WINNER

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.

Sharon (SC) is the winner of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragón.

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. 

JOURNEY TO CHIYAH - Kimberly Russell - One Free Book (Print if winner is in USA, Ebook if winner is not)

Welcome, Kimberly. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. My debut, Journey to ChiYah, is a fictional account of my own travels to emotional healing, portrayed in an allegory. The main character, Jade, is pretty much me with some exceptions—needed to use a little writerly license to make her a bit more interesting. I’m currently editing my next project that is purely fiction, from a male point of view. That being said, I can still see some of me coming out in Frankie Taylor.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Hmm, quirky and me don’t usually go together—I’m pretty straight-laced and dull, living a quiet life of no stress and few risks, but while it might not be quirky, I love sharing this one as it is so amazing: Three years ago, I got on a plane with my two sisters, and we flew to Minnesota to meet our older brother Bill for the first time after finding him on Ancestry DNA. We knew there was another sibling, but never dreamed God would allow us to find him. He is ten years older than me, never knew he had a single blood relative on the planet, and now has all of us. (Yes, we can be a lot.) I always wanted a big brother, and now I have a Bill plus a bonus sister in his wife, Marsha. It took a few years, but I can finally buy him a birthday card without standing in the card aisle weeping.

That’s wonderful. I love stories like that. When did you first discover that you were a writer? English was always my favorite subject in school, and reading was my passion—I was never without a book nearby and was THAT kid that got caught in fifth grade reading for fun behind my math book. (I detested math, and it still makes me break out in hives.) Over the years, I dabbled in this and that as far as writing, but never seriously considered pursuing it until I came out the other side of a dark time in my life that left me saying, “Okay, God, what next?” to which He answered, “I want you to write.”

I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. -Oswald Chambers

Finding my purpose was a lengthy endeavor, but out of dark times and my own quest for wholeness, God birthed His intentions for me: “The Grrrr of a Writer.”

What started out as a pitiful mewl grew to consume my soul and comes out roaring like a lion that cannot be silenced. Although it’s hard work, I can’t NOT write. It’s at my core and needs somewhere to go, which was confirmed when God told me that my words would go on assignment. My hashtag, #SharingHopeThroughWords, says it all: If I can help someone else through the talents He’s blessed me with, my assignment has been accomplished.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. Over the years, I explored contemporary, secular fiction in various genres. When Kindle came into the world, my reading life exploded—I am all about instant gratification, hence the 500 books in my account. Kindle enabled me to branch out into other genres and try new things, but eventually I discovered Christian fiction and have never looked back. I don’t care for smut or blood and gore, and don’t feel the need to feed garbage into my head. That being said, I’m also discovering the different genres within CF and exploring some of them as well… especially since Journey to ChiYah fell into Christian fantasy as it is an allegory about a gal that goes on an adventure. I had been researching where to fit this oddity and was actually horrified at the thought of fantasy—really stretched me out of my comfort zone. I started to read some in the genre, and while it isn’t for me, I found some wonderful authors. I might also add that I’m GREATLY relieved to be returning to good old contemporary, Christian fiction.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I checked out of the run, run, run world by retiring. Seriously. I worked in the Michigan prison system for 30 years as an executive secretary to the Warden. It was a super high stress position with an overwhelming workload and I’m surprised I didn’t have a nervous breakdown. Combine that with life in general, and my existence was one big ball of anxiety. When I reached my retirement attainment date, I knew I was done with it all. Now? Anytime I even get a whiff of hurry or pressure, I back away so fast it isn’t funny. More than a couple of things in one day are too much for me now. I’m only a shadow of the person I was then, and I adore my life.

How do you choose your characters’ names? It all depends. Often, I go with the first name that pops in my head and after I get to know them, can’t imagine trying to change their name. Funny how that works.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? My initial thought would be, of course, that I’m an Indie published author. I know that seems cliché, but it truly is something I’m incredibly proud of—it was a long road. I’m also very proud of the fact that I am a homeowner, financially independent, single woman. That, too, has been a long time coming, but I’ve been on my own for many years and hope it encourages other woman who may find themselves in a bad situation (like I was more than once) to believe that yes, they can make it on their own.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? Most definitely a cat. They just kind of wander about without a care and give no thought to who is pleased (or displeased) with them. They’re a bit rebellious, no-nonsense, and consider themselves king of their world. Plus, they get to sleep a lot.

What is your favorite food? I know it sounds odd, but I adore carrot chips, cherry tomatoes, and hummus. A year ago I embarked on a healthier lifestyle, lost forty pounds, and completely changed how I eat and these are now my go-to snack, along with fruits like grapes, apples, and all kinds of berries.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? It was all in my head. Literally. I grappled with my emotions and a performance-based mentality, mostly due to my insecurities. I’ve since discovered this was all ploys by the enemy to prevent me from the assignment God has given me, but occasionally still battle in some form or another. The struggle is real.

Tell us about the featured book. Journey has been… a journey, for sure. As I look back, I’m amazed at how God orchestrated this thing by using my own emotional healing, the teachings of my church, and personal experiences. He glued it together to become a story of hope and encouragement for others even while using it as a cathartic therapy module during my own travels toward emotional restoration. He is so amazing and it still bowls me over how He pulled this thing off. And now? He is my marketing CEO, and He is in charge of using the project as He wills. I just do what He says and let him take care of the rest. It makes me chuckle to see how few copies I sell and how I’ve given away (at His direction) about three times as many. The payoff? When I hear someone has been touched by Jade’s story, I know my work is done… yet never completed.

Back cover blurb:
Jade Pepperdine has a problem: Her life is crumbling beneath the weight of the past, events of the present, and fears for her future. Things need to change, but she doesn’t know where to start. Answers come in the form of an unexpected opportunity when Jade finds herself stuck in a mythical land. She meets Mayor Dudley, who insinuates she is emotionally broken and in need of repair ... a fact she’d just as soon ignore. He offers to help her get home if she is willing to face her issues through a process of restoration. Frightened and skeptical yet out of options, Jade grudgingly agrees. And soon figures out that change is a journey, not a destination. Come along on the adventure of a lifetime, and maybe you’ll find someone you never knew you lost: Yourself.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

The cave’s bone-chilling temperature matched the icy loathing that enveloped Mayor’s heart.

Stalactites tapered from the ceiling to where fat water droplets echoed a drip-drip-drip as they spattered to the ground. One landed on his cheek, and he swiped it away.

Fossils embedded in the granite walls looked like carved-out faces, frozen in silent screams. He sneezed from the damp, musty odor oozing from every crevice. Allergies? More like an aversion to this horrid place.

He drilled the tip of his cane impatiently into the crumbling limestone of the cave’s floor. Why had he ever agreed to meet in the enemy’s lair? They could have sat in one of the pleasant conference rooms at the home office where at least a mug of steaming tea would melt his frozen insides. Abaddon had probably insisted on holding the meeting in the wintry cavern just to annoy him—like having Mayor on his turf would give him the upper hand? He’d never learn.

Eons ago, Abaddon had been one of Mayor’s top agents… that is until his pride got the best of him. He challenged authority and attempted a coup that earned him permanent banishment from the kingdom.

Thunder boomed, and the cave vibrated until dirt from the ceiling tumbled down the walls. Mayor smirked. Was this little spectacle supposed to impress him? A howling wind forced him to hold his hat in place. With a burst of flame, his host arrived.

Tall and lanky, the man appeared gaunt, his face a pale shade of gray. Even his black hair was streaked with more silver than Mayor recalled. Perhaps the stress of perpetual defeat was beginning to weigh on him.

Mayor took in the oily black tux and tails that shimmered with red leather outlines. Orange buttons shaped like flames dotted the double breast and accented the vest underneath. An ebony tie circled his neck and set off the bright orange shirt to complete the outfit. He had to admit that his arch enemy did cut a rather dashing figure. Too bad there’s so much ugly on the inside.

“Every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp-dressed man, eh?” Abaddon threw his head back and roared at his own humor.

Mayor pursed his lips. His adversary’s attempt to conceal emotions through animated jocularity fell flat, his eyes, cold and dead, betraying an inner turmoil of significant magnitude. Interesting.

“Surely you know one of the greatest party songs of all time.” He hummed a few bars of the old rock-and-roll tune. “ZZ Top?”

“Can we just get on with it?”

The evil one smirked, snapped his fingers, and a round table surrounded by rolling chairs appeared. They settled, and one of Abaddon’s hired hands rolled in a cart with an onyx coffee pot trimmed in gold with matching mugs. The man shot a fearful glance at his boss, received a dismissive grunt, then bowed and backed out of the room.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Sign up for Kim’s newsletter: https://rebrand.ly/i9urolq

Amazon Author Page:  author.to/KimsAuthorPage

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

Web Site:  https://www.kimberlykrussell.com/

GoodReads:  https://rebrand.ly/7w5hxhj

BookBub:  https://rebrand.ly/zq2je6a

Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I know it will help lots of the readers.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/gpuu50Gmimg

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.

Sharon (SC) is the winner of Hope For Healing From Domestic Abuse by Karen DeArmond Gardner. 

Elly (IN) is the winner of Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E Betz.

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.

THE UNLIKELY YARN OF THE DRAGON LADY - Sharon J Mondragón - One Free Book

It’s easy to fall into a routine that’s easy and comfortable because it’s what has always been done. But sometimes we need to get pushed out of our comfort zones in order to do the work God really calls us to do. That’s what happens to the members of the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry in Sharon J. Mondragón’s debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady (Kregel Publications).

Welcome, Sharon. Tell us a little bit about your new book, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady. The four knitters of the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry are stuck—in a comfortable mold of ministry, a stagnant church, and at the points of pain they each have in their own life. All this changes when their pastor kicks them out of the comfortable, quiet prayer chapel to take their ministry out into the world. They end up knitting way out of their comfort zone at the local mall during the Christmas shopping season where anything can happen.

Introduce us to the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry. Who are the members and what is the mission of the ministry? The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry has met from 9:30-11:30 every Wednesday morning for the past seven years to knit prayer shawls. They knit in the peace and quiet of the Prayer Chapel of Hope of Glory Community Church, praying silently. Margaret is the self-appointed leader of the group (she tends to take charge of whatever she’s involved in). Jane, a mother of teens, gives Rose a ride from Fair Meadows Retirement Community every week. Fran is a recent widow learning to knit as she begins to emerge from the fog of grief.

The purpose of their ministry is to make shawls to comfort and encourage people who are ill, bereaved or otherwise going through a difficult time. They pray as they knit to infuse the shawls with a sense of the presence of God. The shawls are a tangible expression of God’s love and care—a hug from God.

The prayer shawl knitters have been meeting in the church’s prayer chapel, but their routine gets turned upside down. What happened? Their pastor, Father Pete, has been tasked with either reviving Hope of Glory or shutting it down. If he were a betting man, the bishop would put his money on closing the church. Father Pete, however, isn’t someone who gives up easily. He’s tried all the usual ways of stirring things up—sprucing up the church, expanding the children’s ministry, small groups, to no avail.

At a recent clergy conference, however, Father Pete gets a brainwave. The bishop tells the pastors in attendance that people are not coming to church anymore, therefore, they need to take church to the people. Father Pete decides that a great way to do this would be to send Hope of Glory (in the form of the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry) out to the people who aren’t coming to church. After all, what is as inviting and cozy as a group of knitters? He tells them that for the next month, while work is being done in the prayer chapel, they must meet in public.

What starts to happen as the ladies start knitting in the middle of the mall? People notice them. It starts with a college student, Sarah, who tells the knitters they remind her of her grandmother who makes afghans. After Rose explains prayer shawls to her, Sarah asks the group to pray about her upcoming test. Word gets out, and soon the knitters are fielding prayer requests from all over the mall—from a tire salesman up for promotion and retail workers barely making ends meet to the assistant manager at the bookstore who is worried about her gravely-ill boss.

The Heavenly Hugs also attract a few young women who want to learn to knit. Rose is delighted to pass on this skill, but the knitting lessons upset Margaret. Not only are they not getting much praying done when people stop by to talk to them, but teaching knitting has never been part of their ministry. She’s convinced the ministry is falling apart, even though some of the people they’ve talked with at the mall start showing up at church.

What happens once a prayer shawl is finished? How is it decided who gets a shawl? When one of the Heavenly Hugs ladies finishes a shawl, Margaret attaches a tag with the words “Made for you with love and prayer by the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry” on one side and “You are not alone,” followed by the church’s contact information on the other. Then the shawl is delivered to the church, where Father Pete and the congregation pray over it the following Sunday. The shawl is then stored in the church office to be given out to those who request one for someone they know and care about who is having a rough time. On occasion, Father Pete or Lucille, the church administrator, give them to someone who has come for counseling or support.

Why is Margaret so focused on an arbitrary set of rules that it keeps her from seeing the positives of knitting at the mall? For one thing, Margaret is used to being in charge. She doesn’t like being told what to do. She invokes those arbitrary rules in order to maintain the status quo. She likes having the prayer shawl ministry in the neat little box of the Prayer Chapel, where nothing unexpected happens and no-one challenges her authority.

She is also using those rules much like the Pharisees used theirs—to keep God at arm’s length. It looks like she’s ministering on the outside, but she’s using those rules to keep from engaging with God. Meeting at the mall changes the way the group ministers. It makes them aware of “the wants and needs” of a group of people they hadn’t thought about before. Being out among the people they’re praying for forces awareness of these needs and shakes them out of complacency. While Rose, Fran, and Jane come to embrace this, Margaret continues to be uncomfortable with the changes and unpredictability. She’d rather keep the people and their problems at arm’s length, too, especially as they begin to inch her toward facing a long-buried hurt.

 After a couple of months, why is it so difficult for Margaret to admit Father Pete may have been right in kicking the knitters out of the prayer chapel? Why does she always have to be in control? Margaret is something of a matriarch at Hope of Glory, the church “Dragon Lady.” She’s seen pastors come and pastors go, but she has maintained her firm grip on “the way we’ve always done things.” It’s a matter of pride for her to always be right. Having opposed Father Pete, she can’t swallow her pride and admit that he was right.

This issue of control is something I’ve thought about a great deal. There are a number of bossy women in my life. Not being bossy myself, I’ve been perplexed about how these women can feel so comfortable telling others what to do and always getting their own way. Margaret’s character began as an attempt to understand bossy women. I hoped that by getting inside her head and heart, seeing things through her eyes, I m­ight gain insight into the inner workings of my own bossy women.

What I’ve discovered is that not all bossy women have the same motivations. For some it’s about power, the flexing of “muscles” to be able to make others do things. Others believe they have the best ideas, so naturally, others should do as they say. For women like Margaret, there’s an element of pride. They want everything they do to come out in a way that reflects well on them, regardless of much steamrolling they must do to achieve it.

For Margaret, however, it goes even deeper. She is trying to fend something off by controlling as much as she can. Realizing this was an epiphany for me. I realized that I, too, had struggled with the issue of trying to protect myself vs. trusting God with my future and my heart. I found that my bossy character and I had common ground after all.

What happens that finally starts to turn Margaret’s heart around? Through one of the prayer requests at the mall, Margaret comes face-to-face with a situation which hits uncannily close to home, a situation from which she has been running for over two decades. This trauma has been at the bottom of her steely and desperate need to control. She is finally moved toward change and healing when she decides to try to save someone else from the regrets that have haunted her for over twenty-five years.

Can you share what the other members of the group are struggling with in their lives? Rose Harker is eighty-five, widowed, and has relished her independence. She enjoyed her involvement at church, her friendships with the families in her neighborhood, and driving herself whenever she wanted to go somewhere—until she mowed down her daughter’s mailbox while she was backing out of the driveway, that is. Her bossy daughter thinks the best place for Rose is Fair Meadows Retirement Community, so that’s where she’s living now. That doesn’t mean she has to like it, though. At the beginning of the story, Rose is not adjusting well to life at Fair Meadows, shunning new friendships and wishing she could go back to living on her own.

Jane Crenshaw is the harried mother of three contentious teenagers—a nineteen-year-old son, Kenny, and two daughters, Anna and Emily, who are fifteen and thirteen. Jane thought that once troublemaker Kenny was out of the house, things would settle down, but the girls are still intensely quarrelsome with each other and with Jane. Kenny’s behavior has hurt Jane deeply, to the point that she is estranged from him. Rose reminds her that she needs to forgive him, but Jane can’t see how that will ever be possible.

Fran McMillan is beginning to emerge from the shock of sudden bereavement. One minute she was planning a cruise to celebrate her husband Ed’s retirement from a busy, demanding career (he would have time for her at last!), and the next she was planning his funeral after a heart attack. At the beginning of the story, we meet a timid woman who is just coming out of not only the shadow of grief, but the shadow of her husband. She’s learning to knit and has started to venture out into the world again beyond just going to church. Knitting at the mall is out of her comfort zone, but she braves it anyway. Who knows what’s in store for her?

You are involved in actual prayer shawl ministry, aren’t you? Can you tell us more about it? I made my first prayer shawl in 2008. It was for myself, akin to how flight attendants tell us to put the oxygen masks on ourselves before helping others with theirs. In 2009, I joined my first prayer shawl group. I was, once again, the new girl at church, due to a military move (my husband had been assigned to Fort Gordon, located just outside Augusta, Georgia). I joined the prayer shawl group in hopes of making some friends. It turned out to be so much more!

The Hands of Comfort Prayer Shawl Ministry did not meet at The Church of the Holy Comforter, but in the café of a local health food store. The pastor wanted us to ply our needles in public, not hidden away in the church building. People often stopped by our table to ask what we were making or to tell us about someone they loved who also knitted or crocheted. We were a warm and comforting presence in that space every week.

At first, I thought of prayer shawl making as something nice to do for hurting people, but I soon discovered that God wanted something deeper from me. Most of the shawls I made went into the supply at church. They were an act of faith, as I never knew who would receive them or exactly why the shawls were needed. Then I started to experience what I call “The Nudge,” that urge to make a shawl for a particular person. This involved a great deal of listening as I searched for the right yarn and pattern for each shawl. I began to pay attention to the situations that prompted the nudge and caught a glimpse of how much God cares about fractured relationships, unspeakable sorrow, and weariness of soul. Prayer shawl making has become a way to draw closer to the heart of God, to see people and situations through His eyes.

At the end of my husband’s military career in 2014, we moved to Texas to be closer to family (especially our marvelous grandchildren). I’ve since become the facilitator for the prayer shawl ministry at our church. Those who are able meet on Friday afternoons at a local coffee shop. We are not only friends and knitting (and crochet) buddies, but prayer partners, lifting up and encouraging one another.

Do you have a new writing project in the works? Yes, I do. I’m working on another prayer shawl novel. This story takes place at the retirement community where my character Rose lives. Sam Talbot is barely existing since his wife went into Memory Care at Fair Meadows Retirement Community. Life has lost all color and meaning—until he gets tangled up with flirtatious Jenny Alderman, crotchety crocheter Edna Booth, and the rest of the prayer shawl group Rose is heading up at Fair Meadows. The Woolgatherers make prayer shawls for the caretakers of folks with dementia, but they soon find out that God has much more in mind for each of them. Jenny, Edna, and Sam come face to face with uncomfortable truths about themselves and are challenged to embrace new ways of living and relating to God and others. It’s a story of love and loss, the pain of loneliness, and the power of community.

I’m excited about this book because I feel it’s important to reach out and support those who love and care for people with memory issues. We tend not to want to think about this situation because the thought of developing memory problems ourselves is frightening. It’s deeply distressing to watch someone’s memory and function fade. Caretakers, however, need our love, concern, and support, even if it’s simply a listening ear and a hug from someone who can recognize them. In this book, I hope readers will gain a sense of God’s heart for caretakers and follow Him in loving and caring for them. The care of both memory patients and their caretakers is truly a place where courage and kindness meet.

Visit Sharon Mondragón’s website and blog at www.sharonjMondragón.com and follow her on Facebook (Sherry Mondragón) and Twitter (@SJ_Mondragón).

Thank you, Sharon for sharing this interesting book with my blog readers and me. I’m also a knitter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/26Zz50GksAG

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. 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 do n'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.

Crystal (PA) is the winner of 100 Proof Murder by Mary Ellis 

Melanie (TX) Connie (TX), Cherie (FL), Lucy (WV), and Lourdes (NY) is the winner of Christmas Love Through the Ages.

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.    

DEATH AND A CROCODILE - Lisa E Betz - One Free Book

Bio: Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church. 

Welcome, Lisa. What drew you to set a mystery in first-century Rome? My interest in ancient Roman culture stems from many years teaching Bible studies. I have tried to absorb as much as possible about the culture and history of the Roman Empire so I can bring the ancient world to life and make the Bible more relevant to modern Christians.

I chose the mid-first century because I couldn’t write a light-hearted story with a snarky main character that was set during the Great Fire of Rome, or the persecutions that came after that. I’ve chosen to set the novel during the reign of Emperor Claudius, which means the story takes place a dozen years before Paul first visits the city.

One of the challenges I faced when researching this time period is a lack of “inside information” about the earliest days of church history. Most of what we know about how the early Christian churches functioned comes from later periods, when persecution was a problem and the Christians had been forced to become selective about who they allowed into their fellowship.  I have imagined the church at this stage was open to curious visitors, and had not yet developed the lengthy catechisms that converts were required to complete in later centuries.

How much freedom did women have back then? Is it feasible for a female to be a sleuth in that period? The Roman Empire was very much a patriarchal society. That being said, women enjoyed more rights during the Roman Empire than they’ve been allowed in most of the centuries leading up to modern times. For example, women could inherit property, run businesses, initiate lawsuits, and divorce their husbands. A clever and determined woman like Livia could find ways to investigate a mystery, although she would encounter obstacles a male wouldn’t face.

I knew there would be limits to what a young female sleuth could do without ruining her reputation, so from the start I knew she would need male allies to collect information from places or persons inaccessible to her. She will be collecting those allies as the series progresses. 

I have taken my inspiration for Livia from a host of other female sleuths who solve crimes despite the constraints of their historical eras. A few examples include: Lindsey Davis’s Flavia Albia, Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody, Margaret Frazers’s Dame Frevisse, and Jane Finnis’s Aureila Marcella. (You might notice that two of the sleuths I mentioned also thwart crime during the Roman Empire. So Livia is in good company.)

What is the significance of the coin shown on the cover of the book? When my sleuth’s father is murdered, she finds an old coin on his body that has an image of a crocodile on one side. From the start she’s convinced it’s an important clue, although in the end it doesn’t turn out to mean what she thinks it does. Despite her incorrect assumptions, the coin leads her to important information and plays a part in the final solution.

This particular coin was minted in about 10 AD. The crocodile chained to a palm tree represents the conquest of Egypt, when Augustus defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony. If Livia had been paying attention during history lessons, she could have told you it was the decisive victory that ended the civil war and allowed Augustus to become sole leader, which eventually led to him becoming emperor, thus ending the Roman Republic and starting the Roman Empire.

What kind of persecution does Livia face for her faith in Christ? At this time the Christian church was in it’s infancy. It was operating under the radar of the Roman government. When they noticed it at all, they thought it was a sect of Judaism, which meant the earliest Christians enjoyed the same religious freedoms that were granted to Jews.

Once the authorities realized Christianity was a new and separate religion things changed. At that point Christianity became a religio illicita, or an unauthorized religion, and therefore open to government persecution.

Due to the early date, Livia doesn’t face active persecution from the authorities. She does face disapproval from her parents and others. Her parents adhere to a strict notion of traditional and respectable behavior. They would interpret Livia’s adoption of any non-Roman religion as abandoning her heritage, which could bring dishonor to the family and risk the disfavor of the gods. They would insist she give up her new beliefs and ban her from visiting her Christian friends. To avoid this, she’d kept her faith a secret, but sooner or later she’s going to have to admit it and deal with the consequences.

One of the issues your heroine faces in the book is an arranged marriage. What could a woman of her day do about that? A marriage would typically be arranged between the girl’s father and the groom. According to Roman law, a father couldn’t force his daughter into a marriage if she didn’t consent to it, so theoretically a woman had a say in the matter. But I doubt many girls really had a choice. If a daughter defied her father’s wishes, she might face being disinherited or kicked from the house. Few women could afford to take that risk.

Livia understands the realities of her society. She daydreams about swaying her father’s choice, but she doesn’t really expect her father will listen to her. When her father dies before finalizing the betrothal, she thinks she’s been given a lucky break. Her brother will take over as her guardian and she’s confident she can talk him into letting her marry the suitor of her choice.

But then her brother is accused of murder and it looks like her uncle may gain control of the household. If he succeeds, he’ll force Livia to marry the husband of her worst nightmares. The rest of the story is Livia’s attempt to control her destiny by proving her brother is innocent so he can remain her guardian and protect her from her uncle’s schemes.

Many of your characters, including the sleuth and her sidekick, are misfits.  Explain your reasons behind this choice. I have never been good at fitting into the accepted mold of whatever group I was with. I guess that’s why I’ve always been drawn to stories that feature misfits and underdogs. I understand the pain of not being cool or popular, and I respect others (real or fictional) who are brave enough to overcome and succeed despite their underdog status.

Living with authenticity is one of my core beliefs. In my blog I encourage my readers to appreciate their true selves and risk revealing their real persona to the world. In my novels I intentionally include characters who don’t fit the conventional mold. Then I show the heroic or honorable qualities hiding inside these people whom others see as flawed or useless.

My heroine is a free spirit who flaunts convention more publicly than I would dare. She needed a sidekick that could keep up with her, so I gave her a streetwise maid who speaks when she should keep her moth shut and lacks the polish of a traditional lady’s maid. She’s the prefect servant for a woman who decides to investigate a murder without any idea how to go about it.

Have you tried any of the unusual ancient recipes you describe in the book? A few. I made a pork stew with raisin sauce that was quite delicious. Another thing I’ve experimented with is must cake.  In my book, must cake is a favorite of Livia’s aunt. Must is crushed grape pulp and juice, and was a common sweetener. The recipe I tried was adapted from Cato’s writings. It was fairly dense and strongly flavored with cumin, anise, and bay leaf, with only a hint of sweetness. I’m sure the ones Livia purchases at Pansa’s bakery for her aunt are sweeter, flakier, and more subtly flavored.

Roman cooking in the first century was very different from modern Italian cuisine. Many foods we associate with Italy, such as pasta with red sauce, polenta, and cappuccino were not available to the ancients. Tomatoes and corn, for example, are new world foods, which didn’t arrive in Europe until the sixteenth century. 

Also, ancient Romans favored certain herbs that are no longer typical, such as rue (very bitter and potentially poisonous) and sylphium, which they loved so much they ate it into extinction. Another popular flavoring was a salty sauce made from fermented fish called garum. They used is as a condiment and as a common ingredient in sauces and stews.

With ingredients like those, many of the recipes handed down to us by the ancients don’t sound very appealing. I’ll leave it to Livia and her friends to enjoy some of the odder recipes without me.

Is your sleuth anything like you? Yes and no. I don’t think I’m assertive enough or nosy enough to be a good sleuth. But I do enjoy solving challenging puzzles an I have an independent streak. Like Livia, I want to be appreciated for the real me, rather than pretending to fit somebody else’s mold. Plus, we’re both fond of cats and have strong opinions about food.

However, Livia is more determined and energetic than I am. I wanted a heroine who had both the smarts and the gumption to solve crimes even when the men around her were trying to make her stop. She also needed an outgoing personality so she could talk herself out of problems (when she chases after clues without considering the consequences) and into the houses of total strangers (when she needs to ask a few nosy questions).

Ultimately, she’s a combination of many women I have admired over the years who had boundless energy, a zest for life, and enough drive to make their goals come to pass no matter the odds. My grandmother is one of my role models for her.

You started your professional career as an engineer. How did you end up writing mystery novels? I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up dreaming about becoming an author. English was never my favorite class, or even my third-favorite. Throughout high school and college I focused on the analytical side of my brain, eventually majoring in mechanical engineering and taking a job at a manufacturing plant.

And yet, all along I was nurturing my creative side as well: reading tons of books, attending and participating in live theater, writing silly drama for my friends to perform. So you see, stories and storytelling were always a part of my life. I love math and science because they’re predictable and logical, but stories are what grab my full attention. Stories have the power to transport me away from my reality to another world.

Story’s power to transport me happens when I’m writing as well as when I’m reading a book or watching a movie. That’s what has captured my heart and sustained me through years of learning the craft of writing.

Where do you see this series going? I am hoping that Livia will be solving mysteries for many years. I have a novella and two additional mysteries plotted, with ideas for more. The second novel begins shortly after Livia is married. (You’ll have to read the end of book one to find out who her husband will be.)

As the second novel progresses, Livia and her husband slowly move from the wary mistrust of strangers to mutual respect. Neither entered marriage expecting to find love, but they will eventually get there. As the series develops, they’ll learn how to become a team when it comes to solving crimes.

What was your goal in writing this book? My primary goal was to create an entertaining story for readers who prefer novels that don’t include sex, violence, or swearing. However, I wasn’t interested in creating a typical Christian historical romance. I have always been drawn to books that were different than what everyone else was reading, and so I wanted to write a story that was a bit unusual. That’s how I ended up writing a mystery set in first-century Rome. It combines the intriguing setting of a far off time and place with the action and suspense of a mystery.

How can my blog readers find you on the Internet? https://lisaebetz.com/

Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your new novel with my blog readers and me. It sounds very interesting.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/iUgS50Gg5R3

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.

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HOPE FOR HEALING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE - Karen DeArmond Gardner - One Free Book

Bio: Thirty year, four months, and two days after she said, “I do,” Karen DeArmond Gardner left an abusive marriage. Today she’s a trauma advocate for women who are in or have left abusive marriages. Karen is a truth teller and myth buster about domestic abuse.

Welcome, Karen. What would you like for our readers to know about you personally? I grew up in Southern California. My favorite place is the beach. Sand between my toes, the scent of salt in the air, the sound of waves crashing on the shore is calming to my soul.

I moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas in January 2005. I love living in Texas, though I wouldn’t mind moving to the mountains for the summer. I love to read. I’m a true crime fan, and a redhead who won’t let the gray come out to play.

I survived a thirty-year abusive marriage, which is how I ended up in Texas. I started writing when I was fifty-seven. I didn’t grow up wanting to be an author. I am proof that you’re never too old to begin again.

Tell us about your family. I remarried in 2010 to Tom Gardner, between us we have three adult children and five grandchildren. Tom and I own a private security company. Tom is a bodyguard and Elder at our church.  

Have you written other nonfiction books? I’ve contributed to Arise to Peace: A Daily Devotional and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished! And I blog periodically.

Do you have any other books in the works right now? I have the bones of a book that I’ll start working on early next year. It will be a daily book of encouragement for survivors of domestic abuse.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy? I’m digging into our family ancestry. I’ve discovered that one line of our history goes back to the Kings of England, another line to Barons, Knights, Contessa’s, and Ladies with a US President and a serial killer thrown in. I’m still researching the French side of the family and we may be part Jewish. Which absolutely thrills me.

Why did you write the featured book? It was the book I needed when I left my abusive marriage. I found many books that explained what happened to me, which I needed to know. I didn’t know I could heal. I thought I would live with the pain for the rest of my life. The only option was to bury the pain deep within my soul. Pain always leaks out; it looks like something and acts like something, and it’s usually not pretty.

I unintentionally healed, enough to remarry in 2010. In 2013, God determined to be more intentional in my healing. He led me to join a Mending the Soul group at the church I was attending. I thought it was the end of my healing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was the beginning. Year after year, God invited me into deeper healing. I’ve since discovered the More of God. Domestic abuse isn’t a life sentence.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book? Leaving is just the beginning. It’s the beginning of unbelievable hard. Life doesn’t get easier; it actually gets more difficult as you heal from the one who vowed to love you. As you heal from his consequences while he goes on his merry way. The book is an invitation to heal, to encounter the One who truly loves you.

Is it abuse if he doesn’t hit you? The short answer is, yes. Domestic abuse is also called intimate terrorism and coercive control. Most abuse doesn’t involve physical abuse, it does involve the threat of violence.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book? I thought God expected me to stay in an abusive marriage. Though I was suffering for Jesus. I wasn’t. I was suffering because the man who vowed to love was a monster in disguise. God doesn’t condone abuse and sure doesn’t support it. He doesn’t expect us to keep forgiving. God loves us more than he hates divorce.
If this isn’t your story, you most likely know someone. We all do. We just may not know that we know. I hope that if this is you, you’ll read to learn how to help her, to know what questions to not ask. To become a safe person if she shares her story with you.

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

UNFALTERING

When It’s Time to Take Your Life Back

By your mighty power I can walk through any devastation, and you will keep me alive, reviving me. Your power set me free from the hatred of my enemies.

—Psalm 138:7 (tpt)

After a long day at work, I settled into my favorite chair to watch mindless television and avoid talking to my then husband. Finding myself bored with TV, I began to flip through the latest edition of Today’s Christian Woman magazine. I felt as if someone plunged a hot poker into my heart as I read that God doesn’t condone abuse, that I was one in four women.

I sneaked a glance at Guy, trying not to react, afraid he somehow knew what I was reading. Can he read my mind? As I continued reading the article, “The Silent Epidemic,” shock is the only word that describes how it felt to see my life played out in print. How could they know about the physical and verbal abuse? Yet that wasn’t what stopped my heart. It was the author talking about husbands destroy­ing sentimental property, issuing death threats, and isolating their wives from family and friends.

The harsh reality smacked me in the face.

My husband was an abuser.

It’s not just the way he was. It wasn’t just because I made him angry. He was a predator. It meant our marriage was a travesty. Even harder to admit...if he was an abuser, I was abused.

I couldn’t be.

Oh, but I was.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you? You can find me at http:www.AnotherOneFree.com, subscribe to my site and you’ll get at free download, “10 Expectations of Leaving.” I post daily encouragement at Another One Free on FB and Instagram @karengardnerauthor.

Thank you, Karen, for allowing me to share your book on my blog. I have a close friend who went through what you did. My heart breaks for women who are married to this kind of man. If any of my precious fans are one of those women, I want them to read this book.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

http://ow.ly/i1ny50GdTFk

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 do n'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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CHRISTMAS LOVE THROUGH THE AGES - Lisa Bell, Gail Kittleson, Paula Peckham, Cleo Lampos, Lena Nelson Dooley - 5 Free Books

Lisa Bell – “Listen”

Imagine Christmas from the eyes of an angel. With so many people focusing on everything but Jesus, do the angels get frustrated? In “Listen,” fly with Gabriel, Michael and a band of loveable angels as they determine the best ways to capture the attention of humans and turn their thoughts back to celebrating Jesus’ birthday.

 

Gail Kittleson - Gold Mine Christmas - Set in WWII, a young Arizona woman in a chaotic family finds her voice. The risk she takes leads her far from home, but still near in heart to the clutch of younger sisters she has always nurtured. As she dedicates herself to the local U.S.O, she discovers a treasure far more valuable than she ever imagined.

Turtle Creek Christmas - An Orphan Train girl named Irene loses touch with her birth family as she comes of age in her new Iowa home. As she experiences a schoolroom for the first time, a caring teacher makes all the difference. Irene also makes her first friends, and discovers to her surprise that someone strong and kind finds her interesting and desirable. Through it all, the promise of the very first Christmas nestles down in her heart. 

 

Paula Peckham - The Father’s Gift - This story is a continuation of my debut historical romance novel, Protected. I enjoy writing historical fiction, and the collection needed a story from my time frame. I got to know Manny and Abby while writing Protected, and I was eager to follow them through their new life together. (Spoiler alert: In Protected, they fall in love. Sorry to ruin the ending for you, but it is a romance, after all.) In the new story, they look forward to the birth of their first child.

When I first started writing The Father’s Gift, I intended for the character Gabe to be a pseudo angel figure. I saw him playing a part that would almost qualify as a miracle. However, as the story grew legs, Gabe became a different character altogether. I won’t give that away, but I think he brings the story much more mystery and excitement.

Some other characters from Protected make an appearance, too. We get to see Yaideli, Manny’s grandmother, and Jonathan, Manny’s best friend. If you enjoy Manny and Abby’s story, you can go back to their beginning in Protected, arriving from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. in March, 2022.

A Christmas Hallelujah - I based this short story on an actual event. My husband, John, and I were traveling, and we were sitting in the gate area, waiting for our flight. People crowded the space, and not a single seat remained open. A woman sat on the floor, leaning against a column. She stared at the floor the entire time, exuding sadness. I watched her for a while, then the Beth Moore story I mentioned popped into my mind. I felt God urging me to go speak to her. So I got up, walked over, kneeled beside her, and asked if she was okay. She told me her father was sick, and she was flying home. We prayed together, then I went back to my seat. I never spoke to her again. From that kernel, I layered the rest of my story around it.

 

Cleo Lampos - Blessings on the 38th Parallel - The Korean Conflict rages in 1952 on the 38th Parallel as North and South troops fight for territory. Robert McAllister, a Radio Technician at Kimpo Air Base celebrates Christmas Eve fixing radio equipment at another base where he encounters the orphans who survive near the GIs. On the way back to his home base, Mack is given a baby boy. How will he handle this orphan? Meanwhile, at the MASH  unit, nurse Valerie Pazan leaves a midnight Christmas Eve service and discovers a tiny baby in a pile of rocks. She is able to attend to the physical needs of the infant, but worries about the prospects ahead for this child. On Christmas Day, these four person’s destinies will cross.

A Bookmobile Noel - Dorothy Wagner knows she is fortunate to have a job in the Great Depression of 1935. A graduate of library school in Chicago, her trial assignment as a bookmobile librarian in southern rural Illinois will determine her future. As Dorothy travels in the bookmobile, which is driven by a CC Lieutenant Tom Nelson, she faces the depth of the economic conditions of the country. The lack of nutritious food, medical care, birthing facilities, clothing, and homelessness. Visiting a hobo’s camp changes her perspective. Dorothy is able to assist in a scurvy outbreak, as she realizes that her future in this impoverished area would be a Christmas wish come true.

 

Lena Nelson Dooley - Rescued Christmas

When Rose Ellen Murphy becomes a mail order bride, the unthinkable happens. It is the worst mistake of her life. Or is it? Jedediah Strong finds a woman's beaten and bloody body in a gully on his ranch, high in the mountains of Wyoming. He starts to bury her, when he notices a slight movement. She's not dead. He takes her home to his mother.These two people help heal Rose Ellen’s body. Can they also help her emotions heal from the trauma she’s endured?

“A Divine Romance” - When God first told me to become a professional writer in 1983, He also told me to use my gift to bless people at Christmas instead of sending Christmas cards. I’ve only missed writing a Christmas short story four times since then. This is one of those stories. A friend leads Jolene to Colorado and then to Jesus.

Buy link to the books:

http://ow.ly/7tpB50GbrE6

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. There will be 5 winners. 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