THIS HOMEWARD JOURNEY - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

 Dear Readers, Misty is one of my favorite Christian western historical authors. I always eagerly await the release of the next one. Her well-developed characters leap into my heart and take me along on their adventures. The authenticity of her settings and storylines grab me from the first page of each book.

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

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

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

Welcome back, Misty. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?      

New avenues? I’m blessed to be able to write the books I love to read: frontier romance centered around Christ’s love. I’ll continue to publish 2-3 books on my own each year, and I also have a 3-book series releasing from Bethany House beginning in October, 2019. I can’t wait to share that series with readers!

That’s awesome, Misty. I’m so happy for you. And you know I’ll want to feature each of them on my blog. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?      

Great question! I’m excited to be participating in several conferences. At the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference in March, I’ll be teaching a couple of classes (indie publishing and growing your reader email list). I’m also excited about that conference because my family is planning to tag along for a mini vacation after the conference. Then in April, I’ll be a participating author at the Christian Fiction Reader’s Retreat in Washington, DC! This will be my first year attending and participating, and I’m so excited to spend a full day celebrating books with readers. Also in April, I’ll be teaching three classes at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in California (indie publishing, marketing a new book release, and finding your target reader). Whew! It’s going to be a busy spring, but I’m ready!

Of course, I always look forward to ending the conference season at the ACFW national conference in September!

You really will be busy. Blessings on you. If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?        

Hmm… One of my favorite panel discussions is on all things historical! I love the research and breadth for imagination that comes with writing historical fiction. My grandparents live in a Civil War era farmhouse fully decorated with antiques, and when I was a girl, I loved imaging we had to cook on the old wood burning cookstove, and our only light came from the oil lanterns. I still love to imagine life that way! (although I’m quite thankful for electricity)

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?        

I joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) early in my writing journey, and I can’t begin to express how much I’ve learned from the amazing people in that group! I love giving back any time I can, and it’s such a pleasure to see newer writers grow and develop the gifts God has given them.

That is so true. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?   

My oldest daughter and I both volunteer in the praise team at church, and I love both the music and opportunity to worship with the congregation, but also the chance for the extra time with my daughter doing something we both enjoy. Our church is active in the community, too, and we often participate in service projects to help those around us. 

Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?       

I love how this question made me stop and think. This list is not necessarily in order:

My grandmother (Nana): Watching her faith lived out had the biggest impact on my own faith.

My father: He’s never been hesitant to tell us he loves us, and to live out that love through hard work and special kindnesses.

My mother: She gave of herself tirelessly for everything we needed. I don’t think I truly realized it until I became a mom of my own. Now, she’s my best friend.

My grandfather (Pop): He’s taught me so much wisdom about life, including finances. The older I get, the more I want to apply everything he says!

One of my bosses when I worked in the corporate world (Cindy): She’s such a classy lady, and has an incredible mind for business. I so appreciated the wisdom she shared, and the way she truly cared about those around her.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?         

This is a tough one! I guess my ultimate wish would be that these words are true:

“Her love for God shone through to everyone around her.”

Tell us about the featured book.    

I’d love to!

She’s desperate for a new life in the Canadian mountains…He’s the last person she should trust to get her there.

Montana mountains to be so treacherous. When two brothers invite her to join their small group traveling to the same area, she refuses. After she and her son narrowly escape a bear attack, she’s forced to admit they need the safety of numbers in this untamed land. If the men prove dangerous, she can always leave with her son and strike out alone again.

Seth Grant has made some bad choices in his life, but God healed him from the addiction that mired him in his sins. Now, he’s determined to live the life God called him to, starting with a journey northward to see the Canadian mountain both his brother and sister have fallen in love with. When he discovers the woman and boy who plan to travel the same mountain trail, he can’t fathom why she refuses to join in the safety of their larger group. Though her decision seems unwise, he has no other choice but to pray God provides her protection.

Despite Rachel’s best efforts, she can’t seem to fight her attraction to Seth—until a secret from his past proves he’s not at all the man she thought. When a new peril threatens her son’s life, she must choose between trusting in what she can control, or the man who her heart says is trustworthy, no matter his previous sins. The path she chooses just may determine whether she can step into the new life God has in store for them all.

After her husband’s death, Rachel Gray is finally free from the turmoil his addictions caused. She wants nothing more than a new life with her twelve-year-old son. If she can reach her brother in the wilderness of the Canadian territories, they’ll have help to start over in peace. She knows better than to put her life in the hands of another man, but she never expected the

Please share the first page with us.

Chapter One

Only a final massive obstacle lies between us and a new life. I can push through the last of this journey. I must.

~ Rachel

June, 1869

Fort Benton, Montana Territory

Rachel Gray straightened her shoulders as she scanned the dim interior of Fort Benton’s trade store. The high brick ceiling made the room feel less hemmed-in than she’d expected, but her vision still spotted with remnants of the bright afternoon outside.

Men's laughter echoed from a back room, tugging the knot in her middle. She’d come into this tiny trade room tucked inside fort walls because she’d hoped to avoid all the raucous men sloshing down the streets of the town. Through the week she and her son had camped outside the town, she’d had her fill of mountaineers sated from an afternoon of drinking and gambling.

It seemed when the men stumbled from their bedrolls late each morning, they headed straight for the gambling tables. Not that a man could help his addictions once the demon was planted inside him. But these were a sorry lot. Maybe they’d come west hungry for gold or to escape their lawless past. She worried some were even running from a hangman’s noose. But all they’d found was drink and cards. The sights and sounds of their den still churned her stomach into a tight wad. 

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

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

Thank you, Misty, for sharing this new book with me and my blog readers. I’m eager to read it. I’ve loved all the books in this series.

Readers, here are links to the book.

This Homeward Journey (Heart of the Mountains) - Paperback
This Homeward Journey (Heart of the Mountains Book 5) - 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

AT THE HEART OF FRIENDSHIP - Kathy Collard Miller

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

I’d always wanted to be a writer since middle school but had no clue what it entailed. God had a plan and now I have more than 50 published books and numerous articles. I’ve spoken in over 30 US states and 8 foreign countries. God has opened wonderful doors including being on the 700 Club, and many other podcasts, TV, and radio programs. I’m amazed at what God has done.

How did your ministry start?

After God delivered me from being a child abuser when our daughter was three years old and our son was a newborn, God stirred within me a desire to share my story. I sent a query letter about my story to the primary Christian magazine of the time, and asked if accepted, it be published anonymously. I was so ashamed. I was so thrilled when my article was accepted, I had to tell people not knowing they would ask, “What’s your article about?” God used that to help me share the horrible truth. From that sharing, came my first speaking engagement at our church and when I saw the response of the women, I was convinced God wanted to use my story.

Tell us about your family.

My daughter whom I abused calls me her best friend and supports my sharing. We even wrote a book together and she has completed a novel. She is a wife, mom of two (my grandkids!), and MOPS leader who loves the Lord. Our son lives close by in Southern California. My husband and I married in 1970 and look forward to soon celebrating 50 years of seeing God work. We often speak and write together and are lay-counselors.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, I have written Christian Living books, other women’s Bible studies for my Daughters of the King Bible Study series, and commentaries. My topics have included marriage, parenting, godly living, and overcoming perfectionism, worry, anger, wrong motives, and other practical ideas. Some of those titles are No More Anger (my story), Pure-Hearted, Never Ever Be the Same (co-written with husband Larry), Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries, Why Do I Put So Much Pressure on Myself and Others?, and many others.

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

Yes, I’m writing a devotional book that will look at 100 questions God asks in the Bible (including Jesus, of course). (There are more questions than that, by the way.) For instance, have you ever wondered why Jesus asked the handicapped man at the Pool of Bethesda “Do you want to get well?” Or why God asked Adam and Eve “Where are you?” If God knows everything, and the answer is obvious, what was His purpose in asking questions? I will look at how His questions cause people to evaluate their motives and also reveal His wonderful qualities.

What kinds of other ministry activities, hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

I love my grandkids!!!! I’m sad they live at a distance but we are together as often as possible. A lot of my time is giving “soul care counseling” to many on a weekly basis. My husband and I minister in this way together in our home.

Why did you write At the Heart of Friendship?

I originally wrote the 12 women’s Bible study books in my Daughters of the King Bible study series in the 80’s and 90’s. They sold for over a decade until they went out of print. With my current publisher, Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. my publisher, Deb Haggerty agreed with my desire to update and revamp those books. Now they not only include questions but commentary. They are used by individuals and groups. The topic on friendship is one of immense importance especially to women so I knew I had to include that topic. I’m editing and enlarging the twelve as time goes along. Right now, also available is Choices of the Heart (godly choices) and Whispers of My Heart (prayer). Next will be Heart Wisdom on Proverbs.

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

The assurance that God wants to be a part and trusted for every area of life including friendships. There’s a lot about friendships in the Bible and I include many examples of Biblical women characters and how they interact with each other. I trust and pray that women and especially groups will be more wisely devoted to ministering to others and receiving help. The ten lessons include dealing with conflict, envy, competition, marriage, children, mentoring, and friendship with God, among others.

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

No matter what you might be struggling with, be assured God is not only interested and cares, but He is strong and sufficient. If He could deliver me from being a child abuser, heal our family, and give me opportunities for His glory because of it, He can help you!

Please give us the first page or two from the book.

At the Heart of Friendship

Contents

Lesson 1 Rejoicing Together

Lesson 2 Resisting Envy and Jealousy

Lesson 3 Friends in Marriage

Lesson 4 Overcoming Competition

Lesson 5 Times of Need

Lesson 6 Being Friends with Our Children

Lesson 7 Handling Conflict Between Friends

Lesson 8 Differing Personalities

Lesson 9 Mentoring Friendships

Lesson 10 The Ultimate Friendship

Lesson 1

Rejoicing Together

Friendships are a wonderful gift from God—especially when those friendships are relationships which are God centered. Although not every friendship in your life will include God, a friendship including the Lord is cause for rejoicing.

In the weeks we have together studying about friendships, we’ll seek God’s perspectives and principles for all aspects of friendship—with friends, husbands, and children. In addition, we’ll look at obstacles to healthy friendships. We’ll also find encouragement for ministering to others and allowing others to minister to us. Sometimes allowing others to minister to us is the hardest challenge.

God wants us to have friends because he designed the idea of friendship in the beginning, knowing we need them and they are good for us. The longing for relationships was built into the first man in the Garden of Eden. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’” (Genesis 2:18). Friendships aren’t just for a husband and wife, though. They are to be a part of every relationship—to some degree—especially in the Body of Christ.

Be assured your desire for relationships is to be celebrated. Let’s find out how we can rejoice in this gift from God and then develop healthy connections with others in every area of our lives.

1. How do you define “friendship”?

2. What do you look for most in a friend?

3. Read Luke 1:26-56. Why do you think the angel tells Mary the news about Elizabeth?

○ Although Mary and Elizabeth are relatives, what indicates they are also friends?

○ What positive characteristics(s) of a friendship do you see in their relationship?

As far as we know Mary was not instructed as to what she should do next after being given the news she would be the Messiah’s mother. The angel does mention what has happened to her “relative” Elizabeth but he doesn’t say she should go to visit her. We could easily wonder why Mary’s family members, especially her mother, weren’t mentioned. To leave her immediate family could indicate her family wouldn’t be supportive or none or few of them were alive. There could be other reasons because the Word of God doesn’t always give us details about everything that occurred. We will never know for sure, but Mary may have believed the angel mentioning Elizabeth indicated she should go visit her.

Another purpose of Mary hearing the news about Elizabeth’s pregnancy was a means of building Mary’s faith to believe God’s outrageous plan of a virgin becoming pregnant. God’s gift of pregnancy for Elizabeth in her older age was truly remarkable.

Some versions of the Bible use “relative” and some use the word “cousin” to indicate the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary. They knew each other but the distance between their towns prevented a lot of communication or visiting. Obviously, before the angel showed up, Mary had not yet heard the news Elizabeth was expecting a child and was six months along.

We don’t know the exact location when Mary travels “to a town in Judah.” Judah could be a territory or a town. Currently, there is no town named Judah in Israel. Some commentators believe the distance Mary traveled was at least seventy miles because no “hill country” was closer than that to Nazareth, where she lived. 

Where on the Internet can readers find you?

Amazon author page is: https://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Collard-Miller/e/B001KMI10S/

website and blog: www.KathyCollardMiller.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/KathyCollardMillerAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KathyCMiller

Instagram: @KathyCollardMiller

At the Heart of Friendship:https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Friendship-Kathy-Collard-Miller/dp/1948888467/

Thank you, Kathy, for sharing this book and Bible Study with us.

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!!

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

Connie (TX) is the winner of Until He Returns by Judythe Morgan. 

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

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

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

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

PROMISES TO KEEP - Judythe Morgan - One Free Book

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

I’ve chosen to write love stories because I love a happily-ever-after ending. I write from a Christian worldview because that’s my life and I want to share its principles.

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

The day I married my husband. Looking back, I can say my wedding day was as God ordained as the day He called my name. We’ve had quite a journey these fifty-something years and I can’t wait for the next fifty.

How has being published changed your life?

Being published has opened opportunities for me to shed my introvert tendencies. I’ve come to enjoy sharing about my books in conversations and discussing my books at signings and book clubs. I still get butterflies, but because so many readers tell me how much they love my stories, I’m eager to talk about my books.

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading Susan Wiggs, Map of the Heart.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m plotting the next books in the Fitzpatrick Family series - Eight preacher kids, each with a sweet romance story of his or her own. At the same time, I’m doing final edits on a romantic suspense. It’s a new genre for me, and I’m excited about it.

What would be your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would be to rent a cottage in Ireland and wander around the countryside and drink in the beauty, relish the culture, and visit friends I’ve made on previous visits. It’s where I recharge.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

My settings depend largely on the story. I do tend to select places I’ve visited or where I’ve lived. As a military brat and spouse, that’s many, many places. If the story and a place I’ve lived connect for a plot, then I’m able to give authenticity to the setting.

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

I’d love to spend some one-on-one time talking with Dr. Tony Evans. I listen to his radio broadcasts on a local Christian radio station and love his down-to-earth approach to spiritual living.

My pastor, Robert Morris, is a good friend of Tony Evans. He often comes to our church. And one year, I was privileged to be a teacher at a Christian Writer’s Workshop at his church. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I recently started attending Sacred Harp Sings, also called Fasola singing. It’s shape note singing born from colonial “singing schools.” It’s not performing but sitting in a square with the four parts facing one another to sing hymns and anthems from traditional songbooks. “Sacred harp” refers to the human voice —the musical instrument we were given at birth. If you’re unfamiliar, check it out on YouTube.

You’ll also find me swimming and doing water aerobics or baking and cooking. I love to experiment with recipes. The exercise helps to balance the calorie intake from all the taste tasting.

I have never heard of “Sacred Harp.” I will check it out. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Once I understood story structure, my next obstacle became planning or plotting my stories. Every writer has their own system and I spent years trying to mold my style from theirs. Most of the time I failed miserably, but I learned my system. I’m not a strict plotter or a pantster. I’m somewhere in between. I use Michael Hague’s Six Stage Plotting as my guide and let my characters offer twists and turns as their story unfolds in my head. I call it being a plan-ster.

That’s a lot like what works best for me, too. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read lots, study craft and, most important, WRITE something, anything every day. Your creative juices thrive when you write.

Tell us about the featured book.

One night, in that twilight zone of falling asleep, David Sands, a secondary character in the PROMISES series, told me he’d lost his Shirley to cancer. I told him he was wrong, but he insisted. Then Debra Hughes, another secondary character, confided she’d half-fallen in love with her dead best friend’s husband. The romantic in me knew I had to find a way for the two to be together. Since a pendant’s promise started the PROMISES series, it was only fitting that keeping promises should end the series.

The story: 

David Sands lost his wife three years ago. Debra Hughes was his wife’s best friend and business partner. Debra and David have been friends for years. They both made promises to his wife before her death.

He promised to sell their condo and donate the proceeds to their foundation that support families of MIA and POW soldiers. Debra promised to look after David. They’ve comforted each other in their grief now as they work together to close out the wife’s estate, their bond grows into mutual attraction. Will keeping their promises open their eyes and hearts to a future together?

Though Promises to Keep is book four in the PROMISE series, all the books are standalone stories.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Knoxville, Tennessee, 1995

David Sands bypassed the elevator and took the stairs two at a time hoping to slip unnoticed into his Until They Return (UTR) office in the Cabot Enterprises building.

“You’re late.” Alex Cabot fell in step beside him when David exited the stairwell door. The unspoken again hung in the air.

“I got a late start, and traffic was heavier than I anticipated.” He walked into the office he’d shared with Shirley and swung his briefcase onto the reproduction desk he hated before he met Alex’s gaze.

“And you stopped at Old Gray again, didn’t you?”

“There was that.”

David braced for the oft-repeated lecture about his lengthy stops at the Knoxville cemetery. Although they had been best friends since their duty days in Vietnam, and he knew Alex meant well, he could never quit visiting his wife’s gravesite.

Alex slid into the chair in front of David’s desk. “I want you to join Lily and me for dinner tonight.”

The muscles in David’s neck went stiff. He rolled his shoulders. “Alex, I—”

“That wasn’t a request.” Alex’s words snapped with military authority.

David’s shoulders drooped. The dinner discussion would undoubtedly be about selling the contents of Shirley’s condo. How was he going to let go of the last physical things they’d shared while her toothbrush was still on his bathroom counter?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Visit Judythe’s website to learn more about her.

Read her award-winning blog View from the Front Porch

Friend her on Facebook and Goodreads

Follow her on Twitter

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

Readers, here are links to the book.

Promises to Keep - Paperback
Promises to Keep - 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

ESCAPE TO THE BILTMORE - Patricia Riddle Gaddis - One Free Book

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

At least 50 percent or more, (whether I realize it or not).

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I was asked to speak at a conference and stopped along the way to fill up my car with gas. As I went inside the convenience store to pay, the clerk gave me a strange look. Returning to my car, I looked down and realized that I was wearing a half-slip instead of the pencil skirt that went with the suit. I hurried home to change, thankful that I’d caught my wardrobe malfunction before speaking to a group of over a hundred people.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

At the age of 17, my cousin, a professor of English Lit read some of my poems and began to encourage me. This inspiration helped me move forward and develop as a writer. I had been scribbling all of my life, so in many ways this discovery came as no surprise. But I still have much to learn about the craft.

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

I love the classics, especially Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence. C.S. Lewis (The Great Divorce) and I adore the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I also like the modern inspirational genre. At present, I am reading Catherine's Pursuit and enjoying it very much. I also like the work of Tina Radcliffe, Ruth Axtell, and Joan M. Hochstetler.

I’m glad you like Catherine’s story. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I pray a lot. Sometimes, just a few minutes with our Lord sustains me. Also, over the years, I have learned to say no. Some things must wait. Other things are still waiting. LOL!

The learning to say no is a hard one for all writers. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I let my character’s name themselves. I toss out a few possibilities and one of them usually works right away. Sometimes that’s not the case. One character in my book constantly changed his name as we went along, until I finally said, “Look—this is your last name, and we are not changing it again!” (The character was Douglas Van Demark, Anna’s nemesis in Escape to the Biltmore.)

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Raising my son and watching him become the man that God created him to be. As a divorced single parent, it was not always easy, and I constantly prayed that we would not become a negative statistic. My son has his Master’s in History and teaches. He loves his work, and I enjoy gleaning information from him!

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

I love dogs, but I think I would choose to be a cat! They love gazing out the window, and so do I, especially when I have writer’s block!

What is your favorite food?

Mexican. Especially Guacamole.

I love it when the waiter makes the Guacamole tableside, because they put exactly what I like in mine. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Like most writers, my greatest roadblock has always been the lack of time. I work as an editor for Woman’s World Magazine and often find myself drained from the constant demands of a weekly magazine. But turning on the computer and reviewing my own personal writing helps restore the creativity within me.

I enjoy reading WW. Tell us about the featured book.

Sure! When Dr. Richard Wellington saves Anna St. James from being trampled to death outside Grand Central Station, her pronouncement that she’s also a physician is so farfetched that he diagnoses her with a concussion. But America in 1895 is on the cusp of change. Just as the internal combustion engine will soon make the horse-drawn vehicles of their time obsolete, a societal shift will give women the right to vote and to have careers. Anna is a pioneer, but as a “lady” doctor who has also lost her place in society following her father’s death, she doesn’t dare to imagine she can have it all. As Anna and Richard travel by rail between New York and Asheville, they become colleagues and friends along the way. By the time they meet again at the luxurious Biltmore House, their inconvenient romantic attraction is undeniable, as are the impediments to their happiness. They will be influenced by both friends and foes, as well as their own faith and reason as they struggle toward a resolution.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Grand Central Train Station, New York

December 1895

A scream pierced the chill December air, freezing Dr. Richard Wellington’s descent from a hansom cab. Yards away, a woman stood in the path of runaway horses, her white scarf fluttering behind her like the wings of a frightened bird before a predator.

Dropping his bags, Richard dove for the woman, catching her up into his arms. With a bone-jarring thud, they landed in a snow bank at the edge of the busy street.

A roar of silence filled his ears. Then, with the immediacy of danger alleviated, the city noises returned—the rumble of a nearby train, the jog trot of a horse, and exclamations of the crowd surrounding them.

“Is she alive, sir?” A man with sharp eyes bent over her.

“She was that close to those horse’s hooves!” Another onlooker’s pudgy fingers and thumb were held a fraction apart to illustrate the averted tragedy.

Ignoring the anxious questions around him, Richard placed a practiced finger on the woman’s wrist and breathed a prayer of thanks. Her pulse was almost normal.

The crowd had thickened. A low murmur of expectancy crackling through the onlookers.

“She’ll be fine,” he announced to the mob. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket he began to wipe the snow from her cheeks. Wavy strands of red-gold hair had escaped from beneath her pert little hat, and now cascaded against the snow, their color reminding him of autumn leaves spilling from a basket. The gentle action seemed to revive her. The woman’s eyelids fluttered and opened to reveal stunning turquoise eyes.

“I’m Dr. Richard Wellington,” he said. “You’ve taken a hard fall. Can you hear me?”

A slight frown formed on her smooth pale forehead. “Yes, I can hear you.” The next second, panic filled her eyes and she breathed out, “The horses!”

He glanced over his shoulder. The runaway team that had been pulling a mail coach was now halfway down the block where the driver had brought them to a standstill. Richard turned back to the young woman whom he judged to be not more than twenty-two or three. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

He remembered how she had stood motionless. “You appeared glued to the street. What happened?”

She rubbed a gloved finger against her temple, her frown deepening as she struggled to remember. “I—I looked both ways before stepping off the sidewalk and all was clear. But then those horses appeared as if from nowhere and I couldn’t move my legs.” She gave a rueful shake of her head. “I’ve read about such instances in medical journals, but I never thought temporary paralysis could happen to me.”

His eyes narrowed at her remark. “You read medical journals?”

She drew a long breath, as though frustrated with his questions. “Yes. I read medical journals because I’m a doctor.”

A doctor? Had he heard her correctly? His fingers probed the soft kid leather of her boots. “Any numbness or pain?”

“No.”

“Good. Any loss of movement in your arms?” He reached over and gently bent her elbow. She raised both arms and wiggled her fingers. “All seems well. I don’t think anything is broken.” She attempted to sit up and he placed an arm around her shoulders to assist.

“I believe you have suffered a mild concussion.” He continued in the unhurried manner he used when examining a patient. “Sometimes a hard fall will bring about confusion. I want you to sit quietly for a moment while I arrange for an ambulance to take you to hospital for complete bed rest.”

She drew her brows together. “What makes you believe I have a concussion?”

Her question startled him. Unaccustomed to patients expressing skepticism in his ability to identify the nature of their illness, he drew in a long breath. “Because you seem a bit confused. Nothing to worry about though. In fact, it is quite normal for someone who has taken a hard fall.”

I love this taste of your novel. I can just see the sparks that are going to fly. How can readers find you on the Internet?

https://www.carriage-n-castle.com and they are welcome to email me at prose@dnet.net

Thank you, Patricia, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read it. I had a novella in a Barbour collection that came out in November where my heroine is a doctor. I did a lot of research on "lady" doctors.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Escape to the Biltmore - Paperback
Escape to the Biltmore - 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

OF WALLS - Sara L Foust - One Free Book

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

I like to write fiction that has elements of real life in it, usually featuring at least a heroine facing a personal dilemma that leads to greater faith, self-discovery, and solving of a problem. I also like to include large elements of the natural world in my books because I am such a nature enthusiast myself.

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

That is a hard question to answer. The births of all 3 of my daughters and the adoption day for my 4th daughter and 1st son were pretty amazing!

I’m sure they were. How has being published changed your life?

I have more confidence now, like I know that this God-given talent is real and is what I was truly called to do. I love writing and it is fun to be able to sit down, settle in, and have the confidence to just write.

What are you reading right now?

Cry in the Night by Colleen Coble.

I love Colleen’s books, too. What is your current work in progress?

I am writing the first book in a series of Inspirational Romantic Suspense/Adventure novels titled Jade Owl. It follows the story of an archaeologist tracking down a century-old pirate treasure across East Tennessee, England, and Haiti. The third and final book in the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, Rarity Mountain, is also in editing with the team at Mantle Rock Publishing and will be going on preorder in just a few short weeks!

I’d love to feature them on my blog. What would be your dream vacation?

I have several. The one I’ve been dreaming of most lately, though, is a long trip to Italy, sightseeing and taste-seeing (okay that isn’t a word).

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I absolutely love East Tennessee, and I have lived here all of my life (that I can remember, anyway). It is a natural choice for my book settings, both because I know it so well and because it is so beautiful.

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

J. K. Rowling comes to mind. My kids and I are Harry Potter fans, but the author in me would like to meet one of the most popular and successful authors of our time.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love camping and hiking with my kiddos. Being outdoors is essential for my emotional and mental wellbeing.

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

I find it more difficult to write during the winter months. I like to write outdoors and that is hard to do when it is icky outside. But I remind myself if I don’t write I will feel even worse, and I just try to do it, even just a little bit each day.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Find one person who loves your writing and believes in you and can encourage you to keep going when you feel like quitting. It may take a while, but if you don’t give up and you listen to this person, you will find your publishing path.

Tell us about the featured book.

Julie Johnson's life as a mom and homemaker is richly blessed, but her marriage is struggling. Years of busyness, exhaustion, and hurt have taken their toll on her emotional and spiritual life, building impenetrable walls around her heart. When she feels God calling her to a mission trip on the other side of the world, Julie puts her faith in Him and leaves her family for ten long days. What she learns about herself, her marriage, and her faith will change her life forever.  

Please give us the first page of the book.

“I really need this trip.”

He just looks at me. Trying to figure out my subtext? I send messages to my eyes to pretend there isn’t any. I’m not brave enough to illuminate the truth. Not yet.

“Our finances are never going to get better.”

I roll my eyes. Of course they aren’t. There’s no hope in anything, according to you. “You know, I have confidence when I get home I can take this course and provide for myself.”

He lifts his eyebrow.

I’ve crossed a line. I try to backpedal, cover my almost truths. What I want to say is, “I don’t want to be married to you anymore. I’m done. I give up.” My tongue hurts with permanent teeth impressions by now. If I say the things in my mind, I won’t be able to stuff them back in. Won’t be able to erase them. Won’t be able to put the smashed bricks back into place. What if I am blatantly, brutally honest and regret it? I see the fear flitting across his eyes. The anger igniting beneath the hazel irises. “That’s not what I mean.” I take a deep breath. “I really need this trip.”

He drops his gaze. “I know.”

Does he? Does he sense the wall of barbed wire squeezing my heart? The pain? The desperation? Despair? “We will figure out the money when I get home. It’s going to work out somehow. God has taken care of us this long, He won’t stop now.”

I’m eager to read more. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.saralfoust.com

Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/cfqP5H

Email: sfoust25@hotmail.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Sfoust25

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sfoust25/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SaraFoustSaraLFoust

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saralfoust

Thank you, Sara, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I’m sure they are as eager to read it as I am.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Of Walls: A Novella - Paperback
Of Walls: A Novella - 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