A BRIDE AT LAST - Melissa Jagears - One Free Book, Plus Much More

Dear Readers, the storyline for A Bride at Last really interested me, so I read the book as soon as I received it. And I’m glad I did. It’s a really different twist on a mail-order-bride story. I loved the characters, and many of the plot twists were total surprises to me. You won’t want to miss this book.

Bio: Much to her introverted self’s delight, Melissa Jagears hardly needs to leave her home to be a homeschool teacher, day-care provider, church financial secretary, and historical romance novelist. She doesn’t have to leave her house to be a housekeeper either, but she’s doubtful she meets the minimum qualifications to claim to be one in her official bio. Her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Welcome back, Melissa. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

They’re my favorite genre to read. And since I’m going to be plotting, writing, revising, rewriting, fixing, and editing it along with reading and rereading it over countless times, I’m sure glad I like this genre!

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I’m going to skip the wedding and children’s birthdays since those are the other answers to be expected. So besides those?......Maybe the day I arrived back in the US after being in China for a month. A friend of mine’s parents picked me up from the airport and asked where I’d like to eat. I said “Anywhere that I can get milk, strawberries, and sugar!” So we went to Cracker Barrel I think, and I had pancakes topped with strawberries and whipping cream and downed two glasses of milk. Then when we arrived at their house because they’d been nice enough to keep my car, I took off my shoes and stood on the grass in their lawn. I never thought I’d miss the feeling of grass. (You’re not allowed to walk on the little patches of grass in big Chinese cities otherwise there wouldn’t be any basically with the amount of people who walk everywhere.) I got yelled at twice for stepping on grass in China and I just reveled in the grass between my toes when I got back!

How has being published changed your life?

It’s busier, so so much busier.

What are you reading right now?

Nothing. I’m at the very end of a revision of a novel, and I like to procrastinate with reading, so I’m denying myself books so I can finish my own. (Because really, how can you read just one chapter???? Though I do allow myself to read non-fiction while in writing mode. I can read that one chapter a day. I’m currently reading Is God a Moral Monster? By Paul Copan. It’s really good.)

What is your current work in progress?

It just got a title! A Heart Most Certain is the first full length book in my new series. Will come out next summer I believe.

Be sure to schedule an interview on this blog when you know the release date. I know my readers will be interested in it. What would be your dream vacation?

On a deserted island with my husband and a stack of books.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The first series was determined by where there happened to be a train in Kansas in the time period I wanted to write in. I chose Kansas because that’s where I live. The next series was determined by a local historical landmark.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

Only one? I’d rather gather a bunch of theological intellectuals and just sit quietly and listen to them discuss over dinner....But one? My critique partner Naomi Rawlings. She lives so far away from me, we’ve only met once, but I talk to her almost every day. It’d be wonderful to spend a day with her.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Um, before kids I had hobbies! They were crocheting and doing frugal projects.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Every day as I write and edit, I think my stories are terrible and I should just quit. I force myself to continue trusting in the process. I’ve done it before; I can do it again.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Find critical critique partners. If the critical readers you have tell you it’s wonderful, only nitpick things like “I think you really meant crimson instead of scarlet” or give you advice that makes you think “did they read MY story or are they just telling me how they’d write it,” find someone else. Keep looking until you get critiques like this: “In summary [for this chapter], I’m not really sure how to justify this last turn of events, but however you do it, IMO, you need more setup and give the reader clear reasonable motivation, and more of his interior monologue to explicate his reasoning.” (And that is word for word what I just got from a critique partner of mine that will require a complete rewrite. If my partners are advising me to rewrite something completely, then as a beginner, you should expect such things too!)

Tell us about the featured book.

Abandoned by his mail-order bride, Silas Jonesey has fought an uphill battle to recover from a pattern of poor choices. Now his prayers for reconciliation have finally come true and his estranged wife has contacted him with her whereabouts.

Kate Dawson was supposed to be a mail-order bride, but upon realizing she'd been deceived about her intended groom, she's now settled into life as a schoolteacher. When the mother of a student passes away, Kate assumes she'll take on care of nine-year-old Anthony—until two men suddenly show up in town, claiming to be the boy's father.

Silas can see Anthony loves Kate, so he enlists her help in reaching out to the boy and attempting to prove his paternity to the court. When a common interest in Anthony leads to an interest in each other and Silas and Kate begin to think they can overcome their rocky start, neither is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light. Can Silas, Kate, and Anthony's wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.

Missouri, September 1885

At the sound of running footsteps, Kate Dawson glanced up from dumping mop water in the brick alleyway outside the school building, Anthony Riverton skidded to a halt in front of her, his little chest heaving as he drew in gulps of air.

“Why weren’t you in school today?” She frowned at his tattered clothing. She needed to find him a decent coat before winter.

“Mother’s dying.” Dread strangled his words. “Tonight. I just know it.”

A lump pushed against Kate’s high collar. “She seemed better yesterday.” Lucinda didn’t have many days left, but Kate wasn’t ready for her to leave yet—wasn’t ready to assume responsibility for this boy all on her own. She hadn’t saved enough money, hadn’t figured out where they would live . . .

“She coughed so much last night I couldn’t sleep, and this morning she begged me not to leave.” The nine-year-old swallowed hard, but his eyes were dry. “Said she’d be the one going. I thought she meant back to the laundry.” His ragged voice barely registered. “And she’s mumbling things about Pa.”

Kate’s breath stopped. “Your pa?”

The boy’s huge Adam’s apple slunk down his throat. “Said he’s coming.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No.”

“Said she wrote him.”

“Wrote him? Whatever for?”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

The easiest way is to go to my website www.melissajagears.com and look for links to my social media presence at your favorite places. (Though I will admit I barely touch Twitter!)

Can Silas and Kate overcome their rocky start and experience healing—and possibly love? Discover the answer in Melissa Jagears' new book, A Bride at Last. Neither Kate nor Silas is prepared for the secrets and past hurts that have yet to come to light as they attempt to prove nine-year-old Anthony's paternity to the court. Can their wounded souls bind them together or will all that stands between them leave them lonely forever?

Celebrate the release of A Bride at Last by entering to win a $100 Memory-Making giveaway and RSVPing to Melissa's August 4th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift card to Netflix (for a family movie night), Shutterfly (to create a family memory book), or TablePlayGames (for a family game night)
• One copy of A Bride at Last

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4. The winner will be announced at Melissa's 8/4 A Bride at Last Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Melissa and fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Thank you, Melissa, for sharing this new book with us. I know my blog readers will love it as much as I do.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Bride at Last - Christianbook.com
A Bride at Last - Amazon
A Bride at Last (Unexpected Brides Book #3) - kindle

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