Friday, June 30, 2017

50 HOURS - Loree Lough - One Free Book

Bio: Bestselling author Loree Lough once sang for her supper, performing across the U.S. and Canada. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two, but mostly, she writes novels that have earned hundreds of industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, 4- and 5-star reviews, and 7 book-to-movie options. Her 115th book, 50 Hours, is her most personal to date. Recently released, The Man She Knew, book #1 in her “By Way of the Lighthouse” series from Harlequin Heartwarming

Welcome back, Loree. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up in 2017?
First, I’d like to thank you, Lena, for allowing me to share news about this book. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

I’ve always enjoyed speaking at conferences and teaching at community colleges. This year, however, I’m staying close to home due to health reasons.

If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?
Women these days tend to overtax themselves… 9-5 jobs in addition to church, family, household responsibilities, caring for others (aging parents, ailing friends, grandchildren, etc.), social engagements, and so on. Given that this is the case far too often, I’d love to host a retreat called “Be Still…and Know…” Guest speakers would address all the issues that crowd our calendars, and provide easy how-to information to help attendees learn that it’s acceptable—and healthy—to put themselves first once in a while.

I so agree with you. I had a season when I had to learn that we must “Be Still … and Know …” It revolutionized my walk with the Lord. Who would you want as speakers and why?
Pastors, psychologists, and authors who are skilled in the areas of time management and self-care. Their expertise would provide credible lessons to women, and (hopefully) prevent burnout.

Where would you hold the retreat and why?
Larry and I have a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. The beauty and serene setting would allow attendees to experience, first-hand, the true meaning of R and R (rest and relaxation). And while they’re enjoying the peace and quiet, they’ll be more receptive to learning methods that strengthen their spirits and ease their souls.

It sounds wonderful. I’d want to come. Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?
When traveling, I prefer ebooks, since they spare me having to pack and carry extra pounds. At home, however, I’ll take “a real book” every time. The heft of a book, the sound and scent of its pages is pleasing!

That’s an interesting title. How did you come up with it?
50 HOURS started as a screenplay, written by Kevin J. O’Neill. The skeletal storyline centered around 50 hours of community service, assigned to one of the two main characters. After reading Saving Alyssa (#3 in Harlequin Heartwarming’s “A Child to Love” series), Kevin called to ask if I’d be interested in “novelizing” his screenplay. In his endorsement of the book, he writes “Loree Lough is an exceptional author, and that’s why I approached her about writing the novel for my feature film, 50 Hours. But I had no idea how wonderful her novelization would be until I read it. Loree was able to dig so deep into my characters…and create secondary characters to further flesh out the story. She unearthed and richly developed those characters and gave them three dimensional lives. I am so happy with the book!
~ Kevin J. O’Neill, writer/director/actor/producer.

So what is the book about?
Franco Allessi is a broken, lonely man who wants nothing more than to outrun the ghosts of his past. For years, he’d tried to numb the pain of his wife's death with cheap beer and whiskey. Then he's convicted of drunk driving, and judge revokes his license and orders him to serve fifty hours of community service. Franco chooses Savannah Falls Hospice for no reason other than it's walking distance from his run-down house trailer. On his first day at the center, he meets Aubrey Brewer, a woman whose time on earth is quickly ticking to a stop. Their unusual connection teaches powerful, life-changing lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the importance of appreciating that precious treasure called Life.

Wow, sounds powerful. Please give us the first page of the book.
“Do you fully comprehend why you find yourself standing before me today, Mr. Allessi?”
           
Franco stared at the toes of his shoes. “Yes, Your Honor, I do.”
           
“And do you also realize that by getting behind the wheel in an inebriated state, you put others—not just yourself—in dire jeopardy?”
           
Truth be told, he’d put himself in jeopardy long before he got behind the wheel. His whole life these days seemed like a connect-the-dots game, with each dot representing a new risk. Take last night, for example, when instead of ignoring the taunts of “Get a load of this dude’s wingtips!” by unruly bikers at the Brew and Cue, he’d started a shoving match, and paid for it with a black eye, a chipped tooth, and bruised ribs.
           
Leroy Carlisle, his court-appointed attorney, elbowed him back to attention.
           
“Yes, Your Honor,” Franco repeated. He glanced up, but only far enough to read John Malloy, Sr., Judge, Superior Court on the big wooden nameplate. “You have my word, sir, it won’t happen again.”
           
Malloy exhaled a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, if only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that . . . .” He frowned at Franco’s file, open on his bench. “Nevertheless, you scored 0.14 on the breathalyzer. And since this isn’t your first offense, I have no choice but to suspend your license . . .”
           
Carlisle warned him this might happen. Thirty days, the bespectacled kid had said, two months at most, providing Franco looked and sounded—how had he put it?—suitably contrite.
           
“ . . . for six months.”
Six months? Six months! “With all due respect, Your Honor, I drive a tow truck. Can’t do my job without a license.”
           
Sarcasm rang out loud in the older man’s voice: “With all due respect, Mr. Allessi, you should have considered that possibility before driving under the influence.” Malloy sat back and folded liver-spotted hands over his ponderous belly. “Under other circumstances, I might have granted you permission to drive to and from work.” He looked at the man at the prosecutor’s table. “But Detective Rowe, here, says you were so out of it when he pulled you over that he considered calling an ambulance.” His slow Georgia drawl quickened a bit as he added, “I cannot in good conscience risk that next time; you might run some young mama and her carload of little ones off the road.”
           
“You have my word. There won’t be a next time.”
           
Carlisle jabbed Franco again, this time squarely on one of his sore ribs. Franco drove a hand through his hair and weighed his options: take his medicine like a good little drunkard, or deck the bony-elbowed smart aleck to his left.
           
“I could sentence you to sixty days, but since you seem suitably contrite, I’ll lessen it to time served and fifty hours of community service. Your fresh-faced young lawyer here can help you choose an appropriate facility.” He raised a bushy eyebrow and aimed his steely gaze at Carlisle. “The name of which I expect to see on my desk by this time tomorrow. Understood, counselor?”
           
Carlisle nodded as the judge banged his gavel, and the bailiff stepped up to the bench.
“Next case,” Malloy bellowed as Carlisle stuffed his pen and yellow legal pad into a floppy black briefcase. He muttered something about signatures and paperwork, then crisscrossed the bag over his shoulder and headed for the door. Franco followed like a well-trained pup, hoping he could arrange a payment schedule, because his checking account was as bare as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I hope everyone will feel free to interact with me at any of those sites! Thanks again, Lena, for sharing your blog with me!

Loree, you’re a dear friend, and I love your writing. And I'm eager to read this one. It’s a great blessing to share you and your books with my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
50 Hours 50 Hours

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 or country if outside North America. (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:

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

RESCUE ME - Sandy Nadeau - One Free Book

Welcome back, Sandy. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
I hope to sell a new romantic suspense at the ACFW conference in September. Now that we’ve settled into our new life in Texas, I hope to keep on writing and getting books out there. I’m really excited about this next story.

Good. I hope to see you there. I’m going, too. Tell us a little about your family.
My favorite subject! I’ve been married 40 years to a man who became and remains my very best friend. We have one daughter who married her best friend. We were blessed when they adopted two babies thirteen months apart who are now 4 and 3. Then we were blessed again when our daughter gave birth to a baby boy. He’s now 10 months old. We moved from Colorado to Texas just last year so we could be a part of our grandkid’s lives. And we haven’t regretted it one minute. One other family tidbit: my mom just turned 90 years young a month ago. We all got to be in Wisconsin to celebrate with her.

That’s awesome. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I write contemporary, so I tend to read more to the genre I write. But I also love historicals, so one of those slips in from time to time. Always from the inspirational market.

I write a lot of historicals, but the book that release on Kindle later this week is a romantic collection, and my book is contemporary. What are you working on right now?
As I mentioned, I have a romantic suspense going. Many years ago, back in my small mountain town in Colorado, I wrote a community news column for the local paper. I did that for twelve years. When brainstorming with a friend on what new project to start, she suggested I glean from that position. So I have my poor heroine getting herself into all sorts of trouble due to her job of finding the facts and the bad guy. My working tag line for it is: She knows she’ll make her deadline, but what if it’s her own?

I tend to have a lot of ideas rolling, and I had also started one on a female woodworker. I really liked the way that story was going too, but I had to pick one to concentrate on.

What outside interests do you have?
My grandkids! They occupy most of my time and I love it. I am trying my hand at growing veggies here in TX, but that is a learning process. Maybe next year will go better. I also enjoy woodworking, crafts, crocheting (I just helped out with my church’s VBS crocheting different pieces of coral for the “coral reef” in the play. It turned out amazing! A lot of hands helped it come alive.) I LOVE to travel and we camp as often as we can.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
We spent thirty years living in Colorado. My husband and I loved to go four-wheeling and exploring, so we discovered a lot of places that most people don’t get to. Not a day went by that we didn’t appreciate where we lived. We never took it for granted. Since it is such a beautiful place, and adventure can be found at every turn, there’s no better setting when I include a lot of adventure in my books. There’s a lifetime of stories in those mountains.

My latest historical, which released in December—A Heart’s Gift—is set in Colorado. If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough question. There’s so many. Several from the Bible, but I’ll probably meet most of them in heaven. So maybe, sticking to my adventure theme, I’d love to spend time with one of the explorers who took the chance on heading west to discover lands never seen before. I’d love to find out about their motivations, their hopes, and their fears at the time. The dangers they faced. The fun they had and their reactions to the amazing beauty they discovered along the way.
Imagine being the first person to see a mountain range.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
Grow a thick skin first, then you can roll with the punches of a very hard business.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
The ladies Bible study I attend is going through a guide about Nurturing a Heart of Humility by Elizabeth George. Of course, it’s mostly about Mary, the mother of Jesus, who had such a heart of humility. Yesterday, it really struck me that even back in the biblical days, people rejected Jesus. Especially in His home town. As we look at the world today, it’s a lot of the same thing. People rejecting Truth, rejecting Christ. With the daily news, social media, computers, the rejection is more known. It breaks my heart that so many turn their faces away from truth. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. It’s not saying we should be afraid of God, but saying that if we believe in Him and have a reverence (fear, respect) then He will reveal more and more to us. Knowledge. It leads to growth!

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
Grow that thick skin!
Join ACFW or another great writer’s group and learn. And network.
Write. Then write some more. Then write even more. Keep writing until you have it figured out. Which means, you will write forever! But love it.

Tell us about the featured book.
Rescue Me is a special story to me. My husband was a volunteer firefighter for over 4 years. He also became an EMT and served as the Director of Emergency Medical Services for our small town in Minnesota. (That was a lot of years ago.) In the story, the heroine lost her firefighter father in a bad fire as he tried to save another firefighter. Ronnie struggles through accepting that loss and understanding why God would take her dad while he was doing something so heroic. One of the problems she has is that she followed her dad into that line of work by becoming a rescue squad person. She had been dating Steve, a firefighter, until her dad died. Then she swore off dating firefighters to avoid the kind of loss her family suffered. But Steve isn’t ready to give up their relationship and he works to help her through her grief and anger at God. It’s filled with adventure and emergency calls all set in the Colorado foothills. And falling in love again.

Please give us the first page of the book.
It opens with Steve in a precarious situation where HE needs rescuing. Ronnie and the team have to come to his rescue. Here it is:

“I can’t believe this.” Steve McNeal reached down again to try to move the rock that trapped his foot. Pain shot through his entire leg and cold dots of perspiration chilled his forehead. He rested against the granite boulder trying to ignore his throbbing ankle and to slow his heartbeat. Of course this had to happen. How could he have been so stupid as to try to scramble between the boulders alone? How many times had he scaled this boulder field? A shortcut to the trail.
Brilliant idea.

Bracing both arms against the cold, rough granite on either side of him, he pushed with his free leg against a flatter area of one boulder, trying to get some relief from the pressure on his trapped foot. No doubt about it. This was a definite problem.

Steve scanned the sloping hillside that held the trail, which wound around the boulders that now held him hostage. The view was limited from his position, but at least he’d made his way down facing forward so he could look out instead of at the rock behind him.

Unbelievable. Ten feet from the ground, the trail right there, freedom so close and yet absolutely unattainable. Ow! He had to get his foot out. Or quit moving.

How could there be no one on the trail today? He twisted his upper body to look up at the boulders. “Anybody up there?” He quickly straightened. Ouch, OK that hurts. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone for the tenth time. Still no bars. What did he expect? Suddenly he’d have signal?

Cell towers were not a popular thing among the dwellers of the foothills southwest of Denver.
“Lord, a little help here?”

“Hey, Mister.”

It might as well have been a voice from heaven. Relief let some of the tension out of his shoulders. He strained to see the face that peered over the edge of the rocks above.
“What’cha doin’ down there?”

“Hey kid, I’m uh…stuck. Can you go get some help?” Steve’s arm slid against the granite and a little skin peeled off as he tried to look up at the boy. More pain burned a path through his leg, and he gritted his teeth to keep from moaning. His forehead tightly furrowed. He didn’t want to look like a sissy in front of the kid.

“Who are you talking to?” A female voice asked.

“There’s a guy down there.”

“Oh, my. Are you OK?”
Seriously? Do I look OK? “No ma’am. I appear to be trapped by a rock. Can you get a call out for help?” Steve couldn’t see much of her between his position and only her eyes peeking over the edge.

“I don’t have a signal. We’ll go where we can get one. Hang in there.”

Not much choice. “Thanks.”

The footsteps moved away. Back to the quiet of the woods. Steve tried to remember where the cell signals could be received in the park. He never really paid attention while out here. Making a call was the last thing he wanted to do while hiking. He hoped they wouldn’t have to go all the way to the parking lot. They’d have to wait for the crew, and then get back up here. That would add at least thirty or forty more minutes to his confinement than he cared to think about.

He dreaded which of his colleagues would be on duty today with rescue, not to mention the fire department. Was Ronnie on today? As the climbing expert on the department, it was likely she’d respond. He liked seeing her anytime, but not under these circumstances, given the choice. This ranked right up there as his most humiliating moment. Well, maybe not, but at the moment it felt that way. The fact that she wouldn’t want to see him didn’t help.

It’s a fun opening. There’s several light-hearted moments in the book. And I’d like to mention, Rescue Me was endorsed by Tracie Peterson, author of over one hundred much loved books. You can read her endorsement on Amazon.

Yes, I read the book and loved it. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love to hear from people. Check me out at:
Twitter: @sandynadeauCO 

Thank you, Sandy, for sharing this book with my readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Rescue Me - Paperback
Rescue Me - 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 or country if outside North America. (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:

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

WHO KILLED MY HUSBAND - Michelle Stimpson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when I saw that Michelle had published this new book, I had to invite her to be on the blog, so I could introduce the book to you. Those of you who have read the other books I’ve featured know why.

Bio: Michelle Stimpson’s works include the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), and Falling Into Grace, which has been optioned for a movie. She has published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company at WeGottaRead.com.

Michelle serves in women’s ministry at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. She regularly speaks at special events and writing workshops sponsored by churches, schools, book clubs, and educational organizations.

The Stimpsons are proud parents of two young adults, grandparents of one super-sweet granddaughter, and the owners of one Cocker Spaniel, Mimi, who loves to watch televangelists.

Welcome back, Michelle. This is a different kind of book for you. What made you venture a little with this title?
After writing 40+ books, an author can get kinda stagnant. I have recently started reading clean mysteries, and I found that I actually enjoy them. They keep me up late at night because I truly want to find out whodunit and why. I’m hoping my readers will enjoy a different pace, too. I think they’ll be glad to know it’s possible to change things up and still keep the message of the book strong.

What is the message of the book?
The main character, Ashley, is struggling to make sense of things as they relate to her. She has suffered much loss in her life already. But she’s going to have to understand that God doesn’t make His plans around her. She may be the apple of His eye, but she is not the center of the universe.  His promise to be there always will have to be sufficient for some of us until we reach the other side.

Wow! That title really caught me. How did you come up with the idea for this book?
You know what, I wish I could remember. Thankfully, I have not experience much death around me, but I know that the longer I live, the more loved ones will pass away. Death is a part of life.  I don’t kill off a lot of characters in my books, but there was just something about this couple that struck my imagination, and I knew they needed a book. Quickly!

How quick?
About 10 days from outline to finished first draft.

Seriously?
Yes, but keep in mind: This is a shorter work of fiction.

I know it’s possible. With my novella that is going up in a collection tomorrow, I had written the first 17,000 words over several weeks. Then I finished over 10,000 words in one week, and it’s a suspense novella, too.Why did you choose to write a shorter piece?
I actually got my start with fiction as a short-story writer. I love shorter reads because I can finish them quickly. My schedule is often irregular, so it’s hard for me to get into longer books during hectic weeks. When I sit down for a few hours with a short read, I already know I’m going to have the satisfaction of finishing it. I usually save longer reads for holidays/vacations.

What else is going on with you outside of the writing world?
Glad you asked! I am now the grandmother of a wonderful baby girl. Bless God! I am spending a ridiculous amount of time just staring at her and nibbling on her juicy cheeks.

I so understand that. Only mine are great grands now. What’s your next release?
I’ve got a non-fiction book coming out entitled Change Your Mind, Transform Your Life: 21 Truths to Renew Your Mind in Christ. I am always sooo excited about edifying believers. Non-fiction is not my first genre, but it is definitely one of the most fulfilling to me.

Do you have advice for aspiring authors?
I have more than advice—I have help! They can visit www.PublishMyBookAlready.com to take classes and learn more about publishing, marketing, etc.

Wow, that sounds good! Now tell us a little about the story.
Ashley Crandall finally convinced her husband, Allan, to attend the Christian men’s retreat ... but he ends up dead there. What happened to him on the campgrounds? Who would want to kill Allan? And why are the detectives pointing fingers at Ashley? In her quest to solve the mystery and clear her name, Ashley will learn something about her husband that she didn’t want to know and something about her Christian faith that shifts her life. 

This short work by national bestselling, multi-published author Michelle Stimpson is packed with emotion, suspense, and a her signature way of weaving hope into a story – always a hit with readers who enjoy faith-based reads.

Please give us a peek into Who Killed My Husband?
Chapter 1
“Thank you for doing this, Allan.” I kept my eyes steady on the unfamiliar, winding road sprawling before me. Already, I had braked three times for sharp turns and a pothole. 

Allan, ears covered by headphones, bobbed as though he didn’t hear my compliment. His baby smooth skin, dimples, and semi-Mohawk haircut made him look much younger than thirty-two. So young, in fact, that a few times, twenty-something chicks at his DJing events had mistaken me as his older sister or his manager, even though I was only thirty. Allan thought that was funny. “It’s good for business,” he’d say, flashing his boyish grin.

I was tired of him acting like a boy. A guy. A dude. A bro. I needed him to grow up and be a man. Start thinking about things that mattered, namely his eternity. Since Allan had agreed to attend this non-church-affiliated men’s retreat, I thought my prayers were finally being answered. I had gone all out to take off work early so I could take him to Peaceful Days. Even dusted on some makeup and flat-ironed my wavy mane so he’d have this awesome picture of me in the back of his mind all weekend.

I tapped him on the shoulder and mouthed again, “Thank you for doing this.”

I knew better than to expect a “Sure thing, Ashley,” or “It’s my pleasure to go,” from him. He was either ignoring me or caught up in his music. No matter, I was used to being blocked out of his life by music, working at KRBF FM radio Dallas. His side gigs. His friends. His lifestyle.
Still, my eyes watered for a moment. The rejection stung worse than a bee. At least when a bee stung, it was defending its own territory. Allan and I were supposed to be one in God’s sight. Why he chose to turn on me—his wife of six years—and treat me like the enemy was unreasonable. We were on the same team.

At least we were until Corey died.

Blinking tears away, my vision cleared just in time to spot a pretty good-sized animal dart into the road. I slammed on the brakes. My stomach squirmed. I winced, hoping the thing had escaped being crushed.

A second later, my body relaxed. Whatever it was hadn’t become a bump under my wheels.

“Geez Louise!” Allan yelled. “Can you not see?”

“It came out of nowhere!” I pointed toward the open field on the passenger’s side.

“I saw it a mile away!” he claimed, motioning toward his window. “You’re not paying attention.”

“Neither are you!”

Allan pulled the headphones down so they dangled around his neck. “I’m paying plenty of attention to the road. Can’t say the same about you since you nearly got us killed.”

Cautiously, I continued our path to the campgrounds.

“Do you need me to drive?” he asked with a hint of sympathy in his voice.

This was my husband’s way of apologizing. He wouldn’t just come out and say, “Babe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” He’d offer to do something.

“No,” I said. That was my way of not accepting his roundabout apology.

I had grounds for a full-blown argument. How dare he accuse me of trying to kill us? And why am I driving anyway—I’m the woman! Real men know how to step up and take the wheel in more ways than one. Top that off with the fact that my heart was still racing from the animal-in-the-road scare, and I was primed.

But I didn’t want to go there. Not now. Especially not today. Allan had finally agreed to attend a Christian men’s conference for the weekend, and I’d been praying that God would use this weekend to touch my husband’s heart. Having a big blowout of an argument just before dropping him off wouldn’t exactly be productive.

Thanks to a few books I’d been reading and the personal advice of the Holy Spirit, I had come to the point of understanding that, apparently, Allan was in the “may be won without a word” category. I just needed to keep my mouth zipped and let God do His thing. Problem number one: Allan had a knack for provoking me. Problem number two: I wasn’t always obedient. Problem number three: God was taking His sweet time.

My husband pressed a dial on his headphones. “Hello?”

The caller spoke loud enough for me to hear that it was a man. A hollering man.

“Wait up, man! I gotchu! My first payment isn’t even due until next month, bro,” Allan said.
I put two and two together and realized he was talking to Jerry Albright, the man who had helped finance my husband’s acquisition of the radio station where he worked.

“I’mma have yo money like I said, at the time we agreed to,” Allan said forcefully, slipping into a strong southern accent. “Why you tryna collect early?”

The rest of the conversation was much more calm. Allan wasn’t playing with Jerry. But neither was Jerry playing with Allan, apparently.

Great. Now we have loan sharks after us. This whole DJ Pistol Whip persona was getting out of control.

“Aight. I’ll talk to you next week. I’m gonna be at a…some kind of thing my old lady set me up to…Naw…you know I ain’t goin’ out like that! I got a reputation to protect!” Allan laughed.

Thank God they’re laughing and not threatening each other.

Whatever the man had suggested was probably too civil for DJ Pistol Whip to admit to.

“I’ll catch you later.” He took the headphones off, mumbling to himself that Jerry was crazy. His thumbs whittled away at a message to somebody.

“In one-half mile, turn left on Prayer Lane,” the navigation system instructed.

Allan chuckled. “Prayer Lane.” He pushed his headphones back in place.

I could hardly wait for that half a mile to come and go so I could drop him off at that camp and burn rubber on my way out. I figured, if nothing else, at least I’d get a weekend away from him
As we neared the grounds, we were welcomed by the United States flag, the Texas flag, and the Christian flag. Flowers bloomed in pristine arrangements lining the entryway’s white picket fence. Green grass rolled for acres between small buildings with country flair. A large pond sparkled in the midst of the camp. The scenery alone should have been enough to let Allan know that God is real and loves to bring beauty into this world.

Peaceful Days Camp was painted in bright red letters on a wooden sign. Underneath the facility name was the phrase Come all who labor.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Allan yelled. His music’s volume must have been so loud he didn’t realize how his voice carried. “Laboring is what I need to be doing this Friday night instead of hanging out with some chumps at a camp.”

“Really?” I yelled loud enough for him to hear me. “You think judging a twerking contest is labor?”

“It’s a hard job, but somebody’s gotta do it,” he shouted back. “DJing and vibin’ with the hip hop culture is the way I make my money. You knew who you were marrying when you married DJ Pistol Whip, right?”

“I didn’t marry DJ Pistol Whip. I married Allan Crandall.”

“One and the same, baby. One and the same.” He bobbed his head even harder and started throwing punches in the air as though fighting an imaginary foe.

All I could do was poke out my lips. He had a point. Allan had turned into this persona he’d created to earn a living. He was very good at what he did. A part of me was glad that he loved his work. But when that work involved MCing wet T-shirt contests, I had a problem. A serious problem.

I followed the signs to the H. P. Lewis men’s dormitory, which had been mentioned in the series of emails leading up to the retreat. Of course, all of the email messages came to me, since Allan wasn’t about to keep track of anything regarding this event.

I parked and, almost immediately, Allan hopped out. I pushed the button to open the back window so he could retrieve his bags. As he walked around to the back of our vehicle, I got the paperwork from my purse. Suddenly, I felt like a mother must feel when she’s dropping her child off at kindergarten. The joy. The pain. The pride.

A sadness swept over me as I wondered: Will I ever experience that for myself?

Thoughts of little Corey filled my mind, nearly overtaking me with their intensity. He would have been three years old the following week. “Horrible Threes” I’d heard people called them. People wouldn’t say such negative things about babies and children—about them waking up in the middle of the night, the crying, the teething, the getting into everything—if they realized what a blessing it was to have a living, breathing, normal, healthy child.

The tears had come too quickly for me to blink them away. I swiped them from my eyes.

Allan closed the back window.

I got out of the car to see him off. I had planned to give him a big kiss and a hug in Jesus’s name, but I wasn’t feeling my husband or Jesus at the moment.

Allan hoisted his backpack on his shoulder as he walked toward me.

All around us were couples saying goodbye. Hugging, slight pecks, praying with one another.
I looked up at him. Forced a smile. “Have a good weekend.”

The heavy weight of concern crossed his face. “Why are you crying, Ashley? I’m at the retreat, okay? This is what you wanted, right?”

As mean as Allan could be sometimes, he always fell apart at the slightest hint of wetness on my face.

Peering into his eyes, I wondered why on earth God had allowed these crazy twists and turns in my life. My son’s death. My failing marriage. Even my mother’s dementia, which had been a long time coming, seemed an odd ending to such a good life.
If only my husband and I were on the same page, spiritually, I could lean on him. We could pray for each other. He could actually love me like Christ loved the church, and I could be submissive because I respected him, and life would be…well…easier and holier and basically better.

But I knew not to share my thoughts to Allan. No sense in talking to a brick wall.

Allan hugged me. “Get some rest this weekend. I know.…” He sighed. “I know what today is.”

“Yeah.”

Allan still couldn’t say Corey’s name.

A tinny beat came from the headphones, interrupting our silent moment.

“Are you going to wear those all weekend?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I guess, when we’re not doing anything.”

I thrust the itinerary into his hand. “You’ve got a full weekend. There’s no way you’ll have time for music.”

“There’s always time for music, baby.” He gave a charming smile.

I sighed. Twisted my lips to the side. This was a joke to him. If all he planned to do was go to the classes between vulgar songs, my efforts to get him here had been nothing but a waste of time, effort, money, hope, and prayers.

I blew a cool breeze from my mouth. “You’re right. It’s totally up to you, Allan. Enjoy yourself.” I turned and opened the driver’s side door, not wanting him to see my fresh batch of tears. I didn’t want him to think I was trying to manipulate him by crying. Guilt-induced expressions of love were always disingenuous and short-lived.

Allan grasped my arm. “Ashley. Wait.” He squared up my shoulders before I had a chance to wipe my cheeks dry.

“I’m here because I want to be here.” He swallowed. “I’m tired of fighting with you. I can’t change what happened. I can’t fix everything like I want to. And I don’t know God like you want me to. But I’m here this weekend because I do care.”

“If you care, then listen? Take off your headphones and listen to what’s in here.” I placed my hand on his heart.

Slowly, my husband removed the black headset. He put it around my neck. Smiled. “You could use some music this weekend, I bet.”

I giggled slightly. “You’re probably right.”

He rested his forehead on mine. “I love you, pretty brown-eyed girl.”

His nickname for me, based on the Mint Condition 90s song, still made me melt. I twisted my lips to one side, then gave way to a smile of my own. “Love you, too. See you Sunday.”

The truth was: I loved Allan and I knew he loved me. But if God didn’t fix him that weekend, I didn’t know what I was going to do. We’d already tried counseling. Well, I tried counseling. Allan went twice and said it was a waste of time. I bought his-and-hers versions of do-it-yourself couples therapy-type books. Allan never got past the first few chapters. I was getting to the end of my strategies for improvement.

Friday night found me in bed crying as I flipped through pictures of our wedding. We were so happy back then. We had the rest of our lives in front of us.

Or so I thought.

Taking off the afternoon and enduring the tension with Allan almost all the way to the camp had taken a lot out of me. I didn’t want to argue with my husband. I didn’t want to be so judgmental. I just didn’t know any other way to make him see how much he needed Jesus.

Rather than cry my eyes swollen, I decided to get up and do some work. I logged into my employer’s system and began to edit and comment on documents the team had uploaded. If nothing else, I could at least find some success at work.

Buy links for the book:




How Can Readers Connect with You?
The best way to keep in touch is through my email list. I send out notice of new books and keep people posted on all kinds of things from events to what’s happening with their favorite characters to upcoming releases. The link is here: http://bit.ly/MichelleStimpsonSignUp

Additionally, they can like or follow me at Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MichelleStimpsonWrites
Or Follow me on Twitter @StimpsonTweets. I blog at www.MichelleStimpson.com.

Thanks so much for the interview!

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait to read it. You know how much I love your books.

Readers, 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 or country if outside North America. (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:

Monday, June 26, 2017

SANCTUARY - T M Brown - One Free Ebook

Welcome, T M. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
First of all, its important to share that I hold all fiction is not created “ex nihilo” — “out of nothing.” All our characters, settings, and storylines are rooted in reality, just disguised or rewritten to paint the desired story we wish to write.

In Sanctuary, family and friends chuckle as they recognize parallels between the main characters, Theo and Liddy Phillips, and my wife and me. Likewise, other characters in the story have inspiration from family and friends, especially my two sons and my grandkids. Of course, they were the reason I launched into this endeavor nearly four years ago.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Over my decades as a student of the Bible, I realized that parables and Bible stories have earned the most attention, so I took my bevy of sermons, Bible studies and devotional expositions and surprised my family and friends by announcing that I would transition to writing contemporary parables as a legacy for my grandchildren from their “Poppy,” ergo Sanctuary and its sequels.

When did you first discover you were a writer?
A lion’s share of my mother’s clover-green Irish blood flows through my veins. As a result, I’ve always been blessed with the gift of the blarney. At least that’s what my family attest. However, seriously drafting my words onto paper did not become a reality until I returned to college and then seminary late in life. There I became enthralled with the value of writing and ever since written far more sermons, Bible-studies and inspirational blog posts than I dare recount. But the notion of writing a novel came from my wife insistence. Of course, I fretted and fussed in the early months as I discovered writing a novel required far more than my Irish gifts could supply. Thankfully, God introduced a fantastic writing coach/editor to me. She became an indispensable mentor and encourager throughout the arduous process.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I am a history major and love all forms of history books, but I also have become fond of mysteries and thrillers by the likes of John Grisham, David Baldacci, Nicolas Sparks, and Charles Martin, to mention a few. In the foreseeable future, I hope to set aside more time to reading after my writing days begin to wind down again. I find myself too engrossed in my writing to fully enjoy leisure reading, and I do miss sitting on the porch with a good book that stirs my imagination.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
A sense of humor! I try not to compare myself with others. This is what I shared with my sons when they were growing up and competing in athletics. “There’ll always be others who are faster, stronger, and smarter than you. Strive each day to be the fastest, strongest, and smartest you can be, and you’ll be surprised how successful you’ll become just being the best you can be.”

How do you choose your characters’ names?
Well, you’ll have to read Sanctuary before I answer that question in total. But I will hint if you study the names of the main characters in the town of Shiloh close enough, many of the readers will find the underlying source of their names. Besides, at the end of Sanctuary, the preacher in the story supplies a strong hint.

I will confess, some of my characters in the sequel, Testament, were named after I took a suggestion from an author friend. I ventured into a couple of cemeteries to scout out unique, memorable names from long ago. Also, to honor my dad, his veiled first name becomes the name of a key older character in the sequel.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Completing two novels and actually working on the third had gotten my attention, but what stands high above that is my marriage of forty-four years this August to my beautiful wife Connie, our two sons and their families.  

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
The answer depends on the time of day and situation. Of course, I’ve been called more animal names than I dare to put into print.

What is your favorite food?
I’m a fan of God’s message to Peter in Acts - “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Kind of makes me a fan of most anything, but Southern barbecue, grits, biscuits, collards, and of course, peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, all washed down with sweet tea, rank right up there!

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Transitioning to writing a novel filled with believable dialog, and learning to “show versus tell” after all my years of expository writing. Thank God for a great writing coach and my wife’s encouragement.

Tell us about the featured book.
SANCTUARY begins a series of stories that affirms the possibility that life often winds its way by personal perseverance with the aid of God’s providence influencing our choices along the journey we find ourselves on. Like Theo Phillips retells his story in SANCTUARY, each of us has particular personal stories that we most often share among friends and loved ones. You know, those stories that evolved over a course of time in our life, and after looking back and taking stock, we discovered that the choices we made along those particular journeys impacted far more lives than what we likely envisioned before we began the journey.

SANCTUARY introduces newly retired publishing executive, Theo Phillips, and his wife, Liddy, to the time-lost South Georgia town of Shiloh as they leave the shadows of Atlanta and move into a quaint home of notoriety. While making new friends, they discover twenty-first-century challenges threaten the town’s laid-back lifestyle. Theo's journalistic curiosity launches him into investigating tragic events that have left Shiloh unsettled. Theo and Liddy’s retirement dreams take a turn that could unravel both them and the idyllic life they and many others look for in Shiloh.

Please give us the first page of the book.
A prolonged Indian-summer gripped Georgia. Though already the first Sunday of November, hot and humid weather more suitable for early September caused sweat to trickle unabated down my neck, dampening the collar of the fresh cotton polo I had just yanked over my head. The moving truck pulled away as I latched and locked the trailer doors. Liddy patiently watched from her passenger window as I walked up the sidewalk and locked the front door of the colonial brick suburban house we had called home for the last seven years.
           
I jumped into the driver’s seat, buckled up and squeezed the hand of my wife of forty years, then reached for the gearshift. “Any regrets?”
           
Liddy raised her window and turned her gaze straight ahead as a silly smirk appeared. “Nope. Let’s roll! We’ve got a moving truck to meet in Shiloh tomorrow.”
           
I dropped the gearshift into drive, and my foot slid from the brake to the accelerator. Our Expedition jolted forward with the packed trailer in tow. Liddy stared straight ahead for the first few minutes while she caressed the manila envelope stuffed with photos, brochures and paperwork pertaining to the house we contracted to purchase for our retirement. Liddy dozed off soon after we turned south onto US Highway 19, and I settled in for the afternoon drive to our destination an hour south of Albany.
           
The all-too-familiar gated communities and shopping centers thriving under Atlanta’s ever-present shadow faded in my rear-view mirror…

How can readers find you on the Internet?

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

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 or country if outside North America. (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

Sunday, June 25, 2017

WINNERS!!!

Beth (IA) is the winner of The Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race by Mike H Mizrahi.

Diana (SC) is the winner of Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman.

Martha (WI) is the winner of A Wife's Secret to Happiness by Jen Weaver.

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.

Friday, June 23, 2017

THE SPINSTER AND THE COWBOY (audible book) Lena Nelson Dooley and Julie Carson - One Free Audible Book

Dear Readers, I'm really excited about the release of my novel, The Spinster and the Cowboy, audible edition. I've noticed the new Audible.com ads that call the experience of listening to an audible book as a performance that takes the listener away to another world or realm.

I want to introduce you to Julie Carson, the woman who is the reader for this book. She has experience in television and television production, and she's very talented. This book is truly a performance that will take you away. She's amazing. I'm really blessed to know her as a friend and to work with her on my audio books. She's actually also going to do the audio edition of A Heart's Gift.

You'll find a sample of her work from The Spinster and the Cowboy at this link:

https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A28WSK8AI1QMNV




Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the audio book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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:

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

THE MAN SHE KNEW - Loree Lough - One Free Book

Welcome back. Loree. Let’s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?
Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now!” It’s a fun, upbeat tune that give the wink-wink to those who, when I was starting out, didn’t believe “my little hobby” could become a full time career.

I do understand that. I had those people, too. Now they have taken notice, big time. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?
My go-to verse is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” At several points in my distant and recent past, life sometimes threatened to become overwhelming. And each time, I only needed to read this verse to remind myself that no matter how dark life may appear at any given moment, the Father will bless me with the light that leads me to peace.

What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?
Anyone who’s over 25 (and I’m more than 2x over 25!) has a few regrets. But instead of seeing them as stumbling blocks, I look at them as stepping stones. Each time I was disappointed (or disappointed others) was a valuable life lesson that made me who I am today. That said, I wouldn’t change a thing!

I’m with you. I own all those mistakes and learned from them. What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?
A good friend must be loyal, above all. If I share a heartache, a secret, a bit of joy—and ask you to keep it to yourself—that’s exactly what I expect. And I’ll do the same for you. And since trust and loyalty go hand in hand, I must always feel a true friend can be trusted.

There are too many would-be friends out there. What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?
I held an assortment of odd jobs, beginning at age 14. Clocking 20+ hours a week while holding tight to an A-B average in school left no time for school-type extracurricular activities. When I could, I volunteered at church, babysitting kids while their parents attended services, or in the local hospital gift shop, delivering flowers and whatnot to patients’ rooms. In the community, you could often find me running errands or doing household and hard chores for elderly neighbors.

I can totally see you doing that, Loree. What is your favorite movie of all times?
Wow, that’s a tough one! I have a couple dozen favorites. The first that comes to mind at the moment is Secondhand Lions, an exciting, adventurous, wholesome story of the importance of family. Two other movies run a close second: Somersby and Shadowlands. Loved all three pretty much equally!

I haven’t seen the last two, but I love Secondhand Lions. Tell us about why you wrote this book.
After reading several articles and watching documentaries about the recidivism of prisoners, I grew curious; surely there were organizations that lent a helping hand to recently released convicts, to reduce the numbers that returned to penitentiaries. I’m blessed to know Linda O’Dell (Letters from the Lord) who routinely visits prisoners in her home state. She was generous with her knowledge of the system, and from conversations with her, I was able to compile a list of questions to ask the experts I interviewed (wardens, guards, psychiatrists/psychologists that work with prisoners), parole officers, half a dozen prisoners, and an equal number of family members who were forced to cope with the system before sentencing, during confinement, and after release. While it can’t be denied that some ex-cons seem incapable of changing, a large number work hard toward reformation. I wrote the book for those individuals and their families in the hope that the stigma of “having served time” could be overlooked on a case by case basis.

Please give us the first page of The Man She Knew.
“Maleah, you want to explain this?”

She placed the bowl of mashed potatoes on the dining room table. “Explain wh—”

When she saw what her brother held in his big hands, the words froze in her throat.

“Tell me you’re not still mooning over this low-life criminal!”

“Mooning.” She forced a laugh. “You’re picking up old-people talk from Grampa.”

“You can’t distract me.”

She’d made two mistakes: thinking the buffet’s silverware drawer was a good place to hide Ian’s photograph, and saying yes when Eliot offered to set the table.

“It’s no big deal.” Maleah shrugged. And there it was… Eliot’s I’m a decorated cop and I can tell when someone is lying look.

Maleah shoved a serving spoon into the potatoes. She and Eliot had gone round and round on this subject too many times to count, and she’d lost every round.

“Only one explanation makes sense. You’ve stayed in touch with him, even though whole family asked you not to, haven’t you?”

“First of all, no one asked anything.” Their relentless demands had been the primary reason she’d traded the comfort of her childhood room for a noisy, crowded dorm room at the University of Maryland. “How any times do I have to tell you I haven’t had any contact with him in…” Years had passed since she’d scrawled Leave me alone! Please! across Ian’s final letter. “Why won’t you believe me?”

He dropped the picture into the drawer and closed it, hard. “Maybe because that creep turned you into an OCD control freak. You can’t sleep with dishes in the sink. And name me one other person who alphabetizes the contents of her pantry and spice rack? Or color-codes and hangs stuff in her closet in order by length.”
Maleah didn’t bother to explain it was because she’d learned how much one mistake could alter a person’s life—and the lives of everyone close to them.

“So I like things neat and tidy. Last I checked, it isn’t against the law.”

He aimed his pointer finger at the ceiling, preparing to add to his big brother tirade, but she cut him off.

“Eliot, let’s not spoil Grampa’s birthday dinner, all right?”

“What. Ever.”
   
She knew Eliot: The subject was far from closed. Maleah could only hope he’d take her advice, and not make a scene on their grandfather’s birthday.

I’m eager to read the rest of the book. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Before I list the social networking sites, I’d like to thank you, Lena, for sharing your blog and your audience with me. You’re by far one of the most generous, big-hearted women I have the pleasure of knowing!
Facebook        --         https://www.facebook.com/LoreeLough
Twitter                        --         https://twitter.com/LoreeLoughAutho
Pinterest          --         https://www.pinterest.com/loreelough/
Instagram        --         https://www.instagram.com/loreelough13/
Website           --         http://www.loreelough.com
Blog                --         http://www.theloughdown.blogspot.com

Thank you for the kind words, Loree, and thank you 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.
The Man She Knew (By Way of the Lighthouse) - Paperback
The Man She Knew (By Way of the Lighthouse) - 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 or country if outside North America. (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: