THE SECRET OF WILLOW INN - Pat Nichols - One Free Book

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

I never considered this question. I suppose authors subconsciously transfer some of their personality into their characters. For me, that would be Emily, who’s an aspiring writer.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Many years ago, a friend and I did a silly stand-up comedy routine as little old ladies for an Elk’s club talent show. That marked the beginning and end of my show biz experience.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

During my twenty-seven-year corporate career, several jobs gave me the opportunity to dabble in creative writing. It didn’t come full circle until 2014, nine years after retirement when I wrote my first manuscript.

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

My library features a wide variety of authors including Francine Rivers, David Baldacci, John Grisham, Joel Rosenberg, Eugenia Price (my mom’s favorite author), and a number of books by talented writer friends.

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

I laugh, read, watch movies, and when things get really tough, turn it all over to God.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For my main characters, I begin by researching popular first names in their birth years and in the region where they were born. From that list I select names that fit their personalities and are easy for readers to pronounce and remember. Last names are also selected by region.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

In my personal life, it’s my family and celebrating fifty-plus years with Tim, my high-school sweetheart. Our marriage and love sustained us through many peaks and valleys. Now, in our senior years, we enjoy each other’s company more than ever and like to joke that together we make one whole person.  In my professional life, it’s launching my second career as an author at the age of sixty-eight, proving it never too late to follow your dreams.

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

A dog, a Labrador or Golden Retriever to be exact. Although we no longer have pets, we’ve had five black labs over the years. Why a dog? Because they are loyal, lovable, and smart.

What is your favorite food?

Hmm, that’s a tough question. My favorite meal is cedar-planked smoked salmon with dill sauce, a salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries, and sweet balsamic dressing, a sweet potato, and key-lime pie for dessert.

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

Inexperience. My first manuscript included every mistake new writers make times a hundred. So, I buckled down, studied the craft, rewrote the manuscript and began a second. By the time I started number three, I’d honed my skills. However, I continue to learn.

I started writing in my 40s. I’m now in my 70s, and I’m still learning. Tell us about the featured book.

My debut novel, The Secret of Willow Inn, is the first book in the Willow Falls Series. It is the story of three women, strangers whose lives are drawn together by a tragedy and a long-held secret. Pregnant with her first child, Emily Hayes is eager to help her mother finish transforming an estate into the Willow Inn and write a novel about Willow Falls’ colorful history and help save the town from dying. Sadie Lyles left Willow Falls a murderer who’d killed the town hero. She returns as a despised felon and seeks solace in the town’s café. Emily struggles to unite the close-knit community and becomes Sadie’s biggest advocate. She strives to uncover the truth about the crime and save her town from dying. To appease her father, Rachel Streetman, a VP in his Atlanta real-estate-development firm, relegates her acting dream to secret performances for imaginary audiences. After meeting charming, flirtatious Charlie Bricker, manager for Willow Falls’ future vineyard, she vows to break free from her father’s control.

Please give us the first page of the book.

As far back as Emily Hayes could remember, her heart yearned for a sister. She directed her earliest requests to Santa Claus, which made Christmas mornings a confusing blend of excitement and disenchantment. Later she bargained with God. He disappointed her too. When she learned where babies came from, she petitioned her mom with promises to keep her room clean and be the best sister in the whole-wide world. Nothing worked. At some point the pleas stopped, but the lingering desire left a hole in her heart.

Thursday morning, she stepped outside the white-columned-home converted to a hospital and traced her ultrasound image with her finger. It wasn’t at all what she’d expected. She pressed her hand to her chest to ease the fluttering sensation, slipped the photo in her jeans pocket, and texted her husband. Have results. Meet me in the park in five.

A cool breeze nipped her cheeks and rustled the new crop of leaves on the mature willow-oaks lining Main Street. She dropped her phone in her purse, pulled her sweater tight, and crossed the two-lane road to the sidewalk fronting a grand estate. White columns extending from a railing supported the roof over the wide, front porch. The home was weeks away from final transformation to the Willow Inn, thanks to her parents' first effort to save their town from a slow, painful death.

The second stood next door—an abandoned four-story brick hotel. All they needed to bring it to life was a boat-load of money. If everything fell into place, their ship would come before they returned home. A bird fluttering to a nest in a tangle of ivy summoned images of new beginnings and eased Emily’s tense shoulders.

She wandered past the hotel to the adjacent lakeside park and settled on the foot-high retaining wall at the water's edge. She gazed across the street at the picturesque, century-old Main Street storefronts. Pepper’s Café’s faded awning flapped in the breeze and triggered memories from her childhood. Picnics in the park with her friends. Hiking with her dad to the waterfall. Begging her mom for a sister.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

https://www.facebook.com/pat.nichols.52459

https://twitter.com/PatNichols16

https://patnicholsauthor.blog

https://www.instagram.com/patnicholsauthor/

Readers, here are questions for you to answer in the comments to be in the drawing.

Who was the Indian chief who rode in Roosevelt's inaugural procession? 

Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?

Thank you, Pat, for sharing this debut novel with me and my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Secret of Willow Inn (Willow Falls Series) - Paperback
The Secret of Willow Inn (Willow Falls Series Book 1) - Kindle

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

THE LONG WAY HOME - June Foster - One Free Book

Welcome back, June. Why did you become an author?

In a word, because the Lord called me. Yes, I realize that sounds cliché, but I asked for confirmation. He gave me three undeniable indications, and I was convinced. Too, the desire was so strong, I knew that I couldn't not write.

If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?

I thought about this question for several minutes, and I could mention many. A tour guide in Israel, a makeup artist, a chef, a dog trainer. But the one that stood out is: I'd like to be a young mother again, this time knowing the Lord and living for Him.

Very good. If you could have lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

I think I would like to have lived at the time of Christ—to experience the Holy Land as it was then, but with knowledge of the Savior. I would like to see Jesus as the first century Christians did.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

My husband and I traveled for quite a few years in our RV. We saw much of the US with the exception of the northeast. I'd love to see the New England states in the fall and the national parks in that area.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I'd love to visit Israel. Since I can't travel back in time to actually see Jesus, I'd like to see the area as it is today. To bask in the many spots described in the Bible—the Sea of Galilee, Jesus's birthplace, the Garden of Gethsemane.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

We had an amazing revival at our church recently, and the Lord showed me I need to give over more and more of myself to Him. To love others as He loves us.

Tell us about the featured book.

David Maguire's tour of duty in Germany is over, and he's returning home to Oak Mountain, Alabama, in search of a job. After a long flight from Frankfort, he shares an Uber with Dallas resident Jada Atwood.

Jada Atwood, a registered nurse midwife, is on her way to a medical conference in Queens. If only she could live up to her father's legacy at the hospital where she works, she could prove worthy of his reputation. Marriage awaits yet her fiancé has yet to offer a ring.

When the Uber driver must make a stop to pick up a passenger at a Queens shopping center, two men who robbed a nearby bank commandeer the Ford as a getaway car. But when they discover two passengers, they have to get rid of the extra baggage.

After the kidnappers murder the Uber driver, David and Jada fear for their lives. Will they find their way home or die in a Pennsylvania forest?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

If David Maguire wouldn't look like an idiot, he'd kneel down and kiss the hot, well-traveled sidewalk outside the airport. Finally, he stood on U.S. soil. A new beginning awaited, and God willing, a new job after his interview next week. The thought thrilled him more than Christmas morning as a kid.

The silver Ford sedan described on the Uber app inched up behind a line of cars at passenger pickup. He stood on tiptoes and waved at the driver who neared the curb. Then David moved his thumbs over his cell's screen. Mom. Just landed. Can't wait to see you guys. Got a flight from JFK to Birmingham tomorrow.

The driver stopped and jumped out. "Lieutenant Maguire?" His accent hinted of Middle Eastern origins. "I'm Hadjira Khan, your driver." He whipped off his ball cap, wiped his brow, and plopped his hat on again. "Let me get this." The driver grabbed David's duffle bag and set it in the trunk next to a light pink suitcase.

"Appreciate it. I'm going to the Rockford Hotel in Queens."

"Yes, sir. I have two more passengers besides you."

"No problem." The cheaper fare suited David just fine. He couldn't be too extravagant since his army pay would end soon. He sure didn't want to sponge off of Mom and her new husband. "However I can get there is fine. I'm just glad to be home." He opened the door, tossed his backpack in, and sat.

A woman with long, dark hair and dressed in white jeans and a tight filmy blue blouse sat on the other side. She looked up, nodded, and then continued tapping her cell's screen.

David smiled then focused on his text when his phone dinged.

I can't wait to see you. Let me know what time to pick you up from the airport. Mom

Tomorrow at 3:13. See you then. Love you.

No matter how hard he tried to disguise his smile, the wide grin stretched his lips. He'd be in Oak Mountain soon.

The Uber driver pulled from the curb. "You two comfortable back there?"

"Yeah, sure." David took a deep breath and glanced toward the woman again. He tried to identify the aroma emanating from her. It wasn't likely Hadjira that smelled like roses.

"Yes, thanks." She peered at the driver then cast a quizzical look to David.

He gave her a weak smile and turned to face the front of the car, mentally kicking himself for staring too long.

Hadjira pulled off on a main thoroughfare and lifted his chin to glance into his rearview mirror. "We stop at a strip mall off 135th for one passenger. Then I take you to Rockford Hotel, sir, and you to Regal Gardens, ma'am."

"No problem," David mumbled, trying not to draw out the words into multiple syllables as his southern drawl tended to do, worse when he got nervous.

So the woman was staying at a hotel in Queens as well. He cleared away the hesitation that impeded his question. "Where you coming from?" Ugh. The most uninspired conversation starter

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.junefoster.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/junefoster

https://twitter.com/vjifoster

https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster

Thank you, June, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

The Long Way Home

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!!!!

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Tracy (OH) is the winner of Love, Lies,and Homemade Pies by Sally Bayless. 

Shamekka (AL) is the winner of Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep.

Lourdes (NY) is the winner of Thee Billionair's Miracle Family by Arabelle Stevens. 

Melanie (TX) is the winners of Grit and Grace by Suzanne Hadley.

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. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... 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.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

FORGIVING TESS - Kimberly M Miller - One Free Book

Welcome, Kimberly. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love storytelling and have since I was young. The books I write are the kind I want to read—they have what I hope are strong, interesting characters, who face difficult situations with a smile and faith to keep them going.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Yikes- I’ve had so many amazing days it’s hard to say! Definitely when I married my husband, also when my kids were born. I was pretty ecstatic the day I passed my dissertation defense, too.

How has being published changed your life?

As a writing professor I think it adds credibility to what I tell my students every day which is nice. More than that though, I love getting the feedback that my stories have encouraged or helped someone. It’s very humbling to see God work through what I love to do in that way.

What are you reading right now?

I’m actually reading a book called Sophie Scholl and the White Rose by Annette Dumbach and Jud Newborn for a presentation I’ll be giving in April. After that I’ll be reading The White Rose by Inge Scholl for the same presentation. (See the movie Sophie Scholl: The Final Days if you’re interested to learn more of Sophie’s story. Very inspirational)

What is your current work in progress?

Would it be weird to say I have four of them? The one that is actually open right now on my computer is about a hockey player and a police officer,who meet in unusual circumstances and become good friends before realizing they’ve fallen in love. I’m calling it Winning Casey.

What would be your dream vacation?

I’m pretty simple. I love going camping with my family. My husband cooks and I get to read almost nonstop the entire time. It’s peaceful and a nice break from the chaos of the day to day work week.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love small towns! I was raised in one and think small town charm can’t be beat.

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

I can probably think of a million people that I think are interesting or worth spending time with, but I’d say I’d skip all the celebrities and spend an evening with my grandmother. She’s my last living grandparent and not faring well mentally so it’s hit and miss most times now whether she’ll know who I am. If we could enjoy a nice night chatting and eating, I think that would be beautiful.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love baking, making jewelry, and exercising. My favorite workouts are cardio for dealing with stress and because I sit at a desk a lot it feels good to move. But my other favorite workout is yoga which is amazing for clearing my mind if I’m stuck when writing.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

With a full teaching schedule and now admin duties on top of that, just finding time to write can be difficult. I’m working to implement more structure in my days so the writing time is scheduled and just a normal part of the day. It’s working fairly well.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Keep at it! If you love writing, don’t let rejection stop you. Consider whether the feedback you’re getting is something that can be handled by getting into a writer’s group, doing research, or taking a class to improve your skills. But by and large, writing is improved by reading an array of styles and by practicing. So keep writing!

Tell us about the featured book.

Forgiving Tess is a book that developed when I considered how judgmental all of us can be about those who are different than we are—specifically those people who have a difficult past to overcome. We might even question if their conversion is real—as if that’s ours to determine. Tess has a good heart and a sweet nature, but she’s also struggling to forgive herself even as many of those around her are working to do the same. So the other side of this story is our need to fully accept God’s grace and forgiveness.

Please give us the first page of the book.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:

walk as children of light.

Ephesians 5:8

The doors squeaked open and Tess Carson stepped outside where a wave of heat hit hard, making her want to dive back into the air-conditioned safety of the bus. She wondered whether her skin was melting already as sweat trickled down her arm and dripped onto the pavement with a sizzle.

Tess was annoyed at everything and yet trying desperately not to be. The trouble was that her life, the humidity, the stiff-backed bus seats, and especially Uncle Stu—who’d dragged her along on this mission trip—seemed bent on reminding her of all that continued to war against her. It was the first time she’d been away from Maple Ridge in nearly two years and she wasn’t sure she was ready. Not that she was given a choice. Uncle Stu made sure she was coming along, otherwise, he promised he wouldn’t bail her out again.

And she believed him.

“Come on, let’s get settled.” Uncle Stu walked by, his backpack shouldered on one side of his body. He wasn’t a tall man, but his presence made up for it. He was kind, firm, and lately the only person remaining who was willing to give his niece another chance.

Tess drew a deep breath, certain her hair was rapidly turning to thick and unruly frizz in the humidity. As if she cared what anyone thought of her appearance anymore. 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website http://kimberlymmiller.com/

My blog https://kimberlymmiller.wordpress.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Kimberly.Miller.Author/

Twitter https://twitter.com/K_Miller_author

Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I’m, eager to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Forgiving Tess - Paperback
Forgiving Tess - 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

FATAL HOMECOMING - Stacey Weeks - One Free Ebook

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

The spiritual battles my characters face are often very similar to struggles I’ve had in the past or are representative of the tough theology questions that I am working through. I often think “what if” and I put my characters in those situations and make them apply right theology to their circumstances. It can get messy – but life is messy.

My debut novel showed more of me than any other book. I was writing what I knew.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Like many families with multiple children, we’ve had seasons that were financially very tight. During one such stretch, I painted our two area rugs to give them new life. They were old, very stained, and almost completely flat like indoor / outdoor rugs. I thought, why not? We got another full year out of them and the paint held up well!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I attended a writers’ conference and felt very much like an imposter until one presenter spoke directly to that feeling. He said something along these lines: “A paycheck, traditional contract, or published book is not what makes you a writer.” Writing is what makes you a writer. After I left that conference, I started owning the title with confidence.

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

I enjoy crime novels as long as it is not gory. I enjoy suspense as long as it is not dark. I enjoy romance as long as it is clean. Those boundary lines keep me mostly in the inspirational aisle of the library. I also enjoy Christian non-fiction that is deep and challenging, but easy to understand. I’m not an academic reader, but I want more than fluff in my non-fiction.

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

The most important thing I do every day is meet with the Lord. When I seek Him first, I find that no matter what the day brings, I am able to cope in a healthier way. I try to model a healthy well-balanced life-style to our kids. They see me in the Word, they see me prioritize exercise and healthy meals. I pray they will also see the rewards of these choices.

I under-schedule my life to leave room for the unexpected. I am very careful to not over commit. I give myself lots of time to complete my tasks. We homeschool and we are a ministry family, so I’m learning to be flexible.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use an online random name generator and keep trying until I find something I like. One time after I input all the character’s background information, it suggested the perfect name – but the name (first and last name) was my brother-in-law. What are the odds of that?

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of our family accomplishment of making the decision to homeschool our kids. I never thought I would be able to do this; I never thought I would ever consider doing this, but we are and we love it. It is a group effort, and we all benefit from the way this frees up our schedule. This decision has relieved some of the “run, run, run” pressure in question 5 J We had a good public school experience, but found with ministry demands, we were not getting enough time with our kids when they were in school all day and we were busy on the weekend with church commitments. This has been a wonderful lifestyle change for our family.

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

I didn’t know how to answer this question so I asked my kids. Here is what they said:

Nick says: I would be a cat because cats are cuddly. (Nick’s the youngest. Can you tell?)

Jon says: I would be a bunny because I’m nice and bunnies are great mothers. (Awe, isn’t he the sweetest??)

Kate says: I would be a monkey because I am social, or a parrot because I talk a lot. (This is funny because our Kate is such a talker I sometimes tell her that my ears are tired!)

           

What is your favorite food?

I love a good hamburger, but I also love pasta. That’s a tough question. I love food!

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

My greatest roadblock was fear. What if I never published a book? Or worse, what if I did and nobody read it? Even worse still, what if they read it and they didn’t like it? It took me a long time to remove myself from the equation. A critique of my writing or story wasn’t necessarily a personal attack. I began to promote the message of the book rather than promote me and that changed me. I realized that fear of man is just pride wrapped up in a humble looking package, but fear of man is still sinful. At the end of the day, if I put something out there that glorifies the Lord, then I’ve hit my mark. Nothing else matters.

Tell us about the featured book.

It was murder. She was sure. And that assurance could cost her life.

Undercover Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Rick Chandler poses as a detective in the small town of Chenaniah River. He is investigating the possibility of a corrupt police force when Jessie returns to bury her brother, and she refuses to believe evidence that point to her deceased brother's involvement in drug trafficking. Soon, the same person that murdered her brother targets her. Can Rick help Jessie dodge bullets, escape fires, and exonerate her brother before the attacks escalate?

Jessie Berns has returned to her hometown to find answers about her brother’s suspicious death. With the help of an old friend, Detective Rick Chandler, they pursue a truth that someone is willing to do anything to keep hidden—even kill again. They uncover decades-old secrets that expose hidden sins and threaten the lifestyles of high-powered people in their small town. As they close in on the devious mastermind manipulating the community, it becomes frighteningly clear to Rick that Jessie is not the one calling the shots in her amateur investigation. She is the killer’s new target.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Jessica Berns eased open the front door of her old family home, now her brother’s house. It creaked on its hinges like it did when she was young, shooting memories through her mind that she’d rather forget. Her chest tightened as she set down her suitcase. She wiped her damp hands on her denim pants and stamped the snow from her boots.

“Hello?” She flicked the light switch in the entryway with no luck. She toggled it up and down, and an eeriness tightened the back of her neck. What were the odds that the college-aged kids stirring up trouble outside hadn’t ventured inside?

She slipped down the hall, trailing a finger along the faded wallpaper her mother had chosen the year before she had died in childbirth. The paper looked every day of its twenty-eight years. Jessie tried the kitchen light switch. Still nothing. The kids outside must have turned everything off at the breaker box. She rummaged through a kitchen drawer for a flashlight and hip-checked it shut when she couldn’t find one.

The sensation that something wasn't right increased as she made her way toward the electrical panel in her brother’s home office.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.staceyweeks.com

www.facebook.com/writerSWeeks

Twitter: @writerSWeeks 

Blogs and Quarterly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cZgDb9 

Instagram: WriterSWeeks

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Stacey-Weeks/e/B01ED0LW5Y

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

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Homecoming-Stacey-Weeks-ebook/dp/B07L6PY2DL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550608856&sr=8-1&keywords=fatal+homecoming+stacey+weeks

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

MY BEASTLY BILLIONAIRE - Jackie Castle - 2 Free Ebooks

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

I was raised in a church, so I thought I was “good” with the salvation check-box. But then one Sunday, when I was in my early teens, the Lord impressed upon me the need to go up when they made the altar call. I thought it was silly. I was good. I had this. I was a long-standing member and all that. Ha!

Then He said I couldn’t ride into Heaven on my family’s coattails. It was time for me to make the choice for myself. Would I serve Him? Would I give my life and heart to Him? Once I realized He was being serious, I was up there in a heartbeat, giving my live over to Him.

That is such a good explanation about what needs to happen for those of us who grew up in the church. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Oh boy, that’s not a fair question at all. I have way too many very dear writing friends to only pick four.

I will say this. My author buddies are the pillars of my career. I so appreciate having friends with a common interest who understand the struggles and challenges of this crazy profession we’ve somehow ended up in. They pray for me, answer my questions, encourage me to not give up. What a blessing from God each and everyone is. Which is why I can’t pick just a few. Sorry.

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

Ugh, I hate public speaking. However, I have found myself in a couple of situations where I’ve taught a class or given a lecture at a writer’s event or at church.

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

How much space do I have?

I guess it was on one of our anniversaries. My husband had a friend who worked in the hotel business and they set us up at a hotel in Dallas that they said we would love. My husband and I are Comfort Inn or Holiday Inn peoples. So, we came home from work and threw a few things in a bag for our special weekend.

Now when I say “bag” we had a duffel for our clothing and a couple of Walmart bags to hold the last minute stuff like snacks and drinks, shoes, etc.

We followed the address and pulled into the Adolphus.

For those who don’t know about this hotel, it’s old, prestigious, and we were like the Beverly Hillbillies pulling into the drive in my husband’s old beat up Ford truck and our Walmart bags. The valets were trying hard not to laugh as we piled our stuff on the luggage cart.

I was completely embarrassed and knew we were totally out of our element. But they were gracious and treated us in the same way they would have treated any other visitor.

Eventually, I got over my embarrassment. My husband doesn’t get embarrassed, though we decided to pretty much stay in our room. He didn’t even own a tie, which was required to enter the lounge. I didn’t think my jeans would be proper attire. We still had fun and have a great story to tell people, like now.

I was at the Adolphus as a guest on the set of a movie. It is really posh. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

Get ’er done! Do it! What’s stopping you? Are you done with it yet? =)

Tell us about the featured book. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVLGCC3

His withdrawal from society and her need to prove her worth come to a head in this modern-day Beauty and the Beast retelling.

When Elisa Lucken's interior design company is hired to decorate the huge but neglected Grimwood Manor for an impromptu holiday gala, Elisa is put in charge of managing the indoor crew. The only catch is--do not disturb the reclusive Duncan Grimwood.

Thrilled and excited about her chance to finally prove herself, Elisa is so absorbed in her work she doesn't hear the blizzard warning that sends the rest of her crew home.

Jewelry Artisan Duncan Grimwood had a reputation of being a playboy until the motorcycle accident that left him damaged inside and out. After a year of recuperating, Duncan has withdrawn from his lavish lifestyle and now lives like a hermit ignoring his family and the terms of his inheritance trust.

Duncan will lose his portion of the Grimwood estate, his personal assistant urges him to re-enter the real world by hosting a holiday gala at the manor to display his latest works. He agrees on the condition that nobody disturbs him while he works to finish his last few pieces.

Snowed in for the weekend with his unexpected guest, Duncan is forced out of his cave. Will the beautiful decorator he's stuck with help him find a new respect for life before he loses everything?

My Beastly Billionaire is the first in the Grimwood Legacy Series. Check for the next book, My Charming Billionaire now on preorder.

Worried that

Each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone in any order, however, it is recommended, for the best reading experience, that you read them in order.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Elisa Lucken’s nervous gaze moved upward to take in the expansive two-story stone mansion. The French Provincial might have been beautiful if not for the pale gray sky and the bared trees whipping in the wind like dancing skeletons. But from her perspective, Grimwood Manor reminded her of the setting for one of those old horror movies.

The grounds were well-kept, but something about the shadowed arched windows and tightly closed curtains that unsettled her. The request to decorate Grimwood Manor’s front entrance and main first floor rooms had come late in the season, leaving Elisa’s boss, Kelly Stewart scrambling to come up with a sufficient plan for the unexpected project.

Thanksgiving was only two days away. Mr. Grimwood’s personal assistant had said that her employer was hosting an impromptu party the following weekend. If they finished the job before the end of November, they would be given a substantial bonus. That was all Kelly Stewart, owner of Stewart Designs, needed to hear. They would work right up to Thanksgiving Day, and hopefully, have everything accomplished.

Elisa parked her Jeep behind the supply truck.

Kelly Stewart had scrounged through all her storage rooms to gather what left-over decorations they could use to transform the massive home into a spectacular holiday sanctuary. It was too late to order specially made ornaments, and there was no time to spend on shopping. They had three other jobs lined up over the next two weeks.

Most of Stewart Designs’ wealthy clients hired them in the spring to decorate for Christmas. Elisa and Kelly spent March through June planning, sketching and ordering so that as soon as Halloween was over, the team could get to work turning the mansions into spectacular wonderland worlds that would put Santa’s North Pole to shame.

Checking her reflection in the Jeep’s side mirror, Elisa pulled her long brown hair over her shoulder and secured it with a band. Then she applied a bit of lipstick to freshen her appearance. Billionaires seemed to like their staff to look professional and well dressed. The cold front that had blown through made Elisa choose a wool plaid skirt, black cashmere sweater and knee-high leather boots over thick leggings hoping they’d keep her warm enough. The larger houses often tended to be more drafty.

Elisa hurried to find Kelly, who’d parked her black Lincoln under the carport.

With clipboard in hand, Kelly was already barking orders to the staff on what to bring in. “Elisa, oh there you are,” she patted her chest as if fearing she might suffer a coronary at any moment. “I feared you were lost after I lost sight of you on the expressway. These out-of-the-way country roads can be confusing. I’ll never understand the people who wish to live out in the wilds.” Kelly lifted her Ray-Bans and glanced around at the surrounding woods, then back to the towering building. “Stunning, isn’t it? I hear there’s a private tennis court in the back acreage, along with a helicopter landing pad, and a driving range. Though I doubt Mr. Grimwood gets to enjoy many outdoor activities after his accident.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/JackieCastleAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jackie_Castle

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/jackiecastle

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jackie-castle

Thank you, Jackie, for sharing this new book with us. I know we’ll want to feature each of this new series. One of the reviewers of my book The 12 Gifts of Christmas called it a Billionaire romance. They’re quite popular right now.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVLGCC3

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

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GRIT AND GRACE: Devotions for Warrior Moms - Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy - One Free Book

Being a mom is one of the most rewarding experiences a woman can have, but motherhood also has its share of challenges physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. Even if a woman has read all the parenting books and received sage advice from other moms, until she becomes a mom she won’t truly understand the responsibility and challenges that come with the title. For the overwhelmed mamas who think they’ll never live up to the Supermoms around them, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin and Gretta Kennedy, authors of Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms (Harvest House Publishers), want to offer encouragement and assurance they are not alone.

How did the two of you team up to write Grit and Grace?

Suzanne Hadley Gosselin (SHG): I was in the throes of raising three young children who were 5, 3, and 18-months old, and it occurred to me one day that I was depleted in every way, but especially spiritually. I found that ironic, since my husband is a pastor and I’m a Christian writer. I had many spiritual resources easily accessible to me, and yet I was still struggling. I also realized that it wasn’t good because in this season of raising young children I really needed Jesus, arguably more than ever.

Around that same time, I had a conversation with my 3-year-old daughter about how I could no longer fit into my “fanciest dress” (my wedding dress) because I had gotten bigger when I had babies. Her reaction floored me. Her eyes sparkled and she said, “Was I one of the babies in your tummy that made you get bigger?” My daughter could see the beauty in something that I had allowed to make me feel like a failure. I realized, then, that God uses these years to teach mamas so many wonderful truths through their children.

Meanwhile, God was laying it on Gretta’s heart to encourage moms of young children. Gretta studied women’s ministry at Multnomah where we met and were college roommates and had a knack for connecting with women and meeting them where they’re at. We were talking on the phone one day and realized that God had given us the exact same vision to provide digestible devotions for moms of young children to encourage and strengthen them in their role as mothers. That’s when the idea of Grit and Grace was born.

Who did you write Grit and Grace for? What stage of motherhood will get the most encouragement from reading your book?

SHG: We wrote Grit and Grace for moms of young children. We’re looking at the season that encompasses babies, toddlers and early elementary school. Many times, if they have multiple children, mamas are navigating all of these stages at once. While the stories focus on the young children years, the truths from God’s Word apply to mamas (and even grandmas) at all stages. We have had Grandmas comment that they feel encouraged to show greater intentionality toward their grandchildren.

What does it mean to you to have grit and grace?

Gretta Kennedy (GK): Having grit is pushing through the hard stuff of motherhood with determination and laser-focus on the end goal of raising children who love and serve Jesus. Having grace means realizing that God offers you peace, rest and help in this season and as well as being kind to your children and especially yourself!

Can you describe the format of the book? How much time does each devotional take to read?

SHG: Grit and Grace is a 90-Day devotional, and our concept was to provide quick-read nuggets of truth for busy mamas. These devos should take no longer than five minutes to get through, and the Scripture passage is included so you don’t even have to go find your Bible. The idea is that these can be read in the tiny spaces in a mama’s day—while the kids are napping or she’s nursing the baby. Each daily devotion includes a true story of motherhood and delves into a spiritual truth that was learned through the experience. Each devotion also includes a prayer to allow busy moms to respond the devotion in the moment.

Before you had children, what did you expect motherhood to be like? What surprised you most when you became a mother?
GK: I did a lot of babysitting as a kid and young adult, so I at least knew that kids aren’t perfect, and taking care of them can be pretty tiring. But the thing that surprised me the most was the huge responsibility of motherhood. I was the one who needed to be the expert on my child. No one else would know her like I did. Also, being a mother is totally different from being the babysitter! I was responsible for everything...not just this little person. The house, the food, the everything...oh yeah, and the children.

SHG: I have worked with kids since I was a teen. In fact, I met my husband when he struck up a conversation with me about children’s ministry. I always assumed I’d take to motherhood like a fish to water. I was wrong. The stress of being a mom revealed many of my weaknesses, such as being unskilled at managing our home and all the little demands of motherhood. It also revealed my selfishness as I was pushed to put others before myself again and again. 

Suzanne, you write that your spiritual life took a hit after you became a mom. In what ways?

SHG: Spiritual disciplines have always been an area of weakness for me. Even before kids, I struggled to meet with the Lord at a consistent time each day. However, I did find time to get in the Word daily and received consistent spiritual input through working at a Christian organization, being plugged in at church and attending multiple Bible studies during my single years. I had my first child a year and a half after I got married and decided to stay home. I quickly became isolated and overwhelmed and struggled to find time to even crack open the Bible. I felt too tired to pray. I realized many of the struggles I was experiencing, such as a negative view on life, conflicts with my husband and anger toward my children were the bad fruit of a life that wasn’t connected to the True Vine. But it was more difficult than it ever had been to sit at Jesus’ feet and be refreshed by Him.

Gretta, you write about losing your identity when you became a mom. Was it something you realized all at once or was it gradual? What would you like readers to realize about their true identity?
GK: I had quite the cool job before I became a mom, and I loved what I did. A young newlywed and capable and trusted in an outdoor adventure-based ministry, I found great fulfillment in my marriage and career. When our daughter was born, my life was consumed with her. Being a good mom and knowing my daughter’s every need became my top priority, and I genuinely loved it. But around the 6-month mark, it dawned on me that every conversation I had with others always revolved around mom life. It no longer mattered what I did prior to becoming a mother, and no one really cared anymore about my relationship with my husband. It was all about my daughter. I had become just a mom.

I really struggled with that because I felt there was so much more to me, but none of that mattered anymore. “Mom” was it for me from here on out. Then God reminded me very clearly that titles are not my true identity. My identity needs to be found in him alone because that will never change. So truths like “daughter of the King” and “chosen” and “forgiven” became the identities I tried to focus on. This is so important for moms to remember. The little children years are so demanding that we can forget how God sees us. We are so much more than moms. We are redeemed! We are gifted! We are loved! If we can keep our identity centered as God sees us, then as we go through changes in life, our foundation won’t be shaken and we will be more free to live as God truly intended.

What are some of the topics you cover in the devotionals?

SHG: We talk about perfectionism, comparison, joy, gratefulness, fear, rejection, weariness, calling, tenacity (grit) and hope (grace). Our subtitle is Devotions for Warrior Moms, and that is how we view mamas. They are on the front lines guiding their children to God’s truth and aiming them at the target—Jesus. Grit and Grace talks about the gamut of emotions mothers of young children face, both good and bad.

If moms only take away one thing from reading Grit and Grace, what do you hope they learn?

SHG: We hope they will feel encouraged and empowered that God has chosen them for their specific children. They are called to this. There are so many sweet moments that come along with the difficult ones. As one pre-reader said, “Grit and Grace is helping me treasure hunt for grace in the challenging moments of motherhood and remember to savor the sweet moments I want to be etched deep into my heart forever.” Yes. That.

Fellow Grit and Grace Warrior Moms can connect on:

Facebook (gritandgracemoms)

Twitter (Gritandgracemom)  

Instagram (@gritandgracemoms)

Thank you, Suzanne and Gretta, for sharing this book with us. I know there are plenty of moms with kids in the age range you wrote this book for. It will be a valuable tool to each of them.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Grit and Grace  - Christianbook.com
https://amzn.to/2TVyWD2 - Amazon paperback
https://amzn.to/2V2Lo3T - 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