Friday Fun Book Release Style

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California has arrived!

The major online booksellers are now filling orders.

Because so many wonderful people have helped me reach this milestone, I’m eager to have you all share in the celebration. One way I’m doing that is to hold my Five Weeks of Fun drawings.

Every Friday, from today until the end of July, I’ll start a new drawing for one Bushel of Fun filled with a copy of my book and five items from the story, a prize package worth $40. Each drawing will run through the following Thursday, and the winner will be announced in the Friday post the next day.

 

The story-related items, as seen above, are: an autographed copy of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, a French-milled lavender soap bar, a bag of lemon drops, a bag of peppermint sticks, a bag of rose potpourri, and a package of violet seeds. The winner gets the bushel, too.

All of the items in the basket were available in the year 1870, when the story takes place. Each Friday, I’ll share a passage or two showing why one of the items the bushel plays a part in the story.

Lemon Drops

Last week we learned that Elenora’s daughter likes peppermint sticks. In the same conversation where Tildy tells Miles what her favorite candy is, he tells her what his is.

After Miles meets his prospective partner, he leads Tildy and Elenora to his mercantile. Here’s a snippet of conversation between Miles and Tildy.

     “Look, Mama. He has toys.” Tildy darted over two rows and dropped to her knees in front of a case housing an iron bank, two wooden tops, and a bowl of marbles.

     Mr. Rutledge sauntered up to Tildy and tapped her on the shoulder. “I think you forgot something.”

     She followed his hand to where he gestured. “Oh! The candy. And look. You have my favorite. Peppermint sticks. Do you like them, too?”

     “I’m partial to lemon drops myself. Always have a few in my pocket.”

Later in the story, Miles returns after helping the men in town battle a house fire. Elenora meets him near the church. And a lemon drop comes into play.

     When they reached the church, she tugged him toward it. He opened the door Mr. Parks insisted never be locked and followed her inside. She led him to the front pew.

     Once seated he looked at their hands, still joined. He gave hers a squeeze, released it, and directed his attention at some point near his scuffed, water-stained boots. The scent of smoke clung to him, overpowering all else. He crushed something in his teeth. A lemon drop most likely

      “Why did you come for me?”

     “I thought you could use a friend.”

     “A friend?” He ran his thumbs and forefingers down the crisp creases in his trousers. “Are we friends, Ellie?”

  ☙☙☙

A Question for You

Do you like lemon drops, or do sour candies make you cringe?

What’s your favorite lemon-flavored treat?

☙☙☙

The Drawing

I’m using Rafflecopter to hold the drawing.

Doing so gives you the opportunity to earn bonus entry points.

The winner of last Friday’s Bushel of Fun is Sara. Congratulations, Sara!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

☙☙☙

 Book Release Blog Tour Appearances

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California was officially released July 1. Many wonderful bloggers have offered to help me get the word out by hosting me on their blogs. I’ll be sharing the links to those posts at the bottom of mine throughout the tour, which runs though the end of this month.

July 6

Blame It on the Muse ~ Guest Post,

“25 Ways to Enhance Creativity,”

and Book Giveaway with Liz Selvig

Inslinger Blog ~ Interview and Book

Giveaway with Shannon Taylor Vannatter

July 7

Through His Eyes ~ Interview and

Book Giveaway with Salena Stormo