Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 54
November 5, 2020
MURDER, MYSTERIES, AND ROMANCE in Tarrytown, Missouri - Alice K Arenz - One Free Ebook
Welcome back, Alice. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? The easiest thing to say would be that faith in God and His faith in us runs through all my books. Some of the characters are more fervent, while others are lukewarm or search. Honestly, I can’t really pinpoint anything that would truly answer your question. I don’t actually think along those lines as I write—just let the story and characters carry me through.
What other books of yours are coming out soon? Though there are many I WANT to do—sequels to Hiding from Christmas and The Wedding Barter, as well as a third in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series—nothing is actually scheduled to come out any time soon. I’ve been struggling to write this year, but not because of the pandemic. Family health issues took priority for several months, and it’s taken me some time to get back into the swing of things. I’m trying to complete a book that God placed on my heart years ago—about spousal abuse—and am hoping and praying this is the year it will be finished. Something very different from what I usually write.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member), who would it be and why? Um, that’s a tough one—especially with this pandemic keeping me away from my family... It would have to be one of the first responders on the front lines—doesn’t matter who or what part they’ve played in the fight against the pandemic, as each and every one of them are vitally important. I would love to sit with one of these brave men and women and thank them for all they’ve done, give them the chance to just BE. No rushing around, no worrying about anything for an evening. A complete and total break away from what they’ve been going through. You know, to offer them comfort and respite as they have given it to so many.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? I’ve always been fascinated by stories of the Underground Railroad, so I’d have to choose Harriet Tubman as my person from history. She embodies a faith in God, bravery, and determination that you can’t help but admire and want to learn more about. And, getting the opportunity to hear it directly from her instead of through historical records would be incredible. The people she helped called her Moses—that, in and of itself, speaks volumes.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? When I finally determined that I was going to reach for my dream of becoming an author, it started with learning all I could through books like Writer’s Digest and many, many of the books they offered through their book club. I went over and over the instructions for submissions to various agents and editors, tried my best to choose carefully, and then crafted the best cover letter, synopsis, and whatever else requested that I could. Still, I ended up with enough rejection letters to paper the walls—and probably the ceilings—in the 1008 sq. ft. house where I lived. But, I didn’t give up. It hurt, was sometimes demoralizing, and made me question what I was doing. Yet in amongst all these thoughts was the one thing that kept me going—I felt deep in my soul that this was the direction God wanted me to go. And in those quiet times when those negative voices were stilled, I heard “Never, ever give up.” All this to say that if you believe this is what God wants for you, then you keep working, keep trying and continue to learn. And, listen to His voice.
Tell us about the featured book. Murder, Mysteries, & Romance in Tarryton, Missouri is a four-book boxed set which contains the full-length books that take place in the fictional Missouri town of Tarryton. The books include The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, The Case of the Mystified M.D. (both cozy mysteries from the Bouncing Grandma Mystery Series), The Wedding Barter (a romance with a twist), and Hiding From Christmas (a fun, light romance). The following is the back cover copy of each book:
THE CASE OF THE BOUNCING GRANDMA
WAS THERE REALLY A FOOT DANGLING OUT OF THAT CARPET?
Fifty-two year old Glory Harper is stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg, bored, and itching for some excitement. She doesn’t expect it to come in the form of a foot dangling out the back of a carpet as it’s carried into her new neighbor’s house. But Glory’s past “run-ins” with the police makes her latest report more difficult to believe. And, just when she thinks someone’s taking her seriously, Glory realizes Detective Rick Spencer, a Harrison Ford look-alike, appears more interested in her than in her story.
Despite little to no support from family and police, Glory is determined to solve the mystery—racking up laughs for the reader along the way!
THE CASE OF THE BOUNCING GRANDMA was a 2009 Finalist in American Christian Fiction’s Carol Awards in the mystery category.
THE CASE OF THE MYSTIFIED M.D.
FIRST A FOOT, NOW A HAND—WHAT BODY PART IS NEXT?
When her puppy finds a severed hand on a walking trail, it’s obvious to “Bouncing Grandma” Glory Harper that the signet ring belongs to the missing college professor who caused a lot of trouble around town before his disappearance. Despite warnings from her boyfriend, Detective Rick Spencer, to stay out of the investigation, her insatiable desire to solve the mystery of his murder finds her in over her head with a community filled with secrets, blackmail, and arson.
With her sister otherwise engaged, Glory latches onto an unlikely partner and soon feels as though she’s stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone—where nothing is as it appears, and danger lurks around every corner . . .
THE CASE OF THE MYSTIFIED M.D. was the 2010 winner of American Christian Fiction’s Carol Awards in the mystery category.
THE WEDDING BARTER
NO WEDDING BUDGET? NOT A PROBLEM FOR THESE DETERMINED FRIENDS!
While Amy Lawton awaits her discharge from the Army, she’s left her best friend Riley in charge of arranging “a very small, intimate ceremony with no fanfare” for her and her fiancé. But this childhood friend has something else in mind... she just doesn’t know if it will work.
After presenting her “wedding barter” idea to the groom, his conditional agreement is dependent on whether his best man, Mike Todd agrees to the strange proposal. And, getting the giant of a man on board seems next to impossible. Todd is threatening, overbearing, doesn’t like Riley or her ideas, and gives her an ultimatum: Produce results in three weeks or he takes over.
Todd might be tough, but Riley’s determined to not only succeed in throwing Amy the wedding of her dreams, but to prove Todd wrong. . . about everything.
HIDING FROM CHRISTMAS
No matter how hard she tries, Maddie Kelley can’t seem to fit in at Ornamental, a company founded by her great grandfather and his best friend. Now, after yet another screw-up, she’s been sent into the “enemy’s” camp—two hours away from home for the next two months.
A punishment or a blessing?
Her life is turned upside down when the mundane turns unexpected, and she finally discovers where her heart truly lies.
This is the fourth novel set in the fictional Missouricommunity of Tarryton. Come visit old friends and make some new ones!
Please give us the first page of the book (text only). Since there are four books involved in this set, instead of the first page of one, I’m giving you a little slice of each.
The Case of the Bouncing Grandma:
Confined to a wheelchair and bored out of my mind, I found watching the neighbors move in at the end of our cul-de-sac more entertaining than anything on TV. But the storm front that settled over us early this morning managed to take away even this questionable diversion.
Other than the mysterious man with a limp hanging around the moving van in the middle of a downpour early on, things were pretty dull.
Once it stopped raining, I expected the action to pick up, but it didn’t. Even the people who flocked to dead end streets for the sheer joy of driving around the circle at the top stayed away. Several hours had passed since I witnessed any real activity, and what I did observe seemed, well, a little odd.
The Case of the Mystified M.D.:
Thursday, August 11
I inhaled and almost choked from the heat as it seared my throat and lungs. The air was more than humid, it actually fit the meteorologist’s most recent terminology of juicy. The deep blue of the late afternoon sky was so hazy it seemed a bit out of focus. Or maybe that was just the sweat pouring down my forehead.
As I turned toward the sound of a tractor in the nearby field, an enormous horsefly dive-bombed, landing smack between my eyes. Batting at it only seemed to make it angrier. The more I tried to dodge its attempt to take out one of my eyes, the more determined it was to harass me.
All the activity increased the excitement of the puppy at my side. Misty took my strange gyrations to discourage the ardent bug as a new form of play and began barking. But it was her jumping around and tugging on the leash that nearly landed me on the asphalt walkway.
The Wedding Barter:
“You have to look at this!” I passed the pages I’d printed to Natalie, indicating she should give the extra one to Hannah, who’d already begun munching on a crunchy breadstick—one of Marcello’s specialties.
“Wha’s this?” Hannah spoke around the food in her mouth. A trim finger, with hot pink nail polish, covered her lips—probably to keep crumbs from falling out.
“It’s obviously important, Han, or she wouldn’t have asked us to read it.” Nat flounced in her chair, or would have if she’d been wearing anything other than jeans. She just naturally had that attitude—all super girly girl. There was nothing pretentious about her, never had been. Just because she was always “put together,” even when covered with dirt, some people believed she was not only stuck up but stuck on herself. Quite the reverse was true; Nat was an introvert on steroids—unless she knew you well.
Hiding From Christmas:
“You can run, but you can’t hide!” My co-worker’s voice bellowed. “I know you’re back here, Maddie.”
Holly Denton lumbered past me, intent on searching the storage closet on the opposite side of the hallway. All the huffing and puffing should have made me feel guilty. I was, after all, the cause of the extra effort she expended.
I should feel guilty but didn’t. Did that make me a bad person? I hoped not.
Besides, I wasn’t hiding. Long before Holly became the official—in her mind—holiday queen of Ornamental, I’d created this secret little nook in the copy supply room. No one knew about it but me... and Daddy. He’d helped set up the false “wall,” brought in a comfy chair, a reading lamp, and an assortment of books. Of course, that had been a long time ago when I’d needed a place to hang out after school. He would never have guessed I’d still be using it fifteen years later when I was supposed to be working. If he was alive, he’d know right where to look.
But if he were, I’m certain I’d no longer need a secret hideaway.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
FIND MY BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-K-Arenz/e/B004DTBXL4
Follow me BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alice-k-arenz
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408650.Alice_K_Arenz
Thank you so much, Lena, for this opportunity. God Bless you and all your readers!
And thank you, Alice for sharing this collection with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read all the stories.
Readers, here are links 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 4 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:
November 3, 2020
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVELATION - Lisa J Flickinger - One Free Book
Welcome back, Lisa. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? What a nice thing to hear! I do feel the Lord has been giving me stories of substance and I’m glad I can share them with others. If this year has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t see into the future. I hope to actually break into the black on my tax return, though.
Tell us a little about your family.
I’ve been married for a million—I mean thirty-four years to Matt. My gorgeous husband, who informed me today, according to his DNA profile he was of the fighting Irish. Previously, he was a blond blue-eyed German.
We have three amazing grown children and ten grandchildren whom we love to pieces.
James and I have been married for 56 years next Saturday. We have 8 great-grands, who make out lives so wonderful. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Yes! I’m an avid reader of women’s fiction of all types. When I began writing about the wild west, I took up reading westerns. They’re great for an escape.
What are you working on right now?
I’m finishing up the third novel in the Rocky Mountain Revival Series called Rocky Mountain Restoration. This novel has taken some unexpected twists and turns.
What outside interests do you have?
Up until Covid hit, I volunteered at a Pregnancy Care Centre. I loved meeting with young women and coming alongside them on their journey to healing.
I also love antiquing, worshiping, playing crokinole, square dancing, gardening…
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I feel like they choose me. I’ll hear a story, it tweaks my interest, I start researching, and voila!
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
My dad. He passed away when I was thirty-four and I really miss his wisdom.
I understand. My mother died when I was 7 years old. I often wish I could have known her as an adult. What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
I wish I’d known how exacting it was. With so many forums for reviews, there is little room for error.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
It’s an old lesson I haven’t gotten under my belt, yet, to be patient and wait on Him.
That is a hard one. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
To learn the craft.
To be willing to listen to those who have gone before you.
To be fearless when it comes to submissions.
Tell us about the featured book.
Rocky Mountain Revelation was a lot of fun to write. The characters are almost larger than life. The tale follows a young couple, with heartache in their pasts, as they learn to navigate life and love on a spring log drive.
Please give us the first page of the book.
1898
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
A sharp squeal pierced the air, followed by a dull thud.
Will tightened his grip on the tin cup of coffee he’d been nursing for half an hour and looked to his left. Was someone in trouble?
Mack shot out of the cook tent. Tight on his heels ran a woman—or perhaps girl was more appropriate—a long black braid coursing down her back.
With a cast iron frying pan raised in one arm, she chased Mack toward the trees. “You’re going to regret that!”
“I already do,” Mack said over one shoulder and rubbed the top of his head before he stretched the gap between himself and his angry pursuer.
Will’s gaze moved to the man, who looked around his pa’s age, perched across from him on the six-foot half-log deacon bench beside the crackling campfire. His stomach clenched. The man would be around his pa’s age, if Pa were still alive. “You figure those two are going to be all right?” Will thrust his chin toward the opening in the pines where Mack appeared to be aiming.
For the first time that morning, the brim of the older man’s wool cap lifted, and his dark brown eyes bore into Will’s. “I ‘spect so.”
The reply was more of a grumble than actual words.
The last of the girl’s white apron strings disappeared into the forest. Will tossed his cold coffee onto the ground. The vile stuff still hadn’t grown on him. He uncrossed his long legs and stood to follow Mack and the girl.
“You know that boy?”
How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can find me at www.lisajflickinger.comor https://www.facebook.com/LisaJFlickingerauthor
Thank you, Lisa, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here are links 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 4 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:
November 2, 2020
LIGHT IN THE MOUNTAIN SKY - Misty M Beller - One Free Book
Bio: Misty M. Beller is a USA Todaybestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
Welcome back, Misty. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2021?
Well…Covid has definitely taught me to hold plans with a loose grasp. JAt the moment, I’m confirmed for the Fiction Reader Summit (hosted by Baker Book House) May 13 – 15, 2021. This is a FANTASTIC reader event where we get to spend time chatting and playing interactive games with authors and readers.
I’m also scheduled for the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference Oct. 19 – 24, 2021. It’s hosted by Word Weavers and is a fantastic conference for writers in educational content, getting to know other writers, and meeting high-level editors and agents.
Stay tuned for some other events that I’m not able to announce yet, but they should be so much fun! I’ve been amazed at how conference and meeting organizers have been able to shift events to keep things moving. One of our local libraries has even gone to virtual author events, and the ones I’ve participated in have been so much fun!
If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?
That’s a great question! I’m torn between the themes of “Hope” and “Hearing from God.” Both of these are woven throughout my books, and God has brought me on a continual journey to cling tighter to the hope He gives, and to listen more closely to His guiding in every situation. I have a feeling those things might ring familiar to other women, too!
Who would you want as speakers and why?
Well, since we’re dreaming big here… J Many of Priscilla Shirer’s books have played an important role in deepening my faith, especially One in a Million and Discerning the Voice of God. I would love to hear her in person! Also, I have a good friend, Christy Johnson, who speaks around the country to women. Her primary topics are usually relationships and forgiveness, but she’s such a strong woman of God, and hope infuses everything she says.
I love listening to Priscilla Shirer. She's spoken at our church several times. Her father and our pastor are good friends. And I love the movies she's been in. Where would you hold the retreat and why?
Well, I’m a mountain girl, and that’s the setting that renews me best. There’s something special about the air among the peaks, surrounded by God’s grandeur. It reminds me how big our God is, and also how amazing that He still cares so deeply about each of His creations. Including me!
Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?
Actually, audiobooks are almost the only way I get to “read” anymore. I listen to them in the car, while I’m getting ready, and any time I can squeeze in while I’m getting things done around the house. That’s one of the reasons it’s been so important to me to have my books available as audiobooks!
I'm working on getting as many of my books as I can in audiobooks, too. That’s an interesting title. How did you come up with it?
Each book in this series has a similar format for the title, so I know it needed to be (Something) in the Mountain (Something). The heroine, Meksem, is Nez Perce, and I was so excited to find an actual Nez Perce/English dictionary written back in 1895 by the Jesuit Missionaries who were working with that tribe. One of the words in the dictionary was Espowyes, which literally means Light in the Mountain Sky. I loved that phrasing and the hope it summons in my mind.
I had originally named Meksem’s character Espowyes so she would be called by the literal translation of Light in the Mountain Sky. But I already had the heroine in Book 2 named Elan, and the women are best friends. I couldn’t have both their names start with an E word. J So, I found Meksem, which means Light.
J And that’s how both the book and the heroine got their names.
So what is the book about?
Determined to prove her worth, Meksem fiercely fought to earn her place among the warriors in her Nez Perce camp. When her half-sister is captured by an enemy tribe, she refuses to trust the rescue to anyone else. But her new friends insist on joining her mission, and she battles between relief and frustration at their presence. Especially the white man who peers at her as if he can see through the face of the warrior she struggles so hard to maintain.
Spaniard Adam Vargas thrives on adventure wherever his travels take him. He’s fallen in love with this Rocky Mountainwilderness, as well as the spotted horses the Nez Perce tribe raise. His fascination with this Indian maiden-turned-warrior catches him off guard though, including the way she seems to be fighting for more than her sister’s safe return.
The journey proves more perilous than any of the group expects, and the secret Meksem hides becomes impossible to conceal. If they live through this mission, the life they knew will never be the same again.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Winter, 1831
Clearwater River Valley, Future Idaho Territory
Meksem might have made the biggest blunder of her life.
She couldn’t agonize over the decision now, though. Not as her mount’s hooves pounded into the pressed snow of the game trail. The thundering of her friends’ horses thudded hard behind her.
If she let her mind dwell on the birthright she’d just traded away, she would lose sight of the mission before them—to catch up with the Blackfoot war party who’d kidnapped her half-sister. No matter what, she had to free Telípe from her captors and bring the girl safely back.
Telípe’s husband was said to have already started out after her, leading a small group to catch up to the kidnappers and free the captives. Yet he’d been ill for over thirty sleeps, not able to keep food down. He must be impossibly weak by now.
Their mother would be beside herself. And Telípe’s father. Their mother’s second husband had spent many years protecting and providing for his family, but now Meksem’s turn had come. Though she and Telípe shared only the same mother, the girl was family—her responsibility.
This rescue she could do. She had to.
How can 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:
http://www.twitter.com/MistyMBeller
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller
Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. Since I’ve read all the other books in the series, I’m eager to start reading this one.
Purchase Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085TQY24M
https://books.apple.com/us/book/light-in-the-mountain-sky/id1502593392
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/light-in-the-mountain-sky
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Misty_M_Beller_Light_in_the_Mountain_Sky?id=zDXWDwAAQBAJ
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 4 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:
November 1, 2020
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.
Melanie (TX) is the winner of Stumbling Upon Romance by Sally Jo Pitt.
Kimmy (MI) is the winner of Amish Friends Farmhouse Favorite Cookbook by Wanda E Brunstetter.
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 4 weeks to claim your book.
October 29, 2020
AUTUMN VINDICATION - Sally Jo Pitts - One Free Book
Welcome back, Sally Jo. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? God gives everyone a purpose, and it’s not what happens to us but what we make of what happens that matters.
What other books of yours are coming out soon?
This featured book, Autumn Vindication, is the first in my Seasons of Mystery series. The winter book will come out soon and I’m currently writing the spring book.
If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?
The author, Ruth Logan Herne. She is a prolific writer of faith-based fiction who I’d love to chat with about story ideas and how she organizes her writing time.
What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
George Washington. I’d love to talk to him about his thoughts and feelings during the days our country fought for independence.
How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
Don’t quit. Study the craft and if the rejection includes suggestions learn from it. I entered ACFW Genesis and the suggestions were extremely helpful.
Tell us about the featured book.
Private Investigators Robert Grey and Jane Carson arrive in Pine Bluff, Alabama, to work a voter fraud case but find themselves in the middle of a homicide and their client, the local sheriff, is the prime suspect.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Prologue
Jackson Dibbs’ heart pounded with short rapid beats as he pulled his pick-up into Fannie’s Truck Stop on State Road 52 outside Dothan, Alabama. He longed to be a regular customer stopping to take a break, get a cup of coffee or eat dinner. But he wasn’t.
Was he supposed to park on the right or left side of the car wash? He hadn’t written the instructions down. He had been told to memorize the details. But after spending another restless night at the hospital and driving from Albany, Georgia, Jackson strained to think clearly. Pulling behind the car wash, he rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans, rolled down his windows, and waited on the van. The warm, damp air carried the smell of hickory smoked barbeque and gasoline, sickening his stomach.
Jackson had been working his civilian job at the Marine Corps Logistics Base for about five months when he first met the tall man he knew as Tip.
Tip started the conversation as he was getting into his truck in the Hardee’s parking lot. “Hey man. I see you work at the marine base.”
“I do. How did you know that?”
“I noticed the sticker on your truck. If I could talk to you a minute, I think you might be interested in what I have to say.”
And that was how it began. When Jacksonheard Tip’s proposition, it seemed to be a direct answer to prayer, but now he wondered.
Out of the glare of the parking lot lighting, the white van materialized. The vehicle slowly scoped the parking lot, like a buzzard circling his prey, and then pulled beside Jackson’s truck. Jacksongot out and greeted Tip with a nervous handshake and smile.Tip got his name from the small mole on the tip of his nose. This was no ordinary mole. This one changed color, like a mood ring, depending on what was happening.
Jackson studied the peculiarity. Blue must be his good mood color. Chad, another one of Jackson’s contacts, claimed he could always tell when Tip was lying—the mole turned yellow.
“Relax man,” Tip said and gave Jacksona pat on his shoulder. “You’re all tense.”
“I wish I could be as cool as you.” Jackson shoved his hands deep in his jeans pockets, rolled his shoulders back and turned his head from side to side to loosen the tension in his neck.
“It’s easy to be cool. Just think of the money we’re makin’ by side-steppin’ the bureaucrats.”
“Are you sure? I mean really sure? I don’t mind telling you, I’m scared,” Jackson said. He kept a cautious eye on the other cars and trucks in the parking area. Tip rested his tall, lanky body against the van and crossed his short, narrow boots at his ankles. Jacksonfound himself thinking he must have trouble finding shoes that fit.
How can readers find you on the Internet? https://www.sallyjopitts.com
Thank you, Sally Jo, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. We’re all eager to read it.
Readers, here are links 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 4 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
October 26, 2020
FUTURE OF MY HEART - LoRee Peery - One Free Ebook
Welcome. LoRee. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I believe it’s an intrinsic transfer, but aside from a heroine “seeing” what I’ve experienced, I don’t consciously write myself in. however, my relationship with the Lord is bound to come out.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Probably too many of those things. The one that popped into my head was a picture of me at church camp with one of my girls. We’d decorated tee shirts, and I put mine on upside down—legs through the arm holes, and tied the hem in a knot at my waist.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
In the 1990s, a magazine published my testimony. I kept writing about my dad’s unsolved homicide in an attempt to come to terms with it. My first experimental novel was about a girl going home to solve her father’s “accidental” death. That story remains in a tote.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
My first choice is romantic suspense. I’ll read most anything except erotica or horror.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
My body no longer runs. I’ll catch myself sitting in my desk chair too long, and then feel it in the neck and shoulders, wishing for an oil can to work out the kinks. I’ll realize I’ve skipped a meal. At night, I relax in my chair next to my hubby. I’ll read, write in my journal, work a word search puzzle. In quiet moments, I read the Bible.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
I have a list of names that I like. Then I’ll search the literal meaning and try to find an applicable Bible verse. I’ve noticed that most of my heroines have names that end in –y or –ie.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My adult children. Their talents, the way they interact with their families. I especially love the way the men take on household chores and do more with their children. I grew up with parents wearing themselves out just trying to make a good wage, and that old adage “children should be seen, not heard.”
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’ve never been asked this question. I have an affinity for wolves. The whole family cracks up when I howl with one of my brother’s dogs. I can get louder than that little schnauzer.
What is your favorite food?
I used to say chocolate. But there is nothing more satisfying than a fresh salad that includes protein and fruit. Chocolate for dessert.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My current WIP. I had a good start and then pain interfered. For some unknown reason other than I’m being Spirit led, psalms of lamentation and praise have been pouring out of me. Especially in the wee hours of the morning when I can’t sleep.
Tell us about the featured book.
Future of My Heart is book #2 in Hearts Across Time. It’s a forward-in-time time travel where the spoiled rancher’s daughter from book #1 yearns for anything modern. She kept raising her voice to be heard as I was writing the first story, Cowboy Just in Time.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Psalm 138:8 ~ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever.
Washington County, Nebraska, 1891
Phoebe slipped out the back door of the ranch house and eased it shut. She lifted the hem of her skirt and flew down the knoll to the chicken coop. The breeze she created pulled hair from its knot and whispered against her neck like a bothersome spidery web in the barn.
On level ground, she glanced over her shoulder and caught the curtain flutter against the porch window. She went ahead and lifted the hook on the wood frame of the gate made of woven wire. Hot moisture built in the back of her throat. How dare Mandy Totten spy from the house?
She ruined my life. Now she has the nerve to peek at me through the window? Let her guess what I’m doing with the chickens.
Phoebe annihilated the hot tears trying to form and pushed inside the pen. Hens scattered as she re-latched the gate.
Take a breath. Hold it. Don’t inhale with your nose. Focus on the reason you’re here. She stepped gingerly. It was hard to get beyond the smell of the chicken coop, but she had no choice.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website www.loreepeery.com
https://twitter.com/LoreePeery
https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery
Author profile at Pelican http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk
And Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LoRee-Peery/e/B004UAGL2W/ref
Thank you, LoRee, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I'm eager to read it.
Here's a buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Future-Heart-Hearts-Across-Time-ebook/dp/B08CMN28MX
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 4 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:
FUTURE OF MY HEART - LoRee Perry - One Free Ebook
Welcome. LoRee. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I believe it’s an intrinsic transfer, but aside from a heroine “seeing” what I’ve experienced, I don’t consciously write myself in. however, my relationship with the Lord is bound to come out.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Probably too many of those things. The one that popped into my head was a picture of me at church camp with one of my girls. We’d decorated tee shirts, and I put mine on upside down—legs through the arm holes, and tied the hem in a knot at my waist.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
In the 1990s, a magazine published my testimony. I kept writing about my dad’s unsolved homicide in an attempt to come to terms with it. My first experimental novel was about a girl going home to solve her father’s “accidental” death. That story remains in a tote.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
My first choice is romantic suspense. I’ll read most anything except erotica or horror.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
My body no longer runs. I’ll catch myself sitting in my desk chair too long, and then feel it in the neck and shoulders, wishing for an oil can to work out the kinks. I’ll realize I’ve skipped a meal. At night, I relax in my chair next to my hubby. I’ll read, write in my journal, work a word search puzzle. In quiet moments, I read the Bible.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
I have a list of names that I like. Then I’ll search the literal meaning and try to find an applicable Bible verse. I’ve noticed that most of my heroines have names that end in –y or –ie.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My adult children. Their talents, the way they interact with their families. I especially love the way the men take on household chores and do more with their children. I grew up with parents wearing themselves out just trying to make a good wage, and that old adage “children should be seen, not heard.”
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’ve never been asked this question. I have an affinity for wolves. The whole family cracks up when I howl with one of my brother’s dogs. I can get louder than that little schnauzer.
What is your favorite food?
I used to say chocolate. But there is nothing more satisfying than a fresh salad that includes protein and fruit. Chocolate for dessert.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My current WIP. I had a good start and then pain interfered. For some unknown reason other than I’m being Spirit led, psalms of lamentation and praise have been pouring out of me. Especially in the wee hours of the morning when I can’t sleep.
Tell us about the featured book.
Future of My Heart is book #2 in Hearts Across Time. It’s a forward-in-time time travel where the spoiled rancher’s daughter from book #1 yearns for anything modern. She kept raising her voice to be heard as I was writing the first story, Cowboy Just in Time.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Psalm 138:8 ~ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever.
Washington County, Nebraska, 1891
Phoebe slipped out the back door of the ranch house and eased it shut. She lifted the hem of her skirt and flew down the knoll to the chicken coop. The breeze she created pulled hair from its knot and whispered against her neck like a bothersome spidery web in the barn.
On level ground, she glanced over her shoulder and caught the curtain flutter against the porch window. She went ahead and lifted the hook on the wood frame of the gate made of woven wire. Hot moisture built in the back of her throat. How dare Mandy Totten spy from the house?
She ruined my life. Now she has the nerve to peek at me through the window? Let her guess what I’m doing with the chickens.
Phoebe annihilated the hot tears trying to form and pushed inside the pen. Hens scattered as she re-latched the gate.
Take a breath. Hold it. Don’t inhale with your nose. Focus on the reason you’re here. She stepped gingerly. It was hard to get beyond the smell of the chicken coop, but she had no choice.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website www.loreepeery.com
https://twitter.com/LoreePeery
https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery
Author profile at Pelican http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk
And Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LoRee-Peery/e/B004UAGL2W/ref
Thank you, LoRee, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I'm eager to read it.
Here's a buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Future-Heart-Hearts-Across-Time-ebook/dp/B08CMN28MX
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 4 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:
October 25, 2020
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.Petite (MN) is the winner of The Plans We Made by Kathryn Cushman and Lauren Beccue.
Tori (IL) is the winner of Legacy of Honor by Renae Brumbaugh Green.
Caryl (TX) is the winner of Carousel Dreams by Teresa Ives Lilly.
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 4 weeks to claim your book.
October 22, 2020
AMISH FRIENDS FARMHOUSE FAVORITE COOKBOOK - Wanda E Brunstetter - One Free Book
Welcome, Wanda. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loves the Lord and wants to glorify Him in everything I write. My passion for writing Amish novels and cookbooks comes from knowing and loving our many dear Amish friends.
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Richard, and I have two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Richard grew up in a Mennonite church, and from our ties with Mennonite friends and relatives, many years ago we got to know some Amish people. Now, having so many close Amish friends, we think of them as family.
Have you written other nonfiction books?
Yes, I have several other cookbooks, as well as two devotionals, a gift book and two perpetual calendars that I collaborated on with my husband.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?
I am currently finishing up with a novella that will go in a collection with 2 other stories—one written by my daughter-in-law, Jean, and the 3rd story by my granddaughter, Richelle. When the novella is done, I’ll begin writing the first book in a new series set in Ohio.
What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?
My husband and I both enjoy bird-watching, photography, gardening, and looking for shells on the beach. I’m also a ventriloquist and enjoy entertaining both children and adults with several of my puppets and ventriloquist figures.
Why did you write the featured book?
I believe many people would like to get back to the basics of cooking, and the recipes in my Amish Friends Farmhouse Favorites Cookbook will give readers an opportunity to do just that. My husband and I have had the pleasure of eating meals in many of our Amish friends’ homes and have never come away disappointed or hungry.
What do you want the reader to take away from the book?
I hope those who acquire the cookbook will enjoy the variety of delicious recipes that are served in Amish homes—either for family meals or at various community events. It’s always fun to try new recipes—especially those that are made with basic, simple ingredients.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?
I, like my Amish friends, believe that the experience we share in eating good food goes hand in hand with the joy of fellowshipping around the table. I love spending time with my family and friends, and it’s even more special when we are sharing a meal together.
Yes, breaking bread with family and friends is an important part of our lives. James and I enjoy it so much. Please give us the first page or two from the book. Since this is a cookbook, Barbour Publishing sent me two recipes pages to include here.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?
I can be found on my website: www.wandabrunstetter.com; on several Facebook pages, including my Wanda E. Brunstetter fan page; on Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter.
Thank you, Wanda, for sharing this cookbook with us. I’ve found some recipes I’m going to try very soon.
Readers, here are links 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 4 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:
October 21, 2020
DEAD SILENCE - Robin Caroll - One Free Book
Welcome back, Robin. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m a Louisiana woman living in Arkansas. I’ve been married 31 years, have three daughters, and two grandsons. We have two dogs and two cats.
How did you become interested in writing?
I grew up reading Trixie Belden…I still have the complete series. I loved the stories and found I loved creating stories of my own. My 3rd grade teacher entered me in a writing contest and I was published in the Louisiana“Seedlings” school publications. I’ve also kept a journal for as long as I can remember. Writing is just part of who I am.
What compelled you to write a book on this subject?
In school I had a hearing impaired friend and through her, I learned how to view a soundless world. I found so much interesting and wanted to write a story with a heroine who dealt with deafness.
My younger granddaughter has an Associates degree in sign language and is a translator. What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book?
I wanted readers to know that there is a reason for everything, even if we don’t see what it is. In the world right now, with the political climate being what it is, I hope I showed a human side of political agendas.
Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?
God always has a master plan. Leaning on faith even when you’re scared or angry or confused can get you through anything.
What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today?
I haven’t read a suspense whose main character had to deal with hearing impairment or one that covers an extremely personal aspect of political chaos.
How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?
I view my writing as a form of ministry…to leave a reader filled with hope that no matter what, God is always with us.
Amen to that. Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?
I LOVE scrapbooking, card making, and art journaling. These are my outlets.
Tell us about the book.
Political games can be deadly…Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.
As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for having me. It’s always a pleasure.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
https://www.facebook.com/Author.RobinCaroll/
https://twitter.com/RobinCaroll
https://www.instagram.com/robin.caroll/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robincaroll/
https://plus.google.com/+RobinCaroll
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/robin-caroll
http://www.goodreads.com/robincaroll
http://www.amazon.com/author/robincaroll
http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/19
https://robincaroll.tumblr.com/
Thank you, Robin, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.
- Amazon PaperbackDead Silence - Kindle[image error]
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 4 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:
