Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 155
May 8, 2016
WINNERS
Pol (GA) is the winner of the ebook
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho
by Angela Ruth Strong.
Deanne P (PA) is the winner of Sofi's Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Medical Judgment by Richard L Mabry, MD.
Stella (IN) is the winner of Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
Michelle (CA) is the winner of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips.
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.
Deanne P (PA) is the winner of Sofi's Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Medical Judgment by Richard L Mabry, MD.
Stella (IN) is the winner of Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
Michelle (CA) is the winner of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips.
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.
Pol (GA) is the winner of the ebook&n...
Pol (GA) is the winner of the ebook
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho
by Angela Ruth Strong.
Deanne P (PA) is the winner of Sofi's Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Medical Judgment by Richard L Mabry, MD.
Stella (IN) is the winner of Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
Michelle (CA) is the winner of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips.
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.
Deanne P (PA) is the winner of Sofi's Bridge by Christine Lindsay.
Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Medical Judgment by Richard L Mabry, MD.
Stella (IN) is the winner of Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
Michelle (CA) is the winner of The Inheritance by Michael Phillips.
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.
May 6, 2016
HOME TO CHAPEL SPRINGS - Ane Mulligan - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I think you will like today’s post with author Ane Mulligan. We have connected at national conferences, and I instantly fell in love with her bubbly personality. There are many things we have in common. We have red hair, we write novels, we laugh a lot, and we have a drama background and write plays.
Have you every wondered about “the story behind the story” of a novel you’re reading. Where did the author come up with this story? Today, Ane is sharing her “story behind the story” with you instead of running an interview. Share your thoughts about the story when you leave a comment.
Welcome back, Ane. Your story really touched my heart.
When I had turned in Chapel Springs Survival to my publisher, I asked God, “What now?”
His response was, “Write your story.”
But mine wasn’t fraught with conflict. Well, there was some, but not the kind that carries a work of fiction. Still, the idea would leave me alone.
My story happened like this:On a hot July morning while sipping a cup of coffee, I opened my email. Nothing breathtaking about that, except on that particular day, I was asked a question that irrevocably changed my life: “Are you the Ane Mulligan looking for your birthmother, Elsie Vauna Mullvain?”
It yanked the breath right out me. I’d always known I was adopted. From the day Mom and Dad brought me home at three months old, they told me I was a chosen baby.
My childhood was idyllic … well, maybe not for my parents, given the fact I was a barely-contained firecracker. But for me, it was great. Born in January 1947 in Southern California, I truly was a child of the fifties, when Cokes were a nickel and roller skates had keys.
I can’t say I was never curious about my birth parents; I was. For one thing, I didn’t look like anyone I knew. I became a people watcher, always wondering.
In 1998, I received a letter from my dad. It was the kind of stock paper used for official court documents. Premonition made my heart pound. I took a deep breath, and with trembling hands, I slowly slid it from the envelope. A sticky-note was adhered to the outside of the folder. “I don't know if you want this or not. Love, Dad.”
That was all. I peeled off the yellow sticky and caught my breath as I read:
The adoption of Roberta Ann Mullvain
Though I'd never seen nor heard that name before, I knew it was mine. And suddenly I wasn’t me anymore.
But who was I?
I opened the blue folder and quickly scanned its pages, until I saw it - my mother’s name; Elsie V. Mullvain. Countless emotions whirled. Scenarios played out and were cast aside. I truly didn’t know how I felt or should feel. For a word merchant, I was an empty page. I refolded the papers and slid them in the envelope.
Another year passed, and I’d reached an age where changes were taking place that I wasn’t so happy about. After all, who wants wrinkles and triceps that continued to wave goodbye for a full two minutes after you’d left? I needed a place to lay the blame for the havoc gravity was playing on my body. When I brushed my hair, I found myself staring into the mirror, my hand pausing in its work, wondering how did my mother age? Did I look like her? I had a million questions and no one to ask. I decided it was time to search for Elsie.
In March of 1999, I received a phone call as a result of my search. The woman said she had an Aunt Elsie Vauna Mullvain, and she would forward my letter to her. However, this cousin cautioned, when she’d told Elsie about my letter, her aunt said when she was young, she’d let a friend use her name.
That sent me to the state of Confusion.
Was that true? Or was she lying to protect herself? In truth, it made no sense. Back in the 1940s, a person’s good name meant everything to them. I was left to wonder if my search had ended in success, or was this only step two? I waited. A month later, I received a letter from Elsie and with it, more of her story.
While she told me about her situation back then, which remarkably matched my earlier fantasies, she did not want a relationship with me. I understood and honored that. My only other communication was to send her flowers on her birthday that year. The card merely said, “Thank you.”
I didn't contact her again. Although I was saddened a bit, I never knew her, so the loss wasn’t as hard as it could have been. After all, I had no mental picture of her; she was still faceless to me. I never got a sense of her personality from her letter. Maybe it was strength of will, but I closed that door.
However, through the cousin who had called me I learned I had sisters. While I had a loving relationship with my adopted brother, I’d always wanted a sister and now I had several. I prayed and hoped one day I could find them. However, with no names, I had no way to search for them. I relinquished the dream into God’s hands. It was never out of my mind though.
On July 18th, 2009, I got an email from a woman named Linda, asking that breathtaking question. Linda connected me with my birth sisters. The moment I met four of them in Seattle, they welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. One sister told me I’d spent a lifetime lost and finally I’d come home.
Debby Jo’s words “come home” resonated in my heart long after I returned to Atlanta, and I knew I would one day write this story. Home to Chapel Springs is that book. Thank you, Ane, for sharing this story with us. I know my readers are eager to read it. And when my copy arrives, I will dive right in.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Home to Chapel Springs (Chapel Springs)
- Paperback
Home to Chapel Springs - Kindle
Leave a comment, sharing your thoughts about the story, 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. (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
Have you every wondered about “the story behind the story” of a novel you’re reading. Where did the author come up with this story? Today, Ane is sharing her “story behind the story” with you instead of running an interview. Share your thoughts about the story when you leave a comment.
Welcome back, Ane. Your story really touched my heart.When I had turned in Chapel Springs Survival to my publisher, I asked God, “What now?”
His response was, “Write your story.”
But mine wasn’t fraught with conflict. Well, there was some, but not the kind that carries a work of fiction. Still, the idea would leave me alone.
My story happened like this:On a hot July morning while sipping a cup of coffee, I opened my email. Nothing breathtaking about that, except on that particular day, I was asked a question that irrevocably changed my life: “Are you the Ane Mulligan looking for your birthmother, Elsie Vauna Mullvain?”
It yanked the breath right out me. I’d always known I was adopted. From the day Mom and Dad brought me home at three months old, they told me I was a chosen baby.
My childhood was idyllic … well, maybe not for my parents, given the fact I was a barely-contained firecracker. But for me, it was great. Born in January 1947 in Southern California, I truly was a child of the fifties, when Cokes were a nickel and roller skates had keys.
I can’t say I was never curious about my birth parents; I was. For one thing, I didn’t look like anyone I knew. I became a people watcher, always wondering.
In 1998, I received a letter from my dad. It was the kind of stock paper used for official court documents. Premonition made my heart pound. I took a deep breath, and with trembling hands, I slowly slid it from the envelope. A sticky-note was adhered to the outside of the folder. “I don't know if you want this or not. Love, Dad.”
That was all. I peeled off the yellow sticky and caught my breath as I read:
The adoption of Roberta Ann Mullvain
Though I'd never seen nor heard that name before, I knew it was mine. And suddenly I wasn’t me anymore.
But who was I?
I opened the blue folder and quickly scanned its pages, until I saw it - my mother’s name; Elsie V. Mullvain. Countless emotions whirled. Scenarios played out and were cast aside. I truly didn’t know how I felt or should feel. For a word merchant, I was an empty page. I refolded the papers and slid them in the envelope.
Another year passed, and I’d reached an age where changes were taking place that I wasn’t so happy about. After all, who wants wrinkles and triceps that continued to wave goodbye for a full two minutes after you’d left? I needed a place to lay the blame for the havoc gravity was playing on my body. When I brushed my hair, I found myself staring into the mirror, my hand pausing in its work, wondering how did my mother age? Did I look like her? I had a million questions and no one to ask. I decided it was time to search for Elsie.
In March of 1999, I received a phone call as a result of my search. The woman said she had an Aunt Elsie Vauna Mullvain, and she would forward my letter to her. However, this cousin cautioned, when she’d told Elsie about my letter, her aunt said when she was young, she’d let a friend use her name.
That sent me to the state of Confusion.
Was that true? Or was she lying to protect herself? In truth, it made no sense. Back in the 1940s, a person’s good name meant everything to them. I was left to wonder if my search had ended in success, or was this only step two? I waited. A month later, I received a letter from Elsie and with it, more of her story.
While she told me about her situation back then, which remarkably matched my earlier fantasies, she did not want a relationship with me. I understood and honored that. My only other communication was to send her flowers on her birthday that year. The card merely said, “Thank you.”
I didn't contact her again. Although I was saddened a bit, I never knew her, so the loss wasn’t as hard as it could have been. After all, I had no mental picture of her; she was still faceless to me. I never got a sense of her personality from her letter. Maybe it was strength of will, but I closed that door.However, through the cousin who had called me I learned I had sisters. While I had a loving relationship with my adopted brother, I’d always wanted a sister and now I had several. I prayed and hoped one day I could find them. However, with no names, I had no way to search for them. I relinquished the dream into God’s hands. It was never out of my mind though.
On July 18th, 2009, I got an email from a woman named Linda, asking that breathtaking question. Linda connected me with my birth sisters. The moment I met four of them in Seattle, they welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. One sister told me I’d spent a lifetime lost and finally I’d come home.
Debby Jo’s words “come home” resonated in my heart long after I returned to Atlanta, and I knew I would one day write this story. Home to Chapel Springs is that book. Thank you, Ane, for sharing this story with us. I know my readers are eager to read it. And when my copy arrives, I will dive right in.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Home to Chapel Springs (Chapel Springs)
- PaperbackHome to Chapel Springs - Kindle
Leave a comment, sharing your thoughts about the story, 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. (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
May 5, 2016
A SPECIAL EXTRA
Feeln is the leading streaming service that brings you heartfelt stories of love and togetherness - anytime, anywhere - including the exclusive library of Hallmark Hall of Fame features, Hollywood movies, TV series, and award-winning originals you won’t find anywhere else(think Netflix with triple the romantic and family entertainment options).
Today, Feeln is launching its original series “The Eleventh” which stars a trifecta of TV legends including Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch, Dancing With The Stars), Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Roots, Up), and Cloris Leachman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Malcolm In The Middle).
“The Eleventh” follows a young girl’s journey to fulfill her mother’s last wish - to get to know and reconcile with her estranged grandmother. This is a deeply touching series starring television’s best. Its themes will captivate, and maybe even resonate with some of your readers looking to get back in touch, reconcile, or find a bridge back to a loved one.
I had the privilege to preview the first two 12-minute segments of “The Eleventh.”
The stars are amazing. I especially love Cloris Leachman in these two.
The story really pulled me in immediately. With plenty of conflict to sustain the story and hooks that made me want to see the rest of the series, my heart was touched several times in the first two segments. I will be waiting and watching for each segment as it comes.
I love stories that tug on my heartstrings, and this one really does. The cinematography was beautiful, too.
I tried to embed the trailer in this post, but it wouldn't embed, so here's the link. You won't want to miss this trailer:
Eleventh Trailer: https://youtu.be/7ksj1aAruDU
Watch full episodes of “The Eleventh” on Feeln’http://www.feeln.com/films/the_eleventh_s1e01?cid=GHMNorganic_050516_the11th_LenaNelsonDooleyThis is a real must see!!
Today, Feeln is launching its original series “The Eleventh” which stars a trifecta of TV legends including Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch, Dancing With The Stars), Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Roots, Up), and Cloris Leachman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Malcolm In The Middle).
“The Eleventh” follows a young girl’s journey to fulfill her mother’s last wish - to get to know and reconcile with her estranged grandmother. This is a deeply touching series starring television’s best. Its themes will captivate, and maybe even resonate with some of your readers looking to get back in touch, reconcile, or find a bridge back to a loved one.
I had the privilege to preview the first two 12-minute segments of “The Eleventh.”
The stars are amazing. I especially love Cloris Leachman in these two.
The story really pulled me in immediately. With plenty of conflict to sustain the story and hooks that made me want to see the rest of the series, my heart was touched several times in the first two segments. I will be waiting and watching for each segment as it comes.
I love stories that tug on my heartstrings, and this one really does. The cinematography was beautiful, too.
I tried to embed the trailer in this post, but it wouldn't embed, so here's the link. You won't want to miss this trailer:
Eleventh Trailer: https://youtu.be/7ksj1aAruDU
Watch full episodes of “The Eleventh” on Feeln’http://www.feeln.com/films/the_eleventh_s1e01?cid=GHMNorganic_050516_the11th_LenaNelsonDooleyThis is a real must see!!
LAND OF SILENCE - Tessa Afshar - One Free Book
Welcome back, Tessa. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write biblical fiction. The Bible is the greatest book ever written. Something about the stories it contains has managed to grab the human heart for thousands of years. More often than not, God chooses deeply flawed men and women through whom He fulfills His purposes. That’s why so many of us can relate to them! A broken woman who rises above her circumstances to persevere, to cling to God, and to ultimately overcome is an inescapably powerful character to read about. I relate to her brokenness and am inspired by her victory. In my experience, all of us struggle with various kinds of insecurities. We doubt ourselves. We doubt God. But in God’s hands, the fissures that run through the very fabric of our being can turn into glory. Biblical fiction captures this miraculous transformation. It allows for all these variables to come together while at the same time remaining entertaining, exciting, and gripping.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?That is too hard to choose! The day my husband and I looked at each other, star-struck, and knew our lives would never be the same again. The day I signed my first book contract. The day I won the Christy award. The first time my husband told me he loved me, and all the times after. This morning when I woke up and the sun was shining and I found that the lilies of the valley had poked through the dirt.
I’m a lot like you. I find joy in most days. How has being published changed your life?I get to live in a whole different world without getting on a single train, plane, or automobile. I have conversations with people who don’t exist, travel in time, kill bad people, keep readers awake way past their bedtime, and no one arrests me or sends me to an insane asylum. It’s a pretty good deal, really.
What are you reading right now?The Boys in the Boat, which tells the story of nine working-class American boys in the depth of the Depression who went on to win the 1936 Olympics eight-oar rowing race in Berlin. Absolutely breath-taking, inspiring, and impeccably researched.
What is your current work in progress?I am working on the story of Lydia, the seller of purple cloth mentioned in the book of Acts. I think we underestimate her importance in the Bible, not to mention her significance for the world in general. Not only is she the first convert in Europe, but she also established the first European church in her home. Strong, loyal, and courageous, she is a successful businesswoman in a world dominated by men. I find her captivating.
What would be your dream vacation?To have one? If you want me to be more specific, then I would love to visit a sunny island nestled against a deep blue ocean, with nothing to do but eat, read, swim, and walk on the beach with my hubby. On the other hand, I wouldn’t say no to a vacation in Italy. Or a tour of the churches mentioned in the book of Acts. Or a few weeks walking about Israel. As you see, I’m not picky.
I understand. It’s been a while since James and I went on vacation. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love cooking. Lately, I’ve been trying some healthier recipes. But I find you can’t give up everything. You need some naughty ingredients to make the food taste good. So I am trying to practice moderation rather than annihilation! We try to eat a low fat, low salt, low gluten, and low sugar diet.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Time. Biblical fiction requires hours of study and research before you can even start to tell your story. The research is time-consuming. Writing is time-consuming. Some days, it is tempting to feel overcome by all the demands of this work. But for me, writing is not a hobby. It’s not even a job. It is a call. I believe I was created to do this. The Bible says that God created us in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10). I believe, in my life, part of that work is writing. So what shall I say when things become hard or seem untenable? Shall I walk away from God’s purpose? Shall I ditch my destiny just because it’s hard? If writing is a call in your life, you must persevere.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?We can drive ourselves crazy with depressing statistics, discouraging circumstances, and impossible odds. However, there is a truth that we sometimes misplace: God is strong. He is able. He is an ever-present help in trouble. He can cover our gaps and our shortcomings. He is the best agent, the best marketer, the best editor you can find; after all, He too is a writer. Our destiny is in the palm of His hands, and though we may be buffeted by the winds of adversity and the wiles of our enemy, God is far more powerful than both.
Persevere. Dream big. Hone your craft. Love the characters you choose. Be emotionally honest. Write because you love telling stories, not because you want to be recognized or admired or to make money.
Tell us about the featured book.
Land
of Silence
tells the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and after years of incessant suffering, was healed of her bleeding illness in an instant. I have always been fascinated by her story because she is the only person in the New Testament that Jesus calls daughter. I wanted to create a storyline that captured Jesus’s reason for addressing her in such a tender manner. We are all daughters and sons. No one escapes this reality. Our souls are marked by this truth. What our fathers and mothers thought of us, spoke into us, poured into us still resides in the deepest parts of our souls and gives us our sense of worth. These realities also produce our deepest wounds, wounds that continue to affect the course of our lives. By claiming us as His sons and daughters, God heals the wounds we may have sustained from our fathers and mothers, and multiplies the blessings we have received from them. He transforms our brokenness into His wholeness.
How can readers find you on the Internet?On my website at Tessaafshar.comOr on Facebook at Tessa Afshar author page
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Lena. It’s been a pleasure to spend cyber time with you and your guests.
Thank you, Tessa, for sharing this new book with us. My readers have enjoyed spending cyber time with you, tool.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
- Amazon
Land of Silence - 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. (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
May 4, 2016
SMALL-TOWN BRIDES - Darlene Franklin , and others - One Free Book
Welcome back, Darlene. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.I’m a born New Englander and transplanted Westerner by choice. Both are featured in my books. I have one son, a lovely daughter-in-law, and four wonderful grandchildren just around the block from me. My degrees are in Bible and theology, church music, and Christian education, and they’ve all played a part in my life and in my writing. The fact most people find interesting is that I write from a nursing home. How did you become interested in writing? On the one hand, I’ve been interested in writing all my life. It was one of my desired occupations when I was a child, and I wrote TV stories and plays.On the practical side, I began writing seriously in the wake of my divorce. My writing served as part of the healing process. By the time I finished that book, I was hooked for life. What compelled you to write a book on this subject? My story in Small-Town Brides , A Blessing for Beau, originally appeared in my novella collection, Calico Brides. The four youngest members of the Ladies Missionary Society decide to take on local mission project—and they all find love in the process. By the fall of the year, she still hasn’t settled on a project and begins to think God doesn’t have any special plans for her, that her charity work as the pastor’s daughter is all she’s meant to do.
I considered the plot of A Blessing for Beau the most predictable of the four: the spinster teacher fell in love with her student’s custodian, I know what it’s like to feel like my life is so ordinary, that exciting things pass right over my head on their way to someone else. What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book?The primary theme is discovering, and accepting, what God has planned for you. In addition to Ruth’s struggles, which I mentioned above, the hero has no idea what his niece and nephews want. He thinks his oldest nephew should work to prove up the 160 acres his father wanted. The problem is, the older nephew is a student. Ruth recognizes and encourages his desire for further education. His younger brother is looking forward to farm life. And as for his niece, Beau doesn’t have a clue. Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?I hope it will encourage readers to “don’t give up” on waiting for God to work (as the Messageinterprets Hosea 12:6). Also, not to force our idea of God’s will on someone else.
I have my own testimony about how God brought about something I wanted long ago and had long since given up on happening. When I was finding my way as a writer, I wrote a mixture of nonfiction and fiction. I applied for a couple of columns, but didn’t get the opportunity. Now, after ten years of writing fiction almost exclusively, I have been asked to write a monthly column for Bookfun Magazine (http://digital.turn-page.com/i/665059-april-2016-book-fun-magazine.) My first column appeared this month. God’s timing is impeccable! What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today? That’s a tough question, especially when my story is in a volume with novellas by eight other talented authors. I’m told my writing is sweet, that my characters are complex, that my stories bring in faith in a strong but natural way. (In others, they don’t feel like I’m preaching at them.) I also like to think I often come up with a unique twist on a familiar theme or setting. How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?I’ve mentioned some of that above. Living in a nursing home, I definitely feel out of the mainstream. I seldom get to see any writers face to face. As I grow older, I begin to think “what do I want to do before I die?” And is writing taking too much of that time? Recently God has given me several neon-light signs to continue writing. Two books on the same bestseller’s list last month! A free book at #1 in its category! The magazine column! So like Ruth, I feel limited as to what I can do. But God’s plans for me are bigger than I can imagine. Do you have a favorite Scripture verse? I’ll share the verse I mentioned above. Once I finished memorizing great verses from Isaiah, I moved on to Hosea.
What are you waiting for? Return to your God! Commit yourself in love, in justice! Wait for your God, and don’t give up on him—ever! (Hosea 12:6, Message)
When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies? I read, a lot. The Kindle makes it so easy, so lightweight. I’m blessed to have physical therapy started again. Yup, those three sessions a week working with weights, bicycles, throwing balls and walking mean a lot. I also do a lot of word puzzles. I’m also spending serious time memorizing scripture—I decided I want to cram my mind with as much as His word as possible in case some day I lose my mind. As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?Just that God is faithful wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
Tell us about the book.Small-Town Brides Romance Collection: 9 Romances Develop Under the Watchful Eyes of Neighbors: Join the fun and feel the romance in various historical communities from Massachusetts to Florida, Missouri to Texas. Meet ladies who take firm stands for their work in mills, orphanages, churches, schools, hospitals, and the like as they dance through courtship with their beaus. Can the nine couples develop lasting loves under the watchful eyes of their neighbors?My story, A Blessing for Beau : Schoolteacher Ruth Fairfield is about to teach a new guardian a few lessons in life and love.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?Website and blogFacebookAmazon author pageTwitter: @darlenefranklin
Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this new collection with us.
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. (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
May 3, 2016
STUCK ON YOU - Michelle Stimpson - One Free Ebook
Dear Readers, we’re welcoming back one of my good friends. She’s very creative. Her books are hilarious, and she now creates her own covers. Spending time with her really brightens my day.
Welcome back, Michelle. Tell us about your salvation experience.Though I “grew up” in church, I didn’t really submit my life to Him and receive Christ as savior until I was 17 years old. I was in our family’s formal living room vacuuming the floor, just thinking about Jesus and all the stuff I’d heard about growing up. Pretty soon, I’d be heading off to college. At that time, I had started doing some things that I knew were out of line with my parents’ rules and the church’s teachings, and I was a bit afraid of what I might do to ruin my life when I left my family home. At that time, I knew I needed saving from myself. I needed a Savior. I stopped the vacuuming and asked Christ into my life—all alone, no fanfare, no witnesses, just me and Him. Much of my life in Christ has been just like this, a private affair that later shows itself on the outside. It would be another 10 years before I was completely wooed by Him, but that was the beginning of our relationship.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?Lynne Gentry – she would read my work and find all kinds of holes in it. She’s an iron who sharpens me.ReShonda Tate Billingsley – she is a writing rabbit. Having her around and watching her “go” would inspire me to keep my behind in the chair and write!Faith Simone – she’s a new author and I think she would benefit from being around those of us who have been writing for a while.Janice Olson – while I think she’d do a great job of critiquing and helping brainstorm, she’s also the queen of hospitality and she loves to cook. We’d need food!!!
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.Yes, I do quite a bit of speaking with the women’s ministry of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. For the past three years, I have led a series of sessions on various topics. In addition to ministry, I am an educational consultant. I present dozens of workshops annually to teachers.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?I laugh at myself so often that I rarely get embarrassed because others are laughing right along with me. But there was one time I didn’t even know to be embarrassed – when my wig fell off and I didn’t even realize it! I was talking to a lady, re-enacting a scenario, and I whipped my head around really quickly. My wig fell off but I didn’t know it, so I kept on talking. The lady just kept listening, but I think she was too dazed to say anything. When I felt a little breeze on my neck, I looked down and saw the wig on the concrete. Thankfully, no one saw it except she and I!
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 say, “Write the book already!” Somehow, many people think there’s some special mystery to writing, but writing is writing. The same way we sat down with pen/pencil and wrote papers in the 3rd grade is pretty much how we do it now (except with on a computer for most of us). Granted, we outline, we plan, we think about marketing and the broader message, but at the end of the day, we WRITE.
So true. Tell us about the featured book.
Now, nearly a decade later, they meet again as business experts vying for the same contract at a prestigious school. In addition to their professional competition, tensions mount as Braxton and Tiffany discover that they have two different versions of what happened to their romance so long ago. Can they overcome hard feelings and pick up where they left off?
Tiffany’s father passed away a few months ago, just as she was founding her new project management firm. She wonders if her leap of faith was a good move, and her doubts only increase when she learns that someone from the firm she left is trying to undermine her independent efforts…not to mention her possibilities with Braxton.
Braxton thought he might follow his father’s footsteps into ministry. His wild fraternity days caught up with him, however, causing Braxton to give up the idea of teaching anyone to follow the faith he so obviously neglected. Can he win back his own self-respect and the heart of the woman he never forgot?
Stuck On You is the first book in The Stoneworth Series by bestselling Christian Fiction author Michelle Stimpson. The family history is briefly established, and then readers are off to experience the Stoneworth family's rich legacy of faith and integrity within the context of contemporary romance. Come fall in love with the family!
Please give us the first page of the book.“Gather ’round now, so I can tell the story,” one of the oldest living Stoneworths, Uncle Bush, announced from the lazy chair.
Someone in the kitchen switched off the household intercom system, which had been pumping upbeat gospel tunes throughout the two-story mini-mansion. Glasses ceased to clink. Silverware ceased to chink against the fine Chinathat Uncle Bush’s wife, Aunt Vera, had proudly used to serve her husband’s annual birthday dinner. This birthday was extra special, marking his eighth decade of life.
Braxton Stoneworth gave up his seat on the comfy leather couch nearest Uncle Bush so that the younger ones could get close to hear their story—the Stoneworth legacy—which had been passed down for more than a hundred years now.
His five-year-old first cousin once-removed, Lauren, and her friend quickly scrambled to claim Braxton’s empty spot.
Ace, one of the kids from Uncle Shiloh’s clan, came running into the family room but stopped short, having been beaten by the girls. “No fair! She’s not even a Stoneworth!” He pointed at Lauren’s friend.
Lauren’s mom, Paige, gently lowered Ace’s arm since the boy wasn’t practicing good manners at the moment. “You never know, Ace. She might be a Stoneworth someday.”
His brows furrowed in indignation as he crossed his arms on his chest. Little Ace looked like he wanted to say something, but he knew better than to talk back to his aunt, especially in front of the room full of people who would put him in check for saying anything remotely disrespectful to an elder. Simply put: Stoneworths didn’t play that.
“Come on, lil’ dude. I’ve got a seat right here for ya.” Braxton’s oldest brother, Knox, rolled a chair up right next to Uncle Bush.
Ace’s expression shined with victory. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You know Stoneworths look out for each other,” Knox said, giving Ace some dap.
The brown-skinned boy with bright hazel eyes hopped into the chair, set one tiptoe against the floor, then whirled the seat around for two full 360-degree circles. He raised his hands in the air. “Look at me! I’m flying!”
The room full of Stoneworths and friends filled with soft laughter as brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins witnessed Ace’s antics. Somehow, they had all known that Ace would abuse the rolling chair. He was, as Braxton’s grandmother Ethie would say, “all boy”—which meant constant adventures, fearlessness which led to countless bumps and scrapes, and occasional mischief. And, as God saw fit, the Stoneworth family tree had always bloomed with an abundance of male family members.
“Careful, Ace. You don’t want to lose your dinner,” Brandy warned as she stepped behind him and stopped the impromptu merry-go-round.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ace said breathlessly. He clasped his hands together and sat as still as possible, which had to be torture for an eight-year-old.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.MichelleStimpson.comwww.Facebook.com/TheMichelleStimpsonPage
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this book with us. I'm eager to read it, as I'm sure my readers are as well.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Stuck On You (The Stoneworths) (Volume 1)
- Paperback
Stuck On You (Stoneworth Series Book 1) - 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. (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
Welcome back, Michelle. Tell us about your salvation experience.Though I “grew up” in church, I didn’t really submit my life to Him and receive Christ as savior until I was 17 years old. I was in our family’s formal living room vacuuming the floor, just thinking about Jesus and all the stuff I’d heard about growing up. Pretty soon, I’d be heading off to college. At that time, I had started doing some things that I knew were out of line with my parents’ rules and the church’s teachings, and I was a bit afraid of what I might do to ruin my life when I left my family home. At that time, I knew I needed saving from myself. I needed a Savior. I stopped the vacuuming and asked Christ into my life—all alone, no fanfare, no witnesses, just me and Him. Much of my life in Christ has been just like this, a private affair that later shows itself on the outside. It would be another 10 years before I was completely wooed by Him, but that was the beginning of our relationship.You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?Lynne Gentry – she would read my work and find all kinds of holes in it. She’s an iron who sharpens me.ReShonda Tate Billingsley – she is a writing rabbit. Having her around and watching her “go” would inspire me to keep my behind in the chair and write!Faith Simone – she’s a new author and I think she would benefit from being around those of us who have been writing for a while.Janice Olson – while I think she’d do a great job of critiquing and helping brainstorm, she’s also the queen of hospitality and she loves to cook. We’d need food!!!
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.Yes, I do quite a bit of speaking with the women’s ministry of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. For the past three years, I have led a series of sessions on various topics. In addition to ministry, I am an educational consultant. I present dozens of workshops annually to teachers.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?I laugh at myself so often that I rarely get embarrassed because others are laughing right along with me. But there was one time I didn’t even know to be embarrassed – when my wig fell off and I didn’t even realize it! I was talking to a lady, re-enacting a scenario, and I whipped my head around really quickly. My wig fell off but I didn’t know it, so I kept on talking. The lady just kept listening, but I think she was too dazed to say anything. When I felt a little breeze on my neck, I looked down and saw the wig on the concrete. Thankfully, no one saw it except she and I!
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 say, “Write the book already!” Somehow, many people think there’s some special mystery to writing, but writing is writing. The same way we sat down with pen/pencil and wrote papers in the 3rd grade is pretty much how we do it now (except with on a computer for most of us). Granted, we outline, we plan, we think about marketing and the broader message, but at the end of the day, we WRITE.
So true. Tell us about the featured book.
Now, nearly a decade later, they meet again as business experts vying for the same contract at a prestigious school. In addition to their professional competition, tensions mount as Braxton and Tiffany discover that they have two different versions of what happened to their romance so long ago. Can they overcome hard feelings and pick up where they left off? Tiffany’s father passed away a few months ago, just as she was founding her new project management firm. She wonders if her leap of faith was a good move, and her doubts only increase when she learns that someone from the firm she left is trying to undermine her independent efforts…not to mention her possibilities with Braxton.
Braxton thought he might follow his father’s footsteps into ministry. His wild fraternity days caught up with him, however, causing Braxton to give up the idea of teaching anyone to follow the faith he so obviously neglected. Can he win back his own self-respect and the heart of the woman he never forgot?
Stuck On You is the first book in The Stoneworth Series by bestselling Christian Fiction author Michelle Stimpson. The family history is briefly established, and then readers are off to experience the Stoneworth family's rich legacy of faith and integrity within the context of contemporary romance. Come fall in love with the family!
Please give us the first page of the book.“Gather ’round now, so I can tell the story,” one of the oldest living Stoneworths, Uncle Bush, announced from the lazy chair.
Someone in the kitchen switched off the household intercom system, which had been pumping upbeat gospel tunes throughout the two-story mini-mansion. Glasses ceased to clink. Silverware ceased to chink against the fine Chinathat Uncle Bush’s wife, Aunt Vera, had proudly used to serve her husband’s annual birthday dinner. This birthday was extra special, marking his eighth decade of life.
Braxton Stoneworth gave up his seat on the comfy leather couch nearest Uncle Bush so that the younger ones could get close to hear their story—the Stoneworth legacy—which had been passed down for more than a hundred years now.
His five-year-old first cousin once-removed, Lauren, and her friend quickly scrambled to claim Braxton’s empty spot.
Ace, one of the kids from Uncle Shiloh’s clan, came running into the family room but stopped short, having been beaten by the girls. “No fair! She’s not even a Stoneworth!” He pointed at Lauren’s friend.
Lauren’s mom, Paige, gently lowered Ace’s arm since the boy wasn’t practicing good manners at the moment. “You never know, Ace. She might be a Stoneworth someday.”
His brows furrowed in indignation as he crossed his arms on his chest. Little Ace looked like he wanted to say something, but he knew better than to talk back to his aunt, especially in front of the room full of people who would put him in check for saying anything remotely disrespectful to an elder. Simply put: Stoneworths didn’t play that.
“Come on, lil’ dude. I’ve got a seat right here for ya.” Braxton’s oldest brother, Knox, rolled a chair up right next to Uncle Bush.
Ace’s expression shined with victory. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You know Stoneworths look out for each other,” Knox said, giving Ace some dap.
The brown-skinned boy with bright hazel eyes hopped into the chair, set one tiptoe against the floor, then whirled the seat around for two full 360-degree circles. He raised his hands in the air. “Look at me! I’m flying!”
The room full of Stoneworths and friends filled with soft laughter as brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins witnessed Ace’s antics. Somehow, they had all known that Ace would abuse the rolling chair. He was, as Braxton’s grandmother Ethie would say, “all boy”—which meant constant adventures, fearlessness which led to countless bumps and scrapes, and occasional mischief. And, as God saw fit, the Stoneworth family tree had always bloomed with an abundance of male family members.
“Careful, Ace. You don’t want to lose your dinner,” Brandy warned as she stepped behind him and stopped the impromptu merry-go-round.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ace said breathlessly. He clasped his hands together and sat as still as possible, which had to be torture for an eight-year-old.
How can readers find you on the Internet?www.MichelleStimpson.comwww.Facebook.com/TheMichelleStimpsonPage
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this book with us. I'm eager to read it, as I'm sure my readers are as well.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Stuck On You (The Stoneworths) (Volume 1)
- PaperbackStuck On You (Stoneworth Series Book 1) - 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. (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
May 2, 2016
THE CRUX OF HONOR - Paula Mowery - One Free Ebook
Bio: Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessingfrom Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015. Her other titles include a Christian romantic suspense called For Our Good, a Christmas romance called Love Again, and a romance inspired from the Love Chaptercalled
The Crux of Honor
. Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blogs, Full Flavored Living and Putting on the New. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.
Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and also on the faculty for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.
Welcome, Paula. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.In each of my characters, I think you’ll find a little tidbit of me, especially the female characters. Much of the deep emotion that readers say I infuse into my stories could most likely be traced back to a time I experienced that emotion. However, there are characters I have given qualities that I wish I had, and I get to live it out vicariously through my fiction.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?This question came up recently, and I asked my daughter what she would say. She laughed and said, “The only way to answer is that you are quirky. Next to the word quirky in the dictionary is your picture, Mom.”
When did you first discover that you were a writer?As a young girl of around twelve I guess I wouldn’t have labeled myself a writer but I was. My mom worked at a bookstore and kept me stocked in books to read as well as journals to write in. As a young teacher in public school I always wrote right along with my students, setting the example. That morphed into writing more extensively as I penned several historical fiction stories while my daughter worked on her assignments for homeschool. After fifteen “practice” novels were filed away under my desk, I was inspired to write a Christian women’s fiction. This became my first contracted book. I guess when that offer came from the editor I felt it was official – I was a writer. Yet I had always been. Now I just had something published.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.My reading tastes are mainly in Christian fiction of the romance or romantic suspense type. I have dipped barely into Christian thrillers. I enjoy an occasional historical fiction and even a good dose of humorous romance.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Honestly, there are times I think I completely lose my sanity. I work part-time during the school year at an elementary school. When I come home, I start my other jobs which include author, acquiring editor, and pastor’s wife. The only way to stay afloat is to keep my priorities straight. God first. I read my Bible and connect with Him, asking for strength and guidance for what He would have me accomplish for my day. I make lots of lists and try to take each task one at a time as to due dates. I strive to use my time wisely and if I’m cranky, I take my hubby and daughter’s advice and take a nap.
How do you choose your characters’ names?My characters’ names often come from a baby name book I purchased at a discount bookstore many years ago. An author friend suggested this to me and I have found it very helpful. I also like that I can get an idea of what the name means, which has influenced my choices.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?My husband and I decided to pull our daughter from public school and educate her at home. We so wanted the Christian influence and to make this a strong foundation in her life before she was on her own. I stopped teaching and came home. This meant no frills. We couldn’t afford elaborate vacations or eating out much. But it was so worth it. I am so proud of the young woman my daughter has become. She has surrendered her life to children’s ministry. Her heart is to see the children of Generation Z (born after 9/11) saved. She has already seen fruit from the investments in the children at our church. She will be a senior at Liberty University online next year and has maintained a much higher grade point average than I could ever have dreamed of when I was in school. What can I say? I’m a proud mama.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?I think I might be a seeing-eye dog. I try my best to guide those counting on me as I have been trained by the Handler. Sometimes I get distracted by a squirrel but tend to get back on track quickly.
Interesting. No one has chosen that animal before for my blog. What is your favorite food?I’m not sure I have just one favorite food. I’m more of a depends-on-my-mood-for-the-day kind of person. Mexican food is something I eat regularly, but I like all kinds of seafood. During the summer months when my hubby is king of the grill, he makes a mean juicy burger.
Yum. You’re making me hungry. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Honestly, the biggest roadblock I’ve had in writing is finding the time. The way I have overcome this lack of time is to write anywhere and everywhere. I’ve been known to write on scenes in a notebook while stirring dinner on the stove. Thankfully I don’t get carsick, so I can read and write during trips. I have paper in every location should thoughts warrant scribbling down ideas.
Tell us about the featured book.
The Crux of Honor
is in a series of books from Prism Book Group based on First Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter. Obviously, my phrase was love does not dishonor. The main character has always been told that she dishonors her family. Long-held secrets are revealed, and she learns the unconditional love available from God. Chelsea Wilson’s life is a constant reminder of what living dishonorably looks like. At every turn she continues to prove her mother’s shunning must be deserved.
Dr. Kevin Alley returns to the old home place to establish his medical practice. After running into Chelsea, he knows his love for her is still strong.
Chelsea is ousted from her small rented room when her mother bursts in, proclaiming Chelsea’s pregnancy.
Kevin takes Chelseain, giving her space to live on the upper level of his house.
When Chelsea’s baby displays life-threatening symptoms, Chelseamust face her mother. Secrets unfold about Chelsea’s parents. Can Chelsea and Kevin uncover the secrets linked to Amish heritage in time to save the baby? Can the two find love together despite their history?
Please give us the first page of the book.Chelsea Wilson stared at Samuel’s face as he repeated his apology. The small town campus bustled in the background.
“Chelsea, I’m sorry. I’m ready to go back and join the Amish church and be baptized.”
She nodded as tears slid down her cheeks. Her pulse strummed in her ears.
He grasped her hand and leaned closer. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be together. Come back with me. It’s not unheard of...”
“No.” Her voice was low, almost a whisper. She studied his plain clothes. “Samuel, I think down deep we both knew this day would come. You never fit here, and I would never fit there.”
“You will hate me, ja?” His Amish accent crooned.
“No. I respect your heart-felt decision. I can see it in your eyes. It’s what’s right for you.”
“And you? What is right for you?” Honesty poured from his big brown eyes.
“I’m not sure.”
“You will find your way. Trust God.” He pulled her head to his chest and wrapped his arms around her back. She leaned into his embrace for a moment and then backed away. He replaced his black felt hat atop his head, nodded, and marched toward the junior college parking lot.
A stream of tears blurred his silhouette. Chelsea planted her face in her hands, thankful for the concrete bench under her to keep her from sinking to the ground. How could she be so stupid? Her mother had warned her to stop fraternizing with a young man on Rumpspringa. When she refused, her mother had kicked her out of the family home. Chelseacouldn’t help chuckling at her mother’s rich vocabulary. Fraternizing and banished. Why did her mother have to be right? As small as the town of Integrity, Tennessee, was, Mother would discover the news of her break-up by nightfall.
She wrapped her arms around her waist. I can’t sit here feeling sorry for myself. She swiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands and rose to her feet. Draping her book bag over her shoulder, she shuffled toward the library. She would focus on studying for her final exam. There was plenty of time to cry her eyes out later, alone, in her tiny rented room.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Please visit my blog, www.paulamowery.blogspot.comwhere you’ll find other links to connect with me.
Thank you, Paula, for sharing this book with us. I'm eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
The Crux of Honor
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. (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
May 1, 2016
WINNERS!!!!
Angela (KY) is the winner of
Blondeva's Boys
by Kendra Norman Holmes.
Terrill (WA) is the winner of A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid.
Kim (NE) is the winner of Nanny's Secret Child by Lorraine Beatty.
Brenda (VA) is the winner of Her Valentine Promise by Bonnie Engstrom.
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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April 29, 2016
THE INHERITANCE - Michael Phillips - One Free Book, Plus More
Dear Readers, today we're featuring a book by a very well-known author, but there is no interview. However, we do have our usual giveaway. When you leave a comment, be sure to tell us if you've read any of his books, and if so, which one is your favorite.
I first became aware of Michael Phillips when I read almost all of the George MacDonald series he adapted for modern audiences.
Bio: Michael Phillips is a bestselling author with more than 70 of his own titles. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly 30 more books. He is known as the man responsible for the reawakened interest in George MacDonald of the last 30 years. In addition to the MacDonald titles adapted/edited for today's reader, his publishing efforts in bringing back full-length quality facsimile editions also spawned renewed interest in MacDonald's original work. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotlandbut make their home near Sacramento, California.
The Inheritance
The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islandscommunity of Whale's Reef into turmoil.
Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch's heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David's grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island-and its traditional way of life-hangs in the balance.
Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .
Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips's dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.
Chapter OneA Boy and a BirdWhales Reef, Shetland IslandsOn a late afternoon of a surprisingly warm day, a small lad sat on a large stone with the blue of sky and water spreading out before him. The air was full of motion, but for this one of Shetland’s minor islands the wind was relatively light. The chair-rock of his perch jutted out of the ground near a high bluff overlooking the sea. The boy lifted his face to the fragrant breeze as he watched the birds soaring above. He loved the birds, and he loved the sea. But today that love was tinged with sadness. He looked beside him. On a tuft of sea grass lay a tiny bird with a broken wing. The boy was only seven, but the music of the angels stirred within him. He valued life in all its forms. From almost the moment he was born he possessed an uncanny connection to the animal kingdom. It was not merely that he loved animals. The boy understood them far beyond the usual capacity of humans to comprehend their winged and four-footed bPurchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QpMpIN
The link for the 5-book giveaway is: https://promosimple.com/ps/9735
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. This is a separate giveaway from the one above.(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
I first became aware of Michael Phillips when I read almost all of the George MacDonald series he adapted for modern audiences.
Bio: Michael Phillips is a bestselling author with more than 70 of his own titles. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly 30 more books. He is known as the man responsible for the reawakened interest in George MacDonald of the last 30 years. In addition to the MacDonald titles adapted/edited for today's reader, his publishing efforts in bringing back full-length quality facsimile editions also spawned renewed interest in MacDonald's original work. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotlandbut make their home near Sacramento, California.
The Inheritance
The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islandscommunity of Whale's Reef into turmoil.
Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch's heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David's grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island-and its traditional way of life-hangs in the balance.
Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .
Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips's dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.
Chapter OneA Boy and a BirdWhales Reef, Shetland IslandsOn a late afternoon of a surprisingly warm day, a small lad sat on a large stone with the blue of sky and water spreading out before him. The air was full of motion, but for this one of Shetland’s minor islands the wind was relatively light. The chair-rock of his perch jutted out of the ground near a high bluff overlooking the sea. The boy lifted his face to the fragrant breeze as he watched the birds soaring above. He loved the birds, and he loved the sea. But today that love was tinged with sadness. He looked beside him. On a tuft of sea grass lay a tiny bird with a broken wing. The boy was only seven, but the music of the angels stirred within him. He valued life in all its forms. From almost the moment he was born he possessed an uncanny connection to the animal kingdom. It was not merely that he loved animals. The boy understood them far beyond the usual capacity of humans to comprehend their winged and four-footed bPurchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1QpMpIN
The link for the 5-book giveaway is: https://promosimple.com/ps/9735
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. This is a separate giveaway from the one above.(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
