview for Main Character Monday, stick around. We’re about to learn more about her “mystery solving partner”, author, Ellen E. Withers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellen is an award-winning fiction writer, freelance writer and retired insurance
fraud investigator. She is excited about her mystery/dual-time series, Show Me
Mysteries, set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri. Scrivenings Press
releases the first book of the series, Show Me Betrayal, May 16, 2023.
She is also proud to be one of three contributors to a Christmas novella collection
titled A Gift for All Time, due for release September 26, 2023, from Scrivenings Press.
Ellen is currently hard at work on a nonfiction book to help writers win writing
contests. Magic Words: Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins for Novels, Short
Fiction and Nonfiction is scheduled for publication by Scrivenings Press March 2024.
More information about Ellen’s books, writing tips and guest author highlights
can be found at her website www.ellenewithers.com. Her Facebook page is Ellen E.
Withers. Follow her column on how to win writing contests in Writers Monthly Magazine
PDF.
When not writing or reading, Ellen enjoys spending time with her family,
traveling the world with her adventurous friends and performing with Top of the Rock
Chorus, a Sweet Adeline chorus in central Arkansas.

CONNECT WITH ELLEN:

Website: https://ellenewithers.com/

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071728886831

Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BWZ1G7JS

Instagram profile: https://instagram.com/lnwithers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

GET YOUR COPY OF SHOW ME BETRAYAL BY CLICKING THE IMAGE BELOW

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Published on May 22, 2023 11:49

May 7, 2023

Main Character Monday Maggie Gallagher Interview

Welcome to this week’s Main Character Monday interview with Maggie Gallagher. Maggie is the main character in When the Cowboy Rides Away by Molly Noble Bull. Let’s get right to the interview. Maggie, let’s start off with a little bit about who you are.

My name is Maggie Gallagher, and today is May 1, 1880. I live on our family ranch in South Texas about twenty miles from the Gulf of Mexico and forty miles from the Rio Grande River. It is not a big ranch, compared to the huge ranches around here, but at twenty-three thousand acres, it’s big enough for us. We run cattle and horses, and like most local ranchers today, I speak both English and Spanish. In fact Sarah Ann, my ten-year-old sister, speaks Spanish more than English most of the time.

Both of our parents died of a fever several years ago, and my older sister, Sadie, died in childbirth. Besides running the ranch, I take care of Sarah Ann and John Anthony, Sadie’s two-year-old baby boy. We also have an Aunt Violet who lives in Brownsville, Texas, but we don’t get to see her as much as we would like.

Wow. It sounds like you keep busy with family and the ranch. Tell us something about you that readers may find surprising.

I’m only in my early twenties. Nevertheless, I run the ranch as its foreman—or forewoman in my case. Cattle ranch foremen order grown men around all the time; check those fences; round up the herd; it’s time to ship. I have to be tough in order to do my job. But I’m not as tough as I pretend to be, and Alex Lancaster knows it.

Hmm. Alex Lancaster. You’ve caught my interest. But let’s avoid rabbit trails and stick with the original interview plan. What is your favorite book of the Old Testament?

I love the Bible. I read it every day, but I like Genesis best because of all the wonderful stories in it. In fact, I just love to read. I’m trying to get my sister, Sarah, to read the Bible, but that’s not as easy as it might sound.

I teach her here at home along with my other duties, and I love her dearly. But that child has a head as hard as a rock.

I’ve got siblings myself, and I think I’ve probably said the same about them! But maybe all the stories in Genesis will encourage her to get into it. Is there a book of the Bible you have trouble getting through?

Well, the Book of Revelation is pretty hard to understand, but I’m reading it. Slowly!

It can be really confusing. If you could meet anyone from scripture, excluding Jesus, who would it be?

I love them all—Moses, David. I especially like Jacob and his romance with Rachel found in the Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-nine. Beside the Bible, I like to read mysteries, and if there is a love story in it, I like it even better.

All of those are great choices. And I can agree with a good love story. There’s nothing better on a rainy day that curling up with a great romance. Jesus said we are to be His light in the world. What does this mean to you?

As a true believer, I am a part of the Body of Christ, and we have an inner light. It’s up to us to make our lights shine

You said you liked to read about the romance between Jacob and Rachel in the Book of Genesis. Is there a man in your life? Maybe the Mr. Alex Lancaster that you mentioned earlier?

You might not believe this, but Alex and I are just good friends.

That’s interesting. I would’ve guessed it might be a little more than that. But we don’t have time to get into that right now. We have two more questions and some fun questions. If you could leave readers with one message, what would it be?

Jesus is coming soon. He could come today, May 1, 1880, or sometime in the future. Are you ready?

That is a great thought to leave readers with. Now for some fun. Don’t think. Just answer. Dark or Milk Chocolate?

Milk Chocolate

Roses or Daisies?

Roses

Salad or Soup?

Soup

Final question; in three words or less, can you describe Molly Noble Bull?

Mom or Mother.

I want to thank you Maggie Gallagher for joining me for this Main Character Monday interview. And thank you readers, for spending time with us today. Keep reading to find out more about the author of When the Cowboy Rides Away, Molly Noble Bull.

Meet Molly:

My name is Molly Noble Bull. A recent widow with three grown sons, I am also a Christian novelist. I was born and raised in the ranching country of South Texas, a little over an hour drive from the Mexican border, and my father and grandfather were cattle ranch foremen. I spent part of my growing up years on a sixty thousand acre cattle ranch. It is not surprising that I like to write westerns.

When the Cowboy Rides Away is a historical Christian Western, and it is not new. The novel was first published in 2015 with a different cover, and Scrivenings Press republished it in 2021. The book with its South Texas setting won a contest for published authors in 2016 and placed in another contest that same year. With Brownsville, Texas mentioned in the storyline, When the Cowboy Rides Away has a kind of historical background connection to the Mexican Border and what is happening in America now.

Social Media Links:

In the last few years, I’ve not been as social media active as I might have liked to be due to my late husband’s long illness, but I do have a website, www.mollynoblebull.com. I also have over three thousand friends on Facebook and try to post at least one Bible verse there daily. I sometimes post information regarding my books at my Facebook page as well, and they are available in bookstores and on Amazon, http://bit.ly/mollynoblebull. To buy a copy of When the Cowboy Rides Away, click here. scrivenings.link/whenthecowboyridesaway

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Published on May 07, 2023 21:38

May 5, 2023

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Review

About the Book

Book: Rocky Mountain Rendezvous

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 6, 2023

In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father’s final request in his will for a special set of beads to be returned to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels west. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.

Riley Turner came west to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he’s known.

As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return east or stay in the mountains to continue looking–and that’s if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father’s last request worth the danger they find at every turn?

Discover the majesty–and treachery–of the Rocky Mountains in this unique combination of exhilarating adventure, inspiring faith, and sweet romance from USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller.

My Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Review: I enjoyed this story. I’d never heard of a trapper rendezvous before, and I think it made for a great setting for this story. The sisters have a great relationship, and the author did a good job giving each one a unique personality. Riley is a capable man with a strong sense of helping and protecting others. He’s enjoyable as the hero of the story, and his trapper friends add to the story.

I give this story four stars and will be reading the next in the series.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

Lost in Wonderland Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

Lost in Wonderland Review

About the Book

Book: Lost in Wonderland

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk, Christian

Release date: March 14, 2023

If you make a deal with evil, be prepared for the consequences.

When a metal dragon kidnaps Alice, Hatter gathers the troops and charges off to rescue her. If only things were so uncomplicated. In the Ivory Kingdom, they find upheaval of the worst kind and all heading to civil war spearheaded by a man known as the Bandersnatch.

Turmoil and the terror of fighting against a giant wolf, the Bandersnatch is bad enough, but when the Ivory Queen’s secrets are exposed, Hatter and Alice face off in a battle of wills and points of view. How can Alice trust a woman who deceived them? Why can’t Hatter see the bigger picture? If they don’t reconcile their differences, more could be at risk than the Ivory Kingdom.

More questions than answers bombard them in their quest for truth and freedom for all. Who is stealing children? What dark secret overshadows the Ivory Kingdom? Can they avoid the Bandersnatch’s clutches? And most important of all, who can they trust?

Join forces with Alice, Hatter, old friends and new, and be prepared to discover that trust and risk are often two sides of the same coin in this next Beyond Wonderland novel.

My Lost in Wonderland Review: Another winner from Tabitha Bouldin. I loved Madness in Wonderland, the first book in this series. While I anxiously waited for this one to release, I did question whether or not it would live up to the first. My concern was misplaced.

This second book in the series combined my favorite characters (Alice is great, but Hatter tops everyone) and added several new ones. I loved that the action of the story allowed Alice, and me as a reader, to get to know her family a bit more. And it allowed Alice to wrestle with family loyalty, her place as royalty, and how she really feels about Hatter.

The story is full of adventure and danger, but also a bit of whimsy that keeps it from being heavy. It’s a perfect, fun adventure sprinkled with truth and engaging characters. And I give it a solid five stars.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tabitha Bouldin is a student at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she works with critique groups and provides endorsements for other authors. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart. Tabitha spent ten years working as a Medical Assistant before God opened the door which allowed her to become a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom and author.

April 21, 2023

A Match in the Making Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

A Match in the Making Review

About the Book

Book: A Match in the Making

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: February 21, 2023

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention–and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

My A Match in the Making Review: Miss Gwendolyn Brinley is a wonderful, delightful character. She’s strong and opinionated. She’s capable and loving. There isn’t a part of her that panders to the demands of society, but she breaks the mold and avoids that stereotypical (and in my opinion, annoying) character that is constantly out to prove she is just as capable and worth as any man. She simply is who she is and isn’t ashamed of it.

Walter Townsend is a product of the high society he was raised in. It takes a special person to show him the problems with the rules of his social circle. Gwendolyn is that person. It takes someone special to help him find a wife to fix the issue of his misbehaving children too. Gwendolyn also fits that need as an assistant matchmaker.

The author does a great job of weaving humor into an atmosphere of high society that could have felt merely stuffy. And the way she makes Gwendolyn and Walter be at odds for reasons that still allow them to develop feelings for each other in a natural way doesn’t feel forced or shock the reader. This story drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the end.

I loved this story and give it five stars.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.
More from Jen

A Chat with Jen Turano

You’re known for writing historical romantic comedies set in the Gilded Age. What made you decide to write in that particular era?

Funny thing, when I first tried my hand at writing historical, I wrote Regency—think Jane Austen, lots of drama, dukes, and probably a few countesses in serious need of attitude adjustments. One of those books, I believe I titled it A Marriage of Inconvenience, is the book that landed me my first agent. But, as she was shopping that book around, I read this fascinating book about Alva Vanderbilt. There was so much drama involved with the New York Four Hundred during the latter part of the nineteenth century that I threw myself into researching everything I could find about high society. I’ve been writing about that fascinating moment in time ever since.

Your new series revolves around matchmaking. How did you come up with that idea, and what can we expect?

I’ve been wanting to do a matchmaker series forever, and that idea reinforced when I watched Season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and there was a prevalent matchmaking thread. However, I didn’t want to do a normal matchmaker story, which is why I decided it would be hilarious to have a heroine accept a paid companion position and then, due to unforeseen circumstances, find herself turned into an assistant matchmaker even though she has absolutely no experience with matchmaking in general and is actually old enough to be considered a confirmed spinster.

How do you come up with such unusual ideas?

I think I just view life a little differently. I’ve always been rather weird, so when I think of matchmaking agencies, or lady detectives, or hat makers, I begin thinking up all these outlandish situations and then, just when my heroine or hero thinks that nothing else could go wrong, I throw something else at them. It’s a highly amusing job at times, although I’m certain my characters don’t appreciate my odd sense of humor.

Do you have a favorite character or book?

I adore Gertrude Cadwalader from Out of the Ordinary, although that’s not my favorite book. My favorite book is Diamond in the Rough because Poppy Garrison gets herself in some fabulous messes.

Your characters do seem to find themselves in some interesting mishaps and messes. Do you write these from personal experience?

You know, I have to admit that a lot of the outlandish situations I write are based on either observations I’ve made over the years or . . . yep, they’ve happened to me or my friends. I’ve definitely led an interesting life, although I do embellish the situations in some instances—creative license and all that.

How do you come up with such unusual names?

Contrary to what some may believe, I don’t make up any of my names. I scour old obituaries or shake down my friends who are into researching their ancestors for cool names. That’s how I got Mercy Miner, Temperance Flowerdew, and Lucetta Plum.

What’s coming up next?

I just finished up developmental edits for the second book in the Matchmakers series, so now I’ll go back to writing the third and final book in that series. After that? Well, I’m not positive yet. I have two ideas roaming around in my head for the next series I’ll delve into, but I simply don’t know which one I want to write quite yet.

Thanks so much for having me! Always fun being here with your readers.

All the best,

Jen

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 9

Christina’s Corner, April 9

To Everything There Is A Season, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 10

Texas Book-aholic, April 11

Karen Baney Reviews, April 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 12