Monday, January 09, 2017

ROMANCE GROWS IN ARCADIA VALLEY (SOW IN LOVE) - Valerie Comer - One Ebook Giveaway

Bio: Valerie Comer's life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters. Valerie is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner.

Welcome back, Valerie. Why did you become an author?
Because the thought of writing out my hallucinations and getting paid to share them with the world was too great to resist! Seriously, though, there are so many stories floating around in my brain, and they need a way out. I’m thankful that God has given me this opportunity.

I know what you mean. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
I once thought I’d like to be an architect and design eco-friendly houses. I now design houses and turn (imaginary) people loose in them without spending a fortune on the college degree … and with no worries about the structures holding up under the snow load or gale-force winds.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
Honestly? I’d take right now. I’m grateful to live in a time period where glasses and computers have been invented. Command-plus is my friend. Not that many years ago, someone with my vision problems would have been functionally blind. I have so much to be thankful for.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?
I’m a Canadian, so I’m not sure how to answer this question! Have you seen that meme going around Facebook where it asks Americans how many states they have visited and says the average is eight? Personally, I’ve visited 23 US states. I’d like to experience the New England states someday, as well as their Canadian neighbors, the Atlantic provinces.

At least, I’m above average with 17, and I’d love to visit Canada, too. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?
My husband and I are planning a month-long trip to the United Kingdom in 3-4 years. I believe those of us who live in western North America tend not to have a deep feeling of history, as everything happened quite recently in the grand scheme of things. I want to experience the depth of that history in England and Wales.

My ancestors came from Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and Germany, so I’d love to visit Europe, but my strongest desire is to visit Australia. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
My human mind keeps lapsing back into, “Look at this fun story that I wrote! God is blessing it.” And God keeps reminding that I don’t write ‘for’ Him and hope He will bless it, like some heavenly Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Instead, writing is an act of worship and dependence on Him, and I need to ask Him daily to tell His stories through my fingertips … the stories He knows the readers He’s brought me need to hear.

I learned to look at my books that way, too. That’s why when a publisher doesn’t contract my proposal, I know it’s because it wouldn’t reach the readers He wants it to. Tell us about the featured book.
When is a box set not a box set? When it’s the gateway to a shared world where six authors are launching brand new contemporary romance series! Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley takes place in a fictional Idaho community where a foodie culture and romance grow hand-in-hand. It’s a collection of six novellas, one each by Mary Jane Hathaway, Elizabeth Maddrey, Lee Tobin McClain, Danica Favorite, Annalisa Daughety, and me (Valerie Comer). Each novella is the prequel to a three-book series. An Arcadia Valley Romance will release each month for the next year and a half!

That’s great. I’d love to feature each of them. Please give us the first page of the book.
My novella in Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley, Sow in Love, kicks off my Garden Grown Romance series. Here is its description:
Real estate consultant Joanna Kraus’s ideas for fulfilling a living trust are shot down by the elderly man’s grandson. In fact, it seems like sending her back to the drawing board is his primary joy. How can a vintage 1960s house and two greenhouses generate income for the church in receipt of the trust?
The more Grady Akers gets to know Joanna, the more he finds himself hoping it takes a long time to find a solution, but his charm may be no match for the armor wrapped around Joanna’s heart. Will the perfect solution for the property be perfect to grow a love that’s just been sown?

Here’s the first page:
“No, I don’t think so.”

Joanna Kraus pressed both hands on the boardroom table and stared at the infuriating man at the other end. “No? And why not?”

“I don’t think that’s what my grandfather has in mind.”

Why didn’t the elderly Mr. Akers come and speak to the committee himself? He was only old, not dead. He didn’t always make sense, they said, but the message had to be clearer than coming through a third party. Warning bells rang. Hadn’t Pierce used his dad’s name to stall the deal she’d put together for him?

She lifted her chin and met Grady Akers’ dazzling blue eyes. “Why don’t you explain what your grandfather wants instead of making me guess?” This proposal wasn’t going to fall through like this. Not on her watch. Not again.

Early spring sunshine angled in through the tall, narrow windows of the Grace Fellowship board room. Flames flickered in the gas fireplace. The other three committee members’ heads swung back and forth as though watching a tennis match.

“Ms. Kraus.” Grady flashed a winsome smile. “As I mentioned in my initial request, he wants the property to be used for something that benefits the church and the community. While bulldozing the structures and building a row of townhomes for low-income housing would definitely assist those who live in them, Granddad would prefer an option that is of lower cost and wider benefit.”

Of course, the Akers family dangled the carrot of additional funding in front of Grace Fellowship. No one could blame Joanna for thinking big.  All she needed was one or two solid, completed deals in her CV to set her consulting company on the right track again. This deal for her brother’s church — and hers, since she’d moved — should have been a slam-dunk.

I’m eager to see what happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Valerie, for introducing us to your book and the boxed set.

Readers, here’s a link to the ebook. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley (Arcadia Valley Romance Book 0) - A link to pre-order the ebook

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.

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12 comments:

collettakay said...

I'd love to win this book!

Colletta in PA

Valerie Comer said...

Thanks for inviting me over, Lena! Arcadia Valley Romance is SUCH a fun project. The first two novels (releasing in February and March) are already on pre-order. You'll find them if you look for Arcadia Valley Romance on Amazon.

rubynreba said...

I always reading novellas. This looks like a wonderful collection!
Beth from Iowa


Yamma Mamma said...

I'd love to read it! Thanks for the opportunity!

Valerie Comer said...

Thanks for your interest! If anyone has any questions for me, I'll pop back from time to time to answer them! Would love to visit. :)

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Thanks for sharing this first page. I would love to read the rest of Sow in Love!
Blessings,
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Valerie Comer said...

Connie, the rest of the first chapter is here: http://valeriecomer.com/books/romance-grows-arcadia-valley/ (just scroll down to View Book Sample). Enjoy!

Beth Gillihan said...

Sounds like a great collection! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week!

Beth in Montana

kim hansen said...

Sounds good, love the cover. north platte nebraska.

Bonnie Engstrom said...

I love Comer's stories and have read several. I would be thrilled to win this collection, but I only read on Kindle.

Bonnie in AZ

Valerie Comer said...

Thanks for stopping by Beth, Kim, and Bonnie. Glad you love the cover, Kim! And thanks for the good word, Bonnie. :)

Brenda W said...

I'm from TN and this sounds like a good story in a good series.