WINNERS!!!!

Melody (TX) is the winner of A Reluctant Courtship by Laurie Alice Eakes.
Kevlin (NY) is the winner of Mistletoe Memories by Carla Olson Gade.
Patty (SC) is the winner of Return to Me by Lynn Austin.
Melissa M (TX) is the winner of The Bargain by Stephanie Reed.

If you won a book and you like it, 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 the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

THE JOURNEY OF JOSEPHINE CAIN - Nancy Moser - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Nancy Moser is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist's "Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011." Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest.

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

I certainly draw on my own experiences, but my characters are far more exciting, evil, or good than I am!

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

A few years ago I went parasailing in Mexico—and I’m afraid of heights! But when I saw a whale breech in the water beneath me, it was worth it.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

In third grade my teacher used to have me go into the first grade class and read my stories, so I guess story-telling has always been a part of me.

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

I like biographies, Tudor history, true crime, Jane Austen, and Edith Wharton.

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

I watch movies! I adore movies and love how I can experience an entire story in another world in under two hours. Plus, I have an excuse to eat popcorn.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I go to the Social Security Administration. They have the 5 most popular names for the past 100 years. http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/top5names.html . I also read movie credits and go to the library and scan the spines of books.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m most proud of being married 38 years and raising three great kids into adulthood. I have no idea how we pulled off either one, but I feel very blessed.

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

A porpoise. I’d love to be able to live in and out of the water, and to swim and jump with joy.

What is your favorite food?

Crispy onion rings with ranch dressing.

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

Rejection is still difficult—even after 30 books. I give myself ten minutes to cry and pout, and then I go back to the submission and see what needs to be changed to make it better. It can always be better.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Journey of Josephine Cain is about a D.C. socialite right after the Civil War (late 1860’s). Her father (an ex-Union general) gets a job as the head of construction on the Transcontinental Railroad which was to link the east and west. Josephine thinks her future is in D.C. as the wife of a wealthy man, but as she visits her father out west she discovers an entirely new side to her character. It surprises her, and she is challenged to find her unique purpose. She becomes the woman God wants her to be.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

April 14, 1865

Life was good.

Josephine Cain beamed as she and her mother entered Ford’s Theatre on the arms of her father, who smiled graciously at those offer­ing congratulations and greetings.

An artillery sergeant approached them. “It is quite the celebration, is it not, General Cain?”

Josephine had become very good at recognizing a soldier’s rank by his chevrons and sashes. This man wore the red wool of a non-commis­sioned officer.

Papa wore the buff sash of a general. This very evening Josephine had embraced the honor of wrapping Papa’s sash twice around his waist and tying it over his left hip. She had been very careful to align the two tassels to hang just so.

“It is a celebration that comprises only five days of peace after four years of hell,” Papa said to the sergeant. “There is still much to do to heal this nation. I simply pray it can be healed.”

The man looked shocked, as if he had no doubt.

Josephine squeezed her father’s arm while keeping her eyes upon the sergeant. “When my brother and cousin come home, then it will truly be over,” she said.

The sergeant’s eyebrows rose. “Of course. General. Ladies.” He excused himself.

As soon as he left, Mother leaned across Papa and spoke to her. “The sergeant had no wish to hear your opinion…

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.nancymoser.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancymoser.author

History Blog: http://footnotesfromhistory.blogspot.com/

Author Blog: http://authornancymoser.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nancymoser1/boards/

Thank you, Nancy, for spending this time with us.

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser follows the adventures of a D.C. socialite as she gets involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad right after the Civil War. Be sure to check out Nancy's fun Pinterest board for the book!

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

  Five winners will receive:

• The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 26th. All winners will be announced October 28th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won one of the books!

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

The Journey of Josephine Cain  - Christianbook.com
The Journey of Josephine Cain (American Tapestries series) (An American Tapestry) - Amazon.com
The Journey of Josephine Cain (American tapestries) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

ONE PRINCE, TWO KINGDOMS - Jana Grissom - One Free Book

What has drawn you to writing for the Young Adult market?

I live with two amazing teens and work with hundreds more as a 7th grade science teacher! Nothing else makes sense but to write what I live and love, YA! I celebrate their victories and help them through their battles. If I can write YA in a way that helps a teen/young adult through a tough time, then my job is done.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

My quirkiness comes out when I am with my daughter, Kaylee. She can get me to do the silliest things and forget where I am or who is watching. Once I called her and she told me to hold on, completely ignoring me! So, naturally, I pretended to be her cell phone and talked to her pocket the entire time, “Let me out! Someone help me, I am trapped in her pocket! HEELLLLLOOOO, did you forget about me?” along with a lot of singing off tune. This lasted for at least five minutes. What I did not know, she was at work and her boss heard everything! Most awesome Mom ever!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I have been writing since learning how to spell. I made up stories and sometimes believed them. My entire teenage experience is documented in a locked diary. Some of it is true, and some of it I made up because real life was boring. I have always loved telling and writing stories. They make the unimaginable become reality!

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

I love YA and adult books of all genres, especially if they are crammed full of emotion. Love, fear, mystery, murder, and most of all paranormal! To me, reading is like watching a movie but way better! You escape the world around you and enter a new world. You can be any character or just a bystander. Everything is in your control. It is the best medicine for any ailment!

What other books have you written?

Currently, I have two completed manuscripts waiting to be published. Drawn is a Paranormal Thriller with plenty of Romance. Alex is trying to find who she is but feels drawn to another life with another man. Come Back To Me is a YA Paranormal Thriller. Chloe finds happiness that pulls her away from her family but her father is not willing to let a painting take his baby girl.

I also post Top Ten lists, author interviews, and social media advice weekly on my blog, A Novel Reality. I love to help authors make their novels a reality by supporting their blog tours or sharing publishing/marketing advice. In contrast to the professional content, my Top Ten lists are according to my teenagers’ mood. Ha! If they are joking about the worst pick-up lines – I write a Top Ten. If they are complaining about friends – I write a Top Ten. Everyone needs a little comic relief! My teenagers love having a Mom who blogs.

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

My family, prayer, reading, writing, and CHOCOLATE! Not always in that order but usually chocolate is somehow involved.

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

Completing my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree! I was in college while working two full time jobs; one at home with two small children and the second as a teacher’s aid in the public schools. My husband and kids supported me by helping a lot around the house while I studied and wrote a million papers. Together, we did it! Now, I hold a MEd in Educational Administration and Policy Studies. I love to speak at secondary schools challenging students to S.T.O.P. Bullying and Suicide! Together we can stand up against bullying and create a safe school environment.

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

Lioness – She is strong but uses her power only when necessary, a loving mother but a vicious predator. Within her territory, you may not see her but you can be sure she is watching you.

What is your favorite food?

Italian anything; pasta, Parmesan Bistecca, Chicken Parmesan, or pizza. I should have been Italian! 

Is it hard to break into the YA market?

I believe teenagers are a great judge of character. If you really care about them, they will love you.

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

It is like the first day of school. Remember what your mom said, “Just be yourself, and they will love YOU.” The same is true with YA. Don’t try to become something that you are not in order to fit in. Teens love adults who treat them with respect and are real. The rest will fall in place.

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

This novel is designed to have two sequels where the reader chooses whether Johnny becomes the Prince of Light or the Prince of Darkness. If you have trouble choosing a kingdom, there is a quiz at the end of One Prince, Two Kingdoms or you can take the quiz now at http://anovelreality.blogspot.com ! 

One Prince, Two Kingdoms came about in response to the disturbing nightmares my two foster children at the time were experiencing. After several nights of being awakened by their screams and running to comfort them, I had an idea – write a story and let their imaginations defeat their fears. The children were excited to hear stories of magical worlds and powerful celestials sent to guard them. Each night before bed, I would add new scenes and more adventures. After a few weeks, the nightmares were replaced with excitement to hear the next chapter read.

The children are now with their family, but their pictures remain on my walls. One Prince, Two Kingdoms is dedicated to them and all the foster children who have been in my care, as well as my past and present students; my family, my two amazing teens, Kaylee and Cody, and my husband and best friend, Roy. I hope One Prince, Two Kingdoms will encourage teens in a place of transition to have hope and never give up.

           

Book Blurb:

“Many graves were dug open with the aged caskets removed and overturned. Remains littered the graveyard. It looked like a backyard destroyed by a puppy that chewed up everything in sight. The gate suddenly slammed shut behind us and locked itself. We were committed now.”

Johnny Boggs is a teen with trouble to spare who has learned one thing in life—trust no one. Paranoia befriends him as he moves into his fifth foster home and discovers no one appears as they are. His dreams are not just dreams, and he is supposedly the Prince of Shamayim.

On Johnny’s sixteenth birthday, fate requires him to leave the protection of this world but allows for him to choose to reign over the light or turn to the darkness. A vicious competition begins as two kingdoms fight for his loyalty while two beautiful girls, Danielle and Shay, fight for his attention. Time is running out; a decision must be made. Johnny finds it impossible to resist the beauty of his dreams, nor can he turn away from the one who has his heart.

Please share the first page with us.

Another Home

Anger manifests inside of me; I don’t think I can control it this time. I hate it when the strong prey on the weak to feel powerful. My foster brother, JC, and the neighborhood punk, Miguel, picked the wrong time and the wrong place.

“Where do you think you’re going?” JC yelled out to our older but smaller foster brother, Jeremy.

Jeremy kept his head down and walked faster.

“Hey, punk, I don’t remember giving you permission to walk on MY sidewalk.”

I watched from the opposite side of the yard as JC grabbed Jeremy and shoved him against the apartment building. “You’re gonna pay for that mistake.” He continued the verbal assault on Jeremy as he turned and said to his friend, “Look at him, Miguel, he’s such a weak little freak!” They burst into laughter while Jeremy wriggled around, hoping to get free.

JC thought all six feet of him was God’s gift to the world. JC’s sidekick, Miguel, was the poster child for little man’s syndrome, including the big mouth and ‘roid-sized muscles. They had scrawny little Jeremy, who was barely five feet tall and weighed maybe seventy pounds, pinned against the side of the apartment as JC got in his face, “Where’s Mommy now, Germ-y? Oh that’s right, she left you inside of a car while she was living it up in the club.”

This was all of the motivation I needed to take action. I stood and made my way straight for them. Those two were so dumb, they never saw me coming, silent but deadly.

“We have got to toughen you up, Germ-y, or someone might hurt you. This is like basic training on how to stop being a weak little freak. Any last words?” JC tried to sound like a smart tough guy.

Jeremy shocked us all and screamed, “Stop! Let me go!” They pushed back harder and Jeremy returned to squirming and wishing for a miracle.

Miguel laughed and mockingly replied in a high-pitched, childish voice, “Let me go, JC, or I’m gonna tell Mommy.”

Jeremy whimpered in defeat. There was no way out of this, and he knew it. I was now in a full sprint.

“Go ahead and tell Mommy. She knows you are a pathological liar. Even the psycho doctor says you are!” JC insulted as he sneered in victory.

JC had finished playing with his food. I recognized the look on his face; he was going in for the kill. He glared straight at Jeremy, drew his arm back, and swung fast before I could get there. His fist made impact right below Jeremy’s left ribcage. Miguel repeatedly kicked Jeremy in his right knee as JC hit him over and over. Jeremy slumped down, but the boys held him up as they continued to beat him and laugh.

Time to take out the trash.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/1prince2kingdoms/

Blog: http://anovelreality.blogspot.com

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/21133166-jana-grissom

Facebooks: https://www.facebook.com/1Prince2K

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanaGrissom

https://www.facebook.com/jana.grissom

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janagrissom

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/janagrissom

Thank you, Jana, for sharing your book with us.

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

ONE HOLY NIGHT - J M Hochstetler - One Free Ebook

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

I made a public profession of faith when I was 13, during a revival meeting at Howard-Miami Mennonite Church near Kokomo, Indiana. But I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have the complete assurance that Jesus loved me, and I loved Him right back.

I was incredibly blessed to grow up under the guidance of parents, grandparents, extended family, and a church congregation who truly knew and loved the Lord and lived out that faith in such a way that I claimed it for my own at an early age. I know not everyone has that experience, and it doesn’t matter how or when you come to know Jesus as long as you come. And I don’t claim to have always been faithful. I’ve had trials and temptations and given in to sin just as all of us have. But I’ve always considered myself to be truly blessed in the family and church I grew up in. They gave me a solid foundation on which to withstand the assault of the Adversary and always find my way home.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

First, Lori Benton and Laura Frantz, who over the past few years have become my dear, dear sisters in Christ and fellow workers for His kingdom, and whose stories and craft I truly admire. I learn so much every time I read one of their books. Then two writers I’ve never met: W. Dale Cramer and Athol Dickson, both of whose ability to tell a mesmerizing story and convey deep emotion through spare language holds me in complete awe.

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

I haven’t actively pursued a speaking ministry for several years, but I’ve spoken to a number of groups in the past on history, writing, editing, and publishing. I love the interaction and am open to scheduling engagements. A list of potential topics is posted on my personal website on the Speaking Engagements page, and I’d be happy to talk with event organizers about specific subjects their group might be interested in.

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

My first radio interview, done live, and I didn’t handle it well. I was a new author and uncertain about how to prepare for a live interview. I sent a fact sheet about my book, but the interviewer obviously hadn’t read the book or the fact sheet and didn’t know much, if anything, about the Revolution, so we started off on the wrong foot. I didn’t do a good job of responding to her first question, which was kind of out in left field, and she shuffled me off the show pretty quickly. I prayed nobody I knew had tuned in and swore I’d never do a radio interview again!

Since then I’ve learned that if the question is off topic or you can’t answer it, you need to say something like, “That’s a very interesting question,” and then change the subject and answer the question you wanted the interviewer to ask. When I was invited to do more radio interviews some years later, I got up enough courage to say yes. This time I knew how to prepare, and since the interviewers had read my novels and loved them, it was like talking to good friends. The shows were also pre-recorded, so glitches could be removed before they aired, which raised my comfort level a lot.

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?

I have had that experience too, and I’ll bet a lot of us authors get that kind of response. I always try to be sympathetic and encouraging, but if I really said what I thought, it would be the following.

If you really want to write a book, then sit down in front of your computer or grab a pad of paper and pen and get started today. If you keep waiting for someday, it’ll never happen. If you’re really called to write, then you won’t be able to keep from doing it. And if you don’t do it, it’s because you don’t have a true interest or calling, so don’t pretend you’re actually going to do it. Go do something else you’re really passionate about!

But I’m too polite to be that blunt!

Tell us about the featured book.

One Holy Night is set in 1967, when the Vietnam War was tearing the country apart, slicing through generations and shattering families. Because of Japanese atrocities he witnessed as a Marine in the South Pacific during WWII, Frank McRae despises Asians. Now his wife, Maggie, is fighting her own battle against cancer, and his son, Mike, is a grunt in Viet Nam. When Mike falls in love with Thi Nhuong, a young Buddhist woman, and marries her in spite of his father’s objections, Frank disowns him. Then, as Christmas approaches, Frank’s world is torn apart, and he turns bitter, closing his heart to God and to his family.

But on this bleak Christmas Eve, God has in mind a miracle. As on that holy night so long ago, a baby will be born and laid in a manger—a baby who brings forgiveness, peace, and healing to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss.

Please give us the first page of the book.

November 19, 1966

Mike McRae dropped his battered duffle bag on the concrete floor and glanced through the bank of windows to where the wide-bodied army transport sat waiting on the snow-dusted tarmac. Waiting to take him and his buddies halfway around the world to war.

Viet Nam.

The name hung between him and his family as they gathered in the spare, unadorned military terminal, trying to pretend that this trip was nothing out of the ordinary. But it seemed to Mike almost as if he were gone already, that he had moved beyond the point where he could reach out to touch them. Their faces, loved and familiar, blurred before his eyes as though he looked at them through a mist.

His father cleared his throat before shoving a dog-eared, plain, tan paperback book into Mike’s hands. “Thought you might be able to use this sometime,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You and Julie used to like to sing some of these old songs when you were kids. Remember?”

Mike looked down at the book he held. It was his father’s old service hymnbook that he’d gotten as a young Marine at Sunday worship aboard a ship headed out to the South Pacific during World War II. Frank McRae wasn’t much of one to attend church, and the gift surprised Mike. Maybe spiritual things meant more to his father than he had thought.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My personal website is www.jmhochstetler.com, and the One Holy Night blog is at http://oneholynight.blogspot.com . I also have a website and a blog devoted to my American Patriot Series at www.theamericanpatriotseries.com and http://americanpatriotseries.blogspot.com .

I’m also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joan.hochstetler?ref=tn_tnmn and https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Patriot-Series-by-J-M-Hochstetler/158849110800898?fref=ts

Thank you for inviting me to join you, Lena!

And thank you, Joan, for sharing this Christmas book with us. I love to read Christmas stories in October, November, and December.

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

One Holy Night - Christianbook.com
One Holy Night - Amazon.com
One Holy Night - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. 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 

DARK BIOLOGY - Bonnie Doran - One Free Book

Readers, here's another new author. 

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

I’m surprised at how angry some of my characters are, because that’s a side of myself I don’t like to acknowledge. Doubting self and God are part of my characters as well. I also throw in some humor. I’m fond of groan-producing puns.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Shown up for a sci-fi costume contest wearing a Goth outfit, holding an American flag, and marching onstage to “Stars and Stripes Forever.” My apologies to the artist of “American Gothic.”

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I wrote a poem in fifth grade about the planet Mercury.

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

Mostly science fiction and fantasy. I enjoy suspense and thrillers as well.

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

Sanity? What’s that? I don’t have kids or a job, so that keeps me sane. Right now I have a timer on my desk set for 25 minutes at a time so I don’t spend my whole day on Facebook.

I set a timer on my desk so I will get up and walk after 30 minutes at the computer. It helps my legs. How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes the characters tell me their names. Most often, I borrow names from people I know, like the Hildebrandts. In C. Worthington Hildebrandt’s case, the officious name came before I realized the man was doubting his own worth in God’s eyes, so the name Worth foreshadowed his coming to terms with that.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Finishing the novel one day before a writers conference and sending it to an agent who requested it two years before.

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

A golden retriever. They’re friendly, loyal, and intelligent.

In my growing up years, our family had a golden retriever. We loved her. What is your favorite food?

Almost anything Asian. I make kung pao chicken and Korean beef at home. I also enjoy pad thai and sushi.

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

Fear. At one point I couldn’t face the keyboard without my fingers wandering to my favorite computer game in avoidance. I learned to congratulate myself when I opened the Word file and showed up at the page. Usually I got into the story after that.

Tell us about the featured book.

Dark Biology is a science thriller, Apollo 13 meets Contagion in movie terms. Here’s the back cover blurb: Renowned vaccinologist “Hildi” Hildebrandt has set her sights on beating her brother to a Nobel Prize, and the opportunity to conduct experiments on the International Space Station might just provide the means to obtain that goal. Chet Hildebrandt should have had that opportunity. But now he’ll teach a lesson to them all: his hot-shot astronaut sister, his philandering hypocritical father, and the CDC for not properly appreciating his work. One vial of a virus purloined from the CDC labs and released at his father’s marriage seminar should do the trick, without hurting anybody. After all, it’s only a mild influenza strain...Or is it?

The novel also has a strong theme of forgiveness. Each main character faces this issue.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Infection Minus Ten Months

            Hildi’s nose itched.

            She ignored it. While she waited for her lab partner to emerge from the airlock, she checked the seals of her blue biocontainment suit again. Good habits could save her life.

            Hildi pulled a coiled yellow air hose suspended from the ceiling and plugged it into a socket near her waist. The deflated suit expanded as air roared past her face. The familiar ballooning sensation saddened her for a moment. She’d miss her work here.

            Then she grinned. She’d be wearing a pressure suit in her new job and performing similar cutting-edge work in an even stranger environment.

            Her practiced eyes appraised Biosafety Level 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most dangerous lab. Everything down and cold. But an adjoining room held liquid-nitrogen freezers filled with hot agents, the deadliest diseases known to man.

            Francine stepped from the airlock. Hildi’s college friend had never worked in Level 4, but she moved with confidence. Hildi stared into Francine’s faceplate and noted her calm expression. She’d do fine.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Here are a few links:

Website: Where Faith and Science Fiction Collide: http://www.bonniedoranbooks.com/

Blog: The Mad Scientist’s Wife: http://bonniedoran.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bonniedoranbooks

Twitter: @bonniedoran

Twitter hashtag: #DarkBiology

Thanks for the opportunity to appear on your blog.

Thank you for sharing this new book with us, Bonnie. Maybe I should get my flu shot before I read it. :-)

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

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

GLITTERING PROMISES - Lisa T Bergren - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs. 

Readers, I'm thrilled to once again feature Lisa T Bergren on the blog. I love Glittering Promises. It's a fitting end to the series. You won't want to miss reading this one, and if you haven't read the first two, do that before you read Glittering Promises. 

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

I didn’t set out to be an “author.” To me, that sounded other-worldly, audacious. It took about five published books before I could call myself a “writer” and about ten before I could claim “author.” But I’m one now because one book after the next forms in my head, and to ignore it would pretty much make me crazy. So, I write. And God, in his goodness, has made a way for me to get those books out to others.

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

A travel agent. I love planning trips—even other people’s trips.

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

The 1920s. Women were beginning to find their way in a man’s world, and yet the world was still largely filled with innocence, and possibility.

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

As a Western girl, there are many places in the East I have not yet been. I want to see them ALL.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

Hmmm. I can’t name one—there are so many places I want to see! Chile, Peru, Argentina, Switzerland, Spain, Austria…And yet, I still want to go back and see all the places in Italy and England and France I’ve not yet been! Oh, for an unlimited travel budget…

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

That submission is an ever-evolving lesson. There’s always some corner I’ve not yet relinquished to his care.

Tell us about the featured book.

GLITTERING PROMISES is the finale in the Grand Tour Series, which began with GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS and continued with GRAVE CONSEQUENCES. In it, our Grand Tourists complete their journey in Italy. For Cora, it is the end of both an inner and outer journey, seeking to find out who she really is … and who she isn’t. And the bonus? Lots of romance and adventure, as well as an arm-chair view of many sites along the way…

Please give us the first page of the book.

 “If you spot him again, shoot him on sight,” my father said. “I shall deal with the repercussions myself.”

I gently pulled off my gloves and felt Will’s grip on my elbow tighten. I looked about the room—at my younger sister, Lil; my brother, Felix; and one of our guards, Pascal, standing with Antonio and my father.

“What’s this?” Will asked, leading me closer to the others, deeper into the Venetian palazzo’s grand salon. I was thankful that the long windows were wide open, allowing the brine-laced breeze to waft through. “What’s happened?”

“Oh, Cora!” Lillian cried, rising and entering my arms. She clung to me a second and then pulled back to look at me. “It was Nathan Hawke! I’m certain I saw him across the piazza today!”

“Truly?” I asked. “Nathan? If you’re right, he’s far less clever than I thought.” I looked to my father, his words about shooting him on sight making far more sense now. Nathan Hawke was dangerous, instrumental in our kidnapping a week past, thwarted only because Will and Art had used other nefarious men to double-cross him.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find me on the Internet at: www.LisaBergren.com ; www.Facebook.com/LisaTawnBergren ; @LisaTBergren

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing this new book with us.

Lisa T. Bergren is celebrating the release of her new book, Glittering Promises, by giving away a $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma and hosting a fun Facebook party on October 29th.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma delivered to your door
• The three-book Grand Tour set

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Glittering Promises" Facebook Author Chat Party on October 29th. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, European trivia, and prizes, and get an exclusive look Lisa's next book.

So grab your copies of the Grand Tour series and join Lisa on the evening of October 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 29th!

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

Glittering Promises - Christianbook.com
Glittering Promises: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) - Amazon.com
Glittering Promises: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ROSE - Tricia Goyer - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus Much More

Bio: USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and Lead Your Family Like Jesus, (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children.

Welcome back, Tricia. I know you speak at various conferences and meetings. What do you have coming up?

I'm excited because I have two conferences coming up soon. First, I'm speaking at MOMcom, which is the International conference for MOPS International. I've been involved with MOPS for the last sixteen years, as an attendee-mom and a TeenMOPS leader. I haven't been to a conference in many years so I'm excited to go, to speak, to learn, and to connect! I'm also attending the Allume conference this month. It's an amazing blogging conference I spoke at last year. I loved the passion and servant-hearts behind the leaders and the attendees. I'm not speaking there this year, but I'm looking forward to going!

If you were planning a women’s retreat, what would be the theme for it?

The first word that popped into my mind was Redeemed! As followers of God we were saved from sin, but we are also given a chance—through Christ—to be the person God designed us to be. Being a Christ follower is more than just having hope in eternity. It's living out God's plan and purpose for our time on earth now!

Who would you want as speakers and why?

Hard choice! But I'd have to pick Courtney Joseph, of WomenLivingWell.org, because she has such a sweet spirit and has a passion for God's Word. And I'd pick Robin Jones Gunn because she's a dear friend and speaks straight to the heart of women. I'd also pick my producer/writer friend Amber Lia because of her work in Hollywood, working to bring Redemption stories to TV and the movies. And my daughter, Leslie Goyer. She's serving as a missionary in the Czech Republic, and her heart for sharing Christ with people from all around the world is inspiring. I'll stop there because there are 101 other women who I'm thinking of and I can't choose!

Where would you hold the retreat and why?

Somewhere relaxing, beachy, and quiet. I'd work in quiet time with God as much as gathering time, because listening to God's voice is most important.

Do you read print books or ebooks? Or a combination of the two?

I read print books, ebooks, and I listen to audio books! I just finished listening to The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck, and I loved it!

I love that book by Rachel. Your featured book has an interesting title. How did you come up with it?

I originally wanted The Christmas Rose first because my main character is Rose and second because of the symbolism of roses in my book, BUT as I was writing it another book came out with a similar name so we changed the title a bit.

So what is the book about?

Rose turned her back on the man she loves after he assisted the Englisch during World War II—only to discover she's an Englischer herself. Born in the midst of the hardships of The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But she is overwhelmed by self-doubt when she learns that she was born Englisch and abandoned when her family moved West in search of work. Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind—Englischers? When the man she loves leaves her behind, Rose is certain he left for good. Yet Rose discovers sometimes our greatest gifts are the ones we fear.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One –

November 1945

Rose Yoder had hoped the last rays of evening light would fight harder against the building storm clouds, but the sky was dark as she stepped from the shelter of the barn doors with milk bucket in hand. A gentle breeze stirred particles of dust and chaff.

Somewhere in the dis­tance an automobile’s motor could be heard, chugging down the gravel road beyond the farm. Golden light glowed from the lantern hanging in the kitchen window, marking her way over the frozen snow, but the light didn’t penetrate far enough. She struggled forward, leaving earthy smells behind her, trusting her heart to find the way to the front door when her steps weren’t sure.

Was there certainty anywhere these days? No, especially not deep in Rose’s heart.

Jonathan and I should be married by now . . . maybe with a boppli on the way.

She pushed that thought from her mind and shook her head, her breath freezing in the air. That wouldn’t happen now. Not after what he’d done. Joining the military. Traveling overseas. And to think he’d had the nerve to return to their small Amish community and don his Amish garb like noth­ing had happened—like he hadn’t shamed their community, shamed her.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Lots of places!

www.TriciaGoyer.com  

www.facebook.com/authortriciagoyer

www.twitter.com/triciagoyer

www.pinterest.com/triciagoyer

I love to connect!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her first Christmas novella, A Christmas Gift for Rose, with a Christmas Gift giveaway! 

Enter to win a NEW Kindle Fire HDX for you AND one for a friend!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX and one to give away to a friend!
• A Christmas Gift for Rose, by Tricia Goyer for you and your friend!

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Christmas Gift for Rose Christmas pack (includes a recipe card, bookmark, a signed book plate, discussion questions, and a Gathering and Giving handout!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. All winners will be announced October 21st at Tricia's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Tricia's blog on the 21st to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Thank you, Tricia for sharing your new book and giveaway with us.

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

A Christmas Gift for Rose - Christianbook.com
A Christmas Gift for Rose - Amazon.com
A Christmas Gift for Rose - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

Winners!!!!!!

Linda Kish (CA) is the winner of Running Lean by Diana Sharples.
Sharon Bryant (SC) is the winner of The Nurse's Secret Suitor by Cheryl Wyatt.
Barbara T (VA) is the winner of Taming the Texas Rancher by Rhonda Gibson.
Melanie (TX) is the winner of A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears.
Stephanie (NY) is the winner of The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky.
Bonton (KY) is the winner of Grace Unplugged soundtrack CD.

If you won a book and you like it, 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 the ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

THE BARGAIN - Stephanie Reed - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus More

Bio: Stephanie Reed lives on the outskirts of Plain City, Ohio, site of a once-thriving Amish community. She gleans ideas for her novels from signs glimpsed along the byways of Ohio, as she did for her previous books, Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River. 

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

Hi, Lena! I put a lot of myself into every character. By the time I’m done writing books, I should be completely drained onto the printed page.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Ever? Hard to pin down, but my neighbors would say it’s when I run outside and clap my hands at rabbits to keep them from eating flowers I’ve labored over. Doesn’t work, though.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

Pretty young, like maybe six or seven. Writers see the world differently. “Hey, the moon’s out in the daytime!” Or at twilight on my grandma’s porch, “It sounds like an animal symphony.” Those are two very early observations I made.

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

I like children’s novels, biographies, cozies and regular mysteries, humor, short stories, and romance. I will try most genres, but I don’t like horror or most sci-fi. When I was a kid and out of books, I read the encyclopedia and even the phone book.

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

I stopped running a long time ago. I know I will never be the best at anything, but God loves me anyway, and that’s more than enough. People who visit my house feel relaxed; some have fallen asleep.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

For The Bargain, which is set in a once-thriving Amish town, I chose last names from businesses still in the area. I found some first names in an Amish cemetery, so I know they’re authentic. Some of the English names are those of childhood friends.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Well, I can’t take full credit, but I’m very proud of my grown children. And I make great brownies.

I love brownies. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A horse. I always wanted to find a horse like all the heroines in the horse stories I read. If I actually were a horse, I could skip saddling up before going out for a gallop.

What is your favorite food?

A doughnut.

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

Story structure. I’ve read many ebooks about it. I guess with all the books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, I got so caught up in the story that I missed the framework holding it all together.

Tell us about the featured book.

I live near Plain City, Ohio, which once had a large Amish population, but now only five ladies remain. I interviewed a woman at her shop, heard a bit of her story, and wondered what happened to all the other Amish. I set this book in the 70s because that’s when I grew up. The tag line for The Bargain is: An Amish girl helps an English boy, a shattered survivor of the Kent State Massacre, find real peace in the summer of 1971. I love the trailer!

Please give us the first page of the book.

Delighted! You can read it here at my blog.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, read my Plain and Simple Blog posts, check Goodreads, or visit my website, which will be undergoing some changes.

Thanks for the opportunity to share with your fans, Lena! Your questions are refreshing.


Stephanie L. Reed is celebrating the release of The Bargain, the first book in her new series, Plain City Peace, with a Kindle Fire Bargain Bundle giveaway!

 
  One winner will receive a Bargain Bundle:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Bargain by Stephanie Reed

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 27th. Winner will be announced at the Litfuse blog on October 28th.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to their blog {enter your email in the blog sidebar} and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox)!

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

The Bargain - Christianbook.com
The Bargain: A Novel (Plain City Peace) - Amazon.com
The Bargain (Plain City Peace) - 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 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