PM: I am so pleased to say I have Autumn Macarthur back in this morning for a coffee break with me! Autumn is a wonderful author and has become a great friend as well, so let’s welcome her here and get to know her even better a year later!
AM: Thanks, Paula, I’m so glad to be back, and I’ve loved getting to know you better over the past year.
PM: You have created so many loveable and remember-able characters in your stories, I wonder if you could tell us which of them you can relate to the most?
AM: I’m glad you think that about my characters. 🙂 I relate to ALL my characters, and there’s secretly a little bit of me in all of them.
The secret part is that I’m not telling which bit! But the faith and personal growth lessons the characters gain are the same ones God is teaching me as I write.
This is a tough question! I probably relate most to Claire in Midnight Clear, having spent my own wilderness years angry with God. That book was sooooooo healing to write. God snuck it up on me – I didn’t know Claire had a big issue let alone what it was till I was drafting Chapter 7.
The character I’d most like to be like is Anita in Teapots & Tiaras. Love her attitude! That girl rocks plus-size. No body shame or diets for her!
PM: What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?
AM: LOL, now how to answer this one? The serious answer: you know that saying “every saint was once a sinner, and every sinner is a potential saint”? Let’s just say – I have a past. Thanks to God, it’s now well in the past and forgiven.
The fun answer: I’ve tandem skydived twice. First time I was so terrified I screamed all the way down. Next time a skydiving team was back in town, I knew I had to jump again to overcome that fear. Second time was great! But twice is enough. Never again!
PM: In your humble opinion, what do you think is missing in Christian Fiction today, or at least what would you like to see more of in Christian Fiction?
AM: Christ! It breaks my heart to see how little Christian fiction really shows Jesus making a difference in the characters’ lives. I don’t want preachy stories with sermons and salvation scenes in every book, but if God isn’t right in there with the characters, if they don’t somehow change and grow even a little in their relationship with Him, I’m not sure it should be labelled Christian.
PM: If there was a news story about your life, what would the headline say?
AM: LOL, easy. Queen of Procrastination Finally Meets a Deadline!
PM: What’s your favorite color? Any reason why?
AM: I love most colors, especially browns, purples, greens, blues.
Lately I’ve been drawn to teal green a lot. It’s a beautiful, restful color. Reminds me of the colour of the sea, when you look down into it from a boat.
PM: What was the most unique inspiration you have had for one of your stories?
AM: I’m not sure of that one. I find inspiration everywhere. Story ideas just keep coming. Sometimes nothing seems to inspire them, the idea is just there. Something I see on the internet. A news item. Something a friend says. People-watching when I’m out (not so much now as I’ve become very stay-at-home. A minor character in a previous book wants his or her own story. I have such a long list of story ideas. I need to keep writing a long time (till I’m 150 should do it) to write them all, and new ones arrive regularly!
PM: I know you have a deep love for the animal kingdom, and have written them into your stories, but tell us do you have any family pets that currently own you?
AM: LOL, “own you” is right! We share our small house with three cats, plus a neighbor’s cat we frequently mind as she travels a lot. Jeremy Boxer Bear is my special boy, a cute little tabby. He just decided to move in one day, though it took me six months to tame him enough to just stay in the room when a human was in it, let alone touch him! We also live with two guinea pigs, funny little characters. We’ve set our little garden up to be a little wild, so we also have many birds and hedgehog visitors. There’s even a rare variety of newt in our tiny pond!
PM: What is it you hope most to get across to your readers in your books?
AM: That there’s nothing too bad for God to forgive. He loves us so much, and He wants us sharing all our life with Him. He wants us to surrender all our guilt, worries and fears to Him, so He can give us peace and joy instead. LOL, sermon over! I hope my books aren’t preachy, but I do want there to be a faith message in every one.
PM: Why don’t you tell us a little about your current / upcoming projects – The Billionaires and Chapel Cove?
AM: I’m so excited about both of these, though they’re very different! Chapel Cove Romances started from several readers asking for more stories with older couples. Marion Ueckermann, Alexa Verde and I came up with the idea of three friends all coming back to their small home town around their fortieth birthdays. That’s only the start! We hope to do 12 books, but with new characters and story ideas popping up all the time, I have a feeling that will grow!
Billionaire Protectors is a totally new direction for me – Christian romance with suspense, co-authored with Alexa Verde. This is a full-co-authoring, so the books aren’t quite like either of our solo books, but have a blend of both our voices. I don’t normally do suspense, and yet I’m enjoying it and finding my brain CAN do suspense, after all. Makes sense. Alexa and I actually met, over five years ago, in a Harlequin writing group for aspiring Love Inspired Suspense authors! Much as I love those books, I’m glad to be indie. We get better covers!
PM: How can readers keep in touch with you and your new releases?
AM: Lots of ways! I have a weekly reader newsletter with book news from me and my author friends. Readers can sign-up here and get a free romance novella: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/xgzyx4s1fh
Or just get the free ebook – you don’t need to tick the box to join my newsletter unless you really want to!
I’m in a fab shared Facebook group with my closest author friends, Marion and Alexa, as well as this awesome book blogger, Paula Marie!
If you use Facebook, you’re welcome to join in the fun there: https://facebook.com/groups/247218999320897
Or anyone who doesn’t do Facebook or want weekly emails can follow me on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Macarthur/e/B00N9KRHKY/ or BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/autumn-macarthur and only get emails when I have a new release.
It’s been fun having coffee with you today, Paula! Thank you!
Autumn is going a HUGE giveaway – for THREE winners, an ecopy of both Brett AND Colt for each of you!! Just comment on this post and tell us what you think of co-authored stories! Winners will be selected after one week and notified via email!
my point of view of Saratoga Letters by Elaine Cooper PLUS a ~*Giveaway*~
July 25, 2019 in my point of view
1777: The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, gives the American Continental Army its first great victory. But there seems little to celebrate for Abigail, a woman forced to tend to a wounded British soldier. While nursing William back to health, Abigail finds herself pursued by others in the enemy camp who have less than gallant intentions toward her. Fearful of who she can trust and who might betray her, she leans on her faith and God’s Providence for survival.
1977: On the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event. Among the re-enactors are descendants of the original participants from both sides of the battle. One young American, Abby, meets the offspring of a British soldier. But when she finds herself almost assaulted by some men at the event, Abby turns to the only person she knows—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps her answer lies in the letters from her ancestor and namesake, Abigail.
Can regrets from the past stir love’s resolve in the present?
2017 Selah Awards Finalist
my point of view:
Anyone that knows me, knows I love a good historical, and romance, suspense, and a history lesson all too well! This amazing book combines all of that into one beautiful novel. Reading all about an intense time in the Revolutionary War, getting a glimpse into the British vs the Patriots, the hard life suffered by all involved, well, it is told so fittingly in this story. Elaine Cooper does her research and applies that knowledge here.
The suspense carries us through 1777 and all the way in 1977, when the ancestors of the first half of the story come together at a re-enactment of this great time. What great fun it is when Abby and Ian meet and learn they are on “opposite” sides of the war, lol, but have a grand time taking part in the re-enactment anyway. Along the way they face a mystery of it’s own, and delve into the past to learn about their ancestors, never realizing that the history from 200 years ago will play a major part in their life and future today!
I am a sentimental mess, and I love anything ancestral, so this story touched my heart and I will treasure it always! Amazingly, it is free on Kindle Unlimited, or just $0.99 on Amazon, but Elaine is giving away a free one, see below to learn how you can win your own copy!
About Elaine Marie Cooper
Elaine is being so generous, she is offering one of our readers a free ebook version of Saratoga Letters! I know you will love this story as much as I did! To enter, please comment on this post and tell us what your favorite part of reading historicals is. Contest will be open for one week from today and winner will be notified via email!
When Lisa Marsh is roped into serving Thanksgiving dinner at the local community center, she encounters hundreds of children, lively teenagers, stubbornly independent veterans, eccentric elderly people, and a particularly rude and scruffy homeless man named Pete. The evening ends in disaster, but when her best friend challenges her to reach out and help other people, Lisa decides to take on the project of reforming Pete – whether he likes it or not.
Her plan is simple: Help him find a job and become respectable. All he needs is a helping hand and some guidance. And a shave. Definitely, a shave.
Pete is willing to work, especially if it means spending time with the pretty volunteer, but her tactless determination to “reform” him makes him dig in his heels. Her creative ideas for employment become increasingly outrageous, but every time he tries to put an end to her meddling, she charms him with her good intentions and willingness to serve others.
Lisa finds herself unaccountably attracted to her vagabond protégé and irresistibly entangled in the lives of the other people she meets at the community center. Before she knows how to stop it, her one small service project snowballs into an extraordinary Christmas ministry that just may change her life forever.
my point of view:
How about a little “Christmas in July”?? need to beat the heat where you are at? I think you will enjoy this refreshing story that takes place during the holiday season in a nice snow filled romance!
This story truly touched my heart. I have had a lot of experience in ‘serving’ Thanksgiving meals at homeless shelters, so I could totally relate to Lisa’s first time doing that! I was so taken with her huge heart and desire to help, even though she felt so reserved and nearly frightened by the prospect. The true depth of this story is honestly much greater than the description above.
Lisa is a heroine with a lot of past heart ache she is still learning to deal with. Kids today may refer to it as “baggage” but I am not a fan of that term. To me the trials of our past makes us the people we are today, whether they were good trials or hard, we are forged in the fire so to speak, of God’s love. Lisa is no exception to this, the circumstances surrounding her husband’s passing certainly makes her anxiety issues understandable! But her big heart and her sister in laws prodding get her back out into the world of the living and humor lightens this story up a great deal with a classic mistaken identity theme that had me literally laughing out loud at times!
Luckily my hubs has gotten used to this from me over the years, lol! Enter…Pete…our delightful, somewhat goofy, hero in need of rescuing, or so Lisa believes. Thank goodness Pete sees the potential of Lisa’s plans for the homeless, and he reluctantly ‘plays’ along for a good cause! I could talk for many more paragraphs on this delightful story, but I don’t want to give away the whole story, lol, so please forgive me!
About Cathe Swanson
Cathe Swanson has generously offered a free ebook version of Snow ANgels to one of our commenters on this blog post! Please comment below and tell us why you enjoy reading a Christmas story in july! Contest will run for one week from publication and winner will be notified via email.
Pre Order info on Legacy Rejected (The Legacy Series Book 1) by Robin Patchen!
July 17, 2019 in sump'n speshul
All she wants is a home, but there is no safe haven when mobsters are after you.
Realtor Ginny Lamont’s family has abandoned her, leaving her with nothing but a warning that she’s in danger. But Ginny’s built a home in New Hampshire. After a childhood of nomadic living, she’s not running again, certainly not because of some nameless, baseless threat.
Real estate developer Kade Powers is thrilled to go out with Nutfield’s beautiful new real estate agent. But the prowler they surprise after their first date offers a glimpse into Ginny’s past and the legacy of lies her parents left her with. She brings a mystery, one he’s determined to help her solve.
With Kade’s help, Ginny searches for the truth of her parents’ criminal activity while her enemies close in. When the mobsters show up in her quaint New England town, will she find a way to bring them down, or will she lose the life—and the man—she’s come to love?
Legacy Rejected is the first book in a new Christian romantic suspense series. If you like romance coupled with page-turning suspense that’ll keep you reading late into the night, you’ll love Legacy Rejected. Buy it now.
If you like the Legacy series, you might also like Robin Patchen’s other books. Check out the Hidden Truth series, the first books that take place in Nutfield. Then, be sure to read the Beauty in Flight 3-book serial story, which has roots in the same town. And don’t miss the Amanda books, two romantic suspense novels, and Robin’s standalone romance novellas.
This AMAZING story is set to release as an ebook on 07/23/19 – I highly recommend it! I was able to read an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed every moment, even when I was holding my breath for the suspense of it all!!
Click on the photo to get it ordered today!
PM: I see you reside in Nebraska – I must be honest, I do not know a whole about the area, can you tell me what your favorite part of living in Nebraska is?
Jen: Nebraska is a “fly-over state.” So, politically, that means we are basically irrelevant. We are also a great plains state, so not a whole lot of tourism happening either. However, with feet on the ground, I can tell you that it is a place of strong people where family is important, agriculture means livelihood and not something that is just theoretical/intellectual debate, and both success and crisis is a community affair. The broad plains are big and can seem empty. But the sunsets are vivid and unhindered. The wheat fields are inspiring. And the clean air minus light pollution allows for some breath-taking star-gazing. Moving to rural Nebraska from Denver was quite a culture-shock, but I promise you, God-willing, I’d never go back. I like not being afraid to make eye-contact, feeling good about letting my girls go out on a run on their own, knowing who my neighbors are, and going to hometown football games.
PM: Wow, you should be on the promotion board for Nebraska….makes me want to move there! I mean that in a wonderful way….I find Florida too hot for my liking! Do you write stories more from your own experiences, or do you spend a lot time doing research on the type of characters your creating?
Jen: A whole lot of both. Some stories have snippets of my life and experience in them. Others demand some intense and time-consuming research. It just depends on the project.
PM: When do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?
Jen: The most successful writers, I’m told, are consistent with time/place/quantity of writing. Unfortunately, every time I think I find my stride with that consistency, my life shifts (I have four teenage kids), and I must figure it all out all over again. I do best if I can write in the mornings, and my favorite spot is on a big, overstuffed chair in my living room. But as I said, that isn’t always what happens. I’ve written in coffee shops, McDonalds, in the car using Notes on my phone, in the stands for track or swim meets, and in my car waiting out start times for cross country meets. So. Someday I might make it to that successful consistency I keep hearing about. For now, though, I’m gonna roll with the life I have now.
PM: I see you write Young Adult Dystopian fiction as well as Contemporary Romance, do you have a preference for which you prefer to write?
Jen: I loved writing those dystopians. They were extremely challenging, and I loved having my kids interact with me on those stories. I also wrote a portal fantasy (Emerald Illusion), which was super fun. It’s definitely a different kind of writing, and switching is a challenge, but I very much enjoyed it.
As far as preference… no, I’m not sure I’d say I prefer one over the other. Story is story to me; I’m not real picky about what kind as long as it’s gripping.
PM: Do you have any family pets that currently own you?
Jen: Haha! Yes. They own us. And we kind of have a zoo. Four horses, I-don’t-know-how-many chickens, five ducks, two bunnies, two dogs, two cats, and a parakete (I was tempted to put a partridge in a pear tree, but that would not be true).
PM: If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be?
Hmmm… I don’t know on that one. I kind of like my life in reality… Who would you be?
PM: Nice, way to throw it back to me, lol! Okay….I would want to be Claire from Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh Romance series. Claire is all the books, but her starring role is Wild Mint Tea, and I just adore her, their lifestyle and her love of cooking! If we were to open you your refrigerator right now, what would we find in it?
Jen: Somehow I knew you were going to ask me that! You would find a total mess, that’s what (scary/shocked face). There’s about four or five dozen eggs in there (my daughter needs to sell some), several containers of yogurt, though I can’t tell you how many or what kind because I’m not sure who has had what in the last 24 hours; cheddar cheese sticks, because I love those things; milk, orange juice (my daughter is convinced that life cannot be happily-ever-after without orange juice); chocolate milk (I have a house full of runners/swimmers); some spinach from my mom’s garden, some blueberries for my cereal… and whole lot of other odds and ins that are all mashed in there to make me look like a disaster. Welcome to the real Rodewald house. Marie Kondo would die.
PM: That sounds pretty typical for a household with four teens – no shame, lol!! I found you by reading The Carpenter’s Daughter, and truly adored that book (look for my point of view post on it in the future)! But let’s say I have never read any of your books, what would you recommend as a first time reader of yours?
Jen: Thank you—and I’m glad you enjoyed Sarah’s story! <3 Actually, I’d probably recommend The Carpenter’s Daughter—it’s one of my faves and still deeply resonates with me. Or, maybe Emerald Illusion, because though it is my least popular book (it’s a little crazy how people sort of freak out when you put the words Christian and Fantasy together), I loved the journey I was required to take to write it, and the shift in view that I’ve had because of that story. But really, I loved every journey—even the hard ones that required way more of me than I’d signed up for, so I’m honored when readers take a chance on me with whichever of my works.
PM: How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?
Jen: Ah. So good of you to ask. I have a newsletter I send out at least once a month (often twice). You can find the sign up at https://authorjenrodewald.com/ and click the join now. You’ll also get my newsletter exclusive book It Will Be Forever, which is not currently available on any retail sites. Or, you can follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjenrodewald
PM: Ah, I am reading that as we are chatting – such a wonderful story! I highly recommend! Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?
Jen: Coffee. Every single morning. With Creamer, no sugar.
Thanks so much for having me, Paula—it’s a pleasure to chat with you!
my point of view of “Beauty” Series by Robin Patchen PLUS a free book for everyone!
July 11, 2019 in my point of view
my point of view:
There are a lot of Christian Fiction authors out there, and I have heard of Robin Patchen on social media a lot, but have never read anything by her, so I figured why not try out a free ebook of hers and see if I liked her writing. One word – WOW! I couldn’t buy the other two in this series fast enough! These three books are so filled with suspense and mystery I could not put them down!
Honestly, I was reaching out to Robin before I was even half way through book two! I was taken with Harper Cloud from page one, and that says a lot for me! There are twists and turns, and an amazing amount of love in this story – not all of which is romantic, either. I was a little put off when I read how Harper had been in prison, but hey, I figured, let’s see where this goes. I am so glad I did! The characters are well written, the personalities are very complex, and I found myself so drawn in to the lives of these folks. The suspense kept me on edge from the very beginning and it doesn’t let up until the very end – of the very last book! I was honestly even holding my breath through some scenes, lol.
For me, the main element of the story was not the romance – which is quite beautiful, by the way, but more the relationships between the characters and their relationship with God. Each of the main characters has a relationship with Jesus, and that is truly refreshing to see. The biggest stand out relationship between the characters for me was between Red and Harper. The closeness they develop is so sweet and the love they have for one another is stronger than a blood bond would be if she was truly Red’s granddaughter. Made me miss my grandmother even more than usual… This story line alone would have left me more than satisfied, but then we add in the amazing small town of Nutfield and it’s cast of characters – and one in particular – Jack Rossi. He is definitely the kind of hero I like to read about in romance stories, and a keeper for sure!
I can’t say enough about this series, you all really need to get the first book – it’s FREE to everyone – and decide for yourselves!
About Robin Patchen
The First Coast Romance Writers are sponsoring the NERFA (National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award) Winner for the ‘Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements’ category!
His Cinderella Sweetheart: A Contemporary Romance
Internationally recognized outdoorsman and business leader Jace McKibbon is not used to feeling helpless, until he sets foot in Disneyland. When his grieving daughter forms a connection with the young woman playing Cinderella, Jace gratefully places himself in the beautiful princess’s hands. Carolina is in her element helping the little family negotiate the park, and Jace’s sparking blue eyes and rugged good looks don’t hurt. But as much as Carolina loves playing Cinderella at Disneyland, she longs for more challenging work in God’s world. Can Jace help Carolina find a fairytale ending?
my point of view:
It was an absolute honor to be a judge for the Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements category, and all three of the finalist books were truly standouts. Which naturally made it all the harder to select a winner….but I had to!
This story had so many wonderful qualities to it that I had to choose it in the end. There is always something that tugs at my heart strings when there is a child involved in the story. Ruthie is absolutely precious in this story, and her dad’s not so bad either, lol! While Ruthie is a terrific little girl, she has never truly mourned the passing of her mother, and Jace has tried everything he can think of to get through to her. Raising his daughter on his own, plus running a huge corporation takes a lot of confidence in one’s abilities, so how does a Disney princess manage to knock him to his knees?
Ah, but Carolina is no run of the mill Cinderella, lol! Carolina is one of the sweetest character’s I have read in a while, and she is all about kindness, which I just loved. When she teaches Ruthie that being a true princess is about being kind and helping others….well, there is a true life lesson there, for sure…..
I think one of my favorite elements of the story was how they each needed to be in God’s will before moving forward in a relationship, no matter how hard the tugs on their connection were. The secondary characters in this beautiful romance also played a very significant roles in each of the main character’s lives, and they add a great deal to the overall story.
About Anna Grace
Coffee with Alexa Verde..PLUS an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!!
July 1, 2019 in coffee with paula marie
I am thrilled to have my very first Coffee with Paula Marie author interview back with us today – one year later – to catch up and see what has been happening in the last 12 months! Please join me in welcoming back Alexa Verde.
PM: Alexa, first off, thank you for taking the time to allow me to pester you once again! I hope this year has been wonderful for you, I know you have written several more stories, and I have had the pleasure of reading them all! I can’t name my favorites, as they have all been amazing, but I can say how excited I am for the series taking place in Chapel Cove! The intersecting characters all living in one small town is wonderful, and having two other authors (Autumn Macarthur & Marion Ueckermann) writing stories with the same cast of characters has been so much fun for us readers! How challenging is it writing a series collaborating with other authors?
AV: I love talking to you, so no pestering at all! And it was such a privilege to be the first interview on your wonderful blog. Writing Chapel Cove Romances with Autumn and Marion is a lot of fun. We help each other with ideas and feedback. We build the new storyworld together, and we all love Chapel Cove already. If it was a real place, I’d probably consider moving there! Marion kindly designed covers for all the books in the series, and I think they are beautiful. So much better than anything I could’ve done myself. The biggest challenge for me was the same timeline for the first three books in the series. I wrote Love Me the way it flowed, without thinking what other characters did at the time, and boy, did it require a lot if fixing later! But really, it’s a great pleasure working with Autumn and Marion.
PM: Aw, thank you so much, you are such a dear! I can only imagine the challenge that the time line presented! As a reader of all three books, I can tell you that you all did an amazing job of it!
What’s your favorite color? Any reason why?
AV: Light-blue. Color of the sky on a sunny day.
PM: Will you be doing any more Potter’s House books in the coming year? Curious minds want to know, lol!
AV: I hope I won’t disappoint anybody if I say no. I’m grateful for the experience and for the amazing support readers showed this series. But I got involved in so many upcoming projects, and there are only so many hours in the day. I need to learn to sleep fast. 🙂
PM: As long as you keep writing your amazing stories, I don’t think people will be too disappointed <grins>! I admit I did not read ALL of the Potter’s House series authors, but did find a couple of new authors I liked from being introduced that way!
What has been the most surprising event that happened to you in the last year?
AV: I hope it won’t be considered as bragging, but having #1 releases in their category.
PM: Bragging?? LOL, that is awesome, and so deserving – definitely not bragging!
Tell us what you enjoy doing the most when you are not writing or reading?
AV: Talking to God.
PM: Amen to that! I just love talking to God like an everyday friend, I did not have that growing up. ANd I love to sing along to worship music (as long as no one else can hear me, hehehe). What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
AV: Mostly pop music. Sometimes country. I do like good lyrics, too.
PM: I love when you add pets in a story. Do you have a lot of personal experience with animals? You always give them such great personalities!
AV: Thank you so much for your kind words! I wish I had a lot of personal experience with pets. I love them, and they always love us unconditionally. One day I hope to have a dog. Alaskan Huskies are such gorgeous dogs.
PM: I am not trying to embarrass you here or anything, but I want to take this opportunity to just try and tell you how grateful I am for your mentorship this past year while I was getting this little blog of mine launched! You mean so much to me, and it had me wondering who some of your mentor’s might have been when you started writing Christian Fiction. Can you share – without specifics, if need be – who has been influential on your journey?
AV: I believe this blog was a gift from God to you. It shows your talents and your love for Christian fiction. I’m tremendously grateful for your friendship and treasure it. As for my mentor, I pray to be guided by God. It probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone if I say that I think Autumn Macarthur was the answer to my prayers years ago, even unspoken ones. She’s a true Christian and an amazing author. A lot of different authors helped me on the way, but if I have to name one person, this is it.
PM: That is so sweet of you to say…I feel that your friendship has definitely been a gift from God to me! I love Autumn as well, she is amazing!
So, you have departed Rios Azules for a time and are currently writing about a small town on the Oregon Coast. How different has that been for you? Have you ever had the opportunity to visit Oregon?
AV: It’s much colder! I’m used to the fact that it’s nearly always warm in south Texas, so I tended to dress my characters too lightly for Oregon weather! Chapel Cove is a lovely town with a great community, and I’m already getting attached to many characters there. I haven’t had an opportunity to visit Oregon. Hopefully, one of these days. A wonderful reader of ours, Marylin Furumasu, was incredibly helpful to us to get facts about Oregon right. And she created graphics for the series that I absolutely love!
PM: I just adore Marylin’s work, happy to share her website with everyone! Her graphics can be found at http://www.mfliteraryworks.com!
Finally, I’ll ask you to remind us about your coffee drinking…love it, like, don’t care for it all??
AV: Looooove it! Got to have my coffee in the morning. Preferably with a creamer and a cookie (okay, it’s usually several cookies, but no need to count). Thank you so much for the interview and a virtual cup of coffee, Paula! Always a pleasure to talk to you, and you know I love your blog. Heartfelt thanks for all the support you give Christian authors.
To get your copy of Love me click here: https://amzn.to/2J3ubTr
Alexa is part of an awesome new series of books coming out with another of my favorite authors – Autumn Macarthur!
The first one is up for pre-order, get it on line now: https://amzn.to/2RFfTME
You will fall in love with these characters as the journey is romantic, mysterious and suspenseful…..but most of all filled with God’s goodness!
To keep up with Alexa Verde and her news click on the link to follow her on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2X4RHcu
To follow The Chapel Cove stories click here: https://amzn.to/2RtDTCk
Alexa is being so generous – again – as to offer one of our commenters an Amazon Gift Card for $5.00 (winner must have an Amazon account). Contest will run for one week from today and winner will be notified via email. To enter simply comment here and tell us what you love best about book series / collaboration with authors!
my point of view of Love at Sunset Lake by Sally Bayless plus a ~*GIVEAWAY*~
June 27, 2019 in my point of view
A caterer who’s been burned by love. An artist who’s withdrawn from the world. A property battle that just might heal them both.
When struggling caterer Tess Palmer inherits her great-aunt’s home at Sunset Lake, Missouri, she thinks she’s found the way to save her business. Selling the property can provide just the infusion of capital she needs to pay off her debts and move to a larger commercial kitchen.
Wildlife painter Jack Hamlin, who lives across Sunset Lake, wants the area kept exactly as it is—a place where waterfowl can thrive and where he can find peace and solitude to ease his troubled heart. Although he’s drawn to Tess’s honesty and beauty, he’s appalled to learn she would welcome a deal with a developer, and he vows to stop her.
As Tess discovers the reasons why Jack is so passionate about protecting the lake, she finds him more and more attractive. She takes a tentative step past her own emotional pain to risk her heart again. But there seems to be no solution to the impasse over the property. As a sale becomes imminent, can Jack and Tess trust God—and each other—and finally find a love that will last?
“Love at Sunset Lake” is a stand-alone contemporary Christian romance novel and is part of the Abundance Series by Sally Bayless. If you like a heartwarming love story with a touch of humor and characters with real-world problems, you’ll love this sweet story.
my point of view:
Another brand new to me author and I couldn’t be more excited. Two love stories in one novel, bonus points, and, just a warning, you may have cravings for ice cream after reading this book, lol! Seriously, though, these characters have a way of squirming into your heart and grabbing hold. Jack’s pain and need to keep things unchanged was heart breaking, his family’s support was near and dear to my heart.
Tess is someone I could so relate to – all business – all the time. I was like that for so many years, shutting out everything and everyone emotionally and concentrating on just a career. She is also a wonderful cook and organizer – I always wanted to be an event planner, lol! Obviously, God had other plans for Tess (and Jack), if only they would open their eyes and hearts to all He had to offer them. Then enter Jack’s cousin and his ex-wife. These two side characters made for a whole second story line that I absolutely loved!
I was honestly so drawn into the struggles of Tess and Jack that I couldn’t imagine how it could all come together in the end where everyone was at a ‘happily ever after’….but Sally pulled all the twisted ends into one beautiful braid by the end of the story. The setting of the story on the lake is worth a read in and of itself as well, the author has you so drawn to the atmosphere I felt as if I could close the book and walk out onto the lake…ah, if only! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am happy to say I am a new fan of Sally Bayless!
About Sally Bayless 
Sally is being so generous as to offer one of our readers a free ebook version of Love at Sunset Lake! To enter please comment on this post and tell us your favorite flavor of ice cream! Contest will run for one full week from today and winner will be notified via email!
my point of view of No Longer A Stranger by Chloe Flanagan plus a ~*Giveaway*~
June 20, 2019 in my point of view
EJ Handler is the perpetual class clown, but he’s also a loyal friend and dedicated worker at the tech company he helped found. Friendship and work are the only commitments he needs. Yet a dangerous scandal quickly upsets his laid back life and dredges up the old heartaches that made him fear responsibility in the first place. His only hope rests in his faith and the reluctant assistance of a mysterious female detective.
Sloan is a tough, unemployed cop with a penchant for taking on the cares of the world by herself, when an unexpected job offer gives her the opportunity to do what she loves. Little does she know that a simple job will bring the infuriating, but endearing EJ and a chance at the friendships she’s avoided for so long.
my point of view:
I was blessed to have read Chloe’s previous two books and meet her in person some months ago. I can tell you this author is a lovely young woman who has a heart for the Lord. She’s a pretty good writer too, lol! So when she asked me if I’d be willing to read her latest, it was a no-brainer – YES was my immediate response!
This by far my favorite of her stories to date…I have actually been waiting for EverLearn’s resident computer nerd, EJ, to get his own story and am so glad she gave him one! This story has all the elements of a great – once in a lifetime – love story, with a large helping of mystery and suspense to boot! Marion Sloan is a woman with a past…past mistakes, past hurts, and she carries these wounds around as reason to keep everyone at arms length.
She was a tough police officer seeking justice at all costs, sacrificing her own personal relationships. At one of the lowest times in her life she is called upon to help solve a case involving a possible kidnapping and blackmailer. When it becomes clear that EJ is also a target in this case, they work together to try and solve the mystery. Of course, this proves problematic, and EJ’s loyalty and goofiness come together full force and make Sloan look into a lot things she has been missing in her life. I really adored EJ, he is my kind of hero, funny and sweet, and loves to make you laugh….but also passionate and loyal to those he calls ‘friend’.
I don’t want to give away spoilers, but the suspense had me reading while holding my breath at times, lol. I was so caught up in it trying to read faster that I had to force myself to slow down and read slower, hahaha! I was also brought to tears by the power of God and having the right friends in your corner, not to mention the amazing love story….definitely “sigh” worthy! I highly recommend you check it out for yourself!
About Chloe Flanagan
Chloe Flanagan has generously offerred one of our readers a free ebook version of her latest book, No longer a stranger! simply comment on this post and tell us what, if any, is your favorite computer game to play. Contest will run for one week from today and winner will be notified via email.
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