Anna Weaver Hurtt, Inspirational Author

Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Angela Meyer and "Where Healing Starts"

9/13/2016

Happy Tuesday!

Hello, blog friends! We are back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week! Joining us this week is the lovely Angela Meyer. Isn't the cover of "Where Healing Starts" lovely? Let's get this mini-view started!

Author Mini-view:

#1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I think I have tried it all, beginning when I was in junior high when I wrote poetry. In addition I have written inspirational essays, children’s stories, devotionals, novels and short stories. Where Hope Starts, the first book in the Applewood Hill series, is my first published novel.

There is a fun story about the first novel I wrote. It began when a critique partner challenged me to write more descriptions for a children’s story that I was working on.

I am currently releasing my second book in the series, Where Healing Starts, and I am writing the first draft of book 3.

#2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

"Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman." Jeremiah 15:19a

#3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. This book is great. It gets to the heart of what it means to follow Jesus.

#4. What book are you featuring today?

Where Healing Starts continues the story of the Hannigan family which began in the first book of the Applewood Hill series.

After turning his life over to God, Charles Hannigan is seeking to restore the family to wholeness, but Joanna and Blake want no part of their dad’s efforts. Still hurting from his past anger and rejection, each sibling is on a path toward self-destruction.

Blake is unwittingly following in his father’s footsteps, anger punctuating all his relationships. His brief time serving in the Marines led to PTSD, increases his volatility.

Rejected by the only one she ever trusted, Joanna runs to addiction and men to salve her pain. She eventually finds herself with nowhere else to turn and asks their older sister Karen for a job and a place to stay.

Both Blake and Joanna are determined to hang onto their anger, refusing to forgive. They see no reason to trust God. This novel is about their journey towards healing.

Read the first chapter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwkAhFCBpzf4VWdnMTNrN1o0SVVqUUR4c0NNc0FJd0xZOWY0/view?usp=sharing

#5. If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

God is in the business of healing and restoring. When we bring our brokenness to Him, He will make us new.

About the Author:

Angela D. Meyer, author of The Applewood Hill Series, lives in NE with her husband of 25 years and their high school daughter. Their son serves our country in the Marines. Angela enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, connecting with friends and encouraging women to grow in their faith. One of her dream spots to vacation is next to the ocean and someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon.

Giveaway!

Angela is generously giving away an e-book copy of "Where Healing Starts" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 9/20. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Patrick E. Craig and "The Amish Princess"

9/6/2016

15 Comments

Hello!

Happy Tuesday, blog friends! I hope you are all doing well. We are kicking off this month of giveaways with an interview and giveaway from author Patrick E. Craig. Let's get this interview started!

Mini-view:

#1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I have been writing most of my life. I published my first article when I was seven years old. It was a piece for the school paper titled "What we did this summer." I got such positive feedback from family and friends I decided that writing was something I could do well and I've been writing ever since. My mother and my aunt both encouraged me tremendously. My Aunt was a real Irish Shanachie, a storyteller, who had most of the history of our family going back for generations in her head. And so throughout my young life I heard stories all the time. In school I was always on the school paper, usually as editor, entering writing and poetry contests and so forth. In high school my interest shifted toward music and I was playing in bands. But my favorite part was writing songs—songs that told stories and I achieved some success as a songwriter in the seventies and eighties. When I got saved in 1984, I went to Bible College and then became a music minister for many years. I also wrote non-fiction teaching books and articles. Then in 2007, I decided to put that all aside and pursue my real love—writing fiction books that created wonderful characters and told spellbinding stories. I did a three book series for Harvest House, Apple Creek Dreams, wrote two kid's mysteries and self published The Amish Heiress. So I've written seven books since 2007 and I'm working on number eight right now.

#2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Well I have several but certainly Philippians 4:6&7 is one of them. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

#3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I'm a big Zane Grey fan but I've read most of his books so I was looking for another adventure author to read. Someone recommended Louis L'amour so I've been reading his Sackett series. He has an interesting style—every book so far is written in first person, something I have never tried. I like the books and I suppose that fact that he sold twenty-five million of them says something about his skill as a writer.

#4. What book are you featuring today?

I am just now getting the second book in The Paradise Chronicles Series, The Amish Princess, ready for printing. It will be out in early November, but I want to feature it because it's been a year since The Amish Heiress came out. The Amish Princess is historical Amish fiction. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, did quite well and was on the Amazon bestseller top 100 list in three categories for over seven months. This new book is very unique and I think my readers are going to like it. Here's the blurb:

Opahtuhwe, The White Deer, is the beautiful daughter of Wingenund, the most powerful chief of the Delaware tribe. She is revered by her people–a true Indian princess. Everything changes when the murderous Shawnee renegade known as Scar brings three Amish prisoners to the Delaware camp. Jonathan and Joshua Hershberger are twin brothers that Scar is determined to adopt and teach the Indian way. The third prisoner is their father, Jonas Hershberger, whose stand against violence kept him from defending his family. White Deer is drawn to Jonathan but his hatred of the Indians who murdered his mother and sisters makes him push her away. Joshua's gentle heart and steadfast refusal to abandon the Amish faith lead White Deer to a life-changing decision and rejection by her people. In the end, White Deer must choose between the ways of her people and her newfound faith. And complicating everything is her undying love for the man who can only hate her.

#5. If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

We live in a very crazy mixed up world. The only thing that will really help people to make it through is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. So as a writer I have two imperatives. One is to, somewhere in my story, present the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple, clear, concise manner, without preaching so that people can hear the truth and decide what they are going to do about it. The other thing I want to do is to preserve our wonderful language. So I take every opportunity when I write to use words that will stretch people, get them out of the texting mode that most people live in today, and make them aware that real communication is everything.

About the Author:

Best-selling author Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next 26 years as a worship leader, seminar speaker, and pastor in churches, and at retreats, seminars and conferences all across the western United States. In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles and the first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, was published by P&J Publishing in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon bestseller lists for seven months. The second book in the Series, The Amish Princess, will be released in the fall of 2016. Patrick and his wife Judy make their home in Idaho and are the parents of two adult children and have five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

Where can readers find me online?
www.patrickecraig.com Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig Facebook
https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig Twitter

Where can readers purchase my books?
http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg Amazon
The Amish Heiress is available in on Amazon, B&N and all your favorite online stores. You can also find it on my website at http://www.patrickecraig.com/my-book-store/.
Look for The Amish Princess in late November, 2016.

Giveaway!

In celebration of the release of "The Amish Princess" in November, Patrick is generously giving away a signed copy of the first book of the series, "The Amish Heiress" to one of my blog subscribers. Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 9/14. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: Dark Harbor by Christy Barritt

8/9/2016

14 Comments

Book Blurb:

THREAT OF EXPOSURE
Someone wants reporter Madelyn Sawyer to leave the small coastal town she's just arrived in—even if it takes hurting her. But she won't give up her goal of investigating Waterman's Reach's new police chief that easily. Madelyn assumes that former big-city detective Zach Davis—who some believe is a murderer involved in a drug-trafficking ring—is behind the threat. Who else would have a motive? But as bullets fly Madelyn's way, it's Zach who keeps saving her life. The closer she gets to the truth, the more she wants to tell the handsome lawman why she's really in town. But if she does, will she lose his trust…and any hope of surviving long enough to bring the real killer to light?

My Review:

Dark Harbor definitely starts with a bang! From a wild car chase to being threatened and robbed to being rescued by the very man she is there to investigate, Madelyn Sawyer's first day in Waterman's Reach is definitely a doozy. Trying to keep up false pretenses as she digs into an old drug case that could skyrocket her career, Madelyn finds herself targeted and in danger again and again. But could it be the police chief that keeps rescuing her?

Zach Davis is doing some investigating of his own. When the pretty travel writer shows up in his small town, she throws a wrench in his plans, but someone is obviously targeting her and it's his job as a police chief to protect her.

This was a fast-paced story that I really enjoyed. It wasn't easy to figure out who the bad guy was... It still took me by surprise at the end of the book. There was lots of action and that kept things from getting too slow.

The romance was really sweet. I could understand and sympathize with both Madelyn and Zach. It was easy to see that they were good for each other.

All in all, this was a good book that I enjoyed reading. I look forward to reading what this author produces next.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Giveaway:

I am giving away a copy of this book to one of my subscribers this week! To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here: http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 8/16. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Jackie Zack and "A Chance Mistake"

7/25/2016

6 Comments

Hello!

Happy Tuesday, blog friends! It's a new week and we have a new guest with us today! The lovely Jackie Zack is joining us today. Isn't the cover of "A Chance Mistake" cute? Alrighty, let's get this interview started!

Mini-view:

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog. I appreciate it very much!

I've always loved to read and have wanted to be a writer since childhood. One of my first stories started out as a funny email to a friend. As we bounced emails back and forth to make each other laugh, a plot for the story started to form. After that, I gave her a page or two of the story each day until it was done. I enjoyed writing it so much, and finishing it was a great experience. Right now, I have three published books, and have two works in progress.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Eph. 2:10

What have you read lately that you would recommend?
Right now I'm reading "His Perfect Love," by Sharon K. Connell. The novel is a Romantic Suspense that will be published soon. I can't stop thinking about it -- definitely a page turner.

What book are you featuring today?

I'm featuring a Romantic Comedy with Suspense, "A Chance Mistake."

A Vacation Takes a Funny Turn -

By the flip of a coin, famous novelist, Kory Slate travels to Wales intent on finding rest and relaxation. His latest best seller has left him freaked out, and he begins to suspect that he’s being followed. Is he the target of a nefarious scheme? Has his money-making imagination veered out of control? An array of Kory’s books in a Welsh bookstore window pulls him into the shop to browse. He is astonished to meet Dafina Perry, the living image of a female character in his last book. As his vacation progresses down its unusual track, he finds himself inexplicably entangled in her family drama as he ends up playing the part of her husband. Dafina, struggling with betrayal and potential loss, worries about the welfare of the handsome, brilliant novelist. Will helping him bring unexpected love and happiness to her life? Or will her good intentions invoke destruction for them both?

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

I write with a passion to entertain along with giving the reader something good to think about that maybe they haven't thought about before.

About the Author:

Jackie Zack lives in Indiana and has three adult children and two cats. One of her favorite things in life is hearing people laugh. She hopes her writing will bring much enjoyment, making the reader feel uplifted and refreshed.

Snippet:

Kory Slate stepped aboard the jet with seconds to spare, and he wasn’t the only one arriving late. Two men hurried one pace behind him and entered. A flight attendant slid the door shut with a gliding, whooshing sound. As Kory strode to his seat, the accordion walkway slid away from the plane. Each window he passed by gave a slightly different perspective of the retracting motion against gray clouds. Why had he chosen to go out of the country? Not his plan at all.

His paranoid editor had been right, at least about one thing. Kory needed an updated passport. Good thing he got one and had it on him. In the back of his mind, he must’ve toyed with a foreign destination. But Wales?

He hefted his backpack in the overflowing compartment above his seat and jammed it in. He dropped down into the aisle seat. A quick glance over his shoulder told him the two men had found seats—aisle seats catty-cornered from him. One man sat four seats behind him and the other six. Weird. Nothing stood out about their appearance, except the taller one closest to him had tattered green shoe laces.

If he had to identify them in a line-up, it would be near impossible. Both had a medium build. Their jeans with muted t-shirts and hoodies could belong to anyone.

Kind of took on the air of his first manuscript that lay moldering in his old bedroom closet. The hero of the story had been tailed for close to three months by two nefarious thugs. He was unaware of his shadows until the day he put it all together. The near fatal ‘accidents’ that the main character experienced were orchestrated.

The novel seemed to capture his essence, since it had been his first attempt at storytelling. His close friends and family—well—the ones he could get to read it—raved about it. His editor said to keep his focus on the next new thing.

Yeah, right. But with six best sellers in two and a half years, he needed to clear his mind. Step off the train for a while. Do a mental cleanse and stay away from Facebook. His editor had balked at Kory’s announcement that he was slipping off the grid for a couple of months, maybe more. No social media. No writing. And where was he going? Sorry, Ed. Can’t tell ya. Kory didn’t know the answer himself. Only that New York City wouldn’t be seeing him for quite some time.

A blur caught his attention out of the corner of his eye, causing a sinking dread. Too much like his last book and, he hated to admit it, probably the real reason for the needed break. An unwanted shiver raced down his neck to his spine.

Giveaway:

Jackie is generously giving away a print copy of "A Chance Mistake" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 8/2. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: "Fire and Ice" by Mary Connealy

7/19/2016

12 Comments

Book Blurb:

Saddle up for mysteries and laughs with the Wilde sisters!

BAILEY WILDE IS THE OLDEST SISTER—and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.

Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within it. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land—and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...

Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect—and maybe ind love in the process?

My Thoughts:

I read the first two books of the “Wild at Heart” series and I’ve been dying to see how Bailey Wilde, the rough and tumble tomboy of the family, and Gage Coulter, the rugged cattle baron are going to end up together. All I can say is I was in for a wild ride!

I loved the chemistry between Bailey and Gage. They are both such passionate characters that the sparks just fly between them. I found their slow journey from enemies to friends to husband and wife to be completely captivating and well-paced. I also loved the “marriage of convenience” twist and couldn’t wait for the love simmering under the surface to bloom into something beautiful and strong.

The couple deals with many obstacles in the path to happiness, including deadly storms, an over-bearing mother in law, and death traps set by an unseen and unknown enemy. This book is full of action and adventure, making it hard to put down to go back to real life sometimes.

There are some hilarious moments sprinkled throughout the book. One of my favorite lines is from page 162: "Hang on tight, Mrs. Coulter. We've got to make a run for it." Bailey slapped the old nag on the rear - the old nag meaning the horse, not Ma Coulter, although Bailey was sore tempted."

However, there were also some deep, intensely emotional moments. Some of the exchanges between Gage and Bailey run really deep, opening up feelings that neither of them had ever shared with anyone else. Bailey and her sisters share a beautiful, loving connection, too. Without giving away the ending, there is a moment between Bailey and her father that brought tears to my eyes.
All in all, this is an excellent conclusion to the “Wild at Heart” series and I cannot wait to see what Mary has for us next. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Giveaway!

This week, I'm giving away a copy of this book to one of my subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/26. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Terri Wangard and "No Neutral Ground"

7/12/2016

5 Comments

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! We are back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week! Joining us this week is the lovely Terri Wangard. Isn't the cover of "No Neutral Ground" intriguing? Let's get this mini-view started!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

After doing a little writing in the early 2000s, I set it aside until 2008. That's when I read Debbie Macomber's Twenty Wishes, about a group of women who decide to fulfill bucket dreams. I bought a new laptop and started writing. All three books in my Promise For Tomorrow series release this year.

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:4-8 is a favorite passage, if not the favorite. I claimed verse 6 especially the first time I ventured off on my own (other than school).

3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Into the Black: The Extraordinary Untold Story of the First Flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Men Who Flew Her by Rowland White. I’ve been fascinated by the space program since learning about the planets in second grade.

4. What book are you featuring today?

No Neutral Ground is the second book in Promise For Tomorrow.

After his father divorces his mother because of her Jewish ancestry, Rafe and the rest of his family flee Germany. As a B-17 navigator, he returns to Europe. Flying missions against his former homeland arouses emotions that surprise Rafe. Despite being rejected, he is troubled by the destruction of Germany and his heart still cries for his father’s love.

Sweden may be neutral, but it’s full of intrigue. Jennie assists the OSS at the American legation in Sweden. She thought she’d be doing passive, behind-the-scenes work. Instead, she’s pushed into an active role to gain intelligence and frustrate the Germans.

How can Rafe and Jennie succeed in their dangerous roles when they are so conflicted?

5. If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

I read historical novels that I hope will entertain and enlighten. I hope that's how my readers feel -- that they enjoyed their time spent reading and that they could place themselves in that time.

About the Author:

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

www.terriwangard.com

Giveaway!

Terri is generously giving away a copy of "No Neutral Ground" to one of my blog subscribers! (This giveaway is for an e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/19. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: "The Ringmaster's Wife" by Kristy Cambron

7/5/2016

25 Comments

About the book:

The Ringmaster’s Wife (Thomas Nelson, June 2016)

An ounce of courage. A split-second leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life—one that’s reimagined from what they might have become.

In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures to call her own, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World’s Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny—a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.

A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling of Yorkshire, England, boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her life is planned out for her. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties in the grandest ballrooms the country has to offer. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.

When Rosamund’s path crosses with Mable’s and the Ringlings’ glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behind a comfortable future of estates and propriety, instead choosing the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers’ circus.
A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster’s Wife will escort readers into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the greatest show on earth!

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Review:

This book completely enveloped my imagination and heart, dragging me along for the ride between its pages. I haven't been pulled so completely into a story like this in a very long time.

Both Mable and Rosamund are excellent characters. Their stories are compelling, at times heart-wrenching, and impossible not to get lost in. I connected with both of them as the author switched back and forth between their respective stories.

I also found the rich history of this opulent and intriguing time period to be completely fascinating. All in all, I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to historical fiction readers everywhere!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Giveaway!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Bonnie Leon and "To Dance with Dolphins"

6/27/2016

20 Comments

About the book:

Twenty-two-year-old Claire Murray has suffered from a mysterious disease for years. Her social circle has shrunk to a small support group for people with chronic illness and disability. But what if life could be about more than doctors, pain, and medications?

Claire and three others—old grouch Tom, hippy-holdout Willow, and moody Taylor—hatch plans for a cross-country trip to swim with the dolphins in Florida. Only a day into the trip, they unexpectedly need help. And who happens to be hitchhiking along the highway but a young, good-looking loner named Sean Sullivan? However, the last thing he wants is to be harnessed to a bunch of ailing travelers.

Though the journey proves difficult, following God’s plan might be even harder. Will they find the courage to follow their dreams and dare to live again?

Author Mini-view:

Happy last week of June, blog friends! (I can't believe we're halfway through the year already!) Please join me in welcoming the lovely Bonnie Leon to the interview table today. (Doesn't her book sound absolutely amazing?! And that cover... Gorgeous!) Let's get this mini-view started!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I've been writing and publishing books for more than twenty years. I love the mystery and beauty of creating stories, but what I love most about my life is my family. My husband and I have been married forty-five years. He's a good man. We have three children and seven grandchildren and we've lived in the same small town in Southern Oregon for thirty-six years.

All my growing up years I never imagined myself as a writer, though I loved to read. And then, in late 1989 I was gripped by a compulsion to write and filled up legal pads with poems, personal experiences and short stories. I played at writing until a terrible auto accident in 1991 left me unable to work or to care for my family. God in His mercy led me into writing during a time in my life when I felt I had nothing else to give. It was a whirlwind romance. I wrote my first-ever novel in 1992 and sold it to Thomas Nelson Publishing in 1993, and it published in 1994. I've been writing ever since.

I'm sixty-four now and I've slowed down a bit, but still love to write and have lots of book ideas still percolating in my mind.

I am presently working on a revision of one of my first novels. It is the second revision I've done and I've discovered that revising is much more difficult than creating. In the Land of White Nights will release in August and I am proud of the work and know that it is a much better book with a more satisfying story line. I can't wait for it to release.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite Bible verses are Isaiah 40:26 - 31. I often go to these verses to remind me of the power and hope that is in my Creator.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I recently finished reading A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton and highly recommend the book. She is one of those writers who is special. I know when I sit down with one of her stories I am going to be carried away and lifted up.

What book are you featuring today?

I had a story, the story of my heart, that weighed on me for years. It was always in the back of my mind, asking me to write it. I wanted to but I was busy, or the time wasn’t right or publishers wanted something else from me. For years I let it go. But it had to be heard and finally I stepped away from everything else and went to work on the story of my heart.

It wasn’t easy. It was contemporary and I’ve always written historical. The characters had to be real and quirky and fun. And the story would reveal my soul. It was risky. But I did it. And I’m hoping you will read the book of my heart. TO DANCE WITH DOLPHINS is the story of a group of friends who have given up on life and set out on a cross country trip hoping to discover there are still hopes and dreams for people like them.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

My books reveal the heart of people, their strengths and weaknesses, and the power of God who offers hope and change for those who seek Him.

About the Author:

Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-one novels, including the recently released To Dance With Dolphins, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, and even Africa.

She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and teaching at writing seminars and conventions and especially delights in mentoring young authors. These days, her time is filled with writing, being a grandmother and relishing precious time with her aged mother.

Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

You can find Bonnie at:
https://www.bonnieleon.com
https://www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor
https://www.bonnieleon.blogspot.com
Twitter: @bonnie_leon
https://www.pinterest.com/bonnieleon/

Giveaway!

This week, Bonnie is generously giving away a copy of "To Dance With Dolphins" to one of my blog subscribers! (The winner can choose between a paperback copy and e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/5. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Michelle Ule and "The 12 Brides of Summer"

6/20/2016

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About the Book:

Meet 12 adventurous Victorian era women—a beekeeper who is afraid of bees, a music teacher whose dog has dug up a treasure, a baker who enters a faux courtship, and six more—along with the men they encounter while making summertime memories. Will these loves sown during summer be strengthened by faith and able to endure a lifetime?

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! Sorry for the hiatus this month... With a family wedding, two road trips, and increased hours at my job, this summer has begun with a bang here. I'm pleased to introduce Michelle Ule, our author interviewee and giveaway queen for the day. :) Let's get this interview started!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I’ve been a professional author since 2011, but have a degree in English from UCLA where I trained as a newspaper reporter back in the dark ages. I’ve written forever—including a massive family history that’s in the Library of Congress.
I got my start towards publication at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in 2003 when it seemed like God gave me a promise that if I put Him and His plans first in my life, someday I would be published. More to the point, I needed to focus on my daughter’s teenage years. I got my first contract the very day we drove her to college. You can read about that here: http://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/dreams-come-true-at-mount-hermon/
I’m the published author of five novellas and a rogue Navy SEAL novel; three of the novella collections made best seller lists, including The New York Times for A Log Cabin Christmas Collection.
I’m currently writing a biography called Mrs. Oswald Chambers, which is the story of Biddy Chambers, an intrepid Victorian stenographer who married the noted Bible teacher and compiled My Utmost for His Highest. It releases in fall 2017 from Baker Books.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

I like all of Romans 12, but the one I’ve clung to in these social media days as a Christian is Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (NKJV)

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I really enjoyed Lori Benton’s A Flight of Arrows. I love all of Lori’s books, but this most recent one has such an interesting presentation of how God works in the lives of all people—no matter their culture. Several of my novellas examine how Jesus is expressed between cultures—and how he is the meeting place for people who see life in such different ways.
I’ve written about Lori’s book and my reaction to her presentation of the Gospel here: http://michelleule.com/2016/04/29/native-americans-gospel-flight-arrows/

What book are you featuring today?

My featured book today is the latest novella collection, The 12 Brides of Summer. Twelve different inspirational romance writers teamed up to write a first collection: The 12 Brides of Christmas and now have written sequels to their stories in the summer book.
The Sunbonnet Bride tells the tale of a young seamstress in 1874 Fairhope, Nebraska, who has to choose between a pristine banker or a sweaty teamster after a tornado rolls through town. Which man deserves her heart more? One who works with his mind or one who works with his hands? And however will she choose?
Hint: reed flutes, a blackberry pie and sunbonnets make the difference.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

Truth can be stranger than fiction and often is more interesting. See my novella in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, A Gold Rush Christmas—which fictionalizes the true story of the day most of the prostitutes in Skagway, Alaska, fled.

About the Author:

Navy wife Michelle Ule is a graduate of UCLA and the author of five novellas and a novel. She lives in northern California with her family where she works at a literary agency, teaches Bible study, plays in a woodwind ensemble, and writes.

Michelle is a long-time lay counselor in both crisis pregnancies and budget counseling. She loves to travel and is an accomplished genealogist. You can learn more about her at www.michelleule.com.

Giveaway!

This week, Michelle is generously giving away a copy of "The 12 Brides of Summer" to one of my blog subscribers! (The winner can choose between a paperback copy and e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 6/28. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Review and Giveaway: Her One and Only by Becky Wade

5/31/2016

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About the Book:

Her One and Only (Bethany House, May 2016)

After ten years in the NFL, super star Gray Fowler is accustomed to obsessive fans.

But when Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, his team hires an executive protection agency to guard him until the culprit is caught. Dealing with bodyguards 24/7 is a headache, especially when one of them is a young, beautiful woman. How can a female half his size possibly protect him better than he can protect himself?

Dru Porter is a former Marine, an expert markswoman, and a black belt---none of which saved her from disaster on her last assignment. In order to rebuild her tarnished reputation, she's determined to find Gray's stalker and, since relationships between agents and clients are forbidden, avoid a romantic attachment between herself and the rugged football player with the mysterious past.

Yet every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they'll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives---and their hearts---to one another.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NrA4cO

My Review:

Guys, I loved this book! That's all there is to it. The romance is sweet and the tension is steady throughout the course of the book. I loved Dru... It's hard to create a tough female character without her becoming annoying or overbearing, but Becky did an amazing job with making her likable, spunky, and easy to sympathize with. Gray is also a great character and his journey of overcoming his past to becoming the man he needed to be was touching and real. It was easy for me to see that they are perfect for each other from the very beginning. The romance scenes were swoon-worthy and it was great to see them together after everything they have to overcome from both inside and out.

This book was a pretty even mix of suspense and the mystery of finding Gray's stalker and alternating sweet and snarky moments between Dru and Gray. And what Porter novel would be complete without the quirky and hilarious Porter family butting into Dru's life?

Something else that I really enjoyed is hearing Meg's story and point of view during some of the down moments of the book. Her struggle with fear and worry over her pregnancy was especially poignant to me and it was very easy to sympathize with her. It's a great change of pace and I loved revisiting her character and her and Bo's relationship. Also, the baby scenes are absolutely heartwarming and adorable.

All in all, this was a great conclusion to the Porter series and I can't wait to read what Becky has for us next.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Giveaway:

Meet Dru Porter, former Marine, expert markswoman, and black belt—who also happens to be assigned as a bodyguard to star NFL tight end Gray Fowler. Don't miss the final Porter family novel by Becky Wade, Her One and Only. Gray starts receiving death threats from a stalker, and Dru is determined to find his stalker. Every secret that leads Dru closer to the stalker also draws her closer to Gray. As the danger escalates, they’ll survive only if they can learn to trust their lives—and their hearts—to one another.

Join Becky in celebrating the release of Her One and Only by entering to win her Porter prize pack and $100 cash card giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of Her One and Only
A $100 cash card
Follow Your Heart tote bag
24 oz Tervis Wonder Woman Tumbler
The Blind Side DVD
Necklace with star charm
Porter Family navy jersey

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 31st. The winner will be announced June 1st on the Litfuse blog.

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