Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 202

WINTER BRIDES - Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney, Betsy St. Amant - One Free Book

Dear Reeders, we have a fun interview today. What could be more fun than a year of weddings? That’s exactly what Zondervan did this year, have a wedding novella per month. Now those novella’s are coming out in four collections. The first collection is Winter Brides, which released this month. And we have three of my favorite authors right here today.
Okay, how did this collection come about?The team at Zondervan/HarperCollins had the idea and issued invitations to a dozen authors for the series.
Are these stories connected in some way?The stories are connected by the wedding theme––each one has a wedding that takes place in the month of the title.
How does your story fit in with the others?Each story is completely different, and not connected to the others except by the bridal theme.
Who chose the setting for this collection?Each author chose her own setting.
What did you want the reader to take away from your story?DENISE: Layla from A December Bride, is a home stager—she furnishes houses with props prior to putting them on the market. Just like the “before” version of her houses, Layla feels deep down as if she’s not quite enough. I hope readers come away with a fresh sense of their true value.
DEB: The theme of A January Bride is that true love can happen a second time around, and God can redeem even the tragedies of life. It sounds like a rather heavy theme, but actually the story has more humor than any book I’ve ever written. I love how comedy softens tragedy in a very tender way in this story.
BETSY: A February Bride has a strong theme of restoration—both literally in the sense of a car being restored and a wedding dress remade, but also emotionally, in regards to the heroine’s internal struggle. I hope readers find a piece of their hearts restored after reading this novella.
Readers want to get to know the authors they read. Can you tell us three things my readers probably don’t know about you?DENISE:1. I play drums2. I love to travel the world.3. I can stand on my tiptoes. Now, there’s a valuable skill.
DEB:1. Much as I admire beautifully polished nails, I rarely get a manicure because my hands are always in garden dirt, refinishing furniture, baking, or typing.  2. I’ve become an orchid collector! My new office has a southern exposure that has proven to be magic for growing orchids.3. I play the piano by ear. When I took lessons as a kid, I lost my ability to play by ear, so I opted out of lessons after 3 years, and play for my own enjoyment. When our kids were small, the piano served as a wonderful stress reliever. My kids all knew if Mom was hammering out “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” on the piano, they’d better steer clear!
BETSY:1. I could eat chips and salsa quite happily ever day of the year.2. I know every single word to “Ice Ice Baby” and have rapped it on stage before.3. When I was eleven, I was nearly kidnapped in a bookstore.
Those are things even I never knew about you three. Please give us the first page of your story. DENISE––A December BrideLayla O’Reilly squeezed into a corner of the bustling kitchen of Cappy’s Pizzeria and leaned into the receiver.
“No, no, no. You cannot cancel on me now. The wedding’s in five hours. Five hours, Cooper.” She wound the spiral cord around her fist, a sweat breaking out on her forehead.
“Layla, I—”
“Don’t even tell me you have to work. I asked you over a month ago. You said you got the night off.”
“If you’d just let me talk. I have strep, Layla. I’m contagious. I have to be on an antibiotic for at least twenty-four hours before—”
“I’ll risk it.” She didn’t care if he had malaria. She was going to this wedding, and she was going with a date. Nothing said See, I’ve moved on like an attractive man draped on your arm.
“I feel like trash. I have a 102-degree fever and barbed wire in my throat.”
Layla took a deep breath, the familiar aromas of garlic and oregano filling her nose. She couldn’t believe this was happening. “Now that you mention it, you don’t sound so good.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know tonight’s a big deal.”
She closed her eyes. “It’s not your fault. The strep or the wedding.” She banged the receiver against her temple once, twice, three times. “I’ll bring you chicken soup tomorrow.”

DEB––A January Bride Glancing at the chaos around her, Madeleine Houser set her coffee mug on the dining room table and shoved another packing carton out of her path. It didn’t budge. She bent over and attempted to read the smudged label. Kitchen—good china. Oh. Good thing she’d resisted the temptation to kick the box.
Maddie looked into the kitchen where cupboards gaped open, hinges naked. The cabinet doors were lined up against the wall in the empty breakfast nook. Even after four days, the smell of wet enamel stung her nostrils. The flooring couldn’t be laid until the electrician fixed the mess he’d made of the wiring. And she didn’t dare put her china in the cupboards until all that was finished.
What had her sister gotten her into? Kate’s husband had been transferred to Ohio, but with their mother in the nursing home here in Clayton, Kate had begged her to leave her beloved New York loft and move into Kate and Jed’s house on Harper Street while it was being refurbished to sell. “You can write anywhere, Maddie,” Kate had pled in her best big-sister voice. “Besides, you can sublet the loft, and just think what you’ll save on the rent.”
So here she was in Clayton, Kansas—the middle of nowhere—proving quite soundly that one could not write just anywhere.
Lugging the carton of china out of the way, she wove her way through the maze of boxes and poured another cup of coffee. She blew a long strand of dishwater-blond hair out of her eyes and slid into a dining room chair. In the midst of the piles of books and boxes and unsorted mail strewn across the table, her laptop computer glared accusingly at her.
BETSY––A February Bride Allie Andrews couldn’t breathe, and it had nothing to do with the yards of tulle wrapped around her waist. Or the fact that the air conditioner in the crowded small-town, southern church was on the fritz again, resulting in the sporadic waving of wedding programs in front of flushed faces she’d seen when she peeked through the sanctuary window ten minutes earlier. No, her lack of breath had everything to do with the ticking clock. The literal one on the wall and the figurative one thumping an unsteady rhythm in her heart.
Married.
A bead of sweat trickled between her shoulder blades, sure to dampen the silky ivory fabric that cascaded down her back like a white-chocolate waterfall gone wrong. So wrong.
Married.
She twisted the stem of her rose bouquet and paced the faded orange carpet inside the bride’s room, her thoughts churning along with her breakfast. She slipped one heel out of her three-inch pump, anxiety tying her stomach into a knot that would make a Boy Scout proud.
Married.
It wouldn’t take much to toe off one shoe, then the other. Dig her painstakingly pedicured feet into the carpet for traction, grab the hem of this cursed dress, and just…bolt.
Better now than later, right?
Marcus. She couldn’t do that to Marcus.
But wasn’t marrying him doing him worse?
She strode to the window overlooking the gravel parking lot and stared at the onslaught of cars baking in the late September sun. It was a good turnout. Looked as if half of Beaux Creek had shown up. There were probably loads of gifts on the covered table in the reception hall by now—a forever-sentimental collection of floral-patterned china she’d rarely use, gift cards to home repair stores, and likely more than one toaster and blender. All gifts she’d have to return if she let her toes touch the carpet.
But would dividing them up in a divorce property settlement however many years down the road be any easier?
She started to turn away, then squinted at her reflection, seeing skin at her shoulder where there should be lace. Oh no…yes. She twisted for a better view. A tiny tear, right on the seam of the sleeve. Her heart stammered.
I can’t wait to read the rest of each story. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?DENISE:www.DeniseHunterBooks.comI’m very active on Facebook and love to connect with my readers there: www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter
DEB:Website: www.deborahraney.comBlog: I blog with 9 other authors at http://www.inspiredbylifeandfiction.comI also have a blog of novelists’ garden spots at http://novelgarden.blogspot.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.raney  Twitter: @authordebraneyInstagram: http://instagram.com/deborahraneyPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney
BETSY:www.betsystamant.comwww.writergetsreal.blogspot.comI’m on facebook with an author page of Betsy St. Amant and also Twitter @betsystamant

Thank you, Denise, Deb, and Betsy, for sharing this book with us. I know each of my readers will want to read this collection.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Winter Brides: A Year of Weddings Novella Collection - 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

LAST FAMILY STANDING - Jennifer AlLee - One Free Book

BIO: Jennifer AlLee was born in Hollywood, California, and spent her first ten years living above a mortuary one block away from the famous intersection of Hollywoodand Vine. Now she lives in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas, which just goes to prove she’s been blessed with a unique life. When she’s not busy spinning tales, she enjoys playing games with friends, attending live theater and movies, and singing at the top of her lungs to whatever happens to be playing on the car radio. She's a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Christian Authors Network, and the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. Her novels include The Pastor’s Wife, The Mother Road, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, Last Family Standing, and the upcoming Vinnie’s Diner (4/15) from Abingdon Press; Diamond in the Rough, Vanishing Act, and Curtain Call from Whitaker House and co-written with Lisa Karon Richardson; and the novella Comfort and Joy in the Christmas anthology, Mistletoe Memories, from Barbour.
Welcome back, Jennifer. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?I see a very interesting path! I’m at the point now where I don’t have a set contract for anything, so I’m embarking on indie publishing. I’ve got a contemporary series I’m putting together and hope to release it early next year. But I’m not abandoning traditional publishing. For me, the goal is to do both well.
Tell us a little about your family.Sorry, I have to brag about my son. He’s 21 and will be graduating from UNLV next month with a major in computer science. He’s funny and smart and has a huge heart. I’m incredibly proud of the young man he’s grown into.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?It’s become very hard for me to read a book simply for the fun of it. I find myself wanting to edit everything. Also, because of the amount of time I spend writing, I have less time for reading. But I squeeze it in wherever I can.
What are you working on right now?I just finished a Christmas novella, Nutcracker Christmas, so I’m promoting that. And I’m working on the first book of a contemporary romance series. That’s the one I plan to indie publish.
What outside interests do you have?I enjoy playing table top games with friends, going to movies, and attending live theatrical productions. Also, I’m strangely addicted to the online game Candy Crush Saga. I play it on my tablet right before I go to sleep, and then first thing when I wake up. I’ve found quite a few of my friends share in this addiction. Maybe we should form a support group. LOL
How do you choose your settings for each book?I generally choose settings that feel right for that particular story. If I can, I like to choose a place I’ve been before. Two of my novels (The Mother Road and Last Family Standing ) start in a place I’m familiar with and then move out into unknown territory. For those, I do lots of research on the places I haven’t been, because I really want to get it right.
Me, too. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?Nikola Tesla. I find him fascinating because he was, by all accounts, a genius inventor, but you don’t learn about him in school. At least I didn’t. I’d love to know more about him, direct from the source.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?How long everything takes. In most cases, almost every step of this journey takes longer than you expect it to. Knowing that wouldn’t have kept me from writing novels, but at least I wouldn’t have thought “Is it just me?”
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?It seems like he’s always teaching me patience. That’s the eternal lesson for me! But now, specifically, it’s trust. Because my future is less laid out and defined than it’s ever been, but I have to trust that he’s taking care of me. Sometimes, that’s a scary place to be, but I’m learning.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Prepare to wait – If your goal is traditional publishing, the process takes a while. It averages about two years from the time your book is accepted to the time it’s released to readers. Use that time wisely. In other words, keep writing.
Don’t follow trends – Whatever is popular today probably won’t be by the time your book is ready for publication (see above). Write what you love, what you’re passionate about. It may not be a hot property today, but it will have its day.
Write, write, write – Successful writers write. It’s the best way to hone your craft, the best way to communicate with readers, the best use of your time while waiting for the next contract. If you feel like giving up, don’t. Write something instead.
Tell us about the featured book. Last Family Standing is about a woman who gave up a baby for adoption. It’s twenty-five years later, and that child is now back in her life. Here’s the blurb:
Every family has drama ... but it doesn’t usually play out on national television.
Twenty-five years ago, Monica gave up a baby girl for adoption. Now, the thing Monica didn’t dare hope for has happened. Jessica has reentered her life ... and wants to meet her. There’s just one catch: the reunion must happen on a reality TV show. Though Monica has hesitations, she’s willing to swallow her pride—and a few other unsavory items—if that’s what it takes to connect with her daughter.
Between the unpleasant surprises of nature, the awkward tension with other cast mates, and her desperate attempts to do or be anything remotely athletic, Monica quickly learns that reality bites … hard. It all might make for good TV, but it isn’t very helpful in building relationships. As she stumbles through challenges and faces buried emotions and regrets, Monica wonders if she can be what her daughter wants and needs—and is that more than just a teammate? Can Monica and Jessica ever really be the Last Family Standing ?
Please give us the first page of the book.“Your daughter’s on television.”
“What?” I just about drop the spoon I’m using to stir my custard mixture. Is this a joke? A wrong number? I pull my cell phone away from my ear and read the ID on the screen. Nope. That’s Jules’s name, right under the picture of her wearing a red, white, and blue stovepipe hat at last year’s July 4th picnic.
“Monica? Are you there?”
Her voice calls through the speaker, and I slowly put the phone back to my ear. “Yeah. I’m here.”
“Did you hear what I said?”
I close my eyes and shake my head, as if that will bring some clarity to my mind. It doesn’t work. “I heard, but ... are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I recorded it to the DVR so you can see for yourself.”
Leave it to Jules to think of the practical answer to my questions. “I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll leave the porch light on.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’m kind of all over the place. I love to hear from readers, so here are my links:
Email:   jallee725@hotmail.com Website:  http://www.jenniferallee.com Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Author.Jennifer.AlLeeTwitter:  @JenniferAlLeeGoodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030589.Jennifer_AlLeePintrest:  http://www.pinterest.com/jenallee  Blog:  http://www.inkwellinspirations.com

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your new book with us. It's at the top of my to-be-read pile.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Last Family Standing - Amazon

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

LORI'S REDEMPTION - Pamela S Thibodeaux - One Free Ebook

Bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” 

Welcome back, Pamela. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I write to share my passion for God and His message of hope and healing to a hurting world and since I love … well … love, I write romances to share my beliefs in love everlasting and happy ever after.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?Other than the births of my children two days stand out most in my memory: The day I married my (now deceased) husband and the birth of my first grandchild. Both brought gifts beyond measure.
How has being published changed your life?Other than making me busier than a person should be allowed, I don’t believe being published has changed my life much … unless you count the many wonderful friendships I’ve encountered which may not have happened otherwise.
What are you reading right now?I always have a stack of reading and To Be Read material by my bed and on my kindle including spiritual non-fiction and of course romance.
What is your current work in progress?I have several fiction and 2 nonfiction projects in various stages of completion and a whole host of ideas waiting to be developed.
What would be your dream vacation?I have several of those but if I had to pick, my dream vacation would be a trip to Irelandand the Cliffs of Moher.
How do you choose your settings for each book?Settings are as varied as the characters and story and each come to me in numerous ways. For instance, Lori’s Redemption is a spinoff of my novel, Tempered Fire so it had to be set in Bandera, Texas. However, I’d heard of a town in Wyoming called Recluse and thought it would be interesting to set a story there. Since Lori travels the rodeo circuit I managed to bring both places into focus in this story.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Nora Roberts. I’d love to know how she manages to be so prolific and still find time to relax and I’d enjoy finding if she has a favorite story (or stories) out of all the books she’s written.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?Horseback riding tops the list but I also enjoy swimming, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?I know writing daily is recommended but to be honest, making time to write is the biggest obstacle I face at this point in my life and career. I haven’t overcome it completely and am actually looking forward to the New Year because I’ll have a lot of unfinished projects off my To Do list and time will be freed up for me to write. Believe me, I am READY to get into a regular habit of doing so!
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Write the book of your heart, stay true to your voice and style, be flexible and teachable, write for the love of writing, continually hone your craft, never give up!
Tell us about the featured book. [image error] Lori Strickland (introduced in Tempered Fire) has always been known as her father's "wild child" with no desire to change until she meets ex-bull-rider-turned-preacher Rafe Judson. Her attempts to change her wanton ways come to naught until she realizes redemption only comes with true repentance.
Please give us the first page of the book.Eager for fresh air, Lori Strickland pulled on her tights, shorts, and slid leg warmers over her calves. A hooded sweatshirt covered her tank top. Thick socks and tennis shoes completed her outfit and she left her bedroom ready for her morning run. She slipped out the door, careful not to wake her parents feeling safe in knowing ranch hands would be stirring about and watch out for her as she traipsed the perimeters of her home. She stretched then started out at a slow jog then picked up her pace to match the whirlwind of her thoughts.
Through all the years of strife and turmoil, those tumultuous teenage years, running remained the one consistency in her life. Probably because it mirrored her desire to get away from the repressive atmosphere of small town existence. There wasn’t much to do in Bandera, Texas. Nothing she hadn’t done hundreds, maybe thousands of times already. Lori hated it, loathed every moment of being stuck in the rut of her reality. High school was a drag. The day she graduated, a year behind her peers, she took off to work in various low-paying, dead-end jobs in San Antonio, hoping the big city would add spice to her life. Unable to support herself or survive without financial help from her father, she succumbed to his pressure and enrolled in community college then moved back home. Now, two years later she still had no degree, no real job, and no clue what to do with her life.
So glad its Saturday; no school today. Relief swept through her. Lori eased her frantic stride into a much smoother gait and took slow, deep breaths that heaved out in wisps of fog in the chilly air. She rolled her head and shoulders in an attempt to shake off the tension which built and crested with her thoughts. and took in the sights, smells and sounds around her.
The rich, damp earth tickled her nostrils. A hint of spring teased her senses; its fullness and warmth only a few weeks away.  Soon she’d be able to forego the tights, legwarmers, and sweat shirt for her customary shorts and tank or sleeveless t-shirt. Roosters crowed and horses neighed their welcome, night creatures scurried into nests and dens. Before long, more than ranch hands would be out and about. Traffic would increase as people made their way to work or family outings. This was her favorite time of day, when night gave way to morning. Lori slowed her pace as the sun peeked over the horizon and turned the sky into a masterpiece of contrast. Light and color battled the darkness, a hint of yellow, a burst of pink then peach, and finally orange. Lori didn’t think of herself as a spiritual person. Oh, she attended church, twice on Sunday and again on Wednesday as she had all of her life, but found the routine stifling. But in this slice of time when darkness gave way to radiance and shadows turned from possibilities into reality, her spirit soared and she hoped one day God would shed some light on His purpose for her life.
A ray of sunshine glinted off an object and caught the corner of her eye. Lori turned to her right and stared out over the arena where barrels sat, aligned in a perfect V-shape. A thought sparked. Rodeo.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com   Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.comFace Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeauxTwitter: http://twitter.com/psthib@psthib
Thank you, Pamela, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book.Purchase Links for Lori’s Redemption Kindle http://amzn.to/1CPrpHoNook http://bit.ly/16bn7JnSmashwords http://bit.ly/1a1Mm6qDeeper Shopping http://bit.ly/14Hm4Cs

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

SECRETS AND LIES - Janet Sketchley - One Free Book

Bio: Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Preyand Secrets and Lies , two novels of suspense and redemption. She also blogs about faith and books. Janet loves adventure stories, worship music, tea, and Formula 1 racing. Like Carol in Secrets and Lies , she loves music and tea. Unlike Carol, Janet isn't related to a dangerous offender, has a happy home life, and has never been threatened by a drug lord. May those tidbits continue to hold true! You can find Janet online at janetsketchley.ca. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join Janet's writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.
Welcome back, Janet. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I like to explore how Christians face their problems, or how a non-believer might discover the difference Christ makes. And suspense or adventure just makes the story more fun for me.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?The day I married my high school sweetheart JOur sons' births and holding my first novel were pretty special too!
How has being published changed your life?Being signed by a traditional publisher gave me a sense of validation as an author, and reader response has strengthened that. I'm more confident in that role now, which is good because promotion is a new part of my life. Striking out on my own as an independent (self-published) author has taught me many new things about the process and increased my confidence as I hold the finished product in my hands.
What are you reading right now?I'm reading a non-fiction book, Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking, by Susan Cain. And I'm about to dive into Davis Bunn's new suspense novel, The PatmosDeception.
What is your current work in progress?I'm working on book 3 of the Redemption's Edge series, No Safe Place. Right now I'm in that exciting discovery phase.
What would be your dream vacation?Viking Cruises just announced a new ocean cruise, Into the Midnight Sun, that explores the Norwegian fjords and follows the Viking routes to Scotland. My husband and I have been dreaming about this one. Not sure if I'd like the bigger ocean vessels, but we loved our European river cruise this year!
That sounds like fun, since my father’s family are descendants of the Vikings. How do you choose your settings for each book?Significant parts of my first novel, and most of the one I'm working on now, are set in Nova Scotia, Canada. This is my home turf, and it feels easier to write about it. Other settings are chosen by the plot. For example, Secrets and Lies is set in Toronto, Canada, because that's where the heroine, Carol, and her brother grew up. They grew up there because in Heaven's Prey I wanted a large Canadian city with reasonable road access to the eastern US.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?My favourite living author is Timothy Zahn, science fiction writer and master of the twist ending. I'm sure he could teach me a few things to improve my storycraft.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I enjoy knitting and cross-stitch, a fine cup of tea, and worship music.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Right now it's making time to actually write, instead of networking, marketing, and all the other things that go with being an author. My strategy is to write first, after a brief check of email, and to tackle the other things later in the day. I've set Monday evenings aside for writing weekly blog posts, so the short-term deadlines don't crowd out the long-term novel progress.
Sounds like a good plan to me. What advice would you give to a beginning author?Keep writing, connect with other writers, and keep learning. Consciously enjoy the process, instead of investing all your hope in publication. Also, it's an advantage to have two or even more manuscripts ready to go when your first one is accepted, because you'll have a lot less time to write once the edits and the promotion begin. The editing process is your friend, because fresh eyes will see many things yours have missed.
Tell us about the featured book. A single mother must protect her teenage son—from organized crime and from himself.
Carol Daniels thinks she out-ran her enemies, until a detective arrives at her door with a warning from her convict brother. Minor incidents take on a sinister meaning. An anonymous phone call warns her not to hide again.
Now she must cooperate with a drug lord while the police work to trap him. Carol has always handled crisis alone, but this one might break her. Late-night deejay Joey Hill offers friendship and moral support. Can she trust him? One thing's certain. She can't risk prayer.
Please give us the first page of the book.Carol jolted upright, eyes wide in the dark. She searched for familiar touchstones to pull her back to reality. The faint light outlining her bedroom curtains. The red digits on her clock radio, mocking her with the hours left until dawn. The two dark rectangles on her bureau — Paul's and Keith's school photos.
Her hands ached. It took a conscious act of will to release her two-fisted grip on the sheets.
Paul.
The afterimages of Carol's dream burned in her imagination. Her sixteen-year-old son, larger than life on a brightly-lit stage, arms raised to embrace the crowd's cheers, electric guitar draped low across his hips. An oversized brown leather jacket hung open over his faded T-shirt and jeans.
Carol knew that jacket. Butter-soft Italian calfskin, steeped in beer and Old Spice, nicked and scraped here and there and with a cigarette burn inside the left cuff.
Skip's jacket. Paul's father's.In her dream she'd stood beside her son, but Paul only had eyes for his fans. An almost palpable energy radiated from his body — the same power trip that took Skip whenever he performed. With the same cost to those who loved him.
How can readers find you on the Internet?The best place to find me is my website: http://janetsketchley.ca/, and readers interested in suspense can sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.Other relevant links:Secrets and Lies page: http://janetsketchley.ca/books/secrets-and-lies/Sample Chapter: http://janetsketchley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Secrets-and-Lies-Chapter-1.pdfFacebook: www.facebook.com/JanetSketchleyTwitter: twitter.com/JanetSketchleyAmazon Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/janetsketchley Pinterest: pinterest.com/janetsketchley/
Thank you, Janet, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here are purchase links to the book:Createspace https://www.createspace.com/5018627Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Lies-Redemptions-Edge-Novel/dp/0993874320/Kindle US http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Lies-Redemptions-Edge-Novel-ebook/dp/B00OU06LHM/Kindle Canadahttp://www.amazon.ca/Secrets-Lies-Redemptions-Edge-Novel-ebook/dp/B00OU06LHM/Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/secrets-and-lies-31Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-and-lies-janet-sketchley/1120629836?ean=2940046279672B&N 
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

SWEPT AWAY - Cindy Loven - One Free Book

Dear Readers, here’s another debut author.
Welcome Cindy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. In Swept Away , I do see characteristics of myself in Sari (Grandma) she loves the things I love, but she was truthfully patterned off a combination of both of my grandmothers.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Got married at a quarter to midnight by the county judge AFTER  buying the marriage license at 10:30 pm the same evening.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I have been making up and telling stories for years, while working with children in Sunday School and children's church. I began writing book reviews six years ago, but I have always written in a journal since I was a teen.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Suspense and mystery are my favorite, contemporary is next. The only books I do not read much of are sci-fi and fantasy novels.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I am not sure I do some days, but there comes a time when you just have to slow down and stop.  Saying no and being choosy about the things I volunteer to do, helps keep the insanity at a manageable level.
How do you choose your characters’ names? I just go with names I like. For Swept Away , I chose the town I wanted my characters to live near, and then chose a form of that name as their last name (Morgantown, Morgan)
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Wow, just one. I think I have to say that I am proud of homeschooling my son through graduation.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A cat, it is all about the attitude.
What is your favorite food? Chicken, I love it, could eat chicken every day and not get tired of it.  
My husband and I eat a lot of chicken, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? For me personally, grammar is my enemy, and the rules of writing, and I am pretty positive I have not overcame it.  
Tell us about the featured book. He survived a life-altering event. She is facing one.
Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her grandmother who doesn’t want to be cared for. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.
Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter.
It doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.
Please give us the first page of the book.Sara Jane Morgan gasped for breath, scanning the crowded pathways. Everyone showed up for the Heritage Festival, which was good for the artists and vendors, but bad for her.
Especially considering . . .
No. She couldn’t voice her concerns. At least not yet. But losing a loved one in this mob would cause anyone to panic. This was why mothers kept their toddlers locked securely in strollers and older children attached to harnesses with straps.
But one couldn’t exactly fasten a grandmother to a leash. And Sara Jane, being a grown woman, shouldn’t be having a panic attack.
She pulled in a shaking breath and forced herself to calm down. She could handle this. Stepping to the side of the paved walkway, she let a woman pushing a double stroller pass, then a man driving a motorized wheelchair. She feigned interest in the open-air tent beside her. A display of corncob dolls. People still made them?
Well, this was the Appalachians. There were tourists here from all over the country who expected to find mountain handcrafts for sale.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/authorcindylovenTwitter handle: @cndlovenBlog: http://cindylovenwrites.blogspot.comPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cndloven/Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Loven/e/B00J54NEQY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Swept Away: Quilts of Love Series - 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!!!!

Melody (TX) is the winner of  The Westward Christmas Brides  by Susan Page Davis.
Frances (FL) is the winner of  A Side of Faith  by Krista Phillips.
Ola (NC) is the winner of  Where Treetops Glisten  by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, Sarah Sundin.
Jennifer (TX) is the winner of  Heart of Petra  by Hilarey Johnson.

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. 

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SOMEBODY LIKE YOU - Beth K Vogt - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when this book arrived at my house, I was eager to read it. I had written a series about identical triplets, and this one is about identical twins. I’m always interested in reading about multiples. I had really enjoyed Beth’s first two books, so I knew I would like it. This book takes the reader deep into emotional places that really grip their hearts. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. You won’t want to miss it.
Welcome back, Beth. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I tell people I write “real life” romances. By this I mean that I don’t avoid the reality that relationships are messy. I believe there is more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us – and I like to write the stories that tell the truth: happily ever afters happen without the benefit of fairy godmothers.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? The happiest day of my life … oh how to answer that? The happiest day of my life is today … because I am so fully aware of all the blessings I’ve experienced – and yes, some of those blessings were once overwhelming challenges I faced that made me question my faith. Not doubt God, no, but question in a way so that I grew closer to him.
How has being published changed your life? I’m either on deadline or just off-deadline or waiting for edits to come back from my editor. That’s different. And I’ve also wrestled with self-confidence in a whole new way – reviews will do that to you. But I’ve learned to anchor my sense of worth more and more to who God says I am.
What are you reading right now? Oh, so many things! Becky Wade’s Undeniably Yours. Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney. Tornado Hunter (for research) and Loves Come Calling by Siri Mitchell, which I had to put aside while I was on deadline.
What is your current work in progress? I’m working on a novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, which will launch my Destination Wedding series for Howard Books in 2015.
What would be your dream vacation? My husband and I are planning that right now. We’re hoping to go to Veniceand yes, I hope we can take a gondola ride.
How do you choose your settings for each book? My first three novels and one novella were all set in Colorado, which is where I live. Coloradois a beautiful state with so many possibilities for story settings. For the Destination Wedding Series, I researched top destination wedding locations in the U.S.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?Oh, I am never good at these “pick one” questions. I’m going to go with the outside the box answer that came to mind: Dick Van Dyke. I remember watching the Dick Van Dyke show as a little girl (yes, I’m dating myself) and all of my kiddos have watched the black and white TV series on DVD – and laughed out loud, just like I did. He’s a talented, versatile actor who has had struggles. He’s a comedian who has made decades of audiences laugh – and laughter is my favorite sound. It would be fun to sit down and talk with him about his life. There, nothing deep or philosophical about my answer. But I’m juggling a number of projects right now, so I probably can’t do “deep” at this moment.
My husband and I love the various parts Dick Van Dyke has played. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I enjoy walking/hiking. Colorado is great for that. And I love to watch cooking shows, although I don’t spend all that much time in the kitchen! Another favorite pastime is spending time with my close girlfriends. Not all are writers, but they’re very patient with me when I talk story.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? Interruptions! Real life – and real people whom I love -- have a way of intruding on my fictional worlds and imaginary characters. And interruptions disrupt the creative flow. So I’m constantly battling with trying to find uninterrupted writing time and reestablishing my focus when I’ve lost it.
What advice would you give to a beginning author? As writers, we often talk about pursuing our dreams and we celebrate when those dreams come true. Once you sign on the contractual dotted line and embrace deadlines, living the dream becomes doing the work. The challenge is balancing the two: remembering the joy of the dream and persevering through the work.
Tell us about the featured book. Somebody Like You asks the question: Can a young widow fall in love with her husband’s reflection? Haley Ames discovers four months after her husband’s death that he has a twin brother – a startlingly identical twin brother who shows up on her front doorstep one evening. The novel examines complicated relationships – both the possibility of a romance between Haley and Stephen, as well messy family relationships.
Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.This conversation wasn’t going to be easy.
Haley pulled off the faded fatigue-patterned ball cap, twisting it in her hands as she approached the front counter of the gun club. Thick arms crossed over his barrel chest, her boss chatted with Frank, a club regular.
“Wes, I need to talk to you—”
The man wrapped up his conversation with a gravelly laugh before clapping the guy on his back and focusing on her. “There a problem, Hal?”
A glass display case separated them, filled with two shelves of handguns—ranging from .32 caliber to 9mm—that members could rent for use on the range or purchase. “I need to talk to you about taking maternity leave.”
“Now?” Wes stopped prepping to count up the day’s take. “I thought the baby wasn’t due for a few more months.”
“Not until April.” She scuffed the faded patch of carpet with the toe of her brown cowboy boot. “But I need to get off the range.”
“What’s bothering you?” Wes dumped his unlit cigar in a spotless ceramic ashtray.
Haley twisted one of the strands of hair that had slipped free from her ponytail. “One of the women in the gun safety class asked if it was safe for a pregnant woman to be on the range.”
“Is that all?” He dismissed her concern with a wave of his beefy hand. “Of course it’s safe. We have the best ventilation system in town.”
“But what about the noise? I hadn’t even thought about that.” Repositioning the hat on her head, she rubbed the palms of her hands along the front of her sweatpants. “I wear stuff to protect my eyes and ears—but it’s not like I can soundproof my belly. I haven’t read a lot of the information online, but I do know unborn babies hear sounds.”
“So what are you telling me? You want to quit because your baby might be bothered by the noise?”
“I didn’t say quit. But maybe ... a leave of absence? Just to be safe?”
“You know I’m short-staffed as it is, Hal. Who am I going to get to teach your classes?”
“How about I make a few phone calls? Maybe someone at the Olympic Training Center might know of a competitive shooter looking for part-time work. And maybe I can do some shifts behind the counter. Let’s both sleep on it and talk tomorrow or the next day, okay?”
A few moments later, Haley stuffed her gear bag into the backseat of her Subaru Forester, standing to stretch the ever present ache in her lower back. One more decision to make—and no one to talk it over with. She couldn’t even ask someone to help her remember to make the phone calls—except for the virtual assistant on her iPhone.
Why couldn’t that woman in her class mind her own business? Most people didn’t even notice she was pregnant, especially when she wore one of Sam’s baggy chamois shirts.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Twitter: @bethvogtAuthor Facebook page – where I keep readers updated on contests and new releasesWebsite – and my blog about quotes, In Others’ WordsPinterest

Thank you, Beth, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Somebody Like You: A Novel - 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

THE BOUND HEART - Dawn Crandall - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Dawn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?I write historical romantic suspense from the first person point of view of the heroine. They’re set in New England during the Gilded Age (1890s), but the characters do travel to other locations as well. I adore writing my books from the first person point of view of my heroine, and then introducing her to and convincing her to fall in love the hero, who is usually the last person she would ever see herself falling in love with.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?Definitely last March, the day my son was born.
How has being published changed your life?I really don’t feel like having my books published has changed my life much, but that might be because I’m so distracted by the baby who takes up so much of my time and attention!
What are you reading right now?A Lady at Willwgrove Hall by Sarah Ladd.
What is your current work in progress?I’m still working on the third book in The Everstone Chronicles series, The Captive Imposter, from Whitaker House. After this series in complete, I’m hoping to continue writing stories for a few other characters introduced in this series.
What would be your dream vacation?I would love to spend a summer in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island—which is where Acadia National Park is located.
How do you choose your settings for each book?My husband is from Maine, and we go there every summer. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Maine and all of New Englandas we would drive through.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?Writing books while having a seven-month-old baby around! I keep my notebook near, and also oftentimes write my chapters on my iPhone.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Join ACFW! I would not be published if I did not join ACFW and go to my first national conference where I met my agent.
Tell us about the featured book. One accidental kiss. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her friend Lawry Hampton. However, with Vance out of the country and Lawry constantly at her side, Meredyth can’t help but wonder if what’s holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from their unfortunate past.
When Vance comes home to stake his claim on Meredyth, will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she’s convinced she deserves? Or will she find the strength to accept that God’s plan for her life could include redemption... and quite possibly the love of her best friend?
Please give us the first page of the book.June 19, 1885, Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, Maine“Come on, Meredyth…” Vance Everstone urged with a smile.
“Only if you go first,” I called down as I sat upon a large boulder, positioned higher than his broad six-foot frame.
Vance suddenly seemed so grown up as he gazed at me with that crooked grin. In that moment, I had the first inkling of what it might be like to have Vance Everstone fall in love with me. I had loved him, had waited for him to love me—for years while I’d been at boarding school, and then as I’d suffered through my first season while he’d finished his last year at Harvard.
I wasn’t truly afraid of going into the cave or of anything that might be inside those familiar caverns. They were accessible only during low tide along the coastline of my family’s summer cottage on Mount Desert Island. However, Vance didn’t know anything about my fears or the lack thereof. All he knew, as evidenced in his eyes, was that I had changed in the last year.
And I had changed. I would soon turn nineteen, and I’d finally grown up enough for Vance Everstone to notice me. I was finally more than just my brothers’ little sister.
We’d known each other since the day I was born. Every summer, our families would sail from Boston to Bar Harbor to enjoy the cooler weather. And for as long as I could remember, the boys had ruled the summers: the three Everstone brothers, my three older brothers, and Lawry Hampton, whose family lived in the house between the Everstones and the Summercourts.
This left me with only Estella Everstone, who had just turned fifteen, and Ainsley Hampton, who was only twelve. It was apparent, at least to Vance, why I would want to seek out his company that day. He was the most intriguing person in the whole bunch, and he knew it well.
Vance’s only response to my declaration was a hooded look, added to the assertive gaze he’d already been giving me. I knew he could see my wet and sandy bare feet, as well as my ankles. The very same ankles he’d seen above those bare feet my entire life.
Instead of tucking my feet beneath my petticoats, I lifted them an inch higher. I extended my right foot, moving it this way and that, and laughed. “What dirty feet I have!”
He took a step closer to the high rock I sat upon and grabbed my foot, gently brushing off the sand. Then he did the same for my left.
The touch of his hands on my skin made me uncomfortable, but instead of shying away from the feeling, I wanted more. It became almost addictive.
When he finished brushing off the caked-on sand, he placed his hands firmly upon my ankles and positioned my feet against his chest, particles of sand getting all over his white shirt. He stood there, holding my ankles, staring at me with a new look in his eyes. One I’d never seen before.
I didn’t know what it meant, but I wanted to find out.
He suddenly let go of my ankles and stepped back. I wasn’t prepared for this, and I slid down the gently sloped rock, landing upon my feet directly before him.
His deep brown eyes took me in, and he repeated his question: “I dare you to go into the cave, all the way to the back—where it’s deepest and darkest.”
It was the same request, the same exact phrase we’d always taunted each other with, ever since we were children, playing together on those very rocks. However, with no one else present, it sounded like a completely different kind of question.
With a brand-new, soaring self-confidence, I stood my ground. “I’m not going in there alone.”
It took him a few seconds of deliberating to decide whether to remain standing only inches from me or to do as I’d requested.
“Mere.” He almost choked on my name. He surprised me by taking my hand and leading me into the familiar crevice of the tall, mountainous rocks. It really wasn’t that dark in the caves during the morning hours, and so we could see as we followed the rough, uneven floor of the cave until it narrowed—and that was where we stopped.
“When did you get so beautiful?” In the time it had taken for him to lead me to this place, my confidence had doubled, if not tripled. I loved the way I felt with his eyes on me.
Knowing that I’d produced that look created a new power within that I hadn’t known I possessed until that moment. I stepped closer, testing it.
“I must say, this old dress makes you appear rather…uncivilized.” Vance fingered the tattered ruffles of my torn-up, ratty dress and then my collarbone just above them. Emboldened, I took his other hand and placed it at my waist. Since I wore a corset under my dress, I really didn’t think I would be that affected by this touch—but that was before both his hands were sliding up and down the material of the bodice.
Watching Vance’s face as he apparently enjoyed himself pushed my new feelings along and made me wonder, if he liked touching my feet and my waist, what else would he enjoy?
I soon found out. His fingers grazed my arms, traveling upward, past my collarbone again, then tunneled through my hair at the back of my neck, setting my long tresses free.
“Vance.” His name upon my lips darkened the desire on his face. I had yet to touch him after years of wanting to, and I was deliriously happy to find I could now make him want me.
My hands were behind me, pressed against the rough wall, out of the way. For all my bold thoughts, I didn’t know if he would welcome my doing the same things to him…or if I dared. This was all too new, and while he was enjoying my newfound beauty, which I had presented to him willingly, I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to enjoy him in the same ways.
It was simply enough to enjoy him with my eyes.
“Meredyth, where are your hands?” he breathed.
I pulled them out from behind me, palms up, between us, splaying my fingers for him to see.
“What are you doing with them?”
“Nothing.”
“I noticed,” he said with a smile. He took hold of them and caressed my palms with his lips, then moved on to my wrists, which made my blood boil.
Without another thought, I put my arms around his neck, drew his face to mine, and kissed his lips. It was a tentative, almost innocent, first kiss, but when I realized how ardently he kissed me back, my boldness grew once again. I pressed myself to him, clutching his neck. I let him delve deeper and deeper into that kiss until it was all I knew.
Finally, Vance Everstone wanted me. Surely, he loved me.
I sank into the kiss, relishing the power of the emotions I’d evoked from him, kissing him back with equal desire. He pressed me against the hard, jagged wall. The force of the rocks in my back, and his groping hands as he grabbed at my skirts, brought me to my senses.
“Vance.” I pushed at him with my fists.
His ragged breath passed my ear as he kissed my neck, not slowing in his exploration of my skin.The balance of control had suddenly shifted, and my confidence turned to distress.
I tried to break free from his kiss, from his ever-searching grasps of my skirt. “Vance!”
He didn’t listen; he only continued to kiss me more urgently. I didn’t know how to stop him. I’d set this in motion without having the power to stop it. Shame replaced my earlier courage as the course of my actions became all too clear. I’d led him to that cave—to me—never knowing where my actions were headed.
Until it was too late.
Quite a dilemma. How can readers find you on the Internet?Facebook: facebook.com/DawnCrandallWritesFirst
Book Review Blog: www.APassionforPages.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dawnwritesfirst
Twitter: @dawnwritesfirst / www.twitter.com/dawnwritesfirst
Author Website: www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com

Thank you, Dawn, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Bound Heart, The (The Everstone Chronicles)

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

UNDER THE SILK HIBISCUS - Alice J Wisler - One Free Book

Welcome back, Alice. Why do you write the kind of books you do?It is important for me to write books that entertain my readers. I hope my characters are realistic as they go through struggles and hardships, love, forgiveness, and hope. I suppose I write the books I do because I like to read books like I write, if that makes sense.
It makes perfect sense to me. That’s why I started writing novels. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?I’ve had many happy days and really can’t name just one. I think I’m happiest when I’m writing!
How has being published changed your life?Well, I get to sign books and answer questions in author interviews—like this one!
What are you reading right now?I’m reading The Art of Mending by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Berg.
What is your current work in progress?I’m working on a memoir. Tough stuff as I strive to be authentic.
What would be your dream vacation? Alice Springs, Australia. I have always dreamed of going to Australia and making friends with a kangaroo.
Australia has been my dream vacation for a long time, too. How do you choose your settings for each book?My first five novels all take place in North Carolina. Under the Silk Hibiscus is the first novel I have written not set in my home state. I chose Wyoming for this one because that is where an internment camp during WWII was located.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I’d admire Denzel Washington for his acting talent and would love to be on a movie set with him.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love to bake bread! Most of my recipes that I have created have turned out well, but I have had some disasters.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?I think it would have to be getting stuck on one word and overusing it. I don’t realize that I do this until the novel is completed and then I do a “search and find” and am appalled at my redundancy of certain words. I have to get rid of words and replace them. A Thesaurus comes in handy.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?The usual motivational speech all writers give to beginners—never give up! Keep striving. Practice your craft. There is always room for improvement.
Tell us about the featured book. Under the Silk Hibiscus takes place in an internment camp in Wyoming where many Japanese-Americans were sent after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There's upheaval, frustration, pain, and sorrow. Families are separated. Some members are accused of being spies, like Nathan Mori's father.
To balance the discrimination that evolved during this time period, I had to  rely on humor and romance.
One of the most fun relationships I enjoyed crafting was between the main character, Nathan, and his aunt Kazuko. Even though she's single and has no children of her own, Aunt Kazuko knows how to keep Nathan and his brothers in line. But even she knows a body can't live on hard work alone. Cookies are her friends! She keeps morsels in her sweater sleeves, taking them out when she needs “a pep.”
And of course, there's young romance. Nathan dreams of the lovely singer, Lucy, and wants her to notice him, but she seems more interested in his older brother, Ken.
There are two characters which are not people—one is Heart Mountain, the mountain viewed every day from those in the barracks at the camp. Then there is the Mori family's coveted gold watch, a family heirloom from Japan.
So the questions form: Will Nathan get the girl? What happens to the family heirloom during the war and after the war ends? Does Nathan's father return? How does war and discrimination change hearts? How does God's love prevail?
Please give us the first page of the book.
As an afternoon wind blew over the camp’s sagebrush terrain, I wiped dust from my face with a handkerchief that once belonged to Papa. Frustration, like the surrounding barbed wire fences, taunted me. At breakfast, something vile overcame me; I’d demanded to know if anyone knew about Papa’s whereabouts. I targeted my aunt because she was the easiest to bully. As I continued insisting that she tell me what she knew, the families at the nearby tables lifted their faces from bowls of dry rice. Shut up, I could read from the older men’s and women’s expressions. We’re at war; this is no time for you to become hostile. Besides, you are only a child.
Since there had been no communication from Papa after that fateful day in February when two FBI agents entered our home in San Jose, I was certain he was dead. They had taken him away in handcuffs. “Spy,” the tall one with a crew cut had called him. “We know you are working with Japan’s military.”
As the memory of that day burned in my mind, I trudged toward the camp’s latrines, bucket in hand. Yesterday afternoon Lucy had smiled at me; I’d nearly danced across the hard dirt road. Today, I felt almost as despairing as the day Mama, my aunt, my brothers, and I were told we had forty-eight hours to pack up for relocation.
“Relocation,” Mama had cried, the word obviously foreign to her. “We don’t need to go anywhere. We are happy here.” But happiness had not been the point. Fear seemed to be. Was itthe picture of Emperor Hirohito on our living room wall that made Caucasian men tremble? Did they think that Mama was sitting under her knitted grey shawl at the kitchen table, sending messages across the Pacific to the enemy?
My thoughts sprang, one bouncing off another. An army truck sped past toward the mess hall, creating a blanket of dust around the row of bleak barracks. The roar of its engine brought me back to reality, and I increased my pace. If I weren’t careful, I’d wind up like my ten-year-old brother, Tom, who seemed to live in his own world of poetry books and fantasies.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alice-J.-Wisler/e/B001J6GVNE/Website: http://www.alicewisler.comFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-J-Wisler/333751835453Alice’s Patchwork Quilt Blog: http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Alice, for sharing this book with us. Many Americans aren't aware that these things happened.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Under the Silk Hibiscus

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

UNDER THE SILK HIBUSCUS - Alice J Wisler - One Free Book

Welcome back, Alice. Why do you write the kind of books you do?It is important for me to write books that entertain my readers. I hope my characters are realistic as they go through struggles and hardships, love, forgiveness, and hope. I suppose I write the books I do because I like to read books like I write, if that makes sense.
It makes perfect sense to me. That’s why I started writing novels. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?I’ve had many happy days and really can’t name just one. I think I’m happiest when I’m writing!
How has being published changed your life?Well, I get to sign books and answer questions in author interviews—like this one!
What are you reading right now?I’m reading The Art of Mending by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Berg.
What is your current work in progress?I’m working on a memoir. Tough stuff as I strive to be authentic.
What would be your dream vacation? Alice Springs, Australia. I have always dreamed of going to Australia and making friends with a kangaroo.
Australia has been my dream vacation for a long time, too. How do you choose your settings for each book?My first five novels all take place in North Carolina. Under the Silk Hibiscus is the first novel I have written not set in my home state. I chose Wyoming for this one because that is where an internment camp during WWII was located.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?I’d admire Denzel Washington for his acting talent and would love to be on a movie set with him.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?I love to bake bread! Most of my recipes that I have created have turned out well, but I have had some disasters.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?I think it would have to be getting stuck on one word and overusing it. I don’t realize that I do this until the novel is completed and then I do a “search and find” and am appalled at my redundancy of certain words. I have to get rid of words and replace them. A Thesaurus comes in handy.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?The usual motivational speech all writers give to beginners—never give up! Keep striving. Practice your craft. There is always room for improvement.
Tell us about the featured book. Under the Silk Hibiscus takes place in an internment camp in Wyoming where many Japanese-Americans were sent after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There's upheaval, frustration, pain, and sorrow. Families are separated. Some members are accused of being spies, like Nathan Mori's father.
To balance the discrimination that evolved during this time period, I had to  rely on humor and romance.
One of the most fun relationships I enjoyed crafting was between the main character, Nathan, and his aunt Kazuko. Even though she's single and has no children of her own, Aunt Kazuko knows how to keep Nathan and his brothers in line. But even she knows a body can't live on hard work alone. Cookies are her friends! She keeps morsels in her sweater sleeves, taking them out when she needs “a pep.”
And of course, there's young romance. Nathan dreams of the lovely singer, Lucy, and wants her to notice him, but she seems more interested in his older brother, Ken.
There are two characters which are not people—one is Heart Mountain, the mountain viewed every day from those in the barracks at the camp. Then there is the Mori family's coveted gold watch, a family heirloom from Japan.
So the questions form: Will Nathan get the girl? What happens to the family heirloom during the war and after the war ends? Does Nathan's father return? How does war and discrimination change hearts? How does God's love prevail?
Please give us the first page of the book.
As an afternoon wind blew over the camp’s sagebrush terrain, I wiped dust from my face with a handkerchief that once belonged to Papa. Frustration, like the surrounding barbed wire fences, taunted me. At breakfast, something vile overcame me; I’d demanded to know if anyone knew about Papa’s whereabouts. I targeted my aunt because she was the easiest to bully. As I continued insisting that she tell me what she knew, the families at the nearby tables lifted their faces from bowls of dry rice. Shut up, I could read from the older men’s and women’s expressions. We’re at war; this is no time for you to become hostile. Besides, you are only a child.
Since there had been no communication from Papa after that fateful day in February when two FBI agents entered our home in San Jose, I was certain he was dead. They had taken him away in handcuffs. “Spy,” the tall one with a crew cut had called him. “We know you are working with Japan’s military.”
As the memory of that day burned in my mind, I trudged toward the camp’s latrines, bucket in hand. Yesterday afternoon Lucy had smiled at me; I’d nearly danced across the hard dirt road. Today, I felt almost as despairing as the day Mama, my aunt, my brothers, and I were told we had forty-eight hours to pack up for relocation.
“Relocation,” Mama had cried, the word obviously foreign to her. “We don’t need to go anywhere. We are happy here.” But happiness had not been the point. Fear seemed to be. Was itthe picture of Emperor Hirohito on our living room wall that made Caucasian men tremble? Did they think that Mama was sitting under her knitted grey shawl at the kitchen table, sending messages across the Pacific to the enemy?
My thoughts sprang, one bouncing off another. An army truck sped past toward the mess hall, creating a blanket of dust around the row of bleak barracks. The roar of its engine brought me back to reality, and I increased my pace. If I weren’t careful, I’d wind up like my ten-year-old brother, Tom, who seemed to live in his own world of poetry books and fantasies.
How can readers find you on the Internet?Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alice-J.-Wisler/e/B001J6GVNE/Website: http://www.alicewisler.comFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-J-Wisler/333751835453Alice’s Patchwork Quilt Blog: http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Alice, for sharing this book with us. Many Americans aren't aware that these things happened.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Under the Silk Hibiscus

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