Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 11
July 27, 2023
LILAC COTTAGE - Carrie Fancett Pagels - One Free Book
Welcome back to my blog, Carrie. What are some of thespiritual themes you like to write about? I like to write about grace,forgiveness, and overcoming with God’s help.What other books of yours are coming out soon? I haveanother James River Romances series book, a novella, releasing in the fall. ShenandoahHearts was originally published by Barbour in a collection but the rightsreverted back to the authors. I am expanding my story a bit.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person(not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? Oh Lena, with myRA and other health issues I don’t care to spend an evening with anyone but myimmediate family most of the time! And I believe God brings people into my lifefor a reason, for His purposes, so I don’t think about people I’d like to bewith I let the Lord bring them in His own timing—and preferably not at night!
I so understand. What historical person would you like tomeet (besides Jesus) and why? I think it would be amazing to meet Mary,Jesus’s mother, because of what she did in obedience to God.
How can you encourage authors who have been receivingonly rejections from publishers? Prayerfully consider Indy publishing.Enter contests. If God has asked you to write, be obedient to His call. Trustin His perfect timing.
That is so true. Tell us about the featured book. LilacCottage is about coping with losses and dealing with toxic people. It’salso about the joy of friendships and how someone who seemed like an adversaryin childhood might become someone you could love. My heroine, Rachel, has anarcissist for a mother and her grandmother ended up stepping into the gap tohelp. The story takes place in Chicago and in Michigan—on beautiful MackinacIsland. My hero, Jack, is a merchant mariner who is taking a break after Covidliterally shut ships down in harbors. He’s renovating the “cottage” next doorto where Rachel is camping out in her grandmother’s place, after Gram’s death.If you love playful verbal sparring, overcoming with God’s help, and adelicious suspense woven into a story—then this one is for you!
Please give us the first page of the book.
Chicago, January 2022
She’s stopped speaking.” Not the words Rachel wanted to hearfrom the nightshift nurse, who always gave Rachel the straight scoop on hergrandmother. The RN’s words slit Rachel’s heart like a surgical scalpel.
Talking with Gram had kept Rachel going. Oh God, now thatI’ve found You, Abba Father, don’t take her away from me.
“Are you alright?” Nurse Nancee gently touched Rachel’sshoulder.
Rachel compressed her lips. If Gram never spoke again thenhow could her world be all right? This failing woman had been her best friendand a better mother than her own mom. Gram had been her rock. Rachel drew in aslow, shuddering breath.“Why don’t you come sit down by her and hold her hand?”Nancee pointed to the upholstered chair adjacent to the bed, at a spot Rachel knewwell.
She dipped her chin. The confusion and loneliness swirlingin her head were worse than when the Admiral had left her and Mom. Her thirdstepfather, the Admiral, as she called him, had been her favorite. Then he’dleft them, promising Rachel he’d keep in touch—but he hadn’t. She sniffed.
How can I do this? How could she manage without Gram’spractical advice? Without the kindly woman’s laughter that grounded her to themoment, keeping her from trailing off into her frequent reviews of choices andoutcomes that left her feeling helpless and confused?
“Gram? It’s Rachel. I’m here.”
No response. Gram lay curled on her side, away from her. Hergrandmother normally woke when Rachel visited, almost daily, depending on herwork and online college schedules.
No. This can’t be happening. Not now. “I need you, Gram.” Rachelscooched the chair closer to the bed.
Still nothing.
What would she do if Gram never came back? Never spokeagain? She’d been warned when Gram stopped eating, that would be the end.
She clasped her hands together hard. Still, she should begrateful Gram was being well cared for in a beautiful facility. She had to takecomfort in that fact.
Rachel bowed her head. Lord, help Gram and her caretakers.Be with the nurses and doctors and guide them. Amen. The scent of roses andgardenias carried from the nearby table. Rachel had splurged with her bonusfrom work. At least Gram had her favorite flowers nearby.
The door creaked open, allowing soft laughter and voices inconversation to carry through.
“Hi again.” Nurse Nancee moved toward the bed. “I wanted toask you about something.”
Nancee’s serious tone put her on notice.
“Sure.” Rachel straightened.
“I was wondering about your mother.” She gave a littleshrug. “I’ve never met her.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she’s ever visited.” No surprise there.
“That’s what the records show.” Nancee’s soft features bunchedtogether.
How can readers find you on the Internet? Thanks forasking!!!
Website: www.carriefancettpagels.com
Thank you for sharing Lilac Cottage with my blogreaders and me. I love your books.
Readers,here’s a link to the book.
Leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Voidwhere prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants.Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf ofthe enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaininglocal/federal/international laws.
Theonly notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
Ifyou’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, orAmazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to beincluded in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
July 25, 2023
REVEALING THE TRUTH - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book
Welcome back, Lorri. Why did you become an author? I’vealways loved stories and creative writing. When my children were young, Ientertained myself while pushing them on the swings by coming up with variousplot lines. I’d jot the scene ideas down in a notebook, and once my boys wereno longer of an age when they were a constant danger to themselves, I sat downat my computer and started writing. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t entirelyunderstand how hard the industry is to break into. Once I’d finished typing onebook, I figured I’d made it this far. I should keep going because the author bughad bitten me. So I wrote two more books before heading to my first writingconference, which only strengthened my resolve. By then, writing had become sucha joy and a creative outlet for me that I would have kept writing, whether publishedor not.If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job? IfI didn’t have to live in a city, I would have enjoyed being either a setdesigner or a museum curator. I love creating or restoring things and was thetype of kid who’d stare with wide-eyed excitement after opening a fresh Crayolacrayon box, sitting down with a pen and blank spiral notebook, or picking up ahammer and nails. I can only imagine God’s excitement when He created theheavens and the earth.
If you could have lived at another time in history, whatwould it be and why? I would love to go back to Regency England, where my bookstake place, to see the interactions of the le bon ton or Beau Monde. I love the chivalry of the Regency Era, wherehonor and reputation were worth dueling over, and the romantic aspect ofcouples engaging in courtship at balls and country dances. Knowing myself,though, it would have to be toward the end of the era after indoor plumbing wasinvented. I’d struggle to become accustomed to using a chamber pot.
What place in the United States have you not visited thatyou would like to? I’d love to see Alaska. Granted, I’m a warm-weather typeof girl, but everyone I know who’s been to Alaska raves about the beauty of theglaciers and nature.
How about a foreign country you hope to visit? Eversince a Dutch publisher picked up my first series, I’ve wanted to travel to theNetherlands. My artistic side would love to visit the Van Gogh Museum, paintthe windmills of Kinder Dijk or the tulip gardens of Keukenhof, or smell thelavender in the salt marshes of Texel Island. I’d love to cross the wooden bridgesof Giethoorn or ice skate on its frozen canals in winter. So fun and inspiring!
What lesson has the Lord taught you recently? Lettinggo and trusting God is not only a theme that runs in Revealing the Truthbut is also an area where God has been building me. There’s nothing liketeaching two teenagers how to drive a car and get their license to activelyapply trusting God with your heart (in my case, plural for the two boys.) Thisphase of my life has required a lot of praying, letting go, and letting God. Iused to read these precious boys bedtime stories and rock to sleep, and now Ihave to let them out of the nest to fly on their own, which was harder than Ianticipated. My oldest just graduated from high school and is off to college inthe fall, so God continues to work on me.
Tell us about the featured book. The seeds of Revealingthe Truth were first planted when I was in the seventh grade. I used tocarry an idea notebook and jot down scenes whenever inspired. My mother foundmy old notebook a few years ago and mailed it to me. In it were faded pencilscrawls about a girl escaping into the cold night and collapsing. She’s takenin by kind passersby who nurse her back to health, only to be surprised whentheir handsome young son climbs in through her bedroom window and so entersStephen into Katherine’s life. Here’s the back cover blurb:
When Katherine Jenkins is rescued from the side of the road,half-frozen and left for dead, her only option is to stay silent about heridentity or risk being shipped back to her ruthless guardian, who will kill toget his hands on her inheritance and the famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses. Buteven under the pretense of amnesia, she cannot shake the memory of her sisterand Katherine’s need to reach her before their guardian, or his maraudingbandits, finish her off. Will she be safe in the earl’s manor, or will theassailant climbing through her window be the death of her?British spy, Stephen Hartington’s assignment to uncover anunderground horse-thieving ring brings him home to his family’s manor, and thelast thing he expected was to be struck with a candlestick upon climbingthrough the guest chamber window. The manor’s feisty and intriguing new houseguest throws Stephen’s best-laid plans into turmoil and raises questions aboutthe timing of her appearance, the convenience of her memory loss, and herimpeccable riding skills. Could he be housing the horse thief he’d been orderedto capture—or worse, falling in love with her?
Please give us the first page of the book.
Katherine Ainsley Jenkins, the Countess of Dysart, inchedalong the edge of the stall past her favorite mare, who nudged her newly borncolt to a stand.
The head groom lifted his cap and wiped his forehead. “’Twaswas a long night, but mama and baby are doin’ fine.” He plopped his hat back onhis head and dipped the corner. “Much obliged for your aid, Lady Dysart.”
Katherine mustered a weak smile and tightened the sash ofher dressing robe. Distressed naying from her mare had roused her in the night,and the responsibilities of Steepleton Manor demanded she look into thedisturbance. The delivery of the baby foal had been long and labored, and Katherine’spresence had been needed to calm the wearied mother.
Hay clung to Katherine’s hem as she stepped out of thestall, and she must smell like the stable, but she’d done it. Steepleton Manorwelcomed its first new addition to their pedigree family since her parents’passing. “Please let this be the beginning of Steepleton’s revival,” shewhispered to the sunlight streaming in through the loft window. How many hourshad she spent pouring over horse breeding books trying to keep her papa’slegacy of the famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses going?
The hard slap of footfalls running outside the stable brokethrough the fog of her brain. Denton, the butler, skidded past the open stabledoors into view. His highly polished shoes slid on the loose gravel, and heflailed his arms before coming to a halt. The whoosh of air swirled the sweetscent of hay under her nose. He righted himself with haste and tugged at thebottom of his jacket, dislodging any wrinkles.
Several of her father’s Lipizzaner horses leaned their necksout of the stall openings to see who approached.
It was uncharacteristic of her dignified butler to hurry. Herstomach twisted. The only other time she’d witnessed Denton this flustered hadbeen the day he sought her out with the news of the deadly carriage accidentthat killed her parents. Please letClaire be safe. She placed a hand on a nearby post for her knees threatenedto crumple. The second worst day after burying her parents had been packingClaire off to finishing school. As much as Katherine desired to hold her sisterand continue to mourn their parents together, Claire deserved a chance to marryand lead a normal socialite’s life.
“Mr. Bainbridge has arrived early, my lady.” Denton stood atattention. The only sign of his recent sprint to the barn was his chest’s quickrise and fall.
Her grip on the post tightened, and although she wanted tolean against it with relief, there was too much to do. “Already? His letterstated he’d arrive at week’s end.” Her mind whirled in a thousand directions. Whyhad he come? What could he possibly want after shirking his guardianship dutiesfor three years? One question screamed louder than the rest. Would he still actas crazed as he had after Madeline’s funeral?
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Lorridudley.com BookBub Goodreads Amazon Wildheartbooks.org
Thank you, Lorri, for sharing Revealing the Truth withmy blog readers. I love reading your books.
Readers,here’s a link to the book.
Leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Voidwhere prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants.Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf ofthe enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaininglocal/federal/international laws.
Theonly notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
Ifyou’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, orAmazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to beincluded in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
July 24, 2023
WINNERS
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Winnie (UT) is the winner of This Is Where It Ends - Cindy K Sproles.
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble , or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.
Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.
July 20, 2023
THE PLACE WHERE YOU BELONG - Nancy Lavo - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I’m introducing you to a longtime friendand author.
Bio for Nancy Lavo
A love of happyendings and a fiction writing course at the community college startedaward-winning author Nancy Lavo on the road to publication. She’s published herlighthearted romances in both the traditional and inspirational market. She andher husband live in the great state of Texas.
Welcome to my blog, Nancy. Tell us how much of yourselfyou write into your characters. Idon’t intentionally write myself into my characters—each one is truly a work offiction. However, I’m certain that some part of me—my values, world view, andexperiences—seeps into them.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Myhusband and I are big tea aficionados. In order to have access to good hot andiced tea when we travel, we bring our own teapots, pitchers, cups, and teabagswith us. It requires an extra bag but it’s totally worth it!
When did you first discover that you were a writer? Oneafternoon when my children were napping, I had an ah ha moment whilereading a book. I stopped in the middle and said, “Hey! I can do this!”
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoyreading. I prefer light reads in fiction and typically steer clear of theangsty stuff. I love contemporary Christian romance and regency romances. Innonfiction I enjoy books about entertaining, decorating, and books on spiritualgrowth and discipline. I’ve never met a cookbook I didn’t like. And I can’t resista Max Lucado book.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Prayer, exercise, and the outdoors. My husband and I start our day with a twomile walk during which we pray over our family and friends and any prayerneeds. In the evenings we try to get in a second walk. I’m also a big fan ofpraise and worship music.
How do you choose your characters’ names? For firstnames of primary characters, I use baby name books or baby name websites. Forlast names, I use old church directories. For secondary or incidentalcharacters, I sometimes borrow my friend’s names.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?My family. I’m not sure how much credit I can take, but I’m so proud of mychildren and their spouses, and their children. When we all get together, mycup overflows!
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Probably a dog. I just want everyone to be happy.
What is your favorite food? I’m a carbohydratejunkie. Bread? Check. Pasta? Check. Cake and cookies? Check. Check. Sugar inany form? Check. Check. Check.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatestroadblock, and how did you overcome it? Discouragement can be a huge roadblockfor me. If I’m not careful, I can let it derail me. Getting into a writinggroup has been really helpful. They hold me accountable to keep writing andencourage me in the rough patches.
Tell us about the featured book. The Place Where YouBelong is the first in a three book series, Lone Star Loves, set in thefictious small town, Village Green, Texas, where everyone is everyone else’sbusiness and matchmaking is a community-wide sport. In this first book, PublicRelations specialist Hallie Nichols comes home to make living arrangements forher aging mother. She’s determined to make a quick stay and avoid the memoriesand rejection she associates with her home town, specifically her ex-boyfriend,banker Trey Gunther. Annoyed that Hallie is unrepentant for the hurt she causedhim ten years ago, Trey dishes some payback by mandating Hallie meet with himweekly about her mother’s finances. His plan backfires when his old attractionto Hallie flares. He’s the one suffering, and worse, Hallie may hold the solutionto his beloved town’s woes. He’s got to swallow his pride and ask for her help.Can he convince her to put aside her animosity toward him and the town? Willtheir efforts be enough to save Village Green?Please give us the first page of the book.
Hallie Nichols hated to go home.
Every milecloser raised her level of tension. She tightened her grip on the steeringwheel and blew out a breath.
I can dothis.
Threedays—a week, tops—and I’ll be out of here.
Sheinjected an extra dose of determined optimism into her voice while repeatingthe declaration to her reflection in the rear-view mirror.
“I can dothis.”
Open fieldslush with new spring growth slid by the window as she reached across to the bagon her passenger seat and pulled out one of her ever-ready rolls of antacids. Shethumbed off a couple and chewed them up to extinguish the burn in the pit ofher stomach.
Her templescontinued to pound despite the Tylenol she’d taken earlier. No point in takingany more. Beyond the potential damage to her liver, she knew there wasn’tenough painkiller in the great state of Texas to cure her “homecoming blues.”
A reluctantgrin pulled at the corner of her mouth. If only she had the talent to set hercurrent outlook to music, she’d have the makings of a best-selling countrysong.
She slowedher car when the faded green sign marking the city limits came into view.
How can readers find you on the Internet? Instagram--@authornancylavo Facebook—NancyLavo Website—www.nancylavo.com
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this new book with my blogreaders. I know they will love it as much as I do.
Readers,here’s a link to the book.
The Place Where You Belong (LoneStar Loves): Lavo, Nancy: 9781563096358: Amazon.com: Books
Leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Voidwhere prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants.Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf ofthe enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaininglocal/federal/international laws.
Theonly notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
Ifyou’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, orAmazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to beincluded in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
July 18, 2023
HIS MOST TENDER TOUCH - Tanya Stowe - One Free Book
Welcome back to my blog, Tanya. God has really beenmoving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? Oh goodness,that’s a really good question. My husband is retired and we travel full time.Life has taken some unexpected twists in the last six months and I’m strugglingto find writing time. I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer. I think the Lord isleading me to write smarter not more. I don’t know how that’s going to shape upyet. I’m still praying! When my publisher had our author’s meeting, she had SusanMay Warren teach us about how she writes better and quicker. She’s written abook about what she does. I ordered it from Amazon. It’s amazing. The book is TheStory Equation. This might help you, too.
Tell us a little about your family. My husband and Ihave four children, twenty-two grandchildren and four great-grands with one onthe way. We have a very large family spread out over the western states. We’vebeen very close but it’s getting harder and harder with everyone in different places.I’m thankful for social media outlets to keep in in touch.
I understand that. We have 9 great-grands, scattered acrosspart of Texas and New Hampshire. Has your writing changed your reading habits? Ifso, how? I write romantic suspense and I must say, I’m finding it harderand harder to find books that hold my interest. I usually figure out the endingbefore it’s time. Thankfully, I also love history so I’m very drawn tohistorical suspense and the history element plus the mystery keeps me intriguedenough to keep going.
What are you working on right now? I have two morebooks in the Tender Series to get out but I’m also working on a new romanticsuspense.
What outside interests do you have? Travel, of course,and reading. I also play pickleball. My husband is a musician so I help him doa lot of Karaoke! We also go trail riding in our Jeep. We’ve seen somefantastic sights in remote locations on our trips.
How do you choose your settings for each book? Becausewe are full time RV travelers, I find some very unique, beautiful locationsaround the country. Whenever I find a place that inspires me, I start researchingto find something unusual about it and the writing begins!
If you could spend an evening with one historical person,who would it be and why? Abraham Lincoln. He was such a visionary andso adept at leadership. He was a master politician but never lost his homespun commonsense and humor. Still with all of that, his home life was tragic. I don’t knowhow he went on day after day.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before youstarted writing novels? I wish I had a business degree! I had no idea howmuch I would need it in my writing career. Either that or a degree in marketing.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now? Patienceand balance. I need to slow down but I don’t really know how.
What are the three best things you can tell other authorsto do to be successful? Write for your reader, not for yourself. In thebeginning you write the stories you want to see but as your career progress,remember who you are writing for and what they want to read. You need to beable to write for the market and the demand so you can sustain your writer lifelong term.
Writing for me was an obsession. I couldn’t not do it. But Ihad to learn how to manage my love of writing as a career so as not to burnout. A healthy body and family life makes for a good writer. It’s that balancething again!
Embrace your inner marketer. Don’t fight it. Find the part ofmarketing you like and focus on that. Connecting with your readers is healthyfor you and your readers. You’ll make lifetime friends, and they’ll follow youthroughout your writing career.
Tell us about the featured book. Early in myChristian life I had some experiences with hands-on-healing. Those experiences attractedunexpected attention. I was a young Christian. I didn’t know how to handle the focuson me and not the Lord. False pride frightened me and I became emotionally andphysically drained.
His Most Tender Touch
is about those emotionsand what the Lord taught me. Of course, I dramatized the hands-on-healing eventsto make the story more exciting, but the spiritual truths behind them are all real.Also, the title refers to the Lord’s tender touch in the heroine’s life, notthe romance. But it does have a great romance too!Please give us the first page of the book.
High California Sierras 1861
Royce Darnell stared at Stumpy McPherson from beneath thebrow of his tan felt hat. “Are you sure you secured the chuck wagon lastnight?”
The older man nodded before he sent a stream of brownspittle across the snow. “I’m sure.”
He wiped at the corner of his mouth where his white beardwas stained brown. “There ain’t no way them raccoons could’ve got to the food.Someone had to open it up.”
Royce looked up at the gray, pre-dawn sky. “How much foodcan you salvage?”
“Enough for breakfast and that’s it.”
Royce brushed past Stumpy, headed up the hill to the chuckwagon. As he got close, the odor of coffee and sorghum carried. Even before hesaw the damage, he could smell the havoc created by the raiding raccoons.Sugar, flour, and beans were strewn across the muddied snow.
Stumpy gestured to a tin of lard, resting in a pile of deadpinecones. “That’s about the only thing they didn’t eat. That and my chaw oftobacco.”
Royce stooped to examine the small tracks trampled into thedirty snow. They led in a clear path straight to the trees. “How did you securethe wagon?”
“I tied it with ropes and knots a man couldn’t undo.”
“Where are the ropes now?”
“Disappeared. Ain’t no sign of them. I expect if he’d leftthem, we’d seen they was cut.”
Royce’s jaw tightened. Three incidents in three weeks.Someone was determined to drive Royce and his men away from this area of themountain. He glanced up to see the same certainty in Stumpy’s eyes.
“There’s got to be tracks somewhere.”
“I already looked. There ain’t nothin’.”
“Stumpy, this isn’t the work of Indian ghosts.”
Royce and his crew had been building a water flume up themountain for almost two months. The incidents hadn’t started until they hadreached this exact spot, close to the ancient burial ground. The mystery andlocation had sparked rumors of a haunting.
“Did I say it was ghosts?” Stumpy asked. “I’m just repeatin’what some of the men say.”
“Well, don’t repeat it. It only gives it credence and that’swhat our vandal wants. He’s watched our movements for a while. It isn’t acoincidence that he waited till we got close to the burial ground to stage hislittle scenes.”
How can readers find you on the Internet? They canfind me at my website www.TanyaStowe.com,on my FacebookReader’s Page and Instagram.They can also follow my writing and travel adventures on my newsletter.
Thank you, Tanya, for sharing this book with my blogreaders. I’m eager to rea the book.
Readers,here’s a link to the book.
Leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Voidwhere prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants.Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf ofthe enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaininglocal/federal/international laws.
Theonly notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure tocheck back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks fromthe posting of the winners to claim your book.
Ifyou’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, orAmazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to beincluded in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
July 17, 2023
WINNERS
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Sharon SC) is the winner of Devotions for Writers: Honoring God with Your Writing - Martha Rogers
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble , or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.
Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.
July 12, 2023
THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS - Cindy K Sproles - One Free Copy
Bio: Cindy K. Sproles is the author of What Momma LeftBehind and the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. A popularspeaker, Cindy teaches at writers’ conferences across the country and directsthe Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. She is theexecutive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and freelance editor for Iron StreamMedia. Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains ofEast Tennessee with her family.Cindy has received high praise for her captivating and emotionallypowerful storylines set in the South. Now she combines her love for the Appalachian Mountainswith an unforgettable tale about secrets in her new novel, This IsWhere It Ends.
At only fourteen years old, Minerva Jane Jenkins moves to themountains with her new husband. Among their few possessions is a small box thathe claims holds gold. On his deathbed, he makes her promise to keep his secret,telling no one of the box or its supposed treasure.
About the Story: Thirty years later,Minerva has kept that secret, even as she nears the end of her own life. Rumorsstill find a way to spread, however, and Minerva finds herself the subject ofinterest for Del Rankin, a reporter with a desire for the truth. By his side isa friend who wants to know where the gold is hidden. Neither of them can evenbegin to guess the challenges they will face by trying to get what they wantfrom Minerva.
Despite her dedication to keeping her late husband’s secret, Minervafinds herself thinking about sharing what she knows with Del. Can she trulybring herself to break such a long-held promise? Even if she does, the truth ofwhat’s really in the box may be hidden even from her.
Can you please provide a brief summary of This Is Where It Ends?This is the story of MinervaJenkins, an elderly woman living alone on a mountain in Kentucky, who made apromise to her dying husband that ruled her life. She is a faithful widow whocomes to grips with a wasted life in her final days, until she meets a reporterwho ends up being the family she didn’t know she had. The question becomes, Howlong do you keep a promise, even if it is detrimental? To the grave.
What do you hope readers will gain from reading your book? My hope is the reader will see the value found inour elderly. There is great treasure in our aging seniors—great wisdom, lifeexperience, and strength. I hope that through this book, readers willexperience aging, its joys, and its frustrations through the eyes of an elderlywoman and that through that experience, they will find great compassion for theaging.
What was the inspiration behind This Is Where It Ends? The inspiration comes from mytwenty years in the eldercare business and hundreds of senior clients whoimpacted my life by their own life experiences. I’ve held the hand of a dyingsenior who has no family by their side, and the impact that has made on my lifeis significant.
What type of research was required to write your novel? Of course, there is the historical research—we haveDel, who is a reporter, and I needed to know the closest newspaper to Minervaand how reporters worked in that time period. The research on aging came from myexperience in the eldercare business and working one-on-one with seniors andtheir families.
How does your ownbackground influence your writing? My mountain heritageplays a huge part in my writing. I was raised in the mountains of EastTennessee, and my family carried those mountain values and abilities that make theculture so rich. I’ve learned from the experience of deep-rooted family members,and that is something they don’t teach in school anymore. I don’t want itforgotten.
Can you share more information about Minerva Jenkins, one of the maincharacters? Minerva was inspired by two sweet elderly women in my life,one named Rowena and the other named Aileen. Both were well into their ninetiesat their going home but were filled with stories, wisdom, humor, and sassiness,and they’d faced many hardships. Minerva is a classic example of a faithfulmountain wife—so faithful that she ignored the obviously detrimental things inher husband’s life. Things that would affect her. She is stubborn, but that ishow mountain women survive. She is determined and truthful—attributes that madeher strong—but those same attributes force her to live a life she could havechosen to be different.
Readers will see repetition throughout this story, aswell as some confusion, and rightfully so because I am telling it through theeyes of a 94-year-old woman. I want readers to experience the aging process ina very real way—the way Minerva would have.
Minerva develops an unlikely friendship with Del Rankin. What istheir connection? In the beginning, Del is aproblem who Minerva thinks she must rid herself of, but as time passes, Delbefriends her and she grows to love him as a son. Is he family? You’ll have toread to find out.
This Is Where It Ends
followsa plot of holding on to secrets. What inspired you to explore this theme? My own grandmother wasmarried at the age of fourteen. She never loved my grandfather, and he neverloved her. Theirs was a marriage of convenience. In her own writings, mygrandmother stated she took a vow when she was married, and though she and mygrandfather did not live together the last years of his life, they remainedmarried and faithful to one another. She made a promise that when she said “Ido,” it bore meaning and respect. Again, how long do you keep a promise? For mygrandmother—to the grave.Are there any other lessons that you hope readers will gain fromreading This Is Where It Ends? I hope they walk away seeing the value in our elderly. Ourcountry is one of the few in the world that have little respect for our agingseniors. We toss them into the care of institutions and strangers rather thanstepping up and caring for them as we should—as our family. I hope readers willgrasp the golden value in our seniors and, if they have seniors in their lives,that they will embrace them, learn from them, and love them to the end.
What do you love about writing historical fiction? I love bringing to light the hidden things of ourpast—those things that drop into the crevices of the forgotten but are goldennuggets that will enrich our lives. Our history is our guide to the future. Weneed to know what lies in the crevices of our past.
What are youworking on next? In the works—mineral springs. I’m developing a story aroundthe sulfur springs in the mountains and the healing benefits used by themountain granny women. (A granny woman was that one woman on the mountain whoknew all the medical benefits of roots, herbs, and mineral waters. She was themidwife, the doctor.) The working title is The Eyes of River.
How can readers connect with you? Readers can find me at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing me at cindyksproles@gmail.com.
Thank you, Cindy, for sharing this book with my blog readers. I'm eager to read my copy
Readers, here’s alink to the book.
Leave a commentfor a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow theseinstructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at leastthe state or territory or country if outside North America. (Commentscontaining links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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July 10, 2023
WINNERS
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Susan (NC) is the winner of Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray.
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July 6, 2023
Devotions for Writers: Honoring God with Your Writing - Martha Rogers - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I'm introducing you to a dear writer friend of nine. Here is her bio: Martha Rogers was born in Texas and lived in Dallas the first 18 years of her life. After graduating from Baylor University she moved to Houston and has been there ever since. Martha is a retired teacher at both secondary and college levels. She and her husband Rex enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and attending football, baseball, and basketball games when one of the grandchildren is playing or performing. Her four, soon to be five great-grandchildren are most important right now. Martha loves to cook and experimenting with recipes and enjoys scrapbooking when she has time and isn't on a deadline.
Martha and I became acquainted over 20 years ago. She in the Houston area and me in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. During those years, we were together at various meetings and conferences. And during those years, Martha wrote devotionals for the American Christian Fiction Writers organization. They were a highlight of the day for many of us. She wrote about writing sometimes and more often just about life in general.
Earlier this year, Martha left earth and entered her forever home. Her family gathered a collection of her devotionals, and it has recently been published.Since she isn't here now, I couldn't interview her. But we do have a free book for one winner who leaves a comment. If you have rea any of Martha's books, please tell us.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
https://www.amazon.com/Devotions-Writers-Honoring-Your-Writing-ebook/dp/B0C9KNS5PK
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
July 3, 2023
WINNERS
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Elizabeth (MD) is the winner of With Every Memory by Janine Rosche.
Deanne (PA) is the winner of Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M Beller.
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble , or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.
Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.
If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.
