TARGETED FOR DANGER - 8 Christian Romantic Suspense Novelists - One Free Book

TARGETED FOR DANGER

CROSSFIRE

NEW from RITA, Christy, and Carol Award-winning, and USA Today Bestselling Author SUSAN MAY WARREN
The woman he loves is caught in the crossfire of revenge…but he’ll have to face his crimes to save her.

Bio: Susan May Warren

With over one million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over forty-five novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three-time RITA finalist and an eight-time Christy finalist.

Publishers Weekly has written of her books, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation, and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers. She is the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She is also the author of the popular writing method The Story Equation.

www.susanmaywarren.com

TAKEN BY DARK

NEW from Award-winning, Bestselling Author CHRISTY BARRITT
Willa Shields is being taunted by someone desperate to get her attention. When the threats escalate, the only person who can help her is her new neighbor, FBI agent Parker Stone. But will he reach her before the darkness overcomes them both?

Bio: Christy Barritt

USA Today has called Christy Barritt's books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”

A Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.

She is married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she's not trying to be. Christy is a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.

When she's not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident-prone she is.

www.christybarritt.com

LETHAL HOMECOMING

A Reader-favorite from Award-winning, Bestselling Author LYNETTE EASON
Callie Ainsworth just wants to go home. When her stepfather dies, she believes it’s safe to do so. But when someone tries to kill her minutes before she reaches her mother’s driveway, she realizes that danger still lurks—but this time, she’s not running away.

Bio: Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is the best selling, award winning author of almost forty books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity Series and the currently releasing Elite Guardians series. She writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists. She has won several awards including the 2013 and 2016 Carol Award in the Romantic Suspense category. She also placed in the top ten (out of thousands of entries) in the James Patterson 2016 co-writer contest. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of RWA as well as the Kiss of Death (KOD) chapter.

www.lynetteeason.com

TREASURE

NEW from Critically-acclaimed Author GINNY AIKEN
Freelance writer Chloe Williams's first find at the newest Qumran Caves dig is the dead C/OPS Security guard. Steven “Ridge” Ridgeway, founder of C/OPS, must deal with the murder of his man while keeping the two of them alive. It won't be easy, now that he and Chloe have seen the stolen treasure, since assassins don't give up until all witnesses are dead.

Bio: Ginny Aiken

Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Valencia and Caracas, Venezuela, Ginny Aiken discovered books early. She wrote her first novel at age fifteen while she trained with the Academia de Ballet Clasico Venezolano de Nina Novak. She burned that tome when she turned a “mature” sixteen. Stints as reporter, paralegal, choreographer, language teacher, and retail salesperson followed. Her life as mother of four sons and herder of their many friends brought her back to books and writing in desperate search of her sanity. She’s now the author of more than forty published works. Ginny lives with her husband of forty years in northwest Indiana, and they’re the grandparents of three amazing young men.

DEADLY SECRET

NEW from USA Today Bestselling Author MARGARET DALEY
Secrets. Revenge. Reunion. The past comes back to haunt Sarah Patterson, and she turns to the only man who can help her—the man she left at the altar.

Bio: Margaret Daley

USA Today Bestselling author, Margaret Daley, is multi-published with over 100 titles and 5 million books sold worldwide. She had written for Harlequin, Abingdon, Kensington, Dell, and Simon and Schuster. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Carol Award, Holt Medallion, and Inspirational Readers' Choice Contest.

She has been married for over forty-five years and is enjoying being a grandma. When she isn't traveling, she's writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household.

www.margaretdaley.com

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

NEW from Award-winning, Bestselling Author ELIZABETH GODDARD
Tara Blackburn witnesses a village decimated at the hands of armed men. Grant McCall is working undercover in a race against time to find Tara before the hired killers, but even more deadly is the illness to which she was exposed.

Bio: Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is the ECPA bestselling, award-winning author of more than thirty-one romance novels and novellas and counting, including the romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies—a 2011 Carol Award winner. She's a double finalist in the 2016 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for her books Buried and Backfire in the Mountain Cove series, and a 2016 Carol Award romantic suspense finalist for Submerged.

A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

www.elizabethgoddard.com

COLD TERROR

NEW from Award-winning, Bestselling Author SUSAN SLEEMAN
Forensic artist Hannah Perry and her young son barely escape from a killer and nearly lose their lives to the cold terror of the ocean. Former Navy SEAL Gage Blackwell comes to their rescue and appoints himself their bodyguard. Suddenly, not only is Hannah’s and her sons life at risk—so is her heart.

Bio: Susan Sleeman

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a bestselling and award-winning author of more than 30 inspirational/Christian and clean read romantic suspense books. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. Susan currently lives in Oregon, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a retired church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

www.susansleeman.com

ONCE A THIEF

NEW from USA Today Bestselling Author JAN THOMPSON
She sets a thief to catch a thief.
Will he also steal her heart?
Private investigator Helen Hu must team up with art thief Reuben Costa to rescue her mother, who has vanished while trying to return a bejeweled egg she stole fifteen years ago. That is, if Reuben still wants to cooperate after what the Hu family has done to his father.

Bio: Jan Thompson

USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson writes clean and wholesome multi-ethnic contemporary Christian romance, Christian romantic suspense, and inspirational international romantic thrillers. Her books are for readers who enjoy stories of faith, hope, love, and happy endings. Always.

Jan graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and worked as a database programmer and information technology consultant for over a decade before transitioning from writing software programs to her lifelong dream job of writing fiction books that she wants to read. When she is not busy writing and publishing, Jan is a wife, mother, educator, family scribe, avid reader, and chief of staff to the family cat.

Jan loves to hear from her readers. Join her mailing list to receive book publication news, sales and specials, cover reveals, and exclusive details and content.

http://www.JanThompson.com

Thank you, authors, for sharing this new collection with my readers and me. Y’all are some of my favorite suspense novelists.

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

Targeted for Danger: Eight Christian Romantic Suspense Novellas

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

DUBIOSITY - Christy Barritt - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Christy Barritt is one of the authors who writes the kind of suspense novels I love. She almost always surprises me, which isn’t easy to do. My copy of Dubiosity hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t give a review of it. But every novel of Christy’s I’ve read keeps me turning pages.

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

I think a common spiritual theme you’ll see in my books is the fact that God often takes hard things in our lives and makes them into something beautiful. I’ve seen it time and time again in my life, and I know that hardships can build character. Closed doors can lead to unexpected invitations to walk different—many times, better—paths.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

I have a new Love Inspired Suspense novel coming out in March called Hidden Agenda. Also up in 2015 are Random Acts of Deceit (the second book in the Holly Anna Paladin series), Gone by Dark (Carolina Moon series), Dust and Obey (Squeaky Clean series), and Rattled (The Sierra Files). Yes, it will be a busy year. J

Wow, you really have been busy. I’d love to feature those books on the blog as well. If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

The head of the CIA. J I wouldn’t even want to talk to him because I know he wouldn’t tell me anything. I’d just like to be a fly on the wall as he’s meeting with some friends. Yes, I write suspense.

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

Queen Esther from the Bible. I just think her story is so fascinating and inspiring. She’s my hero for her bravery.

Queen Esther has been my favorite Bible character for a long time, too. How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

The good news is that if you’re receiving rejections, that means you’re doing something! You’re writing and getting yourself out there. Keep doing it. Learn as you go. Welcome feedback. Always try to grow. Don’t give up!

Tell us about the featured book.

Thanks for asking! Here’s the back cover blurb:

Savannah Harris vowed to leave behind her old life as an intrepid investigative reporter. But when a friend raises suspicions about two migrant workers who’ve gone missing from the sleepy coastal town Savannah calls home, her curiosity spikes.

As ever more eerie incidents begin afflicting the area, each works to draw Savannah out of her seclusion and raises the stakes—for both Savannah and the surrounding community. Even as Savannah’s new boarder, Clive Miller, makes her feel things she thought long forgotten, she suspects he’s hiding something too, and he’s not the only one. Doubts collide in Savannah’s mind: Who can she really trust?

As secrets emerge and danger closes in, Savannah must choose between faith and uncertainty. One wrong decision might spell the end … not just for her, but for everyone around her.

Will she unravel the mystery in time, or will doubt get the best of her?

I have to say that out of all the books I’ve written, this is one of my favorites! It has conspiracy theories, secret societies, and hidden motives, and it’s set in one of my favorite places ever: the sleepy towns along Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

I can’t wait until my copy of the book arrives. It’s the next book I’ll read. Please give us the first page.

In the depths of the forest, the rough bark of the pine tree scratched the skin of his back through the thin flannel of his shirt. The discomfort didn’t dissuade him from his mission to watch the grand house situated down the lane.

Or rather, to watch the woman inside the grand house.

As he did nearly every evening, he crept through the woods at dusk until he reached his hiding spot. He’d searched for weeks for the perfect place—a nook where he couldn’t be spotted from either the road or the bay. And in his fortress of trees, he settled back. He watched the lights in the windows flicker on and off. He watched the woman walk about unaware of his eyes soaking in her every move.

She didn’t know what was coming, the great glorious things waiting in her future.

She couldn’t know. Not yet.

He’d much rather convince her to agree to his plan of her own free will. But if she didn’t, he had other ways to get her to come around to his way of thinking. Delighted prickles danced over his skin in anticipation.

He rubbed the penny in his pocket as he watched her move into her office, just as she did every evening. She sat at her desk, which faced the lane, and even though he couldn’t see her clearly, he knew she was crying.

When he was nine years old, two neighborhood boys had goaded him into going to the train tracks that slashed across the landscape behind the neighborhood. They’d convinced him to put the change he’d been saving onto the metal there, promising something wonderful would happen. Instead, his coins had been flattened and were no good anymore. The money he’d saved was worthless.

The townspeople of Cape Thomas were just as naive as he’d been that day so long ago. They were like pennies on a railroad track. They thought they were valuable. Soon they’d realize they were worth nothing.

I’m eager to start reading this story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

There are a few places readers can find me: www.christybarritt.com, www.facebook.com/christybarritt, and www.twitter.com/cbarritt. 

Thank you, Christy, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will love it.

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

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

THE GOOD GIRL - Christy Barritt - One Free Book

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

I’m excited to be writing romantic suspense for Love Inspired, as well as continuing on to write my mystery novels. If I can continue to do both of those things, I’ll be as happy as a clam.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have two precious sons. I homeschool my oldest, and my youngest is only three. My husband is a special education teacher full-time and a church children’s director part-time. We love spending time together as a family, whether that’s at church or by taking walks together or working on projects. I’m blessed!

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

I’m definitely pickier as a reader, and I hate that! But I also know when a book really captures my attention and when I can move past that pickiness, that I’ve found a really good book! I primarily read mystery and romantic suspense. Being a mom has changed my reading habits because I don’t have as much free time! LOL

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on the fourth book in my Squeaky Clean Mystery series. It’s called Dirty Deeds. I’m also writing my new proposal for Love Inspired Suspense. I have a couple of other books I’m toying with as well.

What outside interests do you have?

I love singing and playing the guitar. I love decorating and having coffee with friends. I wished I loved exercising, but I don’t. J

I’m with you there, but I have to do physical therapy exercises and walk. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I love to travel, and I like to find things that interest me. I also set a lot of books in places that are within a day’s drive of my home. I find it easier to write about places I’m familiar with.

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

Agatha Christie would be kind of fun! I’d love to pick her brain, find out what her writing methods were and how she produced so many books.

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

For me, I think it’s that you never really feel like you’ve arrived. You always want your next novel to be well-received, and to get good reviews, and to have good sales. To keep readers happy, you need to keep releasing books. You’ve got to continue to grow at your craft. Before I was published, I thought I’d simply find a publisher and settle in for publishing happily-ever-after. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, but I’m not complaining. I’m doing what I love and making a living at it.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

He’s teaching me to find my confidence and self worth in Him and in Him alone. I found myself riding this emotional rollercoaster, especially when it came to writing. When I had good sales and good reviews and lots of positive buzz, I felt great. But then I might get a not-so-nice review or sales might slump for a week or two, and I’d feel down. I realized I was letting my emotions be too easily ruled by external things. I’ve stopped reading my reviews and checking my sales so often, and I’m concentrating instead on writing the stories He’s placed on my heart.

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

Keep writing, keeping reading, and keep submitting. Persistence can really pay off, but you always need to continually grow in your craft, no matter what stage you’re at.

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

The Good Girl is about Tara Lancaster. As it says on the back cover, she can sing “Amazing Grace” in three harmonies, two languages, and interpret it for the hearing impaired. She can list the Bible canon backward, forward, and alphabetized. And the only time she ever missed church was at seventeen because she had pneumonia and her mom made her stay home.

Tara’s life is turned upside down though, and her reputation is left in ruins. She flees halfway across the country to dog-sit, but she doesn’t get the escape she wants. Instead, she finds a knife with a threatening message, a fame-hungry friend, a too-hunky neighbor, and evidence of ... a ghost?

Following all the rules has gotten her nowhere. And nothing she learned in Sunday School can tell her where to go from there.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter 1

Forrest Gump was known for saying that life was like a box of chocolates. You never knew what you were going to get.

My Grandmother Griffin had a different saying. She said that life was like a Bible story. You didn’t always get a happy ending—at least not here on this earth.

For years, I didn’t believe Grandma Griffin. After all, she honestly thought that “cleanliness is next to godliness” was in the Bible. I mean, I was a Christian, so life was supposed to be blessed. And blessed meant that life was full of unconditional love and feel-good moments and abundance. Right?

Wrong.

Now, I have my own sayings. One is that life is like a beautiful apple. Sometimes you don’t know it’s rotten until you bite into it. Other days, I thought life was like the solid wood coffee table that my uncle fell on—revealing it was actually made of particleboard, thus my saying, “You never know what you’re made of until you’re broken.”

I’m Tara Lancaster, and I come from a family of missionaries, preachers, and Bible college professors. One could never be too righteous in this clan. I was right on track in my family tree, following a path that would have made Mother Teresa and Billy Graham proud.

That was, until two years ago.

It’s taken me a long time to figure things out. First, I had to battle a ghost, question my faith, consult a psychic, and fall in love with someone who wasn’t my husband.

It’s a long story. It’s a story about a good girl gone ... well, I can’t tell you. I will say this: Life is like a movie. Just when things seem perfect, the movie ends.

And that’s where my story starts.

I love reading your books. I can’t wait until I get my hands on this one. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at www.christybarritt.com, as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/christybarritt.

Thanks so much for the interview, Lena!

My pleasure, Christy.

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

The Good Girl - Christianbook.com
The Good Girl - Amazon.com

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

RICOCHET - Christy Barritt - One Free Book

What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I love to write about how hard times in life can draw us closer to God. I think that whatever we go through, we can let our circumstances give us reason to run toward God or away from him. When we run toward God, we’re on a rich path filled with growth and joy, but also pain and hardship. That’s definitely a recurring theme in my books.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

In February, Key Witness, my next Love Inspired Suspense releases. In March, The Good Girl, a humorous romantic mystery, releases. I’m also contracted to write two more Love Inspired Suspense novels, but I don’t have release dates for them yet.

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

I would love to sit down with Mary Higgins Clark. I would love to talk face to face with her about her writing career and inspiration. I love reading her books, and I love talking writing, so it would be a perfect combination.

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

I think it would be pretty cool to meet Jane Austen. She penned some great novels that continue to inspire people today. I’d want to ask her about her favorite characters, any other books she wanted to write but hadn’t, if she got rejected, etc.

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

Rejections can feel devastating, but they happen to all of us. Even after being published, you still face rejections. To really make it in publishing, you have to be able to push past those setbacks. If you receive advice from an editor on your rejection, don’t ignore it. Listen to what editors want because they know the business of writing stories. Whenever possible, learn from rejections and allow them to make you stronger and more determined.

Tell us about the featured book.

When Molly Hamilton returns to her beloved summer camp, she finds nothing but trouble. First she hits a dead body in the road before arriving. Then she discovers the camp director is missing. If that isn't stressful enough, Molly's new boss is none other than Nick White, the man who once broke her heart. Nick and Molly know there's something dangerous going on at Camp Hope Springs. But as the former teenage sweethearts try to uncover the mystery, they discover even more hidden secrets—about the camp and themselves. Saving the camp may not be safe, especially for their hearts.Show More Show Less

Please give us the first page of the book.

Thump!

Molly Hamilton's sedan rose and then sank back to the ground as if she'd gone over a speed bump. A really large speed bump.

As she threw on the brakes, every muscle in her body tensed. She gripped the steering wheel, frozen with indecision. The lonely, wooded road slithered in front of her, cloaked by an ominous darkness. The forest had hollow spaces between the trees that just seemed to beckon something dangerous to hide there. Bears. Wildcats. Serial killers.

Molly shook her head. She was being ridiculous. She was an established, professional woman who should have long since outgrown her fear of the woods and nighttime. But some things never died. Memories from her childhood filled her, but she pushed them away. Not now.

Shakes overcame her anyway.

She looked in the rearview mirror and saw the red of her brake lights reflecting off the asphalt. Darkness swallowed everything else. Fear threatened to swallow her.

Whatever she'd hit still lay underneath her car. Her sedan had risen and fallen once, which meant that the front tires had gone over something, but not the back.

Probably just a deer, she rationalized. Perhaps someone else had hit the animal and left the poor creature in the road. The country lane was so narrow and winding, and outside was so dark. She'd rounded the corner and, just as she'd done so, seen a flash of something on the street. Before she could brake, she felt the thump against her wheels. The thump of a deer against her wheels.

Her throat went dry. She was going to have to get out of the car and check. Right?

Oh Lord, help me, please. I don't want to open this car door.

Why had she even agreed to come to the backwoods of Virginia's Northern Neck? What exactly had she been thinking when she begged for this temporary summer job in the middle of nowhere at Camp Hope Springs?

Closure, she remembered. She'd wanted closure, to go back to one of the happiest places of her youth. She had so many fond memories of her last summer of innocence, of being carefree and hopeful. Then she'd grown up and life had happened. Responsibilities had surrounded her and not let her go. She'd left her childhood behind right along with campfires and vesper services.

Her thoughts and reminiscing of the past only delayed the inevitable. She needed a plan, and she needed to get the yet-to-be-decided-on action over with. She rested her head against the steering wheel, flabbergasted by her own indecision. She couldn't simply sit here in the middle of the road all night.

The silver of her cell phone on the seat beside her caught her eye. She grabbed the device and flipped it open. What were the chances that she'd find reception out here? She blinked when she saw one bar left on her signal.

The cops. She could call the cops.

She lowered the phone to her lap. And tell the police what? That she may have just hit a deer? They'd think she was crazy and rightfully so. She rubbed her forehead in irritation, staring at her headlights as they illuminated the deserted road before her. Camp Hope Springs was only a mile or two away at the most.
That settled it. She had to get out of the car and find out what had just happened. Just sitting here and thinking about the possibilities over and over would drive her crazy.

She grabbed the door handle and pulled until the latch clicked open. After taking another deep breath, she pushed the door out wide.

The smell of damp earth, of thick, wet leaves and tree branches ripe with moss and fungi filled the car. Crickets sang their songs. Leaves tippity-tapped together in the light breeze. Heavy summer air floated inside, covering Molly with its sticky, invisible fingers.

She fumbled through the glove compartment for a minute before finding a small flashlight. She twisted the top of it and a small ray of light sliced the air. It was better than nothing, she supposed.

She dropped one foot onto the ground and then the other. The woods still seemed to be staring at her, unknown dangers just waiting to pounce when she was least expecting it. She shivered despite the summer heat.

She squatted and shined her light under the car. Something off-white lay center beneath her vehicle.
A deer?

She moved her flashlight along the length of the creature.

Was that something blue? Maybe just the asphalt reflecting onto the deer's fur, she wanted to believe. And that splotch of white? Deer had white splotches, right?

She moved her flashlight up farther. Near her front bumper, her heart seemed to stop.

Eyes stared back at her. Not deer eyes. Human eyes.

She'd hit someone. As a trained nurse she didn't have to touch the man to know that he was dead.

As always, you take us right into the action of the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’d love for my readers to visit me at www.christybarritt.com. I’m also active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/christybarritt and I pop onto Twitter occasionally at www.twitter.com/cbarritt.

Thanks so much for the interview, Lena, and for the chance to visit your blog! It’s always a pleasure. 

I agree, Christy. I have the best readers. Thanks for dropping by.

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

Ricochet (Love Inspired Suspense) - paperback
Ricochet (Love Inspired Suspense) - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

Author Christy Barritt - SUSPICIOUS MINDS - Free Book

It's summer and time to read a funny, romantic comedy mystery. Here's a new one from Christy Barritt.

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

I want to write the types of books that I enjoy reading. I love, love, love suspense and mystery novels. But I also think every good book has some romance. Most people describe my stories as humorous and I think that element grew naturally out of my characters. There’s also an element of faith—I try to be as authentic as possible when dealing with people’s Christian walk. Sometimes that might mean presenting Christians in less-than-flattering ways. Above all, I’m called to be honest. I hope that through my writing people will examine themselves. I never want to give pat answers.

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

I’d honestly have to say June 12, 2006. That’s the day my son was born. I was so nervous about becoming a mom, fearful that I had no idea what I was doing. But as soon as I held my son in my arms, it was just love at first sight, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Almost two years later, I can still say that no one makes me happier than my little boy.

How has being published changed your life?

I’m a lot busier. I used to simply write when I could (which was often because I made it a priority). Now I have to make the time to write, even when my schedule is already packed or I don’t feel like it. But I love being published. I love that someone saw potential in my work. And I love getting letters from readers who connect with my books. It’s an answered prayer and I wouldn’t change anything..

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading some of the new Heartsong Presents Mysteries. They’re really good!

Yes, they are. I've read several of them. What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on several things, including the untitled third book in the Squeaky Clean Series. My agent is currently pitching another light-hearted mystery series of mine called The Suburban Sleuth Mysteries.

What would be your dream vacation?

I’ve always wanted to go to Venice. One day!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I used to choose locations that I wished to visit. But now I find it much easier to choose locations that I’m familiar with. They may be boring to me, but others find them interesting. That’s the reason why I choose Norfolk, Virginia, for the setting of the Squeaky Clean Mystery series. It’s not a city that’s featured often in books, which makes it unique. Plus, there’s a strong military presence, and a merging of southern culture with a mid-Atlantic vibe.

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

President Bush. As a reporter, I get to interview a lot of politicians and I usually get a gut feeling about them. I’d like to talk to the President, not for political reasons, but just to read him as a person.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I sing and play the guitar. I’m the worship leader at my church and I love that. I also love traveling, even if it’s just to a small town an hour away. Different locations always spark story ideas!

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

Lately, my obstacle has been time. With a toddler around, my time is not my own! I figured out that no one will give me the time to write—I have to make time for what’s important to me. No one will do that for me. I block out times on my schedule each week, check with my husband to make sure it’s okay, and then let nothing thwart me from my writing time. It’s the only way I can get anything written.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Keep at it. Publishing isn’t easy. Write what you believe in and let the rest of the details work themselves out. If you ever start writing simply for the market or just to get published, your joy will dissipate. Write the story of your heart.

Now, Christy, tell us about the featured book.

In Suspicious Minds, crime-scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire takes on a mold remediation job at a dilapidated old house. To her surprise, she finds the dead "King" in a crawlspace---still wearing his blue suede shoes. There's no way she can keep her nose out of a case like this!

I had a great time writing Suspicious Minds. Though the book, in general, is pretty quirky and lighthearted, it also touches on some serious issues like loneliness and abandonment. And, of course, there’s a good touch of romance to keep things rolling!

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please visit my website at www.christybarritt.com. I’m in the process of updating it and I’m really excited about some of the changes. I also blog twice a month at www.faithchick.com.

Christy, thank you for taking time to visit with us.

Readers, check out her web sites, but before you go, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of Suspicious Minds.