Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 55
October 19, 2020
STUMBLING UPON ROMANCE - Sally Jo Pitts - One Free Book
Welcome back, Sally. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I love to read good, clean, wholesome books that are faith-based, so that is what I enjoy writing.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
When my husband was elected sheriff after a long, hot summer of campaigning! My heart goes out to anyone running for public office. It is not easy.
How has being published changed your life?
The publishing process has opened up a whole new interesting world to me. I have especially enjoyed meeting other Christian authors and have been astounded at the generosity of seasoned authors who are willing to help newcomers along the way.
What are you reading right now?
Rachel Hauck’s, To Love a Prince
What is your current work in progress?
Spring Betrayal, book #3 in my Seasons of Mystery private investigator series.
What would be your dream vacation?
To go to a secluded mountain retreat, with meals furnished and uninterrupted time to write!
How do you choose your settings for each book?
For me, the setting grows out of the story theme and character goals. In Stumbling Upon Romance, my lead character has come to Hamilton Harborfor a fresh start and opens a dog grooming shop. So, I dreamed up an old building in downtown Hamilton Harbor with an upstairs apartment and a dog grooming shop downstairs for her to renovate.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Gene Stallings—football coach and motivational speaker. I’d love to hear firsthand how he managed to inspire his players and to hear about his special needs son with down syndrome who stood proudly on the sidelines with his dad.
I love stories like that. We were friends with a family when my husband and I first married, who had a down syndrome son. He was a delight to know. And the football team at the college made a part of the support staff. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I enjoy working on creative household projects like painting, sewing, or refinishing furniture. However, with my writing schedule, household projects are all on hold.
I so understand that. I'm writing book 2 of 4 that are contracted to the same publishing company. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Effective use of the senses. I keep a list of sight, smell, sound, taste and touch descriptors to draw on and spark ideas of how to describe my character’s perceptions in a scene.
A good idea. What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Don’t give up. The story will emerge in the rewrites.
Tell us about the featured book.
Stumbling Upon Romance , Book #2 in the Hamilton Harbor Legacy Series: here is the back cover blurb.
Accident-prone dog groomer, Claudia Stewart, is a newcomer to Hamilton Harbor, Florida. She hopes to shed her black cloud image, fit in the community, and find a guy who will knock her off her feet.
Instead, Claudia and her canine client knock handyman Pete Cullen off his feet and leave him dangling from an overhead beam.
Pete, rejected by a past love, wants to focus on restoration projects and avoid romance at all costs. But Claudia, even with her bungling ways, threatens to steal his heart.
Was their crash meeting just another one of Claudia’s mishaps? Or did the encounter put them on a collision course that would uncover lessons of unconditional love, long-held secrets, and romance?
Please give us the first page of the book.
Would she ever escape misfortune?
Florida’s early morning sun bore down on Claudia Stewart, who was stuck outside her dog grooming shop in downtown Hamilton Harbor.
“Good grief. Now my apron’s caught in the door.” Harvey, her giant schnauzer client, sat down—again—on the sidewalk in front of The Pampered Pooch and cocked his furry head.
“At this rate, we’ll never make it to Elaine’s.”
Shoving Harvey’s leash between her knees, she jiggled the key into the old-fashioned keyhole and opened the door, freeing her grooming apron. The business sign, with clock hands set at 9:00 and 5:00, clunked against the door glass, accenting her pride in being a new business owner.
Claudia closed the door behind her a third time. She’d already returned to retrieve her purse. The sun’s rays foreshadowed another hot, humid summer day in the northwest Floridacoastal town, and the warm air intensified the scent of vanilla bean coat conditioner on Harvey and her.
“Harvey,” Claudia sniffed her shirt, “I smell like a well-groomed canine.” The big, black dog, sporting a new haircut and bandana, perked up his ears and waggled his stump of a tail.
She squinted to read the time on her wristwatch. “Seven o’clock. Should be plenty of time to walk you, and …” Claudia snapped her fingers. “Before we set out this time, I’d better make sure I have the horseshoe for Elaine’s grand opening.”
Harveyblinked at her with black, shiny eyes underneath neatly trimmed brow fringe and sat back down. Claudia stepped on his leash, freeing her hands to check her purse.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
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 18, 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.Connie (KY) is the winner of The Silenced Christian Wife by J A Marx.
Melissa (TN) is the winner of Sacred Honor by Lori Bates Wright.
Wendy (NE) is the winner of Promise for Tomorrow by Mihelle De Bruin.
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 15, 2020
CAROUSEL DREAMS - Teresa Ives Lilly (and other authors) - One Free Book
Welcome back, Teresa. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I’m very excited first of all to have had my greatest writing prayer answered by God which was to be included in a collection by Barbour Books. I hope to continue writing for Barbour and outside of traditional publishing, I am currently involved in writing in over ten series, all of which are Sweet Clean books and mine will be faith filled.
Tell us a little about your family.
My husband and I live in Texas. I have three grown children who I love to have live fairly close to me and I also work part time at my son’s oil change for fun and to be near him. (You should see the strange looks I get from some customers who wonder what this grey-haired woman is doing putting air into their tires.)
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Honestly, I struggle to read because I only write between 9pm and midnight which is also the only free time I have for reading. I reread all of Grace Livingston Hills 100 books every three years though.
I had a fairly large collection of Grace Livingston Hills books that I had read. When a friend who loved to read had their house burn down, I gave the collection to them for her and her daughters to read. What are you working on right now?
Currently I am writing The Christmas Inheritance, a book in the Billionaires and Debutantes series. That will be followed by a variety of novella length books in several wonderful series.
What outside interests do you have?
I love to garage sale, thrift store shop, and I currently do 300-piece puzzles while watching old Western movies with my hubby in the evenings. I buy and sell used puzzles just for fun because I love to wheel and deal.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
Many of my books take place in fictional towns that I can have fun creating. If I like a town, I’ve created I often return to it in another book.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’d love to go back and live a week of her life to see what it was like in reality, as compared to her books.
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
How to trust an editor. I’ve learned so much by allowing my work to be edited.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
To be brave in a scary world. To speak up and share His goodness with people through my writing as well as in person. While at the oil change, I have an opportunity to ask customers if they need prayer. I’ve been able to pray for many people.
That's wonderful. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Get and Editor and learn from them. Consider writing in a series with other successful authors. Get organized and utilize a website, amazon author central, Bookbub, and Goodreads.
Tell us about the featured book.
Carousel Dreams was actually my idea. I researched old Carousels and suggested the four different carousels that are represented in the book. And was pleased to have the idea accepted. My carousel is found in Conneaut Lake Park. I happened to have met my husband in Conneaut, Ohio, so it was interesting to find out more about the area.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth. (NLT)
“Ouch! My ankle,” Tamara Brand fumed and stared at the tall, ginger-blonde-haired man hovering over her. From her seated position on the hard pier bench, the man seemed almost a giant. Even if he did have gorgeous blue eyes, which dared to compete with the open sky, she wasn’t about to smile at his gracious apology.
If I ever meet the owners of Bessmer and Lake Erie Railroad, I will be sure to give them a piece of my mind….
“I’m sorry I was so clumsy, Miss. I never meant to hit you with the suitcase.” The man waved a newspaper back and forth over her. “Please don’t try to stand up. You might collapse.”
It was difficult not to faint from the pain, which wrapped around her ankle, but her irritation with the ridiculous situation agitated her even more. She sat up straight and waved away his impromptu made fan.
“Please stop waving that paper! I never collapse or faint.” Her words came out through clenched teeth.
The man tucked the newspaper into his pants pocket and lifted his flat cap, which Tamara had seen only last week in the latest Ladies’ Home Journal referred to as a Newsboy, off his head and allowed unruly curls to spring loose. He wiped his arm across his forehead to erase the bead of sweat from his brow.
“I’m sure you need a doctor. This suitcase hit you pretty hard.”
Tamara wished she could lift anything to give herself some relief from the July sun, but the unbreathable petticoat under her silly silk dress clung to her legs. She instantly regretted allowing Thelma to convince her she must arrive at Exposition Park Resort wearing this monstrosity. Tamara grasped the railing, which protected her from falling into the cool waters of Conneaut Lake, and pulled herself into a standing position, a short gasp of pain escaping her thin lips.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.teresalilly.wordpress.com Join my newsletter and get a free book under the Gift section.
https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Ives-Lilly/e/B009DO2PLGAmazon
https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard Goodreads
Thank you for sharing this collection with my blog readers and me.
Readers, here are links to the book.
- Amazon PaperbackCarousel Dreams: 4 Historical Stories - 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:
October 13, 2020
LEGACY OF HONOR - Renae Brumbaugh Green - One Free Book
Bio: Renae Brumbaugh Green is an ECPA Bestselling Author, award-winning humor columnist, and wannabe superhero. She lives in Texas with her handsome, country-boy husband, four nearly-perfect children and one nearly-perfect son-in-law, and far too many animals. When she’s not writing, Renae teaches online classes and tries to be rugged without chipping her nail polish.
Welcome back, Renae. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I don’t know. I’ve reached a point where traditional success doesn’t matter as much to me as it once did. I just want to please God and use whatever gifts He’s given me to point others to Him. I’ve had some unique, unexpected opportunities in the last year, such as writing articles for a mental health newsletter and teaching writing to college students, and I can see God’s hand in each of those. As for books, I’ll keep writing more stories until He tells me to stop.
Tell us a little about your family.
I am married to the most wonderful man. He’s kind, hard working, and a total hunk! We are a blended family, and together we have four children. Hannah, 26, is married to Kyle, and works with people with special needs. Nick is 25, has autism, and knows all the words to every Disney song. Charis, 23, teaches first grade, and Foster, 18, plans to enter the military. They are each so different, and I am blessed to get to be part of their lives.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
It’s harder to just enjoy a book anymore. I find myself making each book I read into a writing textbook. I highlight beautiful passages and make notes in the margin about things I’d like to imitate in my own writing. I also think I have less tolerance for mediocre writing, simply because I want to improve as a writer. The way to improve is to study writers who are better than you.
What are you working on right now?
I’m still in the beginning stages of book two in The Stratton Legacy. I also have my weekly humor column, and I write about six articles a month for that mental health and wellness newsletter I mentioned earlier. Plus, I teach, and that takes a lot of time. I love it, though!
What outside interests do you have?
I actually started out as a music (voice) major in college. I love to sing, and I enjoy singing in church choirs and on praise teams as I have the opportunity. For the past couple of summers, I’ve gotten to lead worship at the SoCal Christian Writers Conference, and each time it was a highlight of my year.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
Even though I write historical, I try to choose settings I’m familiar with. Most of my books are set in Texas, because I’ve lived here all my life. I can describe the landscape because I know it as well as I know my own heart. I’ve toyed with writing a regency romance one day, but I haven’t been to London. One of these days, I hope to make that trip, and perhaps a book will follow.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Jesus Christ. He’s already my best friend… I’d love to look in his face and hear his voice. My second choice would be C. S. Lewis, because I love his books and his writing. I think he’d be a fun dinner companion!
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
I’m not sure. If I had known how hard fiction writing is, I probably wouldn’t have tried… so I guess I’m glad I didn’t know that.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
He’s teaching me to trust Him. I’m actually going through a pretty deep valley, a pretty hot fire right now, but it’s one I have no control over. Some days, I have to trust Him just to get me through the next minute, the next hour. It’s not a fun season. But I know from experience that every season will pass, and with God’s help and guidance, I will be stronger for the storms. Many days I say to God, “I don’t know what You’re doing. I don’t like it. But I trust You.” Other days, I breathe these simple words as a constant prayer, a constant reminder: “I love You. I trust You. I know You are good.”
I went through a season like that from November 2018 through March 2020, so I understand. What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
1. Write every day. 2. Read beautifully-written books, and use them as textbooks. 3. When you finish a writing draft, step away from it for a few days or a week before revising and editing. When you read back through it, you’ll find all those areas you can improve or tighten. If you revise too soon, you’ll see what you think you wrote instead of what you actually wrote.
Tell us about the featured book.
In 2008, my dear friend and writing mentor, Chip Ricks, shared a book idea with me. Loosely based on her own family history, she wanted to write a story about two brothers—one who chose to live for Christ, the other who didn’t. She wanted to follow that family through the generations, to show the impact of that one choice, on the people who came behind.
She just had one problem. Chip was a brilliant writer, but she wasn’t a fiction writer. “Will you help me write this book?”
Now, Chip was in her 80s at the time. She was a mother, a grandmother to me in the faith. If she’d asked me to paint the moon pink, I’d have given it my best shot. For several years, Chip and I worked together on several versions of the book. We only ever got through the first few chapters, and we’d change our minds about the characters or the situations. Finally, one day she smiled at me. She said, “You know, Renae. This is your book. I know I whispered the idea to you, but I always wanted you to be the one to write it. I’m getting too old to work on this...please take it. It’s your story.”
Soon after, she moved across the country to live with her daughter. We stayed connected via phone calls and Facebook, until eventually, she stopped responding. We lost touch. I continued to write the book—Chip’s book. Now my book. I’d work on it a while, then put it away for several months, even a few years at one point. In 2017, I finished what would become the first final draft. I fiddled with it more, here and there, but I hung onto it until I met Misty Beller, my publisher at Wild Heart.
I submitted the book to her, and she accepted it, right away! Then the editor got hold of it. God bless Erin Taylor Young! She was brutal, in the best possible way. I spent weeks (months?) making the suggested changes, and each one made the book so much better. The day I turned in those final edits to my publisher, I opened up Facebook. There, on Chip’s FB page, was a note to all her friends.
From one of her children.
She’d gone to see her Heavenly Father.
I sat there, frozen, looking at my screen, big fat tears tracking my cheeks. How was it possible that on the day the book was complete, I learned of her death? She was so instrumental in my walk of faith, and in my path as a writer. It was almost like the Holy Spirit wanted me to know...this particular journey was now complete.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Nineteen-year-old Emma Monroe watched the rain, like tears, make tiny splashes on the toe of her boot. Fascinating, wet patterns formed on the leather and offered a welcome distraction from the day’s events. At least the February rain hid the fact that she’d shed no tears...not a single one since Ma left them early yesterday morning. If she let one teardrop loose, she’d never stop the torrent that would follow.
The preacher droned words of comfort. Empty, bitter-tasting words, for there was no comfort to be had. Ma was dead. Yes, she knew Ma was in a better place. But she didn’t want her mother in a better place. She wanted her here. Now.
After several hours or minutes, she really couldn’t tell which, the small group of mourners dispersed in a rising flood of black lace veils and good intentions. Emma nodded and thanked each person with duty-bound politeness, but she just wanted them all to go away. To leave her and Pa and Lyndel alone with the mound of dirt under which Ma lay buried.
An expensive-looking pair of shoes stepped in front of her. All this mud would ruin that hand-tooled, imported leather. She knew the owner of those shoes even before looking up into Riley Stratton’s warm brown eyes. She’d heard he was back in town.
Instead of taking her hands, though, Riley wrapped his muscular arms around her and drew her into a tight embrace. He didn’t say a word, just held her against him, and it felt so good. For just that moment, she didn’t have to be the strong one. For just that moment, she could lean the weight of her emotions on someone else.
After a long time, Riley let her go, cupping her face in one hand before stepping away, invoking memories of a school-girl crush that best lay buried with the other dead things in this graveyard.
That's powerful! How can readers find you on the Internet?
Connect with me on Facebook – Renae Brumbaugh Green. I also have a website: www.RenaeBrumbaugh.com, but I’m horrible about updating it. If you really want to connect, send me a FB Friend Request and tell me you’re a reader. I will accept!
***Thank you, Lena, for hosting me! I’m honored to be featured on your blog.
--Renae
It’s my pleasure. Thank you for sharing your book with my blog readers and me.
Book Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089MFPDT2/
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/legacy-of-honor-2
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legacy-of-honor-renae-brumbaugh-green/1137127130?ean=2940164312879
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1516676517
Readers, leavea 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 12, 2020
THE PLANS WE MADE - Kathryn Cushman and Lauren Beccue - One Free Book
Welcome, Kathryn and Lauren. I know that this is a collaboration. How did this story come about?
Lauren: Originally, my husband came up with an idea that grabbed my attention. I told Katie about it, then asked if she would be willing to give it a try with me. We each took a character POV and the story grew from there.
Kathryn: Yes, when Lauren told me about her husband’s book idea, my first thought was, “I wish I’d come up with that!” When she asked me to write it with her, that was even better.
Did you find it easy to work together on it?
Lauren: Absolutely. Katie and I were on the same page (no pun intended) the entire way.
Kathryn: Truly a dream partnership.
How did collaborating with this team impact you?
Lauren: Katie brought so much industry experience to the project. I learned a ton!
Kathryn: Lauren brought a fresh, untainted perspective to everything.
What is the hardest thing about writing as a team?
Lauren: I’m having a hard time coming up with an answer to this one! In one instance, I was tempted to resist Katie’s feedback on my character. In the end, she was absolutely right, and the story was so much better because of it. Also, when you write as a team, you care so much for your co-author that when they go through difficult circumstances, you feel it deeply. Katie and I both had difficult years, so at times it was doubly hard to press through and concentrate on writing.
Kathryn: Agree with everything Lauren said!
What are you reading right now?
Lauren: I’m neck deep in Biblical commentaries for a non-fiction project I’m tackling. For fun, I’m reading The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.
Kathryn: I’m reading a biography on Catherine the Great for research on my next fiction project. For fun, I’m reading my book club’s pick for October, The Guest List by Lucy Foley.
How did you choose your characters’ names?
Lauren: I hate choosing characters’ names! I chose Caroline because the song “Sweet Caroline” plays a minor role in the story. Some names were chosen from family, some randomly, and some were off a list of most popular names in a certain birth year.
Kathryn: Yes. Coincidentally, my daughter’s name is Caroline, but Lauren chose that name before we ever started working together.
Would you want to work on another book together?
Lauren: YES!
Kathryn: YES!
What do you want to tell us about the book?
Lauren: You’ll laugh and cry. You’ll be entertained and encouraged. There’s hope and humor. You won’t want it to end!
Kathryn: It truly is a mix of genres—deep women’s fiction, humor, romance. Something for everyone.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Caroline Chapman wanted to say yes—shout yes, actually—but a pesky dose of reality seized her vocal cords. “I haven’t told my fiancé I applied for this, and I don’t think he’ll want to quit his job and move” didn’t exactly seem like the right thing to say to a potential boss.
She pulled her SUV into the small-town center parking lot and racked her brain for a more professional reply. Before she could come up with anything decent, Audrey Brooks’s voice came through the car speakers. “We’d appreciate a swift response. Summer is our busiest season, so we’d need you out here no later than the end of May, preferably sooner.”
That gave her—them—seven weeks, give or take, to move from Los Angeles to Newport, Rhode Island. It was tight but doable. “Of course, I understand. Thank you so much for the offer. I’ll get back to you in the next day or two, if that’s okay?”
“That would be fine. Your experience at the Huntington Library would make you a valuable asset to us, so I definitely look forward to hearing from you.”
Caroline ended the call, then shut off the engine. Valuable asset. Audrey’s words reverberated in her mind, and she couldn’t help but squeal.
Where can our readers find you on the Internet?
Lauren: LaurenBeccue.com, Instagram (lauren_beccue) and Facebook (beccue.lauren)
Kathryn: KathrynCushman.com, Instagram (katiecushman1) and Facebook (@authorkathryncushman)
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 11, 2020
WINNERS!!
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.
Linda (CA) is the winner of Airborne by DiAnn Mills.
Crystal (PA) is the winner of And Then Blooms Love by Sally Jo Pitts.
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 8, 2020
PROMISE FOR TOMORROW - Michelle De Bruin - One Free Book
BioL Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministryemphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.
Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019. The third book in the series, Dreaming of Tomorrow, releases November 2020.
Welcome back, Michelle. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I write Christian fiction because I want to illustrate how God works in a person’s life healing and restoring. I write historical fiction because I enjoy history. I like learning about beginnings and why things are the way they are. I write fiction because story communicates to us in ways that make possible the understanding of truth, similar to the parables Jesus used in the New Testament to help listeners understand the deep truths of what the Kingdom of Godwas like. I write romance because the church’s relationship to the Lord is a love story. Seeing it play out in a wholesome way between a hero and heroine helps us understand God’s passionate, unending, faithful love for us.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I can’t narrow it down to one. I have four happiest days of my life. The first one was my wedding day. The second one was the birth of my first son. The third one was the birth of my second son. The fourth was the day I graduated from college.
How has being published changed your life?
Good, question, Lena. The changes that result from publication aren’t sudden. They sort of sneak up on you like a shift in the weather or a change of season. You don’t notice it day to day, but at some point you look around and realize that the swimsuits are put away, school has started, the leaves have fallen off the trees, and snow is predicted for overnight. How did that happen?
I would say that the biggest way my life has changed is in becoming more conscientious of how I use words, both on and off the page. What am I posting on social media? How do I sound in conversation with a friend? What is the tone of my blog posts? Do I share truth in my role of teaching Bible studies and leading retreats? I don’t want to squander the opportunity an author is handed to influence others for good. Publication has offered me this and I want to make the most of it in a way that glorifies the Lord.
What are you reading right now?
I review books for Celebrate Lit. I love doing this because I get to sample good books from so many talented authors, and then help support them by sharing their work with others. I just finished reading To Love a Prince by Rachel Hauck. This week I received the Net Galley copies for An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen, and To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano. I will start on both of these books soon.
What is your current work in progress?
My current work in progress is my fourth book. It will be the first book in a new series called the Coming Home series. The working title of this work in progress is Coming Home to Mercy. In this story, we will get to know the mother of the heroine in the book we are featuring today. Her name is Margaret. She meets the doctor of the small town she visits in the story. His name is Dr. Matthew Kaldenberg.
What would be your dream vacation?
Oh, wow. I dream of going to Europe to tour cathedrals and country estate homes in England, see the grounds where David Austin roses are grown, take tea in London, and then hop over to Holland and hunt up the provinces and towns my ancestors immigrated from.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
This is an easy part of drafting a story. I choose locations that I love. Open country with rolling hills of crops or pastureland, small towns with brick buildings along the main street, and places where still waters of quiet and rest can be found.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I would really love to have a conversation with Tim Keller sometime. He is an excellent preacher, and I appreciate his writing. I’d want to ask him all about doing ministry in a large city, which is much different from my context, so I’m sure there is much I could learn from him.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
My hobbies include gardening and playing the piano.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
The most difficult obstacle is finding credible resources to use for research of historic eras, the inventions and progress made during the era, and the perspectives and world views of people during those times. I overcome this obstacle by visiting living history farms whenever I can, reading biographies, and finding instruction manuals for certain inventions. So interesting!
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Take the time to discover and develop your own voice. You don’t have to sound like anyone else. There is a time and purpose for each one of us who has a message to share, and we must be ready when our turn comes to speak.
That is so true. Tell us about the featured book.
Promise for Tomorrow is the second book in the Tomorrow series. These books are inspirational, historical fiction set in an Iowa farming community in the year 1910.
This book continues the story of Logan De Witt, the pastor who took time off to work his family’s dairy farm, and Karen Millerson, the teacher from Chicagowho is boarding with Logan and his family.
Here is the summary from the book’s back cover:
Karen Millerson dreamed of teaching high school but now finds herself boarding with a farm family and teaching country school. She is engaged to marry Logan De Witt and is getting prepared to share in ministry with him. But when she gets blamed for the tragic fire at the school, Karen’s future grows uncertain.
Logan De Witt is working to clear his family’s name with the bank. But when he breaks his leg, hindering his ability to work the farm, Logan is faced with life-changing decisions. When his best friend can’t offer the help he requested, can Logan find a way to care for his family and court Karen at the same time before his love for her destroys all of them?
Please give us the first page of the book.
“You know I’d do anything to help you.” Pete’s words rang with the brand of loyalty found in friendships that deepened over time and encouraged through the darkest of days.
A grin spread across Logan De Witt’s mouth.
“But I can’t. Not this time. Sorry, buddy.”
“Wh . . . what?” Loganstifled a groan. Stuttering again. That irritating stutter had left him alone for months. He sure didn’t want it returning now. Not when his fiancée needed a place to stay, and fast. He’d barely survived these three days following his Christmas proposal. Gulping, he tried again. “What do you mean?” Much better. He drew in a slow breath.
A smile burst onto Pete’s face. “Anna is expecting a baby. Due in July.”
“Wow. Congratulations.” Pete’s news blew air into Logan and sucked it out of him all at the same time. His friend was going to be a father. How terrific for Pete and Anna. And yet Loganstill waited for his turn. It would come someday, someday soon now that Karen had agreed to marry him.
“We’re making preparations for our extra room to get remodeled.”
Loganglanced through the shadowed doorway of the Silver Grove parsonage’s spare bedroom. A ladder filled one corner of the room.
“The bed and one chair will need to go back to Anna’s mother so we can make space for a cradle.” Pete’s grin threatened to split his face. He turned serious as he refilled his cup with coffee. “Why do you want Karen to move out of your house?”
He should’ve known Pete would ask. If he hadn’t been so distracted caring for a sick cow this morning, he may have come up with a decent answer. “I . . . uh . . . well.” If he could just lose that ridiculous stutter once and for all. He cleared his throat. “Boarding the teacher hasn’t worked out . . . uh, like I thought.”
The statement might sound a little vague, but at least it was true. Boarding the teacher hadn’t gone at all as he expected. Miss Karen Millerson lived at the De Witt farm so his grieving sister could have a friend. But what happened instead? Tillie fought with Karen while Logan fell in love with her. The girls had since made up and were pretty good friends, but Logan’s heart hadn’t improved one bit. And now he had a mammoth problem on his hands.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
They are welcome to visit my website where I post devotional writings and book reviews to my blog. On my website is more information about all of my books, a place to subscribe to my newsletter, and a place to join Michelle’s Boek Vrienden, which is my street team. In English, it translates to Michelle’s Book Friends.
Website: https://michelledebruin.com/
Readers are also welcome to follow me on social media. These links are below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleDeBruinsAuthorPage/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MichelleDB40/boards/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18522892.Michelle_DeBruin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleDAuthor
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-de-bruin
Thanks for hosting me today, Lena. It has been such a good time!
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your book with my blog readers and me.
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 6, 2020
SACRED HONOR - Lori Bates Wright - One Free Book
Welcome back, Lori. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
We have some notable historic figures in my family tree, along with some hilariously memorable ones. My favorite memories are of family get-togethers where stories were exchanged around the table. We would laugh until we cried. The evening would always end discussing about how good God has been and His faithfulness through the years. Couple that with an insatiable love for story, and I suppose that would be the heart of what inspires me to write Christian Historical Romance.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Both of the days that my kids were born rank right up there among the happiest. But I’d have to say the day my tiny two pound baby girl got to finally come home from the hospital (a month after she was born) was a level of humble gratitude like I had never experienced before.
How has being published changed your life?
I have met some wonderfully talented people along the way who understand, and even appreciate, my world of make-believe. It’s been wonderful! Deadlines and painful edits are a very real part of my life now, and marketing forces me to move outside of my introverted comfort zone to introduce my books to a world of new readers.
What are you reading right now?
Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin.
What is your current work in progress?
The Governess, Book Two of my new series, A Matter of Intrigue. This series follows three daring women who are recruited by Allan Pinkerton to go undercover to help change the course of a divided nation just after the Civil War.
I'm eager to read that series. What would be your dream vacation?
A cabin tucked up in the mountains somewhere with streams and hiking trails to explore by day and a roaring campfire to read beside in the evenings.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
I usually chose a place that has significant history for the time period I’m going for. If I’m unable to plan a trip to have a look around for myself, I pour over travel sites and read comments left by people who have visited there until I feel like I know it well. I’d love to visit Wales someday which is the setting for my latest book, Sacred Honor.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I’d love to have a girl’s night with Melania Trump. Besides getting the inside scoop on her best beauty tips, we could talk about motherhood, and Jesus, and world affairs. I’ve heard she speaks six different languages. I’m sure she has some highly interesting stories to tell.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I come from a musical family, so I grew up singing and playing music. There’s always something playing in the background around me. Other than that, I love to do counted cross-stitch.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Procrastination. I let myself get distracted and it’s hard to get back in focus. I’ve found two things that have helped. First, I use a planner to make a list of what I need to accomplish each day and hold myself accountable to it. And secondly, I limit texting friends and checking my social media (including email) to certain times of day. Otherwise, I can waste a whole afternoon playing on my phone.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Learn your craft. You can’t break the basic writing rules until you learn them first. I think we all start out thinking we are the exception. But the truth is, no matter how much natural talent we have, we all need to learn how to make it presentable. So, stay teachable and don’t get too attached to your first draft.
Tell us about the featured book.
Sacred Honor is the third and final book of The Saberton Legacy. This book follows youngest Saberton brother, Zachery, and the tenacious Aurora. Here’s a look at the back cover:
Her heart is shattered. Her home is left in shambles. And she is forced to give up the only man capable of putting the pieces back together.
Aurora Haverwood has loved Zachery Saberton for as long as she can remember. Her dreams of being his wife are cruelly dashed when the American Civil War draws to a close with news that Zach is missing and presumed dead. Refusing to believe he will never return to her, she sets out to find the truth.
Captain Zach Saberton, notorious blockade runner for the Confederate Navy, has outfoxed the Yankee War Department once too often. In order to save his neck, Zach agrees to go undercover in Londonto help the Union recover a million dollars’ worth of gold bullion missing from the failed Confederate Treasury.
When Aurora discovers Zach Saberton is alive and well in England, attending one social affair after another, she decides to pay a visit to her uncle, the Earl of Kendal, in hopes of finding some answers. The journey from her devastated homeland to elegant Londonsociety plunges her into a web of danger.
Zach, desperately trying to avoid another civil rebellion, soon comes to realize that it’s Aurora who holds the key to their survival.
But in accepting her help, he risks losing her forever.
Please give us the first page of the book.
25 August, 1865
Savannah, Georgia
Strains of a familiar song lured Zachery Saberton from the safety of moonlight shadows, in search of a melody he knew only too well.
Aura Lea.
The same song Aurora had played that evening four years ago when he’d left to join the Confederate fleets in Savannah Harbor. An image of her sitting in perfect posture behind her beloved harp with waves of pale golden hair tumbling down her back would remain forever etched in his mind. He imagined her fingers gliding over the strings as she hummed along with the music.
Thoughts of her were all that kept him sane. He desperately needed to see her, if only for a moment. Like a siren call, the melody coaxed him out of hiding, beckoning him closer from across Chippewa Square.
An ache grew in his chest with each strum of the strings. The first twinge of emotion he’d experienced in a good long while. He avoided the well-lit streets to keep from being seen since he’d become more valuable dead than alive.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love to connect with readers! Find me at: www.loribateswright.com
https://www.facebook.com/loribateswright/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18212506.Lori_Bates_Wright
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-bates-wright
https://www.pinterest.com/loribateswright/_created/
https://www.instagram.com/loribateswright/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/ladylbw?lang=en
Thank you so much for having me, Lena!
It’s my pleasure, Lori. I so love your writing. I know my blog readers will, too. I’m eager to read this new book.
Readers, here are links to the book.
https://amzn.to/2I4KnqP - Kindle
https://amzn.to/2Su4xwq - Paperback
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 5, 2020
THE SILENCED CHRISTIAN WIFE - J A Marx - One Free Book
Welcome back, J A. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
Thank you for having me on your blog, Lena. It’s such an honor.
Does it sound hokey to say I live to please my Father in Heaven? It’s true, I am so in love with Jesus. I’m also a freelance editor, writing mentor, and multi-published author. I’ve spent over two decades in Christian ministry, church leadership, and mentoring, which has given me a desire to see people come into freedom in Jesus Christ. As an editor/mentor, my motto is Equipping readers one book at a time.
Tell us about your family.
I am blessed with two grown children, a brilliant daughter-in-love, and four grandchildren—the loves of my life. The two oldest grands are finally at the age where I can take them out on dates. Look out world!
Have you written other nonfiction books?
No, only fiction. But the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has published a basketful of my devotions/articles, under J.A. Marx.
Do you have any other books in the works right now?
I’ve started a devotional type of book to go with Silenced Wives. It’s definitely a lot easier to write, I just need to make time to complete it.
What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?
Hiking/walking, Zumba, and painting. I try to visit the Colorado Rockies once a year to hike and nourish my soul.
Why did you write The Silenced Christian Wife?
This was definitely a love-hate project. I hate that there are other women in our churches who feel like they’re alone and trapped in their toxic situation. But I love that God is using this book to be a voice for the silenced wife and a source of empowerment to help them navigate the darkness they encounter daily. The emotional bruising these wives experience usually leaves them feeling like they’re crazy, yet there’s no physical proof to back them up. So outsiders are fooled into believing the marriage is “great,” while the Silenced Wife dwindles into a mere shell of a person. My heart aches to see these women healed, set free, and restored on every level. God did it for me; He will do it for them.
What do you want the reader to take away from the book?
I want women to know who they are in Christ and to be empowered to thrive in that genuine identity until God either heals their husband and restores the marriage or until He delivers them from their situation. The book is also rich with scripture, which I believe is the foundation for every part of life—self, mental health, marriage, etc.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?
The book offers multiple accounts of silenced wives, stories that are raw and deep. I’ve lived through what these women are currently experiencing, so I’m able to offer intimate insight that resonates with their hearts. And I couldn’t have written this book without the other brave women who’ve also contributed their stories that either encourage or empower the reader.
Please give us the first page or two from the book.
“What a happy couple you are.”
Their innocent statement makes you want to scream. Instead, you smile graciously.
Happy—that used to be real. A beautiful togetherness.
Today, “happy” is a façade. You alone recognize the hypocrisy. And you hate it.
To speak out would invite the same subtle rebuke: “Seriously. You still don’t know how good you’ve got it?”
Verbal daggers pierce your sanity. How many more stabs can your heart take?
There are no bruises. Not on the outside, anyway. But your soul has been hemorrhaging … for years.
You alone feel the insult in his gaze. “See, baby? Other women envy you.”
They envy a fool’s paradise.
You open your mouth to explain what torments you. Nothing comes out.
Gagged, by subtle intimidation. Finding your own words is like grasping the wind.
You push through the pain. Go along with his show.
After each performance, another part of you dies.
Silenced. Buried alive, piece by piece, under the weight of veiled oppression.
But God…
The Silenced Christian Wife does not tackle basic communication problems or misunderstanding each other’s personality. This is not a book for those dealing with matters such as impotency or the empty-nest syndrome. This is not dedicated to overcoming a typical affair—although this sin is tragically common in the church today, and some of this content will be helpful for that issue. Nor is this book for couples who simply need a marriage refresher or a time away just to focus on your relationship, to work through anger and forgiveness, and to rebuild intimacy.
None of that. Instead…
The Silenced Christian Wife strikes at the insidious issues that are deeper and harder to identify, thus more difficult to deal with.
Insidious: operating or proceeding in a seemingly harmless way but actually with grave or deadly effect.
Essentially, you started out equally yoked. But after an elusive trail of Judas dialogue and tricks, you and your husband are seemingly no longer on the “equal” scale. While not every woman reading this book is fighting the exact same issue in her marital crisis, the issues do fall under the same category: difficult to detect, including deviant behavior.
Place a check mark by any of the following descriptions that express what you have been afraid to say out loud.
The above list portrays just a few symptoms of the Virus, which I will soon define. Although your spouse might not physically hit you, the internal injuries caused by his words and activities are extensive and real. A yoyo on a string best describes your relationship, and the loop is around your husband’s finger.
In fact, you might be strongly thinking about leaving the relationship, except (place check marks again):
You are a Christian and you passionately believe marriage is a vow until death separates you. You are faithful. You are determined to keep your vow.You firmly believe God is more powerful than your problems and can heal the worst of marriages.You have been told divorce is a sin, and you fear being excommunicated.This book is your last-push attempt to make the relationship work.Fear. You feel trapped physically or financially, with no place to go.
Today, you desperately need someone to understand you, to hear your cry, and to assure you that you are not alone.
If this resonates with your heart, then I am glad you are here. Keep reading. I (J.A.) understand you. My prayer is that God will use the message in The Silenced Christian Wife to bring assurance that you are not alone, nor have you been forsaken, and God has a great plan for your life right now. Yes, the Lord is far mightier than your problems. Trust His ability to help you rise above the Virus.
Thank you, J A, for allowing me to share your book on my blog. I pray it will bless women everywhere who are going through this kind of problem in their marriages.
Where on the Internet can the readers find you?
Website www.jamarx.net
email info@jamarx.net
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 4, 2020
WINNERS!!
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.
Beth (IA) is the winner of Hostage by Cindy Bonds.
Petite (NM) is the winner of Justice for Elizabeth by Mary Vee.
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.
