Tag Archives: Christian fiction

Free eBook- The Outcast

23 Apr

 The Outcast is FREE today on Amazon!  Click the image to be taken to the Kindle store.

The Outcast

The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim

 

*Library Journal’s Best Books 2013
*Christian Manifesto’s 2013 Award Winner for Excellence in Amish Fiction
*World Magazine’s Notable Books
*2013/2014 Christian Retailing’s Best Nominee
*INSPY Nominee
                                                   
Raised in an Old Order Mennonite community, Rachel Stoltzfus is a strong-willed single woman, content living apart from mainstream society until whispers stir the moment her belly swells with new life. Refusing to repent and name the partner in her sin, Rachel feels the wrath of the religious sect as she is shunned by those she loves most. She is eventually coerced into leaving by her brother-in-law, the bishop.

But secrets run deep in this cloistered community, and the bishop is hiding some of his own, threatening his conscience and his very soul. When the life of Rachel’s baby is at stake, however, choices must be made that will bring the darkness to light, forever changing the lives of those who call Copper Creek home.

 

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Author Interview and GIVEAWAY with Vannetta Chapman

11 Apr
I am so excited to share this interview, along with the opportunity to win a copy of Murder Simply Brewed!  I shared my thoughts of Murder Simply Brewed on Wednesday’s post. 
 

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Welcome, Vannetta Chapman!

 

Murder Simply Brewed is set in an Amish Artisan Village.  What inspired this unique setting?

When I visited Middlebury for research, I stayed at the Essenhaus. It’s a lovely setting, and the “village” includes an inn, restaurant, bakery and several shops. The manager allowed me to interview him, and the rest — well, it went together easily.

You can visit them online at http://www.essenhaus.com/index.php

In Murder Simply Brewed, which character most interested you while you were writing?  Why?

I could relate to both Hannah and Amber. Hannah is young and impressionable and full of life and energy. She’s a sweet girl. She’s also very bright. So many experiences are ahead of her (falling in love, marrying, starting a family) and she’s eagerly anticipating them all. It’s a time of life that I think we can all look back on and remember fondly. Hannah is older, and while she’s very happy in her work her love life is non-existent. In fact, she doesn’t even have very many friends because she’s so busy. THAT too is something most of us can relate to. I loved putting these two women together.

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Did you encounter any surprises while you were writing Murder Simply Brewed?

Yes! One character, Preston, did NOT act like he was supposed to. I had envisioned him as this quasi dangerous, homeless man. He became one of my favorite characters.

 

Just for fun, please share 3 random facts we might not know about you.

  • I’m afraid of tall bridges (the kind you drive on that go way up high in the sky).
  • I have a new shelter dog named Phoebe. She’s a yellow lab and I adore her.
  • I live in a small town of 6,000.

What can we look forward to next in the Amish Village Mystery series? 

 Murder Tightly Knit  It is a fun, fun story and once again Hannah and Amber are called on to solve a mystery. This time, the federal government is involved. Oh my! But God’s grace is evident throughout as my characters learn that no problem or danger or incident is too big for God to use to his glory.
 
 

Thank you so much, Vannetta, for taking the time to answer these questions!

Thanks for having me! I’m happy to give away a copy of Murder Simply Brewed to one commenter with a U.S. address.  Since this book takes place in a coffee shop, how about we share our favorite summertime drink? 🙂

GIVEAWAY!

To enter, please leave a comment and answer Vannetta’s question, “What is your favorite summertime drink?”  Don’t forget to include your email address!

 

To earn additional entries, you may do the following:
◦ Let me know you follow my blog
◦ Sign up to follow my blog if you are not a follower
◦ Share this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email

Be sure and leave a comment letting me know what you have done to earn additional entries.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends Tuesday, April 15 at midnight CST.  The winner will be drawn and announced on April 16.  Good luck!!

 

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Murder Simply Brewed

9 Apr

 

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Murder Simply Brewed by Vannetta Chapman

Synopsis:

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.

When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t convinced.

Clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them.

Thoughts:

Once again, Vannetta Chapman has created a delicious blend of mystery, friendship, and romance!

Murder Simply Brewed is an engaging and entertaining tale!  The murder mystery and acts of vandalism kept me guessing and left me anxious to discover the culprit.  I was delighted by the special friendship that developed between Amber and Hannah and adored the romance that blossomed for each of these characters.  My favorite quote from the book is, “One can never guess who will or won’t become important in their life.”

In addition to the great story, I also enjoyed the glossary of Amish terms and the map of the Amish Artisan Village that were included in the front of the book. While Vannetta’s imagery is vivid, this pictorial reference of the village is an added pleasure!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery and am eager to discover what will happen next in the Amish Artisan Village!

To order your copy of Murder Simply Brewed, please visit:

http://vannettachapman.com/books/murder-simply-brewed/

Biography:

vcVannetta Chapman writes Fiction Full of GRACE. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her first novel, A Simple Amish Christmas, quickly became a bestseller. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

For more information, visit www.VannettaChapman.com.

Please join me again Friday for a fun interview with Vannetta and a chance to win a copy of Murder Simply Brewed! 

 

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

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Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

4 Apr

Springscavengerhunt

The Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt begins at noon (Mountain Time Zone) on April 4, 2014 and ends on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at midnight (Mountain Time Zone).  The first stop can be found here:

http://www.robinleehatcher.com/scavenger-hunt-stop-1/

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It Had To Be You, plus a $100 Visa Giveaway

27 Mar

 

It Had to be You

It Had to be You by Susan May Warren

Blog tour information and schedule:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/swarren

Synopsis:

Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

Learn more and purchase a copy at Susan’s website.

Thoughts:

Susan May Warren is a master storyteller and has penned another fantastic story in It Had to be You!

One of my favorite things about a book series is the opportunity to really get to know the characters and become invested in their stories.  I fell in love with the Christiansen family in the first book, Take a Chance on Me, and adore them even more after reading It Had to be You.

John and Ingrid Christiansen are the parents of this Deep Haven, MN family.  Their beautiful love story is told in the prequel novella, I Really Do Miss Your Smile, which is included in the back of this book.  I loved reading “the love story that started it all”!

Each Christiansen Family novel tells the story of one of John and Ingrid’s children.  It Had to be You is Eden’s story and it opens, as each series novel does, with a letter to Eden from her mother.  One quote from this emotional letter is, “You see your value only in what you bring to your siblings, your friends, your world, instead of believing in the remarkable woman you are, in the person God created.”

It Had to be You is the story of Eden’s journey to discovering the person God created her to be.  Set amidst the exciting sport of hockey, this story is full of emotion, spiritual wisdom, and tender romance.  I loved the endearing characters and the personal growth they experienced.  Several storylines were woven through this novel, adding to its complexity and making it even richer.  There were times my heart ached while I was reading and other times when it rejoiced. 

I love the way Susan May Warren brings her characters to life and can’t wait to spend more time with the Christiansen family! 

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

Biography:

Susan May WarrenSusan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more.

Learn more about Susan at: http://www.susanmaywarren.com

Giveaway:

Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of her newest Christiansen Family novel, It Had To Be You, with a $100 Visa cash card giveaway and offering readers a free book club kit.

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One winner will receive:

  • $100 Visa cash card
  • Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 29th. Winner will be announced April 1st on Susan’s blog. Also, visit her website to learn more about the It Had To Be You backstory and Susan’s free book club kit.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Susan’s blog on April 1st to see if you won.

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Forget Me Not

17 Mar

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not by Miralee Ferrell

Synopsis:

Can a Lost Love be Redeemed?

Baker City, Oregon, 1881

Seven years ago, Julia McKenzie rejected the man she loved, wanting to experience more of life. Now, at the age of twenty-four, she regrets that decision. What will Seth think of her, when they encounter one another hundreds of miles from home? Will the man she cared for understand the direction her life has taken and love her in spite of her choices?

Pastor Seth Russell has never completely forgotten the girl he once courted. When she shows up in his new home of Baker City, all those feelings return. But why is she sneaking around town late at night? Even more important, will she reject him and break his heart again, or can God heal the breach between them?

Thoughts:

Forget Me Not is a story that is as beautiful and unique as its namesake! This heartfelt novella is a wonderful addition to the Love Blossoms in Oregon series. While any of the books in the series can stand alone, I encourage you to read them in order. In doing so, you will come to know the residents of Baker City, Oregon, and understand their stories.

Miralee Ferrell is a master storyteller and has once again penned an exceptional story. I loved the endearing characters and their spiritual and emotional journeys! I was also touched by the themes of compassion and forgiveness, expressed so eloquently in this novella. One of my favorite quotes is, “Forgiving isn’t saying what they did is right, it’s simply letting go of the past and choosing to walk toward God’s light and love, instead of toward darkness.”

Inspiring words of wisdom and faith, woven together in this tender love story, make Forget Me Not a must read!

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

Biography:

Miralee Ferrell- headshotMiralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.

Interact with Miralee:

Website:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Forget Me Not Launch Party

Celebrate the release of Miralee Ferrell’s novella, Forget Me Not, tomorrow night, March 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Up for grabs are lots of great prizes, including a Basic Kindle, several copies of Miralee’s books, and Amazon gift cards. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to chat with Miralee and enter to win great prizes!  Hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/228120830713813/

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Free eBook

6 Mar

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer is free, TODAY ONLY!

Wings of a Dream

Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com. 

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The winner is…

4 Mar

Wishing on Buttercups- Blog Tour

The name drawn from my blog during Miralee Ferrell’s Wishing on Buttercups blog tour was:

Jackie McNutt

Congratulations, Jackie!  Happy reading!

Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with Miralee during her blog tour!  I hope you all have a chance to read the Love Blossoms in Oregon series!

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Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY- Wishing on Buttercups

17 Feb

Wishing on Buttercups- Blog Tour

I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour for Wishing on Buttercups.  Each tour stop will be giving away one print copy of Wishing on Buttercups, U.S. residents only, so be sure and visit each stop to increase your chances of winning!  Giveaway details are given at the bottom of the post. 

February 10th – A Book Lover’s Retreat

February 11th – Shelley’s Book Case

February 12th – For the Love of Literature

February 13th –  The Book Bag

February 15th –  HomeSchooling4boyz

February 17th – Buzzing about Books

February 18th – Stuck on Books

February 19th – The power of words..

February 20th – My Recent Favorite Books

February 22nd – Melina’s Book Blog

February 24th – The Front Porch

February 26th – My Devotional Thoughts

February 28th – Diana’s Tea Time Reviews

February 28th – Create with Joy

 

Synopsis:

Can Love Survive When Secrets Collide?

She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.

Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt . . . Beth’s future and her heart.

As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again?

Thoughts:

Wishing on Buttercups is the second book in Miralee Ferrell’s Love Blossoms in Oregon series. This captivating story imparts a wonderful message. “God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.”

Wishing on ButtercupsHaving read Blowing on Dandelions, I was eager to continue this series! I loved returning to Baker City, Oregon, and delving deeper into the lives of Beth Roberts and Jeffery Tucker. Both of these characters harbored secrets from their pasts and unanswered questions plagued them. This intriguing storyline, coupled with complex characters, kept me turning the pages and wanting to know more.

I also enjoyed catching up with the other colorful characters who were introduced in Blowing on Dandelions. It was a pleasure to revisit the boardinghouse, which continued to bustle with the activities of its residents.

Miralee Ferrell has penned a story that is full of heart and emotion; one that will draw you in and surround you with comforting hope. I highly recommend Wishing on Buttercups and eagerly await more stories in this wonderful series! 

You can order your copy of Wishing on Buttercups from Amazon, other online retailers, or your favorite bookstore.

Biography:

Miralee Ferrell- headshotMiralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.

Interact with Miralee:

Website:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Giveaway:

To be entered to win a print copy of Wishing on Buttercups, please ask Miralee a question in the comments below.  Be sure to include your email address!  Miralee would love to answer questions concerning her books, writing, publishing career, pets, or her hobbies.  She will stop by periodically to answer questions, so drop in again to read her replies! 

Please note: Winners will be drawn on March 2.  There will be one winner drawn per blog and no winner may win more than one book in this tour. 

Welcome back, Miralee.  It is such a pleasure to visit with you again!  I have heard authors say they were surprised by a character, scene, or other element in their writing.  Did you encounter any surprises while you were writing Wishing on Buttercups? 

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The Baby Rescue

12 Feb

The Baby Rescue

The Baby Rescue by Margaret Daley

Synopsis:

OPERATION BABY RESCUE

To rescue an abducted infant from a baby-smuggling ring, U.S marshal Colton Phillips has to work with FBI agent Lisette Sutton. But their tactics couldn’t be more different. The too-pretty agent goes by the book, whereas Colton breaks rules to get the job done. Colton vows to keep his heart out of the job, but his unwanted attraction to Lisette lowers his guard. Now Lisette—and an innocent child—are in grave danger, and Colton will stop at nothing to save them.

Thoughts:

The Baby Rescue is the 2nd book in the Love Inspired Witness Protection continuity series. Each written by a different author, these books can be enjoyed as a series or read as stand-alone stories.

Margaret Daley is a master of suspense and has written an action-packed story. With strong characters and a dramatic storyline, The Baby Rescue will keep you turning the pages, eager for more!

Colton Phillips, U.S. Marshal, sees the atrocities of the world through his job and clings to his faith for strength and reassurance. Issues from her past have caused FBI Agent Lisette Sutton to question her faith. Both must learn to trust and draw strength from each other in order to rescue an innocent child. “Evil is in our world. It’s how we deal with it that’s important.”

Mounting suspense, dangerous situations, and undercurrents of romance make this a most enjoyable book and one I highly recommend!  You can order your copy from Amazon, other online retailers or your favorite bookstore.

Biography:

Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley is an award-winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. She has also won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. Margaret wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press.  To learn more about Margaret, please visit her website at: www.margaretdaley.com.

 

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

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