THIS FREEDOM JOURNEY - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

Dear Readers, when I read Misty’s first historical, western romance novel, I was hooked. Her books go to the top of my to-be-read pile. I have not read this book. It just released, but I’m eagerly awaiting its arrival. Her three-dimensional characters always pull me straight into the heart of her stories. And her settings are authentic. You won’t want to miss this new one.

Bio: Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Welcome back Misty. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

You’re so right! The seed was planted for this book when author Kari Trumbo invited me to be part of the multi-author novella collection, Timeless Love. The collection would feature love stories from in all the main time periods from the Revolutionary War to modern day, and all proceeds from the limited time collection were being donated to the LiveStrong Foundation for cancer support. They were looking for an author who could write a story set in the early 1800s, and I became excited!

I’d already been thinking I’d like to write Mary and Adrien’s story, as they are the aunt and uncle of the main characters in earlier books in the Heart of the Mountains series. This novella collection was the perfect chance. Without the other authors in the collection—Andrea Boeshaar, Kari Trumbo, Stephenia H. McGee, Dawn Crandall, Pepper D. Basham, and Sarah Monzon—this story likely would never have been written!

And I always have to thank my amazing copy editor, Robin Patchen, and the equally amazing proofreader, Jalayne Setzer. They make my stories so much better!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I’m excited to spend a few days with writer friends at the ACFW Virginia conference in November where I’ll also be teaching. Then my schedule is quiet until next spring! In April, I’ll be speaking at the SC Baptist Church Librarian conference. Doesn’t that sound like an amazing group of people? Then in May, I’ll be one of the authors at the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat in Washington DC. I can’t wait!

That’s a wonderful schedule. And I love church librarians, actually any kind of librarian. If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

That’s a tough one! This would most likely NEVER happen, but I’ve long thought it would be amazing to move to the Canadian Rockies, maybe in Alberta. That’s the area where my current series is set, and I’ve completely fallen in love with that area!

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

Wow, just one thing? I suppose it would be to never stop learning. Take every opportunity you can to learn about the craft of writing, about publishing, about marketing—everything related to the book world! Writers should always be working to improve their skills and knowledge.

I so agree! You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Hmm…I so rarely watch TV or even movies anymore. Since this is completely in our imagination, do you mind if I name some people from yesteryear? Let’s have Cary Grant and Doris Day for entertainment one night. And the I Love Lucy cast for another night. Since we’re in the fifties, let’s have a swing dance with some of the greats from that era!

Tell us about the featured book.

As the fifth daughter in a family of nine, Noelle Grant spent her life striving to be unique. Her love of telling stories helps define her goal—to be known around the country as one of the top news correspondents of her time. And what better way to uncover sensational tales than to travel through the mountain wilderness to visit her brother? The trip comes together perfectly as she journeys with family friends who will be settling in the same area. Her first inkling that things may not be as perfect as she’d imagined shows up in the form of the mountain man hired as their guide for the final leg of the journey.

When Daniel Abrams agrees to guide the small group of easterners along his usual route northward to the Canadian mountains, his gut tells him he’s making a terrible decision. But if he doesn’t take them, who will? The crew’s leader refuses to consider turning back. As they start out, Daniel can’t help but notice the woman traveling under the care of her friends. Though she appears too genteel to last long in these mountains, she soon reveals a strength that draws him more than he should allow.

When the dangers of this wilderness become more than the group bargained for, Noelle must choose to delay her trip northward or proceed alone with the man she’s come to trust against all reason. She never dreams her decision will place her—and the man she loves—in a situation more hazardous than any story her imagination could conjure. 

Wow! I know I’ll love this one. And I really love the cover. Please give us the first page of the book.

August, 1854

Montana Territory

Noelle’s Journal:

August 12th

Today, we left the train—forever, if my aching limbs could decide the matter. The Lord’s mercies are new every day, as the Psalmist wrote, but I think today’s relief from that filthy, rattling car may be the greatest mercy the Father has offered in recent centuries.

We couldn’t have chosen a more inspiring place in which to disembark. The grassland stretches as far as I can see, all the way to the edge of the sky. Flat at first, then ruffled in hills, like creases marring a smooth linen cloth. Elmer says we’ll be traveling straight north, and he’s purchased a wagon to carry us.

I think, perhaps, I’ll be walking much of the way. Tomorrow is far too soon to be sentenced to days on end of another shaking conveyance. I imagine Louise will be eager to stretch her limbs as well, although she looked so pretty when she mounted the wagon bench and sat beside Elmer, the pair of them as much in love as they were a half-dozen summers ago on their wedding day.

Bo stuck his tousled little head between them, his gap-toothed smile as bright as the freckles splashed across his cheeks. Were I to ever consider marriage, I should dream of a portrait just like they formed.

Yet, I’m not foolish enough to see only the loveliness. The lifetime of domesticity may suit many, but I’ll not resign myself to being merely a shadow behind a man. I want more. Greater things. I want to stand out.

I think…the beating in my breast seems to know…this journey is the beginning of greater things. My skin tingles with anticipation. Soon, I will meet face-to-face with my destiny.

Where can we find you on the Internet?

I love to connect at my website, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Bookbub, and Pinterest. 

Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I know they’re as eager to read it as I am. 

Readers, here are links to the book.

This Freedom Journey (Heart of the Mountains) - Paperback
This Freedom Journey (Heart of the Mountains Book 3) - Kindle
This Freedom Journey - Audio Book

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

APOCALYPSE TV - Thomas Allbaugh - One Free Book

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

I like to tell myself that I am basing my characters on people I know, and never on just me or on stock, literary types. This is the only way to get variety. Walter Terry, the main character of my novel Apocalypse TV, is based on a friend of mine who is very tall, huge, gentle, and very articulate and smart. But I also know that his moodiness, his inner thought and ideas, come from me. I know that his obsessions—even his tendency to be obsessive—all come from me.

As a contrast, Walter’s sister Melissa seems completely other than me—I enjoyed listening to the way that she talks down to Walter. A few of the other characters are based on fighting stereotypes of one kind or another. Brittney, on the reality show, starts out being eye candy, but it becomes apparent rather quickly that she’s bright and longs for an authentic relationship with God. She’s just been hurt—and I guess that is a lot like me.

I also know that my experiences become what happens to my characters, although I look for them to often react differently from the way I did.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

As an introvert, I am good at hiding. But two things—in eighth grade, when I knew two guitar chords, I played in a band called The Wormstretchers at a school dance. Second, my most quirky writing got published four years ago in a small online journal, The Oddville Press. My story, “Subtleman Loses his Day Job, an Origin Story,” concerns a wimpy divorced guy in his early thirties who believes that his super power is being subtle.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I think I first learned this in the fourth grade, in 1965, when I heard my father typing in the basement—he was a newspaper reporter. The next day, I went to the basement, saw his papers and notes lying around the Smith-Corona, and I started typing a story. Then I read it to my father, and he said, “That’s good. It reminds me a little bit in one part of Mark Twain. Now, rewrite it.” I was so encouraged that I wrote a bunch of other stories that year, most of them exaggerated accounts of toboggan rides or satires based on my friends.

How wonderful to have parental support at a young age. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I began, I suppose like many people, by reading fantasy in junior high and in high school. But I have also enjoyed a great number of literary novels. I read C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Ray Bradbury in high school, then read too much Hemingway in early college. Then, my junior year of college, as an English major, I discovered Dostoyevski, William Faulkner, and Flannery O’Connor. Today, I just finished reading a murder mystery by Daniel Taylor, and I also appreciate satire. I’ve been reading a lot of George Saunder’s work lately. The Tenth of December, The Braindead Megaphone, and Lincoln in the Bardo are all incredible works of real insight. Marilyn Robinson’s Gilead is wonderful, and I like the short stories of Sherman Alexie. I recently read a short novel by Neil Gaiman, but it really wasn’t for me. Today I teach a course in nonfiction, so I try to find good memoir and nonfiction that’s not self-help. Oh, and I always am open to reading great poetry. Susan Delaney Spear’s Beyond All Bearing has been a very helpful read for me at this time.

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

I think that any art that slows me down and makes me pay attention is very important. I like to pay attention. Music helps with this, and I play a lot of it—Jackson Browne, classical music, some jazz. I play the guitar and the bass on our church worship team, and that gets me through every week. But I also have found over the last nine months since we lost my youngest son (he took his own life) that writing is keeping me from despairing. I’ve been keeping a journal of my son and my grief and trying to remember as much as I can. This has helped me in some ways to move forward a little. Also, I do read the Bible, but since losing my son, the scriptures that speak to me now are not the ones that would have spoken to me before. People try to help me by quoting scripture, but the verses they quote are actually hurtful and alienating, because they show that they don’t understand that I’m hurting, and the verse is meant to motivate me to get up and quit moping. The verses almost come off as accusations that I’m lacking in faith. My wife and I are discovering in this year of very hard loss that many in our church, at least, don’t understand grief or how to help people to work through loss. People in church can tend sometimes to be a bit too triumphal.

That’s true. I’m so thankful that our church has a grief program that helps those who’ve lost loved ones. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes, as with Walter Terry, the narrative POV character of my first novel, the name just appears. At other times, I’ve discovered a character’s name through the family they grew up in. For example, a character I’m writing about in my new novel went through two different names before I realized that his father had named him Clement, after the second century church father. He’s awkward with that name because he’s now a Buddhist, but that’s his name. Names, I’ve noticed as a teacher, often follow trends. I’m a baby boomer and grew up with at least two Debbie’s or Deborah’s in every class from first grade to college. Today, as a teacher, I’ve met many Kristin’s and Kaitlin’s or versions of that name. I’ve noticed that Kaitlin seems to have replaced Catherine, which was my sister’s name, and it’s a name I love. Today I meet many Chloe’s and Sean’s. Sometimes it helps to have read a lot and to think about names in terms of ethnicity, without going into stereotypes.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I was proud of finishing my Ph.D. in composition and then of getting a full-time job as a teacher. But today I am very proud of the fact that I have become a competent teacher who can help other writers, because I grew up introverted and never thought I’d be able to speak clearly in front of a room full of people.

That’s wonderful. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

 I would be a cat, because although I am standoffish and introverted, I also love to be helpful and belong, even if at something of a distance. Also, I’m nocturnal and would love to sleep all day.

What is your favorite food?

My grandmother’s chicken and spaghetti. My mother’s parents were Calabrian (Southern Italian), and I grew up with this wonderful cooking, which we lost when my grandparents were murdered in 1974.

Wow! You’ve gone through a lot. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Descriptive writing has always been a challenge to me. I’ve always found dialogue easy to write because I like to listen to the way people talk, and I got some training for that in a playwriting class I took in college. But describing a character or a setting in a few well-chosen images—that’s really hard. I’ve been overcoming this difficulty by practicing it more and by studying other writers, noticing, for example, how Neil Gaiman and some other writers do this. This is helping.

Tell us about the featured book.

Apocalypse TV is a story about Walter Terry, who is an English professor but who is also a little naïve, and who goes on a reality TV show because he has been told it will be religious and serious, and he will be influential on it. The show follows Walter and a group of contestants as they travel across the country, face challenges, and try to talk to people about God. I first got the idea from a British reality TV show that aired in 2007 and was like this. Popular, religious, and academic culture mix, and there is some satire and engagement with history. The theme of guns also enters immediately on page one, and I tried to honor the Chekov rule (If a gun appears on page one, it must be used in the story). The narrative shows Walter Terry getting in over his head in the filming of the reality show, and as guns factor in to the story more and more as they travel in America, the story becomes something of a mystery—Who shot Walter?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Minutes before his sister texted that she had moved their father to a hospice, Walter Terry listened behind half-empty rows of chairs in the Haskins Room as the new writer-in-residence read from her work. It was an early draft, she had announced, and it concerned a bride-to-be hunting elk in Wyoming, a part of the country Walter had never seen. And it came to him with sudden finality: he could never write a great American novel; he had never shot a gun.

Nothing was more American. Faulkner, Hemingway certainly, both knew guns. And Walter had never felt one kick back and ruin his shoulder. He had never had the gunpowder residue spotting his hands, his face, and his clothes.

Those details? They came from TV.

The writer had to feel it, not just hear about it.

His colleague’s writing signaled that she knew guns, and Walter had never shot a beer can. He couldn’t tell a Smith and Wesson from a Remington. He wouldn’t know if they were names for handguns or rifles. Sure, he could Google them. But how many others wouldn’t have to?

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is at http://thomasallbaugh.com , where readers can sign up for my newsletter. And I have an Amazon author page.

Thank you, Thomas, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Apocalypse TV - Paperback
Apocalypse TV - 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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

NO TRUE JUSTICE - H.L. Wegley - One Free Book

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

One theme I’ve used several times is the hindrance in our spiritual grown from unresolved guilt. Whether the guilt comes from a moral failing, such as a sojourn to the far country, or blaming ourselves for things that are not our fault, the guild can impact our relationship with God and with others.

Another theme I’ve used is the folly of self-reliance which, on the flip side, is lack of trust in God. In my stories, I’ve used many high-IQ characters with great abilities. It is sometimes hard for such people to see the truth that they are inadequate, flawed, and that they must depend on God. The black moment of the story is a great place for characters to learn this lesson.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I’m currently releasing book 2 in my Witness Protection Series, but book 3, the last book in the series, is in the mill and will release this fall.

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

It’s a toss up between Del Tackett and Ravi Zacharias. The “why” part is the same for both. After studying the subject for years, I still have questions about the biblical worldview and how to live it out in this world and in our society. Either of them could field my questions.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

So I can’t choose Jesus. Okay, I’ll pick his brother, James. I’d like to know what he thought about his brother before Jesus began his ministry and when James wholeheartedly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Also, it would be interesting to know what it was like growing up with Jesus as your big brother.

You’re right. That would be interesting. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

There is often some useful information in a rejection. If so, learn what you need to in order improve your writing in the areas indicated by the rejection. If you receive no useful information, you can try replying and asking the publisher if you had the manuscript professionally edited would they allow you to resubmit it. If they say yes, then you know you need to work on your craft. Hiring a good editor is a great way to accelerate up the learning curve. But sometimes rejections do not reflect any deficiency in your writing. If you believe that is the case, then keep looking for a good publishing match for your story and keep submitting it.

Tell us about the featured book.

No True Justice is a high-action romantic suspense story—set in the beautiful Central Oregon desert near Lake Billy Chinook and Crooked River Ranch—about a young woman who was coerced into witness protection, not to protect her, but to shut her up.

After testifying in a high-profile court case, Gemma Saint, a young intern at an influential media outlet, is forced into WITSEC by corrupt DOJ officials to silence her, when Gemma’s testimony at a retrial threatens their elaborate conspiracy to control the upcoming presidential election. Gemma learns from her WITSEC Inspector that her identity was compromised and someone in the DOJ has sent a black ops team to kill her. After her Inspector is shot, Gemma sees only one chance to survive and resume her old life—expose the conspiracy, completely.

She seeks help from Lex James, a young investigative journalist. For Lex’s help, Gemma offers him the biggest story of his career. But Lex was recently given custody of his deceased sister’s four-year-old twins, Josh and Caleb, and must consider their safety. Sparks fly when Lex and Gemma meet, and the boys see their mother in Gemma. But can she endanger this fragile family, or should she run away, sacrificing her life and the course of her beloved country to protect Lex and his two boys? Lex has difficult choices, too. But the highly gifted boys, Josh and Caleb, have their own opinion about what should happen, and they will apply all 200 of their IQ points to get what they want.

Please give us the first page of the book.

July 4th, Madras, Oregon, 10:45 p.m.

Happy birthday, America! I—I still love you.

As Georgia Simpson, she did love her native land, though she could not shake the feeling that her government had done her a grave injustice.

A deep boom jarred her head and resonated in her chest.

Georgia looked upward.

The explosion filled the late evening sky with a brilliant display of red, white and blue lights that shot outward like a microcosm of the big bang. Then the lights floated downward and, within a few seconds, disappeared into the indigo sky.

And so ended the finale of the Madras Fourth of July celebration at Sahalee Park.

The crowd cheered.

The band struck up a rousing rendition of “It’s a Grand Old Flag.”

Families and friends celebrated together.

 But Georgia Simpson would walk home as usual … alone. If she had to be alone tonight, she could choose not to be Georgia.

After eight months in WITSEC, she had come to loathe the name the Department of Justice had coerced her into taking.

“It’s safer to keep your initials, GS,” they had said.

But she was Gemma Saint. Her life as Gemma was satisfying and filled with excitement.  Georgia would gladly return to being Gemma, if she had the opportunity.

The problem was, according to the DOJ, the life expectancy of Gemma Saint roughly equaled that of a free-drink award on her Starbuck’s card.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://www.hlwegley.com   

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Wegley/e/B00B1XMR56  

Twitter https://twitter.com/hlwegley   

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4460203.H_L_Wegley

Facebook author’s page: https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley  

Many of my readers have friended me and use my FB profile page:

Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/harry.wegley.1

Thank you, H.L., for sharing this new book with us. I loved the first book in he witness protection series so much. I’m eager to read this one.

Readers, here are links to the book.

No True Justice: Witness Protection 2 (Volume 2) - Paperback
No True Justice: Witness Protection 2 - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory 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

RISKING LOVE - Darlene Franklin and Helen Gray - One Free Book

Welcome back, Darlene. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

I’ll speak to the birthing of Risking Love, not of each novella within the collection individually.

Since I’ve begun publishing in the ebook market, I’m always looking for new ways to promote my works. I’ve tried combining my own books into sets without much luck. I thought, why not combine with one other author? Take already-published books, look for titles with something in common, and create something new.

I approached my publishing group, Forget Me Not Romances, with the idea. Helen Gray was among the first to respond. We agreed that her two “Hawthorne” books matched the theme of taking a risky course to love with my story, Her Rocky Mountain Highness. Our editor, Cynthia Hickey, called the new line of books Dynamic Duos and suggested I add an older title, Merry Christmas, With Love to the mix.

For the novellas, add the volunteers who work at the Christmas, Florida, post office in December, the many people who send cards to our servicemen overseas, and the unforgettable music of John Denver for my basic inspiration.

And as always, first and foremost—the Lord!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I’ve just been asked to prepare a writing curriculum for home schooled high school students. I’m super excited!

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

I have two thoughts. My first is—to make it past Utah, which is the farthest west I’ve ever been. I’d love to try living in New Mexico or Arizona.

The second is: to go to Mason County, Kentucky, where my father’s family has its roots. I’d like to connect with my roots.

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

Develop a thick skin.. Rejection is the norm, but only you can tell your story, and God will open the right doors at the right time (they might not happen the way you expected, by the way).

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

I don’t think I’ve ever been asked this question before, Lena!  I would love to go on a cruise that would combine my love of the Bible, music, and a desire to experiment in art all in one.  I don’t know whom I would ask to come – I’d prefer several different people to lead and teach a variety of musical groups, Bible studies, and art classes. Have a big show at the end of the week, along with an art show?

Tell us about the featured book.

Four delightfully romantic novellas to warm your heart and make you smile.

HER ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHNESS
Krystal Black had helped foreign dignitaries before but never was tempted to join their ranks.

Prince Johann "John" van Koppelberg came to the Colorado Rockies expecting a vacation. He hadn't planned to fall in love with his tourism director.

But like John Denver, the prince found a home and fell in love. Now if only he could get Krystal and his parents to agree.

HAWTHORNE HOPE
Jenna Michaels can’t risk falling in love.

She has already lost too much. When she meets Evan Bryant, their mutual attraction sends her running from the possibility of another loss.

Principal of Hawthorn Christian Academy Evan Bryant never thought he would be attracted to another woman after the death of his beloved wife. Meeting Jenna convinces him that he can love again, but is there hope that they can move beyond their pasts and find happiness together?

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE
People from around the country send their mail to Christmas, Florida, to receive a special Christmas postmark. War widow Randi Pearson enjoys sending Christmas cards to men and women serving in the armed forces—until retired major Troy Brennan shows up as a post office volunteer. Can Troy convince Randi to let go of the past and move into the future?

TREE OF HOPE
BURNED OUT COP TRAVIS BAKER IS LOOKING FOR NEW DIRECTION IN HIS LIFE.
After leaving law enforcement, Travis takes a job as temporary handyman at the Quinn landscaping business and gift shop that two sisters are try to run now that the father is dying of cancer. But he doesn't figure on getting involved in constructing a living Christmas tree, or his heart getting entangled with Reagan Quinn.

Reagan has too much on her plate, operating the businesses and dealing with grief over her father, and confusion at the inevitable changes confronting her. Can Travis convince her that they can form a partnership—in business and life?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Krystal Black and her cousin Jill Lancieri made it to the passenger pickup area of Denver International Airport with minutes to spare. “Rocky Mountain High” streamed through the speakers in the terminal.

“I wish we had a picture of the prince,” Krystal said. “Six feet two inches. Light blonde hair, blue eyes. His description could fit dozens of arriving passengers.” Suppose he tried to hide his identity with a hat or sunglasses, the way celebrities often did.

“I bet he’s handsome,” Jill said. “As good looking as Prince William, maybe even better.”

Krystal snorted.

“Will you ever stop expecting Prince Charming every time we have a new client from abroad?”

“Not as long as they keep sending us to meet royalty at the airport.” Jill giggled.

She had a point. Today the two tourist guides were meeting Prince Johann van Koppleberg of the former city-state of Forsberg, which had been located along the Lapland/Russia border.

Sounds like a fun collection. Where can we find you on the Internet?

Check out a complete list of my books at https://amzn.to/2Lv3Gaa and keep up with me online at https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFranklinFun/.

Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this book with us. I’m eager to read it, and I know my readers will be, too.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Risking Love (Dynamic Duos Book 7)

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

WINNERS!!!!!

New instructions for winners in 2018 - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) 

Vivian (CO) and Kay (AR) are winners of a print copy of The Gold Digger from Lena Nelson Dooley. 

Melanie (TX) and Pam (OH) are winners of an audio copy of The Gold Digger from Lena Nelson Dooley. ( I'll send a FREE code and instructions of how to download the book.)

Abigail (VA) is the winner of The Indentured Queen by Carol Moncado.

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 or audio book, 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.

GUARDED PROGNOSIS - Richard L Mabry, MD - One Free Book

Dear Readers, if you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know that Doc Mabry my favorite author of medical suspense. I’m actually reading Guarded Prognosis right now. As always he’s layered dilemma upon dilemma in this book. It’s progressing and getting worse and worse as I go, which I like. I like knowing he is an expert in the medical field. And his characters step straight from the pages into my heart. You won’t want to miss this book.

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

After false starts and ineffective efforts in other genres, I’ve settled on medical suspense. I’m a physician who has practiced for several decades, so I “know the language,” and I’ve read suspense stories and thrillers for many years, so I know what makes an interesting story of that type. Thus far, the combination has worked out for me.

And for your loyal readers. If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

That’s a toughie. For several years, we had a timeshare in North Carolina that we loved to visit, so I’d probably choose that one. But Texas is still my preferred spot.

Even during a string of record breaking high temperatures in July? What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

I’ve been fortunate enough to teach in several foreign countries, and I suppose that, of them all, I enjoyed Germany most. However, I’ll hasten to say that visit was almost a decade ago, and the geopolitical climate has changed there, as well as many other places we enjoyed.

Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

I’d like to recreate a trip we made to Arkansas one fall, staying in a cabin with no Internet or cell phones, enjoying the changing colors of the leaves and each other’s company.

I grew up in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. They’re really beautiful in fall foliage. Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

That’s another toughie, since my stories are set either in Dallas (which I know well) or a fictitious city based on some I know in North Texas. I have an as-yet-unpublished novel on my laptop that features New Orleans as a locale, and I may yet try to revive it.

What is the main theme of this novel?

In good times and bad, God is there for us, if we’ll reach out to Him.

There are some seriously terrible times in this novel. Tell us about the story.

When Dr. Caden Taggart saw the two men sitting in his waiting room, he didn’t think they were patients. He was right, and when they introduced themselves as agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency, things started to get bad.

Then Caden felt as though someone had gut-punched him when his father, Dr. Henry Taggart, told him he probably had carcinoma of the pancreas. When he talked about his son assisting with his suicide, Caden wondered how he could talk him out of that.

When he shared his news with his wife, Beth, she tried to assure Caden that God was in control. But as things progressed, he was unsure that was true. At first, he feared for his freedom. Then for his ability to cope. Eventually, he feared for his life.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The men sitting in adjacent chairs looked out of place in the corner of the surgeon’s waiting room. It wasn’t just that they didn’t have visible bandages, or that neither of them winced or evidenced pain. While many of the men and women waiting to see Dr. Caden Taggart bore expressions that said they either needed the surgeon’s attention or had already experienced it, these two men presented themselves the way drug salesmen do—sitting patiently, idly thumbing through magazines, almost bored.

When he came to the front desk to hand off the chart of the patient he’d just seen, Caden glanced at the men in the corner. He noted that they wore dark suits and white shirts, their conservative ties were snugged against their cleanly-shaved necks, and their lace-up shoes had probably been shined this morning. He didn’t know who they were—perhaps police, maybe FBI—but their presence in his office worried him.

Caden leaned closer to his secretary. “Donna, who are those two men?”

“I didn’t get their names. They flashed some sort of ID and badges but stowed them before I got a good look. They said they had to see you. When I asked them why, they said they’d discuss it with you.”

“They didn’t give you any clue?”

She lowered her voice even further, although no one seemed to be paying attention to the conversation. “They wouldn’t say anything beyond what I’ve told you. They took a seat, and that’s where they’ve been since then. I didn’t know what to do.”

“When’s my next patient?”

“In ten minutes. She’s post-op appendectomy and arrived a bit early. Ruth just took her back to do vital signs.”

“I’ll have to admit I’m curious about the men,” Caden said. “Why don’t I see them while I’m waiting? Give me a moment to get settled in my office, then send the two of them back.”

As he entered his office, Caden glanced at the Cherrywood desk his father had given him when he opened his surgical practice two years ago. He wondered if Dr. Henry Taggart ever considered that there were more important gifts he could share with his son than those bought with money.

Caden’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the two strangers from his waiting room. He inclined his head toward the two chairs that sat across the desk from him. “Gentlemen, have a seat.”

As Caden took the leather-covered swivel chair behind the desk, another gift from his father, he took the measure of his visitors. The man on his left was probably in his late 50s. His dark hair was cut short, and it showed a hint of gray at the temples. The other man, about a decade younger than the first, was blond. Other than that, they were very much alike—average build, no facial hair, clothes neat but not flashy.

The older man pulled out a small leather wallet and held it out to Caden. “I’m agent Darren Neilson, Drug Enforcement Agency.” He nodded toward the man on his left. “This is agent Jerry Harwell.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They may wish to check out my blog and web page. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for allowing me to connect once more with readers of your blog. I hope they read and enjoy Guarded Prognosis.

It’s always a pleasure to host you on my blog, Richard.

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:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TRUE HEART GIRLS DEVOTIONAL: GOD'S PROMISES FOR ME! - Sherry Kyle - One Free Book

Welcome back, Sherry. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

When I was a child, I loved being creative. I would make up silly songs, draw cartoon characters, and make school projects from scratch. I also loved to read and use my imagination. In the fourth grade, I won an award for my true-life story titled “Friends Can Be So Mean.” Even though I graduated from Biola University with a Speech Pathology degree, my love of books and being creative sparked something inside. I wanted to be an author.

Tell us about your family.

I met my husband the first week of college, and we’ve been together ever since. Last week we celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary. We have four children, two boys and two girls, between the ages of 18-25. Currently, they all live with us, but we know it won’t last long. We are enjoying this stage of life with our young adults, but are looking forward to having an empty nest and smaller grocery bills.

An empty nest is a wonderful thing for parents, especially if their children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren) all live within five miles of them. Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, I have five other nonfiction books for middle graders in print. My first nonfiction book for girls is titled The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style. I have two other books for girls in that series, along with a middle grade fiction/devotional/journal titled Love, Lexi: Letters to God. I also wrote The Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations: 60 ultimate try-something-new, explore-the-world activities for Zonderkidz, which released in April.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I just completed a 365-day devotional for Zonderkidz for their Adventure Bible line. Wow, now that was a big project! And currently I’m writing the second book in the True Heart Girls Devotional series.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I live by the coast in California and love decorating my beach home and looking at real estate. You can find me searching the Internet for the latest house trends, chalk painting my furniture, and helping friends design their rooms. I also wear a Fitbit and go for walks everyday while listening to Audiobooks. It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re listening to a good book! J

Why did you write the featured book?

I wrote True Heart Girls Devotional: God’s Promises for Me! because I wanted girls to discover promises to help them deal with the sometimes-overwhelming emotions that come with growing up. I also wanted girls to have a lot of fun while reading this book. There are stories, games, recipes, and crafts, and other interactive pages that will point girls to God’s word and help them dig deeper into each promise.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

I want girls to know that they can rely on God in any circumstance and that there are promises in the Bible that will make a difference in their lives.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?

Never give up on your dreams! That may sound cliché, but I’m proof that persistence pays off. God’s Promises for Me! is the first book I wrote for kids and my dream of seeing it in print is finally coming true.

Please give us a peek inside the book.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Readers can find me at these links:

Website: www.sherrykyle.com

Blog: http://www.sherrykyle.com/category/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.kyle.7

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherryKyle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrykyle

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sherrykylebooks/

Thank you, Sherry, for sharing this new book with us. It looks very interesting.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://bit.ly/2JBhPAa

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