Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 23
November 13, 2022
WINNERS
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Abigail (OK) is the winner of A Model of Devotion by Mary Connealy.
Kelley (FL) is the winner of A Daughter's Courage by Misty M Beller.
Terry (OR) is the winner of A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson.
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble , or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... 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 or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.
November 10, 2022
HONOR BOUND - Hallee Bridgeman - One Free Book
Bio: Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Todaybestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee finally settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.
HONOR BOUND
As a medical missionary in war-torn Africa, Cynthia Myers is trained to save lives. Captain Rick Norton, Special Forces A-Team captain, is ordered to take them if necessary. When Cynthia is forced to face her past, they have to put aside their differences in orderto make it out of the jungle alive.
Welcome, Hallee. How do the books in your new Love and Honor series tie together? Each book revolves around one member of a Special Forces A-Team. What type of research was required to accurately portray the characters in this branch of service? My husband served with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for several years and deployed with them to Afghanistan. In our military community, we have several friends who are still in Special Forces units. I was able to ask questions, glean knowledge, and confirm facts with several sources who actually served or are serving in the Special Forces.
What draws you to writing military fiction? I am an Army brat (my father was Special Forces) married to an Army brat (his father was a paratrooper). After the Gulf War, my husband got out of the military but reenlisted on September 12, 2001. He deployed to his second war within a few months of our marriage and has served in the military for almost twenty-five years. In media, it’s hard to find where the military is portrayed correctly. I wanted to write a series of books that didn’t cater to stereotype or trope but gave us a realistic view of the men and women who serve in the armed forces and their culture.
What was the inspiration behind the Love and Honor series? I love the military life and the people in it. I love strong heroes and heroines who are truly self-sacrificing, whose love for their country and families leads them to lay down their lives to protect them.
Is there a character in this series who you particularly relate to? I think out of all the characters, Bill Sanders is my favorite. I’ve always loved the tortured hero with a past that comes with baggage. It was fun to weave a sense of humor and Southern colloquialisms into his speech. My husband is very Southern and clever with his words. I think a lot of him leaked into Bill.
The theme of honor is present in each book in this series. Why did you choose to focus on this particular quality? One of the definitions of honor is “adherence to what is right.” Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by soldiers who have served in the US Army Special Forces. In my experience, they exude honor and respect. It was a natural trait to give focus to when I was plotting and planning this series. Are there any lessons that you hope readers can learn from the Love and Honor series? God is love, but this is a fallen world and there are some pretty scary things going on. God has gifted some people with warrior qualities and special skills, and they’re out there every day praying for the same peace that Jesus promises us in John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (ESV).
What are you working on next? My husband is no longer in a Special Forces unit; he is now in a cybersecurity/cyber warfare unit. I’m plotting out a series of books that combines cyber and Special Forces and a global hunt to stop some very dangerous hackers perpetrating a devastating attack. We’re crossing paths with Israel’s Mossad, arms dealers, and deep cover agents. I’m very excited for these books.
How can readers connect with you? Readers can find all of my contact information on my website: https://www.halleebridgeman.com
Thank you, Hallee, for sharing this new series with my blog readers and me. I love suspense novels.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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
November 9, 2022
ALASKAN ESCAPE - Maryann Landers - One Free Book
Welcome, Maryann. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. My second book in the Alaskan Women of Caliber Series is based on my own story. Friends tell me they can hear me in my books in various parts of the stories. Maybe since they are all in first person, I can’t help myself :) What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? What a great question. I’d just met my husband to be, and he commented on my planned trip to Fairbanks. He said they are all a bunch of tree-squeezing, bunny-loving poesy-sniffers up there! Well, my friend and I bought some polyester clothes at value village and took pictures of ourselves hugging a tree and brought them to Bible study that next week. He wasn’t sure what to think of me. Then he saw I was making fun and thought “oh she likes me.”
When did you first discover that you were a writer? I wrote my first novel in less than two months. When it won an award the next year, I could hardly believe it that it wasn’t just a published book but also award winning. I felt at that time an amount of confirmation that was a huge encouragement to me.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I’m such a picky reader. I like Women’s fiction but only some subsets of the genre, I enjoy historical fiction and Biblical fiction.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?Yup, I run. At least I try to. Exercise helps me blow off steam. However, the single most important thing to me is my relationship with the Lord. When I have consistent time spent praying and reading the Bible, it’s the most helpful part of my day.
How do you choose your characters’ names? I’ve based all my books on true stories. I take the middle name of the person or a variation of their real name.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?Raising my kids. I can hardly believe God let me be their mom. They’re all adopted and almost dropped right from the sky!
That’s wonderful. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Hmmm, maybe a porpoise. They are so happy and they get to dive and swim!
What is your favorite food? Thanksgiving dinner. Does that count?
Yes. I love Thanksgiving dinner, too. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?I have two kids at home and I homeschool them and I have lots to juggle with that.
Tell us about the featured book. It inspired by the story of my friend who is an amazing lady who lived on a fishing vessel for fifteen years. The story takes place in the remote southeastern part of Alaska.
Please give us the first page of the book. Alrighty here you go. I watched my husband crouch in place, awaiting the release of the black panther. The cat’s emerald eyes escalated the tension on the movie set. Bill pursed his lips, and I mimicked his rhythmic breathing. After twenty-three years of marriage, I was in tune with his every move and could read even the slightest twitch. As he watched the caged animal with intense focus, I was assured he was comfortable in his role. Together, we’d committed to acting in movies using trained but otherwise wild animals like grizzlies, snakes, and panthers. I checked my watch and noted that we had one more scene, which allowed us time to arrive home and make supper for our five kids.
We’d practiced our parts with precision and repetition, and in a moment, the predator would release at the sound of the buzzer as it had countless times before.
To the right of the set, a cage contained the long body of the panther, whose black fur shimmered in the low light. His muscular legs stalked his cage. I appreciated the intelligence of the cat and how it was trained to behave as a fierce predator through the use of small fish snacks hidden from the camera. It was all part of the show, leading an audience to believe the animal was lethally bursting onto stage, savagely seeking its human prey. The appearance was all that mattered; the graceful beast was only a crew member acting its part.
C’mon, let’s finish this.
There was comfort in the knowledge that the animals were trained, but tension lingered at the end of the long day, taking its toll on my thoughts. Offstage, I crossed my legs and shifted my position on the stool. Danger lurking in every scene was supposed to be a casual happenstance. But I recalled how my heart had raced with worry a few weeks ago when a bear reverted to its natural instinct and clawed at me. That night, I’d spoken to Bill about my doubts over continuing with the acting crew. He’d used statistics to assure me I would more likely die in a car accident. His calm promisee of the expert training that was carried out on and off set temporarily calmed my nerves.
The Brazilian animal trainer assumed the director’s role during the animal scenes, and he picked up his loudspeaker. "Alright, you’re set, Bill. I’ll count it down from three." He scanned the crew of actors and stagehands, including myself, and nodded in our direction.
I closed my eyes and breathed a prayer for safety. Then I opened my eyes, setting my gaze on my man, strong and muscular from years of working on the family farm. I never voiced a fear with him nearby since I felt shielded in a cocoon when I was with him. His presence was commanding and protective even though he was a gentle giant—well over six feet tall.
In this career, we learned to juggle the instinct to flee and played along with beasts.
The fan blew the potted palm trees, creating a space similar to the Brazilian jungle the panther called home. Above the noise of the fans, the stereo speakers blared bird calls and trickling water. The Brazilian animal trainer, Bruno, called out, "three, two, and one."
The Pavlovian buzzer sounded, and the cage gate was lifted by two stagehands. Franz, a heavyset man who’d worked for decades with the crew, helped loosen the gate. As he pulled it, the panther swiped at the bars, and Franz threw the gate into the air, sending it sailing toward Bill where it clanged on the floor beside him.
In a trance-like prowl, the panther moved gracefully toward the obscured fresh-fish snack he knew was his promised prize. His piercing eyes squinted, and his nose sniffed the air.
The practiced pattern was for the feline to walk past Bill and feed on its treat beyond, where it remained.
Instead, the panther froze. Its nose twitched and eyes darted. What did it sense? Why didn’t it move forward? Turning, the panther stared menacingly at Bill.
I gasped and covered my mouth. Dear Lord, help us! I prayed.
Bruno sprang into action, running to Bill and yelling out commands in Portuguese as he drew a long knife from its scabbard.
How can readers find you on the Internet? The fun way is to google my name and then see what you can find. Or you can go to my webpage directly at https://www.mary-ann-landers.comand check out the story behind the story of what inspired me to begin writing two years ago.
Thank you, Maryann, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I love reading stories set in Alaska.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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
November 8, 2022
THE PREMONTION AT WITHERS FARM - Jaime Jo Wright - One Free Book
Bio: Christy and Carol Awards–winning author Jaime Jo Wright has captured audiences with her numerous thrilling and mysterious novels, including The Souls of Lost Lake (Apr. 2022), On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor (2021), and The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus (2020). Featuring rich characterization and intricate plots with just the right amount of spookiness, Wright will have readers clinging to her every word until the very last page in her latest novel, The Premonition at Withers Farm.
About the Story: In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, but local doctor George Wasziak is convinced she’s nothing but a useless quack. It doesn’t help that her mother, Meribeth, claims to be a spiritualist capable of connecting the living with their dearly departed. But when the Van Hiltons are targeted by a superstitious killer, Perliett must rely on both George and an intriguing newcomer for help.
Over a century later, Molly Wasziak is dealing with her own problems. Recovering from depression after multiple miscarriages, Molly is overwhelmed by her husband’s purchase of a turn-of-the- century farmhouse. Haunted by the disturbing shadows and sounds in the old building, she’s pulled deep into a vintage web of deceptions after uncovering the Wasziak family tree and a century-old murder case.
As Perliett fights for her life in 1910, Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time silence their truths forever?
Welcome, Jaime. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel The Premonition at Withers Farm. Two women must wade through family trauma and a rural-farmland serial killer’s motivations to find safety for their loved ones and the truth behind the murders. The Premonition at Withers Farm alternates between a setting in Michigan in the early 1900s and present day. What about this concept first captured your imagination? The first thing that captured my imagination was when my friend and I were reading old letters that were found in an actual chicken coop on a farm. I started envisioning how the letters may hold something much darker—like a killer’s record of their victims—and from there, the story was born.
Protagonist Perliett Van Hilton is a rural healer in the novel. What kind of research was required to learn more about those who practiced this kind of medicine? Honestly, it was super fun! There are books that abound with information of old medical practices, and some of them are beyond the mind’s imagination! I had fun doing a lot of reading and research but included only a teensy percentage of the quackery I discovered.
Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book? I have always been fascinated with the surge of spiritualism in history and the fascination with the spirit world. With literary masters like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle making it a distinguished part of their lives, I wanted to understand the history behind it—both the solved trickery and the unsolved mystery. I was able to consult with a magician, who helped open the doors to the secrets behind much of the “trade,” the illusion and the dangers of being led into a world we know little about.
Your other main character, Molly Wasziak, is working through depression after experiencing several miscarriages. What did you find the most challenging about accurately portraying her character? I’m big on drawing on personal experience, so this was one I have personally traversed through myself. The experience of miscarriage is a difficult one to navigate, often being a silent grief, as it’s commonly treated as though the mother is recovering from an ailment, not from the loss of her child. Along with that, the reality of postpartum depression is also not discussed often and was something I experienced as well. If untreated and pushed under the rug as though a “weakness of faith,” this type of depression can become not only disabling but also dangerous for one’s mental health. I wanted to portray these in a way that raises awareness while also lending credibility to the women who struggle with such things. How do you think The Premonition at Withers Farm serves both fans of dual-time fiction and suspense fanatics? I think people will find enjoyment in reading about both the historical and current worlds, witnessing the two collide, along with being satiated by how the threads of suspense are woven through the lives and tales of the different eras. They aren’t two mysteries really, but rather one, as we see the union of the past influencing the present, and the present discovering the stories of the ancestors who came before. Because dangers don’t always die in the past; sometimes they linger and haunt the future.
What elements do you believe all great mystery/suspense novels need to have? I believe all great mystery/suspense novels need to have a strong and unpredictable tale woven through them. Personally, I love those with many layers and strings that require tying up at the end, as well as a red herring or two to send me, the reader, down a completely different path, along with the perfect twist at the end.
What do you hope readers gain from reading The Premonition at Withers Farm? The search for truth is a delicate thing, especially today when so much truth is considered relative and preferential. I hope readers can discover that truth—solid and foundational truth—does exist, is never-changing, and can be a beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness.
How can readers connect with you? Hit me up at www.jaimewrightbooks.com. All my social media links are there, plus readers can find me on the Discord app if they’re not keen on popular social media platforms. They can also touch base with me at www.madlitmentoring.com, if someone’s an aspiring writer and would like to work with me on honing their storytelling skills or deepening their dive into fiction writing in general.
Thank you, Jaime, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I have a grand daughter who experienced two miscarriages be fore her son was born. I look forward to reading your book.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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
November 6, 2022
WINNERS
IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.
Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.
Caryl (TX) is the winner of Where the Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner.
Cherie (FL) is the winner of Following the Ghost Lights in Texas by Connie Lewis Leonard.
Elizabeth (MA) is the winner of Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin.
If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble , or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.
Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... 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 or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.
November 3, 2022
A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS - Melody Carlson - One Free Book
Bio: Award-winning author Melody Carlson has a special talent for bringing extra joy to the Christmas season. With over seven million copies sold, Carlson has charmed her way into the lives of romance readers worldwide. She now crafts another heartwarming holiday tale about giving and forgiving and sprinkles it with just the right amount of romance in A Quilt for Christmas.
About the story: Widowed and recently relocated, Vera Swanson is feeling lonely this Christmas season. After all, Christmas should be celebrated with family. But that is not an option for Vera this year—until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera’s help, and when she finds out her new neighbor is a quilter, she has a special request—a Christmas quilt for Mama.
With only three weeks until Christmas, Vera realizes she needs a miracle. She quickly pulls together a ragtag group of quilters. As this diverse cast of characters work together to create a beautiful quilt, their hearts become stitched together in friendship, a struggling family is helped, and an unexpected romance blooms.
For anyone who loves quilting, romance, or a cozy Christmas tale, A Quilt for Christmas offers a perfect escape for the winter season.
Welcome, Melody. Please provide a brief summary of A Quilt for Christmas. All alone this holiday season, Vera Swanson expects a blue Christmas. But when little Fiona Albright reaches out for help, Vera is swept up into the lives of a struggling young family. While helping the ailing mother, Vera reveals to young Fiona that she’s a quilter—and Fiona begs her to “make Mama a quilt” for Christmas. Vera accepts the challenge and manages to find three other women to help, but all does not go smoothly as the four very different women attempt to create a beautiful quilt in just three weeks. Friendships are formed and an unexpected romance blossoms, as the unusual quilting club do their best to pull together. Young Fiona Albright has asked Vera to make a quilt for her mother. Vera pulls together a ragtag group of quilters. Can you describe this eclectic group of women? Vera has lived a relatively uncomplicated sort of life. Outspoken Eleanor is a retired career woman who, due to her own grief, has grown bitter and cynical. Tasha is young, artistic, and free-spirited. She’s been bumped around by life and love but is still resilient. And Beverly is a jovial chatterbox, who loves to bake and indulge in goodies.
Do you have a favorite character? I like something about each character, but I probably love little Fiona best. She’s one of those old-soul children who sometimes sees more than the adults around her.
A Quilt for Christmas
is much more than an uplifting novel. What underlying themes are woven together in your book? In each novel, I always try to instill a portion of grace that involves flawed characters, hurt feelings, and a need for understanding and forgiveness. You are well known for your enjoyable romance tales. What do you love most about writing novels in this genre? I like a good love story (more than a romance novel!) because it allows me to write about a variety of themes (not only the romantic element). I can explore relationships and show various facets of personalities, and if it gets dicey, there’s always that love story thread to stitch it back together.
When did you first start writing Christmas novellas? I’ve been writing Christmas novellas for over twenty years.
What are you working on next? My 2023 Christmas novella, which is quite different. That’s all I’m saying for now. I’ve also been busily adapting some of my books into screenplays.
How can readers connect with you? Readers can find me at MelodyCarlson.com and on Facebook @MelodyCarlsonAuthor.
Thank you, Melody, for sharing A Quilt for Christmas with my blog readers and me. I love reading Christmas stories during the season.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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
November 2, 2022
A DAUGHTER'S COURAGE - Misty M Beller - One Free Book
Welcome back, Misty. Where do you write? I dictate my stories into an app on my phone, and I usually do it while I’m walking outside. I’ve found movement really helps my creativity. With this book though, I was actually heavily pregnant (and sick) so I wasn’t able to walk. I dictated most of it from either my bed or the couch. J When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?At any given time, I usually have a series releasing that I’m publishing myself and also a series being published by Bethany House Publishers. I was excited to partner with Bethany House for this Brides of Laurent series, because it’s such a fun setting! Laurent is a secret French village that’s been hidden in caves in the Canadian Rockies for over a hundred years.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing? My 5 kiddos definitely keep me busy! We love to go camping, and we all love music. I was a music major in college, piano concentration. Both of my older girls play piano too, and my oldest also plays every form of guitar she can get her hands on. J Three of our kids also play soccer, so I spend a lot of time at the soccer fields!
What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing? This is always a tough question because there are so many things that are helpful!
First, place your writing journey in God’s hands. Seek Him above everything, and He’ll lead You along the path He’s chosen to reach His very best for you!
Second, read a LOT. Read in your genre. Read writing craft books. Absorb everything you can.
Third, join a writing organization that focuses on the type of books you write. Joining ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) was one of the most helpful things I’ve done to grow as a writer. I’ll always be grateful to the organization, and I do my best to give back as often as I can. I’m also a member of Novelists, Inc. (for career novelists).
What is your favorite book? Favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? So hard to pick favorites! Jane Austen and her books are all favorite classics. For authors still alive, Kristen Heitzmann and Deanne Gist are definitely favorites, and both helped inspire me when I began writing.
Where did you get the idea for A Daughter’s Courage? Charlotte, the heroine in
A Daughter’s
Courage is the little sister of the heroine from book 1. I knew I wanted this story to be a journey away from Laurent, so Charlotte could get away from the shadow of her family and have her own adventure. My brainstorming group helped me come up with the idea for her mission to find an artisan who can repair her village’s special chalice…
and
the special twist at the end of the story! From idea to final revision, how long did it take to write? I began writing A Daughter’sCourage at the beginning of July 2021 and turned in the final manuscript to my publisher (Bethany House) on October 29, 2021. It was a race to finish the book before I gave birth to our daughter Leah, and I made it with just 5 days to spare!
Are you working on anything now? Yes! I’m writing book 2 in a new series for Bethany House! The series is called Sisters of the Rockies and follows four sisters who travel west in 1837 to accomplish their father’s dying wish. They arrive in time for the trappers’ rendezvous, and boy is it different from what they imagined! Book 1, Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, will release in May 2023, and book 2 that I’m currently writing will release in November 2023. I can’t wait for you to read this series!
I’m eager to read it already. Please tell us about A Daughter’s Courage.
I’d love to!
After accidentally destroying the intricately carved chalice her people have treasured for over a hundred years, Charlotte Durand sets out in search of a skilled artisan who can repair the damage. What she expected to be a two-day trek becomes much more daunting when a treacherous snowstorm sets in.
Searching for solitude and respite from his troubling past, the last thing Damien Levette needs in the middle of a mountain blizzard is to tend to another person, but he can't leave behind the mysterious woman he found half frozen at the edge of a mountain lake.
As they battle both the elements and their distrust of each other, Charlotte and Damien must work together to survive the peril of the mountains—or it could be the downfall of them both.
Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.
September 1817
Rocky Mountains, Rupert’s Land (Future Canada)
Cooking fulfilled Charlotte Durand like little else did.
Maybe not the act of slicing meat and stirring stew over a hot fire, but the steps required to ensure each morsel she prepared would bring her family pleasure. That her food would nourish and strengthen. And, in this case, furnish the setting for a celebration.
The trading party had returned from Fort Versailles.
Laurent’s council had finally opened their solitary village to a small bit of trade with the fort located two days’ ride to the east, but only a couple men went at a time. For this journey, Erik and Monsieur Rochette had been gone five days, returning this afternoon with heaping packs of supplies.
Tonight, their table would be overflowing just like the traders’ packs, and she had so many final preparations to finish. In less than an hour, both men would sup at the Durand table to share news. Who knew what fascinating tidings they’d bring this time? So many people passed in and out of the fort’s log walls. . . . Charlotte couldn’t imagine meeting so many strangers every day.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet? I love to connect with readers! One of my favorite ways is through my newsletter, and readers can get a free copy of my book, A Pony Express Romance, when they sign up for the newsletter. Here’s the link for that: https://mistymbeller.com/freebook
I can also be found at these links:
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
Thank you, Misty for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I love reading your books.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
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November 1, 2022
A MODEL OF DEVOTION - Mary Connealy - One Free Book
Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than half a million books. She is the author of the popular series Brothers in Arms, Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
About the story: A brilliant engineer, Jilly Stiles has been educated since childhood to help run her father’s lumber dynasty. Now with the company safe after the marriages of her two sisters, Jilly can focus on her dream of building a mountaintop railroad—and never marry.
Nick Ryder came into Jilly’s life when he saved her mother from her no-good stepfather, and he’s prepared to protect Jilly from anything that threatens to harm her. Haunted by the pain of his own past, Nick is determined not to get his heart involved while protecting Jilly from losing her hard-won independence.
But when a cruel and powerful man goes to dangerous lengths to make Jilly his own, marrying Nick may be the only way to save herself and her dreams.
Welcome back, Mary. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, A Model of Devotion. Jilly Stiles is the sister who is resisting marriage, focusing instead on building her railroad and making her father’s dream come true. She finds that, even with the rights to run her family’s lumber dynasty secured by her two sisters marrying and inheriting their shares, she’s still in danger from a powerful man who wants to possess her. Marriage to Nick Ryder may be her only path to safety, and even as a married woman, that might not discourage the manipulative, obsessive tyrant who is willing to destroy anything that stands in his way. A Model of Devotion,like many of your previous novels, is set in the American West. What about the American West first captured your imagination? I live in the Midwest. My husband is a Nebraskan cattleman. I think I bring a lot of authenticity to that world when I write it. I’ve written other things in my life, but this Western style is the most fun for me, so I keep on writing it!
Can you tell us a little more about what and who were the inspirations behind this book? The foundational inspiration was a flume. A flume is a massive water trough that carries logs down a mountain with a stream of water carrying them along. I drove past one in Colorado. It struck me as a way to get down a mountain fast—and not just for logs but for people. I kept building on that idea. Why would anyone take such a risk? What are they running from? The story built on itself until it became something I was excited about and eager to write. But it all started with a flume.
What did you enjoy most about creating a determined and independent protagonist like Jilly Stiles? What did you find the most challenging, if anything? Jilly is one of the strongest characters I’ve ever written, one of the smartest and most determined and organized. But under all that strength, she’s scared. That fear is enhanced by her photographic memory. She has to face that fear to find love, and it doesn’t happen easily.
The challenge was to write her strength and hard work but also include her fear. Those two elements of her character weren’t a natural fit, but they made her the complex heroine I love to write.
Without giving away any spoilers, what makes Jilly Stiles and Nick Ryder such a compelling duo? Nick has to learn to take orders from a woman. Jilly has to back up once in a while and let Nick take charge. It causes more than one clash, but it also results in mutual respect. Nick thinks to himself once that it’s strange to take orders from a woman, but Jilly was so much smarter and more organized than him that he was glad to do it. What role does humor play in your stories? Do you believe humor is a requirement for crafting a memorable story? It seems to be a requirement for me. Most of the humor in my books just rolls along, coming out in sass and conflict. I read other authors’ books that are sweet and sentimental or edgy and exciting, without much humor, and I love then. But I can’t seem to control the humor from coming out in mine.
Did you learn or explore anything new as a writer while working on A Model of Devotion? What continues to motivate your writing? The research for this book was intense. I’ve never set a book in California before. It doesn’t seem like a true Western setting, but of course they have cowboys and ranches in California. I loved researching logging, trains, and the age of invention that runs through all the books. It was fun and inspiring.
As for motivation for writing, it’s not like I have to force myself. It’s more like I can’t seem to stop. I need motivation to get away from my computer and talk to people who aren’t imaginary friends.
What lessons do you hope readers will gain from reading A Model of Devotion? This series is set in the Industrial Revolution. There were patents coming from all directions in all areas of life. Jilly—building her bridge, surveying land, and blowing holes in mountains with dynamite—wasright in the middle of new discoveries every day. I hope people who think we’re in such a modern age can look back and see how technology was unfolding even one hundred fifty years ago.
And I hope readers will see that even if they’re strong, smart, and hardworking, they still need God. It’s hard, I think, for someone who is cruising along with things going well to let God into their life. Jilly and her very smart sisters have to learn to let God take the weight off their shoulders.
How can readers connect with you?
http://www.Facebook.com/maryconnealy
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Thank you, Mary, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. You know how much I love to read your stories.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
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October 31, 2022
WINNER
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October 27, 2022
DANGEROUS BEAUTY - Melissa Koslin - One Free Book
BIO: Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. The author of Never Miss, Melissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Corey. Find more information on her books at www.MelissaKoslin.com. “Do not start this book until you have the time to read it in one gulp. This is a really fresh twist on a marriage of convenience with the potential for pages of suspense. The hero and heroine are each hugely compelling, and I just wanted to protect them both. It’s also a sweet story of the healing power of hope. Highly recommend this novel for those who adore romantic suspense with a fresh twist.” —Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Riskand Lethal Intent
Melissa Koslin is making a name for herself in the romantic suspense genre with her engaging mysteries that draw readers in and keep them spellbound. In Dangerous Beauty, Koslin throws two characters into an unlikely situation—an arranged marriage for a good cause. Dark origins, buried secrets, and a dangerous buyer collide in this breakneck tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Victim is a term that Liliana Vela refuses to call herself―she is a fighter. She fought her way out of the clutches of human traffickers who snatched her from her home in Mexico and has managed to escape to America. But she can’t stay unless the man who helped rescue her is serious about his offer to marry her.
When Meric Toledan finds Liliana at a service station, terrified that she will be returned to the awful hands of her captors, he knows he must save her. He has the ability to keep her safe with his wealth and resources and knows he can’t just leave her. But is safety truly possible when the mysterious buyer who demanded her capture still wants her―and will stop at nothing to have her?
Melissa Koslin pulls no punches with immediate action and tension around every corner. As Liliana and Meric navigate the terrors of evil, they will find out what the true price is for freedom.
Welcome, Melissa. Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel Dangerous Beauty? Wealthy businessman Meric Toledan holds others at a distance, keeping his dark past and his secrets to himself. But when he meets Liliana Vela, a victim of human trafficking in need of asylum, he finds himself ready to protect her at all costs—including asking for her hand in marriage. What inspired you to write about human trafficking? While it’s an extremely difficult subject for me to write about, I also think it is one of the most underrecognized atrocities of our society and needs more light blasted at it. How is this not a major talking point on the news every single day? It’s literally modern-day slavery.
I handle it very delicately, because I couldn’t handle writing anything graphic, I don’t think my readers want to read that, and I didn’t want the story to be about the horrors of Liliana’s experiences—I wanted it to be about her healing and triumph, and Meric’s too.
Can you share some of Meric’s background and why he feels such a drive to help those affected by human trafficking? I don’t want to give too much away, but he has a unique connection to human trafficking that fuels his motivations.
What type of research was required to accurately write about drug cartels and human trafficking? Lots and lots of searching government and legal websites about the laws associated with asylum, Green Cards, and marriage. The actual interactions are all fictional, of course, but I based the general behaviors on news stories that I’ve read over the years.
Where did the inspiration for Liliana’s character come from? I wanted to create someone soft and kind but also a fighter. I love the juxtaposition. I had her come from Mexico for logistical reasons and the SW area of Mexico because that’s the poorest area. I liked the idea of the buyer thinking he can do whatever he wants to her and her family because they’re powerless and poor, and in the end, she shows why you shouldn’t judge people based on outward characteristics.
Dangerous Beauty includes the romance trope of marriage for convenience. What are some of your favorite romance tropes? Marriage of convenience is probably my favorite trope. I usually don’t write tropes, but this story really struck me. I just had to write it. It was one of those ones that won’t get out of your head until you write it down.
Liliana faces a terrifying future without Meric’s help. What was it like to write from the perspective of someone in that position? I write a lot of very strong females (Kadance in Never Miss is a prime example). While Liliana is in a position of powerlessness, dependent on Meric, she’s not weak. Not in the slightest. I enjoyed exploring her strength—while she has no power, she never lets anyone control her and certainly never gives up. She never allows herself to surrender to victimhood.
What did you enjoy most about writing Dangerous Beauty? The emotional struggles both Liliana and Meric face.
What do you hope readers will take away from Dangerous Beauty? On an interpersonal level: never judge anyone based on outward circumstances or appearances. Everyone is a unique individual, valuable in their own right, and brings their own strengths to the table.
On a societal level: an increased awareness of the horrors and pervasiveness of human trafficking.
Where can our audience go to connect with you?
Website: www.MelissaKoslin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaKoslin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissakoslin?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_koslin/?hl=en
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/melissakoslin/
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I love reading marriage of convenience novels. I’m eager to read my copy.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, 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
