FROM BAGS TO RICHES - Sandra D Bricker - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I first became of Sandra when we both wrote for the same publisher. Soon after her first book came out, I met her face to face at the national American Christian Fiction Writers conference. We’ve been friends ever since. Redheads seem to gravitate to each other at those conferences. Sandra has a unique writers voice that can take serious subjects and find ways to help people deal with them, and she does all of this through some serious humor. I know that’s an oxymoron, but it’s true.

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

I transitioned last year from Laugh-Out-Loud fiction to Live-Out-Loud, but I think humor will always be part of my storytelling. That said, I’m really enjoying the opportunity to weave in deeper threads of life to my novels. For instance, last fall’s Moments of Truth addressed some pretty serious subjects along with the romantic challenges of five best friends. I was able to do that in From Bags to Riches, the wrap-up to the Jessie Stanton novels for Abingdon Press, as well. In this book, the finale of the series, I was able to go deeper with Jessie’s story than ever before. There’s a real freedom – for me as a writer, but also for the readers – in not being limited to the feel-good happily-ever-after. Not that my books will ever lose that quality … but I feel like I’m writing a more grown-up, thought-provoking story these days and my readers seem to be responding to it.

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

A couple of years ago, I packed up my entire life and moved north again for the first time since I left in my twenties. I grew up in Cincinnati, but I spent my entire adult life in Los Angeles and Central Florida. So coming back to Ohio in time for the worst winter on record was a shock to my thin blood! Now my blood has had time to thicken up, and I find myself really enjoying the snow and cold weather. That said, my ideal spot to live would be San Diego … assuming I could afford it, of course. It’s a pricey area of the country, but so beautiful.

What foreign country would you like to visit and why?

Israel. I long to walk where my Jesus walked, see the things He saw.

There’s a slight possibility I might get to go to Israel soon. Describe what you think would be the most romantic vacation you could take.

I’d love to sail off to a deserted island somewhere; one of those spots that have like ten villas on the whole island. Private beaches, magnificent views, sun and sand, gentle breezes, and lots of peace and quiet. I was born in Southern California, and my parents used to always say that I’d never been able to shake my “California-ness.” I recharge on the water like nowhere else.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

I’m new enough to Toledo and the Northwest Ohio area that I’m still exploring to find the beautiful places. Once I do that, I think I’d love to set a book on Mackinac Island or possibly a teeny little lakeside town I’ve discovered across the border in Michigan called Luna Pier.

What is the main theme of this novel?

The bottom line of Jessie’s whole story – but particularly this third and final book in the series – is that our childhood experiences shape a large part of who we’re going to become. I mean, you can certainly take the girl out of Ohio (or in Jessie’s case, Louisiana), but the Ohio or Louisiana in the girl is pretty much there to stay. We often spend so much time running away from who we used to be that we miss the important fact that it’s the foundation that helped form who we are. While our past never has to define us, it’s imperative to learn from it.

Tell us about the story.

Jessie worked so hard to put her Louisiana roots in the rearview mirror. Now, in her quest to find the success, true love, and faith that has always eluded her, will God really lead her right back home?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Jessie hummed along with James Taylor as Danny drove along in silence. She glanced over at him and smiled. She loved the way he always removed the elastic band from around the gear shift and pulled his shaggy, long hair back into a ponytail before they set out anywhere in his open Jeep … and the way he always reached into the box behind the driver’s seat and produced a cloth band for her hair. Even the music serenading their drive embraced her with a comfortable, predictable lull. She’d had so much instability in her life that the calculability of Danny’s behavior had become a welcome warm blanket on a chilly night.

“Hey,” she said suddenly as a thought struck her, a memory of her best friend speaking to Danny in a whisper. “What was Piper talking about?”

Danny’s dimples deepened as he grinned. “What do you mean?”

“Before we left the courthouse. She told you something like, ‘Today. Not tomorrow, but today.’ What did she mean? And where are we going, by the way?”

“To celebrate,” he stated. “You have just been set free from a barnacle by the name of Jack Stanton. You’re free. Your store can re-open, and you can write your name with confidence again. You, my friend, are Jessie Hart.”

Not that she’d ever actually been Jessie Stanton, but for a dozen years or so, she’d been duped into believing it while living in a world of utter make-believe, a world Jack had fabricated for the benefit of just about everyone he knew – including her, his fairytale wife. Instead, Jack had been a handsome cancer making his silent and diabolical way into every available cell of her life, conning her into believing their world – his business, the home they made, and the dreams they’d been dreaming – had been built on a solid foundation of rock. But when the sand was discovered, that life crumbled so quickly she’d barely had time to escape with anything more than the clothes in her closet and the rock on her hand … both of which became the stuff new foundations were made of. In her case, Jessie’s non-sand bedrock came from the sale of nearly four carats of perfect Neil Lane clarity dropped into a platinum setting, and the proceeds had funded a marginally acceptable apartment. Combined with the designer labels left behind in her closet, the infrastructure of her brand new life had been built: Adornments. Designer labels for rent to wannabes with champagne dreams living on ginger ale budgets.

“Hey, wait a minute,” she blurted as she noticed the familiar surroundings. “Where are we, exactly?”

“Somewhere we can celebrate.”

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

Website: www.SandraDBricker.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandraDBricker

Twitter: @SandieBricker

Thank you, Sandra, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read  it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
From Bags to Riches - Christianbook.com
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - Amazon
From Bags to Riches: A Jessie Stanton Novel - Book 3 - Kindle

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

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

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

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

A SEASON TO LOVE - Nicole Deese - One Free Book

Dear Readers, here’s  another book in the A Love In Lenox series. Sorry this is so late posting. We’ve had a fast-moving storm system that produced high winds, a few tornadoes, and lots of rain and lightning. I turn off my electronics when there’s lightning. Even though I have a high-powered setup for protection from electrical surges, I don’t take any chances with lots of lightning around.

Bio: Nicole Deese is a full time lover of humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled fiction. When she's not writing a sweet romance, she can usually be found reading one near a window while drinking La Croix. She lives in small-town Idaho with her handsome hubby and two sons.

Welcome, Nicole. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
It’s usually not until after I finish writing a book that I glimpse aspects of myself in the characters. And that’s usually not until a friend calls and says, “Oh my goodness, when I read what so-and-so said in chapter five I could so hear you saying that!” Haha! It always makes me laugh when I get that kind of feedback from the people who know me best.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Writing became a passion of mine in high school after reading every single Patricia Rushford and Robin Jones Gunn book on the shelf. But I didn’t really explore writing until I was closer to thirty. I’m grateful for parents who encouraged my early love for reading and storytelling…and even more thankful they paid all my overdue library fees. Thanks, guys!

Tell us the range of books you enjoy reading.
My favorite genres are often contemporary reads, although sometimes I’m in the mood for a good fantasy or historical, as long as the characters are well developed and there’s a love story brewing. My favorite genres are women’s fiction, young-adult, and of course, contemporary romance.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
I don’t really have one way to choose character names. A couple of my characters came from street signs (like Weston James from A Cliché Christmas) and a few others came from polling readers on my author FB page (Willa Hart from A Season To Love). Names are a huge deal to me so I usually take my time before landing on one.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Writing my very first novel to completion is probably the accomplishment I’m most proud of. There is such fulfillment in taking a dream swirling around in your head and bringing it to life on paper. That’s what my debut novel, All For Anna, was for me. The start of a new dream journey.

What is your favorite writing snack food?
Hmm…this pretty much changes week to week. Haha! Right now I’m a big fan of multi-grain chips and homemade guacamole. Yummy!

I have to eat homemade guacamole, because I’m allergic to raw onions. It’s either make my own or get one of those made at your table guacamoles where I can tell them to leave out the onions. What is your greatest roadblock in writing, and how do you overcome it?
I’m not a “finisher” by nature. I LOVE starting a book (or brainstorming a new idea), but finishing? Finishing is so hard for me! I despise being locked-in or confined to an ending, which makes closing-out a storyline my greatest challenge. And if I were REALLY honest, I’d tell you I usually have to write those last chapters about ten times before they are reader-ready.

Tell us about the featured book.

Description of A Season To Love:
At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.

Patrick, a thrill-seeking world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?

Please give us the first page of the book.
I could have promised my daughter anything—a pony, a princess, a rainbow in a bottle—but instead, I’d promised her something equally unattainable: my bravery.
           

Today my cancer-free seven-year-old was putting that promise to the test.
           

“Come on, Mommy!” Savannah tugged my hand, but my legs were stiff and sluggish.
           

“We have plenty of time. Slow down.”
           

Slow down. Two words that had been on continuous repeat since she’d woken me, bouncing on my bed in her new sparkly red shoes—Uncle Weston’s gift to feed her obsession for all things glitter.
           

She led our way through the parking lot, her energetic stride forcing her backpack into a bounce and me into a near jog. Pockets of people waited near the electronic signboard, with the scrolling First Day of School, but I knew better than to ask Savannah to stop for a picture. She had a goal, the same goal that had kept me awake at night for nearly a week.
           

The freshly painted double doors at the front of Lenox Elementary School were propped open to welcome the new year. Only this pressure building inside my chest didn’t exactly feel festive. We entered the lobby together, her thin fingers still curled around mine, my heart two strides slower than my feet. I willed it to catch up, to remember Savannah’s countdown to this very moment—the scattering of purple Xs on the bedroom calendar.
           

The smell of boxed crayons and pencil shavings filled the air, nostalgia painting a landscape from a lifetime ago—of a life that no longer felt like mine. The screech of sneakers against tired linoleum floors sang the anthem of reunited friends and faculty.

But it wasn’t my memories of attending this school as a child or even of teaching at this school as an adult that caused my spine to prickle with déjà vu.
           

Three turns and two hallways later, Savannah dropped my hand and studied the class list outside Mrs. Hudson’s door.

“Alyssa’s in my class!”
           

“That’s great, honey.” My words sounded as frozen as my smile.
           

Her dark-chocolate eyes took in the clusters of students, the maze of desks, the shelves upon endless shelves of books, puzzles, and crafts. Once inside the classroom, she found her laminated nametag quickly and waved me over. My fingers itched to reach into my purse and grab a handful of disinfectant wipes to saturate each and every surface of this room.
           

“Mommy—look, my very own desk.” Savannah smoothed her hand over the top of the chipping varnish, her eyes alight, her voice the sound of childlike faith.
           

“Savannah!” Alyssa, Savannah’s athletic redheaded friend, raced across the room.

A soft touch on my shoulder shifted my attention away from the giddy reunion. “She’ll do great, Willa. I can see how excited she is to be in school. Oh, and I’ll make sure to e-mail you the slots I have open for classroom volunteers.”
           

Megan Hudson, Savannah’s second-grade teacher, stood at my side. Since high school, our lives had paralleled each other: we both married our senior prom dates, we both graduated with honors, we both earned our master’s in education.

Only, the sudden loss of my husband seven years ago had put an end to our shared life experiences.
           

“Thank you, Megan.”
           

With a last gentle pat, Megan walked to the front of her classroom and pointed to the instructions on the whiteboard, reminding parents of pickup time and location. The clock at the back of the room chimed a high-pitched ping, ping, ping, and a slow-snaking panic crept into my chest.
           

“Savannah—” My well-planned words were cut short. She sprang toward me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Her enthusiasm rocked me off center. “I love this day, but I love you most.” Savannah tightened her arms above my hips, swaying us both as if in a dance.
           

I kissed the top of her head, her short, baby-fine hair a whisper of hope that tickled my lips. “Not possible.”
           

Because it wasn’t possible. She wasn’t a mother. She hadn’t counted the weeks of pregnancy, hadn’t borne the pain of childbirth, hadn’t felt the anguish of the six-letter word that could drown a parent in a pool of their own tears. Cancer.
           

She hopped away and waved. “See you after school.”
           

With blurry, stinging eyes, I turned and exited her classroom, just like I had two years ago when I’d dropped my seemingly healthy daughter off for kindergarten only to admit her to the oncology floor at Children’s Hospital a week later.
           

She’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is going to be fine. The rapid fire of my pulse disagreed.
           

Pushing my way past a throng of happy families, I darted through the parking lot and shut myself inside my car. With my overactive imagination fully engaged, I fought against the quick, shallow breaths and answered the siren’s call in my glove box.
           

A stashed package of red-and-white pinwheel mints.
           

Most people saw these candies as a way to freshen their breath; I saw them as a way to focus my mind. A method of coping I’d picked up in therapy years ago. Of course, not during one of my hour-long counseling sessions, but rather from my time sitting in the waiting room. Ironic how a little basket of mints had helped me more than my grief counselor.
           

I reached inside the bag, unwrapped the familiar, crinkly plastic, and popped a small disc into my mouth. Immediately, the smooth texture and taste of menthol worked its magic, knocking me down a few ladder rungs on my climb to an attack.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor/
Newsletter: https://www.nicoledeese.com/newsletter/
Website: www.nicoledeese.com
Instagram: nicoledeeseauthor
Twitter: @nicoledeeseauthor

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing this new book with us. I'm as eager as my blog readers to read it. I hope my copy arrives soon.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

A Season to Love (Love in Lenox) - paperback
A Season to Love (Love in Lenox) - Kindle

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

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

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

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

WHO IS JESUS? - MaryAnn Diorio - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’m excited to welcome back MaryAnn Diorio. We’ve featured her books for adults on this blog and one of her children’s books. When I heard about the children’s book she’d written titled Who Is Jesus?, I just had to feature it here.

Welcome, MaryAnn.

Thank you, Lena. It is so kind of you to host me today.

We've featured you in the past for your adult fiction, but today we're going to discuss your children's book, Who Is Jesus? Please tell us a little about this book.

Who Is Jesus? has an interesting backstory. It is, of course, a work of non-fiction that was sparked by my visit to the children's section of a local secular bookstore. As I was browsing through the children's books, I noticed a book about Jesus. My heart leapt to see what I thought was a Christian book in a secular bookstore. But when I opened the book to look through it, my heart sank. The book portrayed Jesus as nothing more than a good man and a teacher. It mentioned nothing about His being the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Moreover, the book included information about Buddha, Mohammed, and Hare Krishna, among others. The worst part was that it encouraged the child reader to choose which one he would follow, pointing out that all were good.

I literally left the bookstore weeping and determined in my heart to write a book about Jesus that reflected the truth of Scripture. I went straight home and started writing Who Is Jesus?

And I’m glad you did. What kind of reception have you had for Who Is Jesus?

By the grace of God, the book is now touching many lives, not only the lives of children but also the lives of those who read the book to them. I have received comments from parents and grandparents regarding how Who Is Jesus? has impacted them as well as their children and grandchildren. One letter, in particular, came from a father who said that Who Is Jesus? showed him that he was not presenting his son with a true picture of the forgiving nature of Christ when we sin. So this precious father immediately began teaching his son that Jesus will always forgive us when we repent of our sin.

The illustrations by Kim Sponaugle are delightful. Did you choose the illustrator?

Yes. I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Kim Sponaugle at a secular children's writers' conference years ago. Because she, too, is a Christian, we clicked immediately. When I saw her work, I knew then and there that I wanted her to illustrate one of my books one day. And, by the grace of God, she did! :)

When did you first start writing for children?

When my children were small, we would make up stories together at bedtime. Each of us added a part to the story. For example, when I had finished my part, I would ask the question, "And then?" One of my girls would then pick up where I had left off and add her part to the story. We would go round and round, often way past bedtime. My husband used to say he had three children, not two, LOL! :)

As my daughters grew, they would often say, "Mom, you should write children's stories." Others began to say the same thing. I guess it's that I have a very childlike personality and love children. I think the biggest reason, however, is that I clearly remember what it was like to be a child. I can recall the emotions I felt as a child, and I have great compassion and empathy for children, especially those who are hurting. All of these factors contributed to my decision to write for children. Another extremely important factor is a prophetic word I received several years ago from a world-renowned evangelist at a Christian conference I attended. He prophesied over me that I would one day write children's books. And I am now doing just that. Glory to God!

You've written two other picture books for children: Toby Too Small and Candle Love. What are these books about?

Toby Too Small is about a boy very small in stature who learns that what matters in life is not how big one is on the outside but how big one is on the inside.

Candle Love is a story about sibling rivalry, especially when a new baby arrives. It was based on my own experience with my two daughters when the second one was born. Its premise is that love expands to the need at hand and that there is always enough love to go around.

Do you prefer writing for children or adults?

In essence, I find little difference philosophically between the two. Children are little people, and adults have an inner child that still affects them. In my children's books, I deal with this inner child as it is being formed and lived out in the now of the child's life. In my adult fiction, I deal with the deep issues of the inner child as that inner child affects my characters' adult lives, forcing them to face issues stemming from childhood, issues that need to be dealt with in order for healing to take place.

Do you have more children's books in the works?

Yes. I am currently working on a book of children's poetry called Poems for Wee Ones. Lord willing, it will be released this year. I also have written a story book for older children, ages 6-9, called The Dandelion Patch, in which my main character stands by her convictions and refuses to compromise. I hope to release this book this year as well. Perhaps one of my most exciting projects is a children's play called Miracle at Madville which I hope to make into a musical.

That’s exciting. My daughters and I started the puppet ministry at the church we attended when they were in junior high. I was also the children’s choir director. At Christmas that year, I wrote a Christmas play that used live children and puppets, and the music director’s wife wrote the music. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I love to hear from readers and encourage them to write to me with any questions they may have about writing or about children's books. They can reach me via the following venues:

Website: www.maryanndiorio.com

Blog (Matters of the Heart): http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/maryanndiorioblog

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/maryanndiorio

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DrMaryAnnDiorio

Twitter: http://Twitter.com/@DrMaryAnnDiorio

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6592603

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=45380421

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/drmaryanndiorio/

Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/+DrMaryAnnDiorio

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/drmaryanndiorio/

Thank you, MaryAnn, for sharing with us today.

Thank you, Lena, for your kindness in hosting me.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Who Is Jesus? - Hardback
Who Is Jesus? - Kindle

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

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

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

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

WINNERS!!!!!!

Lientjie (QLD-Aus) is the winner of an ebook of Charity's Cross by MaryLu Tyndall.

Hannah (NE) is the winner of Shattered Memories by Debbie Lynne Costello.

Beth (IA) is the winner of A Reluctant Melody by Sandra Ardoin.

Kim (NE) is the winner of Pure Devotion by Rachel Windham.

Angela (KY) is the winner of Guilding the Water by Catherine Richmond.

Caryl (TX is the winner of an ebook of A Match for Magnolia by Marion Ueckermann.

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

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

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

If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

A SPY'S DEVOTION - Melanie Dickerson - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve featured all of Melanie’s books on this blog. Many of you will remember them—the series of fairy tales retold in Medieval times. I’ve loved them all. This new book is a different genre, a Regency romantic suspense. You won’t want to miss this one. It’s every bit as good or even better than her earlier books. An intriguing story line, characters who leap into your heart and live there, and a peek into the Regency era. What's not to love?

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

I wanted to be a novelist when I was in middle school and high school, but I decided it would be too hard to break into publishing, so I quit writing altogether. Then when I had a toddler and a baby, fifteen years after high school, I started thinking about what I could do after my kids started school to generate income, and that’s why I started writing—because I was hoping to make a career out of it. But I soon realized it would probably be more of a ministry than a money-making scheme. J

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

Hmmm. I don’t really like anything besides writing fiction. The only thing I think I MIGHT enjoy is meteorology. I think I might enjoy studying and talking about the weather.

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

It’s hard to say, since I sort of cringe at the thought of not having indoor plumbing or antibiotics, but I think Medieval Europe, since I adore castles and everything else about Medieval times.

What place in the United States have you not visited that you would like to?

Lots of places, but I’ll say Charleston, since I love antebellum architecture and history.

How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

I would love to visit Germany again to see more castles. I’d also love to visit Slovenia and Slovakia. The more pictures I see of those two countries, the more I really want to visit.

What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

Trusting God is always an ongoing lesson. But I have been overcoming some things that have been long-time struggles, such as guilt and lack of confidence. I am learning more about intimacy with God, too, and about prayer.

A wonderful thing about walking with the Lord is that He’s always taking me just a little bit deeper as we go along. And I know there’s so much more for me to learn about Him. Tell us about the featured book.

A Spy’s Devotion is a romantic suspense novel set in Regency England. It’s about a young woman, Julia Grey, who has been orphaned since she was 6 years old and taken in by her aunt and uncle as a companion for their spoiled only child, Phoebe. Julia has the idea that if she just conforms to society’s rules and everything her aunt and uncle want her to do, things will go well for her life. But when they ask her to do things that go against what she feels is right, she is forced to change her life philosophy. She ends up helping Nicholas Langdon in his quest to save England from a plot to murder General Wellington, and falling in love with him, though she knows there is no hope that she could ever marry him, since she has no fortune. It’s my first foray into Regency Romance, but hopefully shows my love of Jane Austen, with some suspense and spying thrown in for extra excitement. J

Please give us the first page of the book for my readers.

April 1811.  London, England.

Mr. Nicholas Langdon wasn’t supposed to be here.

Miss Julia Grey blinked, but he was still standing across the room from where she sat at the pianoforte.

It was the first party of the Season, and several of her aunt and uncle’s guests surrounded him. And in spite of the recent wounds he’d sustained fighting in the Peninsula, he looked as handsome and whole as he had the last time she’d seen him, a year and a half ago.

Just then, Miss Phoebe Wilhern, Julia’s cousin, turned and saw him—and gasped loudly enough to be heard by everyone in the room. Phoebe’s face turned pink, and the hand she lifted to cover her overjoyed smile never quite reached her mouth.

Julia stood to go to Phoebe, to admonish her not to make her feelings so obvious. Julia had spent the last year and a half trying to help Phoebe forget her infatuation with the faraway army officer and think of other things besides her obsession with Mr. Langdon.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.MelanieDickerson.com

https://twitter.com/melanieauthor

https://www.pinterest.com/dickerson3046

https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks

Thank you, Melanie, for sharing this new book with us. I always put your newest book on the top of my to-be-read pile, and I loved it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

A Spy's Devotion - Christianbook.com
A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London) - Amazon
A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London Book 1) - Kindle

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

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

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

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

THE COWBOY'S BRIDE - Darlene Franklin, and others - One Free Book

Bio: Best-selling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over fifty books and more than 250 devotionals.

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

I grew up in New England—a Yankee and proud of it—but moved west and fell in love with it. At the moment, I live in Oklahoma, near my son and his family. My first book, Romanian Rhapsody, was published in 2005. And after twenty years in Denver, I am mighty happy that the Broncos won the last Super Bowl!

I came to know the Lord during Vacation Bible School when I was a child, and more than fifty decades later, I feel like I’m just beginning.                                                                                                                                                            

That was a well-deserved win at the Super Bowl, a wonderful game to watch. I absolutely loved Romanian Rhapsody when I read it back in 2005. It made me want to connect with the author. I’m so glad I did. I treasure our friendship. How did you become interested in writing?                                                                                            

I wrote stories based on my favorite TV series as a child, and even wrote for a newspaper for a couple of years. But I began writing seriously in the wake of my divorce. I felt compelled to share the lessons God was teaching me. Next I turned to fiction, and I was hooked.                      

                                                                                               

What compelled you to write a book on the subject, The Cowboy’s Bride?

That’s easy. My publisher (Barbour) asked for novella proposals about cowboy brides. Since I’m not an expert on the cowboy life, I made up a heroine a bit like me, an easterner uncomfortable with cowboy ways. She sets out to reform them by holding a class “Learn How to Become a Gentleman.”

                                                                                                                                                           

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

The theme verse for the book encapsulates the theme: “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12) God has to open Millie’s eyes to what true godliness is—and how to look past the outside.

Of course, there’s the issue of Wes’s skirting with a lie—he hasn’t told Millie he’s a cowboy. He signs up for the class on becoming a gentleman—under a different version of his name.                   

                                                                       

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

Make integrity, sincerity, and God’s grace the foundation of your relationships. Easier said than done.

                                                                                   

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

Oh, that’s a tough one for me. People tell me my books are sweet, that I create strong characters, that I incorporate scriptural truth naturally into the story. I’ve also been told I make my characters suffer. That’s not so true of Millie and Wes in The Reformed Cowboy.              

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

I often start out to do one thing and find God leading me in another. I have to make an effort to look past the uncomfortable parts of person’s character to the person God loves. One aide in the nursing home where I live drives me crazy with his sense of humor. He thinks it’s funny to make fun of me, which draws up a lot of hurt for me. Then this morning, he poured out his heart for ten minutes, honoring me with his pain. Now, that’s what an example of God helping me to look beyond worldly wisdom.

Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?

I usually quote Romans 8:38-39. But recently this verse has caught my heart: “I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.” Isaiah 58:11-12 I can’t think of a place much emptier than a nursing home, and here God promises to use all the ruins of my past to build my future.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

That’s awesome, Darlene. I have watched you as you grow and thrive there. You’re an inspiration to me. When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?        

Now that I have a Kindle—I am reading voraciously. I do a lot of word searches and keep up with the outside world on Facebook. I also play piano at church services here, which brings me a lot of joy.

Do grandchildren count as hobbies?                                                                                                                                                                       

When we are with our grandchildren or great grandchildren, they hold all our attention, so I guess that could be a hobby. As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?

March is the birthday month for both my children and my oldest granddaughter. A happy shout out to all three!

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Website and blog

Facebook

Amazon author page       

Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this new novella collection with us. I love reading historical cowboy stories, and so do my blog readers.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Cowboy's Bride - Christianbook.com
The Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches - Amazon
The Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. When you comment, tell us if you've ever known a cowboy, or not. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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

THE RED DOOR INN - Liz Johnson - One Free Book

Readers, let’s give our author a warm welcome today.

Liz, why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write stories of true love with happily-ever-afters because I want to reflect the greatest love story ever told—the story of God’s love for his children and the lengths he went to to redeem them and draw them to himself. I write stories that remind readers of God’s love and constant presence in our lives.

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

I’ve had a lot of happy days, but maybe the best was the day I got the call that my first book was being offered a contract. It was something I’d longed for and dreamed of for years, and it was the culmination of almost a year of hard work with my editor on that manuscript. My memories of that day are a sweet reminder of God’s good gifts and the Father’s love for his children.

How has being published changed your life?

I’m not sure that being published has changed my day-to-day life in big ways. I still have a day job. I’m still responsible for keeping my house clean, cooking my meals, and managing my calendar. I still spend as much time as I can with my family and friends. But there’s something about seeing a longtime dream fulfilled that reminds me every day to be grateful for the big and small gifts in life. I’m reminded that I can’t do this writing thing—or life—on my own. God is the one who gives me strength and carries me when I’m weak.

Amen to that. What are you reading right now?

Right now I’m reading Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen. I’ve been looking forward to this book for months. I’m also reading Mark Batterson’s If. I generally have a fiction and nonfiction book going at any given time.

What is your current work in progress?

I’m working on Where Two Hearts Meet, the second book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series, which releases in October. When a bed-and-breakfast chef mistakes a guest for a visiting travel writer, the future of the inn she loves is on the line—so is her heart.

What would be your dream vacation?

After years of visiting Prince Edward Island at every opportunity, it’s hard to imagine dreaming of going anywhere else. But I’ve never been to Ireland or Scotland, and I think it would be wonderful to explore the history there. And the pictures of the area are gorgeous! I’d love to visit. Maybe the scenery would make me appear to be a better photographer than I actually am.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I feel like the settings for my last several books have picked themselves. I’ve written a number of books about Navy SEALs, so the setting in San Diego is a natural fit—near the naval base at Coronado where half the SEAL teams are stationed. For my latest release, The Red Door Inn, the entire story stemmed from the peace and tranquility I experienced on Prince Edward Island. I wanted to write a story about someone longing for that kind of peace.

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

I think I’d enjoy spending an evening with Brene Brown. She’s an author and social scientist, who studies vulnerability, fear, and personal connection. Her works have been instrumental for me in understanding my relationships and how to best care for my friends and family. I’d love to hear anything she has to say. Plus, she just seems fun!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I do love to read. And I used to love to do counted cross-stitch needlework. I would spend hours working on intricate designs. Now it’s a rare treat in a busy schedule, but I always enjoy it when I get a chance to.

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

I’m very easily distracted. Facebook. The internet. Random research bunny trails. I’m often looking up something entirely legitimate to my story, and then in four quick clicks, I can be watching a video of a cat that’s afraid of cucumbers. In order to overcome this, I often have to set aside internet-free time when I don’t allow myself to get online for any reason, even research. It helps if I’m at a restaurant or public place that doesn’t have wifi. Then I can’t even be tempted, except on my phone. Which is another distraction in its own right.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Finish your manuscript. There’s a lot of great advice out there about the craft of writing—structure and plotting and voice and character development. But I think the best thing beginning authors can do is write. An author friend of mine is fond of saying that the only thing you can’t fix is a blank page. Keep writing. Fill the pages. And then work on making them better with the help of beta readers, critique partners, and editors.

Tell us about the featured book.

In The Red Door Inn Marie Carrington is running from a host of bad memories. Broke and desperate, she’s hoping to find safety and sanctuary on Prince Edward Island, where she reluctantly agrees to help decorate a renovated bed-and-breakfast before it opens for prime tourist season.

Seth Sloane didn’t move three thousand miles to work on his uncle’s B and B so he could babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. He came to help restore the old Victorian—and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart.

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they've got. They’ll have to find a way to work together, and in the process, they may find something sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The change in Marie Carrington’s pocket wouldn’t pay for a ferry ride across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island, let alone a bus ticket to anywhere else in the world. As she cupped the Canadian dollar coins in her shaking hand, they clinked together, drawing the curious gaze of the man in the seat next to her.

Marie shifted on the painful plastic chair, putting her shoulder between all the money she had access to in the world and the gaze shrouded by bushy, white eyebrows.

Two. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Seven twenty-five.

The sign on the café attached to the ferry terminal announced a fish sandwich lunch special for $6.99, but tax would be more than a quarter. Besides, that would completely wipe her out. And then she’d be penniless in a strange town.

“Which color do you like better?” The man with the eyebrows and more wrinkles than she’d ever seen on one face leaned forward, holding out four paint swatches.

Marie rotated farther away from him, shoving her coins back in her pocket, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“My wife liked the pale blue, but I think we need something brighter for the shutters of a bed-and-breakfast. Don’t you?”

She couldn’t fight the urge to survey the swatches, even if just out of the corner of her eye. With one finger she twisted the necklace at her throat, imagining each color on the front of a robust, two-story Maritime home.

He dipped his chin as though waiting for her answer. “Well? Don’t you think it’s too light?”

Finally she whispered, “Unless the house is a deep blue.” Keeping an eye on him, she scooted to the far edge of her seat, the armrest digging into her side as she bent to scoop her backpack into the safety of her lap.

“What?” His eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. Pulling his glasses from his front shirt pocket and planting them on his face, he held the color swatch in question to within an inch of his nose, mumbling her words over and over. “Deep blue. The house could be deep blue.”

After several seconds of peace, she decided he’d forgotten all about her until he flipped the same blue color swatch over her shoulder and pointed to the darkest hue on the row. “Is that dark enough?”

“No.”

“Then what would be?”

Shoulder still in place, she pointed with her other hand to the blue of his pants. “Maybe with a hint of gray mixed in.”

Holding the color card against a handful of jean fabric, he nodded slowly. “That might work. But not too much gray.” He scratched his chin, his whiskers rasping beneath aged fingers. “What about the trim? Would you do the same color as the shutters?”

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website has all the latest information on my releases at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com, and I hang out at www.Facebook.com/LizJohnsonBooks and www.Twitter.com/LizJohnsonBooks. I hope you’ll visit me there soon.

Thank you, Liz, for sharing this new book with us. I'm eager to read it, and I'm sure my readers are as well.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Red Door Inn - Christianbook.com
The Red Door Inn: A Novel (Prince Edward Island Dreams) - Amazon
The Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Dreams Book #1): A Novel - Kindle

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

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

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

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

SILENCE IN THE DARK - Patricia Bradley - One Free Book or Ebook

Dear Readers, we have an author who is new to this blog today. I just love finding new authors to introduce to you.

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

That’s a toughie. While I’m working with a character, I think I become the character, not the other way around. I find myself thinking like the character, listening to the kind of music the character likes, buying the kind of food he or she would buy ...

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Since my whole life has been kind of quirky … maybe the time I had someone tie me up and leave so I could see if I could loose. They were supposed to come back, though.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I was always a reader until I turned 35. Then these people came to live in my head, and they wouldn’t go away until I wrote about them. I sent one of the stories to Woman’s World  and when they bought it, I started thinking of myself as a writer.

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

Other than erotica, there is no genre I won’t read if the story is good. My preference is suspense and romantic suspense, but if the story is good, I enjoy all genres.

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

I write, and in order to write, I depend on God for the creativity.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Names are one of the hardest things about getting the story started. A name must fit the character. I usually start with the Social Security website for baby names. I also use the automatic name generator function in Scrivener. I also have the Character Naming book that has them listed by ethnicity.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Giving a eulogy at my mother’s funeral. It was also the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

I would imagine. My brother gave the eulogies at both my father’s and my momma’s funerals. He was a pastor, so I thought that was why he could do it. I totally respect you for being able to do that. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A mustang. It’s free and never really tamed.

What is your favorite food?

Bread. Plain and simple. J

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

When I first started writing, I knew no one who was a writer. It was before the Internet and I typed my first short story on a manual, portable Royal typewriter. I had no writing craft book, only Writer’s Digest. I kept making the same mistakes over and over because I had no craft partners. I finally went to writing retreats and gained great critique partners.

Tell us about the featured book.

Here’s the back cover copy:

In one of the most dangerous states in Mexico, Bailey Adams is running for her life ... again.

When Bailey Adams left Logan Point two years ago for the mission field of Chihuahua, Mexico, she thought she was getting away from her problems. Running into her ex-fiancé Danny Maxwell was not part of the plan—neither was being chased through the city by the local drug cartel, the Calatrava. Now despite her best efforts, Danny is her only chance of escaping the people chasing her and getting back to Logan Point safely. Can Bailey find the strength to face what’s coming? And in the midst of the chaos, can she keep herself from falling in love with her rescuer all over again?

Sounds like the kind of book I love to read. Please give us the first page.

Ten-year-old Bailey Adams huddled with the Carver twins on Cassie’s bed. They’d given up pretending Cassie and Jem’s parents weren’t arguing or that their dad wasn’t drunk. Bailey avoided their eyes, knowing how embarrassed they were. “Maybe I should just go home.”

Jem shook her head. “No, stay. He’ll go to sleep soon, and tomorrow it’ll be like nothing ever happened.”

Cassie threw back the blanket. “I’m going to tell them to stop!”

Jem grabbed at her arm and missed. “You’ll just make it worse.”

“I don’t care. I can’t stand it anymore.”

She wasn’t gone five minutes when it sounded like firecrackers exploding in the living room. And screams.

“No! Don’t shoot!”

Another boom.

Silence.

Jem jumped from the bed. “Cassie! I have to go help her!”

“No! He might shoot you.”

“My daddy wouldn’t hurt me. You climb out the window and go next door to Mr. Arnold’s house and call the police.” Jem ran out of the room.

Bailey’s thumping heart jerked in her chest as she turned and stared at the open window.

Another gunshot bolted her into action as footsteps stomped down the hallway. She climbed through the window and ran for all she was worth to the neighbors.

****

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.patriciabradleyauthor.com


www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor


https://twitter.com/PTBradley1


Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ptbradley/

Thank you, Patricia for sharing this romantic suspense novel with us. I know my readers are as eager as I am to read it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Silence in the Dark - Christianbook.com
Silence in the Dark: A Novel (Logan Point) - Amazon
Silence in the Dark (Logan Point Book #4): A Novel - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. If the winner is in the US, the book will be a print book. If the winner is not in the US, it will be an ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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

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

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