Tuesday, January 04, 2011

SOFTLY AND TENDERLY - Rachel Hauck and Sara Evans - Free Book

Welcome back, Rachel. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Softly and Tenderly is book two in the Songbird Novels so the plot and characters originated in book one, The Sweet By and By. Sara and I came up with the characters and story after sitting and talking about what Sara loved in story and the commonalities we had in life.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Oh, what a great question. Well, I’d invite Lena Dooley because she’s such an encouragement. I’d invite my brainstorm partner, Susan May Warren, and Colleen Coble because she’s been such a mentor to me. Add to my list… I can only pick six? So not fair. Well, add James Rubart because he’s fun to hang out with and share the Lord. Next, I’d give a shout out to Jenny B. Jones because she’s funny and cute, and a sweet friend. Last but not least, my good friend Debbie Macomber. She’s sweet, kind and an amazing encourager.

I am honored to be included with that group. We would have so much fun! Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Lauraine Snelling, Tamera Alexander, Siri Mitchell, Margaret Brownley and Golden Keyes Parson.

That's another great group. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Great question. I’ve been through a unique writing opportunity by writing with Sara. It’s caused me to deepen and improve my craft. My editor says it’s like I’ve been through a graduate course. But for me, I feel like figuring out who I am as a romance and women’s fiction author.

So tell us about the featured book.

Softly and Tenderly is about Jade Benson facing the hardest days of her life. She thought her troubles were behind her in her past, but in a matter of days, life crumbles down around her and she finds herself at odds with everyone she loves and trusts.

Sounds like a hard place many of us have been in before. Please give us the first page of the book.

One

Along the first of spring, when winter began to ease its grip on Whisper Hollow mornings, the word barren began echoing over the shadowy recesses of Jade’s mind.

“You’re quiet.” Her mother-in-law peered at her from the passenger side of Jade’s truck. She looked out of place perched on the faded red, torn vinyl seat wearing an haute couture pink suit.

“Thinking.” Jade forced a smile just as the tires hit a bump in the road, jostling the passengers from side to side.

June grabbed the dashboard. “Mercy me.”

“Sorry . . .” Jade urged the truck up the hill to Orchid House, her husband’s childhood home. “You feel everything in this truck. No matter how new the shocks.”

Truck shocks aside, Jade had managed to hit all the holes today. Holes in the road. Holes in her business. Holes in her heart. With a slow exhale, she propped her elbow on the door and pressed her fingers against her forehead.

Today it seemed that every woman, every woman who came in to Jade’s downtown shop was pregnant. Nearly picked clean Jade’s retro maternity clothes. She’d been folding and hanging the remaining items when June called and asked Jade to give her a ride home.

“It’s beyond me why you still drive this old bucket of bolts, Jade. Why don’t you just buy a new truck?” June brushed a piece of foam from the crumbling ceiling off her skirt. “You’re a Benson now. A successful business owner in Whisper Hollow and river front Chattanooga. Surely you can afford a vehicle better than this. Max would buy you one if you asked. I’m quite sure he-”

“Your pink suit is beautiful,” Jade interrupted. “Did you get it on your girls’ shopping trip in Atlanta?”

June cut Jade a glance. “Paris, last spring. I figure I could risk wearing it another season.”

“Do I get dibs when it’s out of season twenty years?”

“Shug, this thing will be completely out of vogue in three months. And by the end of summer, sold at the club auction.” June ran her hand along the three-quarter sleeve, finally smiling. Ever since Jade had picked her up from the Read House Starbucks, she’d been fuming beneath a stone-face.

“So Rebel got tied up with a case or something? Couldn’t bring you home?” Jade asked. June had yet to say why she was stranded at Starbucks, and so steamed.

“Oh, who knows? That man. He can be so self-focused. I specifically told Rebel that Honey Andover could not drive me up to the house when we returned from Atlanta. Her granddaughter’s birthday party is up in Knoxville, so she wanted to get back on the road. So . . .” June fiddled with the air conditioning vents. “Rebel agreed to meet me at Starbucks.”

“The truck doesn’t have air, June.”

“Well, why not? Mercy, Jade, buy a decent truck. What’s this thing, a hundred years old?”

“Thirty-eight. So what happened with Honey? What’s got you riled?”

Way to leave us hanging, Rachel! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find Softly and Tenderly online at CBD, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Also on my web site, http://www.rachelhauck.com/ and Sara’s site, http://www.saraevans.com/.

Thanks for the fun interview, Rachel.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.


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37 comments:

Deborah said...

i LOVED the first book by Rachel and Sara and I'm looking forward to reading this one as well!

beatccr [at] hotmail [dot] com

Virginia

Rachel Hauck said...

Great post Lena. Thank you for partnering with us to share about this book!

Rachel

April Schaffer said...

Great interview!
I'm from Tennessee.
I am looking forward to reading Softly and Tenderly! I hear it is better than The Sweet By and By... I LOVE The Sweet By and By! :-)

amber said...

I want to read this!! It sounds like a good book and I especially love a good christian romance :-)

I'm from Tennessee.

afren07[at]gmail[dot]com

Patsy said...

Would love to read this book. I know it will be great.
From southern US
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

PatriciaW said...

Huge fan of Rachel Hauck books. Rachel writes with such a tenderness, it's hard not to fall in love with her characters and their stories.

pwriter1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for the great interview! I live near Louisville, KY. Thanks for doing this! :)
Blessings,
Karen
klange61(at)hotmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like a wonderful book.

I am in So Cal.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Jaedyn said...

Oh, I would LOVE to win this book, love Rachel's writing and what a gorgeous cover! Thanks for another great interview and giveaway!

Lindsey in the Pacific Northwest

Anne Payne said...

I haven't read any of Rachel's books, but just reserved The Sweet By and By from the library after reading this interview. Look forward to reading it and maybe winning Softly & Tenderly.

Anne in NC

Julia M. Reffner said...

I can't wait to read this one! Please enter me.

I'm from NY.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Wendy said...

I really enjoy Rachel's books and am looking forward to this sequel.
Buffalo, MN

karenk said...

Would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkkua at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

oops..i forgot to mention that i'm from pennslyvania on my previous post...sorry.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
(from PA)

Jo said...

I really want to read this. I so enjoy Rachel's books.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

grannyvon said...

I would love to win this book. The first chapter leaves you hanging. ybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com

Michelle said...

Thank you so much for entering me!! I live in California.

Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Coolestmommy said...

First page left me hanging already. Can't wait to read more of the story!

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

apple blossom said...

I live in ND. I'd love to win this book thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Judy Cooper said...

I enjoyed The Sweet By and By, looking forward to reading Softly and Tenderly.

Jackie S. said...

Would love to read this one. Thanks....from GA.
jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to read the book and so would love to win the book!

I'm a subscriber!

dancealert at aol dot com

holdenj said...

This looks like a book I'd really enjoy, thanks for the interview and teaser paragraphs!
Hello from MN!

Charlotte Kay said...

Hello from Ohio:)
I would love to win this book!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Your subscriber,
Charlotte
chakasa58 at gmail dot com

rbooth43 said...

Great post Lena! I love to hear Sara Evans sing and now, with Rachel, she is writing Christian Fiction. WOW! I would love to win SOFTLY AND TENDERLY.
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43 at yahoo dot com

Renee Ann said...

Please enter me. I'd love to read this book! I'm from upstate New York.

reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

windycindy said...

I would love to see how the main character life goes on after her
trial and tribulations...
Many thanks to you!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Katie Marie said...

Neat book. I've seen it around recently. Please count me in!

legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

~Katy M
from Florida

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book. Please enter me!!!! Angela from Kentucky

angelac@mchsi.com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a great book! Please include me.

Nancye in KY
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth

misskallie2000 said...

I live in Georgia

I would love to win this book. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Bakersdozen said...

I really want to read this. I live in S, California.

MaureenT said...

Great interview. This is on my TBR list. I live in Central NY.

Unknown said...

I particularly like the title and the front cover of this book. The first chapter drew me in and I want to read the rest of the book. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win this book with the sweet title. I hope I win. I live in Arlington, TX, between Dallas/FtWorth.

Best of Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me to win this book.
Miriam from Ohio

Judylynn said...

Thanks for the chance to win this book!

Judylynn in East Tennessee

France said...

I kept thinking, "this is a soap opera," while I read Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck. About two-thirds of the way through, the main character describes her life in the exact same way.