Thursday, December 29, 2011

THE UNLIKELY WIFE - Debra Ullrick - Free Book


So glad to have you back, Debra. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?
Looking at the heart of a person and not the outward appearance. Struggling to trust God. I love what my mom says about that… Trust Him even when it’s the hardest thing to do, trust Him. Putting Him first. My newly adopted motto is, I AM SECOND. There’s actually a website about that. Here’s the link… www.iamsecond.com  There are some great testimonies on there about people who have been through tragedies and how they learned to put God first and themselves second.

I’m familiar with the I Am Second website. Josh Hamilton, who is a member of my church (but I haven’t met him personally) is on there, too. What other books of yours are coming out soon?
Groom Wanted, is scheduled for release in August 2012. It’s the sequel to, The Unlikely Wife, which is the sequel to, The Unexpected Bride.

We must schedule it on my blog. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?
Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton. She is a huge inspiration to me. Her dream was to be a professional surfer and then a shark attacked her. Not once did she get angry at God about losing her arm. Bethany’s heart is to serve God in all that she does. She’s a woman who isn’t a quitter and one who doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself. Because of her putting God first, she went on to live out her dream of becoming a professional surfer—with one arm.

I just bought that DVD for James for Christmas. We’ll watch it soon. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?
Jane Austen. I would love to see if the things she wrote about were really how things were back then, or if they were just a figment of her imagination.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?
Never give up. I believe every author goes through rejections. I remember reading about one lady in particular who got rejected 47 times and yet she continued to submit. Now her books are doing quite well.

Tell us about the featured book?
Back cover blurb:

The arrival of Michael Bowen’s bride, married sight unseen by proxy, sends the rancher reeling. With her trousers, cowboy hat and rifle, she looks like a female outlaw—not the genteel lady he corresponded with for months. He’s been hoodwinked into marriage with the wrong woman!

Selina Farleigh Bowen loved Michael’s letters, even if she couldn’t read them herself. A friend read them to her, and wrote her replies—but apparently that “friend” left things out, like   Michael’s dream of a wife who was nothing like her. Selina won’t change who she is, not even for the man she loves. Yet time might show Michael the true value of his unlikely wife.

Sounds interesting. Please give us the first page of the book. 
This has to be a nightmare.

Standing in front of Michael Bowen at Paradise Haven's train station was the woman who claimed to be his wife. His eyes traveled up and down the length of her. Instead of a dress, she wore a red scarf draped around her neck, a black cowboy hat with a stampede string, black cowboy boots and brown loose-fitting trousers. In her hands she held a Long Tom black powder rifle.

A rifle? The woman was holding a rifle. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't pull his gaze away from the weapon that was nearly as long as she was tall.

Michael bore down on his teeth until he thought his jaw would snap. Even with her heart-shaped face, stunning smile and beautiful brown eyes, the person standing before him looked more like a female outlaw on a wanted poster than the genteel lady he had been corresponding with for the past five months. The woman he had fallen deeply and passionately in love with. The woman he had legally married sight unseen.

This woman was nothing like what he'd expected. Nothing. There had to be some mistake. There just had to be.

I can’t wait to get my copy. How can readers find you on the Internet?
You can find me at www.debraullrick.com, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Shoutlife.


Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
The Unlikely Wife (Love Inspired Historical)


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

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

31 comments:

Wendy Newcomb said...

Thank you for this interview and the giveaway.

I really like the 'mail-order bride' type of books, it's so interesting why some people would agree to marrying someone without meeting them and how they learn to love each other despite their differences. They, or at least one person in the relationship, has to have so much faith to do that and it's so much different than the 'arranged' marriages. Can't wait to read this series.

I live in FL

wfnren at aol dot com

Alicia said...

Ohh a mail order bride mix up sounds so interesting. I hope to win a copy;)
Alicia from Ny
Alibaby374@gmail.com

scottsgal said...

Definitely sounds like a book I'd enjoy reading - thanks for the chance
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Rebecca said...

I loved the excerpt! She sounds like my kind of gal! I would love to see how they work this out. I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
Rebecca in NC
rrgreene62(at)gmail.com

Coolestmommy said...

Oh my--you just had to leave us all hanging after that first page, didn't you!?!
Can't wait to see how this all turns out.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Anonymous said...

I WOULD LOVE TO WIN.
ANGELA FROM KY

Debra Ullrick said...

Thank you all for stopping by.

wfnren. I love mail-order bride books too. It blows my mind to think of how many women really did marry a complete stranger. They had to to survive.

Hi Ali. This mail-order bride mix-up is a doozy!!!

scottsgal. I'm so glad, The Unlikely Wife, sounds like a book you'd enjoy reading.

Rebecca. Can you imagine marrying someone who you thought was one way, and they end up the complete opposite? That's how Selina is. And boy is Michael in for a surprise. Well, quite a few actually. But I'm not telling what kind of surprises. If you don't win, you gotta buy the book to find out. My bad? hehehe

Hi Robyn. Of course I had to leave you hanging. How else was I to capture your attention? And now that I have it.... mmwwwaahhahahah. hehe

Hi Anonymous.

Thanks again for stopping by!

A.Jones said...

Oh my! Sounds so interesting! Mail-order bride stories are always so much fun- please enter me in this giveaway!

That first page really grabbed my attention!

I live in New York

Debra Ullrick said...

Hi Aizess. I agree. I read almost every Christian mail-order bride story I can get my hands on. I'm so glad the first page grabbed your attention. Whew. hehe

Melissa Jagears said...

I've always wondered if Jane Austen's character's conversations are indeed reflective of how people conversed then. If so, the poor modern person would be quite at a loss in such tete-a-tetes, I think. I wish we conversed with such depth and intellect as they. But my guess is, if indeed they could hold such deep, convoluted conversations, the television has wrecked our ability to do it well nowadays.

KS

Mary Preston said...

Jane Austen would be fascinating to meet.

THE UNLIKELY WIFE is now on my wish list. A woman holding a gun would get my attention to.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Judy said...

I love Debra's books and I can't wait to read "The Unlikely Wife". It would be great to win a copy of it. Mail order bride? Right up my alley!

Thanks for this giveaway!

Blessings and Happy New Year!
Judy B from Indiana

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the drawing for
this great book. God Bless You!

Dennie Richmond
Blanch, NC

Merry said...

The Unlikely Wife sounds like a delightful, fun bride story. It is going on my wish list!
Merry in TX

Unknown said...

i am attracted to novels wherein the main female character dresses and tries to act like a man (sorry, the other way just DOESN'T work for me). Not sure why...do i wish i was a man? Nah - i farm and i can do almost everything my brother does (and what i can't, i don't want to, hahaha). would love to win The Unlikely Wife. Thanks for the opportunity, Debra and Lena

Marianne from Arizona

mitzi[underscore]wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

LOVE "mail-order bride" books :) The Unlikely Wife sounds fantastic! Can't wait to read it!

Samantha
from Michigan

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

Looks interesting!!
Please enter me in the drawing.
God Bless,
Sarah Richmond
Blanch,N.C.

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book it sounds like a great story! Thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Ginger Solomon said...

I love the beginning of this book. It already makes me smile. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

Ginger in AL

Nathanael Richmond said...

Enter me!
Nathanael Richmond
Blanch, NC.

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch,N.C.

Faith said...

Lovely interview, I really like books that look at the heart rather than outward adornment. The cover of the book is fabulous! I love the sunset in the back! Thanks

Faye SD

Luckylady717 said...

This book sounds so interesting...hope to win copy...Lucky Lady 717/OH

Ingrid said...

Lovely Interview , thank you Lena and Debra.
Please add me to your contest, your book sounds like a great read that I don't want to miss.
Blessings to all

I live in S.Illinois

ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

apple blossom said...

love loveinspired books thanks for the chance to win

live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Lourdes said...

The Unlikely wife sounds great would love to win.

Lourdes from Long Island, New York

Judy Cooper said...

Please add my name to the drawing. My type of book and I always enjoy your interviews Mrs. Dooley. They introduce me to new authors and also new novels of favorite authors. Thank you. Judy C. in Louisiana.

rubynreba said...

The book sounds like it is full of surprises and that will make it very interesting!
Beth from Iowa

Jo said...

This sounds like a very interesting book and one that I would love to read.Thanks for the giveaway.

Blessings,
Jo in Southern Arizona
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Mozi Esme said...

Would love to read this!

Jane in Oregon

Angie Adair said...

Sounds like a great book...Angie in IL