Lena Nelson Dooley's Blog, page 89
January 8, 2019
ESCAPE TO THE BILTMORE - Patricia Riddle Gaddis - One Free Book
Welcome, Patricia. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. At least 50 percent or more, (whether I realize it or not).
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? I was asked to speak at a conference and stopped along the way to fill up my car with gas. As I went inside the convenience store to pay, the clerk gave me a strange look. Returning to my car, I looked down and realized that I was wearing a half-slip instead of the pencil skirt that went with the suit. I hurried home to change, thankful that I’d caught my wardrobe malfunction before speaking to a group of over a hundred people.
When did you first discover that you were a writer? At the age of 17, my cousin, a professor of English Lit read some of my poems and began to encourage me. This inspiration helped me move forward and develop as a writer. I had been scribbling all of my life, so in many ways this discovery came as no surprise. But I still have much to learn about the craft.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I love the classics, especially Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence. C.S. Lewis (The Great Divorce) and I adore the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I also like the modern inspirational genre. At present, I am reading Catherine's Pursuit and enjoying it very much. I also like the work of Tina Radcliffe, Ruth Axtell, and Joan M. Hochstetler.
I’m glad you like Catherine’s story. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I pray a lot. Sometimes, just a few minutes with our Lord sustains me. Also, over the years, I have learned to say no. Some things must wait. Other things are still waiting. LOL!
The learning to say no is a hard one for all writers. How do you choose your characters’ names? I let my character’s name themselves. I toss out a few possibilities and one of them usually works right away. Sometimes that’s not the case. One character in my book constantly changed his name as we went along, until I finally said, “Look—this is your last name, and we are not changing it again!” (The character was Douglas Van Demark, Anna’s nemesis in Escape to the Biltmore .)
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? Raising my son and watching him become the man that God created him to be. As a divorced single parent, it was not always easy, and I constantly prayed that we would not become a negative statistic. My son has his Master’s in History and teaches. He loves his work, and I enjoy gleaning information from him!
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? I love dogs, but I think I would choose to be a cat! They love gazing out the window, and so do I, especially when I have writer’s block!
What is your favorite food? Mexican. Especially Guacamole.
I love it when the waiter makes the Guacamole tableside, because they put exactly what I like in mine. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Like most writers, my greatest roadblock has always been the lack of time. I work as an editor for Woman’s World Magazine and often find myself drained from the constant demands of a weekly magazine. But turning on the computer and reviewing my own personal writing helps restore the creativity within me.
I enjoy reading WW. Tell us about the featured book. Sure! When Dr. Richard Wellington saves Anna St. James from being trampled to death outside Grand Central Station, her pronouncement that she’s also a physician is so farfetched that he diagnoses her with a concussion. But America in 1895 is on the cusp of change. Just as the internal combustion engine will soon make the horse-drawn vehicles of their time obsolete, a societal shift will give women the right to vote and to have careers. Anna is a pioneer, but as a “lady” doctor who has also lost her place in society following her father’s death, she doesn’t dare to imagine she can have it all. As Anna and Richard travel by rail between New York and Asheville, they become colleagues and friends along the way. By the time they meet again at the luxurious Biltmore House, their inconvenient romantic attraction is undeniable, as are the impediments to their happiness. They will be influenced by both friends and foes, as well as their own faith and reason as they struggle toward a resolution.Please give us the first page of the book. Grand Central Train Station, New YorkDecember 1895A scream pierced the chill December air, freezing Dr. Richard Wellington’s descent from a hansom cab. Yards away, a woman stood in the path of runaway horses, her white scarf fluttering behind her like the wings of a frightened bird before a predator.
Dropping his bags, Richard dove for the woman, catching her up into his arms. With a bone-jarring thud, they landed in a snow bank at the edge of the busy street.
A roar of silence filled his ears. Then, with the immediacy of danger alleviated, the city noises returned—the rumble of a nearby train, the jog trot of a horse, and exclamations of the crowd surrounding them.
“Is she alive, sir?” A man with sharp eyes bent over her.
“She was that close to those horse’s hooves!” Another onlooker’s pudgy fingers and thumb were held a fraction apart to illustrate the averted tragedy.
Ignoring the anxious questions around him, Richard placed a practiced finger on the woman’s wrist and breathed a prayer of thanks. Her pulse was almost normal.
The crowd had thickened. A low murmur of expectancy crackling through the onlookers.
“She’ll be fine,” he announced to the mob. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket he began to wipe the snow from her cheeks. Wavy strands of red-gold hair had escaped from beneath her pert little hat, and now cascaded against the snow, their color reminding him of autumn leaves spilling from a basket. The gentle action seemed to revive her. The woman’s eyelids fluttered and opened to reveal stunning turquoise eyes.
“I’m Dr. Richard Wellington,” he said. “You’ve taken a hard fall. Can you hear me?”A slight frown formed on her smooth pale forehead. “Yes, I can hear you.” The next second, panic filled her eyes and she breathed out, “The horses!”
He glanced over his shoulder. The runaway team that had been pulling a mail coach was now halfway down the block where the driver had brought them to a standstill. Richard turned back to the young woman whom he judged to be not more than twenty-two or three. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
He remembered how she had stood motionless. “You appeared glued to the street. What happened?”
She rubbed a gloved finger against her temple, her frown deepening as she struggled to remember. “I—I looked both ways before stepping off the sidewalk and all was clear. But then those horses appeared as if from nowhere and I couldn’t move my legs.” She gave a rueful shake of her head. “I’ve read about such instances in medical journals, but I never thought temporary paralysis could happen to me.”
His eyes narrowed at her remark. “You read medical journals?”
She drew a long breath, as though frustrated with his questions. “Yes. I read medical journals because I’m a doctor.”
A doctor? Had he heard her correctly? His fingers probed the soft kid leather of her boots. “Any numbness or pain?”
“No.”
“Good. Any loss of movement in your arms?” He reached over and gently bent her elbow. She raised both arms and wiggled her fingers. “All seems well. I don’t think anything is broken.” She attempted to sit up and he placed an arm around her shoulders to assist.
“I believe you have suffered a mild concussion.” He continued in the unhurried manner he used when examining a patient. “Sometimes a hard fall will bring about confusion. I want you to sit quietly for a moment while I arrange for an ambulance to take you to hospital for complete bed rest.”
She drew her brows together. “What makes you believe I have a concussion?”
Her question startled him. Unaccustomed to patients expressing skepticism in his ability to identify the nature of their illness, he drew in a long breath. “Because you seem a bit confused. Nothing to worry about though. In fact, it is quite normal for someone who has taken a hard fall.”
I love this taste of your novel. I can just see the sparks that are going to fly. How can readers find you on the Internet? https://www.carriage-n-castle.comand they are welcome to email me at prose@dnet.net
Thank you, Patricia, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it. I had a novella in a Barbour collection that came out in November where my heroine is a doctor. I did a lot of research on "lady" doctors.
Readers, here are links to the book.Escape to the Biltmore[image error] - Paperback
Escape to the Biltmore - 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
January 7, 2019
OF WALLS - Sara L Foust - One Free Book
Welcome back, Sara. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I like to write fiction that has elements of real life in it, usually featuring at least a heroine facing a personal dilemma that leads to greater faith, self-discovery, and solving of a problem. I also like to include large elements of the natural world in my books because I am such a nature enthusiast myself.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? That is a hard question to answer. The births of all 3 of my daughters and the adoption day for my 4th daughter and 1st son were pretty amazing!
I’m sure they were. How has being published changed your life? I have more confidence now, like I know that this God-given talent is real and is what I was truly called to do. I love writing and it is fun to be able to sit down, settle in, and have the confidence to just write.
What are you reading right now? Cry in the Nightby Colleen Coble.
I love Colleen’s books, too. What is your current work in progress? I am writing the first book in a series of Inspirational Romantic Suspense/Adventure novels titled Jade Owl. It follows the story of an archaeologist tracking down a century-old pirate treasure across East Tennessee, England, and Haiti. The third and final book in the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, Rarity Mountain, is also in editing with the team at Mantle Rock Publishing and will be going on preorder in just a few short weeks!
I’d love to feature them on my blog. What would be your dream vacation? I have several. The one I’ve been dreaming of most lately, though, is a long trip to Italy, sightseeing and taste-seeing (okay that isn’t a word).
How do you choose your settings for each book? I absolutely love East Tennessee, and I have lived here all of my life (that I can remember, anyway). It is a natural choice for my book settings, both because I know it so well and because it is so beautiful.
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?J. K. Rowling comes to mind. My kids and I are Harry Potter fans, but the author in me would like to meet one of the most popular and successful authors of our time.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I love camping and hiking with my kiddos. Being outdoors is essential for my emotional and mental wellbeing.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? I find it more difficult to write during the winter months. I like to write outdoors and that is hard to do when it is icky outside. But I remind myself if I don’t write I will feel even worse, and I just try to do it, even just a little bit each day.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?Find one person who loves your writing and believes in you and can encourage you to keep going when you feel like quitting. It may take a while, but if you don’t give up and you listen to this person, you will find your publishing path.
Tell us about the featured book. Julie Johnson's life as a mom and homemaker is richly blessed, but her marriage is struggling. Years of busyness, exhaustion, and hurt have taken their toll on her emotional and spiritual life, building impenetrable walls around her heart. When she feels God calling her to a mission trip on the other side of the world, Julie puts her faith in Him and leaves her family for ten long days. What she learns about herself, her marriage, and her faith will change her life forever. Please give us the first page of the book.“I really need this trip.”
He just looks at me. Trying to figure out my subtext? I send messages to my eyes to pretend there isn’t any. I’m not brave enough to illuminate the truth. Not yet.
“Our finances are never going to get better.”
I roll my eyes. Of course they aren’t. There’s no hope in anything, according to you. “You know, I have confidence when I get home I can take this course and provide for myself.”
He lifts his eyebrow.
I’ve crossed a line. I try to backpedal, cover my almost truths. What I want to say is, “I don’t want to be married to you anymore. I’m done. I give up.” My tongue hurts with permanent teeth impressions by now. If I say the things in my mind, I won’t be able to stuff them back in. Won’t be able to erase them. Won’t be able to put the smashed bricks back into place. What if I am blatantly, brutally honest and regret it? I see the fear flitting across his eyes. The anger igniting beneath the hazel irises. “That’s not what I mean.” I take a deep breath. “I really need this trip.”
He drops his gaze. “I know.”
Does he? Does he sense the wall of barbed wire squeezing my heart? The pain? The desperation? Despair? “We will figure out the money when I get home. It’s going to work out somehow. God has taken care of us this long, He won’t stop now.”
I’m eager to read more. How can readers find you on the Internet?Website: www.saralfoust.comNewsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/cfqP5HEmail: sfoust25@hotmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraLFoust/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sfoust25Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sfoust25/Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SaraFoustSaraLFoustAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saralfoust
Thank you, Sara, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I’m sure they are as eager to read it as I am.
Readers, here are links to the book.Of Walls: A Novella[image error] - Paperback
Of Walls: A Novella - 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
January 6, 2019
WINNER
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.
Connie (KY) is the winner of Restoring Love at Christmastime by Connie Engstrom.
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.
Connie (KY) is the winner of Restoring Love at Christmastime by Connie Engstrom.
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.
January 4, 2019
THE RUNAWAY BRIDES COLLECTION - Vickie McDonough and others - One Free Book
Welcome back, Vickie? Do you speak at conferences and meetings? If so, what do you have coming up in 2019? I don’t speak at conferences or meetings very often. I’m too much of an introvert.
If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it? Finding peace in a hectic world.
Very good theme. Who would you want as speakers and why? Liz Curtis Higgs. She’s the most encouraging and inspirational speaker I’ve heard. And she makes you laugh, too.
I’ve known Liz for as long as I’ve been on the Internet, and I’ve met her in person. She’s a dynamic speaker. Where would you hold the retreat and why? Some place warm and near the water, like St. Pete’s Beach in Florida. I attended a conference in that area, and it’s such a beautiful, relaxing place.
Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two? I mostly read print books, but my mom recently died, and I inherited her Kindle, so I may be reading on it in the future.
That’s an interesting title. How did you come up with it? Actually, my publisher came up with it. My Barbour editor put out a call for novellas for the The Runaway Brides Collection , and I submitted a proposal, which fortunately, she accepted.
So what is the book about? Here is the premise of the The Runaway Brides Collection : What is a woman of the 1800s to do when she feels powerless to choose her own spouse and marry for love—run!
My novella is called A Day Late and A Dollar Short . Here’s what my story is about:
Callie Webster is fleeing one wedding and racing straight to another. The only way she knows to protect herself from marrying the awful man her guardian uncle insists on is to head west and become a mail-order bride.
I love the premise of your novella. Please give us the first page of the book.Sandusky, OhioMay 3rd, 1882Callie Webster stood at her bedroom window looking at the choppy waters of Lake Erie. The gray skies mirrored her mood. She glanced down at the letter in her hand. Never had she thought that she’d choose to become a mail-order bride, but Uncle Roger had forced her hand.
“Oh, Mama, you’d be so disappointed how things have turned out.”
She returned to her bed and folded her skirt and blouse then placed them in her satchel. Next, she took the picture of her parents with Callie and her sister when they were young, from her chest of drawers and laid it on top of her skirt. Then she folded her dark blue dress and put it on top of the picture, hoping to protect it during her travels.
She glanced around her bedroom, once a place of joy and comfort. But no more. She’d buried her loving parents just two months ago, and cold-hearted Uncle Roger had taken their place. And he had changed everything. Closing her eyes, she relived her conversation with Uncle Roger at last night’s supper. “I gave you a month to find a husband on your own, but since you’ve dragged your feet and chosen not to find one, I have arranged for you to marry my good friend, Otto Krenz. He’s willing to overlook the fact that you are destitute because of your comely looks.” Callie sat stunned, unable to respond to his surprising command. Gathering her composure, she glanced around the opulent dining room. A beautiful Louis XVI table and chairs that seated twelve and two matching sideboards with lovely marquetry of walnut and kingwood filled the large room. Her European ancestors had brought the furniture with them when they emigrated to America. Expensive indigo-colored damask wallpaper she and her mother had selected adorned the walls. Callie exhaled a quiet sigh. She was only destitute because Uncle Roger had taken everything her father had owned and claimed it as his. Bile rose in her throat. If only her father had felt she could run his business and care for their lavish home on her own. Instead, she was being ordered to marry or leave with nothing. Either way, she was leaving her beloved family home. Fortunately, she had seen the writing on the wall and had made her own plans. She’d kept them a secret from her uncle for fear he would intervene. Callie caught Evelyn’s eye. The servant quietly stood in the corner awaiting orders. The woman didn’t move a facial muscle, but Callie could read the disgust in her gaze. Evelyn despised Uncle Roger. Where her parents had been kind and generous, her uncle was a cruel, stingy ogre. She folded the letter from her future husband and placed it in her handbag. She gazed out the window one more time. No matter where she ended up, she would always treasure her view of the lovely lake, even on a cloudy day. A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.” Evelyn stepped into the room, her eyes red and a handkerchief in her hand. “Jasper has the carriage out front, Miss Webster.” “I’m as ready as I ever will be.” Tears blurred her eyes. She rushed forward and hugged the woman who’d been a part of her family as far back as she could remember. “If only I could take you with me. I will miss you so much.” “We’ll all miss you terribly.” She dabbed her eyes. ”Please write and let us know you arrived safely.” Callie stepped back. “I will.” “Uncle Roger hasn’t returned, has he?” “No, missy.” Evelyn took her satchel off the bed and carried it out the door. “I left an envelope for him on my chest of drawers. Perhaps you could put it on his dinner plate this evening?” “It will be my pleasure.” The gleam in Evelyn’s dark eyes almost made Callie smile. She breathed in a resolute breath and took one final look at her room then followed Evelyn down the stairs for the last time. Outside, she entered the carriage and stared at the only home she’d ever known. Although tears blurred her final view as the carriage turned the corner, she would always remember the home she had enjoyed so much when her parents and sister were still alive. Uncle Roger may have taken her home and everything she held dear, but he wouldn’t steal her future.I love it! How can readers find you on the Internet?Website: http://vickiemcdonough.comNewsletter sign-up: https://madmimi.com/signups/80262/joinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickieMcDonoughBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vickie-mcdonoughTwitter: https://twitter.com/vickiemcdonoughAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/vickiemcdonough Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/VickieMcDonough/Follow me on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vickie-McDonough/e/B001JP4JE8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1464450059&sr=8-2-entGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/101317.Vickie_McDonough
Thank you, Vickie, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager to read it as I am.
Readers, here are links to the book.
The Runaway Brides Collection: 7 Historical Brides Get Cold Feet at the Altar - 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
January 2, 2019
UNTIL HE RETURNS - Judythe Morgan - One Free book or Ebook
Welcome, Judythe. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.I use many of my own emotional responses to life experiences for my characters to help connect with my readers. The PROMISES series comes from my experiences in South Korea during the Vietnam War era. In fact, one reviewer of Love in the Morning Calm(Book 1) thought it was a memoir, which it wasn’t. I was glad story came alive for her.What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?This question had me stumped for a bit so I used my ask-a-friend option to consult with my husband and children. We decided one of the quirkiest things I’ve done was to take my two-year-old daughter to South Korea so we could join my Army lieutenant husband who was stationed there during the Vietnam War.
Because we were unauthorized dependents in the country, we could not live on the post compound. Instead, we rented an apartment in U.N. Village located high above the Han River in a little village called Han Nam Dong.
I didn’t, and don’t, think of it as a quirky thing. I just knew I wanted to be with my husband and followed him. After all, Martha Washington followed George, didn’t she?
As it turned out my time there provided wonderful experiences that became the inspiration for my PROMISES series.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?You could say I’ve been a storyteller since learning to talk. Dolls, stuffed animals, pets, and reluctant siblings were often my audience. It was a natural progression for me to pen and illustrate those stories when I learned to read and write. I worked on school newspaper and yearbook staffs until I graduated and then wrote for church and organizational newsletters. I ventured into short story fiction for magazines and then novel writing.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.I’ll read just about anything. No sci-fi or paranormal, but I love checking out bestsellers and classics in literary and Christian fiction. Women’s fiction and romance are my favorite genres. My non-fiction interests include theology, history, self-improvement, and biographies.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?My daily quiet time calms my spirit and begins my day with the right focus. A daily devotional flip tablet from Elisabeth Elliot rests on the windowsill above the kitchen sink and reading those quotes every time I’m at the sink draws me back to where I should be. I also have a collection of religious Victorian mottoes hanging around our house which frequently catch my eye and help me re-center.
How do you choose your characters’ names?Sometimes my characters will name themselves. That makes the task easy. Other times I research name meanings and names associated with the story’s time period and setting to choose the perfect moniker. Sometimes, I use names of people I know, with their permission of course, because the story character models that person.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?I’m extremely proud of our three adult children. Our oldest daughter is a music teacher/church music ministry accompanist. Our only son pastors a church and heads his NotByWorks ministry. Our youngest daughter is a computer data analysist and active at her church. I started out as a teenage mom, and, in a world where so much can go wrong, I feel blessed.
If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?Definitely a dog. Or, more specifically, a dog that lives in our house because our four-legged guys have a wonderful life – a large yard, good food, good treats, and lots and lots of cuddles and hugs.
What is your favorite food?Eggs. I’d eat them every day and any way. In fact, I keep hard-boiled eggs on hand for a quick protein snack throughout my day.
What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?Story structure has been my biggest writing stumbling block. My earliest manuscripts were totally soap opera episodic. Taking ACFW and RWA on-line courses, attending Donald Maass and Michael Hague workshops, and having wonderful mentor/critique partners like DiAnn Mills helped me bring order to the chaos.
Tell us about the featured book.
Until He Returns
originated from a reader’s question about whether two secondary characters in the previous books would get together. Every time we ran into each other in the little Colorado town where we lived she’d ask if I had written Shirley and David’s story yet. I guess Shirley heard her because she and David began talking in my head. Here’s what they told me:Shirley Carlson’s husband has been MIA in Vietnam for decades. She’s filled her life with family, friends, her business, and David Sands’ companionship. He wants more. She can’t move forward until her husband’s home. When David proposes, Shirley must decide whether to say yes or watch her new love walk away.
Though Until He Returns is book three in the PROMISE series, all the books can be read as standalone stories.
Please give us the first page of the book.David Sands tapped his glass as if we were at a banquet. Once he had everyone’s attention, he stood. “I have an announcement.” His eyes swept the group and settled on me. “After twenty-eight years, I’m retiring.”
Applause and shouts of joy erupted from the five of us seated at the Cabot Grove dining table. David was still a relatively young man, five years my junior. What would retirement mean for him?
Alex lifted his glass. “Hear, hear! It’s about time.”
David winked at me. “Guess those excuses about not dating an Army officer aren’t going to work anymore. I’ll no longer be active duty.”
I gave a weak smile.
Alex’s wife Lily grinned. “That’s right, Shirley. I’m sure Beth and Jay would be happy to babysit Chuck so we can double date.”
I swallowed a frustrated sigh. Lily wouldn’t give up pushing me into a relationship with David.
My son Jay and his wife nodded enthusiastic agreement. “Absolutely.”
David took my hand. “How about a movie next week?”
I slipped my hand from his, tucked my head, and pushed the food around on my plate. “We’ll see. I have a major estate sale to prepare for. It’ll depend on how much I get done.”
He seemed to accept my vague answer and conversation shifted to other topics. After dessert, David walked me to Jay’s car while Beth and Jay lingered with their goodbyes. Since we live together on the farm, we’d driven the short distance to the Cabot’s together.
David opened the back door. I slid inside. He leaned in, turning my face until our eyes met. “We’ve been friends long enough. I’m ready to move forward.”
“David—”
He placed his fingers over my lips. His expression filled with yearning. “Give me a chance to show you we belong together.”
Jay and Beth were coming. I sighed, unable to argue anymore tonight. “Okay.”
“I’ll be calling,” he said with a wink and practically skipped to his car.
Sounds interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?Visit Judythe’s website to learn more about her.Read her award-winning blog View from the Front PorchFriend her on Facebookand GoodreadsFollow her on Twitter
Thank you, Judythe, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read this story.
Readers, here are links to the book.https://www.amazon.com/Until-He-Returns-PROMISES-3 - Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Until-He-Returns-PROMISES-Book-ebook/ - Kindle
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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
December 30, 2018
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.
2boyzmommy (NJ) is the winner of The Other Neighbor by Gail Sattler.
Lourdes (NY) is the winner of An Unexpected Legacy by Amy R Anguish.
Holly (KY) is the winner of The Erie Canal Brides Collection by Sherry Wilson Johnson.
Sarah (OH) is the winner of Sabotaged Christmas by Carole Brown.
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.
2boyzmommy (NJ) is the winner of The Other Neighbor by Gail Sattler.
Lourdes (NY) is the winner of An Unexpected Legacy by Amy R Anguish.
Holly (KY) is the winner of The Erie Canal Brides Collection by Sherry Wilson Johnson.
Sarah (OH) is the winner of Sabotaged Christmas by Carole Brown.
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.
December 27, 2018
RESTORING LOVE: AT CHRISTMASTIME - Bonnie Engstrom - One Free Book (see instructions below)
BIO: Bonnie and her psychologist husband Dave live in Arizona near four of their six grandchildren. The other two live on the beach in Costa Rica where their dad taught them to surf when they were three. They are now ten and eight!
They moved to Arizona from California when Taylor (aka Mookie) was born almost fourteen years ago. She will be entering high school next year! Gosh, she’s taller than me!
Life is busy helping Taylor and her three siblings - picking up after school, attending choir and strings concerts and spelling bees. Writing gets squeezed in, sometimes late at night. But, the Engstroms wouldn’t have it any other way.
Welcome back, Bonnie. How did you come up with the idea for this story?My parents and I visited The Inn at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, every summer for many years. There was a stable then, and it’s the first time I’d ridden a horse. His name was Traveler – gentle and made me want to ride again. He’s in the story. I’ve always thought there was a special story in the historic hotel filled with antique furniture and an old-fashioned ambiance, even so many years ago.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Why do you always ask this difficult question, Lena? Puts me on the spot. I love so many. I think it should be a diverse party, but then if it focuses on romance authors, they would have more in common to share. Maybe more frustrations, too.
Here is my list: Deb Raney (whose books inspired me to write twenty years ago), Alice Arenz (ACFW Carol Award multi-winner), Roger Bruner (whose stories are so unique and inspiring), Darlene Franklin (who inspired me to write my series), Carol Nemeth (great WWII stories and terrific prayer warrior), and you, of course (‘Nuff said?), although we all write different stories. I hope that answers your question. Oops! Can we push it to seven invitees? I want Peg Phifer to attend, too. I love her Someday Christmas Will Come story. Very special.
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Sorry, Lena. I hardly ever read historical fiction. I did watch Downton Abbey and The Crown and Victoria, and I love When Calls the Heart – Hallmark series, but with the little time I have to read I usually choose my own genre, contemporary.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?Yikes! TIME! Always time sandwiched in between picking up 4 grandchildren whose mother, our daughter, is a single parent who works long hours as the director of a Christian school. I also monitor two online prayer chains, the emails for which I check first every day and throughout the day. Then, when a manuscript is finished, there is the laborious task of editing – which I do between 7 and 11 times. However, I have only published thirteen books, many of them novellas. My stories have been included in several collections, too. But, those are not new stories, just ones that fit into the collections. A new one will come up in late January or early February, Book Eight in my Candy Cane Girls Series.
When I send to my publisher, the most fun is working with her to design the covers. Her covers are outstanding, I get so many compliments about them. You told me once how much you like them. They are always unique and make a statement.
Tell us about the featured book. Restoring Love at Christmastime has a new lengthened title and bright new cover. When my publisher and I thought about how the story has a Christmas setting we decided to reflect that in a new expanded title. It’s a fun story about two people who had a brief romance as teenagers, but who have grown up and meet again during Christmas at the old hotel. It also won a 5 Star Readers Favorite Award.
Here is the edited blurb:
Why was Jenni taking this journey back in time during the Christmas holidays? Surely, she didn’t expect to see Jake the stable boy. She had moved on from sneaking kisses in the barn after trail rides. He must have, too. Who on earth would stay in the tiny town of Cambridge Springs?
She planned for a respite from teaching, time to read, take quiet walks and indulge in delicious hotel meals. At least no one knew where to find her, none of her friends, and not even her family.
The internet site for Pleasant Springs Hotel highlighted an annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol that guests sometimes played parts in. That sounded like fun. Hopefully some handsome guest would play Scrooge.
Odd the name of the historic hotel had changed. Who would have done that? Maybe new owners. She wanted to soak up memories, alone. Unless by a Christmas miracle Jake was still there to share them.
Can romance still flourish after fifteen years?Will a teacher and a former stable boy remember their first kiss?
Please give us the first page of the book.Pleasant Springs!
Jenni’s mouth salivated remembering the tasty meals she’d had here as a young girl. The tiny browned new potatoes and the chef’s signature succulent pork tenderloin popped up as virtual cartoon balloons in her windshield. Then she remembered the extra ten pounds she’d gained. She guided her little rental car up the hill and along the winding two-lane road toward the cupolas of the old hotel. It was still painted white and outlined in dark red. The paned windows looked the same, and the cupolas each retained different distinctive weathervanes on their peaks. A flying goose, an owl and an angel. She thought it was the angel cupola she’d stayed in, or was it under? At the time, she hadn’t contemplated much about it. Now, it seemed significant.
Forcing her mind to move forward, or maybe backward, she wondered about Jake Starfire. Jake had hefted one hundred pound trunks out of the backs of airport limousines with little effort. Always with a smile and a lock of curly ebony hair tumbling over his dark, wide forehead. The last time Jenni visited The Springs with her parents, when it was called The Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs, she was almost sixteen, and Jake was a bellboy. But, oh, what a bellboy he was! So handsome, so personable, so appealing to a vulnerable teenage girl.
Their stolen kiss was the first real kiss she’d ever had. It just happened, no hugging, no touching beforehand; he’d only put his hand on her shoulder when he helped her mount Traveler. But, she had hoped, dreamed, during the five days she was visiting. He smelled so … sexy … a combination of male and horse. When he’d clasped his big hands on her shoulders and pulled her close toward his mouth her first thought was how yellow his teeth were. Did he brush? Ever floss? His breath, would it be horrible? She decided in a second she didn’t care. She wanted this kiss in the worst way and leaned forward. Her hands were out to her sides; all she could concentrate on was Jake’s mouth, his full lips promising ecstasy. As the kiss deepened, she raised her hands to circle them around his neck. Finally, she and Jake both gasped, and he released his grip on her.
The kiss was everything she’d hoped for. She was smitten.
She remembered.
It had happened inside the old-fashioned garage turned stable. Jake had just tethered Traveler and his horse, Firecracker, and led them into their stalls. Both were munching on whatever horses ate. She hadn’t cared what the horses ate when she and Jake perched on hay bales … to talk. Talking never happened, but her body went into overdrive, like that new feature her dad used to have on his ‘57 Plymouth.
The trickling sound of the rain had been soothing, almost mesmerizing, lulling Jenni into dream mode. It was a safe sound; dibble, dribble, pat, pat. No thunder, no lightning. Although that would have added excitement to the moment. No, it was quiet, deep, soft and delicious like Jake’s kiss, in spite of his bad breath.
She wanted this to happen again. But her parents expected her for dinner in the dining room in fifteen minutes.
“Sorry. I have to go. Mom and Dad are waiting. Gotta change.”
“Stay just a few more minutes. Please.”
Shaking her head, her body shaking, too, she raced out of the barn. Stumbling into the hotel entrance and lumbering up the metal stairs, she forced her key in the lock of her room and opened the door. Mom was sitting on the edge of Jenni’s bed.
“Did you have a good time? Ride a horse? Explore?”
She nodded and felt her head rattling. Such deception. Her heart ached deceiving Mom, but she had no other choice. Not yet. Yes, she had explored, but not in a way she could share.
The road seemed so long now. Longer than she’d remembered. But, then, she had just been a child.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love, love, love to communicate with readers via email. It’s fun to chat with them and exchange ideas. They can always reach me at bengstrom@hotmail.com, but be sure to put BOOK in the subject line so they don’t fly off to cyberspace.
I’m excited about my WACKY WEDNESDAY contest on my Facebook author page where I give away prizes every Wednesday. It’s fun and a great way to connect and share. Readers need to go to https://www.facebook.com/bonnieengstromauthor/to find out the next Wednesday’s prizes and the most current winner. Lots of fun photos there, too, like ones of my own Christmas memories and my Santa-themed house.
They can also sign up for my newsletter on Facebook so when the WACKY WEDNESDAY preview comes out every Monday they will know the latest. Look for it in the left column of my Facebook page.
I am not good at Twitter, can’t figure out how to retweet, but my Twitter handle if anyone wants to see what I occasionally tweet is @BonnieEngstrom1. Good luck!
Thanks so much, Lena, for having me on your special blog. I will give an eBook of Restoring Love at Christmastime . And, for anyone answering this question, they can enter to receive a signed print copy of Restoring Love at Christmastime . Both make great gifts, even belated Christmas giving or a great way to start the New Year.(Drawing will be random. Not sponsored by this blog.)
Here is the question: What is your favorite Christmas memory?
God Bless!
Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing this book with my readers and me. I just started reading my copy.
Readers, leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
They moved to Arizona from California when Taylor (aka Mookie) was born almost fourteen years ago. She will be entering high school next year! Gosh, she’s taller than me!
Life is busy helping Taylor and her three siblings - picking up after school, attending choir and strings concerts and spelling bees. Writing gets squeezed in, sometimes late at night. But, the Engstroms wouldn’t have it any other way.
Welcome back, Bonnie. How did you come up with the idea for this story?My parents and I visited The Inn at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, every summer for many years. There was a stable then, and it’s the first time I’d ridden a horse. His name was Traveler – gentle and made me want to ride again. He’s in the story. I’ve always thought there was a special story in the historic hotel filled with antique furniture and an old-fashioned ambiance, even so many years ago.If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Why do you always ask this difficult question, Lena? Puts me on the spot. I love so many. I think it should be a diverse party, but then if it focuses on romance authors, they would have more in common to share. Maybe more frustrations, too.
Here is my list: Deb Raney (whose books inspired me to write twenty years ago), Alice Arenz (ACFW Carol Award multi-winner), Roger Bruner (whose stories are so unique and inspiring), Darlene Franklin (who inspired me to write my series), Carol Nemeth (great WWII stories and terrific prayer warrior), and you, of course (‘Nuff said?), although we all write different stories. I hope that answers your question. Oops! Can we push it to seven invitees? I want Peg Phifer to attend, too. I love her Someday Christmas Will Come story. Very special.
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Sorry, Lena. I hardly ever read historical fiction. I did watch Downton Abbey and The Crown and Victoria, and I love When Calls the Heart – Hallmark series, but with the little time I have to read I usually choose my own genre, contemporary.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?Yikes! TIME! Always time sandwiched in between picking up 4 grandchildren whose mother, our daughter, is a single parent who works long hours as the director of a Christian school. I also monitor two online prayer chains, the emails for which I check first every day and throughout the day. Then, when a manuscript is finished, there is the laborious task of editing – which I do between 7 and 11 times. However, I have only published thirteen books, many of them novellas. My stories have been included in several collections, too. But, those are not new stories, just ones that fit into the collections. A new one will come up in late January or early February, Book Eight in my Candy Cane Girls Series.
When I send to my publisher, the most fun is working with her to design the covers. Her covers are outstanding, I get so many compliments about them. You told me once how much you like them. They are always unique and make a statement.
Tell us about the featured book. Restoring Love at Christmastime has a new lengthened title and bright new cover. When my publisher and I thought about how the story has a Christmas setting we decided to reflect that in a new expanded title. It’s a fun story about two people who had a brief romance as teenagers, but who have grown up and meet again during Christmas at the old hotel. It also won a 5 Star Readers Favorite Award.
Here is the edited blurb:
Why was Jenni taking this journey back in time during the Christmas holidays? Surely, she didn’t expect to see Jake the stable boy. She had moved on from sneaking kisses in the barn after trail rides. He must have, too. Who on earth would stay in the tiny town of Cambridge Springs?She planned for a respite from teaching, time to read, take quiet walks and indulge in delicious hotel meals. At least no one knew where to find her, none of her friends, and not even her family.
The internet site for Pleasant Springs Hotel highlighted an annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol that guests sometimes played parts in. That sounded like fun. Hopefully some handsome guest would play Scrooge.
Odd the name of the historic hotel had changed. Who would have done that? Maybe new owners. She wanted to soak up memories, alone. Unless by a Christmas miracle Jake was still there to share them.
Can romance still flourish after fifteen years?Will a teacher and a former stable boy remember their first kiss?
Please give us the first page of the book.Pleasant Springs!
Jenni’s mouth salivated remembering the tasty meals she’d had here as a young girl. The tiny browned new potatoes and the chef’s signature succulent pork tenderloin popped up as virtual cartoon balloons in her windshield. Then she remembered the extra ten pounds she’d gained. She guided her little rental car up the hill and along the winding two-lane road toward the cupolas of the old hotel. It was still painted white and outlined in dark red. The paned windows looked the same, and the cupolas each retained different distinctive weathervanes on their peaks. A flying goose, an owl and an angel. She thought it was the angel cupola she’d stayed in, or was it under? At the time, she hadn’t contemplated much about it. Now, it seemed significant.
Forcing her mind to move forward, or maybe backward, she wondered about Jake Starfire. Jake had hefted one hundred pound trunks out of the backs of airport limousines with little effort. Always with a smile and a lock of curly ebony hair tumbling over his dark, wide forehead. The last time Jenni visited The Springs with her parents, when it was called The Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs, she was almost sixteen, and Jake was a bellboy. But, oh, what a bellboy he was! So handsome, so personable, so appealing to a vulnerable teenage girl.
Their stolen kiss was the first real kiss she’d ever had. It just happened, no hugging, no touching beforehand; he’d only put his hand on her shoulder when he helped her mount Traveler. But, she had hoped, dreamed, during the five days she was visiting. He smelled so … sexy … a combination of male and horse. When he’d clasped his big hands on her shoulders and pulled her close toward his mouth her first thought was how yellow his teeth were. Did he brush? Ever floss? His breath, would it be horrible? She decided in a second she didn’t care. She wanted this kiss in the worst way and leaned forward. Her hands were out to her sides; all she could concentrate on was Jake’s mouth, his full lips promising ecstasy. As the kiss deepened, she raised her hands to circle them around his neck. Finally, she and Jake both gasped, and he released his grip on her.
The kiss was everything she’d hoped for. She was smitten.
She remembered.
It had happened inside the old-fashioned garage turned stable. Jake had just tethered Traveler and his horse, Firecracker, and led them into their stalls. Both were munching on whatever horses ate. She hadn’t cared what the horses ate when she and Jake perched on hay bales … to talk. Talking never happened, but her body went into overdrive, like that new feature her dad used to have on his ‘57 Plymouth.
The trickling sound of the rain had been soothing, almost mesmerizing, lulling Jenni into dream mode. It was a safe sound; dibble, dribble, pat, pat. No thunder, no lightning. Although that would have added excitement to the moment. No, it was quiet, deep, soft and delicious like Jake’s kiss, in spite of his bad breath.
She wanted this to happen again. But her parents expected her for dinner in the dining room in fifteen minutes.
“Sorry. I have to go. Mom and Dad are waiting. Gotta change.”
“Stay just a few more minutes. Please.”
Shaking her head, her body shaking, too, she raced out of the barn. Stumbling into the hotel entrance and lumbering up the metal stairs, she forced her key in the lock of her room and opened the door. Mom was sitting on the edge of Jenni’s bed.
“Did you have a good time? Ride a horse? Explore?”
She nodded and felt her head rattling. Such deception. Her heart ached deceiving Mom, but she had no other choice. Not yet. Yes, she had explored, but not in a way she could share.
The road seemed so long now. Longer than she’d remembered. But, then, she had just been a child.
How can readers find you on the Internet?I love, love, love to communicate with readers via email. It’s fun to chat with them and exchange ideas. They can always reach me at bengstrom@hotmail.com, but be sure to put BOOK in the subject line so they don’t fly off to cyberspace.
I’m excited about my WACKY WEDNESDAY contest on my Facebook author page where I give away prizes every Wednesday. It’s fun and a great way to connect and share. Readers need to go to https://www.facebook.com/bonnieengstromauthor/to find out the next Wednesday’s prizes and the most current winner. Lots of fun photos there, too, like ones of my own Christmas memories and my Santa-themed house.
They can also sign up for my newsletter on Facebook so when the WACKY WEDNESDAY preview comes out every Monday they will know the latest. Look for it in the left column of my Facebook page.
I am not good at Twitter, can’t figure out how to retweet, but my Twitter handle if anyone wants to see what I occasionally tweet is @BonnieEngstrom1. Good luck!
Thanks so much, Lena, for having me on your special blog. I will give an eBook of Restoring Love at Christmastime . And, for anyone answering this question, they can enter to receive a signed print copy of Restoring Love at Christmastime . Both make great gifts, even belated Christmas giving or a great way to start the New Year.(Drawing will be random. Not sponsored by this blog.)
Here is the question: What is your favorite Christmas memory?
God Bless!
Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing this book with my readers and me. I just started reading my copy.
Readers, leavea comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
December 25, 2018
Christmas Greetings 2018
For all my loyal blog readers, here's my annual Christmas story:
Christmas Redemption Times Two
by Lena Nelson Dooley
Thursday, December 19
Jessica Laren gritted her teeth and held her head high as she made her way out the front door of Cantalamessa’s Gourmet Pizzas and Pasta restaurant in Euless, Texas. Tears filled her eyes making the landscape look like an impressionist painting. She always hated those when she studied art appreciation the only year she was able to attend college. Art should be realistic and beautiful, not like the terrible mess she’d made of her life.
She was able to restrain the first tear from running down her cheeks until she’d cleared the doorway of the eating establishment. Jessica had wanted to be an actress. That’s what she felt like right now. A terrible actress, who had just bombed out in the reviews. This was lower than she’d ever sunk before.
After getting into her car and slamming the door, she grabbed a tissue. While taking a swipe at each cheek, she turned the mirror toward her and ventured a glance at her reflection. Hideous! Just as she expected, the heavy mascara she’d applied this morning now smeared her cheeks and stained the tissue. More tears fell before she was able to get out of the parking lot. She didn’t want anyone to see her with dark splotches on her face.
At least, her husband had let her keep the Mercedes in the divorce settlement. That and her expensive clothing belied the state of her financial affairs. Ha! She didn’t have enough money to call them financial affairs anymore. She was flat broke. Not enough money in her purse to pay the paltry rent on her apartment next week. An apartment she wouldn’t have even considered visiting two months ago. The rundown building was in one of the worst parts of Grapevine, but at least each of the units had an assigned garage. Otherwise, someone would have probably stolen her car, or at least stripped it until it was undrivable.
After she parked in her garage, she took another tissue and wiped as much of the black off her face as she could. Making sure the door was secure, she entered the building and hurried toward the elevator, hoping she wouldn’t have to share it with anyone. Finally, one thing went right for her today. She stepped out of the now empty elevator and reached down to pull off the five-inch heels.
A man must have invented those things. Yes, they made her legs look sexy, and she enjoyed that part, but her feet had taken a beating today. Carrying the shoes dangling from two fingers of her left hand, she dropped in a chair in the hallway. As she rubbed her feet, she noticed a run in her very last pair of silk pantyhose.
“Does everything have to go wrong today?”
She glanced up and down the hallway to see if anyone heard her lament. Another good thing. No one was there. Most of the people who lived in the building worked long hours just to make ends meet. She gave a harsh laugh. She never dreamed she’d end up worse off than the waitress at the coffee shop down the block. At least, that girl was making money, even if Jessica would have considered the amount to be chump change before this last embarrassing event.
When she entered the depressing space that was her apartment, she went straight to the bedroom and fell across the lumpy mattress. After grabbing one of the expensive pillows she brought with her, she released the torrent of tears she’d dammed up. Sobs and anguish filled her room as the tears soaked through the satin pillowcase.
When she awakened later, not even a single ray of sunshine reached the windows of her apartment. She shivered. The bedroom was so cold. Surely the heat wasn’t off again. She walked across the icy linoleum floor and turned on the light so she could check the thermostat. One of the things that helped her choose this apartment was the central heat, but it had been on again, off again the whole two weeks she’d lived here.
Instead of the warm, cozy 74 degrees where she’d set it, the temperature hovered right above 60. As late as it was right now, she knew there wasn’t any chance it would be fixed tonight. She wanted to throw the lamp against the wall and watch it shatter like her life had, but she didn’t have the money to pay for the damages.
After going through her drawers and the closet, she donned three layers of warm clothing. Grabbing two thin blankets off the bed, she then dragged them into the living room, such as it was. Dropping onto the hard couch, she wrapped up and clicked on the TV. Thank goodness, the complex included some kind of cable with the rent, but the TV that was part of the furnishings was so small she had to move it close to the couch, so she could see what was on. The news depressed her so much she searched for something else to watch. A Christmas movie filled the screen. Something to take her mind off her problems. She stopped clicking through the channels.
Leaning back, she pulled the blankets closer around her. Soon she wanted to throw something at the screen. Even though the characters had problems in their lives, they were so much better off than she was. She clicked off the set. Now her only companions were the words that bombarded her thoughts. Failure ... stupid ... ugly ... worthless ... unloveable ... nobody ... nothing... The words came louder and faster in her mind. With each one, she sank lower and lower. Beaten down with no hope. She fell into a restless slumber, but the continued bombardment lived on in her nightmares.
Jessica awakened to someone pounding on the pipes or something. Hopefully the repairman fixing the heat. The walls were so thin, the sounds of someone working on the heating unit could be heard two floors up in her apartment. When she went into her bathroom to clean up, she tested the hot water. Yes! Now she could take a shower and warm up at the same time.
Afterward as she dressed and put on makeup, she remembered what Malcolm MacGregor had told her several times in the past. “Try going to church.” As if that was some magic answer to her problems.
But now she’d hit rock bottom. It wouldn’t hurt to take his advice. She was desperate, and nothing else had helped her.
After she finished, maybe she’d check at that coffee shop and see if she could be a waitress ... or barista ... or something. If not, she just might starve to death. She had to have money for gas and food right away.
An idea struck her, and she went through the pockets of all her coats and found $16. That would help her get some gas. Then she pulled out all her expensive purses, one at a time, and dumped the contents onto the bed. By the time she was finished, she had another $52 in bills and a small mound of change. It all came to almost $100. She had always been careless with money, and it was a good thing right now. But this money wouldn’t last very long, and she had to pay rent again in a week.
~~~~~
Tuesday, December 24
Eric Summerfield arrived at Way of Life Church on Christmas Eve. He hadn’t attended a Candlelight and Carols service since he started college. Last Thursday, something happened that reminded him of his Christian upbringing. His best friend’s father, Maxwell MacGregor, called and asked for help unloading several trucks of toys for children of single-parent families. So he agreed to meet the MacGregor and Cantalamessa families for the service tonight.
He knew how big this church was. He got here early, so he wouldn’t miss them when they arrived. He chose a spot at the far end of the parking lot so less agile people could park closer. He enjoyed the cold weather when the brisk wind died down, and he whistled as he approached the front of the church.
A red Mercedes pulled into a parking space close to the building. A blonde woman stepped out of the car, but he only gave her a passing glance as he continued toward the doors.
“Eric Summerfield, is that you?” The feminine voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it.
He stopped and turned around. “Jessica?”
She sure didn’t look the way Malcolm described her when she approached him at the restaurant a few days ago. Evidently, something had happened to her in the meantime.
When she reached him, he held out his elbow to escort her inside. “How are things going?”
She smiled at him. “Lots better. I’ve been having a rather hard time. Then I remembered Malcolm told me several times that I should try church. I thought that was just so much religious mumbo jumbo. But I decided to take his advice. I came here Sunday. After the service, I really didn’t understand everything that happened, but somehow I felt a sense of hope, and I met an older single lady who offered me a job as live-in help for her. I came back for the Christmas Eve service to see if I could learn more about where this hope came from.”
He held the front door open for her. “I’m sure you will.”
This story is about two of the minor characters in my Christmas novel The 12 Gifts of Christmas. These events don’t appear in the novel.
© Copyright 2018, Lena Nelson Dooley
Here's out Christmas letter"Dooley Doings - 2018Dear Family and Special Friends,
2018 has been a busy year with lots of ups and a few downs in it. I am truly sorry if you received this after Christmas. I intended to get it out before the first of December.
James and I are doing good for our ages. He turned 79 in August, and I was 76 in November. We’re active and enjoying life. He’s still volunteering both at 6 Stones ministry and at the church. He’s a greeter at the campus where we attend church almost every Sunday. And he greets at the main campus two Saturdays of the month.
When school started this fall, Holden, Marissa and Jac’s oldest son, started Pre-K. The family members help by picking him up after school each day, so he won’t have to go to daycare. James picks him up one day.
A while back, his grandmother Jennifer made a video of her asking Holden questions. She likes to do that, because you never know what his answers will be. She asked him what’s his favorite thing about school. He told her it was Tuesdays. She thought he didn’t understand so she asked him another time or two. He kept saying Tuesdays. She asked him why and he told her it was because Grandpa James picks him up. James always takes him to Chick-fil-a. When he’s finished eating, he gets to have something chocolate. Then he and James watch kid’s TV programs. He’s pretty tired from playing in the Chick-fil-a playground before they come home.
I also volunteer at church. I lead a ladies’ mentoring group and volunteer in the church bookstore at the main campus two Saturdays per month. In January, I was the speaker for a Christian Writers group in Woodway, which is beside Waco. It was the best speaking engagement I’ve had. I spoke twice and they bought almost every book I took to sell. I knew they were videoing the sessions, but I didn’t realize that they would be professional quality. So I have videos available for anyone who wants to hear some of my teaching.
Last year, I only wrote one book and had one book release. This year, I wrote three books between January 1 and the end of July. The books released in September and November.
~~~
Jennifer and Eric went on a cruise in the Caribbean in October to celebrate their anniversary. They had a good time.
This year, Jac and Marissa have added another ornament on the Dooley family tree. Actually, Everly was born on May 2, and she stole everyone’s heart that day.
Marissa's brother Austin is driving for Grubhub.
Amanda just returned from New Hampshire where she met her boyfriend’s family for the first time. I hope she saw snow. You know we don’t get much of that where we live.
~~~
Early in the year, Roger had stomach bypass surgery, and he recovered quickly. Within the first few days he was able to go off a lot of his medicines for diabetes. Now he has lost about 80 pounds, and he’s looking good.
Back in late May and early June, Roger and the rest of the family were scared when Marilyn passed out at work. She was in the hospital four times in about three and a half weeks before they found out what was causing her problems. Praise the Lord, she’s fully recovered from that.
Tim and Katie will present us with the next precious blessing either late this month or early in January. We are eagerly awaiting the birth of their son. The tribe is growing.
~~~
I talked to my friend, Rita Booth, in early December right after the Leadership Christmas Party at the church campus where we attend. She said I should put this in my Christmas letter.
Last year and this year, they’ve had a Wacky Tacky party. Last year, a number of people dressed up, but James and I only put on some Christmas things. This year, we both dressed up much more. He wanted to win an award for his costume. He chose a Christmas one-piece pajama that looked like a chimney, with a fireplace on the front. The lights surrounding the fireplace blinked. And there were stockings and tinsel on the mantel. There were a lot of surprised faces when we entered the building. It seemed out of character to many people. But he did win the Holiday Haberdashery 2018 Award along with a sash and a crown.
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2019.
Another gift for you is the link to a Christmas special in New York City:
http://davidjeremiah.org/NYC
Christmas Redemption Times Two
by Lena Nelson Dooley
Thursday, December 19
Jessica Laren gritted her teeth and held her head high as she made her way out the front door of Cantalamessa’s Gourmet Pizzas and Pasta restaurant in Euless, Texas. Tears filled her eyes making the landscape look like an impressionist painting. She always hated those when she studied art appreciation the only year she was able to attend college. Art should be realistic and beautiful, not like the terrible mess she’d made of her life.
She was able to restrain the first tear from running down her cheeks until she’d cleared the doorway of the eating establishment. Jessica had wanted to be an actress. That’s what she felt like right now. A terrible actress, who had just bombed out in the reviews. This was lower than she’d ever sunk before.
After getting into her car and slamming the door, she grabbed a tissue. While taking a swipe at each cheek, she turned the mirror toward her and ventured a glance at her reflection. Hideous! Just as she expected, the heavy mascara she’d applied this morning now smeared her cheeks and stained the tissue. More tears fell before she was able to get out of the parking lot. She didn’t want anyone to see her with dark splotches on her face.
At least, her husband had let her keep the Mercedes in the divorce settlement. That and her expensive clothing belied the state of her financial affairs. Ha! She didn’t have enough money to call them financial affairs anymore. She was flat broke. Not enough money in her purse to pay the paltry rent on her apartment next week. An apartment she wouldn’t have even considered visiting two months ago. The rundown building was in one of the worst parts of Grapevine, but at least each of the units had an assigned garage. Otherwise, someone would have probably stolen her car, or at least stripped it until it was undrivable.
After she parked in her garage, she took another tissue and wiped as much of the black off her face as she could. Making sure the door was secure, she entered the building and hurried toward the elevator, hoping she wouldn’t have to share it with anyone. Finally, one thing went right for her today. She stepped out of the now empty elevator and reached down to pull off the five-inch heels.
A man must have invented those things. Yes, they made her legs look sexy, and she enjoyed that part, but her feet had taken a beating today. Carrying the shoes dangling from two fingers of her left hand, she dropped in a chair in the hallway. As she rubbed her feet, she noticed a run in her very last pair of silk pantyhose.
“Does everything have to go wrong today?”
She glanced up and down the hallway to see if anyone heard her lament. Another good thing. No one was there. Most of the people who lived in the building worked long hours just to make ends meet. She gave a harsh laugh. She never dreamed she’d end up worse off than the waitress at the coffee shop down the block. At least, that girl was making money, even if Jessica would have considered the amount to be chump change before this last embarrassing event.
When she entered the depressing space that was her apartment, she went straight to the bedroom and fell across the lumpy mattress. After grabbing one of the expensive pillows she brought with her, she released the torrent of tears she’d dammed up. Sobs and anguish filled her room as the tears soaked through the satin pillowcase.
When she awakened later, not even a single ray of sunshine reached the windows of her apartment. She shivered. The bedroom was so cold. Surely the heat wasn’t off again. She walked across the icy linoleum floor and turned on the light so she could check the thermostat. One of the things that helped her choose this apartment was the central heat, but it had been on again, off again the whole two weeks she’d lived here.
Instead of the warm, cozy 74 degrees where she’d set it, the temperature hovered right above 60. As late as it was right now, she knew there wasn’t any chance it would be fixed tonight. She wanted to throw the lamp against the wall and watch it shatter like her life had, but she didn’t have the money to pay for the damages.
After going through her drawers and the closet, she donned three layers of warm clothing. Grabbing two thin blankets off the bed, she then dragged them into the living room, such as it was. Dropping onto the hard couch, she wrapped up and clicked on the TV. Thank goodness, the complex included some kind of cable with the rent, but the TV that was part of the furnishings was so small she had to move it close to the couch, so she could see what was on. The news depressed her so much she searched for something else to watch. A Christmas movie filled the screen. Something to take her mind off her problems. She stopped clicking through the channels.
Leaning back, she pulled the blankets closer around her. Soon she wanted to throw something at the screen. Even though the characters had problems in their lives, they were so much better off than she was. She clicked off the set. Now her only companions were the words that bombarded her thoughts. Failure ... stupid ... ugly ... worthless ... unloveable ... nobody ... nothing... The words came louder and faster in her mind. With each one, she sank lower and lower. Beaten down with no hope. She fell into a restless slumber, but the continued bombardment lived on in her nightmares.
Jessica awakened to someone pounding on the pipes or something. Hopefully the repairman fixing the heat. The walls were so thin, the sounds of someone working on the heating unit could be heard two floors up in her apartment. When she went into her bathroom to clean up, she tested the hot water. Yes! Now she could take a shower and warm up at the same time.
Afterward as she dressed and put on makeup, she remembered what Malcolm MacGregor had told her several times in the past. “Try going to church.” As if that was some magic answer to her problems.
But now she’d hit rock bottom. It wouldn’t hurt to take his advice. She was desperate, and nothing else had helped her.
After she finished, maybe she’d check at that coffee shop and see if she could be a waitress ... or barista ... or something. If not, she just might starve to death. She had to have money for gas and food right away.
An idea struck her, and she went through the pockets of all her coats and found $16. That would help her get some gas. Then she pulled out all her expensive purses, one at a time, and dumped the contents onto the bed. By the time she was finished, she had another $52 in bills and a small mound of change. It all came to almost $100. She had always been careless with money, and it was a good thing right now. But this money wouldn’t last very long, and she had to pay rent again in a week.
~~~~~
Tuesday, December 24
Eric Summerfield arrived at Way of Life Church on Christmas Eve. He hadn’t attended a Candlelight and Carols service since he started college. Last Thursday, something happened that reminded him of his Christian upbringing. His best friend’s father, Maxwell MacGregor, called and asked for help unloading several trucks of toys for children of single-parent families. So he agreed to meet the MacGregor and Cantalamessa families for the service tonight.
He knew how big this church was. He got here early, so he wouldn’t miss them when they arrived. He chose a spot at the far end of the parking lot so less agile people could park closer. He enjoyed the cold weather when the brisk wind died down, and he whistled as he approached the front of the church.
A red Mercedes pulled into a parking space close to the building. A blonde woman stepped out of the car, but he only gave her a passing glance as he continued toward the doors.
“Eric Summerfield, is that you?” The feminine voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it.
He stopped and turned around. “Jessica?”
She sure didn’t look the way Malcolm described her when she approached him at the restaurant a few days ago. Evidently, something had happened to her in the meantime.
When she reached him, he held out his elbow to escort her inside. “How are things going?”
She smiled at him. “Lots better. I’ve been having a rather hard time. Then I remembered Malcolm told me several times that I should try church. I thought that was just so much religious mumbo jumbo. But I decided to take his advice. I came here Sunday. After the service, I really didn’t understand everything that happened, but somehow I felt a sense of hope, and I met an older single lady who offered me a job as live-in help for her. I came back for the Christmas Eve service to see if I could learn more about where this hope came from.”
He held the front door open for her. “I’m sure you will.”
This story is about two of the minor characters in my Christmas novel The 12 Gifts of Christmas. These events don’t appear in the novel.
© Copyright 2018, Lena Nelson Dooley
Here's out Christmas letter"Dooley Doings - 2018Dear Family and Special Friends,
2018 has been a busy year with lots of ups and a few downs in it. I am truly sorry if you received this after Christmas. I intended to get it out before the first of December.
James and I are doing good for our ages. He turned 79 in August, and I was 76 in November. We’re active and enjoying life. He’s still volunteering both at 6 Stones ministry and at the church. He’s a greeter at the campus where we attend church almost every Sunday. And he greets at the main campus two Saturdays of the month.
When school started this fall, Holden, Marissa and Jac’s oldest son, started Pre-K. The family members help by picking him up after school each day, so he won’t have to go to daycare. James picks him up one day.
A while back, his grandmother Jennifer made a video of her asking Holden questions. She likes to do that, because you never know what his answers will be. She asked him what’s his favorite thing about school. He told her it was Tuesdays. She thought he didn’t understand so she asked him another time or two. He kept saying Tuesdays. She asked him why and he told her it was because Grandpa James picks him up. James always takes him to Chick-fil-a. When he’s finished eating, he gets to have something chocolate. Then he and James watch kid’s TV programs. He’s pretty tired from playing in the Chick-fil-a playground before they come home.
I also volunteer at church. I lead a ladies’ mentoring group and volunteer in the church bookstore at the main campus two Saturdays per month. In January, I was the speaker for a Christian Writers group in Woodway, which is beside Waco. It was the best speaking engagement I’ve had. I spoke twice and they bought almost every book I took to sell. I knew they were videoing the sessions, but I didn’t realize that they would be professional quality. So I have videos available for anyone who wants to hear some of my teaching.
Last year, I only wrote one book and had one book release. This year, I wrote three books between January 1 and the end of July. The books released in September and November.
~~~
Jennifer and Eric went on a cruise in the Caribbean in October to celebrate their anniversary. They had a good time.
This year, Jac and Marissa have added another ornament on the Dooley family tree. Actually, Everly was born on May 2, and she stole everyone’s heart that day.
Marissa's brother Austin is driving for Grubhub.
Amanda just returned from New Hampshire where she met her boyfriend’s family for the first time. I hope she saw snow. You know we don’t get much of that where we live.
~~~
Early in the year, Roger had stomach bypass surgery, and he recovered quickly. Within the first few days he was able to go off a lot of his medicines for diabetes. Now he has lost about 80 pounds, and he’s looking good.
Back in late May and early June, Roger and the rest of the family were scared when Marilyn passed out at work. She was in the hospital four times in about three and a half weeks before they found out what was causing her problems. Praise the Lord, she’s fully recovered from that.
Tim and Katie will present us with the next precious blessing either late this month or early in January. We are eagerly awaiting the birth of their son. The tribe is growing.
~~~
I talked to my friend, Rita Booth, in early December right after the Leadership Christmas Party at the church campus where we attend. She said I should put this in my Christmas letter.
Last year and this year, they’ve had a Wacky Tacky party. Last year, a number of people dressed up, but James and I only put on some Christmas things. This year, we both dressed up much more. He wanted to win an award for his costume. He chose a Christmas one-piece pajama that looked like a chimney, with a fireplace on the front. The lights surrounding the fireplace blinked. And there were stockings and tinsel on the mantel. There were a lot of surprised faces when we entered the building. It seemed out of character to many people. But he did win the Holiday Haberdashery 2018 Award along with a sash and a crown.
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2019.
Another gift for you is the link to a Christmas special in New York City:
http://davidjeremiah.org/NYC
December 23, 2018
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.
Venette (TN) is the winner of frozen Notes by Fay Lamb.
Melanie (TX) is the winner of Flying Fossils by Lynne Gentry.
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.
Venette (TN) is the winner of frozen Notes by Fay Lamb.
Melanie (TX) is the winner of Flying Fossils by Lynne Gentry.
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.
December 22, 2018
SABOTAGED CHRISTMAS - Carole Brown - One Free Book
Bio: Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in Southeast Ohiobut have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?
Welcome back, Carole. How did you come up with the idea for this story?Sometimes an article, a story line, a thought or even a suggestion or remark from someone will trigger an idea for a story. Several years ago I wrote three romance novels at the bidding of my agent, but shelved them after they didn't go anywhere. Later, when one of my editors asked if I had a certain type of book, I rewrote them into romance/mysteries.
I wanted to create a small town setting focusing on three friends, their love lives and personal mysteries for each of them. I wanted readers to feel the atmosphere, the warmth and coziness of a tight-knit community. So when a reviewer declared the book made her want to move to Appleton, I knew I'd succeeded.
If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Mary Ellis, Tamera Kraft, Michelle Levigne, Ted Dekker, Rachel Hauck, and Linda Rondeau
They are people I admire. Some of them have reviewed or endorsed my books, and I'm glad to call them my friends or acquaintances.
Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?Sandra Merville Hart, Liz Curtis Higgs, Francine Rivers, Louis LaMour (deceased, I know, but his settings!...) and Linda Matchett. Accomplished, interesting and talented authors who've captured my attention and interest.
Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?Time. This year has been a very busy one, and I've had to adjust several projects to fit into my schedule. Writing is important to me, but sometimes family and other things have to take precedence.
Perseverence, and determination to never quit, even if a short break is called for, keeps me going.
Tell us about the featured book. Sabotaged Christmas is the first book in my Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mystery series. Each one is half romance/half mystery.
It started out to be a three-book series about three friends, the men in their lives, and the mystery. It's now expanded to include, not only the three female friends, but three men living in Appleton, West Virginia, making it a planned six book series with the setting in Appleton. To date, four books have been published. The fifth one, titled The Golden Touch, has a future date planned.
Here's the blurb for
Sabotaged Christmas
:Toni DeLuca, the Italian owner of DeLuca Construction, finds herself confronted with doubts about her father and his possible deceptions—all because of the mysterious pink notes she's been receiving.Relations with Perrin Douglas who has a troubling history—but the first man in years who's interested her—is building to a peak. Yet Perrin's own personal problems and his doubts about women and God, keep getting in the way.
Gossip, a Spanish proposal, an inheritance, and a sabotaged construction business may ruin Christmas for Toni's employees as well as her own happiness.
Will a mysterious person succeed in pulling off the biggest scam Appleton, West Virginia, has ever seen? And will this culprit destroy Toni's last chance at happiness with the man of her dreams?
Buy Link:https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1
Please give us the first page of the book.Antonietta DeLuca’s glance probed the dark shadows in the front yard of the Wisecup job. The streetlight lit up the orange-leafed maple tree, setting it on fire. The tree limbs dipped and swayed to the whispering music from the autumn wind. Fallen leaves crackled to the left of the empty house she faced. Something moved, and Toni shifted to stare at the spot.
With a screech, two cats shot past her and crossed the street, yowling like demons in the night.
Hands shaking, Toni glared at the scattering offenders and leaned against the mailbox, dragging in deep breaths.
She shouldn’t have come by herself, but she’d never worried about that before. Her supervisor had begged her to avoid lonely places by herself. Yet she’d needed to do the final inspection of the repairs before signing off on one of their last big projects of the year. With Christmas coming and a long winter ahead, that meant money in her pocket and her employees’ pockets.
Drawing in another deep breath, she started up the sidewalk and pulled from her pocket the key to the house. The lock clicked, and a faint, far-off shuffle brushed against her senses.
Head cocked, she listened. Had that sound come from inside the house?
Nice hook! How can readers find you on the Internet?Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.authorAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brownInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/browncarole212/?hl=enPinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brownLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a/Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Carole, for sharing this book with us. I’ve really enjoyed every book of yours that I’ve read. I’m eager to read this one.
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.)
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