Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 187

THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN DOCTOR - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

Dear Readers and Authors, thank goodness, I'm finally getting much better. I will start uploading missed interviews and try to catch up soon. On Sunday, I'll post winners that have been missed.


I am reading this book right now, Dear Readers. I know you’ll love it as much as I do.
Welcome back, Misty. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I tend to be a bit of a sentimentalist, so Historical Romance is perfect for me! My favorite period is between 1860 - 1880, when the cowboy days were really ramping up. I love the simpler life, where there's no rat race. Just hard work, plenty of alone time (can you tell I'm an introvert?), and a strong family unit. God is the central element in my life, so I want my books to naturally reflect Him.
How has being published changed your life?It's wonderful to know in my heart that I'm doing what God planned for me. He continues to use my writing to bless others, which becomes a huge blessing for me!
What are you reading right now?The Still of Nightby Kristen Heitzmann. Kristen is one of my favorite authors, and I had the amazing opportunity to meet her at a writer's workshop earlier this year. What an amazing person!
What is your current work in progress?I'm finishing up The Lady and the Mountain Fire, third in the Mountain Dreams Series. I had planned for this to be the last in the series, but I'm having so much fun with the characters! I guess I'll see where God leads. J
What would be your dream vacation?I love to travel! I've been throughout the US, but never to Europe. I'd love to visit the old castles and estates in Englandor Ireland. And all that amazing historic architecture in Italy!
How do you choose your settings for each book?Hmm… I usually have an idea of the type of setting I want (snowy mountains, Texasplains, etc). From there, I pick a state, then start my research and usually stumble upon something that makes me say "Ooooh, perfect!" For example, when I was beginning The Rancher Takes a Cook (scheduled to release June 26, 2015), I knew I wanted it to be a Texasranch, somewhere in the middle part of the state (where it's not so much like a desert). I started doing some Google searches for "History of (insert name of Texas city). I stumbled across a letter that was written from someone in Seguin, Texas, in the year my story would begin. The description of Seguin in the letter sounded perfect! After researching the city a little more, I realized I'd found a goldmine (not literally).
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?This is a tough one. My first thought was my extended family members in California and Arizona. They're so dear, but I rarely have the opportunity to see them. My great-aunts and uncles are getting up in years, so I would love the opportunity to spend more time with them while I can. An evening would not be long enough though…
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Riding horses! I don't get to as often as I'd like, but it's such a stabilizing activity for me. I love sharing them with my daughters, too!
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Making time for writing, and all the other activities that go along with it. I get up an hour early each morning to focus on writing, which helps a lot. I also try to spend a couple evenings a week after my daughters go to bed, and both afternoons on the weekend, if possible. It's hard, but important!
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Oh wow. There are so many things that spring to mind! Some I've learned from wise writers. Some from my heavenly Father. And some from doing it the hard way. J If I had to narrow down my experience into advice, these are the three things I would share: Seek:  Read books on craft. Join a writer's organization. Make friends with other writers and develop connections. Seek to learn everything you can about this wonderful world of fiction!Work:  Writing takes so many hours of typing and plotting and editing. You may feel it will never end. But enjoy the journey, even the hard times. I heard a quote today that really hit home for me. "Happiness is counting your blessings for the good things where you are right now." We all need goals, but the joy truly can be in the journey.Pray: Seek God's face and His direction for your writing. If you're in His will, He will bless the work. His blessings may be a different outcome than you expected, but I promise it will be wonderful!
Tell us about the featured book. Miriam Bryant has always dreamed of leaving the never-ending work of her family's remote mountain ranch to travel abroad as a genteel lady. She's thrilled when the opportunity finally arises, but a gruesome hunting accident crushes her plans, leaving her stranded for weeks in a mining town. The single bright spot in her disappointment comes in the form of this mountain town's newest doctor…

Fresh out of medical school, Alex Donaghue is excited to join his brother's practice and prove himself in the mining town of Butte, in Montana Territory. But the tough conditions in the mines and the brutal winter are worse than he expected. Now a mysterious lung disease is killing patients he fought so hard to cure. The single bright spot in this dreary place comes in the form of their newest patient…

But when Miriam's life is threatened by the effects of a medical tragedy, will Alex have what it takes to save the woman he's come to love? Will Miriam ever find the place God created her for, or is it too late?
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.October 28, 1876Bryant Ranch - Near Butte City, MontanaTerritoryMiriam Bryant plunged her knife through the deer's thick winter fur, just the way her brother taught her. Crimson saturated the snow underneath, and she clenched her eyes tight against the sight. An acrid odor permeated the air. Miriam spun away, inhaling deep gulps of air.
They needed food. God sent the buck. She repeated the words in her head, as her stomach slowly unclenched. Finally, she turned back toward the animal, knife clutched tight in her hand. Once again, she wished she could have let the deer bound away in freedom. But their meat supply was low, and she had to pull her weight on the ranch.
The whisper of air was her only warning before a force slammed into her back, knocking her forward. A scream rent the air, and she writhed away from the creature pressing her against the deer carcass. Cougar. Pain pierced her body. Over and over. Everywhere the cat touched left new agony.
Miriam fought hard. She rolled onto her side and tried to crawl, but the animal was all around her, growling and screaming. A blast of pain shot through her leg, and her body jerked hard. She reached for the source of the pain, and slammed her fists into the furry head, again and again.
I’m sure that opening will draw my readers in. How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can find me on my website, blog, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.
Thank you, Misty, for sharing this book with me and my readers.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.The Lady and the Mountain Doctor (Mountain Dreams Series Book 2)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

ISLAND REFUGE - Kimberly Rose Johnson - One Free Book

Welcome back, Kimberly. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write contemporary Christian romance because I enjoy reading them and it seems to be the genre I’m best at writing.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? I really don’t know. One day in particular doesn’t stand out to me. I do remember being pretty excited when I got the phone call about my first writing contract.
How has being published changed your life? I’m not the same person I used to be. I’m more open and outgoing, not nearly as shy as I used to be, and I now spend copious hours a day on the computer. When I started writing I didn’t even know how to open an email attachment!
What are you reading right now? Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay.
What is your current work in progress? Island Dreams, the second book in my Wildflower Island Romance series
What would be your dream vacation? This changes constantly depending on my mood, but right now, I’d really like to go back to Disney World. I also think it would be fun to go to Ireland or Scotland too, but I doubt it will ever happen.
You’re young, and our God loves to fulfill dreams. How do you choose your settings for each book? I try to choose places that I would want to visit. Wildflower Islanddoesn’t really exist, but it was inspired by Washingtonstate’s Anderson Island. That island wasn’t quite big enough for me, so I embellished things and changed the name to Wildflower Island.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? That is such a hard question! I think it be most fun to be able to visit with someone I know, but have never met. I would love to spend an evening with my critique group. I have never met two of them in person, but I suppose that’s cheating. Hmm, I am stumped. I’m really sorry, but no one comes to mind. I wouldn’t want to spend and entire evening with someone I don’t know. That would uncomfortable. So if you will let me cheat, I’d choose my critique group, Miralee Ferrell, Margaret Daley, and Vickie McDonough—I can’t choose between them.
What a great group. I love all three of them. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love playing the piano, talking long walks, riding my bike, watching Hallmark movies, and traveling, although I don’t get to travel often.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? Coming up with a plot long enough to fill a book before I actually write the book. I’m not sure I’ve actually overcome this. I have a good idea of where my books begin and end, but I’m a seat of the pants writer for the rest. I sometimes get my critique partners to assist me with ideas and other times I do something not related to my book. My mind usually chews on it while I’m otherwise occupied and sooner or later I begin to realized things about my characters and their lives and I take off again.
What advice would you give to a beginning author? I’m sure you’ve all heard this before, but it’s so important. Learn the craft of writing. I also think it’s important to make friends with writers.
Tell us about the featured book. Island Refuge takes place on a small island in the Puget Sound at a B-and-B. Here is the back cover blurb.
Five-Star-Chef Zoe Griffin walked away from her dream job. Did she make a mistake?

Her engagement off, Zoe Griffin retreats to tiny WildflowerIsland in the Puget Sound. Hiding out as a cook and maid at a shabby bed-and-breakfast seems crazy for a chef who’s used to running her own five-star kitchen. And just as she starts to feel at home, her klutzy mishaps make Zoe fear her handsome new boss will fire her.

Dr. Nick Jackson is done with medicine, and owning a B-and-B is as far from doctoring as he can get. He needs help, but his only employee’s mistakes give him doubts. As Zoe lets her defenses down, Nick begins to see a competent and caring woman. One whose wounds are as deep as his own. But as they fall for each other, Nick and Zoe must learn the hardest lesson of all—to forgive. Only then can they heal the past and embrace the future ... together. 
Please give us the first page of the book. Dr. Nick Jackson sat behind the wheel of his Range Rover with the windows lowered, waiting to board the ferry from Wildflower Island, Washington. A red convertible exited the ferry, its top down and radio blaring. The woman behind the wheel ducked her head and swerved in his direction, nearly taking off his paint. He laid on his horn, and the car skidded to a stop.
The woman bolted upright, her vivid green eyes wide. “I’m so sorry!”

“No harm done.”

“I was reaching for my directions.”

Nick glanced forward and noticed traffic maneuvering around the woman’s car. “PerhapsI can help. I live here.” He’d only been on the island a week, but it was small so he felt safe offering assistance.She waved a piece of paper. “No need. Again, I’m sorry for nearly hitting you. Maybe I’ll see you around. I start my new job today.” She flashed a nervous smile then eased back into the line of cars and drove off.Her last words reverberated in his mind. What were the chances the blonde was his new cook and housekeeper at the Wildflower Bed-and-Breakfast? Nick shook his head. Very unlikely. The woman he’d hired was the executive chef of a five-star restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Surely the crazy driver wasn’t Zoe Griffin. Whoever she was, he hoped she’d be long gone by the time he returned on the ferry later tonight. Distracted drivers were a menace— attractive or not.
How can readers find you on the Internet? http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnsonhttps://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh  https://www.pinterest.com/krose1990/

Thank you for sharing this book with us. And thank you for your patience when I couldn't sit at the computer to upload the interview on time.

Readers, here is a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Island Refuge (Wildflower B&B Romance Book 1)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

DEAR FRIENDS AND FRIENDS

I'm so sorry I haven't been on the blog since last Monday. I sprained the muscles in the knee that didn't have the replacement surgery. The pain was excruciating!

I've been in bed most of the time. The first time I got out of bed, and tried to to sit in the seat on my walker, I was dizzy from pain pill, and I. I felt like I was melting out of the  seat. James wasn't close enough catch me. I landed on the floor. The foot that I wear an ankle brace on most of the time when I am up, was twisted under. That foot swelled and was painful. It took several days for the feet to get over the pain. The last few days, I've gotten up briefly. I'm trying to build up my stamina, so I can go places and work. Please pray for me. I'll be back soon with my interviews and winners announcement. 

TO WIN HER FAVOR - Tamera Alexander - One Free Book, Plus More

Welcome back, Tamera. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?The spiritual themes in my book are never planned. While I know the characters in a novel when I begin writing, along with their basic journey, I rarely have the spiritual theme in view. That comes in the writing, in seeing the story revealed as the characters grow and change. One of the most prevalent spiritual themes in my writing (as a reader recently pointed out to me) is the truth of seeing who we are without Christ. Because seeing who we are (and would be) without the power of Christ living in us, changing us, brings a far deeper gratitude for His presence.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?Coming in July is a Belle Meade Plantation novella—To Mend a Dream. To Mend a Dream continues the story of a secondary character we meet in To Win Her Favor, Savannah Darby. Savannah is Maggie’s closest friend and while we learn about Savannah’s struggles in To Win Her Favor, the culmination of her story is told in To Mend a Dream, a novella in a Southern novella collection entitled, Among the Fair Magnolias. I’m excited to share this novella collection with friends and fellow authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser. Their stories are marvelous! And each story is accompanied by a luscious Southern recipe and discussion questions. Perfect for reading groups.
Sounds wonderful. I’d love to feature that collection on my blog. 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 spend an evening with Carol Burnett. I’ve long admired her comedic wit and personal warmth and, of course, grew up watching her show. A book of poems she published years ago, when I was just a girl—I still have my copy—really made an impact on me and helped me through an especially difficult time. So, Carol, if you’re out there and listening, “Dinner’s on me, babe!”
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?Moses. I’ve just finished studying the Life of Moses (Exodus - Deuteronomy) in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF.com) for the past year, and I’ve come to admire Moses—his faith, his trust in God, his very human side, and his love for the Israelites—more than ever before. And how touching that God buried Moses. Scripture is so rich, truly “living and active” as the Word says.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?I received several rejections on the first novel I wrote, so I stuck that novel in my drawer and decided to start fresh. I wrote my next novel and got my first three-book contract. Rekindled was my first published novel, but it wasn’t the first book I ever wrote. Remember the story tucked away in my desk drawer for almost seven years? After a complete rewrite, that manuscript became The Inheritance, which has now sold over 100,000 copies. So never give up. Never throw away a manuscript. Keep pushing forward toward your goal. Because every “No” along the way is really just part of God’s final “Yes!” when His perfect timing is reached.
Tell us about the featured book. I’m so excited about To Win Her Favor’s release. For a year or more, I live with these characters inside me, growing and discovering their journeys. So it’s beyond thrilling when a book releases and readers begin to embrace and love these characters like I do.

To Win Her Favor is the second standalone novel in the Belle Meade Plantation series and it follows the story of Maggie Linden and rugged Irishman Cullen McGrath. This marriage of convenience story explores questions of race, faith, and loyalty and offers perspective on how Reconstruction affected racial relations, social status and economic fortunes in the post-war South — and has a passionate love story at its very heart.

Maggie Linden lost nearly everything in the Civil War — including most of her family. She’s about to lose her stables and land at Linden Downs, and her racing hopes as well. A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie is determined that her mare, Bourbon Belle, will become a champion. And her only hope of saving Linden Downs is if the horse takes the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America. To give his daughter a chance, Maggie’s wily father makes a barter. But his agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail: Maggie must marry a man she’s never met — a man she never would have chosen for herself.

It’s okay if readers haven’t read the first book in the series, To Whisper Her Name (USA Today bestseller). The Belle Meade novels can be read and enjoyed individually.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Nashville, Tennessee May 4, 1869Steady, girl,” Maggie whispered, peering down from the bluff, leather reins held taut. The thrum of spectators on the field below rose on the cool morning breeze, and she leaned forward to stroke the thoroughbred’s neck. “Wait,” she gently coaxed, anticipation sparking the air. “It’s coming . . .” But even as she said it, her own pulse edged up a notch.
Bourbon Belle pawed the dirt, and Maggie sensed the mare’s restraint growing thinner by the—
The gunshot sounded. The horses on the racetrack below bolted from their marks, as did Bourbon Belle, and exhilaration fired through Maggie’s veins.
Belle surged to life and Maggie gave the horse her head, allowing the mare to surrender to every instinct the animal’s sleek-muscled body commanded. To run.
Belle’s hooves pounded the smooth dirt path, and Maggie imagined that this was what Willie experienced when he raced Belle around the track below. Except the boy was less than half Maggie’s weight, so he and Belle all but flew, just as she expected the pair to do again at the heat later this week.
One and a quarter miles, barely a two-minute race. But the thud of Maggie’s heart marked the time as Belle rounded the familiar curve in the path, the mare’s powerful stride devouring the distance.Crouching forward, as she’d trained Willie to do, Maggie felt the wind whipping the pins from her hair, and she relished the freedom that only this kind of riding could bring. And though she knew the peace was temporary at best, she embraced it.
You can read the first three chapters on my website! http://www.tameraalexander.com/cmsdocuments/Chs1-3ToWinHerFavor.pdf
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website:         www.TameraAlexander.comFacebook:       www.facebook.com/tameraalexanderTwitter:           www.twitter.com/tameraalexanderPinterest:        www.pinterest.com/TameraAuthorBlog:               www.TameraAlexander.blogspot.com
View vignettes filmed on location at Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of To Whisper Her Name and To Win Her Favor , on the Belle Meade Plantation novels page on Tamera’s website.Can Maggie prove that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America? Find out in Tamera Alexander's To Win Her Favor. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!


One grand prize winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HD 6A copy of To Win Her FavorEnter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera's blog . Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE .}

Thank you, Tamera, for allowing us to be part of the release of this new book. I know my readers will love it.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel Book 2) - Kindle

Christian Book Store
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

WINNERS!!!!

Danielle (IN) is the winner of   Lightning on a Quiet NIght  byDonn Taylor. 

Beth (MT) is the winner of  Bridge of Faith  by Catherine West. (I'm just finishing reading this book. It's awesome.)

Maryann (NY) is the winner of  A Sparrow in Terezin  by Kristy Cambron.

Bonnie (KY) is the winner of  Veiled at Midnight  by Christine Lindsay.

If you won a book and you like it, 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 of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

RX: MURDER - Richard L Mabry. MD - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I met Dr. Mabry when we first organized DFW Ready Writers, a local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. He’s helped me a number of times when I needed a medical expert’s help for a work in progress. Both my husband and I love reading his medical suspense novels. I know you will, too.
Welcome back, Richard. Why did you become an author?During my 36 years in medicine, I wrote or edited eight medical textbooks and over one hundred published papers for medical journals, but never considered any other type of writing until my wife of forty years died suddenly. I used the journaling from that episode as the basis for a non-fiction book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse. During the process of learning how to craft that book, I became interested in writing fiction. Like golf, bowling, or any other activity, once I took it up I decided I not only wanted to try writing, but to become proficient at it. Since I’ve now published seven—soon to be eight—full-length novels, perhaps I’ve succeeded.
Yes, you have. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?When I was in grade school, I wanted to be a pilot. Later, I thought about law as a career. But my dream job? I wanted to play professional baseball. I was a pitcher, and a pretty good one. Unfortunately, this was before the days of the designated hitter, and although I could throw a curve ball, I couldn’t hit one.
If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?I guess all of us look back at the past and think how nice and simple things were then. We fool ourselves when we do. I’ve decided that looking back is futile, looking forward involves guessing, so I’m trying to adopt the philosophy of the Apostle Paul and make the best of my current circumstances.
What place in the United Stateshave you not visited that you would like to?Kay and I would like to see more of the Northwest—specifically, we’d like to visit Mount Rushmore.
How about a foreign country you hope to visit?I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a number of countries in Europe and Asia, but never Ireland. Because of my Irish ancestry, I’d love to see that country.
What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?I’m not sure I’ve learned it, but I’m trying—be patient. God’s timing is not our timing, but whatever He has in store for us is ultimately better than what we can plan for ourselves.
That is so true. Tell us about the featured book. Because slightly over a year has elapsed since my last published novel, I wanted to remind my readers that I’m still around, while perhaps introducing my work to other readers before the publication of the next one. The answer to that, since I’ve already fulfilled my contract with my current publisher, was self-publication of a novella. Rx: Murder became available April 1.
Please give us the first page of the book.Mary Lou Sawyer cowered, half-crouching, in the corner of her living room. She felt consciousness slipping away, and fought it with deep breaths. If she could only escape the blows long enough for the room to stop spinning…
“I don’t want to hear about money any more!” Luke Sawyer accompanied his slurred words with a blow that, despite her flinch, sent her reeling against the wall. “Tired of your nagging!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he half-yelled, “It’s all your fault.”
Mary Lou saw him draw back his fist. She tried to dodge, but this time her muscles refused to react in time. He hit her, and the world turned gray for a moment. She crumpled to the floor, where she lay in a fetal position, shielding her head with crossed arms, dreading what might come next. He’s going to kill me.
Luke took two lurching steps toward the door, then turned back to where she lay. He bent toward her and almost fell with the effort. When he spoke she smelled his breath, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. “I’m goin’ out. Don’t know when I’ll be back. But when I come through that door, better not hear no questions about where I’ve been or how much I’ve had to drink.”
When no reply came, he pointed to the residuals of the skirmish: an overturned end table, magazines scattered on the floor of the living room, curtains askew. “And straighten all this up before I get back.” He slammed the door behind him and was gone.
An upended chair lay next to her. She grasped it and slowly, painfully managed to get it upright. After a moment to catch her breath, Mary Lou used it to pull herself up, first to her knees and then to her feet. She tottered there for a moment, balancing with one hand on the back of the chair.
She should go to the kitchen, put some ice or something on her face. But first, she needed to pause until the haze clouding her vision cleared. Mary Lou took a deep breath, then another. Her free hand went to her belly. Please, God. Don’t let any of this hurt the baby.
I want to know what comes next. I'm sure my readers do, too. How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is here, my blog is here. I also have a Facebook fan page—rmabrybooks—and have an account at Goodreads.

Thank you, Richard, for sharing this new book with us.  I'm eager to read this book.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

YEAR OF JUBILEE - Peggy Trotter - One Free book

Dear Readers, it’s always a thrill to present a debut novelist to you.
Bio: Peggy Trotter is a small town Hoosier native who teaches 1st and 2nd grade at a small Christian School and writes Christian Romance in her spare time. God blessed her with a wonderful husband who cooks and helps clean while supporting her crazy dreams. She has two incredible grown kids, one fabulous son-in-law, and two rays of sunshine, commonly called grandchildren.
Welcome, Peggy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.A lot! Sometimes I cry, if the scene gets really emotional. I’m such a hodgepodge of personalities, LOL, that I can write from several different angles. So, I’d say every one of my characters has more than a sliver of me.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?I decided I wanted a deck built between my house and garage. So, I researched it, planned it, and built it myself. I’m pretty good with power tools. After that I’d say, hanging a drop ceiling in Honduras! J
I love Central America. When I went on a mission trip to Guatemala, I was a clown making balloon animals for the children. When did you first discover that you were a writer?This will sound weird, but I think I knew around the age of six. I came in third in a class writing contest. That tugging desire to write never left me, and I wrote many, many things over the years, poems, programs, verses, but the romance stories haunted me every night when I laid my head down, like a repetitive movie. Once I finally get the story written down, it disappears!
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.As a child, I loved the classics, Black Beauty, King of the Wind, (and most anything by Marguerite Henry!), Charlotte’s Web. As I grew, I became a bit more eclectic. I loved researching history, but I also enjoyed Stephen King. I finally stopped reading horror when I began to be afraid to be alone in a house. Seriously, true!
In my adult life, mostly I was fascinated with discovering Christian romance with Lori Wick, B.J. Hoff, Gilbert Morris, and a million more since. I definitely enjoyed all of Bodie Thoene’s series as well, not to mention Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins’ Left behind series. And there has been ton more! So overall, I say I love Christian fiction, but most of all Christian Romance.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Sometimes I don’t!!! J I think my main survival kit is sticking with the basics. God, family, friends. All the other stuff is wonderful and such a blessings, but I try to keep my head focused on the most important picture. Jesus Christ. Not to say I don’t have my freak-out moments, shhhh, but that’s the goal anyway. My husband is a great help in this area. He’s very calm and wise which offsets my need to be constantly over busy.
How do you choose your characters’ names?I like unusual names. So I pick names that are both unusual and beautiful to me. But they must fit the character. I also tend to pick names from my genealogy chart, or cemetery records. (Snort) Yes, really. Especially if I’m writing a historical.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising both my children to adulthood and seeing them grow in Christ. When I held my first child, I felt God’s calling to make sure I equip my children to serve Him for the rest of their lives.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?A horse. As a young girl, I read any book I could get my hands on that included a horse. They are so beautiful, independent, and strong. All qualities I’d love to possess.
What is your favorite food?Simple easy. Pizza. Yum!
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I’d say the greatest one is discouragement. It’s everywhere. And when it’s not outside of your psyche, it’s inside! And that seems to be the most intimidating one. Fighting your own sense of inadequacy, and the devil—he ain’t no dummy. He grabs what pulls you down and pumps it for all it’s worth.
Tell us about the featured book.I’d be thrilled to!!! My debut novel is Year of Jubilee , a Historical Christian Romance based in southern Indiana in 1850. Here’s the back cover blurb:
Orphaned and widowed, eighteen-year-old JUBILEE STALLINGS clings to her southern Indianafarm as her only refuge. The wilds of Gibson Countyare just being tamed in the year of 1850, and Jubilee ekes a meager existence. But when RAFE TANNER, a cousin of her abusive dead husband, shows up with the deed to her property, Jubilee’s dream of her own home dissolves.
Rafe, stinging from his ex-fiancée’s rejection, offers a business marriage, throwing him and Jubilee together in an effort to make the farm successful. But scars from the past keep her in constant fear of her new husband. The pair masquerades as a love-struck couple at Rafe’s family farm, enduring the romantic notions of his family and the jealousy of his ex-fiancée.
Once home, Rafe realizes his newfound love for Jubilee, and sets out to court her. Meanwhile, Jubilee fights demons from her past as her husband reveals his interest. Can Jubilee let go of her distrust and pain to embrace God’s plan of true love and finally find a place to belong?I know it doesn’t present as a storyline with a lot of humor, but there are several scenes of humorous misunderstandings throughout the book.
Please give us the first page of the book. Okay! But be prepared. The first scene is a doozy!
Jubilee Stallings’ forehead collided with the wall. Stars flashed behind her closed lids. She lay completely still. Her face heated and her body ached, yet she dared not move.
“You’re worthless.” Her husband’s slurred voice continued.
She heard his footsteps stagger across the floorboards.
“You’re nuttin’ but a dog, and…and…a piece…of dung.”
The floorboards thundered as his body hit the floor. Scraping sounds emitted from the other side of the room.
“I…oughta…”
He continued mumbling unintelligibly. Jubilee pressed her bruised brow against the icy wood of the wall and prayed. Fresh tears wet her face. Please fall asleep. Almost on command Colvin gave a snore. Jubilee continued to lie immobile, although now that the initial rush of adrenaline had worn off, the frigid air made her naked body want to shake. She clenched her teeth and fought against her body’s urge. Snores filled the air.
She pushed to a sitting position and eyed the straw mattress where Colvin had sprawled. Moving as cautiously as a newborn colt, she crawled to her dress by the door. She pulled it on as a set of shivers ripped through her body. With her sweater in hand, she crept to the fireplace. Only dying embers remained, but Jubilee couldn’t risk adding another log. Her teeth chattered as she tucked her feet beneath her skirt and pulled up the ragged cardigan to ward off the chill.
She grimaced as she rubbed the swelling on her neck where he’d choked her. The moonlight broke through the clouds, highlighting the marks scratched into the wall near stone mantel. She’d carved the last one this morning, December 30, 1849. More than a full year had come and gone since she’d begun marking. Tomorrow would be her second birthday in this house. Once again tears threatened. She’d be eighteen.
You’re right about the page. I’m eager to read the rest of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?You can always catch me at peggytrotter.com, but I’m also a feature writer on my group blog, diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com. Here are some of my other favorite places to hang out: https://www.facebook.com/PeggyTrotterAuthorhttps://twitter.com/peggy_trotterhttps://www.pinterest.com/pegtrotter/.
Thanks for having me on your blog! I truly appreciate it!
Peggy, the pleasure is all mine. I can’t wait until my book arrives so I can read it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Year of Jubilee - paperback
Year of Jubilee - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

ECHOES FROM THE PAST - June Foster - One Free Book

Welcome back, June. Tell us about your salvation experience.I was raised in a family that went to church but never talked about Jesus, never read the Bible, and only prayed at mealtimes saying memorized prayers. We attended a liberal denomination and as a child, I don't remember ever hearing about salvation through Jesus Christ. So I headed off to college with a marginal moral compass, worldly goals, and little direction. Ten years later and the mother of two children, I still floundered in a confusing world, knowing my life was empty. Finally, our neighbors began taking my two girls to church. One Sunday, I decided if those two little girls could attend, so could I. I began to go to church at Ft. Lewis, Washington, Main Post chapel. Later, a secretary at my husband's work befriended me and asked me to go to a praise service at her church. Then, when we got home, she asked me if I wanted to ask Jesus into my life and I remember saying no, that I wasn't ready. A couple of months later, I watched an old movie And The Next Voice You Hear. Somehow the message touched my heart and for the first time in my life I realized God was real. I joined a Bible study and learned about Jesus and his offer of salvation. Finally, I prayed over the phone with one of my co-workers to ask Jesus into my heart. My life has never been the same. To follow up, both my daughters and my husband now know the Lord as well.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? Mildred Colvin, because I love her sweet, historical romances and would like to spend time with her. Francine Rivers. I'd pick her brain about what it's like to be a successful Christian author. Frank Peretti. I'd ask him how his imaginative ideas form in his brain. Jerry Jenkins. I'd schedule him to talk about the techniques he uses in writing stories that grip a reader, not setting him/her free until they've finished the book.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.I actually don't get to speak very often. I've given my testimony at church on Sunday morning, and many said they were truly blessed by it. I've been fortunate to appear on my local Birmingham television station and appear on blog radio from time to time.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?Once I walked into the wrong restroom at Walmart. When I came out of the stall, I saw a man washing his hands. Fortunately he was just leaving, so I washed my hands and tiptoed out of there. As I walked out the door, I looked up and down the aisles to see if anyone noticed where I came from. I don't admit this very often.
I’ve also had an experience where I accidentally went into the wrong restroom. It is an uncomfortable situation, but I’m sure there are more people who have besides you and me. 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?First, a person must have a story to tell, one that insists on being told. If she is truly passionate about her story, learn the craft of writing and go for it. But most importantly ask: Is God nudging you to tell this story?
Tell us about the featured book. Echoes From the Past is book 2 in the Almond Tree Series. The hero and the heroine in this story were supporting characters in Book 1 For All Eternity.
When Dave Reyes, senior pastor of New Life Fellowship discovers he has a six-year-old daughter, his life changes forever. He must reveal the truth to the congregation, but will they fire him and send him away in shame?
Social worker Betty Ann Johnston still grieves over the death of her police officer husband. But when he returns from the grave to torment her, she struggles to maintain her sanity. Witnessing Dave's faith is her only source of strength. Will ghosts from her past destroy her, or will she find hope in the God of the Bible?
Please give us the first page of the book.Fatigue robbed Dave of the last ounce of energy. Though his stomach growled, he'd resort to the same menu as last night, some delectable dinner in a cardboard carton from the freezer—probably spaghetti and meatballs again. He plopped down on the couch under the picture window and released a long breath. In the cool April mornings, the shrub outside had already flowered with purple blossoms.
The spacious three-bedroom home the congregation provided was plenty comfortable, just too big for a bachelor. At the last elders' meeting, he didn't miss Mr. Crenshaw's implication, though cloaked in polite wording. Most pastors of a church the size of New Life had a wife and children.
Then the man's words had turned caustic. "Humph. If you want to know the truth, I question whether a twenty-nine-year-old single man can be equipped to effectively serve. How could you possibly understand parishioners who struggle with marriages or problems with children?" Mr. Crenshaw's language drilled into Dave like a dentist's tool. Thank the Lord the other elders seemed to ignore him and breezed right through the rest of the meeting.
Dave raised his hands in the air. He didn't have a woman in his life now and hadn't found the desire to go on the hunt for one. After that year in Los Angeles, God probably decided he couldn't be trusted with a relationship again, at least not anytime soon.
Sounds interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?http://www.junefoster.comhttp://junefoster.blogspot.comhttp://infinitecharacters.comhttps://www.amazon.com/author/junefosterhttps://twitter.com/vjifosterhttps://www.facebook.com/authorjunefosterhttp://whitefire-publishing.com/wordpress/authors/june-foster/http://desertbreezpublishing.comhttp://pinterest.com/junefosterhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755395.June_Foster

Thank you, June, for sharing this new book with us. I'm sure my readers will want to read the story. I know I will.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Echoes From the Past (The Almond Tree Series Book 2)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

SWORD OF FORGIVENESS - Debbie Lynne Costello - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve known Debbie Lynne Costello online for a number of years, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to her with the release of her debut novel.

Bio: Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was about eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.
Welcome, Debbie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.  I don’t think I write myself into my characters deliberately, but it would be pretty hard not  to write some of yourself into them because who I am affects my beliefs and my faith so I naturally write in that direction.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I started writing stories at a young age of about 8 but I never thought of myself as a writer. I took every writing class I could in high school and then journalism in college. But it wasn’t until about 8 years ago that I decided I wanted to write novels.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I enjoy reading my bible, some research books, anything in the 19th century and anything in medieval times.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I don’t! I always feel like things are crazy. God is the only thing that keeps me together.
How do you choose your characters’ names? I research the time period that my characters would have been born and try to find a name that fits the character running around in my head.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? My husband and I built the house we live in. I think that is probably my biggest accomplishment. We are now looking forward to building one last house in which we hope to retire.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Yikes! I’ve never thought about being an animal. I guess I would choose a horse. And anyone that knows me would have already guessed the answer to that. Why would I be a horse? In hopes that I would be chosen for the Lord to ride on in His return.
What is your favorite food? Chocolate covered coconut macaroons.
Yum! What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Marketing. It seems that today we have to sell ourselves and our books. I find that with all the social media, it’s hard to find the time to write. I don’t know that I have overcome it. I struggle daily to balance my everyday life and responsibilities with time for writing. The thing that does work best for me is to stay organized with a schedule and lists. They keep me on target.
Tell us about the featured book. After the death of her cruel father, Brithwin is determined never again to live under the harsh rule of any man. Independent and resourceful, she longs to be left alone to manage her father’s estate. But she soon discovers a woman has few choices when the king decrees she is to marry Royce, the Lord of Rosencraig. As if the unwelcome marriage isn’t enough, her new husband accuses her of murdering his family, and she is faced with a challenge of either proving her innocence or facing possible execution.

Royce of Hawkwood returns home after setting down a rebellion to find his family brutally murdered. When all fingers point to his betrothed and attempts are made on his life, Royce must wade through murky waters to uncover the truth. Yet Brithwin’s wise and kind nature begins to break down the walls of his heart, and he soon finds himself in a race to discover who is behind the evil plot before Brithwin is the next victim.
Please give us the first page of the book.A shudder slithered through her body. Was it a sin to find relief in his death? He couldn’t hurt her anymore. Surely God would not find fault with her. Perhaps her father’s sudden passing was God’s punishment for all the wrongs he had done her. The shuffling of feet brought her contemplations to a halt. 
“It’s all right to grieve, dear one—the tears will help you heal.” Pater, a follower of John Wycliffe and branded a Lollard, laid his hand on her shoulder.
Brithwin pushed aside her conflicting feelings. “You know there is no sorrow in me for his death. Only relief that he is gone and anger for what he has done.”
“Don’t let bitterness consume you. It will do your father no harm, but it will slowly drain the joy from your life, my child.”
Brithwin turned her head away from her father’s still form and looked into the empathetic eyes of a man who had suffered far greater than she at her father’s hand. She spoke the words anyway. “If anyone has a reason to be bitter, it is I. Isn’t a woman’s lot always bitterness?”
How can readers find you on the Internet? https://www.facebook.com/debbielynnecostellohttps://twitter.com/DebiLynCostellohttps://plus.google.com/+DebbieLynneCostello/postshttps://www.pinterest.com/debbielynne1/
Thank you for having me on your blog, Lena. I’m looking forward to meeting your followers.
Thank you, Debbie Lynne. They will enjoy getting to know you and your book, too.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sword of Forgiveness (Winds of Change) (Volume 1)- paperback
Sword of Forgiveness (Winds of Change Book 1) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. 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

LIKE A LOVE SONG - Camille Eide - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Camille. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write faith-inspiring love stories and relational dramas for women who might like to read authors such as Deborah Raney, Susan Meissner, Karen Kingsbury, Debbie Macomber, Jenny B. Jones, Robin Jones Gunn, Rachel Hauck, just to name a few. In my books, I hope you'll find love, heart-tugging drama, hope, inspiration, entertainment, and subtle sprinkles of wit and wisdom.
How has being published changed your life?Being traditionally published, for me, is only one (but gratifying) step in a continuing journey. The fact that I realize and accept this perhaps shows one of the biggest changes—which is a far deeper level of patience. Publishing doesn’t bring instant fame, fortune, adoration, validation, or credibility. By the time these things began to trickle in, I no longer wanted or needed them. I have grown far more confident through much hard work and perseverance, have grown to distinguish the difference between constructive and dart-game criticism.
What are you reading right now?I am barely able to read for fun right now because I’ve been going over edits on the audio version of Like There’s No Tomorrow (book #1), final edits and launch preparations for my next release, Like a Love Song (book #2), polishing up for submission The Memoir of Johnny Devine (book #3), AND working on a screenplay. And preparing for my son’s May wedding. But when I have a moment, I’m digging into Grace Intervention by Bill Giovannetti (non-fic) and Macy novel, by April McGowen. Recent reads include an ARC of the 1920s A Flying Affair (coming out June 2015) by Carla Stewart. Fascinating read!
What is your current work in progress? My third book, which I hope to contract soon, is a story set in 1953 called The Memoir of Johnny Devine. A WW2 widow hired to write an exclusive memoir lands on McCarthy’s hit list and must clear her name while trying not to fall in love with the born-again, ex-Hollywood heartthrob whose scandalous past keeps him too busy to notice her. Too busy, that is, until she discovers something he never meant for her to see.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I used to bake but the kids are grown and my hubby and I don’t need that stuff. Now, our ten-month-old granddaughter is my favorite hobby. We get to hang out with her on Sunday afternoons.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?I am my own worst critic. I have to work through disgust and despair and keep writing even if I’m sure what I’m writing is dumpster slime. Because it probably isn’t, and even if it is, I love to edit so it will be great eventually.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Read, study craft, read, study story, read, write, read. Study story and craft until your fingers bleed. Read good writing to train your instincts. Then trust your instincts.
Tell us about the featured book. When she finally surrenders her heart, will it be too late?
Sue Quinn, an ex social worker turned surrogate mom to a bunch of outcast teens, is desperate to save the group home she’s worked hard to build in Oregon’s outback. But now, she faces a dwindling staff, foreclosure, and old heartaches that won’t stay buried. Her only hope lies with the last person she’d ever turn to—a brawny handyman with a guitar, a questionable past, and a God he keeps calling Father.
Like a Love Song is a romantic drama about a fiercely loyal woman, some cast-off kids, and finding the courage to believe in a Love that never fails.
Like a Love Song received a 4 ½ star *Top Pick* Romantic Times Review (May).
That’s wonderful. Congratulations. Please give us a peek into the book.Adoption disrupted … undisclosed behaviors … inability to bond …
Susan Quinn squinted at the new girl’s bio as the words on the page swirled in a taunting blur. She rubbed her eyes and refocused on the meager document. She was in no frame of mind for processing the information about Juniper Ranch’s newest resident. Not after the unsettling confrontation she’d just had with her handyman. Or rather former handyman.
“Sue?” Bertie padded into Sue’s office, her footsteps muted by Birkenstocks. In spite of her hunched frame, the old woman got around like a flower-powered ninja. “She’s here.” Bertie peered out the window. “The new girl. But … I think you’d better come take a look.”
Sue dropped the sheet on her desk, adding it to the mounds of paperwork and overdue bills. What limbs she wouldn’t give for this transfer to go smoothly. But experience had taught her to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. With a sigh, she headed for the office’s outer door. “Wish me luck, Bert.”
Bertie offered her a waiver form. “Holler if you need me.”
Sue frowned at the paper. “Why do I need this? We’ll take care of everything in the office.”
“Wouldn’t bet on it.” Bertie nodded toward the window. “Look.”
Sue opened the door and peered outside.
A late model Escalade sat in the drive beyond the front lawn, engine still running. A man, barely visible behind tinted windows, remained in the car while an athletic-looking woman in designer warm-ups dropped two pink suitcases on the front porch of the main entrance. A black-haired girl stood beside the bags, shoulders cinched up so tight they nearly touched her ears.
Jasmine—the new girl.
Sue’s heart tripped.
The woman hurried back to the SUV. Halfway across the lawn she turned, said something to the girl, and then pointed to the front door.
Sue’s breath caught and stung. No. Please don’t. Not like that. Don’t just dump her and go. She rushed outside, down the steps, and across the lawn. “Hi, Mrs. Walker?”
The woman turned with a start. “Is this Juniper Ranch group home?”
“Yes.” As Sue approached, she glanced at Jasmine. The girl was as stiff as a fence post.
“We got lost trying to find the place.” Mrs. Walker crossed her arms like a shield. “Where do I sign?”
Sue couldn’t answer, could only gape. Bertie was right—the woman was ready to sign away her child on the hood of a car. Sue stole another look at Jasmine, who stared at the hot pink bags in silence.
Beyond the girl, curtains twitched in the den window, partially revealing the curious faces of Cori, Edgar, and Tatiana.
While Mrs. Walker signed papers, the man remained at the wheel, shoulder belt still fastened. It took the woman all of six minutes to complete the paperwork.
A new Juniper Ranch record.
Then the couple drove away. The Escalade’s brake lights didn’t blink once.
Sue joined Jasmine on the porch, feeling oddly connected to a girl who hadn’t uttered a word. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to breathe. She’d done this countless times and still didn’t have the words. What could she possibly say to a kid who had just been dumped off on a total stranger?
I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know the feeling. But you’re among friends here.
Sue inhaled the dry, sage-scented air, opened her eyes, and made a quick study of Juniper Ranch’s new girl.
Wafer thin. Cambodian, maybe Vietnamese. About eleven or twelve. Jasmine’s paperwork was a long maze of inconsistencies—which was not uncommon—so Sue would have to best-guess her age.
“Well, Jasmine.” Sue summoned a bright smile for a moment that was anything but. “You hungry? We’re not serving dinner for a while, but I bet I can find you a snack.”
The girl turned her gaze toward the long driveway leading away from Juniper Ranch. The ribbon of dust disturbed by the Escalade rose and spread slowly, drifting in the afternoon sun, bound to settle in some other place.
The pair of suitcases flanked Jasmine’s feet, price tags still attached. A couple of bags that held everything. And nothing. Much like the beat-up green Samsonite that had once followed Sue to more foster homes than she could count.
Sue’s stomach growled as she grabbed a suitcase. “All right, kiddo. Let’s get your stuff inside. We’ll get you set up in your new room.”
Jasmine turned then, her eyes almost level with Sue’s.
No shocker there. At five-two, Sue was used to meeting pre-teens eye to eye.
The girl’s face had no remarkable features. Some might even call it plain. Wide nose, small eyes. No abnormalities, no physical handicap that Sue could see. No sign of the kinds of imperfections that often made Mr. and Mrs. Disenchanted back out of an international adoption.
What fears haunt you, little friend? What coping quirks couldn’t they handle?
“I no need room.” A frown creased the girl’s brow. “I no—I not staying here.”
“Well, we can discuss that. Just not here on the front porch. Okay?” She softened the question with a gentle smile.
Jasmine’s frown deepened. Thick tears pooled, glittering in her dark eyes.
Oh, honey, no, please don’t do that … A quiet ache squeezed Sue’s heart. It wasn’t the first time she’d stood here on these weathered steps, a silent witness to the aftermath of a “disrupted” adoption. It came with the job. But no matter how many times she’d done this, she still couldn’t get used to watching a young heart break in the middle of her front porch.
Sue shifted the girl’s bag to her other hand and motioned with her head. “C’mon, kiddo. This way.” She opened the front door and went inside. If she hesitated or looked back, it wouldn’t work. “It’s not Disneyland,” Sue called over her shoulder, “but at least it’s a place where you can fit in.”
The door hung open, letting in the cool October air.
She headed for the stairs. “Fitting in” might be aiming a bit high. But Sue would do whatever it took to make Jasmine feel like there was one place in the world where she wouldn’t be an outsider. Sue reached the staircase and paused.
The tangy aroma of spaghetti sauce wafted through the foyer, sending another jab to her stomach. No sounds of footsteps came from the porch.
Dragging a girl inside and forcing her to stay wasn’t high on her list of favorite things to do. Come on, Jasmine. I’m offering you some dignity here. Please take it. Fighting the temptation to look, Sue took a deep breath and headed up the staircase, straining to hear sounds of Jasmine following.
Fourth step. Sixth.
Take it from me, little one. The sooner you learn to stop longing, the sooner the pain will go away. Trust me.
Ninth step.
The urge to look back reached a cresting point.
Then, shuffling footsteps and the click of the front door.
Sue exhaled, turned, and gave the skinny girl with the pink suitcase a smile. “C’mon, slowpoke. Follow me.”
Heartbreaking. How can readers find you on the Internet?Publisher: www.ashberrylane.comWebsite: www.camilleeide.comFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Camille-Eide-Author/134301859999367Twitter: www.twitter.com/CamilleEideEmail: Camille@camilleeide.comLike a Love Song on Amazon: ow.ly/K88dU
Thank you, Camille, for sharing this new book with us today. It’s the next book I’m going to read on my Kindle.

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