Keli Gwyn's Blog, page 9

LIH Spotlight: Bride by Arrangement

It’s June, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical will be hitting shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Bride by Arrangement by Karen Kirst,

the third book in the Cowboy Creek continuity series.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Mail-Order Matchmaking  

Newly minted Cowboy Creek sheriff Noah Burgess doesn’t want a wife—despite his friends insisting that he needs one. So when they send for a big-city single mother to be his mail-order bride, he’s fit to be tied. Even if vivacious Grace Longstreet might just be the only person who can see past Noah’s scars…and help him heal.

Grace needs a husband to keep her and her twin daughters out of her brother-in-law’s grasp. And she’ll do anything—including taking on her cousin’s identity—to find one. But as the attraction between Grace and the lawman sparks higher, she begins hoping for a real marriage. So she needs to tell the truth…or a mail-order match that’s meant to be could crumble.

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: Pony Express Hero

It’s June, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical will be hitting shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Pony Express Hero by Rhonda Gibson,

the second book in her Saddles and Spurs series.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Bound by a Child  

Pony Express rider Jacob Young is a man of action, which is why when he sees a little girl caught in the middle of a stampede, he races to her rescue. And he soon discovers the child is the half sister he hadn’t known he had. The more time Jacob spends with adorable Daisy and her beautiful guardian, ranch owner Lilly Johnson, the more he realizes they’re filling all the lonely corners of his heart.

Wary Lilly can’t deny the cherished feelings that overcome her when Jacob vows to protect her and Daisy from any harm. And she can’t help but hope that maybe they can put their past hurts aside and forge a future together as a full-fledged family.

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: His Prairie Sweetheart

It’s May, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical are on the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

His Prairie Sweetheart by Erica Vetsch.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

A Home for Her Heart  

After being jilted at the altar, Southern belle Savannah Cox seeks a fresh start out West and accepts a teaching position in Minnesota. But between her students’ lack of English, the rough surroundings and sheriff Elias Parker’s doubts and distrust, Savannah’s unprepared for both the job and the climate. However, she’s determined to prove she can handle anything her new town throws her way.

Elias gives it a week—or less—before the pretty schoolteacher packs her dainty dresses and hightails it back home. But no matter how many mishaps he has to rescue her from, Savannah doesn’t give up. Yet the real test is to come—a brutal blizzard that could finally drive her away, taking his heart with her…

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: The Reluctant Bridegroom

It’s May, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical are on the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

The Reluctant Bridegroom by Shannon Farrington.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Conveniently Wed  

Marriage for any reason but love was once unthinkable to Maryland councilman Henry Nash. But when an innocent encounter with a criminal puts Henry’s reputation in jeopardy, he’ll make any sacrifice to maintain custody of his orphaned nieces. And an alliance with a powerful politician’s daughter could secure the little girls’ futures. As long as gentle Rebekah Van der Geld never hears the rumors surrounding her new groom…

Refusing her father’s choice of husband wasn’t an option for dutiful Rebekah. But Henry’s kindness is a happy revelation, and she’s quickly falling for his adorable nieces—so she allows herself to hope this unconventional arrangement could become much more. But can it survive a shattering revelation that puts their new family in danger?

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: Special Delivery Baby

It’s May, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical are hitting the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Special Delivery Baby by Sherri Shackleford,

the second book in the Cowboy Creek Continuity series.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Instant Daddy  

An abandoned baby is the last thing town founder Will Canfield expects on his doorstep. He’s not the father—and the mother’s unknown. But the precious little girl needs a protector. And Will never backs down from a challenge, even if it means caring for a newborn…or dealing with spitfire cattle driver Tomasina Stone.

With her father gone, Tomasina’s trail life has ended. Yet becoming a polished city lady feels far out of her reach. All she wants is a place where she’ll be appreciated, respected…maybe loved. And the more time she spends helping Will care for the baby, the more she wonders if she’s found it. She’s never wanted to settle down…but Cowboy Creek—by Will’s side—might finally give her heart a lasting home.

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: The Cowboy’s City Girl

It’s May, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical will be hitting the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

The Cowboy’s City Girl by Linda Ford,

the third book in her Montana Cowboys series.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Bride on the Ranch  

Beatrice Doyle came to Montana to escape her father’s marriage plans for her—not to lasso herself a cowboy. Yet she can’t ignore the sparks that fly between her and Levi Harding while she’s at his family’s ranch, caring for his injured stepmother. But opening her heart would mean sacrificing her quest for independence…

After being rejected by the girl he hoped to marry, Levi vows never to love again. Nevertheless, he’s drawn to big-city girl Beatrice. In her, the half–Native American rancher sees himself: someone a little bruised, a lot lonely. And when the two join forces to care for an orphaned girl, he yearns to heal their fractured hearts—and form the family they all long for.

Montana Cowboys: These brothers live and love by the code of the West

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: Mail Order Mix-up

It’s April, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical are on the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Mail Order Mix-up by Christine Johnson,

the first book in the Boom Town Brides series.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Groom Not Wanted  

When Pearl Lawson sees an ad for a mail-order bride, she leaps at the opportunity to find a husband for her best friend. But the town’s most dashing bachelor has caught the eye of several aspiring brides-to-be…and even Pearl is drawn to him. Though the schoolteacher has no intentions of marrying, her instant connection with Roland Decker cannot be denied.

Roland doesn’t know how an ad seeking a wife for his brother found its way into print. But now he has to handle the hopeful applicants—women who think he’s the future groom. Not to mention the feisty, matchmaking schoolteacher who is just as determined not to marry as he is. Will this mix-up push Roland and Pearl to forget their plans of staying single and allow love into their lives?

Boom Town Brides: Taking a leap of faith for love

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

Meet the Reviewers: Julie Graves

I’m honored to feature Julie Gilmore Graves. She posts reviews at her fun site, My Favorite Pastime.

Julie was born and raised in my home state of California, but she’s lived in Oklahoma the last eighteen years. She spends her days with her sweetheart of thirty years, who retired three years ago. Before she retired herself, Julie worked as a library assistant, first in an elementary school and later in a middle school. Although they’re Empty Nesters now, Julie and her husband raised two beautiful daughters. Their oldest daughter is married to a youth pastor, and they have three children. Those grandchildren make Julie’s “eyes sparkle.” Their youngest daughter works as a manager at a Barnes and Noble store. It’s clear a love of books runs in the family.

I asked Julie three questions about her reading and review process. After that, you’re in for a treat, because you get to learn three fun things about the woman behind the reviews. And don’t miss Julie’s giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Reading and Reviewing

You’ve reviewed hundreds of novels.

What makes a story stand out and become one of your favorites?

So many things contribute to making a story stand out and become a favorite of mine. If a story grabs my attention from the very beginning, it has a good chance of becoming a favorite. If I connect with the characters in some way, that helps. If there is a strong spiritual aspect (in the Christian books I read) that is believable and offers redemption of a favorite character, that story becomes a favorite. If I remain engaged throughout the entire story and don’t want to put the book down until the end, that book becomes a favorite. If I think about the story for a while after I finish and I miss the characters, it becomes a favorite.

I have to say that I also like a polished story. If there are a lot of editing issues, even though I may like the story, it probably won’t become a favorite for me because those types of issues take me out of the story and disrupt the flow. Does each story I read have to have ALL of those elements to become a favorite? No, each story is unique in some way and has the potential of becoming a favorite.

If there’s an aspect of a story you don’t care for, you address it, but you do so with kindness and respect. How do you balance a reader’s desire for an honest review with your heart for the author of the work?

Such a good question! I’ve struggled with this off and on throughout my blogging experience. I have written some scathing reviews (when I first started blogging) that, when I look back, I think how awful that was of me to say. The more mature (older) I have become, the more I have learned that there are ways of saying things that aren’t hurtful but do get the point across and offer an honest opinion. I don’t feel the need any longer to tear an author’s work apart.

I’ve kind of adopted the policy that if I don’t like a book then it is okay to set it aside. I don’t need to rip it apart in a scathing review. Honestly, I’ve seen too much of that, and over the years I’ve decided that I’d rather not review a book than go for the jugular of an author who has put their blood, sweat and tears into a book. Not every book is for me, not every book is going to be my cup of tea, so when one isn’t, I set it aside. Again, there are ways of saying things without attacking, and I think that comes with age, experience and, dare I say, wisdom?

When and where do you do most of your reading?

A fun question! I have a book with me pretty much wherever I go. I have a Kindle and I have the Kindle App on my phone. So I can read anywhere! My most favorite place to read is in bed. That is why I love my Kindle so much! Before I had a Kindle I couldn’t read in bed because my husband would go to bed early and no light could be on. NOW I can read as long as I want, and the light from my Kindle doesn’t disturb his sleep. So I do most of my reading at night from about 8-11:30 or so.

I try to read some during the day, but I get distracted with other things and can’t concentrate as well as I can when everything is quiet. With the Kindle App on my phone, I can read when I go to appointments, when we are sitting and waiting to pick up our grandchildren at school or basically any time I have time on my hands but am not at home.

Three Fun Facts About Julie

I’ve always thought working in a library would be a lot of fun. What did you enjoy most about the library assistant positions you’ve held? What did you find the most surprising?

I loved interacting with the students. I loved connecting with them over a good book. I loved recommending something that I knew they would love and then hearing back from them that they actually did love it.

I worked in both an elementary library and a middle school library. The thing I loved about the elementary library was the little ones coming in and hauling out these HUGE books that were almost too big for them to carry. Most weren’t interested in a novel, most were interested in the non-fiction picture find books or information books.

When I was at the middle school, I loved that it was like talking to adults. I could tease them, I could be sarcastic with them, and they would “get” me. The thing I found the most surprising was the fact that not everyone wanted to read. I started reading books on my own when I was ten and loved it, but there were students who hated reading. I just couldn’t understand that. I still don’t understand that. I recently had an adult tell me that he has read maybe two books in his entire lifetime. Wow! Just wow! People like him are missing so much!

I noticed on Facebook that you like to bake and recently whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. My husband and I met over a plate of his chocolate chip cookies–without nuts, so this particular cookie holds a special place in my heart. Do you bake yours with or without nuts? What other sweet treats do you like to make?

Well, I do like nuts in my cookies, but I usually don’t put nuts in them because I save the pecans I keep in the freezer for other desserts. Nuts are really pricey! So, no nuts in the chocolate chip cookies. When I bake for Christmas, I use nuts in different types of cookies. Usually pecans because I’ve found they are milder on my stomach than walnuts.

Our oldest daughter and her family come over for dinner on Thursday nights, and I’ve been trying out different desserts. Last week I made mini lemon pie desserts. I used lemon curd and then lemon pudding mixed with cool whip as filling. They turned out yummy. I had some leftover shells, so I whipped up some chocolate ganache and put that into the cups. YUM!

I’m always finding recipes on Facebook for different desserts and different meals to try. At one time, I maintained a blog of things that I had cooked, but I don’t do that anymore. I do make a menu for the entire month and incorporate desserts throughout.

At Christmas time I wear myself out baking. Each year I say “this is the last time,” but then the year rolls around, and I start all over again, because my family and friends start asking me to make different things for them. My favorite desserts have chocolate in them. I know you gave up chocolate years ago, Keli, I wish I had your willpower!

I discovered that you are a huge fan of a certain spy who is known by his name as well as his number. Yes, that would be “Bond, James Bond,” aka 007. Just how gone on him are you, and when did this fascination with the famous fellow begin?

This made me laugh! I do have a rather addictive nature, so series of books and series of movies are two of my addictions. Yes, I’m a huge fan of the Bond movies. In fact, I have every one of them except for the newest one, which I think is Spectre. This collection was started this last Christmas when our son-in-law bought my husband three of the older Bond movies starring Sean Connery. Then it just snow-balled from there because, of course, I had to get more, and then it became an obsession to collect all of them.

Actually there have been six men who have portrayed James Bond over the years, I think. Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig. As far as being “gone” on any of them, I would have to say that Pierce Brosnan was my favorite Bond. But that is only because I’ve had a crush on him since I was a kid and he played Remington Steele! Ha! Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig are my least favorite Bonds. I’ve always loved spy-type movies and books and had seen a few of the Bond movies while growing up, but now I have seen all but the last three with Daniel Craig.

Julie’s Question for You

Is there a movie series or book series that you have become fascinated with that made you just HAVE to collect the entire series?

• • •

Connect with Julie on Facebook and Twitter.

Visit her at her blog, My Favorite Pastime.

• • •

Julie’s Giveaway

I’m honored that Julie has chosen to give away

a print copy of my latest release, A Home of Her Own.

Use the Rafflecopter entry form below.

Giveaway ends Sunday, April 25 at 12 a.m. PDT.

Winner to be announced here on April 27.

Must be 18 to enter. International OK. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

LIH Spotlight: Shotgun Marriage

It’s April, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical are on the shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Shotgun Marriage by Danica Favorite.

Learn more about the story below, and then

scroll down to enter a giveaway for one print copy.

Conveniently Wed  

Forced to wed to protect their reputations after being trapped overnight in a mine, Emma Jane and Jasper Jackson’s marriage is one in name only. Resenting the choices taken from him, Jasper’s determined not to lose his heart. But it’s not so easy to stay distanced from his new bride when a gang of bandits abducts them both.

Other young women might be ecstatic to land Leadville’s wealthiest bachelor. But Emma Jane would rather have Jasper’s love than his family’s money. A true bond with her handsome husband seems impossible…until their ordeal leaves Emma Jane caring for an orphaned baby. In reach now is the one thing neither expected—the chance to turn a convenient marriage into a forever family.

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.

LIH Spotlight: Want Ad Wedding

It’s April, and that means four new stories from

Love Inspired Historical will be hitting shelves.

This week I’m shining the spotlight on

Want Ad Wedding by Cheryl St.John,

the first book in the Cowboy Creek Continuity series.

 

Second Chance Bride  

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn’t get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs?

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

or its affiliated companies, used under license.