A LITTLE BIT OF CHARM - Mary Ellis - One Free Book

Welcome back, Mary. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Since my best friend lives in an area of Kentucky that Amish and Old Order Mennonites are moving into, this location was a natural for the next book in my New Beginnings series. With this third sister, I wanted to explore the idea of an Amish young woman dealing firsthand with those not of her sect. How do we Christians react with other denominations with their divergent customs and interpretations?

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

It’s tough to limit my guest list to only six. Okay, I’ll omit fellow compatriots of Amish fiction since I attend gatherings with them fairly often. I would invite Tracie Peterson because I stand in awe of her prolific inspiration; Brandilyn Collins because her books are so scary-real; Gina Holmes because of her ability to evoke emotion; Serena Miller because she’s such a lovely storyteller; Mary Connealy because she never fails to make me laugh; and Dan Walsh because he’s handsome!

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Again, a limit of six is tough, so I’ll eliminate personal friends and the time-period I’m writing about. I pick Sarah Sundin because she wrote beautifully about World War II when no one else would touch that era; Lynn Austin, because she transports me into whatever time period she chooses; Julie Klassen because her characters leap off the page, Lauraine Snelling because she writes about places I’ll never visit, Gilbert Morris because his riverboat series was like taking a vacation; and YOU, Lena, because you’re awesome!

Thank you, Mary, for including me with these wonderful authors. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Oh, that’s an easy one to answer—time management! I’m either researching the next in the series, trying to come up with a concept to propose, marketing the current release, completing the various edits of the last book turned in, and let’s see … what am I forgetting? Oh, yeah, trying to focus on the book I’m writing.

We really are multi-taskers whether we want to be or not. Tell us about the featured book.

Rachel King, still recovering from the death of her parents, watches both of her older sisters find happiness with husbands who adore them. She yearns for her own new beginning. Her cousin Sarah lives near a Thoroughbred stable in Kentucky, and the opportunity to work around beautiful horses has always been Rachel’s dream. She leaves Lancaster County to find a home with Sarah and her husband, Isaac, wondering about God’s plan for her life. When a job at Twelve Elms Stables opens up unexpectedly, it seems as though He has answered Rachel’s heartfelt prayers. Then she meets Jake Brady, one of the owners of Twelve Elms, and her life becomes complicated. He’s attractive and charming, and his interest in her is flattering. But he’s also English as well as her boss. And is his trust in God as central to his life as it should be? When Amish men she meets at church and singings start pursuing her, Rachel has important decisions to make. What does a young woman do when her heart puts her faith in jeopardy?

Please give us the first page of the book:

A Little Bit of Charm
Chapter One

 “Whew, it’s already the middle of September and it’s still hotter than blazes.

Rachel looked at her younger sister in horror. “Shush, before someone hears you. What will the Gingerichs think of us?”

Beth peered up with an innocent expression. “Is ‘blazes’ a bad word? I’ve heard daed say ‘build a blaze in the woodstove’ or ‘a blazing sunset.’”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Just hush on general principles. Soon you’ll be on your way back to Lancaster County. Then you can revert to your normal self. But let’s put our best foot forward while we’re still visitors here.”

Beth’s green-eyed focus turned wary. “What do you mean by I’ll be on my way back to Pennsylvania?”

Rachel ignored a question she wasn’t yet ready to answer. “Look, here comes the blushing bride and groom.” She grinned with a heart swelling with joy and love for their sister.

“Who would ever guess Nora would get hitched to Lewis Miller? Surely, not me.” Beth’s words were a very audible whisper. “I thought she’d end up with that wily fox Elam Detweiler.”

Rachel shifted her weight to her other foot, which she then placed directly atop Beth’s. No other admonishment proved necessary.

This sounds like an interesting story. I’m glad I have me book now. Now to find the timeto read it in between my own multi-tasking. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.maryellis.net 

http://www.maryeellis.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Ellis/126995058236

Thank you for sharing this new book with us, Mary.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Little Bit of Charm - Christianbook.com
A Little Bit of Charm (The New Beginnings Series) - Amazon.com
A Little Bit of Charm: 3 (The New Beginnings Series) - Kindle

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