CANDY LANE CHRISTMAS - Jackie Castle - One free book and one free ebook

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

Endless possibilities with Him beside me.

Tell us a little about your family.

This year my husband Bob and I have become empty nesters and second-time grandparents. Our daughter has two children and our son just went off to West Texas A and M.

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

Well, I write more consistently now. Every morning M-F, I sit down to write 2000-3000 words. My goal is 10,000 a week.

And my reading is the same as usual. I can go through about a book or two a week.

What are you working on right now?

The next Madison Creek novella, titled The Heart Collector, that’ll come out for Valentines. I’m also taking part in a Kindle World called First Street Church. It’s based on a little Texas town called Sweet Grove. I’ll have three books in that series and a Christmas novella.

What outside interests do you have?

Trying to grow a backyard garden. Walking my dog Banjo. Making crafts. This year, I’m making ornaments from cut branches and burning designs into the disks. They’re turning out kind of nice.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Various ways. Madison Creek came from my trips up to Michigan where my husband’s family lives. He grew up in a small town and some of the tourist towns are simply beautiful up there.

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

Madeleine L’Engle.

I’ve read a few of her books, but Walking On Water was one that really spoke to my spirit about being a writer and what that means. She wrote from her heart and wasn’t afraid to write out of the box. I admire her a lot.

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

I wish I would have known more about how to run a business. There’s so much I’ve had to learn over the past 5 years, sometimes I think my head will explode from all of it, and I’m just now starting to feel  more confident about what I’m doing.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

That I can’t do this alone. I need Him to be my collaborator in this business, and I need to understand that it doesn’t matter how hard or long I work, my career is in His hands. So I need to trust Him in the good and bad months.

 

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

Put your career in the Lord’s hands.

Understand that the writing part is art—enjoy what you create. After that, you need to decide if you want a hobby or business because the publishing part is really hard work.

The more you write, the better you’ll get.

Tell us about the featured book.

Candy Lane Christmas is about the Sweetness of Starting Over

Candyce Barkley tosses the fake engagement ring, the last token of her sordid past, out the window onto the highway 35N. No looking back. No regrets. Today is the beginning of a new start, a second chance make something of her messed-up life. Her old hometown of Madison Creek is going to love her plans to open a Candy store. If, that is, they can overlook her history for troublemaking. If her family and townsfolk can forgive and forget, then her candy shop might stand a chance at succeeding.

Finley Quinn only has a few miles left before he reaches his stagnant life in Madison Creek. He’s fallen into a rut that he can’t seem to climb out of. A quick stop at the coffee shop results in his bumping into a flash from the past with pink hair and candy tattoos. He hadn’t seen Candy Bar Barkley since he admitted to her that he loved her. Instead of returning his feelings, she high-tailed it out of town. When they end up sharing a ride back home, he figures out that his heart hadn’t been stuck all this time, it had followed the wild girl and she still had it, whether she knew it or not. 

Please give us the first page of the book.

The glint of the morning sun caught on Candyce Barkley’s one-half carat engagement ring, casting a rainbow of sparkles on the visor. She yanked it off her finger. Jabbing the down button on the window, she hurled the offensive reminder of her sordid past out onto Highway 35N.

A gale of cool autumn wind blasted her. Her pink hair whipped around her face until she hit the up button with a satisfied nod.

For the past year Candyce had kept up the ruse that all was well, plastering on smiles as fake as the gem in that sorry ring. When she’d had the ring appraised and found it was as worthless as the sorry jerk who gave it to her, she focused on finding a way to climb out of the miry Kyle-Moore pit she’d, unfortunately, allowed herself to fall into.

“That felt so good.” A triumphant smile played across Candyce’s trembling raspberry-red lips. She’d worn the mockery for so long, she’d practically forgotten the ring was there. The only way to break free from the prison Kyle built for her had been to pretend all was well, and that she was clueless to his gambling and cheating.

“Buck up, buttercup!” She told her reflection in the rearview mirror. “Today’s a new day. A new start.” An adventure all of her own making. Nobody to manage her life. Nobody to….

How could Kyle Moore have taken so much from her without her even realizing?

No, no, no. Don’t go there! Boy, it was so easy to make those U-turns back to Pastville.

Nobody would ever be able to convince Candyce that God hadn’t heard her prayers for help and sent Debra Reynolds to find a way to fling open the doors to freedom. And a fresh start.

Debra came to their upscale Myrtle Beach restaurant hoping to convince Kyle to sign with her publishing house. But he’d set his sights on more lofty ventures. She’d been directed to not return without a contract and had stuck around long enough to find out what a total control freak Kyle could be.

She’d also seen how cruel Kyle was to those he thought were beneath him, which included Candyce, even though she was supposed to be his fiancée.

After seeing the creative desserts Candyce could make for the posh customers of their establishment, Debra returned to her publishing house with a new offer and the Escape the Madness plan was born. 

Candyce checked her travel app. Another half hour to get through Columbus, Ohio, and she’d make a quick stop for breakfast and stretch her legs. That dingy hotel where she’d caught a bit of a nap last night had given her the creeps. Don’t think about that, either. The Lucky Motel 5 was behind her. Myrtle Beach was behind her. Kyle and his lying, conniving, trickery—was behind her.

Gently slapping her cheek, she scolded herself for thinking backwards again. Instead, she forced her focus on returning to her hometown of Madison Creek, Michigan. Hopefully, they’d forgotten all about her antics way-back-when and would be thrilled to have a candy store in the tourist district. Or what would eventually be the place for vacationers to stop and spend some time. Between the start-up grant the town’s restructuring committee had awarded her and the money from her cookbook advance, she had everything needed to set up her little corner store.

So long as not too many people remembered the old Candyce Barkley, she was confident the shop would do well. At least, she hoped so.

“No, don’t start strolling through Worriesville. One step at a time. Just one at a time.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6763857.Jackie_Castle

Amazon Author pg: www.amazon.com/author/jackiecastle  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jackie_Castle

Or please feel free to sign up for my newsletter. I’m always having monthly giveaways, special deals and other fun stuff going on. http://www.subscribepage.com/u4d6k0

Thanks for the interview, Lena. Appreciate you.

I’ll be giving away a print version of Candy Lane Christmas along with a special candy ornament to people living in the United States.

If you live outside of the US, let me know where you’re from in the comments, and I’ll gift one International reader an ebook copy of Candy Lane Christmas.

It’s always a pleasure to have you visit my blog, Jackie. Remember us when you plan all your marketing.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Candy Lane Christmas (A Madison Creek Town Novella) (Volume 2) - Paperback
Candy Lane Christmas (Madison Creek Town Series Novella Book 2) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

TO THE MOON AND BACK - Kathi Macias - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Kathi has written a number of novels over the years I’ve known her. I always look forward to reading them. They touch a place deep in my heart.

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

Though I’ve also written several nonfiction books, a couple of children’s books, and one historical fiction, my favorite is contemporary fiction, centered around some sort of current “hot-button” issue—i.e., human trafficking, homelessness, Alzheimer’s, etc.

If you didn’t live in the part of the country where you do, where would you live?

My husband and I have spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii and Florida, and certain parts of each state would work for me. However, I suppose I’d have to say the Pacific Northwest would be my first choice. Despite the fact that it rains incessantly, the greenery is lovely, and I never tire of driving through the woods, rolling hills, and farm country.

Sounds lovely. What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

Israel because, of course, it’s the land where both Judaism and Christianity began, and I consider them inseparable. I would also enjoy visiting Germany, as that’s where my father was from, and he told me so many stories about it over the years.

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

Cruises are nice, but I’m not a fan of the constant eating, etc. I suppose it would be a trip to the Emerald Coast in Florida or the lovely Kona area on the Big Island of Hawaii. We would leave our cell phones behind, opt for no TV, and just enjoy our time together.

James and I have often dreamed of going to Hawaii. Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

I suppose the Emerald Coast of Florida would be perfect. And, of course, it would require another visit there for research.

Yes it would. What is the main theme of the featured novel?

The main theme of To the Moon and Back is a woman in her late sixties, as well as her family, coming to terms with the fact that she has Alzheimer’s.

Tell us about the story.

Rachel and her husband have lived in the Pacific Northwest their entire married life. They raised their only child in the home they still live in, and Rachel has been plugged into her banking job and church life. But soon after a car accident, when her husband becomes a semi-invalid, she begins to get confused, even frightened because she has so much trouble remembering things. In the interim, her grown daughter finds herself going through an unwanted divorce. When she realizes her mother has Alzheimer’s and will only get worse, she moves back home to help care for her and also for her father, whose resentful attitude doesn’t help the situation at all. The three of them, with help from an understanding pastor, a support group, and others, wrestle with the acceptance of a heartbreaking disease, and find hope in the middle of the encroaching darkness. (A resource page and discussion questions round out the book, making it useful for individual or group study.) 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

The moon was a pale sliver that mid-October night in the small coastal town of Wildflower, Oregon. The diminutive but still attractive sixty-seven-year-old shivered as she stood in the shadows near the rose bushes that had stopped blooming weeks earlier. She clutched her sweater a little tighter across her middle. Was it always so chilly here in the evenings? For some reason, she couldn’t quite remember, but it didn’t really matter. Somewhere, in the nostalgic canyons of her mind, she recalled another moon—a harvest moon. And she remembered a voice promising that he would always love her “to the moon and back.”

She smiled, wondering if the man who spoke those words so very long ago ever thought of her now. Did he still love her “to the moon and back”? Had another love taken her place? Or had he already departed earth and stepped into eternity?

Her smile faded at the thought. She had no idea if the man, whom she considered her first and only true love, had ever made his peace with God. She was certain he hadn’t at the time he declared his love for her—didn’t even believe in God, or so he claimed. But she had been a Christian since her childhood, and she imagined that was the reason the two of them had eventually gone their separate ways. The thought saddened her, as it always did.

“Rachel!” The voice called her back from a precipice of darkness, one that seemed to loom closer and threaten her more often lately. She pushed the fear away and tried to focus on the present.

“Rachel!” The voice was more impatient this time. “Where are you? I need you to help me with something.”

She sighed, as thoughts of a harvest moon and a promise from another time faded from her consciousness. Pete needed her, as he always did. That comforted her somehow, though it also frightened her, as she sensed she was slipping away more often these days and could no longer be trusted to do what she must. That couldn’t be good—for her or for Pete.

“I’m coming,” she called, leaving the cool shadows of the backyard that had seen so many parties and get-togethers over the years. Would there ever be another celebration in this place? It seemed unlikely. But the thought scarcely registered as it skittered through Rachel’s mind.

Wow! How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.kathimacias.com. I am also on Facebook (Kathi Macias and Kathi Macias, Author) and Twitter (@alandkathi). They can email me from my website. I would love to hear from them!

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

Readers, here are links to the book.

To the Moon and Back - Paperback
To the Moon and Back - 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

A ROCK CREEK CHRISTMAS COLLECTION - Linda Brooks Davis - One Free Book

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

I’m currently finishing up the second novel in a series, this one set in 1914. This year’s novella, A Christmas Measure of Love, is a prequel to it. I plan at least three novels and three novellas in this series before I move on to other stories waiting on the sidelines. I’ve heard many family tales I want to use as launching pads.

Tell us a little about your family.

I was reared on a farm in Raymondville, a small Rio Grande Valley community in the southernmost tip of Texas. We were the rural version of the 1950s TV shows, Father Knows Best or Ozzie and Harriet. I attended Abilene Christian University and graduated as a speech pathologist in 1968. Fast forward twenty-six years—past marriage, kids, military family life, and a divorce—to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio and one mighty fine man who reached out and welcomed me. And claimed my heart. Al and I have been married 23 years now, and I can’t imagine how I ever lived without him.

My two grown children—son Lane and daughter Lynn Lee—are veterinarians practicing together in San Antonio. Between them, I have six beautiful grandchildren, three of whom are triplets. Al and I simply adore them all.

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

I write historical fiction, so historical isn’t usually my “go-to” genre for reading for pleasure. Instead, I reach for legal suspense and crime novels. I love Robert Whitlow, Randy Singer, and Steven James. But Lena Nelson Dooley’s historicals go perfectly with a cup o’ tea.

Thank you, Linda. What are you working on right now?

My brain’s aswirl with ideas for the completion of novel #2 and diving into #3. The heroines of these stories are secondary characters from Novel #1—The Calling of Ella McFarland. All three novels are threaded with the hard realities of life in Indian Territory prior to Oklahoma statehood and the following two decades. They highlight some of the consequences of women’s exclusion from their own governance by being denied the vote. And they put on display the strength of certain women whose names might not appear in history books or on historical websites documenting women’s battle for the vote, but who contributed to the Suffrage Movement all the same. The ramifications of women taking their places at the ballot box can’t be overstated.

What outside interests do you have?

Without a doubt, family claims the lion’s share of my outside interests. But I have always loved to read more than anything in the world. I can’t imagine not reading. Dante’s Inferno would definitely include empty bookshelves for me.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Thus far, the settings for my novels and novellas have been based in family history. As a child, I was intrigued by my mother’s and grandmother’s stories about life in Indian Territory prior to Oklahoma statehood and in its first two decades, as well as in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the 1920s, the Great Depression, and beyond. I’m a native Texan with experiences of my own in the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s that I believe readers will be drawn to.

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

I would love to spend an evening with two women—Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s mother—and Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln, his stepmother who reared him from age 9 to adulthood. Those two women together molded the greatest figure in American history. Oh, the stories they could tell.

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

I had no idea how intricate and complicated and exhausting and emotionally draining and consuming of thoughts and energy the process of writing a novel can be. I guess I’d compare it to having a baby. While you’re embroiled in the process, you wonder what came over you to put yourself in this position. But when it’s complete, the memories of pain and agony disappear, and all you see is that beautiful baby book.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Writing hurts. But it also lifts the spirit in similar ways to other creative activities. Like art. Sometimes I think of Michelangelo on the scaffolding in the Sistine Chapel and remind myself even he groaned—surely—but look what he produced and how many spirits have soared as a result. Which always brings me back to THE Creator and how my pitiful efforts pale in comparison to His. And how dependent I am on Him for my 71-year-old body and brain to continue to function. The Lord is teaching me to meet Him in the moment as I write.

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

Determine why you want to write. If the answer lies somewhere between monetary reward and accolades, you’d best think again.

Believe it when you’re told you must be patient. Quality writing is work, and it takes time. Publishing is a s-l-o-w business.

Critiques are painful, so prepare yourself. Chuck your pride. Other eyes see what you don’t. Other brains process what you miss. And other tastes … Well, other tastes are just plain different. Return to (1) and have another go.

Tell us about the featured book.

I often heard from readers of The Calling of Ella McFarland that they wanted to know more about Ella and Andrew and their love. And don’t we all just love Christmas and all that goes with it? A Christmas to Remember became that Christmas novella that picks up with Ella and Andrew 3 years into their marriage. I figured this year another novella as a prequel for the next novel sounded like a good idea, and A Christmas Measure of Love was the result.

I combined the two in one title—A Rock Creek Christmas Collection—to cover the years between Ella’s emergence in 1905 and the closing of her story in 1906 to Lily’s stepping onto the stage as a main character in 1914.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Since this is a pairing of two novellas, how about I give you the first couple paragraphs of both? 

A Christmas to Remember:

1908

4 days until Christmas

The line of delicate stitches blurred to a crimson smudge.

Ella Evans adjusted her spectacles and squinted.

           

The oil lamp cast naught but a feeble glow in a room pitched in black. Sunlight would course through the window come morning, but Ella could delay no longer. Christmas was coming.

           

Flipping open a cloisonné magnifying glass, Ella peered at her handwork. The outline of an embroidered E emerged, neat and straight. 

           

Aye. She would complete her husband Andrew’s monogram tonight.

A Christmas Measure of Love:

August 1910

Other girls measure their heights, waistlines, and bosoms. I measure my scars. And wonder why my pa never loved me.

           

Eighteen years old today, I’m perched alone on a parlor settee reserved for the birthday girl. Adelaide Fitzgerald, my benefactor, has invited Glover County, Oklahoma’s socially elite to celebrate at Broadview, her grand estate on the banks of Rock Creek.

           

Trouble is, when these precisely coiffed young women were girls romping at garden parties, I was toiling in a cotton field across the way. 

           

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: http://lindabrooksdavis.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaBrooksDavis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LBrooksDavis

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ljbd1946/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindadavis1321/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B018J4J8EW

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14537350.Linda_Brooks_Davis

To purchase The Calling of Ella McFarland: http://amzn.to/2ixn4pe

To purchase A Christmas to Remember: http://amzn.to/2yxAk8h

To purchase A Christmas Measure of Love: http://amzn.to/2j3vwjK

To purchase A Rock Creek Christmas Collection: http://amzn.to/2zRedXt

Thank you so much, Lena. What a blessing to be allotted two of your slots before Christmas!

Have a blessed and joyous Christmas and 2018.

Linda

Thank you, Linda, for sharing the stories from your family in such a wonderful way. I have loved reading them, and I know my blog readers will, too.

Readers, here are links to the book.

A Rock Creek Christmas Collection: A Christmas to Remember & A Christmas Measure of Love  - Paperback
A Rock Creek Christmas Collection: A Christmas to Remember & A Christmas Measure of Love - 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

SMOKY MOUNTAIN BRIDES - Katt Anderson - One Free Ebook

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

I probably put 50% of myself in all my books. The other 50% is how I’d like to be. I see myself in all of my characters from the sweet Callie in Callie’s Mountain to the smart mouthed Susannah in Susannah’s Hope. It hard not to fantasize about what you wish you were.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I’ve had my share of quirkiness. I was baking a cake at my sisters and put 2 1//2 cups of baking powder in the batter instead of flour. It rose! Needless to say I had to clean the oven.

When I was in high school, I was baking something. It called for cream of tartar. I couldn’t find anything like that in the cabinet, so I used tartar sauce. Talk about awful tasting. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’d say in high school. I loved to do a writing assignment. I read a lot while my children were growing up and always thought I could write. It wasn’t until many years later that I decided to find out for sure.

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

I read all kinds of books. I love Romantic Suspense, but I finished a Fantasy/Speculative that we are going to publish and I absolutely loved it. I loved the Harry Potter series, and I loved the one I finished reading. Who knows, I may have a new favorite.

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

I don’t keep my sanity, I learn to adjust to it. I continue to stay crazy. This past week has been a roller coaster ride for me emotionally. My best friend and writing buddy, Sandra Robbins, has been in a fight for her life. I learned a long time ago to talk to my husband. He’s a good listener and can calm me down. We’ve spent a lot of time talking this week.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I pick names I like. I named Susannah Cole after one of my husband’s ancestors. I go to cemeteries and look at names for historical fiction. With contemporary novels, I listen to names of people around me. I will also check the telephone directory for last names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my children, and that they have grown up to be great Christians. Their children are following in their footsteps. The next thing I’m most proud of is living long enough to start our publishing company at the age of 71. I should have been retiring, but I started working more than I ever have, and in more different ways.

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

A horse. They are beautiful and have long legs.

What is your favorite food?

Anything Mexican

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

My biggest roadblock is finding time to write. After working with authors and publishing for eight hours a day, I find it difficult to write. My thoughts are gone, and also my eyesight. I try to set aside Saturday for my writing. I don’t always get to do it, but I try.

Tell us about the featured book.

Smoky Mountain Brides is a co-authored book with my editor, Pam Watts Harris. I write under the name of Katt Anderson. This is a sweet romance. There are two sections, Pam’s is first about her heroine, Kyla. Mine is second with my heroine, Becki. These two girls had been friends since childhood and had always dreamed of having their weddings at Christmas. Each girl would be in the other’s weddings. Simple? It isn’t, but it all comes together in the last chapter, “Going to the Chapel.”

Please give us the first page of the book.

This is the first page of Becki’s part, “Keeper of the Stars.”

Becki Hunley quickly scooted into the last pew of the enormous church in Brentwood, Tennessee. She’d visited services there several times when she couldn’t go home to Knoxville.

Late as usual, she arrived as the welcome was being made. An older man with glasses on the end of his nose stood at the podium making announcements. Becki remembered her father making so many greetings to the congregation when she was at home. She looked at her watch. Bible Study would be starting in Maryville, Tennessee, about now. The eight o’clock service here was great, but it wasn’t if she overslept and slipped in at the last minute.

The swish of the foyer door opened and a breeze of cold air followed. She turned her head as a handsome man in surgical scrubs slid into the pew beside her. He nodded, and Becki returned his nod.

It was hard to concentrate on the hymns and the sermon with that handsome guy beside her. She couldn’t stop glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. He was probably about her age, blond hair, blue eyes, a good build, and no wedding ring. That was promising. It was hard to find a Christian in the music industry where she worked.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.Mantlerockpublishingllc.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter.

You can also purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Smoky-Mountain-Brides-Katt-Anderson-ebook/dp/B075QQLKW6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513351303&sr=1-1&keywords=Smoky+Mountain+Brides

Thank you, Katt, for sharing this new book with me and my readers.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS!!!!!

Robin (NC) is the winner of Return to Bella Terra by MaryAnn Diorio.

Chris (OR) is the winner of Renegades by Thomas Locke.

Dianna (TN) is the winner of Christmas at Grey Sage by Phyllis Clark Nichols.

Tammy (IL) is the winner of Seeds of Hope by Barbara Cameron.

Hannah (FL) is the winner of Rebecca's Redemption by Lee Carver.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

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DEATH AT THORBURN HALL - Julianna Deering - One Free Book

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

Sometimes I write at the request of the publisher. They give me a story or series premise, and I write from there. Other times, I just write what I want to write, and usually that’s because that’s what I want to read. My Drew Farthering Mysteries fall in that second category. I love the classic cozy mysteries. I love the movies of the 1930s, especially the romantic comedies. I tossed them together in my own way, and out popped Drew and Madeline.

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

Wow, that’s a hard one. I don’t know if I have a particular day that’s been happiest. God has blessed me tremendously, so I’m pretty happy most of the time. Maybe my happiest day was when I quit my corporate job and took a less stressful one so I could follow my passion to write. I haven’t made as much money, but I’ve enjoyed my life so much more.

I remember that feeling when I was able to quit my job and just be a professional writer/author. How has being published changed your life?

I don’t know if it has very much. I don’t jet around the world to have gala luncheons in exotic locations or anything like that. I mostly get to stay home and play with my imaginary friends. Same as usual.

What are you reading right now?

This interview.

Okay, seriously, I’m reading Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. She wrote a ton of Regency and historical novels during the first half of the twentieth century. Not all of them work for me, but for the most part they are a delight. She was a meticulous researcher, and I always feel immersed in the time and place whenever I read one of her books. I’m toying with writing a Regency romance of my own, and this is just feeding my desire to get on with it. As soon as I have fulfilled all my other obligations!

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on a book called Water Flows Uphill for a Guideposts series, The Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a contemporary cozy mystery.

What would be your dream vacation?

I basically have three.

(1) I’d love to go back to England and spend some time in Hampshire again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, and now that Drew “lives” there, it would be nice to see it again with him in mind.

(2) I’ve always wanted to go to Disneyland. I’ve been to Disneyworld twice (very briefly), but not Disneyland. And when I go, I’d love to have plenty of time to just wander around and enjoy it. If possible, I’d love to see how it works behind the scenes. 

(3) I’m a big fan of hockey, especially my Dallas Stars, and I’d love to visit western Canada when they go up there to play Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. What a road trip that would be!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

It depends on what kind of book it is. If the publisher has set the premise for the series, naturally I have to work within that. If I choose everything, as in my Drew books, then I have to decide what fits the particular story. If there is a historical event connected to the plot, like the 1935 British Open, then naturally that’s where the story will be set. With a long series, I like to have a mix between home and away for the hero and his friends, but the plot drives everything. Drew’s been away from Farthering Place during the last three books, and I’d like to get him back home for the next one.

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

Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I’m not much of a celebrity chaser and spending time with strangers is pretty stressful for me. I think in lieu of a one-on-one meeting with someone, I’d rather spend an afternoon on a movie set just seeing how everything works. I became a writer because I really wanted to direct movies, but I couldn’t afford the actors, scenery, costumes, scripts, etc. Pencil and paper are much cheaper.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My biggest one is quilting. I love to do needleturn applique, the more intricate the better. And, no, I don’t mind if it takes a long time. The point is enjoying the journey, not completing it as quickly as possible. I also enjoy embroidery and cross-stitching. And, as I mentioned above, I love watching hockey. I never was much of a sports fan until a friend got me to watch hockey with him. It didn’t take long before I was hooked. I also love to color, though I rarely have time. I have some beautiful books and the most gorgeous boxes of Japanese coloring pencils just waiting for me.

I love to color, too. And I have several coloring books and very good pencils, markers, and even crayons. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Time management. There are so many things I’d love to do. And even if I devote myself to doing nothing but be an author, there are a lot of things within that that take time. A writer can’t just sit and write and hope everything else takes care of itself. There are always interviews and publicity matters to take care of (“Give us a list of your top ten favorite villains” or “Please write yourself ten questions about your new release and then answer them for our website,” etc.), reader requests to answer, a website and a blog to keep current, and on and on and on. Besides writing I do document preparation for an attorney, and since my dad no longer drives, I take him wherever he needs to go. I never seem to have a minute to spare, but the upside is that I never have time to get bored. I don’t know if I ever overcome it. I do make myself a writing schedule and make myself stick to it. Right now, I’m two days behind, but I’m working on catching up.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read, read, read. Read the books you want to write. Read classics and read new books. It’s the best way to soak up good writing and make it part of your DNA.

Tell us about the featured book.

Death at Thorburn Hall is the sixth book in my Drew Farthering Mysteries. Drew and his wife, Madeline, travel to Scotland to see the 1935 British Open. Of course, what they find there is less about golf and more about murder. Their host at Thorburn Hall, Lord Rainsby, dies in a suspicious riding accident. Is there something going on between Lady Rainsby and her dead husband’s business partner? Or do the clues point to something more serious and far reaching than a little domestic murder? Something tied to the growing threats coming from Hitler’s Germany? Drew has a lot of confusing clues to sort through, some that impact his country and some that impact him personally.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Madeline Farthering gripped her husband’s arm a little more tightly as they made their way through the mass of people crowding Waverley Station, certain that if they were separated in this chaos she’d never be able to find him again. Drew said something to her, but she could only shake her head and shrug.

           

He repeated whatever it was he had said, but the crackling announcement of a delayed train arrival blaring through the station made it impossible to make out.

           

She pressed a little closer to his side. “What did you say?”

           

By then the announcement had ended, and her shouted question drew the attention of several passersby. A blush heated her cheeks.

           

Drew’s gray eyes were warm and laughing. “Having fun, darling?”

           

She pursed her lips. “Not yet. Is Edinburgh always like this?”

“It’s a fairly busy place most of the time, I expect, but people come from all over for the tournament.”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

On the web:

www.juliannadeering.com

www.deannajuliedodson.com

On Facebook:

https://business.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering/

https://www.facebook.com/julie.dodson.9659

On Twitter:

@DeAnnaJulDodson

On Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565151.Julianna_Deering

Thank you for letting me visit your blog!

It’s my pleasure to help introduce your new book to readers.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Death at Thorburn Hall - Christianbook.com
Death at Thorburn Hall (A Drew Farthering Mystery) - Amazon paperback
Death at Thorburn Hall (A Drew Farthering Mystery Book 6) - 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

HOLDING THE FORT - Regina Jennings - One Free Book

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

So that I could justify all the time I spent reading, daydreaming, and doing research.

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

Something to do with numbers and money. I like to balance spreadsheets and manage assets.

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

I’d love to be present at one of the Oklahoma Land Runs. I can’t imagine the excitement and energy before the gun went off. But as soon as the land is settled, then I’d transport to another time and place that’s already civilized so I don’t have to build everything from the dirt up.

I’ve been interested in the Land Runs, too. What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

Charleston, South Carolina.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

Ireland.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

That if it’s important enough for me to tell someone else, it’s important enough to tell Him. In fact, I should talk to the Lord about something before I share with friends so that I’ve had time to think about whether it’s something I should share or not.

A very good, and hard, lesson to learn. Tell us about the featured book.

Holding the Fort lands close to home for me, just about twenty miles down the road at Fort Reno, to be exact. It’s about Louisa Bell whose job as a dance hall singer is in jeopardy. On top of that, she finds out that her brother is getting in trouble with his commander in the cavalry. They both might be relying on Bradley’s job security, so she decides to go down there to Indian Territory and straighten him out.

Major Daniel Adams is said commander who has his hands full with his rowdy troopers, not to mention his two adolescent daughters. If he doesn’t find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she’ll take them.

So when Louisa arrives with some reading materials that a nice lady asked her to deliver, she’s mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Daniel is skeptical. He requested someone older and less…lively….but he’s out of options. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess’s methods. Louisa’s never faced so importance a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough to help her brother, or will her mistakes ruin everything? 

Sounds like my kind of story. Please give us the first page of the book.

June 1885

Wichita, Kansas

The fumes of the gaslights at the foot of the stage protected Louisa Bell from the more noxious odors of her audience. On hot nights like tonight, the scent of the unwashed bodies in the Cat-Eye Saloon could be overwhelming. Braving a deep breath, Louisa placed her hand delicately against her beribboned Polonaise and crescendoed her way into the next stanza. She lifted her head and sang to the rafters so she didn’t have to meet the eyes of the overly-interested, overly-intoxicated, overly-male audience. Their approval meant that she had a place to live and food to eat. And while she knew that performing on stage carried certain undesirable associations, it was the only path open to her.

She held the final note while Charlie resolved the chord on the piano. The applause exploded immediately. Whistles and hoots filled the air.

“That was dandy, Lovely Lola.” Slappy flopped his loose hands together in appreciation.

“Lovely Lola, will you marry me?” She didn’t know his name, but the cowboy was there every summer when the cattle made it up the trail.

“You’re an angel,” Rawbone cried.

Louisa might not be the youngest, most coquettish performer, but the purity and emotion of her voice couldn’t be denied. She curtsied elegantly, holding the flounced skirt to the side. Cimarron Ted held up a glass to toast her. She could return his smile without worry as she prepared for her last song of the night. Charlie started the intro on the piano, and Louisa mentally rehearsed her pre-song recital.

I am Lovely Lola Bell, she told herself. They will be enchanted by my performance and will love my show.

She caught movement out of the corner of her eye. It was Tim-Bob, the owner of the Cat-Eye Saloon. With his hand wrapped firmly around Persephone’s white, shapely arm, he was marching through the stage curtains and onto the stage, right in the middle of Louisa’s nightly performance.

“Hey, Charlie,” Tim-Bob called. “Cut off that music. I have an announcement to make.”

The pianist wasted no time in stopping and taking a swig from his bottle. The crowd wasn’t as quick to simmer down.

“Let Lovely Lola sing!” a man hollered.

“It’s Saturday night! Can’t have Saturday night without Lovely Lola.”

Whatever was going on, Louisa wished it didn’t have to happen in front of the rowdy mob. Persephone showed promise as a performer on Tuesday nights—that was Louisa’s night off—but she showed more promise as the next lady love of Tim-Bob’s So, why was she here now?

What a hook! I wish my copy was here now so I could start reading it today. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Yes, please find me on the internet! I love to hear from readers at my website - www.reginajennings.com and on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

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

Readers, here are links to the book.

Holding the Fort - Christianbook.com
Holding the Fort (The Fort Reno Series) - Amazon paperback
Holding the Fort (The Fort Reno 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 SECRET LIFE OF SARAH HOLLENBECK - Bethany Turner - One Free Book

Dear Readers, today I’m introducing you to a debut novelist. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is fresh, unique book. The cover looks like a chicklit book, and I don’t read many of those. I’m glad I checked it out to see if I would like it. The storyline drew me in, and the characters grabbed my heartstrings so I experienced what they did, right along with them. There are many humorous events and serious depths in the story. You won’t want to miss this one.

Bio: Bethany Turner is the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former VP/operations manager of a commercial bank and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado.

Welcome, Bethany. Tell us a little about The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck.

Sarah is the author of some bestselling romance books that are so provocative and steamy her name becomes synonymous with the genre. But when Sarah becomes a Christ follower, she must try and maneuver away from her scandalous reputation—easier said than done since the books are still selling like wildfire, and she’s being hounded for the film rights. Sarah is determined to start a new life in which she can actually spread good and light to the world, but of course the darkness of the past isn’t going to go away easily. Things get even more complicated when she begins falling in love with Ben Delaney, who happens to be her new pastor.

Why did you decide to write about an author?

Writing a book is not an insignificant thing for most people. It’s a labor of love, and in most cases authors put so much of themselves into the creation of their work. And then for that work to go on and become a cultural phenomenon—that’s a major thing! I was fascinated by the idea of an author putting in all of that blood, sweat, and tears only to undergo a heart-level change that turns the work and all it stands for into an obstacle for the author as she tries to live the life she believes God is calling her to live.

Do you see yourself in Sarah’s character? 

I do! In so many ways. For one thing, we can both be counted on to contribute an applicable film or television reference to every situation. And we both believe that almost all things worth knowing can be gleaned from The Sound of Music. But more seriously, although Sarah is a brand-new Christ follower and I accepted Jesus into my heart thirty years ago, we share many of the same struggles in our faith—most notably when it comes to letting go of our hard-won control and letting the Lord take the lead.

That was a hard thing for me, too, Bethany. What inspired the relationship between Sarah and her pastor? Are you a romantic?

As far as the world is concerned, Sarah’s and Ben’s careers are on opposite ends of the morality spectrum. I was intrigued by the possibilities that existed as they each attempted to understand the world the other had lived in—in Ben’s world, people don’t think Sarah is worthy of him; in Sarah’s world, it’s difficult for anyone to think their relationship isn’t either (a) illicit or (b) dull. I loved creating a relationship that is sexier than you might expect for the pastor and much more innocent and pure than anyone would see coming for the steamy romance novelist. And yes! I am absolutely a romantic! Too much Jane Austen throughout my life has seen to that. (Though is there really any such thing as too much Jane Austen?)

What was your favorite part of this book to write?

I feel okay saying this because my husband is aware of my feelings for my fictional characters . . . I fell madly, deeply in love with Ben Delaney, more than any other leading man I’ve ever written, and my favorite part of writing this book was watching Sarah fall in love with him as well. Sarah is such a goofball in so many ways, and she just couldn’t help but get herself into embarrassing situations and say embarrassing things she didn’t mean to say. So that was fun! But what really made it so great was helping Sarah realize that, with Ben, she didn’t have to be embarrassed. He gives her a confidence she’s not used to feeling, and it was very powerful for me to watch Sarah grow as a person and in her faith, there in the safe place Ben provided.

I loved that part, too. What lesson(s) do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?

One thing that was really important for me to communicate was that just because a man and a woman in a romantic relationship have chosen to put their faith and their relationships with the Lord above all else doesn’t mean it will always be easy to honor those beliefs and commitments. Ben and Sarah face temptation and find themselves in situations they should have tried harder to avoid. And I thought it was important that it be reflected every bit as much in Ben’s spiritual journey as it is in Sarah’s. Sarah’s faith is new, but Ben’s is not. Not only is he a longtime Christ follower . . . he’s a professional Christ follower! But he’s every bit as human and flawed as she is—and as we all are. I believe Christians do a disservice to our faith when we act as if we’ve got it all under control, rather than keeping our focus on the Savior who wants nothing more than for us to relinquish control to him.

In what way would you say your faith is worked into the book?

Sarah is in her mid-thirties when she becomes a Christian, and she really does feel as if she’s experiencing a rebirth—which makes it all the more jarring for her when her pre-salvation past doesn’t go away the moment she says, “Amen.” As I was writing Sarah’s story, the Lord was allowing me to experience a bit of a rebirth as well. He led me to give up the career I had devoted my entire adult life to, and in addition to putting wind in the sails of my career as an author, he guided me toward full-time vocational ministry. Though my faith is not nearly as new as Sarah’s, I feel like I was given the opportunity to fall in love with Jesus all over again, through Sarah’s eyes and my own.

This is your first published novel. What did you learn about the publishing process as you went along?

I learned that I don’t know half of what I thought I knew, but that’s okay because publishing is such a collaborative effort. Whatever I don’t know, someone else does! I also learned that you should never, ever complain (even to yourself) about the moments in the process when you have nothing to do—because before you know it, the whirlwind will take over! (I also learned that I love the whirlwind.)

What are you working on next?

I have another romantic comedy completed—this one about a woman whose entire life is set on a completely different course by a brief, relatively uneventful interaction with a stranger. Over the course of ten years, she works her way back toward the stranger who by then, she is convinced, is actually one of the most famous movie stars in the world.

How can readers connect with you? 

Through my website, www.seebethanywrite.com, readers can find all the various ways to connect, but I love Facebook and Instagram most of all! I’m @seebethanywrite pretty much across the board, so I’m quite easy to track down, and I’d love to connect!

Thank you so much, Bethany, for allowing me to share this wonderful book with my blog readers. I know they will love it as much as I did.

Readers, here are links to the book. 

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck - Christianbook.com
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck - Amazon paperback
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck - 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