THE INHERITANCE - Michael Phillips - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, today we're featuring a book by a very well-known author, but there is no interview. However, we do have our usual giveaway. When you leave a comment, be sure to tell us if you've read any of his books, and if so, which one is your favorite. 

I first became aware of Michael Phillips when I read almost all of the George MacDonald series he adapted for modern audiences.

Bio: Michael Phillips is a bestselling author with more than 70 of his own titles. In addition, he has served as editor/redactor of nearly 30 more books. He is known as the man responsible for the reawakened interest in George MacDonald of the last 30 years. In addition to the MacDonald titles adapted/edited for today's reader, his publishing efforts in bringing back full-length quality facsimile editions also spawned renewed interest in MacDonald's original work. Michael and his wife, Judy, spend time each year in Scotland but make their home near Sacramento, California.

The Inheritance

The death of the clan patriarch has thrown the tiny Shetland Islands community of Whale's Reef into turmoil.

Everyone assumed MacGregor Tulloch's heir to be his grand-nephew David, a local favorite, but when it is discovered that MacGregor left no will, David's grasping cousin Hardy submits his own claim to the inheritance, an estate that controls most of the island’s land. And while Hardy doesn’t enjoy much popular support, he has the backing of a shadowy group of North Sea oil investors. The courts have frozen the estate’s assets while the competing claims are investigated, leaving many of the residents in financial limbo. The future of the island-and its traditional way of life-hangs in the balance.

Loni Ford is enjoying her rising career in a large investment firm in Washington, DC. Yet in spite of her outward success, she is privately plagued by questions of identity. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, and while she loves them dearly, she feels completely detached from her roots. That is until a mysterious letter arrives from a Scottish solicitor. . . .

Past and present collide in master storyteller Phillips's dramatic new saga of loss and discovery, of grasping and grace, and of the dreams of men and women everywhere.

Chapter One

A Boy and a Bird

Whales Reef, Shetland Islands

On a late afternoon of a surprisingly warm day, a small lad sat on a large stone with the blue of sky and water spreading out before him. The air was full of motion, but for this one of Shetland’s minor islands the wind was relatively light. The chair-rock of his perch jutted out of the ground near a high bluff overlooking the sea.

           

The boy lifted his face to the fragrant breeze as he watched the birds soaring above. He loved the birds, and he loved the sea. But today that love was tinged with sadness.

           

He looked beside him. On a tuft of sea grass lay a tiny bird with a broken wing.

           

The boy was only seven, but the music of the angels stirred within him. He valued life in all its forms. From almost the moment he was born he possessed an uncanny connection to the animal kingdom. It was not merely that he loved animals. The boy understood them far beyond the usual capacity of humans to comprehend their winged and four-footed brethren of creation.

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

The link for the 5-book giveaway is: https://promosimple.com/ps/9735

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog.  You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. This is a separate giveaway from the one above.(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  

SONG OF SILENCE - Cynthia Ruchti - One Free Book, Plus Much More

Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to have another Cynthia Ruchti book for you. When I read her first novel, I was hooked. Her writing is unique, and her stories are always different from any others that are out there. And that’s a good thing.

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

The more I talk with women readers, especially at speaking events, the more we seem to share a common bond about a little-discussed season of life—the front edge of retirement years. My husband has been semi-retired due to workplace cutbacks since he was fifty and now punches a time-clock only two days a week, although the time-clock has matured to a computerized click. As a writer, I work from home—long hours, intense hours. Most work-at-home women can imagine the reaction I hear when I say, “He’s home all…the…time.” That statement is met with a collective, knowing, “Ohhhhh…”

It’s not a bad thing to be near the person you love and have committed your forevers to. But that season offers challenges rarely talked about. It’s a new dance for a married couple. How do they maneuver when their ideas about almost everything from wake and sleep schedules to agendas for the day to noise-versus-quiet to the meaning of a deadline to television and recliners and “Are you busy?” have completely different meanings for husband and wife?

In Song of Silence, I added other layers to that common glitch. Charlie retired early and loved the idea of having nothing he had to do anymore, other than putter in his garden and go fishing once in a while. Lucy was forced into way-too-early retirement when her role as a music educator in their small town school was cut due to budget problems. Art and music—gone. Lucy’s passion—gone.

But in any good novel, one conflict isn’t enough. Lucy’s song is silenced in multiple ways. Her journey to reclaim it lies at the heart of the story.

Growing up with a music educator father certainly informed the passion part of the telling of Lucy’s story. And my main character is named for a favorite music teacher from grade school—Lucy, who just happens to be married to a man named Charlie.

I so understand. Since my husband and I are in our 70s, we had to work through that season of life. Since I’m still a working author, he often volunteers in various ministries in our area. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

I know you’d like me to name names, but I have a concept in mind, rather than specific authors. I’d set a table in front of the fireplace, bring in comfy upholstered wing chairs rather than my stiff dining room chairs, serve a delightful meal prepared by—oh, say—The Barefoot Contessa, and greet my guests. Two would be general market authors like Sue Monk Kidd or Jodi Picoult or Anne Tyler, so I could gain their perspectives on stories that draw readers like…um…bees to honey. Two would be long-experienced Christian contemporary fiction authors like Lisa Wingate, Gina Holmes, or Nicole Baart who all write family drama, so I could tap into their thoughts about the meshing of story creation and emotion. But I might also want to include those who write in a genre outside my own, because there’s so much we can learn from one another. Because I do on occasion have the joy of sitting across the table from Rachel Hauck, Colleen Coble, Robin Caroll, Brandilyn Collins, Cara Putman, Becky Melby, Kathryn Springer, and others whom I admire, I would sit with them the NEXT night at dinner! My last two of the six would be chosen from among the many new faces on the contemporary fiction scene. Most of them are writing contemporary romance. I’d love to have the opportunity to sit face-to-face or elbow-to-elbow with younger writers who are intentionally choosing to write women’s fiction where romance is an element but emotion steals the show, where the conflicts are real-life conflicts.

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

I would choose those who not only write well, tell great stories, but are crazy-thorough with their research. Writers like Sarah Sundin, Karen Barnett, you Lena, Julie Klassen, Lynn Austin, Karen Witemeyer…

Thank you for including me. I’d love spending time with those 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?

Authors continually invest time and energy to discover new readers who’ve not yet read their books. And new ways to connect with them meaningfully. But a daunting challenge is also pressed upon us—whether by our own intents, our publishers’ expectations, or the God of excellence who called us to this role—to make the next book even better than the last. It’s not a “problem,” but instead a challenge that serves to sharpen me, as it should.

That is so true. Tell us about the featured book.

Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?

Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career…until the day she has no choice.

Forced to retire from her positions as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

—Kahlil Gibran

Lucy removed her reading glasses and watched Ellie’s thin, thirteen-year-old fingers splay against the girl’s too-flat stomach. “Try it,” Lucy said.

“I don’t have much breath.”

“I know.” The confession drilled so much deeper than it would have coming from any of Lucy’s other students. “Please try.”

She watched as Ellie struggled to fill her scarred lungs from the bottom without moving her upper chest or shoulders. The girl’s hand moved an inch.

“Now, inhale and exhale without letting your hand move at all.”

“I can’t.”

Lucy tilted her head, eyebrows raised, wordlessly urging a response from Ellie.

Ellie smiled. “Time to be brave? Braver than I feel?”

“Right.” Lucy traced the girl’s line of sight to one of the dozens of motivational posters on the wall. Be Brave. Braver than you feel. Next to it, Right or wrong, blow it strong. Beside that one, Practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes possible. Lucy’s favorite, Just so you know, dogs don’t eat music homework.

“Deep breath from the bottom of your lungs. Push your abdomen out to allow air in. Hold it. Now two small breaths in and out without moving your hand. There! You did it!”

Ellie pressed her lips together but couldn’t stop the smile that overrode her efforts. “I didn’t think I could.”

“Now, let’s try that technique for these four measures.” Lucy pointed to the sheet on the music stand. “Keep that expansion in your tummy, even though you’ll have to breathe. See if it doesn’t help you maintain that beautiful tone you’ve been working on.”

The girl raised the silver flute to her pursed lips, a mix of eagerness and skepticism on her face. She exaggerated the movement of her abdomen, her striped shirt proving her obedience, and played the specified measures. Ellie’s eyes flashed her reaction before she lowered her flute. “That,” she said, “was awesome!”

Tears tickled Lucy’s sinuses. “Yes, it was.”

“Does that work with singing, too? Could I join choir next year? Is there room for me?”

Laughter poured out of Lucy’s mouth, but it originated in her heart. “Four brilliant measures and you’re ready to tackle singing, too?” As quickly as the laughter erupted, it died. Her choir? Next year?

“My doctor says he owes you.” Ellie’s flute lay in her lap, the thin fingers cradling it. She stifled most of a cough. “He says he never would have thought of music as cystic fibrosis therapy.”

I never thought my first chair flutist would muscle through CF to keep playing. “I’m glad it’s helping.”

“GDBD,” she said, running her fingers over the instrument. “Good days, bad days?”
Ellie looked up. “Do you text?” Incredulity. 
Lucy took no offense. Even at a few months shy of fifty-six, she must have seemed ancient to a thirteen-year-old. Despite her sassy haircut. And artsy earrings, thanks to Ania’s jewelry-making skills. “Is today a good day, Ellie?”

The girl lifted her flute then pointed to the line of notes on the page, as a pool player might point to the pocket where she intended the eight ball to land. “Mrs. Tuttle, any day I’m breathing is a considered a good day.” She inhaled without moving her shoulders and played the measures as if running a victory lap. Which she would likely never do. Run.

Lucy was three hours away from another school board budget-cut meeting. Could she keep breathing? The discussion had crept too close to destroying scenes like this one with Ellie. Only Lucy’s dogged sense of propriety had kept her from storming the school board’s line of tables and chairs last time. If it crept much closer...

Lucy turned her attention back to her admiration for a thirteen-year-old’s breathless ability to muscle through.

Wonderful! How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can connect with me—and please do!—through my website: http://www.cynthiaruchti.com or http://www.hemmedinhope.com (My tagline for all my stories is, “I can’t unravel. I’m hemmed in hope.”), or through http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage or http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti and http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti. You can find images of how I pictured my characters and the setting on the Pinterest Song of Silence board.

Thank you so much, Lena! You’re a gem!

As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, will Lucy's faith song go silent, too? Find out in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, Song of Silence. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Song of Silence
• A $150 Visa cash card

One second place winner will receive:

• A copy of Song of Silence
• A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 9th. The winners will be announced May 10th on Cynthia's blog.

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

Song of Silence - Christianbook.com

Song of Silence - Amazon

Song of Silence - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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

MEDICAL JUDGMENT - Richard L Mabry, MD - One Free Book

Welcome back, Richard. Do you have a favorite genre to write? If so, what is it?

I’ve always enjoyed suspense and thrillers, and although I started out writing straight novels, I eventually moved into writing in that genre. Because I have almost four decades of experience in medicine, it seemed natural to write in that sub-genre. And as for Christian fiction, I’ve been a Christian since my mid-teens, and it just seemed natural to write from that viewpoint.

If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

For several years, Kay and I had a timeshare condo in North Carolina for a week in the fall, when the leaves were turning. We liked the people, and the weather was nice when we were there—but I don’t think I’d like to live there year-round. There are lots of other areas in the US we enjoy visiting, but I think when all’s said and done, we’re happy staying in north Texas.

It is a good place to live, but the last few days haven’t been so pleasant with all the stormy weather, hail, and tornados. What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

We loved Germany, and would like to go back, not just because I speak the language and we enjoy the food and the scenery, but also because we were treated well by the people we encountered. Of course, that may have all changed since we were there last. Actually, our whole world has changed.

Yes, it has. I almost don’t recognize our own country right now. Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

I’d enjoy going back to the little inn on the island of Santorini in Greece. It was a lovely setting, and our time there was very relaxing.

Sounds wonderful. Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

Thus far, all my novels and novellas have either been set in the Dallas area or in fictional towns I’ve created based on real places in the area, mainly because I’m familiar with them. If I decided to change my setting, I’d probably choose somewhere in the northeast—Boston or New York. Of course, that would require a tax-deductible trip for research, and even after travel there I’d probably get something wrong.

What is the main theme of this novel?

Medical Judgment is about a widowed emergency-room doctor who, although she seems to have lost her support system, struggles to be strong and survive despite crisis after crisis.

Tell us about the story.

Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve stalked her, then set a fire at her home, and she has no idea what will come next. Her late husband’s best friend and a recovering alcoholic detective are trying to solve the mystery before it’s too late, but both appear to be vying for her affection as well. Sarah finds herself in constant fear as the process plays out. The questions keep mounting. Who is doing this? Why are they after her? What will they do to her? Will it mean her death? And, meanwhile, whom can she trust?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Acrid smoke assaulted her nostrils and nudged Dr. Sarah Gordon out of a restless sleep. Was that really smoke? Or had she dreamed the whole thing? She sat up in bed and sniffed the air around her. No, the smoke was real.

Her sleep-numbed brain struggled for only a few seconds before it hit her. Her house was on fire. She had to tell Harry. Then she’d run down the hall and get Jenny. The family had to reach safety.

Sarah reached to her left across the king-size bed, but when her hand touched a bare pillow she realized her husband wasn’t there…and why. He was dead. He’d been dead for eight months now. So had Jenny, her daughter. Sarah was alone… in a burning house.

Or was she alone? Hadn’t she also heard a noise? Was someone there, waiting for her to come down those stairs? Should she stay up here? No, the “someone” might or might not be real, but the fire wasn’t the product of her imagination. She needed to act, and quickly.

Rules and admonitions, read or heard in the past and almost forgotten, swirled through her mind, paralyzing it with indecision. Sarah forced herself to stop. You’re a doctor, Sarah. You’ve faced countless emergencies. Fast isn’t good unless you’re accurate.

She threw on a robe and shoved her feet into slippers. Sarah dropped her cell phone and keys into the pocket of her robe. She took two steps away from the bed, then turned back and picked up the flashlight that had sat on her bedside table since Jenny’s birth. She flicked it on, and in a few strides that displayed more confidence than she felt Sarah covered the distance to the door leading to the hall. Feel the door. If it’s hot, find some other way out.

Cautiously, she pressed her palm against the door. When she discovered it was cool, Sarah let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She opened the door and saw no flames. Then she sniffed, and there it was again—a faint aroma of smoke wafting up the stairway—not enough to choke her, not an amount capable of blocking her vision, but sufficient to send her hurrying down the stairs.

Guided by the flashlight, she descended to the first floor. As she got lower, she coughed a little, her eyes watered a bit, but she could breathe, could see through the tears. The smoke still wasn’t bad.

At the bottom of the stairs, she stopped to listen. Was that a noise? She strained her ears, but heard nothing more. Maybe there was no intruder. Maybe it was all in her imagination. Maybe.

I’m eager for my copy to get here. I want to know what comes next. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I love connecting with my readers and invite them all to connect with me via the Internet. My website is rmabry.com. I’m on Twitter (twitter.com/RichardMabry) and Facebook (facebook.com/rmabrybooks). I blog twice a week at rmabry.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Richard. I love featuring you on my blog, and my readers look forward to finding out about your new books.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Medical Judgment - Christianbook.com
Medical Judgment - Amazon
Medical Judgment - Kindle

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

SOFI'S BRIDGE - Christine Lindsay - One Free Book

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

My great aunt Wilma told me about the Lord when I was about 8 or 9, and when I was 13, I attended a youth convention and heard again that Jesus died to wash away my sins. At 13, I had begun to realize that I was a sinner, so I believed in Christ that night as my savior. But it wasn’t until after I’d backslidden a number of years later, when I became pregnant with a child out of wedlock, that I realized I had to stop sitting on the fence. I either went all the way with Christ, or continue to mess up my life with poor decisions. From that point on I chose to obey Christ as my Savior and my Lord. 

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

Since this is fictional I’d like to invite an author that has already gone to heaven. But the first author I’d invite is my critique partner Rachel Phifer since she and I not only work together on all our books but also have our own writing blog Novel Renaissance. If we’re going to sit down with some great authors then I’d want to share that moment with not only a phenomenal writer but my dearest writing friend.

Next on my guest list would be Oswald Chambers. I find such depth in Chambers’ devotional book My Utmost for His Highest, and many of his thoughts have inspired my strongest greatest Christian characters. I’m thinking especially of Eshana in my historical trilogy set in British India. Eshana’s experience of being forced to wear the funeral clothes of a Hindu widow when she wants to live her life as a joyful Christian was inspired by Chambers’ thought that we all must wear funeral clothes when we “die” to our own desires and ambitions to allow Christ full reign in our lives.

Guest # 3 would be Linda Nicols. She hasn’t written much lately and I can’t find much about her one the web, but I LOVE her contemporary novels. She had such a way with language and stories that gripped my heart. I would love to learn from her.

And lastly but certainly not least, Dale Cramer, who is also an expert with elegant prose and characters of great depth.

Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

My speaking ministry began over 10 years ago, shortly after the reunion with my birth daughter Sarah. She is the baby girl I gave birth too out of wedlock. Giving my baby up for adoption was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and that heartache shaped me in so many ways. Our reunion 20 years later broke my heart again as it brought back all the original loss of her as my child. My speaking and my writing are shaped by the fact that God can truly turn our broken hearts into our greatest joys. My life verse is Isaiah 49:15,16a, “Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you (says the Lord). See…I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

I love that scripture. That the God of the universe has each of us engraved on the palms of His hands blew me away a few years ago. What a concept to hold close in troubled times. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Lots of embarrassing things happen to me all the time especially when I’m speaking. One that comes to mind is, when I was at a ladies’ church event my high heel stuck in a crack on the stage and I couldn’t move. I did what I usually do in that sort of goofy situation, I laughed at myself and said something to the audience like, “Well, if there’s a hole anywhere an Irishman (meaning me) is likely to fall into it.” I got a good laugh while I extricated my heel and carried on with my speech.

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?

Aspiring writers need encouragement, so I often share that the most important thing they need is PERSEVERANCE. The writing apprenticeship is not a quick and easy thing. It took 9 years of writing before my debut novel was released in 2009. Don’t skip the training, take the courses, join a professional writers’ association like ACFW or RWA or Canada’s The Word Guild. Work at it, and give your dream over to God, let Him be your agent, your muse, your editor.

Tell us about the featured book.

Sofi’s Bridge is my latest release, a historical romance.

Seattle Debutant Sofi Andersson will do everything in her power to protect her sister who is suffering from delayed shock over their father’s drowning. Charles the family busy-body threatens to place her sister in a sanatorium, a whitewashed term for an insane asylum.

Like she has always done, Sofi will rescue her little sister, even if it means running away to the Cascade Mountains with only the new gardener Neil Macpherson, a handsome immigrant from Ireland, to protect them.

But in a hidden cabin high in the Cascades, just as Sofi has her secrets, she recognizes her gardener does too. Can she trust this man whose gentle manner brings such peace to her traumatized sister, and such tumult to her own emotions?

And can their gardener, Neil, continue to hide from Sofi that he is really Dr. Neil Galloway, wanted for murder and on the run from the British police?

Wow. I’m eager for my copy to arrive. Please give us the first page of the book.

Seattle Washington, June 1913

A blur of white raced along the grounds to the beach. Sofi froze at the second story window. Set against the tattered sky of an incoming squall, her sister’s nightgown billowed in the dark. For the past six weeksTrina kept as much distance as she could from the sight and sound of the surf. Sofi raised a shaking hand to her throat, turned and tore along the upper hall. “Mattie, she’s outside.”

China shattered as Matilda, their housekeeper, dropped a supper tray. At the staircase, Sofi hiked up her black silk skirts and pounded downwards. Matilda followed close behind.

Ten minutes ago, Trina had been in the nursery, huddling on the window seat. Though nearly grown she was always in the nursery since that night when. . .Trina even slept in the nursery instead of her bedroom, crying for Papa, with Sofi holding her close.

Matilda huffed. “I only left Trina to collect her supper.”

A yelping Odin found Sofi at the kitchen hallway. The Springer Spaniel bounded, his cold nose nudging her hand. Thank goodness one thing in this house had stayed the same. With Odin barking, she pushed through the green baize door. The dog darted past her. Inga, their cook, swung around to face her. Frida, the housemaid, dropped whatever she held in her hand. A man Sofi could swear she’d never seen before sat at the table and shot to his feet as she hurtled through the kitchen.

She reached the outer door when the man—the gardener, she remembered now—pushed past her and flung the door wide. He charged across the lawn. The dog yowled and leapt after him. With Inga, Frida, and Matilda running behind, Sofi fled in the wake of the gardener down the trail to the beach.

Now I know it will go to the top of my to-be-read pile when it arrives. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and Goodreads

Thank you, Christine, for sharing this new book with my readers and me. It's always a pleasure to host you.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sofi's Bridge - Paperback
Sofi's Bridge - Kindle

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

FINDING LOVE IN SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - Angela Ruth Strong - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Angela. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Oh, I’m a dreamer, so I could take up the whole blog with this answer alone. I’ve already deleted a few paragraphs, so I don’t bore readers. Let me just say three things here.

I was speechless when I found out my debut novel Love Finds You in Sun Valley was being considered for film. With such a possibility, I decided to get my rights back and rerelease the book as the first in a series about all the brothers in the family.(http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/faithmediaandculture/2012/07/mpi-to-bring-popular-love-finds-you-book-series-to-television.html )

The second novel in the Resort to Love series, Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana, comes out in September. It’s a Christmas story. And writing it made my heart grow like the Grinch’s. I hope it touches my readers just a fraction of the way it touched me.

On the last day of my writing retreat with my friends a couple months ago, I felt God had a verse for me. I opened my Bible randomly and there was a star next to Psalm 102:18. “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” That’s where I’m headed.

Tell us a little about your family.

We have a blended family. My husband’s three kids are out of the house (though they still inspire me with their creativity), and we are raising my three teenagers. We don’t do it perfectly, but we do it better because we are together.

Currently, I’m working on getting my 16-year-old son a passport for a mission trip to Mexico with his youth group this summer, and my 15-year-old is at a special high school for kids who want to go into the medical field. She was just a little too excited to play nurse when my 13-year-old daughter broke her ankle playing her favorite sport at a basketball tournament a few days ago. Last night we went out for Mexican food on “big plates” and laughed until we cried over ridiculous things nobody else would think is funny.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

In learning to write better, I’ve become pickier and pickier. I won’t finish a book if it doesn’t grab me because there are so many other books I want to read.

What are you working on right now?

I’m writing Finding Love in Park City, Utah. I attended the Sundance Film festival in January to research, which was awesome. This one is going to touch on some issues that I’ve dealt with in my own life, so it will probably be the most real of the three books in the series.

My first romantic suspense novel comes out with Love Inspired Suspense next February. I’ve been working on ideas for the cover and finding the perfect title. (I’m hoping for Playing Dead.) If there are any movie producers reading this, it would also make a great film. ;-)

What outside interests do you have?

I teach fitness classes—mostly yoga right now. And I love photography and scrapbooking. My husband also got a Harley this year, so I’m now a Harley girl. Whatever that means.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My debut novel was part of the Love Finds You series, which was all about location. I actually set it in Sweet Home, Oregon, originally, because I liked the name of the town and wanted to do a whole home-sweet-home theme. I got my contract then the publisher asked me to move the story to Sun Valley because they already had too many Oregon stories. (Too many awesome authors in Oregon.)

So then I had to make a research trip out to Sun Valley. And it was so fun that researching settings has become a big part of my writing process. I choose settings I would like to visit. Then even if I don’t get to travel to the location (St. Lucia…sigh), I can still go there vicariously through my characters.

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

Joseph. He was a dreamer like me.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

My mom wrote, so I knew it was going to be hard, which is good and bad. The bad part was that I started out determined to prove myself. But now I know there’s nothing to prove. I’m never going to arrive. I’m just going to do it because I love it. I’ll always have more to learn, and if I touch any lives along then I’ll consider myself blessed.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I’ve decided to go through the fruits of the spirit in my Bible. Right now I’m on love. (It’s going to take a while until I reach joy.) I learn something new every day. For example, yesterday’s verse was about how “love and faithfulness go before God.” I pictured it like a processional for a king or the line of limos from when Obama came to Boise. You know God is present and active when you experience love and faithfulness. Such a beautiful image. And also a reminder to notice our own behavior or to be discerning of other people who say they believe in God but you can’t see this fruit in their life.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Chase your dreams.

Climb over obstacles.

Get back up when you fall down—preferably while laughing at the realization of how funny you probably looked when flying through the air.

Tell us about the featured book.

In Finding Love in Sun Valley, Actress Emily Van Arsdale has returned to her Idaho hometown - with an entire film crew in tow! With its stunning scenery and reputation for hosting celebrities, Sun Valley is the perfect setting for Emily’s newest romantic comedy. Tracen Lake is happy to work as a stunt consultant for the movie but not as thrilled to deal with a bunch of high-maintenance Hollywood types. But Tracen is surprised to discover in Emily a down-to-earth Idaho girl who does all her own stunts and loves the outdoors. As filming wraps up and Emily heads off to her next gig, will she be able to leave Sun Valley - and Tracen - behind?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Tapping the brakes to turn off the cruise control in her rented Ford Escape, Emily squinted to read another marker located along Hwy 21. The winding road transitioned from the forested mountains to the dry valley, where the pine trees grew taller as if wearing stilts. This meant she was getting closer to the river and her resort destination.

           

When she was growing up, Dad had always refused to take her to Sun Valley, Idaho. Said he’d rather avoid the snobs who vacationed there. Of course, he was referring to the rich and famous, the actors and actresses. Which ironically she now was. An actress anyway. Never a snob.

           

Should she feel guilty for staying in the swanky lodge? Nah. She needed a good night’s rest before the flurry of filming swept her downstream—literally. Especially after spending a week with Mom in her hometown of Boise.

           

She also needed a bathroom and a hot meal. Spying a rustic restaurant snuggled next to a bend in the river, she pressed harder on the brakes before swinging onto the gravel side road leading to The Point. The log building looked as if it were in need of sprucing up, but by the number of cars parked out front, the food must have made up for any lack of elegance.

           

Emily pulled the compact SUV into what might be considered a parking space and leaned over the passenger’s side to pull her purse from underneath a sweatshirt. Since it was July, she’d only brought summer clothes, but Mom had pretended to be practical for a moment and insisted she take the ugly orange Boise State hoodie. Guess it was always good to be prepared.

           

Behind her, the driver’s side door jerked open with a squeak. The car rocked, and the sun baked her back, though that didn’t keep goose bumps from popping up on her flesh.       

Reactively, she dug one hand into her purse for a can of mace as she whipped around to confront the intruder. Every muscle tensed as possible scenarios tore through her imagination. Hijacker…mugger…crazed fan…

           

Her makeup stylist?

Looks like a fun read. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.angelaruthstrong.com

Thank you, Angela, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho (Resort to Love)(Volume 1) - Paperback
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho (Resort to Love Book 1) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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!!!!

Elaine (WI) is the winner of Sacred Ashes by Sherri Stone.

Deanne P (PA) is the winner of the ebook All That Glitters by Lisa J Flickinger.

Sandy Q (TX) is the winner of The Bachelor Girls Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan.

Sarah O (SD) is the winner of Breaking Free by Jennifer Slattery.

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 and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I know that a lot of people, who wanted to read my Golden, New Mexico, book wasn't able to, because the print book didn't go on sale and they couldn't afford it if it didn't.

The book is out of print, and I've obtained the right to it again. Since it's no longer a part of the Love Finds You series, I've changed the title which is more indicative of the conflict in the story. It's now The Gold Digger. And it's more affordable. 

The ebook is available on Amazon for a special promotional price of $.99, and the print book should be available before the end of April.

I will be at the Author Con at the Sachse, Texas, Library on May 21, and I will have these books to sign, as well as some of my other books. I'd love to meet you and have my picture taken with you, which I'll post on my web site and Facebook with your permission.

If you have any questions, leave a comment. I'll answer you.

HER VALENTINE PROMISE - Bonnie Engstrom - One Free Book

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

A few of my minor characters are unsaved, but most of the major ones are Christians who struggle with answers about what God is doing in their lives. I have underlying situations in every story that the heroines have to overcome with strong faith. Physical abuse is one (although all off stage), alcoholism is another, fear of not being in control is also another. Book four of the Candy Cane Girls Series will have a surprise. I met the hero the other day at the bank! I can’t wait to write about him, but I can’t decide who will fall in love with him – Connie or Doreen or Melanie. Maybe Emily. Mmm.

I love the covers for her Candy Cane Girl Series. Here’s the cover for her Christmas one.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

The third book in The Candy Cane Girls Series should be out next month. I haven’t titled it yet, but I’m toying with Her Wild Ride. It will feature two girls instead of just one – Natalie and Candy. There are six original Candy Canes, members of a winning high school swim team, and one honorary one, Melanie. All the women are currently in their mid-twenties, but still fast friends. There is potential for an extended series beyond the Candy Canes themselves. Several of their parents, especially their mothers, are begging me to tell their stories, too. Also, a few minor characters have special stories to share. One story may even be told from a cat’s perspective. Star, the cat, has a lot to say.

The Candy Cane series is set in Newport Beach, California, as are some of my other books. Some others, including my debut novel Butterfly Dreams, are set in Scottsdale, Arizona. There is one on the back burner set in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, and another partially set in Sweden and Norway. I do not make up towns or cities, but I do make up fictional businesses and homes. During a book signing for Butterfly Dreams one of the women asked me exactly where the coffee shop is in Scottsdale because she wanted to visit it. She was disappointed when I told her it was a fictional place. But another reader loved recognizing the streets.

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

I would love to spend time with Debbie Macomber. I missed doing that at the ACFW conference where she was the keynote speaker. I love her Cedar Cove series, but I have a fond memory of the personal email she sent to me some years ago. I had asked her if she was a Christian because although she doesn’t write for CBA, her stories seem to reveal her faith. In her email she told me the exact date when she had accepted Christ. I treasure that letter.

I didn’t really get to spend time with her at the ACFW conference in Denver, but I did have my picture taken with her. I treasure that. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

I had to think about that for a while. I’ve decided if I could only meet one, I would like to spend a few hours with Martin Luther King, Jr. He had such a passion for his beliefs, and it’s really because of him so much progress has been made in integration. But not enough. I imagine him looking down from heaven with tears on his face.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

I think if you really believe you have a story to tell, if God put story-telling on your heart, you should trust the reason why. If only one person’s faith is changed you have done your job and honored Him. My biggest fan is a Jewish friend who devours my books. Only God knows why.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here is the back cover blurb for Her Valentine Promise:

The Candy Canes are a tight knit group; the six girls are like sisters. They share everything from successes to secrets. Even marriage doesn’t keep them apart. Then …

Cindy caught the bridal bouquet, and Rob caught the blue garter. Neither of them believed in fate or tradition. But, something happened when she stepped on his toes dancing.

When Rob agreed to help his brother by working in the Love In Bloom Floral Shop while Braydon was on his honeymoon, he asked Cindy to join him. He didn’t know what to expect, especially over Christmas break. Would she take over with her promotional ideas and anger his mother, the owner?

Would their relationship flower? Could Cindy accept Rob’s secrets? How would that change her love for him? And, what about Emily, the woman who claimed Rob loved her?

Cindy has decisions to make. She is supposed to receive her unique engagement ring on Valentine’s Day. Should she accept it, or say no to Rob because of the secrets he recently shared? If she accepts, they will have a lifelong commitment and have a wedding on the beach. Is she strong enough to go through with the plan, or should she back out and be safe?

Please give us the first page of the book.

This is the prologue:

“Ouch!”

“What?”

“You stepped on my toes.”

He said it so matter of factly that Cindy wondered if he was kidding. She looked down at his  black patent shoes. Aw, oh. A scuff on the right one. Guess Rob was right. Question was … his fault for not being a good leader or hers for being a bad follower?

“Sorry.”

“S’okay.” He pulled her closer, and she felt her body melt into the warmth of his.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I can be reached at my email bengstrom@hotmail.com (be sure to put the word BOOK in the subject line); via my website www.bonnieengstrom.com and my author page on Face Book. I love to hear from my readers, so please contact me, and be sure to sign up for my upcoming fun newsletter.

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

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

Her Valentine Promise (The Candy Cane Girls) (Volume 2) - Paperback
Her Valentine Promise (The Candy Cane Girls Book 2) - Kindle

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

THE NANNY'S SECRET CHILD - Lorraine Beatty - One Free Book

Welcome back, Lorraine. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I’ve been blessed to have written a dozen books for LI now, and I hope to continue. I have tried my hand at an historical novella but don’t know if that will pan out or not. I’m very content with my writing life now. I’d be happy to write these books until I’m no longer able.

I know what you mean. Tell us a little about your family.

My hubby and I have been married 48 years. I know! Wow. We have two sons. The oldest lives in Nashville with his wife and two grown daughters. The youngest son lives in Monroe, Louisiana, with his wife and three children – ages 13-5. They’ll be moving back here to Jackson this summer so it’ll be nice having them closer.

We were raised in Ohio but have lived in several places. We get home as often as possible to see everyone. We love to travel especially cruising. The bigger the ship the better. J

James and I have been on two cruises, and we loved it. Hope to do one again. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Yes. For the worse I’m afraid. I tend to only read Love Inspired books to keep abreast of the trends and keep the tone of the books in my mind. The only time I get to read other genres is between books. Then I usually catch up on my friends’ books.

What are you working on right now?

I’m putting the finishing touches on book # 4 in the Montgomery’s of Dover miniseries. It’s the third brother, Seth who left Dover for the police academy and has returned to find he has a son he never knew about. The lovely neighbor steps in to help but she has a past that won’t mesh well with a cop.

Sounds interesting. What outside interests do you have?

I love singing in my church choir. But mostly I like spending time with the grandkids. My garden takes up some of my time but not as much as it used too.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love small towns so when I created my Home to Dover series I chose a town near my home that was founded in the late 1880s complete with courthouse square and surrounded by historic store fronts. From there on it was simply choosing the appropriate part of town for each character.

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

There are too many to choose but one would be Walt Disney. I’d love to hear about all his ideas.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

That writing for commercial fiction isn’t about writing what you want but what they want.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

How to work through chronic pain. My writing has always been done when I’m in a good mood and feeling confident. Now I’m learning to work through new challenges and compartmentalize my writing. It’s actually helping me write faster. J

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Be teachable. Be patient. Learn all you can about writing.

Tell us about the featured book.

It’s a different take on the story of a woman giving up her baby at birth. Those usually revolve around the child looking for the parent but in Julie’s case, she craves reassurance that the little girl she gave up is in a loving home. She takes a temporary job as a nanny to the child but ends up getting deeply involved in the life of the girl and her single dad to the point that she could hurt everyone with her deception.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“Turn right onto Sycamore Avenue. Your destination is on the right.”

Julianna Bishop followed the directions on her GPS and made the turn, searching the house numbers for one-twenty-two. The old established neighborhood in Dover, Mississippi, could have been lifted from a fifties’ television sitcom. Each home oozed charm, their appealing facades nestled on neatly landscaped yards that even the gray drab of January couldn’t dim. Full grown trees stripped of their leaves arched overhead, filtering the bright sunlight streaming down from a clear blue sky. Evergreen live oaks and giant magnolia trees added a splash of green to the winter landscapes.

The peaceful and picturesque surroundings were at odds with the violent storm raging inside her stomach. She swallowed hard against the tightness in her throat and searched the house numbers again. Heart pounding against her ribcage, Julie pressed down on the brakes, bringing the car to a full stop. She had arrived. One-twenty-two was a two story white colonial with black shutters, a red front door, and a lamppost at the edge of the sidewalk. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white. She was doing the right thing. Her prayers had been answered.

Her gaze surveyed the white house more closely. It matched her vision, exactly as she’d expected. It was a beautiful home, the kind of place where family’s laughed and loved and enjoyed each other. All that was missing was the white picket fence.

Closing her eyes, Julie inhaled slowly, hoping to settle her jittery nerves. The house and the neighborhood were reassuring. Everything would be fine. It would.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website: lorrainebeatty.com all the other links can be found there.

I look forward to hearing from readers. 

Thank you, Lorraine, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

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

The Nanny's Secret Child - Christianbook.com
The Nanny's Secret Child (Home to Dover) - Amazon
The Nanny's Secret Child (Home to Dover) - Kindle

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