A Sequence of Continuous Delights

I screwed up. :(

2011-08-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

Guys, I'm really sorry that I skipped out on you for the whole summer! I lost control of everything and had to give something up. I'm sorry that I haven't even said anything! I kept meaning to get on and start blogging again or at least wrap everything up, but I never got around to it. :/ I pretty much failed, and I know it. LOL

I decided that since I am moving on campus to start college this fall, I am going to stop blogging for a while. So, for the forseeable future, I will not be blogging. Now, I know this means that all those author interviews, giveaways, and everything that I planned will be put on hold too and I'm really sorry. I hope to start blogging again once I'm settled in to college life so maybe later this year, or maybe not until the first semester is over...

I hope you will all forgive me for just leaving like that. I know I let some people down. I'm trying to get everything under control, but... LOL I hope that you will all keep following me and come back as faithful readers when I take my blogs off hiatus.

Love you all!
Carman

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley ~ 4 stars

2011-05-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Breath of Angel

Karyn Henley

The Angeleon Circle series #1

WaterBrook Press

About the book:

Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of an emaciated stranger in the temple courtyard. Just after she discovers wings on the stranger, the murderer enters the temple, and what Melaia has known only through song and story suddenly takes on flesh. Angels and shape-shifters were myths and stories . . . until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of wandering angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt, the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

My review:

Well, this will be a little bit longer than my typical review, but there are a few things that need to be addressed.

First, although this is sold as Christian Fiction, I would just label it as clean fiction. There are angels and talk of the “Most High” that the priestesses serve, but there is no active God in the book. It is also NOT an allegory, and it does not follow Biblical principles. Also, there are two mild curse words (that I noticed) used in the dialogue. I know these things will be a to-read-or-not-to-read issue for some readers, so I wanted to mention them first.

Apart from that, I thought the book was pretty good. There were lots of plot twists and it kept me interested. It was a little confusing at first, but I soon was able to follow along very well. I was a little frustrated with the lack of power and options given to the angels and followers of the “Most High,” and wished that it was a little more Biblical in that area. It IS a fantasy world, though, and since it isn’t an allegory there are unbiblical ideas, things, and circumstances that you wouldn’t see in a Biblical allegory/fantasy book. I still liked it, however, and I will be reading the rest of this series, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next! I would recommend this book, but with a warning that it probably won’t be what you expect.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for my free review copy of this book.

I'm so sorry!

2011-05-19T00:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, you guys are probably thinking that I have fallen off the face of the earth, and you'd almost be right. May 1-6 was my finals week, then I graduated on the 7th. Then, on the morning of the 8th, I (along with my "adopted family") left for Florida! I am still here now, and things have been crazy. I haven't had a spare minute to think, let alone blog or even do my nails (they're pretty gross right now).... but, I got to go to Disney World and spend some time with family that I won't get to see for the rest of the summer, so it's been a good time and a huge blessing.

I just want to say how sorry I am to everyone who was counting on me for something, and I didn't meet the deadline. I will get back to blogging as soon as I can, but I don't know when that will be exactly. (I don't have my own laptop so internet access is SEVERELY LIMITED RIGHT NOW.) :/ I will get everything in order (authors contacted, emails replied to, winners chosen...) but it probably won't be for a few days more.

Please bear with me! I will get everything set to rights as soon as I can!

A Heart Divided by Kathleen Morgan ~ 5 stars

2011-05-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

A Heart Divided

Kathleen Morgan

Heart of the Rockies series #1

Revell

About the book:

When fate brings them together, they must choose between family ties and love.

The Caldwells and Wainwrights have been feuding for decades. Still, Sarah Caldwell has misgivings when her father pressures her into distracting a ranch hand while he and her brothers rob the Wainwright place. When it becomes clear that hand is actually Cord Wainwright, heir of the Wainwright holdings, Sarah realizes things have gone too far.

As the feud boils over, Cord and Sarah make a most inconvenient discovery--they just might be falling in love. Can they betray their families to see where this attraction leads? Or will their families betray them?

My review:
From the first page you are swept into a whirlwind romance and a loyalty testing feud. I would get so frustrated sometimes, wishing I could help the characters, both with their situation and with their choices. But, it all ends well! As the hero, Cord is the kind the makes you so angry sometimes at his stupidity, and hurt for him at others and wish you could take away the pain he has felt in his life. Yep. He’s the hurting, prideful, stupidly honorable one that melts your heart. Couldn’t resist him! The story itself goes really fast in some places and I occasionally missed the day-to-day happenings that weren’t discussed in the book. But that was minor, and didn’t really affect my opinion of the story. In all, great plot, great characters, great book! Can’t wait for the next one!

Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

2011-05-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Waterfall

Lisa T Bergren

The River of Time series, #1

David C Cook

About the book:

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

My review:

Blown away. That’s really all I can say. This pulled me in from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. The attention to detail and historical accuracies were fantastic! They made you feel like you were there! The characters were awesome and I was pulling for them the whole time. The only problem is that I will have to wait to find out what happens next! Action, adventure, romance, and a bit of a cliffhanger ending; it’s got everything! Bravo, Ms. Bergren! Highly recommended.

Thanks to Lisa for my free review copy of this book!

Mary Connealy ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-05-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Mary Connealy is telling us about her new book, Deep Trouble (May 2011 -- Cowboy Christmas sequel). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Author's bio:

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Welcome, Mary! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I made a public confession of faith at a Lowell Lundstrom concert when I was about sixteen. But I remember believing the truth about Jesus at a much younger age. I was raised in a wonderful Christian family. Eight brothers and sisters in a two bedroom farmhouse. No money but lots of love. I don’t really consider going forward at the concert to be my salvation experience—because I was already saved, but it was a great moment in my life.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Wow, big disasters. Honestly, I’ve got a pretty good life. Lots of little annoyances but nothing big. I’m sure in the event of a tornado or earthquake or sudden death, I would be a pillar of strength and wisdom. (wow, it’s like I’m ASKING to be struck by lightning….forget I said that)

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
These are hard questions. Hmmmm….okay, I’ve started three times writing this now and each time I stop and think, “Nah, that’s not surprising.”

How’s this?--I’m shy. I spend most of my life typing. I get an occasional sweet and clueless person who asks what it’s like to be famous and I just shake my head. If indeed I qualify as famous--and I have serious doubts about that—a famous author spends almost all her time alone with her computer, having both sides of a conversation herself. Alone. So very, very alone. Taking back the stupid things she says (types) and trying again until she sounds cool. Not a normal life at all and certainly not exciting.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I am right in the middle of reading A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman and I am so hooked. I’ve been staying up too late reading and it’s maddening. I can’t wait to see how it comes out. I love Julie’s work.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
I’m very low maintenance when it comes to writing. No set time. No set place. I can be distracted and then get right back to work. I do set goals and I mostly achieve them. I try to write 1000 words a day seven days a week and I mostly succeed. I’m doing major revisions on a finished manuscript right now and I’m loving the changes, loving the depth I’m finding in this story. But it’s not piling up the word count like I wish it was. The other day I got to a scene that I knew I needed to add, all new. As I started typing I just felt the surge of pleasure at creating something NEW rather than revising something old and I loved it. There is no part of writing that I do not love.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?
When I was struggling to get my first book published, Petticoat Ranch, I did a lot of market research trying to figure out who I was like. There was no one doing what I was doing…which is probably why it took me so stinking long to get published! Then I read Lori Copeland’s Men of the Saddle series. A romantic western with humor…that was it. I started using her as my example. “Readers who enjoyed Lori Copeland’s Men of the Saddle Series are my target audience.”

I went to a writer’s gathering just after I’d gotten my cover art for Petticoat Ranch and I took a printed out picture of the cover with me and was showing it to anyone who couldn’t escape. Lori Copeland was there. So (boldly, for a shy girl) I went up to her and said, “Lori, I’ve been using your name to try and get myself published for a long time now.” Then I whipped out the cover and said, “And it worked!”

We ended up having a nice visit. Such a great, sweet lady.

Beyond that, there’s not a lot out there like my romantic comedy with cowboys.

I think of it as inspirational, suspenseful, historical western romantic comedy. I think I invented my own genre.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I have contracts for six more romantic comedy with cowboys novels coming spread out over the next three years. So I’m keeping very busy and I’ll keep writing these as long as someone will keep publishing them. I’m still amazed I ever got one published. This is beyond the dearest desire of my heart that I never forget how blessed I am.

Book’s back cover blurb:

Gabe Lasley and Shannon Dysart are an unlikely pair. He’s an aimless wanderer who wants nothing other than to be left alone. She’s a fearless female determined to find a city of gold. When they are forced together the mayhem begins. As they set out to find the treasure, trouble is hot on their trail. Will the dream of gold color every decision Shannon makes? Will Gabe fail yet another helpless female in his life?

What research did you have to do for this book?
I may have researched this book more than any other I’ve ever written. It begins at Mesa Verde and ends in the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

I do a huge amount of research online but I just wasn’t finding enough for the Grand Canyon portion of the book. I ended up with three books that I cross referenced constantly. The main one was The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher. He’s the first man who hiked the entire length of the Grand Canyon. The thing about his book that was so invaluable was his personal impressions. He wrote about the stones, the mist, the barren stretches, the difficulty of finding a trail. Reading that book gave me a lot of freedom because I realized Fletcher wasn’t a scientist, he was just a man telling how the canyon touched him. I realized my story could be less than exact if I just let my characters have honest reactions to what they were seeing.

Then I had a book of trail maps and a book of pictures that included scripture. I first read the whole Fletcher book, underlining bits and pieces that were buried in it that contained details I couldn’t find anywhere else. That book was battered by the time I was done! Then I’d cross reference his words to the trail pictures to help me figure out where he was down there. Then I’d study pictures. I spend major time flipping pages. I also have a friend, Sandra Leesmith, who lives near the Grand Canyon, or at least near enough that she’s been there many times. I asked her a lot of questions and she’d tell me little tidbits about the place. Including she told me about a man who had only recently admitted he had a ‘secret’ trail down into the canyon. Access to the bottom of the canyon is very limited and the ways down are well documented. And now, here’s this guy with a secret way down. I just loved that and decided everything that is ‘known’ about the canyon may not be everything. Wow, I’ve talked to long about this.

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

Hmmmmm I don’t really like doing this, picking characters. If you’ll notice, most of my books are faceless. That’s a very deliberate choice on my part, and I’ll add here that once in a while we do have faces and that is fine, I’m nothing if not flexible!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I like supplying the image myself, mentally, of the characters. Still, I’m trying. I think Gabe is a young Sam Elliot. He’s got the bushy moustache. And is, of course, tall dark and handsome.

For Shannon I’m going to go with Sigrid Thornton, the heroine in The Man from Snowy River.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Seekerville

Petticoats & Pistols

My Blog

My Website

~~~~~

**This giveaway is open to addresses in any country**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Deep Trouble!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Surrender the Night

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (May 6) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (May 12). 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 13th, 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 Night by MaryLu Tyndall ~ 5 stars

2011-05-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Surrender the Night

MaryLu Tyndall

Surrender to Destiny series, #2

Barbour Publishing

About the book:

A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . .

A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . .

Both are about to change the course of history forever.

When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?

Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?

My review:
Let me just say that anyone who reads this book expecting another on-ship adventure is in for a surprise! I don’t believe there is a single “water scene” from cover to cover. So, if that will bother you, you probably shouldn’t read this book. However, it did not bother me at all and I thought MaryLu did a great job keeping up the tension and sense of adventure without ever “stepping foot” on the sea.

I loved the sense of patriotism in this book! That isn’t something you experience much today, and I loved that it was imbued throughout the book. Rose was awesome and I really admired her bravery despite what she had gone through in her life. Alex was pretty much amazing, and despite bad choices he is admirably redeemed by the end of the book and a fantastic hero for Rose. (One thing I did notice was that Alex’s plot/background was EXTREMELY similar to Dominick’s in Eakes’ “Lady in the Mist.”) The theme of trusting God and overcoming your past with His help was well done and inspiring. I’d say this is a definite to-read if you like adventure, romance, and faith-filled fiction!

Thanks to MaryLu for my free review copy of this book!

Laurean Brooks ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-29T20:34:00.001-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Laurean Brooks is telling us about her books, Jonquils in the Snow and Over the Coals. She has offered a copy of one of her books to one lucky commenter.

My guest today is inspirational romance author, Laurean Brooks. Hello, Laurean. Thanks for coming. Tell us how you became interested in writing. Who first influenced you?
In fifth grade, my teacher, Miss Mary enjoyed my oral book reports. My quirk was to end the report with a cliffhanger. No sooner would finish reading than half the class would fight over who would get to read the book next. One day after I finished giving a report, Miss Mary smiled and turned to the class to announce, “One day, Laurie will be an author."

Her words stuck in my heart and through the years until they were fulfilled with the release of my inspirational, Journey To Forgiveness in 2009. http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/

An ironic twist is Miss Mary was the one put a damper on my creativity. We were studying Columbus and his discovery of the New World. She assigned the class a 500-word essay to expound the perils this brave explorer might have endured. I had no idea she wanted “realistic.” So when I read my version to the class, in spite of the rollicking laughter, it didn't make the grade.

It could have been the part where the spear-laden natives tied Columbus to a stake and started to set fire to him. Or wait, maybe it was when obese Chief Kookamunga waddled out of his grass hut to shout, "Oola!" (translated to "have a better idea.") The natives took Columbus down to stuff him in a cannon and shoot him back across the ocean. Whatever it was, Miss Mary insisted I re-write the Columbus story and make it "a little more realistic.”

Funny story. I see you have a wild imagination. You've added a few E-books since 2009. Will you tell us about a couple?
Thank you, Carman. I'd be happy to. Jonquils In The Snow was released by Victory Tales Press in February 2010, an appropriate time since the story is set about the time Jonquils bloom here in the South.

Blurb:

Miranda Stevens swears she will never love again after her ex-fiance' skips town two days before their wedding. But when the ruggedly-handsome man from the tree service knocks at her door following a devastating ice storm, Miranda's resolve melts.

Brady Watson is instantly attracted to the cute Miranda, but he has issues. Brady still grieves over his wife, killed by a drunk driver three years earlier. When she died, a part of his heart died, too. At least that is how he feels.

Will Miranda find a way to encourage Brady to release the past and reach out to love again? Could the answer be found in a cluster of Jonquils bursting through the snow? http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9341

Laurean is giving away one free download each of Jonquils In The Snow and Over The Coals. Now, Laurean, tell us about Over The Coals.
I'd love to. Over The Coals was released by Victory Tales Press In May, 2010. It deals with judging a person before you get to know him/her.

Blurb:

At a backyard cookout Jill watches the loud-mouthed man at the grill joke with a saucy blonde. If there is one thing Jill can't stand, it's a flirt, And Rob Canter definitely fits the description.

But looks can be deceiving. Jill's friend leaves the cookout early and Rob volunteers to drive Jill home. Jill strikes up a conversation, and realizes too late she's asked too many questions when Rob clams up. What turned the gregarious Rob into a gloomy introvert? What did she say? Why the dual personality?

Will Jill uncover Rob's dark secret? Can their relationship survive her revelation? http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44638/

Thank you, Laurean for being my guest. To win a download of one of these wonderful e-book romances, leave a comment specifying which title you prefer.
Thank you for hosting me, Carman. I hope you all enjoyed the interview, and good luck on winning the E-books. I hope you enjoy them.

~~~~~

**This giveaway is open to people in any country**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win a copy of one of Laurean's books. Jonquils in the Snow, or Over the Coals. Let me know which you would like to win!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and comment on my review of Double Shot

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 29) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (May 5). 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 6th, 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.

Karen Witemeyer ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Karen Witemeyer is telling us about her new book, To Win Her Heart (May 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Welcome, Karen! Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a deacon's wife and an incurable romantic who believes this world needs more happily-ever-afters. So, in order to help meet that need, I combine my fascination for bygone eras with my passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels full of love and laughter. I'm also an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bake a mean apple cobbler. I live in Abilene, TX with my hunky, computer nerd husband and three children who are kind enough to put up with Mom's imaginary friends.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in a Christian family, so my faith developed rather organically. I was baptized into Christ when I was ten years old, but it was six years later, when my father died unexpectedly, that my personal faith really solidified. There's something about going through trials that refines us for eternity in a way everyday living cannot.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I tend to be very task-oriented. Give me a task, I work it till it's done, then move on to the next one. When things go wrong, however, emotions get thrown into the mix, and that can get rather messy. Not too long ago, I was working on a marketing questionnaire that my publisher asked me to complete. I had spent several hours crafting just the right answers only to have everything disappear from the computer when I accidentally closed the wrong window. Panic set in as I tried everything I could think of to get it back. Then desperation hit. I begged my computer savvy husband to work his magic, but there was nothing he could do. Then I became distraught. Tears pooled in my eyes followed by anger over the injustice of the situation. Four hours of work down the drain. Finally, I came to a point of acceptance, realizing I had no option but to recreate the entire document. This is where the task-orientation came back into play. I shoved aside the distracting emotions that threatened to draw me back into a pity party, and worked the problem. In an hour and a half the project was complete. And properly saved this time!

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
This may not be all that surprising since I write historical romance, but I adore old Hollywood musicals. Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music, The Harvey Girls, Summer Stock, My Fair Lady … I could go on and on. This past summer I joined Netflix just so that I could introduce my 12 year old daughter to several of these classics. I've had so much fun revisiting these favorites, and she seems to like them, too. Hooray!

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad. This book would be a great summer read, but I read it in the cold of January and still loved it. The heroine. Marguerite, is feisty and independent and the hero, Trip, is dreamy and just stubborn enough to give our heroine a run for her money. The second in Lorna's series, A Great Catch, comes out May 1st. Should be another fun one.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
Because I work full-time and have three kids at home, by necessity, my favorite time to write is whenever I can find time. Ha! Usually early afternoon is a preferred time for me, but I can make anything work in a pinch. Except after around 9:30 p.m. That's when I turn into a pumpkin and start the steady downhill slide into sleepdom. My day starts early at 5:00 a.m., so by 10:00 I am tuckered out. One of my hubby's favorite hobbies is laughing at me when I fall asleep in my recliner while trying to watch television with him in the evening.

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?
My books are similar in style to Deeanne Gist with a little Cathy Marie Hake and Tamera Alexander mixed in. I would rate the level of romance in my books as PG. There is physical attraction, romantic thoughts, and kissing in my stories but the romantic love always grows out of a friendship, mutual respect, and common values between the characters to form a foundation for a love that is deep, lasting, and true.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I'm currently working on my fourth historical romance for Bethany House. The working title is Short-Straw Bride. Four brothers draw straws to see who will marry the heroine in this twist on a marriage of convenience story. All Travis Archer cares about is his brothers and his land, but when a good deed goes awry, he's stuck with a bride who endangers both.

One fun tidbit about the brothers in this story – they are all named for heroes from the Alamo. Travis is the main character, the next oldest is Crockett, the kid brother is Neill (for the Alamo's commander who missed being at the fight because of a family illness that called him away), and the third brother's given name is Bowie, but he refuses to answer to anything except Jim. I don't blame him. Poor guy. What we authors do to torture our characters.

Book’s back cover blurb:

A blacksmith with a criminal past. A librarian with pacifist ideals. Do they have a fighting chance at finding love?

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets. . . .

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

What research did you have to do for this book?
Any historical novel takes a great deal of research. This book was no exception. For my hero, I studied prison life and convict labor camps. I studied the craft of blacksmithing and limestone quarrying. For my heroine, I researched the Victorian art of flower pressing and 19th century literature. I strive to be as historically accurate as possible and really enjoy learning all the fun tidbits I can, even those that never make it into the book.

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

Well, Hugh Jackman is one of my favorite Hollywood leading men. I'm a sucker for the dark hair and the reformed bad boy persona he affected in the X-Men movies, and with the muscle he put on as Wolverine, he'd make a right fine Levi Grant.

I did a search online for auburn-haired actresses, and the one who caught my eye as looking most like the Eden I had envisioned was Isla Fischer. I'm not familiar with the roles she's played, but she definitely has the sophisticated look I would want for my heroine.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/1166 The link to the first chapter is under the book cover image.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I'd love to have you visit me at my website: http://www.karenwitemeyer.com/. I host a monthly giveaway of historical Christian novels from a variety of well-known authors as well as post interesting tidbits about my characters and the research behind their stories.

You can also find me on Facebook. Send me a message sometime. I'd be honored to chat with you.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
In March, I learned that my debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, was named a finalist for the Best First Book category in the RITA® contest. This is the coveted national award sponsored by Romance Writers of America, and I am still pinching myself over the honor.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of To Win Her 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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 29) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (May 5). 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 6th, 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.

Lilies in Moonlight winner!

2011-04-28T19:36:00.000-05:00

And the winner of Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman is:
Lady DragonKeeper! (jafuchi7@...)

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

2011-04-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Save the Date

Jenny B Jones

Thomas Nelson

About the book:

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year with the most unlikely bride and groom. Save the date...and say your prayers.

When funding for Lucy's non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir to Sinclair Enterprises--the primary donor to Lucy's non-profit organizaiton.

Both Lucy and Alex have something the other desperately wants.

Alex has it all...except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart--and her future--on the line.

Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams...and maybe even a date.

My review:

This is a fun, hilarious read with some powerful messages! I loved it cover to cover. The characters were lovable, and the antics were hysterical. Poor Lucy, she just never got a break! The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me hooked. I read it in one day. This book definitely made it to my favorites list deservedly! I highly recommend this book to readers who like funny books. Another touchdown read (I know, I know, it’s corny) from Jenny B Jones!

Thanks to Jenny B Jones and Thomas Nelson for my free review copy of this book. :)

Tea for Two winner!

2011-04-26T12:53:00.000-05:00

And the winner of Tea for Two by Trish Perry is:
Anita Yancey!!

So Sorry!

2011-04-26T01:03:00.000-05:00

I'm really sorry about the delays with everything! Prom was this weekend and we've been having huge thunderstorms. (We really needed the rain, so I'm glad, but I also need some time with the computer on!) I'm working to catch up on everything, so just know that I haven't forgotten, I'm just busy right now. In a couple days everything should be back to normal! :)

Allison Pittman ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Allison Pittman is telling us about her new book, Lilies in Moonlight (April 2011 -- [unofficial] baseball series #3). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Welcome, Allison! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m married to the greatest guy in the world, and we are parents of three amazing teen-age boys. So, life is exhausting! I left a teaching career about six years ago, and I’m so glad God has allowed me to make a living as a writer so I can be more available to my family.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was actually saved at a very young age—8 years old—in a tiny Baptist church in Tooele, Utah. And, while I know my childhood experience was genuine, I have so many milestones in my life that mark times when I felt more secure in my salvation—where it became so real to me. As a child and teen-ager, living in my Christian home, I didn’t have to look to my faith to get me through many situations. But, striking out on my own—and often failing—my faith became more solid.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Usually, not well, which is why I think God is gracious enough to shield me from a lot of disaster. But, once—a few years into my writing career—I got my first big advance check. (I don’t know how other authors would view the amount, but to our little family it was HUGE!) So, I endorsed it and put it on our bookshelf, thinking my husband would put it in the bank. He, of course, thought I would put it in the bank since it was my check. Well, neither of us did, but we continued to spend and spend away as if we had. The result? Overdraft charges galore. I cried and cried, begging my husband’s forgiveness. The next morning, I put on a new green jacket (bought just after the account went negative), and channeled my best Scarlet O’Hara as I went to the bank to beg for mercy. They were actually quite nice and forgave every overdraft fee. From then on it’s a given: I do the banking!

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I’m actually a horrible reader. Very, very slow. I rarely read more than one book a month. I just can’t devote hours and hours like I know many other readers can. I get restless—even if the story is good. I’ve NEVER finished a book in one sitting, and if I’m not enthralled by page 72, it never gets finished.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
A Woman’s Place by Lynn Austin. That, I admit, I listened to while on a cross-Texas drive, but it was AMAZING. I love World War II stories, and it captured the era beautifully. I arrived home with about 15 minutes left to listen, so the next day I picked up lunch at a drive through and went to a local park to just sit in the car and listen.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
I write from about 10:00 am to 3:00 pm every day. But, my favorite—and most productive—writing sessions happen when I take my laptop to a local coffee shop and settle in for an hour or so.

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 have a hard time comparing my writing to other people. Maybe Robin Lee Hatcher, because she also has a few titles that swirl around the turn of the century. As for romance, that can be tricky, especially with this title. On stage, the characters do nothing more than kiss, but Lilly is a woman with a past and Cullen is a man with desires, so those deeper thoughts/elements of sexuality play a role in the story.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
You have no idea how badly I wish I had a definite answer for that! I have quite a few ideas/proposal swirling back and forth between my agent, my editors and me. But, the immediate future holds the second title of The Sister Wives series, with Forsaking All Others releasing in September.

Book’s back cover blurb:

After a roaring night on the town, fun-loving flapper Lilly Margolis, dazed and disoriented, twists her ankle and falls into the backyard of a wealthy family where the effects of the Great War—over for more than half a decade—are still endured. Inside the walls of the Burnside mansion, Cullen Burnside, a disillusioned and disfigured veteran, and his widowed mother, Betty Ruth, who daily slips a little further into dementia, lead a lonely existence … until Lilly. Whimsical, lighthearted, and beautiful, she rejuvenates their sad, disconnected lives and blossoms in the light of their attention.

But Lilly, like Cullen, is hiding from a painful past. And when Cullen insists on returning her to her faraway home, their budding attraction seems destined to die on the vine. The resulting road trip becomes a journey of self-discovery—but what will Cullen and Lilly find at journey’s end?

What research did you have to do for this book?
I read a lot of F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby, of course, and several short stories) to try to get a feel for the period—not just the look of it, but the attitude. The 20’s is characterized by being a “roaring” good time, but a lot of that roaring masked a disillusioned loss of innocence. I watched a ton of silent movies to get an idea of how this story might be blocked into scenes.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
That’s a bit difficult for this book, as Cullen is badly burned from the mustard gas used in World War I. My best pick would be Jesse Spencer (though he’d have to lose his Australian accent!). As for Lilly—well, she is totally based on a former student of mine named Stephanie Stuart who is an aspiring actress. So, if it ever happens, I’d want her…

How can readers get in contact with you?
I have an Author Page on facebook (Allison Pittman Author Page), and they can always email me through my website— http://www.allisonpittman.com/.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I absolutely love this story. I truly feel it is my most romantic novel to date—just an old-fashioned Beauty-and-the-Beast love story.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Lilies in Moonlight!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Driven.

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 22) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 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.

Driven by Shellie Neumeier ~ 4 stars

2011-04-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Driven

Shellie Neumeier

Risen Books

About the book:

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

My review:
While the writing didn’t blow me away, I definitely saw potential. There was nothing really wrong, just a few small things that will probably be ironed out with time. There were a some theological differences from what I believe in the book, but nothing that made me angry or want to stop reading. However, the book DID make me take a look at my prayer life and spiritual battles in a new way. (That was definitely a plus!) If there is a sequel, or a series following this book, I will most certainly be reading it.

Finally a Bride, and Kaydie winners!

2011-04-15T18:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry this took so long! We had storms last night (had to turn off the compy), and it took me a while to get caught up today!

And the winner of Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough is:

Kirsten! (fancynoodle@...)

And the winner of Kaydie by Penny Zeller is:

Nora! (norafindinghope@...)

Trish Perry ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Trish Perry is telling us about her new book, Tea for Two (Tea with Millicent series #2 -- April 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Author BIO:

Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written eight inspirational romances for Harvest House Publishers, Summerside Press, and Barbour Publishing, as well as two devotionals for Summerside Press. She has served as a columnist and as a newsletter editor over the years, as well as a 1980s stockbroker and a board member of the Capital Christian Writers organization in Washington, D.C. She holds a degree in Psychology.

Trish’s latest novels, Unforgettable and Tea for Two both released in March. She invites you to visit her at http://www.trishperry.com/

Welcome, Trish! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was raised in a Catholic home, so for as long as I can remember, I’ve believed Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sins. But I was an adult (and had walked away from the Church) before I sought a closer relationship with Jesus and learned all about the true redemption, salvation, and loving guidance Jesus offers to those who accept it from Him. At that time, my sister was dying from a terrible fall down some stairs. I didn’t know how best to pray for her. A secular counselor advised me simply to pray that God would help me accept whatever His will was for her. The peace I gained through that prayer was so intense, I decided to turn my heart and control of my life over to God and His Son. I’ve followed the Lord ever since.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I’ve had my share of meltdowns, that’s for sure. My pattern is usually the same when the event is devastating to me: shock, total emotional meltdown, and then complete throwing of myself at the Lord and asking for help.

Rather than giving you one of the sadder stories, I’ll tell you about the time I was under an amazingly tight book deadline when my computer starting acting up. Like a dummy, I hadn’t printed out a hard copy of my manuscript. I paid to have Geeks on Call come to my home to fix my computer. The nice young geek assured me he could make it all better. It wasn’t until he left that I realized he had somehow deleted all but the four most recent chapters. He had erased the first 16 chapters I had written. I actually fell to the ground and wailed into the floor. Eventually I got around to praying about it, and it was a total beg-fest.

Praise God my critique partners still had quite a few of my chapters. I ended up having to rewrite about four chapters, which was a breeze compared to 16.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I sang on stage at the Kennedy Center in the Nation’s Capital. That sounds more impressive than it was. Years ago, when I was in high school, our choral director was so phenomenal he eventually went on to become the Grammy-winning director of the prestigious Washington Oratorio Society, which performs with the National Symphony. Before that, though, he managed to arrange for our high school chorus to sing with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. It was a heady experience!

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
It doesn’t release until September, but Sandra D. Bricker’s Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride is great fun. I read it for endorsement and enjoyed every minute of it.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
Late morning, usually. I need to spend some time with God and wade through emails and find out what’s going on in the world before I can shut everything down and dive into my imaginary world. But when I’m under a tight deadline, I tend to start immediately after my devotional time, just to be sure I’ll meet my daily quota.

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, that’s a funny one, because I just finished recommending a Sandie Bricker book, and I think she and I actually write in a somewhat similar voice. I suppose that’s why I would recommend her book to my readers. I’d give the romance in my books a G to PG. I always have some kissing, and there is the occasional appreciative thought about how attractive the hero is, that kind of thing. But nothing racy.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just sent off the finished manuscript for a Christmas novella set I wrote with Debby Mayne, called Love Finds You on Christmas Morning (September release from Summerside Press), and I’m finishing up my contribution to a book of devotions tentatively called Your Grace is Sufficient . . . But Decaf is NOT (also with Summerside), and then I start on a novella for Barbour, called Labor of Love, for its Midwife’s Legacy collection (releasing March 2012).

Book’s back cover blurb:

Zack Cooper tries his best to raise his children, but he's losing his grip on them in their teen years. They've both had scrapes with the local law.

Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel has the perfect woman in mind to help Zack. Counselor Tina Milano meets weekly at the tea shop with her women's group. Milly encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before they get in even hotter water. Milly never thought things might heat up between Zack and Tina. Or did she?

Tina's connections with the Middleburg police department prove a mixed blessing for Zack and his kids. Both her best friend and old boyfriend are officers on the force.

And when Tina's women's group gets wind of her personal pursuits and clashes, they want to help. The group's meetings at the tea shop take on a slightly different flavor. Tina wonders who, exactly, is counseling whom.

What research did you have to do for this book?
I had already researched Middleburg for The Perfect Blend, but I needed to do some psychological research and look into the local farming industry, the Middleburg police department, and a number of regular village events. And, of course, there were Milly’s recipes, which I adapted to my own preferences after much taste testing and weight gaining.

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

I pictured actress Linda Fiorentino for Tina Milano (since Tina is of Italian descent) and Viggo Mortensen for Zack Cooper (since Zack is “the hot produce guy”).

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

Yes, Harvest House has the first chapter posted on its site:
http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books_fictionbook.cfm?productID=6930161

How can readers get in contact with you?
Visit my website, http://www.trishperry.com/, which is also where my blog is. I have a contact link there. I’m also on Facebook as Trish Hawley Perry and Twitter as TrishPerryWrtr

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I love hearing from my readers, and I try to answer every email I receive. Also, if any of you happen to read Tea for Two (or any of my books, for that matter) and think they’re good, I’d love it if you’d post some nice comments about the book on the online sites. Word of mouth is a powerful tool!

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Tea for Two!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of A Secret Identity

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 15) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 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 Secret Identity by Gayle Roper ~ 4 stars

2011-04-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

A Secret Identity

Gayle Roper

Amish Farm Trilogy #2

Harvest House

About the book:

Cara Bentley is raised by her grandfather to appreciate family. When she discovers—quite by accident—that he was adopted, her whole perspective changes.

If Grandpa Bentley wasn’t a Bentley, who was he? If she isn’t a Bentley, who is she? She determines to find her “real” family.

Ending up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she takes a room at the Zook family farm. When she seeks the help of attorney Todd Reasoner, the search for the truth begins in earnest. But as mysterious accidents begin to happen, Cara suspects her attempt to find out the truth is not welcome—and neither is she.

My review:
Well, this book definitely kept me more engaged than the first book, but it still isn’t my favorite kind of book. It was a good book, but I wasn’t wowed by it and I didn’t fall in love with it. I cannot pinpoint anything that I disliked; it just didn’t hold my interest in an I-can’t-put-this-down kind of way. I wouldn’t really recommend this, since I don’t know what type of reader this book appeals to. (I’m sure some people will enjoy it, but I can’t say specifically who would.) All I can say is, sweet romance, sweet characters, but just an okay book in my opinion.

Sunday Funnies #55!

2011-04-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

This is the cutest thing EVER!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Casey Herringshaw for suggesting it for Sunday Funnies! :D

Vickie McDonough ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-08T06:05:00.000-05:00

*You can earn up to 2 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Vickie McDonough is telling us about her new book, Finally a Bride (Texas Boardinghouse Brides #3) -- April 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Welcome, Vickie! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a wife of 35 of years, married to a computer geek. We have four grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and a feisty five-year-old granddaughter, whom I babysit twice a week after school. I’m also primary caregiver for my partially-handicapped mom. I’ve lived in the same town all my life, except for a year when my husband and I lived on a kibbutz in Israel.

I’ve been writing for ten years and am the author of 23 books and novellas.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I’ve gone to church my whole life and gave my heart to God when I was very young. Jesus is my savior and I strongly rely on His help in life and when writing.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Fortunately, I haven’t encountered many disasters, and how I handle them depends on what they are. I’m pretty organized, so when bad things happen, I usually kick into maintain mod. Just do what has to be done and get through it as quickly as possible.

I did have something happen that’s funny now but wasn’t at the time. I’d twisted my ankle really bad and was on crutches. I had gone across the street for some reason and was leaning on my crutches at the curb, waiting for a car to pass. But instead of just driving on, this car slowed, the driver leaned forward and gawked at me, then finally drove on. Weird, right? I glanced down, and to my horror, the crutches had somehow pulled up my shirt clear over my bra. Yikes! Talk about embarrassing.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
When I was in high school, I hated writing. True! It amazes me more than anyone that I’ve become a writer. It was just a God thing.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I’m just about done with Surrender the Night by Marylu Tyndall. It’s a fabulous forbidden romance between an American woman and a British naval officer. Lots of yummy chemistry and exciting action.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
I prefer to write from 10 – 2, but that rarely happens. Some days I get a late start and other days I’ll write most of the day. It kind of depends on how far away my deadline is.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?
I don’t like to compare my writing to others. Each author has a unique voice and their own special abilities. I write mostly historicals, and love exciting scenes, a sweet romance with some juicy conflict between the hero & heroine, and a dollop of humor. If you enjoy books by Cathy Marie Hake, Mary Connealy, or Lori Copeland, you’ll probably like mine.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m currently writing Long Trail Home, which is set just after the Civil War in Texas. This is a rather unique project. I’m writing a series of six books with two other authors, Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin. It’s called Texas Trails: A Morgan Family series and spans 50 years and several generations of a Texas family. Each author will write two books, and the first three novels release this fall.

Here’s a blurb about my book: A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married. A pretty, blind woman reaches through his scarred walls, but will the secret she holds ruin all chances for a future filled with love, faith, and family?

Book’s back cover blurb:

Jacqueline Davis, a reporter for the Lookout Ledger, is bent on nabbing her story at any cost. When Noah Jeffers comes to Lookout as temporary pastor, Jack suspects there may be something hidden behind his shepherding ways. Soon though, Jack becomes attracted to the new pastor despite her initial hesitation. But as she uncovers the truth, will the story cost her too much? Will she reveal what she’s found, or keep it hidden to protect newfound love?

Carly Payton returns to Lookout after years in prison, hoping to build a new life there. But she soon discovers that new beginnings and second chances are not always easy. Garrett Corbett is determined to marry—but not a jailbird like Carly. When Carly is equally repelled by Garrett’s prank-playing ways, will they see past their dislikes and give each other—and love—a second look?

What research did you have to do for this book?
Since I live next door to Texas, I’ve been there many times. I didn’t have to do too much research for Finally A Bride, since I had already written the first two books in the series, most of the research I did was in the small details like food and clothing of the time period, confirming when the railroad and electricity came to Northeastern Texas. Writing a book in an area in which you are familiar makes it a bit easier.

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

Molly Quinn, the cute red-headed daughter of Rick Castle on Castle, would be perfect for Jack.

Noah is a bit harder to cast. Tom Welling is about the right age and size and his looks are similar to what I imagine Noah looking like.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Yes, the first 1000 words of Finally A Bride will be posted on the Chapter-a-Week Book Club on April 15th.
[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chapter-a-Week-Book-Club/48456973308?sk=wall]

How can readers get in contact with you?
My website is http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/

You can find out about my books there, send me an email on the Contact page, and enter my quarterly contest by signing my Guestbook. I’m also on Facebook.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Thanks for spending this time with me. I appreciate each one of you. Writers are nothing without readers.

~~~~~

**USA or Canada addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Finally a 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 do not want 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.

**You can earn a total of 2 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 8) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 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.

Penny Zeller ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-08T06:00:00.007-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Penny Zeller is telling us about her new book, Kaydie (April 2011 -- Montana Skies series #2). She has offered a 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Author Bio:

Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/). She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. “Kaydie” follows “McKenzie” in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her Website, http://www.pennyzeller.com/.

Welcome, Penny! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at a Christian church camp when I was 16. However, years later, I moved away from the relationship I had found with the Lord and lived my life the way I wanted. It wasn’t until 1999 while I was pregnant with my first child and experienced life-threatening problems for both my daughter and I that I returned to the Lord. Through those difficult times, I sought the Lord and realized God was there and would take care of me. He never left me – it was me who had left Him. On that day, I rededicated my life to the Lord and have made it my goal to live and to write for His glory.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I am a very sensitive person, so I feel deeply. When disasters or big problems arise, I have a good cry, then spend a lot of time in prayer. I then turn to my husband, Lon, and to my friends for encouragement and prayer support.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
Hmmm, let’s see…when I was 10, I made up this romantic suspense series in my mind where the main character was the handsome and fictional police officer, Josh McClain. Everyday, my younger sister and cousin would excitedly ask me what was going on in Josh’s life (and in the life of the main female character) and what crimes Josh had solved.

I loved telling them my sister and cousin stories about Josh McClain that I had made up in my mind from the night before (usually when I should have been sleeping!) and leaving them at a cliffhanger until I could make up some more details the following night.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I just finished reading the contemporary romance novel “Grow Old With Me” by Melinda Evaul. I would highly recommend this book.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
In the morning right after I’ve had my time with the Lord and dropped my daughters off at school.

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?
Hmmm. I have no idea. I really haven’t thought about that. Readers have told me that my writing reminds them of the writing of Janette Oke or Tracie Peterson, which are HUGE compliments and very humbling! I would rate the romance in my books as G.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just finished the third book in the series, “Hailee,” which is scheduled for release in September. I'm also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.

Book’s back cover blurb:

For the first time in years, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer can breathe easily. Although she is still haunted by memories of her abusive husband, Darius, she takes comfort in knowing the man is dead. Staying with her sister McKenzie and brother–in–law, Zach Sawyer, at their ranch, Kaydie is still wary of men, especially now that she has another life inside of her to protect. As she looks forward to her baby's birth, she builds a protective wall around herself that won't be easy to tear down.

Ranch hand Jonah Dickenson views his boss, Zach, like a brother. He does not, however, envy Zach's new role as a husband. Deserted by his mother at a young age and forever despised and rejected by his own father, Jonah has few close relationships. But there's something about Kaydie that draws him to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor.

When Cedric Van Aulst, an old friend of Kaydie's, comes to town, an unforeseen prospect of marriage arises. Cedric is someone Kaydie trusts. Will she settle for a safe union with him, or can she trust God to guard her heart and her life in the arms of Jonah?

What research did you have to do for this book?
My family and I visited two well-preserved ghost towns in Montana for research, which was a lot of fun. I also conducted a lot of research online.

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

This is always a hard question for me because I’m not up to date on current TV/movie actors. :) But I think based on appearances, I would pick to be Kaydie the woman on the cover of “Kaydie” or a long-haired younger Reese Witherspoon; and a much, much younger Brad Pitt for Jonah.

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

Yes. The first chapter is posted on my blog at http://pennyzeller.wordpress.com/free-first-chapters-of-my-books/ (scroll down).

How can readers get in contact with you?
I love to connect with my readers! I can be contacted a variety of ways, including:
http://www.pennyzeller.com/ (website)
http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/ (blog)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts (Facebook page)
http://twitter.com/pennyzeller (Twitter)

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I would just like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement and thank you, Carman, for always being willing to promote authors. I appreciate you all! Also, I’d like to mention that from April 1 – May 15 is my blog tour for “Kaydie” and during that time, I will be giving away copies of “Kaydie”, as well as copies of “Hailee” (the next book in the series). Details about the giveaways will be posted on my FB page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win a copy of Kaydie!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Double Shot.

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 8) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 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.

Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada winner!

2011-04-07T22:29:00.001-05:00

And the winner of Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada by Susan Page Davis is:
Patsy! (plhouston@...)

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum ~ 5 stars

2011-04-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Double Shot

Erynn Mangum

Maya Davis series #3

Navpress

About the book:

Can coffee and chocolate make everything better? It's worth a shot.

Now that Maya Davis is engaged to her longtime friend and sweetheart, Jack, there should be no more worrying about the future, no more questioning God. Everything should be perfect, right? Actually, it’s just the opposite: Things are complicated. Where are they going to live? What kind of wedding do they want?

And when Jack is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job in Seattle, things begin to unravel even more. Can Maya trust that God is in control even when things seem to be a disastrous mess?

My review:
This was a great ending to the Maya Davis series. I have so much in common with her, and I was sorry to see her story end! I loved the theme of trusting God with every area of your life, especially those big, difficult decisions. I could easily relate to what Maya was going through. And Jack is such a sweetheart! I love him, and all of Maya’s family and friends. As usual, this was a funny, heartwarming, uplifting read, and I can’t wait for whatever Erynn comes up with next!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Question...

2011-04-03T15:18:00.000-05:00

Hey!

I've noticed that several people are unsubscribing from my blog. Is there something different, or some problem? It started kind of suddenly and has just kept going. :/ If there is something wrong I would like to fix it, so please offer any advice that you can! :)

Thanks guys!

(And for those of you who noticed that I didn't have a Sunday Funny this week, remember that I am starting the biweekly thing with SF now. :) So come back next week for the new issue of SF!) :)

Susan Page Davis ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-04-01T17:09:00.001-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Susan Page Davis is telling us about her new book, Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada (April 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Author bio:

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 30 novels in the historical romance, mystery, romantic suspense, and romance genres. Her latest electronic book, Mailbox Mayhem, includes a story originally published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and a companion story. A Maine native, Susan lives in western Kentucky with her editor husband Jim and the two youngest of their six children. Visit Susan at her Website: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/

Welcome, Susan! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was saved as a child after attending Vacation Bible School. My parents were young Christians, and I grew up in church. At VBS I understood that I needed to receive Christ personally.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Not very well. I prefer to be prepared, but sometimes life knocks you silly. I usually cry, pray, and get some advice from people wiser than I am.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I once tied a murderer’s necktie. I was reporting on the trial for a newspaper and after the lunch break I went back into the courtroom early. No one else was back yet except the defendant and his guard. The guard was trying to help the man tie his tie, but was having trouble doing it “backward.” He asked if I could tie one on another person, so I did it. Later that day, the defendant was convicted of murder.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I just read Raider’s Heart, by Marcia Gruver, in her new Backwoods Brides series. I enjoyed it a lot. Now I’m starting to read The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould. I know I’m going to love this one, too.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
Morning. I droop late in the day. Definitely a morning person.

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?
My romance is mostly G-rated. In my new book, Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, it’s definitely a “proper” romance. I am not sure whose stories mine would compare with—possibly DiAnn Mills.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just finished writing Captive Trail, a historical set in 1857 Texas. It’s part of the new Texas Trails series from Moody. The series will open in August, with Darlene Franklin’s book, Lone Star Trail, then my Captive Trail, and then Vickie McDonough’s The Long Trail Home in October. In spring 2012, three more books will release: Darlene’s A Ranger’s Trail; my Cowgirl Trail; and Vickie’s End of the Trail. We’re very excited about this new series, following the Morgan family through six decades of Texas history.

Book’s back cover blurb:

Prince Edward Island pulls out all the stops to prepare for the visit of Prince Albert Edward (Queen Victoria’s son, later King Edward VII) in 1860. Molly Orland, a farmer’s daughter, is hired as a housemaid at the governor’s mansion, where the prince and his entourage will stay. Peter Stark is sent ahead of the royal party to ensure the arrangements are in order. Though Peter and Molly are attracted to each other, there seems to be no future for them, since Peter must soon leave with his master, the Earl of Washburn, and Molly will lose her job if discovered to be engaging in a flirtation with one of the visitors. However, Molly’s family harbors a secret that connects her family to Washburn’s. Can she and Peter overcome the past and set right a 60-year-old wrong?

What research did you have to do for this book?
I visited Prince Edward Island and went to many of its historical sites (and Green Gables, of course). I spent some time researching at the archives in Charlottetown and also visited Province House (known as the Colonial Building in the time of my story), where a ball was held for the prince in 1860. I also visited museums and saw the governor’s mansion, as well as enjoying the natural beauty of the island. When I got home I used many books and the Internet to continue my research.

How can readers get in contact with you?
My Website is at: www.susanpagedavis.com and I’d love to see you there!

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I am giving away a copy of Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island here, and I also give away several books each month on my Website (winners choose the book they want).

~~~~~

**USA or Canada addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of A Stranger's Wish

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 1) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 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.

Wild West Giveaway Party winner! :D

2011-03-31T22:09:00.000-05:00

First of all, Happy Birthday to ME! ;) I'm now officially 19 years old! Thank you to everyone who wished me happy birthday! I really appreciate it. :)

Now, here is the winner of the four cowboy books:

Virginia! (vrush729@...)

A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper ~ 3 stars

2011-03-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

A Stranger's Wish

Gayle Roper

Amish Farm Trilogy #1

Harvest House

About the book:

Englischer Kristie Matthews’ move to an Amish family farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, starts on a bad note as the young schoolteacher is bitten by a dog.

A trip to the local ER leads to an encounter with an old man who hands her a key and swears her to silence.

But when Kristie’s life is endangered, she suspects there’s a connection to the mysterious key. While solving the mystery (and staying alive), Kristie must decide whether her lawyer boyfriend, Todd Reasoner, is really right for her....or if Jon Clarke Griffin, the new local man she’s met, is all he seems to be.

My review:
This is a pretty good book, and I liked the mystery, but it was a little odd in some places. Also, I was surprised at some of the things they said about the Amish people and customs. At times, what was said was completely different from what I had read about the Amish in other books. (So I don’t know if this book is factual, or not considering the different information.) Although this was a romance, it wasn’t very romantic. At times, I wasn’t even sure if the couple would end up together, honestly. It could have gone either way, and I wouldn’t have been surprised. That’s all I’m going to say, as I don’t want to rag on the book. It wasn’t terrible or anything, I just didn’t love it. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, but I’m sure some people will enjoy it. It just wasn’t my type of read.

Sunday Funnies #54!

2011-03-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is soooo funny! It's a must watch. :)

Wild West Giveaway Party!

2011-03-25T11:44:00.002-05:00

Welcome! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do. :) I just adore Cowboys and the Wild West, and could think of no better time to feature them and their writers than during the week leading up to my 19th birthday(March 31)!

So, here you go, guys... Enjoy! :) (And be sure to read to the bottom to learn how to enter and get extra entries to increase your chances of winning!)

What is your favorite birthday memory?

Denise: Birthday’s weren’t a huge deal in my family, so I never had a birthday party . . . until husband surprised me on my 30th birthday. I thought I was going to a family Thanksgiving dinner, and all my closest friends and family were there for my party instead. :)

Linda: From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, I had been sick for a number of years with undiagnosed Crohn's Disease and was about fifteen pounds underweight. One February, my mother had come to visit for my birthday. She just stayed overnight, but on “the day,” she kept asking me what my husband had planned for me. I really didn't know. Over the years, our birthdays began going by relatively unnoticed for some reason. I wasn't sure whether he'd do anything for me or not.

He was late coming home, so I had hopes he was engaged in some last-minute shopping, although I couldn't imagine what he could get without spending quite a bit of time. But he came home, only twenty minutes later than usual, with several grocery bags bundled in his hands.

That day, my husband illustrated how well he knew me by buying every single snack I love—salty, savory, and sweet; cashews, snack crackers, Whoppers, Cheetohs, and more. Everything. Then he made the ultimate sacrifice: he promised to stay out of them!

I managed to gain a bit of weight over the next week or so.

Mary: I’ve never been real fond of my birthday. I was born in March, on the 20th and I was raised to always claim I was born on the first day of spring. The trouble with that is, March 20th is apt to be a disgusting day. I had so many birthdays ruined by cold and rain and snow and mud. Throw in it was supposed to be the first day of Spring and it was a big disappointment all around.

If you could invite one person you have never met to your birthday party who would it be?

Denise: I think I’d invite Jesus. It would be so cool just to sit and listen to him and to bask in his love.

Linda: My husband's mother. She passed away long before I met him, and I'd love to have known her. Stories about her abound in his family—stories of crafty childraising, fishing prowess, culinary delights. She just seems like someone I'd love to know and learn from.

Mary: I can’t believe how hard I’m thinking to answer this question. It’s really hard. The trouble with famous people I admire is, I’m afraid I’d hate them. I imagine most famous people are kind of strange in real life, like movie stars, don’t you? I’m going to go for Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. She’s got the best blog ever and it’s hugely successful. If she met me she’d mention me on her blog wouldn’t she? And then I’d sell a zillion books.

What is your favorite thing to eat on your birthday?
Denise: I’m not a big fan of cake, so we usually head to the best chocolate shop in the world, which happens to be in our area. They have fabulous chocolates and a dark chocolate and raspberry sundae that’s too die for. (They ship too! http://www.debrand.com/)

Linda: That differs from year to year. My birthday is February 11, and this year I craved Chinese food. Nobody seemed to pick up on my hint until weeks later. Meanwhile, I had terrific Mexican food at a place my husband chose, and a great traditional pot roast at a restaurant my mother favors.

Mary: I don’t like frosting on angel food cake. Right now I’m really hungry so instead of cake, I’m going with a really great steak. Perfectly grilled. A filet. Yum.

If, for your birthday wish, you could be a character in any movie, who would you be?
Denise: I’d choose one of the Jane Austen movies, if for no other reason than to talk in a beautiful English accent and wear those gorgeous gowns.

Linda: This may be cheating, but long ago, there was a series based on the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Little House on the Prairie. They also made a couple of movie-length episodes, or made-for-TV movies. I want to be Laura. I've always wanted to be Laura. I've considered myself an anachronism since I was a teenager. Really, give me my indoor plumbing and electricity, and send me back to the prairie. (I admit, I'm spoiled to modern conveniences!)

Mary: Carmen, these questions!!!!! Do you make them up after fifty cups of coffee or what??????? A character in a movie….I don’t want to be a heroic character because they inevitably have to fight for their lives. That would be unpleasant. I want to be a happy character, and who makes movies about them, huh? No one, that’s who. I’ll be Doris Day in The Thrill of it All, with James Garner as her obstetrician husband. Very sweet and funny.

What is your favorite thing about cowboys?
Denise: I think the biggest appeal is their ruggedness. They’re men’s men, tough, and masculine. Such a beautiful contrast to the feminine heroine.

Linda: Cowboys have a code I truly respect. I've heard it summed up in two words: “no excuses.” Get the job done. Don't shirk. Don't whine. Don't procrastinate.

Granted, this may be idealized. Many of the cowboys I know are one way on the job, and another way off. Cowboy wives may have more of an insight!

But this image impresses me. I wonder what would happen if everyone held to that creed.

Mary: I'm just never having more fun than when I have the cowboy lift the brim of his Stetson with his thumb and say, "This here, looks like shootin' trouble, little missy. You best get back and let me handle it."

I love their take charge ways. The life that makes them battle nature everyday…and win. The way they never say a paragraph when a sentence will do, and never say a sentence when a word will do and never say a word when a grunt will do. It's just a fun type to create.

RULES:
**USA addresses only, please**

The winner will receive autographed copies of each of these books:

Sharpshooter in Petticoats and the 3-in-1 "Lassoed in Texas Trilogy" by Mary Connealy

A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

and Give the Lady a Ride by Linda Yezak.

Don't those look great?!? :)

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Love Amid the Ashes

+2 Post about this giveaway, or put up one of by special banners which can be found HERE. (More directions w/the banners)

+2 Ask one of the authors a unique question (or something you just REALLY want to know!)

+1 For each person you get to come and enter this giveaway who metions you by name (up to four). (Be sure they use your specific name so I know who to give the point to.)

**You can earn a total of 12 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (March 25) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 31). 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 1st, 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.

Love Amid the Ashes winner!

2011-03-24T22:32:00.000-05:00

And the winner of Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews is:
Jessica! (angelcat714@...)

Banners for Wild West Party

2011-03-24T22:23:00.001-05:00

Okay, here they are...

Be sure to include a link so that people know where to go:
http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2011/03/wild-west-giveaway-party.html

If you have trouble grabbing these pictures send me an email at booklovercb[at]yahoo[.]com and I will send them to you in an attachment.

The taller one should fit perfectly in a sidebar, while the wider one should work best for a post. :)

Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews ~ 5 stars

2011-03-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Love Amid the Ashes

Mesu Andrews

Revell Publishing

About the book:

An epic story of love and forgiveness, suffering and restoration

When her beloved grandfather Isaac dies, Dinah must follow his final command: travel to Job's household to marry his son. After Job's world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?

Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of Job and Dinah. Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.

My review:
Well, this book certainly captured my emotions! I cried so often while reading this book. It is a very touching story. (I even got really mad at Job’s friends/family when they came to see him. I was truly angry at them! LOL) The author did an amazing job of portraying the time period, family squabbles, and inner battles that the characters faced. The romance was sweet and I loved how everything turned out! The ending was just wonderful. It was all very well done. Also, this book has definitely aroused my curiosity to read more about these characters in the Bible! In my opinion, this is a great romantic Biblical fiction novel.

Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sunday Funnies Update

2011-03-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

First, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote on my poll. :) I aprreciate it, and it helped me to make my decision.

Second, is my announcement that I WILL be keeping Sunday Funnies. Only, I'm changing it to a biweekly thing, rather than every week. I've been looking for ways to cut back on blogging time since I'm going to be experiencing lots of changes in my life in the near future. (Especially graduation, and college!) I need to have a more flexible schedule so I can easily adjust to changes.

My plan is to keep blogging and reviewing. I just need to make it a little less time-consuming. ;)

Thanks for all your support! :D

Sunday Funnies #53!

2011-03-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

So funny!

Mesu Andrews ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-03-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Mesu Andrews is telling us about her new book, Love Amid the Ashes. 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Welcome, Mesu! Tell us a little about yourself.

I lived in Indiana most of my life until my husband accepted a teaching position at Multnomah Bible College in 2007. Now we love the Pacific Northwest and have convinced our two grown daughters to start their married lives here, too! I have a PhT degree…that’s a “Putting Hubby Through” degree for those unfamiliar with the term. We were married just before Roy’s junior year of undergrad. He taught and coached in high school for a few years, and then he attended seminary when our girls were six and four. When he wasn’t in school, I was blessed to be a full-time mom and part-time everything else, putting my Associate’s Business degree to work in a variety of settings. Our first pastoral ministry began in 1993, and we served in two churches over fourteen years in Northern Indiana. We lived in a small town completely surrounded by Amish farms, and our daughters went to school with many of the Amish children (in public school). It was a fantastic (and unique) place to raise our kids. Great memories!

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was raised in a Christian home. I knew without a doubt that there was a God…I just wasn’t quite sure who He was. I call myself a spiritual mutt – Dad was Quaker, Mom charismatic, grandparents were Pilgrim Holiness turned Nazarene and finally settled into Wesleyan. Life was interesting when we talked Bible. I rebelled and was an alcoholic by the time I was nineteen. A failed relationship put me on the edge of eternity. Then my best friend set me up with a good friend of ours from high school. He’d been as pagan as the rest of us in school, but he’d gone down to a Texas Christian college on a basketball scholarship and “got religion,” so she warned me that he was a little nuts now. I thought I could handle him like I handled all the other crazy Christians around me…but he was different. I saw a peace in him that I wanted. I needed. Within three weeks, he led me to a saving relationship with Jesus, and within seven months we were married! (Nine months and two weeks later, we had our first child; but that’s another story)

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I handle disasters really calmly – while they’re happening – and then I fall apart when everything resolves. I’m strong, resourceful, all “we can do this!” in the moment, but I end up in a puddle of “help God!” by the time it’s over.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
My favorite thing is Wick’s Sugar Cream Pie. They make it in Richmond, IN, and I think they only sell it in the freezer section of central Indiana grocery stores. It’s FABULOUS! But probably 2000 calories per slice!

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?

I love Jill Eileen Smith’s, Wives of King David series and I’m looking forward to reading Bathsheba because the second book, Abigail, was one of my favorite reads.

What is your favorite time of day to write?

ALL DAY! The time of day doesn’t matter as much to me as the amount of time in one sitting. To write my characters at the level of emotion they need, I must be fully invested in the scene; and that takes time.

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 really admire Francine Rivers and Lynn Austin. Both women have written biblical novels that captured my attention and my heart. I’m not sure I write like them, but I’d like to! I think my novels are PG simply because of the subject matter. In Love Amid the Ashes, Job is inflicted with very serious health issues, and Dinah’s history at Shechem is a mature topic. I never describe any sexual scene, but the love between a husband and wife is understood when I close the door on a scene.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
We’re in the editing and marketing phase of my second novel, Love’s Sacred Song. It’s the story of King Solomon’s early years and the love of a shepherd girl that shaped his character and his nation. It releases with Revell in March 2012. I’ve also started research on four more biblical novels. I love to find famous (or infamous) male figures and then search and dig for interesting information about the women in their lives. Stay tuned to discover which shadowy characters are revealed in the next four Old Testament tales!

Back cover blurb:

An epic story of love and forgiveness, suffering and restoration

When scandal and murder rock Dinah’s life, the daughter of the great patriarch Jacob is sent away to Job’s household. After Job’s own world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?

What research did you have to do for this book?
It’s important to remember that commentators differ on many details about Job. Since there are so many possibilities broached by various theologians (all of whom are WAY smarter than me!), I read a variety of commentaries on Job and his friends. I then came to a conclusion that seemed most common to the majority. This lead me to study rabbinical tradition, preserved through the ages more by verbal tradition than written. In those cases where rabbinic tradition contradicted Scripture, I used the biblical truth; however, in those cases where Hebrew tradition filled in missing information, I included it and let it fuel the fictional rendering of my story. But it’s very important to remember that Love Amid the Ashes is FICTIONAL. I have maintained every detail of Scripture (to the best of my knowledge), but the story built around God’s Word is strictly my imagination.

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

Job – George Clooney

Dinah – The woman on the book cover, or Katherine Heigl

Sitis – Katerine Zeta Jones

Nogahla – Dakore Egbuson

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

First Chapter link: http://mesuandrews.com/books-by-mesu/love-amid-the-ashes/read-the-first-chapter/

Discussion questions: http://mesuandrews.com/books-by-mesu/love-amid-the-ashes/discussion-questions/

Bible study questions: http://mesuandrews.com/books-by-mesu/love-amid-the-ashes/bible-study/

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

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Love Amid the Ashes!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Invasion

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (March 18) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 24). 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 25th, 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.

Bathsheba, and LFY in Camelot, Tennessee winners!

2011-03-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

And the winner of Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith is:
Anita Yancey (ayancey@...)

And the winner of Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee by Janice Hanna is:

Doreen (priviesandprims@...)

Invasion by Jon S. Lewis ~ 5 stars

2011-03-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Invasion

Jon S. Lewis

C.H.A.O.S. series #1

Thomas Nelson

About the book:

Colt McAllister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.

After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.

Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.

Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.

My review:
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It is definitely not my typical read, so I wasn’t sure what I would think, but I really enjoyed it! It was fast-paced, adventurous, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. (Though, the fact that it’s going to be a whole YEAR before the next book comes out is kind of frustrating.) I was a little surprised at the basically non-existent faith factor in the book. I mean, it doesn’t promote secular ideals, but it doesn’t have a God-element, either. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but it might be for other people. All in all, this is a fun, interesting read, and I believe that it will go over well with fans of this genre.

Thanks to BookSneeze for my free review copy of this book.

You're Invited to My "Birthday Party"

2011-03-15T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hey!

So, to celebrate my 19th Birthday, I'm hosting a party here on my blog that features two of my favorite things: ROMANCE and COWBOYS! :D

Make sure you come, it's going to be a blast!

Sunday Funnies #52!

2011-03-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

This is especially funny to me because I have three friends who golf. :)

We have made it to one year's worth of Sunday Funnies! Thank you my lovely readers! :D

Janice Hanna ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-03-11T15:40:00.000-06:00

*You can earn up to 2 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Janice Hanna is telling us about her new book, Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee (March 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Here is Janice's author bio:
Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published nearly seventy books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice formerly served as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online writing courses have been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at http://www.janiceathompson.com/ or http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/.

Welcome, Janice! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in church and felt the Lord’s tug from the time I was young. I committed my life to Him at age eleven and have never looked back!

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I try to laugh my way through every situation. It doesn’t always happen, but I try. When I went through a particularly difficult season several years ago (multiple deaths in the family, all in a row) I found myself turning to Robin Jones Gunn’s light-hearted books. There’s something about comedy (or light-hearted stories) that really lifts my spirits.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I bake wedding cakes on the side. It’s true! I’m not the best decorator in the world, but I can bake a mean cake.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I loved One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Her beautiful literary style blew me away, but the content of the book is really what sealed the deal. The book is a personal expose on living life with an attitude of gratitude, no matter what you’re going through.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
I write all day long, but my best time of day is in the late hours of the night. I’m a night owl, so this just seems to work best for 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?
Hmm. I’ve been told my writing is a bit like Lisa Wingate’s. I think it could also be compared to Kristin Billerbeck and/or Robin Jones Gunn. I write light-hearted romance that’s definitely G rated!

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m writing Love Finds You in Daisy Oklahoma, while marketing Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee, (which just released).

Back cover blurb:

Steve Garrison is the newly elected mayor of the tiny town of Camelot, Tennessee. When his childhood friend Amy Hart comes up with a plan to revive the town’s economy, he jumps onboard. The townspeople will perform the musical “Camelot” in the city’s park, drawing in nightly crowds. While excitement is high, talent is lacking. Amy casts several of the parts but is stumped when it comes to the role of King Arthur. In desperation, she turns to Steve. Will he pull the sword from the stone and save the day? Steve reluctantly agrees—on one condition. In exchange for his willingness to wear tights, Amy must play the role of Guinevere. And when a handsome newcomer cast as Lancelot takes an interest in Amy, the stage is set for a little tension—and perhaps love.

What research did you have to do for this book?
I went to college in East Tennessee, so I was pretty familiar with the Knoxville area. The story is close to my heart, because I performed in the musical “Camelot” while in college (less than two hours away from the area where this story takes place).

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

I would choose Reese Witherspoon for Amy and Hugh Jackman for Steve.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Follow Janice at:
Website: http://www.janicehannathompson.com/
Writing Courses Website: http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson
Reader’s Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janice-Hanna-Thompsons-Readers-Page/303537684650
Blog: http://janiceathompson.com/blog/?cat=1

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I love writing romantic comedies and I love musical theater, so combining both of these elements in Love Finds You in Camelot Tennessee was such a blast. The story was especially dear to me since I attended college in Tennessee.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee!

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 do not want 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.

**You can earn a total of 2 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (March 11) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 17). 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 18th, 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.

Jill Eileen Smith ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-03-11T06:00:00.003-06:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Jill Eileen Smith is telling us about her new book, Bathsheba (The Wives of King David series, book 3 -- March 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Here is Jill's author bio:
Jill Eileen Smith is the best-selling author of Michal and Abigail, books one and two in The Wives of King David series. She has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has gathered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family; in person, over the webcam, or hopping a plane to fly across the country. She can often be found reading Christian fiction, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling one or both of her two adorable cats. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Welcome, Jill! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I would love to share this! Because of it’s length, I will give you the link to my website where you can read the whole thing. http://www.jilleileensmith.com/bio/

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
It’s hard to say because each circumstance is different. God’s grace comes and carries us through times that are toughest. Sometimes we have to jump in and tackle the disaster. Other times I might sit and cry and journal and pray. Still others, I reel from the shock for a while before I can do anything at all.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
If I could live anywhere I wanted to, I would spend time in Israel and California. I would love to live at least part of the year near the ocean and live in a climate that is sunny more than cloudy. Cloudy days wear me down.

What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
Only one? :) Okay, since it's a recent read I will pick The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. It's not fiction but it reads like a story and is a memorable read.

What is your favorite time of day to write?
I actually write morning, noon, and night, but I prefer late morning best, if the words are flowing. I prefer to catch up on emails and social networks later in the day.

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’m not sure about the style, but readers of Tamera Alexander, Julie Klassen, Siri Mitchell, and other historical Christian authors may like my books. In Bathsheba the romance rating would be PG. Sex is implied, never shown. This would be true in all my books.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just turned in Sarai, book one in the next series – The Wives of the Patriarchs. I am currently working on book two about Rebekah and Isaac.

Book blurb:
A single moment changed her life – will she ever regain all she’s lost?
Can love triumph over treachery?

Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her husband away fighting the king’s wars, she battles encroaching loneliness–making it frighteningly easy to succumb to the advances of King David. Will one night of unbridled passion destroy everything she holds dear? Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God—and David—forever?

With a historian’s sharp eye for detail and a novelist’s creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David’s most famous—and infamous—wife. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.

What research did you have to do for this book?
I had already researched King David's life pretty well for the first two books and the years of study before that. I have a list of resources I used under Bonus Features on each book's page of the series' website (http://www.thewivesofkingdavid.com/). The only new thing I did for Bathsheba was to get some military expertise to understand Uriah's character better, which helped immensely!

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

I do pick actors and actresses to be my characters as I write the stories, but they are chosen for their looks, not their acting ability. If I had the privilege of seeing one of my books on the silver screen, I would be more concerned with finding a great director and trust him or her to choose the actors. Two of my favorite choices for director are Steven Spielberg (he does quality work) and the Cohen brothers (I especially liked True Grit).

These are the two people who "played" David and Bathsheba on my Idea Board. Phoebe Cates is amazingly close to the model Revell found to portray Bathsheba on the cover. Eric Bana has been my "David" choice through all three books.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://thewivesofkingdavid.com/bathsheba/
Click on the link on the right side to download the chapter.

How can readers get in contact with you?
They can find me on my website (which is also my blog) – http://www.jilleileensmith.com/
The series website: http://www.thewivesofkingdavid.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Eileen-Smith/10924241028?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JillEileenSmith

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Thank you for your interest in my work! I am grateful for every person who takes the time to read my books. I hope the stories help you to see the biblical characters as real people with real hopes and dreams and failings just like us. They are great examples of God’s great grace!

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Bathsheba!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Hearts Surrender.

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (March 11) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 17). 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 18th, 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.

Hearts Surrender by Marianne Evans ~ 4 stars

2011-03-10T22:52:00.001-06:00

Hearts Surrender

Marianne Evans

Woodland series #2

White Rose Publishing

About the book:

Kiara Jordan is a sophisticated modernista, but beneath an engaging personality and super-model looks, her heart hungers, and she longs for deeper meaning in her life.

Ken Lucerne is the charismatic young pastor of Woodland Church; he's adjusting to life as a widower and copes by keeping as busy as possible with his parish and missionary work.

A home-building mission in Pennsylvania brings them together, and forces them to look hard and deep at the relationship they share, and where God means for it to go. Already bound by mutual respect and caring, love dawns, a love that takes them to a life-point neither would have expected.

After all, can a chic, vivacious woman find fulfillment within the quiet, mission-centered life of a clergyman? Can they trust God's hand strongly enough to surrender their hearts to one another...forever?

My review:

Well, I saw a marked improvement between the first book in this series, and this one. The writing was stronger, and the characters were understandable and easy to connect with. I could see their struggles, and enjoyed watching each of them grow in their faith. I especially loved when they were on the mission trip and wished more time could have been devoted to that part of the book. Such a wonderful opportunity to help others! Aside from a few belief differences, I had no real problems with this book. It was a quick, fun read. I look forward to continuing to see this author grow and write more in the future.

Thanks to Marianne for my free review copy of this book!

Surrender the Night winner!

2011-03-10T18:53:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Surrender the Night by MaryLu Tyndall is:
jdjmcc!

Sunday Funnies #51!

2011-03-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Here are some cute Halloween Pet costumes! LOL :)

MaryLu Tyndall ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-03-04T15:27:00.001-06:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author MaryLu Tyndall is telling us about her new book, Surrender the Night (Surrender to Destiny series #2 -- March 2011). 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 leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!

Welcome, MaryLu! Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I’m MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. That’s right. You heard it correctly. I wrote an inspirational series about pirates. Christian pirates, that is. Oddly enough, I believe it was that strange combination of pirates and faith that opened the doors of publishing for me. Since then, which was only about six years ago, I have a total of nine books published with five more under contract. My books are known to be fast-paced, adventurous, and intensely romantic while also interwoven with deep spiritual themes. Though I was raised in Florida and would love nothing more than to live in the tropics again, I have lived in Northern California for almost thirty years with my husband, six kids, and three stray cats.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
It’s a rather long story, but suffice it to say I didn’t come to know God until my mid-thirties after I’d made a mess of my life! Every thing I did, every party, every relationship, every material possession I bought, every success I achieved, ultimately left me alone and empty until at age thirty-five, my second marriage was failing, I hated my dead-end job, my youthful beauty was fading, and my teenage kids were rebelling (wonder who they learned that from?) I remember wanting to kill myself, get it over with. I felt no hope for the future. I was a drinker back then. Alcohol helped numb the pain of life. So, I had a hidden bottle of Tequila in my closet. Whenever life overwhelmed me, I’d sneak in there and have a drink or two. One dark day, while sitting in the closet, I glanced upward and saw my old Bible sitting on a shelf. I dusted it off and began to read, promising myself that I would read it from cover to cover to see if anything happened. What did I have to lose? I wanted to believe so badly that God was real and that He loved me, but I had grown very skeptical.

I read it every night before I went to bed. Somewhere in the middle of Ezekiel, something began to happen. Passages prophesying how Israel would be scattered all over the world and then in the last days would return to their own land, flew out at me from the pages. You see, Israel was in the news a lot back then. Suicide bombings and rumors of war were a common story each night. And I knew enough history to know that Israel had only become a nation a few years before I was born. The stunning revelation that God had predicted them returning to their land sped through me like a cyclone. I remember saying out loud. “You’re real.” And then God’s presence fell upon me. I shivered. I got on my knees and began to sob. I gave my life to Him that night. I knew God was with me now. I knew He loved me and had a plan for my life. Suddenly my life had meaning and my heart was full. This is what I had been searching for!

Are you:
A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Scheduled, if you mean that I write at a certain time of day. But Spontaneous if you mean that I write without a detailed outline or plot.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Stubborn (But working on being more compliant!)

Organized or completely chaotic?
Organized chaos.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems?
Weird, but I usually handle disasters very calmly, slowly working to solve the problem. But later on, after things are better, I usually break down with sobs and trembling.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best: Ability to empathize with others
Worst: Worry wort

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I had 8 step-fathers growing up.

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?
Linda Chaikin or Laurie Alice Eakes. Romance is PG. Kissing but never beyond that.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m currently working on a novel entitled Veil of Pearls. It’s the story of a one-quarter black girl and X-slave who falls in love with the spoiled son of a rich plantation owner in 1811 Charleston, South Carolina.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Website: http://www.mltyndall.com/
Blog: http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=205124586170908&set=a.205124206170946.59683.205121426171224#!/pages/MaryLu-Tyndall-Swashbuckling-Romance/175344859169475

Book blurb:

A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . .

A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . .

Both are about to change the course of history forever.

When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?

Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?

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

Actress Romola Garai plays Rose McQuire

Actor Colin Firth plays Alexander Reed

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

Thanks for taking the time to read my interview and also for your interest in my writing. I love my readers and like to correspond with them one on one. My ultimate goal is to make God real to people, to show His love and power in their daily lives, and to show that there’s a reason they are here on this earth at this time and place.

~~~~~

**USA or Canada addresses only, please**

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

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 do not want 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 of my recent book reviews.
+2 Hearts Crossing

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (March 4) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 10). 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 11th, 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.

Driven winner!

2011-03-04T14:47:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Driven by Shellie Neumeier is:
Jo (ladijo40@...)

Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans ~ 3 stars

2011-03-02T17:42:00.000-06:00

Hearts Crossing

Marianne Evans

Woodland series, #1

White Rose Publishing

About the book:

"How do you feel about God, Collin?”

“I don’t.”

Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church of Christ, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.

Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God and the community of Woodland. But lately she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.

A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists—but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better.

Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.

Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?

My review:
I am not giving this book “3 stars” because I disliked it, but because I saw room for improvement. Mainly, the grammar and wording needed work, but the story itself was very sweet. It is a quick, fun read, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you can’t get past things like grammar issues. The plot was engaging, and I was interested to read how the author would resolve the issues between characters. I will be reading book 2 in this series, and I look forward to watching this author grow in her writing!

Lady in the Mist mug or tote bag winner!

2011-02-28T00:36:00.000-06:00

And the winner of the Lady in the Mist mug or tote bag is:
Edna (mamat2730@...)

Shellie Neumeier ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-02-28T00:31:00.000-06:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Shellie Neumeier is telling us about her new book, Driven. She has offered a copy of her book to one lucky commenter. (The directions are a little different this time, so please read at the bottom of this post for specifics.)

Tell us about your book.

It’s about a girl, Robyn, who loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to hanging with the new guy, Caleb Montague. But a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, forcing Robyn to choose between defending the group’s right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

She must learn what God wants her to do. And learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy, a demon named Sebastian, whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

Who did you write your book for?
I wrote the book with my 17 year old daughter in mind. I’d been reading a series she got hooked on, just to see what it was like and it was so discouraging. I mean life is discouraging, but to leave someone there, just seemed depressing. That’s when I decided I wanted to write something for her. Something that would lift her up and encourage her.

Why a young adult Christian novel?
That’s easy. I still think like a kid. Always have. Young adult is a world of possibilities. They’re willing to go places the adult reader just isn’t so it makes the adventure more unpredictable. And since God is the director of my life, it had to be Christian. One way or another, He was in.

What inspired you to write this book?
What inspired me to write this book was the desire to encourage the next generation. To let them know that God does have a plan for them and it’s a good one, even though it may not seem that way right now. This generation of young adults has almost unlimited access to their world with the ease of travel and the internet. They have the amazing opportunity to change their world unlike any previous generation, but they’re also bombarded with harsh realism and even harsher dramatized “realism” at a very young age. It would be very easy to forget that they have a purpose and it comes from God.

When you write, which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?
Definitely the characters. When I start a story, I look at who the characters are, what are their personalities like, how would they interact in real life, How would they react in certain situations, right down to what type of parents they had and what job would they get when they’re older. That way I know how they react when things get tough. And things do get tough.

If you could compare this book to any book out there, which book would it be?
Reviewers have compared it to Frank Perretti’s This Present Darkness and C.S Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Mostly because of the glimpse into the spiritual world.

What’s next for you?
I’m finishing a MG written with my youngest two children and working on a 4 in 1 novella, co-authored with a Lisa Lickel. We’re also considering a sequel to Driven.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win a copy of Driven!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). ALSO include which version of the book you want if you win: pdf or a physical copy. 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.

+2 Read my interview with Irene Hannon about her new book, Fatal Judgment, and leave an encouraging comment for her on that post. :)
**You can earn a total of 4 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 (February 28) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 3). 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 4th, 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.

Sunday Funnies #50!

2011-02-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

Yay! We made it to FIFTY Sunday Funnies! Thank you too all of the people who send me funny things to use, and to you guys who come watch, look, or read, and leave comments. :) I appreciate it!

This is so cute and funny! I snorted...

Irene Hannon ~ Interview!

2011-02-26T01:11:00.000-06:00

Irene is telling us about her new book, Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice series, book 1 -- January 2011), which is awesome! :)

Here is Irene's author bio:
Irene Hannon, who writes both romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than thirty-five novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico suspense series. A four-time RITA award finalist (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), she took home the golden statuette in 2003. Her books have also been honored with two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, a Daphne du Maurier award and a HOLT medallion. A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time.

Welcome, Irene! Tell us about your salvation experience.
If you mean this in an evangelical sense, as in born again, there is no one single event. I was raised Catholic. I’ve ALWAYS been a believer. I’ve always seen evidence of God’s grace and love in my life. And Jesus has always been my savior. For that reason, there has been no “ah-ha” moment in my life. Just a steady faith that has sustained me and grown through the years.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
You can’t be spontaneous if you’re a full-time writer with contracts to fulfill. That’s a luxury only the unpublished enjoy. I once read a quote from a famous writer about this. Someone asked him if he only wrote when he was inspired. He responded, “Absolutely. And I make sure I’m inspired every day at 8 a.m.” Enough said!

Stubborn, or compliant?
Ooh, this is getting personal! I’d say I can be both, depending on the situation. If I feel very strongly about something, I’ll dig in my heels. But you have to pick your battles, so I try to be compliant whenever possible. Or maybe the better word is agreeable. If a problem can be worked out without rancor, I’ll do my best to make that happen.

Organized or completely chaotic?
Extremely organized. I don’t think I could juggle all the balls I have in the air if I wasn’t.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Hmm. I wish I did have a funny story. Usually, disasters or big problems don’t hold a lot of humor for me. The best example I can think of in terms of how I handle those kind of situations happened several years. A former co-worker asked me to do a large communication/writing project for the organization where she worked. (My last corporate job was as a senior director of corporate communications for a Fortune 500 company.) I’d left that world behind, but she finally convinced me to take this on. This was in the midst of fulfilling a multiple book contract for one of my publishers AND while I was writing my first suspense series, the Heroes of Quantico, on spec. One week after I signed on for her four-month project, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor—which led to surgery and many complications. I remember being at the hospital trying to conduct phone interviews for the corporate project in between doctor consultations, tests and helping my mom. Then, at night I’d write her project and my current novel until two or three in the morning. The next morning I’d get up and start all over again. This went on for weeks. But I got through it without missing a deadline. I guess what that says is that I’ll do whatever it takes to meet my obligations—no matter the toll it takes on me.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I’m fiercely loyal to those I love and will do anything for them. That’s probably my best trait. Worst? That would probably be a better question to ask my friends and family. I do know I have a tendency to become too absorbed in my work sometimes.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I LOVE to perform in community musical theater productions. In fact, there are a couple of photos in the news section of my website that show me playing the leading role in a production of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” last summer.

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?
Dee Henderson, probably. We both write romantic suspense, and our styles have some similarities. I would rate the romance in my books G or PG.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m finishing up the last book in my Guardians of Justice series—and am talking with my publisher about more books when that wraps up. I’m also working on a new series for Harlequin Love Inspired. It’s called Starfish Bay and is set on the Northern California coast. Book 1, Seaside Reunion, will be out next January.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I have a contact page on my website that includes my e-mail address and my Twitter link. And I do respond personally to every e-mail I receive.

Book blurb:

Deputy Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action as a member of the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, including a recent stint in Iraq. But he’d much rather go back to that hotbed of trouble than deal with his next assignment: providing protection for federal judge Liz Michaels. His antipathy toward her is just as strong as it was five years ago, when her husband—his best friend—died in a possible suicide. But as Jake works to keep Liz safe, he discovers she’s not a cold-hearted workaholic wedded to nothing but her job, as he expected. Forced to reevaluate his opinion, he also finds himself grappling with a growing attraction. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes go up. Because now both her life—and his heart—are in danger.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
True confession time—I don’t go to the movies much and have no idea who the current “hot” actors and actresses are. When I write my books, I never have a particular “model” in mind for my characters. They take on their own unique personalities. So I can’t help you on this one! I would say, though, that the cover designer for this book did a STELLAR job depicting my hero and heroine.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Yes. This link will take you directly to the excerpt on my website: http://www.irenehannon.com/fataljudgment.html.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Please watch for Book 2, Deadly Pursuit, coming in September. I just saw the cover mock-up, and it’s fabulous! I’ll be posting it on my website as soon as it’s finalized.

Thanks for stopping by, Irene!

Sunday Funnies #49!

2011-02-20T06:00:00.001-06:00

I love scaring people! What about you? Prankster, or not?

Laurie Alice Eakes ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-02-18T15:32:00.000-06:00

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details. This giveaway is a little different, so please read the directions at the bottom of the post*

Today author Laurie Alice Eakes is telling us about her new book, Lady in the Mist (The Midwives series #1 -- February 2011). She has offered a LitM mug or tote bag 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 Laurie's author bio:

Award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes wanted to be a writer since knowing what one was. Her first book won the National Readers Choice Award in 2007, and her third book was a Carol Award finalist in 2010. Between December of 2008 and January of 2010, she sold thirteen books to Barbour Publishing, Avalon Books, and Baker/Revell, making her total sales fifteen. Recently, she added two novella sales to that collection, as well as having her first book with Baker/Revell, Lady in the Mist, picked up by Crossings Book Club, and three of her books chosen for large print editions by Thorndike Press. She has been a public speaker for as long as she can remember; thus, only suffers enough stage fright to keep her sharp. In 2002, while in graduate school for writing fiction, she began to teach fiction in person and online. She lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs, and too many cats even for her.

Welcome, Laurie! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was eleven-years-old and it was at a church service. Nothing extraordinary. I just knew it was the right time and the right place. A great deal happened to me after that, and I left my faith for some weird stuff for a while, and the Lord brought me back in 2001.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
I’m a scheduled writer. I have too much work to do to wait for the muse to strike.

Stubborn, or compliant?
That depends on the situation. I’m stubborn about doing certain things and compliant about others. With people like editors, I’m quite compliant and don’t want to come across as a pain.

Organized or completely chaotic?
In writing, I’m rather well organized. Generally I’m well organized as long as I remember to put it on my calendar.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
If a disaster hits me out of the blue, I tend to have a few minutes of hysterics, then I calm down, take care of it, and even manage to laugh about it. When our car broke down in an itsy town in Louisiana on a Saturday when no mechanics were open and we were on our way to Texas moving from Virginia for my husband’s new job, I decided to make a bit of a rest period out of it, time to relax away from the car I’d been in for 2.5 days. Now I can look back on it with amazement at how people came forward to help us. It was only a dead battery.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
My best trait is that I’m an encourager and generous with my time if that’s what’s needed. Worst is that I’m not very patient.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
At this point in time, if they don’t know something about me, it’s probably something they shouldn’t know about 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’d say I’m probably closest to Marylu Tyndall, though even she says my style is completely unique. As for rating, it’s G by secular standards and maybe PG10 by CBA standards. I have some kissing in it, but nothing detailed. I like to leave things up to the reader’s imagination, be evocative rather than provocative.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just finished the second book in the Midwife series, am currently working on my lady lawyer in 1893 story for Avalon Books, and next will work on my second book in my Regency series for Baker/Revell.

How can readers get in contact with you?
At present, my web site http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/ doesn’t have a contact me page. That will be fixed soon. But I’m on Facebook and anyone can send me a message from there. I also have a blog I’m not very good about keeping up http://www.seizethechance.blogspot.com/. Generally I get something up on Mondays at the least.

Book blurb:

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets.

Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, what he, a British aristocrat, is doing on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love? But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love’s discovery.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
On my web site is one excerpt and on the Romantic Times blog is another one. http://www.rtbookreviews.com/rt-daily-blog/laurie-alice-eakes-power-midwives#comments

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Lady in the Mist is a romantic suspense set in Virginia in 1809. That’s the surface story. Beneath is a whole lot more. Each reader takes away something different. I want everyone to be entertained and also want everyone to feel different when she is finished having learned something about love and self-forgiveness.

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win a LitM mug or tote bag! [Remember to specify which of these you would like to get if you win]

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). ALSO tell which of the two goodies you would like 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 Lady in the Mist

**You can earn a total of 4 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 (February 18) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (February 24). 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 25th, 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.

Blood Covenant winner!

2011-02-17T22:22:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Blood Covenant by Lisa Harris is:
Charity U (photographer4ever832@...)

Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes ~ 5 stars

2011-02-16T15:14:00.000-06:00

Lady in the Mist

Laurie Alice Eakes

The Midwives series #1

Revell

About the book:

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets. Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, why he, a British aristocrat, is on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love. But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

My review:

This is a great romantic suspense, and I loved trying to work out the intricacies of the plot. The mystery about who everyone was and what their motives were was very well done. The historic details were very interesting, and I loved the “midwife” aspect of the story.

There were only two small things that weren’t to my taste. I felt like the wording could have been better in a few areas, but that was very seldom. The other thing was that at the end of the book, in the final conflict where everything comes to light, it ends in the “middle” of the scene. So you just hear about what happened from later on in the next chapter. That could have been changed in my opinion, but it wasn’t a “deal-breaker” for me. It didn’t hurt the story; I just thought it would have been improved if that were different. In all, I think this is a great book and I look forward to reading more in this series!

Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Angel Sister winner!

2011-02-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

I am so sorry about the delay in posting this! I went out of town over the weekend, and completely forgot! :/

And the winner of Angel Sister by Ann H Gabhart is:

Virginia (vrush729@...)

Sunday Funnies #48!

2011-02-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Just a picture today, but it is so cute!! :)

Poor dog!

Lisa Harris ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-02-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

*You can earn up to 10 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Lisa Harris is telling us about her new book, Blood Covenant (Mission Hope series, book 2 -- February 2011). 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 Lisa's author bio:

LISA HARRIS is an award-winning author who has over twenty novels and novella collections in print. She and her husband, Scott, along with their three children, live near the Indian Ocean in Mozambique as missionaries. As a homeschooling mom, life can get hectic, but she sees her writing as an extension of her ministry which also includes running a non-profit organization. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8)

When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit http://www.theechoproject.org/.

Welcome, Lisa! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ early in my life, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I took on my faith as truly my own. I remember realizing how my faith couldn’t be an extension of my parents’ faith, but instead a very personal decision I had to make. For me, it was a profound time spiritually and changed the course of my life.

Are you:
A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Very scheduled.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Hmmm…depends on the situation, but I probably lean toward being more compliant.

Organized or completely chaotic?
Organized (for the most part :) ).

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
And interesting question, because, living overseas has forced me to become extremely flexible, though I have to admit, it’s still not always easy. I’ve also had to learn to deal with one problem at a time and not worry about tomorrow. I love Matthew 6:34 where it says. “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

That’s so true, isn’t it? So while I don’t always make it, I really do try to live one day at a time, and tackle one problem at a time.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
My worst- probably that I analyze things far too much.

My best trait? I always try to look at the good in the other person and assume that their motives are good as well.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I ate raw herring in Holland last fall and enjoyed it. (Really :) )

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?
Tough questions, as it’s hard to compare myself to another writer, because I try to be unique with my style and settings. I’d love to be compared to authors like Dee Henderson and DiAnn Mills. As for romance, my stories have always been pretty G rated.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
Our family is just now reaching the end of our furlough and will be headed back to Africa in a few days. I’ve taken off the past few months from writing because of our hectic schedule, but am already itching to get back into it. Once we are home I have a couple fiction projects I’m excited to jump into.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Please drop by my website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/ or my blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/. To learn more about our new non-profit, check out http://www.theechoproject.org/.

Book blurb:

“From the explosive first pages, Lisa Harris weaves a tale of heart-stopping suspense and adventure with her second book in the Mission Hope Series.

When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes. Dr. Paige Ryan, who works with Volunteers of Hope International, is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site—where the immediate needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and food are critical. Nick Gilbert, a bush pilot for Compassion Air, joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.

With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers. Paige’s medical team responds immediately, rescuing survivors and taking them into the camp. When it’s discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten.

In desperate need of vaccines and the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won’t be long before the disease is out of control … and there is nowhere to run.’

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Readers can find a sample here:
http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310319061&QueryStringSite=Zondervan

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I love to hear from my readers, so be sure and send me an email, especially if you read one of my books. I’d love to know what you think!

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Blood Covenant!

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.
+1 For every person (up to six) you get to come and enter this giveaway. But, they must mention you BY NAME so that I know who to give the extra entry(s) to. :)

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Amy Inspired

**You can earn a total of 10 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 (February 11) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (February 17). 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 18th, 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.

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce ~ 4 stars

2011-02-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Amy Inspired

Bethany Pierce

Bethany House

About the book:

With rejections piling up, she could use just a little inspiration...

Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words. She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing. However, two years and one master's degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started. Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.

Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her. When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way. Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.

My review:
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was fresh and original, and, though not my normal taste, I really liked it. I could relate to Amy on many points, and looked forward to seeing her grow throughout the book. However, although her character did grow, it was very subtle and in some instances I didn’t feel she had a strong conclusion. It was more like a small piece of a person’s life than a changed character by the end of the book. She still had a lot of growing to do, and I felt like there wasn’t a solid resolution to some of her questions about her faith.

The writing was very frank, and I liked the tell-it-like-it-is approach she took to things. (However on some issues, I know this will make people uncomfortable, especially younger readers.) The book had what I call an “open” ending. It leaves the reader with the option of imagining the specifics of the ending, rather than tying up all the loose ends itself. I think readers who tend to like chick-lit type books will find this story best to their liking.

Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy of this book!

Sunday Funnies #47!

2011-02-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

I can never imagine wanting to do this...

I got this in an email that showed pictures of what people did to their drunk friends:

LOL! Yet one more reason to never be drunk... ;)

Ann H Gabhart ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-02-04T06:00:00.002-06:00

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

Today author Ann H Gabhart is telling us about her new book, Angel Sister (February 2011). 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, Ann! Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born on a farm and I still live on a farm now. I had plenty of farm chores as I grew up, but also a lot of time for reading and exploring the woods on our farm. I don’t do much actual farm work these days, but I do still like to explore the woods on our farm with my three dogs. I started writing when I was ten and have been at it in one way or another ever since. My first book, a historical romance was published by Warner Books in 1978. My first inspirational novel, The Scent of Lilacs, came out in 2005. I’ve published over twenty novels in various genres. My husband, Darrell, and I have three children, all married to wonderful people we claim as ours now too, and nine beautiful grandchildren.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
For as long as I can remember, I have felt a strong spiritual need in my heart and believed in the Lord. But as a child I was too shy to make a move to publicly make that feeling known. Eventually I did find the courage with the Lord’s help to make that profession of faith after my first child was born. The Lord removes obstacles if we will only let him do so.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Spontaneously scheduled. I need hours of desk time to write a book, so I do have to schedule work time.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Definitely stubborn. I prefer the word persistent.

Organized or completely chaotic?
Mostly organized although if you saw my desk right now, you’d doubt the truth of that statement. The holidays and various other “life happens” issues have gotten me behind on my writing and my organizing. I do make a lot of lists, but sometimes I lose them in the chaos of papers on my desk. So perhaps I just imagine being organized.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
With aplomb. At least that would be what I would hope. I’m not sure I could have a funny story about handling a disaster, but how about a problem? Year before last we built a new room onto our house so that all our children and grandkids could get together here at Christmas time without sitting on top of one another. While we were in the remodeling mode, we also replaced our heat pump and duct work. The work was going full blast in April and May while the deadline for my Shaker novel, The Seeker, was zooming ever closer. I had to shut myself in my office and write with workmen crawling around under the floor below my feet banging and tearing out the old duct work while yelling back and forth at one another. It made for interesting writing and proved to me I didn’t have to have silence. I like silence, but I don’t have to have it. The story still came when I put my fingers on the keyboard.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best as a writer would have to be perseverance. In the face of rejections and years when nothing went well in my writing career, I never gave up. I kept writing. I kept trying to tell a story readers would want to read. The worst as a writer might be expecting too much from myself and others.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I’m a pretty dull person so there’s not that much surprising about me. But you might be interested in my first writing income such as it was. When I was eleven or twelve I wrote an essay and won the prize of a 100 baby chicks. I didn’t eat a bite of fried chicken that year after I’d fed and watered those babies for weeks. I told that story at a writers’ retreat and got the biggest laugh of the night.

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?
With each new book, the publishers send out a form asking all about the book and my writing. That’s one of the questions on the form that stumps me every time. What writers have a matching writing style? I have no idea. I think each writer has his or her own unique style just the same as we all have our unique personalities and fingerprints. A writer’s fingerprints are her words and the way she puts them together. Unique and individual. That said, the publishers do sometimes compare my style with other writers, but I never do.

I try to make the romance in my books heartfelt as my characters yearn for a loving relationship. My characters generally kiss at least once in my stories, sometimes in the final scene. However, in Angel Sister since the romantically involved couple is married, more than kissing is implied once or twice as would be natural with a married couple especially when the story flashes back to their newlywed days. But this is left up to the reader’s imagination and isn’t described in any kind of detail. I think my books would get a G rating on the romance front.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
Right now I am working on my fifth Shaker novel along with doing edits on my fourth Shaker novel, The Blessed, that is scheduled to be released in July 2011.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I love hearing from readers. You can contact me from my website, www.annhgabhart.com. I also post something new on my blog, One Writer’s Journal, twice a week, usually on Wednesdays and Sundays. www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com. I have an author’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-H-Gabhart/132862247566 where reading friends and I talk. Then I signed on with Twitter a few weeks ago.

Book blurb:

It is 1936 and Kate Merritt, the middle child of Victor and Nadine, works hard to keep her family together. Her father slowly slips into alcoholism and his business suffers during the Great Depression. As her mother tries to come to grips with their situation and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to any problems, it is Kate who must shoulder the emotional load. Who could imagine that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what the Merritts need?

This richly textured novel reveals the power of true love, the freedom of forgiveness, and the strength to persevere through troubled times. Multidimensional characters face real and trenchant problems while maintaining their family bonds, all against the backdrop of a sultry Kentucky summer.

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

This is another thing I usually have to come up with to help the cover designers at my publishing company. I’m not a big movie or t.v. fan, so when it comes to actors and actresses, I’m sometimes way out of the loop. So I go on the internet and google something like “actresses with brown hair and green eyes.” I can’t always find a perfect match to my imagined character, but I can usually find someone close. So here are my picks for the three viewpoint characters in Angel Sister. Please keep in mind that I’m picking on how a particular photo looks and not from seeing these actors or actresses in movies or t.v. roles. I don’t check out the actors’ or actresses’ roles or personalities, only their photos.

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

http://www.annhgabhart.com/angel-sister.html

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I am so excited about Angel Sister being released and I’m hoping my readers will embrace the story. A book is not really complete for a writer until it has a reader. Reading and sharing stories is a partnership of minds. So thank you for letting my stories come to life in your imaginations and for inviting my characters into your hearts. I appreciate each and every one of my reading friends.

~~~~~

**USA and Canada addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Angel Sister!

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.
+1 For every person (up to six) you get to come and enter this giveaway. But, they must mention you BY NAME so that I know who to give the extra entry(s) to. :)

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Stars Collide

**You can earn up to TEN entries using 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 (February 4) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (February 10). 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 11th, 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.

Unexpected Love winner!

2011-02-03T19:54:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Unexpected Love by Andrea Boeshaar is:
Rebecca (rbooth43@...)

Stars Collide by Janice Thompson ~ 4 stars

2011-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Stars Collide

Janice Thompson

Backstage Pass series #1

Revell

About the book:

Her future's so bright, she's gotta wear shades

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy don't just play two people who are secretly in love on a television sitcom--they are actually head over heels for each other in real life. When the lines between reality and TV land blur, they hope they can keep their relationship under wraps. But when Kat's grandmother, an eccentric star from Hollywood's golden age, mistakes their on-screen wedding proposal for the real deal, things begin to spiral out of control. Will their secret be front-page news in the tabloids? And can their budding romance survive the onslaught of paparazzi, wedding preparations, and misinformed family members?

My review:

I just want to say that I probably would have given this book a higher rating, but it took me about two weeks to read it (a crazy-long time for me) because of school, and I hate taking so long to read a book. The book wasn’t slow for me to read, I just had so much going on at the time.

I did love the characters, plot, and style. Janice just has such a sweet writing style! The ending was lovely and I loved how the reader was kept in the dark about the surprise right until the end! That was awesome. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what the rest of the series is going to be like! (And who the main characters will be…) Once again, Janice has come out with a heart-warming, lesson-teaching, faith-filled, fun-to-read book.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sunday Funnies #46!

2011-01-30T06:00:00.002-06:00

This is one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen!!! Must watch.

Andrea Boeshaar ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

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

Today author Andrea Boeshaar is telling us about her new book, Unexpected Love (Seasons of Redemption series #3 -- January 2011). 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, Andrea! Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve got 23 published novels, 8 published novellas to my credit, as well as a host of collective nonfiction under my belt. I know the peaks and valleys of the publishing industry and love to share my experience with other writers. I was an agent for more than 10 years, but now I’m writing full-time and I’m represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

Additionally, I am a certified Christian life coach. I am also a cofounder of ACFW. I’ve taught at several of the organization’s conferences as well as the Oregon Christian Writers Conference, Write-To-Publish, and Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was gloriously born again on Ash Wednesday in 1991. I had gone to a friend’s church and heard the gospel, plain and simple. I cried on the way home, feeling extremely convicted of my sin. Once I reached home, I shooed my kids off to bed and began washing dishes. I asked God to save me right there in the kitchen, with tears, streaming down my face and my hands soaked in soap bubbles. Right then and there, Jesus saved me – and it turned my life around. I was never the same again!

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Very spontaneous and seat-of-the pants, although I am trying to be more scheduled and disciplined.

Stubborn, or compliant?
It depends on the situation. :)

Organized or completely chaotic?
Organized to a fault…except I hate filing.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I stress over crises until the stress becomes so great that I totally fall apart. Then after a couple of days of prayer and praise to God, I feel better. What’s interesting is all the while, no one would guess that I’m falling apart like a country song. I handle what I need to and make important decisions. Then I go up to my bedroom, clutch my Bible to me, and sob. But then I realize that I either trust God or I don’t – if I trust God, then I must have faith that He will bring this crisis (whatever it might be) to an expected end. I simply have to walk in His mercy and grace. I often wonder why that is so difficult sometimes!

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I’m very sensitive and very capable. On the flipside, I’m very sensitive. I guess it’s the best and worst thing about me.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I have never revealed this before! I like to go up to the top of the hill in my back yard, gaze over the quarry below (like a mini ampatheater). I spread my arms out wide and belt out the first line of The Sound of Music. “The hills are alive with the sound of music…” Just like the character, Maria, does as the movie by the same name opens. No one is around. Just my 9 month old puppy, who is getting rather used to my goofy antics.

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 say my style is similar to Robin Lee Hatcher’s. She is a fabulous author and one of my favorites. I read her books and try to learn from her. I don’t copy her. Of course not! But I try to learn and be a better writer by reading what I enjoy.

However, I read many other authors’ books too. Francine Rivers, Cathy Marie Hake, Lauraine Snelling, DiAnn Mills, and Karen Kingsbury. And when I love a story, I re-read it with a critical eye, trying to learn why those characters touched my heart. How the book drew me in.

And that’s the best education a novelist can get: Read!

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just began writing a brand new, 3-book series for Realms / Strang Book Group. It’s called Fabric of Time and it’s about a Norwegian family that settles in Wisconsin. The first book, Threads of Hope, is set in 1848 – the year Wisconsin became a state.

Meanwhile, I’m anticipating the release of book 4 in my series Seasons of Redemption. It’s titled, Undaunted Faith, and it will hit bookstore shelves in May.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Readers can contact me via my website: http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/
I am also on Facebook and Twitter – log onto my site to find the links to those networks too.

Book blurb:

Nurse Lorenna Fields is drawn to a blind patient searching for his past. But as his memories return, will there be a place for her in his future?

Lorenna Fields has always taken her job at Chicago's Mercy Hospital seriously, determined never to become personally involved with her patients. But when a mysterious man with eyes like onyx is admitted after a shipwreck on Lake Michigan, she develops a connection with him that she can’t deny.

Slowly her patient regains consciousness, but to Renna’s dismay he has lost both his sight and his memory. Dubbed “Mr. Blackeyes” by her, the two build a strong, trusting friendship as they search for clues to his past. But part of her dreads the day of his recovery, convinced that his memories will take him away from her and his regained sight will reveal a secret about herself that Renna has been trying hard to hide.

In Unexpected Love, Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar continues the dramatic saga of the McCabe family that she began in Unwilling Warrior and Uncertain Heart.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://www.amazon.com/

~~~~~
**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Unexpected 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.
+1 Put my SCD blog button on your sidebar.
+1 Put my CBG blog button on your sidebar. (You will find the html's in each respective blog's sidebar. It should say "Grab My Blog Button" or something like that)

Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.
+2 Fatal Judgment

**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 (January 28) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (February 3). 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 4th, 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.

Faith's Reward winner!

2011-01-27T18:52:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Faith's Reward by Tammy Barley is:
Charity U (photographer4ever832@...)

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon ~ 5 stars + Favorite!

2011-01-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

Fatal Judgment

Irene Hannon

Guardians of Justice series #1

Revell Publishing

About the book:

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

My review:

Being an avid fan of the hit show, NCIS, I was leery about reading this book in case it didn’t measure up to my high standards. I’m happy to say that it did. And some!

The suspense was so well written that I couldn’t put the book down. I read it in one day, so I’m warning that you need to set aside time to read this. It is not a “by bits and pieces” read. You won’t want to be interrupted! The romance fit naturally into the book, and didn’t seem forced or boring. I loved all the characters!

I would say that this is an excellent romantic suspense, and I will definitely be checking into reading other books by this author!

Thanks to Revell for my free review copy of this book!

Sunday Funnies #45!

2011-01-23T06:00:00.002-06:00

Chonda Pierce is hilarious! Please watch this video, you will crack up!

Tammy Barley ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-01-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

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

Today author Tammy Barley is telling us about her new book, Faith's Reward (The Sierra Chronicles #3 -- January 2011). 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, Tammy! Tell us a little about yourself.

I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I'm not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, sixteen parakeets*, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I homeschool; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars.

In my spare time, you're likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.

Are you a spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Both! I schedule my work hours, but if an idea for a scene strikes in the middle of the night, me and my bunny slippers hurry to the keyboard.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I always see the cloud’s silver lining. When I learned I had suffered kidney failure, I thought, “Well, at least I won’t have to get up anymore in the middle of the night and run to the restroom.”

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?
My writing style is unique. My novels will carry you back in time to the far reaches of the American West, place you into the saddle of a running horse, and slip you into the cool water of a purling river on a sweltering summer night. I write that you may experience it all firsthand, the stories unfolding around you, so that you feel you are there.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Links to my Facebook, ShoutLife, Goodreads, and other pages are all at my Web site: http://www.tammybarley.com/index.html (where you can also enter the drawing to win The Day of Your Dreams contest)

Book blurb:

The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. The cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia.

Springtime brings trials of a different kind—the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation.

The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life—and the life of her unborn child—at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves—a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?The woman on the book cover is the perfect Jess, and Hugh Jackman is the perfect Jake.

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

http://www.amazon.com/Faiths-Reward-Sierra-Chronicles-V3/dp/1603741100/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b#reader_1603741100

~~~~~

**This giveaway is open to anyone**

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

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.
+1 GFC follow my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.
+1 Subscribe by email to my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.

Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.
+2 Hatteras Girl

**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 (January 21) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (January 27). 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 28th, 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 Suitor for Jenny winner!

2011-01-20T20:53:00.000-06:00

And the winner of A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley is:
Debbie (bigpinelodge@...)

Hatteras Girl by Alice Wisler ~ 3 stars

2011-01-19T06:00:00.003-06:00

Hatteras Girl

Alice Wisler

Bethany House

About the book:

Fall in love with Alice J. Wisler's charming characters in this delightful story set in the beach communities of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Jackie Donovan prays for two things: an honest, wonderful man to marry and to own a bed-and-breakfast on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the meantime, she works for Lighthouse Views, writing articles about local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: The Bailey House, a fabulous old home located right next to the ocean, a place where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons. But the Bailey House has strange stories and secrets surrounding it—not to mention its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey property, she believes God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to wonder if her heart has lead her astray. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

My review:
Well, I hate to give an unfavorable review, but I will be honest regarding my thoughts on this book.

There were some things I liked about the book. The setting. The dream Jackie had of one day owning the Bailey House. But, the things that I didn’t like seemed a little louder than the things I did.

*The rest of this review will have some spoilers, so beware* I found the dialogue in some places to be unbelievable. (Such as when she confronts Davis at the Grille.) If I was having an argument and someone was speaking that way to me, I would think they were mentally unstable. It was very random dialogue.

Also, Jackie didn’t seem to have any spiritual growth throughout the book. There were moments early on where she asked questions regarding God and why He let certain things happen, and I never felt like she was resolved with any of it.

Finally, the book broke one of my pet peeves. That is when there is more romance (and focus on the relationship) between a heroine (or hero) and the person they don’t end up with than there is with the person that they do end up with. That bothers me, but I know it doesn’t for everyone.

There were a couple other things too, but I don’t want to go on forever on the book’s issues. I think there will be some people who enjoy this book, but, sadly, I wasn’t one of them.

Thanks to Bethany house for my review copy of this book.

Sunday Funnies #44!

2011-01-16T06:00:00.003-06:00

Apparently, I used to do the "evil look" when I was a baby too, only my parents called it the "mean look". LOL

Blog Renovations

2011-01-14T12:03:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone! I have been working lately on improving my blog in various ways. (Today I organized all of my "labels" and put them in my sidebar. You can now use them to help you find things on my blog!)

A few weeks ago I started my new Blog List. That is really a work in progress... :)

Now, I am thinking of ways to improve my interview questions. I'm going to change them up for the new year. Yes, I know it's a little late... But, better late than never!

So this week for +4 entries in my Suitor for Jenny giveaway, I'm asking that you help me by taking a few minutes to read over a couple of my interview questions.

I want to know if you think either of these questions (below) should stay in the interviews for now. Just leave a comment here telling me what you think. (Some of my other Qs I have already decided to get rid of, so they will not be listed. I was just unsure about these two.) Let me know if you think they are keepers or not!

Tell us about your salvation experience.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?

Pretty simple, huh? :) Thanks!

Margaret Brownley ~ Interview + Giveaway!

2011-01-14T06:00:00.005-06:00

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

Today author Margaret Brownley is telling us about her new book, A Suitor for Jenny (Rocky Creek Romance series, book 2 -- 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.

Margaret included this in the interview. It's hilarious!
Some timely advice for landing a husband from A SUITOR FOR JENNY:

1) Charm and composure must prevail at all times. If a gunfight erupts, exit the scene with grace and serenity.

2) If you don’t know whether or not to kiss a handsome man, give him the benefit of the doubt.

3) Never engage in boisterous laughter. If you must show mirth, a polite smile or titter will suffice.

4) Never criticize your beau. If it wasn’t for his faults he’d probably be courting someone else.

5) A woman more knowledgeable than a man is obliged to hold her tongue and feign ignorance in all matters except, of course, childbirth.

6) Never show affection in public. Love may be blind but the townspeople are not.

7) Once your vows are exchanged devote yourself to domestication—his.

8) Eschew secrets, for they are normally discovered at the worst possible time. If confronted, weep and deny everything.

Welcome, Margaret! Tell us a little about yourself.

First, I want to thank you for inviting me to visit with your readers. It’s a joy to be here. As for myself, I always wanted to be a writer and wrote my first book in 5th grade—a mystery with no ending and probably no value. I went on to other things but that old writing bug never left me. It wasn’t until my children reached junior high that I decided to follow my dream. I started by editing the church newsletter. After making the church picnic sound like a John Grisham novel my then pastor took me aside and suggested that perhaps God was calling me to write fiction. So that’s what I did. A SUITOR FOR JENNY is my 23rd book.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
I’m at my desk every morning at 4 a.m. rain or shine. When I first started writing my three children were still at home and I worked outside the home. The only way I could find time to write was at 4 a.m. It’s a habit I can’t seem to break. I guess that makes me a scheduled writer.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Let’s just say I’m determined.

Organized or completely chaotic?
I guess you could say I’m half and half. My writing tends to be chaotic. Plan a book? Me? I don’t even plan dinner. On the other hand, my drawers and closets are tidy and I can’t stand dishes in the sink. My husband often tells the story of getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and coming back to find the bed already made. Part of the fun of writing is being surprised. I never know where my characters will take me. Come to think of it, dinner always surprises me, too.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I usually remain perfectly calm in a disaster—and fall apart after it’s over. As for the BIG problems—I let God handle those.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I have an enormous amount of energy (people say I’m hyper. My family calls me Everready after the Energizer Bunny because I’m always going, going, going). My worst trait is…I can’t sit still.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I flunked 8th grade English (still can’t diagram a sentence), and got through history by the skin of my teeth (all those dates and battles!). I’m probably more qualified to be an astronaut than a writer of historical fiction.

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’ve been compared to Mary Connealy because we both write western romances with humor. I consider this a tremendous compliment. I really don’t know how to rate the romance. My stories are about two people falling in love—truly a gift from God—and yes, sometimes they kiss and sometimes they simply wish they could.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
The next book in the Rocky Creek series is A VISION OF LUCY to be published in June. I just complete a short story for the Log Cabin Christmas anthology. I’m currently working on book #1 in my Spinster Brides series.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I love to hear from readers. You can contact me through my website:www.margaretbrownley.com

I’m also on facebook and Twitter.

Book blurb:

When looking for a husband it's best to go where the odds are in your favor.

After their parents died, Jenny Higgins felt responsible for taking care of her two younger sisters. Learning that Rocky Creek has the highest number of eligible bachelors per capita, Jenny rolls into this Texas town with a clear objective: find suitable husbands for her two younger sisters and then start fresh somewhere far, far away.

Jenny believes that women who fall in love at first sight often wish they’d taken a second look, so she diligently begins to follow all the rules set forth in her handy manual on how to land a husband. Leaving nothing to chance she subjects each eager bachelor to the Potential Husband Attitude Test (otherwise known as the PHAT), which even Marshal Rhett Armstrong fails.

But while Jenny is interviewing the less-than-promising candidates, her sisters are falling in love the old fashioned way. Jenny is convinced she knows how to pick “perfect” men and it will take two rebellious sisters, a handsome marshal and a whole lot of faith to convince her otherwise.

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

Scarlett Johansson would make a great Jenny. Cool and independent on the outside, vulnerable within.

Finding a rugged, handsome cowboy type actor to play Marshal Rhett Armstrong would be a problem. They just don’t make that kind of thirty-something actor anymore. The closest would be Hugh Jackman (think Drover in Australia).

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

Thank you for spending time with me today. I wish I could send you all a book. God bless and have a wonderful and blessed New Year!

~~~~~

**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of A Suitor for Jenny!

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 GO HERE. (Very simple. I'm only asking for your opinion on something.) :)

**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 (January 14) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (January 20). 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 21st, 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.

Jewel of Persia winner!

2011-01-13T22:44:00.000-06:00

And the winner of Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White is:
Terry (angelmom1165@...)

Sunday Funnies #43!

2011-01-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

These were sent to me by Virginia Rush. Aren't they amazing?!?