Sunday Funnies!

One roll of tape -- $4.00

Massive amounts of packing foam -- Stolen

Friends with way too much time on their hands on April Fools -- Priceless

"Best Wishes Suzanne

Under Neat That

We Will Miss You"

How you know you're driving too fast:

Sharon Gillenwater ~ Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details on entering*

Here are some details for the book being given away:

Emily's Chance, book 2 in The Callahans of Texas series, by Sharon Gillenwater!

Blurb:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?

*USA residents only, please*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Emily's Chance!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Emily's Chance
+2 Abbie Ann

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 29) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (November 4). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 5th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

The Preacher's Bride winner!

And the winner of The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund is:
 Renee (steelergirl83@...)

Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater ~ 5 stars

Emily's Chance

Sharon Gillenwater

The Callahans of Texas series #2

Revell Publishing

About the book:

Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it's just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay--both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town's history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?

My review:

I love the characters in this series! They are so real and so on fire for God. I would love to know these people in real life! Emily and Chance just warm my heart. I love how Chance pursued Emily. Sometimes, while reading a book it will annoy me because the hero won’t pursue the heroine for some reason or another, but that wasn’t the case in this book at all! I love men like Chance. Willing to stick up for their girl, protective, compassionate, hardworking… However, he is still human and has his flaws, but he was willing to listen as God was teaching him and molding him. He would also humble himself and apologize when he was wrong. Emily! I was able to connect with Emily. Some of the issues she was going through are things that I am struggling with, too. Such as relationships, restoration, and other things too.

I just really enjoyed this book and if I went on about its good qualities, it would be way too long. I’ll just say that one thing that I didn’t LOVE was how a chapter would end in the middle of a date or something, but the next scene wouldn’t pick it back up. It would go on to another day (or whatever) and then mention how the last scene ended. That only happened a few times, and it bothered me because I felt like it was a sudden cut off and the author may have missed some opportunities. But, it wasn’t a big enough deal that I didn’t like the book or anything. I just felt that it could have been even better if some scenes weren’t done that way.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Abbie Ann by Sharlene MacLaren ~ 5 stars

Abbie Ann

Sharlene MacLaren

The Daughters of Jacob Kane series #3

Whitaker House Publishing

About the book:

Abbie Ann Kane, the youngest of Jacob Kane's three daughters, is a busy woman. In addition to working at Kane's Whatnot and teaching Sunday school at the Third Street Church, she leads the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union chapter in promoting women's suffrage and Prohibition. But their campaign is not universally popular. While Abbie focuses on helping abused women, her brother-in-law, Sheriff Gabriel Devlin, investigates several threats directed at her.

For years, Noah Carson ran a successful shipworks in Connecticut, that is, until his business partner cheated him our of his share, not to mention his wife. Hoping for a fresh start, the recent divorce moves with his six-year- old son, Toby, to Sandy Shores, where he joins his uncles window business. Bur Noah's passion for shipbuilding proves hard to stifle, especially when a local businessman commissions him to construct a ship to race in the annual regatta.

When an unexpected incident virtually catapults Noah Carson into Abbie Anns life, the two feel an immediate attraction that Abbie works hard to ignore. After all, Noah is nor a committed Christian, nor does he seem committed to marriage, considering his divorced status. Still, Abbie finds herself drawn to him, and to his son. Will the independent Abbie trust the Lord and surrender to His surprising plans?

My review:

I love Sharlene’s books. I have read all of her books except one, and I have never failed to be thrilled by them! You can see her love of children in each of her books, and this was no exception. Abbie is a character that, despite her flaws, you love. Her drive to defend others and stand up for what she believed in was really inspiring. I loved her idea for the Hope House! That was great. :) Noah had been hurt by so many people and was struggling just to get by, day-by-day. I really liked him as the male lead for this book, and Abbie’s “other half.” While on the long side, (I tend to like longer books, though) I was able to read this book fairly quickly. The element of suspense in the book certainly didn’t hurt that! If you haven’t read anything by Sharlene, or just haven’t read this series yet, I suggest you move it towards the top of your To Be Read pile, because it is worth it!

Sunday Funnies!

Jody Hedlund ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details, the rules are a little different this time!*

Today author Jody Hedlund is telling us about her new book, The Preacher's Bride (October 2010). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Author's bio:
Jody Hedlund is a debut historical romance novelist who was a double finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis Contest in Historical Romance. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.

Welcome, Jody! Tell us about your salvation experience.

I grew up in a Christian family as a PK (Pastor’s Kid). My mom and dad led me to an early understanding of what it meant to know and follow the Lord. There were many ups and downs during my growing up years, and ultimately it was during my college years at Taylor University that I committed my entire life over to serving God and following his purposes and plans for me.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Scheduled. Committed. Diligent.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Those closest to me might call me stubborn. :)

Organized or completely chaotic?
I try to be organized, but with 5 kids it doesn’t always happen.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
First I stress out and cry. Then I go to my husband, who is much calmer and level-headed than me, and he usually fixes the problem for me. Case in point, just this past weekend, my laptop unexpectedly shut off during the middle of my writing time while I was at the library. I stressed, tried not to cry, and then quickly drove home and handed the defunct laptop into his hands. Within an hour he had it fixed. And I was one happy wife. :)

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I love that I’m driven. It helps me to push myself to succeed. But there are also times when I wish I wasn’t so driven. I often push myself too hard, lose sleep, and don’t take care of myself the way I should.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I eat pie for breakfast. Yep. Anytime there’s pie in the house, I indulge myself in a piece for breakfast, especially if it has fruit in it of any kind because then I’m getting a couple servings of fruit.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I find it difficult to objectively compare myself to other authors. But my publisher has compared my writing to Lynn Austin, Francine Rivers, and Liz Curtis Higgs. The romance in my books is PG-13. It’s on the sweeter side, but I’ve told my twin daughters (age 11) that they have to wait to read my book until they’re a little older.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
The Doctor’s Lady is scheduled to release in September of 2011 and is another “inspired-by” novel. It’s a fictionalized story based on the first white woman to travel overland West to Oregon as a missionary to the natives. It’s a marriage of convenience story, but also the tale of how a young woman overcame the odds, endured a dangerous journey, and found true love along the way. In the process, her strength and courage paved the way for all of the women who came after her.

How can readers get in contact with you?

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund

Email: JodyHedlund@JodyHedlund.com

Book blurb:

In 1650s England, a young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher—whether her assistance is wanted or not.

Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John’s protests of her aid. She’s even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family.

Yet Elizabeth’s new role as housekeeper takes a dangerous turn when John’s boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher’s enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she’s more determined than ever to save the child—and man—she’s come to love.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I love connecting with readers! Please take a minute to stop by my Author Facebook Page and say hi or send me an email via my Connect Page on my blog.

~~~~~

*USA residents only, please*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of The Preacher's Bride!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

+4 Comment on my interview with Janice Hanna, following the guidelines listed IN THAT POST. This will get you FOUR entries into this giveaway.
**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 22) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 28). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 29th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

Janice Hanna Thompson ~ Interview!

Sorry, guys! No reviews this week. I'm a little behind in reading. :/ Instead, I have an interview with author Janice Hanna Thompson and the characters of her new book, Love me Tender!

Note from Janice Hanna Thompson, author of LOVE ME TENDER:

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by to share in the excitement of LOVE ME TENDER, my latest inspirational romance. When I heard about the new “When I Fall in Love” line at Summerside, I flipped! Why? Because I love the ‘50s, and I love music! (The line is based on song titles from the 1930s to the 1970s.) I happen to be a playwright with a really fun musical comedy titled JOHNNY BE GOOD, a story that’s near and dear to my heart. I decided to put a twist on that stage play and turn it into a rockin’ romantic novel! With that in mind, I hope you enjoy this “Hollywood Heartthrob” interview with four of the main characters from the novel.

Hollywood Heartthrob, “Man About Town” Column
Welcome, readers! This is Sunset Sam, columnist for Hollywood Heartthrob magazine, here to interview several characters from LOVE ME TENDER, a new book by author Janice Hanna Thompson. I read the book in preparation for this interview and had a hip-hip hoppin’, be-be-boppin’ time reading about the characters down at Sweet Sal’s Soda Shoppe in Laguna Beach. I’ve been to Sweet Sal’s many times, of course. Everyone in Hollywood knows it’s all the rage. Where else can you get a big, thick cheeseburger, hot, salty fries and the thickest chocolate malts in the country? Now that I’ve enticed you with the food, let’s have a little chat with some of the key players in our story. We’ll start with Debbie Carmichael, daughter of the owners of Sweet Sal’s.

Debbie, could you tell us a little about what your day-to-day life is like?

Most of the girls my age are in college, but I decided to stay in Laguna Beach and help my parents out at our family run soda shop. I have the best life ever! I live across the street from the Pacific Ocean, and love spending time at the cliffs, watching the waves lap the shore. When I’m at the soda shop, the jukebox is always playing. I’m gaga over Elvis’s new song, “Love Me Tender.” It’s all the rage with teen girls right now. Of course, I’m also head over heels for Bobby Conrad, but don’t tell my friends, okay? They think I’m more mature than most of the other teen girls who hang out Sweet Sal’s. Of course, I’m a little distracted by that new guy, Johnny Hartman. He’s so sweet and handsome, and I hear he’s a great singer, too!

Johnny, I read in another article that you came all the way from Topeka Kansas to Hollywood to make it big. How does Hollywood compare to Topeka?
There’s really no way to compare Topeka to Los Angeles. People out here (in California) are more up on current styles, the hottest tunes and the hippest actors and actresses. Back home, folks are so grounded. That isn’t always the case here in L.A. I hope I don’t sound too stuck up when I say that back in Topeka, I was a big fish in a small pond. And because my dad’s a pastor, I had plenty of opportunities to sing in church. But out here in L.A. no one even knows who I am. My agent, Jim Jangles, is working hard to get me a gig on television. I’m auditioning for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts soon. Say a little prayer for me!

Bobby, I understand you were slotted to sing at the fundraiser at Sweet Sal’s Soda Shoppe, but had to cancel. Could you explain your sudden departure?
Yes, I was scheduled to sing at the fundraiser, but just got word that I’ll be filming my new movie that same weekend. I was really disappointed to have to tell the Carmichaels the news, but hopefully they understand. I think it’s going to be okay, because my agent, Jim Jangles, is sending his latest prodigy—a kid from Topeka named Johnny Hartman—in my place. I hear he’s quite a singer.

Sal, could you tell our readers about some of the Hollywood stars you’ve met over the years?
First of all, thanks for including me in this interview! It’s been decades since I was a teen, but I still secretly read Hollywood Heartthrob magazine. (Shh! Don’t tell my husband, Frankie, or my daughter, Debbie!) I’m blessed to be the co-owner of Sweet Sal’s Soda Shoppe in Laguna Beach, and I’ve met a lot of stars who’ve come through on their way to places like Dana Point and San Diego. Here’s a list of some of my favorites: Doris Day, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Ozzie and Harriet. There are dozens more, of course. I want to personally invite all of your readers to stop by Sweet Sal’s Soda Shoppe so that they can see the photos on our walls! And while you’re here, why not enjoy a creamy chocolate malt?

Debbie, a little birdie told me that you and the other girls in Laguna Beach are gaga over Elvis, Pat Boone and Bobby Conrad. Now that you’ve gotten to know (and love) Johnny Hartman, what would you say sets him apart from the other great singers you’ve known?
Oh, no doubt about it. . .Johnny isn’t just a great singer, he’s got a heart of gold. I especially love his strong faith. Unlike so many of the other singers in town, he doesn’t put himself first. With Johnny, it’s God first. . .all the way! And when he sings. . .man! That voice! It’s a smooth as velvet. (And it doesn’t hurt that he’s so dreamy! Talk about handsome!)

Johnny, you’ve been asked to fill in for Bobby Conrad at the Laguna Beach fundraiser. Can you tell us how you’re feeling as you look forward to the big day?
I don’t mind admitting I’m a little nervous. Who wouldn’t be? Thousands of girls from Orange County and beyond are looking forward to seeing Bobby Conrad in person. Now I’ve been asked to fill in for him. I’ll be lucky if they don’t boo me off the stage or toss rotten tomatoes at me! Hopefully my new love song—the one I wrote for the gorgeous Debbie Carmichael—will win them over. I hope so, anyway!

Bobby, many Christians have a hard time hanging onto their faith once they achieve stardom. You seem so grounded. What’s your secret?
I always try to honor God in everything I do—whether it’s movies or songs for the radio. There’s a verse that I love, and it’s one I try to live by: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The way I look at it, if I make a choice to put God first, He’s going to bless me above and beyond anything I could ever ask for, anyway. Even if He didn’t bless me, though, I would still serve Him. It’s really the only way to live a fulfilling life. (And trust me when I say that people out here in L.A. are looking for ways to live a fulfilling life!)

Sal, we were sorry to hear about your husband’s health problems. How is he doing now?
Praise the Lord, Frankie seems to be doing a little better. His heart attack several months ago really shook us up. And we got behind on the mortgage, which has made me a little nervous. Still, I choose to trust God. And now that everyone in town is banding together to put on the fundraiser to save the soda shop, I’m feeling more hopeful than ever!

Debbie, is there anything you’d like Hollywood Heartthrob readers to know as we end this interview?
Yes, I would like people to know that it is possible to live in Hollywood—to be a big star, even—and still be a person of faith. I’ve witnessed it in Bobby Conrad’s life, and in Johnny’s, too. I’d also like to share that putting your trust in God is really the only way to go. Some problems are just too big for us to handle on our own. When my dad got really sick, I made up my mind to try to “fix” the situation. What I’ve learned is this—only God can truly “fix” anything. And trust me when I say that His “fix” is far greater than anything we could ever dream up!

Thanks so much, folks! It’s been a great interview.

Well, there you have it, Hollywood Heartthrob fans. This is Sunset Sam, signing off for this week. See you next time!

GIVEAWAY INFO: Janice Hanna Thompson is hosting a giveaway on her facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson). To enter, leave a comment on her page with the name of your favorite ‘50s star (movies or music) and explain why you liked him/her. The drawing to win the Be-Boppin’ ‘50s Basket (filled with great ‘50s memorabilia) will take place on the weekend of October 29^th – 31^st. Why? Because that’s the same weekend Janice is directing a local (Houston) production of JOHNNY BE GOOD the musical comedy that served as inspiration for LOVE ME TENDER.

~~~~~

This Friday, I'm posting a new giveaway as usual but this week the extra entries will be a little UNusual.

*The entries earned here will be put toward winning THE PREACHER'S BRIDE*

To get the *4* extra entries, comment on THIS post saying something about Janice Thompson and her writing.

Here are some ideas of things you could talk about:

-Which book of her's is your favorite?

-Why do you like her books?

-What do you like about Janice herself?

-If you have never read her books, why do you want to?

-Are any of her books on your To-Be-Read list? Which ones?

Just some ideas! Please don't make your comments just a sentence. We want to encourage the author! :D

First Love winner!

And the winner of First Love by Michelle Sutton is:
Anne Payne (homesteading@...)

Sunday Funnies!

Cat: Gotcha!

Cat: What... happened???

Michelle Sutton ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Michelle Sutton is telling us about her new e-book, First Love (Tombstone Treasures series #2, October 2010). She has offered a copy of her e-book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Michelle! Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm the author of over a dozen inspirational novels releasing through 2012. I have two wonderful sons who are college freshmen this year and my husband and I celebrated twenty years of marriage this past August. I love to read and write stories with real life situations. My new motto pertains to Healing Hearts, which is my new series releasing in February. It seems to be a theme with all of my books, so I have decided to take that and build on it so people will associate my stories with healing rather than with edginess.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I thought I was a Christian when I was a teenager, but I was merely religious. It was impossible for me to not sin, so I knew something was wrong. When I was walking down the street one day, alone, and meditating on Romans 8:11-13, I realized for the first time what I was missing and asked Jesus to come into my life and do whatever needed to be done to make me right with Him. When I arrived home after my walk I didn't even have to tell my mother what had happened. She saw the difference in my face, and that confirmed that what happened in my heart that day was real. My relationship from that point on became a personal one with Jesus Christ, and I was no longer mystified as to why I didn't feel close to God when it seemed like I was doing everything right (except until I was saved I couldn't say no to temptation. That all changed when I met Jesus personally.) Now it's not to say that I never sinned after that, but I was no longer powerless to overcome it. I think that's why I write themes in my books about people falling and then being redeemed in a way that only Jesus can do.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Totally spontaneous.

Stubborn, or compliant?
More compliant than stubborn. Depends on the situation. If I'm protecting someone I love, I'm like a Pit Bull. If it doesn't matter, I give in for the sake of peace.

Organized or completely chaotic?
Pretty organized. I'm more OCD than laid back. But I'm not neurotic.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Depends on the kind of disaster it is. When the kids would get hurt when they will little (like falling down and scraping their knees) if there was any blood involved, Daddy would have to bandage them up. I am a wimp when it comes to blood, so I will either shiver or stare with my mouth gaping. It's not pretty. Just about anything else I can handle fine. Give me an infected ingrown toenail to cure (not mine) and I'm fine with it. But paper cut on a finger? I'm a mess. :)

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
My best trait is probably the fact that when I love someone I tend to overlook dumb stuff that they do and extend a lot of grace. (My husband and kids love that about me and tell me as much.) I am not easily offended and most things roll right off of me because I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. However, if you personally attack me and it's obvious, my hackles come up and then it's hard for me not to get angry and attack back. Fortunately that is not a frequent occurrence in my life. I would rather ignore an issue and slip quietly away than deal with it if there would be a lot of fallout as a result. Stirring the pot is not something I like to do unless it's to protect someone who is vulnerable or to expose something that is immoral and wrong, and thus shouldn't be ignored. Most times I figure the issue is between the offender and God and so I leave it to Him to deal with.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I mentioned in another interview that my mother was a nun. About six months after she left the convent she met my dad. They married, of course, and that's the best thing that ever happened to me.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I would have to say that I think I write like several historical authors in the area of romantic tension (but I don't write historical fiction) such as Julie Lessman, Deanne Gist, and Marylu Tyndall. Contemporary authors who remind me of my style when I read their books are Denise Hunter and Lisa Samson. I would have to honestly say that because I like to delve deeper into emotional and sexual tension and I always have flawed heroes and heroines, that my books tend to drift toward the PG realm and several even hit rated PG-13, but only because of subject matter. Mostly I am in the PG realm.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I am writing the sequel to First Love to finish out the three book series.

How can readers get in contact with you?

http://www.michellesutton.net/

http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/

http://healingheartstheseries.blogspot.com/

michelle@michellesutton.net

Book blurb:

Josiah and Tara had enjoyed acting in their high school plays. They had also been each other's first lover... in fact; most of the time they'd spent together had been in Tara's bed. When Josiah became a Christian, he left Tara to go to college and didn't look back.

Four years later, Josiah is back in town when his father has a near-fatal heart attack. When they meet up again they realize how much their separation had hurt each of them. But now Tara is a Christian and is trying to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Josiah wants Tara back, but neither knows how to relate to each other without the physical intimacy they once shared. They are determined to do things right this time, but find it more challenging than they'd anticipated.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

For the character Tara I would have Miley Cyrus and the hero would be Chris Pine









Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-112/Tombstone-Treasures-First-Love/Detail.bok

~~~~~

*This giveaway is open to anyone*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win First Love!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 The Perfect Blend
+2 First Love

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 15) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 21). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 22nd, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

A Hope Undaunted winner!

And the winner of A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman is:
VIRGINIA! (vrush729@...)

First Love by Michelle Sutton ~ 4 stars

First Love

Michelle Sutton

Tombstone Treasures series #2

Desert Breeze Publishing

About the book:

Josiah and Tara had enjoyed acting in their high school plays. They had also been each others' first lover... in fact; most of the time they'd spent together had been in Tara's bed. When Josiah became a Christian, he left Tara to go to college and didn't look back.

Four years later, Josiah is back in town when his father has a near-fatal heart attack. When they meet up again they realize how much their separation had hurt each of them. But now Tara is a Christian and is trying to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Josiah wants Tara back, but neither knows how to relate to each other without the physical intimacy they once shared. They are determined to do things right this time, but find it more challenging than they'd anticipated.

My review:
*Since my review copy was an ARC, some of the things mentioned in my review might not be the same as in the final version.*

First, I’m just going to say that I loved the subject that Michelle dealt with in this book. It is about two teens who had sex outside of marriage, then broke up. Later, they meet and are both Christians who want to renew their relationship, except this time do everything God’s way. I thought Michelle did a great job of portraying their struggle to stay pure and honor God with their relationship. To me, reading the book was kind of like hearing about some friends of mine who kept messing up, and I felt like I wanted to help them understand it and stay strong but couldn’t.

Some of the dialogue could be changed to follow more logical patterns. (Such as characters saying seemingly random things to make the dialogue go in a new direction.) But, that was pretty minor and could easily be fixed. For the most part, the character’s emotions were realistically done and there were only a few places where I felt like an emotion would come up that wasn’t warranted by the situation. However, that was pretty minor as well.

All in all, I really liked this book and its message about purity in relationships. It gave me some stuff to think about in terms of relationships and boundaries when dating. (Just a warning though, due to the subject matter and writing style of the author, there are some steamy scenes between the characters. I would not recommend this to younger teens.)

The Perfect Blend by Trish Perry ~ 5 stars

The Perfect Blend

Trish Perry

The Tea Shop series #1

Harvest House

About the book:

Steph Vandergrift is in need of a job. She left everything behind to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, never imagining he would stand her up at the altar. Now, hoping just to get by until she can decide what to do next, Steph thinks she’s found the perfect position at the local tea shop.

Kendall James, one of the kindest and most eligible bachelors in the area, meets Steph and proceeds to pursue her. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her runaway fiancé returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always seemed to blend so well. Are they truly meant to be together? Maybe God has something else in mind…

My review:
This is such a sweet, heart-warming read! And I loved the witty humor, too! That was a pleasant surprise. However, just because it is sweet doesn’t mean it is fluff. I loved the messages woven into the story about acceptance, relationships, and boundaries. It was all so well done! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

Sunday Funnies!

Julie Lessman ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Julie Lessman is telling us about her new book, A Hope Undaunted (Winds of Change series #1, September 2010). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Julie! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a high-energy baby boomer married to a man who makes me feel like I’m living my own personal romance novel, and we have two wonderful kids and a daughter-in-law. Out of a family of thirteen, I was the drama queen and the one enamored with books and movies. In fact, I started writing my debut novel A Passion Most Pure when I was twelve years old after reading Gone With the Wind. But … it wasn’t until almost forty years later that God breathed new life into that early attempt and inspired me to finish my childhood novel of passion—only this time the “passion” would be for Him!

Tell us about your salvation experience.
In my debut novel A Passion Most Pure, the heroine Faith O’Connor has a spiritual mentor by the name of Mrs. Gerson, who I actually modeled after my own spiritual mentor and dear friend, Joy Bollinger . Let me tell you—this poor woman had her hands full! You see, I was a twenty-three-year-old, mini-skirted, hardnosed agnostic from a devout but dysfunctional Catholic family of thirteen kids. I was so angry at God that I actually wanted to burn Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms. According to the world’s standards, I had everything going for me—a hunky boyfriend with a Corvette and a boat, a great job, my own apartment when other friends still lived at home, and I was acing an advanced writing course at Washington U., a prestigious college in St. Louis. But I wasn’t happy. I felt like Peggy Lee singing, “Is that all there is?"

Then one day, this annoying gal named Joy approached me at work. She had a lesser job than me, was divorced with a kid and no boyfriend in sight. I hated her because she came in humming every day, happy as a lark while I was utterly miserable. One day when she and I were alone, I looked up from my typewriter and said, “Just what in the heck (except my language was a bit saltier back then) makes you so happy all the time?” She said, “I’ve been praying you would ask.” Oh, no, a Jesus freak, I thought to myself, but I found myself going to lunch with her, badgering her with questions and accusations. I don’t remember now if it was weeks or months, but either way, I met Jesus Christ through the remarkable patience of a God-sent angel by the name of Joy—pretty appropriate name, eh?

Joy spent two years of intensive one-on-one inner healing with me, teaching me the Word, praying with me, showing me God’s love. Since then, my life has been a journey of “joy,” because EVERYTHING with Jesus Christ at the center IS pure joy—especially romance! So you might say my books are my love letters to a God whose love took me from the dark into His glorious light, and I hope and pray it brings Him the glory He so richly deserves.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Unfortunately, “spontaneous,” which means I am driven by emotion and passion in my writing, which is certainly good if you’re looking to write a passionate story, but not so good if you’re trying to make a living at it!

You see, when my emotions are low or the passion near-empty (which happens when I am tired, too busy or a little blue), not much writing gets done. If you’re trying to make a name for yourself as an author, it’s better to be a disciplined writing machine like my very good friends, Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Herne, who can write a new book every two months, it seems, while I am lucky to eke one out every nine months. I know I can write fast when I want to because I wrote A Passion Redeemed (almost 500 pages) in two months while working a part-time job, but that’s not the norm for me, at least not lately!

Organized or completely chaotic?
How about a little bit of both? I have files for everything and a method to my organizational madness, but when I get REALLY busy like now with the launch of a new book and series, well, we’re talking stacks of books to read/review, lots of paper clutter and general mayhem.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Honestly? For me, it’s hard. I am such a wired individual, that I can go tilt pretty easily. That’s when I RUN … not walk … to the throne of God for true perspective.

Which is what I did one Christmas when I was engaged to my husband and he gave me a watch, which I absolutely hated! Now, it wasn’t his fault because God knows I am one of the most particular people on the planet when it comes to watches—they have to be digital, waterproof, have a day and date window, a second hand, have both silver and gold metal on it so I can wear it with either gold or silver jewelry, and a stretch band skinny enough to fit my wrist. Yeah, you get the picture—NOT easy to find, especially with numbers big enough for someone with poor vision to see.

So I faked it, of course, thanking my husband and telling him how pretty it was because he was just so darn proud of his gift (and it was pretty, of course, just not what I wanted!!). But I didn’t “fake it” with God, oh no!! I went straight to His throne in prayer and BEGGED Him to help me love this watch. I even went so far as to write the prayer request on a piece of paper and put it in my Bible so I could pray it every day. Which was fine … until my husband used my Bible a few years later and found the note.

“You don’t like your watch??” he confronted me with hurt in his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, somewhat confused.

He held up the note. “You told God you hated it in this prayer note I found in your Bible.”

Gulp … oh-oh … BUSTED!!! So I gave the love of my life my brightest smile and a quick kiss on the lips and said, “Oh, that was then, babe, but I love it now, really!”

And you know what? I did!! :)

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best trait? My passion for God and the love for others that has come out of it. Worst trait? A bad temper and beating myself up mentally.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I used to chase this one boy named Johnny Huels into the coatroom in kindergarten and kiss him. And then in 3rd grade, he moved right next door to me, and everybody in the neighborhood teased him about me being his girlfriend (since I blabbed that I used to kiss him). So his older brother and my older sister baked a cake and invited all the kids in the neighborhood to our tennis court for a … wedding!! (My dad was an eye surgeon, so we were well-to-do even with 13 kids, and yes, we had a tennis court and HUGE house with six bedrooms.) Poor Johnny never lived it down and I just found out a while back that he ended up becoming a priest! Glad I could help with the vocation. :)

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
Well, my agent and editor tell me that there really isn’t anyone in the Christian market writing what I’m writing—which is family-saga romance (with separate sub-stories for other family members) infused with more romantic passion than the norm in CBA romance. But as far as writers whose style compares to mine, I think I would say Tamera Alexander and Laura Frantz as far as literary style, and then MaryLu Tyndall, Ruth Axtell Morren, Michelle Sutton and Deeanne Gist as far as romantic passion. And I would classify my books more as PG because my romantic scenes (of which there are many in each book) are pretty intense and passionate, but always according to God’s precepts and ALWAYS to drive those precepts home.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I am currently working on A Trust Restored (working title), which is the 3rd book in the “Winds of Change” series, a trilogy that continues the O’Connor saga from the first series, “The Daughters of Boston.” Book 1 A Hope Undaunted just released this month and is about the fourth O’Connor daughter Katie. This book was a lot of fun to write because Katie is a pistol who comes of age in the Roaring Twenties, right before The Great Depression.

Books 2 and 3 will be about the O’Connor brothers, Sean (and guess who … Emma, Charity’s scarred friend from book 2!!), and then Steven, all during the exciting era of speakeasies, dance marathons, gangsters, G-men and era criminals like Bonnie & Clyde and John Dillenger. Steven will be a tall, brooding G-man-type modeled after Elliot Ness … you know, a la Robert Stack from the Untouchables? I’m very excited because all three plots are very involved, include detailed sub-stories for some of the other character couples and enough plot surprises that I hope and pray will blow readers away!

As far as what I plan to write next, I’m hoping to write a prequel about Marcy and Patrick O’Connor before they were married as well as a new trilogy entitled “The Cousins McClare,” a poor-man, rich-man scenario among three cousins amid the Irish-political landscape of 1920s San Francisco, prohibition and the Barbary Coast. Think Little Women meets Dynasty.” And for those of you too young to remember the TV show Dynasty, think family wealth and poverty in a political setting.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I LOVE to hear from readers, so they can contact me through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/), which is a very laid-back, almost-daily journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.

Book blurb:

What happens when the boy she loved to hate ...
becomes the man she hates to love?

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman—smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband—smart, good-looking, well-connected, wealthy … and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

For the heroine Katie O’Connor, think Reese Witherspoon with an attitude.

Katie is eighteen years old going on thirty with a sassy attitude WAY taller than she. Five foot two, eyes of blue, Katie has a stylish blond Dutch-boy bob and can eat whatever she wants and still fit into the rail-thin styles of the Roaring 20s, which annoys her friends to no end. With her biting wit and cool air, Katie’s petite size is no hindrance in keeping everyone on their toes … especially the pest from her past, Cluny McGee.

For Cluny McGee, imagine a younger, toe-head Brad Pitt. From street orphan to gang thug to lawyer, Cluny McGee exudes charm and charisma from every pore. With a muscular frame of six-foot-three, clear blue eyes that can pierce right through and a teasing, almost cocky grin, Cluny is a natural athlete who does not like to lose. He spends endless hours playing sports with the kids in the streets, garnering a year-round tan that hides most of his freckles and bleaches his hair to white blond in the summer.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Sure, people can read the first chapter at ACFW’s Fiction Finder site at http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/948.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Just the message of my book, A Hope Undaunted, which is that God IS “a hope undaunted” incarnate, and what I mean by that is that He IS the “God of Hope” according to Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Now I ask you, if God Himself is the “God of Hope,” then don’t you think that means He wants to fill us—his children, the “apples of His eye”—to overflowing with hope as well? Hope in Him and the fact that He loves us and has a plan to bless us in our lives? Well, that’s what my heroine Katie O’Connor discovers in A Hope Undaunted, as does her family at the onset of the Great Depression, and it’s my deepest hope and prayer that in the telling, it’s also a message my readers will discover too.

~~~~~

*This giveaway is open to everyone!!!*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of A Hope Undaunted!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 The Vigilante's Bride
+2 Teen People of the Bible

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 8) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 14). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 15th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

Surrender the Heart winner!

And the winner of Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall is:
Katie M (legacy1992@...)

Teen People of the Bible by Daniel Darling ~ 4 stars

Teen People of the Bible: Celebrity Profiles of Real Faith and Tragic Failure

Daniel Darling

New Hope Publishers

About the book:

The Bible speaks clearly to issues that teens of any generation experience. Teen People of the Bible is a 100-day devotional for teens that shares the stories of teen celebrities in the Bible—Cain, Abel, Rebekah, Isaac, Daniel, Esther, David, Michal, Solomon and many more—relating their struggles and victories to those of today’s teens. As each new biblical person is introduced and discussed, the author provides unique lessons that inspire or challenge teens as they navigate their own spiritual journey.

My review:

This 100 day Devotional for teens is a great source for a teen who wants to see how Bible stories can relate to them since they aren’t “old.” For the most part, this was a great devotional and I enjoyed it. It seemed to have good insight into the Word, and relevant scripture usage. There were only a few things that I disagreed with, or was a little “fuzzy” on. All in all, I think this is a good place for teens to go to show stories and explain about the teenagers from the Bible.

The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris ~ 5 stars

The Vigilante's Bride

Yvonne Harris

Bethany House Publishing

About the book:

Is Her Kidnapper the Only Man Who Can Keep Her Safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy.

Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

My review:
Ah! I loved this book. It had all of my favorites! Romance, adventure, COWBOYS… ;) It had a unique plot with twists and turns that were very well done. Yvonne really did a great job with the characters. I loved Emily and Luke so much. I was actually a little worried when I started reading it. I thought it might be one of those run-of-the-mill westerns, but that was not the case! I was even surprised by the humor in the book. Now, it wasn’t by any means a comedy, but there were a few times when I laughed out loud while reading. I can’t wait to see what other books this author has coming, but for now, put this on your TBR list!

Thanks to Bethany House for my free review copy of this book.

Sunday Funnies!

They're back! Church Bulletins! Thank God for the church ladies with keyboards. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services.

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

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The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."

The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

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Don't let worry kill you off -- let the Church help.

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Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

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The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 p.m.. - prayer and medication to follow.

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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

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This evening at 7:00 p.m. there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Please use the back door.

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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7:00 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

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Weight Watchers will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Please stop by these blogs!

Hey guys! It's the coolest thing. I've been interviewed!! On TWO different blogs. O.o

Please stop by and leave a comment!
Winning Readings
and
The Homestead Heart (This one has a giveaway too!)

MaryLu Tyndall ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author MaryLu Tyndall is telling us about her new book, Surrender the Heart (Surrender to Destiny series #1, August 2010). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Here is MaryLu's author bio:

M.L. Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series is known for her adventurous historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband, six kids, and four cats. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website at http://www.mltyndall.com/ or her blog at http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

Welcome, MaryLu! Tell us about your salvation experience.

It certainly wasn’t your typical experience! But it definitely shows that God can save anyone in any situation when He deems the time to be right. You see, I was in my mid-thirties and I had made a huge mess of my life. I was on my second marriage which was falling apart. I had rebellious teenagers (Go figure. They were just imitating me!) and I was in a dead-end job that I hated. Because of all that, I drank quite often and would hide alcohol in my closet. One night while I was heading toward my bottle, I spotted an old Bible my Mom had given me when I was a little girl. I dusted it off and decided that I would read it from cover to cover to see if it could somehow help me. So, every night I would crawl in bed and read. Several months later, in the middle of Ezekiel, I had an encounter with the living God. It was as if a light bulb turned on and I KNEW without a doubt that He existed and that He loved me. I gave my life to Him right then and there! At the time, my entire family were non-believers, but one by one, most of them (and the rest will soon) have come into the Kingdom! Isn’t God awesome?

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
If you mean do I schedule time to write each day, yes, I usually try and do my writing in the morning when my mind is fresh. If you mean do I plot every detail of my story before I write, absolutely not. I get to know the characters and allow them freedom to write their own story.

Stubborn, or compliant?
It depends on the topic. I’m great at compromise on many issues, but on certain things, I won’t budge!

Organized or completely chaotic?
My husband likes to call my writing office “organized chaos” so I guess you could say both. It appears like chaos, yet I know where everything is! LOL

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I’m a great listener and very compassionate, but I’m also really bad at handling stress and at worrying.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I love ice hockey (Go Sharks!) and popcorn is my all-time favorite food!

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
Deeanne Gist or Tamera Alexander...PG13

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’ve just turned in book 2 in my Surrender to Destiny series and I’m starting to work on book 3, Surrender the Dawn. Here’s a blurb about the story:
The only way Cassandra Channing can provide for her younger siblings is to hire a privateer, captained by the rogue, Luke Heaton. Although Luke’s prizes provide much wealth for her family, Cassandra suspects foul play. Luke Heaton spends his nights drinking, carousing, and selling supplies to British ships just off the coast of Baltimore. When Cassandra catches on to his treasonous acts, he begins to have second thoughts. Secrets and dangers abound as the British fleet heads toward Baltimore and begin to bombard Fort McHenry. With the fate of their fledgling nation at stake, what destiny awaits this couple as they struggle to keep their faith, their lives, and their love?

How can readers get in contact with you?
http://www.mltyndall.com/

http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marylu.tyndall#!/marylu.tyndall

Book blurb:

On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can’t receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But Noah Brenin needs to sail his cargo to England before the war commences in order to prove his worth to his father and make enough money so he won’t have to marry at all.

But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah’s ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple is impressed into the British navy.

While a young lad’s prophecy of destiny looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies—destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

Rupert Penry-Jones would play Noah Brenin

Amanda Hale would play Marianne

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?

Yes, http://www.mltyndall.com/SurrenderTheHeart.html

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?

My books are not your typical boy meets girl stories. Yes, they are romances, but they are much more than that. They are filled with suspense and adventure all woven around a deep spiritual theme. My goal in this series is to wake people up to the realities of their God-given destinies!

~~~~~

*This giveaway is open to anyone*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Surrender the Heart!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Surrender the Heart
+2 A Memory Between Us

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (October 1) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 7). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 8th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.