Brenda S. Anderson's Blog, page 38

2014 – A Novel Christmas List, Part One

Need a few last minute gifts? Well, I can’t think of anything better than a book, so today and Thursday, I’m tossing out a few ideas, a little of something for everyone on your Christmas list. The books on today’s list are all written by friends and, as you can see, I have diverse friends.

Stop back this Thursday for more Christmas gift ideas!

STRANDED

by Don & Stephanie Prichard

First they had to survive the island … then each other … then their rescuer.

All Marine Corps reservist Jake Chalmers wants is to give his dying wife a last, romantic cruise to the Philippines. Unable to save her in a mass murder aboard ship, he washes ashore a jungle island, where he discovers three other survivors. Heartbroken that he failed to save his wife, he is determined not to fail these helpless castaways.

Federal prosecutor Eve Eriksson rescues a young girl and her elderly great-aunt from the same ship. They badly need Jake’s survival skills, but why is he so maddeningly careful? She needs to hurry home to nail a significant career trial. And, please, before Jake learns her secret that she’s responsible for his wife’s death.

FAILSTATE: NEMESIS

by John W. Otte

Abaddon will destroy you all!

Robin Laughlin (a.k.a. the superhero Failstate) has finally achieved his dream. Not only is he a licensed vigilante, but he’s respected by his fellow heroes, feared by criminals, and he’s finally achieved peace in his family, especially with his brother, Ben (a.k.a. the superhero Gauntlet). That, plus the love of his girlfriend, Charlene, has made life good.

But then Failstate learns a secret about his father. Rather than the loving family man he remembers, Failstate’s father was a criminal who got himself killed when he crossed the wrong people. Before he can process this new information, he receives a warning that a villain named Abaddon is coming to New Chayton. The message is all the more disturbing since it’s delivered by Lux. She died in Failstate’s arms a year earlier. How can she possibly be alive?

Those mysteries will have to wait, though, as Abaddon storms New Chayton, strewing death and destruction in his wake. But he’s not the only newcomer. Unusual heroes are appearing throughout the city.

Can Failstate get to the bottom of the reappearance of Lux, the influx of new heroes, and the truth behind his father’s past–all while keeping Abaddon at bay? Abaddon may prove to be Failstate’s greatest nemesis. But what will Failstate have to sacrifice along the way?

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK

by Julie Klassen

Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister.

Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll’s house left mid-play…

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor’s past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

This catches Abigail’s attention. Hoping to restore her family’s finances–and her dowry–Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn’t the only one secretly searching the house.

Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room and startling discoveries about the past.

As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks…or very real danger?

Favorite Christmas Music

Music will get me into the Christmas spirit more than most anything. More than decorating or shopping or baking. I could forgo all of that, as long as I had Christmas music to listen to.

Now narrowing down my favorites so they fit on a single blog post isn’t easy. I love all types of Christmas music from classical to rock, so rather than try to fit them all into a post, I’ll be spotlighting a song a day on my Facebook author page. I’d love it if you’d stop by and share your favorite Christmas music as well.

I actually started yesterday by posting Selah‘s Noel off their Rose of Bethlehem album. That album is the rarity in that I LOVE every song. I love Selah’s tight harmonies and their powerful vocals. Just gives me goosebumps!

My song for today is probably the first song I have to hear every Christmas season: White Heart’s Little Drummer Boy (found on White Heart‘s Souvenirs Album and the Christmas compilation album). I remember watching / hearing them perform this at Sonshine Music Festival years ago, in the middle of July. Talk about goosebumps!

Do you have any favorite Christmas music? Perhaps a favorite album or arrangement?

Pieces of Granite SALE!

Tis the season for sales, so I might as well join in the fun! Today (December 9, 2015) through Saturday (December 13, 2015), I’m having a #DollarDecember sale. Yep, the ebook for Pieces of Granite will be just $1.00! (Paperback available at regular price.)

I’d be grateful if you took the pic shown to the right and shared it.

Thank you!

Purchase PIECES OF GRANITE

eBook

Kindle | Nook
Paperback

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Merry Christmas eNewsletter

My Christmas eNewsletter went out today! >Christmas eNewsletter< If you haven’t subscribed yet, I’d love it if you’d sign up below. I promise not to inundate your email box, that I’ll only send newsletters when I have big news, so probably four to eight times per year.

Thank You!

Brenda

 

Email address:

PIECES OF GRANITE – Now Available in Paperback!

Yeah! Pieces of Granite is finally available in paperback! Just in time for Christmas! Only $13.29 on Amazon!

Paperback | Kindle | Nook

Other News:

I’m visiting Miranda Uyeh’s To Be A Person blog today. She asks some unique and fun questions. Would love for you to stop by!

http://mautobeaperson.com/2014/12/05/author-scoop-chatting-moments-with-brenda-s-anderson/

Plus, today’s my blogging day at Inkspirational Messages. We’ve been talking about hobbies for the past two weeks, and today I share a former hobby that I’ve ignored too long.

http://inkspirationalmessages.com/party-wrap-up/

And finally, just to pique your interest, I’m planning an ebook sale for Pieces of Granite for the remainder of December. More details coming soon…

Paperback Coming Soon!

Sorry it’s taken so long to bring you the paperback version of Pieces of Granite, but I’d rather be a bit late with its release than to put out something that’s sub par.

I received the proofs right before Thanksgiving. They look beautiful! Problem was, once I started paging through a copy, I noticed a typo, then a formatting problem, and another formatting issue. Sigh. If those were all I found, it still wouldn’t have been acceptable to sell. So, over the past week, I’ve sat with the book, a pen, post-it tabs, and a notebook and read the entire book out loud. By the end, I’d discovered over 50 changes.

So now the re-edited version has been downloaded and I begin the process of waiting. Again. I happen to excel at waiting–not that I want to. Once approved, then I can hit that publish button, and I’ll shout it out! Hopefully later today …

On another note, Chain of Mercy received a very beautiful review yesterday from Miranda Uyeh on her To Be A Person blog, and I have to share it with you!

http://mautobeaperson.com/2014/12/03/book-review-chain-of-mercy-by-brenda-s-anderson/

Novel Anticipation, December 2014

Yes, another eclectic reading list! I do enjoy variety. How about you?

CHECKMATE

(The Bowers Files)

by Steven James

Penguin Group

When a clandestine FBI facility is attacked, Special Agent Patrick Bowers is drawn into the vicious, ruthless story that a killer from his past is bent on telling the world.

Clues lead to long-forgotten secrets buried deep beneath Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Now Bowers is caught up in trying to stop one of the deadliest attacks ever planned on American soil.

Smart, tense, and full of mind-bending twists and turns, Checkmate explodes onto the scene, bringing this cycle of the Bowers Files to an unforgettable conclusion.

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK

by Julie Klassen

Bethany House

Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister.

Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll’s house left mid-play…

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor’s past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

This catches Abigail’s attention. Hoping to restore her family’s finances–and her dowry–Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn’t the only one secretly searching the house.

Then Abigail begins receiving anonymous letters, containing clues about the hidden room and startling discoveries about the past.

As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks…or very real danger?

THE WISHING SEASON

(A Chapel Springs Romance, Book 3)

by Denise Hunter

Thomas Nelson

Living side-by-side, a fledgling chef and a big-hearted contractor find a delicious attraction.

Trouble is, their chemistry could spoil their dreams.

Spirited PJ McKinley has the touch when it comes to food. Her dream of opening her own restaurant is just one building short of reality. So when a Chapel Springs resident offers her beloved ancestral home to the applicant with the best plan for the house, PJ believes it’s a contest she was meant to win.

Contractor Cole Evans is confident, professional, and swoon-worthy—but this former foster kid knows his life could have turned out very differently. When Cole discovers the contest, he believes his home for foster kids in transition has found its saving grace. All he has to do is convince the owner that an out-of-towner with a not-for-profit enterprise is good for the community.

But when the eccentric philanthropist sees PJ and Cole’s proposals, she makes an unexpected decision: the pair will share the house for a year to show what their ideas are made of. Now, with Cole and the foster kids upstairs and PJ and the restaurant below, day-to-day life has turned into out-and-out competition—with some seriously flirtatious hallway encounters on the side. Turns out in this competition, it’s not just the house on the line, it’s their hearts.

Cyber Monday Book Sales!

For those of you who love giving books for Christmas (and who doesn’t?!), I found a few Cyber Monday deals for you:

Amazon: Take an extra 30% off of any print Book (not applicable to ebooks or audio books). To receive discount, use HOLIDAY30 at checkout under the “Gift cards & promotional codes” section. Other restrictions apply. See Amazon for specifics.

Barnes & Noble: Take an extra 25% off your choice of any item, online only. Enter code CMONDAY14 at checkout. (not applicable to Nook devices or Nook books. Other restrictions apply. See B&N for specifics.

Books A Million: They have a couple of coupon codes:

$5 off $25 or more: Use code GFTG3D5 at checkout. Restrictions apply. See BAM for specifics.
20% off $50+ purchase. Use code CY8MDY at checkout. Restrictions apply. See for specifics.

Of course, I would dearly love it if you’d use the coupon codes to purchase CHAIN OF MERCY. To make it simple, here are the links:

Amazon | B&N | BAM

Unfortunately, PIECES OF GRANITE is not yet available in paperback. I’m going through the final proof right now (and it looks beautiful!). It’ll likely be available later this week–I’ll keep you posted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Hope you have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

We Have A Winner!

The winner of the Pieces of Granite – Precious Moments figurine package is …

Dee S!

Congratulations, Dee! Your package will be shipped very soon!