Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 26
September 15, 2022
SEA GLASS COTTAGE - Irene Hannon - One Free Book
Bio: Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including the long-running Hope Harbor series, as well as Labyrinth of Lies, Point of Danger and the Code of Honor, Private Justice, and Men of Valor suspense series, among others. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carol, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement Award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two-time Christy Award finalist. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
Welcome, Irene. Can you please provide a brief description of your new novel, Sea Glass Cottage? At its core, this is a reunion story about forgiveness and second chances.Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl’s life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she’s certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.
When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He’s built a new life on the Oregon coast—and there’s no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.
Can these two hurting souls make peace with their past and open their hearts to a new beginning?
Sea Glass Cottage is your eighth book set in the fictional seaside town of Hope Harbor, Oregon. Why did you choose this location? I’ve always considered seaside locations to be romantic, so I knew when I developed the concept for this series that it would be a small-town setting on the ocean. I’d seen photos of the Oregon coast, with its dramatic scenery, and I thought it would provide the perfect backdrop for my stories. So I made a visit, traveling the coast from top to bottom, and knew I’d found the home for Hope Harbor.
What was the inspiration for your new novel? I wanted to explore the question of whether people can truly change at a deep, fundamental level. This story gave me an opportunity to delve into that in both the primary and secondary plots.
How do your come up with fresh new plots for each of your Hope Harbor novels? Excellent question . . . and one which allows me to point out that each plot in the Hope Harbor series is unique and that every book can be read as standalone novel. There are no hanging plot threads from book to book. The link is the town. As for fresh plots—someone once asked me how I could write so many romance novels without repeating myself, and my reply was that every love story is unique. There are always different challenges to overcome and different personalities at play in relationships. It’s just a matter of finding a plot that allows me to explore my characters. The different personalities involved are what keep the books fresh.
The town of Hope Harbor has some fun characters that continue to make their appearances throughout all of your Hope Harbor novels. Do you have a favorite character? I love all my characters, including the secondary ones, in Hope Harbor. But I can tell you that Charley Lopez, the taco-making artist and town sage, is the one who’s captured readers’ fancy the world over. I’ve received more comments and emails about him than all of the other characters in my 60+ novels combined. He has truly become a beloved icon.
What do you hope readers will experience when reading Sea Glass Cottage? I hope they’ll be swept away to my special town for hours of enjoyment—and that they finish the book filled with hope . . . and with a greater appreciation for the tremendous power of love (and not just romantic love) to transform lives.
What are you working on next? Next up will be Book 3 in my Triple Threat suspense series, coming in October 2022. Beyond that—more Hope Harbor books and a new suspense series debuting in 2023!
How can readers connect with you? The best place to chat with me is on Facebook, though I’m active on Twitter and Instagram too. But I’m on Facebook most often—and I read every comment and respond to many personally. I don’t have an assistant, so if I respond, it’s really me!
Thank you for sharing this book with my blog readers and me.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
http://ow.ly/g3lB50KKwi0
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
September 13, 2022
FORGOTTEN MEMORIES - Penny Zeller - One Free book
Welcome, Penny. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? My agent has recently encouraged me to also pursue writing romantic suspense. I love to read this genre, and I’m excited to see where God leads me regarding writing it. I love romantic suspense. Tell us a little about your family. I am married to my husband, Lon, and have two daughters, whom I homeschooled. We are an active family and spend a lot of time outside. I am very close to my extended family, which includes my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and niece and nephews.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how? I’ve always loved to read. I do find that when I’m on a deadline, I have less time to read. Having said that, my family surprises me with a new book from a favorite author for when I’ve met the deadline. Excellent motivation!
What are you working on right now? I am super excited to be working on the second book in the Wyoming Sunrise Series, Dreams of the Heart. This time, readers will catch a glimpse of John Mark Eliason in his own book.
What outside interests do you have? When I’m not dreaming up new characters, I enjoy spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, biking, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
How do you choose your settings for each book? I primarily stick to Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho because I especially love the history from those states.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be? Definitely Jesus.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels? How much work goes into it after the book is written!
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now? I struggle sometimes with worry, and God continues to grow me in that area.
What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful? I would tell them not to focus on sales or reviews, but to focus on how your books are impacting lives for the better and to see it as a ministry. Yes, sales are important, especially when bills are piling up. But in the end, the only thing that matters is the difference we made via our writing for the Lord. On that note, I would tell them to remember to put God first and to completely surrender their writing to Him. Third, I would suggest to writers to form an author coalition. The camaraderie between authors is special and unparalleled. Other authors have been there, done that, and can offer encouragement and support in ways no one else can.
Tell us about the featured book? The “official” blurb for Forgotten Memories is as follows: Some memories are best forgotten…
The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.
Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?
Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?
Please give us the first page of the book.
Wyoming Territory, 1877
A fleeting movement caught twelve-year-old Annie Ledbetter’s attention. She squinted at the grove of trees on a distant hill and willed her eyes to focus. A quick flash of something—or someone—appeared. Annie tipped her head to the left and stood on tiptoe, anticipating a better view.
The vacant prairie previously held nothing but miles and miles of grasslands, sagebrush, and the occasional rolling hill.
Until now.
Annie’s feet stalled in the soft dirt as if rooted. Could it be? A man, or maybe more than one man, watched and scrutinized Annie and the rest of the travelers.
But as quickly as the figure appeared, he vanished.
A shiver of fear traveled up her spine.
How can readers find you on the Internet? I have a vibrant online presence and can be found at the following:
Website: www.pennyzeller.com
Blog: www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PennyZeller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyzeller/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/penny-zeller
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/zellerpenny/
MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/pennyzeller
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/pennyzeller
Newsletter Sign up: https://mailchi.mp/8c1dae400a24/penny-zeller
Thank you, Penny, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. My copy has arrived, and I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
http://ow.ly/3uA950KIaM1
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
September 11, 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 do n'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.
Emma (PA) is the winner of The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woos Fisher.
Connie (KY) is the winner of Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham.
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.
September 8, 2022
VALLEY MELODIES - Bonnie Leon - One Free Book
Welcome, Bonnie. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take? I’m pushing myself to dig deeper for meaningful stories. At present, I am working on a contemporary novel that takes place in the wine country north of San Francisco. It is inspired by my grandson Ezra who sustained a traumatic brain injury in an accident when he was eleven years old. He is now twenty and lives with the emotional and physical wounds of his injury. He hopes to find a woman to share his life, but it will take someone who can look beyond the damage and see his heart. I hope for a happy ending for Ezra, and for my story, which challenges us to consider what we value in others.
What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? I am not scheduled to attend any conferences this year, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. I want to be open to the leading of the Lord and walk through open doors. If that includes conferences, then I will do my best to get there.
I love writing conferences. I doubt I’d have achieved my calling as a writer without them. Getting together with other writers is a blessing. It provides friendship, shared experiences, and the honing of our craft. With the restrictions laid down because of COVID I’ve sorely missed them.
If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? It would be titled “A Look Behind the Scenes.” The process of how to go from a dream to story ideas and then to published author is a mystery to many writers. There is a great of deal of confusion and misconceptions about what it takes.
I’d want the panel to include people who have lived the writer’s life, as well as those who are making decisions within the publishing houses, including editors who get into the meat of our stories. It would be important to have panelists who embrace transparency. Attendees need to know the truth, good and bad. They need to know what happens behind the scenes and what is expected of them. It would be my hope to bring down some of the walls that stand between editors and writers. Editors are just people who work hard, but don’t always get “it” right. Writers need to bravely speak up when they feel the quality of their work is being diminished. And they need to keep in mind that sometimes we can be too close to the work and not see needed changes.
How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations? Very. But the need and timing can vary greatly as we go through life’s seasons.
In the beginning of my career, it was those people already engaged in the writing world who helped me move forward. They took time to teach and encourage me. And when my first book was released, they jumped in and helped get the word out about one of the new kids on the block.
I love connecting with other writers. They understand what the life is like. And they sometimes give me guidance when needed. They also help to keep me grounded and to not let the worries of the business overwhelm me so that I can focus on the writing. These are people who are my friends. We are part of a team God has called into service by using our words to entertain and to teach. I see us standing together with our arms linked as we wade into the battles and the joys of our calling.
Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? My husband and I are part of our church’s home ministry. We gather once a week in a small group to study God’s Word and to connect as friends. We do our best to be transparent and to come alongside one another as we journey through life.
I also lead a critique group of fledgling writers in our church. It’s startling how much talent there is in my little country church. I love our time together and know that their stories will make an impact on our world. It is a privilege to be a part of their adventure.
Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? Jesus Christ, of course. There is nothing without Him. But I won’t include him on my list because he is on everyone’s list.
I’ll begin with my father. He was a beautiful example of what honorable living looks like. He was always honest and straight forward. He worked hard and did his best. His word was his bond. And when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in his late forties, he showed me how to live … when you’re dying. He embraced every moment with positivity and courage.
My mother taught me what it means to live with a grateful heart. No matter the circumstance, she always managed to grasp the wonder of it, the goodness in it, and the gifts found even in the hard stuff. She saw life as a precious offering. I am not a natural when it comes to gratitude, but my mother’s example inspires me every day.
As a young woman I attended a small Bible Study led by a woman named Alice Swan. She was the first believer who took me under her wing and taught me how to dig into scripture on my own and find truth. It changed my life. I am forever grateful for her sacrifice and dedication.
When I was a teenager, I read the biography of Helen Keller. One of the messages in her story that stayed with me was the truth that we have the power to overcome adversity. That ability dwells inside each of us and if we choose to use it our time on the planet, even with challenges, can still be our best life. We must never give up and never give in. We need to push on and reach for all we can be. That is how we will reach our potential.
If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be? She lived her best life.
Tell us about the featured book. Valley Melodies is book two in the Valley Series. It is the continuing story of Emmalin Hammond, who grew up in Philadelphia as a socialite and after the death of her mother, travels to the Oregon Territory in 1855. She searches for a father she thought had long been dead and finds him in Deer Creek, Oregon. She also finds Jacob Landon, a mountain man who turns out to be the man of her dreams. She has decided to return to Philadelphia, but when Jacob asks Emmalin to marry him and to share his life in the Oregon wilderness, she dares to believe she can do it. Please share the first page with us.
Oregon Territory 1856
The sun slid behind the mountains, and evening bird song quieted as Emmalin and Jacob approached Deer Creek, the town she had grown to love and thought she’d never see again. Henry barked at something in the brush and darted off the trail.
Trepidation nibbled at her joy as Emmalin grasped Smoke’s coarse mane more tightly as if the dappled gray could provide the steadiness she needed.
Earlier today she’d been in a wagon set on returning to Philadelphia and the life of ease she’d had there. The idea made her stomach ache. Then Jacob caught up with her, convincing her to go with him to his burned-out place on the river—leaving Mr. Henderson to continue to Oregon City without her.
As she and Jacob stood where the blackened forest ended and the heavy greenery of woodlands closed around them, he had asked her to be his wife, to rebuild he cabin destroyed by fire, and to start a life together. It had been a beautiful moment, a dream, but now reality drew near. Did she have the strength required to be a pioneer wife?
“Almost there,” Jacob whispered as they moved past the grist mill. The paddle slapped the water, the wheel groaning as if in tune to Emmalin’s emotional disquiet.
A cat, perched on the top step of the schoolhouse, stood, stretched out its lean golden body, and yawned. It eyed them as they rode toward her father’s mercantile. Her father. Heaviness seized her as she replayed the last months. Her mother had died of fever, and Emmalin set off with her uncle to Oregon Territory in search of a father she didn’t know existed until her mother’s death. Emmalin had only been in Oregon City one day when her uncle had been killed in a freak accident. With the help of Jacob, a mountain man, she traveled to Deer Creek and found her father.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Amazon http://amzn.to/1SqHoqK
Website http://www.bonnieleon.com
MeWe https://mewe.com/i/bonnieleon2
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=bonnie+leon&qid=
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor?fref=ts
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor/
Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I always love your 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
September 6, 2022
ALL THAT IS HIDDEN - Laura DeNooyer-Moore - One Free Book
Welcome, Laura. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. There’s a part of me in each key character. My own emotions and experiences naturally creep in. I’m usually working out some kind of real-life dilemma through my protagonists, even if my personality differs substantially from theirs. What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? I attended an International Wizard of Oz Convention! No doubt this would be considered quirky by most people who probably don’t even know such a thing exists. The convention ties to my interest in Oz author L. Frank Baum and my research for writing a historical fiction with him as a character. (I’m currently seeking publication for this novel.)
When did you first discover that you were a writer? The writing muse captured me in second grade. My teacher had us writing and illustrating original stories and making them into books. After tackling my first one, I was unstoppable, and churned out dozens. I decided writing stories was the way to go.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. To Kill a Mockingbird encapsulates the kind of fiction I love: realistic and character-driven, stories that explore the complexities of hypocrisy, misjudgments, false appearances, or gray areas. I gravitate to historical fiction and some contemporary. Romance is fine if not the key ingredient. I also enjoy creative non-fiction and biographies.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I run to Mayberry! Watching The Andy Griffith Show reruns offers stress relief with a touch of nostalgia.
Actually, God is the only true Source of security and stability in this crazy world. But at a practical level, I maintain daily routines as much as possible, like taking walks, reading books that keep me grounded, and visiting Mayberry. I also take a yearly road trip to see new places and reconnect with friends and family along the way.
How do you choose your characters’ names? This varies. Sometimes a particular name strikes me, and the character grows from it. Other times, I’ve searched everywhere from phone directories to websites until I find something that fits. I recently picked Dutch surnames from my alma mater’s alumni magazine.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? At a personal level, raising children was a huge accomplishment and I’m grateful for the awesome privilege my husband and I had of nurturing our four kids over the span of 28 years. But I’m also proud of wading through multiple drafts of a novel and actually finishing it. My novel was my fifth baby.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A cat! I asked my husband which animal he thought I would be, and he said cat without hesitation. Avoiding the spotlight, I’m cautious and size up the situation before quietly stepping in. I can disappear for hours on end up in my study.
What is your favorite food? Prime rib for a main course. Ice cream for dessert! Plus, you can never go wrong with Mexican food.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Decades ago, before I joined a writers group, I struggled with sharing my writing. I feared feedback because I might not measure up. I wrote an entire novel before I ever showed it to anyone. When I finally found a critique group, I learned to share, give and take constructive criticism, then head back to the computer to tackle the next draft. I learned firsthand that a writer’s growth occurs in the stretching, no matter how painful. Tell us about the featured book. Are secrets worth the price they cost to keep? Ten-year-old Tina Hamilton finds out the hard way. In 1968, trouble erupts when northern exploitation threatens her southern Appalachian town. Some folks blame the trouble on progress, some blame the space race and men meddling with the moon’s cycles, and some blame Tina’s father. His hidden past collides with the present, mirroring the clash of progressive ideas and small town values.
Please give us the first page of the book.
PART I
Mom: Old Man Fuller. “He died with all those untold stories and unmade pictures still left up in his head.”
_________________
I always knew my father had a secret. I must have known it by the time I was old enough to recognize the embarrassed hush that fell over a room of grown-ups the moment I stepped in. That’s back when folks still talked about it. As I grew older, the subject was conveniently ignored, then all but forgotten. But after fourth grade, the secret returned without invitation, and made its home with me like an unwelcome guest.
In 1968, I was ten and oblivious to changes outside my world. The radio and TV raged. The Vietnam War, hippies, flower children, assassinations, civil riots, and the space race all aroused anxiety in Americans frantically searching for answers—ones that Peter, Paul, and Mary said were “Blowing in the Wind.” But all of God’s earth to my brother Nick and me were the streams for fishing, the fields for planting and harvesting, a world snugly enclosed by the blue-misted Smokies.
Other than the seasons, nothing ever changed. Until the summer referred to in major league baseball as “The Year of the Pitcher.” In our town, some folks called it “The Year of the Suicide Squeeze,” a high risk play at home plate. Currie Hill was never the same. Most blamed my father for that.
In my eyes back then, he was omnipotent and wise. So when I first saw him empty, I was afraid. But now, over thirty years later, I realize my father never tried to be a hero. Nor was he merely a victim of his silence. I guess I’ve grown up, for now I know wisdom and weakness sometimes walk hand in hand.
I started learning that with the tale of Old Man Fuller.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website & blog: https://lauradenooyer-author.com
My newsletter—sign up for a free prequel: www.StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-denooyer-moore
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5859120.Laura_DeNooyer_Moore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraDeNooyerAuthor/
Purchase: https://amzn.to/2HF4UB9 OR
Book trailer: www.All-That-Is-Hidden-book-trailer.com
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your novel with my blog readers and me.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory 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
September 4, 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 do n'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 (VA) is the winner of Malicious Intent by Lynn H Blackburn.
Pam (KS) is the winner of To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh.
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.
September 1, 2022
WHERE THE ROAD BENDS - Rachel Fordham - One Free book
Welcome, Rachel. Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel, Where the Road Bends? Just before entering a marriage of convenience, Norah King brings an injured man home with her and nurses him back to health. The two seem to have an instant connection, but he is penniless and has no home of his own. With no means to rescue her from her current situation, he leaves, vowing to be a better man. He assumes she got married and is well taken care of and goes on with his life, though the image of Norah King is never far from his mind, or heart.
Years later, their paths cross once again, and he must face the fact that Norah’s life did not go how he’d expected—and he is largely to blame.
Quincy faces quite the predicament in this novel. Without giving away too much, can you elaborate on the moral dilemma he’s caught in? Poor Quincy ends up with a heavy burden of guilt all because he made an assumption rather than finding out the truth. His troubles get more complicated the longer he hides from his own guilt or tries to solve it without really solving it!
Without telling too much, I do want to note that his struggle to rationalize and ultimately own his poor choice is a dilemma readers will relate to. How many people have made a mistake and not known how to keep what they want and need, while also making amends?
Quincy also has more than just physical wounds that need healing. Can you tell us about his emotional state as well? Quincy is not your typical upper-class hero. He’s a former boxer who fights for money in back alleys and lives recklessly in between. He’s been on his own since his teenage years, floundering with no real direction, until he meets Norah and realizes there is a different way to live.
Past poor relationships, a disheartening family life, and an uncertain sense of belonging make Quincy a deeply flawed character who you can’t help but root for.
Where Norah once was innocent, later in the novel, we discover she’s become more jaded. Can you elaborate on Norah’s character and what has shaped her? Circumstances leave Norah struggling for survival. In the late 1800s, that means dwelling with a different, more unsavory crowd than she’s ever dealt with before. During these years she sees the cruelty humankind is capable of and fears she will forever be marked because of it.
What was the inspiration for your novel? Two things triggered this story. While researching, I came across accounts of people who hid money in their clothing so it would not be stolen. My wheels started turning, and I asked myself, What if someone with no money were to discover hidden treasure in that way? Their whole life could change overnight.
Then my mind went to Les Misérablesand the priest who changed Jean Valjean’s life. It’s a classic story of a fresh start, but he has a past that follows him.
Where the Road Bends is not Les Misérables, and my lead character doesn’t find money sewed into clothing. But it is a story of a man whose life course is altered by one decision and the repercussions, both good and bad, that follow.
What do you love most about writing novels in the historical fiction genre? So many things! I love digging deep into the hearts of my characters and discovering that, though they live in a different time, they are not so different from people today. I love weaving in real pieces of history and the quest to find those unusual gems. I love the simpler times (I think I would have thrived in the late 1800s). It’s like going on an exciting vacation every time I start writing a historical novel!
What do you hope readers will gain from reading this novel? First, I hope they feel thoroughly entertained and swept up in the Iowa landscape and the characters’ struggles and triumphs.
It’s also my hope that readers close the book, ponder the journey these characters have taken, and pull nuggets of wisdom from it. Are there people in our lives who are like Quincy? Destined to fail until someone intervenes. Are there times when we need to speak up and tell the truth, no matter how hard it is to do so?
I hope as readers journey with Norah and Quincy and cheer them on, that they also cheer for those around them in their real lives.
Are readers always promised a “happily ever after” in your novels? Why or why not? I am a huge fan of happily-ever-after endings! I haven’t written a novel without one and can’t imagine doing so.
Having said that, I don’t mind tackling tougher issues and leaving some aspects of a story realistically resolved (which sometimes includes a sad reality). When viewed through the right lens, the messiness of life doesn’t have to be depressing and can add depth to a story.
That was a long way of saying, expect happily ever after from me, but the journey to it could have lots of bumps in the road.
Where can our audience go to connect with you? I love connecting with readers! I’m on Facebook at facebook.com/rachelfordhamfans and on Instagram @rachel_fordham. I also have a website, rachelfordham.com, and you can sign up for my newsletter there.
Thank you, Rachel, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. The book really intrigues me.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
http://ow.ly/utb250Ky6bG
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.)
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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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August 30, 2022
THE SWEET LIFE - Suzanne Woods Fisher - One Free Book
BIO: Suzanne Woods Fisheris an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School and Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California.
Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel, The Sweet Life? It’s a story of a mother and daughter, both in need of a fresh start, buying a weary old ice cream shop on Cape Cod. Actually, the mom buys it. The daughter has to figure out how to turn the shop from a money pit into a successful business. The Sweet Life is the first book in your Cape Cod Creamery series. How will the books in this series tie together? The transformation of the ice cream shop is the story arc that holds the book together . . . hopefully without first melting down.
Why did you choose Cape Cod as the setting for your book? My dad grew up on Buzzards Bay. His two older brothers became dentists and had their practice on the Cape. It’s always held a piece of our family heart.
The female protagonist’s mother, Marnie Dixon, purchases a run-down ice cream shop. Please tell readers why you decided to center your new series around an ice cream shop. My husband is an ice cream maker! He attended Penn State’s Ice Cream School (yes, there is such a thing). The top shelves of my entire kitchen are filled with ice-cream-making paraphernalia. My editor has tasted some of my husband’s ice cream. She’s the one who said she wanted a story that included ice cream. Well, I thought, here it comes!
You have some interesting characters in your new novel. Do you have a favorite character? There’s a kindergarten boy named Leo who dresses like a cowboy and has a knack for turning up in the shop just as freshly churned ice cream is ready for sampling. I love that little boy.
What do you hope readers will gain from reading The Sweet Life? Oh, mothers and daughters. Everyone knows how complicated those relationships can be, and yet the bond is so tightly woven. Marnie and Dawn couldn’t be more opposite, but their differences are surprisingly complementary—if only they can learn to accept each other. Now, that’s a life lesson we all need.
What do you love most about writing novels in the contemporary romance genre? The relevance! While they’re fictitious, these stories also speak to the problems occurring in everyone’s life. We all have hopes and dreams and disappointments. It’s fun to let my characters be the one’s trying to find answers.
How can readers connect with you? My website has a contact page, www.suzannewoodsfisher.com, plus I can be on found on Instagram and Facebook. I always enjoy connecting with readers.
Where can readers purchase a copy of The Sweet Life? At your favorite retailer!
Thank you, Suzanne, for sharing this new story with my blog readers and me. I’ve loved every book of yours that I’ve read.
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
August 29, 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 do n't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY .
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August 26, 2022
TO WIN A PRINCE - Toni Shiloh - One Free Book
Bio: Toni Shiloh is a wife, a mom, and the multi-published Christian contemporary romance author of In Search of a Prince (2022). Her novel Grace Restored was a 2019 HOLT Medallion finalist, and Risking Love was a 2020 Selah Award finalist. As a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Toni loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media and at tonishiloh.com.
Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, To Win a Prince. To Win a Prince is all about Iris Blakely and Ekon Diallo’s journeys to each other and through the ups and downs life throws at them. The story explores what happens to Ekon after the royal council delivers their judgment on his actions (read In Search of a Prince or the prologue in To Win a Prince for a recap). Thus, part of the story is told in his point of view. The story also takes us through the ins and outs of Iris’s new business and her life as she settles into a new country and, hopefully, a new love. To Win a Prince is set in the fictional African country of Oloro Ilé and follows Iris Blakely, who first appeared in In Search of a Prince. Can you share what readers have to look forward to in this novel? I’d be happy to. Expect Iris shenanigans, the world of fashion, swoony romance, and a redemption that brought me to tears.
Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book? I knew when I wrote In Search of a Prince that I would be telling Iris’s story. Honestly, all I knew was that she started a fashion business and Ekon would be her love interest. I let the characters dictate the rest of the story from there.
How do you think To Win a Prince serves both fiction readers at large and BIPOC readers? For romance fans, they’ll get that in spades with To Win a Prince. Iris can’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve, and the fodder that ensues speaks to that. The romance goes through ups and downs but ends with a happily ever after, just as romance readers have come to expect. As for BIPOC readers, they get the added benefit of being represented in fiction. I have had readers tell me how much they appreciate being able to identify with the diverse characters shown in my novels. To Win a Prince touches on the fairy-tale aspect of romance but grounds all readers in faith and realism.
You’ve said in the past that seeing diversity in Christian fiction is a goal of yours as an author. Do you think the genre is moving in that direction? I do. Every time I celebrate a BIPOC Christian author’s new release, I feel the industry moving in the right direction. I’m also praying and cheering on unpublished authors who hope to join the Christian fiction market.
For those who know you, it’s no secret that you love all things royal and romance. How have those interests influenced this book and your writing? In so many good ways! I’ll admit to creating a song playlist that had some “royal” and “romantic” songs to inspire me as I wrote. Not only that, but I was really able to focus on what makes a person noble as I wrote Iris and Ekon’s story.
Iris had a crush on Ekon from the moment she moved to Oloro Ilé. Without giving away too much, can you elaborate on how Ekon’s costly decisions have repercussions for both of them going forward? Great question! Iris is obviously torn because her feelings don’t just turn off because of what Ekon has done. So she has to work through them and what it means if she can’t keep her crush from developing into deeper feelings. As for Ekon, he comes to realize the true cost of his decisions and the ripple effect it has. What challenges did you experience while writing this story? I actually wrote this story during a really difficult time. My husband had been laid off and our lease was up, and we needed somewhere else to live. It was completely overwhelming, and even though I was able to get an extension on my deadline, I didn’t give myself a lot of wiggle room to complete the manuscript. But God is truly faithful, pouring the words out in six weeks’ time. Enough time to give it another read through before turning it in. I’ll never forget the journey God brought me through while writing Iris’s tale and learning what patience in the Lord means.
What lessons do you hope readers gain from reading To Win a Prince? So many, lol! I hope they understand that God’s ways always bring about the best fruit for our lives. That nobility can be learned, and that patience really can have its perfect work.
How can readers connect with you?Readers can find me at www.tonishiloh.com. There you can subscribe to my newsletter, find my social media links, and even fill out the contact form if you want to send an email directly to me.
Thank you, Toni, for sharing this new book with my blog readers an me. I absolutely loved In Search of a Prince. I’m on a tight deadline right now, but To Win a Prince is at the top of my reading list.
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
