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Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Lisa Orchard and "The Starlight Chronicles"

2/16/2016

Genre: contemporary, young adult
Publisher: esKape Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2015
Number of pages: 289

Lark Singer is seventeen years old and already on the way to a brilliant music career. But as she and her band, Starlight, gear up for a competition, life seems to be throwing her a few curve balls. The mysteries of her past seem to be unraveling, and she’s no longer certain she wants to know those answers or how knowing about her past will affect her difficult relationship with her mother. And when her best friend, Bean, changes things between them, all her plans for a musical future are placed in jeopardy. How can she balance her complicated personal life to keep her musical goals on track?

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Guys, I had great plans to finish this collection this weekend, but life got in the way, so I will be reviewing the first book of the collection today. I'll update this post after I finish it with a review of the whole series.

The Starlight Chronicles is told through the eyes of Lark Singer, a teenager whose greatest dream is to become a star and get out of her small town for good. Talented, scrappy, and guarded, it's almost impossible not to empathize with her and grow to like her. Yo-yoing between a volatile relationship with her mother, who refuses to give her the information she desires, and attending a school where everyone knows her secret, Lark's one joy is music; playing with her band and preparing for a music competition that could change everything.

"Gideon Lee", the first book in the collection, is a good set up for the series. It definitely leaves you wanting to read the next one. While it can get slightly repetitive at times, Lark's story is compelling and told with real emotions and feelings slashed across the page. Her struggle with not knowing who her father is and dealing with the secrets of others, mainly her mother and her best friend, is difficult for her and makes it easy to empathize with her.

This is a contemporary YA book and there is mild language in this book but nothing that seemed to take away from the story.

I give this book 4 stars.

FTC Disclosure ex.: A review copy of this book was provided via SLB Tours.

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 known I wanted to be a writer since fifth grade, but it wasn’t until I made the decision to stay home with my children that I was able to pursue my dream.
I started out with the Super Spies series. There are three books in the series, so far, and I’ve just come up with an idea for the fourth book. They’re mysteries/thrillers and I’ve received rave reviews on them.

My next series is The Starlight Chronicles. There are also three books in this series. This series is the coming of age story of Lark Singer and her quest to become a musician. It chronicles her journey through the twists and turns of her quest.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I finished a great book a couple of months ago. It is titled “Untwine,” and it’s written by Edwidge Dantecicat. It’s a Young Adult Novel about dealing with loss.

What book are you featuring today?

I’m featuring the Starlight Chronicles Boxed Set today. All three books in the series are on sale for $.99! The ebook version.

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

Keep me on your radar. I’ve become a writing fiend and I’ve got more books on the way!

Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on books by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she wanted to be a writer even then. Her first published works are the “Super Spies Series.” These stories revolve around a group of friends who form their own detective squad and the cases they solve. “The Starlight Chronicles,” is the next series that Lisa created with musical misfit, Lark Singer as her main character.

Lisa resides in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the next book in the Starlight Chronicles Series along with a few new ideas that may turn into stand-alone novels. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

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February 15--Katie's Clean Book Collection | Mel's Shelves
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February 18--Toni Shiloh Prayerfully-Lifted Romance
February 19--Reading Is My SuperPower
February 20--Just Commonly

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Sheryl Marcoux and "Cowboy in the Moonlight"

2/9/2016

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Book Blurb:

Sometimes Beauty is Better Seen with the Eyes Closed

Lillian Rauling is among four English women on a ship bound for matrimony. She’s the orphaned daughter of a once-famous opera singer, and her beauty has been nothing but a curse. This time that curse has driven her to flee the authorities and avoid prison by escaping to America. She daydreams that a rugged cowboy awaits her on the moonlit horizon, and that he’s able to see past her lovely face and into her lonely heart.

Little does she realize that true happiness lies in her willingness to look past a cowboy’s scarred face and into his godly heart—and that he has a voice so magnificent it will take her breath away.

Author Mini-view:

Happy Tuesday, friends! We're back with another author mini-view and giveaway! Joining us today is the lovely Sheryl Marcoux. 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?)

My writing career began with getting up at 5:00 am five days a week and writing for a couple hours before going to my day job. My day job involved an eight hour day and two hour commute, so it was a long day. I did this for twenty years. Fortunately I can write full time now—well, except that I’ve gone back to college.

My debut novel Cowboy in the Moonlight just released through the Pelican Book Group. I’m working on a sequel Divided Heart, in which I’ve challenged myself to make a hero out of the antagonist in Cowboy.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Offering a favorite Bible verse is a toughie. I read the Bible every morning and jot down in a journal verses that strike me and my insights. There is a Bible verse that inspires yet a third book in my Cowboy series—The Sinner and the Saint (in which I plan to use the antagonist from Divided Heart as the protagonist in that story):

I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 (GNT)

Those last two words really speak to me. God urges us to “Choose life.”

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Since I’m back to college working on a BA in English/Fiction, those demands are guzzling down most of my reading time.

What book are you featuring today?

The book I’m sharing today is my debut novel Cowboy in the Moonlight, which has a Beauty and the Beast plot, with a Christian twist:

An 1880s attempt at scientific matchmaking goes awry, and English fugitive Lillian Rauling is matched to scarred cowboy Zachariah Keene. Though she yearns to be loved for more than her beauty, can she, in turn, look beyond a man’s face and see the beautiful Godly heart within him?

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

If I could tell readers who’ve read or wish to read my book one thing, it would be, “Thank you.” I perceive writing as a relationship between writer and reader, a friendship in which we’ve shared something in common. When you read a book I’ve written, you’ve spend time with me, and that is a tremendous gift.

About the Author:

Sheryl Marcoux (pen name for Peggy Rychwa) is an award-winning author of inspirational romance. A veteran of the U.S. Army, she served as a Behavioral Science Specialist. An ever-growing love of writing led her to complete the Apprentice and Journeyman courses offered through the Christian Writers Guild, and then back to college to work on a B.A. in English/Fiction. She’s a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Who’s Who Among Students.

She recently retreated from New Hampshire, where there seemed to be only two seasons—nine months of great skiing and three months of lousy sledding. She moved to Southern Arizona where she now basks in the land of long summers.

You may visit Sheryl at http://sherylmarcoux.weebly.com/

You may purchase Cowboy in the Moonlight in paperback or as an ebook at http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Moonlight-Sheryl-Marcoux/dp/1611165008

Giveaway!

Sheryl is generously giving one paperback copy of "Cowboy in the Moonlight" 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 http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/16. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Camille Eide and "The Memoir of Johnny Devine"

2/9/2016

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Hello, blog friends! I'm participating in a blog tour with Singing Librarian Book Tours today and I'm featuring the lovely Camille Eide and her awesome book "The Memoir of Johnny Devine."

Genre: Historical
Publisher: Ashberry Lane Publishing
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Number of pages: 279
Awards/Honors: RT Book Reviews (rare) 5 goldstar Top Pick, a Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee (of 5), and the December 2015 Seal of Excellence winner, which makes it a Book of the Year Nominee (1 of 12 out of thousands reviewed)

The Memoir of Johnny Devine (RT Book Reviews 4.5 GOLD Star Top Pick): In 1953, desperation forces young war widow Eliza Saunderson to take a job writing the memoir of ex-Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Devine. Rumor has it Johnny can seduce anything in a skirt quicker than he can hail a cab. But now the notorious womanizer claims he’s been born again. Eliza soon finds herself falling for the humble, grace-filled man John has become—a man who shows no sign of returning her feelings. No sign, that is, until she discovers something John never meant for her to see.

When Eliza’s articles on minority oppression land her on McCarthy’s Communist hit list, John and Eliza become entangled in an investigation that threatens both his book and her future. To clear her name, Eliza must solve a family mystery. Plus, she needs to convince John that real love—not the Hollywood illusion—can forgive a sordid past. Just when the hope of love becomes reality, a troubling discovery confirms Eliza’s worst fears. Like the happy façade many Americans cling to, had it all been empty lies? Is there a love she can truly believe in?
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I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend and I am so very glad that I did. This is a beautiful, emotionally-charged story that grabs your attention from the very beginning. The author writes some beautiful turns of phrase and descriptions that are delightful and enjoyable. It moves at a steady pace with several well-placed conflicting events that keep the book from dragging along like some romances tend to do. The sympathetic characters, sweet romance, and intriguing mysteries make it an absolute delight to read.

“The Memoir of Johnny Devine” is a historical romance novel set in Hollywood in the 1950s. I can’t remember the last time I read something set in this time period, but I found the history and culture of the time to be fascinating. The story is told from the viewpoint of Eliza Saunderson, a talented but unknown writer who barely makes enough to survive and stay in her tiny, one-bedroom apartment, but who is spunky, likeable, and sympathetic from the very beginning. The other leading character is John Vincent, also known as Johnny Devine, a reformed heartthrob/ladies’ man/movie star with regrets and wounds much deeper than the shrapnel that crippled his leg during the war. While we don’t get to hear much from his point of view, the reader can’t help falling for the wounded, noble hero that we see through Eliza’s eyes. When hired to assist in writing his memoir, Eliza has no idea that her life (and his) will never be the same.

This book definitely falls under the inspirational/Christian fiction category because it is full of instances of redemption, grace, and forgiveness that were well-written without being too “preachy.” I really enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone with a love of Christian fiction and/or historical romance. 5 stars!

FTC Disclosure ex.: A review copy of this book was provided via SLB Tours.

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 “stuff” all my life (plays, skits, short stories) but decided to get serious about writing a novel for publication in 2007 when a friend and I were discussing how the real-life, cross-continental romance between her sister and my brother would make a great novel. She twisted my arm, actually, and Like There’s No Tomorrow was conceived. From then on (or from 100 pages in when I discovered I had NO clue what I was doing), I dove headfirst into studying the craft of fiction and found that I possessed an inherent disease passion for it.

I’ve completed and published one Christmas novella (Savanna’s Gift - White Rose) and three full-length romantic dramas (Like There’s No Tomorrow, Like a Love Song, and The Memoir of Johnny Devine - Ashberry Lane). I am currently at work on my fourth novel while trying to catch up on the many highly recommended reads this year! I am always learning, a perpetual student of Story, and at peace with the reality that a good writer never truly “arrives.”

What is your favorite Bible verse?
As one who writes at length and in depth about Love, whether it be romantic, relational, or the love of God, it’s no surprise that Ephesians 3:16-19 resonates deeply with me:

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

I think you’ll find this theme at the root of pretty much everything I write.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?
Okay, I have a note from my publisher excusing me on this. Since I released two books this year, which was exciting, my leisure reading has been a bit neglected. Now that my latest book has launched, I'm working my way through a long-neglected TBR pile, so I'm looking forward to a number of great reads I'm hearing raves about. I'm currently reading Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay, and Kiss of the Jewel Bird by longtime favorite author, Dale Cramer. I recently read a sassy little mystery novella by Rachel McMillan called A Singular and Whimsical Problem, a feminine Sherlockian type of tale which was fun and engaging.

When refreshing the "ink well," I sometimes revisit past favorites, the kinds of stories that have left me floored, the kind whose characters linger years after meeting them. One of the titles on my re-read list is River Rising by Athol Dickson. He writes sheer beauty. A few authors whose latest works I won’t rest until I’ve read are Becky Wade, Kristin Hannah, Lori Benton, and Susan Meissner.

What book are you featuring today?
The Memoir of Johnny Devine. This novel is a “classic” 1950s romance, a story within a story of a Hollywood bad boy reformed and a good girl needing reform. It’s a powerful tale of love, redemption, intrigue, and the miracle of God’s deliberate grace. One professional reviewer says of this story, “The romantic tension sizzles nearly from the beginning, and readers will often find themselves breathless from the sheer delight of it (Carrie Townsend).” It is a breathless (chaste) romance, but much, much more.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
Fiction may be “make believe,” but as most storytellers will tell you, fiction and story come from the guts and glory of life and reality. My aim has always been to create very realistic, authentic characters with whom we can all connect in some way, whose stories resonate with our own through the sharing of pains and desires, hopes and dreams, trials and triumphs. The characters in my stories may be invented, but the faithful, awesome God they encounter on their journey is very real.

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Alice K. Arenz and "An American Gothic"

2/2/2016

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Hello, blog friends! Happy February! We're kicking this month off with another author mini-view and giveaway this week. Joining us today is the lovely Alice K. Arenz. Let's get this interview started!

Author 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?)
I’ve always had a very active imagination, but didn’t really write much down until I was twelve or so. A lot of years went by before I took writing seriously. I devoured Writer’s Digest Magazine, took a creative writing course at the local university, and sent “over the transom” queries to editors and agents. In the early 90s I landed a contract with a New York literary agency. Though it didn’t produce the hoped-for results, it taught me a lot about how much discipline and determination were vital necessities in the writing world.
Years later I joined American Christian Fiction Writers, learned a lot from the group, and made some contacts that eventually earned me a contract with a small press.
In spite of a myriad of health issues—especially the hypersensitivity in my fingers and hands which makes typing a challenge, between 2008 and 2010, I managed to get three books written and published. Those books, The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (cozy mystery), The Case of the Mystified M.D. (cozy mystery), and Mirrored Image (classic romantic mystery/suspense), all finaled in ACFW’s Carol Awards, with The Case of the Mystified M.D. winning in 2010.
Now, after a five year absence from the writing scene because of even more challenging health issues, I’ve signed with a new publisher, Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications, published a new classic romantic suspense, An American Gothic, my fourth novel, and re-issued the previous three with wonderful new covers and changes. Talk about feeling God’s blessing with this second chance!

What is your favorite Bible verse?
John 3:16-17—I memorized it at a very young age and it has been my constant companion since.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."

What have you read lately that you would recommend?
To be honest, I haven’t read anything in a very long time—unless you count my own work. Because of my latest health issues, I find it challenging to both read and write. I used to read three or more books a week, and it’s been very hard on me. But I’m working on it.
What book are you featuring today?
An American Gothic. Here’s the one-liner and back of the book blurb:
She came to Foxxemoor to write a mystery, not to become part of one.
Devastated by the death of a child in her care, Lyssie's heart strings are tugged when she finds another child in danger. Amid past secrets, lies, and betrayals of an old college friend's family, she must choose a twin brother to trust. If she makes the wrong decision, she could not only lose her own life, but also the life of the child she's come to love.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
Be prepared to be surprised. ;) Whether you read one of the cozies, mystery or suspense, I hope you will find a lot of surprises.

About the Author:

An American Gothic, published August 2015, is the newest book of 2010 ACFW Carol Award winning author, Alice K. Arenz. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, her first three novels were honored by two finals and one win in ACFW’s Carol Award: cozy mysteries The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (a 2009 finalist), The Case of the Mystified M.D., (2010 winner), and mystery/suspense Mirrored Image (a 2011 finalist)—all re-released by Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications. Visit her at her website www.akawriter.com .

Amazon Link to An American Gothic
http://www.amazon.com/American-Christian-Romantic-Mystery-Suspense-ebook/dp/B013J4599K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438922230&sr=1-1&keywords=Alice+K.+Arenz

Giveaway!

Alice is generously giving one Kindle e-copy of "An American Gothic" away 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 http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/9. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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February Author Newsletter (2016)

2/2/2016

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Happy February!

Hello, blog friends! I hope this author newsletter finds you doing well. I hope everyone has survived the cold weather we had last month. It was even cold down here in north Florida for a few weeks! It's warmed up to the 60s and 70s lately, which I have been enjoying immensely. :) What's the weather like where you are?

Life and Writing Stuff:

Well, I was super busy with my new job last month, but in this economy, I'm really thankful to have one, especially one that lets me work from home... Saving gas $ and I can do it in my PJs if I want. ;) Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. On the writing front, I didn't have much time to work on my edits last month, but here's hoping for better progress this month.

How about you? How are you doing this month?

Reading Stuff:

Here's my reading list from last month. What did you get to read?

And I'm currently reading:

Prayer Request Stuff:

Here is the list of prayer requests sent in since the last author newsletter:

Kathy A. - Thank you for praying for my pregnant daughter. She has improved greatly. Please pray for me. I have a couple of health concerns. Facing my third mammogram and breast ultrasound next week and my left eye is severely inflammed. Thank you.

Sonja N. - For the prayer list, my dad, Heinz that he will find the health care he needs.

Last Month's Requests:

Penny M. - Prayers for all in need this Thanksgiving and beyond. God Bless

Kathy A. - Asking prayer for my daughter who is pregnant. She has been sick so much and having a difficult time.

Sally D. - My new baby granddaughter was born 10 weeks premature, weighed 2 lb 11 oz. After 4 months, she's over 10 lbs! I am very thankful for this miracle, praising the Lord!

Me - I requested prayer for Heidi T., who was battling cancer and in hospice. Heidi went to be with the Lord a week before Christmas. I was able to visit with her a few days before she passed and she was full of faith, hope, and peace. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

Thanks so much for your prayers, friends.

Bible Reading Stuff:

Through December and January, I've spent most of my Bible reading time working through Beth Moore's Bible study "Children of the Day," which I've been enjoying a lot. :)

With the Bible app on my phone, I finished up 2nd Corinthians and am just about to start Song of Solomon. (Over the last year, I've been reading randomly selected books of the Bible using Random.org to pick a number. It's different, but I have been switching between the Old and New Testament regularly and I like that it keeps things fresh.) What have you been reading lately?

Last Month's Winners:

And the winners of last month's giveaways are:

A Reluctant Melody by Sandra Ardoin - Wenona*

Chapel Springs Survival by Ane Mulligan - Ellen Wycuff*

All winners have a month to reply to my emails or I will draw a new winner. * = winner has claimed her prize. Prizes will be mailed within a month. (Last month's prizes are going out this week!)

And don't forget to check out the author mini-view and giveaway from Debra E. Marvin, which is open until tomorrow! God bless and see y'all next week!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Debra E. Marvin and "Austen in Austin"

1/25/2016

36 Comments

Hello, blog friends! I hope everyone is doing well this week! We're back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week and joining us today is the lovely Debra E. Marvin. 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?)

Like many authors, I've been writing on and off for decades. Austen in Austin has actually been around for years since it was first a lively discussion among my Inkwell Inspirations blog-mates (back when most of us weren't published--we all are now, so keep at it!). Though I have written one contemporary novel (unpublished), my heart will always be in historicals, leaning toward British settings and mystery and I have multiple manuscripts that are quite unlike the playful tone of Alarmingly Charming and Desert Duet, my Christmas novella.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38-39:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ...As our world swirls down, ever faster, ever deeper toward chaos, this verse calms me. It's good to remember on pleasant, sunny days too!

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I'd recommend Lisa Karon Richardson's The Peacock Throne. It's all the things I like in a story: British, suspenseful, well-written--perfect for fans of historical romance without the bodice-ripping.

What book are you featuring today?

Today I'm thrilled to bring Austen in Austin to your blog. Four novellas (with four more coming later this year) are set in a (British) finishing school in Austin, Texas in the last two decades of the 19th Century. Each novella is a take on an Austen plot and heroine, and though they can be read as stand-alones, we enjoyed incorporating the same setting, and revisiting characters throughout 20 years in Austin history. I think it will be a delightful read for lovers of Austen, Cowboys and historical romance. Here's our 'blurb':

Discover four heroines in historical Austin, TX, as they find love--Jane Austen style. Volume 1 includes:

If I Loved You Less by Gina Welborn, based on Emma
A prideful matchmaker examines her own heart when her protégé falls for the wrong suitor.

Refinements by Anita Mae Draper, based on Sense and Sensibility
A misguided academy graduate spends the summer falling in love . . . twice.

One Word from You by Susanne Dietze, based on Pride and Prejudice
A down-on-her-luck journalist finds the story of her dreams, but her prejudice may cost her true love . . . and her career.

Alarmingly Charming by Debra E. Marvin, based on Northanger Abbey
A timid, gothic dime-novel enthusiast tries to solve the mystery of a haunted cemetery and, even more shocking, why two equally charming suitors compete for her attentions.

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

I hope readers can anticipate what fun we had with the plots. I had a bit of a challenge with Northanger Abbey, but I grabbed it because of my old love for gothic romance. (Yes. It's true!). Catherine Moreland might be the silliest, most naive of Austen's characters, but I focused on her big heart and kindness and wrote an intelligent bookworm heroine who, like so many of us, doesn't see just how strong she is until she's tested. And, I tried to write it all in a very light-hearted way...a parody, if you will, of Austen's own parody of the gothic novels of her time.

Thanks so much for allowing me to be part of your busy blog, Anna!

I'd love for your readers to follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebraEMarvin

About the Author:

Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides...the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. She'd like to live a wee bit closer to her grandchildren, but is thankful that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor.

Other than writing light-hearted romances and gritty gothics, she has rather normal obsessions such as fabric, peanut butter, vacations, British dramas, and whatever mystery series she's currently stuck on.

http://debraemarvin.com/
http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/debraemarvin/
https://www.facebook.com/Debra-E-Marvin-433266640199533/
https://twitter.com/DebraEMarvin

Blurb:

As travel companion to her condescending cousin, Philadelphian Kathryn Morton dreamily anticipates a week in the Wild West as the best cure for meekness. After a long rail journey and a steady diet of gothic dime novels, she shivers, despite the Texas heat, at the ghastly tales of the Austin Axe Murderer. Kathryn has little time to fret, given the competing attentions of quiet rancher Harmon Gray and elegant gentleman Jonathan Wellington. With her new-found confidence and her boundless imagination, she sets out to solve the mystery of Hyde Park Cemetery before another student flees Austen Abbey. Only then can she return home to her English-born parents as an independent American woman. A woman in love. But on the stormiest of nights, Kathryn learns that solving the mystery may destroy a future with the man she’s fallen for in a big Texas way.

Giveaway!

Debra is generously giving away either a print copy or an e-copy (winner's choice) of "Austen in Austin" to one of my awesome subscribers! Just fill out the GiveawayTools form to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/3. God bless and have a great week!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Ane Mulligan and "Chapel Springs Survival"

1/19/2016

9 Comments

Hello, blog friends! I hope everyone is doing well this week! We're back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week and joining us today is the lovely Ane Mulligan. 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’d been a published playwright (over 50 scripts) and turned to novels in 2003. I began going to committee by 2004, but God kept all the doors firmly shut. When the acquiring editor retires and the company wipes her hard drive clean—the one with your book on it—you realize God is saying, “Not now. Not here.” My debut novel hit the shelves in 2014, and at the moment, I have 3 books out with another coming in May this year.

I’ve written 7 novels, 1 novella and a short story. All but one will eventually be published. My first written manuscript dwells beneath my bed. Only the dust bunnies have read it.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My life verse is Phil 1:6 - “Of this I am certain, that the same God who began a good work in you, will continue it until the day Christ Jesus returns.” To me that says God is at work in me, and will keep on refining me until Jesus returns. Then, I’ll be miraculously finished! It gives me hope when I mess up.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Summer at Hideaway Key, by Barbara Davis. I loved the book. It isn’t often that a plot takes me by surprise. This one did. If you like Southern beach books, this is great. The other one is Five Brides, by Eva Marie Everson. A great story inspired by real people.

What book are you featuring today?

Chapel Springs Survival, my own “inspired by real life” story. Our eldest son got himself a modern-day mail order bride from Columbia, South America. Without us knowing until she was here, a year after they got married. I told him for that, it was going in a book. I have to tell you, we adore our daughter-in-law. She’s the best thing that ever happened to our Michael. But that wouldn’t have made a good story, now would it? Here’s the back cover copy:

Chapel Springs Survival

A mail-order bride, a town overrun with tourists, and illegal art.
How on earth will Claire and Chapel Springs survive?

Claire Bennett's Operation Marriage Revival succeeded and life is good. That is until the mayor's brother blabs a secret: Claire's nineteen-year-old son has married a Brazilian mail order bride. When Claire tries to welcome her, she's ridiculed, rebuffed, and rejected. Loving this girl is like hugging a prickly cactus.

Lydia Smith is happily living alone and running her spa—then the widow on the hill becomes a blushing bride. Then her groom's adult son moves in—on everything.

From the first sighting of a country music star in The Painted Loon, Chapel Springs is inundated with stargazers, causing residents to flee the area. When her best friends put their house on the market, Claire is forced to do something or lose the closest thing to a sister she’s got. With her son's future at stake and the town's problems to solve, it's Claire's who needs a guardian angel.

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

Faith, friends and family are what make life worthwhile.

About the Author:

Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. She firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. Novelist and playwright, Ane is the executive director of Players Guild@Sugar Hill, a new community theater and president of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket. She resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a dog of Biblical proportion. You can find Ane at her website at www.anemulligan.com and on social media.

Snippet:

Like shot pinball, Claire Bennett pinged against, around and between hordes of straw hats, bikinis, and plaid shorts. All along Sandy Shores Drive, shoulder-to-shoulder throngs of people crowded the sidewalk and spilled into the avenue. A party atmosphere—with noise level to match—permeated the quiet morning and their once peaceful village.

What had they done? When she and her friends envisioned the revitalization of Chapel Springs, it was a nice, controlled rise in tourist trade—not this craziness.

One bruised elbow later, Claire reached the door of her art gallery, The Painted Loon, and turned her key in the lock. A heavy hand grasped her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat. Was she about to be robbed?

Hold on. In broad daylight? With this crowd watching? She may not be the brightest color on the palette, but she did possess a little common sense. Her gaze traveled up the beefy arm to a scraggly-bearded face with beady eyes. A rolled red bandana wrapped around his forehead, held back salt-and-pepper hair. Beside him stood a bleached-blonde motorcycle mama, dressed in a halter-top and the skimpiest shorts Claire had ever seen. Strings hung from their ragged edges and drew attention to the lumpy cellulite dotting the back of her thighs. Who was this woman trying to kid? She was fifty if she was a day.

"You're the loon lady," Motor-mama said. "We want to see your pots."

Giveaway!

Ane is giving away either a print copy or an e-copy (winner's choice) of "Chapel Springs Survival" to one of my awesome subscribers! Just fill out the GiveawayTools form to enter (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website. Giveaway ends 1/26. God bless and have a great week!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Sandra Ardoin and "A Reluctant Melody"

1/12/2016

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Hello, blog friends! I hope this post finds you doing well. I've spent the past week setting up author mini-views, book reviews, and giveaways for the rest of the year and I just have to tell you... It's going to be awesome! I have a record-breaking amount of fabulous authors that I'll be featuring here this year and I'm so excited about it. :D

Joining us today and kicking off the 2016 Author Mini-views, is the lovely Sandra Ardoin. Let's get this interview 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?)

I'm a wife and mom to one ... each :) ... and have been writing and publishing small projects since 1986. I didn't begin writing novels seriously until 2008 when I believe God said, "Go ahead." Until then, it never seemed the proper time.

It's been quite a journey, sometimes disheartening, sometimes encouraging. I have a number of completed manuscripts, but A Reluctant Melody is my first published novel. Its predecessor, the Christmas novella The Yuletide Angel, released in 2014. I'm so thankful to my incredible editor Ann Tatlock and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas for taking a chance on this mostly-unknown writer.

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

I have two (technically, three) favorite scriptures. For me, they go together. The first is Jeremiah 29:11. God does know what is best for us if we’ll accept it. The other is Isaiah 55:8-9. Those verses never fail to remind me of WHO God is and His omniscience and love. So how can He not know what will give us hope and a future?

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

I review books on my blog on Tuesday. Today’s review is for Until the Dawn by Elizabeth Camden. Recommend? Yes. I also loved The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz. For romantic suspense, I recommend the latest series by both Lisa Harris and Lynette Eason. Oh, I could go on and on, but check out my blog at sandraardoin.com for recent reviews.

4. What book are you featuring today?

Yesterday, my inspirational historical romance A Reluctant Melody released. Today from 12-2 EST, we’re partying on Facebook! I hope you’ll make plans to join us!

Set in 1892, A Reluctant Melody is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. It is romance mixed with blackmail and murder.

When I wrote the Christmas novella, I created Kit Barnes as the brother to my hero Hugh. Both men had been at odds for over five years due to Kit’s alcohol-fueled lifestyle and his dalliance with Joanna, the woman Hugh believed he would marry. By the time I was finished, I knew I wanted to tell Kit’s story and I wanted to bring him back together with Joanna. Now, he’s a changed man who works to help others defeat the lure of alcohol. You’ll find a little more in the back cover copy. I hope you’ll check it out.

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

I would tell readers how grateful I am for their time and interest in my work and how much I appreciate the reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. My hope is that each story not only entertains but encourages them in their Christian walk.

About the Author:

Sandra Ardoin writes inspirational historical romance. She’s the author of The Yuletide Angel and A Reluctant Melody. A wife and mom, she’s also a reader, football fan, NASCAR watcher, garden planter, country music listener, antique store prowler. Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Join her email community to receive occasional updates and a free short story.

A Reluctant Melody is available on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/A-Reluctant-Melody-Sandra-Ardoin/dp/1941103677

and The Yuletide Angel at http://www.amazon.com/The-Yuletide-Angel-Inspirational-Historical-ebook/dp/B00OH01X50

Book Blurb:

Kit Barnes’ alcoholism ruined more lives than his own. Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. But the most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past.

Friends of her late husband blame Joanna for his death. Although eager to flee from the rumors, she will let the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she allows Kit back into her life.

When a blackmailer threatens to reveal Joanna’s long-held secret, will she risk losing everything she owns to Kit … including her heart?

Giveaway!

This week, Sandra is generously giving an e-copy of "A Reluctant Melody" to one of my awesome subscribers! Just fill out the GiveawayTools form to enter (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website. God bless and see y'all next week!

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Review: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

1/6/2016

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Book Blurb:

A beautiful maiden who poaches to feed the poor.

A handsome forester on a mission to catch her.

Danger and love are about to unite in Thornbeck Forest.

The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him . . . a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target . . . What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?

My Review:

What a beautiful story! This was my first book by Melanie Dickerson, but it won't be my last!

"The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest" is a combination of "The Swan Princess" and "Robin Hood," following the story of the fair and brave Odette as she poaches deer from the margrave's forest to feed the poor. Add Jorgen Hartman, the handsome and capable forester who has been put in charge of capturing the poacher, and you have a recipe for disaster... Or romance!

I loved both of the main characters. They seemed to leap off the page. I feel like I connected with both of them immediately.

I really enjoyed the subtle intrigue of this story, with several who-done-its planted throughout the story to keep things interesting.

5 stars for an excellent, sweet, adventurous read!

(I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.)

Amazon Link:

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January Author Newsletter (2016)

1/6/2016

9 Comments

Life Stuff/Writing Stuff:

Hello, my lovely blog subscribers! Happy New Year! I hope it finds you doing well. This will be a slightly abbreviated version of the monthly author newsletter, but just wanted to give you guys a quick update. Also, I wanted to thank everyone who commented on December's author post. I didn't get to answer all the comments, but thank you so very much for sharing pieces of your holidays, thoughts, and reading lists with me! :)

Hubbins and I (and the dogs) spent Christmas week with my parents, brother, and niece in Tennessee, and we had so much fun! Life has been getting busy for me again now that the holidays are over. I'm working more hours at my new job in order to pay off some credit card debt before Hubbins gets out of the military later this year. Prayers are definitely appreciated as we figure out what we are supposed to do in this next season of our lives.

In the writing world, I'm getting back to the edit/rewrite for my work-in-progress, "Hazardous Conditions," which had to take a back seat for the past few months. Again, prayers are always appreciated, especially in the time management area. :P

How about you? How were your holidays? What's new in your lives?

Reading Stuff:

Here's my reading list from last month. Did you have time to read over the holidays?

And I'm currently reading:

Prayer Request Stuff:

Here is the list of prayer requests that were shared with me since the last author update:

Penny M. - Prayers for all in need this Thanksgiving and beyond. God Bless

Kathy A. - Asking prayer for my daughter who is pregnant. She has been sick so much and having a difficult time.

Sally D. - My new baby granddaughter was born 10 weeks premature, weighed 2 lb 11 oz. After 4 months, she's over 10 lbs! I am very thankful for this miracle, praising the Lord!

Me - I requested prayer for Heidi T., who was battling cancer and in hospice. Heidi went to be with the Lord a week before Christmas. I was able to visit with her a few days before she passed and she was full of faith, hope, and peace. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

Last month's requests:

My heart is very heavy for a friend of mine right now. Heidi T., who has been on the prayer list several times this year, has been fighting cancer and was moved to Hospice this week. Please keep her and her family in your prayers during this difficult, heartbreaking season. - UPDATE: Heidi T. went to be with the Lord a week before Christmas. I was able to visit with her a few days before she passed and she remained full of faith and peace til the end. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

Me - (Praise) I am really enjoying my new job, which God provided at the perfect time so that I could move away from my last job, which was extremely stressful.

Me - Please pray for my dad, who had some unexpected health issues last week. Also, please pray for my family as they travel and minister.

Heidi R. - My brother in law needs prayers for the blood clots stuck in his lungs.

Kathy A. - I have been notified by my doctor I had an abnormal mammogram. Praying for peace and discernment during the coming days.

Sharon T. - My husband & I have been missionaries for 15+ years - please pray for God's favor regarding our support - our last paychecks were $1,100 short - thanks so much!

Joan A. - Please pray for my 13 year old granddaughter with iritis.

Sandra P. - My daughter-in-law is fighting cancer. Her name is Chris. Please pray for healing for her and a peace for her and my son about God's will for their lives.

Becky I. - Please pray for my family.

Thank you for your prayers, my friends. Sometimes when we feel helpless, it's the most important thing we can do. Thank you for lifting each other and myself up in prayer.

Bible Reading Stuff:

In December, I spent most of my Bible reading time working through Beth Moore's Bible study "Children of the Day," which I've been enjoying a lot. :)

With the Bible app on my phone, I finished up 1st Kings and am working my way through 2nd Corinthians.

What have you been reading lately?

Last Month's Winners:

We had several giveaways last month and here are the winners:

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert - Melinda Dean*

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson - Kim Amundsen*

Wait for Me by Jo Huddleston - Kathleen Burnop*

A Shenandoah Family Christmas by Lisa Belcastro - Vicki Geslak

Random Acts of Scrooge by Christy Barritt - Morgan Parson*

All winners have a month to reply to my emails or I will draw a new winner. * = winner has claimed her prize. Prizes will be mailed within a month.

Be sure to check back soon for this month's giveaways and reviews. God bless!

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