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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.

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Linda (CA) is the winner of Airborne by DiAnn Mills. 

Crystal (PA) is the winner of And Then Blooms Love by Sally Jo Pitts.

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.

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PROMISE FOR TOMORROW - Michelle De Bruin - One Free Book

BioL Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.

Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019. The third book in the series, Dreaming of Tomorrow, releases November 2020.

 

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

I write Christian fiction because I want to illustrate how God works in a person’s life healing and restoring. I write historical fiction because I enjoy history. I like learning about beginnings and why things are the way they are. I write fiction because story communicates to us in ways that make possible the understanding of truth, similar to the parables Jesus used in the New Testament to help listeners understand the deep truths of what the Kingdom of God was like. I write romance because the church’s relationship to the Lord is a love story. Seeing it play out in a wholesome way between a hero and heroine helps us understand God’s passionate, unending, faithful love for us.

 

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

 

I can’t narrow it down to one. I have four happiest days of my life. The first one was my wedding day. The second one was the birth of my first son. The third one was the birth of my second son. The fourth was the day I graduated from college.

 

How has being published changed your life?

 

Good, question, Lena. The changes that result from publication aren’t sudden. They sort of sneak up on you like a shift in the weather or a change of season. You don’t notice it day to day, but at some point you look around and realize that the swimsuits are put away, school has started, the leaves have fallen off the trees, and snow is predicted for overnight. How did that happen?

 

I would say that the biggest way my life has changed is in becoming more conscientious of how I use words, both on and off the page. What am I posting on social media? How do I sound in conversation with a friend? What is the tone of my blog posts? Do I share truth in my role of teaching Bible studies and leading retreats? I don’t want to squander the opportunity an author is handed to influence others for good. Publication has offered me this and I want to make the most of it in a way that glorifies the Lord.

 

What are you reading right now?

 

I review books for Celebrate Lit. I love doing this because I get to sample good books from so many talented authors, and then help support them by sharing their work with others. I just finished reading To Love a Prince by Rachel Hauck. This week I received the Net Galley copies for An Ivy Hill Christmas by Julie Klassen, and To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano. I will start on both of these books soon.

 

What is your current work in progress?

 

My current work in progress is my fourth book. It will be the first book in a new series called the Coming Home series. The working title of this work in progress is Coming Home to Mercy. In this story, we will get to know the mother of the heroine in the book we are featuring today. Her name is Margaret. She meets the doctor of the small town she visits in the story. His name is Dr. Matthew Kaldenberg.

 

What would be your dream vacation?

 

Oh, wow. I dream of going to Europe to tour cathedrals and country estate homes in England, see the grounds where David Austin roses are grown, take tea in London, and then hop over to Holland and hunt up the provinces and towns my ancestors immigrated from.

 

How do you choose your settings for each book?

 

This is an easy part of drafting a story. I choose locations that I love. Open country with rolling hills of crops or pastureland, small towns with brick buildings along the main street, and places where still waters of quiet and rest can be found.

 

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

 

I would really love to have a conversation with Tim Keller sometime. He is an excellent preacher, and I appreciate his writing. I’d want to ask him all about doing ministry in a large city, which is much different from my context, so I’m sure there is much I could learn from him.

 

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

 

My hobbies include gardening and playing the piano.

 

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

 

The most difficult obstacle is finding credible resources to use for research of historic eras, the inventions and progress made during the era, and the perspectives and world views of people during those times. I overcome this obstacle by visiting living history farms whenever I can, reading biographies, and finding instruction manuals for certain inventions. So interesting!

 

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

 

Take the time to discover and develop your own voice. You don’t have to sound like anyone else. There is a time and purpose for each one of us who has a message to share, and we must be ready when our turn comes to speak.

 

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

 

Promise for Tomorrow is the second book in the Tomorrow series. These books are inspirational, historical fiction set in an Iowa farming community in the year 1910.

 

This book continues the story of Logan De Witt, the pastor who took time off to work his family’s dairy farm, and Karen Millerson, the teacher from Chicago who is boarding with Logan and his family.

 

Here is the summary from the book’s back cover: 

Karen Millerson dreamed of teaching high school but now finds herself boarding with a farm family and teaching country school. She is engaged to marry Logan De Witt and is getting prepared to share in ministry with him. But when she gets blamed for the tragic fire at the school, Karen’s future grows uncertain.

 

Logan De Witt is working to clear his family’s name with the bank. But when he breaks his leg, hindering his ability to work the farm, Logan is faced with life-changing decisions. When his best friend can’t offer the help he requested, can Logan find a way to care for his family and court Karen at the same time before his love for her destroys all of them?

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

 “You know I’d do anything to help you.” Pete’s words rang with the brand of loyalty found in friendships that deepened over time and encouraged through the darkest of days.

A grin spread across Logan De Witt’s mouth.

“But I can’t. Not this time. Sorry, buddy.”

“Wh . . . what?” Logan stifled a groan. Stuttering again. That irritating stutter had left him alone for months. He sure didn’t want it returning now. Not when his fiancée needed a place to stay, and fast. He’d barely survived these three days following his Christmas proposal. Gulping, he tried again. “What do you mean?” Much better. He drew in a slow breath.

A smile burst onto Pete’s face. “Anna is expecting a baby. Due in July.”

“Wow. Congratulations.” Pete’s news blew air into Logan and sucked it out of him all at the same time. His friend was going to be a father. How terrific for Pete and Anna. And yet Logan still waited for his turn. It would come someday, someday soon now that Karen had agreed to marry him.

“We’re making preparations for our extra room to get remodeled.”

Logan glanced through the shadowed doorway of the Silver Grove parsonage’s spare bedroom. A ladder filled one corner of the room.

“The bed and one chair will need to go back to Anna’s mother so we can make space for a cradle.” Pete’s grin threatened to split his face. He turned serious as he refilled his cup with coffee. “Why do you want Karen to move out of your house?”

He should’ve known Pete would ask. If he hadn’t been so distracted caring for a sick cow this morning, he may have come up with a decent answer. “I . . . uh . . . well.” If he could just lose that ridiculous stutter once and for all. He cleared his throat. “Boarding the teacher hasn’t worked out . . . uh, like I thought.”

The statement might sound a little vague, but at least it was true. Boarding the teacher hadn’t gone at all as he expected. Miss Karen Millerson lived at the De Witt farm so his grieving sister could have a friend. But what happened instead? Tillie fought with Karen while Logan fell in love with her. The girls had since made up and were pretty good friends, but Logan’s heart hadn’t improved one bit. And now he had a mammoth problem on his hands.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet?

 

They are welcome to visit my website where I post devotional writings and book reviews to my blog. On my website is more information about all of my books, a place to subscribe to my newsletter, and a place to join Michelle’s Boek Vrienden, which is my street team. In English, it translates to Michelle’s Book Friends.

Website:  https://michelledebruin.com/ 

Readers are also welcome to follow me on social media. These links are below:

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

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/MichelleDB40/boards/ 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18522892.Michelle_DeBruin 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MichelleDAuthor 

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-de-bruin

 

Thanks for hosting me today, Lena. It has been such a good time!

 

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/33ICIqx

https://amzn.to/34GfWin

 

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, 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 

SACRED HONOR - Lori Bates Wright - One Free Book

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

We have some notable historic figures in my family tree, along with some hilariously memorable ones. My favorite memories are of family get-togethers where stories were exchanged around the table. We would laugh until we cried. The evening would always end discussing about how good God has been and His faithfulness through the years. Couple that with an insatiable love for story, and I suppose that would be the heart of what inspires me to write Christian Historical Romance.   

 

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

Both of the days that my kids were born rank right up there among the happiest. But I’d have to say the day my tiny two pound baby girl got to finally come home from the hospital (a month after she was born) was a level of humble gratitude like I had never experienced before. 

 

How has being published changed your life? 

I have met some wonderfully talented people along the way who understand, and even appreciate, my world of make-believe. It’s been wonderful! Deadlines and painful edits are a very real part of my life now, and marketing forces me to move outside of my introverted comfort zone to introduce my books to a world of new readers.

What are you reading right now? 

Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin. 

 

What is your current work in progress? 

The Governess, Book Two of my new series, A Matter of Intrigue. This series follows three daring women who are recruited by Allan Pinkerton to go undercover to help change the course of a divided nation just after the Civil War.

 

I'm eager to read that series. What would be your dream vacation? 

A cabin tucked up in the mountains somewhere with streams and hiking trails to explore by day and a roaring campfire to read beside in the evenings.  

 

How do you choose your settings for each book? 

I usually chose a place that has significant history for the time period I’m going for. If I’m unable to plan a trip to have a look around for myself, I pour over travel sites and read comments left by people who have visited there until I feel like I know it well. I’d love to visit Wales someday which is the setting for my latest book, Sacred Honor.     

 

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

I’d love to have a girl’s night with Melania Trump. Besides getting the inside scoop on her best beauty tips, we could talk about motherhood, and Jesus, and world affairs. I’ve heard she speaks six different languages. I’m sure she has some highly interesting stories to tell.

 

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? 

I come from a musical family, so I grew up singing and playing music. There’s always something playing in the background around me. Other than that, I love to do counted cross-stitch.

 

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

Procrastination. I let myself get distracted and it’s hard to get back in focus. I’ve found two things that have helped. First, I use a planner to make a list of what I need to accomplish each day and hold myself accountable to it. And secondly, I limit texting friends and checking my social media (including email) to certain times of day. Otherwise, I can waste a whole afternoon playing on my phone.   

 

What advice would you give to a beginning author? 

Learn your craft. You can’t break the basic writing rules until you learn them first. I think we all start out thinking we are the exception. But the truth is, no matter how much natural talent we have, we all need to learn how to make it presentable. So, stay teachable and don’t get too attached to your first draft.   

 

Tell us about the featured book. 

Sacred Honor is the third and final book of The Saberton Legacy. This book follows youngest Saberton brother, Zachery, and the tenacious Aurora. Here’s a look at the back cover:

Her heart is shattered. Her home is left in shambles. And she is forced to give up the only man capable of putting the pieces back together.         

Aurora Haverwood has loved Zachery Saberton for as long as she can remember. Her dreams of being his wife are cruelly dashed when the American Civil War draws to a close with news that Zach is missing and presumed dead. Refusing to believe he will never return to her, she sets out to find the truth.

 

Captain Zach Saberton, notorious blockade runner for the Confederate Navy, has outfoxed the Yankee War Department once too often. In order to save his neck, Zach agrees to go undercover in London to help the Union recover a million dollars’ worth of gold bullion missing from the failed Confederate Treasury.

 

When Aurora discovers Zach Saberton is alive and well in England, attending one social affair after another, she decides to pay a visit to her uncle, the Earl of Kendal, in hopes of finding some answers. The journey from her devastated homeland to elegant London society plunges her into a web of danger.

 

Zach, desperately trying to avoid another civil rebellion, soon comes to realize that it’s Aurora who holds the key to their survival.

 

But in accepting her help, he risks losing her forever.

 

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

25 August, 1865

Savannah, Georgia

 Strains of a familiar song lured Zachery Saberton from the safety of moonlight shadows, in search of a melody he knew only too well.

Aura Lea.

The same song Aurora had played that evening four years ago when he’d left to join the Confederate fleets in Savannah Harbor. An image of her sitting in perfect posture behind her beloved harp with waves of pale golden hair tumbling down her back would remain forever etched in his mind. He imagined her fingers gliding over the strings as she hummed along with the music.

Thoughts of her were all that kept him sane. He desperately needed to see her, if only for a moment. Like a siren call, the melody coaxed him out of hiding, beckoning him closer from across Chippewa Square.

An ache grew in his chest with each strum of the strings. The first twinge of emotion he’d experienced in a good long while. He avoided the well-lit streets to keep from being seen since he’d become more valuable dead than alive.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet? 

I love to connect with readers! Find me at: www.loribateswright.com

https://www.facebook.com/loribateswright/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18212506.Lori_Bates_Wright

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-bates-wright

https://www.pinterest.com/loribateswright/_created/

https://www.instagram.com/loribateswright/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/ladylbw?lang=en

 

Thank you so much for having me, Lena!

 

It’s my pleasure, Lori. I so love your writing. I know my blog readers will, too. I’m eager to read this new book.

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/2I4KnqP - Kindle

https://amzn.to/2Su4xwq - Paperback

 

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, 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 SILENCED CHRISTIAN WIFE - J A Marx - One Free Book

Welcome back, J A. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

 Thank you for having me on your blog, Lena. It’s such an honor.

Does it sound hokey to say I live to please my Father in Heaven? It’s true, I am so in love with Jesus. I’m also a freelance editor, writing mentor, and multi-published author. I’ve spent over two decades in Christian ministry, church leadership, and mentoring, which has given me a desire to see people come into freedom in Jesus Christ. As an editor/mentor, my motto is Equipping readers one book at a time.

 

Tell us about your family.

I am blessed with two grown children, a brilliant daughter-in-love, and four grandchildren—the loves of my life. The two oldest grands are finally at the age where I can take them out on dates. Look out world!

 

Have you written other nonfiction books?

No, only fiction. But the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has published a basketful of my devotions/articles, under J.A. Marx.

 

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

I’ve started a devotional type of book to go with Silenced Wives. It’s definitely a lot easier to write, I just need to make time to complete it.

 

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Hiking/walking, Zumba, and painting. I try to visit the Colorado Rockies once a year to hike and nourish my soul.

 

Why did you write The Silenced Christian Wife?

This was definitely a love-hate project. I hate that there are other women in our churches who feel like they’re alone and trapped in their toxic situation. But I love that God is using this book to be a voice for the silenced wife and a source of empowerment to help them navigate the darkness they encounter daily. The emotional bruising these wives experience usually leaves them feeling like they’re crazy, yet there’s no physical proof to back them up. So outsiders are fooled into believing the marriage is “great,” while the Silenced Wife dwindles into a mere shell of a person. My heart aches to see these women healed, set free, and restored on every level. God did it for me; He will do it for them. 

 

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

I want women to know who they are in Christ and to be empowered to thrive in that genuine identity until God either heals their husband and restores the marriage or until He delivers them from their situation. The book is also rich with scripture, which I believe is the foundation for every part of life—self, mental health, marriage, etc.

 

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

The book offers multiple accounts of silenced wives, stories that are raw and deep. I’ve lived through what these women are currently experiencing, so I’m able to offer intimate insight that resonates with their hearts. And I couldn’t have written this book without the other brave women who’ve also contributed their stories that either encourage or empower the reader.

 

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

Chapter One

The Virus

Subtle: difficult to perceive, cunning, crafty, insidious in operation.

“What a happy couple you are.”

Their innocent statement makes you want to scream. Instead, you smile graciously.

Happy—that used to be real. A beautiful togetherness.

Today, “happy” is a façade. You alone recognize the hypocrisy. And you hate it.

To speak out would invite the same subtle rebuke: “Seriously. You still don’t know how good you’ve got it?”

Verbal daggers pierce your sanity. How many more stabs can your heart take?

There are no bruises. Not on the outside, anyway. But your soul has been hemorrhaging … for years.

You alone feel the insult in his gaze. “See, baby? Other women envy you.”

They envy a fool’s paradise.

You open your mouth to explain what torments you. Nothing comes out.

Gagged, by subtle intimidation. Finding your own words is like grasping the wind.

You push through the pain. Go along with his show.

After each performance, another part of you dies.

Silenced. Buried alive, piece by piece, under the weight of veiled oppression.

But God…

The Silenced Christian Wife does not tackle basic communication problems or misunderstanding each other’s personality. This is not a book for those dealing with matters such as impotency or the empty-nest syndrome. This is not dedicated to overcoming a typical affair—although this sin is tragically common in the church today, and some of this content will be helpful for that issue. Nor is this book for couples who simply need a marriage refresher or a time away just to focus on your relationship, to work through anger and forgiveness, and to rebuild intimacy.

None of that. Instead…

The Silenced Christian Wife strikes at the insidious issues that are deeper and harder to identify, thus more difficult to deal with.

Insidious: operating or proceeding in a seemingly harmless way but actually with grave or deadly effect.

Essentially, you started out equally yoked. But after an elusive trail of Judas dialogue and tricks, you and your husband are seemingly no longer on the “equal” scale. While not every woman reading this book is fighting the exact same issue in her marital crisis, the issues do fall under the same category: difficult to detect, including deviant behavior.

Place a check mark by any of the following descriptions that express what you have been afraid to say out loud.

• The intimidation of a master manipulator is sabotaging my home.
• Passive-aggressive anger and oppression now happening was not detectable in our early years.
• The term narcissism occupies the forefront of my mind, but I dare not speak up.
• He controls all the money and judges my use of it.
• I’m only one of his two wives living under our roof (not Mormon).
• Gender identity is a sensitive topic, and my views are shunned.
• He expresses an interest in other men, and this scares me.
• I’m witnessing a rise in deviant sexual activity.
• He likes lipstick and fishnet—on himself.
• My children always believe him but never believe me.
• Extended family pities him, blaming me for all our struggles.

The above list portrays just a few symptoms of the Virus, which I will soon define. Although your spouse might not physically hit you, the internal injuries caused by his words and activities are extensive and real. A yoyo on a string best describes your relationship, and the loop is around your husband’s finger.

In fact, you might be strongly thinking about leaving the relationship, except (place check marks again):

• You are a Christian and you passionately believe marriage is a vow until death separates you. You are faithful. You are determined to keep your vow.
• You firmly believe God is more powerful than your problems and can heal the worst of marriages.
• You have been told divorce is a sin, and you fear being excommunicated.
• This book is your last-push attempt to make the relationship work.
• Fear. You feel trapped physically or financially, with no place to go.

Today, you desperately need someone to understand you, to hear your cry, and to assure you that you are not alone.

If this resonates with your heart, then I am glad you are here. Keep reading. I (J.A.) understand you. My prayer is that God will use the message in The Silenced Christian Wife to bring assurance that you are not alone, nor have you been forsaken, and God has a great plan for your life right now. Yes, the Lord is far mightier than your problems. Trust His ability to help you rise above the Virus.

 

Thank you, J A, for allowing me to share your book on my blog. I pray it will bless women everywhere who are going through this kind of problem in their marriages.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

Website www.jamarx.net

email info@jamarx.net

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/3jyyabD

https://amzn.to/36N7VLl 

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, 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.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.

Beth (IA) is the winner of Hostage by Cindy Bonds. 

Petite (NM) is the winner of Justice for Elizabeth by Mary Vee.

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.   

AND THEN BLOOMS LOVE - Sally Jo Pitts - One Free Book

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

Good question. Since I can’t separate me from me, my heroines think a lot like me. In addition, the other characters in my stories are still my perception of what I believe they would think or do. So, the answer would be “a lot.” 

 

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? 

When I was around 12 years old, I climbed with a friend onto the base of a railroad trestle that spanned over a busy four lane highway in my hometown. We hung on for dear life when a train rumbled over. I remember doing it, but it’s the WHY that escapes me!

 

When did you first discover that you were a writer? 

I had the desire to write since I was elementary school age. I would make up plays and write out movie plots that played in my head. It was after I retired from teaching that I decided to pursue that desire in earnest.

 

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

Sweet stories with happy endings! Romance, romantic suspense, mystery—especially cozies.

 

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

You must have seen my to-do list for today! This question hit home. I read a devotion in the morning to start the day. I write down the night before calls and appointments I have to make and then things I would like to accomplish. As the day unfolds, it helps give me direction and focus and keeps me relatively sane.

 

How do you choose your characters’ names? 

If I hear a name that strikes me as interesting, I keep a list and draw from it. I also use my church prayer list!

 

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? 

The first thing that pops into my head is partnering with my husband for 48 years.

 

I understand that one. James and I will celebrate our 56th anniversary in November. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? 

Dog. They are loving and forgiving—traits I’d love to have all the time.

 

What is your favorite food? 

Butternut squash soup. I had Wolfgang Puck’s soup at Disney World and became a fan.

 

The most delicious butternut squash soup I ever had was on a mission trip in Guatemala. I'd never eaten squash soup before that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? 

Expressing the senses and showing. I continue to work on it and found the little book, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson, to be helpful.

Tell us about the featured book. 

In And Then Blooms Love, I posed the question, What if two people were married but didn’t know it? Out of that premise came this more specific question: What if a wedding florist discovers she’s married to the groom?

She is determined to forget him …

Hurt by her former fiancé Clifton Davenport, new flower shop owner Emme Matthews is working hard to establish a successful business and provide for the three-year-old child she is raising. Financial woes plague her, and she is forced to accept a floral job for a special dinner at the Davenport plantation. Not wishing to upset the event, Emme stays behind the scenes, only to learn the dinner is to announce Clifton’s engagement.

He loved her from the first day he saw her …

Plantation manager Clifton Davenport harbors deep regrets. Two rash decisions not only pushed the family business near bankruptcy but cost him his first love—the girl he knew as Mary Elaine Matthews. She has moved on and so must he. Ironically, his impending marriage to the daughter of a Brazilian oil magnate might be the salvation of the Davenport legacy and the answer to Emme’s indebtedness.

A discovery threatens to change things …

Shocking news forces Emme and Clifton to face not only their past but the love they left behind.

 

That sounds intriguing. Please give us the first page of the book.   

Could she steal ten minutes of quiet before life found her? With a devotional book squeezed under her arm and a steaming mocha latte in hand, Emme Matthews crept down the stairs of her living quarters to the flower shop below. First light was ushering a new spring morning into Hamilton Harbor, snuggled in the crook of the coastline on Florida’s Panhandle. She didn’t want to miss the show.

C-r-e-e-e-a-k

“Shh.” She lifted her foot from the squeaky step and listened. No stirrings came from three-year-old Richie’s room. The plink of water dripping in the work sink downstairs provided customary white noise. Floral fragrances sparred with the musky scents of new carpet and freshly painted walls.

Only two more steps.

But when her bare foot touched the hardwood floor at the bottom of the stairs, a warning alarm shrieked from the refrigerated floral display case. Emme jumped. Hot coffee sloshed on her hand and the devotion book skittered across the floor. She plunked the cup on the work table, ran to the sink, and shoved her hand under the faucet to let the water cool her skin. Sunlight pushed through the front display window, exposing a layer of condensation on the cooler’s glass doors.

“My flower shipment.” The words spilled from her mouth. She snatched the cooler door open. Inside, a blend of sweet odors filled her nostrils. The damp shelves and sides of the refrigerated case were barely cool to the touch. The daisies were holding up, but the daffodils had begun to nod. “Please, please, please stand tall.” No way she’d give voice to the florist’s dreaded wilt word.

Talking to plants had a therapeutic effect, and these flowers needed encouragement. “You can make it. I’ll get help as soon as I can.” She closed the door and ran shaky, damp fingers through her long hair, snagging on the tangles.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet? 

www.sallyjopitts.com

Thank you, Sally, for sharing this story with my blog readers and me. I'm so glad my copy came earlier this week. I'm eager to read it.

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/33gqmWq 

https://amzn.to/3n7GGAy

 

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, 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

AIRBORNE - DiAnn Mills - One Free Book

Bio: DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

 

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Speakers, Nonfiction and Novelist with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 

 Welcome back, DiAnn. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

We are all driven by specific callings and goals. I call these passions. Obviously one of mine is communicating through the written word. I love to write books for fans of Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction, FBI Crime Solving Novels, and Clean Romance. I’m challenged daily to ensure my writing combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots which result in action-packed, suspense-filled novels. I also believe in mentoring serious new writers.

 

When God called me into writing, He also called me to give back to serious writers. I receive so much satisfaction when a writing student is published or receives an award. Through the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Edie Melson and I, as directors, strive to provide writers with the best tools to grow their craft and their relationship with God.

 

I live in Houston, Texas, with my husband Dean. He and I work together to provide my readers and writers the best possible experience—and glorify God. 

                                                                                                                                                           

How did you become interested in writing?

I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing. Story to me is life. Everyone is living a story, and I want to be a part of recording that history.

Due to lack of confidence, I didn’t start writing seriously until my husband challenged me to write a book. That was 1996, and that book was published in 1998. I’ve never stopped. For the past nearly four years, my husband has helped me full time. We view our partnership as a ministry.                                         

What compelled you to write a book on this subject?

An idea … What if a virus unleashed onboard an international flight?

The idea pestered me for nearly three years before I wrote the book. In fact, Airborne was scheduled for release before COVID hit our world.

The search to find experts who were willing to give me accurate information took another year. Along the way, God placed the right people in my path:

1. A woman and new friend whose doctorate is in microbiology and immunology.
2. A man who trains flight attendants for the airline that I envisioned in my story.
3. A pilot who not only flies for my designated airline but is also a suspense and thriller writer.
4. The amazing people and resources of the CDC.
5. The wisdom and guidance of the FBI. 

                                                                                                                                                           

What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book?                                                                                          

God is in control.

Marriage

Forgiveness

Trust

Mental health issues                                                  

                                                                 

Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?

My mission then and now is to show a story that weaves hope, reality, and the sacrificial work of first responders when a deadly virus spreads through innocent people.

My prayer is people will experience God’s presence during our current global crisis. Will you join me in that prayer? 

                                                                             

What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today?      

It’s a suspense that incorporates a crime, a failing marriage, and how various personalities work.       

                                                                                                                                   

How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?

God is our priority, first place. He called me into writing fiction and teaching others what I learn. Airborne addresses God is in control of every aspect of our lives, and He cares.    

                                                                                                                                                                       

Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?

Jeremiah 20:9 NIV

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
    indeed, I cannot. 

 

When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?      

Bake, cook, garden, read, and spend time with the grandkids. Also love to travel!

                                                                                                                                                           

Tell us about the book.

Heather Lawrence’s long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn’t supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she’s witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living—but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.

While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s husband. The Lawrences’ marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.

As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected. 

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Houston, Early July Monday 6P

Vacations offered a distraction for those who longed to relax and rejuvenate, but FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence wrestled with the decision to take an overseas trip alone. Normally she arrived for a flight at IAH eager to embark upon a new adventure. Not this time. Her vacation expectations had bottomed out over four weeks ago after Chad had slammed the door on reconciliation. Was she working through her grief or avoiding the reality of a husband who no longer wanted her? She waited to board the flight in a designated line at the gate. The hum of voices blended with airport beeps, and announcements swirled around her as though enticing her to join the enthusiasm. In the line beside her, passengers shifted their carry-ons and positioned their mobile devices or paper boarding passes. Ready. Alert. People eager to be on their way. Heather offered a smile to those nearest her. An adorable little blond boy with an older woman found it hard to stand still. A middle-aged couple held hands. The bald head and pasty skin of the man indicated a medical condition. He stumbled, and the woman reached for him. A robust man held a violin case next to his heart. A twentysomething woman with pink hair and a man behind her with a scruffy beard exchanged a kiss. Chad used to steal kisses. If she pinpointed the exact moment when he chose to separate himself from her, she’d say when he returned from a third trip for Doctors Without Borders late last fall. He’d witnessed suffering and cruel deaths that had scarred him. She’d encouraged his desire to help others, not realizing their future would take a backseat. While he drove toward success, their marriage drifted across the lanes and stalled in a rut. 

 

As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?

Readers can learn more about Airborne here: https://diannmills.com/books/airborne/ You’ll find a book video, bookclub aids, buy buttons, first chapter, and discussion questions. Let me know how you like the story.

As you consider your personal aspirations, expand your horizons to include the opportunities around you. We’ve all been given gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God. Don’t let them go to waste. Develop your skills and reach out to grasp that which God has purposed for you.

Don’t forget to comment to be entered in a random drawing for a copy of Airborne.

 

Thanks, Lena for hosting me. 

 

It's always a pleasure to have you on my blog. I'm really eager to read this story, and I know my readers will be, too. I just received it a few days ago, and it went to the top of my to-be-read stack.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I love to hear from readers! Email me at: diann@diannmills.com Or connect with me on the social media platforms listed on my website: https://diannmills.com/

 

Readers, here are links to the book.

Airborne - Christianbook.com

https://amzn.to/3mYLng1 - Amazon Paperback

https://amzn.to/3cKscCa - 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, 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.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win.

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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.