Sunday, January 15, 2012

AMELIA'S JOURNEY - Martha Rogers - Free Book


Amelia's Journey

“Martha Rogers masterfully portrays characters in the early twentieth century. They’re firmly attached to the way of life they’ve always known, yet reaching toward the changes brought about by increasing technology and transitioning ideology.” —Lena Nelson Dooley, Author of Wild West Christmas, Wild Prairie Roses, and Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

For Ben Haynes it is love at first sight, but can a Boston socialite find true happiness with a cowboy from Kansas? 

Once childhood friends, Ben Haynes is taken with Amelia Carlyle when he runs into her at her sister’s wedding. Although he will be returning to Kansas and life on his father’s ranch, Ben calls on Amelia several times, and they find they have more in common than they first realized. As he leaves for Kansas, they promise to write.

Back in Kansas, Ben begins to save money toward a home for Amelia even though he has not made his intentions known. He’s relying on God to make a way. Meanwhile, Amelia is presented to society and has several young men vying for her attention.

Although Ben has captured Amelia’s heart, her parents make every effort to discourage the relationship, even forbidding Amelia to correspond with him. Amelia tells Ben that she will wait for him as long as it takes, but will the love and loss they experience along the way bring them closer or drive them apart forever?

Martha Rogers is the author of Becoming Lucy; Morning for Dove; Finding Becky; Caroline’s Choice; Not on the Menu, a part of a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y’Barbo; and River Walk Christmas, a novella collection with Beth Goddard, Lynette Sowell, and Kathleen Y’Barbo. A former schoolteacher and English instructor, she has a master’s degree in education and lives with her husband in Houston, Texas.

As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?
Strangely enough, CBD contacted my publisher and asked if it was possible to have a prequel. Many readers wanted to know more about Ben and Mellie, so their story was born.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?
Right now I have no speaking engagements until August for the Texas Christian Writers Conference. I do have a book signing at the Hill Country Book Festival February 11 in Georgetown, Texas.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?
Probably to a smaller town or back to Arkansas because my husband has always wanted to move back to the country.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?
Be patient and wait on God’s timing. Running ahead of Him will only mess things up big time.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why?
I have a friend who is a great Christian comedian. She’s an evangelical Jew who has a hilarious testimony. She’s getting ready for a gig on a cruise this month.

Tell us about the featured book.
Amelia’s Journey tells the story of Ben and Amelia Haynes, Lucy’s aunt and uncle. They left Boston society and lived in Kansas on a ranch before moving to Oklahoma during the land rush. How they finally convinced Amelia’s parents to let her move away makes for a good story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Saturday, August 21, 1875                                     Chapter 1

Amelia Carlyle’s face ached from the smile pasted on it for the last three-quarters of an hour. Would this ceremony never end? She balanced first on one foot and then the other to relieve the pain caused by the white satin pumps Amanda had insisted Amelia must wear.

Amanda’s face did glow with the radiance of the love she had for Charles Scott Bishop, the man who became her husband today.  If that love ever happened to Amelia, and she decided to marry, it’d be a small and simple wedding without all this pomp and circumstance.

At last, the minister pronounced them husband and wife and Charles leaned forward to kiss his bride.  Amelia’s thoughts went immediately to the buffet to be served at the reception. Mother and Father and spared no expense for their oldest daughter’s wedding, and Amelia anticipated the spread of lobster, roast beef, croissants, and wedding cake.

Amanda and Charles made their way back up the aisle, and Amelia dreaded walking even that short distance in her shoes, but she put on another smile and made it to the front steps of the church where carriages awaited to take them to the hotel for the reception.

At the hotel, guests mingled and greeted the bride and groom, but Amelia found the closest table and sat down to slip off her shoes. Her white-stocking clad toes wiggled in great relief to be free of their bindings. She turned her back to the room to hide her most unseemly behavior, but comfort won over decorum. She lifted her skirts to run her fingers along the arch of one foot, which relaxed in contentment. Of course if anyone asked her to dance later, she may not be able to squeeze her feet back into the pumps, but she had seen no one with whom she cared to dance anyway.

“Excuse me, Miss Carlyle?”

That’s a good hook, Martha. Where can we find you on the Internet?
www.marthawrogers.net

Martha, thank you for dropping by my blog again. I know my readers won't want to miss this book.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Amelia's Journey: A prequel to the Winds Across the Prairie series - paperback
Amelia's Journey: A prequel to the Winds Across the Prairie series - Kindle


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

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a Martha Rogers fan. I would love to win a copy of "AMELIA"S JOURNEY. Thank You for the chance.
ANGELA FROM KY

Coolestmommy said...

Martha, I enjoy your books so much. Can't wait to read Amelia's Journey, too.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

Unknown said...

This book sounds like a great way to start a Martha Rogers collection. Thanks for highlighting it, Lena and to both of you, Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Marianne from Arizona

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

Wendy Newcomb said...

This book is on my wish list, thank you for hosting this giveaway.

I live in FL.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Rebecca said...

Oh this looks like a great book. I would love to read this. Thanks for the chance to win this.

I am from Oklahoma

Jo said...

This sounds like a great book. I would love to win a copy of it. Thank you for the opportunity.

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

A.Jones said...

Please enter me in this giveaway! Thank you for the chance to win this book!

I live in New York

Mary Preston said...

I'm looking forward to reading AMELIA'S JOURNEY. I know I will enjoy it.

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

Patty said...

I'm not familiar with Martha's writing. Sounds like a great book to start with!

Patty in SC

Anonymous said...

Oooh. This book sounds wonderful. Please enter me.

Krista from Gresham, OR

scottsgal said...

Love books with cowboys - sigh. Sounds like a winner
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

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

Angie Adair said...

Looking forward to reading Martha's books.. angadair@nwcable.net

apple blossom said...

love to be included in this book giveaway thanks.
live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Ingrid said...

Martha and Lena, thanks for the Interview. I love reading your books Martha and can't wait to read this one, please add me to the Contest.
Blessings to all

I live in S.Illinois

ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

Abigail Mitchell said...

Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.

Mama Cat said...

This sounds very interesting -thank you for the chance to win! I have not read one of your books yet - I live in Phoenix

misskallie2000 said...

I would love to read Amelia's Journey and have added to my wish list. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us Martha.

I am from Georgia

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Kristie said...

Sometimes parents think they know best in the cases of their children's significant others. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Pray and follow God's leading. Sometimes you have to listen really hard and the choices and decisions are not ones that you want to make. God knows best. Our journry through life kinda reminds me of using a GPS. We make a "wrong" turn and I can hear God saying "Recalculating" Ha ha! I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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.

rubynreba said...

I also enjoy Martha's books. This sounds very good.
from Iowa

Dani's Nana..... said...

This sounds so interesting...hope I'm a winner...Dani's Nana/Oh

A.Jones said...

Oh, Please enter me. I really want to try one of Martha's books!

I live in New York