A Baby changes everything.
Announcements
Three book winners for November are: Jane Squires – Wasola, Missouri, Jackie Colletta Miller – Hyndman, Pennsylvania, and Joyce Shelton, Natchitoches, Louisiana. You can choose either Montana Mistletoe or Snowbound Colorado Christmas. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address. Or you can go to my website and click on Contact Me.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 16 free books a month on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/ . Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Ariel Allison – Eye of the God
Linda S. Clare – The Fence My Father Built
Julie Klassen – The Silent Governess
Margaret Daley – Christmas Peril
Melanie Dobson – Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana
Patti Hill – Seeing Things
Dan Walsh – The Unfinished Gift
Susan Page Davis – The Sheriff’s Surrender
James David Jordan – Double Cross
John B Olson – Powers
T. L. Higley – Guardian of the Flame
Cheryl Wyatt – A Soldier’s Devotion
Wanda Dyson – Shepherd’s Run
Margaret Brownley – A Lady Named Sarah
Denise Hunter – Seaside Letters
Jenny B Jones – Just Between You and Me
Debbie Fuller Thomas – Raising Rain
Cami Checketts – The Sister Pact
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Another place you can find out what’s going on in Christian publishing today:
http://canblog.typepad.com/
Calendar of Events
February 21-25, 2010 – Writer’s Retreat
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 8, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops Painting Historicals With Authenticity & Taking Settings to the Next Level
August 28, 2010 – ACFW Shreveport – Taking Settings to the Next Level
September 2010 - ACFW National Conference - Indianapolis
October 2, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
Book Reviews
Notice: In accordance with FTC regulations, I inform you that most of the books I review have been provided by either the author, a publicist, or the publisher. I review only books I have read and all reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.
Cowboy Christmas
By Mary Connealy
ISBN 978-1-60260-145-1
Barbour
Historical Romance
Back Cover Copy:
A secretive singer reawakens a cowboy's wounded heart at Christmastime.
Singer Annette Talbot used her voice to spread the gospel with a traveling missionary troupe. When the Latrells take over and want Annie to dress provocatively and give up singing her beloved hymns, Annie flees to Ranger Bluff, Wyoming, dreaming of reuniting with her father for Christmas. But trouble chases her--right off the edge of a cliff!
Elijah Walker's heart turned as cold and barren as the high plains in December after his ex-fiancee betrayed him and caused his father's death. But when he rescues Annie out of a freezing river, Walker's instincts tell him he must help a stranger in need.
With her hermit father retreating to the high country and the Latrells intent on kidnapping her to make money off her singing, Annie may have no way out.
Has Annie hidden the truth about wanted posters bearing her face too long for anyone to believe her now?
Can Elijah overcome the painful past and learn to love again?
Will there ever be peace in their hearts in time for Christmas?
My Review:
This book is classic Mary Connealy with Christmas thrown in. Strong cowboy hero, heroine in peril, truly evil antagonists. A fast-moving story that takes many twists and turns.
One thing she left unexplained, and I really wish I knew the outcome of that particular thread. However, it didn't detract from the rollicking story.
Another book to add to your Christmas reading list.
The Sound of Sleigh Bells
By Cindy Woodsmall
ISBN 978-0-307-44633-4
Waterbrook Press
Contemporary
Back Cover Copy:
Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy.
Still in mourning, she cuts herself off from any hope of happiness.
A gifted carver holds the answer to both her past and future in his hands--but can Beth move beyond yesterday and embrace a second chance at love?
My Review:
I do not wonder that Cindy Woodsmall is a NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author. Her books have depth and width as well as giving the readers characters they can love.
This story shows people who listen to the lies of the enemy and keep painful secrets instead of getting help with healing from them. The way she crafts the story takes you into the very hearts of these people and leads you through the healing process. And there are many surprises along the way.
I highly recommend this book for your growing Christmas reading list.
Together for the Holidays
By Margaret Daley
ISBN 978-0-373-87559-7
Love Inspired
Contemporary
Fostered by Love, Book 5
A family guided them to faith, but only love could heal their hearts.
Back Cover Copy:
Her Holiday Hope
A single mother with a traumatic past, Lisa Morgan only wants to raise her son with love and values. But lately the boy is strugling. When his basketball coach becomes a reluctant role model, Lisa is relieved. Until she learns that David Russell is also a cop. She's not ready to share her past--or her heart. And neither is the world-weary detective. Yet as Christmas comes closer, the true meaning of the holiday brings them together in ways they never dared dream.
My Review:
I enjoy the Love Inspired novels, because they're not a long read, but they pack a punch. Margaret Daley is one of my favorite Love Inspired authors. As always, she delivered a wonderful story full of nuances.
TOGETHER FOR THE HOLIDAYS brings together people with a number of believable issues and throws them into situations they're not ready to face. I loved the way the characters developed and grew in the story.
And I really enjoy books that take place over the Christmas season. I recommend this book for a quick read in your limited time during the holidays.
Christmas Peril
By Margaret Daley & Debby Giusti
ISBN 978-0-373-44365-9
Love Inspired Suspense
Contemporary Novella Collection
Back Cover Copy:
Christmas Bells Ring With Danger in These Suspenseful Holiday Stories
MERRY MAYHEM by Margaret Daley
When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she's hiding secrets. He'll be watching her closely. And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.
YULE DIE by Debby Giusti
It's hardly a happy holiday for medical researcher Callie Evans. . .until she discovers her ailing patient is her long-lost brother. And he's being watched by undercover police officer Joe Petrecelli. When the trio is abducted by a cadre of bad guys, Joe and Callie will have to fight to keep her brother--and themselves--alive.
My Review:
I loved both of these stories. With Margaret's story the suspense is softer than in Debby's book, but they're both page turners with lots of twists and turns.
Yule (you'll) want to add this to your holiday reading list.
Christmas Homecoming
By Debby Mayne, Paige Winship Dooly, Elizabeth Goddard, Elizabeth Ludwig
ISBN 978-1-60260-564-0
Barbour
Contemporary Novella Collection
Back Cover Copy:
A Grandmother's Letters Bring Three Women Home for Christmas
Grandma Carol Scheirer never thought she'd marry again. But when Alex Knight, an old family friend, confesses his love for her, romance ensues. Using her wedding as the perfect excuse, Carol begs her granddaughters to return to Boulder, Colorado, for an old-fashioned Christmas family reunion. But will her family approve of the new man in her life?
Party planner Noelle Evans arrives in Boulder to help with her grandmother's wedding. But when she has an accident, she finds herself face-to-face with Rocky Carmichael, MD---the man who once jilted her. Will she find more than physical healing at the hands of her ex-fiance?
Writer Christmas Scheirer feels her greed led to her grandfather's death. When she comes accross her grandfather's letters, Christmas will do anything to get them published---even if it means butting heads with Marcus Taggart, the guardian of Grandpa's estate. How far will Christmas go to right her wrongs?
On furlough, missionary Holly Rivers arrives in Boulder for Grandma's wedding. When she runs into Nick Brohns, the man she left behind for God's work, tensions mount. Will God give them both a new mission in life?
My Review:
You won't want to miss this collection written by four of my good friends. Each author brings her own unique twist to the story she tells. And the stories are more than good romances. They're stories about second chances. Don't we all need one of those ever so often?
A Blue and Gray Christmas
By Vickie McDonough, Lauralee Bliss, Tamela Hancock Murray, Carrie Turansky
ISBN 978-1-60260-565-7
Barbour
Historical Novella Collection
Back Cover Copy:
Christmas Love Captures Hearts During the Civil War
Despite the Blue and Gray troops advancing on their hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Leah Woods and Seth Madison vow to wed at the dawn of the New Year. But when Seth disappears, Leah is left alone, clinging to whatever faith she can muster.
On Christmas Day, Arabella Lambert accepts Barry Birch's proposal of marriage. But as Barry's pacifist leanings come to light, he's labeled a coward. Is their love strong enough to stand against public ridicule?
Rachel Thornton nurses the wounded James Galloway back to health, only to see him determined to head back to the front lines. Can Rachel risk falling for James? Or would her heart be better off in the hands of another man?
After the loss of her Confederate home and husband, Hannah McIntosh found refuge at the Haley ranch in Kansas. When Chris Haley, an embittered Union soldier, returns from war, Hannah knows her days at the ranch are numbered. How much time does she have before Chris throws the Confederate caretaker Hannah out of his home and life forever?
My Review:
To be totally honest, even with the lovely cover, I probably wouldn't have picked up this book. I don't like reading war novels that much. But I featured this book on my blog, and I made a promise to read and review the Christmas novels in October and November. I'm glad I did.
I would have missed a wonderful collection of character-driven stories that were strong on doing what is right in the face of extreme adversity. I fell in love with the characters and felt their pain with them. I knew this book would be good because of the quality of the authors who made up the team. I've read and loved other books by all of them.
Don't leave this book off your Christmas reading list.
December ACFW Book Releases
Eleven releases this month from ACFW members.
Congrats to all!
1. A Bouquet for Iris, by Diane Ashley & Aaron McCarver from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Iris Landon travels to Daisy, Tennessee, to care for two Cherokee children and finds romance and danger while aiding one family in the struggle to keep their land.
2. A Lady Like Sarah, Rocky Creek Romance, by Margaret Brownley from Thomas Nelson. He's a preacher. She's an outlaw. Both are in need of a miracle.
3. ANGEL WITH A BACKHOE, by Deb Kinnard from Desert
Breeze Publishing. A small-town widower and a spunky suburban transplant match wits over a church construction project, finding true love can mix with blueprints and concrete footings.
4. Child Finder: Resurrection series: Child Finder Trilogy, 2nd book, by Mike Angley from Total Recall Publications, Inc. Child Finder: Resurrection…the highly-anticipated sequel to the award-winning debut novel, Child Finder, which Library Journal placed on its 2009 Summer Reads list for Christian fiction!
5. Christmas Peril, by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Christmas themed, romantic suspense stories.
6. Cup of Joe, by Teri Wilson from White Rose Publishing. A grieving oman resists the cups of comfort offered by the shy, but handsome, owner of the neighborhood coffee shop.
7. Field of Danger, by Ramona Richards from Love Inspired Suspense. When April Presley can’t remember details of the murder she witnessed, deputy Daniel Rivers must help her recall the event and protect her from the killer determined to silence her.
8. Her Patchwork Family series: The Gabriel Sisters, by Lyn Cote from Love Inspired. In spite of opposition from the rich and influential, can Felicity Gabriel establish a home for children orphaned by the Civil War and heal two wounded hearts?
9. Patterns and Progress series: Michigan historical, book 3, by Amber Stockton from Barbour Publishing. A farmer's daughter would rather turn back the hands of time than accept the fact that advancement in technology could be in God's plan.
10. The Sheriff's Surrender series: #1 of The Ladies' Shooting Club Series, by Susan Page Davis from Barbour Publishing. The men of Fergus aren’t keeping the town safe, so a group of feisty women take matters into their own hands.
11. The Glassblower series: First book in the New Jersey Historical Series, by Laurie Alice Eakes from Barbour Publishing. Colin Grassick moves from Edinburgh, Scotland to Salem county New jersey to take a position as a master glassblower. He loves his work and hopes of bringing his family to America for a better life. But his love for Meg, the daughter of the owner of the glassworks, threatens his job...and then his life.
Happy Reading!
Musings
I’m happy to report that I will send the completed manuscript for Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, later today, which is the deadline date. Just a few more tweaks.
This is the last post of 2009, the year of the unexpected as per the word I received from God about the year. It certainly contained many and varied unexpecteds. And I praise God for every one of them.
At the top of this blog, I put a quote we read on a sign at a church we passed. “A Baby changes everything.” James laughed.
“That could mean several things.” We know that the church was talking about the coming of our Savior to the earth. That was the single event in history that changed everything that happened since the event. And we’re thankful for His presence in our lives today.
But sometimes the birth of a baby is unexpected and brings unplanned changes in our lives. That doesn’t mean the coming of the baby into the family is a bad thing. The birth of a child brings a hope for the future. A blessing from God.
That’s how I looked at every unexpected that we faced this year. And here we are at the end of the year, thanking God for walking through the highs and the lows with us. He’s the bright and shining star in our lives.
A final note: James and I went to see the movie Blind Side. Even though the local newspaper movie reviewer didn’t give it a very favorable review, the theater was packed. Actually, we had to buy tickets to the next showing after the one we came for, because it was a sell out.
I highly recommend this movie to you. Although it doesn’t gloss over the harder side of life, it brings a message of hope. A very uplifting movie.
See you again in January 2010.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
November 2009
God will bring to completion everything He starts in your life. . .in His time.
Announcements
Three book winners for October are: Linda Wagner – St. Paul, Minnesota, Jackie Smith – Crawfordville, Georgia, and Ingeborg Fagin, Lighthouse Point, Florida. You can choose from Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, and A Daughter’s Quest. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address. Or you can go to my website and click on Contact Me.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/. The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Ramona Richards – Field of Danger
Tracey Bateman – Thirsty
Margaret Daley – Together for the Holidays
Ashley Ludwig – All of Nothing
Mary Connealy – Cowboy Christmas
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Calendar of Events
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 8, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops Painting Historicals With Authenticity & Taking Settings to the Next Level
August 28, 2010 – ACFW Shreveport – Taking Settings to the Next Level
October 2, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
Book Reviews
Notice: In accordance with FTC regulations, I inform you that most of the books I review have been provided by either the author, a publicist, or the publisher. I review only books I have read and all reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.
One Imperfect Christmas
By Myra Johnson
ISBN 9781426700705
Abingdon Press
Contemporary
Back Cover Copy:
Only Love Makes a Christmas Perfect
Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and guilt keep two people apart, sometimes a miracle needs a helping hand.
Natalie Pearce loves Christmas so much she'd gladly make a year-round celebration--until her mother suffers a massive stroke while taking down the decorations. Natalie's guilt over not being there to help her mom soon builds a wall that separates her from the rest of her family, including her husband Daniel and their teenage daughter. As the next December approaches, the last thing Natalie wants to be reminded of is another Christmas season.
Will her family's tenacious love and an unexpected Christmas gift from her mother help Natalie mend the broken pieces of their lives?
My review:
I love it when I start receiving the Christmas books from authors and publishing companies. I especially wanted to read this debut novel by Myra Johnson. I've known her for years and watched her grow as she honed her writing skills, and I was elated when she made her first sale.
The book is a good debut novel. The Christmas elements of newness and surprises were strong, and contributed to my enjoyment of the story. I did want to shake Natalie several times when she allowed her guilt to keep her from making the right decisions.
I found the young teenage daughter to be very believable. Her angst increased the level of the tension.
I recommend that you add this book to your Christmas reading list.
The Great Christmas Bowl
By Susan May Warren
ISBN 978-1-4143-2678-8
Tyndale
Contemporary Novella
Back Cover Copy:
Christmas is a magical season - except for this year.
Marianne Wallace loves the holidays. From dressing the tree to her traditional Christmas dinner, it's all about creating memories for her family. But when her children begin to leave home--and their traditions--behind, she has one last chance to create a holiday they'll never forget.
Unfortunately, she's soon in over her head, and one impulsive decision leads to a string of events that will change the way her family--even her small Minnesota town--sees the Christmas season.
My Review:
I've loved Susan's writing for years now. This book is no exception.
Full of traditions and unmet expectations, the book takes the reader through a serious transition time in many families. On the way, it brings laughter, tears, and the warm kind of feeling you want from a Christmas book.
You won't want to miss one. Put it on your list right now.
The Unfinished Gift
By Dan Walsh
ISBN 978-0-8007-1924-1
Revell
Historical Christmas
Back Cover Copy:
Can a gift from the past mend a broken heart?
Ian Collins is an old man without his son. Patrick Collins is a young boy without his father. On his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather's house. And he wants the dusty wooden soldier in Grandfather's attic--the one his is forbidden to touch.
My Review:
This novel was a surprise to me. A story that touched on the society and mores in the days of World War II. A story with a lot of heart that takes the reader down the road of broken dreams in the lives of two people who were thrown together by circumstances. Pain and pathos paint a detailed portrait of two hearts on a collision course.
Although this is a debut novel, we have a Christmas classic in the makings. A story readers will want to revisit year after year, much as they do with movies like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. So move this book to the top of your to-be-read list and grab a box of Kleenex on the way.
Bluegrass Christmas
By Allie Pleiter
ISBN 978-0-373-87556-6
Love Inspired
Contemporary Romance
Back Cover Copy:
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
That's what led new believer Mary Thorpe to start over in quaint Middleburg, Kentucky. As director of the church's Christmas pageant, Mary's job is to bring the townspeople together, to remind them what the season is really about. But everyone is all riled up over one very handsome man: the man daring to run against Middleburg's popular long-standing mayor. Mac MacCarthy wants change. Mary wants things to stay as they are. Is there a happy medium? Both Mac and Mary are in for one very big Christmas surprise.
My Review:
I love Christmas stories. They're usually feel-good stories that make you get into the holiday spirit. And as a trade paperback, BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS should have fit that mold. It did not.
This wonderful story brought many surprises. The humor should have built to the big ending, but in this book, the author took the reader into a deep, well-crafted subplot that was profound. Without this depth, this story would have been just another fun read. Instead, it was a powerful look behind the facades people use to hide their deepest secrets, hurts, and longings.
You won't want to miss this story. Put it on the top of your to-be-read Christmas stack.
An Amish Christmas
By Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Barbara Cameron
ISBN 976-1-59554-821-4
Thomas Nelson
Contemporary Novella Collection
Back Cover Copy:
December In Paradise - A Time of Hope, Redemption, and New Life
A CHOICE TO FORGIVE by Beth Wiseman
After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. But can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?
A MIRACLE FOR MIRIAM by Kathleen Fuller
Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. But can he convince "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?
ONE CHILD by Barbara Cameron
The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples.
My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed these three stories. Although each novella contains a stand-alone story, they are interrelated through the characters and events. I particularly liked the intermingling and contrasting of the Amish life and life of Englischers. The sense of understanding between those involved.
The characters were well-developed for a novella, and the internal and external conflicts really carried the stories along.
I highly recommend this good read.
November ACFW Book Releases
Seven more releases this month from ACFW members.
1. A Silent Pursuit, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Gina Santino has something someone desperately wants. Now, she's on the hunt to find it. Her deceased fiance's best friend, US Ranger, Ian Masterson is her only hope of staying alive while they race to be the first to discover the treasure her fiance left behind.
2. Chasing Shadows, by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An heiress turns to her former love, a cop, for help when she fears for her grandmother's life.
3. Close to Home, by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A reunion of old lovers brings up the shadows of past tragedy.
4. Fit To Be Tied, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book #2, by Robin Lee Hatcher from Zondervan. Who says a woman can't do a man's job?
5. I'm So Sure, A Charmed Life, Book 2, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. Its prom time and someone is trying to sabotage the queen contest. Can Bella solve the mystery in time AND keep it together as her life goes public on a wrestling reality show?
6. The Bartered Bride, by Erica Vetsch from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Tempests rage, in the board room, the ball room, and on treacherous Lake Superior as two hearts set sail on a collision course.
7. Together for the Holidays, Fostered by Love series-book 5, by Margaret Daley from Love Inspired. Can the true meaning of Christmas bring two loners together?
Happy Reading!
Musings
I had two fun booksignings in October. I met some new people, who hopefully will be come faithful readers.
My daughter and great grandson came to the first one at Mardel in Plano. Here's a picture of us.
I signed books with Amanda Cabot. This was the first time I met her face to face, but I wrote an
Announcements
Three book winners for October are: Linda Wagner – St. Paul, Minnesota, Jackie Smith – Crawfordville, Georgia, and Ingeborg Fagin, Lighthouse Point, Florida. You can choose from Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, and A Daughter’s Quest. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address. Or you can go to my website and click on Contact Me.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/. The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Ramona Richards – Field of Danger
Tracey Bateman – Thirsty
Margaret Daley – Together for the Holidays
Ashley Ludwig – All of Nothing
Mary Connealy – Cowboy Christmas
Susan Page Davis – White Mountain Brides
Nicole O’Dell – All That Glitters
Siri Mitchell – Love’s Pursuit
Judy Christy – Gone to Green
A. K. Arenz – The Case of the Mystified M. D.
Shirley Connolly – Thorns ~n~ Thistles
E. R. Webb – Gemini’s Cross
Kay Marshall Strom – The Call of Zulina
E. R. Webb – The Pallium Project
Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss – Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana
Elizabeth Wiseman – An Amish Gathering
Joyce Magnin – The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow
Rhonda McKnight – Secrets and Lies
Nicole O’Dell – All That Glitters
Siri Mitchell – Love’s Pursuit
Judy Christy – Gone to Green
A. K. Arenz – The Case of the Mystified M. D.
Shirley Connolly – Thorns ~n~ Thistles
E. R. Webb – Gemini’s Cross
Kay Marshall Strom – The Call of Zulina
E. R. Webb – The Pallium Project
Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss – Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana
Elizabeth Wiseman – An Amish Gathering
Joyce Magnin – The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow
Rhonda McKnight – Secrets and Lies
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Calendar of Events
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 8, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops Painting Historicals With Authenticity & Taking Settings to the Next Level
August 28, 2010 – ACFW Shreveport – Taking Settings to the Next Level
October 2, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
Book Reviews
Notice: In accordance with FTC regulations, I inform you that most of the books I review have been provided by either the author, a publicist, or the publisher. I review only books I have read and all reviews are the honest representation of my opinion of the book.
One Imperfect Christmas
By Myra Johnson
ISBN 9781426700705
Abingdon Press
Contemporary
Back Cover Copy:
Only Love Makes a Christmas Perfect
Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and guilt keep two people apart, sometimes a miracle needs a helping hand.
Natalie Pearce loves Christmas so much she'd gladly make a year-round celebration--until her mother suffers a massive stroke while taking down the decorations. Natalie's guilt over not being there to help her mom soon builds a wall that separates her from the rest of her family, including her husband Daniel and their teenage daughter. As the next December approaches, the last thing Natalie wants to be reminded of is another Christmas season.
Will her family's tenacious love and an unexpected Christmas gift from her mother help Natalie mend the broken pieces of their lives?
My review:
I love it when I start receiving the Christmas books from authors and publishing companies. I especially wanted to read this debut novel by Myra Johnson. I've known her for years and watched her grow as she honed her writing skills, and I was elated when she made her first sale.
The book is a good debut novel. The Christmas elements of newness and surprises were strong, and contributed to my enjoyment of the story. I did want to shake Natalie several times when she allowed her guilt to keep her from making the right decisions.
I found the young teenage daughter to be very believable. Her angst increased the level of the tension.
I recommend that you add this book to your Christmas reading list.
The Great Christmas Bowl
By Susan May Warren
ISBN 978-1-4143-2678-8
Tyndale
Contemporary Novella
Back Cover Copy:
Christmas is a magical season - except for this year.
Marianne Wallace loves the holidays. From dressing the tree to her traditional Christmas dinner, it's all about creating memories for her family. But when her children begin to leave home--and their traditions--behind, she has one last chance to create a holiday they'll never forget.
Unfortunately, she's soon in over her head, and one impulsive decision leads to a string of events that will change the way her family--even her small Minnesota town--sees the Christmas season.
My Review:
I've loved Susan's writing for years now. This book is no exception.
Full of traditions and unmet expectations, the book takes the reader through a serious transition time in many families. On the way, it brings laughter, tears, and the warm kind of feeling you want from a Christmas book.
You won't want to miss one. Put it on your list right now.
The Unfinished Gift
By Dan Walsh
ISBN 978-0-8007-1924-1
Revell
Historical Christmas
Back Cover Copy:
Can a gift from the past mend a broken heart?
Ian Collins is an old man without his son. Patrick Collins is a young boy without his father. On his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather's house. And he wants the dusty wooden soldier in Grandfather's attic--the one his is forbidden to touch.
My Review:
This novel was a surprise to me. A story that touched on the society and mores in the days of World War II. A story with a lot of heart that takes the reader down the road of broken dreams in the lives of two people who were thrown together by circumstances. Pain and pathos paint a detailed portrait of two hearts on a collision course.
Although this is a debut novel, we have a Christmas classic in the makings. A story readers will want to revisit year after year, much as they do with movies like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. So move this book to the top of your to-be-read list and grab a box of Kleenex on the way.
Bluegrass Christmas
By Allie Pleiter
ISBN 978-0-373-87556-6
Love Inspired
Contemporary Romance
Back Cover Copy:
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
That's what led new believer Mary Thorpe to start over in quaint Middleburg, Kentucky. As director of the church's Christmas pageant, Mary's job is to bring the townspeople together, to remind them what the season is really about. But everyone is all riled up over one very handsome man: the man daring to run against Middleburg's popular long-standing mayor. Mac MacCarthy wants change. Mary wants things to stay as they are. Is there a happy medium? Both Mac and Mary are in for one very big Christmas surprise.
My Review:
I love Christmas stories. They're usually feel-good stories that make you get into the holiday spirit. And as a trade paperback, BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS should have fit that mold. It did not.
This wonderful story brought many surprises. The humor should have built to the big ending, but in this book, the author took the reader into a deep, well-crafted subplot that was profound. Without this depth, this story would have been just another fun read. Instead, it was a powerful look behind the facades people use to hide their deepest secrets, hurts, and longings.
You won't want to miss this story. Put it on the top of your to-be-read Christmas stack.
An Amish Christmas
By Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Barbara Cameron
ISBN 976-1-59554-821-4
Thomas Nelson
Contemporary Novella Collection
Back Cover Copy:
December In Paradise - A Time of Hope, Redemption, and New Life
A CHOICE TO FORGIVE by Beth Wiseman
After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. But can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?
A MIRACLE FOR MIRIAM by Kathleen Fuller
Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. But can he convince "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?
ONE CHILD by Barbara Cameron
The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples.
My Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed these three stories. Although each novella contains a stand-alone story, they are interrelated through the characters and events. I particularly liked the intermingling and contrasting of the Amish life and life of Englischers. The sense of understanding between those involved.
The characters were well-developed for a novella, and the internal and external conflicts really carried the stories along.
I highly recommend this good read.
November ACFW Book Releases
Seven more releases this month from ACFW members.
1. A Silent Pursuit, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Gina Santino has something someone desperately wants. Now, she's on the hunt to find it. Her deceased fiance's best friend, US Ranger, Ian Masterson is her only hope of staying alive while they race to be the first to discover the treasure her fiance left behind.
2. Chasing Shadows, by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An heiress turns to her former love, a cop, for help when she fears for her grandmother's life.
3. Close to Home, by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A reunion of old lovers brings up the shadows of past tragedy.
4. Fit To Be Tied, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book #2, by Robin Lee Hatcher from Zondervan. Who says a woman can't do a man's job?
5. I'm So Sure, A Charmed Life, Book 2, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. Its prom time and someone is trying to sabotage the queen contest. Can Bella solve the mystery in time AND keep it together as her life goes public on a wrestling reality show?
6. The Bartered Bride, by Erica Vetsch from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Tempests rage, in the board room, the ball room, and on treacherous Lake Superior as two hearts set sail on a collision course.
7. Together for the Holidays, Fostered by Love series-book 5, by Margaret Daley from Love Inspired. Can the true meaning of Christmas bring two loners together?
Happy Reading!
Musings
I had two fun booksignings in October. I met some new people, who hopefully will be come faithful readers.
My daughter and great grandson came to the first one at Mardel in Plano. Here's a picture of us.I signed books with Amanda Cabot. This was the first time I met her face to face, but I wrote an
endorsement for her book, Paper Roses.
Then the second booksigning was at Mardel in Hurst, which is a couple of miles from my house. I love this store. It’s a fairly new store, very well designed with lots of stock that is easy to find.
And the store personnel treated us exceptionally well. I’ll be sure to schedule things in this store again.
I signed books with Leanna Ellis. We interacted with a number of people and had a really good time.
Then the second booksigning was at Mardel in Hurst, which is a couple of miles from my house. I love this store. It’s a fairly new store, very well designed with lots of stock that is easy to find.
And the store personnel treated us exceptionally well. I’ll be sure to schedule things in this store again.
I signed books with Leanna Ellis. We interacted with a number of people and had a really good time.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
October 2009
Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Announcements
Yea!! Three book winners for September. They will receive their choice of either: Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, or A Daughter’s Quest. They are Lisa Glidewell, and Eleanor Wyatt of Carthage, Tennessee, and Kelly McNamara of Adams Basin, New York. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month with occasional other posts.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Leann Harris – Guarded Secrets
Tricia Goyer – The Sunflower Serenade
Beth Shriver – Love at First Flight
Cheryl Wyatt – Soldier Daddy
Sara Mills – Miss Match
Loree Lough – Love Finds You in North Pose, Alaska
Ruth Axtel Morrison – A Bride of Honor
Beth Shriver – A Case of the Heart
Beth Wiseman – Plain Promise
Tricia Goyer – The Swiss Courier
Lori Copeland - Three Times Blessed
Sam Batterman – Wayback
Maggie Brendan – The Jewel of His Heart
Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl
Robin Lee Hatcher – Fit to be Tied
Mark Mynheir – The Night Watchman
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Calendar of Events
October 10 - DFW Ready Writers - Colleyville, TX - 11:00 am
October 20 – Booksigning with Amanda Cabot – Mardel Plano, Coit Road & Park – 6:00 pm
October 24 – Booksigning with Leanna Ellis – Mardel Hurst, Hurstview & Grapevine Highway – 1:00 pm
April 3, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 5, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops “Painting Historicals With Authenticity” & “Taking Settings to the Next Level”
Book Reviews
I really didn’t read many books in September, because of my conferences and writing my own book. I’ll do better this month.
Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
By Loree Lough
ISBN 978-1-934770-66-5
Summerside Press
Contemporary Romance
Back Cover Copy:
For as long as anyone can remember, tourists have flocked to the quaint town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where Amish buggies are as common as shops selling hand-crafted goods. But to attorney Julia Spencer, this town is anything but a paradise. Raised in foster homes, Julia has succeeded in life only through steely determination and independence. The close-knit Amish people are a mystery to her. But local veterinarian Simon Thomas knows them well and is fiercely protective of their simple ways, which are increasingly threatened by the outside world. When Julia agrees to defend a local teenager charged in a case involving an Amish boy, she and Simon find themselves on opposite sides of an intense and emotional legal battle. Just when it seems they will never understand one another, God has something to teach them both about the power of forgiveness. . .and the joys to be found in Paradise.
My Review:
I've loved reading books by Loree Lough for a long time. And I believe this is her best one yet. Her melding the the friendships between an Amish family and two non-Amish people is tender and stirring.
The characters are realistic and multi-layered. Their hopes and fears universal. And the way, Loree used the various settings to impact the story is emotional and satisfying.
You won't want to miss this book.
Blood Bayou
By Karen Young
ISBN 978-1-4165-8750-0
Howard Books
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Back Cover Copy:
To Save a Victim, Camille St. James May Have to Become One Herself.
Seven years ago, tragedy ended the troubled marriage of Camille and Jack Vermillion. Now, as head of the Truth Project, her life safe and orderly, she focuses her lawyerly skills on freeing wrongly incarcerated individuals on death row.
Jack paid a bitter price for his mistakes. No longer a high-powered corporate attorney, he's now pastor of a small church in Blood Bayou. Unsure of her own beliefs, Camille is highly skeptical of the conversion of this man she hasn't seen in seven years.
Then tragedy strikes again. Jack's sister is murdered, apparently by a prisoner Camille has set free. To prove his innocence, Camille must return to Blood Bayou. But that means facing the hostility of the town--and Jack.
And as She Works to Find the Real Killer, Someone Is Determined to Stop her. . .by Any Means.
My Review:
A friend loaned me her copy of the book to read on a return flight from the American Christian Fiction Writers national conference in Denver. The first page grabbed me and the book held me spellbound until we landed in DFW. I had to keep the book until I finished reading it.
Even though she's the author of over 30 books, I'd never heard of this author. She is now on my Must-Read list.
The story is fast-paced and the plot full of twists and turns. And I loved the romantic tension between the formerly married hero and heroine. Their struggles against the forces of evil and their own attraction to each other are a very good lead-in to the spiritual thread, which is strong and believable in today's world.
An altogether wonderful read. You won't want to miss it.
October ACFW Book Releases
Seventeen more releases this month from ACFW members.
1. A Star Curiously Singing, The DarkTrench Saga, Book 1, by Kerry Nietz from Marcher Lord Press. An augmented human programmer is sent to space to solve the mystery of a bot’s destruction.
2. Double Take, by Jenness Walker from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When a stalker becomes obsessed with a woman, the key to stopping him lies in a best-selling thriller…until he stops going by the book.
3. Dreaming of Home, by Glenna Kaye from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Two wounded hearts must learn to trust that God's dreams for them far exceed any they may have for themselves.
4. Eternity Falls - A Rick Macey Cyberthriller, Book 1 of the Rick Macey Cyberthriller series, by Kirk Outerbridge from Marcher Lord Press. A cyber-enhanced detective must stop a religious zealot from destroying a serum for eternal life.
5. Gripped By Fear, Chicago Warrior Thriller Series, 2nd book, by John M. Wills from Total Recall. Chgo Detectives hunt a serial rapist in the mean streets of Chicago in the midst of personal struggles.
6. Leaving Yesterday, by Kathryn Cushman from Bethany House. A mother rejoices at the return of her prodigal, but is faced with an impossible decision as evidence from his past refuses to stay buried.
7. Loves Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, by Lauralee Bliss from Summerside Press. Set in the Guilded Age within the beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains, successful artist Tom Haskins and penniless Sara McGee discover through their circumstances that the most precious gifts of life and love don't always come as they're expected.
8. Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, by Loree Lough from Summerside Press. A story that's sure to warm your heart, despite the icy Alaskan setting!
9. Love is a Battlefield, Book One in the Walk in the Park series, by Annalisa Daughety from Barbour Publishing. War rages again at Shiloh, but this time it’s a battle of the heart.
10. Seaside Letters, by Denise Hunter from Thomas Nelson. Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied deeply to a past she deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard. But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifts through the emails and figures out the truth-then Tucker will discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.
11. Soldier Daddy, Wings of Refuge Series-book 5-all standalones, by Cheryl Wyatt from Steeple Hill. A USAF Pararescue Jumper searches for a nanny for his twins and instead finds a future with a woman harboring a secret tied to his past.
12. The Case of the Mystified M.D., Book 2, Bouncing Grandma Mysteries, by A.K. Arenz from Sheaf House. First a foot, now a hand--what body part is next?
13. The Christmas Journey, by Winnie Griggs from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.
14. The Jewel of his Heart, Heart of the West Series, by Maggie Brendan from Revell. Discover the classic struggle between the world's wealth and the lure of eternal love in this Western story of elegance and survival.
15. The Matchmaking Pact, After the Storm #4 , by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single father and a single mother have to deal with matchmaking children.
16. Thirsty, by Tracey Bateman from Waterbrook. “Deep, cutting, an intoxicating blend of human and supernatural, of characters scarred by the past, drained by life. This is the book I’ve waited for.”
17. Trial By Fire, by Cara Putman from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When an arsonist targets her family, Tricia has to find him before harm is done without losing her heart to a fireman.
Happy Reading!
Musings
A lot has happened since my last newsletter. The North Texas Christian Writers Conference was very interesting. I enjoyed teaching, taking appointments, and meeting new people. A couple of unexpected things happened. Remember this is the year of the unexpected in my life.
One woman took my workshop, who had also taken it when I taught it at ACFW national conference in Minneapolis last year. That was totally unexpected.
My table was always full at break and meal times. Lots of people wanted to talk to me, and I enjoyed it immensely.
One of the other speakers, for non-fiction, told me I was like a 25 year old—because I knew so much about the Internet and Social networking and the technical aspects of it and because I had a lot of energy. When the faculty went out to eat at the end of the conference, he told my husband the same thing. Then he asked James what I was like when I was 25. James said, “You don’t want to know.” I’m not sure whether that’s good or not.
Then the ACFW national conference in Denver was wonderful. Several people from my critique group flew up a day early. Others drove up and arrived about the same time. We had a lot of time for reconnecting with friends that evening.
For the first time, I have a publicist. Summerside Press had hired one of the best firms in the business. And I met with my publicist to plan the publicity for my next book release in May. That was a special time.
Summerside Press also hosted a dessert buffet after the first evening session for their authors. If was on the outside terrace with a large fire pit. Very enjoyable and good desserts. They also gave us a gift bag.
Barbour Publishing hosted a party on the same terrace the next evening. Lots of good food, including a chocolate fountain (my favorite). They gave us two books as well.
The teaching sessions were extremely professional and helped all of us move forward no matter at what stage of our writing career we were. Debbie Macomber was the keynote speaker.
We had a very good book signing, with authors spread across three areas of the atrium and lobbies.
Ted Dekker is a recent new member of ACFW, but he didn’t come to the conference itself. But he did come on one evening and hung out in the lobby.
I put a slideshow of pictures from the conference on this blog, but when the slideshow was on the blog, not all the picture showed. If you want to see the pictures better go to this site:
http://www.slide.com/r/ThDLSFFi6j_iY-m1fgS3NmsegeFDUB-Z
After I came home and got back writing my novel, everything came together so I can finish writing it quickly.
Announcements
Yea!! Three book winners for September. They will receive their choice of either: Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, or A Daughter’s Quest. They are Lisa Glidewell, and Eleanor Wyatt of Carthage, Tennessee, and Kelly McNamara of Adams Basin, New York. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month with occasional other posts.
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Leann Harris – Guarded Secrets
Tricia Goyer – The Sunflower Serenade
Beth Shriver – Love at First Flight
Cheryl Wyatt – Soldier Daddy
Sara Mills – Miss Match
Loree Lough – Love Finds You in North Pose, Alaska
Ruth Axtel Morrison – A Bride of Honor
Beth Shriver – A Case of the Heart
Beth Wiseman – Plain Promise
Tricia Goyer – The Swiss Courier
Lori Copeland - Three Times Blessed
Sam Batterman – Wayback
Maggie Brendan – The Jewel of His Heart
Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl
Robin Lee Hatcher – Fit to be Tied
Mark Mynheir – The Night Watchman
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Calendar of Events
October 10 - DFW Ready Writers - Colleyville, TX - 11:00 am
October 20 – Booksigning with Amanda Cabot – Mardel Plano, Coit Road & Park – 6:00 pm
October 24 – Booksigning with Leanna Ellis – Mardel Hurst, Hurstview & Grapevine Highway – 1:00 pm
April 3, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 5, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops “Painting Historicals With Authenticity” & “Taking Settings to the Next Level”
Book Reviews
I really didn’t read many books in September, because of my conferences and writing my own book. I’ll do better this month.
Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
By Loree Lough
ISBN 978-1-934770-66-5
Summerside Press
Contemporary Romance
Back Cover Copy:
For as long as anyone can remember, tourists have flocked to the quaint town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where Amish buggies are as common as shops selling hand-crafted goods. But to attorney Julia Spencer, this town is anything but a paradise. Raised in foster homes, Julia has succeeded in life only through steely determination and independence. The close-knit Amish people are a mystery to her. But local veterinarian Simon Thomas knows them well and is fiercely protective of their simple ways, which are increasingly threatened by the outside world. When Julia agrees to defend a local teenager charged in a case involving an Amish boy, she and Simon find themselves on opposite sides of an intense and emotional legal battle. Just when it seems they will never understand one another, God has something to teach them both about the power of forgiveness. . .and the joys to be found in Paradise.
My Review:
I've loved reading books by Loree Lough for a long time. And I believe this is her best one yet. Her melding the the friendships between an Amish family and two non-Amish people is tender and stirring.
The characters are realistic and multi-layered. Their hopes and fears universal. And the way, Loree used the various settings to impact the story is emotional and satisfying.
You won't want to miss this book.
Blood Bayou
By Karen Young
ISBN 978-1-4165-8750-0
Howard Books
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Back Cover Copy:
To Save a Victim, Camille St. James May Have to Become One Herself.
Seven years ago, tragedy ended the troubled marriage of Camille and Jack Vermillion. Now, as head of the Truth Project, her life safe and orderly, she focuses her lawyerly skills on freeing wrongly incarcerated individuals on death row.
Jack paid a bitter price for his mistakes. No longer a high-powered corporate attorney, he's now pastor of a small church in Blood Bayou. Unsure of her own beliefs, Camille is highly skeptical of the conversion of this man she hasn't seen in seven years.
Then tragedy strikes again. Jack's sister is murdered, apparently by a prisoner Camille has set free. To prove his innocence, Camille must return to Blood Bayou. But that means facing the hostility of the town--and Jack.
And as She Works to Find the Real Killer, Someone Is Determined to Stop her. . .by Any Means.
My Review:
A friend loaned me her copy of the book to read on a return flight from the American Christian Fiction Writers national conference in Denver. The first page grabbed me and the book held me spellbound until we landed in DFW. I had to keep the book until I finished reading it.
Even though she's the author of over 30 books, I'd never heard of this author. She is now on my Must-Read list.
The story is fast-paced and the plot full of twists and turns. And I loved the romantic tension between the formerly married hero and heroine. Their struggles against the forces of evil and their own attraction to each other are a very good lead-in to the spiritual thread, which is strong and believable in today's world.
An altogether wonderful read. You won't want to miss it.
October ACFW Book Releases
Seventeen more releases this month from ACFW members.
1. A Star Curiously Singing, The DarkTrench Saga, Book 1, by Kerry Nietz from Marcher Lord Press. An augmented human programmer is sent to space to solve the mystery of a bot’s destruction.
2. Double Take, by Jenness Walker from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When a stalker becomes obsessed with a woman, the key to stopping him lies in a best-selling thriller…until he stops going by the book.
3. Dreaming of Home, by Glenna Kaye from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Two wounded hearts must learn to trust that God's dreams for them far exceed any they may have for themselves.
4. Eternity Falls - A Rick Macey Cyberthriller, Book 1 of the Rick Macey Cyberthriller series, by Kirk Outerbridge from Marcher Lord Press. A cyber-enhanced detective must stop a religious zealot from destroying a serum for eternal life.
5. Gripped By Fear, Chicago Warrior Thriller Series, 2nd book, by John M. Wills from Total Recall. Chgo Detectives hunt a serial rapist in the mean streets of Chicago in the midst of personal struggles.
6. Leaving Yesterday, by Kathryn Cushman from Bethany House. A mother rejoices at the return of her prodigal, but is faced with an impossible decision as evidence from his past refuses to stay buried.
7. Loves Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, by Lauralee Bliss from Summerside Press. Set in the Guilded Age within the beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains, successful artist Tom Haskins and penniless Sara McGee discover through their circumstances that the most precious gifts of life and love don't always come as they're expected.
8. Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, by Loree Lough from Summerside Press. A story that's sure to warm your heart, despite the icy Alaskan setting!
9. Love is a Battlefield, Book One in the Walk in the Park series, by Annalisa Daughety from Barbour Publishing. War rages again at Shiloh, but this time it’s a battle of the heart.
10. Seaside Letters, by Denise Hunter from Thomas Nelson. Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied deeply to a past she deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard. But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifts through the emails and figures out the truth-then Tucker will discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.
11. Soldier Daddy, Wings of Refuge Series-book 5-all standalones, by Cheryl Wyatt from Steeple Hill. A USAF Pararescue Jumper searches for a nanny for his twins and instead finds a future with a woman harboring a secret tied to his past.
12. The Case of the Mystified M.D., Book 2, Bouncing Grandma Mysteries, by A.K. Arenz from Sheaf House. First a foot, now a hand--what body part is next?
13. The Christmas Journey, by Winnie Griggs from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.
14. The Jewel of his Heart, Heart of the West Series, by Maggie Brendan from Revell. Discover the classic struggle between the world's wealth and the lure of eternal love in this Western story of elegance and survival.
15. The Matchmaking Pact, After the Storm #4 , by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single father and a single mother have to deal with matchmaking children.
16. Thirsty, by Tracey Bateman from Waterbrook. “Deep, cutting, an intoxicating blend of human and supernatural, of characters scarred by the past, drained by life. This is the book I’ve waited for.”
17. Trial By Fire, by Cara Putman from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When an arsonist targets her family, Tricia has to find him before harm is done without losing her heart to a fireman.
Happy Reading!
Musings
A lot has happened since my last newsletter. The North Texas Christian Writers Conference was very interesting. I enjoyed teaching, taking appointments, and meeting new people. A couple of unexpected things happened. Remember this is the year of the unexpected in my life.
One woman took my workshop, who had also taken it when I taught it at ACFW national conference in Minneapolis last year. That was totally unexpected.
My table was always full at break and meal times. Lots of people wanted to talk to me, and I enjoyed it immensely.
One of the other speakers, for non-fiction, told me I was like a 25 year old—because I knew so much about the Internet and Social networking and the technical aspects of it and because I had a lot of energy. When the faculty went out to eat at the end of the conference, he told my husband the same thing. Then he asked James what I was like when I was 25. James said, “You don’t want to know.” I’m not sure whether that’s good or not.
Then the ACFW national conference in Denver was wonderful. Several people from my critique group flew up a day early. Others drove up and arrived about the same time. We had a lot of time for reconnecting with friends that evening.
For the first time, I have a publicist. Summerside Press had hired one of the best firms in the business. And I met with my publicist to plan the publicity for my next book release in May. That was a special time.
Summerside Press also hosted a dessert buffet after the first evening session for their authors. If was on the outside terrace with a large fire pit. Very enjoyable and good desserts. They also gave us a gift bag.
Barbour Publishing hosted a party on the same terrace the next evening. Lots of good food, including a chocolate fountain (my favorite). They gave us two books as well.
The teaching sessions were extremely professional and helped all of us move forward no matter at what stage of our writing career we were. Debbie Macomber was the keynote speaker.
We had a very good book signing, with authors spread across three areas of the atrium and lobbies.
Ted Dekker is a recent new member of ACFW, but he didn’t come to the conference itself. But he did come on one evening and hung out in the lobby.
I put a slideshow of pictures from the conference on this blog, but when the slideshow was on the blog, not all the picture showed. If you want to see the pictures better go to this site:
http://www.slide.com/r/ThDLSFFi6j_iY-m1fgS3NmsegeFDUB-Z
After I came home and got back writing my novel, everything came together so I can finish writing it quickly.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 2009
Government cannot spend what it does not first take from the people. James Robison
Announcements
Announcing the release of two books:
Wild West Christmas
By Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin
Calendar of Events
September 2009 – Release of Wild West Christmas
September 2009 – Release of Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe
September 2009 – Release of Can You Help Me? And Caught Red-Handed in Thorndike Large Print edition
Maggie Rose
By Sharlene MacLaren
ISBN 978-1-60374-075-3
Whitaker House
Historical Romantic Fioction
The Daughters of Jacob Kane - Book 2
Back Cover Copy:
1904 ~~ New York, New York
Maggie Rose, the spunky, friendly, twenty-year-old daughter of Michigan resident Jacob Kane, feels compelled to leave her beloved hometown of Sandy Shores to pursue what she feels in her heart are God's plans for her life--in New York City.
Maggie Rose adjusts to her new life at Sheltering Arms Refuge, an orphanage that also transports homeless children to towns across the United States to match them with compatible families. Most of the children have painful pasts that make Maggie aghast, but she marvels at their resiliency. As she gets to know each child, her heart blossoms with new depths of love and compassion.
When a newspaper reporter comes to stay at the orphanage in order to gather research for an article, Maggie is struck by his handsome face--and concerned by his lack of faith. She can't deny their mutual affections, though. Will she win the struggle to maintain her focus on God and remain attuned to His guidance?
My Review:
Sharlene MacLaren is a recent arrival in Christian publishing who has grown tremendously through each of her published works. I loved her early books, but each new one has greater depth and heights. The characters in this book are at cross purposes, and I loved to see each of them develop and grow.
I've always been fascinated by the orphan trains, and Sharlene took us into the hearts and minds of the people who accompanied them on the trek as well as the children who were chosen. . .and not chosen.
I highly recommend this excellent read.
Montana Rose
By Mary Connealy
ISBN 978-1-60260-142-0
Barbour
Historical Romance
Montana Marriages - Book 1
Back Cover Copy:
Widowed One Day --
Wedded the Next
Cassie Griffin has always dressed in silks. Her free-spending husband expects nothing less. But now he has died, leaving her unprotected, heavily in debt, and pregnant. As any single woman doesn't remain so for long in Divide, Montana, Cassie wonders if marrying one of the local cowboys might be her only choice. After seeing her choices, she then wonders if joining her husband might be even better.
Red Dawson has always had a soft spot in his heart for Cassie, even though most of the townspeople see her only as a silk-clad china doll. When she's left a widow, only one thing keeps him from immediately sweeping her off her feet--she's a nonbeliever.
As the other cowboys lay claim to Cassie, the most powerful rancher in the area steps forward to demand what he thinks rightly belongs to him. . .and the property that goes with her. Red struggles with figuring out what to do but decides he can't allow Cassie to suffer a fate worse than death and marries her himself.
Will Red win over this seemingly fragile and spoiled china doll's heart. . .and survive her unique brand of ranch help in the meantime? Will Cassie find true love with her cowboy--and His God--when she exchanges smooth silk for coarse calico?
My Review:
Mary. . .Mary. . .Mary, you just keep writing books that grab me and pull me in so deep I have a hard time putting it down. At least I had the sense to read it on the weekend when I wasn't writing my own book. Of course, James expected me to have food on the table when needed, and so I had to put it down a time or two.
MONTANA ROSE is a departure from your usual strong heroine, and I loved the character development through the book for the heroine, and the hero. The setting was unique and completely interesting. I won't give it away here, but I've had experience with that kind of place. You got it right.
The spiritual thread is strong and several characters experience strong growth. A really masterful job writing this book. A long way from your first manuscript I edited for you.
Readers, get this book quick. You'll be glad you did.
The Occasional Cook
By Cyndy Salzmann
ISBN 978-1-4196-9711-1
Subtitle: Culinary Strategies for Overcommitted Families
Cookbook
Back Cover Copy:
Family-friendly recipes to simplify mealtimes and save money!
Cyndy Salzmann has been holding cooking classes since 1997. Now in this sequel to MAKING YOUR HOME A HAVEN, Cyndy shares one of the secrets of how to do that: Spend less time in the kitchen!
If you want to
spend more time with your family
save on your grocery bills
prepare taste-tempting meals without exotic engredients
serve family-friendly recipes even the pickiest eaters will love
then THE OCCASIONAL COOK is for you!
My Review:
I know, I know. I usually review Christian fiction, but I recently acquired a copy of this book and found it fascinating.
In this book, Cyndy will teach you about how easy it is to use her system to make your time in the kitchen very productive and allow you more time out of the kitchen. She starts out with really good tips everyone can use. Then she explains her method of cooking for a whole week in one day.
After that, she includes a lot of delicious recipes you can follow using her method. And not to leave you just staring at the pages, she finishes with a section giving you step-by-step instructions, including menus and shopping lists. And all the food is nutritious, but easy to obtain and prepare.
I highly recommend this book.
The Blue Enchantress
By M. L. Tyndall
ISBN 978-1-60260-157-4
Barbour
Historical Romance
Charles Town Belles, Book 2
Back Cover Copy:
An adventure-seeking woman and a security-minded ship builder are shipwrecked together.
Still grieving the loss of her mother--and private tragedies of her own--Hope Westcott plays the part of a duriful admiral's daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society. . .and an illicit affair with Lord Falkland.
For Captain Nethaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shippind business--ignoring God's call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Westcott.
Hope's adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her?
Fron the Carolina Coast to the Caribbean, through stormy seas and shipwrecks, can Hope and Nathaniel put aside their painful pasts, listen to God's voice, and find true love and acceptance?
My Review:
MaryLu, you've done it again. Given us a swashbuckling adventure filled with romance. A book that's hard to put down once you start reading.
Your characters leapt from the pages straight into my heart. I loved them, rooted for them, booed the bad guys, and loved every minute of it. You truly showed the depth of sacrificial love.
And you setting is close to my heart. I love traveling through the Caribbean. I could visualize every scene with your excellent descriptions.
Bring on the next book in the series.
Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana
By Melody Dobson
ISBN 978-1-934770-74-0
Summerside Press
Historical Romance
Back Cover Copy:
In a divided town during a dangerous era, who can be trusted?
Liberty, Indiana, is home to a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by Quaker abolitionists Anna Brent and her father. Harboring runaway slaves is a dangerous mission: anyone caught aiding them is subject to improsonment. When Anna's secret work is threatened, can she turn to the handsome yet outspoken Daniel Stanton, Liberty's newspaper editor, to ensure the safety of the runaways so dear to her? Will she and Daniel risk everything for their beliefs--including their personal liberty?
My Review:
I wasn't terribly interested in reading about the Underground Railroad. I'd read plenty of books about it and considered this one as just one more. What else was there to say about it?
However, when I picked it up, the first chapter captured me, and I had a hard time putting the book down. Although the story is the same--slaves giving everything to find freedom--the focus is different.
Very tastefully done, the book still reveals the inherent evil of slavery in any era. I found the story not only well-crafted, but also compassionate and heart-tugging.
I highly recommend this excellent read.
Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio
By Lisa Harris
ISBN 978-1-934770-81-8
Summerside Press
Historical Romantic Women's Fiction
Back Cover Copy:
The only thing worse than being a spinster is being a twice-jilted spinster.
At twenty-five, Catherine Morgan is hardly an old maid. But she's given up on marriage and instead manages the family's general store in the small town of Revenge, Ohio. Bound by a promise to care for her three sisters until they marry, she'll do anything to keep them safe. But Sheriff Corbin Hunter stands in her way. He has evidence that her sister's fiance is really an infamous bank robber--and the man who murdered his father. Catherine finds herself torn between saving her sister's heart and losing hers to the man who jilted her seven years ago. Will Corbin's desire for revenge cause him to lose Catherine a second time?
My Review:
I had been anxiously waiting to read Lisa's Summerside Press book, and I loved it. I mentored Lisa years ago before she ever sold her first novel. Now she's one of my favorite authors.
This story might be my favorite one yet. The premise of the hope for revenge in their hearts while living in the town of Revenge is powerful. And Lisa writes enough twists and turns into her plot to keep the reader turning pages. I especially liked the suspenseful element.
Lisa's characters pulled me into the story and held me captive through every page. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas
By Janice Hanna
ISBN 978-1-935416-16-6
Summerside Press
Historical Romantic Fiction
Back Cover Copy:
Belinda Bauer in her ivory tower. . .
In the quaint community of Poetry, Texas, Belinda spies an opportunity. The town is filled with farmers and railroad men in need of wives, so why not set herself up as a marriage broker? Belinda sends little poems to prospective brides all over the country, and her plan seems to work. One by one, women begin to arrive in Poetry. There's only one problem: Belinda doesn't have a clue what she'd doing, and most of the brides marry the wrong men! One client is particularly unhappy. Georg Kaufman, the local barber, has lost more than one prospective wife to Belinda's fumbled attempts. For some reason, she just can't seem to find Georg's perfect match, though it's not for lack of trying. Is there a poetic ending in store for Georg--and for Belinda herself?
My Review:
I've known Janice (aka Janice Thompson) for many years. I've loved her books, but this is the first one that I felt really sounded like her voice. And I saw a lot of Janice's background and interests in this story. These details made the story extremely fascinating.
The book had many "awww" moments. I don't have the time to read a book straight through, so I'd read in spurts whenever I had time. Many of the scenes kept me chuckling long after I put the book down.
If you want a sweet love story with comedic touches and interesting characters, then this is the book for you.
September ACFW Book Releases
Announcements
Announcing the release of two books:
Wild West Christmas
By Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin
ISBN 978-1-60260-566-4
Barbour
Christmas Courtships Corral Four Sisters in Texas
Charlsey Ames can ride, rope, and work the ranch with the best of them. But things don't add up when she finds herself attracted to accountant Horace Miller III, a citified tenderfoot. Will he ever see the gentle woman beneath the coating of trail dust.
Sharp-shooting Lucy Ames is thrilled to join Major Paulson's Wild West Show. But is she setting her sights too high when she begins falling for budding evangelist Gordon Paulson? Would she be better off aiming for a stable, widowed rancher?
Although horse-trainer Sarah Ames is stunned when her pa hires the part-Mexican Carson Romero to take over her job at the ranch, she gradually becomes attracted to the drifter. But when cattle go missing, Carson seems the prime suspect Has Carson stolen Sarah's heart as well as some prime longhorns?
An expert tracker, the plain Bessie Mae Ames resolves to spend her life taking care of her widowed father. That is until Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides back into town, trailing a wanted man. Will the soon-to-be-smitten ranger find both he and his prey sweet on an unsuspecting Bessie Mae?
Will these cowgirls be tamed and live to celebrate Christmas romance?
Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe
By Lena Nelson Dooley, Jeanie Smith Cash, Jean Kincaid, Jeri Odell
ISBN 978-1-60260-563-3
Barbour
Love Hits the Slopes at Christmastime
Four young women, fresh out of college, pursue their careers at a new ski lodge at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village during the winter season.
Bethany Stillman's resolve to focus on her RN career falters when she meets paramedic Cole Beckman. Cole wonders how long it will be before Beth realizes he's to blame for crippling her grandfather. Can a Christmas miracle forge a path to love and forgiveness?
Social director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she didn't count on was having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor. How far will daredevil Derrick Greene go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?
Stephanie St. John is determined to make a go of the time-share program at Snowbird Lodge. But Darrin Hart seems to be undermining her efforts, her confidence, and her reputation. Will misunderstanding be resolved, or will Stephanie succeed in business only to lose at love?
A wounded-at-the-heart Michaela Christianssen has chosen a male-free existence. But her friends and an eleven-year-old girl have other ideas. Widower Jonas Bradley is content with his life as father and forest ranger, until he finds himself pining for Michaela. What will it take to fell her oppositions to romance?
Will these four women hear wedding bells chime this Christmas?
Once again, I’ve chosen three book winners for September. They will receive their choice of either: Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, or A Daughter’s Quest. They are Jane Squires of Wasola, Montana, and Marion Marchetto of Navarre, Florida, and Linda Wagner of St Paul, Minnesota. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Craig Parshall – The Rose Conspiracy
Myra Johnson – One Imperfect Christmas
Rita Gerlach – Surrender the Wind
Elizabeth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Barbara Cameron – An Amish Christmas
Debby Mayne, Paige Winship Dooly, Elizabeth Ludwig, Elizabetheth Goddard – Christmas Homecoming
Jerry Eicher – Rebecca’s Promise – Rebecca’s Return
Kathleen Y’Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin – Wild West Christmas
BJ Hoff – American Anthem
Mary Ellis – A Widow’s Hope
Robert James Luedke – Eye Witness
Linda Leigh Hargrove – The Making of Isaac Hunt – Loving Cee Cee Johnson
Maureen Lang – Look to the East
Cindy Woodsmall – The Sound of Sleighbells
Susan Page Davis – Hearts in the Crossfire
Allie Pleiter – Bluegrass Christmas
Mona Hodgson – Two Brides Too Many
Brandilyn and Amberley Collins – Last Breath
Tricia Goyer – The Sunflower Serenade
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Right now I’m running a contest on my fan page. Check it out.
Barbour
Christmas Courtships Corral Four Sisters in Texas
Charlsey Ames can ride, rope, and work the ranch with the best of them. But things don't add up when she finds herself attracted to accountant Horace Miller III, a citified tenderfoot. Will he ever see the gentle woman beneath the coating of trail dust.
Sharp-shooting Lucy Ames is thrilled to join Major Paulson's Wild West Show. But is she setting her sights too high when she begins falling for budding evangelist Gordon Paulson? Would she be better off aiming for a stable, widowed rancher?
Although horse-trainer Sarah Ames is stunned when her pa hires the part-Mexican Carson Romero to take over her job at the ranch, she gradually becomes attracted to the drifter. But when cattle go missing, Carson seems the prime suspect Has Carson stolen Sarah's heart as well as some prime longhorns?
An expert tracker, the plain Bessie Mae Ames resolves to spend her life taking care of her widowed father. That is until Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides back into town, trailing a wanted man. Will the soon-to-be-smitten ranger find both he and his prey sweet on an unsuspecting Bessie Mae?
Will these cowgirls be tamed and live to celebrate Christmas romance?
Christmas Love at Lake TahoeBy Lena Nelson Dooley, Jeanie Smith Cash, Jean Kincaid, Jeri Odell
ISBN 978-1-60260-563-3
Barbour
Love Hits the Slopes at Christmastime
Four young women, fresh out of college, pursue their careers at a new ski lodge at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village during the winter season.
Bethany Stillman's resolve to focus on her RN career falters when she meets paramedic Cole Beckman. Cole wonders how long it will be before Beth realizes he's to blame for crippling her grandfather. Can a Christmas miracle forge a path to love and forgiveness?
Social director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she didn't count on was having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor. How far will daredevil Derrick Greene go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?
Stephanie St. John is determined to make a go of the time-share program at Snowbird Lodge. But Darrin Hart seems to be undermining her efforts, her confidence, and her reputation. Will misunderstanding be resolved, or will Stephanie succeed in business only to lose at love?
A wounded-at-the-heart Michaela Christianssen has chosen a male-free existence. But her friends and an eleven-year-old girl have other ideas. Widower Jonas Bradley is content with his life as father and forest ranger, until he finds himself pining for Michaela. What will it take to fell her oppositions to romance?
Will these four women hear wedding bells chime this Christmas?
Once again, I’ve chosen three book winners for September. They will receive their choice of either: Pirate’s Prize, Never Say Never, or A Daughter’s Quest. They are Jane Squires of Wasola, Montana, and Marion Marchetto of Navarre, Florida, and Linda Wagner of St Paul, Minnesota. Click on the View Complete Profile link in the right hand column to find a link to my email. Send me your mailing address.
Readers, if you want a chance to win one of my free books, please sign my Guest Book on my website - http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ . The winners are chosen from those who do. But remember to check back in the next month’s newsletter to see if you won. You can sign up at the top of the right hand column of this blog for Feedblitz. Then the newsletter will feed into your Inbox. I will only post a newsletter once a month.
Want more free books. We also give away a minimum of 12 free books a month on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/. Most months we give away more than that. This month I’ll be interviewing these authors:
Craig Parshall – The Rose Conspiracy
Myra Johnson – One Imperfect Christmas
Rita Gerlach – Surrender the Wind
Elizabeth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Barbara Cameron – An Amish Christmas
Debby Mayne, Paige Winship Dooly, Elizabeth Ludwig, Elizabetheth Goddard – Christmas Homecoming
Jerry Eicher – Rebecca’s Promise – Rebecca’s Return
Kathleen Y’Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin – Wild West Christmas
BJ Hoff – American Anthem
Mary Ellis – A Widow’s Hope
Robert James Luedke – Eye Witness
Linda Leigh Hargrove – The Making of Isaac Hunt – Loving Cee Cee Johnson
Maureen Lang – Look to the East
Cindy Woodsmall – The Sound of Sleighbells
Susan Page Davis – Hearts in the Crossfire
Allie Pleiter – Bluegrass Christmas
Mona Hodgson – Two Brides Too Many
Brandilyn and Amberley Collins – Last Breath
Tricia Goyer – The Sunflower Serenade
You can find all kinds of information about my books on my Fan page on Facebook:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
I’d love for you to come over and become a fan.
Right now I’m running a contest on my fan page. Check it out.
Calendar of Events
September 2009 – Release of Wild West Christmas
September 2009 – Release of Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe
September 2009 – Release of Can You Help Me? And Caught Red-Handed in Thorndike Large Print edition
September 11-12, 2009 – Speaker at North Texas Christian Writers Conference, Roanoke, Texas – Painting Historicals with Authenticity, and I will take one-on-one appointments.
September 17-20 - American Christian Fiction Writers National Conference - Denver, Colorado – Paid Critiquer
October 20 – Booksigning with Amanda Cabot – Mardel Plano, Coit Road & Park – 6:00 pm
October 24 – Booksigning with Leanna Ellis – Mardel Hurst, Hurstview & Grapevine Highway – 1:00 pm
April 3, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 5, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops “Painting Historicals With Authenticity” & “Taking Settings to the Next Level”
September 17-20 - American Christian Fiction Writers National Conference - Denver, Colorado – Paid Critiquer
October 20 – Booksigning with Amanda Cabot – Mardel Plano, Coit Road & Park – 6:00 pm
October 24 – Booksigning with Leanna Ellis – Mardel Hurst, Hurstview & Grapevine Highway – 1:00 pm
April 3, 2010 – ACFW Tulsa (WIN) – Taking Settings to the Next Level – a hands-on workshop
May 2010 – Release of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
May 5, 2010 – ACFW The Woodlands (Writers on the Storm) – Two workshops “Painting Historicals With Authenticity” & “Taking Settings to the Next Level”
Book Reviews
Maggie Rose
By Sharlene MacLaren
ISBN 978-1-60374-075-3
Whitaker House
Historical Romantic Fioction
The Daughters of Jacob Kane - Book 2
Back Cover Copy:
1904 ~~ New York, New York
Maggie Rose, the spunky, friendly, twenty-year-old daughter of Michigan resident Jacob Kane, feels compelled to leave her beloved hometown of Sandy Shores to pursue what she feels in her heart are God's plans for her life--in New York City.
Maggie Rose adjusts to her new life at Sheltering Arms Refuge, an orphanage that also transports homeless children to towns across the United States to match them with compatible families. Most of the children have painful pasts that make Maggie aghast, but she marvels at their resiliency. As she gets to know each child, her heart blossoms with new depths of love and compassion.
When a newspaper reporter comes to stay at the orphanage in order to gather research for an article, Maggie is struck by his handsome face--and concerned by his lack of faith. She can't deny their mutual affections, though. Will she win the struggle to maintain her focus on God and remain attuned to His guidance?
My Review:
Sharlene MacLaren is a recent arrival in Christian publishing who has grown tremendously through each of her published works. I loved her early books, but each new one has greater depth and heights. The characters in this book are at cross purposes, and I loved to see each of them develop and grow.
I've always been fascinated by the orphan trains, and Sharlene took us into the hearts and minds of the people who accompanied them on the trek as well as the children who were chosen. . .and not chosen.
I highly recommend this excellent read.
Montana Rose
By Mary Connealy
ISBN 978-1-60260-142-0
Barbour
Historical Romance
Montana Marriages - Book 1
Back Cover Copy:
Widowed One Day --
Wedded the Next
Cassie Griffin has always dressed in silks. Her free-spending husband expects nothing less. But now he has died, leaving her unprotected, heavily in debt, and pregnant. As any single woman doesn't remain so for long in Divide, Montana, Cassie wonders if marrying one of the local cowboys might be her only choice. After seeing her choices, she then wonders if joining her husband might be even better.
Red Dawson has always had a soft spot in his heart for Cassie, even though most of the townspeople see her only as a silk-clad china doll. When she's left a widow, only one thing keeps him from immediately sweeping her off her feet--she's a nonbeliever.
As the other cowboys lay claim to Cassie, the most powerful rancher in the area steps forward to demand what he thinks rightly belongs to him. . .and the property that goes with her. Red struggles with figuring out what to do but decides he can't allow Cassie to suffer a fate worse than death and marries her himself.
Will Red win over this seemingly fragile and spoiled china doll's heart. . .and survive her unique brand of ranch help in the meantime? Will Cassie find true love with her cowboy--and His God--when she exchanges smooth silk for coarse calico?
My Review:
Mary. . .Mary. . .Mary, you just keep writing books that grab me and pull me in so deep I have a hard time putting it down. At least I had the sense to read it on the weekend when I wasn't writing my own book. Of course, James expected me to have food on the table when needed, and so I had to put it down a time or two.
MONTANA ROSE is a departure from your usual strong heroine, and I loved the character development through the book for the heroine, and the hero. The setting was unique and completely interesting. I won't give it away here, but I've had experience with that kind of place. You got it right.
The spiritual thread is strong and several characters experience strong growth. A really masterful job writing this book. A long way from your first manuscript I edited for you.
Readers, get this book quick. You'll be glad you did.
The Occasional Cook
By Cyndy Salzmann
ISBN 978-1-4196-9711-1
Subtitle: Culinary Strategies for Overcommitted Families
Cookbook
Back Cover Copy:
Family-friendly recipes to simplify mealtimes and save money!
Cyndy Salzmann has been holding cooking classes since 1997. Now in this sequel to MAKING YOUR HOME A HAVEN, Cyndy shares one of the secrets of how to do that: Spend less time in the kitchen!
If you want to
spend more time with your family
save on your grocery bills
prepare taste-tempting meals without exotic engredients
serve family-friendly recipes even the pickiest eaters will love
then THE OCCASIONAL COOK is for you!
My Review:
I know, I know. I usually review Christian fiction, but I recently acquired a copy of this book and found it fascinating.
In this book, Cyndy will teach you about how easy it is to use her system to make your time in the kitchen very productive and allow you more time out of the kitchen. She starts out with really good tips everyone can use. Then she explains her method of cooking for a whole week in one day.
After that, she includes a lot of delicious recipes you can follow using her method. And not to leave you just staring at the pages, she finishes with a section giving you step-by-step instructions, including menus and shopping lists. And all the food is nutritious, but easy to obtain and prepare.
I highly recommend this book.
The Blue Enchantress
By M. L. Tyndall
ISBN 978-1-60260-157-4
Barbour
Historical Romance
Charles Town Belles, Book 2
Back Cover Copy:
An adventure-seeking woman and a security-minded ship builder are shipwrecked together.
Still grieving the loss of her mother--and private tragedies of her own--Hope Westcott plays the part of a duriful admiral's daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society. . .and an illicit affair with Lord Falkland.
For Captain Nethaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shippind business--ignoring God's call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Westcott.
Hope's adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her?
Fron the Carolina Coast to the Caribbean, through stormy seas and shipwrecks, can Hope and Nathaniel put aside their painful pasts, listen to God's voice, and find true love and acceptance?
My Review:
MaryLu, you've done it again. Given us a swashbuckling adventure filled with romance. A book that's hard to put down once you start reading.
Your characters leapt from the pages straight into my heart. I loved them, rooted for them, booed the bad guys, and loved every minute of it. You truly showed the depth of sacrificial love.
And you setting is close to my heart. I love traveling through the Caribbean. I could visualize every scene with your excellent descriptions.
Bring on the next book in the series.
Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana
By Melody Dobson
ISBN 978-1-934770-74-0
Summerside Press
Historical Romance
Back Cover Copy:
In a divided town during a dangerous era, who can be trusted?
Liberty, Indiana, is home to a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by Quaker abolitionists Anna Brent and her father. Harboring runaway slaves is a dangerous mission: anyone caught aiding them is subject to improsonment. When Anna's secret work is threatened, can she turn to the handsome yet outspoken Daniel Stanton, Liberty's newspaper editor, to ensure the safety of the runaways so dear to her? Will she and Daniel risk everything for their beliefs--including their personal liberty?
My Review:
I wasn't terribly interested in reading about the Underground Railroad. I'd read plenty of books about it and considered this one as just one more. What else was there to say about it?
However, when I picked it up, the first chapter captured me, and I had a hard time putting the book down. Although the story is the same--slaves giving everything to find freedom--the focus is different.
Very tastefully done, the book still reveals the inherent evil of slavery in any era. I found the story not only well-crafted, but also compassionate and heart-tugging.
I highly recommend this excellent read.
Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio
By Lisa Harris
ISBN 978-1-934770-81-8
Summerside Press
Historical Romantic Women's Fiction
Back Cover Copy:
The only thing worse than being a spinster is being a twice-jilted spinster.
At twenty-five, Catherine Morgan is hardly an old maid. But she's given up on marriage and instead manages the family's general store in the small town of Revenge, Ohio. Bound by a promise to care for her three sisters until they marry, she'll do anything to keep them safe. But Sheriff Corbin Hunter stands in her way. He has evidence that her sister's fiance is really an infamous bank robber--and the man who murdered his father. Catherine finds herself torn between saving her sister's heart and losing hers to the man who jilted her seven years ago. Will Corbin's desire for revenge cause him to lose Catherine a second time?
My Review:
I had been anxiously waiting to read Lisa's Summerside Press book, and I loved it. I mentored Lisa years ago before she ever sold her first novel. Now she's one of my favorite authors.
This story might be my favorite one yet. The premise of the hope for revenge in their hearts while living in the town of Revenge is powerful. And Lisa writes enough twists and turns into her plot to keep the reader turning pages. I especially liked the suspenseful element.
Lisa's characters pulled me into the story and held me captive through every page. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas
By Janice Hanna
ISBN 978-1-935416-16-6
Summerside Press
Historical Romantic Fiction
Back Cover Copy:
Belinda Bauer in her ivory tower. . .
In the quaint community of Poetry, Texas, Belinda spies an opportunity. The town is filled with farmers and railroad men in need of wives, so why not set herself up as a marriage broker? Belinda sends little poems to prospective brides all over the country, and her plan seems to work. One by one, women begin to arrive in Poetry. There's only one problem: Belinda doesn't have a clue what she'd doing, and most of the brides marry the wrong men! One client is particularly unhappy. Georg Kaufman, the local barber, has lost more than one prospective wife to Belinda's fumbled attempts. For some reason, she just can't seem to find Georg's perfect match, though it's not for lack of trying. Is there a poetic ending in store for Georg--and for Belinda herself?
My Review:
I've known Janice (aka Janice Thompson) for many years. I've loved her books, but this is the first one that I felt really sounded like her voice. And I saw a lot of Janice's background and interests in this story. These details made the story extremely fascinating.
The book had many "awww" moments. I don't have the time to read a book straight through, so I'd read in spurts whenever I had time. Many of the scenes kept me chuckling long after I put the book down.
If you want a sweet love story with comedic touches and interesting characters, then this is the book for you.
September ACFW Book Releases
We had a whopping twenty-four new releases this month.
1. A Blue and Gray Christmas, by Carrie Turansky, Vickie McDonough, Lauralee Bliss Tamela Hancock Murray from Barbour Publishing. A Blue and Gray Christmas highlights the faith and courage of four couples who remained true to their convictions and found lasting love despite the hardships of the Civil War.
2. A Man of His Word, Book 1 in the Hearts of Middlefield Series, by Kathleen Fuller from Thomas Nelson. Moriah's heart will only be safe with a man of his word.
3. A Passion Redeemed , by Julie Lessman from Revell. Depth of beauty ... shallow of heart, Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. She sets her sights on a man who wants nothing to do with her. Although the sparks are there, he refuses to fan the coals of a potential relationship with a woman who ruined his life. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants-one way or another.
4. A Silent Fury, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Detective Catelyn Clark and her ex-boyfriend, FBI agent Joseph Santino, must overcome their rocky past while working to solve the murder of a deaf student and find the friend who's still missing.
5. Always Ready, Book 1, by Susan Page Davis from Heartsong. Two Coast Guard officers find danger and romance in the hostile seas of Alaska.
6. An Amish Christmas, by Kathleen Fuller, , Beth Wiseman, from Thomas Nelson. Follow the lives of three Amish families through the Christmas season.
7. Beautiful Ugly, by Shelia Lipsey from Kensington Publishing Corp. Three friends need plenty of faith in God and support from each other to see their real beauty lies within.
8. Christmas at Lake Tahoe, by Jeanie Smith Cash, Lena Nelson Dooley, Jean Kincaid from Barbour Publishing. Will four young women fresh out of college, find love at Christmas as they persue their careers at a new ski lodge at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village?
9. Cowboy Christmas, by Mary Connealy from Barbour. A secretive singer with trouble following her, and a cowboy who hates liars, especially female liars, need a Christmas miracle to take a chance on love.
10. Fields of Grace, by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Bethany House. A Russian Mennonite family fights to survive and maintain their faith in a new land.
11. Finally Home and Finally Found, by Lyn Cote from Heartsong Presents. Two stories in one book. Finally Home-After her wedding that wasn't, Hannah Kirkland hides in her parent's small WI town But hiding is hard in a house that's under construction! As friendship with carpenter Guthrie Thomas, Hannah learns how to build a home--and love--of her own. In Finally Found-Ten years ago Marco da Palma left Spring Kirkland behind. What did a poor scholarship student have to offer her anyway? But when Marco, now a successful doctor, finds Spring again, the pair have a second chance. If only Marco can release his fears, and see the happiness that has been waiting all along...
12. Hearts and Harvest, by Amber Stockton from Heartsong Presents. A destitute young man fights society's mores to win the hand of his privileged sweetheart.
13. It's Not about Him, Second Glance Series, Book #2, by Michelle Sutton from Sheaf House. Two young Christians with an unplanned pregnancy where she wants to place her child in a good home but he wants to marry her so she'll keep her child even though it's not his.
14. Just Between You and Me, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. A family emergency pulls Maggie Montgomery back home to a town full of painful secrets and people she left behind. Sometimes the only thing scarier than living on the edge is stepping off it.
15. Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, by Annalisa Daughety from Summerside Press. A summer in Charm, Ohio, gives Emma Miller the chance to decide once and for all what she wants from life--but soon finds herself pulled between two worlds.
16. One Imperfect Christmas, by Myra Johnson from Abingdon Press. Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and guilt keep people apart, a miracle needs a helping hand.
17. Painted Desert, by Nancy Farrier from Barbour. As modern life takes unexpected turns, love comes knocking on the doors of three Arizona women's lives.18. Protector's Honor, by Kit Wilkinson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Rory Farrell searches for the link between Tabitha Beaumont and his ongoing murder investigation, but to protect her, he'll have to her trust as well.
19. Raising Rain, by Debbie Fuller Thomas from Moody Publishers. A single woman desperate for a child and the 3 college roommates who raised her meet her terminally ill mother on a stormy weekend and confront the past.
20. The Familiar Stranger, by Christina Berry from Moody Publishers. Secrets from Craig Littleton's past threaten to undue his troubled marriage, but if he literally can't remember the damage he's done, can he ever be trusted?
21. The Transformation, Project Restoration Series Book 3, by Terri Kraus from David C. Cook. Can a good, hard-working Christian man disregard his cultural and religious admonitions--as well as his mother's plans for his life--for the love of a woman and an historic church building?
22. The Unfinished Gift, by Dan Walsh from Revell, Division of Baker Publishing Group. Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift is an engaging story of reconciliation between a father and son, and how God uses an unexpected gift from the past to mend this broken family.
23. Tidings of Great Boys, All About Us #5, by Shelley Adina from Hatchette FaithWords. Lady Lindsay (Mac) MacPhail invites her classmates home to her castle in Scotland for an unforgettable Christmas.
24. Wild West Christmas, by Lena Nelson Dooley, Kathleen Y'Barbo, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin from Barbour. Christmas courtships corral four sisters in Texas.
Happy Reading!
Musings
God is the master of miracles. Even though my husband James needed to work, he’s been off for over four months, and our financial condition has changed very little. God has shown us how to live within our means, and He’s provided lots of unexpected things in our lives. I was able to replace my laptop with one that is lighter, thinner, and has an 8+ hour battery.
Now this month, I’m in the final preparations for two back-to-back conferences, the first in less than two weeks. I’m really looking forward to participating in both of these meetings—as a faculty member for the first one and a paid critiquer for the second one.
And I’m writing a book as fast as I can in the midst of all this.
And I’m writing a book as fast as I can in the midst of all this.
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