Beth Vogt, May Releases, and Free Books!

What is the real cost of love?

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of A Stranger's Secret, by Laurie Alice Eakes, is:

shona.catto@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away.

I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Beth K. Vogt, author of Can’t Buy Me Love (Howard Books, May 2015).

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014.

In 2015, Beth is introducing her destination wedding series with an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love, in May, which will be followed up by a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, in June.

Her e-novella, A November Bride, was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us.

Beth is also part of the leadership team for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I started out as a nonfiction writer and editor who said she’d never write fiction.

-- I met my husband in a karate studio when he knocked me down … we like to tell people he “swept me off my feet.”

-- Thanks to my husband being in the military, I lived in Turkey for two years.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Can't Buy Me Love.

Can’t Buy Me Love launches my destination wedding series with an ultimate uptown wedding and has a Pinterest angle.

Bellamy, the heroine, grew up in a large, boisterous family. The Hillmans may not have had it all, but Bellamy learned how to stretch a dollar and make it look like she did. Now she’s marrying Reid Stanton, the man of her dreams.

While planning their one-of-a-kind Manhattan destination wedding, Bellamy gets caught up in all things Pinterest. It starts out simply enough with a “Save the Date Destination Wedding” board. Then it’s the “Destination Wedding Dresses” and “Invitations” boards. As her ideas multiply, so does the cost of the wedding.

Before she realizes it, all her creative planning has decimated the budget. Can Bellamy make things right, or will the cost of the ultimate wedding be losing the man she loves?

What is it about Bellamy that will make your readers care about her?

Bellamy is a true-to-life bride to be – she has her insecurities and yet she discovers her strengths in Can’t Buy Me Love.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

For Bellamy: Emilia Clarke from Game of Thrones (but with black hair),




and for Reid: Oliver Jackson-Cohen, a movie actor I found on imdb.com, which is a great resource for writers.






Share with us one hard, cold fact about writing and one warm, fuzzy one.

Hard, cold fact about writing: There are plenty of people out there willing to tell you exactly what they think of your writing – and not all of it will be complimentary.

Warm, fuzzy fact about writing: There are those moments when you’ve been writing, writing, writing and nothing seems to be working and then you hit the mark and remember “This … this is why I write! Because God did give me some measure of talent to do this!”

I find the anonymity of the Internet brings out the "courage" in many people who have complaints about one's writing, that's for sure. 

And I totally agree with you on the power of those moments when you hit the mark. Gems.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

My friend, Pepper Basham, has a debut novel coming out in May: The Thornbearer . I’ve read it through various stages of being written and rewritten and I am so excited to see it become a “real book.” Pepper pours both her creativity and her faith into her novels.

A few years ago I was at an ACFW conference with a writer friend. For one of our meals we sat at a table with Pepper. My friend had served as a judge in a contest Pepper entered, and she raved to me about this new up-and-coming author's excellent talent. It looks like others agree!

What are you working on now?

I am working on Almost Like Being in Love, the third book in my destination wedding series. It asks the question: How does trying to live up to other people’s expectations change us?

Where else can readers find you online?

My blog, In Others’ Words, is all about quotes, and is embedded in my website.

I am also part of My Book Therapy, author Susan May Warren’s writing community – a great place to learn about the writing craft.

And I blog over at The Grove, a wonderful website “where story finds a home,” created with seven other authors.

The book can be purchased via the following buttons:






Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

I’m still trying to decide the location for the destination wedding in my last e-novella. Where would you suggest my imaginary characters get married? (It has to be somewhere in the U.S.)

Thanks, Beth, for visiting with us and telling us about your novella. Readers, Beth has offered to give an e-copy of her novella to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 11. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Beth's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

As you scroll to the end of the post to leave your answer to Beth's question, take a look at some of the excellent Inspirational fiction releasing this month!

Contemporary Romance:

Seaside Proposal by Narelle Atkins -- Billie Radcliffe is only staying in the close-knit beach community until she finds the man who is the key to her rejection-riddled history. Her growing relationship with good-looking banker and youth leader Zach Montford could crumble when her deepest secret is revealed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Bachelor to the Rescue by Lorraine Beatty -- He made her a widow. Now she and her little girls need his help. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot -- Marisa St. George has lost her dream job and come home to manage the struggling Rainbow's End resort in the small Texas town where she grew up. The only silver lining is Blake Kendall, a new guest who is making her believe in love at first sight. But is he really who she thinks he is? (Contemporary Romance from Revell [Baker Publishing Group])

Summer Brides: A Year of Weddings Novella Collection by Debra Clopton, Marybeth Whalen and Beth Wiseman -- A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen: Wynne Hardy says "yes" to the perfect man on a reality TV show, then her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life. A July Bride by Beth Wiseman: Brendan Myers left Alyssa Pennington at the altar. Winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. An August Bride by Debra Clopton: Cousin to the bride, Kelsey Wilcox meets groomsman Brent Corbin at a Texas beach wedding. Brent is determined to change the pretty bistro owner's mind about cowboys. (Contemporary Romance from Zondervan)

Whenever You Come Around (A King's Meadow Romance) by Robin Lee Hatcher -- Best-selling author Charity Anderson returns home to King's Meadow to defeat a bad case of writer's block. Then her dog causes an accident where longtime crush Buck Malone breaks his wrist and ankle. Charity finds herself caring for the handsome wilderness guide, since this calamity will keep him off the trail for weeks during prime tourist-season. Buck finds himself hoping to change this city girl's mind about small town living. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing [Thomas Nelson and Zondervan])

Safe in the Fireman's Arms by Tina Radcliffe -- Neither Maggie Jones nor widowed fire chief Jake MacLaughlin are interested in finding love. When they team up as a fake couple to avoid potential dates, sparks kindle and they might just find trouble in Paradise, Colorado. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

The Doctor's Second Chance by Missy Tippens -- When a bachelor's wayward cousin leaves him with her baby to raise, he's forced to seek help from the one woman he can't trust, the town's new pediatrician. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Can't Buy Me Love by Beth K. Vogt -- A bride-to-be discovers the true cost of love as she plans her uptown destination wedding using Pinterest. (Contemporary Romance from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade -- A scarred Texas marine and his vivacious childhood best friend find love and healing while training thoroughbred horses. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])

General Fiction:

As Waters Gone By by Cynthia Ruchti -- Can a marriage survive when separated by hundred of miles and impenetrable prison walls? (General Fiction from Abingdon Press)

Historical Romance:

The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection by Amanda Barratt, Susanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey, Shannon McNear, Gabrielle Meyer, Connie Stevens, Erica Vetsch, Gina Welborn, Kathleen Y'Barbo, and Jennifer Uhlarik - Nine historical romance novellas where love comes to the most eligible bachelor in town. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Love by Design (The Dressmaker's Daughters #3) by Christine Johnson -- Jen Fox won't let anyone keep her from joining the first flight expedition to the North Pole. Even if the person trying to take her seat is the dashing, world-famous stunt pilot Dan Wagner. Their strictly business relationship hits turbulence when both begin to wish for something more personal. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas -- When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he consoles himself with his fiddle and the family farm. His grandmother's helper, Margaret Hoffman, is always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems she doesn't care about his troubles. But Margaret has her own problems. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as they face potential loss and find healing in the most surprising places. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing])

Medical Suspense:

Fatal Trauma by Richard L. Mabry -- It began with Dr. Mark Baker facing a gunman who had nothing to lose, and it could end with him behind bars. (Medical Suspense from Abingdon Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Falcon by Ronie Kendig -- When a deadly bombing separates Staff Sergeant Brian "Hawk" Bledsoe, from his team, he must make a choice: save his brothers-in-arms, or save the woman and children depending on him to survive a brutal snowstorm. (Romantic Suspense from Barbour Publishing)

Young Adult:

See No Evil (Rustic Knoll Bible Camp Book 3) by Mary L. Hamilton -- Blindness didn't keep Steven Miller from getting sucked into pornography, and with Dad's death compounding his guilt, can he atone for his sin by keeping his friend from traveling the same path? (Young Adult Fiction, Independently Published)

Happy reading!