Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 222

WILD MINT TEA - Valerie Comer - One Free Book

Bio: Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.

Valerie writes Farm Lit where food meets faith, injecting experience laced with humor into her Farm Fresh Romance stories

Welcome back, Valerie. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I write farm fresh romance because I'm fascinated with (and familiar with) all three topics. My husband and I farm 40 acres in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. One of the reasons is that we love fresh food, so we grow a large percentage of it. And I've been married to the same guy for almost 34 years, so I know a teensy tiny thing or two about romance.
I love writing with a farm setting and local, fresh food, not only because they're my life, but because they're hot topics today and underrepresented in fiction. I toss in the romance because everything is better with a little sweetness.
 Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? A few weeks ago my husband and I had a "picture perfect" day with our kids and three granddaughters (ages 4, 2, and 1 1/2) at a local hot springs. My heart was so full of thanks for the awesome privilege of being a grandmother to three active, charming little girls. I loved that I could play with all three of them at once and enjoy their delight in being together. 
How has being published changed your life? In a practical sense, not a lot. I wrote for ten years before my first release, and I continue to write now. I was busy on the farm and in the garden then, and I still am. Now I have to (get to??) spend time marketing, but I'm trying to make it about relationships as much as possible, particularly drawing in folks who are interested in the junction where food meets faith and fiction. 
What are you reading right now? I just finished Imogen's Chance, a romance novel set in Australia and written by Paula Vince. It deals with some hard subjects like cancer, a suspicious death, and debilitating family secrets. It's a strong story. 
What is your current work in progress? Sweetened with Honey is the third book in my Farm Fresh Romance series and will release in March, 2015. The series follows the adventures, romantic and otherwise, of three young women who buy a farm together determined to prove they can live sustainably and grow their own food. 
What would be your dream vacation? We don't travel much, so I don't do a lot of specific dreaming. There are many adventures I'd jump at if the possibility arose! However, in June we will spend more than a week on the north coast of British Columbia, just south of the Alaskan panhandle. My husband grew up there. Something he always wanted to do was visit the Queen Charlotte Islands, which are a 7-hour ferry ride from Prince Rupert. We've already booked the ferry and a bed-and-breakfast minutes from the ocean for a few days of getaway. I love the ocean as well, so I'm very much looking forward to that vacation! 
How do you choose your settings for each book? The right setting is very important to me. In fact, you might call me a setting-driven writer, because it usually comes first when I'm planning a story. I've seen some contemporary fiction that could be set in any city, but that's never the case for me.
Because the Farm Fresh Romance series is set on a farm, I needed a growing season I could relate to. I chose to set the books in northern Idaho, close to where I live in Canada. Then I used my own climate and local foods as a reference for the books.
I also needed certain attitudes that are not present in that area, so I chose to erase the state north of Coeur d'Alene and redraw it to suit my series.
 If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? ONE person? I'm going to cheat and pretend I didn't hear that. It's been several years since my four sisters and I spent time together, and I'd be thrilled to have an evening with them. We'd barbecue some Mennonite farmer sausage and play Hand and Foot to much laughter, reminiscing, and sharing of grandkid stories.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? Spending time with my grandgirls is a high priority. We read, dress dollies, and jump on the trampoline. I also spend a lot of time gardening and preserving food over the summer months. When the farm allows us to get away, we like to pull our little holiday trailer up beside a mountain stream for a few days. Hubby will do some fishing, reading, and whittling beside the campfire, and I'll read and wade in the creek. Because we can't recharge electronics out there, it forces us to slow down and really take a break, although I sometimes do mind mapping or story work in a notebook. 
For a number of years, we raised large gardens and preserved the food, both canning and freezing the produce. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? To put the writing first. It's so easy to check email then answer a few then check out a link and, oh, look! Facebook. And a couple of hours go by.
As for overcoming it, I haven't. Every day it is a struggle, but I'm winning more often than not.
What advice would you give to a beginning author? Don't think about publication for the first year or two. Practice. Learn what goes into telling a good story. I've actually got a free course by email over at http://towriteastory.com that gives an overview of the fiction writing process if any of your readers are interested.
Tell us about the featured book. Wild Mint Tea (A Farm Fresh Romance 2) http://valeriecomer.com/mint She’s rooted deep. He flies free.
Local-foods chef Claire Halford envisions turning Green Acres Farm into an event destination. Weddings prove trickier than she imagined when the first one comes with a ruggedly handsome brother-of-the-bride, who has everything but a fixed address. Oh, and faith in God.
Noel Kenzie loves the freedom his reforestation company affords him. Why worry about deep stuff like God and commitment when he’s in his prime? Except there’s a woman who might make it worth giving up his wings…and digging in some roots. If he dares. 
Please give us the first page of the book. "Do I have anything stuck in my teeth?" Claire Halford twisted in the VW's passenger seat and bared her teeth at her friend.
Sierra Riehl grimaced and plugged her nose. "The worst offender is kale, and we haven't had it all week. Are you telling me you haven't brushed that long?" She fluttered her fingers in front of her face.
To wave away Claire's bad breath? "Of course I brushed." But in all the unaccustomed staring in the mirror that morning, had she truly examined her teeth? She'd taken a dollop of mousse to her short hair and dug makeup nearing its expiration date from the back of her drawer. Once she wouldn't have left the house without either, but the rototiller didn't care.
She'd even allowed Sierra to slather her nails with polish, but only to cover up the fact she hadn't been able to scrub all the garden dirt from underneath them.
Claire stared at the small-town hotel at the end of the parking lot. Poor thing had seen better days, probably before she'd been born. Somewhere in there a decrepit old dude had set up a temporary office to hire a chef. Well, maybe he was only middle-aged. Forestry contractors couldn't be too ancient and still hike the nearby mountains every day. Could they? 
How can readers find you on the Internet? My home base is http://valeriecomer.com, where I blog and share about food, faith, and fiction. Readers interested in those topics are invited to join my email list and download an e-book called Seasons from My Kitchen, which contains recipes for foods that grow in each season. Links to my social media pages are on my site header. 
Thank you, Valerie, for sharing this new book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Wild Mint Tea (Farm Fresh Romance) (Volume 2) - paperback
Wild Mint Tea (A Farm Fresh Romance) - 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.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WiINNERS!!!!!

Readers, sorry to be so late announcing the winners. Today has been a wonderful, blessed, and busy day. Our younger great grandson was dedicated to the Lord at a service this afternoon. So James and I went to church at the campus where we usually attend, then went out the mother campus in Southlake for the dedication service. After that, the whole family, except Austin and Timothy (grandsons) went out to eat together. It was after 4:00 when we finished. Then we had come home. So you see why I said what I did about the day.

Sydney (GA) is the winner of  Golden Dreams  by Patricia Pacjac Carroll.
Sarah (NC) is the winner of What I Wish My Mother Had Told Me About Men by Julie Gorman.
ACS (NC) is the winner of A Sky Without Stars by Linda S Clare.
Diana (VA) is the winner of  The Devil Walks in Mattingly  by Billy Coffey.
Taylor (VA) is the winner of Tide and Tempest  by Elizabeth Ludwig.

 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.

MARY'S BLESSING - Lena Nelson Dooley - 3 Giveaways

Here is a peek into book two of my McKenna's Daughters series.


Chapter 1
Outside Oregon City
April 1885
“Pa?” Mary Lenora Murray shouted back over her shoulder as she picked up the heavy picnic basket. “You ready to go?” Why does he always drag his feet when we’re going to church?

Her father came through the mud room into the kitchen, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. He smelled of heat, hay, and sunshine, with the strong tang of muck from the barn mingled in. By the looks of his clothes, attending church was the farthest thing from his mind. His ratty trousers held smudges of several dark colors. She didn’t even want to guess what they were. And the long sleeves of his undershirt, the only thing covering his torso, were shoved above his elbows. Grayed and dingy, the shirt would never be white again, no matter how hard she tried to get it clean.

Mary bit her tongue to keep from scolding him as she did her younger brothers and sister when they made such a racket entering the house. No doubt, he would give her some excuse about having too much work to go to church. Not a big surprise. She’d heard it all before too many times.

He set a bucket of fresh water beside the dry sink and gripped his fingers around the front straps of his suspenders. That always signaled he was about to tell her something she didn’t want to hear.

“I’m not going today.” This time, he didn’t really make any excuses. Just this bald-faced comment.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm her anger. She’d give him a sweet answer even if the words tasted bitter in her mouth. “The new pastor is coming today. We’re having dinner on the grounds after the service. Remember, I told you when we got home last Sunday.” She flashed what she hoped was a warm smile at him and prayed he couldn’t tell it was fake.

“What happened to the last one? He didn’t last very long, did he?” Pa started washing his hands with the bar of homemade soap she kept in a dish on the shelf. “Don’t understand why that church can’t keep a pastor. Someone musta run him off.”

Mary couldn’t keep from huffing out a breath this time. “I told you about that, too.” She clamped her lips closed before she asked the question that often bounced around her mind. Why don’t you ever listen to me? At seventeen, she was close enough to being an adult to be treated like one, and she’d carried the load of a woman in this household for years.

“His wife died, and his father-in-law begged him to bring the grandchildren closer to where they live, so he headed back to Ohio. Living in the same community as their grandparents, he’d have a lot of help with the younger ones.”

Mary had never known her own grandparents, none of them. Not her mother’s parents. Not her father’s parents. Not the parents of whoever gave birth to her. She didn’t wonder about any of them very often, but today, her heart longed for someone who really loved her.

With bright red curly hair and fair skin that freckled more every time she stepped into the sunlight, she didn’t resemble anyone in this family that had adopted her as an infant. Since they were black Irish, they all had dark hair and striking blue eyes, not like her murky green ones. And none of them had ever wanted to know what she thought about anything ... except her mother.

“Well, I’ve gotta lot to do today.” Her father reached for the towel she’d made out of feed sacks. “You and the others go ahead. I might come over that way at dinner time.”

No, you won’t. Mary had heard his statement often enough to know he was trying to placate her so she would leave him alone. So she would.

“Frances, George, Bobby, come on. We don’t want to be late.” She shifted the handle of the loaded basket to her other arm. “Frances, you grab the jug of spring water. We might get thirsty.”

Her father’s icy blue eyes pierced her. “Pretty warm out today. No sign of rain.”

“We’ll be picnicking in the field between the church and Willamette Falls. It’s cooler there, especially under the trees with the breeze blowing across the water.” She started toward the front door.

“Keep your eyes on the boys.” His harsh command followed her. “Don’t let either of them fall into the river. They could drown. Water’s fast right there.”

She nodded, but didn’t answer or look back at him. All he cared about were those boys and getting them raised old enough to really help with the farming. He already worked them harder than any of the neighbors did their sons who were the same ages.

Six long years ago her mother and older sisters contracted diphtheria when they went to help Aunt Miriam and Uncle Leland settle in their house on a farm about five miles from theirs. On the trip to Oregon, one of them had contracted the dread disease and didn’t know it until after they arrived. No one knew they were all dead until Pa went looking for Ma, Carrie, and Annette a couple of days later. He saw the quarantine sign someone nailed to a fencepost and didn’t go closer until he had help. When he came home, he told Mary she would have to take over the keeping of the house. Six long years ago.

When did my life become such a drudgery? Had it ever been anything else? At least not since Ma died, which seemed like an eternity ago.

***

Daniel Winthrop whistled while he dressed for church. He looked forward with anticipation to the moment when he would lay eyes on Mary Murray. Even her name had a musical ring to it.

He’d been waiting and planning what to say when he approached her. Today he would start his subtle courting. With the situation at the Murray farm, he knew he would have his work cut out for him to convince her she could start a life of her own with him. After he achieved that, he’d ask her father for her hand.

Visions of coming home to her each night and building a family together moved through his head like the slides of photographs in the Holmes Stereopticon they had at home. He loved her already, but more than that, he wanted to get her out of that house where she was loaded down with so much work and responsibility.

Daniel had often gone with his mother when she bought fresh produce from the Murrays. So he knew what her life had been like since her mother died. Their families came to Oregon on the same wagon train so he’d known her all his life. He was only three years older than she was, and he had watched her over the last few years as she blossomed into a beautiful young woman.

Mary needed to be appreciated and cared for, and he was just the man to do it.

“Daniel, we’re leaving soon.” His father’s voice prodded him from his dreams.

With a final peek into the tall cheval glass, he straightened his necktie before he headed out the door of his room. “I’m on my way.”

He bounded down the stairs and took their picnic basket from his mother. “Something really smells good.” He gave a loud sniff. “Do you need me to test and make sure it’s all right?”

He welcomed her playful slap on his hand that crept toward the cover on the basket. Her laughter reminded him of the chimes he had heard in the larger church in Portland.

“Not a single bite until dinner.” Like a queen, she swept out the door Father held open for her.

Their familiar ritual warmed his heart. He looked forward to creating family rituals with Mary. Once more, he whistled as he headed toward the brougham. Nothing could cloud his day.

When they pulled up to the Methodist Church, his father guided the team toward the back where a large area paved with fine gravel gave plenty of space for those who arrived in horse-drawn vehicles. While Father helped Mother down from the open carriage, Daniel took the reins and tied them to one of the hitching rails that outlined the space. He chose the rail under a spreading black cottonwood tree, so the horses would be in the shade while the family worshiped.

He scanned the lot, looking for the Murray wagon. Not there. Disappointed, he stared at the ground. Please, God, let Mary come today.

Clopping hoofs and a jingling harness accompanied a wagon taking too fast of a turn into the parking area. Daniel cut his eyes toward the advancing disaster. Two of the wheels did indeed lift from the ground. Before he could get a shout out of his mouth, he heard Mary’s sweet voice.

“Lean to the right, boys!”

George and Bobby, Mary’s brothers, scrambled across the seat, followed by Frances. The wagon wheels settled into the gravel, and Mary pulled on the reins.

“Easy. Settle down.” Even though she spoke to the horses, he heard every word.

His heart that had almost leapt from his chest also settled down when he realized she was no longer in danger. Thank You, Lord.

The wagon came to a standstill, and Mary put her dainty hand to her chest and released a deep breath. The green cotton fabric, sprigged with white flowers, looked good on her, setting off her red hair, pulled up into a bunch on the top of her head. Without a hat or bonnet covering it, the sun danced across the curls. He loved seeing the wisps frame her face. That’s how he pictured her when he dreamed about their future.

Mary sat a moment without moving. She was probably scared out of her wits. Where was her father? He should have been driving the wagon, not her. How long had it been since the man had attended services? Daniel couldn’t remember the last time. It was not a good thing for a man to neglect his spiritual nature. He’d just have to pray harder for Mr. Murray.

Daniel hurried toward them. “Hi, Mary.”

She looked up, straight into his eyes, fear still flickering in the back of her gaze. “Daniel. Good morning.” Her words came out riding on short breaths.

He took hold of the bridle of the horse nearest him. “I can hitch your team under the trees for you.”
After releasing another deep breath, Mary nodded. “Thank you. I’d like that.” She turned toward her siblings. “Frances, you get the picnic basket, and George, you carry the jug of water. Go find us a pew, perhaps near the back of the sanctuary, and put the things under the bench. I’ll be right in.”

The younger children climbed out of the wagon and followed their sister’s instructions. Mary watched them until they’d gone around the side of the building toward the front. Then she stood up.

Before she could try to climb over the side, Daniel hurried to help. He held out his hand to her. She stared at it, then looked at his face.

“I’ll help you down.” He gave her his most beguiling smile.

For the first time since she arrived, she smiled back, and pink bled up her neck into her cheeks. Her blush went straight to his heart. Oh, yes, he loved this woman.

Mary slipped her slim fingers into his hand. Even through the white cotton gloves, he felt the connection as warmth sparked up his arm like fireworks on Independence Day. She glanced down, so she could see the step. When she hesitated, he let go of her hand and both of his spanned her tiny waist. With a deft swing, he had her on the ground in seconds. He wished he had the right to pull her into an embrace. Wouldn’t that just set the tongues a-wagging? He couldn’t do that to her. Mary needed to be cherished for the treasure she was. And as far as Daniel could see, her father really didn’t treat her that way.

He watched her walk toward the front of the building, enjoying the way her skirt swayed with each step, barely brushing the tops of her black patent shoes. That is one beautiful woman. He turned back to her team. Walking beside the horses, he led them toward the hitching rail where his family’s brougham was parked. Her team would enjoy the shade just as much as his would. As he crossed the lot, several other conveyances entered, and he waved and exchanged greetings with each family.

The church was the first one established in Oregon City. At that time, it was the Methodist Mission but grew as the town did. Along the way, members of this body had a great influence on what happened in the burgeoning city. And that was still true today. His Winthrop ancestors, who settled nearby, had been instrumental in both the growth of the church and of the town. He felt a sense of pride at being a part of something that important, and he wanted to increase the town’s assets, because he planned to raise his own family here. Maybe establish a dynasty of his own, watching his sons and daughters, then his grandchildren, prosper.

His woolgathering slowed the progress of tying the horses to their spot. He needed to hurry so he wouldn’t miss the beginning of the service. As he opened the front door, Mrs. Slidell struck the first chord on the new Mason and Hamlin reed organ. The church had ordered the instrument from the manufacturing plant in Buffalo, New York. When it arrived only a couple of weeks before, the music added a special feeling to the worship and helped most people stay on the right tune better than the old piano did. He hummed along with the introduction to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” his favorite hymn.

Glancing around the room, Daniel finally spied Mary and her siblings sitting on the second pew from the back on the right side of the aisle. He squared his shoulders and confidently approached the wooden bench. He asked if he could sit with them, and she scooted over to make room. Just what he wanted. He would be sitting right beside her.

Throughout the service, Daniel had a hard time keeping his mind on the proceedings. Mary sat close enough for him to touch her if he leaned a little to his right. He was so tempted to bump against her arm, but he held back. He imagined clasping her hand in his and holding it for longer than just a few seconds while helping her down from a conveyance or through a doorway. Really wrapping his large fingers around hers and intertwining their fingers. Just thinking about it caught his breath.

He whooshed it out, and she turned toward him, her eyes widening with a question. After flashing a smile at her, he glanced up at Reverend Horton. The man’s delivery was smooth and his words made a lot of sense. He’d be a good pastor for them, but Daniel couldn’t keep a single word of his message in his mind. Not while he could feel Mary’s presence with every cell in his body.


Instead in his mind, he searched up and down the streets of Oregon City, seeking a place to turn into a home for him and his beloved. If the right house wasn’t for sale, he could build her one. She could help him choose the design. That’s what he’d do. Build her the home she’d always dreamed of. His heart squeezed with the knowledge of what he planned to do. He could hardly keep the idea to himself. He hoped it wouldn’t take too long for him to convince her that they should marry.

He’d even hire servants to help her manage their home. Whatever her heart desired, he’d do everything he could to present her with all she wanted. He only hoped it wouldn’t take too long. At twenty years old, he was ready to move on to the next phase of his life ... with Mary by his side.

“Now let us bow our heads in prayer.” Reverend Horton raised his hands to bless the whole congregation.

Daniel dropped his head toward his chest. How had the man finished his sermon without Daniel noticing? Next Sunday, he’d have to listen more closely. He really did want to get to know the new pastor and his family.

“Amen.” After the pastor pronounced the word, several other men echoed it.

Daniel watched his father rise from the second pew near the front on the left side of the aisle and take his place beside the new preacher. He placed his arm across the man’s shoulders. “Dear friends, on your behalf, I welcome our new pastor. Now let’s all meet his lovely family.” He waved toward a woman sitting on the front pew. “Mrs. Horton?”

The woman stood and turned toward the congregation. She was pretty, but not as young or as pretty as Mary.

“And,” Father’s voice boomed, “these are their children.”

Four stair-step youngsters stood beside their mother. The tallest a boy, the next a girl, then another boy, and the shortest a cute little girl. As if they had rehearsed it, they bowed toward the people in unison.

Several women across the sanctuary oooed or aahed before a loud round of applause broke out. The three oldest children gave shy smiles, and the youngest tugged at her mother’s skirts. When Mrs. Horton picked her up, the girl waved to the people, clearly enjoying the attention.

“I hope you all brought your blanket and picnic baskets.” Father beamed at the crowd.

  “We’re going to spread our food together. I believe there are plenty of sawhorse tables set up near the building. And you can pick a spot under the trees to settle for your meal. Just don’t forget to take the time to greet our new ministerial family while you’re here.” Father led the Horton family down the aisle and out the front door.

Daniel turned back toward Mary. “Perhaps you and your brothers and sister could spread your blanket beside my family’s.”

A tiny smile graced Mary’s sweet mouth. “If you’re sure your mother wouldn’t mind, I’d like that.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure.” He stepped into the nearly empty aisle and moved back to let Mary and her family precede him, and he quickly followed behind.

His heartbeat accelerated just thinking about spending special time with the object of his affections. Without thinking, he started whistling a happy tune.

Mary glanced back at him. “I didn’t know you whistled.”


“Oh, yes. I’m a man of many talents.” His heart leapt at the interest he read in her gaze. Thing were well on their way to working out just the way he wanted them to.

As a special giveaway today, I'm offering three PDF files of the novel. I don't have anymore giveaway copies of the book.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Mary's Blessing (McKenna's Daughters) - 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 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

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE - Regina Jennings - One Free Book

Readers, I love Regina’s writing. I haven’t received this one yet, but when it gets here, it will go to the top of my to-be-read pile.
Welcome, Regina. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?God has been moving in my writing life, but I don’t know where it’s more evident—on the page or on my heart. This writing discipline is still fairly new to me, and I’m finding it challenging. Honestly, I'm generally more of a "plow-through, do the work, and don't worry about how you feel" type of person, but I've never been a writer before so I'm realizing that this isn't laundry. This isn't gardening or some physical labor that I can force. I might rip out weeds with a bad attitude, but I need to have my heart right before I start working on a book. Hopefully this internal work makes it to the pages of my books.
I know what you mean. It will change you. Tell us a little about your family. I married my high school sweetheart several (ahem!) years ago. We have four children that we’ve homeschooled—one graduate so far. Because of my husband’s job as an insurance adjuster, we’ve had the opportunity to travel the country together—literally coast to coast. We are passionate about missions and spend a lot of our vacation time serving with our church and partnering with missionaries around the world.
James and I have been on a number mission trips into Mexico, and I’ve been on one to Guatemala. We have several close friends, who are missionaries. And James and I will be celebrating our 50th anniversary late this year. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?I used to feel obligated to finish every book I started. Now I don’t have that luxury. Sometimes it’s liberating to set aside a book, but sometimes I wish I had the time to give it a better chance. And now when I’m reading historical books, whether fiction or non-fiction, I read with a notebook nearby so I can jot down names, locations, battles, etc., for further research if there’s the possibility of it being helpful later.
What are you working on right now?My next series starts this December with the release of A Most Inconvenient Marriage. This series is set near the end of the Civil War in the Ozark Mountains. The first book stars a nurse named Abigail Stuart who feels like her only friend in the world is the sweet but gravely wounded patient Jeremiah Calhoun. Fearing he won't survive, the Confederate soldier's last wish is that Abigail look after his sickly sister at home. Marry him, return to his horse farm, and it'll be hers.

Abigail takes him up on his offer and moves to Missouri after his death, but just as the family learns to accept her, the real Jeremiah Calhoun appears—puzzled to find a confounding woman posing as his wife. Jeremiah is determined to have his life back to how it was before the war, but his own wounds limit what he can do on his own. Still not fully convinced Abigail isn't duping him, he's left with no choice but to let the woman stay and help—providing that she give up her claim that she’s his wife and doesn’t ruin his chances with his childhood sweetheart.
“Inconvenient” barely scratches the surface of what the two of them feel about each other, but maybe they’ll find some common ground.
Please let me feature that book on my blog, too. What outside interests do you have?I love history and really enjoy visiting historic sites. Last fall we took our oldest daughter on a senior trip to England and Scotland, and I can’t wait to go back.
When I’m home I’m usually busy with housework and homeschooling, but when I have a moment, I like to play the piano and watch BBC shows—but not at the same time.
How do you choose your settings for each book?My biggest concern is that the setting matches the historical context of the story. If I want the heroine to be a buffalo hunter and I want the hero to be a railroad supplier, then I’m limited to potential locations.
Since this series is called The Ladies of Caldwell County you’d think that’s where it takes place, but not actually. Anne Tillerton left her farm in Prairie Lea, Texas, and traveled north to join the buffalo hunters in Indian Territory. I created the fictional town of Garber, Texas, because I needed a location that covered both the frontier and a civilized railroad town. Garber is a fictionalized city near the Oklahoma/Texas border that I based on the real city of Sherman. It helps me to have an actual location in mind.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?George Washington. I’d love to hear what his hopes were for our country and what he thinks of the various branches of the government and the roles they play now. Plus I hear he was a superb dancer.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?I wish I’d known how easy it is to lose ideas. For years I had ideas for stories, facts from research, things I thought I’d never forget. I wish I would’ve written them down and kept them in a file for when I was finally ready to start writing.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?Find trustworthy critique partners, even if you have to pay for them. Read, read, read—especially in the genre you wish to write for.Realize with all humility that you’ll be blind to many of the flaws in your work. You will need help.
That is so true. It’s one reason I started hosting a critique group in my home almost three decades ago. Tell us about the featured book. You bet! Anne Tillerton has been hiding away as a buffalo hunter in Indian Territory. When the depot’s cook runs off, Anne must find her or take to cooking herself, but on the train to town she runs into complications.
Nicholas Lovelace knows commercial success, but he’s not sure what to do when his train gets held up. Thankfully, the bandits are thwarted by the last person Nick ever expected—Anne Tillerton from back home in Prairie Lea. By the time the robbers are dealt with Nick owes the eccentric woman his life.
Anne finds the runaway cook, but the woman flees again and leaves Anne with her infant son forcing her to turn to the only person she knows in town. Nick doesn’t know what to do with a baby and being seen with a rough-around-the-edges woman isn't helping his reputation. Will the two of them find the child’s father before their partnership changes the course of their future?
Please give us the first page of the book.Pushmataha, Indian TerritorySeptember 1883The serving line hadn’t moved an inch and the mood of the men in the depot diner was growing ugly. Nicholas Lovelace rapped the flimsy tin plate against his knuckles and took a deep breath. No warm scents of meat and potatoes. No bread baking that he could detect. If dinner wasn’t simmering, he might as well get back on the train. No point in crowding around the kitchen door with the lumberjacks, the Indians, and the hunters voicing their complaints.
The plate clattered on the roughhewn table as Nick abandoned the depot. His stomach gnawed at his ribs, telling him that the roll and coffee from the last station had burned away hours ago. Could he wait for supper at the hotel in Garber where he boarded?
He’d rather not. His only hope for nourishment this side of the Red River was the ramshackle general store. Otherwise he wouldn’t live long enough to prepare Mr. Stanford’s report…which would be a pity. He’d so anticipated the praise it would bring.
Nicholas’s crew was performing ahead of schedule—clearing the timber from the railroad’s future path, shipping it to the mill, processing it into ties and trestles and shipping it back to the railhead. He had ridden the train as far as the track would carry him, and his men toiled a good three miles further still—a nice lead, but no more than he expected.
And no more than Ian Stanford expected. Mr. Stanford had contributed more to the success of Lovelace Transportation Specialists than anyone outside of Nick himself. In fact, every merchant, every trapper, hunter, and farmer along the twin rails owed Mr. Stanford—and Nicholas was blessed to call him his mentor. Stanford had taught him much, but now Nick wanted to expand. Upon his return to Garber, Nicholas would begin seeking contracts with other railroads. It was time to grow.
I can’t wait for my copy to get here. You have me hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?I love hearing from readers and the wacky discussions we have. Here are a few of the places I hang out:website: www.reginajennings.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReginaLJenningsTwitter: www.twitter.com/#!/ReginaJenningsPinterest: http://pinterest.com/reginaljennings

Thank you, Regina, for sharing this new book with us. It's always a pleasure to have you on my blog.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Caught in the Middle (Ladies of Caldwell County Book #3)

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.

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BRIDGE TO HAVEN - Francine Rivers - One Free Book

Readers, when I read Redeeming Love by Francine, I wept. Then when I read it years later, I wept in the very same place. I've loved her writing for many years, and when she was the speaker at the American Christian Romance Writers (now ACFW) first national conference in Denver, I was able to share with her about what her writing means to me. It's a great honor to be able to feature her here on my blog.
Bio . . . New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors, including the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion in Honor of Outstanding Literary Talent. In 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Francine’s novels have been translated in over twenty different languages. She and her husband, Rick, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Welcome, Francine. What is your hope for your novels? I hope the stories I write will increase readers’ hunger and thirst for Jesus, and the characters will inspire them to be more like Him. It’s so easy to follow the ways of the world, to get sucked into following the herd rather than be among the flock. I want to encourage readers to trust in the Lord always and to remember only His Word is truth.
You often say that each of your books is inspired by a question. Is that the case with Bridge to Haven? If so, what question inspired this novel? We live in a complex, often-disheartening world. I know I always have questions about how to live for Jesus in a world that hates Him. Questions continue to challenge me. How do I live by faith and not by sight? How can I be an overcomer in a world that wants to crush the very heart of me? I take these questions into any story I write, and each story is a quest for God’s perspective.
With this particular novel, I wanted to explore how people can be bridges. Jesus is the ultimate bridge that takes us across the chasm over hell and into heaven to be in the presence of God. Each character in the novel plays a part as a bridge builder or bridge destroyer. Sometimes the characters begin as one and become the other.
What message do you hope will resonate with readers of Bridge to Haven? I hope readers will ask themselves: Am I a bridge? How can I help someone who is struggling step onto the bridge of faith and begin the journey to a haven of rest? Do I point the way? Or do I walk with them? How does that look in my day-to-day life?
Why did you want to reimagine the parable of the Prodigal Son? Why was this important to you? The Prodigal Son is the story of every human being. We are all God’s creations. But too often we try to go our own way. That way brings pain and separation from what we truly want: an everlasting love relationship with God. Only in Him do we find the happiness we crave from the womb. Some turn away from the world and head home to God. That journey all too often begins in desperation and follows a road of fear until we see the Lord has been waiting for us all the time with open arms.
Was there a specific person upon whom you based Abra’s character? The story started as an allegory about the character of God and Jesus, but how can anyone capture the immensity of God, His all-consuming love and passion for each of us? I certainly couldn’t. His love is so immense, cleansing, healing, restorative. It’s beyond human understanding. I dumped my first attempt and started over. In this rendition, Zeke and Joshua strive to be like Jesus, and often fail. Abra represents those who fail to see the love offered and turn away, looking in all the wrong places for what they had from the beginning. It is a leap of faith to believe God’s grace is not earned, but freely given.
I was like Abra for many years. Despite the truth I was taught as a child, I took hold of a wrong view of God as a constant critical eye, a Being just waiting to condemn me to everlasting hell. When I turned to God, I felt like Paul when the scales fell away from his eyes. In a sense, I awakened and knew God loved me despite everything I had done and mistakenly believed. My stubborn pride had to be broken. There were always people around me who loved me and pointed the way to Jesus. That is true of everyone. God makes ambassadors and scatters them everywhere. When we open our hearts, usually out of desperation, God pours in His Holy Spirit and opens our eyes and ears to who He is and to those He has called to help us cross that bridge of faith God uses to transform our lives.
What is the significance of the title, Bridge to Haven? **Spoiler alert for those who are in a book club.** The ultimate bridge to haven is Jesus, who provides that way back to God, and the ultimate haven is that haven of rest, God’s presence in heaven, where He dwells and believers will live forever.
What is the significance of going home? I believe the yearning for God and eternal life is built by God into our DNA. Going home for me is living in relationship with Jesus who brought me to life. Until I surrendered to Him, I wasn’t just walking wounded, I was walking dead. I am now at home in Him and will eventually be at home with Him in heaven.
What research did you do for this title? What did you learn about Hollywood in the 1950s? I compiled binders full of information about the forties and fifties, World War II, the Korean War, medics serving in Korea, Hollywoodstudios and stars, along with Scripture that always speaks to the mind and heart of any human being. The Bible is like God’s blueprint for mankind, how and why man was built, what happened when sin entered into our lives, and the cure. Since I don’t have a mind that retains information, I kept the binders and my Bible close at hand for constant reference. I am fortunate enough to have an exacting, knowledgeable editor (Kathy Olson) who makes sure the time lines and accompanying information are correct down to the smallest detail of which song might have been playing on the radio. And since I am very aware of my limitations and imperfections, I applaud and embrace her efforts.
How do Abra’s lessons apply in today’s culture? We are all the same as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We haven’t evolved into higher beings. We are still stubbornly human, fiercely contending with God, intent upon living our own lives our way no matter what pain it brings to ourselves as well as those around us. When I read the Bible, I feel like I’m reading the daily newspaper. If you want the answers to why you are here and what you were made for, read Scripture and run to God.
What are the timeless elements of this story?
God made you. God loves you. God wants a personal relationship with you. He doesn’t want Sunday morning only or bits and pieces of your life; He wants all of who you are—your past, present, and future. God has a plan for your life that will fulfill the deepest longings of your heart. Seek Him first above all things. Trust Him.
About the book:To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody.

To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Zeke and his son, Joshua—Abra’s closest friend—watch her grow into an exotic beauty. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking bad boy who proclaims his love and lures her to Tinseltown. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what’s expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. But fame comes at an awful price. She has burned every bridge to get exactly what she thought she wanted. Now, all she wants is a way back home.

In this riveting and highly anticipated tale of temptation, grace, and unconditional love,New York Times best-selling author Francine Rivers delivers big-canvas storytelling at its very best.
First Page:Chapter 1Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.Psalm 71:61936Filling his lungs with cool October air, Pastor Ezekiel Freeman started his morning vigil. He had laid out the route on a map when he first came to town. each building brought people to mind, and he upheld them before the Lord, giving thanks for trials they had come through, praying over trials they now faced, and asking God what part he might play in helping them.
He headed for Thomas Jefferson High School. He passed by Eddie’s Diner, the students’ favorite hangout place. The lights were on inside. Eddie came to the front door. “Mornin’, Zeke. How about a cup of coffee?”
Zeke sat at the counter while Eddie made stacks of hamburger patties. They talked high school football, and who might win a scholarship. Zeke thanked Eddie for the coffee and conversation and headed out into the dark again
Thank you, Francine, for sharing about this new book today. I know you didn't choose her name because of mine, but I am drawn to books where a character has my name.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Bridge to Haven - 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.

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DANCING WITH FIREFLIES - Denise Hunter - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Denise lives in Indianawith her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later, it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Welcome back, Denise. How did you come up with the idea for this story? A lot of the background for Dancing with Fireflies was set up in Barefoot Summer. I had a clear idea from the beginning about who Jade is (complicated, creative, middle child), and Daniel also arrived on the page pretty fleshed out. I love writing stories where the hero is secretly in love with the heroine and sets out to win her. It reminds me of the way God pursues us.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why? Colleen Coble and Kristin Billerbeck (because they’re my besties), Francine Rivers (because I so admire her work), Karen Kingsbury and Rachel Hauck (because they’re just delightful women), and Mae Nunn (because she’ll keep us all laughing).
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why? I’m going to include Colleen again because she writes both! Also Robin Lee Hatcher, Tamera Alexander, Tracie Peterson, Lauraine Snelling, and Lori Copeland
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?Every book is a new challenge. You’d think 25 books in, you’d have it down pat! But every book has its struggles. Sometimes the whole book is like pulling teeth. Other times the ending won’t come to you, and you fret over it for weeks, or write three different endings before you figure it out. And then there’s the whole issue of sales. If your book doesn’t sell well—something that is out of your hands—you may not get another contract.
Tell us about the featured book. Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt.” Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.
Please give us the first page of the book.Jade McKinley lowered the stove to medium and returned the chicken breasts to the pan.  What had she gotten herself into? She should’ve agreed to meet him at a restaurant instead of in the tiny apartment she shared with her friends. But it had seemed easier, meeting on her own turf with Izzy in the next room watching the Jane Austen marathon on PBS.
“There’s a bottle of merlot in the cupboard,” Izzy called. “You can serve it if you want.”
The phone rang. “Can you get that?” Jade opened the cabinet and reached for the wine. She hoped it was okay. She never drank, didn’t really like the taste.
Izzy entered the kitchen a few minutes later, wincing. “Uh, Jade?”
“He’s not coming, is he? That’s okay. Seriously, I was having second thoughts anyway.” And thirds and fourths. “I didn’t even want this date, remember?”
“Chill, girl. That was work calling. They need me on the late shift. Someone’s sick.”
“Oh.”
“I really need the hours.”
Jade bit her lip. Nick had been coming to the diner for months. He’d sat in her station every time, and after weeks of his persistence, she’d relented to one date.
“Seriously, girl,” Izzy said gently. “You gotta get back on the horse. Aaron’s been gone a long time. Give the guy a chance.”
A knock sounded at the front door.
“Gotta get dressed.” Izzy rushed from the room before Jade could protest.  She checked the table as she passed, then opened the door to Nick, remembering why she’d finally given in. Puppy dog eyes and an easy smile.
“Hey,” he said. “You look nice. Like a beautiful gypsy.”
How can readers find you on the Internet? I have the first chapter of Dancing with Fireflies on my website: www.DeniseHunterBooks.com. I also regularly give books away to my newsletter members, and you can sign up for that on my website.

Don't miss Denise Hunter's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies. Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story." 

Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party.



One winner will receive:
A brand new Kindle Fire HDXDancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer by Denise HunterEnter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 10th. Winner will be announced at the Dancing with Fireflies Facebook Party on April 10th. Connect with Denise for an evening of prizes, book chat, and an exclusive look at the next book in the series.
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN on the event page. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!Thank you, Denise, for sharing your new book with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog. - Amazon
Dancing with Fireflies (A Chapel Springs Romance) - 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 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

HIDDEN FACES - Golden Keyes Parsons - One Free Book

Welcome back, Golden. How did you come up with the idea for this story?This compilation had been on my heart for years. Thirty years ago I was teaching a Bible study on the adulterous woman and got to wondering, “Who was she? What really happened here?” Most scholars agree that she was not a prostitute, but a betrothed virgin. Lots of implications in that scenario: (1) She had to be very young. Most Jewish girls were betrothed by the age of 12 and married by mid-teens. (2) The law called for the partner to be brought for judgment. Where was he? (3) The fact that the partner was not brought indicates a trap set for Jesus. (4) What was Jesus really writing in the sand?
Anyway, my curiosity was piqued, and that sent me on a search for other nameless women who played a major part in Scripture, but we don’t even know their names.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Lisa Wingate – I love hearing how she creates characters. And she’s from my area … Central Texas. JDiAnn Mills – Her mysteries are intriguing and well researched. And she’s a personal friend.Beth Wiseman – A prolific writer and friend. Love her natural realism.Eric Wilson – Love his writing and although we are friends via Internet, have never met him in person. Would love to do so.Rachael Hauck – I appreciate her Christian commitment and her compelling writing style.Deb Raney – Her stories grab your heart.
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Francine Rivers – Her Mark of the Lion series was the first Christian historical I ever read, I believe. I was hooked!Tosca Lee – She plumbs deeply into her characters and is so creative.Ted Dekker – Talk about creative. Although some of his books are too dark for me, I loved the Circle Trilogy and Immanuel’s VeinsJulie Lessman – I love Julie’s historical romances. And I love Julie! She’s a fun uplifting gal.James Scott Bell – I’ve taken several of his classes and appreciate his expertise.Tamera Alexander – Love her books and she wrote a great endorsement for my first book, In The Shadow of the Sun King.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?I just don’t like the marketing part of it. It seems it gets more and more difficult to do that with each book. However, God has sent along a wonderful assistant who is helping me with that phase of the business, and I am so grateful.
Tell us about the featured book.I explained much about it in Question #1, but it took years to get a publisher interested in it. The popularity of biblical fiction comes and goes, but when I heard WhiteFire Publishing was looking for biblical fiction I jumped on it, and they bought the series.
I found the series to be more difficult to write than I anticipated, because of the lack of information, particularly about the woman at the well. Who would have known there is little documentation regarding the Samaritans, and even less on Samaritan women. I could only find one image on the Internet of a Samaritan woman. One! I had to rely heavily on the fact that they are half-Jewish and just go with it.
In addition to write about five husbands. Now that was challenging!
And to write about a prostitute in Christian fiction in the case of the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet? That took some finesse as well.
I’m glad that I did it, but I don’t know that I would do it again.
Please give us the first page of the book.Since this is a compilation, I will give you the first page of Book #1, Trapped! The Adulterous Woman.“It is you. I feared I would never find you.” He tied his donkey to the lone tree shading the house and started toward her. “I’ve looked everywhere for you. Nobody would talk to me. Nobody would tell me where you were. You simply vanished.” He took a step forward. “I need to speak with you.” He hesitated, one foot on the stone path leading to her front door and one foot still in the dust.
She wavered between him and the arched doorway to her modest home, inching backward with each step he took forward. He was talking too fast. She shook her head.
“Please, don’t be afraid.” His deep voice softened. “I know seeing me must be a shock. May we speak? Please, don’t turn me away.”
Anna backed against the rough wall, her fingers clawing at the stony surface searching for the door. “How did you find me? Why…?”
Oppressive, stifling heat hung suspended in the gathering dusk, enveloping her face and sucking the breath out of her. Her tiny house had turned into a sweltering oven. Earlier in the day Anna had finished her baking in preparation for the Sabbath, but the heat lingered. She had taken her little Jacob outside where it was cooler to watch the neighborhood children at play. The laughter of the children romping in the distance echoed through the advancing twilight. They chased each other around the small trees down the road. The boys, aggressive and quick, teased their squealing playmates as they tagged each other.   
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is www.goldenkeyesparsons.comand my FaceBook page is www.facebook.com/goldenkeyes.parsons
Thanks so much for the interview, Lena. Blessings!
The pleasure is all mine, Golden. I know my readers will be interested in these stories.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (four novellas)

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 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

BUTTERFLY PALACE - Colleen Coble - One Free Book

Readers, I’ve known Colleen Coble for a number over a decade, and I’ve loved reading her novels. Butterfly Palaceis another excellent read. It has romance, mystery, and an interesting historical setting. As usual, the characters drew me into their lives from page one. You won’t want to miss this book.
Welcome back, Colleen. Why did you become an author? I don’t know. I have wanted to write since I was a little girl, but I don’t know the why of it. I think God just created me that way. J
With the talent you have, I’m sure of it. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?I would be a naturopath. I love natural medicine and I am always advising someone about something!
If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?I love the turn of the century, which is the time period of Butterfly Palace . It’s somewhat similar to today with lots of new technology beginning to happen and great social change. It’s very interesting to me.
What place in the United Stateshave you not visited that you would like to?I’ve been to every state in the country. J
That’s quite an accomplishment. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?I was privileged to visit Cambodia last February and I want to go back. A fascinating country and I love the people!
What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?My friend Diann Hunt helped pound home the important lesson about living every day for the Lord. We don’t know if we will have tomorrow, so we need to squeeze every bit of joy and love out of today.
Tell us about the featured book. Elegance and wealth. Privilege and politics. The extravagance of the Butterfly Palace overwhelmed Lily’s senses and nearly smothered her painful memories. She pushed away her misgivings ... She was perfectly safe in this huge house.
Austin, Texas—1904: Abandoned by the love of her life and still mourning the loss of
her mother, Lily Donaldson has turned her back on the pain and come to Austin
for a fresh start, working for the Marshall family as a kitchen maid in their
luxurious mansion, the Butterfly Palace . The tasks before her are legion, and her
mistress less than pleasant, but at least Lily’s new life will be, if nothing
else, distracting.But one night, while serving at a dinner party, Lily recognizes the man who abandoned
her, Andy, her liaison from the livery stable, the blacksmith’s son ...
sitting among the distinguished guests. Though he recognizes her, Andy does not
acknowledge her aloud, and Lily is left reeling, flabbergasted, and
irate. 
But before she can get an explanation, the path of the Servant Girl Killer swerves
very close to the Butterfly Palace , sowing terror among the maids. Having come
to Austin to start anew, Lily suddenly feels trapped in a spider web. How can
she know who to trust in a house where lies come dressed in fine suits and
deceit in silk gowns the colors of butterfly wings?
I’ve read the book, but please give us the first page of the book for my readers.Larson, Texas 1900Lily Donaldson tiptoed to the front door and winced when it opened with a creak. The last thing she wanted was to awaken her mother who was sleeping down the hall. Even though Lily was over twenty, her mother would take a switch to her if she knew she was sneaking out like this. The lights still shone from the livery, attached to their house.
She peeked in the window as she passed and saw her father at the desk with his partner as they poured over figures for the new expansion. There was a stack of money on the desk beside them. It would be hours before the meeting came to an end. The talk of a new livery in the next town over had been going on for several weeks, and both men never seemed to tire of the topic.
The night air touched her heated skin, and she shivered as she hurried along the path to the barn. Crickets chirped as if to keep time to the ragtime tune tinkling from the tavern’s piano down the street. The threat of discovery added another thump to her pulse.
The familiar scent of hay and horse greeted her when she stepped into the darkened building. “Andy?” She twisted the unfamiliar weight of the engagement ring on her finger. Her lips curved when Andy Hawkins stepped from the shadows. “I thought maybe you hadn’t been able to slip away.” She kept her voice barely above a whisper.
“I told him I wasn’t feeling well. I’d much rather be with you.” His warm hands came down on her shoulders, and he pulled her close for a kiss. “That meeting will go on for hours.”
Heat ran through her at his words. She’d tried to resist the pull of their passion—they both had—but they’d been weak, so weak. The warm press of his fingers closed around her hand, and he pulled her to a comfortable stack of hay. She fell into his arms without a protest. His lips came down on hers, and she forgot everything but his touch.
Then he lifted his head and sniffed. “Do you smell smoke?”
Cries of alarm began to filter into her consciousness muddied by the feel and scent of Andy. He helped her to her feet, and they both rushed to the door to view a scene that made her shudder.Fire shot through the roof of the livery. “Papa!” Andy restrained her when she would have rushed forward.
More shouts came from town, and a line of men burst from the saloon and ran toward the burning building. The windows of the livery exploded, spewing broken glass onto the ground, then smoke poured from open frames.
Andy grabbed her hand, and they ran toward her front door. She stopped and stared at the fire, Which direction? Her mother was in the house. Their fathers were in the livery. Lily’s chest was tight as flames shot through the roof of the livery.
Her fingers closed around the doorknob. “I’ll get my mother. You get the men.” The metal was already hot to the touch. How could the fire have grown so quickly?
She yanked open the door and plunged inside. Thick, roiling smoke choked Lily’s nose and throat as soon as she reached the top of the stairs. She threw open the bedroom door and rushed to the bed. The smoke was thick in the bedroom too. Her mother slept, unaware of the danger.Lily shook her. “Mama, wake up! You have to get out of here.” Shouts and screams echoed from outside. What was happening to her father?
Her mother lifted her head, and her eyes went wide then cleared of confusion. She threw back the covers. She stumbled to the door with Lily. One hand around her mother’s waist, Lily led her down the steps. Glass cut her bare feet, but she didn’t pause. Her chest burned both with the hot smoke and with the need to escape.
“Almost there,” she told her mother. She reached blindly for the door, and her fingers grasped the knob. She threw open the door.
The first brush of fresh air on her skin made her gasp and draw in the thick smoke in the air. She coughed at the searing pain in her chest, then stumbled onto the porch with her mother. Lily led her mother a safe distance away before turning to see bright flames shooting into the night. A fire alarm clanged behind them, and the horses pulling the fire engine came racing around the corner. As soon as it came to a stop, the firemen leaped into the yard and ran for the house.
Her mother coughed and stared at the furiously burning building. “Where’s your father?”
But Lily didn’t see her father’s tall, bald head. Dread congealed in her belly, and she shook her head. “I don’t see them, but Andy went to get them out.” She stared at the throng around the burning building. Was that Andy?
His soot-blackened face came into view by the light of the flames. He struggled with the two men holding him. “Let go of me! I have to find them.”
“It’s too dangerous,” one of the men said. “The building is fully engulfed.”
“Stay here, Mama.” Lily hurried to Andy’s side. “You didn’t find them?” Her throat closed at the hopeless expression on Andy’s face.
She turned to stare at the inferno that had engulfed both the livery and the attached house. The heat of the fire scorched her face. The breeze blew stinging cinders against her skin. Andy renewed his efforts to free himself, but the firemen propelled him back to a safer distance. The roar of the fire was like a dragon from a fairy tale, monstrous and all consuming. Flames licked out of the upper windows, straining toward the roof. More glass shattered, and the stink of burning bedding rolled over the lawn. With a groan, the building began to sag. The firemen shoved them back even more, and they all turned to watch it give a final shudder before the weakened timbers collapsed. Sparksand flames shot higher as the fire fed on the night air and began to consume the last of the building.
Lily sank to her knees, and Andy fell with her. They held one another as the fire took their fathers.
Andy stiffened, then pulled away. “It’s my fault. I should have been there. I would have smelled it and gotten them out.”
“It went too fast, Andy. There was nothing any of us could do.” She tried to cup his face in her hands, but he flinched away, then jumped to his feet.
“Don’t look at me. I can’t even stand myself.” He stalked off and the dark swallowed him up.
How can readers find you on the Internet?My website is www.colleencoble.com, and I hang out constantly on Facebook at colleencoblebooks. I answer all emails personally. Love to hear from readers!

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
 - Amazon
Butterfly Palace  - Kindle
Bluebonnet Bride: A Butterfly Palace Story - Kindle

Christian Book Store
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TIDE AND TEMPEST - Elizabeth Ludwig - One Free Book

Readers, Elizabeth is another Texasauthor. We’ve been friends a long time. We’ve been on writing retreats together. I love her heart for the Lord, and I love her writing, and this series are three of her best books. I think you will, too.
Welcome back, Elizabeth. Tell us about your salvation experience.I got saved when I was twenty-one. My husband and I had only been married for a couple of years, but we’d dated all through high school, and I knew that we differed on exactly what it meant to be saved. You see, I had been raised as a Catholic, and my husband was a Pentecostal.
One day, my sister approached me about some of the conversations my husband and I had been having regarding faith. She explained that salvation wasn’t about denomination, it was about surrendering my heart and life to God, and about acknowledging my need for a Savior. Though I pretended to understand, deep down, I was hiding a secret. I was holding back—afraid to commit everything to a God I didn’t really know.
About a year after this, my husband and I suffered the loss of our second child, our son, Seth, at three months of age. With the agony and grief arose questions regarding faith. Commitment. Trust.
Though I had managed to fool myself for several years, the time had finally come when God demanded an answer from me regarding my salvation. Would I trust Him with my most precious possessions? Would I commit myself to Him no matter where He led, even if it was through the Valley? Did I believe that even in the midst of suffering and fear, He was able to direct my path and protect me from evil?
I believe that when I finally answered yes to these questions, God truly became my Lord and Savior. I still remember letting go of the struggle—it was like a conscious movement, an opening of my hands. I let go of doubt, indecision, and fear, and I gained grace. I gained God.
You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?Only four? Oh my…
I’d say it would have to be Michelle Griep, Janelle Mowery, Kellie Coates Gilbert, and Candice (Speare) Prentice. Each one of these ladies has been such an encouragement to me over the years. They love to laugh, they love the Lord, and I know they would be a whole lot of fun.
Yes, they would. I know all of them, and two of them are dear friends. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.Oh yes, I do! I love to talk to community organizations, writers groups, and book clubs. In just the past year, I’ve visited with over thirty local groups and taught several workshops. But it’s not always just about my writing. I’ve been invited to speak at several women’s ministry events, which is always fun because I get to combine two of my favorite things—writing and Jesus. J
For anyone who is interested in booking me for their event, I have a partial list of topics on my website at www.elizabethludwig.com.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?LOL! This just between you and me, right? ;-)
My husband and I were at a basketball tournament once, and during half-time, I decided to get up to use the restroom. Bathrooms were across the gym, so I left and came back a short while later. As I’m walking across the floor, I see my husband frantically waving at me and pointing at something behind his back. After several seconds, I realized that he was pointing at me, so I start checking my shoes, my zipper…nothing.
Have you ever walked out of a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to your shoe?
Yeah, well…mine wasn’t stuck to my shoe. It was a piece of toilet paper about 10 inches long, and it was coming out the top of my pants, and flapping along like a flag behind me. The second I saw it, I tore it off and threw it on the floor, where it lay like a badge of shame until the game workers came out and swept it away.
Been there, done that, and it’s embarrassing. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?I always like to encourage people to follow their dreams, so when a person says that to me, I give them my card and tell them to contact me so that I can put them in touch with some literary organizations that can help. It’s not much, but it gives them a place to start if they’re really serious about pursuing a career in writing.
Tell us about the featured book. I am so excited for the release of Tide and Tempest ! Originally, I had intended for the EDGE OF FREEDOM to be a two book series, so this was the only story that wasn’t planned. It has turned out to be my favorite. I love, love, love this hero and heroine—Keondric and Tillie. Their story amazed me, and their love was just phenomenal to write.
Also, I share a common grief with Tillie—the loss of a child. I think that’s why she resonated with me so deeply. I really hope her triumph over guilt and grief speaks to readers.
Please give us the first page of the book.Sure! Here you go.
“Captain Morgan? Sir?”
Keondric Morgan glared over his shoulder at the deckhand waving furiously at him from the bow of the Caitriona Marie. He slowed his steps, halting the rhythmic cadence of his feet against the gangplank. “What now, Donal?”
His fingers beat with irritation against the pouch strapped to his side. He had somewhere to be, and if he had to mind every move his crewmen made, he’d never get there.
“The doctor, sir.” Donal shifted from foot to foot and tugged at the collar of his shirt.
Blowing an impatient blast from his lips, Morgan lifted his cap, dragged his fingers through his hair then gestured for him to continue. “Well? Go on, man, what about him?”
“What. . .uh. . .” Knuckles white as he gripped the rail, he glanced over his shoulder and back then cupped a hand to his mouth and leaned out over the water. “What should we do with him, sir?”
“He’s dead, Donal,” Morgan shouted back, raising his voice to be heard above the flocks of seagulls arguing overhead. “What do you think we should do with him? Contact his next of kin and see about getting him buried!”
Sighing, Donal grumbled, “’Twould have been easier if the man had died at sea.”
A lull in the noise clamoring from the vessels along the dock carried his words to Morgan’s ears. He paused mid-turn and narrowed his eyes. “What was that?”
Donal’s chin lowered. “Nothing, sir.”
“Good. See to it, then.” Jamming his hands into his pockets, Morgan hunched his shoulders, spun on his heel, and stormed down the gangplank. The doctor’s death disturbed him, but not nearly so as much as did his dying words.
“I did it, Morgan. God help me, I took the money.”
How can readers find you on the Internet?I’ve made quite a home for myself on the web. Here is a list of places where people can find me:www.elizabethludwig.comwww.theborrowedbook.blogspot.comhttps://twitter.com/theborrowedbookhttps://www.facebook.com/elizabethludwig102
I hope you’ll stop by. I’d love to have you visit!

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

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) - 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 Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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