Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 120

WINNERS!!!

Melanie (TX) is the winner of Cardiac Event  by Richard L Mabry, MD.

Deanne (PA) is the winner of A Rebel in My House  by Sandra Merville Hart.

Amada (NM) is the winner of  Eyes of Pearl  by Ginger Solomon.

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Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

GHOST HEART - Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I have been eagerly awaiting this day. Both Lisa and Lynne have been dear friends of mine for years. I’ve been privileged by God to help each of them along their writing journey, and both of them have an amazing writing voice. Together, they’re more powerful. I’ve known about this book for a long time, and I knew it would have to be published someday. That day is here.
Welcome, Lisa and Lynne. How did this book come about?       LYNNE: Just over a decade ago, a newspaper article featured a picture of a terrified albino. The fear in his pale eyes caught my attention. As I read about the horrors these fragile people faced in Africa, I couldn’t believe such evil existed in the world. I contacted Lisa, who lives in Mozambique, and asked her to investigate.
LISA: Until Lynne wrote to me about the article, I’d never heard of these barbaric crimes. But after doing some further research, I discovered that the atrocities against albinos had been going on for years. Once we learned that the witch doctors targeted the pale skin and hair of this minority to make good luck charms and potions, we knew we had to tell their story.
Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.We were looking for something that conveyed both the medical aspects of the story and its African setting. The heartbeat and the baobab tree ended up being the perfect combination as well as setting the tone we were looking for. And when you read the book, they will become even more significant.
Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.While the actual story line is complete fiction, the things that happen in this story could happen. Albinos really are hunted for the “magic” in their skin. There really is a black market for organ parts. People really do go to third world countries for transplants when they are out of options. We took these facts, then weaved them into a medical thriller.
How much research did you have to do for this book?There was a long list of topics we had to delve into and study: Albinism. The transplant tourism trade. Heart conditions. Pharmaceutical testing. Piloting small planes. Organ transplants/rejections. American Embassy procedures in an African country.
Neither of us were experts on any of this so we spent hours tracking down people who were. It helped tremendously that Lisa lives in Africa. Her experiences in a third-world country lend a tremendous amount of authenticity to the project.
What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?While we didn’t shy away from our depiction of the gruesome treatment of albinos, we spared our readers tons of the terrible details we read on the subject. The power of superstition is strong. Only the power of truth is stronger. 
What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?We believe that beneath the color of our skin we are all alike, but this belief was tested when we had to write from the POV of a terrified mother of a cursed child. What surprised us was how much she was willing to do to save her child. This realization really drove home the platitude we spouted so easily and opened our eyes to the fact that you really can’t know how another person is thinking or feeling if you’re not willing to wear their skin, so to speak.
What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?Because while we live in a fallen world, we believe it is possible to bring light into the darkness. The journey of these characters challenged us, comforted us, and pushed us to live life more courageously. But most of all, writing this story opened our hearts to wanting to do our part to create a world that loves no matter what the color of our skin, education, financial status, or nationality. And reminded us that God's light truly does shine, even in the darkest places. We pray this story will do the same for each person who reads it.
What is the next project you’re working on? LYNNE: I’m finishing up the last book in my Mt. Hope Southern Adventures series. This romantic comedy (Baby Shoes) wraps up (for now) the quirky life of Leona Harper. After that, I’m doing edits on a Young Adult sci-fi I can’t wait to release.
LISA: I’m currently working on two novels. A Love Inspired Suspense set in Rio and the Amazon, and a new stand-alone suspense novel for Revell. Both will be released next year.
What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?LYNNE: I have several diversions – four grands under the age of four that I love spending time with. I’ve also trained a medical therapy dog that I love to take to visit the cancer wards at a major medical center.
LISA: I love hanging out with my family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari.
That sounds like fun. Please give us the first page of the book.Makuru, TanzaniaAccording to legend, their kind could never die. When they grew old, they simply vanished from this world, like smoke from the cooking fire that snakes above the spindly baobab trees and slithers away.
But not all legends are true.
Or so Jeme prayed.
Squinting through the shimmering rays of the grueling African sun, Jeme balanced the bowl of dried beans on her head and pressed through the crowded marketplace. A maze of narrow paths twisted around her, each lined with dozens of sellers who sat in cramped wooden shops displaying wares on rickety tables.
The smell of curried meat roasting on the grills mingled with the pungent odor of dried fish baking in the late afternoon heat. Jeme’s empty stomach roiled as she hurried past piles of tomatoes, peppers, oranges, and colorful bags of spices. If only she could escape the whispers competing with the buzz of the buyers and sellers. Whispers that spoke of the magical powers of albino blood spilled across the brown earth, and of potions that could bring untold wealth.
I’m very eager to read the rest of the book. I’ve only heard the half that Lynne wrote. How can readers find you on the Internet?LYNNE: I love hearing from readers. Website:   https://www.lynnegentry.com/ Blog:   https://www.lynnegentry.com/blog-1/Facebook AUTHOR   https://www.facebook.com/Author-Lynne-Gentry-215337565176144/FACEBOOK Personal https://www.facebook.com/lynne.gentry.7Twitter   https://twitter.com/Lynne_Gentry Pinterest   https://www.pinterest.com/lynnegentry7/?etslf=4411&eq=lynneInstagram   https://www.instagram.com/lynnegentry.author/?hl=en
LISA:Website: www.lisaharriswrites.comBlog: http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com          Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaHarrisTwitter; https://twitter.com/heartofafrica Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/lharriswrites/
Thank you so much for letting us stop by!!
Oh, girls. I’m so blessed knowing both of you, and it’s a privilege to promote your books. I know my readers will be as eager as I am to read the book.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Ghost Heart: A Medical Thriller[image error]Ghost Heart: A Medical Thriller[image error]

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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

MARRIED BY MISTAKE (Second Chance Brides Collection) - Laura V Hilton - One Free Book

Bio: Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas. 
Welcome back, Laura. Tell us about your salvation experience. I was a child, eight years old.We were sitting in church, and it was communion Sunday. Back then, the scripture the pastor used had a real long word in it that start with a D…ation and I leaned over to Mom and asked her, “What does d…ation mean?” She explained it, and I didn’t participate in communion that Sunday. Instead, after the service I went forward and had a talk with the pastor and my mom in a small room up front, and I accepted Jesus as my savior.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? We’re assuming that those I ask would attend, right? I’d probably need a list of forty to find those four. I’d invite Susan May Warren, Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, and Denise Hunter. And I’d choose them because they write characters that jump off the page and become real, and I try to emulate their style so mine do, too.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that. No, I don’t. My publicist would probably like it if I did, but right now I’m not secure enough to talk about anything without hemming and hawing and a lot of ums and and-uhs.
Maybe you will soon. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it? Ha. Well, I’m not sure it’s printable. Let’s just say I was thirteen, I was at school and I had an unexpected visit from a woman’s monthly visitor. One of my first. And of course, I had nothing. So I went to the nurse’s station where she sat me in a bathroom, washed all my clothes and loaned me supplies. Best part … I got out of biology class.
People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that? I’d ask them what they’d write about. And then I’d encourage them to write it. 
Tell us about the featured book. Second Chance Brides is a collection of nine historical romance novellas written by nine different authors and my story is called Married by Mistake . I was very honored to be included in this collection, and with such talented historical authors! This is my debut historical, and I had a lot of fun writing it.
Please give us the first page of the book. A kiss.
The sea spray touched Bessie O’Hara’s face as gently as she imagined he—whoever he might be—would some day brush his lips across her cheeks.
She couldn’t wait.
If only she could skip all the tiresome courtship rituals like monotonous parlor visits and chaperoned strolls. She’d also eliminate the formal calling cards and fluttering fans society demanded and go straight to the happily-ever-after.
It wasn’t that easy. She glanced at her two cousins, giggling behind their fans, as they stepped off the ferry onto the dock leading to the island. They looked toward some gentlemen who’d come to meet the boat. Judging by their clothing, they were there for the summer season as well. They certainly weren’t employees hired to drive the buggies and wagons.
Bessie smoothed her hand over her dress. Splotches of water dampened the material under her touch. With a sigh, she looked around for her family’s carriage. Papa had wired ahead and told the driver when to meet the ferry. She didn’t see the carriage, but a large crowd blocked her view.
I want to know what happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q visit my blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/and http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/ twitter: @Laura_V_HiltonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Purchase my books:Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hiltonDeeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX
Readers, 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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

RENEWING YOUR MIND - Dennis Jernigan - One Free Book

Welcome back, Dennis. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?In 1981, I left a homosexual identity and have walked in freedom from it for almost 36 years now. From the time I was a small boy, I felt different. As I grew older, I began to have feelings for the same sex. Walking in confusion over my sexual identity for years, I gave into the temptations and believed I was born that way. Expecting peace to come, it never did. Out of desperation and after trying to take my own life, I turned toward God and His Word and asked Him to reveal to me His intention for my identity as a man. What I discovered has been revolutionary in my life.
Tell us about your family.My wife, Melinda, and I will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary on August 12. We have raised our nine children (Yes, they are all ours and yes we meant to have them, lol!) in northeastern Oklahoma. We are empty-nesters now but are about to welcome our 9th grandbaby! We are experiencing heaven on earth as a result.
Those grandchildren and great grandchildren (James and I have three of these.) are priceless gifts from God. Have you written other nonfiction books? I have written several other non-fiction books. My favorite is my autobiography titled Sing Over Me. It details my life from my earliest memories to present-day, detailing my journey out of homosexuality. It is available at https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Over-Me-Dennis-Jernigan/dp/1613141769/ref=sr_1_3_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499880506&sr=8-3&keywords=Sing+Over+Me+Dennis+Jernigan
Another favorite is called Giant Killers. This book takes a look at why David took five stones out to face one giant. Did you know that David and his mighty men had to face 4 other giants according to God’s Word? It is an interesting study and very applicable to modern life. It is available at https://www.amazon.com/Giant-Killers-Crushing-Strongholds-Securing/dp/1578567750/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499880609&sr=8-1&keywords=Giant+Killers+Dennis+Jernigan
One more I would like to share is called How To Write a Book. This was written because I have so many people ask me how I started writing and how to write a book. It is available at https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Book-Jernigan-Dennis/dp/1613142994/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499880828&sr=8-1&keywords=How+To+Write+a+Book+Dennis+Jernigan
Do you have any other books in the works right now?Yes. I am always working on something. The book I am presently working on with my publisher is a brand new children’s book called The Incredible Growing Basketball Goal. This is the true story of an episode from my own childhood when I asked my dad for a basketball goal. He informed me that we did not have enough money for a goal. As I turned away in disappointment, my dad replied, “But I do have enough money for a basketball goal seed! We will grow one, son.” This book is my recounting of this real adventure and is intended to be read to children by their parents and grandparents. It is a real-life laying-down-of-life story I was fortunate enough to live. It is illustrated by an amazing artist and friend, Debbie Grizzle. She has captured the heart of the book and has rendered pictures that take one back to a more innocent time. Vintage in look, I dare say the illustrations alone will sell the book! This book will be available in mid-September!
I’d love to feature it on my blog. What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?I enjoy fishing and exploring in the woods with my grandchildren. One of my passions is writing stories and songs for them. You can find some of the songs on YouTube, like “The Grandpa Song” - https://youtu.be/-R4PST51nFs - or Aussie Lullaby 0 https://youtu.be/3HcM5wyZfz4. You can find the fantasy series I wrote for them called The Chronicles of Bren at https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Chronicles+of+Bren+Dennis+Jernigan&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AThe+Chronicles+of+Bren+Dennis+Jernigan. My wife and I thoroughly enjoy being grandparents but simultaneously love ministering together as we travel around the nation and world to share our story and music.
Why did you write the featured book?I wrote Renewing Your Mind : Identity and the Matter of Choice for the simple reason that, due to the many times I share my story publicly, I am inundated with people asking me how I came to such freedom from my temptations and freedom from my past. I needed a concise yet thorough way to do that. Another reason I wrote the book is because I remember being a young man wishing someone would tell me freedom in Christ was possible - but no one ever did. My hope is to point young people to Jesus. He is the Answer. I am just a man.
What do you want the reader to take away from the book?My hope is that people from all walks of life would understand a few things as they read this book. Every feeling we have is attached to a thought we have thought. Proverbs 23:7 tells us that “as [a man] thinks within himself, so he is.” In Romans 12:2 we the writer urges us “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. These 2 verse became life to me, telling me that I could change the way I feel by changing the way I think. In addition, my hope is that the reader would come away with a new way of thinking about the circumstances of life…that if we choose to see from God’s point of view - even the worst circumstances - we can see hope, restoration, freedom, and victory over our temptations. My ultimate desire? That God would be glorified and that people would define themselves according to God’s order and design rather than by their feelings or whims or cultural norm.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?In addition to me doing all the talking, my wife wrote one of the 20 chapters included in the book! Although her temptations were different than mine, she discovered the same truths and experienced the same freedom I discovered as she simply chose to think and see life from God’s point of view rather than her own.
Please give us the first page or two from the book.This is the preface of the book, Renewing Your Mind : Identity and the Matter of Choice:
PrefaceMy struggles were born of my confusion over my identity. This confusion resulted in chaotic thinking in regard to my sexuality. Before you proceed in reading this book, bear in mind that due to my own past mental struggles concerning my identity, I receive countless requests for help in this particular area. Even if your identity struggle is not of the sexual nature, the same principles of God’s Word—Truth—apply to you and your situation. It is my desire to make this book as simple as possible, yet as comprehensive as to be useful. Since I am no psychologist, I am offering only the wisdom I have gained from my experience in walking out the Truth I am trying to convey in this book. That being said, let’s dive right in to my journey.             I did not want to be defined as an angry man. I did not want to be defined as a fearful man. I did not want to be defined as a homosexual. I did not want to be defined as a recovering homosexual. I did not want to be defined as an emotional basket case—yet at one time in my life, I felt all those things. I felt that those things defined me, since that was the way I felt. Feelings define no one. Feelings simply tell us what we are thinking about. If we can change the way we think, we can change the way we feel. Easier said than done, right?             Just a thought on feelings: Why in the world would anyone allow the way they feel to define their entire being? I sometimes feel like lashing out in anger; yet, I don’t—and I do not call myself an angry person just because I felt that way. I sometimes feel like taking something that does not belong to me; yet, I do not call myself a thief just because I felt like stealing something. I sometimes feel like a loser; yet, I do not allow that feeling to define who I am as a person.             Every feeling I have comes as a result of something I have thought. Each feeling I have is attached to a thought I have had. What I have learned is that if I change the way I think, I can change the way I feel. Some have told me I am simply brainwashing myself—and I have to agree. I have allowed Truth to wash away the lies I have thought about myself and have replaced those lies with right thinking about who and Whose I am. And guess what? My feelings have followed suit!             Don’t get me wrong. This has not always been easy. It is a battle, but a battle worth fighting! Though I have fallen at times, I just keep getting back up. The only failure is the person who falls and chooses to not get back up.             I do not define myself. My Maker gets to do that. I seek Jesus. He reveals the lies I believe and shows me the Truth. It is up to me to put off those lies and to replace them with the Truth. A depth of freedom has come as a result of this mind renewal that I never thought possible. This realization keeps me seeking Jesus for more! It has afforded me something the world seems to think is impossible: self-control.
Just because something feels right doesn’t mean it is, and it—that feeling—certainly does not define who I am.             “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)             For the first twenty-two years of my life, I felt different. At first, I felt like I was something less than a real boy. I enjoyed drawing and playing the piano, and I loved dancing. My emotional sensitivity was interpreted as effeminate, and my sensitivities made the other boys uncomfortable…and I felt uncomfortable around other boys. I felt right at home with girls.             When puberty hit and sexual awareness set in, I felt as if I were something less than a man. I felt homosexual. I felt gay. That awareness—that feeling—lasted until I was twenty-two years old. At that age, something wonderful happened—or began to happen—that would change everything I thought about myself. What I discovered was something revolutionary and new, yet as old as time itself.             What I discovered was that I could change my feelings by simply changing the way I thought about myself—about the world in general. One of the first things that changed was my perception of homosexuality. No longer would I think of it as my identity. After that eventful day, I began to think of it as merely a temptation—an attraction that was contrary to the way God had made me, an awareness that somewhere along the way, my thoughts concerning my sexual identity had somehow been co-opted by what I now refer to as stinkin’ thinkin’.             I had believed a lie.             When one realizes they have been lied to—been duped—they feel betrayed. And I certainly felt betrayed. When one feels betrayed, they stop trusting the one who betrayed them, right? This book is my attempt to explain and express the journey toward mental and spiritual wholeness that set me free from something the world says one cannot be free of—something the world says you do not need to be free of. I wrote this book in the hope that someone else out there might be going through the same struggle I faced—regardless of whether that struggle involves their sexual identity or an addiction or a wrong belief system that leads to constant defeat—and find what they are looking for in Jesus: the Answer.             My desire is to operate in complete freedom—what my Maker calls freedom, rather than in what the world calls freedom: man doing what man feels like doing and calling it an identity in order to make them feel better about themselves. Feelings change according to the thoughts we think. Unless and until we deal with the underlying thoughts that lead to the feelings we have, we will never get to the root of our issues and never walk in true and real freedom, and negative feelings will rule the day. It is the man/woman who deals with their thought life—replacing lies for what is true—who walks in true freedom.             This book involves questions I have had to answer through the years that have led me from stinkin’ thinkin’ to right thinking; from feelings of rejection and confusion over sexual identity to feelings of knowing who and Whose I am and feelings of heterosexuality. I invite you to read on and challenge you to ask yourself the questions contained within these pages. I challenge you to see your life and identity from a Christ-centered point of view rather than from a humanistic/man-centered point of view. One leads to futility. One leads to hope. Which will you choose?
Dennis Jernigan
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?https://dennisjernigan.com/https://www.facebook.com/official.dennisjernigan/?ref=shttps://www.instagram.com/dennisjernigan/https://twitter.com/dennisjerniganhttp://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/https://www.youtube.com/user/dennisjernigan
Thank you, Dennis, for sharing this book with us. I'm sure it will be valuable for all my readers.
Readers, here is a link to the pre-order the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.Renewing Your Mind: Identity and the Matter of Choice[image error]

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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

MISSION UNDERCOVER - Virginia Vaughan - One Free Book or Ebook

Welcome, Virginia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. First, I’d like to say thank you to Lenafor hosting me. I’m super psyched to be here! I always add a small piece of myself into my characters. Otherwise, I don’t think I would be able to relate to them and care about their journey enough to finish writing the book. I also hope my readers see a small part of themselves in my characters as well.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? I’m a huge fan of garage sales. More than once I’ve come across a home that I thought was having a sale only to discover that they were only cleaning out their garage!
When did you first discover you were a writer? I’ve always made up stories in my head, but in fourth grade I was given a creative writing assignment, and I loved it. Not only was it my first A in my school career, it was also the beginning of my love of writing.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre by far, but I enjoy reading women’s fiction and anything with time travel as well. I also enjoy historical non-fiction and I’m a true crime fanatic.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I recently added my two little nephews aged 8 and 6 to my household, so I’ve had to make some adjustments to my schedule in order to care for them. But what I’ve found is that stopping to play with them reminds me what life is truly all about.
How do you choose your characters’ names? Whenever I see or hear a name I like, I instantly get a mental image or feeling about the character. I make notes about what or how I feel and then when I’m ready to write a story needing a character with those characteristics, I already have my name picked out.
A good idea. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Being a published writer. It’s been my dream for most of my life, and I spent years telling people this was my goal. To finally reach it was an amazing accomplishment because it required years of hard work, determination, and persistence.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? I would be an ordinary house cat. For me, they live the perfect life, sleeping whenever and wherever they want, playing all day, and when you don’t feel like being social, no one judges you. LOL.
What is your favorite food? My all-time favorite food is my mama’s spaghetti. I’ve tried making it like she does, but I just don’t have the right touch.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? I was always a pantser, but when I started writing for Love Inspired and had to write proposals and finish a story within a time frame, I had to learn to plot out my stories in order to write quickly. It was a huge learning curve for me, but it’s definitely made me much more productive.
Tell us about the book.When Blake Michaels's cover as a local cop is blown and a corrupt officer attempts to kill him, he's forced to go on the run. Under his protection is Holly Mathis, also a target for what she may know about her late husband's investigation into corruption on the police force. Blake can't complete his assignment without help from the beautiful widow, but getting close to a woman again is out of the question. Trapped inside the town limits by police barricades, Blake won't surrender the mission until he finds the source of the deadly drug ring that brought him here. But as he circles closer to his target, can he get his man—and save his woman—without sacrificing his own life?
Please give us the first page of the book. Blake Michaels pulled into the parking lot of Northshore Medical Centerand cut the engine. He spotted Mason Webber’s police cruiser a few rows away. Mason was sitting behind the wheel. Blake reached for his pistol and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans. He didn’t know what Mason wanted, but he suspected it couldn’t be good.
He and Mason weren’t on the best of terms and his call asking Blake to meet him had been cryptic. Besides, Blake had gotten used to trusting no one. That’s what made this job perfect for him. After his fiancée Miranda had betrayed him, distrust came easily to him. And he had a lot of reasons to distrust the town’s police force, especially Mason Webber.
Blake got out, pulled his shirt over his weapon and then headed for Mason’s cruiser. The sound of jackhammers reached his ears, but he realized it was only construction happening outside the hospital.
How can readers find you on the Internet? I love to hear from my readers. They can contact me through my website www.virginiavaughanonlineor through Facebook at www.facebook/ginvaughanbooks.
Thanks again, Lena, for hosting me.
It’s been my pleasure. I’m eager to read this book.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. Mission Undercover (Rangers Under Fire)[image error] - Amazon paperback
Mission Undercover (Rangers Under Fire) - Kindle[image error]

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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
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WINNERS!!!

Josephine-Anne Griffiths (Aus) is the winner of the ebook  A Match for Melissa  by Susan Karsten.

Pam (OH) is the winner of the ebook  The American Conquest  by Jenna Brand.

Holly (KY) is the winner of  My Daughter's Legacy  by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould.

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. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... 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.

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Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

EYES OF PEARL - Ginger Solomon - One Free Book

Welcome back, Ginger. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?Trust and forgiveness typically show up in some way or another in all of my work. I didn’t start out trying to write about those themes. I didn’t even recognize it until several books in.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?This has been a hard year for me, writing wise. I haven’t been able to concentrate on my stories. However, the sequel to Eyes of Pearl , Eyes of Her Heart will be out soon, as will a novella previously published in a set (Mr. Christmas and Miss Scrooge). I’m also working on another novella for a Christmas set scheduled to release in late October (as yet untitled).
At the beginning of the year (or late last year), God challenged me to Dream Big (my words for the year), so I did and committed to eight releases this year. I still have six to go, so I’d appreciate your prayers in this regard. The number wasn’t random, as I felt in my spirit that this was the number for me this year – four of them were already written/published.
Way to go! If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?I’d love to pick Ramona Richards brain on editing and writing. I’ve sat in several of her classes over the years and just love her no-nonsense take on life.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?I think I’d like to meet the apostle Paul and learn the secret to true contentment – being okay with where I am and with what I have. Most times I get it, and I’m okay, but there are times…
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?Having been on the receiving end of several rejections, as we all have, I would say keep trying. If you can’t not write, then write. Learn the trade. Try again. If all else fails, get a good editor and self-publish.
Tell us about the featured book.
Eyes of Pearl is book 1 in my Scottish Castles series. Each book will be a stand-alone featuring a castle located somewhere in Scotland. Here’s the blurb:
Desperation drives Neva MacKinnon to marry the handsome, but fierce Alexander Chisholm, Chieftain of the Chisholm Clan. Without him, she won’t survive the harsh Scottish winter. With him, she fears for her heart.
Alexander Chisholm needs a wife to provide an heir, and soon, in order to remain chieftain of his clan. He’s not looking for love, but his bride has to be someone he can trust. A song in the woods draws his attention and when he sees the raven-haired beauty with the eyes of pearl and full of fire, he knows she must be his.
Can Nevaand Alex overcome their trust issues to admit their love for one another or was their marriage doomed the moment he invaded her life?
Please give us the first page of the book.She lifted her skirt a little higher. Must go faster. Her knowledge of the woods would be her only advantage. Her heart pounded in time with her feet. She headed for the safety of the brush where she often hid when her brother, Darryl, had chased after her. She stomped in the opposite direction for a few paces. A distraction. Backtracking with light steps, she hid beneath the depths of an evergreen bush.
The man rounded the outcropping of rock she had used to hide her disappearance. That was why this was the perfect hideout. Even when chased it allowed her to disappear. Darryl had given up looking for her many times after she'd slipped into this hidey-hole.
She looked again at the man who chased her. It was not a man at all but a lad. A large lad, to be sure, and more than she could handle.
Searching the ground, he followed her decoy for only a few feet before he turned back and searched again. He would not be easily fooled by her disappearance. She held her breath, knowing that any sound she made would give her away.
Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?WebsiteInspy Romance BlogFacebook Author PageTwitter @GingerS219PinterestAmazon Author Page
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Eyes of Pearl (Scottish Castles) (Volume 1)[image error] - paperback
Eyes of Pearl (Scottish Castles Book 1) - Kindle[image error]

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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

A REBEL IN MY HOUSE - Sandra Merville Hart - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m excited about Sandra’s novel. She and I share the same agent.
Welcome, Sandra. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I don’t plan on putting my characteristics and flaws into my characters when I start, but a piece of me often emerges in a major or minor character. One may have a problem I’ve encountered or a flaw I understand all too well. I write historical novels but people have dealt with insecurity, losing loved ones, relationship issues, and a myriad of other problems through the ages.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I am constantly doing quirky things. If someone followed me around with a camera, some of them would probably make it onto YouTube.
One example from work illustrates this. Employees used to buy small salads at work and then select toppings from a salad bar. Chopped lettuce came in a plastic container that was taped shut. One day, as I wrestled to pry the tape lose, the lid shot open. An officer of the company standing behind me wore my lettuce on his suit.
At least it didn’t have any salad dressing on it!
When did you first discover that you were a writer?I wanted to be a writer in elementary school and wrote my first book—a mystery—while in the sixth grade. I didn’t receive much encouragement and let the dream go. It returned when my daughter was in elementary school.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I love reading contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and cozy mysteries. My favorite genre is historical romance. I read more nonfiction books than fiction when actively researching for a novel.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Right now, my plate is filled to overflowing. It’s difficult to stay on top of my schedule when new activities and tasks are constantly being added.
I try to remember to read my Bible before beginning my work day. I ask God to guide me to the most important tasks. To-Do lists also help me stay focused. A bit of the burden tumbles off my shoulders when checking off each item.
How do you choose your characters’ names?My main characters names come to me pretty quickly. Since those names are used repeatedly, I need to like them. I run across many historical figures during the research phase and often choose first or last names from these. A book about a particular regiment contains not only soldiers’ names but also their parents, wives, and children—an excellent resource!
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?My most important job is being a wife, mother, stepmother, and now grandmother. I am most proud of my family and try to be the best I can be for them.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?That’s a tough question. I might choose to be a bird because flying seems a lot of fun.
What is your favorite food?My favorites are tomatoes, cheese, and chocolate—but not all in the same recipe! I crave chocolate when I’m stressed. A couple of pieces of Dove chocolates are usually enough to reduce that stress. I wish a slice of tomato did the same thing!
Cherubs tomatoes we buy at Sam’s Club have a rich tomato flavor, and they're sweet. They’re also very small tomatoes. Sometime, I grab a handful and eat them like a snack. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Carving out time to simply write novels is my greatest hurdle. There is so much demanded of authors these days to market our books, participate on social media, and maintain a blog. All of these can be fun, but it does take us away from writing novels.
Getting started on tasks early in the day gives a sense of accomplishment. When meeting deadlines, I sometimes set my alarm for 4 am. I should do this more often because I accomplish so much this way.
Tell us about the featured book. A Rebel in My House is set during the turbulent Battle of Gettysburg. The townspeople lived through a nightmare that extended months beyond the battle. This novel gives a glimpse of that suffering through the eyes of a Gettysburgseamstress. A Confederate soldier caught behind enemy lines after retreat needs her help. Sheltering him ushers in more difficulties than she ever imagined. Lines become blurred as her feelings for him grow. Loyalties threaten to divide them as Confederates seize the town.
Both have made promises to family members.
Some promises are impossible to keep.
Please give us the first page of the book.Excerpt:Friday, June 26, 1863 Two miles outside Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaRunning feet on the dirt road outside quickened Sarah Hubbard’s heartbeat. Her fingers stiffened on her sewing machine and her back straightened.
Were they coming? Every conversation these days centered on the Confederate soldiers crossing into southern Pennsylvania.     “Miz Hubbard. Miz Hubbard, please let us in!”       Not soldiers but friends. Sarah’s body sagged at Elsie Craig’s voice, but why did she yell? Sarah dropped the gingham dress she’d been sewing and ran to throw open the front door. Alarmed at the fear lining Elsie’s dark face and eyes as she clutched the hand of her four-year-old daughter, Mae, Sarah scanned the horizon for Confederate soldiers. “Hurry inside.”
Elsie needed no second bidding. She guided Mae over the threshold and closed the door. “Miz Hubbard, you gotta hide us.” Her tall, thin body leaned against the door. “The Rebs are in town gathering up all the colored folks they can find. Someone said they’ll be taking them south as slaves and that they’re warning folks not to hide us.”
Sarah gasped. “Why do such a terrible thing?”
“Don’t make sense, does it? Some of us have lived in Gettysburg for years. Others like me have always been free, but it don’t seem to matter to the Southern army.” A long loaf of bread peeked out among jars and clothing in a well-laden basket Elsie set on the rug. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around her trembling child.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website: https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j3JI-wECyY&feature=youtu.beFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.m.hart.7Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sandramhart7/Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100329215443000389705/postsGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8445068.Sandra_Merville_HartTwitter: https://twitter.com/Sandra_M_Hart
Thank you for sharing this book with us, Sandra. I’m eager to read it, and my copy arrived a couple of days ago, so I’ll be reading it soon.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.A Rebel in My House[image error] - Paperback
A Rebel in My House - Civil War Romance Series[image error] - Kindle

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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

CARDIAC EVENT - Richard L Mabry, MD - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Cardiac Event is available now for pre-order via Amazon (click the cover in the left sidebar of this blog, and it will take you to the book). Or you can use the book icon below. It will be released on July 28 with a special pre-publication price for the Kindle version until then.
Welcome back, Richard. How did you come up with the idea for this story?Like most writers, I began with a “What if…?” question. In this case, while thinking about physician interactions, I asked myself, “What if a couple of physicians continually crossed swords, but then—when the older one has a heart attack—he asks the young one to care for him…virtually holding his life in his hands?”  I sort of massaged this a bit, and came up with the idea for Cardiac Event .
That sounds interesting. I’m eager for the release date. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Wow, that’s tough. I suppose I’d start with people I know, especially those who write in roughly the same genre I do. Off the top of my head, the list would include Candace Calvert, DiAnn Mills, Jordyn Redwood, Harry Kraus, James Scott Bell, Jim Rubart… That’s already six, isn’t it? But there are so many more.
And I love reading all those authors’s books. It’s a very good group. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Don’t tell anyone, but I rarely read in this genre. Nevertheless, there are people whose names stand out, and I’d definitely include them. I’d want Lauraine Snelling, Myra Johnson, Sarah Sundin, Francine Rivers, Jody Hedlund, Robin Lee Hatcher…and several others.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?It’s deciding whether to indie-publish or seek a contract. Despite the perception of readers (if they think of it at all), writers sometimes don’t stay with the same publishing house for the totality of their careers. If book sales don’t justify continuing the association, no new contract is offered. All authors are familiar with the situation where the publisher has discontinued its Christian fiction line. And sometimes, the book offered isn’t a good match for the publisher. Now, with the relative ease of self-publication, some authors are moving toward that pathway. Since I’d already done three novellas as a “hybrid” author, this wasn’t the scary situation some writers envision, so I decided to self-publish my next novel.
I indie-published my last full-length novel, and it’s one of three finalists for the FHL Readers’ Choice award in the long historical category. Tell us about the featured book. Why don’t I give you the back-cover blurb? “Cardiologist Dr. Kirk Martin continually crosses swords with Dr. Cliff Hamilton, so he is surprised when Hamilton asks him to care for him after a heart attack. When he is ready for discharge, Hamilton is found dead in his hospital bed, and Martin is suspected of murdering him. “After another doctor is found shot to death, Martin’s girlfriend, nurse Janet Rush, reminds him to be careful because he may be next. Can he save his own life while searching for the identity of the real murderer?”
Please give us the first page of the book.Dr. Cliff Hamilton watched the bright green lines of the EKG dance across the monitor screen. It wasn’t until the tracing had remained normal for several minutes that he allowed himself to relax. I think that second shock did it. He took a deep breath and felt some of the tension turn loose.            The patient, Matthew Gaines, was an older male with known coronary artery disease and increasing symptoms. Heart specialist Dr. Kirk Martin had admitted him to Sommers General Hospital for further testing and treatment. When Gaines reached the cardiac unit and was hooked up to a monitor, Nurse Anna Scott noticed the man’s heart rhythm becoming more and more erratic and his rate increasing beyond acceptable limits. The heart rate sped up quickly until Gaines was in full-blown ventricular tachycardia, the beats coming at a rate of more than two hundred per minute, and the nurse knew she had to do something.
“I need some help here,” Anna called. Her voice, only slightly above conversational level, was still loud enough to get Dr. Hamilton’s attention as he passed by the room.
Now both doctor and nurse were bathed in perspiration. Gaines was pale, but his heart ticked along in a normal rate and rhythm. Despite the stress of the past few minutes, Hamilton felt the elation that went with snatching another patient from death.
“Mr. Gaines,” Hamilton said. “Your heart acted up for a while there, but I think it’s under control now.”
Gaines’s eyelids flickered but did not fully open. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. He nodded slightly, made one movement as though to sit up, held there for a few seconds, then fell back onto the pillow. His breathing deepened, and he seemed to relax.
“Do you want me to page Dr. Martin and tell him what’s going on?” Anna asked.
“That won’t be necessary.” The voice from the doorway was quiet, but the tone was measured and biting. “Cliff, what are you doing with my patient?”
Thank you, Richard, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read it.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?I post on my blog Tuesdays (general “stuff”) and Fridays (“the writing life”). Readers can sign up at that location for my newsletter, which gives them information and previews about my books. I also post a couple of times a day on my Facebook fan page.  My twitter handle is @RichardMabry.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.


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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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

WINNERS!!!

VanG (NC) is the winner of  Mermaid's Song  by Darlene Franklin.

Melanie (TX) is the winner of  Gounded Hearts  by Jeanne M Dckson.

Sharon (SC) is the winner of  Hiding From the Kids in My Prayer Closet  by Jessica Kastner.

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. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... 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, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.