Sandra Nachlinger's Blog, page 43

Keeping Faith - Teaser Tuesday

I think I'm in love with Tom Henderson, the hero in KEEPING FAITH. Tom and his sister were raised in poverty - neglected and uneducated - but in spite of that rocky start, he grew into a good and caring man. I'm enjoying the story of how this cowboy's life changes when he takes on his deceased sister's baby as his responsibility.

In my Teaser, Lucille (a local seamstress and the story's heroine) is teaching Tom to read and she's wondering if he's more than just a good-looking cowboy.

Teaser (from 35% on my Kindle):
He played hard, but he worked hard, too. He showed the world a devil-may-care attitude, but she wondered now if perhaps beneath the dimpled smile and light-hearted words, a far more serious side existed. She wanted to get to know him better.

Genre: Western Historical Romance
Length: 292 Pages
Amazon Link: Keeping Faith (The Sunset Series - Book 2)
Other Books by Christina Cole: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:
      Everything they say about Tom Henderson is true. Born in a barn, the bastard son of a drunken whore, he’s got nothing to offer, and any dreams he might have are as far away as the distant snow-capped Rockies -- and probably as unattainable. He’s long had his eye on pretty Lucille McIntyre, but that’s just one more impossible dream.
      Lucille has always been considered the prettiest and most popular girl in Sunset, but her father’s sudden death has left her shaken and sad. Now, life seems to be passing her by.
      When a prim and proper spinster arrives to deliver a squalling 3-month-old infant to Tom, his life and Lucille’s both change. His decision to keep the baby girl sets off a firestorm among the good ladies in town who don’t consider him fit to raise a child.
      Together, Tom and Lucille will do anything in their struggle for keeping Faith.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasersLeave a comment on MizB's Teaser Tuesday post (HERE) and include your link so everyone can find your post.


Twitter: @sandynachlinger

Baby Quilts - Saturday Snapshots

Baby quilts are so much fun to make! Since they're small, the construction goes quickly. Not so much delayed gratification! They're also a good way to try out quilt patterns without making a big commitment. While I'm creating, it's fun to think of the child who will be snuggling under the quilt. I put a lot of love into every stitch.


I've made several quilts for my granddaughter
but this is my favorite. The quilt square pattern is 
Nine Patch, and the hearts and name are appliqued.

This is a flannel ragged-edged quilt.
It gets softer with every washing.
Baby quilts don't have to be made of pastel colors.
These coordinated fabrics came together in a package.
Just right for my grand nephew!
This pattern is called X's and O's.********Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, click HERE or on the box below. 

Murder on Astor Place - The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings on Friday

I enjoy a variety of genres--romance, mystery, women's fiction, and anything else that catches my fancy. Recently, I read MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE, the first novel in the 15-book Gaslight Mystery series. The story features midwife Sarah Brandt and police detective Frank Malloy, and it's set in turn-of-the-century New York City. Author Victoria Thompson's description of the tenements, mansions, police station, streets, and sounds and smells of the city are vivid. I also enjoyed her portrayal of the lifestyles of the upper and lower classes of society. Most importantly, the plot kept me reading. 

I'll definitely be reading more of the books in this series!

BOOK BEGINNING:
At first Sarah thought the tinkling of the bell was part of her dream. It sounded so sweet and soothing, and she was following it across a sunlit meadow, as if it were a golden butterfly. But then the pounding started, and she knew this wasn't a dream at all.

THE FRIDAY 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
"It wouldn't be the first time a reluctant woman has been persuaded to marry a man she wouldn't otherwise choose. He ruins her and makes her believe no other man will ever have her. And if she conceives a child, she has no choice but to accept him."

Genre: Historical Mystery
Length: 287 Pages
Amazon Link: Murder on Astor Place
Author Website:  Victoria Thompson

Goodreads Synopsis:
As a midwife in turn-of-the-century New York, Sarah Brandt has seen pain and joy. Now she will work for something more--a search for justice--in a case of murder involving one of New York's richest families.                                                
                                              ********
Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56. 
   Click here to connect to other Book Beginnings on Friday posts     (sponsored by Rose City Reader)
   Find other Friday 56 bloggers here (sponsored by Freda's Voice) 
                           

Hearts in Ruin - Teaser Tuesday

HEARTS IN RUIN by J. C. Conway is classified as a sweet contemporary romance, but I'd call it fiction with romantic elements. Although there's plenty of sexual tension between the hero and heroine, there is equal focus on their archaeological dig. Conway did a great job of creating a strong female character in Andrea, a doctoral candidate. I enjoyed getting to know her. His hero is interesting too and not a stereotypical macho male. Both characters are intelligent, likable people. I always enjoy learning something while reading fiction, and I found this story to be fascinating.

Teaser from 10% on my Kindle - (Andrea is speaking):
She paused; then she shook her head. "I can't hang my doctoral thesis on a crackpot theory. I need something solid."

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 173 Pages
Amazon Link: Hearts in Ruin
Other Books by J. C. Conway: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis from Amazon:
      Everything Andrea has worked for is being threatened … and she’s not going to just stand still and take it! Passion, lies, and betrayal clash in the wake of a plot to destroy an ancient truth. You’ll love Hearts In Ruin, the hot new romance from the pen of author J. C. Conway. 
      Andrea had one goal in life, a quiet career as a mainstream archaeologist—nothing more nothing less—and she's one ancient secret away. When she is teamed with maverick prodigy Daniel Fuchs at his controversial pre-Clovis dig on tribal land, she soon realizes his wild theories may sidetrack her career. Her smartest move is to expose him and that is exactly what she plans to do. Except…he’s hot, sexy, and there is a chance his theories may be right. 
      As the dig deepens and outside forces mount, Andrea and Daniel find their careers and their shaky relationship on the brink of ruin. Who can she trust? To survive professionally and emotionally, Andrea must decide between what is expected and what she believes, because time is running out and the developers' bulldozers are poised to level the site. 
      Delve into the mystery and excitement of an archaeological dig in the New Mexico desert and experience the drive, determination, and passion surrounding the quest to unlock the Paleolithic past in this contemporary, romantic suspense. Hearts In Ruin…no shovel required to join this adventure to discover an ancient truth! 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasersLeave a comment on MizB's Teaser Tuesday post (HERE) and include your link so everyone can find your post.

Now on Bloglovin'

I've just signed up for the Bloglovin' group and a post is required to "claim my blog" there. So here it is!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/1236187... my blog with Bloglovin</a>

If you're already a follower of my blog, thank you! If not, why not click on the badge on the right and join in?

Thanks!

Waterfalls - Saturday Snapshots

I love waterfalls! In fact, if my husband and I are driving down the road and we see a sign pointing to a waterfall nearby, he doesn't even ask -- he just gives me a look, I nod, and he steers that direction. Here are photos of my two favorite waterfalls (so far) in the Pacific Northwest U.S. (Click on photos to enlarge.)


Multnomah Falls, in northwestern Oregon, about 30 miles
east of Portland. The falls is 620 ft / 189 meters tall. In January 2014 a falling boulder took out a
section of the bridge shown in the photo above. 
It has since been repaired.
Snoqualmie Falls, Washington - 268 ft (82 m) -
located about 30 miles east of Seattle  This photo was taken near the bottom of the falls.
I wish you could hear the roar!
Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, click HERE or on the box below. 




  

What Matters Most - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

What happens when a husband decides he wants to move from New Jersey to Florida to claim a house he inherited? In WHAT MATTERS MOST Bette Lee Crosby tackles the effects of this change on Clay and Louise Palmer and their long-time marriage. In their transition, Louise is desperately unhappy, but she slowly learns to deal with separation from her friends and works to overcome the effects of her unhappy, unstable childhood. She also discovers that many of the beliefs on which she has based her life are not set in stone!  

As someone who had a hard time moving from the place where I grew up, I could relate to the wife's dismay in this story. I enjoyed the author's exploration of both the wife's and the husband's thoughts and feelings. This is a heartwarming and delightful story, told with gentle humor and insight. More than once, I laughed out loud.

Genre: Women's Fiction
Length: 290 Pages
Amazon Link: WHAT MATTERS MOST
Other Books by Bette Lee Crosby: Amazon Author Page

BOOK BEGINNING (In husband Clay's point of view):
Uncle Charlie died a month ago today. He was nine years older than Pop, but he lived twenty years longer. Pop was a nose-to-the-grindstone man; Uncle Charlie wasn't. I suppose that's the difference.

FRIDAY 56 (From wife Louise's point of view at 56% on my Kindle):
At the blue farmhouse she made a right onto Route 411, but somewhere after that she went wrong. Last time the trip took about twenty minutes, but today Louise drove for nearly an hour and didn't see a single sign of Worthmore. Once she'd reached the point where nothing looked the least bit familiar, she began to worry she'd gotten lost.

                                                  *********
Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings and The Friday 56. 

   Click here to connect to other Book Beginnings posts     (sponsored by Rose City Reader)

   Find other Friday 56 bloggers here 
   (sponsored by Freda's Voice) 
                           

Ryelee's Cowboy - Teaser Tuesday

Ryelee's Cowboy has such interesting and believable characters! Widower Clint Mahoney lost his ranch to foreclosure and now he runs a horse ranch for someone else. His daughter is disabled. The girl's nanny (Ryelee) is the daughter of the town n'er do well and has lived a life of poverty and neglect. She's determined to do her best by the rancher and his daughter for as long as he'll let her stay. But she's sure that when Clint finds out she's pregnant, he'll make her leave. All of the characters seem like real human beings with real problems to overcome. 

Although this is the second book in the Dawson Ranch Series, it also stands alone.

Teaser from 11% on my Kindle. Clint (the hero) is speaking:
"Ryelee only has a handful of threadbare clothes, one pair of shoes with holes in them, and she doesn't even have a coat. She says she doesn't want to spend any of the money she's made because she'll need it when I throw her away."

Genre: Western Romance
Length: 192 Pages
Amazon Link: Ryelee's Cowboy
Other Books by Kathleen Ball: Amazon Author's Page

Synopsis:
      Clint Maloney needs help with his daughter but he never bargained on Ryelee Snyder. The tall, gangly, girl is a menace. Clint spends too much of his time rescuing her from her latest mishap. Upon finding out about her pregnancy, Clint's feelings begin to change. He no longer views her as a nuisance but as a passionate woman with a generous heart.
      Secrets, misunderstandings, and cattle rustling put an increasing strain on their relationship, until they finally turn from each other. Just as they seem to find their way back, Ryelee's part in the cattle rustling is unveiled. Ryelee fights unyieldingly to win the love of a lifetime.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasersLeave a comment on MizB's Teaser Tuesday post (HERE) and include your link so everyone can find your post.

Research and Writing

What happens when someone drowns? Do they turn blue? Do they float or sink? How do you go about having a missing person declared dead? Research is an important part of a writer's job, and even romance authors need answers to those kinds of questions! 

To find out more, check out my guest post on Smart Girls Read Romance.
(HERE)

Quilts - Saturday Snapshots

I enjoy several hobbies, but my favorite pastime in recent years has been quilting. So today I'm sharing a couple of my creations. I've given away most of the quilts I've made, but a few are still draped over the backs of chairs or folded at the foot of beds here at home.

The quilts shown here were mostly made from scraps - leftovers from other projects. I love the jewel tones in both quilts. By the way, if you also like reading, you might enjoy my recent post about The Friendship Star Quilt (HERE), a novel by Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels.

This pattern is called Log Cabin. The squares can be arranged in several 
different ways and different color combinations can be used, all of which change
the look of the finished quilt. The central square of each block is usually 
orange, yellow or red and represents the hearth in a log cabin.  

Here are four squares from the lower left-hand corner of the quilt above.
To create a square, you start at the central yellow piece and then
add strips one at a time all around, squaring off the edges as you go.
Since each square is made up of two color families, I drew the layout of
the squares before I started so I wouldn't get lost when assembling them.

This is called a string quilt. 

Each square consists of a bunch of odd-sized strips of fabric
sewn diagonally across a backing square (a "foundation") 
with a black diagonal strip across the middle. When joined together,
the resulting squares look like they're framed in black. Creativity can be messy (at least the way I do it!)
The white dots on each square are stick-on labels that
I use to keep track of which square goes where.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, click HERE or on the box below.