Tara Ellis's Blog: Making Progress, page 5

Book Tour - Historical Western + a Giveaway!

Have you ever wondered what it was like for orphans born in the Wild West? Faith Blum has a new book that explores the life of three orphans born during that time. She’s with us today to tell us a little about her book. Make sure you read to the end to see the super fun giveaway she has going on, too!
About the BookThe ground shook and a rumble sounded through the air as the train squealed to a stop. Maybe, just maybe, I could carry someone’s bags without the porter taking notice. And then there was the even bigger maybe: Maybe I could get enough money to at least buy a crust of bread for Trevor and Tabitha to share.I hid behind the boxes in the freight yard and kept one eye on the porter, and the other on the second class passenger car. The porter had his attention on the first class car, so I slipped into the gathering crowd.
Titus Hine has always taken care of others. First in protecting his brother and sister from the men his mother entertained. Even more so after her death, when the townspeople refused to help the orphans of a town prostitute. He’s been protector and provider, despite the hardships. He’s learned that no one will help, no one cares and if he wants to survive he’ll have to rely on his own strength not just for himself but his family as well.
Then a stranger shows him the kindness and help no one else seems willing to. Between her kindness and the lecture she gives the Christian Leaders, Titus’s life takes an unexpected turn for the better. With help and provision from the local believers things should be easier, his burdens are lifted. So why does it feel like life is spinning out of control?
Can Titus learn that while man may fail him there is One who will never fail? Can he learn to allow God to be the Shepherd of his life and lead him? Or will life continue to push him every which way?
Buy now on your favorite eBook platform: www.books2read.com/saviorlikeashepherd About the Author Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and play games with her family.  She lives in Wisconsin with her family on a small family farm where they raise goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and have 2 dogs and a varying number of cats.
Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ. If you want to know when her latest book comes out, go to her website to sign up for her New Releases Newsletterso you can get an email when her next book in the series comes out. You will also find links to her other Social Media sites on her website. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her.Giveaway
I am giving away EIGHT prizes! I have two paperbacks and two eBooks of Savior, Like a Shepherd up for grabs as well as one paperback and three eBooks of my Hymns of the West Novellas: Volume Two. The novella collection contains the novella that inspired my latest series as well as my new novel. Fill out the rafflecopter for the chance to win one of the prizes:a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

All too soon, I got to the station and knocked on the door with three quick raps, then paused and did four slow taps.Trevor opened the door, a frown on his face. “What took you so long?”I went in and sat in the middle of the darkening room. “Pastor Barnes stopped me. He’s offered us a place to stay. He claims it’s forever. I told him we’d give them a week and see what happens. After that, if we decide to stay, we’ll stay; but if they ever try to do something real bad, we’ll leave.”“Why would we leave?” Tabitha asked.Trevor put a hand on her arm. “I know a lot of people seem nice, but not everyone is. We have to look out for ourselves. Like with those people who throw things at us.”I sighed. Everything Trevor had said was true, but oh how I wished it could be different for Trevor and Tabitha. That they wouldn’t have to do what I did, see what I’d seen, hear what I’d heard. I swallowed hard and pushed the sudden memories forcefully back into the deepest, darkest corners of my mind.With a slightly shaky hand, I started folding the blankets.“Should we write Mr. Hodges a note telling him why we aren’t here anymore?” Trevor asked.I glanced at the desk. The pen and ink bottle sat there, an imposing force taunting me. “No,” I said more harshly than I intended. I softened my voice. “No, I’ll stop by in the morning and tell him.”I picked up the blankets and headed for the door. “Let’s go.”Trevor opened and held the door for Tabitha and me and then made sure it latched securely. A pang of regret and longing hit me suddenly. Despite the office feel to the place, it had been our home for almost a month. Would we ever have a place that would always feel like home? If the Barneses kept their promises, Trevor and Tabitha might. Me? I doubted I would ever find a permanent home.

Tour Schedule Bonus Post from February 10 Petticoats and Pistols – The History of Paint (Note: the giveaway on that post is closed)
February 16 Bookish Orchestrations-Tour IntroductionPeggy's Hope 4U- Character Spotlight of Titus
February 17 Leah's Bookshelf- Book SpotlightRebekah Lyn Books- Character Spotlight of Tabitha
February 18 Zerina Blossom's Books- Guest Post – About the Town
February 20 Sarah Allerding- Author Interview
February 21 Tara Ellis Author- Book SpotlightMelanie D. Snitker, Author – Character Spotlight of Trevor
February 22 Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections- Character Interview
February 23 Reveries Reviews- Character Spotlight of Titus HineKelsey's Notebook- Guest Post – My Kind of Romance
February 24 With a Joyful Noise- Book Review
February 25 Writing Dreams- Guest Post – Why Orphans?Zerina Blossom's Books – Book Review
February 27 God's Peculiar Treasure Rae- Character Spotlight of Trevor Hine
February 28 Homeschooled Authors- Author InterviewRachel Rossano's Words- Guest Post – What’s the Inspiration and song connection?

#FREE Children's #Mystery!

The Secret of Camp Whispering PinesGET IT FOR FREE!


Read this fun mystery as a stand-alone, or start with book #1 The Mystery Of Hollow Inn for only .99!(all of my books are free with Kindle Unlimited!)

What could be better than hiking, swimming, and horseback riding? Having a mystery to solve, of course! 

When Sam and Ally go off to summer camp together, they discover the secrets of Camp Whispering Pines. Set in the beautiful, rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the clues are slowly revealed and it's up to the two girls to figure it out. 
New friendships are formed, while at the same time enemies lurk nearby. The closer they get to uncovering the truth behind the camp, the further they are pushed into danger and deceit. Can Sam and Alley put all of the pieces together before it's too late? Follow them on another thrilling tale filled with excitement and adventure, along misty, high mountain trails, and deep ravines, where the answers wait to be found!

This fun middle grade series is being called a modern-day Nancy Drew. It will take you back to your Trixie Beldon days, but are in current social settings with real issues relevant to today's teens and pre-teens. They're clean, wholesome stories that you and your kids will devour! 


Check out the whole series



Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 

Follow her on:
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FACEBOOK
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TWITTER
And join her NEWSLETTER

Special .99 Price and a Fun Video Review

The Mystery of Hollow Inn is Only .99!




With seven titles out in the series now, I've decided to lower the price on the first book in the series, The Mystery of Hollow Inn, to only .99!


Pick up your copy now by clicking here!


(59 reviews on Amazon with a 4.4 rating!)

Have you already read The Mystery of Hollow Inn? Be sure to collect them all!


The Samantha Wolf Mysteries Series Page
You HAVE to watch this amazing review, done by a young man at VeryShortBookReviews.
I LOVE this!!! 

A #FREE book and #NewRelease!

I have several items to share with you! First, the FREE book. Because I know how everyone loves a free story. :) I have posted about this before. It's a short story (10,000 words) lead-in to the first full length novel in my new adult thriller series, The Chris Echo Files. It's called A Distant Echo, and is available wide, in all markets!

Click on this LINK to download


The first full length novel, Echo of Fear, is now available for pre-order!!!
Find it HERE


Chris Echo, a CSI profiler, is forced to go on vacation after struggling to rebound from an officer-involved shooting. Playing vacationer isn’t her thing but the small, private island in the south pacific might be just what she needs.

Kyle Stone has been undercover for too long. With his goal in sight, he’s caught in a storm during his final mission and washed ashore the remote island. When the unsuspecting guests are taken hostage, he can either break cover to save them, or rely on his emotionless state to see him through.

Each of the visitors to the island arrives harboring their own, private fears. Fear of trusting, of letting go, of needing, and of love. They’re about to confront the ultimate fear of all, a struggle for life and death. But in the midst of the turmoil, Chris comes to realize that perhaps death isn’t her greatest challenge … it’s allowing herself to live.




You're invited to come along on this new 'thrilling' journey with me!!! As always, I LOVE reader feedback. Take a look at the free, short story, and let me know if you want more. I'll be announcing some contests soon, involving Echo of Fear!


My last announcement is going back to my middle grade mystery series! As you know, I recently released book 7. I plan on having book 8 out in a couple of months (have to finish Echo of Fear first! ;) ), but meanwhile, since there are now seven books, I put together a second box set that includes books 4,5,6. The first box set has been dropped to 5.99 for the first three books because I decided to reduce the price on book 1, The Mystery of Hollow Inn permanently to .99!

Here are the links:
BOX SET ONE


BOX SET TWO


HAPPY READING!!

Looking For a Great Fantasy Series? Check Out This New Release!!

NEW RELEASE!
Legacy of LuckCLICK HERE TO PURCHASEIt's here! Book #3 in the Druid's Brooch Series! A mix of adventure, romance, and a wee bit of fairy magic!(Although part of a series, it CAN be read on it's own!)




Éamonn is a Traveler at a horse fair in Ballyshannon, Ireland. He loves gambling, women and drinking, not necessarily in that order. But he’s entangled in a true mess when he falls for a fiery redhead after dallying with her sister. When she is married off to a Scottish Traveler without her consent, he must travel to Scotland to find her, with the help of her sister, his cousin, and a magical brooch his father gifts to him. Their quest takes them along the coast of Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland, all the way to the Isle of Skye. Along the way, they encounter war, betrayal, death, and in the end, he must make his own luck, and learn how to use his powers without danger.




Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, has her hands in many crafts, including writing, digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she's a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were. She loves to draw and to create things. She says it's more of an obsession than a hobby. She likes looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or seeing a fragrant blossom or a dramatic seaside. She takes a picture or creates a piece of jewelry as her way of sharing this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others. Sometimes this sharing requires explanation - and thus she writes. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.     
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor Homepage: www.greendragonartist.com Blog: www.greendragonartist.net

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGEFACEBOOK PAGEGOODREADS PAGE@christynicholasauthor

Up For a Fun Paranormal Fantasy?

Guarding CharonPURCHASE LINK



One should always read the fine print...especially with an inheritance from a relative you didn't know existed.
In a rut doesn't even begin to describe Grace's life at 22. Her ex is using his position as a cop to stalk her, getting her fired from every job she finds. Her parents, not knowing how abusive he could be, believe all her problems would vanish if she'd simply marry him.After losing yet another job, a lawyer arrives. A relative has died and left her entire estate in Maine to Grace. Eager to shake the dust of Bruce and small town Texas off of her for good, she leaps at the chance. She even changes her name.Then she learns that her great aunt was a Witch...and the house has some big secrets. Secrets that she has to protect for six months if she hopes to inherit the entire estate and truly be free of her past.

Born in the late 60's, KateMarie has lived most of her life in the Pacific NW. While she's always been creative, she didn't turn towards writing until 2008. She found a love for the craft. With the encouragement of her husband and two daughters, she started submitting her work to publishers. When she's not taking care of her family, KateMarie enjoys attending events for the Society for Creative Anachronism. The SCA has allowed her to combine both a creative nature and love of history. She currently resides with her family and two cats in what she likes to refer to as "Seattle Suburbia".

You can find KateMarie at the following sites:
Twitter:  @DaughterHaukFaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/KateMarie-Collins/217255151699492Her blog:  http://www.katemariecollins.wordpress.com


Bibliography for KateMarie Collins:
Daughter of Hauk – Book 1 of The Raven Chronicles(released March, 2012)Son of Corse – Book 2 of The Raven Chronicles (released August 2013)Wielder of Tiren – Book 3 of The Raven Chronicles (released March 2016)Mark of the Successor (released May 2013)Consort of the Successor (released December 2016)Kick the Can (released July 2013)A Stab at the Dark (released December 2013)Looking at the Light (released December 2013)Challenges Met (released February 2014)Fin’s Magic – A Book of the Amari (released March 2014)Alaric’s Bow – A Book of the Amari (released December 2015)Emile’s Blade – A Book of the Amari (released August 2016)Amari – Three Tales of Love and Triumph (released October 2016)Permafrost (released August 2014)The Rose Box (released October 2014)Arine’s Sanctuary (released August 2015)Guarding Charon (released June 2016) Siaira (released September 2016)

Some Sweet Romance

Introducing... 
Long Lost NeighborsBy: Frances Hoelsema   
Gregory Bronson learns he’ll soon be moving away from his neighbor and best friend, Alison Levin. When he tells her the shocking news, she feels her world is being turned upside down. What would she do without Greg? What would Greg do without her?Fast forward fifteen years. Ali is engaged to Sean Whitman who can provide her with anything she could ever want. While vacationing, however, she runs into Greg. Suddenly she’s not so sure Sean is the one.Greg finds himself just getting out of a bad relationship when he and Ali reunite. He can’t help but be attracted to her and wonder if the two of them could ever stand a chance.As the two of them rebuild their friendship, the foundation for something more is set until one day they finally give in to their desires. But after they are interrupted with an emergency, Ali realizes she must make a choice. Will she choose her fiancé, Sean, and go through with a wedding that is already planned and paid for? Or will she give it all up for her friend, Greg, who could give her the one thing Sean doesn’t: all of himself?

  Long Lost Neighbors is a clean, contemporary romance that focuses on what it might look like for two best friends to be separated while still young and to reunite later in life. This novel is full of tough life situations, internal struggles and sweet/steamy attraction. The best part is that you can feel good reading it AND sharing it because there's nothing that will make you cringe!

You can find Long Lost Neighbors on Amazon in PAPERBACK for just $8.99 and EBOOK for just $2.99! And as with all of Frances Hoelsema's novels, Long Lost Neighbors is FREE on Kindle Unlimited!   This is the third novel in Frances Hoelsema's Neighbors Series  where each novel shows some kind of love connection between neighbors. Though it's the third and last installment, Long Lost Neighbors can be read as a complete standalone novel. For information on her first two novels,


please click on the picture you're interested in.  
[image error]  About Frances


  Frances Hoelsema is a wife and mother residing in Michigan where she gets to enjoy all four seasons, autumn being her favorite. After earning a degree in business and transcription, she now gets the best of both worlds by working from home as a real-time writing manager for an international
transcription firm. In her spare time, Frances thoroughly enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, shopping and loving on her cats. She is also an avid reader and writer who loves to engage with others through social media. Some concepts that Frances stands for are positive parenting, homeschooling, clean eating and pursuing a relationship with Christ instead of pursuing religion. She also believes in never giving up; that everyone should keep pursuing their dreams. Frances loves to imagine a good story and write it to life so she’s always busy working on her next novel. To connect with her, please choose any of the following links:

 
WEBSITE          FACEBOOK          TWITTER          EMAIL

#99cent Sale! The Mystery of Hollow Inn

The Mystery of Hollow Inn
The book that started it all!
PURCHASE HERE


The Mystery of Hollow Inn has been a #1 Amazon best seller in kids mysteries THREE times! Find out how this fun, heart-warming series all started for only .99!

Twelve-year-old Samantha Wolf, and her best friend Ally, are excited to spend part of their summer break in the mountains of Montana. But unbeknownst to them, Hollow Inn is bathed in mystery and legend. After arriving, they soon discover that things are not going well for Sam's Aunt and Uncle, who own the Inn. There's vandalism, ghostly sightings, and rumors of lost treasures. Determined to help, Sam and Ally embark on a challenging journey to discover the truth.

JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!!





Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 
Her on-going middle grade mystery series, The Samantha Wolf Mysteries, has hit the best seller status on Amazon in the children's detective story genre several times, and continues to grow in popularity. The engaging, fun stories herald back to the days of Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon, and several readers have commented that the series is of the same caliber. These are clean reads that are suitable for the whole family to read together, and are also part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

Read all SEVEN books!



AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
FACEBOOK PAGE
GOODREADS PAGE
@taraellisauthor

#NewRelease: The Next Samantha Wolf #Mystery is Available!

NEW RELEASE!The Case of the Curious Canine
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

It's here! Book #7 in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries, and it's a doggone good mystery!(Although part of a series, it CAN be read on it's own!)


The next best thing to owning your own dog is having a job where you get to take care of them. That’s what Sam figures when she, Ally, and Cassy all volunteer at a local animal shelter. But they don’t expect the trouble that comes along with the work.

When dogs start showing up at the shelter with odd symptoms, the director doesn’t seem concerned. However, strange coincidences start to happen and Sam doesn’t believe that they’re random.

Confronted with the hard decision of following either her heart or her nose for a good mystery, Sam faces an emotional dilemma. Sometimes, the right path is the most difficult and this is one challenge that’s going to take all of her friends to help solve.

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
FACEBOOK PAGE
GOODREADS PAGE
@taraellisauthor

Grab a Great Audiobook!

This is a three-hour read from author Krista Wagner.Check it out!THE GOLD


AMAZON LINK
Ten-year-old Amanda is constantly teased and tormented in school. Her home life is less than satisfactory where her widower father, who is often away on business trips, leaves her in the care of her indifferent teenaged sister. Worse, not a day goes by when Amanda doesn't miss her mom. To escape reality, Amanda creates fantasy stories, but when she discovers a talking golden pebble, her imagined world turns into a new-fangled reality.




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