A LOVE TO TREASURE - Kimberly Rose Johnson - One Free Ebook

Bio: Kimberly 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 dark chocolate. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science and is a member of ACFW.

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

This story started out as a novella idea that I pitched along with several other authors to another publisher years ago. At that time, I was yet unpublished and had the time to tinker with it when we were not offered a contract. This story has changed more times than I can remember and has grown over the years into what it is today. I honestly don’t recall the inspiration, but that’s a little of the history of how it came to be.

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

Margaret Daley because she is one of my critique partners, and we’ve never met in person. The others five would be JoAnn Durgin because we have only met online, and I would love to get to know her in person, Lynette Eason because I love her books, Susan May Warren because she seems like she’d be a lot of fun, and finally Christina Berry AKA Christina Tarbochia because she is such a fun person to be around. Christina is one of the first people I met in the publishing world, and she was also one of the authors who was originally involved with the novella collection A Love To Treasure was pitched in.

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

I’m not a huge historical fiction reader, but I would for sure include my other two critique partners, Miralee Ferrell and Vickie McDonough. Then I would invite Jen Turano because I like her books and have never met her, Karen Barnett because she is nice, Leslie Gould for the same reason, and finally Davalynn Spencer because she seems like she’d be a fun person.

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?

Keeping up the momentum. There is a lot of self-imposed pressure to have a book release every four to six months. My publisher is all for that, but I am tired and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with everything.

Tell us about the featured book.

A Love to Treasure is a little different from my other published books. It has a little mystery and suspense mixed into the sweet romance story. Here is the back cover blurb.

School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon, following Grams’s clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. But Mark must return to his job in Portland at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart.

Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation. To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after? 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Nicole Davis drove past a huge welcome sign to Sunriver, Oregon, and grinned. She was finally here. She loved this resort community and still couldn’t believe it would be her home for the next few months.

She bore to the right around the traffic circle. Suddenly a black car came out of nowhere. Nicole swerved and slammed on the brake, her front bumper barely missing the side of the black car. Her heart pounded as she weaved her Mini Cooper S onto the miniscule dirt shoulder a few feet from a large pine tree. She put the car in park, her breath coming in quick puffs. She looked around to make sure she hadn’t hit anything. Whew. Everything looked okay.

The crazy driver who ran her off the road drove around the circle again and pulled off the road in front of her. This couldn’t be good. She gulped as a dark-haired man wearing jeans and a dark gray T-shirt stalked toward her.

Her gut clenched. She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror and noted her wide green eyes filled with fear. Not good. She needed to appear unaffected by the incident or he’d see her vulnerability. She took a deep breath then let it out in a whoosh. After making sure no cars were coming, she stepped out of her Mini Cooper and onto the shoulder, refusing to be intimidated by the man. His height caught her by surprise. Most men were only a few inches taller than she was, but not this guy. He towered above her five-foot-nine-inch frame. And those biceps—maybe she should’ve stayed in the car. But he didn’t look dangerous, only irritated.

She offered him a tentative smile. “That was a close call.”




“No kidding. You didn’t yield.” He pointed to a yellow sign.




“Oops. Sorry.” Her face heated. Grams always said she barreled through life.

However, she generally obeyed traffic signs. “I didn’t see the sign.”

I’m eager to read the rest of the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/ Readers can subscribe to my newsletter there which is the best way to know when I have an upcoming release. I also love connecting with people on Facebook. I recently started a fan page. Here is the link to join the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1566138407009549/ If you are a Twitter person, you can follow me @kimberlyrosejoh. My author page on Amazon is http://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Rose-Johnson/e/B00K10CR6E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1463415687&sr=8-2-ent

Thanks for hosting me! These questions were fun and made me think. J

I'm always happy to have you on the blog, Kimberly. I write under the name Lena Nelson Dooley, in case someone knew me as Lena Nelson, but my actual middle name is also Rose.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1)

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.

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Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

A DAUGHTER'S DREAM - Shelley Shepard Gray - One Free Book

Welcome back, Shelley. How did this book come about?

A Daughter’s Dream is the second novel in the Charmed Life Amish Series. Each novel focuses on one of the Kinsinger siblings, four adult siblings who run a large lumber mill in Charm, Ohio.

Tell us about the book’s cover and what makes it unique.

This cover is unique to me because I was able not only to choose the models on the cover, but I was able to go to the photo shoot! When I arrived, the photographer asked me to chat with the models about the characters they were portraying. To my delight, they both seemed excited to give being “Jacob and Rebecca” a try. We walked around the fields and the photographer clicked away. Soon, I felt like I wasn’t seeing two models but the characters in my book come alive. The scene that you see on the cover was perfect for their personalities. 

Please explain and differentiate between what’s fact and fiction in the book.

When I developed the Charmed Amish Life series, I knew I wanted it to center the storylines around a lumber mill, because the Keim Lumber Mill is a major employer in the real Charm, Ohio. I also wanted to name some of the other spots one might visit when they come to the area. So I did my best to focus on those realities. Besides that, though, most of my novel is fiction. I made up all the people, made up a tragedy that took place at the lumber mill, and of course, the storyline is all my own.

How much research did you have to do for this book?

I’ve found that visiting places where I’ve set my novels is extremely helpful. I’m able to add lots of small details that I would have known about if I hadn’t actually visited the place. Enjoying a few days in each setting also helps me set the overall tone in my novels.

I actually did quite a bit of research for this series. I toured the lumber mill and did a lot of reading about Amish-owned lumber mills. I visited all the real places that I mention in the book. I used my teaching experience to help with the scenes that took place at the school. I even spent a day researching pygmy goats for the scenes with Princess. That part of my research was a lot of fun!

What are some of the most interesting things you found about this subject that you weren’t able to use in the story?

I’m a big believer in letting the characters drive a story. Because of that, although I have researched a place thoroughly, I often won’t write paragraphs filled with details about the scenery or history of the area. I don’t want the reader to get bogged down with information that doesn’t pertain to the book’s plot.

What inspired and surprised you while you were writing the book?

Since I don’t plot very much before beginning a novel, I’m always surprised about what happens in a book. A Daughter’s Dream was no different! The biggest surprise was that the original goals and dreams that I had planned for them to have changed. 

What do you hope the reader takes away from the story?

As always, I hope that readers will be able to relate to the characters and find that they enjoyed reading it. I also hope that they’ll be interested enough in the Kinsinger family that they’ll want to read the third and fourth book in the series.

What is the next project you’re working on?

I’m currently working on several novels that will be published in 2017. I’m finishing up a novella set in Pinecraft, writing the second book in next year’s Amish of Hart County series, and revising a western historical.

What do you do when you have to get away from the story for a while?

Since I always work on more than one project at a time, I’ve found that I do take breaks from my stories. This really helps me see areas where each book could be improved.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Thursday, August 13

Keeping twenty-five schoolchildren reasonably happy and on task for a solid hour was harder than it looked.

As Rebecca Kinsinger stood at the front of the classroom and eyed the group of students staring right back at her, she realized she had seriously misjudged her ability to manage small children.

In the last hour, the twenty-five students, ranging in ages from five to fourteen, had decidedly taken the upper hand. They’d talked to one another. They’d ignored her wishes. They didn’t seem all that interested in the work their usual teacher had assigned them to do. Even the four children whom she knew well were acting up. Evan, Samuel, Maisie, and Gretel Kurtz acted as if they had forgotten that their elder sister, Darla, was married to Rebecca’s brother Lukas.

It seemed that different rules applied at school than when they visited her home.

As a former teacher, I know how that first day feels. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me on Facebook at shelley shepard gray, on Twitter @shelleySGray, and on my website, at www.shelleyshepardgray.com

Thank you, Shelley, 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.

A Daughter's Dream - Christianbook.com
A Daughter's Dream: The Charmed Amish Life, Book Two - Amazon
A Daughter's Dream: The Charmed Amish Life, Book Two - 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

WHISPERS OF LOVE (Secrets of Sunbeams) - Valerie Comer - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, Valerie Comer is one of my author friends in Canada. I’ve really loved getting to know her, and her stories are wonderful.

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

Secrets of Sunbeams kicks off a new series for me! I was poking around, trying to decide what a new series based on local food initiatives from an urban point of view might look like. Spokane, Washington, was rising to the top for a setting and, as soon as I discovered that Spokane allows backyard goats in parts of the city, the first scene of this novel popped into my head.

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

Move that up to eleven invitations, and I'd absolutely love to have a real-life party with my fellow authors in the box set, Whispers of Love. I'd invite Kimberly Rae Jordan, Leah Atwood, Sally Bradley, Christina Coryell, JoAnn Durgin, Autum Macarthur, Lesley Ann McDaniel, Carol Moncado, Staci Stallings, Jan Thompson, and Marion Ueckermann.

We'd have so much fun chatting about characters and settings and first kisses! We'd also visit about how great it is to work together as a group to bring a multi-author box set to the public.

We're having a virtual week-long party on Facebook right now, and I hope you and your readers will join us, Lena! You can find it right here: https://www.facebook.com/events/891281694316682

Some of those authors are new to me, but the ones I know in the collection write books I love. Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

This is a bit tougher for me, as I don't read much historical fiction. I'd have to start with you, Lena! Then I'd add Mary Connealy, Angela Breidenbach, Sherri Wilson Johnson, Leah Atwood, and Joanne Bischof.

We’d have a lot of fun. Thanks for including me. 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?

When Secrets of Sunbeams releases solo later in July, it will be my fifteenth title. Writing is a fulltime job for me, at least when I add in publishing and marketing! The hardest thing still is obscurity. I have accumulated many avid fans, which is awesomely cool, but I know there are many more readers who would enjoy my stories if only they knew about them.

This is the main reason I join multi-author box sets, such as Whispers of Love. A group of authors can reach many more readers than one author can alone.

That is so true. And the focus of my blog is to introduce good writers to readers. I love doing that. Tell us about the featured book, Secrets of Sunbeams.

Good fences make good neighbors.
Especially if your neighbor is a goat.

Eden Andrusek knows she should have fixed her fence last week. It’s too bad her runaway goat makes a less-than-ideal first impression on her new neighbor, who turns out to be cute, brilliant… and a little uptight.

Solar architect Jacob Riehl is furious when he returns outside to find a goat eating his presentation. As someone who likes everything in its place, he has little sympathy for a farm animal in the city or its tattooed owner, but there’s something about the lovely Eden that captures his attention.

What will it take to win over a man whose only pet was a goldfish? And how long can Jacob and Eden go without addressing the goat in the room?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Eden Andrusek stopped so suddenly the screen door slammed her backside. Where was Pansy? Eden shaded her eyes and glanced around the backyard. No way. She’d only been inside a minute.

“Pansy!” she yelled, jogging down the three steps to the barren yard. “Where are you?”

The answer seemed to be... nowhere. Eden’s gut clenched. No, no. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

The gate at the side of the small house was definitely closed. The backyard was completely fenced with no hiding places. Except...

Eden’s pulse quickened at the sight of a vertical board in the side fence hanging slightly askew. She ran across the yard, nearly tripping over the metal bucket Pansy had been playing with, and pushed at the errant board. It swung aside. That was definitely enough room for the escape artist.

She crouched and peered through the gap into the neatly mowed lawn of the Victorian next door. A side table with a glass of something clear and red sat beside an empty deck chair facing...

“Pansy! No!”

The goat only glanced over as she chewed the paper dangling from her mouth.

The entire first chapter is available here: http://valeriecomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sunbeams-ch-1.pdf

I love that opening. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me at my website, http://valeriecomer.com. This is the place to find my blog, my social media links, and to join my monthly newsletter list.

Secrets of Sunbeams is available right now only in Whispers of Love, along with eleven other full-length contemporary romances from bestselling Christian authors. The price is 99 cents — yes, for 12 books!! — but it goes up on July 4.

You can find the details of all 12 books and find purchase links for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and iBooks at http://valeriecomer.com/whispers-of-love.

Thank you, Valerie, for sharing both of these books with us today. I'm eager to read it. I had already downloaded Whispers of Love. I love reading collections that contain some authors I know.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook, Whispers of Love. 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

IN TIMES LIKE THESE - Gail Kittleson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, we’re featuring a novel today from an author who is new to this blog. It is set in the WWII era. As you will see from the first page of the novel later in the interview, this author really has a strong grip on the feel of the era.

Bio: Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. Now she focuses on writing women’s fiction and facilitating writing workshops and women’s retreats. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter. Meeting new reading and writing friends is the meringue on Gail’s pie, as her heroines would say.

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

I don’t consciously do this, but once the book is finished and I’m doing readings or workshops or interviews about the novel, I realize how much of my attitudes enter into certain characters’ reactions. Or I make someone into my exact opposite. Another thing happened with my debut novel. After the fact, a reader’s questions helped me realize that the heroine had many things in common with someone else from my past—but I had no conscious intention of doing this.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?  

When I facilitated caregiver and grief workshops for Hospice and Community Health Nurses, I traveled often. Being ridiculously frugal, I shared rides from airports with others traveling to state or national conferences. Many people would never do this with folks they’d never met, but I had total trust in Hospice folks and God’s protection. Besides, things in general were a bit safer back then. I must admit, though, that this method got me into a few pickles.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In junior high, a long, LONG time ago! Poetry was my first love, and remained my main genre for many years.

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

Women’s historical fiction, biographies, and a little mystery. I like non-fiction, too, especially memoir—and reading poetry still is a joy.

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

I don’t run. My life has become pretty sedentary, since I write most of the time. Sometimes I feel like I run from writing to editing to promoting, though—there’s always so much to learn!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I review classic stories I love, study names in cemeteries, and check lists of common names for various nationalities. Sometimes, a conversation will spark a name that “rings” just right to me for a certain character. I also ask some friends if I get stuck.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal brings me unique satisfaction. For example, I really wanted to instruct classes at a certain institution, but roadblocks kept popping up. I prayed and prayed about this, and when a full-time position finally was offered, I literally jumped up and down.

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

I’d be a giraffe. The idea of looking down at the everyday world from a high vantage point intrigues me—just think how different a lilac bush would look to a giraffe. Besides that, I’m enamored with the design of the giraffe’s hide.

What is your favorite food?

Um . . . it’d be easy to tell you what it used to be back when I could eat most anything I wanted. But a lactose, sugar, and gluten-free diet cramps my style. However, I’ve learned to meld all these “frees” into a satisfying snack that seems like a sandwich. (I used to crave grainy breads and cheese.) Now, I layer a corn tortilla with almond cheese, black olives, avocado, spinach, kale, fat-free refried beans or whatever else I have, top all this with another tortilla, and brown on both sides. The cheese melts, a la grilled cheese sandwich. Yum.

I don’t have those dietary restrictions, but that sounds delicious, minus the beans, which I am allergic to. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Believing I had something to say that would be of interest and help to others. It took years to shoo my low self-image aside and write from my experience. Starting with a memoir helped me, I think, because I could express the struggle, and that of many other women. It wasn’t until afterward that fictional characters started appearing in my thoughts.

Tell us about the featured book.

In Times Like These has been a long time in the writing. I was advised to give up on it, but my heroine wouldn’t let me. World War II forms a backdrop for this young Iowa farmwife’s personal struggle on the home front.

Her controlling husband Harold vents his rage on her when his father's stoke prevents him from joining the military. He degrades Addie, ridicules her productive victory garden, and even labels her childlessness as God's punishment.

When he manipulates his way into a military unit bound for Normandy, Addie learns that her best friend Kate’s pilot husband has died on a mission, leaving her stranded in London in desperate straits.

Readers will cheer Addie as she summons courage to help Kate, claims her voice, and learns to trust God with her future.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Someone wearing Burma Shave hoisted Addie from a rickety oak piano stool into a polka’s wild pulse. One minute, she did her best to keep up with George Miller’s accordion tempo. The next, she flew around the crowded town hall’s wooden dance floor.

His strong arms pulled her out of a twirl, and laughing brown eyes sparkled at her between deep-set matching wrinkles.

“Your feet are almost as talented as your fingers on those old ivories, Mrs. Bledsoe.”

She gathered her wits. “George?”

The rural mailman’s laughter melded with aromas from the food table, where aproned women plied homemade chocolate cake, lemon pie and other delicacies. Nearby, the steady glub glub of every percolator in Halverson, Iowa kept time with the music.

Over on the makeshift stage, somebody else belted notes from George’s bright red accordion, but before Addie could figure out who it was, he lunged her through the Wooden Heart Polka.

An old fellow on the tuba and his wife on the concertina zipped into foot-tapping melody. More onlookers took to the dance floor and a whirr of excitement buzzed the high-ceilinged room.

Above it all, a wide paper banner announced the reason for the festivities. Red Cross Annual Roll Call—Halberton County Goal for 1941—$10,000. Below, someone penciled in earmarks:  $500, $1,000, $1,250, and on to the final amount.

George pulled Addie to the side of the dance floor and grinned down at her. “If you weren’t married, I’d take you up to New Ulm, Minnesota, to hear The Six Fat Dutchmen. Been in the business since ’32. They spruce up the beat so, I can hardly make it through the moves.”

“I can’t imagine that.”

Furrows crinkled his brow. “How’s your mother-in-law these days? Has Orville improved any?”

“If anything, he’s gotten worse. Berthea has to feed him now.”

“Umm . . . she’s got a mighty heavy load.”

The piano started in again and perky crescendos added an upswing. The pianist’s flaming hair fit right into the gala atmosphere. Leave it to Fern to blend an oompah beat with runs she normally played on the church organ.

Then Kate grabbed Addie’s hand, her eyes flashing as blue as an Iowa summer sky. George threw up his palms in mock dismay and waved Addie off with her best friend.

Kate grabbed a chair and pulled Addie down beside her “Hey—you haven’t forgotten how to dance.”

“The last time I attempted a polka was at . . .”

“Our senior formal. Harold wouldn’t lower himself to polka, so Joe took you out.”

“While Alexandre swooshed you around Canadian style. And a few months later, he took you to Canada.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.gailkittleson.com/  

www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

http://amazon.com/author/gailkittleson

Thank you, Gail, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
In Times Like These (The Cedar Valley Girls) (Volume 1) - paperback
In Times Like These (The Cedar Valley Girls Book 1) - 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

WINNERS!!!!!

J C (IN) is the winner of A Silver Medallion by James R Callan.

Beth (IA) is the winner of My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson.

Connie (KY) is the winner of Signed, Sealed, and Delighted or the ebook Lone Star Love by Crystal L Barnes.

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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.

MONKEY IN THE MAILBOX - Jamie Bryant - One Free Book

Dear Readers, the first time I became aware of Jamie Bryant was when I had a speaking event with a books signing at the assisted living center where she was the Executive Director. Soon after, I saw her at church. We had been going to the same church, and I hadn’t realized it. We’ve become good friends. This children’s book convinced me, she has many more to come. I enjoyed the story, and I know my great grandsons will, too. I’m looking forward to reading it to them.

Welcome, Jamie. What has drawn you to writing for children?

Having three children of my own that I loved to read to inspired me early on. Also I had a home childcare business for 15 years and I loved seeing the expressions and hearing the laughter of children as I read to them or when we went to the library for Story Time. Bringing joy, mystery, and surprise through my writing to children is very rewarding.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When other people are talking I do the “mouth thing.” My lips are moving with theirs as they’re talking. Don’t know if I’m trying to help people talk (lol) or if I just love to talk so much I can’t wait for my turn. :)

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I loved writing in school, but the writer in me really came out in 2001 (15 years ago). I had some challenges with forgiveness from my past that I couldn’t seem to move on from. One day I sat down and started writing about fun, happy times I had as a child, and through that exercise I kept remembering more and more wonderful things to write about. Truly writing brought not only healing but true forgiveness as I chose to cherish and remember the great memories and not the other ones. (It’s what prompted the stories in Fish Guts and Other Bedtime Stories)

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

Fiction: Christian Romance, and Short Stories.

Non-Fiction: Works of inspiration by pastors and leaders in body of Christ. I also love reading great children’s fiction and non-fiction books to my grandchildren.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

 Fish Guts and Other Bedtime Stories (Is published and a Re-launch scheduled in August 2016) Frog Funeral and Other Bedtime Stories (Set for publication September 2016) The Love Bug (Book One in The Fruit of the Spirit Collection, Due late July 2016) Sneeze and Toot (not yet published)

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

My faith in Christ. Having an intimate, daily, personal relationship with Jesus Christ keeps me centered on what and who are really important in life…the who being People!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of, besides family?

Following my dream to see my writing to fruition and on bookshelves today.

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

Okay this question puzzled me, so I did a test online to see what animal they said I was. LOL. After reading the results I agreed and I’m apparently an Otter! Why? Because they are petite, engaging, and mix easily with a wide range of personalities. When an otter gets focused on a problem it won’t give up until accomplished (That’s me) They are dedicated problem solvers. The otter did have a few not so desirable attributes too, but let’s don’t focus on those. :)

What is your favorite food?

I’d have to go with Italian (Pizza, Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Alfredo Sauce, Tiramisu)

Is it hard to break into the children’s market?

I don’t think so. Although there are a lot of wonderful children’s books out there when I’m looking for a book to read to my grandchildren I spend a great deal of time searching. I’m looking for great illustrations, humor, and for books that offer teaching moments.

What advice would you give to an author wanting to do that?

Sit down today and write. If you’re not an illustrator (I’m not) there are many ways today through a variety of websites to get great illustrations at a great price. Also you will need to not just be a writer but the primary Sales and Marketing Department for your book. If you don’t sell it, who will?

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

Monkey in the Mailbox is the first book in a series (Denny’s Surprise Day Series) about a young boy named Denny. On a routine visit to get the mail, Denny is met with a big surprise. The only problem for Denny is, he’s the only one who sees what’s in the mailbox. Children of all ages will enjoy seeing what surprises greet Denny is this humorous fun story.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

jamiebryantbooks.com

E-mail: authorjamiebryant@gmail.com

Facebook: @jamiebryantbooks

Twitter: @readjamiebryant

Instagram: @jamiebryantsbooks

Thank you, Jamie, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will enjoy having it for the children in their lives.

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

Monkey in the Mailbox (Denny's Surprise Day Series) (Volume 1) - paperback

Monkey in the Mailbox: Fun, Humorous Book For Children Ages 4-6 (Denny's Surprise Day Series 1) - 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

LIKE A RIVER FROM ITS COURSE - Kelli Stuart - One Free Book, Plus Much More

BIO: Kelli Stuart is a storyteller at heart with an affinity for languages, travel, and history. She is fluent in the Russian language and has spent the last twenty years researching the effects of World War II on the former Soviet Union. Kelli's first novel, Like a River From Its Course, is an epic story of war, love, grief, and redemption set in World War II Soviet Ukraine. It released in June, 2016. Kelli lives in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and four children.

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

That’s tricky to answer in the context of this novel because these characters were all composites of men and women I interviewed for my book, but there were a couple of instances when I wrote my own specific experiences into a character’s narrative. For example, when one of the characters has a baby, she experiences an overwhelming feeling of knowing her child, as though somehow he’d always been with her. That was a strong feeling I had after the birth of my firstborn. He was so familiar to me – I felt as if I’d known him my entire life. It was fun to include that in the character’s narrative.

I had another experience with my oldest when he was around 5, and I was teaching him Russian. We’d sit down to work on his language, and he would tell me he wanted to talk “real,” not Russian. So I included a similar situation between the mother and her son later on in the book. It’s fun to use little connections here and there in the book to leave a personal imprint.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I college I spent a semester studying Russian in Kiev, Ukraine. Every day as I made my way from the apartment I lived in to the school, I passed by several people in the subways playing music. They’d sit their hats on the floor and sing or play an instrument and people would drop change into their hats. I wanted to know if I could get some money for singing in the subway.

One morning, a friend and I put a hat on the floor of the subway and we started singing. We made enough to buy ourselves breakfast. J

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’ve always loved writing, and I suppose I knew I had a knack for it, but I didn’t consider it as a profession until my sophomore year in college. I wrote a paper for one of my Lit classes, and a few weeks after turning it in, the professor called me into his office and told me he’d entered it into a contest, and I had won. He suggested I consider a degree in Professional Writing. I switched majors that week, and my future kind of exploded before my eyes. The last two years of college were a blast because I was finally doing what I loved and what I was good at—a pretty brilliant combination.

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

I really love fiction. I struggle with nonfiction. Unless it’s told in a very creative way (Laura Hillenbrand is the most creative and engaging nonfiction writer I’ve ever read), then I typically won’t finish the book.

I do like autobiographies, and I like a wide range of fiction from historical to classical to contemporary, and a little bit of post-apocalyptic thrown in for fun.

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

Oh goodness, I lost my sanity years ago. If you find it, feel free to send it back.

Pulling away now and again centers me. I need some alone time to think, to read, to talk with my husband, to write, to pray. If I go too long without those things I start to get antsy. I’ve also found that if I allow myself the freedom to go at a slower pace I feel a lot more peaceful. Rather than measuring myself against the someone else’s standards, I remember that I was created with a unique design, and when I embrace that I’m much more content.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

There are some very typical and common Slavic names that I knew I wanted to use in the book. If you visit Russia or Ukraine, you’re guaranteed to meet several Ludas, Olegs, Marias, Ivans, Tanyas, Katyas, and Sergeis. Because I interviewed so many people throughout the country of Ukraine, I had a vast pool of names from which to choose. I went with the ones that I thought readers could most easily pronounce.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Well, finishing this book!

I wanted to give up so many times. I was certain that I couldn’t pull it off. I didn’t think I was smart enough or talented enough to write these stories in the way they were meant to be told.

The history of those days is convoluted, and I didn’t want to mess it up. I almost talked myself out of this book several times, but I just couldn’t let it go. So I pushed through, and ultimately I’m so pleased with the results.

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

A panda bear. They just always seem so happy and content and playful. That sounds like fun.

What is your favorite food?

I have to pick one food?!

I guess I’ll go with Nutella because I feel like it is God’s gift to this world sent straight from heaven above. I’m nearly certain it will be on the heavenly banqueting table.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Finding the time to sit down and write is always my biggest challenge. With four children, time is a precious commodity, and large chunks of time are rare. I mine those out like gold. I struggle to get any significant writing done in short blocks of time. I need at least two hours to get ramped up, so learning to find the time to pour into writing is always a hurdle I have to overcome. And then relinquishing guilt when I did pull away was always a challenge as well.

Tell us about the featured book.

Like a River From Its Course is a historical set in World War II Soviet Ukraine, and it follows four unique characters as they walk the reader through those dark years. It is a story of heartache and grief, of love, forgiveness, and redemption. The book is based on the true stories I gathered in over hundred interviews with former World War II survivors from the Soviet Union.

BOOK BLURB:

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler’s blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine’s tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the “killing ditch. He survived, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda Michaelevna never knew her mother. Growing up with an alcoholic father, Luda is only sixteen when the Nazis invade, and she’s brutally attacked due to her father’s negligence. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Herrmann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer’s plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to success by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism.

Please give us the first page of the book.

MARIA “MASHA” IVANOVNA

June 22, 1941 Kiev, Ukraine

“Papa! Papa!”


The screams lift from my chest, but I don’t feel them escape. As the flat flashes and shakes, I turn circles. I know I’m home, but I don’t know just where I am. I can’t cry, can’t walk, can’t find my family. I can only scream, and again I cry out, the sound pulled involuntarily from my soul.

“Maria!”


I gasp as strong arms wrap around me, pulling me to the floor. “We’re here, Dochka,” my father cries. “Follow me.”


He flips to his hands and knees, and I grab onto one of his ankles behind him, shuffling along the floor to the hallway where my mother, sister Anna, and brother Sergei huddle close. They are three who look like one, intertwined in such a way that I can’t tell where one begins and the other ends. I join the heap, my father lying over all of us.

For the first hour, I’m sure that we’re moments from meeting the saints. I pray to Saint Maria to bring me quickly to her with little pain. I fear pain.

As I pray for an easy transition into the afterlife, my father speaks soothingly in my ear. “You’re fine, my daughter,” he whispers, a balm to my terror. “We’re going to be fine.”

I don’t believe him. I want to, but I can’t. So as the sky flashes, I continue to whisper my litany mostly because I can’t stop.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.kellistuart.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellistuartauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kellistuart

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellistuartauthor

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kellistuart

Travel back in time in Kelli Stuart's new novel, Like a River from Its Course, as the city of Kiev is bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union. This sweeping historical saga takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Celebrate the release of Like a River from Its Course with Kelli by entering to win a Kindle Fire Prize Pack.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Like a River from Its Course
• A Kindle Fire
• A Kindle Fire case (winner's choice)
• A $30 Amazon gift card

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on July 18th. The winner will be announced July 19th on Kelli's blog.

Thank you, Kelli, 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.
Like a River From Its Course - Christianbook.com
Like a River from Its Course - AmsOn
Like a River from Its Course - 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

ONCE UPON A COWBOY - Lacy Williams - One Free Ebook

Dear Readers, I first met Lacy Williams when I spoke to a writer’s group in Oklahoma. It was my pleasure and great blessing to encourage her at that time, and I’ve enjoyed watching her, from afar in Texas, as her writing career developed and grew. And now she’s setting fairy tales in modern time with cowboys. Two of my favorite things. What’s not to love?

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

I’m excited to be working on more indie releases. I have six books planned in the Cowboy Fairytales series and have some ideas of what I’ll write in the fall. I do have some time off planned coming up in July and August (you’ll see why in the next answer!). Also releasing later this month is THE BUTTERFLY BRIDE, a novella I really enjoyed writing for Serenade Books.

Tell us a little about your family.

Hubby and I have three kids aged six and under (two girls and a boy), and we have a new arrival on the way, coming in early July! Our oldest just “graduated” from Kindergarten and is already reading chapter books—I think she’s going to be a reader like mom. Our second will go into Pre-K in the fall and he’s soooo excited to get to go to school with big sister. All three are on the countdown for the new arrival and have helped with decorating the baby’s room.

Congratulations. I didn’t know about the new blessing to join your family. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I have a lot less time to read now, especially with kids demanding a lot of my time. Most days I have the choice between writing or reading (no time to do both!). I try really hard to turn off my internal editor when I read and just relax, and I enjoy really diverse tastes in fiction, though most have romance threads in them!

What are you working on right now?

I am working through edits on the third and fourth books in the Cowboy Fairytales series (THE TOAD PRINCE and THE BEASTLY PRINCESS) and plotting out book five (THE LOST PRINCESS). This has been a really fun series to write. Each book is loosely based on a well-known fairy tale, but they are set in modern day times and also have cowboys in them (cowboys are kind of my thing). Revisiting the fairy tales has been a really fun exercise.

What outside interests do you have?

Hubby and I sneak date nights when we can. We love to see movies (romance for me, action for him) or go out to eat and just enjoy the peace and quiet.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Most recently, I’ve written contemporary cowboys in Oklahoma and Texas. I grew up on my grandpa’s farm in small-town Oklahoma, running around in the fields and checking the cows with my dad and fishing when we could sneak away. My growing-up years played a huge part in building my imagination and it’s only natural that many of the settings I’ve chosen have grown out of that small-town background.

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

Probably Jane Austen. She’s my favorite historical author.

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

I wish I’d known that deadlines never get any easier. It seems like the activities at school ramp up or my kids get sick just before every deadline, whether with a publisher or my own self-imposed deadlines for indie publishing. I’ve learned to write ahead when I can!

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

At this stage of my life, I’m learning a lot about flexibility and patience. Life with small children is a lot of fun, but can also be challenging. There is a lot of giving up of self and that’s not always easy either. But God strengthens me throughout and I’m so thankful for the blessings He has given me!

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

Write every day. Find a mentor. Never give up.

Tell us about the featured book.

ONCE UPON A COWBOY is a retelling of the Snow White fairytale. When Princess Alessandra barely survives an assassination attempt, she finds herself isolated on a Texas ranch with seven woolly cowboys—and she can’t help falling for the most irascible one of all, Gideon Hale.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Early February

Just keep smiling.

Princess Alessandra, second in line for the throne of Glorvaird, meandered through the crush of bodies as the Who's-Who of New York City society mingled on the sidewalk outside a ritzy hotel. Inside the ballroom would be even worse, stuffy with the heat of so many people. The icy air chilled her skin where the slinky dress she wore didn't cover nearly enough beneath her designer coat, but inside she'd be grateful to shed her outerwear.

She detested events like these. But her royal duty demanded her presence. Her sister, the crown princess, had tasked her with forging alliances with two powerful dignitaries, which she would attempt when she could get inside. Two hours, and she could return to her own hotel, several blocks away. And rid herself of the awful, pinching heels her stylist had provided.

Paparazzi snapped pictures from behind a cordoned-off line, the flashes from their cameras whisking her to the present and out of her thoughts. Hired security milled around, looking bored. After years of being in the public eye, she was used to the presence of both.

It didn't mean the press weren't as annoying as gnats, constantly buzzing in her ear.

One misstep, one faux pas, could follow her around on the Internet for a year.

She smoothed her skirt unobtrusively and kept the smile fixed on her face.

A hand on her elbow made her pause amidst the crowd.

Her bodyguard. Tim was dark-haired and fair-complected, bulky, and more than a head taller than she. He usually faded into the background.

The fact that he'd moved in close had her pulse speeding.

"What's—" wrong?

I’m loving it so far. Can’t wait until my copy arrives. How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.lacywilliams.net and www.facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks  are the best places to find me online!

Thank you, Lacy, for sharing this new book with us. I'd love to schedule Cowboy Charming and the rest of the fairy tale books on my blog.

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

Once Upon a Cowboy (Cowboy Fairytales) (Volume 1) - paperback
Once Upon a Cowboy: contemporary fairy tale romance (Cowboy Fairytales Book 1) - Kindle

Comment Question: Do you like fairy tales? Cowboys? Which do you like best?

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

JILTED - Varina Denman - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face. A native Texan who spent her high school years in a small Texas town, Varina now lives near Fort Worth with her husband and five mostly grown children. Her passion is helping others make peace with their life situations. Varina’s Mended Hearts series is a compelling blend of women’s fiction and inspirational romance.

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

As little as possible and as much as it takes. With every heroine I create, I tell myself she’s going to be her own person and not at all like me, but I’ve discovered that’s quite impossible. Each of my girls shares a few characteristics of my own, and usually these are revealed during the quiet times of the book. Whenever the main character is reflecting on her feelings or emotions, I draw on my own experiences to fuel her spirit.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’ve been told some of my mothering skills are quirky. When my children were young, I let them crawl in and out the kitchen window instead of using the back door. My friends thought I was nuts, but honestly, it was pure selfishness. The kids kept themselves busy … which left me with more quiet time … to read.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I didn’t consider writing until I was forty years old, and I didn’t actually try it for a few years after that. And even THEN, I doubted the possibility. It wasn’t until I completed my first novel and found my agent that I actually believed I might be able to pull it off.

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

My faves are mainstream literary fiction that crossover into women’s fiction, but I also enjoy young adult, inspirational romance, and the occasional dystopian.

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

This is a challenge for me because I LOVE to work. It makes me happy. However, it also wears me out and drags me away from family and friends, and I have to force myself to slow down and breathe. I take long baths, watch movies, and play games with the family, but what helps the most is prayer and quiet time so I can reflect on the important things in life.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Some characters automatically have a name as soon as I consider their personality. The name just pops into my head. Other characters require more thought. Sometimes I’ll search baby name websites, taking the meaning of the name into consideration, and I’ve also been known to put it to my readers, taking an online survey after giving a brief description of the character. That’s always fun!

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m proud that I’ve managed to keep my Christianity in spite of the crazy world we live in. I’m proud that I’ve stayed married for twenty-nine years, even though marriage is ridiculously hard. I’m proud that my kids seem to be turning out all right, in spite of having me as a mother. As far as my writing is concerned … I think I’m most proud of the messages my books give to readers, and I’m glad I’ve been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and encourage others.

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

The kind that stays in their den most of the time, rarely seen by humans, but believed to be friendly and nonaggressive.

What is your favorite food?

I’m addicted to fruit smoothies, and I have one for breakfast every morning. My favorite is banana-strawberry-chocolate-peanut butter, and I throw in a scoop of vanilla protein powder so I can call it a meal instead of a dessert.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Probably the greatest roadblock was the way I wrote my rough drafts. They were ALL OVER THE PLACE, and it took me months to clean them up into a manageable storyline. I read several craft books on plotting and structure, and now I build a solid outline before I ever begin drafting.

Tell us about the featured book.

A heartbroken woman desires to move beyond old memories, but will her past give way to hope?

Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago, yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest. As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life in which the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.

Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, of a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and of a town that must—once and for all—leave the past where it belongs. It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

Please give us the first page of the book.

My daughter, Ruthie, always called me a glass-is-half-empty kind of person, but she was wrong. Not only was my glass half empty, but a tiny crack shot diagonally from a chip on the rim, and something bread-like hovered in the murky liquid. But I was in the process of tossing that damaged tumbler and getting a brand-new one. Even though I would never be a Susie Sunshine, I was determined to stop hiding inside myself. But it wasn’t proving easy.

Today I sat in my hatchback on the side of Highway 84, sizzling like bacon in the afternoon sunshine. I did this a lot. Sometimes I turned off at the lake and stared at the rippling water, but most times, like today, I drove all the way to the wind fields to gaze at the turbines—white needles against a blue sky. I reached across the seat and cranked down the window on the passenger side to allow a breeze in. Ninety-four degrees in September, but it could have been worse. Last week we were still in triple digits.

As a pickup truck sped past, my little silver car rocked gently and I almost ducked, but it was only Old Man Guthrie. His index finger made a slow salute in greeting, but I did nothing in response. My typical hello. My friend Clyde Felton called me distant, but really I was just tired. Tired of waving. Tired of pretending. Tired of trying.

I focused my gaze on the jagged pastureland beyond the pavement and hoped nobody else would interrupt my thoughts. Then again, I sometimes wished God had provided an on/off switch so we women could shut down our brains when the memories started echoing.

For me, those memories were men. Ruthie may have insisted that my glass was half empty, but I liked to think it was filled up fine until the men in my life started throwing rocks at it for sport. Over the years I had gradually trained myself to shy away from males, other than the men in my family. And Clyde. Even Old Man Guthrie knew better than to stop and check on me, thank goodness. If he had, I would’ve been forced to explain why a grown woman was sitting in her car on the side of the highway, staring at the wind turbines. I smiled.

Those windmills, marching across the Caprock like evenly spaced tin soldiers, stretched for miles south of town and settled my nerves like a dose of Valium. Not that I’d had any Valium lately, but one doesn’t quickly forget.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Connect with Varina through her website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest.

Lena, thank you for hosting me on your blog today. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you and your readers!

 https://promosimple.com/ps/9ca0

Thank you, Varina, for sharing this book with us. I love the cover with the wind farm in the background. That is so true in many parts of Texas. I live here, too.

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

Jilted - Christianbook.com
Jilted: A Novel (Mended Hearts Series) - Amazon
Jilted: A Novel (Mended Hearts Series) - Kindle

Comment question: Have you ever been jilted?

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