IN SEARCH OF FOREVER - Patricia Lee - One Free Book

Welcome back. Patricia. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon? God has indeed blessed my writing, beyond what I ever dreamed could happen. I’m older now and don’t know how many stories may be left to write. I could stop writing now and be completely satisfied.  But God will decide that for me.

Tell us a little about your family. I’m married to my husband of 48 years this July. We reared two children—a son who is almost 40 and working as an aid to those with disabilities.  My daughter is an artist.  Her medium is colored pencil and her subjects are critters of all kinds.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how? I read a lot of Christian fiction. Reading helps to hone my own writing skills.  Studying how someone else wrote a scene helps me improve my own scenes.  There’s something about absorbing someone else’s prose that lends strength to my own.  A writer who doesn’t read is a writer who doesn’t publish.

What are you working on right now? I have a women’s fiction tale set on a fictitious island in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia.  This story involves blackmail, conflict between heirs, and a child in danger.

What outside interests do you have? I scrapbook, play piano, bird watch, and love flowers.

How do you choose your settings for each book? The setting is usually dictated by the storyline. One of my books was about wild horses so I had to have the characters live in a region where horses could roam. Another book involved commercial fishermen where they were stuck in Dutch Harbor Alaska.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why? I’d like to spend time with Mary, mother of Jesus. When I think of her and the courage it must have taken to rear Jesus, watch him die, and go on living after the crucifixion, I stand in awe of her.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?        Marketing my books has taken me by surprise. That’s is a third career in itself. I’m not good at it and it claims a lot of time.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

I’m having some severe mobility issues, and I’m learning how to trust the Lord for each day.

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

            *Never, never, never give up.

            *Pray before every writing session. Let God direct your writing. Don’t miss a day.

            *Involve yourself with other writers. Draw from their strength.

Tell us about the featured book. This story takes readers back to where the Mueller Rescue Ranch began. Jayden Clarke, the foster child in the original story Love Calls Her Home is now grown and returned from a tour in Afghanistan. He’s been wounded and has not fulfilled his dream of following in his father’s footsteps, so he is disillusioned and unsure of his future. His high school best friend Baylie Summers is waiting for his return, her own recent past full of regrets. 

Back Cover Copy    

Can they bridge the long gap in their friendship?

Growing up Jayden Clarke dreamed of becoming a Marine like his late father, who was killed in Afghanistan when Jayden was nine. His foster dad, Kurt, was also a decorated soldier. But his own encounter with a narrowly missed IED in Afghanistan leaves Jayden wounded and honorably discharged. He returns home defeated, his dream destroyed, not certain what his future will hold. Who will he become now? Is there anyone he can turn to?

Baylie Summers, two years out of college, has returned to the Mueller Rescue ranch where her best friend Jayden Clarke once lived as a foster teen. She hasn’t seen him since they graduated six years ago but she’s thrilled when she lands the job as the ranch’s fundraising newsletter writer.  Seeking refuge from the storms of life, Baylie waits for Jayden to return home, hoping he’ll have wisdom to help her recover from past incidents she wants to forget. Once a foster child herself, she fears Jayden might not like the woman she’s become. Will telling her secret make her lose Jayden forever?

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHAPTER ONE

“Stay low, Private.” Jayden Clarke rolled the injured man into a rocky outcropping along the side of the Jalalabad-Kabul road and patted his shoulder. “I’m going back up.”

“No, Clarke!” The man rasped. “You’ll be a target.”

Jayden ignored his plea and turned away, crawling toward the burning Humvee in which he and four others had been riding only moments before. One wheel caught only a minor shock of an IED blast, but the vehicle had overturned, throwing them out. Enemy fire pelted the air above causing debris to churn like a sand storm. His courage waned the closer he got. An image of his hero dad flashed before his eyes. Had Dad braved a hailstorm of bullets like this when he was pinned down by enemy fire? Did he feel death coming at him? Did he persist in spite of it all? Jayden swallowed.

I will make you proud.

He dismissed the images and focused on his target. Were any more men stranded beneath the vehicle’s overturned frame? Dust choked the air, making him wheeze. He slithered on his belly toward the wreckage, squinting through the cloud of smoke.
Steadying himself on one knee, he scanned the area for other survivors. Seeing no one he turned to go back the way he came. Before he could clear the pavement, another deafening blast rocked the ground. The Humvee rolled to its back in the force of this new explosion, catching Jayden’s right leg beneath its front tire. He screamed, the weight of the vehicle against his thigh pinning him to the ground. Pain raced up his calf, knee throbbing.

He tried to see through the haze, his safety glasses askew on his nose, but countless fragments flew from the cloud of smoke and blinded him. Shapes danced like images in a fun house mirror, grotesque figures that laughed from the reflection. In a last effort to make sense of what he saw he squinted, collapsing as everything around him dissolved to shades of gray.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook: @patricialeebooks

Website: www.authorpatricialee.net

Twitter @lee_patricia__

Linked In: Pat Lee

Thanks, Patricia, for sharing In Search of Forever with my blog readers.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Search-Forever-Mended-Hearts/dp/1953957307/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1686403891&sr=1-1

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 2 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 SWINDLER'S DAUGHTER - Stephenia H McGee - One Free Book

Bio: Stephenia H. McGee is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South, including The Secrets of Emberwild. When she’s not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she’s a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys.

She combines history, intrigue, and romance in her new novel, The Swindler’s Daughter. Set in the Deep South, this captivating tale follows the path of an aristocratic young woman as she copes with life-changing circumstances and discovers a family she never knew existed.

About the Story: A high-society lady, Lillian Doyle has only her widowed mother for family, believing her father died many years before. But her world is completely changed when she learns that her father has only just passed—in jail. Not only is she shocked by this news, but she also learns she is the heiress to all of her father’s earthly possessions, including a run-down house and a business.

After Lillian travels to rural Georgia to take possession of her “new” home, she learns there is one small catch—a woman is already living in the house, and she insists that it belongs to her son, Jonah. The inherited business is also more than meets the eye and has put Lillian into a treacherous situation.

But she isn’t ready to give up on her strange inheritance. With the danger comes the possibility of truth and independence, and she is determined to have both. To do that, she’ll have to turn her enemies into allies, including Jonah, an unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

Welcome to my blog, Stephenia. Can you please provide a brief summary of your new novel, The Swindler’s Daughter? The Swindler’s Daughter is about a young woman who spent her entire life believing she was a widow’s daughter. When she discovers that her father has recently passed—in jail—her carefully ordered world begins to unravel. She travels to a backwoods Georgia town to settle her father’s estate, only to discover she’s become a rather unusual heiress.

The Swindler’s Daughter offers a complicated family story. What was the inspiration for your novel?  Family can be complicated. There is the family we are born into, the people who raise us, and those we choose to love. The people closest to us can at times cause both the greatest joys and the greatest frustrations in our lives. In this book, I wanted to highlight family ties and complicated relationships and show how learning the truth and the stories of the past can shape how we see the future.

Your two main characters, Lillian and Jonah, are very different. What ties them together? They are very different! Lillian was brought up by a strict mother whose chief goal was to further their social standing and station in life. Jonah became the primary provider for his mother and sisters at a young age, and he is a hardworking man who values family. But underneath all of their differences, they share a common faith, a love for chasing dreams, and a desire to belong.

Both The Swindler’s Daughter and your previous novel, The Secrets of Emberwild, feature women who desire independence. What inspires you to write about empowered women? I love strong heroines. Strength comes in many facets, and where Nora from The Secrets of Emberwild was fierce and opinionated, Lillian is quietly firm. She takes each challenge as it comes and faces it with steel in her spine. I’m inspired by women like that, having been raised by a mother who portrayed courage, determination, and strength of character to me each day.

What type of research was required to accurately portray the setting and time period for The Swindler’s Daughter? This one required a lot of research. I can’t give away too much about what kind of business Lillian’s father was into, but I did end up buying seven different research books on the subject as well as spending hours in online research. On top of that, this is the first novel I’ve written this deep into the 1900s at a time when technology was just starting to pick up steam. I had to research everything from automobiles to what kind of stoves and refrigerators people had.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading The Swindler’s Daughter? This is a story of family, faith, and discovering your purpose. Lillian struggles with reconciling all of her own plans and expectations for her life with the wild, adventurous, and rather surprising plan God seems to have. I hope readers will see a little of themselves in her and explore some of these same themes about God’s perfect—if sometimes not at all what we expected—plans for our lives.

What do you love most about writing historical fiction? I really enjoy the research and imagining what it might be like to live in those times. The fashion and style of the early 1900s was classy, and there was a sense of new beginnings stirring at the turn of the century. I enjoy immersing myself in those simpler times before television and cell phones and creating a story deeply set in the richness of history.

What are you working on next? I just finished writing a novel about a showboat set on the Mississippi River in 1923. There are glitz and glam, a close-knit, quirky family, and a quiet accountant whose entire world changes when he encounters the fiery young singer who rules The River Queen.

How can readers connect with you? I love talking to readers! You can find out more about me on my website, StepheniaMcGee.com, and you can connect with me anytime on Facebook (@StepheniaHMcGee) and Instagram (@StepheniaHMcGee).

Where can readers purchase a copy of The Swindler’s Daughter?   The best place to get paperback copies is from Baker Book House, https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/492093. They offer some pretty amazing discounts (and free shipping!) on pre-orders and new releases. You can also purchase paperbacks and ebooks from your favorite bookstore, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book.

Thank you, Stephenia, for sharing this book with my blog readers. I know they will love it.

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

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

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 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

Dear Readers, you feel like family to me. Thank you so much for the prayers. James will have surgery near the end of June.

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.

Sarah  (OH) is the winner of The Heart's Choice by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse.

Diana (SC) is  the winner of In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer.

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 2 weeks to claim your book.  

VERDICT AT THE RIVER'S EDGE - Colleen Snyder - One Free Book

Welcome to my blog, Colleen. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. I write my experiences, my “ideal” self (how I hope I would react to a situation, what I HOPE I would say/do/think.) I also write my “real” self…what I actually say, etc. I use my experiences to create scenarios, with different outcomes.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Shot a hole through the roof of the Weapons Storage Area where I was assigned during my tenure in the U.S. Air Force. Long story, that one! (And I wasn’t the one holding the rifle at the time.)

When did you first discover that you were a writer? I “bill” myself as a “Storyteller, Writer, Author.” I started telling stories to my stuffed animals (and my imaginary friends) when I was four(?) I began writing in junior high school. I knew then I would pursue it as a career.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I read “clean” books of all kinds. I enjoy science-fiction/fantasy, adventure, animal. I am NOT a romance reader. Romance is okay, so long as it is NOT the focus of the story.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world? I am retired. I sit and watch the little lizards run around our back yard, or watch the birds fight for territory. I listen to the sounds of the neighborhood: cows, goats, peacocks (yeah, them too…what they’re doing in this neck of the woods is beyond me) turkeys, roosters, horses, traffic on the road…And when it gets really crazy, I sit and let the Lord center me. I remember that He doesn’t NEED me. He LETS me participate in what He is doing. I remember my place in His plan, and that takes some of the franticness out of it.

How do you choose your characters’ names? Other than Collin and one other character, I try NOT to name them after anyone I know. I do NOT want to be reminded of the real person, either for good or bad. Mostly I make up names, or find names I don’t think I will ever meet in real life.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of? I am proud to be the mother of two children, and the grandmother of two more. All other “accomplishments” are gifts from the Lord. His accomplishments, worked through me. (If He can use a donkey, He can use me!)

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why? A dog. I could lie on the couch, get fed my meals, run around in the yard, love on my people and make them happy by being happy. OR I’d be a hawk and fly.

What is your favorite food? Chocolate. To those who say, “That’s not a food” I say, “Phooey! It’s an entire food group!”

I agree with you on that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it? Imposter syndrome. “I’m not a real writer. I’m not good enough. God, You should use someone better than me.”

I overcame it through obedience. God said, “Write. Write for the Audience of One…Me. Do that, and I’ll take care of the rest.” He said write, so I write. He said, hone my craft, so I hone my craft. He said publish, so it was published. (Yes, I had to do my part. But all results are up to Him.)

Tell us about the featured book. Verdict at the River’s Edge is Book One in the Collin Walker series. Collin is a social worker in the capital city, working with the street kids. She is damaged goods herself and knows the streets. But she wants her kids to know something better. Something beyond life and death. In challenging her ward, she is challenged by God to face her fears of the past and the future…real love.

Please give us the first page of the book.

FRIDAY

As soon as Collin Walker’s feet hit the bottom step of the bus, she heard it. The low, pounding, distinctive rumble of a river. A river somewhere nearby. She froze, overwhelmed by the panicked impulse to fight her way back upstream through the departing campers, dive under the backbench seat and not come out until the week ended. A thought kept circling through her head: Dear God in heaven, there’s a river.

A hand on her shoulder interrupted her mental breakdown. A voice dripped sarcasm. “Hey, caseworker lady. You getting off this bus or what? They’s some of us what wants to visit the facilities, you know? Been a long trip. Move it.”

Life returned to Collin’s feet, and she stepped off the bus, moving aside to let the remainder of the forty odd campers—and their vastly odder counselors—disembark.

Odder? Is that even a word? Collin shut down the internal tormentors before they could continue. Sane. I will be sane for the remainder of this trip. And you all will keep your comments to yourself.

It might be easier to believe without the cursed cackling in her head. Collin would deal with her demons later. She’d been dealing with them all her life. So what’s another day? Collin leaned against the side of the bus to get her bearings and her breath. She wrapped her arms around her chest and began slow breathing to bring herself under the rigid control she learned over the years. In. Out. In. Out. In.

Rob Sider, her ward for the week, stepped in front of her. His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. “Who you fightin’ in there, huh?”

Collin jiggled her whole body to release the tension. “I’m working on a plan to beat your sorry anatomy in hoops.”

Rob stepped back with half a grin. “No wonder you having a tough time of it.”

Collin held a hand in front of his face. “Watch it, bro. You know the old saying, ‘He who laughs last—’”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://colleensnyderauthor.com

Facebook: Colleen K. Snyder, Author

Thank you, Colleen, for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I am also an avid reader.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Verdict-Rivers-Edge-Christian-Thriller/dp/B0C2SFPMF5/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685721741&sr=1-1

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 2 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 GENERAL PRINCE AND THE NERD - Cami Checketts - One Free Book from this blog

Welcome, Cami. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about? I love redemption themes because we all need redemption and it’s so touching to be on a journey with a character as they feel the light of Christ and the joy of His redeeming power in their lives.

I also love the simplicity and power of prayer. I cannot get through one hour without prayer and am so grateful that my Father above is always there to listen to me and help me no matter how small or massive my problem is.

What other books of yours are coming out soon? I’m focused on my Sweet Royal Suspense Romance series for the next few months. The second book, The Brave Prince and the Teacher is written but going through the rounds of edits that are painful and incredible at the same time – kind of like the growing pains of life!

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why? Elder Jeffrey Holland. His testimony of the Savior is so powerful, and I am inspired every time I listen to him speak.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why? George Washington. I am incredibly inspired by his bravery and his trust in heaven. None of us would enjoy the freedom (religious and otherwise) that we take for granted every day without him.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers? I went through five years of rejection. It hurt and I cried and I am a much better writer because of it. If you love to write and you know it’s your path, pray hard, work hard, never give up, and no one will be able to stop you from succeeding.

Tell us about the featured book. Prince Raymond August, second in line to his twin brother, is head of security and feels the weight of protecting his family and his kingdom deeply. He won’t let another tragedy occur, not after his own angelic Mum was murdered right under his nose. His pain and grief deepen his resolve to be ever-vigilant, no matter the cost. He especially can’t allow himself to be distracted by the beautiful woman assigned to protect his brother, even if every moment he spends with her feels more wonderful and right than the last.

When Macey Clifton is asked to fake an engagement to Crown Prince Tristan to protect him, she knows she’s not cut out for the royal world. She’d prefer to hide behind her unnecessary glasses, frumpy clothes, and her computer programs. But no other female warriors are available, so she agrees. To prove to herself that she really is brave, bold, and beautiful, she impulsively greets the prince with a kiss when she first meets him. To her great surprise, this most incredible kiss of the century turns out to not be with her fiancé, but with his twin brother, Ray.

Macey and Ray both try to fight their feelings, but can’t resist sneaking glances at each other. As they work together to solve the queen’s murder and protect the crown prince from anonymous death threats, they realize they are falling far too quickly in love.

Will their undeniable attraction, secret rendezvous, and forbidden love blossom into a happily ever after, or only cause a shattered brotherhood and longing for something they’ll never have?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Macey Clifton gaped out the window of the silver Audi A8. Her boss, Sutton Smith, drove smoothly through the narrow country road of a picturesque mountain valley, past lakes and fields and the most perfect stone homes with flower baskets on each window.

Sutton slowed as he reached the far end of the valley and entered the quaint village of Greenville. The row of shops and restaurants, each two stories with balconies and flowers spilling over the wrought-iron railings, and a perfect stone church with a steeple reaching to heaven, butted up against a peaceful mountain lake. Above the lake, perched on a green knoll and watching over its valley below, was a castle.

A castle! She, Macey Clifton, reclusive nerd who hid from the world in Sutton Smith’s basement command center and made sure every computer program, security protocol, and all the various surveillance equipment worked correctly for the hundreds of security details Sutton and his people were undertaking at any given moment, was going to live in a castle with the royal family of Augustine and pretend to be engaged to the crown prince.

There were many problems with this op, the first one being she was a reclusive nerd.

No, the first problem was that Macey had seen a picture of the crown prince. “Hyperventilating again,” she muttered.

“Deep breaths,” Sutton counseled, unruffled as ever.

Macey tried. In … and out …

Prince Tristan and each of his five brothers, one of whom was his identical twin, had been blessed with startling blue eyes, welcoming smiles, and insanely handsome faces. They were all sought after by gorgeous, influential, accomplished, and powerful women throughout the world.

None of the princes had married yet, even though Prince Tristan and his twin were thirty years old. Macey wasn’t worried about some jealous female trying to take her out, though that was a possibility. She was concerned how anybody would believe the ultra-good-looking, wealthy, apparently charming prince would choose her. Somehow she had to play the part of confident future princess … future queen … oh boy.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/camicheckettsbooks/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CamiCheckettsBooks/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@camicheckettsbooks

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cami-checketts

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@camichecketts

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cami-Checketts/author/B002NGXNC6

Website - https://www.camichecketts.com

Thank you, Cami, for sharing The General Prince and the Nerd with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read the whole series. I’d love to feature each of them with my readers.

Readers, Cami has a $50 giveaway going through June 3rd with her new royal release, and she has a free book, Royal Baby, through today. I downloaded mine from Amazon yesterday.

Camy, please tell my readers how they can enter the giveaway.

Readers, here’s a link to thefeatured book.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Prince-Sweet-Romance-Suspense/dp/B0C5YFKMG2/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685373693&sr=8-1

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 2 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 + Special announcement

Dear Readers, I'm sorry about missing posts last week. My husband had a ministroke, and we spent almost all week in the hospital. A new interview will post tomorrow.

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.

Stephanie (NY) is the winner of A Season at the Grand by Sherri Wilson Johnson.

Brenda  (MS) is  the winner of The Long March Home by Marcus Brotherton & Tosca Lee.

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 2 weeks to claim your book. 

IN THIS MOMENT - Gabrielle Meyer - One Free Book

Bio: Gabrielle Meyer has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope. Find her online at GabrielleMeyer.com.

Full of love, courage, and the agony of choice, Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series captivated reading audiences with its intriguing premise reminiscent of Outlander. Since the successful release of book one, When the Day Comes, readers have clamored for a second installment, and now Meyer delivers on this promise with In This Moment. Featuring a unique twist on time travel that fans of history and romance will adore, Meyer’s brilliantly researched and immersive sophomore novel will keep readers on their toes until the unpredictable but oh-so-satisfying end.

Maggie inherited a gift from her parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives—and everyone she knows in them—forever. 

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Can you please tell us a little bit about the plot of your new novel, In This Moment? Maggie is born with a gift she inherited from her parents. She lives, simultaneously, in three different time periods: 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she falls asleep and wakes up in the next path, rotating through all three without any time passing in the other paths while she’s away. In 1861, she’s the daughter of a prominent senator, trying to uncover spies in the nation’s capital. In 1941, she’s a navy nurse, caring for her grieving sister and wrestling with her knowledge about Pearl Harbor after she’s asked to serve there. And in 2001, she’s a medical student, gaining knowledge that she cannot share in her pervious paths for fear of changing history. Though she has no plans to fall in love and further complicate her decision, she meets a man in each path that captures her heart. A mysterious British gentleman working in the White House, a moody and demanding doctor leading the medical crew to Pearl Harbor, and a charming young congressman with big ambitions. She must choose which path to keep and which to forfeit by her twenty-first birthday. An impossible decision to make.

In This Moment is book 2 in your Timeless series. Can you explain the connecting element between these two books? In the first book, When the Day Comes, we meet Libby who is a time-crosser living in 1774 and 1914. She inherited the time-crossing gift, which is accompanied by a sunburst birthmark on her chest, from her mother. At the end of When the Day Comes, Libby gives birth to Maggie, who not only has the mark on her chest but another on the back of her head. The mark on Maggie’s chest sends her forward from 1941 to 2001, and the one on the back of her head sends her back from 1941 to 1861. Which means Maggie has three paths instead of two.

Even though they’re listed in a series, do these books have to be read in order or can they stand alone? These books stand alone and do not need to be read in order. However, book one is full of twists and turns, with a big surprise ending. Book two reveals these surprises right away, so if the reader would like to read book one without spoilers, they might want to read it first.

Your protagonist, Maggie, must juggle three timelines and the unique challenges that they bring. How did you balance writing three equal and fully-formed storylines? It wasn’t easy! I’m a super-plotter. I never start writing a book until I’ve worked out all the plot points. I spent more time plotting In This Moment than any other story I’ve written! After a LOT of research, I created three historical timelines (1861, 1941, and 2001) next to each other, lining up major events I wanted to include in the story. Then, I plotted each of Maggie’s paths as three unique stories, making sure they had all the story-structure elements and lined up with the major historical events. Then, I combined all three on a spreadsheet, each in a different color, adjusting them so that each chapter flowed smoothly into the next. Though Maggie lives three different lives, they impact each other every day. After I had all three combined into one story, I created a synopsis and detailed characters analysis. After I felt like I had a good handle on the story and the characters, I began to write.

These timelines revolve around major events in history—the outbreak of the Civil War, the attack on Pearl Harbor that initiated the US involvement in WWII, and 9/11. What lead you to choose these specific events as the backdrop for this story? I’ve always been fascinated that the American Civil War took place from 1861–1865 and that WWII lasted from 1941–1945. The similarities in their years were intriguing to me. Then, on September 11, 2001, when we watched the terrorist attacks and I thought we were entering another war, it didn’t escape my attention that it had also started on a year ending in the number one. When I started to brainstorm In This Moment and decided that Maggie would have three timelines, and they each needed to end with the same number, I knew which ones to choose. 1861, 1941, and 2001 were intriguing years to study and write about. It was fun to put Maggie in the midst of all of them.

What was one of the most interesting things you discovered while researching for this book? There were so many interesting things to discover as I researched 1861, 1941, and 2001. One that instantly stands out to me, though, is what I learned about the history of penicillin. Since the late 1920’s, Scottish physician Alexander Fleming had been experimenting and treating patients with penicillin mold, but could not convince other scientists and doctors of its abilities. Eventually, they began to see the possibilities, but could not mass produce it. In 1941, two scientists came to America to see if the United States government would mass produce penicillin. Fearing that their bottles of mold would get lost or stolen, the men smeared the mold inside their pockets to travel to the US! Eventually, they worked out a deal with the USDA Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Illinois, and penicillin began to be used extensively, especially towards the end of WWII. 

Many readers have pointed out the rich historical detail that makes this series come to life on the page. When did your love of history begin? My love of history started very early. When I was a little girl, my dad was the caretaker for a historic estate on the banks of the Mississippi River in my hometown. I grew up above the carriage house on the estate and loved living in the shadows of two Victorian-era mansions. I was also homeschooled, and my mom fostered my love of history. She took me to the local historical society to volunteer at a very young age. I eventually went on to work there, and then in high school, I started to work for the Minnesota Historical Society at the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, which is also in my hometown. Along with my work, I loved reading historical fiction and reading research books for fun. I was not your typical teenager!

What sparked the idea for a series with such a unique concept of time travel? The idea was born one day when I was thinking about the Outlander books, and other time-traveling stories. In most, a character accidentally falls through a portal in time and then races to get back to their “normal” life but meets challenges along the way. Eventually, they usually find a reason to love the time period they fell into, and it causes a conundrum. Which do they choose? It made me wonder: What if someone was born with two different lives and had to choose between them at a certain age? My mind immediately began to spin with ideas, and the three books in the Timeless series were born.

What do you hope readers take away from reading In This Moment? As I wrote Maggie’s story, the theme that kept presenting itself to me is that of faith. Often, we are presented with choices in our life, but don’t know which way to go. Many times, we are required to take a step of faith, hoping and praying that we are doing the right thing. In my own life, I’ve realized that when I make a decision, it should always be made in faith and not in fear. This is something that Maggie is called to do repeatedly. It is my hope that readers of In This Moment will identify with this struggle in Maggie’s life and have the courage to take their own steps of faith.

Will there be another book in this series?

Yes. There will be a total of three books in the Timeless Series. Book three will release in May 2024.

How can readers connect with you?  I love hearing from readers! The easiest way to send me a message is to contact me through my website, www.gabriellemeyer.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter there. I send it out four to six times a year. The other way is through social media. I’m most active on Instagram @gabrielle_meyer or on Facebook at Gabrielle Meyer, Author.

Thank you, Gabrielle, for sharing In This Moment with my blog readers and me. I’m eager to read the book, which I will do after I meet my next book deadline.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=in+this+moment+gabrielle+meyer&crid=XVKS4HSSEOGA&sprefix=In+This+Moment%2Caps%2C121&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_14

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 2 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 HEART'S CHOICE - Tracie Peterson, Kimberley Woodhouse - One Free Book

Tracie

Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the award-winning author of over 100 novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 25 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

Booklist referred to Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse as a “dynamic authorial duo.” They once again prove their mastery of the historical romance genre in The Heart’s Choice, the first book in The Jewels of Kalispell series. Set in Kalispell, Montana, The Heart’s Choice offers a romantic tale which culminates in a daring and intense race against time. This book released today.

About the Story: As a young girl, Rebecca Whitman witnessed a wrongful conviction of a person she knew was blameless. This incident impacted and changed the tide of her life and made her determined to fight for and defend the innocent. As an adult, she has taken on the role of the first female court reporter in Montana. She is paid to record trials—but not to have an opinion. When a guiltless man is condemned, Rebecca’s investigative nature leaves her unsettled, and she will do everything in her power to right the wrong.

Kimberley

Mark Andrews arrived in Kalispell as a teen. His father, a well-respected man in the community, had built up a large and successful ranch and planned to have Mark take over operations when he returned from college. But Mark prefers to wrangle books not cattle. He has accepted the job as the librarian of the brand-new Carnegie library. He loves what he does and is intrigued when patron Rebecca Whitman seeks help with research in order to prove a man’s innocence.

Can Mark convince his dad that what he does is important and vital while also helping Rebecca find the evidence needed to free an innocent man before it is too late?

Escape to the lush Montana countryside for a heart-gripping story of mysteries solved and justice prevailing from the pens of bestselling authors Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse.

Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel, The Heart’s Choice? They must uncover the truth before it's buried forever.

After witnessing a wrongful conviction as a young girl, Rebecca Whitman—the first female court reporter in Montana—is now determined to defend the innocent. During a murder trial, something doesn't sit well with her about the case, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian will listen to her.

Mark Andrews's father sent him to college hoping he would take over the business side of the family ranch, but Mark would rather wrangle books than cows. When a patron seeks help with research in hopes of proving a man's innocence, Mark is immediately drawn to her and her cause.
In a race against time, will Rebecca and Mark find the evidence they need—and open their hearts to love—before it's too late?

The Heart’s Choice is the first book in The Jewels of Kalispell series. What is the connecting element for all of the books in this series? We’ve used three fascinating historical landmarks in Kalispell. The Carnegie Library, which is now the Hockaday Museum; The Great Northern Railway Depot, which is now the Chamber of Commerce; and the McIntosh Opera House, which is still there, but needs renovation and is unopen to the public.

What was the inspiration for The Heart’s Choice? We have lots of inspirations for our books. Tracie and I have a blast when we brainstorm and research together. But for this book, two big ones stood out: One was the unique landmarks we used—in this case the brand-new Carnegie Library. The second was to have our heroine be a court stenographer and love mysteries.

Your female protagonist, Rebecca Whitman, witnessed a wrongful conviction as a young girl. How did this event impact her life? It made her want to fight for the underdog and always seek justice. So she ventures into the law by become a court stenographer. When she is working on a case in the courtroom in Kalispell, she becomes passionate that a man being tried for murder is actually innocent.

Librarian Mark Andrew has failed to live up to his father’s expectations. What were his father’s plans for him and what route did he choose instead? Mark’s father built a large ranch and longed for his son to continue the empire. But Mark’s passion is with books and he is the director of the new library.

How does Mark try to convince his father that what he does is important and vital? Mark and his dad have to learn some hard lessons in The Heart’s Choice. The biggest being that loving someone means to support their dreams and passions.

Rebecca Whitman and Mark Andrew work in completely different fields. How did their paths cross? Marvella Ashbury (the judge’s wife who will be in each of the books in this series) is set on matchmaking the two although the young people don’t make it easy in the beginning. But since they both share a love of books, Rebecca finds herself at the library seeking Mark’s help. Especially when a man’s life hangs in the balance.

The Heart’s Choice is set in Montana. Why did you choose this location for the setting of your new novel? We both love Montana and, for a few short years, had the opportunity to live less than two miles apart in the Bitterroot Valley. Kalispell is one of our favorite places.

How can readers connect with you? Traciepeterson.com and kimberleywoodhouse.com (all our social media links are there!)

Thank you, Tracie and Kimberley, for sharing this new book with us. I’ve always loved every book the two of you release, either together or as a single author.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Choice-Jewels-Kalispell-Book-ebook/dp/B0BLW9SHRD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38TLCMXLX4NIT&keywords=the+heart%27s+choice&qid=1684250692&sprefix=the+heart%27s+choice%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1

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 2 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