Friday, March 15, 2024

THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE - Laura Frantz - One Free Book

Bio: Laura Frantz is a Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of fifteen novels, including The Rose and the Thistle, The Frontiersman’s DaughterCourting Morrow Little, The Lacemaker, and A Heart Adrift. She is the proud mom of an American soldier and a career firefighter. Though she will always call Kentucky home, Laura lives with her husband in Washington State.

She is well known for her meticulously researched novels. In her newest work, The Seamstress of Acadie, Frantz spins a gripping tale of an Acadian woman caught between the warring French and English during Le Grand Dérangement of 1755. Filled with history, intrigue, and romance, The Seamstress of Acadie is sure to win the hearts of historical romance fans.

About the story: Gifted seamstress Sylvie Galant and her Acadian family desire to live peacefully and remain neutral in the upcoming war between the French and the English. But the proximity of their land on Acadie’s rugged shores makes them an easy target. While tensions escalate, Sylvie encounters Major William Blackburn. Although he is a British Army Ranger, Blackburn warns her that the British are poised to invade. But the warning cannot counteract the plans or stop the tide of English soldiers.

William Blackburn has seen firsthand the atrocities that the British have done to the Acadian families and their villages. Rather than participate in the heinous expulsion, Will resigns his commission before a charge of treason is brought against him. 

When Sylvie is forcibly removed from her homeland, she finds herself on a ramshackle ship headed to Virginia, where she crosses paths once again with Will. Together they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

Welcome back to my blog, Laura. What was the inspiration for The Seamstress of Acadie? I’ve always been fascinated by Acadian history, which is the most heartbreaking I’ve ever researched. I was disappointed to find few novels that deal with Acadie, which, aside from Longfellow’s poem Evangeline, seems to have been buried since the eighteenth-century expulsion.

Your two protagonists, Sylvie Galant and William Blackburn, are on opposing sides in Le Grand Dérangement of 1755. How did they first meet? Sylvie and William have a rather charming first meeting by a well in Acadie that is based on a bit of subterfuge and secrecy. Their attraction is instant and mutual, as it so often is inexplicably even in real life.

Sylvie and William later find themselves on ships headed to Virginia. Can you provide a brief summary of the events leading up to their departure from Acadie? Acadie, present-day Nova Scotia, had long been a battleground between the French and English since its founding in 1604. The conflict worsened in the eighteenth century as each nation fought over contested territory. In 1755, the Acadians were deprived of their weapons, detained as prisoners, and then forced onto ships to destinations unknown. In the novel, William leaves Acadie first with his Rangers on a sloop in late summer 1755 before the deportation of the Acadians begins. Sylvie follows on a ramshackle transport ship in early fall.

What led to William’s decision to resign from the British army? William has a profound change of heart and purpose. A spiritual awakening as a prisoner of war among the French led to an about-face in terms of his military career, culminating in his refusal to take part in the Acadians’ deportation.


Prior to the British invasion of Acadie, Sylvie Galant was a seamstress. How did her profession play a part in your story?
Each of us is gifted with the ability to do certain things well. Sylvie is no different. Since childhood, she has plied her needle in a way that causes other people to take notice. To her, it is just routine until she begins to see her skill as a means to navigate her new, unwanted life in a hostile land. Personally, I grew up with a grandmother who was an accomplished seamstress and sewed my clothes, even historical garments. I don’t sew myself but am in awe of those who do!

Can you please describe the setting for your novel and why this is important in the overall plot? If you visit Nova Scotia, you soon realize why the British fought hard to win it and why the Acadians took strong measures to keep it. Epic in scope and beauty with forests and fields and mountains, coastlines and islands, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind place and makes the ideal novel setting. I hope readers experience some of that beauty within the novel’s pages.

What are some of the themes found within The Seamstress of Acadie? Love, loss, trust, new beginnings. Life is one of continual change. How we navigate those changes is a constant challenge both in fiction and in real life.

What do you hope readers will experience when reading your novel? That beauty can be seen amid the heartbreaking history and cause us to look at the heartaches and hurdles we face today in a different light.

Where can readers purchase a copy of The Seamstress of Acadie? The book is available in paperback and e-reader on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book online retailers. If your local bookstore doesn’t have it, you can ask them to order it for you.

How can readers connect with you? I’m active on these social media channels and regularly post on my website’s journal page:

www.laurafrantz.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurafrantzauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFrantzAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurafrantz/

Thank you for sharing The Seamstress of Acadie with my blog readers and me. We love to learn about historical events.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Seamstress-Acadie-Historical-Romance-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B0C9RLWP5Y/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2ZFBV2Y7QZ5J9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.94W47k8kkRg-_JHwuf4kG8KgLhKUOO2JiBDj6Npg9bn3DRUbWk5Qs3hLd4__GQEoaxNTXA2k2f0kFmBwpQxK0qrNHFR9hs22Tjgadx8B1OoDaGkgnBCmBQw2RlledXfw1urtuHaSwH7WVoOlthFl-XE5MYqzUVIiiL6S2O8iZ5f1kezyTsy8L8MbcYrw2OJ0_LcmwSahRMZ77o3kVYVn2QivvchnPnIfmGKJABqyt0k.vrQMrN4DSFz6fxRkg4pWqIFr-ofrqHG7QZhHHyH0Q3U&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+seamstress+of+acadie+laura+frantz&qid=1710526086&s=books&sprefix=The+Seamstress+of+Acadie+%2Cstripbooks%2C95&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Monday, March 11, 2024

A COURAGEOUS BETROTHAL - Denise Weimer - One Free Book

Bio: Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions and Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses

Welcome back, Denise. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

That’s a great question! I often find themes of emotional healing and redemption weaving into my stories. In A Courageous Betrothal, the theme has to do with accepting ourselves as God made us. The heroine is inspired by a real-life Revolutionary War Patriot heroine, Nancy Hart, who was six feet tall, red-haired, big-boned, pock-marked, and cross-eyed. She was also a crack shot the local Indians called “War Woman” and successfully spied on and captured Loyalists and British Regulars in the Georgia backcountry…all while defending her family. My heroine, Jenny White, is a bit softer, but she feels gawky and unattractive next to her pretty, petite little sister. The hero, Scottish militia scout Caylan McIntosh, has a hard time convincing her that he finds what she thinks are her weaknesses to be strengths, especially on the frontier.

What other books of yours are coming out soon? The Scouts of the Georgia Frontier books continue to release into 2024. Book three, A Cherished Betrothal, just came out in January and follows the beginning of Revolution on the Georgia/South Carolina border. There will be two more coming later in the year, as well as my novel about the 1865 sinking of the Sultana, When Hope Sank, part of Barbour’s A Day to Remember Series. Plus, my first-ever novella, Redeeming Grace, will re-release this July in Wild Heart Books’ Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts Series with a new cover and title, A Summer at the Niagara of the South.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? You know, it would be interesting to learn from Francine Rivers about her publishing journey.

I met Francine over a decade ago, and she gave her testimony. I bought the CD of that session. It was very interesting. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

I never know how to answer that one since there are so many fascinating historical people. I’d have a hard time choosing between religious leaders, military leaders, brave pioneers, and the American founding fathers.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? First, I’d encourage them to make sure they have a solid grasp on the writing craft and the industry expectations for submitting proposals. Read up on those things and ask experienced, traditionally published authors or editors. Once that is in place, it’s important to make sure they are submitting to publishers seeking the same genre, length, and style of material…and then, following submission guidelines. One hurdle I find with submissions I review as Acquisitions and Editorial Liaison at Wild Heart Books is that some authors are still writing in narrative style rather than deep POV (point of view). Or submitting historical fiction rather than historical romance…or are truly unfamiliar with industry expectations or formula for historical romance.

Finally, it’s more than possible that they just haven’t found the right fit yet. Publishers will often favor certain tropes, time periods, or settings. They may be seeking lighter material or more serious material. They may have just accepted something very similar. At other times, they may have just received a glut of submissions, and their production schedules may be filled for the foreseeable future. Editors who wear more than one hat sometimes struggle to have time to read through lengthy proposals and sample chapters. If they are deep into projects with current authors, they may put off manuscript review for a specified time in the future.

There are so many factors at play, but ultimately, none of these things take God by surprise. He knows just which editor needs to open your email on the right day. He knows just what you need to learn and where you need to be in life before you are ready for publication…or before the world is ready for your book!

That’s very valuable information. Please tell us about the featured book. A Courageous Betrothal is a short but action-and-romance-packed 20K-word novella originally entitled Across Three Autumns and included in Barbour’s Backcountry Brides Collection. Because of the short word count and long time span covered, I chose to use only the heroine’s point of view.

Red-haired, freckle-faced, and almost six feet tall, Jenny White has resigned herself to fame over love. Possessing the courage and wits to guard her younger siblings against nature, natives, and loyalists in Georgia’s “Hornet’s Nest” gives life meaning until she meets scout Caylan McIntosh.

From the time Jenny nurses the young lieutenant back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, she can’t deny her attraction to the vexing Highlander, who seems determined to dismantle her emotional armor. But when Georgia falls to the British and Caylan returns to guide Jenny’s family on a harrowing exodus into the North Carolina mountains, will his secrets prove stronger than his devotion? Or will their love be courageous enough to carry them through the battles ahead?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Late June, 1778

Wilkes County, Georgia

She first sensed someone watching as a prickle of awareness on the back of her neck as she and Hester floated, shift-clad, in the creek. Even in the cool waters, the fine ginger hairs from Jenny White’s nape to her arms stirred, and she froze.

Casting a glance over her shoulder, she saw him—a brown bare-chested native, his face smeared with black-and-red war paint. He did not even attempt to conceal himself. After all, the White family may have brought their livestock out from Augusta and built a cabin four years prior. They might have planted their small patches of corn, wheat, and flax alongside the vegetable garden Jenny and her sister had been weeding in the fork of Long and Dry Fork Creeks before yielding to the urge to cool down from the sun’s blistering rays. But this had been his land. Whether Hitchiti Creek of the first people in these parts, or Muskogee who came from the west many years ago, he belonged and she did not.

But the brave’s alliance with the British made him Jenny’s enemy. She was old enough to remember from North Carolina what the British could do. She had given up too much—her little brother’s life and her best years to make a good match, for starters—to just hand over this land.

Thank God Gabriel had not taken the Brown Bess hunting today. She’d left it propped against the giant oak that marked the ford. With the steady diagonal trajectory of a water bug, she waded toward Hester and the tree.

Hester’s head—curly strawberry-blonde hair darkened and dripping—broke the surface. She started to let out an exclamation of delight but gave only a gasp when Jenny’s firm hand encircled her wrist. Green eyes wide, she allowed herself to be towed toward the shore.

“Hester, run for the house. Make sure Ma and the baby stay inside.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Connect with Denise here:

Monthly Newsletter Sign-up

Website

Facebook

Twitter

BookBub

Thank you for sharing A Courageous Betrothal with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Betrothal-Scouts-Georgia-Frontier-ebook/dp/B0CHMXGLJG/

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

WINNERS

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win. 

Pam (OH) is the winner of A Summer on Bellevue Avenue by Lorri Dudley.

Cherie (FL) is the winner of Into the Fire by Irene Hannon.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent toRemember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.  

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

HER SECRET HOPE - Shelley Shepard Gray - One Free Book

Bio: Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, including Her Heart’s Desire and Her Only Wish. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol Award finalist, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

She introduced readers to A Season in Pinecraft series with Her Heart’s Desire. This was followed by Her Only Wish in June 2023. Now Gray wraps up her heartwarming series with her final installment, Her Secret Hope, which explores the theme of facing one’s past in order to make way for a brighter future.


About the story: Two years ago, Lilly Kurtz left her home in Middlefield for a much-needed vacation in Pinecraft, Florida, where she could escape her feelings of always being an outsider within her community. Little did she realize that this trip would be such a life-changing experience. Not only did it lead to a fresh start in Florida and a new set of friends, but a budding romance has started to bloom with hardworking farmer Eddie Byler. However, secrets from Lilly’s past may threaten to destroy her new relationship.

Eddie Byler values honesty and trust. He sees Lilly as a breath of fresh air, but he is mystified about her past. Although they grew up only thirty miles apart, Lilly remains silent about her time in Middlefield, which makes Eddie wonder if Lilly is hiding something.

As Eddie and Lilly’s relationship deepens, she must decide whether she is willing to return to Middlefield—a place where she never felt accepted. Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?


Welcome back to my blog, Shelley. It’s always a pleasure to host you. Please provide a brief summary of Her Secret Hope. Lilly Kurtz decides to take a job at the Marigold Inn in Pinecraft, and she’s eager to spend more time with her best friends and make new friends who know nothing about her past. When guests Eddie Byler and his grandmother befriend her, she’s sure she made the right decision. However, as her romance with Eddie blossoms, she soon learns that everything in her past cannot be erased, just as Eddie must come to terms with the fact that his views on what is right and wrong might not be as correct as he believed. Only by being completely honest with each other—and with themselves—will Lilly and Eddie learn that their secret hopes and dreams can become their realities.


Readers were first introduced to Lilly Kurtz in Her Heart’s Desire, the first book in your series. Can you please explain why Lilly left her hometown in Middlefield, Ohio, and went to Pinecraft? Lilly Kurtz first leaves her hometown in an attempt to live her life without the stigma of her birth parents’ mistakes.


Lilly has a budding relationship with Eddie Byler, who highly values honesty and trust. But Lilly’s past could threaten their future. What do you feel readers can learn from Lilly and Eddie’s relationship? This novel focuses not only on the themes of honesty and trust but also God’s grace. It’s my hope that readers will be able to connect with one of the characters in the novel who is searching for the Lord’s acceptance and love. 


In addition to facing one’s past, are there other underlying themes found within Her Secret Hope? I think another theme is friendship and accepting God’s grace. So many of the characters—whether they are in their twenties, forties, or seventies—are often reaching out to others for support or guidance. I loved that each character is eventually reminded that he or she needs not only God’s love but their friends’ and family’s support and love as well. 


Her Secret Hope is the final novel in the A Season in Pinecraft series. What was the connecting element for all of the books in your series? From the beginning, I was eager to highlight three women who felt like “wallflowers,” who felt like they didn’t really click with their peer group in their hometowns. I wanted to empower them and have them not only find acceptance but learn to value their unique selves. Pinecraft, Florida, a place where Amish from all over America vacation, felt like the perfect spot. So, I strived for each novel to be a different play on “an Amish wallflower on vacation.” 


Are there any threads that run through the whole series that will be wrapped up in this book? No. Each book was written to stand alone.


How have you personally been impacted by this series? I love to write novels about things that could happen to anyone—my characters just happen to be Amish. Writing this series, with each woman looking for acceptance, love, and friendship, reaffirmed this belief. On a personal note, I truly enjoyed writing this series. It was an upbeat trio of stories highlighting positive themes. It made for a lot of happy writing days!


Why did you choose Pinecraft, Florida, as the setting for your series? Pinecraft is one of my favorite settings for novels because it’s the only place where Amish from all over the world come together. It’s a unique setting rich with possibilities for new stories. Honestly, I could happily write a dozen books set in Pinecraft—there’s such a fun mixture of people there!


How can readers connect with you? I’m on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter. I have a private FB group called Shelley Shepard Gray’s Buggy Bunch, which is easy to join and I post often. I also have a “short and sweet” monthly newsletter that readers can sign up for on my website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com.


Thank you for sharing Her Secret Hope with my blog readers and me. I love your stories, especially those in Pinecraft.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Her-Secret-Hope-Season-Pinecraft/dp/0800741692/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3A3DAOD23Y9IZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6mK-g-tg4bjD5LqYVCEIeLeWYVUtQWn_PrnP9X8-ekWb0EZ8OIp9o9NOBmMeAbrFELl__u2Tyw-Ow8z6aAoMKqY0ob2Ds8rHLnNYRUVjDJM-IcyguTSc1kdrI9sEFr3MEttNfheMN1rqEscJLs9SxgLJcISlO_7-MzgsaLRai_WyArWPIaZ1f9c6nEK6VnqA.e8rTIG_pyBAGa0xCHJ7Bs81DIRWy8M6-8y_65wdoT-Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=her+secret+hope+shelley+shepard+gray&qid=1709750079&s=books&sprefix=Her+Secret+Hope+%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

WINNERS

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win. 

Holly (KY) is the winner of Reclaiming the Spy by Lorri Dudley.

Caryl (TX) is the winner of Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.   

Thursday, February 29, 2024

INTO THE FIRE - Irene Hannon - One Free Book

Bio: Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. 

Irene was named “the queen of inspirational romantic suspense” by Library Journal, and with over sixty novels Hannon continues to prove that she is a master at her craft. Now she introduces readers to another blazing tale in Into the Fire, book 1 in the Undaunted Courage series. Brimming with a puzzling mystery, a budding romance, and escalating danger, Into the Fire will leave readers breathless but craving more of Hannon’s electrifying tales.

About the story: As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn’t want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance—and maybe even their lives—go up in flames?

Join Irene Hannon in her brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth.

Please provide a brief summary of Into the Fire. Here’s my one-sentence elevator pitch: A fire investigator and ATF agent join forces to track down a serial arsonist who will stop at nothing—including murder—to carry out a nefarious plan. (Romance ensues as well, of course!)

What was the inspiration for your new novel? I’ve written many law-enforcement related books featuring a variety of crimes, but never anything fire-related. This story gave me an opportunity to do that. Plus, after researching the fascinating world of smokejumpers, I knew it was the perfect background for my strong and determined heroine.

Into the Fire is the first book in the Undaunted Courage series. How many books will be part of your new series and what ties the books together? There will be three books in the series. The link between the books it that they feature three foster siblings from difficult backgrounds. Each story spotlights one of the siblings, but the other two siblings do make appearances in that book.

What do readers have to look forward to in the rest of the Undaunted Courage series? Book 2 will feature Jack Tucker, a homicide detective, who must determine whether the sole witness in a murder case has lost her grip on reality or whether someone is conducting a relentless campaign to destroy her credibility . . . and perhaps her life. In book 3, the youngest sibling, Cara Tucker, takes center stage. She’s a historical anthropologist on sabbatical at a remote estate, where she’s researching a vanishing language. When she finds herself caught up in a century-old mystery and murder, however, the local sheriff must track down the killer before he or she strikes again.

Your two protagonists, Bri Tucker and Marc Davis, have very unique professions. What type of research was required to accurately portray their roles? As I always tell people, while I write fiction, the professions and agencies and law enforcement protocols I write about are real. Since I’m a stickler for accuracy, I do huge amounts of research to ensure I portray these correctly. In this case, I found plenty of material online about smokejumpers, including female smokejumpers. That was invaluable. For the arson plot element that was unique to my story, I worked with a retired fire chief/fire marshal, who reviewed the scenarios I created. Those kinds of sources help put the final polish of authenticity on my stories.

In Bri’s new role as a fire investigator, she inherits a curious puzzle from her predecessor. What type of questions does this puzzle raise for Bri? After the death of a retired colleague, Bri realizes he may have been on the brink of soliciting her help with several fires that had been ruled accidental but which continued to trouble him. But she has almost nothing to go on. What cases was he focused on? Why was he still concerned about them? Who were the victims? But when a few clues emerge that suggest his quest may have merit, Bri digs in . . . and suddenly finds herself in the crosshairs.  

What is the connection between Bri and Marc? When Bri is assigned to investigate the suspicious death of her retired colleague, she’s still relatively new to her job. Plus, it’s a death that hit close to home for the department, and her boss wants to pull out all the stops. So he decides to have the ATF get involved too. That doesn’t sit especially well with Bri, who’d prefer to work alone—but Marc ends up being an asset on both the professional and personal front! J

The setting for Into the Fire is St. Louis, Missouri. Why did you choose this location? All but one of my suspense novels are set in the St. Louis area. Since my stories tend toward psychological suspense and aren’t generally location contingent, I can set them anywhere. I use St. Louis because I’m very familiar with that setting, and writing about it requires almost no research . . . which frees me up to research everything else in the book.

What are some of the main themes covered in Into the Fire and what do you hope readers will gain from reading your book? Forgiveness, self-esteem issues, overcoming challenges, finding the courage to trust, the importance of family, perseverance. All of those are in the book. Mostly what I try to do with my novels is tell a compelling story that entertains, encourages, and uplifts.

What do you love most about writing romantic suspense novels? he high stakes, the deep dive into the minds of multiple characters, and the gradual build toward a dramatic climax. I also like watching a romance develop as two characters grapple with dangerous situations. Those sorts of conditions bring emotions to the forefront and allow the characters (and the reader) to get a clear read on their strengths and weaknesses fairly fast.

How can readers connect with you? Facebook is my favorite place to hang out with readers. I’m there every day, and I love to engage with readers. For general information about me and my books, my website is the best resource—www.irenehannon.com.

Thank you, Irene, for sharing Into the Fire with us. I’ve loved every book of yours I’ve read.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWDRPJGP

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

A SUMMER ON BELLEVUE AVENUE - Lorri Dudley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorri. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take? There are still two more books to be released in my Agents of Espionage Series: Redeeming the Rake, where a vicar’s daughter saves a spy’s life, but his rogue tactics may destroy everything she values and steal her heart, and Relinquishing the Agent, about a gentleman spy on a mission to arrest a ring of resurrection men, must protect a beautiful bluestocking when women start disappearing.

After the series releases, I’m looking to pitch Wild Heart Books on an adventure-competition series resembling a Regency version of The Apprentice, The Amazing Race, and Wife Swap (but more like a life swap to keep it Christian-based). Otherwise, I’m entertaining a British deportation series where wrongfully charged heroes are transported to Australia and find redemption within a penal colony, or a Windward Island Series to match my prior Leeward Island Series. My creative juices are flowing! I love writing and am so blessed to have the opportunity. God is good.

Yes, He is. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them? I’m looking to attend ACFW’s conference in New Orleans and the Just Read Rendezvous conference, where readers meet writers in St. Louis. I don’t plan to speak, but I hope to either moderate or be on a panel at the Just Read Rendezvous conference as I did last year.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? With my psychology background, I love characterization. I would hold a panel on how authors determine their character’s personality and use the traits to develop and push the plot, especially when the characteristics may be opposite their own (i.e., an introverted, detail-oriented author who writes about a flighty, extroverted heroine). Also, I’d ask them how birth order plays a role in the characters’ personalities and interactions, especially in sibling series and romantic relationships. Some authors who have done this well that I would love to interview on the panel would be Kristi Ann Hunter, Blossom Turner, Misty Beller, and Robin Patchen.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations? Connections are vital to being an author. We are an isolated bunch who sit alone in front of a computer. It’s essential to be part of writing organizations and critique groups. I’ve been a member of ACFW for ten years, and the people I’ve met through their conferences and the Northeast Chapter are why I’m published today. Friendships and networking have been invaluable. In the beginning, I soaked up how to improve my writing, but now I lean on my writer friends for encouragement, strategy, marketing tips, and when I get stuck in a plot hole. Writing is an “always be learning” process.            

That is so true. After 40 years in the business, I’m still learning. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer? I’ve been a greeter at church for twenty years and ran the team for five years. Even though I’m introverted, I believe my unease in new situations allowed God to instill in me a heart to want new guests to feel welcome and at ease. I tell my team you never know how long a mother has prayed for her child to walk through these church doors, and we get to be like the prodigal son’s father waiting with wide-open arms to welcome them home.

I have also been an active member and leader of small groups for over twenty years. My husband and I currently help co-lead a marriage group where we’re the advanced couple (a nice way of saying we’re comparatively old), having now been married twenty-four years. We have a passion for helping couples succeed in marriage.

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how? 

My husband, John, has loved me through my faults, drawn me out of my shell, talked me off cliffs, and given me three wonderful boys.

My parents, who have also been my biggest cheerleaders, have taught me to work hard and be independent.

My friend and spiritual mother, Lynn Jamros, took my husband and me under her wing when we were baby Christians. She encouraged, challenged, and loved on me as a Jesus with skin on.

Pastor and Stacy Frye are my pastors, leaders, and friends. They’ve taught, inspired, and believed in me.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

Servant of Jesus

Devoted wife

Mother of Christ-following men

who carry on the charge.       

Tell us about the featured book. A Summer on Bellevue Avenue is the sixth installment of the Romance in the Gilded Age Resorts Series written by various Wild Heart Books authors. It was my first dive into America’s Gilded Age, and I loved it.

Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Then the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s oil company’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.
Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows and sets about disproving the rumors while winning back Amanda’s trust. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As grievous events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?

Please share the first page with us.

New York, New York

June 7, 1895

A scream and tumbling sound woke Wesley Astor Jansen. He jolted upright from his desk and swiped at the paper that stuck to his cheek.

Had he dreamed the noise? Who else was here?  

He tilted his ear up and listened, but in the office of Jansen and Sons Oil and Energy Engineering, not even the janitorial staff stirred. The oil lamp on the corner of his desk burned low. He flicked open his gold pocket watch and held it near the sputtering light.

Quarter after three in the morning. He snapped the lid shut and tucked the timepiece back into his suit pocket.

His copy of the signed marriage agreement he’d struggled for the better part of an hour to read though lay scattered across his desk. He gathered the pages into a pile and turned to file them in his side drawer.

Odd. The drawer stood open. Had he left it that way?

He slid the papers into the first folder, then closed and locked the compartment. It was late. He should head home. Light sparkled off the remaining bubbles still bursting in his half-finished champagne glass. He brought the glass over to the sideboard for the staff to clear.

It had been a solitary victory celebration after obtaining Mr. Klein’s blessing to marry his daughter—a hard-won feat. Mr. Klein’s ruthless business and social dealings sought one-sided advantages, but Wesley, too, could be relentless. A financial investment closed the deal with Klein & Co. manufacturing their line of motor cars with Jansen and Sons’ unique grade of gasoline. They both signed, and the only stipulation was for Wesley’s money to be returned if Amanda declined his offer of marriage.

Paying for his bride didn’t sit well with Wesley. If Amanda discovered what her father asked of him and the dollar amount, she’d be horrified. In the end, he’d have paid even more because he loved Amanda, and a Jansen-Klein business alliance would profit them both.

Grander festivities would take place tomorrow evening after he proposed and Amanda accepted.

Wesley yawned and ran his hand down his face. He’d been having some dream.   

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

LorriDudley.com

https://www.wildheartbooks.org/lorri-dudley.html

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lorri-dudley

Goodreads

Amazon

Thank you for sharing A Summer on Bellevue Avenue with my blog readers and me. I’ve always loved reading your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Summer+on+Bellevue+Avenue&i=stripbooks&crid=51GFE7IEC8SE&sprefix=a+summer+on+bellevue+avenue+%2Cstripbooks%2C100&ref=nb_sb_noss

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com