Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 32

Sacred Gold (Rocky Meadow Mysteries Book 3)

 An old journal, revealing hidden treasure at St. Francis Church, falls into the hands of acting medical examiner, Dr. Amy Daniels, and tests her faith in life, love, and trust. With the help of the church pastor, Father Michael Lauretta, they try to solve the century-old mystery. Before long, the two find themselves in the company of a trained Italian curator, desperate to ward off her greedy, possessive boss, who follows her to Vermont and intends to steal the treasure.
Against the backdrop of snowy Rocky Meadow, Vermont, bustling during the Christmas holidays, the remainder of the St. Francis family try to secure a new soup kitchen, only to find charity cannot escape tragedy. When arson and murder, at the local nursing home, lead to a dark, dangerous chase in the catacombs of the church, they all join together to follow age-old clues and find Sacred Gold, before the treasure and more lives are lost forever. About Linda Rawlins Linda Rawlins

Author of Misty Manor, Sacred Gold, Fatal Breach, The Bench

As a child, I loved to read, whenever and whatever I could get my hands on. I started to write my own "Nancy Drew" type mystery in fifth grade. As a student, I studied Biology in Vermont, Sciences and Literature in college and eventually became a physician. I enjoy writing mysteries that contain medical and light spiritual content. Either way, a good murder mystery is always fun.
Misty Manor - Three years have passed since Hurricane Sandy devastated the New Jersey Shore as Megan Stanford returns to her childhood home to find her elderly grandmother and the family Grand Victorian home in a state of shocking neglect. As the town threatens to sue to ensure demolition of the guest cottages behind Misty Manor, mystery unfolds in the once quiet town of Misty Point, NJ. A dead body found in the debris, threatening messages, and vandalism, combined with an eerie sixty year old photograph, bring the investigation closer to home. Megan continues to dig for the truth and unwittingly begins to unravel a decades old secret, which threatens her and the future of Misty Manor.

My first book, The Bench, is set in the fictional town of Rocky Meadow, VT. The Rocky Meadow Mystery series then continues with Fatal Breach. Dr. Amy Daniels is a former trauma surgeon from Boston who moves to Rocky Meadow, VT to escape family tragedy. There she meets, Father Michael Lauretta, the psychologist pastor of St. Francis church and Rocky Meadow Retreat Center. Together, they solve mysteries with the help of Katie, the church cook, Willow, a teenage millionaire and Father Victor, visiting priest from Chicago. In Fatal Breach, the characters become involved with a murder at a local soup kitchen.

While solving crimes, the main characters deal with life, loss, starting over and developing an appreciation for the friends and loved ones in their lives.

Linda Rawlins lives in New Jersey with her family. When she is not working in medicine, she is writing.

Come visit me at www.lindarawlins.com - sign up for my newsletter.
You can also find me on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/lindarawlinsauthor ,
www.goodreads.com/LindaRawlins  Twitter @LRL8 Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yblebfb8  www.Instagram.com/lindarawlinswww.Instagram.com/lindarawlins
Healthy Blessed Reading!

$50 Blast Giveaway: Star Spangled Second Chance by Christie Logan

Star Spangled Second Chance by Christie Logan They were best friends before he left town without a word. Now he's back. Will her heart be broken again? Good girl Portia Phillips always followed the rules, colored inside the lines and walked the straight and narrow. Only her best friend Raymond Alessio could ever get her to quit being "perfect Portia" for a minute and take a risk. Portia fell in love with Raymond way back in fourth grade. That love only grew stronger as years passed, but she kept it hidden, until one Fourth of July when she finally had the courage to share her feelings. That was the night he broke her heart. Since then she's kept it safe, under lock and key. Now, eight years later, he's back in town with his young daughter. His life's a mess, but his love for Portia never changed. Can Raymond convince her to give him another chance? Will Portia find the courage to risk her heart a second time?Get your copy for just 99 ¢
   EXCERPTA sharp cry followed by a high-pitched wail jerked Portia out of her reverie. Underneath the monkey bars, Serena was helping the blonde child up from the ground. The little girl cried loudly as Serena propped her up with an arm around her shoulder."Oh, no." Portia rushed over to them. The little blonde's face was bright red, her face streaked with tears. "Sweetie, are you all right?""Her name's Lily. I know her from the afterschool program." Serena looked stricken. "We were just playing, and she fell.""It's not your fault, Serena." Portia looked the other child up and down and saw no blood. "Did you hurt yourself, Lily?""I want my dad!" The child wailed. "Where's my daddy?""Okay, honey. We'll find him." Portia quickly scanned the area. Her gaze flew past the faces of a few adults who had stopped to stare at the spectacle, but no one came forward.Suddenly a man's voice sounded behind her. "Lily!"Portia turned toward the sound and froze. Her heartbeat thudded to a crawl and her tongue glued itself to the roof of her mouth as the man raced toward them.For an instant, his eyes connected with Portia's as he swept by her to comfort the little girl. His child.Suddenly everything around Portia went blurry, as though she were seeing the world through a smear of gel. What kind of crazy hand had fate dealt her, bringing her face to face with Raymond Alessio, after all this time? Here, where she first fell in love with him—and where he later broke her heart.
Praise for Star Spangled Second Chance
This sweet, clean, contemporary romance is well written. I love the way the author used flashbacks to fill in the history of the couples previous relationship and things that happened to it. The characters are so likable. I look forward to reading the rest of the Holidays in Applewood series.
Wow, what a second chance story!
If you love this genre this is a must read

 
Author Christie Logan
Christie Logan writes sweet romance straight from the heart. She lives in upstate New York with too many pets, too many dust bunnies lurking under the bed, and too many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She thinks everyone deserves a happy ending and in her books, everyone gets one.
Website * Facebook * Twitter




$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 11/29/18
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just released: 'Tis the Season (Norma Elliot's Secret Journal Book 1)

 I’m Norma Elliot. I know what you’re thinking. Who names their kid Norma nowadays? Believe me, I feel the same as you. 
I’m a ginger―that means redhead. Actually, my hair isn’t red; it’s orange, but I guess redhead sounds better than orangehead. First, because it rhymes, and second, someone may get confused and think that my head is an actual orange. 
I’m ten years old and sharp―what my dad calls me―that means smart, not pointy.  My story is about what I did during the winter season. No brainer; the title gave that away. It’s mostly about me learning life lessons and spending time with God when I write to him in my secret journal. Oh, I need to mention, I’m not perfect; definitely not. Just thought I’d warn you in case you’re expecting to read a story about some cute little angel type girl. If you were, you may want to find a different story to read. But then again, if you’re up for a story about a girl who’s a work in progress―what dad says our old house is―you may just like my story. I really hope you will.Anyway, bye for now.
About Victoria Simcox Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother and a Dutch immigrant father. She now calls Western Washington home. Besides her writing career, Victoria taught elementary-school art for several years. Her past times are writing, reading, painting watercolors, hiking and spending time with her hubby of 28 years. She likes to read theological as well as some fantasy genres. Two of her favorite authors are R.C. Sproul and C.S. Lewis.Amazon US:https://tinyul.com/ybe4v84j AU:  https://tinyurl.com/yb3fumll CA:https://tinyurl.com/ybcsrkwpUK:https://tinyurl.com/ybg5c8fo
Twitter: @VictoriaSimcox

The Christmas Coin

After her grandmother’s death, Sammie finds herself thinking about the Christmas Coin and all the sweet memories attached to it. She decides to take a trip back to her grandmother’s house in Holly Hamlet, Vermont to find it. With the impending sale of the house, all Sammie wants as a keepsake of her grandmother is the coin and the story that she still holds close to her heart. With fifty years of possessions tucked inside the house, she realizes she has her work cut out for her. When the little girl next door innocently mentions the Christmas story, Sammie realizes that Ally could be the key to her finding the Christmas coin. As the weekend goes by, Sammie becomes attached to Ally, and subsequently her single father Jack. Her plans begin to change more than she could have imagined.
Jack Stevens had heard about the impending arrival of his neighbor Mary Holt’s granddaughter. Seeing her bright red hair and immaculate red mustang, he knows a woman like that is just making a quick stop to get whatever it is she came to Holly Hamlet for. But as he and his six-year-old daughter Ally spend time with Sammie, he begins to see her in a different light. As he finds himself inviting Sammie to join he and Ally in their Christmas traditions, he worries about his little girl. She’s already had one woman walk out on her life. Sammie had told him she was only in town for a day or two. Seeing his daughter’s attachment to Sammie, and ignoring his own growing feelings for her, he’s worried about Ally’s heart breaking when Sammie leaves town.
Will a decades old tradition and the sparkle of Christmas work its magic on two people who both need a gift that can’t fit under the tree? 
About Christina Lorenzen Christina is an Amazon bestselling author of ten books. She started writing as a young teen, jotting stories in wire ring composition notebooks. Her first typewriter made it faster to get all those stories out of her head and down on paper. Her love of writing has sustained her through a myriad of jobs that included hairdresser, legal secretary, waitress and door-­to-‑door saleswoman.
Luckily for her, writing proved to be successful and a lot less walking than going door to door. She loves to write the types of stories that she loves to read and watch on her favorite channel, The Hallmark Channel. Quaint small towns and happily ever afters are a guarantee. She's the author of eight books. When she isn't writing or reading, she can be found walking her dog, talking to her herd of cats and spending time with her family.
To find out about Christina's upcoming releases, visit her website at http://christinalorenzen.com/.
Subscribe to Christina's newsletter and be entered automatically each month to win a $5 Amazon gift card at http://christinalorenzen.com/connect-with-christina Amazon  https://tinyurl.com/yboqemm4Twitter @ChrisFoxLorenz

Seasons of Change

Katie MacKenna experienced one storm after another in her life. When Leukemia stole her mother from her and her father, Katie was only seven-years-old, and her father didn’t know how to cope after such a catastrophic loss. His response was to shut down and become abusive. The overwhelming devastation which surrounded Katie throughout her journey in life forced her to shut down just to survive as well.

Trust is a difficult thing for many people, but for Katie it’s virtually impossible. Every life has Seasons of Change. Will those seasons open Katie to new opportunities or will they forever isolate her in survival mode? Will she be able to overcome the storms that have surrounded her to answer a call for help?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. About C.J. Peterson I was raised in a Christian military home, but it was far from tranquil. Like many young people, I left home as soon as possible, and went my own way, thinking I knew better. To me anything was better than where I was. Unfortunately, some of the choices I made led me away from the Lord, and sometimes that path was a dangerous one.
God is faithful, even when His children are lost and wandering. When I needed Him most, the Lord was there for me. He led me out of that danger and into a new life...a life where I am loved and appreciated. He taught me what 'real love' is, and what it's supposed to look like through my family and wonderful husband.
Who knew that "Prince Charming" actually existed? I hoped and prayed he was out there, and I found him! He is a 24 year Navy veteran and the love of my life! With his encouragement, I rediscovered the creativity I thought I had lost a long time ago, and have begun to publish the books I have written through the years. The words in these books helped me through my struggles, and my prayer is they will help others.
The way in which I write my Christian Books, is unique to say the least. I am a realistic Christian. People are people, they stumble, they fall, they trip, but God continues to dust us off, and set us back on the path again, if we just learn to trust in Him.
The challenges faced in my past give me a perspective on the realities of living the Christian life that some people may never see. There are times we wander away from God...there are times when we draw closer to Him. In our arrogance we think we can make it on our own. However, the One who made this world, and who made you, has the answers, and thankfully, He forgives our impudence and petulance and loves us through it all. God is a God of love, mercy, grace, and guidance. He loves us and only wants the best for us.
Those who have read my books, describe them as encouraging, frustrating, and a wonderful read all at the same time. The same character that could have you crying one minute, will have you cheering the next! One of my editors, stated that 'she was so into the story, that she forgot to edit, and had to go back to do the editing'.
I pray you will enjoy my books as well!

While the stories are fiction, the journey is real.


Visit CJ's website - http://cjpetersonwrites.com/

Follow her on FB - http://www.facebook.com/writingbycjpeterson

Follow her on Twitter - @authoress_cj

Follow her on Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/authoresscj/Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/y9mxtmx9

Dragon Clan of Yden (Yden Series Book 2)

 As Jon’s formal magical training begins, his budding romantic attraction to Kira jeopardizes his relationship with Brett. At the same time, the Dragon Clan is bringing the Earth-born children of Yden’s wizards back home. Unfortunately, the Fox Clan has also been recruiting these teen wizards for its own sinister plans. The mysterious Guinn of the Fox Clan is searching for a weapon known as the Portal Key and is more than willing to kill for it. Jon becomes increasingly desperate and reckless in his quest to thwart the Fox Clan, but he discovers—too late—his enemy is closer than he thinks.
The Second Book in the Yden Trilogy!
About Suzanne G. Rogers Suzanne G. Rogers is a California native, but she changed coastlines and now lives with her husband and son in romantic Savannah, Georgia, on an island populated by deer, exotic birds, turtles, and the occasional gator. She's owned by two Sphynx cats, Houdini and Nikita. Writing blush-free young adult fiction is her passion.

For her historical romance blog, go to http://suzannegrogers.com/

To join her historical romance mailing list for news on sales, freebies, and new releases, go to:  https://tinyurl.com/y7vofvyq

For her fantasy blog, go to https://childofyden.wordpress.com/Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/ybymjnyeTwitter: @suzannegrogers

Redemption at Shadow Lake

Samantha Dunning needs a change of scenery after a lengthy relationship that ends in a bad breakup. Can a big city girl find peace and happiness in the small town of Shadow Lake as a real estate broker?

Just when Samantha begins to enjoy her new surroundings, she meets Calvin Benham, a handsome and charismatic investment broker planning on building a resort in Shadow Lake. But does he have a hidden agenda?

When her GPS mysteriously resets itself and takes her to the abandoned McClure Mansion her adventurous side takes over. Frightened by something inside, she flees and finds herself in the arms of Jonathan Williams, a local photographer. Just a coincidence or something more?

Will the hidden secrets of the McClure Mansion destroy any chance for a relationship between Samantha and Jonathan or has God brought them together? What will the secrets of the historical McClure Mansion reveal?

In a field crowded with disappointing tomes, what a pleasure it was to read Redemption at Shadow Lake by J.E. Grace and be introduced to something exceptionally well written. Fans of the mystery and suspense genre will love having a nibble on this one! An absolutely unputdownable book.

– Emerald Book Reviews About J.E. Grace J.E. Grace was born in California and has a background in Retail Management.

She now resides in the Midwest and retired from a career in real estate in 2012 to pursue her writing. Her interests include poetry, painting in traditional oils/pastels, digital art and photography. Her work can be viewed on Society 6, Zazzle, and Fine Art America. She also runs Literary Reflections Book Blog online.

"The Zarion-Saving Mankind" was her debut science fiction novel. Her writing has spiritual overtones due to deep roots in her faith. More of her writing can be found in the Author's Den.
http://www.authorsden.com/jegrace

Her new Pacific Cove Series; Haunted Visions-Book 1 and Testament of Faith-Book 2, were published in March 2016." A Walk with Heavenly Spirits" was released 12/5/17.

She is published by Winged Publications and released a Christian suspense novel titled,"Redemption at Shadow Lake" April 2018. She is currently working on another mystery novel, Book 3 of the Pacific Cove series, and the sequel to The Zarion.

Interview with the Author

http://bookgoodies.com/interview-with-author-j-e-grace/

http://ow.ly/6vuk30igY3q


Website: http://jegrace.webs.comTwitter @bizwings

The Black Pudding Murder

 When aging friends form a detective agency in their Scottish village, their likelihood of success seems dubious. One is blind, two have hearing problems, one uses a crutch—and the two youngest members are from America, not Scotland.
Dubbing themselves the Fog Busters, the friends vow to solve a murder that local police have labeled as Death by Misadventure. Indeed, misadventure seems to follow the Fog Busters when the killer attempts to stop them from investigating.
Add in a lost treasure of rare Scottish coins, a false prophet, a string of house breakings and dog nappings, and a dog fighting ring—and the Fog Busters have the recipe for laughter and danger. With four unattached members of their group, they also have a chance at romance. But do they have the ability to solve the string of crimes that haunt their small village—and will all of them survive throughout the investigation? Stephanie Parker McKean Biography

I’ve survived mauling by an African lion.
I’ve survived being bitten by a water moccasin snake.
I’ve emerged victorious from having been sexually abused as a child. Fleeing that abuse, I lived under a bridge and washed myself and my clothes in the river—even during the coldest months of the year. I painted signs in exchange for money for meals. If I didn’t make enough money, I didn’t eat. Now instead of living under a bridge, I write about them as in Bridge to Nowhere, released by Sunpenny Publishing.
I’ve learned that what doesn’t make you bitter makes you better. As trite as the saying is, you can’t make lemonade without the lemons.
And thank God, I’ve made the transition from atheist to Christian. My two favorite Bible verses are: in everything give thanks, and all things work together to good to them that love the LORD.
The worst day in my life was the day that I lost my job; my mother died and I couldn’t make plans to attend her funeral because my husband had just been sent home from the hospital to die; our sheepdog died, and my truck caught on fire in downtown San Antonio. With flames shooting up from under the hood, I raised my hands to the sky and thanked God. I was safe! Everything bad that could happen to one person in one day had already happened to me. It could only get better. It did.
Thanks to Sunpenny Publishing, Bridge to Nowhere joins my other Christian mystery-romance-suspense books: Heart Shadows, Until the Shadows Flee, and Shadow Chase. I’m now married to wonderful Alan McKean, author of The Scent of Time and The Scent of Home. We live in the lovely Black Isle of Scotland with our rough collie, Angel Joy. But I bet you want to hear more about the lion.
First, I was born in Texas, which was at that time the biggest state in the U.S. I learned at an early age that everything in Texas is bigger and better. When Alaska became a state, I cried. But what about the lion?
Along with an innate pride for Texas, I was born with a love for animals. At age four, my first pet was a large grasshopper that I carried around on a silver spoon. When I accidentally dropped spoon and grasshopper down the radiator in the upstairs apartment building, I sobbed at the tragic loss of my pet. My mother sobbed right along with me. The spoon had been a wedding gift.
History repeated itself years later when my four-year-old son’s pet grasshopper was consumed by a much smaller spider. He sobbed inconsolably. Son Luke Parker is now a U.S. Marine, which would make any parent proud. But I’m most proud of him for walking with God. But back to the lion.
My love for animals led to the snake bite. Because I was an unpopular child, I made pets out of snakes. Other girls were afraid of them. Riding a bicycle with a snake around my neck made boys notice me—they thought I was crazy! The day after I appeared on a local television show explaining how to tell a poisonous snake from a harmless snake, I caught a snake to see which it was. It was poisonous—a water moccasin—and it bit me. Now, finally—the lion!
Ebenezer arrived in the back of a station wagon to join our family’s roadside zoo, a collection of animals that included opossums, raccoons, assorted harmless snakes, a fox, a large boa constrictor, monkeys, a skunk, and a jaguarundi. The 200-pound pet fit right in with our family, until he reached 400 pounds and became a lion.
Sadly, when I became mature enough to quit riding bicycles with snakes in my quixotic attempt to impress boys, I remained immature enough to use a gimmick like an African lion. I invited a fellow college student home to see Eb. Not realizing that Eb had transformed from pet to lion overnight, I boldly walked up to him. Eb grabbed me by the stomach, threw me to the ground, and began mauling me. My terrified college friend jerked me out of the cage—which made Eb bite even harder because he was about to lose his toy. “I hope I did that right,” he panted. “I’ve never had to rescue anyone from a lion before!” I never saw him again.
And now you know about the lion. And when you read Bridge to Nowhere, an adult Christian mystery-romance-suspense set in Three Prongs, Texas, where the misfits fit, you’ll understand a bit more about Texas.
And hopefully, you’ll learn how to make lemonade out of lemons. Because what doesn’t make you bitter makes you better. And with God's help, all you need to add is a little prayer, a little praise...a little sugar. LinksAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/y772g2lkTwitter:  @StephaniePMcKea

Dragonblood Throne: Legacy

 Orphaned as a young child and growing up alone in the forest, Delina lives a life of isolation; her only companion a saber-toothed panther. Her strange eyes frighten those she occasionaly encounters, so she keeps to herself, until a young, wounded warrior ends up at her doorstep. As she nurses him back to health, she discovers she is more than just a young woman with unusual eyes, she is a dragonblood, destined to become the ruler of Almar.

Now hunted by the dark sorcerer who murdered her father, usurped his throne, and killed all her kin, she must find out how she can release the essence of the dragon inside her to defeat him. Everything depends upon her willingness to embrace her legacy and reclaim the Dragon Throne. About Tom Fallwell Early in life, Tom Fallwell discovered a love for fantasy and science-fiction, delighting in the wonderful escape into realms undreamed of. Weaned on the greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert E. Howard, Roger Zelazny, Robert A. Heinlein, and Michael Moorcock, just to name a few, Tom's imagination was forever inspired by those marvelous tales.

One day, he discovered a simple book of rules called 'Chainmail', by Gary Gygax, and found a new love: the love of creating adventures and stories of his own. 'Chainmail' evolved into 'Dungeons & Dragons', and Tom played consistently with friends as both a player and a dungeon master (DM) for decades. Such activities helped him develop his ability to create worlds and stories for other players to enjoy.

Now retired from his long career as a software developer, Tom writes all the adventures and characters that constantly fill his mind and shares them with the world.Links Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y7nvdm56 
Twitter:@RhemaTom

Christmas Love Year Round (Kindred Lake Series Book 1)

 Cami Richardson is good at chasing away the men in her life: first Gavin Kinkaid, a former classmate she’d helped to bully, and later, her husband who left her widowed and a single mom. Now all she wants is to bring a smile back to her eight-year-old son. What she doesn’t expect is for Gavin to become her new neighbor.

Gavin wants to settle down after serving in the Air Force and mend the separation between him and his dad. What he never counts on is his changing feelings when he sees Cami as a kind woman instead of his former adversary.

When Cami’s son blindsides them both during the Christmas season, is their reunion at risk or will it grow stronger? About Elaine Stock Elaine Stock is the author of the novels Her Good Girl, a 2018 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal in Christian Fiction and the 2018 American Fiction Awards in the Christian Inspirational category, and her debut novel, Always With You, won the 2017 Christian Small Publishers Association Book of the Year Award in fiction. She has also written Christmas Love Year Round and And You Came Along. Her stories fuse romance, family drama and faith in a clean fiction style. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Women's Fiction Writers Association. In addition to Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, she hangs out on her active blog, Everyone's Story, dedicated to uplifting and encouraging all readers through the power of story and hope.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Elaine has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a NYC gal. She enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.

You can visit her on her website: www.elainestock.com, http://www.twitter.com/ElaineStock, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaine..., and http://goodreads.com/ElaineStockAmazon  https://tinyurl.com/yb5oxg7c Twitter @ElaineStock