LOVE FOUND IN MANHATTAN - Marlene Worrall - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I love featuring Christmas stories this time of year. Today, we have an author we haven’t had visit this blog before.

Welcome, Marlene. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

That depends on the character. The heroine in Angel in Shining Armor has a few traits I possess, like ambition and the self-esteem issue. However, most of her character is drawn from inspiration from God and my vivid imagination.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I danced on a glass chess table on New Years Eve at a party in Bel Air, California.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My earliest memories are in grade five when I wrote a play and also directed, produced, and starred in it. The teacher allowed me to present it at lunch hour. Also in about grade six, our teacher asked us to write a story about an imaginary trip. She told me it was excellent but did not believe I wrote it. (She said she thought my parents wrote it) She told me to write another story right away, and then she would decide whether or not I wrote the first one. She apologized.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love suspense and mystery. I gobble up non-fiction and a wide variety of fiction.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

By reading the Bible first thing in the morning and meditating on the Word. This gives me strength for the day.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

They just come to me mostly. Certain names I’ve always loved. Though with Ayita High-Eagle, I spent considerable time researching Indian names and it “felt” right.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m not really “proud” of any accomplishment per se. But through the inspiration and grace of God, Love Found in Manhattan  has been released and this gives me great joy.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

It would be a tossup between a Persian cat and a maybe an Arabian steed horse.

What is your favorite food?

Lobster and dark chocolate.

Two of my favorites as well. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Though I’m side-stepping the question a bit; for me, the problem was the hassle of selling the book and the challenge of successfully marketing it.

Tell us about the featured book.

When Tiffany Vandermeer’s step-folks Cessna 52 crashes on Christmas Eve morning, she is devastated. Shocked, she wanders around the Big Apple and discovers a discarded infant. This find leads her into the arms of handsome obstetrician, Jason Prescott. The chemistry between them is palpable. She doesn’t want to deceive him, but she’s bonded with the helpless baby and can’t bear to see him placed in an orphanage the way she’d been. Will her deceit destroy their budding romance? 

Read this story of deceit, forgiveness, and triumphant love, as Jason, a man of unusual faith shows her how. He can use the baby discovery and her loss to catapult her into a new level of faith and a glorious future with him. Will God and his miraculous timing allow her to retrieve the baby if she relinquishes him to authorities?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit my website at www.MarleneWorrall.com or my facebook page. My blogspot is http://MarleneBWorrall.blogspot.ca

Thank you, Marlene, for sharing this holiday book with us. I'm eager to read it, and I know my readers are as well.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Love Found in Manhattan (A Christmas Romance)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

WINNERS!!!!!

Lynn (Nova Scotia) is the winner of Without Proof by Janet Sketchly.

Bonnie R (KY) is the winner of the ebook Christmas Traditions by Darlene Franklin (and other authors).

Connie (KY) is the winner of  Freed to Forgive by Julie B Cosgrove.

Melanie (TX) is the winner of Island Christmas by Kimberly Rose Johnson.

Rachael (MO) is the winner of The Five Times I Met Myself by James L Rubart.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

A THOUSAND SHALL FALL - Andrea Boeshaar - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, Andrea has been a good friend for a number of years. We’ve written for some of the same publishers and encouraged each other in our writing lives. This is the first book in a new series for her.

Bio: Andrea Boeshaar is the cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and runs "The Writer's ER," a coaching service for writers. She is the author of thirty published works, including Threads of Faith, a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards. Andrea is also the author of a popular devotional and regularly blogs on a number of sites.

Connect with Andrea: website, Twitter, Facebook

Welcome back, Andrea. 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?

A Thousand Shall Fall is one of those stories that weighed heavily on my heart. I ached to write it. It began first as a Love Finds You story (Guideposts/Summerside Press) and a contract was sent to my agent at the time and me. Unfortunately the fiction line closed without all the details of my contract being ironed out. My present agent, Mary Sue Seymour, sent my proposal to Kregel Publications. Miraculously, the managing editor there shared my vision for this book and series and soon I was signing a contract with the company for a 3-book deal. The staff at Kregel—Steve, Dennis, Dawn, Leah, Noelle, and Katherine—have all been fabulous to work with. My substantive editor, Lori, has been great, too. In addition to the Kregel staff, I received valuable feedback from authors Kimberley Woodhouse, Cindy Hickey, Christina Miller, and Tracie Peterson. Without the efforts on the part of these folks, my “book baby” may not have been born.

If you teach or speak, what’s coming up on your calendar?

Yes, I teach workshops and speak at ladies’ retreats and other conferences. Presently, I have no speaking engagements lined up—which is fine. I’m immersed in setting up book signings and online media events for my novel A Thousand Shall Fall.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

I would be in the foothills of South Carolina. My husband and I love the area. We feel inspired by the mountains—plus, I have a lot of friends between Greenville and Atlanta, Georgia. Here in Wisconsin, I get tired of the winter by January 2nd.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

I would advise this: Take caution when choosing to independently publish your book or sign with a small publishing company. Unless you’re willing to pay a publicist, self-promotion is difficult. You don’t want to harass folks by telling them you’ve got a book release. They may sever their ties with you on social media because they are tired of seeing your two sentence gloats about your novel! Just because you Tweet it or post it every fifteen minutes does not guarantee you’ll sell a single copy. Asking your friends to write reviews helps, of course, but to a point. Publicity, I have learned, must be very strategic and far-reaching. In addition, building a platform for yourself (a large collection of readers and “followers” takes time. Start building as a writer immediately and work up to the title of “published author.” Your publisher should be willing to invest in you and help you succeed.

Tell us about the featured book.

I believe readers of historical fiction will enjoy my novel, particularly if you enjoy the Civil War era as I do.

A Thousand Shall Fall takes place in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. Known as the “Daughter of the Stars,” the Shenandoah Valley had been defended by such Confederate heroes as General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, General Turner Ashby, General Stephen “Dod” Ramseur, and General Tom Rosser. But they lost the Valley to Union General Phil Sheridan and his Army of the Shenandoah by November 1864. This first book in my Shenandoah Valley Saga covers only the Battle of Winchester III (September 19, 1864). Book two will address the Battle of Cedar Creek (October 19, 1864) and the brave women who nursed soldiers wearing both blue and gray. But that’s the historical part. There’s also a compelling fictional story woven into this factual account.

In the autumn of 1864, spirited Carrie Ann Bell is searching for her runaway sister in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Disguised as a Yankee soldier, she stumbles into a skirmish near Front Royal—and instead of her sister, she finds trouble.

Colonel Peyton Collier of the Union cavalry division arrests her for impersonating an 

Officer, but protects her from worse consequences. Soon the Southern girl finds herself drawn to the chivalrous Yankee horseman, discovering that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. 

But Carrie has promised to keep a dark secret, never suspecting that her silence might threaten the life of the gallant Colonel who holds her—and her heart—captive.

Please give us the first page of the book.

August 15, 1864

Ooh, that Sarah Jane!

Carrie Ann Bell stared at her youngest sister’s sloppily scratched note. How could that girl do such a scandalous thing? Running off with a lowlife peddler? Certainly, Sarah threatened to run away numerous times in the past, but who would have thought she’d actually do it? Mama would be heartbroken when she learned the news.

Heartbroken and angry. Carrie could practically hear Mama crying and blaming her for Sarah running off. Mama would say Carrie paid more attention to Papa’s newspaper than her sisters . . .

And maybe Mama was right. But her sister Margaret was eighteen and Sarah, fifteen. They weren’t that much younger than Carrie herself. And writing for the Bell Tower in Papa’s absence had been Carrie’s refuge, a place of normalcy in a world turned topsy-turvy.

Staring at Sarah’s note, Carrie debated whether to withhold this information from Mama. Maybe she’d go looking for her youngest sister and bring her home to the Wayfarers Inn—

What an oxymoron. The Wayfarers Inn was no more a home than a damp, dark cave was an elegant mansion. Still, it was a roof over her family’s head.

Carrie paced the small newspaper office, paused, and ran one, ink-stained fingertip over the smooth surface of Papa’s desk. Surely she could catch up with Arthur Sims, that no-account speculator with whom Sarah ran off. He couldn’t have traveled far in that large, rattling contraption of his. Painted in obnoxious shades of yellow and orange, it resembled a circus wagon.

Carrie’s hand shook as sudden fire flowed through her veins. She was tempted to notify the law and file kidnapping charges against the man, except the law had better things to do than go hunting for a fast-talking swindler who rode off with a starry-eyed girl.

Love it! Where can we find you on the Internet?

Readers can log on to my website at: www.AndreaBoeshaar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Andrea.Boeshaar

Twitter: @AndreaBoeshaar

Thank you, Lena, for interviewing me on your blog!

It's my pleasure, Andrea. I always enjoy having you here.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1jbj37T

The search for her runaway sister goes awry when Carrie finds herself arrested during the Civil War for impersonating an officer in Andrea Boeshaar's A Thousand Shall Fall. Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel who arrested her. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Andrea is celebrating the release of A Thousand Shall Fall with a Kindle Fire giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Thousand Shall Fall
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 10th. The winner will be announced December 11th on Andrea's blog.

And one reader will win a copy of the book on this blog.

Thank you, Andrea, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to read the story.

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

There are a lot of things I'm thankful for. Every member of my family being together for Thanksiving for the first time in several years. Now that our army grandson is out of the army, we'll all be together.

Our family is close, and I'm thankful.

My husband has loved me for over 51 years, and I'm thankful.

I've had several health issues for the last 14 months, and God was with me through every step of the way, and I thankful.

Here's a song that says what I feel about the Lord:

AFTER THE RAIN - Rita Gerlach - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Rita. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

An excellent question. I strive to weave spiritual themes into the story by fleshing out the characters. I do not preach at the reader. Readers want don’t want a sermon, they want to journey with characters they can relate to. In real life, we all deal with spiritual issues whether we are a believer or not. Some of the spiritual themes in my newest release, After the Rain, are the care of widows and orphans, unplanned pregnancy, trusting in God for guidance, discernment, and living a godly life, just to name a few.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

October has been a busy month. My Daughters of the Potomac series came out in Audible alongside After the Rain. I’ll have other books coming out in the next year. I’m working on writing another Edwardian era novel, and my agent and I are discussing the publication of a novel that is finished.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I wouldn’t mind having dinner with Dr. Dennis Slamin. He’s an oncologist and chief of the division of Hematology-Oncology at UCLA, known for his work in classifying the oncogene that is found in HER2 breast cancer, and the treatment of Herceptin. I received Herceptin IVs for a year during breast cancer treatment. It has saved so many women’s lives, including mine. He fought the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA to get the drug approved. So many of us BC survivors are very thankful. There is a movie called Proof of Life about him, and as I watched it, I could see how the Lord had his Hand in this.

You know my oldest daughter battled breast cancer this year, because you prayed for her and reached out to her. I so appreciated that. God had laid you on my heart through your battle. For a while there, I was praying for four different author friends who were also in the battle. I’m so thankful you and my daughter are on the other side of the battle. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

If it were another writer, undoubtedly I’d want to meet Mark Twain. If anyone has ever read his work, he’d be in the top ten of people to meet. Not only was he a brilliant writer, he was witty, and a very wise man. I can imagine sitting on his porch on a summer evening talking while he smokes a cigar. I’d do a lot more listening than speaking, but I’d have many questions about writing.

It would be fun to be there with the two of you. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

I’d encourage them by saying not to allow rejections to hold you back from doing what you love and fulfilling your calling as a Christian writer. All writers get rejections, and most of the time it has to do with the market. Publishing is a business, and publishers are in it to make money. That’s the bottom line. If you are called to write, no one can take that away from you. Only you can decide what to do with it. And we have the option of self-publishing with Amazon’s KDP program, which gives you all the rights, full control, and higher royalties. There is always hope, so let God lead you. Write and don’t fold.

Tell us about the featured book.

I loved writing After the Rain. It was a leap forward in time for me. My other books were Colonial era novels, so this one was exciting to delve into, especially with all the new research I had to do. Here’s the synopsis.

It's 1908, a year in the Edwardian Age, the year J.M. Barrie’s play What Every Woman Knows, premiered in Atlantic City and the first Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit. It is a year when the world faced one of its worst disasters in history, when the New Year would heal the wounds of loss.

Louisa Borden lives a privileged life in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a new and thriving community on the outskirts of Washington, DC, for the well-to-do. Against the wishes of her domineering grandmother, she retreats from the prospects of a loveless marriage and instead searches for what she hopes is her calling in life.

When her horse is spooked along Rock Creek, she is thrown from the saddle—an embarrassing situation for any affluent young lady. Soaking wet, bruised and humiliated, she is carried up the muddy bank to safety by Jackson O’Neil, a stranger to the city, who changes the course of everything, including the lives of all those around her.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Autumn 1908 Virginia

Jackson O’Neil scanned the ridgeline. The clouds were low and misty, shades of blue and gray ash that stretched along the mountains as far as his eyes could see. Autumn had come early, and the dogwoods were turning crimson—the maples gold, the oaks deep brown.

A whisper of a breeze stirred the changing leaves and ruffled his dark hair. His quarter horse grazed in the field beyond the farmhouse his father had built so many years ago, before he was born, before his younger sister took her first breath.

He drew in the scent of apples fallen from the trees, listened to the hum of yellow jackets thirsty for the sweet overripe nectar of the rotting pulp. He heaped hay over the fence and whistled to his horse. Ransom raised his head and trotted over.

Jackson rubbed the velvety nose offered him and reached inside his pocket for a sugar cube. “Come spring, I’ll find you a mare, Ransom. It gets lonely, doesn’t it?”

He understood loneliness, and wished for it at times so to forget some of the things he had seen in his life. He rubbed his horse’s ear and recalled the seasons when his father’s fields were dotted with mares and their foals, a stallion in the next meadow over. Would he ever bring those prosperous days back to Ballyshannon? Or had those years of plenty ended?

He’d been home more than a year now, since his father turned the land over to him, land that had been in his family for three generations, named for the place where his great grandfather had been born in Ireland. Jackson smiled—grateful to be home, regretful he had ever left.

An engine rumbled in the distance. It drew closer and a dust cloud flew up into the air. Choking exhaust mixed with rusty sand and dirt, held no comparison to the colossal billows of soot and concrete dust he remembered. He threw back the images and focused on Bill Shanks barreling toward him on the motorbike used for delivering the mail. Whipping around a bend, Shanks skidded to a halt, frightening Ransom away from the fence.

“I’ve a letter for you.” Shanks lifted his goggles and drew a brown envelope out of his leather satchel. “It’s from your pa.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is https://ritagerlach.wordpress.com/

They can find my author’s page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/author.ritagerlach

My regular Facebook profile is at https://www.facebook.com/rita.gerlach.3

Thank you, Rita, for sharing this new book with my readers. I know they will be eager to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

After the Rain - Christianbook.com
After the Rain - Amazon
After the Rain - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

A RESPECTABLE ACTRESS - Dorothy Love - One Free Book

BIO: A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn’t busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. The Loves make their home in the Texas hill country.

Welcome back, Dorothy. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in the Presbyterian Church and from a very early age was taught that as believers we belong to God. I don’t have a specific salvation story to tell. I can’t remember when faith was not a part of my life.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Only four? There are so many writers I admire. For this question I’m going to limit my answer to writers I have not yet met and not the ones who encourage and inspire me every day with their talent and friendship.

As a southern author born and bred and as one who writes almost exclusively about the South, I’d have to invite Pat Conroy because he loves the South Carolina lowcountry as much as I do and writes about it with such grace. Lee Smith for her realistic portrayals of Southern families in all their messiness, Kaye Gibbons because her book Ellen Foster is a masterpiece and I’d love to pick the brain of such a genius, and Cassandra King who is a very good writer in her own right and happens to be married to Pat Conroy. I figure Sandra might persuade Pat to accept my invitation.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I locked myself out of my house twice in one day. Luckily a sympathetic neighbor came to the rescue the first time. When I did it the second time, it was late in the afternoon and I just waited for my husband to get home and let me in.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

Go for it. Enjoy the process. But be prepared. It’s harder than it looks.

So … so true. Tell us about the featured book.

A Respectable Actress is inspired by the life of Frances Anne (Fanny) Kenble, a very popular British actress who toured America in the 1800’s when actresses were considered undesirables.  Fanny married Pierce Butler and went with him to his St Simons Island plantation where much of my novel is set.  My fictional lead character, India Hartley, comes to Savannah as a visiting actress on a tour of theaters across the south. On the second night of her Savannah engagement, her leading man, a popular local actor is shot dead onstage in front of a packed house. India is accused of the crime. Celia McKay, a character from my novel The Bracelet hires her friend Philip Sinclair, the best lawyer in town to defend India. To protect her from pre-trial gossip, he takes her to Indigo Point, his rundown plantation on St Simons where they work on her defense, and where India makes startling discoveries about Philip’s past as she looks for clues to the disappearance of a slave girl and seeks to unravel the mysteries of a woman in a portrait.

Romantic Times named the book a Top Pick and commented on its “gothic vibe.” It’s a bit of a departure from my earlier books but I hope readers will enjoy it.

I can hardly wait to read my copy. Please give us the first page of the book.

Savannah, December 20, 1870

Gunfire exploded to the right of the stage, a burst of sound that temporarily deafened her. When the ringing in her ears subsided she was aware of screams, of shouts for a policeman and a doctor, of the ensuing chaos as officers arrived and began ushering patrons out of the packed theater. Two burly officers leapt onto the stage, seized her by both arms, and manhandled her into a police wagon parked in the alley, the officers with their weapons at the ready, the horses stamping impatiently in the cold.

           

Now it was midnight and the city of Savannah slumbered beneath a veil of winter moonlight, the deep silence broken only by a rush of wind that rattled the palmettos and the Pride of India trees lining the deserted streets.

           

Inside the Chatham County Jail the walls rang with the shouts of drunken sailors and their painted escorts, the clang of metal bars and snatches of lewd songs sung off key. Jaded-looking policemen armed with nightsticks moved along the dimly lit corridors checking the locks and admonishing the prisoners to quiet down.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website : www.DorothyLoveBooks.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dorothylovebooks,

Twitter at WriterDorothy

Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing this new book with us. Your snippet intrigues me. I usually only read Christmas books in November and December, but I probably will slip your book in very soon. I can hardly wait to read it. I'm sure my readers feel the same way.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Respectable Actress - Christianbook.com (best price today)
A Respectable Actress - Amazon
A Respectable Actress - 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

AN ENDLESS CHRISTMAS - Cynthia Ruchti - One Free Book

BIO: Speaker and award-winning author, Cynthia Ruchti draws from 33 years experience writing and producing a daily radio broadcast to tell stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction. She serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin.

Dear Readers, I’ve known and loved Cynthia Ruchti for a long time. And her books are always wonderful reads. Since the beginning of October, I’ve been reading mostly Christmas books. There are a large number of new Christian Christmas releases. An Endless Christmas stands out as one of the best. A unique storyline and characters who marched into my heart and took up residence there kept me turning pages as fast as I could. A heartwarming story that lingers, this book is sure to become a traditional favorite that will be read year after year. You won’t want to miss this one.

Tell us about your salvation experience.

A love for God, the Bible, and Jesus had been planted in my heart almost since birth, or at least since I could recognize the word God and the look of reverence on my parents’ faces. Respecting the Word of God and appreciating Jesus and His love almost came naturally, growing up in that sweet atmosphere. But when I was five years old, I was confronted with my need for doing more than just thinking about Jesus. During swimming lessons that summer, the instructor’s insistence on the buddy system “in case someone got in trouble in the water” brought me face-to-face with the idea that even a child could die. I wanted the assurance that if something happened to me, then or ever, I would have a home in heaven with the God I loved. I can almost hear the screen door slamming behind me all those years ago when I rushed home after swim class, kneeled by the ratty tweed couch, and asked my parents to help me commit my life to Jesus as my Savior. No turning back. No turning back.

I was also reared in that kind of home, and I asked Jesus into my heart when I was seven years old.You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

My daughter, Amy, who has a writer’s heart and is one day going to write more than the wittiest Facebook posts ever.

My granddaughter, Grace, who also has an exceptional gift.

My other granddaughter, Hannah, because her flair for the dramatic may mean she too is on a path toward writing emotion-packed stories (and because she’d never forgive me if she weren’t invited).

You, because you’d make them all feel at home. J

That sounds like a fun retreat. I’d love interacting with all of you. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Yes, I speak frequently for women’s groups and retreats. I love the relationships that form at these events and the ability to in that way, too, tell stories hemmed in hope. I have the outrageous privilege of serving as one of the speakers on a Women’s Retreat CRUISE in April, from Tampa to Key West to Cozumel and back. What a thrill to have been asked to participate in that event.

Wow! That sounds like fun. I love cruises. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

One of the most embarrassing was during a duet my girlfriend and I sang in church when we were young teens. It was a sober song, but we got the giggles and couldn’t get rid of them. My friend’s mother was our pianist and shot us a searing “evil eye.” But that just made it all the funnier. We never did pull ourselves together. But we were asked again and somehow managed to overcome the temptation to allow it to happen again.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I would tell people—and often have—to get to the best writers’ conference they can afford. It’s such a good first step, because they will either feel like they’ve finally found what they’ve been looking for, or the realities of what it takes to become a writer will convince them there are other ways to lose sleep.

Tell us about the featured book.

An Endless Christmas is the story of Christmas week with the Binder family. When grandson Micah Binder proposes to his girlfriend and she says “No,” the week seems off to a rocky start. But the Binder family’s response becomes part of Katie Vale’s journey to the heart of Christmas.

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

“What did she say?”

A carol played in the background. Carols perpetually played in the background at the Binder’s cottage at Christmas, Katie Vale had quickly learned. The music almost covered the whispered “What did she say?” that made the rounds of the room built for two that now held twenty.

           

“She said no.” Dodie Binder—matriarch and tone-setter—leaned closer to her husband Wilson whose smile collapsed, stroke-like, when she repeated the answer in his good ear.

           

“She said no?” He wasn’t the only one asking for clarification.

           

Katie fingered the heirloom ring. In her hand, not on it. A square-cut diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires. A narrow, glitter-edged ribbon looped through its circle. Moments earlier it had hung on the Binder’s tinseled Christmas tree. “I said…”—she apologized to Micah Binder with her eyes and with all she couldn’t express—“no. I can’t accept this. I can’t—”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.cynthiaruchti.com, http://www.hemmedinhope.com, http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage, http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti, http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti

Thank you, Lena. It’s always a joy to stop by for a chat!

And, Cynthia, it's a joy to host you. With the growth of the readership of the blog, we always have new readers who haven't read any of your work. I'm happy to introduce them to other Christian authors.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

An Endless Christmas - Christianbook.com
An Endless Christmas: A Novella - Amazon
An Endless Christmas: A Novella - 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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 

WINNERS!!!!!

Annie (MD) is the winner of Light and Shadows by Carole Jefferson (Susan Page Davis).

Denise (CO) is the winner of 100 Simple Ways to Have More Friends by Cherie Burbach.

Apple Blossom (ND) is the winner of  Dodging Destiny by Derinda Babcock.

Brenda (VA is the winner of Cup ' N Cake by Teresa Ives Lilly.

Ingrid (MO) is the winner of The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirkpatrick.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

THE FIVE TIMES I MET MYSELF - James L Rubart - One Free Book

Welcome back, James. Reading your novels always stretch me spiritually. Why did you become an author?

Like many other writers, I didn’t chose writing, writing chose me. I remember when I was around twenty years old on a weekend getaway to the Washington coast where I felt so restless inside I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I sat down and wrote out the true story of how a friend and I narrowly escaped being mauled by a mama bear, and as soon as I finished everything felt right with the world. I can’t not write if I want to feel peace.

I so understand that feeling. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

Bear trainer. No, I’m kidding. Since I’m too old, and was never talented enough to play in the NFL, I’ll go with actor. I took acting classes in college and loved it. One of the items on my “someday” list is to try out for community theatre.

I don’t know if you knew that my degree is in Drama. And I’ve both written the script and directed in community theater. If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

Let’s head for 1804, and give me a spot on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. What a rush to be journey across the US to the Pacific Coast, not knowing what kind of adventures you’d find along the way. No roads, no map, just the unknown quest in front of you. 

I like that period, too. My only pirate book was set in 1804, but it took place in the south eastern part of the US. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

Darci and I have always talked about visiting the New England states in the fall. The golden and red leaves, the covered bridges, the quaint small towns ... take us there!

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I have never been to Greece, and we’d love to go someday. I can’t wait to scuba dive down there in the Greek Isles.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

That it’s all about grace. Everything. The grace we give ourselves, the grace we give each other, and our willingness to receive the unending, exploding fountain of grace our true Abba has given us through Jesus.

I love basking in His grace for me so I can extend it to others. Tell us about the featured book.

The Five Times I Met Myself is probably the most personal book I’ve ever written. So much of me is in there. The question I ask in the book (and I asked about my own life) is, what would you do differently if you could make different choices? And what would that life look like? And is there hope for the future since we can’t make different choices? Here’s the back cover copy that will give you a good feel for the novel:

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The dream had come again last night, just as it had sliced into Brock’s subconscious the night before that. A dream now dominating a significant portion of his waking moments. He had to talk to someone about it— someone with at least a smattering of psychology. Someone he could trust. His best choice was Morgan. His only choice, really.

Brock crossed Seattle’s 4th Avenue and looked up at the sky as it surrendered to dusk. Not long till the spring evenings would hold the light till after nine o’clock. He reached the other side of the street, strode up to the front door of Java Spot, yanked the door open, and stepped inside. Three-quarters full. The perfect number of people. Not so many that newcomers would turn away, but enough to tell people it was a place to be. Morgan had to feel good having that many customers at six twenty.

Brock glanced around at the 1940s motif. Posters of Rosie the Riveter and Ted Williams, an old Coca- Cola sign, and the famous shot of the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square hung on the walls. Definitely captured the hope of a post–World War II populace. Or maybe Java Spot simply appealed to those who wanted an alternative to the corporate giant that had more coffee shops sprinkled throughout Puget Sound than 7-Elevens.

On one side: a cluster of what looked like college students, a few couples, and some solo acts. The opposite side: three people hunched over their Mac laptops, and a large group of mid-forty somethings laughed and pointed at each other in rapid-fire succession. What Java Spot put in its drinks was obviously the right concoction, which made Brock smile again, because he’d developed those concoctions being consumed in all fifteen of Morgan’s locations as well as the rest of the country and overseas.

Brock took one more glance around the coffee shop, then strolled behind the counter and said, “Not a bad crowd for a Monday night.”

“You can’t come back here.”

“Deal with it.”

“Nope. Employees only. Get out. Now.”

Morgan Myers lugged his sizable girth toward Brock and grinned. When he reached Brock, Morgan grabbed him by both shoulders and shook him like he was a stuffed animal. Yeah, maybe Morgan had put on more than a few pounds since their college days, but even after thirty-one years, he hadn’t lost any of his linebacker strength.

“Amazing,” Morgan said. “You actually have the hint of a tan to go with your slightly graying mane. A vacation you call work—but at least you got some sun.”

“It was work.”

“Uh- huh. A week in Costa Rica sipping coffee and checking out beans. Brutal. How did you survive? What, you were probably slaving away three, maybe four hours a day before you hit the beach?”

“Four and a half.” Brock grinned at his friend.

“When did you get back?”

“Five days ago.” Brock lowered his voice. “That’s when they started.”

“When what started?”

“When you get a moment, I need to talk.”

“The doctor is in.” Morgan tapped his chest.

“A degree in psychology you never used makes you a doctor?”

“I use it every day.” Morgan waved his paw of a hand at the crowd. “Spill it. Problems with Karissa? Tyson? Work?”

“A dream. More like a nightmare.”

Morgan beckoned with his finger and led Brock to the back room and into the office. After they settled into the small space, Morgan beckoned again with both hands. “Let’s go. Tell me about dem cah-razy dreams.”

You’ve already pulled me in, as you always do with the first scene in your books. How can readers find you on the Internet?

·       Website and where folks can sign up for my newsletter: JamesLRubart.com

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart

·       Twitter: @jamesLrubart

Thanks for having me, Lena! Always great to be with you.

And I love having you. I’m eager to read this new book, and I know my readers are as well.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Five Times I Met Myself - Christianbook.com (best print price today)
The Five Times I Met Myself - Amazon
The Five Times I Met Myself - Kindle (best price)

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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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

ISLAND CHRISTMAS - Kimberly Rose Johnson - One Free Book

Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson writes sweet inspirational romance. She married her college sweetheart 25 years ago. Her hobbies include reading, watching chick flicks, playing the piano, long walks with her hubby and their yellow lab, drinking coffee, and eating way too much dark chocolate. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science and is a member of ACFW.

Island Christmas

Mountain Brook Ink

October 30, 2015

Should Rachel take a risk, or play it safe and possibly lose the man who could help fulfill her dreams? 

Welcome back, Kimberly. How would you classify the genre of your novel?

I have always thought of my writing as contemporary romance, but it actually sells better in the women’s Christian fiction genre. I’m not sure why, but it may have something to do with my covers. I’ve learned since expressing my vision for the covers to my publishers that romance readers like to see people on the covers and the first three books in this series do not have people. I’m hoping the next book will. J

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--As a kid I wanted to be a secret agent when I grew up.

--When I first started writing I wrote romantic suspense, but never sold any of those manuscripts. I switched genres to contemporary romance and sold the first one I wrote.

--I changed my major three times in college. I started as an elementary Ed major, switched to piano performance, and ultimately ended up with a degree in Behavior Science with a minor in music.

I changed my major three times in college, too. I started as an English major, then changes to speech, and finally went with Drama. Please tell us a bit more about the plot of your novel.

Sous Chef Rachel Narrelli returns to Wildflower Island looking for a fresh start for herself and her young son, but discovers that life has a lot of bumps in the road even on idyllic Wildflower Island. She is grateful when new friend Chris Campbell offers support as she faces obstacles with her new job and new life. She cares for Chris but must decide if she is willing to risk her heart to a man with an uncertain future.

A self-proclaimed workaholic, Chris Campbell comes to Wildflower Island hoping to take life at a slower pace. When a new guest at the Wildflower B and B catches his eye, he is drawn to her. But how will a woman and her young son fit into his future—a future that’s uncertain at best? And most of all, how can he reconcile her lack of faith in God with his strong religious beliefs. 

What is it about your lead character that will make your readers care about her/him.

Rachel is a courageous young widowed mother who has worked hard to get where she is, but life keeps knocking her down.

All the men in Chris’s family have died young from heart attacks. Chris believes this could be his fate as well and has worked hard to stay heart healthy, but when it’s not enough he moves to Wildflower Island for a slower pace. While there he meets Rachel and her young son and suddenly he’s not content to accept his family history.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Chris would be played by Bradley Cooper and Rachel would be played by Alexis Bledel—I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and would be honored to have her play the part. J

What is something in your writing-industry experience that made you laugh or at least smile?

Several years ago at one of the summer Oregon Christian Writer’s Conferences Liz Curtis Higgs was the keynote speaker. My goodness she is funny. I think I was crying at times from laughing so hard.

I love to listen to Liz Curtis Higgs. She was one of my first online writer friends, way back in the early days of the public Internet. What is the last novel you read that you would recommend? Why do you recommend it?

I just finished reading My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. At first I wasn’t sure I would like it because it has two stories within the storyline, one takes place in present day the other several hundred years ago. Then I realized how important one story was to the other and how you wouldn’t have the present day story without the historical one. It was exceptionally well written and a page-turner. It’s also part of a series so there is a continuing mystery thread.

I also really liked Kept by Sally Bradley. This book is unlike most books Christian books I’ve read. It’s one of those stories you need to read to understand what I’m saying, but I couldn’t put it down.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently writing Island Hope the fourth book in the Wildflower B and B Romance Series. This book will release in April 2016. The release spread between books is farther on this one. I hope readers will subscribe to my newsletter so I can let them know when it releases. It’s easy to subscribe from my website at kimberlyrjohnson.com.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website J kimberlyrjohnson.com

I am a contributing blogger at http://www.inspyromance.com/

All my books are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Kimberly+Rose+Johnson

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Since this is a Christmas book, what is your favorite Christmas memory?

I’ll share mine. When I was a kid my family drove to California to spend Christmas with my Grandma. We were still traveling Christmas morning and had stopped at a rest stop. In those days, seatbelts weren’t required, and my sister and I sat in the back of our Datsun pickup on beanbags. There was a boot that connected the back to the cab. Anyway, my parents stopped to give us our Christmas stockings and handed them to us through the boot. She opened our gifts in full view of anyone who cared to watch through our windshield. I’ll never forget this one woman who stood there the entire time with a big smile just watching my sister and I enjoy our Christmas morning stocking at the rest stop. J

Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this new book with us. I enjoyed reading the first two in the series, and I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of this one. I know my readers will be eager to read this one as well.

Readers, leave a comment, answering Kimberly's question, 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, 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