Friday Fiction Friends - Emily Reynolds

This week Friday Fiction Friends spotlights Emily Reynolds' debut novel, PICTURE PERFECT. 

Seven years ago, I met Emily through an ACFW critique group. Together with Sally Bayless, we dubbed ourselves "The Three Musketeers" and determined to encourage each other to publication. Life happened and each of us has journeyed different roads to our dreams. Yet we are all three published!

Back then, Emily's WIP (work in progress) went by other names but her main characters were Lily and Micah. I fell in love with them from the start. Lily is spunky, determined, yet caring and full of compassion. She's pursuing her dream of opening a photography studio and has finally found the perfect location. Micah has a past he's not proud of - would love for no one to know about, in fact. A personal tragedy brought him to Christ and now he wants to open a martial arts dojo to teach jujitsu to teens at risk.

Micah just found the perfect location for his dojo. Uh-huh, you guessed it!

That's not what has sparks flying between Lily and Micah, though. Micah gets drafted to help Lily learn swing dancing for her cousin's wedding. Their time on the dance floor heats up their romance but their pasts are about to collide. Again.

Micah is such a wonderful hero. He wants to improve the lives of teens. He's strong yet not a brute. He can dance! He's considerate. And flawed. When he gets frustrated, he stops talking to Lily, which only makes matters worse. So true to life. Lily, for her part, doesn't always open up and share her thoughts and concerns. Which makes matters worse. More real life, right there. Lily sees the good in Micah but she can't quite let go of the past and trust him.

Added to the mix is Lily's best friend, Erica, and her boss, Ian, who owns/runs the local coffee hot spot. Then there's Jeff, the youth pastor. And Myrtle Boralis, a wealthy elderly lady in church who has rubbed a few people the wrong way. We all know someone like her - she means well but is abrasive anyway.

PICTURE PERFECT is a delightful read, full of real life and plenty of romance. Get your copy today, for Kindle or in print.

Emily Reynolds writes contemporary, faith-filled romance novels filled with laughs and small-town charm. She loves exploring the mystery of falling in love, God's redemptive grace, and laugh-out-loud humor. Visit her website to learn more: http://www.emilycreynolds.com/ 

For more incredible contemporary romance novels, check out BLING! Romance, a division of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Deleted Scenes...

Movies have bloopers. Sometimes they'll leak a scene that was cut. Well, novels have lots of deleted scenes. An author writes the first draft and then tweaks what works, slices what doesn't. But these manuscripts are like our babies - actually "deleting" what we wrote is painful. So the scenes tend to get tucked into a file and often never read again. 

Today, I'm offering up a deleted scene from SHE'S MINE. If you've read the book, you will find vague referencing to the Memorial Day parade. In the first drafts, there was actually a chapter with Sean and Caitlin interacting at the parade; Caitlin even rides in one of the fire trucks with Sean in the parade. It just didn't advance the plot enough and I was able to put the little bit of pertinent details in subsequent chapters (where they actually worked better). Still, I liked the scene. Here is a portion of it, for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

“Janelle has arranged for you to ride in another truck so you can have a front seat view of the parade.”

She looked over his shoulder, realizing why Sean had joined the group. Sitting in the front would be more fun than being squeezed between two rambunctious six-year-old boys. Janelle grinned. Caitlin narrowed her eyes and tried to telepathically communicate I know what you’re doing, to her best friend. Sliding her gaze back to Scott, she nodded.

He opened the door and jumped down. She faced the truck and climbed carefully. The feel of hands suddenly on her hips surprised her. A quick glance showed Sean guiding her. He dropped his hands as her feet hit the ground.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to get touchy-feely there. Just didn’t want you to fall.”

“I have a pretty good sense of balance.” Not wanting a repeat of the other day she added, “Thank you for being considerate.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Thanks for giving me the benefit of doubt. Truck’s over this way.”

Long, quick strides carried him across the parking lot. She stared at his departing form. He moved with confidence. The dark blue pants and white shirt of the fire department uniform looked good on him. Wavy blond curls edged over his collar. Her mouth went dry. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

He stopped beside a red F350 Super Duty. She hurried to catch up. When he turned to look at her, she was struck by the contradictions in his face. Broad with angular planes, his expression could be hard and a bit intimidating. Harbor blue eyes might’ve been chilly. Instead he smiled and his face became round, cheerful, almost boyish.

“This is the forestry truck.” Sean spoke with pride.

“It’s like your truck, only red.”

“And a bit bigger.” He smiled. “This one holds over two hundred gallons of water, plus she’s got a pump that’ll send out five hundred gallons per minute. That is the hose reel.” He pointed as he spoke. “There’s a generator onboard, four 15 amp outlets, two telescoping lights and rear scene lights.”

Caitlin stared at the truck, awed by its implied capabilities. She pointed to the built out front bumper. “Do I even want to know about that?”

“No.” His smiled dimmed, as if recalling unpleasant memories. “That one is a Briggs and Stratton power unit. The others are called Hurst tools. Ask Scott if you want to know more. I’d rather not get into a discussion about car accidents.”

“Okay with me.” She let a smile claim her lips. Sean was pleasant to talk to when she wasn’t being rude. “I’m not much into blood and guts.”

“We’ll get along fine, then.” Pronounced dimples appeared as his grin returned.

Caitlin held her smile, trying to hide her nervousness. In jeans and t-shirt at the farm, Sean had a down-to-earth, regular guy kind of look. Today, in uniform, he looked like a rough-edged gentleman. Both were attractive and that worried her.

Adam always behaved like a perfect gentleman. Dressing smartly, his black hair cut short and combed straight and neat. Yet Adam had played a role, luring her into a trap. And she hadn’t known until it was too late. Then he’d revealed his true self: a manipulating, conniving narcissist. What proof was there that Sean was who he seemed to be?

“Caitlin?”

He’d been talking and she hadn’t heard a word. Now he held the door, gesturing for her to get into the truck.

“Sorry, got lost in thought for a moment.”

“Having second thoughts about riding with me?”

If you haven't read SHE'S MINE yet, grab a copy for your Kindle at http://amzn.to/1MHwhp1 It's only $4.99 - - or FREE with Kindle Unlimited! 

SHE'S MINE is On Sale!!

Great news - I'm running a Kindle Countdown sale for SHE'S MINE! Starting August 31st, the price for the eBook is $1.99...until midnight (PST) on September 4th...which is 3:00am on 9/4 for those on the East coast. After that, the price will be $2.99 until 11:00pm (PST) on September 6th. (click the picture or this link to go to the Amazon.com page: http://amzn.to/1MXk5ja)
  

For Amazon.UK customers, the sale begins September 2nd at 12:00am GMT with a price of £0.99 until 12:00pm GMT on September 5th. Then the price will be £1.99 until 12:00am GMT on September 9th. 

Please help me out and tell all your friends about this promotion. SHE'S MINE has a 4.6★ rating on Amazon, with comments like:

~ "Did I want to stay up until 2 am reading? NO! But the book was too good to put down. Highly recommend."

~ "I finished 'She's Mine' last night....You surprised me with the twists..I didn't expect that..."

~ "Masterful plot twists, action, some suspense & romance - loved this book! Good Christian values & scripture references given at appropriate times - we are not perfect, just forgiven! Will now go back and read her others!"

~ "I loved this book. Full of twists and turns and unexpected events. And a great ending."

~ "I really liked this story. Lots of mystery along with a good romance. I didn't want to put the book down until I'd finished it."

"Fantastic read. Poured through this book because I couldn't put it down! The storyline kept me guessing. There is a masterful plot twist, that I didn't see coming - and I loved it!! " ~ Lisa Belcastro, author of the Winds of Change series and Possible Dreams series.
****************************************************************************************************************************

Caitlin Harrington has a new job and a new life away from her menacing ex-boyfriend, Adam. Issues with her parents, losing her previous job and the death of her beloved grandmother leave her wondering if God has abandoned her. Two things she is sure of: she’s a lousy judge of character and men just can’t be trusted. Now a volunteer firefighter who has come to her rescue more than once is dangerously close to breaking through her defenses. 

And not everyone in sleepy Naultag, Massachusetts is welcoming. Someone is leaving ominous notes on her door. 

Sean Taggart likes being a rescuer. But a failed engagement has taught him to be cautious with his heart and Caitlin is a threat. Women just can’t be trusted. Still, he’d like to save Caitlin from whatever demons have her so spooked. If only she’d let him. 

Threatening notes. Scratching at the windows during the night. A shadowy figure lurking in her yard. Caitlin must tell the police about Adam, but everything he told her was a lie. Who is Adam? And if Caitlin trusts Sean to protect her, will his life be in danger? 

Can Sean rescue Caitlin before the stalker becomes a killer? 

SHE'S MINE is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.UK 
 this novel is also available in print format from many online retailers

Visit my Amazon Author Page or pop over to Facebook to connect with me!

CELEBRATION TIME!

This week, I had the honor of having my novel, SHE'S MINE, chosen as winner of the January Clash of the Titles!! It's so exciting because this is a competition where readers choose which book they'd most like to read based on the cover and a brief blurb. So not only did my blurb catch interest, but the beautiful cover designed by my talented artist daughter, Tiffany Doherty, is also a winner! (you might be able to tell by all the exclamation points that I'm a little excited about this award!!!)


As I've mentioned before, Naultag - the fictional setting of SHE'S MINE - is based on the area of Massachusetts where I live and grew up. At one point, Sean takes Caitlin to a restaurant called Claudia's. Here's an interest tidbit of trivia: a friend, and former childhood babysitter, used to own a restaurant in town. She's always been supportive of both my writing and our family perennial nursery business. So I named the diner in my book after her - Claudia. Here's what the real restaurant looks like:

I'm excited to share more of my part of the world with readers. Look for more posts in the future with photos of the central MA region. And be sure to check out Clash of the Titles blog for more clashes each month. You may find a new favorite author. If you haven't yet bought a copy of SHE'S MINE, what are you waiting for?!! Hop over to Amazon and get it for your Kindle or in print.

Author Spotlight: Interview and Give Away

Today I am honored to have Ruth O'Neil as a guest on my blog. Ruth has been writing for over 20 years and has published hundreds of articles. Ruth is offering a GIVE AWAY of one of her books to one lucky reader. Be sure to leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win the Ruth O'Neil book of your choice. 

1)      When did you start writing? What was the first story you remember writing?

When I was nine I wrote my first story called "The Hunchback Bug." My mom allowed me to use her typewriter. I felt proud as I sat at the dining room table pounding away at the keys. When I was done I asked if I should put my name, age, and date at the bottom. She thought it was a good idea.

Later on that story came up missing. I never knew what happened to it until my mom passed away. Dad gave all four of us kids our baby books that Mom had meticulously kept up with from the days we were born. Inside were treasures of all kinds: hair, reward certificates from school, honor roll certificates, report cards, and…my story. She had kept that story all those years, safely tucked away so it wouldn’t get lost or damaged.

I still have it today.

2)      What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Helping other potential writers. I want to see others see their writing dreams come true. I have witnessed more than one person cry when they hold their book in their hands for the first time. There is nothing like that feeling!

3)      How many books do you currently have available?

I started a series of novels, What a Difference a Year Makes. The novels are all stand-alone with different characters. But over my life I’ve seen that so much can happen in a year. I wanted to do a series, but I get frustrated when I buy a book and it’s the second or third in a series and I haven’t read the previous ones. With my series, order doesn’t matter.

Belonging

After the death of her father, painfully shy and introverted Shelly finds her world turned upside down. She is forced to speak with people and she may even have to move from her comfortable apartment. Sorting through her father’s possessions at his house brings back many memories, including how they would research her mom’s genealogy so that in a way, she could get to know her mother’s family, who are all deceased. Shelly wonders why her dad never researched his own family and she never remembers any family events. Why? She begins a journey that takes her to places she never dreamed. Throughout the entire story, God nudges Shelly to get out of her comfort zone. That’s easy for some, but for Shelly it may almost be impossible.

Get your copy of BELONGING on Amazon: http://amzn.to/12W4JZ9

Come Eat at My Table

Karin Miller has a need to feed everyone. One of her twin daughters always teases her about it, while
the other daughter, Faith, realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Faith’s suspicions are confirmed when she is assigned a project in school that forces Karin to talk about her past. Most people have pleasant memories from childhood, but not Karin. Instead, she has a lot of secrets that she has managed to keep hidden for twenty years. These secrets have contributed to her vulnerability and lack of self-esteem. Her husband tries to convince her to talk to their girls about it and let it out. Would it be good for the girls to learn more about their mom and why she is the person she is? Until Karin faces her past, she and her family cannot face their future.

Everyone has things in their life that form who they are. It’s Karin’s past that has formed who she is. This is a story about perseverance, love, and especially forgiveness. We can all take the bad things
that happen in our lives and turn them around to benefit those with whom we come in contact.

Get your copy of COME EAT AT MY TABLE on Amazon: http://amzn.to/136NHap

4)      Which book(s) inspire you the most?

That’s like asking which child is my favorite. I think different books inspire me at different times – depending on what I’m going through at the time. I think it’s great that different authors can have an effect on me when I need it.

Keep in touch with Ruth at her blog, Real Life is Better Than Fiction 

And don't forget to leave a comment on this post, with your email address in a safe format (example: username (at) internet server (dot) net) to be entered for a FREE book. Deadline is Friday, 12/19/14 at midnight EST. 

Author Spotlight - Suzanne Williams

I'm starting a new feature on my blog - on Mondays I will post an Author Spotlight or Book Review. This week, I'm happy to kick off with someone I met through Facebook. Suzanne D. Williams is a best-selling author of both fiction and non-fiction books. She's also a photographer and does graphic design for indie published authors. Suzanne and I share a love of photography as well as writing. 




Suzanne has a Christmas-themed novella with a title many of us up in the frozen North will be drawn to - and dreaming about! Merry Christmas from Florida is just the thing to warm you up and get you in the Christmas mood. 

Fashion model Whitney Hobart snuck off to Florida to solve her Christas blues. A bad, extremely public breakup combined with endless rounds of holiday cheer seem like simply too much to endure. She'll hide out at a small hotel on the coast, soak in the winter sunshine, and no one will be the wiser.

But when her secret gets out, the problems she's tried to escape multiply, and what's supposed to be relaxing isn't anymore. The only good thing remaining is hotel manager, Fletcher Collins.

She finds in him a listening ear, a gentle hand, and maybe, just maybe, the greatest gift of all - love.

Suzanne, tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not writing?

I snickered a little at this question because when am I not writing? I write practically all day every day. That said, I do stop to eat. I like to try new recipes, especially desserts, and to cook with my daughter. I also garden. I plant both flowers and vegetables. I love watching the birds and bees enjoy what I've planted. I enjoy that even more with my camera lens. Nature photography is like therapy for my soul. It helps me set aside all the nonsense of the day and clears my head. When nothing else makes sense, photography does.

A sample of Suzanne's photography

A sample of Suzanne's photograpy

  

 When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I was a graphic artist first, doing book covers, newsletters, and the like. I went through a trying time in 2007 and decided to write my personal testimony. This was my first effort at writing and, for me, the hardest. Writing fiction, came after that. I had an idea for a story and a friend encouraged me to go after it. Though I had no idea what I was doing at first, I've never looked back. 

   How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I write mostly novellas of about 20,000 words. That said, I currently have 59 novels/novellas/short stories released, 34 of which I released this year alone. My brain seems to be an endless fountain of ideas.

I love all my stories, but have a fondness for Love &Redemption (The Florida Irish) and Me & Timothy Cooper for their place in kickstarting my writing career. Love & Redemption has been not as popular as some series, but it was the book I learned to write on - how to plot, how to create meaningful characters. Me & Timothy Cooper set me to writing YA romance. There's something about the innocence of youth that appeals to me and keeps me coming back to that genre.

    Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

I have all kinds of themes slated for next year. I have a YA Rodeo series, a YA Surfing series. I have a contemporary Celebrity series. I also have a historical fiction series to finish as well as several individual contemporary novels. I do write a lot of romantic suspense and have even written sci-fi. 

If I would list favorite characters, my swoon-worthy hero is Michael O'Fallen in the Love & Redemption series for that amazing singing voice. My favorite YA hero is Aaron Loving in All About Romeo. He's imperfect, but somehow, that makes him so likeable. For personality I would choose Atlas Bellamy in Atlas(Billionaire Boys Club) Book 1. He's strong and confident, knows who he is and doesn't turn aside for anyone but his wife, who he adores.

Get Merry Christmas from Florida on Kindle or in print at http://amzn.to/12hEj3A

About the Suzanne D. Williams:
Best-selling author, Suzanne D. Williams, is a native Floridian, wife, mother, and photographer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes a monthly column for Steves-Digicams.com on the subject of digital photography, as well as devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors. She is co-founder of THE EDGE.
To learn more about what she’s doing and check out her extensive catalog of stories, visit http://suzanne-williams-photography.blogspot.com/ or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor

A Good Man is Good

In my new novel, SHE'S MINE (releasing December 1, 2014), Caitlin Harrington struggles to know how to tell if someone is truly a good person or merely a wolf in sheep's clothing. She recently dated a guy she met at Bible Study, thinking his apparent interest in learning about God and Jesus indicated that he was a good man. He wasn't good. At all. She flees from him, returning to her childhood hometown where she has a new job. And meets Sean Taggart, who seems like a great guy. Almost too perfect, in fact.

Fear chilled Caitlin. On the one hand, the idea was romantic, joining with the man she loved and becoming one. On the other hand, what if the guy wasn’t what at first he seemed to be? She’d get her heart broken, or worse. If only there was a way to tell if Sean was the nice guy he appeared to be or actually a slimy creep like Adam.

Caitlin bowed her head. “Lord, please forgive me. I’ve been trying to figure this out on my own. But I need to lean on you. Please show me the right path. Help me choose correctly.”

At this point, Caitlin turns to her Bible and reads Luke 6:45. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Seems too good to be true, doesn't it? That's exactly how Caitlin feels. Yet it is true. When

Image courtesy of Savour Sisterhood

your heart is filled with goodness, you speak more kindly, are more helpful, and are just generally a good person. People whose hearts are filled with evil are generally bad. Take a moment to think about the people you interact with daily. See, it's true. But there's more to it, something we don't think about yet is crucially important. If you consider yourself a good person, don't fill your thoughts (and Facebook/Twitter status updates) with nasty things. That doesn't mean you can't disagree with someone. And certainly a little sarcasm used humorously in a way that isn't hurtful can bring about a laugh - which is good. But letting your head fill with thoughts of criticism of others or negativity about situations is like letting a cut get infected. Pretty soon the wound fester, oozes pus and smells bad, and if left untreated, it becomes a major problem. Yeah, it's natural to get down about things now and then. Current affairs are enough to drag anybody down into the pit of negativity. Don't go there! Fight it! Fill your thoughts with positives, things that make you smile. If someone else's discomfort or pain makes you smile, then you probably need to reconsider whether you are a good person or and evil one.

In SHE'S MINE, Caitlin first thought Adam was a good man because he attended church and Bible study. He expressed an interest in learning more about Christ. But it was all for show. After a few months, Adam's true personality became clear. Sean, on the other hand, is kind and considerate to everyone, well-liked and respected in the church and town-wide. He has a fantastic rapport with the kids on his Little League team, including Caitlin's best friend's sons. Good overflows from his heart. Too bad Caitlin had treated him so coldly in their earlier encounters. Dared she hope Sean might be willing to forgive her? 

SHE'S MINE, the new contemporary romantic suspense by Tammy Doherty, is now available on Kindle and coming soon in print on Amazon

And The Winner Is...

Jasmine! Congratulations on winning a FREE copy of Celtic Knot. Like me, Jasmine prefers print copies and I've got one on the way to her.

Thank you to all who dropped in to read my excerpt and leave a comment. I am grateful for all the visitors! If only I could afford to give you each a free book. Alas, the Lottery has not yet seen fit to give me the winning ticket! However, you can get Celtic Knot as an eBook for only $3.99. It's available for all eReaders. For Kindle, you can go directly to Amazon; for others, you can shop your favorite online retailer or go to Smashwords (they let you choose your preferred format, so even Kindle readers can shop there, too).

Happy Reading, Everyone!!

I'd be thrilled to keep in touch with you on my Facebook page, too. I usually post news about Christian book bargains, new releases from my friends and favorite authors, and funny stuff that may or may not related to writing. And, of course, it's where you'll be able to find out first what I'm up to with new novels! Here's the address: https://www.facebook.com/TammyDohertyAuthor

Read an excerpt of DARKEST HOUR!

As promised, here is a peek into DARKEST HOUR by Nike Chillemi. I know you'll be hooked! Download the full novel for Kindle or Nook today!!

DARKEST HOUR by Nike Chillemi

(From Chapter one…)

A black coach resembling an ambulance drove into the lot. An older man in overalls pulled a collapsible gurney out of the back and raised its bed to hip level. Its chrome gleamed.

The night orderly and two nurses getting off the night shift stopped to watch.

The brown-haired man pointed to the gurney and his voice carried. "They finally allocated some funds my way. Makes transporting much easier. Oscar and I used to carry them on a stretcher. My back sure is grateful to the board of supervisors."

The detective laughed. "Don't you county guys have all the dough you want?"

"Who're you kidding?"

The gurney's wheels rumbled across the gravel parking lot. The older man pulled on the straps of his overalls."Hank, you ready to move the body?"

The stylish man nodded. "Let's do it." They lifted the body onto the gurney and the man in overalls covered Dr. McCloud with a white sheet. Blood seeped through and began spreading.

Lucinda gasped, took another step back, stumbled, but managed to keep her footing. She straightened her spine. She still had to go into that building and work a full day. She had a son to support.

The detective nodded toward the body. "By the size of the hole in his chest, I'd guess he was shot with a pistol, maybe at close range. I need to have the bullet as soon as you recover it."

"Then by all means, you'll be my guest at the autopsy."

"Gee, thanks." The detective shook his head.

The debonair man chuckled, turned, and approached Lucinda.

A tremor ran down her back. More questioning, and all she wanted to do was run and hide. She sniffled and wiped her nose with the side of her index finger.

He reached into his inside pocket and offered her a folded white handkerchief. "It's rough if you've never seen anything like this. I'm Hank Jansen, the medical examiner, by the way."

Lucinda's gaze followed the gurney to the black coach. "He was my boss."

"You work at the hospital for Dr. McCloud?"

"Yes. I... I'm his secretary... was, I mean. And Dr. Hinsey's too." She couldn't believe the doctor's life had ended this way.

Detective Daltry barked, "Hank, can I speak with you?"

"Excuse me." The medical examiner stepped away.

"Wait." Lucinda quickly refolded the handkerchief and handed it back to him. She didn't know this man. Wouldn't begin to know how to return the white cotton cloth. "Don't forget this."

"Take it with you. The day's not over. Things could still get rough." He smiled.

"No, I can't take your hankie."

"Listen, I'll pick it up the next time I'm at the hospital. You say you work for Dr. Hinsey?"

"Hank," the detective called, impatience sharp in his tone.

"Yes, Dr. Hinsey is the head of the maternity ward. I'll launder it and have it ready for you."

The medical examiner nodded and smiled. "It's a date. I mean, I'll stop by and pick it up." He turned and trotted toward the detective.
Lucinda slipped the handkerchief into her purse. She headed for the main entrance of the hospital, bent and picked up a fountain pen in the gravel lot.

She pivoted and advanced toward the two men.

The detective made a chopping gesture with his hand and raised his voice. "I'm not fooling, Hank. Don't go putting another notch in your belt. She's a witness."

"Can't a fellow do a simple act of kindness?"

"I'm warning you, stay away from her." The detective spun around and nearly collided with Lucinda.

Heat rushed to her face, and she couldn't meet either man's gaze. If the ground would only open and swallow her. She held the pen out to Detective Daltry. "Uh...I…I'm sorry. I think you dropped this."

See - you want more, don't you! Get the rest on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Visit Nike on her blog to find out about future novels, and other fun crime writing stuff: Nike Chillemi~Crime Fictionista

Mystery, wine and a sip of romance at the Fredrickson Winery!

This week the Grace Awards Summer Book tour spotlights ENTANGLED by Barbara Ellen Brink. For mystery, wine, and a touch of romance visit the Fredrickson Winery. Great summer reading set in the beautiful Napa Valley.

ENTANGLED is the 1st in the Fredrickson Winery series. Here's a little blurb to wet your palate:
One lost summer is time best left forgotten... 

When Minneapolis attorney, Billie Fredrickson, inherits her uncle's small California winery, she has no intention of actually moving to the west coast and starting a new life. Her only thought is to get it off her hands as quickly as possible. But her return to the winery after an absence of twenty years opens up more than the reading of her uncle's will. Childhood memories, long-buried, begin to surface, prompting questions that no one is able or willing to answer.
A late night prowler, a break-in at the winery, and an unearthed box of shocking photographs is someone's way of pulling the welcome mat out from under Billie's feet, but it only makes her dig her heels in deeper.

Secrets lie buried beneath Fredrickson Winery's innocent facade and Billie intends to get to the root. But disturbing the past lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother's. Can she live with the consequences of full disclosure or will she run home where everyone is Minnesota Nice.

Barbara is offering a GIVE AWAY on her blog. Click here to pop over and find out how you could win a copy of her 3rd Fredrickson Winery novel, SAVOR.

To purchase ENTANGLED visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Barbara Ellen Brink is the award-winning author if SPLIT SENSE, The Fredrickson Winery series, ALIAS RAVEN BLACK, and the Amish Bloodsucker Trilogy. Check out Barbara's blog and her Amazon Author page.

And don't forget to visit all the other Grace Awards Summer Book Tour Authors:


Mon, Aug 12 ~ Naomi Musch, PAINT ME ALTHENA

Mon, Aug 19 ~ Marcy Dyer, OUT FOR BLOOD

Mon, Aug 26 ~ Nike Chillemi, DARKEST HOUR

Mon, Sept 2 ~ DeEtteBeckstead, VICTORY

Mon, Sept 9 ~ JanalynVoigt, DAWNSINGER

Mon, Sept 16 ~ Kenneth Winters, THE LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE

Mon, Sept 23 ~ BJ Robinson, LAST RESORT

Mon, Sept 30 ~ Laura J.Marshall , A HEART’S HOME

Mon. Oct 7 - Tammy Doherty, CELTIC KNOT

LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCAS MCGILLEY

Today I'm happy to showcase Suzanne D. Williams. I first met Suzanne through Grace Awards and it turns out we like a lot of the same things - books, photography, Irish heritage, and more. Suzanne is the author of both nonfiction and fiction works and even writes a monthly column for Digicams.com about digital photography.  For the Grace Awards Summer Book Launch Tour, she's focusing on her novel THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCAS MCGILLEY, a young adult romance of first love and the importance of family. You can purchase this novel and Suzanne's other books at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Here's a blurb about the book:

“Go ahead and plan to leave,” Lucas said. “Hold onto your ticket. I’ll even drive you to the train. But I’ll do it with Sam and John and Charles and Will. With Marcus and James. Even with Jesse. And you’ll have to look us all in the eye as you board and decide what’s more valuable to you. Your plans in Atlanta. Your friend, Christine, who I’m sure is great. Or ten people who love you.”

The second of eight boys, Lucas McGilley spent his youth pulling pranks. Yet growing up comes hard, and he’s learned his lesson. Or so he thinks.

Then Iris Willow shows up for the summer, and along comes love, strife, and a terrible family secret. He needs her now, more than he’s ever thought possible.
But can he convince her to stay, or will she catch the train and be gone forever?

Suzanne has graciously answered a few interview questions so we can get to know her better. 

1) How did you come up with such an unusual name for your novel?

I woke up early one morning with that title in my head. I saw it like a headline. I am a graphic artist as well as a writer, so initially it came to me like the top of a newspaper. But when I made the book cover later, I decided to use a couple instead and give the title an old-fashioned headline effect.

2) Where did the storyline come from?

The storyline was originally a historical fiction. But because contemporary YA sells so well, I changed it. This enabled me to use a modern young couple on the cover and to include things like trucks and cell phones. But it keeps it’s “country” feel somewhat. I am a native Floridian and love to include descriptions of the landscape and lifestyle I am so familiar with in my books. This was the first YA I’ve written that I could really indulge myself in that and it still be contemporary.

3) What was the most difficult part of writing this story?

Remembering all those brothers – Jesse, Lucas, Marcus, James, William, Charles, John, and Sam.

I try to make each story unique in some way. Lucas being one of eight boys is definitely unique, but add in the challenge of having so many names in the text, giving each of them a personality, and the rapport brothers in a large family would have with each other, and I had to stop and think…a lot. Sam’s my favorite brother next to Lucas. Lucas, being the troublemaker, I needed a brother who’d continually stir the pot, so to speak, and he became it.

Here’s an unusual fact about the book, my editor is herself a mom of five boys, so she identified with the feel of the family, and that was a huge help to me in finalizing the story.

4) Iris Willow is a different name. What’s her part in the story?

I love naming characters. As a mom, I personally tried to give my daughter a normal name. After all, I grew up having to explain “Suzanne.” But when it comes to books, I can indulge myself and choose things outside of the box. In Iris’ case, I asked a friend to name a flower, completely at random, and then a tree. I then put them together. It was that simple.

It being a YA romance, I had to have a girl in the story, and since the story is set in a small town way off the road, it made sense to bring her in from the outside, where she’d be unfamiliar with the area. It also seemed a good idea she not be used to a large family, and that created the problems between she and Lucas, her reluctance to get involved, and the mystery of why exactly she was there.

5) What do you love about writing YA?

The innocence of it, two young people first falling in love, and the thrill that brings to the heart and the mind. The older I get, the more I appreciate this.

I nver set out to be a YA writer, and actually, write many other romance titles, but it’s the YA that I always come back to, which brings me the most joy and feedback. As a Christian writer, I add Bible morality into each story as well. Some have more of a Christian theme than others, but all have foundational truths behind them.

No one person’s life is perfect, and I try to reflect that in the mistakes and foibles of the characters, and write what’s best for that particular tale because what works for one doesn’t work for another. Yet when all is said and done, love always triumphs because that, after all, is romance.

To learn more about what Suzanne, visit http://suzanne-williams-photography.blogspot.com/ or link with her on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor

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CELTIC CROSS and CLADDAUGH now eBooks!

When I was in high school, my parents got a microwave oven. Mom tried cooking all kinds of foods in there. My all time favorite was microwave popcorn, arguably the greatest invention since the wheel. Warming up a cup of coffee is nice, too. I, however, didn't get a microwave until about ten years after getting married.

We got our first DVD player a few years after the microwave. And only because it was difficult to buy movies on VHS.

Nearly all my friends have cell phones. Not me. One day I will come into the 21st century. I mean, even my parents both have cell phones!

The future of publishing is moving more and more toward eBooks. Seems like nearly everyone has an eReader device of one type or another. Those who don't, read books on their computers. I love print books and will never give them up but it would be foolish to ignore the ePublishing market. So I didn't - my three novels are coming to the electronic book world!

If you're looking for a good book for yourself or to give as a gift, check out Celtic Cross and Claddaugh, both available as eBooks. And Celtic Knot will join them very soon! All three are Christian Historical Romance - Western action and sweet romance. Check them out today!

Purchase links:

Amazon Kindle http://tinyurl.com/bk5jh4y

Barnes & Noble Nook http://tinyurl.com/bj76mtf

Other Readers http://tinyurl.com/bkdz4ya