THE IRISH MATCHMAKER - Jennifer Deibel - One Free Book

Bio: Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance), The Lady of Galway Manor, and The Maid of Ballymacool. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children.

Jennifer draws from her years of experience living in Ireland to craft historical novels steeped in culture. In her newest novel, The Irish Matchmaker, Deibel journeys back to Ireland with a tale of mismatched romances, fresh new starts, and happily ever afters.

About the story: As the daughter of a matchmaker with an excellent reputation, Catríona Daly is well-versed in love. The one thing love hasn’t done for her yet is take her away from the tiny town she’s been languishing in. The only time the village is truly bustling is during the annual matchmaking festival. And this year, she has her eye on the grandest prize at the festival, Andrew Osborne, the son of a lord. After a failed romance set up by a rival matchmaker, Andrew is ready to find a new match. And Catríona has just the match in mind—herself.

Donal Bunratty is left adrift after the loss of his wife. He has been trying to manage his cattle farm and raise his daughter all alone. But finding new love is more difficult than it would seem. Despite his shyness, Donal agrees to attend the matchmaking festival for the sake of his daughter. Alas, when he attends the festival, the only woman to draw his attention is the one who’s supposed to find his future wife for him—and she is set on matching herself with another.

It will take everything Catríona has learned of love to end this festival with success. The matches she makes could change her life forever.

Welcome, Jennifer. Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel The Irish Matchmaker? Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love—even though personally she has yet to find it. Eager for a match of her own and a fresh start away from her sleepy village, she makes grand plans for the annual Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival. She never expects a shy, widowed sheep farmer to distract her from her goal.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading The Irish Matchmaker? I pray that all readers will be encouraged in their own faith journey—whether they’ve been following Jesus for years or just exploring what this God thing is all about. And if anyone is struggling to trust in God’s provision, when it’s almost impossible to see how He could provide, I hope that they would be heartened and encouraged to trust Him.

Why do you love setting your novels in Ireland? The culture, language, and people are part of my heart and soul. I love being able to help others experience even a piece of that incredible country. It is such a joy.

What type of research was required to portray the historical setting in The Irish Matchmaker? While I’ve driven through Lisdoonvarna and stopped for tea once or twice, I was never able to spend much time there. So I spent a lot of days and weeks online learning about the town’s history, as well as the history and methods of matchmaking. I was so grateful to be able to chat with people at the Spa Wells Historical Centre, as well as talk to third-generation matchmaker Willie Daly (who is still making matches in Lisdoonvarna to this day)! It was some of the most fun research I’ve done in a while!

Catríona is the daughter of a renowned matchmaker. What were the responsibilities of a matchmaker during this time period?

Matchmakers were responsible for finding suitable matches for their clients. Sometimes the first match worked, other times it took a few tries. Then it was their job to negotiate the terms of the match—money for dowry and land or livestock that was going to be part of the deal, etc. Many matchmakers also kept meticulous records. Lisdoonvarna’s current matchmaker carries a book with him that has the details of every match made by him, his father, and his grandfather!

Catríona is determined to make a reputation for herself as a great matchmaker, as well as make herself a prosperous match. What, in your opinion, makes a great match between two characters? That’s the million-dollar question! There has to be some common thread connecting the characters to begin with. It could be a shared circumstance, mutual attraction, or even mutual annoyance! But both parties really need to have the same goal for the relationship. A good dose of conflict or a few obstacles can really help refine those goals and draw the couple together. I also think laughter is a must for any successful romantic match.

What do you love most about writing historical romance? I love being able to experience the world through a different lens. No matter how many stories I write, I learn so much, and I get to see countries, cultures, and time periods most people don’t get the opportunity to if they don’t read or write historical fiction. It’s a chance to see what things were like.

What about your own life influences your writing? Oftentimes, my own faith and struggles influence what or how I write. I’m able to draw on those experiences in order to add a deeper layer of authenticity to the characters’ thoughts and actions. Many of the humorous situations in my books were inspired by events I actually experienced—like the “moving cloud” (aka sheep) in the nighttime journey over the Errigal Pass in A Dance of Donegal and the cows munching on seaweed in the middle of the street after a storm in The Lady of Galway Manor!

How can readers connect with you? I absolutely love connecting with readers, so I hope they will! My website has all the links to find me around the web. Readers can sign up for my newsletter there and find links to all my social media.

Where can readers purchase a copy of The Irish Matchmaker? The Irish Matchmaker is available wherever books are sold in paperback, ebook, and hardcover format. And the audiobook will be available after the release date. The best deal can always be found at Baker Book House where you can preorder the book for 40 percent off and free shipping.

Thank you for sharing this book with us. It sounds so interesting.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+irish+matchmaker+jennifer+deibel&crid=17CQ3T8T95GKA&sprefix=The+Irish+Matchmaker+%2Caps%2C88&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_21

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com 

WINNERS

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win. 

Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund.

Brenda (MS) is the winner of Earning the Mountain Man's Trust by Misty M Beller.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.  

SHADOWS AT DUSK - Elizabeth Goddard - One Free Book

Bio: Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 novels, including Cold Light of Day and the Rocky Mountain Courage and Uncommon Justice series. Her books have sold nearly 1.5 million copies. She is a Carol Award and Reader's Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.

Elizabeth has mastered the craft of writing action-packed, high-stakes novels that keep readers on the edge of their seats. In Shadows at Dusk, book two in the Missing in Alaska series, Goddard returns readers to the last frontier and introduces characters who face new dangers and dark mysteries as they search for what they’ve lost while learning to trust each other.

About the story: Alaska is a far cry from his home state of Montana, but Detective Trevor West would go to the ends of the earth to find his missing sister. After disappearing in a small Alaskan town, all she left behind were a few photographs. With Police Chief Autumn Long’s help, Trevor seeks out Carrie James. An experienced bush pilot with knowledge of the area, Carrie is his best shot at finding the locations depicted in the photographs.

But Carrie won’t help for free. Grieving the death of her trusted friend, she agrees to use her skills to help Trevor if he uses his own expertise to track down her friend’s killer and bring them to justice.
Neither of their searches prove to be easy as they venture into the dark secrets of the Alaskan land. To find what they need, they’ll have to trust each other and stay steadfast in the face of danger. The truth—and a killer—is out there.

What type of research was required for Shadows at Dusk? This novel required a ridiculous amount of research—in fact, probably the most research I’ve had to do for any of my novels. I had to know everything about flying a bush plane in Alaska. I had to learn details about the various islands, conflict minerals, geology, and EPA Superfund sites. I find it all so fascinating!

Both of your protagonists, Trevor West and Carrie James, have skills that the other one needs. Can you explain their roles and how they can help each other? Detective West is a former Deputy US Marshal who used to track fugitives, and Carrie is determined to find the person responsible for her friend’s death and needs his tracking skills. Carrie has been a bush pilot in Southeast Alaska for ten years, and she recognizes the locations in the pictures that Trevor’s sister left behind. They make a great team!

Shadows at Dusk is set in Alaska. Why did you choose this setting for your series? I can’t believe that’s even a question! Ha. Most of my novels are set in stunning locations, and I figured it was time I write another series in Alaska. The landscape provides all the elements I need to ramp up the tension.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading Shadows at Dusk? I hope they’ll come away breathless after the ride of their life. Entertainment aside, I want to give them a fresh sense of awe at God’s creation as they learn more about Alaska and to make them feel like they’ve just come back from an adventurous trip.

Shadows at Dusk is the second in the Missing in Alaska series. Will we be seeing any recurring characters from Cold Light of Day, the first book in your series? Carrie and Trevor head away from Shadow Gap in their search, but they interact with Shadow Gap characters throughout the novel.

What is the connecting element between the books in the Missing in Alaska series? Shadow Gap, Alaska, and the characters who live there connect all the stories.

What do readers have to look forward to in the final volume of the Missing in Alaska series? Another wild ride and a winter story!

What do you love most about writing romantic suspense novels? I love the action and adventure I can add to the suspense elements to keep pushing the story forward, and, as a result, I often hear my books are unputdownable.

How can readers connect with you? At my website, ElizabethGoddard.com, readers can subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest news. The icons for my various social media sites can also be found on my website.

Where can readers purchase a copy of Shadows at Dusk?  Everywhere books are sold, but especially Baker Book House.

Thank you for sharing Shadows at Dusk with us, Beth. You know I love all your books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-at-Dusk-Missing-Alaska/dp/0800742052/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lrSFMecubuCdkXDJAJK75dlTpgomoGbjGJoDVIcrew6oGSAGkWQSXS8la4Jl2wYghqZ2dnsxSDYEqBhOWSJyO9pk4LdMhwFHB_fmyZY_Ih6tPRPpKbosuKZESxnUadC_Hab_qu16W0C9M72gm977cWGB2UIDihdIw_4LCcjyvB5KySgPnUGQyM_j8-zPqgj_Wq9wl4mCpN8ILGUuhLfENxaKKQiAYoaEXB1wsYZMw3U.02ObAlKWtHXMuTKgxtSQaXH-fVXl1760S9_8tgvcAxU&qid=1712892582&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com  

WINNERS

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win. 

Anne (NM) is the winner of Double Take by Lynette Eason.

Brenda (MS) is the winner of Cherished Betrothal by Denise Weimer.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.   

CALLING ON THE MATCHMAKER - Jody Hedlund - One Free Book

Bio: Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of more than thirty historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats.

From the talented pen of bestselling author Jody Hedlund comes a brand-new series set amidst the bustling streets of St. Louis, Missouri, the gateway to the West. Beloved for her western historicals, readers are sure to fall for the Shanahan siblings as they discover their places in life and love—even in spite of themselves—with the help of a wily Irish matchmaker. Escape to 1849 St. Louis for a daring and romantic tale in Calling on the Matchmaker, book one in the A Shanahan Match series.

About the Story: Haunted by the death of her sister, Finola Shanahan has resolved that she’s not worthy of a family of her own and commits to spending her days caring for immigrants in the slums.

Unwilling to consider marriage, Finola has perfected the ability to sabotage the relationships her parents arrange for her. At wit’s end, her father calls upon the local Irish matchmaker, who pairs her with successful wagonmaker Riley Rafferty. After her usual tricks fail, Finola quickly realizes she can’t outsmart or outwit the dashing, determined, and daring man.

A candidate in the St. Louis mayoral election, Riley is confident a union with the wealthy Shanahan family will help solidify his chances of winning—and even more assured he and Finola can make a difference together. When a cholera outbreak begins to take St. Louis by storm, they must navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger, testing all they know about love and sacrifice.

Your latest novel, Calling on the Matchmaker, is book one in the new series, A Shanahan Match. Can you please tell us a little bit about the series?

Jody Hedlund: This new series is a saga involving the Shanahan family in the frontier city of St. Louis, Missouri, in the late 1840s. The Shanahans are a big and loving family with six children. The oldest are reaching marriageable age, so the local matchmaker is called upon to help form advantageous matches. Even though the Irish matchmaker is wily, he still faces challenges as he seeks to pair each of the Shanahan siblings with their true loves.

Since the series revolves around the Shanahan siblings, can you provide a short introduction to each sibling? Book 1 in the series involves Finola Shanahan, who is the oldest Shanahan sibling and the first in line for the matchmaker’s help. The trouble is that she has no intention of getting married and works to foil the matchmaker’s plans.

Book 2 tells Enya Shanahan’s story. She is a fiery redhead with an equally fiery personality and is rebellious against her strict parents. As a result, she gets herself into trouble and ends up needing a marriage of convenience.

Book 3 finally gives Kiernan Shanahan a chance to find his true love. As the first-born son, he’s driven in life, business, and love. He’s ready for the matchmaker to find him an advantageous match, but his heart may have already found someone else.

What do readers need to know about the Shanahan family, but especially about Finola? Finola’s parents both immigrated from Ireland as young adults. As a result of their Irish heritage, they have strong ties to the large Irish community in St. Louis and also have a heart for helping the newly arrived Irish immigrants, many of whom are escaping starvation and poverty in Ireland due to the potato famine. Finola, in particular, has become involved with a group of nuns who visit the poor tenements and help the immigrants. She desires to join the convent and spend her life in service to God. But her parents are opposed to her entering the convent and want her to get married.

Some major themes that Calling on the Matchmaker addresses are family relationships, mistakes, and forgiveness. How do we see these play out in the lives of your female protagonists? Finola is wrestling with a past family tragedy that she hasn’t been able to forget about or forgive herself for. As a result, she feels as though she has to do penance for the mistake. One way she feels she can make up for the tragedy is by becoming a nun and living a life of service to God. She has tried to talk to her parents about her desire to enter the convent, but they haven’t listened to her. As a result, she doesn’t communicate well about what she wants. Throughout the course of the story, she has to learn to gain a voice as well as learn to forgive herself and others for the past.

This novel is arguably a bit different from other books you’ve written recently. Can you share what inspired the idea for this story? It is a little different. But I hope readers appreciate getting to learn about new areas of the country and new parts of history through my stories. Since I love romance more than anything else, I thought the matchmaker idea would be a fun way to tie a series together. As I began researching matchmaker stories, I realized that there is a long tradition of Irish men being matchmakers. So, the Irish matchmaker takes the stage in all of the books.

Which character in this book was your favorite to write and why? Do you think this will be readers’ favorite as well? Obviously I love the hero and heroine! But aside from them, Bellamy McKenna, the matchmaker, is one of my favorite characters in this series. He is in the process of beginning to take over the matchmaker duties from his father and has some different, less conventional ways of bringing about matches. He’s not only intuitive, but he’s also very clever. Readers will hopefully fall in love with Bellamy (and maybe, just maybe, he’ll get his love story eventually too!).

Your previous series, Colorado Cowboys, highlighted cowboys in the American West. What prompted you to head in a different direction for this series? As much as I loved writing my Colorado Cowboys series, I didn’t want to pigeon-hole myself as a western or cowboy-romance writer. Since most of my series highlight different places and historical events, I wanted to take readers on a new adventure and introduce them to a new part of history that I haven’t yet explored.

Why set these books in St. Louis? Does it have special meaning to the story? Knowing I wanted to use the Irish, I researched places that had large Irish populations in the 1800s, and St. Louis was one of them. As the Gateway to the West, St. Louis was full of danger, disease, and disaster—all of the things that make for a great story and the perfect setting for the Shanahan family.

In particular, I chose the year 1849 as the starting point for this series because a number of tragedies occurred in St. Louis at that time, including a deadly cholera epidemic and a tragic fire along the riverfront.

What is one of your favorite things about writing historical fiction? I love finding and bringing little known eras of history to life for readers. It’s always fun to hear from readers how much they’ve learned from my books and how that aspect of history came to life for them.

What lessons do you hope readers gain by picking up Calling on the Matchmaker? I hope readers will learn, just like my characters, that sometimes we mistake our own inability to forgive ourselves as God’s inability, but instead God forgives us so deeply, that He puts our mistakes out of His mind as far as the east is from the west. If God forgives us so generously, shouldn’t we also be willing to forgive ourselves the same way?

Can you share which Shanahan sibling the next book in the series is about? The next book is Enya’s story and involves a marriage of convenience, a steamboat captain, and the Great Fire of 1849.

That sounds interesting, too. How can readers connect with you? To stay up to date, I invite readers to join my Facebook Reader Room where I post the most relevant book news and interact with readers. Or readers can visit my website at jodyhedlund.com

Thank you for sharing Calling on the Matchmaker with us today. I know my readers will want to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Calling-Matchmaker-Arranged-Marriage-Historical/dp/0764241966/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WJLfo39M-naWbtWqdsCmvN9NG1zHQfQ733-7okQz1OvhKyq34Kz0oPc59btk-cqnZEbNux5zCMAi3QUWqv1HmRViY7juCWYrP9UwqQi4lNRJP9jtEVzQzF-mfkhW_ma1QpEfN9HdJg1ubMEnqRRKV3uq2L1pIsnDDm9EpXDmlXQ1noEJiKse6T-5lv1UrAGPBxT3enIevv5FrsjBH0sjcfE4cdQCLMKVXG1HMRr2JkY.MC4DjU6lL2nxHYgGB4XbnhzkDMw1jm-X_9oBTx-RS18&qid=1712246074&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

EARNING THE MOUNTAIN MAN'S TRUST - Misty M Beller - One Free Book

Bio: Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. 

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy. 

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. 

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

About the Story: 

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

 Naomi Wyatt has finally given up on the man who once promised to love her for the rest of his life—then disappeared after a business trip, never responding to her letters. She’s now alone with a beautiful baby to provide for, a daughter whose red hair reminds her daily of the man she gave her heart to. She has to move on, though, and she did, going west with her sister. When Jonah Coulter asks for her hand in marriage, she knows she would be hard-pressed to find a better father for her sweet child. He’s a Coulter, after all, and he’s proven to be a good friend during her darkest hours. 

Eric LaGrange thought he’d lost Naomi forever. But when he finally gets word that she’s in the Montana Territory, he drops everything to go after her…and their daughter? How could Naomi have kept their beautiful child from him? And how could she move on so quickly that she’s already engaged to another man? He loves Naomi so much that he’ll accept whatever choice is best for her, but is that him…or this settled rancher who clearly cares for them. No matter what, he’s determined to know his daughter and become the father he always wanted to be.

With Eric’s sudden appearance, Naomi’s heart is shredded once again. She barely has time to catch her breath before a new threat appears on the horizon. This time she has far more at stake than her heart, and only a Divine hand can turn this disaster for their good.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a second chance romance, love triangle, hidden treasure, and faith that heals wounded hearts.

Welcome back, Misty. What genre(s) do you write and why? I tend to be a bit of a sentimentalist, so Christian Historical Romance is perfect for me! My favorite period is between 1860 - 1880, when the cowboy days were really ramping up. I love the simpler life, where there's no rat race. Just hard work, plenty of alone time (can you tell I'm an introvert?), and a strong family unit. My stories usually center around horses and ranching, which comes from my love for the animals. I was completely horse crazy growing up, and actually trained and showed horses professionally for a couple years after high school.

If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be? This is a tough one! Maybe to always know the right thing to say? We have five kiddos ranging in age from two years to sixteen years, and it’s not always easy being a parent. It would be wonderful to always look back and feel like I’d said exactly the thing each child needed to hear at that moment.

I so understand that. Many a time while raising our daughters, I had to pray for God’s help for something I said the wrong way. Do you ever get stuck when you’re writing a book? What do you do to get unstuck? Yes, often! I’ve found the best way to break through my block is to talk through the story with a writer friend. They usually throw out ideas until I see exactly what I was missing.

What is your least favorite part of writing? The hardest part of writing for me is editing. This is the part where I go through painstakingly and reword sentences to make them come to life with stronger verbs and the perfect phrasing. I always drink a lot of coffee during this process!

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us? There’s no telling! J We often have a lot going on in the evenings, so dinner can range from spaghetti to pizza to a frozen casserole to chicken tenders and fries.

What is your typical day like? I’m usually up early, starting with Bible reading, then getting all the kiddos where they need to be for the day. I usually get to start writing or writing-related work around 9:30-ish. I often sprint with other writer friends for 2-3 hour, then depending on the day, I may have Zoom meetings or need to pick-up kids. Sometimes I get to sneak back to my desk for another hour or two in the afternoons.  Then comes dinner and usually soccer practices or games. It’s definitely a full life!

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict, or emotions? Why? Hmmm… It doesn’t feel like one of these is harder to write than another. I get to know my characters a little more with each chapter, so that might be the hardest. I usually need to come back to the early chapters and add in details and emotions once I know the characters better.

How likely are the people you meet going to end up in your next book? Not very likely. J My characters are usually people with their own personalities who come alive in my mind.

Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. Oh, I LOVED Eric! He’s so determined to care for and protect those he loves. He came into the story with a slightly misguided notion of what that protection should look like when it came to Naomi and their daughter, but I love that he was willing to change. J

Please give us the text on the first page of your first chapter.

OCTOBER 1869

ROCK CREEK, MONTANA TERRITORY 

Eric LaGrange eyed the mountain slope still ahead of them. He rode with a group of Coulters, headed up this treacherous path toward their ranch. The blinding afternoon sun illuminated the snow-capped peaks to the west, its stark light only shadowed by the low-flying vulture circling overhead in search of its next meal.

This place reminded him too much of another steep slope. That jagged ledge was thousands of miles away from here, yet tragedy didn’t care about location. Though he and his best friend had only been boys, daring to play in the spot they'd been warned against, his best friend's life had changed forever that day.

He couldn't let that happen to his daughter.

His daughter.

The word still sounded so foreign. How could he have had a child—been a father—for nearly a year and not known?

Tell us about your next book and when is it being published? I’d love to! Rocky Mountain Journey is the final book in my Sisters of the Rockies series published by Bethany House, a series that has been one of my favorites, yet one of the most challenging, to write. This story picks up with Faith Collins (our heroine) as she goes in search of the Peigan Blackfoot woman who once saved her father's life. She steps fearlessly into the uncharted Rocky Mountains and the dangers that come with it with a secret she must guard at all costs—she’s masquerading as a man!

Grant Allen (our hero) is on a search for his long-lost brother who went west to the Rockies. He teams up with the same group of trappers as Faith and soon becomes suspicious of the new member among them. As he uncovers Faith's secret, of course he feels compelled to protect her from the dangers of the unpredictable terrain and the unruly trappers. And this is where the story gets really interesting!

As Faith and Grant navigate the untamed wilderness to fulfill their missions and find what they are truly searching for, they’re tested and, at times, we wonder if they’ll make it through this journey with their hearts intact.

Sounds wonderful. But all your books are. Where can my readers find you online? I love to connect with readers! One of my favorite ways is through my newsletter, and readers can get a free copy of my book, A Pony Express Romance, when they sign up for the newsletter. Here’s the link for that: https://mistymbeller.com/freebook

I can also be found at these links:

https://mistymbeller.com/

https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller 

https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller

https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller

http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller

Thank you for sharing Earning the Mountain Man’s Trust with my blog readers and me. I’ve loved every book of yours I’ve read.

Readers, here are Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C7NCSTTX 

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/earning-the-mountain-man-s-trust 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id6450163846 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/earning-the-mountain-mans-trust-misty-m-beller/1143638415?ean=2940167186491  

https://books2read.com/u/3ydLWL

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

WINNERS

IMPORTANT: Instructions for winners  - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) If you don't do this, your email could get lost in my hundreds of emails per day. I WILL SEARCH FOR POST TITLES STARTING THAT WAY.

Some people don't read the instructions of how to enter. Unfortunately, they don't have a chance to win. so next time you come and leave a comment, be sure to read all the instructions if you want a chance to win. 

Caryl K (TX) is the winner of Marshaling Her Heart by Mary Connealy.

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If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Reviews are such a blessing to an author.

Also, tell your friends about the book you won ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook or audio book, just let me know what email address it should be sent to. Remember, you have 2 weeks to claim your book.   

LAST DAY TO GET...

Amazon #1 Bestseller in 3 categories, 

A Heart's Gift by Lena Nelson Dooley, 

for only $.99.

CHERISHED BETROTHAL - Denise Weimer - One Free Book

Welcome back, Denise. Tell us about your salvation experience. My father was a minister. One Sunday when I was five or six, God impressed on my heart during the service that I was in need of a Savior, and I prayed to give my life to Him. On the way home, I worked up the nerve to tell my parents. Never once did I doubt that was the moment He saved me, though I grew in my understanding and rededicated my life and was baptized as an older teen.

I was 7 years old when I first asked Jesus into my heart. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? Oh, goodness, that’s a tough one! There are so many authors who have inspired me. Authors who have served as co-writers on projects. Amazing authors I’ve served as an editor for. So it would be too hard to try to rank them in priority, and I’d never want to hurt any feelings by selecting so few. Suffice it to say, I’d choose authors who write in similar genres who have found unique ways to connect with readers and whose hearts for the Lord are obvious.

Good answer. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that. I don’t have a speaking platform, per se, but as both an author and editor (Acquisitions and Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books), I do speak to a variety of groups about a variety of topics. This ranges from talking with historical or community organizations about the history in my books and how I turn research into fiction to addressing budding writers on topics of the craft. Probably my favorite setting in which to speak would be at a book club.

I love connecting with book clubs, too. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it? Hm, nothing super embarrassing comes to mind. Except there was this one time…LOL. I have enjoyed living history and vintage dance for a number of years. One time when I was quite a bit younger and more foolish, while attending a ball, I had pinned fake ringlets to the side of my hair so the curls wouldn’t wilt in the Georgia humidity. While I was whisking around doing the Virginia reel, one of the curls came loose and rolled around on the dance floor like a fleeing mouse. Thankfully, I believe I was able to snatch it up before anyone noticed. Or maybe I just blocked out the memory of what happened after that.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that? Yes, lots of people do tell me this, most often when I am at my book table at festivals. I generally ask them what they have in mind and encourage them to pursue their dream. Often, I will mention joining a writers’ group or attending a conference so they can gain some knowledge before they get started. What’s more challenging is when people tell me they have a story idea that I simply must pursue…or pen for them as a ghost writer! Not all of these ideas line up with the style or genre I write.

I understand that. Tell us about the featured book. Though it is one of the more serious reads of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontiers Series, A Cherished Betrothal is actually my favorite—for a variety of reasons.

• Fascinating history of the struggle for the backcountry of Georgia and South Carolina as the American Revolution began.
• A backstory that provides a lot of angst, romantic tension, and opportunity to show God’s redemptive power.
• Swoon-worthy Scottish hero bent on revenge and a sweet heroine who serves as his foil.
• Tropes: childhood sweethearts, amnesia, love triangle, war.

Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. His dark past forces him into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, and eventually, to join the bordering South Carolina Rangers that revolt against the Crown. When he’s posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors.

Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes—any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She’s learned to not only forgive but help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. Alex Morris’s arrival at nearby Fort Charlotte stirs Elsie’s memories and her emotions. He doesn’t even remember her…or the long-ago attack. But the bitterness that simmers just beneath his stoic exterior—as well as her courtship by a local landowner—challenge their undeniable bond.

When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he saved long ago.

Please give us the first page of the book.

July 12, 1775

Fort Charlotte, South Carolina

“Dinna touch me, sir!”

The sharp command from the captain’s residence stopped Lieutenant Alexander Morris in the process of striking the British colors in the fort’s yard. The act itself had already given him pause, for there could be no going back from this. The taking of a crown fort—even one in the backcountry—was no less an act of aggression for the lack of bloodshed.

But what was a Scottish woman—unmistakable, from her lilting brogue—doing here?

Alex’s men had been instructed to supervise Captain George Whitefield’s family as they packed and prepared to be escorted from Fort Charlotte. A wagon awaited them with horses already hitched in the yard. They would travel northeast to the town of Ninety Six, along with whatever munitions Major James Mayson chose to transfer to the fortified town. Where the Whitefields went from there mattered not, so long as—having refused to join the Patriot cause—they left the area.

The undeniable rumble of an argument proceeded through the open door of the captain’s quarters. Alex folded the flag over his arm, smoothing the King’s Colours with his scarred hand. He’d fought with the Georgia Rangers under this banner, but never again. The line had been crossed now. Swallowing past the unexpected tightness in his throat, he pivoted and went to see what might be out of kilter with the Whitefields.

He was about to enter the captain’s cabin when a petite form in a blue bodice and linen petticoat swept through the door, nearly colliding with him. The young woman stopped, one hand flying up to secure her tilting straw hat.

How can readers find you on the Internet? Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions and Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Connect with Denise here:

Monthly Newsletter Sign-up

Website

Facebook

Twitter

BookBub

Thank you, Denise, for sharing A Cherished Betrothal with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Cherished-Betrothal-Scouts-Georgia-Frontier-ebook/dp/B0CHMZKBCL/

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com