Friday, May 04, 2018

THE GOLD DIGGER - Lena Nelson Dooley - 1 Free Book, 1 Free Audio Book

Dear Readers, I'm very excited to announce the release of the audio book of my latest release The Gold Digger. We will have 3 winners for this post.

The first edition of this story released in 2010 with the title Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. It was the first Christian romance to win the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Excellence in Western Media for fiction. The awards were presented at the National Cowboy Weekend at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. In mid-July of 2011, it was very hot there.

When the committee chairman picked up my book and held it up, he said he had to apologize to the author. He was every bit a cowboy, wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, a white stetson, and a large silver belt buckle. The cover had a girl on the front standing in front of the mission in Golden, New Mexico. Her face was framed by a white, lacy parasol she was holding.

He said he hadn't wanted to read the book. He was going to let the rest of the committee judge it. Then he knew that because he was the chairman, he knew he should at least read the first chapter to see if the author could write well and if there was a good story.

"Darn good story." He sounded surprised. Then he added, "Darn good writing."

He decided to read the second chapter to see if it was as good as the first. Before long, he had reached the last page. He went on to praise the story.

That book is now out of print, and the publishing rights reverted to me. I knew there were people who hadn't been able to afford the book. The publisher didn't put it on sale very much. And I wanted to do an edition that is more affordable. Also, I did some revising, but not a lot.

So now we have The Gold Digger. In addition to the print and ebook editions of the book. I've had an audio edition made. It released just last week.

It's available on iTunes. Here's the buy link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-gold-digger-unabridged/id1138545945 

It's available on Amazon. Here's the buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Gold-Digger/dp/B01J4912EK/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1470322416&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gold+Digger+by+Lena+Nelson+Dooley

It's available on Audible.com. Here's the buy link:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_mt_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=The+Gold+Digger+%28Lena+Nelson+Dooley%29&x=22&y=20

Here are some reviews:

This is a very good book by Lena Nelson Dooley. I especially liked the tough life lessons in it.

I love stories about the Old West. In this book, the setting is primarily the Old West but part of the story occurs in New England. An old retired miner decides to get him a mail-order bride. The story of how he selects her and of the circumstances that prompt her to leave Boston to go to Golden, New Mexico is very interesting. However, that is only the beginning of the story. Intertwined with the suspense and romance are lessons about true forgiveness and selfless love. You may have been through some very difficult times and circumstances and feel there is no way you can ever forgive. Read and see how it works. Some may question if they can really learn important lessons about living the Christian life from a fiction story set in the Old West. I am one who believes it is entirely possible. The characters in the story are very believable. You may even know people in real life who have exemplified exactly what these characters portray. I encourage you to read this book. Besides the lessons that can be learned or reinforced, the story is a very interesting read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.  Reviewed by Edward Arrington.


A Rare and Beautiful Love Story
Once again, Ms. Dooley lives up to her by-line, "Characters who grip your heart." She writes as if she knows these people. And when I read her books, I know that either every detail has been carefully researched, or else she's about 200 years old and is just remembering how it was. Very few writers today balance characters and plot so well. "The Gold Digger" is a great story, full of emotion and surprises. The story stayed with me for a long time, and the characters even longer. An orphaned baby, a damsel in distress, a neat old codger who ordered a bride, and a recalcitrant miner cowboy. Oh, yes, and all that gold! This story will propel the reader straight into the McKenna's Daughters trilogy. Reviewed by Lee Carver

A sweet, safe, satisfying read
I love stories with memorable characters, and The Gold Digger made me smile. I wanted to jump into the page and hug old Philip; his interactions with the other two main characters always made me chuckle. Jeremiah's internal struggle felt very real, and Maddie is a strong woman. And I appreciate the story's illustration of integrity, forgiveness, and compassion. Reviewed by Julie Marx

Here is the first of the story:
Early spring, 1890
Golden, New Mexico
"Are you plumb crazy?" Jeremiah Dennison's loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. "Where did you get such a harebrained idea?"

Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers' pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, paying scant attention to the piñon trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.

Philip gave a snort. "Harebrained?" He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. "Why'd ya say that? It's worked fer other men."

Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. "What would you do with a mail-order bride?"

The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. "Somethin""—he smothered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face—"has a deadly grip on me."

"I know you're sick. I take care of you, don't I?" Jeremiah resented the fact that what he'd done wasn't enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn't even consider such a preposterous proposition.

His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he'd worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. "Jerry, I don't wanna be a burden on ya."

"You'd rather be a burden to a woman you don't even know?" Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. "I've never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn."

Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. "I ain't come to this decision easy." He squinted up into Jeremiah's face. "I done studied on it fer a while."

Jeremiah straightened the fingers he'd gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. "What do you mean, 'studied'?"

"Well, I figure a woman who'd answer them ads in the newspaper must be purty needy, maybe even desperate to get out of a particular bad situation." He gave a vigorous nod that riffled his snowy hair. "Made me a fortune when I sold my mine. More money than any man can spend in his lifetime. What good is a fortune to an old-timer like me? Won't never have a family of my own. Maybe I'll git me a woman with children. She can take care a me, and my money can take care a her." Another nod punctuated his last statement. "And her young'uns, if she has any."

How could Jeremiah deny his mentor's request? Philip never asked for much. If he didn't do this, the stubborn old man would look for help from someone else. A lesser friend might have a wagging tongue and spread the story all around Golden. Philip didn't need people gossiping about him sending for a bride. And other miners might try to nab her for themselves when she arrived. If Jeremiah had his way, it would be fine with him if they did, but his friend would be too disappointed. He didn't want to break Philip's heart, just talk him out of making this mistake.

"Jerry, ya ain't mad 'cause I'm plannin' to give my money to someone else, are ya?"

The words stabbed Jeremiah's heart. How could Philip believe that about him? "I don't need your money. I have more than enough of my own, thanks to selling my own mine and starting the ranch like you told me to."

The hoary head nodded. "That's what I figured."

"Where you going to send the ad?" Jeremiah couldn't believe he was considering being a part of this crazy scheme. But what else could he do?

If you sign up for a free membership in Audible.com and my book is the first you download, I'll receive a bonus.

I'll be giving away a free print copy and an Audible.com audio copy.

Comments Question: Do you like old west stories? (With your comment, please say whether you'd like the print copy or the Audible.com copy.)

Readers, 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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, 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:

34 comments:

Cathy said...

This sounds like a wonderful book! I greatly enjoy historical fiction, particularly those of the old west setting. My family came to TX in the early days, the 1840's, and I have always had a strong interest in history and genealogy. Would love to have a print copy of this book. Thanks for the interview and history of the book.

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Thank you for giving us a chance to win but I also appreciate that you have made it more affordable for us to buy. It sounds like a wonderful read!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

scottsgal said...

One of my favorite genres - historical westerns. Thanks for the chance to win this book

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Hi Cathy and Connie, one good thing about this post, even people in foreign countries can get an ebook or audio book if they have an email address where the Kindle file can be sent, and if they can connect with Audible.com.

Scottsgal, remember you need to tell where you live. Read the instructions at the bottom of the post.

Emma said...

I am looking forward to reading The Gold Digger. Thank you for the opportunity to win.PA.

Elly said...

I love old westerns (be they book, movie, or song) and this sounds wonderful! I'd love to get the chance to win a copy of "The Gold Digger". I prefer a print copy. Nothing better than the weight of a book in your hands and the brush of the pages beneath your fingers!
J.C. -Indiana-

rubynreba said...

Congrats on the release of the audio book. Lena, you always write wonderful books and I'm looking forward to reading this one too.
Beth from IA

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for the opportunity to win a copy of the latest book from the very lady of this blog. Thank you! Lena, I'd be excited to win a kindle or print copy because I do love a good western, especially with tender romance!!!
Thank you, Amanda J. from FL

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Emma, JC, Beth, and Amanda,
So good to see you here. I'm glad so many people like western stories. I really loved writing this one. It is one of my favorite books.

Winnie said...

Lena, what an interesting post, and yes I do like old west stories. I'm from the old west--Utah. Or maybe I should say I'm from the west and I'm old. Either way, I'd love to win a print copy of your book. I'd even go for an e-copy, since I have a Kindle. There's just something about a print book, though! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win and for sharing your time and talents!

Winnie T from Utah

Mary Preston said...

I do like old west stories in book & film.

I am INT but I'd put my hand up for a print copy, otherwise I have a Kindle thanks.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Terrill R. said...

This sounds sounds kinda funny. At least some funny moments. I enjoy humor with my romance. The banter between Jeremiah and Phillip was fun to read. I'm sure when they meet Madeleine, it will be quite the shock and prime comedy material. :) I still prefer reading to listening, so I wouldn't mind an ebook or paperback. Thanks for the giveaway, Lena.

Terrill - WA

Cindy W. said...

This sounds like a great book Lena!Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana

Deanna Stevens said...

Yes I do love western stories I always wished I could have lived on a ranch.
This introduction to you book has me wanting to find out how it ends up!
Deanna from Nebr.

kim hansen said...

Sounds like a good read. north platte nebraska.

Vera Godley said...

Oh, Lena. I would so love to win the PRINT version of this book you've re-issued. It sounds delightful and I just know I'd enjoy reading it. I enjoy just a few "cowboy" books, but have found that the authors of these books (at least the ones I choose to read) write very enjoyable reads with a touch of adventure, romance, and humor. Glad you've re-issued it and congratulations on all the honors and good reviews it received in the previous printing.

Vera in North Carolina

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Mary and Terrill,

It's good to see regular friends from my blog here again.

And Winnie, I'm glad to have you here. I'm old, too, but God keeps giving me stories. I have another novel that is entirely new and will release either later this month or in September.

Mary, I've had a lot of readers tell me they'd love to see this story made into a movie. I would, too.

There are humorous things in the story, and several plot lines that intertwine.

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Cindy, Deanna, Kim, and Vera,

So glad you dropped by. From your comments, I'm sure you'll love this story as much as I do.

Becky said...

I'd love to win any of the 3 - print, kindle, or audio. I have this on my TBR list. Enjoyed your post!

Library Lady said...

Audio books are fine for when you don't have the time to sit down and read.
Your audio book would be a wonderful addition to our small collection we have in the church library.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Becky, I'm glad it's on your TBR pile.

Janet, I've noticed how you are building your church library, and have been for quite a while. I love that. Readers who want to introduce other readers to Christian authors.

KayM said...

What an honor to win the will Rogers Medallion Award! Yes, I do enjoy western fiction. I recently finished A Lady in Defiance by Heather Frey Blanton. It was really good. I would love to have your book in any format, as I read all three.
Tennessee

Lourdes said...

Would love to win thank you for the chance to do so.

Lourdes in Long Island, New York.

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me for the print copy please!!
Conway SC.

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Kay, Lourdes, and Sharon,

I love to see my regular fans commenting. Glad to have you aboard.

Pam said...

Would love to win a print copy of this one, Lena!

Pam in OH

Melanie Backus said...

What a great book!!!! You are a dandy, Miss Lena!

Melanie Backus said...

Melanie Backus, TX

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC

Pam said...

I would love to be entered in your giveaway, Lena! I pick up every mail-order bride story I can, and this one sounds fun!

Pam in OH

Shelia64 said...

love to try a audio book! Shelia from Mississippi

rubynreba said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rubynreba said...

Been looking forward to this, Lena!
Beth from IA

Tamara Cooper said...

I hope I'm in time for the contest! If not, that's fine. I have always wanted to listen to a book. I love your books, Lena!!!
Tamara from Texas