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Thursday, April 25, 2013

ALWAYS THE BAKER FINALLY THE BRIDE - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book


I've been anxiously awaiting this book by my friend Sandra D Bricker.

Welcome, Sandie. Why did you become an author?
Aside from a brief period with my sights set on being a ballet dancer (eek!), I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write. It’s just always been part of who I am. I write because I can’t NOT write.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
In my pre-writing career, I was an entertainment publicist. I might go back to that, or pursue graphic design. As long as it’s a creative outlet, I’m in.

If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
I think I’d like to live in the 1950s. I was a bit of a flower child of the late 60s and early 70s, but sock hops and poodle skirts, rockin’ around the clock at the malt shop? Oh yeah, I could rock me a poodle skirt, Lena!

I was a teenager in that time period, and I always wanted a poodle skirt. My mother made me a felt, circle skirt with her new sewing machine that made all kinds of fancy stitches. She stitched designs all over it, but I didn’t get the poodle. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?
The Grand Canyon. With all the traveling my family did when I was a kid, and that I did as an adult, I’ve never made it there. I really want to see it!

I do, too. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?
I’ve wanted to visit France since I was a kid. In fact, I’ve had a Paris trip planned twice, and both times something happened where I had to cancel. The second time I canceled, I was booked on TWA flight 800 – the one that crashed. My guardian angels were at the top of their game that day!

And we’re so glad they were! I had French in college as my second teaching field, and I’ve wanted to go to France as well. What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?
I’ve been the co-moderator for a 6-week study at my church based on Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. In the first week, we dug into the idea that God created us for the sole purpose of loving us. It’s not like I didn’t know He loved me, but it still dropped on me like a ton of bricks. There I was, comparing His desire to love us to the yearning of a couple who really want to have a family. They do fertility treatments, she harvests her eggs, they talk to surrogates…they’ll do anything to make that dream of a family come true. Multiply that by a gazillion, and that’s how much our Creator wanted a family to love! That picture-type compounds my gratitude in a big way.

It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it? I’m sure it changed you as much as that concept changed me. Tell us about the featured book.
Always the Baker Finally the Bride
is the fourth and final book in the Another Emma Rae Creation series for Abingdon Press. It revolves around The Tanglewood Inn, a boutique wedding destination hotel in Roswell, Georgia. The series introduces quirky characters, yummy cakes and confections, and a lot of laugh-out-loud humor. This book ties up the series and creates – hopefully! – a really satisfying end for my readers.

I love your books, so I’m sure it does. Can’t wait to get my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.
“A champagne flute of vanilla bean gelato topped tableside with a shot of espresso.”

            “Seriously?”

            “Chocolate chip bread pudding drizzled with warm caramel.”

            “Oh. My.”

            “Tiramisu lady fingers in coffee liqueur and cocoa.”

            Emma balled up the lapel of her jacket in her fist and whimpered. “Jackson. My heart.”

            Jackson leaned toward the waiter and clicked his tongue. “I’m thinking we should just move on to the sugar-free menu. She’s diabetic.”

            “Oh. All right.”

            The gentleman pointed at the other side of the dessert cart as Jackson interrupted. “But I’ll have that bread pudding,” he whispered.

            “Yes, sir. And for the lady, our sugar-free menu includes a warm berry tart with frozen vanilla yogurt.”

            “Oooh!”

            “A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing sweetened with agave.”

            “You can stop right there,” Jackson told him. “You had her at red velvet.”

            “Not so fast,” she countered, and Jackson’s heart began to thump. “Go on. What else?”

            “Pumpkin spice cake with creamy buttermilk icing.”

            “Oh, that sounds lovely.”

            Perspiration puddled over his top lip, and Jackson wiped it away with his napkin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “Red velvet is your favorite.”

            “Yes, but I can make my own sugar-free red velvet. The pumpkin sounds—”

            Jackson’s attention darted to the waiter and they shared a lingering exchange before the waiter offered, “The red velvet is our specialty. It comes highly recommended.”

            “Really?” she reconsidered. And by the time she nodded, Jackson’s heart had begun to pound at double-time. “Okay. I’ll try the cupcake.”

            “Very good.”

            “Coffee for me, and a pot of tea for my date, please,” Jackson said, leaning back against the leather booth with a sigh.

            “Are you all right?”

            “Hmm? What do you mean?”

            “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “You seem a little tense tonight.”

            “Oh. No. I don’t know. I guess—”

            Fortunately, the waiter reappeared so that he didn’t have to concoct some lame excuse. He stopped breathing as the waiter set the beautiful red velvet cupcake down in front of Emma. A shiny pink cupcake tin held the confection, and a ring of intricate white chocolate made to look like a crocheted doily surrounded it. The carefully-chosen diamond ring shimmered on top of it, catching the light from the chandelier overhead and reflecting the glint of recognition in Emma’s brown eyes.

I love it! How can readers find you on the Internet?
Either on my website (www.SandraDBricker.com ) or they can LIKE my reader page on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SandraDBricker ).

Thank you, Sandie, for sharing this new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - paperback
Always the Baker, Finally the Bride: Another Emma Rae Creation / Book 4 (Emma Rae Creations) - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

23 comments:

  1. Great interview - always look forward to reading a new author. Elaine in Iowa

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  2. Leauphaun8:43 AM

    I've read all of Sandra's othre books in this series, and I'm curious to see how it concludes!!

    - Leauphaun from BC

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  3. Leauphaun, I tried very hard to satisfy readers like yourself! I'm eager to hear what you think after you read the final book in this series that I love so much.

    And Elaine: Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope to snag you. :-)

    Lena: I love you, my friend. Thank you for inviting me to stop by today. You're an angel.

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  4. I would love to win an autographed copy of this book! I live in the Dakotas and none of the book stores in my town had a copy of the book and I was not going to wait an extra week for them to order it so I just have the Kindle book.

    I loved this book and am excited for Sandra's next book "If The Shoe Fits"

    ~Mrs. Lopez of lovinglifeinpink.blogspot.com

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. I can hardly wait to find out how Sandra concludes her series. Would love to win a copy.

    I live in Indiana.

    Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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  7. Sounds wonderful. Count me in, please.

    California

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  8. So fun to see all your comments, and to sense how excited you are about the last book in the Emma series! Thank you for stopping by, peeps.

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  9. Great interview! I have read Sandra's other books to this series and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the opportunity to win this one.

    Blessings,
    Jo from Southern Arizona

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  10. I just learned tonight that Sandie writes books... and in the genre that I love. I'm looking forward to my first read. Sandie, I needed to send you a pic of my trip to Grand Canyon this past December--the Canyon with snow!

    God bless,
    Sandra from OH & our WOEAIHF Igroup

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  11. I'm so excited to see Sandra's book is here, I love this series, so fun!
    Merry in TX

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  12. Sandra's books are so much fun! Sign me up!
    Kandra in TN

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  13. I love this series! Please enter this gal from Ontario, Canada! Thank you.

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  14. Sharon Richmond10:09 AM

    Enter me!!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch,NC.
    sharonruth126@gmail.com

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  15. I am a great fan of this series. I actually made the macaroni and cheese recipe in one of the books. It was fabulous and everyone liked it. I cannot wait to read this one.

    I live in Indiana.

    deamundy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. I love all of Sandie's books! She does a great job of blending faith and fun!

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  17. What a lovely way to present the engagement ring. My grandson just recently gave his sweetie an engagement ring and he was nervous. So the gentleman in the story being nervous fits my grandson to a T.

    I'm from NC

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  18. thanks for the chance to read this novel

    karenk...from PA
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  19. I've really enjoyed this series! Looking forward to Emma's wedding!

    HollyMag from SoCal

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  20. Pam K.7:27 PM

    I enjoy the humor in Sandra's books. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Always the Baker Finally the Bride.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
    Kansas

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  21. This sounds like a fun one! I'm in MN.

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  22. I enjoy Sandra's books and look forward to reading this one.
    Beth from Iowa

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