Anneliese Dalaba's Blog, page 9

First Line Friday #83

Since this week has been extraordinarily busy, I didn’t have much time for reading, so I’m still reading the same fiction I featured last week. Therefore, this week I will share a nonfiction I am also currently reading.

My current nonfiction is Leveling the Praying Field: Helping Every Person Talk to God and Hear from God. It was written by Donna L. Barrett. Not only is this the book I’m currently reading, I also highly recommend it to my readers. Donna Barrett’s style of writing is conversational. I’m thoroughly enjoying this book.

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Chapter 1

T alking to God, Hearing from God

In an honest conversation with Tom, an over-the-road truck driver, we were talking about prayer. He said to me, “Oh, I have plenty of time to pray. I’m just not sure how to pray. I’m behind the wheel of my rig for hours on end. I pray for God to forgive me, to keep me safe on the road, to bless and help all my family members by name, and I thank Him for my blessings. By that time about three minutes have passed, and I don’t know what else to say!”

Now it’s your turn. First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

Reluctant to Wed Receives the Silver Medal!!

[image error]2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal

Readers’ Favorite announced this week that my book, Reluctant to Wed, received the 2019 Silver Medal Award for Christian Historical Romance. Readers’ Favorite is an international competition where authors from around the world compete with each other in various genres. I will be attending the awards ceremony in Miami, Florida in November to receive my Silver Medal.

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[image error]Order your copy of Reluctant to Wed by clicking on the title of the book.

First Line Friday #82

Please Note: Books on First Line Friday are my current read. This does not mean I recommend the book. The books I recommend are in my monthly newsletter. You can sign up for my monthly newsletter by clicking on my Home page and scrolling to the bottom.

This week I am featuring The Sheriff’s Surrender (Ladies’ Shooting Club Book 1) by Susan Page Davis.

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Fergus, Idaho

May, 1885

Gert Dooley aimed at the scrap of red calico and squeezed the trigger.

Book Description:

Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards, but she wants ranger Ethan Chapman to see she’s more than a crack shot with firearm. When the sheriff of Fergus, Idaho is murdered, Ethan is named his replacement. The women in town are scared to think a murderer is loose among them, so Gert forms the Ladies’ Shooting Club to teach them how to protect themselves, their homes, and their families.

Ethan didn’t ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation of the former lawman’s mysterious death. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place—being pressured by the town’s women to restore order and safety to Fergus, and being pressured by the men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies’ Shooting Club. Another murder sends Ethan to Gert and her ladies for help in the investigation. But will the Ladies’ Shooting Club unmask the murderer before he strikes again?

Now it’s your turn. First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post. 

First Line Friday #81

This week I’m featuring The Trail Boss’s Bride by Erica Vetsch. It’s a western romance. If you click on the title of the book, it will take you to Amazon where you can read a description of the book.

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“Steve Ketchum had heard it said that there were only two things on God’s green earth that cowboys were afraid of: being left afoot and a decent woman, and he believed it.”

PLEASE NOTE: Books on First Line Friday are my current read. This does not mean I recommend the book. The books I recommend are in my monthly newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter on this website.

Now it’s your turn. First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post.

Called to Write

[image error]Photo credit: voltamax on Pixabay

Sometimes a message burns inside of me and I know I must share it. Do you know what I’m talking about? Perhaps writing is a holy calling for us. We don’t often think of it as a calling but, certainly, when God was handing out gifts, He gave to some the desire and ability to write.

A Holy Calling written by Ashley Clark is a blogpost that will inspire you to keep writing. Click HERE.

Let’s be careful we don’t forsake our confidence in God and call it “humility.” ~Ashley Clark

Speaking Engagement in Grand Haven

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It was such an honor for me to speak on Book Marketing Tips for Success today at an ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Great Lakes Chapter event. We met at an adorable restaurant called Snug Harbor with waterfront dining.




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Snug Harbor in Grand Haven, Michigan




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The waterfront view




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ACFW Great Lakes Chapter Event

I want to thank the Chapter President, Author Catherine Ulrich Brakefield and the Chapter Secretary, Author Deb Gardner Allard for inviting me to speak at this event. This group inspires me to keep writing and to raise my expectations to higher levels. It truly is a privilege to network with such gifted people.

First Line Friday #80

I can’t believe how this summer is flying by. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am.

Today on First Line Friday I’m featuring a wonderful novel by one of my favorite authors, Karen Witemeyer. The book is called More Than Words Can Say. It’s my current read, and I’m only in Chapter 14, so I don’t know how it will turn out. What I do know is that I am loving every minute of it so far. And don’t you just want to smile when you look at that book cover?

(By clicking on the author’s name, it will take you to her Amazon Author Page where you can see all the books she’s written. Click on the book title and it will take you to the product page of this novel.)

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May 1896 — Honey Grove, TX

“The council has denied your appeal, Miss Kemp.” Mayor Longfellow delivered the blow with a finality that threatened to buckle Abigail’s knees.

Book Description on Back Cover:

After fulfilling a pledge to a dying friend, Zacharias Hamilton is finally free. No family entanglements. No disappointing those around him. Just the quiet bachelor existence he’s craved. Until fate snatches his freedom away when the baker of his favorite breakfast bun is railroaded by the city council. Despite not wanting to get involved, he can’t turn a blind eye to her predicament . . . or her adorable dimples.

Abigail Kemp needs a man’s name on her bakery’s deed. A marriage of convenience seems the best solution . . . if it involves a man she can control. That person definitely isn’t the stoic lumberman who oozes silent confidence whenever he enters her shop. Control Zacharias Hamilton? She can’t even control her pulse when she’s around him.

When vows are spoken, Abigail’s troubles should be over. Yet threats to the bakery worsen, and darker dangers hound her sister. Can she put ever more trust in Zach without losing her dreams of independence?

Now it’s your turn. First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post.

Heading Home

My husband and I had a wonderful week in Orlando, Florida as we attended the 2019 General Council of the Assemblies of God. The services were spiritually inspiring and challenging. As a writer, some of my favorite moments were when my colleagues in ministry came up and told me how much they enjoyed my novels. Such great encouragement! It makes me want to keep writing and writing.

Today, we are flying home. As you can see in the picture below, the clouds are threatening. We saw lightning in the distance as we traveled on the shuttle. Our flight was delayed and we aren’t certain we will make our connecting flight. But it’s okay. Attitude is what makes most days good or bad. My husband and I chose to have good attitudes. So we enjoyed a nice lunch at the airport and found things to amuse ourselves. Children are especially delightful, don’t you agree? And they are everywhere. In the shuttle, in the restaurant, and at the gate. For those who love to watch people, a flight delay is not the worse thing that can happen.

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I have no idea what time we will get home tonight, but I want to arrive still having a good attitude. It’s a choice, and it’s what I hope to keep choosing.

How is your day going? Can a right attitude make it better?

“A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

First Line Friday #79

I am writing from the beautiful state of Florida this week where my husband and I are attending the General Council of the Assemblies of God. This is an exceptionally busy week for me, but I didn’t want to miss First Line Friday because I have a wonderful book to share with you that I just finished reading. This book will take you on an exciting adventure. I read it during my flight and as I waited in airports. Needless to say, I had to deal with interruptions. When we were finally settled in our hotel room for the night, I read it through to the end because it was that hard to put down! I finished at about 12:30 AM! No regrets! It was worth a bit of sleep depravation.

The book I’m featuring is Lord of Her Heart by Sherrinda Ketchersid. Clicking on the book title will take you to Amazon where you can see the description and purchase the book. Clicking on the author’s name will take you to her website.

I won a copy of this book by commenting on the Journeys to Joy website. After I received it, I realized I had already purchased the Kindle version and it was waiting in my TBR pile.

First Line Friday #78

I missed a couple of First Line Fridays while I was away on vacation, which is always wonderful. We had a big family vacation in Elberta, Michigan, with lots of sunshine, warm temperatures, beaches, sand dunes, campfire chats and games, great food, and—best of all—laughter and making new memories with the people I love most.

Today, I am featuring Mail Order Marvel by Kirsten Osbourne. This is a short story.

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First Line:

Coral ate slowly as she peered at Jackson from under her lashes.

This is a sweet story where the couple falls in love after the vows are spoken. Coral must marry so she can move out of her sister and brother-in-law’s house. But Coral thinks she is too peculiar for any man to ever fall in love with her. Jackson longs for good meals and a clean and tidy home, so when Coral’s brother-in-law suggests he marry Coral, Jackson agrees.

Short stories are often underdeveloped and hurried. However, this novella did not disappoint. I felt Coral’s pain and appreciated Jackson’s understanding. He’s definitely hero-worthy. This is a clean historical romance. It’s the 27th book in the Brides of Beckham series. I cannot vouch for all the books in this series since I have read very few of them. However, this book was enjoyable.

Now it’s your turn. First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. If you’d like, check out the books other readers have featured on their blogs by clicking on the Hoarding Books link at the end of this post.