From My Fellow Authors...

I love to read and I love to help my fellow authors. Unfortunately, there are so many wonderful books at there and I only have so much time to read. So, while I have not read these books (many are new releases), they are in my TBR pile. You might want to add them to yours as well. Enjoy!

Fantasy is not my genre of choice. However, I was given an audio version of The King's Trial and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it had a Lord of the Rings feel to it, among other books I've read recently. I enjoyed this one for the story and the message. One of the things I enjoy most after reading a book I enjoyed, is finding out more about the author. M.L. Farb was kind enough to share a lot about herself not only with me but you as well. 

Enjoy!

1. Why do you write? 

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to buy from Amazon

I love creating a solid world for the ghost-like stories that flit across my imagination. I write to see where the story will go and what the hero or heroine will do. I find that the story is often the best way to explore relationships, deep ideas, and flights of fancy. I understand the world, others, and myself better as I write.

A huge bonus of publishing is seeing the joy of my readers as they experience those worlds and explore those ideas.

2. What inspired you to become an author, and how old were you at the time? 

Some of my earliest memories are laying on the carpet listening to my dad read. We explored the worlds of Narnia and Middle Earth. We cried with Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place. We voyaged with The Kon-Tiki and to Grass Beyond the Mountains.

As a teen I made up stories to help my little sisters go to sleep. It backfired. We stayed up for hours continuing the tale. The King’s Trial was born in those late, whispered nights.

I started writing seriously when my youngest child slept consistently through the night.

3. How much time per week would you spend writing? Or are you a full-time author? 

I'm a full-time mother of six.

I write in the early morning before anyone wakes up, sometimes in the afternoon when kids are playing, and in the evening when my husband plays with our kids. The early morning hours are my favorite and most productive writing times. On a good day I can get several thousand words before anyone else wakes up.

I keep a notebook handy to capture ideas when I don't have time to write. My rushed penmanship is near unreadable, even for me, so I type up all my notes each evening.

4. Do you have any tips to any aspiring authors or writers?

Write every day. Even if it’s a hundred words. Try flash fiction. Try poetry. Explore the different types of writing. Find what you love.

I spent about twelve years of motherhood where the only writing I did was journaling. But those twelve years of journaling added up to a couple million words and when I reached the phase of life when I had time to create stories, I’d already developed a writing habit.

Find some beta-readers or a critique group. Writing is a very personal endeavor but beta-readers help the writer see the story’s blind spots and they also help cheer the writer on when in a writer’s slump.

Get an ergonomic keyboard. It’s a life saver on the wrists.

5. What gets your creative juices going?

Dreams. I live with a vivid imagination. I dream in 3-D, technicolor, and occasionally with my eyes open. This is a bane when it comes to nightmares. I will not watch horror movies. This same imagination makes writing easier. I not only see but also experience what I'm writing. Some nights I wake up with whole scenes playing through my head, vivid with setting, dialog, action, and emotion. I scribble furiously in the 2am glow of the kitchen nightlight, then catch more sleep.

Another creative jump-start is talking out story ideas with my husband, children, or my writing friends.

Most of all, books are fuel to my imagination. I read all the time and in many genres.

6. Which character was the easiest to write, and who was the hardest to write?

Halavant was easy. He came with personality and voice. I just typed what he said and did, though there were a few times I had to tone down his words.

Katrin changed from draft to draft until I was ready to just remove her from the story. Then I found her, the true her under all her pride and show, and finally understood her.

Yosyph was in between the other two in difficulty. He’s a private person, who didn’t acknowledge his own emotions at the start of the story. He became easier to write as he grew and developed, though he remained true to his solitary character.

7. If you could have dinner with any of your characters, which ones would you choose? What food would you serve?

Galliard. He makes me laugh. He also isn’t particular about food. He’d be happy with a wrinkled apple or porridge, as long as the company is pleasant. I’d serve a chicken-bacon-poppyseed salad, fresh baked sourdough bread slathered in butter, and grapes to the side.

8. Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.

I posted an audition script on ACX along with a synopsis of my book and specifics on each character. After I received many auditions, I shared the recordings with a select number of readers to get their responses. I finally selected one narrator who captured the voicing and personality of my characters best.

The narrator, Neal Arango, is a joy to work with. He asked detailed questions. I sent him pronunciation guides and further information on each character and story setting. He recorded and posted each chapter. I listened to each, made notes of any little changes, and he made adjustments as needed.

I'm grateful for Mr. Arango's talented and professional work, his quick responses, and his efforts to create the story as I envisioned it sounding. He did excellent work.

9. What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?

Some of my first memories were of my dad reading to us. I read to my kids almost daily. Isn't that an audio book experience? A good story, whether taken in through the eyes or the ears, is still a good story—and worth enjoying, learning from, and growing through.

Other personal blessings and benefits of audio books. 1) We can listen while traveling, cleaning, and waiting. 2) One of my sons has dyslexia. Audio books open up a world of stories he'd otherwise likely never experience. 3) Audio books allow us to survive our yearly 22-hour drive to see extended family with most of our sanity, and even enjoy it.

10. What about you as a person? What do you do to relax? Favorite movies or tv shows? Hobbies? 

I’m a book loving, tree climbing, adventurous, curious, philosophical, mother of six.

I write to relax. It energizes me and gives me a break. I also relax by reading. There are so many good books that I rarely take time to watch a movie, though I thoroughly enjoy Pixar and Studio Ghibli.

Current Hobbies:

– Concocting new varieties of salads so we don’t heat our house. We have no AC, so it is a fun challenge in the summer.

– Reading to my children, using all the character voices. Right now we are reading The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

– “Geeking out” with my husband—talking about fun, random happenings and deep, philosophical ideas.

– Climbing: trees, firemen poles, mountains, rock walls, etc.

Other hobbies that I haven’t done in a while but I’d love to do again:

- scuba diving

- horseback riding

                                                ******


Are you looking for a new book/author to add to your TBR pile? Let me suggest my writing friend Nike Chillemi. I was able to interview her about her new book Acts of Malice.

Acts of Malice, Showcase

What brought you to write this book/series?

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grab your copy from Amazon

I usually write a story with a murder and also a national security theme tucked into it somewhere. These two characters started forming in my mind and I really liked them. I thought Lavender and Mackey, what a great couple. But, I kept getting a feeling, a prompting, no..no. At that point, I knew Lavender better and really admired her. Then, I felt the Lord wanted me to write about widows as a significant subtheme. So, I started looking at Lavender again and I felt she had a college age daughter. I thought, "Lord, that really messes me up. I've got Mackey at least five years younger. But I felt that's the way I was supposed to go. Then I knew this wasn't going to be a novel where the husband is killed off just to make a way for the hero to step in. Lavender was so much deeper as a person than that and so much in love with her husband. And I went, "Lord, you're really messing me up here." And then Mackey started forming into this powerful special ops alpha male with an honorable stripe a mile wide, and he started falling in love with Lavender, but he also honored her husband. And you'll just have to read the novel to find out how that turns out.

Why is this genre important to you, personally?

I've always loved crime fiction where the detective or private investigator seeks justice for the victim. So often in our culture media plasters the criminal's face all over the TV and print media and nobody can even remember the victim's name.

Is this book a stand-alone, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book? Explain.

This is my fifth contemporary detective/special ops/national security novel. They are all inter-related. They usually go in threes. The first three-book series was the Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels/Dawson Hughes novels. Then there was COURTING DANGER set in Pelican Beach, Florida which was the first Katerina "Kat" Andruko/Dimitri Garmonin novel. There will be two more. Then I jumped to ACTS OF MALICE in Ribault Beach, the first Lavender Raines/Mac "Mackey" Mackenzie novel. Now Mackey is going back to Pelican Beach as a secondary character because Lavender is not in any way ready to start a new relationship. So, LAST DAYS is the next Kat/Dimitri novel with Mackey in the wings in that one.

What is your fav thing to eat? Least fav?

A: Since Thanksgiving is coming up my fav dinner thing to eat is the turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce. My least fav is the traditional green bean casserole of frozen green beans topped with canned fried onions and topped with some cream and baked. Ugh.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be like Barbara Walters because she looked like she knew what she was doing. I had absolutely no clue what her career entailed. LOL

ACTS OF MALICE in a nut shell…

A taut and compelling classic murder mystery with a national security underlying theme. Interpersonal relationships, greed, dry humor. Uplifting.

Lavender Raines gets the 'doorbell ring' no wife ever wants to get. Her husband has been brutally murdered, and the FBI is more secretive than helpful. The problem is, his body was found in Caracas when she thought his business trip had taken him to New Orleans.

Mackenzie just opened a second beach resort-town restaurant, this one in Ribault Beach, Florida…but now the clandestine national security organization that from-time-to-time sends him on covert missions wants him to find Lavender's husband's killers.

Forces from within the "Deep State" have shaped circumstances that will alter the course of both their lives. Then a local man is murdered. Lavender and Mackey are polar opposites. He is emotionally shut down about his life, but protective of others. She is a pillar of strength in her family, but distrusting of Mackey and guarded around him. Can they find common ground amidst this treachery and turmoil?

  

Nike's blog. https://nikechillemi.com/

******

I truly enjoy helping out my fellow indie authors by reading and reviewing their books. They are often new-to-me authors and very rarely am I disappointed. Recently I added another new-to-me author that I'd like to pass along to you. Pamela Gossiaux. I read one of her books entitled Mrs. Chartwell and the Cat Burglar.

I have to admit that when I first began reading this book, I thought the main character, Abigail, a little naïve and unrealistic, but once I got past the fact that not everyone reacts to situations as I would, this was a fun story to read. While sitting at her desk in the ancient maps section of the library, Tony, a cat burglar, literally drops in on Abigail.  Surprised by her presence, Tony tells her a crazy story about who he is and that he needs one of her maps to find an old painting that proves his identity. By the time he finished his story, Abigail has already summonsed the police and they arrive. Abigail turns her back on Tony for one second and when she turns back around, Tony is gone and so is all of her common sense. She has fallen in love.

This was a fun, light read; great for any beach trips you may have planned for the rest of the summer. The mystery and the romance threads kept me reading, as well as the I-know-she-didn't-lie-to-the-police-again thread.

Anyone who enjoys romantic mystery will enjoy this book. Click on the cover to go to Amazon and pick one up for yourself.

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to Amazon

I know so many moms who homeschool their children and write. We are very busy people. So, when I saw this book, I knew I needed to share it with you.

Angela and Jamie are real-life neighbors who realized they had several things in common. They were both moms, writers, and they both loved to market their books. Eventually, they decided to write a series together. What resulted is a humorous, entertaining group of books that will help any author (not just busy moms) along the way. From budgeting time to cover design, these moms can help. 

Click on the cover to
go to Amazon

And then I found out they recently released a second book on publishing. I have sooooo many people that ask me about how to write and how to publish. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to help everyone and still work my own writing projects. Now I have a direction in which I can point them.

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Here's another new release for you to take advantage of my fellow readers. This is from my writing friend, Annie Houston. I don't want to say too much about it, but you can grab it for FREE right now.

All Hannah wanted was a date, but she ended up with a fiancé.

Hannah Baird doesn't have time for distractions. Wanting to please her sick mother, she pays a man to pretend to be her boyfriend for Thanksgiving dinner. Next thing she knows, her mom is planning a wedding. What will her mother do when Hannah shows up at the altar without a groom?


Did I mention this book is FREE

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I love supporting my fellow authors and I am never without a book. That came in handy while I got stuck in line at the bank drive thru yesterday. The teller even asked me what I was reading and started a whole conversation, which I didn't really have time for because I waited in line long enough to read an entire chapter. But...I love books and I call it a good day when I get to help promote my fellow writers.

Today's a good day. Please welcome Kellyn Roth and her brand new book At Her Fingertips. I have not had a chance to read this one yet, but it's definitely on my TBR list.

Alice Knight is looking forward to her debut as it means she will be able to carry out her plan. She will have her first Season in London, she will meet her husband, and she will marry him. However, Alice struggles to make her feelings reconcile with her goals.

Alice is sure that, if she can only cling to her plans, she will manage without help from anyone — including God. A childhood friend returning unexpectedly, a charming gentleman who is not all he should be, and an American author with strange ideas about life all make her question the plan.

With the life she longs for at her fingertips, can Alice grasp it?

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to Amazon

1. When did you first start writing, and what sparked your love for it?

I started writing when I was about seven years old—at least that was when I remember writing my first story down. I didn’t get serious about writing until I was about eleven, however. I’m not 100% sure why I write or what got me started. I guess having a story to tell and wanting to put it down on paper and share it with my friends! It definitely helped that my friends were super supportive and sent me emails such as, “Wow, that was awesome! Did you write that?!” when I was ten or eleven and had just started writing serious longer stories.




2. Where did you get the idea for The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy?

I feel like the more I try to explain this the crazier it sounds, but I’ll try to give you a simple version.

When I was eleven or twelve (just seriously writing for the first time), I was working on this series of books about these two sisters in the early 1900s. Obviously, these two sisters had parents. And … I decided to write a prequel story about these two sisters’ parents!

Back then, it was a far cry from what it is now, but it had some of the same characters and a few of the same settings. Alice was a French girl named Alise Bandeau (I nod to this in the name of Alice’s boarding school friend, Amorette Bandeau). I switched Alice’s backstory around several times after that—first her parents were together, then slowly they became separated by their own choosing, and slowly it became what it is today. I also moved the setting to England.

From that, the first novel in The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, The Dressmaker’s Secret, was formed. The rest of the series slowly evolved as I decided to make Ivy a more central character. And I’d always intended to write a book about Alice’s romance, so At Her Fingertips appeared in no time!

3. What’s your biggest piece of advice for Indie authors?

TALK TO SOME FELLOW INDIE AUTHORS. SERIOUSLY. Sit down and talk with at least three who are marginally successful. Ask for tips. Ask any questions you have. Also, make sure some people who are more experienced than you look over your manuscript. It’s a lifesaver.

4. How long ago did you begin writing The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy?

I wrote book 1, The Dressmaker’s Secret, in November 2014 for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). This book was originally intended to be the spinoff of a series mentioned earlier which I’d been working on since late 2013—but I couldn’t just drop the characters, so I kept going!

5. Of all the characters in your books, which one is most like you?

Oh, that’s tough! I’m not exactly sure, to be honest. I think little bits of me have snuck into most of the characters. I share a lot of similarities with Claire, Alice and Ivy’s mother, but we’re not a ton like each other. I think she’s a lot more idealistic than I am, for one. Then Alice and I have our similarities, too, but Alice is a great deal bolder and just … louder than I am, for lack of a better word.

6. Which character has been the hardest to write?

It varies from books to book; I almost always have at least one tough cookies! For At Her Fingertips, it was Alice herself at first and later Gibson Ashfield, a potential love interest. Both of them weren’t 100% sure what they wanted themselves, so it was hard to translate that confusion into a novel.

7. Who is your absolute favorite of all your characters, and why?

Peter Strauss! There’s a reason why we call the book AFOP (All Fangirling Over Peter, a fan-made nickname for At Her Fingertips). He’s just such a stellar guy! He’s a solid Christian – and his faults are honestly darling? Like, that sounds terrible, but I think there’s something very special about a guy who isn’t presumptuous. And yes, he takes humility and hesitance to an extreme level, but … but …? I love him anyway. Some may find him weak but not me.

8: Where can we find you and your books?

The best place is without a doubt my website, https://kellynrothauthor.com/, but you can also find me on Facebook (@krauthor), Twitter (@ReveriesofRuby), Goodreads (/krauthor), and Instagram (@kellbellroth). I also write on my blog, https://kellynroth.wordpress.com/.




                                                          ~~~~~~~~~~

Lillian Duncan has visited with me before, and I'm glad to have her here again. Her new book is entitled...
                            DECEPTION

Click cover to go to
Amazon

I never planned for DECEPTION to be part of a three-book series but it just sort of happened. The Sisters By Choice novels feature courageous women who make the choice to help “a sister” in spite of the danger involved.

 DECEPTION is the first in the series and features a set of estranged twins that couldn’t be more different from each other or so it seems. Patti is a go-by-the-rulebook type of person while Jamie is a “free spirit” or at least that’s the persona she portrays to the world.

But DECEPTION is the title of the book and that means there are more than a few surprises waiting as the story unfolds.

This was actually the first chapter in DECEPTION, but my editor wanted the story to start at a different point. She won—but I think it makes a great prologue so without further ado…

DECEPTION PROLOGUE

Jamie glared at the white leather sofa, the plush pristine white carpet, the white walls. Splashes of color from accent pillows provided the only relief from the white. The room was perfect and Jamie detested it.

All she wanted was to move back home so her precious daughter could experience a normal childhood and finally meet her Aunt Patti. Jamie stopped pacing like a caged tiger and put a hand over her heart. The pain of missing her twin so real she could barely breathe.

It would all end soon—very soon.

Then she could go back home. As much as she wanted to quit right that second, she knew she wouldn’t. Innocent people would die if she did and she couldn’t let that happen.

She moved to the sliding glass door leading to her patio and opened it. The steamy Florida air rushed into the coolness of the air-conditioned house. Darkness enveloped her as she stepped out. She inhaled the scent of the tropical flowers adorning her patio.

She welcomed the quiet of the night.

Guilt tugged at Jamie once again. Sabrina deserved a full-time mother, not one who spent a handful of days with her every month. This craziness would soon stop, and then she could make a real home for Sabrina.

It would all end soon—very soon.

She hit a button and the cover of the hot tub slid away. Steam bubbled up. The warm water caressed her skin as she lowered herself into the hot tub. Her muscles relaxed.

A slight rustling in the bushes caught her attention. Jamie turned toward the noise and peered into the darkness. Nothing. Still, she felt a chill in spite of the warmth of the water. Her senses went on alert.

Click the cover to go
to Amazon

She was so tired of all the deception and intrigue her life had become.

It would all end soon—very soon.

As she stepped out of the hot tub, unseen arms grabbed her.

I loved writing the story of Patti and Jamie which is how it ended up being a three book series. Right now Deception (e-book only) is on sale for a limited time for only 99 cents or you can buy the complete Sisters By Choice anthology for only 3.99.

BIO:

Lillian Duncan: stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!

Lillian is a multi-published writer with several Amazon bestsellers, including Game On. Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us

Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word. To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net or at Tiaras & Tennis Shoes, her personal blog at www.lillian-duncan.com. She also has a devotional blog at www.powerupwithGod.com.

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Have you ever had a hard time loving someone? I think everyone probably has at one time in their life. But what would your life be like if you've never had the courage to love anyone? Faith Blum explores that idea in her new book, He Hideth My Soul. 

About the Book

He’s never had the courage to love anyone…

The only thing Otis Miller has ever wanted to be is a doctor and he wants to be the best. A surprise talk with his Aunt Eleanor days before his twenty-first birthday leads to a visit from his grandfather’s lawyer and the discovery that he is the heir to a large fortune. With all the papers signed, Otis heads to Chicago to follow his dream.

After graduating from Jenner Medical School, Otis goes to the mine he owns in Colorado to see how things are and to provide medical care for everyone in town. He finds horrible working conditions and learns to make difficult decisions that will be best for all

Will Otis learn to let God cover him in the depths of His love? Can Otis hide in God’s presence whenever he doesn’t know where to go next?

Note: 50% of my income from this series will go to the World Orphans organization.

About the Author

Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and spend time with her husband.  She lives in Wisconsin in a small town with her husband and cat where she can write to her heart’s content during the day. Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ.

Giveaway

Faith is giving away three prizes! The grand prize is a paperback of her new book. First and second prizes are both an eBook of He Hideth My Soul. Enter here for the chance to win!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt/Review

Tour Schedule

February 20

Bookish Orchestrations – Introduction Post

Creating Romance – Book Spotlight

Rachel Rossano's Words – Book Spotlight

February 21

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima – Book Spotlight

Rebekah Lyn Books – Book Spotlight

February 22

Ruth's Real Life – Book Spotlight

Kandi J Wyatt, Where Fantasy and Reality Meet – Book Spotlight

February 23

With a Joyful Noise – Review

God's Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Spotlight

February 24

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Post from the author

February 26

Bookish Orchestration – Giveaway winner post

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Who doesn't love a cover reveal to get you in the mood for that new book you MUST add to your TBR pile? My writing friend, Krysten Lindsay Hager is revealing her new cover. Right here. Right now.

Cover Reveal for Can Dreams Come True? (Book One of the Cecily Taylor Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Contemporary YA fiction

Check out the blurb here: Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?

Pre-order the book now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079S3KJSH

The book officially releases in ebook and paperback on March 20^th.

You check out the Can Dreams Come True Pinterest inspiration board here!: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/can-dreams-come-true-the-cecily-taylor-series/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Krysten Lindsay Hager writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends...Forever?, Next Door to a Star,  Landry in Like, Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2) and Dating the It Guy. True Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book and the Dayton Book Expo Bestseller Award for childen/teens. Competing with the Star is a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist.

​Krysten's work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News and on the talk show Living Dayton.

WEBSITE: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

AMAZON BIO: https://www.amazon.com/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/e/B00L2JC9P2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1518310668&sr=8-1

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079S3KJSH

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079S3KJSH

Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B079S3KJSH

Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B079S3KJSH

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079S3KJSH

Cover art work done by Cora Graphics for Clean Reads.

~~~~~~~~~~

Book blurb:

Sometimes winning is everything.

Champion swimmer Aerin Keane is ready to give up her dreams of college swimming and a shot at the Olympics. As she starts senior year in her third high school, Aerin's determined to leave her family troubles behind and be like all the other girls at Two Rivers. She's got a new image and a new attitude. She doesn’t want to win anymore. She's swimming for fun, no longer the freak who wins every race, every title, only to find herself alone.

But when her desire to be just one of the girls collides with her desire to be the best Two Rivers has ever seen, will Aerin sacrifice her new friendships to break a longstanding school record that comes with a $50,000 scholarship?

Author Bio:

During swim season, you can find Marianne Sciucco, a dedicated Swim Mom for ten years, at one of many Skyline Conference swim meets, cheering for her daughter Allison and the Mount Saint Mary College Knights.

Sciucco is not a nurse who writes but a writer who happens to be a nurse. A lover of words and books, she dreamed of becoming an author when she grew up but became a nurse to avoid poverty. She later brought her two passions together and writes about the intricate lives of people struggling with health and family issues.

Her debut novel Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, is a Kindle bestseller; IndieReader Approved; a BookWorks featured book; and a Library Journal Self-e Selection. She also has two short stories available on Kindle, Ino's Love and Collection.

A native Bostonian, Marianne lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, and when not writing works as a campus nurse at a community college.

Purchase Links:

Swim Season is currently only available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Swim-Season-Marianne-Sciucco-ebook/dp/B01JVHIW3O

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.com/Swim-Season-Marianneamazon UK-Sciucco-ebook/dp/B01JVHIW3O

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Swim-Season-Marianne-Sciucco-ebook/dp/B01JVHIW3O

Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Swim-Season-Marianne-Sciucco-ebook/dp/B01JVHIW3O

Author Links:
Why did I write a book about girls’ varsity swimming? An interview with Marianne Sciucco
https://youtu.be/DFgT9Swnt_o

Website
http://mariannesciucco.blogspot.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/marianne.sciucco.1

Twitter
https://twitter.com/MarianneSciucco

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

Excerpt:

Aunt Mags didn't say a word on the way to the high school and neither did I. We were up and out too early for anything more than, "Got everything?" "Uh huh," and "Let's go." We'd left the house before her first cup of coffee and she was not in a talkative mood.

It was just after dawn, the moon still visible as the sun peeked out over the horizon. A chill in the air hinted at summer's end. I regretted leaving my sweatshirt behind, although after swim practice the sun would be shining and we'd be back to the mid-August heat.

We arrived at the school and a deserted parking lot. Mags parked her minivan at the athletics entrance.

"Are you sure it starts at 6:45?" she asked.

"Positive," I said.

She yawned. "Looks like you're the first one here."

"I doubt it."

Today was the first day of swim season. Tryouts started at 7 a.m. The coach had instructed all wannabe swimmers to be on the pool deck no later than 6:45. My experience as a varsity athlete told me that anyone with any degree of competitiveness had already arrived. I had five minutes to spare.

"Want me to walk in with you?" Mags asked.

My horror at her suggestion must have been all over my face, because she said, "Sorry. Having a teenager is new to me. My girls would beg me to walk them into that big, scary building." We looked at the three-story hodgepodge put together to house Two Rivers High School.

"I can take it from here." I was sure I’d remember the meandering route to the pool area from the tour we took when we registered for my senior year.

She still looked anxious. "Sure you're all right?"

"Don't worry. I've got this routine down pat." Two Rivers would be my third high school. I played the role of new girl so well I deserved an Oscar.

I opened the door and hopped out. "Don't hang around waiting for me to call for a ride home," I said, reaching back to grab my bag. "I'm not sure when I'll get out, and I don't want to mess up your day. I'm okay to walk."

Aunt Mags nodded, and I shut the door.

"Don't forget we're going back-to-school shopping later on," she said through the open window.

"Got it."

“Go get 'em, Aerin." She gave me a thumbs-up.

I shot her a grin, hoisted my bag over my shoulder, and went off to join the Two Rivers High School Girls Varsity Swim and Dive Team.

***

Minutes later, I stood on the pool deck with an odd blend of girls vying to earn a place on the team. I spotted the usual huddle of newbies benched together at the far end of the bleachers, glancing at each other nervously and at the seasoned swimmers with something like awe. On the opposite end were the members of last year's championship team, all wearing team T-shirts and chatting like old pals, ignoring everyone else. In the middle was a bunch who looked like they wanted to go back to bed, the ones whose parents pushed them into a sport and who chose swimming because we did it indoors and it looked easy. Most of them wouldn't make it.

I found a place to stand against the wall and blocked out the curious glances shot my way, using the time before practice began to check out my surroundings. Aunt Mags had said the natatorium, built just a few years ago, was state-of-the-art.

Banners hung from the rafters and on clean white walls, touting the team's success, and an enormous leaderboard listed all of their champions and their accomplishments.

A wall of windows on the farthest side and a ceiling loaded with skylights filled the room with light.

The six-lane pool had blue and white flags and lane lines, and the Trailblazers logo – a torch - was laid out in blue tiles on the bottom.

The floor tiles were a mosaic of white and three shades of blue.

The air was thick with the smell of chlorine.

I checked my expression, not wanting anyone to catch me gaping over the finest natatorium of any team I'd joined. The thought of swimming in it, of calling it "home" for the next few months caused a thrill of excitement in my belly. Around me, the other girls talked and laughed, none of them seeming to appreciate the beauty of the pool and the privilege to use it.

"Good morning girls." A man's voice cut through the chatter, and each girl sat up at attention. "Let's get started."

The voice belonged to an older man, with bushy white hair and bifocals, dressed in the school's colors: navy blue shorts and a white polo shirt. Coach Steven Dudash. I hadn't met him yet – he was out of the building when my father and I visited the high school – but Maggie and her husband, Pat, gave him high praise. He’d coached the Two Rivers boys and girls swim teams for more than twenty years, and they were both winning teams.

He pulled a chair behind him, positioned it in front of the bleachers, sat down, and organized the pile of paperwork on his clipboard. “Good morning,” he said again, studying us over the rim of his bifocals. “I'm happy to see last year’s team back for another year. And welcome to those of you here for the first time. I’m glad you decided to give us a try.”

He took a swig from an extra tall cup of coffee before continuing. “For those of you new to the team, meet Coach Denise.” He gestured toward the young woman who accompanied him. “She's my daughter. I coached her for six years when she swam for Two Rivers and got her name on the leaderboard."

I checked out the leaderboard and saw she held the record in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Good creds.

“This is her second year as assistant coach," he said. "She did a terrific job last year so I invited her back.”

The young blonde smiled at him and the swimmers cheered.

"Yay Coach D!" a few seniors shouted.

“It’s great to be back,” she said. “Ready to win another championship?”

The shouts and applause were deafening.

"During the next two weeks,” Coach said when the noise died down, “you'll all be working hard, doing drills both in the pool and in the weight room, four hours a day, six days a week. During the season, you'll be practicing from after school until five or six every weekday, and four hours on Saturday. Sunday is a resting day. And, of course, you will compete in swim meets at least twice a week. So, if you don't think you can make it through the first two weeks, you might as well leave now." He paused, waiting for anyone to opt out before we even got started. No one moved.

"Okay," he continued. "Most of you know that Two Rivers won the Division Championship last year, and the two years before. I plan to win again. When we do, and I say when, not if, we will be the first team in the division to ever win four consecutive division titles.”

Last year’s team broke out in wild applause and cheers. Coach waited for the outburst to die down before he continued.

“I need performers,” he said, “swimmers who aren't afraid to push themselves, to try new things and discover where they best support the team. So, in practice you're all going to swim every stroke, you're all going to swim distance, and you're all going to swim sprints. Each person will do all she can to defend our title."

Silence filled the pool deck as the girls looked each other over, wondering where each would fit in.

"That's the good news." He paused for effect. No worries. He had everyone's riveted attention. "But I've got some bad news. For years, the school board has been supportive of our team, and we've reciprocated by working as serious athletes and turning in winning records. Most years, the team can support as many as thirty-eight swimmers. This year, due to a budget crisis in our school district, our funds have been cut, and I can only put twenty-eight girls on the team."

Raised eyebrows and shocked inhalations followed this bit of news. I counted bodies: thirty-six.

"Yeah, eight of you will be cut, either at the end of this week or the end of next. Anyone want to leave now?"

Again, no one moved.

Coach Dudash smiled. "I like your level of commitment. Let's see if you can keep it under pressure."

He spent the next half hour reviewing team policies and the season’s schedule. I'd heard such talks before from other coaches and tuned him out while I studied the other girls, trying to figure out what their positions might be.

Most of them focused on Coach’s every word, but last year's champs ignored him and whispered among themselves. One of them, a lanky girl with sun-bleached hair and a killer tan, looked over the group of wannabes and held up her fingers one to five, scoring them, I guess, on whether or not they had a chance. Her friends snickered, trying to act as if they were paying attention to Coach instead of fooling around.

At last, the lanky girl's frosty blue eyes rested on me, and I met her gaze straight on. We stared at each other for a few seconds before she looked away first, then held up three fingers. It seemed she was ambivalent. I could go either way.

I was ambivalent too. I joined this crowd as a walk-on, someone with no history with the team and questionable ability. In their eyes, I was no better than a wannabe who needed to prove herself to gain a spot on the team and the other girls' respect.

I showed up because it's what I did at the start of every school year. Swimming was my only sport, and I was good at it. Really good. Still, I almost skipped tryouts today. The truth was, I didn't have the energy to join a new team, in a new school, for the third time. If anyone found out I’d won championship titles in club and varsity last year they'd expect great things from me, and I didn't want the pressure. Swimming was no longer the focus of my life. It was my therapy, and I wouldn’t let anyone mess that up.

The glimmer of challenge in the way the lanky girl looked at me caused a stirring in my gut, and I shot it down. I didn't come here to get involved in any personal challenges. I came here to swim, and not make any waves. My plan was to get through the senior year and go away to college, away from my troubles, and on to a new life that I could control.

~~~~~~~~~~

I have another FREE book for you today. This one is for the younger readers in the crowd...

The Mystery of Hollow Inn

Available for FREE from 9/30/16 to 10/04/16

Get your copy now!

A modern day Nancy Drew

Twelve-year-old Samantha Wolf, and her best friend Ally, are excited to spend part of their summer break in the mountains of Montana. But unbeknownst to them, Hollow Inn is bathed in mystery and legend. After arriving, they soon discover that things are not going well for Sam's Aunt and Uncle, who own the Inn. There's vandalism, ghostly sightings, and rumors of lost treasures. Determined to help, Sam and Ally embark on a challenging journey to discover the truth.

***

Book #1 - The Mystery of Hollow Inn 

Book #2 - The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Book #3 - The Beach House Mystery

Book #4 - The Heiress of Covington Ranch

Book #5 - The Haunting of Eagle Creek Middle School

Book #6 - A Mysterious Christmas on Orcas Island

Available now for pre-order!

Book #6

Order here!

Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. 

Connect with her on FB: Facebook

Follow her on Twitter: @taraellisauthor

Find her in Goodreads:  Goodreads

Take a look at all of her books on Amazon:   Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~

Need a FREE book to start your weekend? Enjoy book clubs? Keep reading...

Why I’m Starting a Book Club by Julie Arduini     

            
I was writing stories before I could even read. I would take little notebooks and scribble stories out. By middle school, I was writing daily chapters of a junior high soap opera and passing out copies on the bus. Even then I was listening to reader feedback. My friends offered their ideas and we discussed how future chapters should go. The next day, I had handwritten new chapters featuring their thoughts.

Now that I’m a published author, I want to interact with readers. I might not be able implement all their ideas or show a new chapter the next day, but I love discussing writing. I love connecting with others and hear what they think of my surrender-themed stories. When I had a book club with my home church, I offered up secrets behind the process, behind the chapters and characters. Not only did the ladies learn about ENTRUSTED and ENTANGLED, God also used them to show me things in my own stories. It was an incredible experience.
Hosting a book club as the author was so fun that I’m taking it online. Starting in October, I’m having a book club on my Facebook author page featuring my Surrendering Time series, ENTRUSTED and ENTANGLED. These contemporary romances feature characters that become friends, humor, mocha, chocolate, and issues like surrendering fear, loss, change, and regret.

            
To kick the book club off, I’m offering both ENTRUSTED and ENTANGLED eBooks FREE Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24, as well as October 7-9, on Amazon. I want the books in as many hands as possible so we can read and discuss together. If you don’t have a Kindle, no problem. Download the free Kindle app and start reading on your device immediately.

            
If you love reading clean romances with memorable characters and messages to apply to your own life, I invite you to join me. The chapters read quickly and we’ll meet an hour a week where you don’t need to leave your home, and you can wear sweats and eat chocolate and no one will know.

            
To join the author page, visit http://facebook.com/JulieArduiniAuthor.

            
To purchase ENTRUSTED, our first book, for free on September 23/24 (check price first,) just click on the cover above. (Regular eBook price is $2.99, Print is $7.99)

            
To purchase ENTANGLED, our second reading selection, for FREE on September 23/24 (check price first,) visit https://www.amazon.com/Entangled-Surrendering-Past-Time-Book-ebook/dp/B01FG7JALG/. (Regular eBook price is $3.99, Print is $9.99.)

            
I look forward to connecting with you!

About Julie:

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the  re-release, ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as the sequel, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. She also shared her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities at JULIE ARDUINI: SURRENDER ISSUES AND CHOCOLATE and the weekly e mail. SUNDAY’S SURRENDER AND CHOCOLATE.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427852247&sr=8-1

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

Weekly Sunday’s Surrender and Chocolate: http://eepurl.com/bJ5yHP

Surrendered Scribe Media Promotions: (Book release info sent as needed) http://eepurl.com/bXAW0L

~~~~~~~~~~

My guest author today is Lillian Duncan. Keep reading to find out more about her and her new book.


GAME ON—Where Do All Those Ideas Come From?

One of the questions I get asked often is how do I come up with my story ideas. My answer is usually the same. From all sorts of places.

Sometimes, I come up with a premise, such as what would happen if a big city lawyer fell in love with a farmer? (Pursued)

Click to go to Amazon

Sometimes a scene just pops in my head from nowhere. Like when a woman receives a phone call from a young girl asking for her aunt and she knows it can’t be for her because she doesn’t have a niece. Or does she? (Deception)

Sometimes a story comes about because of characters from another story. Both Betrayed and Redemption happened because I wanted to know what happened after Deception.

My Deadly Communications series happened when my writing life crashed into my other life as a speech pathologist. The series features a speech pathologist who gets way too involved with her clients!

So, like I said my story ideas can come from anywhere at any time. GAME ON is no exception. I got it from watching a TV talk show of all things. Of course, all I got from the show was a germ of an idea.

After that it’s all about the work. First comes the idea and then comes the work. One of the things I do is ask myself a lot of questions as I begin a new story. In Game On, I knew I wanted the two characters to have a past with each other.

Then I had to ask myself questions why it hadn’t worked out with them back then and why it wouldn’t work out now.

That’s how I came up with the fact he was rich (still is) and she was poor (not as much).. Never a good start to a relationship. And as we all know the rich parents had to get involved because they didn’t want their son to get involved with that girl from the other side of the tracks.

But so what? Time has a way of making all that less important. So, then I had to come up with a secret that would come between them. And I did! And it’s a BIGGIE!

Then there was the obstacle of “real life.” He’s a politician who golfs with the president and she’s a private investigator who likes to wear jeans.

After that it’s time to sit down at the computer and see what happens!

I really had fun writing this one! And don’t forget to check out the book trailer for GAME ON at: https://youtu.be/t6MK2UGB1P0. 

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate the release of GAME ON, I’m giving away a virtual basket of goodies at www.lillian-duncan.com including Amazon gift cards. For all the details go to my blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes. Simply leave a comment on the blog post GAME ON at www.lillian-duncan.com and you’ll be entered. Be sure to tell me what blog you read about my new book on. Thanks! 

BLURB for GAME ON

Politics is no game when a stalker nears and there’s nowhere to hide.

A run for the senate is just a step on the road to the White House for Congressman Lucas McMann. But his public profile has put him in the middle of a crazed gunman’s twisted game of stalking. If he wants to win the election and reclaim his life, he’ll need the help of the one person who’d rather leave their past behind them.

Private Investigator Nikki Kent knows how to dig up secrets and discover those who exist in the shadows. She should. She’s good at hiding secrets of her own. Can she risk her own discovery for someone so desperate for her help? For the first man who broke her heart?

With new-found faith, she’ll help Lucas search for the answers. But with the truth comes a danger they must face together.

Check out the book trailer video for GAME ON at  https://youtu.be/t6MK2UGB1P0

BIO:

Lillian Duncan…Stories of faith mingled… with murder & mayhem.

Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in Ohio Amish country with her husband. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist for children, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense and mystery with a touch of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us. To learn more about Lillian, you may visit her at www.lillianduncan.net or www.lillian-duncan.com. She also has a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com. 

 ~~~~~~

New Release: Dying for Data by Cassidy Salem

I am pleased to announce the release of a new cozy mystery – Dying for Data by Cassidy Salem. Dying for Data is the second book in the Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth mystery series, which features the misadventures of a young college graduate in Washington D.C.

Synopsis

Bad karma, a rival suitor, and a deadly attack are enough to put a damper on any date.

Just when Adina’s social life is looking up, her night out is interrupted by the scream of police sirens. Afraid her bartender boyfriend might be accused of murder, Adina’s neighbor enlists her assistance, and in the process exposes her to the seamier side of illegal immigration and crime in the city. Hard as she tries to limit her involvement, the more Adina learns, the more she needs to know – until a case of mistaken identity lands her in hot water. Will she uncover the truth before it’s too late?

Dying for Data is the second book in the Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth mystery series, however it can be read as a standalone. The first book, Think Murder, was released in 2015.

Dying for Data is available from Amazon in both print and Kindle formats, just click on the cover.


An excerpt from Dying for Data:
“My head throbbed the next morning and did a nifty spinning trick when I first stepped out of bed. I sat down and took a few deep breaths before heading into the bathroom. The image that greeted me in the mirror was scarier than usual — bloodshot eyes embellished by remnants of the mascara I had neglected to remove the night before.

My face was covered in soap when my phone rang. It was only 8:55. No one who knows me would ever call that early on a weekend unless it was important. A quick splash and wipe move later, and I grabbed my phone.”


About the Author


Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries (both cozy and traditional). Over the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham. Cassidy also enjoys reading historical fiction focused on American and world history, as well as the classics.

Cassidy has never met a dog she didn't like - a fact that influenced her decision to have the protagonist in her mystery series volunteer at a dog rescue center. When she's not reading, Cassidy enjoys singing in an a cappella ensemble. Most of all, Cassidy enjoys spending time with family and friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States and Europe.

Connect with Cassidy:

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSalem11
· Website: https://cassidysalem.wordpress.com/
· Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cassidy-Salem/e/B00ROZERKI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdinaDonati/
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11923940.Cassidy_Salem



Other Works by this Author

Adina Donati came to Washington D.C. to find excitement, not a dead body.

When a friend is murdered, Adina is drawn into the middle of the police investigation. Tensions rise as the suspect list expands to include Adina, her friends, and colleagues at the prestigious think tank where she works. But every cloud has a silver lining. Between the nice detective, the hot new volunteer at the dog rescue center, and the newly available preppy ex-boyfriend, Adina’s dating dry spell appears near its end. That is, if she doesn’t become the next victim.

~~~~~~

Everyone has their secrets and Tayte, Agnes, and Noah are no exception. In Agnes’s home, though, those secrets—or dragons—might just tear them all apart. Part of the Kindle Scout competition, The Dragons of Alsace Farm, was hot and trending for four weeks before its launch. Find out why during this blog tour!

About the Book

In need of his own redemption, Noah Carter finally confronts his childhood hero, the once-beloved uncle who betrayed him. Instead of vengeance, he offers forgiveness, also granting Uncle John a most curious request—for Noah to work on the ramshackle farm of Agnes Deveraux Keller, a French WWII survivor with dementia.

Despite all Agnes has lost, she still has much to teach Noah. But the pair’s unique friendship is threatened when Tayte, Agnes’s estranged granddaughter, arrives to claim a woman whose circumstances and abilities are far different from those of the grandmother she once knew. 

Items hidden in Agnes’s attic raise painful questions about Tayte’s dead parents, steeling Tayte’s determination to save Agnes, even if it requires her to betray the very woman she came to save, and the secret her proud grandmother has guarded for seventy years.

The issue strains the fragile trust between Tayte and Noah, who now realizes Tayte is fighting her own secrets, her own dragons. Weighed down by past guilt and failures, he feels ill-equipped to help either woman, until he remembers Agnes’s lessons about courage and love. In order to save Agnes, the student must now become the teacher, helping Tayte heal—for Agnes’s sake, and for his.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HKMU014/

About the Author

L.C. Lewis (Laurie) was born and raised in rural Maryland, surrounded by history-rich Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore. She and her husband Tom reside in Carroll County, Maryland, where they raised their four children.

The Dragons of Alsace Farm, Laurie’s eighth published novel, was inspired by a loved one’s struggle with the dragon of dementia. Her women’s fiction novels include Unspoken (2004) and Awakening Avery (2010), written as Laurie Lewis. Using the pen name L.C. Lewis, she wrote the five volumes of her award-winning FREE MEN and DREAMERS historical fiction series, set against the backdrop of the War of 1812, America’s nearly forgotten second war of independence: Dark Sky at Dawn (2007), Twilight’s Last Gleaming (2008), Dawn’s Early Light (2009), Oh, Say Can You See? (2010), and In God is Our Trust, (2011).

Dark Sky at Dawn and Twilight’s Last Gleaming were finalists in the 2008 USA Best Books competition. Oh, Say Can You See? was a 2010 Whitney Award finalist.

Three new books are in progress. Please watch for her remake of Awakening Avery, a political suspense novel titled The Shell Game, both of which are slated for later in 2016, and a March 2017 novella, Laurie’s contribution to the multi-author “Destination Billionaire Romance” series.

Laurie loves hearing from her readers and may be contacted through her website: www.laurielclewis.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @laurielclewis or on her blog at www.laurielclewis.blogspot.com. She also enjoys interacting with book clubs. Contact her to arrange a video chat with your group.

Book Club

The back of the book contains some thought-provoking book club questions. Laurie would love for you to schedule a video conference with her if their book club chooses The Dragons of Alsace Farm as one of their selections in the next six months. You can email her at: laurielclewis@laurielclewis.com.

Giveaway

First and foremost, The Dragons of Alsace Farm is a love story, about the power of tested love, the promise of new love, and the strength of family love. Here's a love basket, with a fun date night, Agnes's favorite breakfast for the morning, and an autographed copy of the book to read on a lazy afternoon.  Always remember love.

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Goodreads Giveaway

Enter here for the chance to win a paperback of The Dragons of Alsace Farm.

Excerpt

A sudden tinge of pain radiated from Agnes’s cheek, distracting her. She stepped in front of the antique mirror—a cherished family heirloom from her father’s people in the Alsace region of France—to see the cause. A welt surrounded an inch-long bloodless scratch. “Bad cat,” she said as she touched her saggy cheek. The face was still her, and yet somehow it was not. She smiled into the glass, hoping the sparkle would return to her eyes, but the effort produced but a caricature of the woman she remembered.

Click here to grab your copy!

Bijou rubbed against her leg, crying to be picked up. Agnes bent and brought the cat to her shoulder, where it snuggled against her neck like thirteen pounds of therapy. Love was what she needed, and to give love. Tony was dead. Angeline ran off with that boy. What was his name? Oh, yes. Stoddard Donnelly. The name she had cursed every day for many years. Thief! Liar! Charlatan! Agnes spit three times into the air. Tony was gone now. So was Angeline. Agnes knew she was alone now, except for her animals. They were her family. They were her children.

~~~~

 

Available Now for FREE

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Six authors, six genres, six bite-sized stories of women living out their faith in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. When the heart is willing to follow, where does the light lead?

Sample Old West justice. Watch a romance unfold over light years. Laugh as an introvert finagles her way out of a bridal shower. Agonize with an FBI agent as she negotiates for a child’s life. Imagine a shape-shifting cat who tracks down a kidnapper. And peek behind the scenes as a guardian angel argues with a double-talking auto mechanic. Learn again that the light of faith can lead you anywhere.

That’s How She Rolls by C.L. Wells
Tessa, a self-conscious introvert, attempts to avoid a party and everything goes wrong. When a handsome stranger offers to lend a helping hand, she isn’t sure things will ever be right again.

Leopard’s Find by Kimberly A. Rogers
Ever wonder what your favorite characters were doing before you read about them for the first time? Sparks fly whenever Raina and Baran from The Therian Way are together. But what exactly was she doing before she met him?

Whatever Raina’s up to, it’s never boring.

Upsie-Daisy by Jane Lebak
Did you know guardian angels have a sharp sense of humor? It’s a requirement for the job, otherwise they’d run screaming instead of dealing with us. If you’re new to the Lee and Bucky stories, welcome to the world of sarcastic mechanics and pun-slinging angels. This story takes place about four months before any of the full-length novels, that way you can dive right in.

Circular Horizon by Bokerah Brumley
As a speculative fiction writer, I’m forever intrigued with the ‘what if.’ For instance, what if there was real-world science fiction featuring a God-fearing astronaut? This brain-wandering led to a story, and I briefly explore this idea with Mae McNair and Abel Onizuka in Circular Horizon.

‘Tis So Sweet by Faith Blum
Eleanor Miller has always loved her younger brother, even through all the bad things he has done. But when he almost kills a man, she needs to let him go and trust God to draw him to Himself. Will she find out how sweet it is to trust Jesus in everything, no matter what happens?

The Quinn Case by Julie C. Gilbert
Law enforcement’s a tough career to make it in both physically and emotionally. The Quinn Case takes place several years before the events in Heartfelt Cases Book 1: The Collins Case. Herein, you’ll meet a young FBI Special Agent named Ann Davidson who must find a missing child even as she struggles to put another case behind her.

Immerse yourself in six clean, sweet, Christian novelettes in this awesome multi-author anthology fiction box set….and maybe encounter your next favorite author!

You're invited to our Facebook party!
The Light Leads to Peace (and Prizes)
6:30 - 8:30 PM CST on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

About Our Authors

C.L. Wells 

C.L. Wells is a JANE-OF-ALL-TRADES, with a passion for writing and animals. She lives in Kansas with her family, which includes a fat doggie who is not named Toto and a cat who moonlights as an escape artist. Feel free to ask her about the ‘escape artist.’ She plans to write about it someday. She would love hearing from you.

Connect with C.L.

Kimberly A. Rogers

Kimberly A. Rogers writes urban fantasy with a Christian twist. She lives in Virginia where the Blue Ridge Mountains add inspiration to an overactive imagination originally fueled by fantasy classics such as the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

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Jane Lebak

Jane Lebak has been publishing since 1994, with several novels in print as well as over seventy-five shorter pieces in magazines, newspapers, and journals. She is one of the bloggers for QueryTracker.net, a resource for writers seeking agents. She lives in The Swamp, reading books and knitting socks with her husband, children, cats, and fishtanks.

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Bokerah Brumley

Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. She lives on ten acres with five home-educated children, four peacocks, three dogs, two cats, and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired Publicity Officer for the Cisco Writers Club.

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Faith Blum

Faith Blum is a historical fiction author who also loves to do pretty much any right-brained activity, especially if it involves crafting. She lives with her family on a small family farm in Wisconsin.

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Julie C. Gilbert 

Julie C. Gilbert writes in several genres including Christian Mystery, YA Science Fiction, and Mystery/Thriller. Regardless of category, she writes about people who face hardship and right wrongs because they have an innate need to do so. In other news, she is obsessed with Star WArs and has a day job teaching high school Chemistry in New Jersey.

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Here's a new release from Kari Trumbo. Grab your copy today as it's only .99! Just click on the cover.

Forsaking All Others

Western Vows series, Prequel

By Kari Trumbo

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

About the Author:

Kari Trumbo is a writer of Christian Historical Romance and a stay-at-home mom to four vibrant children. She does freelance developmental editing and blogging. When she isn't writing or editing, she homeschools her children and pretends to keep up with them. Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing with the worship team, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband of eighteen years, two daughters, two sons, and four cats.

Places to follow Kari:

Website           Facebook         Twitter         Pinterest          Amazon

Buy links: Amazon

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forsaking-all-others-kari-trumbo/1123610832?ean=2940153175843

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1098320810

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/forsaking-all-others-13

Excerpt from Forsaking All Others

“Pete.” She shook him. “Wake up, something’s out there.”

Pete’s eyes opened to narrow slits and he looked at her, sleep still in complete control of him. She shook him again as an ominous groaning sound came from the other side of the rock. Looking up, she caught sight of a huge furry head with a brown muzzle and black nose. A great paw with massive claws came over the top of the rocks. She heard it snort as it sniffed the air. Her eyes flew wide open and she couldn’t control her gasping breaths.

Pete sat upright, fully awake now. He grabbed for his pack lying next to hers by the far rock wall, and banged their spoon against a cook pot. The bear looked down at him with inquisitive, almost sad-looking eyes. It climbed onto the rock above them and stared down, its sides expanding and contracting as if this was nothing new, like it woke humans every day.

“Rose,” he whispered, “whatever you do, don’t run. You can’t outrun it, do you hear me?” He didn’t look away from the bear. Banging on the pot with increasing speed, he had no effect on the massive, hairy beast.

The bear climbed down into their small enclosure. Rose held her breath. She wanted to run more than breathe. Pete gave her a look that told her to stay put. She scooted on her backside as far away from the bear as she could, until her back hit the rock and she was trapped. It sniffed the air again and grabbed for Rose’s pack, which carried the little food she’d scraped together for their trip. The invader turned around, climbed back over the rock and she heard it splash into the river and wade downstream.

She sat with her mouth open and tried to get her breathing under control.

“Well, that was quite a start to our trip,” Pete mumbled as he shoved the pan back into his bag. “We’ll need to find breakfast, since ours is now gone.”

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1,400 miles. 3 countries 2 men she can't trust. What could go wrong?                      

FINDERS KEEPERS is the first book in the new Jane Barnaby Adventures series:

It should have been a simple job. All archaeology student Jane Barnaby had to do was pick up a box her professor needed and deliver it to him at his dig site, along with his new car. Yes, his office was in Oxfordshire, and his dig site was in Spain, a trip of 1,400 miles across three countries and two bodies of water. Still, it should have been simple. And it was, until Jane discovered she picked up the wrong box by mistake. Not the one with boring pottery samples, but instead the one with priceless ancient Egyptian artifacts. The one that a team of international art thieves is after. Now she’s chasing – and being chased by – the thieves. And she’s picked up a pair of passengers who claim they can help her outwit them, get her professor’s pottery back and return the artifacts to their rightful owner. If only she could figure out which one of them is working with the thieves and which one she can trust in this high-stakes game of finders keepers.

It's available everywhere eBooks are sold: Amazon (Kindle or Paperback) Smashwords Barnes & Noble (Nook or Paperback) Apple iBookstore Kobo   About the author J.J. (James) Dibenedetto's fans would swear he's got a sixth sense when it comes to seeing into the minds of others and often wonder if his stories could possibly be fiction. He enjoys suspending disbelief with suspenseful paranormal tales that are a perfect blend of reality meets fantasy. His popular Dream Series continues to delight readers with each and every exciting installment. Born in Yonkers, New York, he currently resides in Arlington Virginia with his beautiful wife and a cat he is sure has taken full advantage of its nine lives. When it comes to the cat, he often wonders, but then again it might just be his imagination. You can follow him at his website, on Facebook and on Twitter. And you can find all his books (including the complete Dream Series) on Amazon and on audiobook at Audible.com


Here's an excerpt from Finders Keepers:

The thieves simply made a mistake. Whether Tom had put his box in the wrong room, or whether the thieves had gotten their wires crossed, who knew? She’d had trouble reading Professor Welldon’s writing; she hadn’t been sure if she was meant to go to Room 16 or Room 18 herself. It hadn’t mattered because the thieves had already gotten there and made the choice for her. “When they finally got where they were going, they opened it up, and you can imagine their surprise.” Jane noted the vagueness there; she assumed Alex knew exactly where that was and, for whatever reason, didn’t want to say. She didn’t challenge him; she kept up her happy façade instead, and he went on. “They knew they couldn’t go back and steal the right box, but they had the label on your pottery, they knew where it was supposed to go.” “They’re headed to Mallorca!” Jane couldn’t help herself; the words just poured out. “They’re going to wait there until I show up and try to trade, the pottery for the artifacts!” She knew she’d said too much. Alex’s eyes lit up, just for an instant, when she mentioned Mallorca. That was something, obviously, he hadn’t known. But he caught himself almost immediately, and so did she. She wondered if he knew that she knew he was putting on an act. She wondered if he knew that she knew that he knew she was, too. And she wondered if she had any aspirin in her purse, because that train of thought was giving her a headache.

Last, but not least, to celebrate the launch of FINDERS KEEPERS, I'm giving away a signed paperback copy of either this new book, or any one of my Dream Series novels (winner's choice). For your chance to win, just click HERE to enter!)    

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 I am excited to be part of this blog tour for a new Christian Western! Faith Blum joins us today to talk about her new release, The Solid Rock. It is about a talented detective with a mission to find his kidnapped colleague who finds himself working undercover with a heinous outlaw who has more plans than first meet the eye.

About the Book

Joshua woke with a quiet groan. As his senses woke up one at a time, he cracked his eyelids open. Sure enough, there was a silhouetted form standing at the foot of the bed. From the smell, the person was either from the brothel down the street or had recently left one. He forced himself to breathe evenly and reached for the knife in his thigh holster. With as tough and evil a voice as he could imitate, he spoke, “State your intentions.”

Pinkerton detective, Joshua Brookings, is sent on a job that seems simple on the surface. His fellow detective has been kidnapped and his boss, William Pinkerton senses foul play. Joshua is sent to investigate Edward's case in hopes of finding the kidnapped detective and helping solve the case that has taken over ten years to investigate. Arriving in Cheyenne, Joshua finds much more than a simple kidnapping. Yet again, he must go undercover, something he made his boss promise never to make him do again. The only Christian in the outlaw group, Joshua falters and almost loses faith in God’s providence. Will he stand on the solid Rock or drown in the sinking sand?
You can also preorder a paperback copy here for $14.00 plus shipping.

Excerpt

Four days later, Joshua and Poseidon left the train to ride the rest of the way to Cheyenne. He took a deep breath and marveled at how different it was from Chicago. He could hardly believe his brother-in-law, Micah, had lived that city for so long. It was so hard to breathe.

He mounted his horse and started off in a gentle canter.

“Heavenly Father.” Joshua paused and sighed. “You know how heavy my heart is right now. Protect Mr. Harris and give Elizabeth peace. I can’t imagine what it’s like for either of them right now.

“You are awesome in power, unchangeable, immutable, always present, all-knowing, all-powerful, You are the only True God. Despite my heavy heart and how my mind is racing ahead of me to figure this mystery out, I can’t help but praise You.”

Poseidon snorted and Joshua patted him. “Sorry, Boy. I’m talking too much again, aren’t I? Now, where was I? Oh, yes, praising my Savior.”

Poseidon shook his head and fought the bit. “You wanna run?” Joshua laughed and looked around. There was nothing for miles, not even a hill. “All right, let’s go.”

He dug his heels into Poseidon’s sides as he urged the horse into a gallop. “Yeehaw!” Joshua yelled as he grabbed his hat before the wind stole it. He closed his eyes and relished the whip of the wind brushing his face and blowing through his almost too long hair.

The smile on his face couldn’t have been wiped off even if he had wanted it gone. The exhilaration and intense joy he felt was something that could only be found when galloping on a horse in the summer winds.

Joshua watched the flat farmland whiz past him, the only things marring the wheat and corn fields being the scarecrows sticking their ugly heads over the waving crops. Joshua laughed as Poseidon splashed through a stream, soaking them both.

“Thank you, Poseidon, I needed to be cooled down.”

Joshua slowed his horse down. “Nice run, Boy. I think we both needed that. I’m glad the trains didn’t connect so we could ride.”

He rode on a few more hours in silence, listening to nature, meditating on God’s Word and mulling verses around in his head, praising God, praying, and making his way one step at a time closer to Cheyenne.

Giveaway

Faith is giving away a full set of paperback books! Fill out this form to earn entries to the giveaway. Each entry gives you one point, plus there are opportunities for bonus entries.



 
If you haven't read any of my books and would like to try one for free, I am working on getting A Mighty Fortress available for free on all formats. It is currently free on Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo. If you also wouldn't mind helping me get it free on Amazon, I would appreciate that. To help, all you have to do is grab 1, 2, or 3 of the links where it is free and go to AMF's Amazon page, click on "tell us about a lower price" and submit a link or three. Thank you!

Facebook Party

 To celebrate her release, Faith is holding a Facebook party on March 31st from 2-4 Central time. You can join her and 3 other authors here. There will be fun, games, giveaways, excerpts, and more. Some of the giveaways will stay open through Friday evening, April 1st. Fun fact: the other three authors are all homeschool moms.

About the Author

Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. Now that she's grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn't stop her from trying. When she isn't writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, writing, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana someday to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Blum/e/B00GSPBHW6 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HymnsoftheWest Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Faith_Blum Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/FaithBlumAuthor Website: http://www.FaithBlum.com Blog: http://www.FaithBlum.wordpress.com