Category: Birthday

2022 Birthday Celebration - Interview with Maisie & Boone from Proposing Mischief by Regina Jennings (Giveaway)

2/23/2022

Maisie Kentworth is stuck on the ranch. Having fallen in love with the wrong guy, she can't risk inflaming things between her former beau and her protective family. Left to rue her mistakes, she keeps busy exploring the idle mine at the edge of their property.

Boone Bragg is also stuck. With his parents on vacation, the management of Bragg Mining falls on him, and one of his advisors wants him as a son-in-law. One wrong move, and Boone will end up either offending an associate or getting married to a woman he can't endure.

While closing up a spent mine, Boone gets two surprises. One is an untamed farm girl who's trespassing with a pickax, and the other is the amazing crystal cavern that she's discovered. Suddenly Boone sees a way to overhaul the family business. With part of the cavern on Kentworth land, Boone makes Maisie a proposal that he hopes will solve all of their problems. Instead it throws Joplin into chaos.

ISBN-13: 9780764235351

Our Review

Interview with Maisie Kentworth & Boone Bragg
from Proposing Mischief by Regina Jennings

Heroine - Maisie Kentworth

1. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
If by introvert you mean someone who is content to dawdle around the farm twiddling her thumbs and chewing straw, then I’m that other word. I love going to town, I love people, and I love excitement.

2. Chocolate or Strawberry?
Strawberries. They are fresh and tart and so delicious. Granny Laura doesn’t send me to the strawberry patch anymore, though. Sometimes I eat too many and then there’s not enough for jelly.

3. What single thing do you most like about Boone Bragg and what single thing really drives you crazy?
The best thing about Boone is that he asked me to marry him. That got me out of a heap of trouble and saved my brother from getting locked up, which in turn saved me from getting locked up because if my brother was in the jailhouse, I’d be obliged to spring him.
There are a few things about Boone that provoke me - things I didn’t know before I took off and married him. For one thing, he’s downright serious about his work. Sometimes when he’s ruminating over something, he doesn’t even know I’m in the room. And then there’s his neighbors. It seems that all these uppity friends of his had daughters who had their caps set for Boone. They don’t much appreciate me, and that causes a lot of trouble for Boone. But all in all, he’s a good man.

4. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Hero – Boone Bragg

1. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
It doesn’t matter to me whether I’m in a crowd of people or not. I’m adept at ignoring them and focusing on my work.

2. Chocolate or Strawberry?
I like chocolate. Dark chocolate.

3. What single thing do you most like about Maisie Kentworth and what single thing really drives you crazy?
Maisie is different from any lady I’ve ever met. Since I wasn’t fond of those ladies, I guess that’s what I like about her. She’s also cheerful, independent and for the most part stays out of my way. The biggest stumbling block I’ve noticed is that she can be quite a distraction. Not that she intends to steal my attention, but I value my work and I have a tough time concentrating when she’s around. Actually, I can’t focus even when she’s not around. I’m always remembering something funny she said, or how diligently she works, not to mention the games we play together. Yes, if I had one complaint, it would be that she affects my productivity.

4. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Regina Jennings

Historical romance author Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award, and a Christy Award and Oklahoma Book of the Year Award finalist. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at the Oklahoma National Stockyards. Her latest book, Courting Misfortune, is set in Joplin, Missouri, and received a Publisher’s Weekly starred review. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children and can be found online at www.reginajennings.com.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Regina is generously giving away a print copy of Proposing Mischief
(USA ONLY)

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Interview with Regina Scott (Giveaway)

2/21/2022

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Being engaged to the most dashing bachelor in London isn’t all fun and games.

Lady Calantha, middle daughter of the Duke of Wey, has the unique ability to turn invisible in company. Well, not entirely invisible, or the eligible Frederick, Count Montalban, wouldn’t have noticed her at all. But Callie’s shy nature and plain features tend to make people overlook her. And they say the most outrageous things around her as a result, which is why she accidentally overhears strangers plotting to harm the count and his royal brother and father. What can a lady do but warn him?

Fritz, Count Montalban, is determined to keep his family safe. But he can’t drag Callie all over London to identify those plotting against them unless she has a reason to be alone with him. Pretending an engagement sounds like the perfect plan. After all, his dashing demeanor hides a wounded soul that demands he hold a true fiancée at a distance. But there’s something about Callie that pulls him closer.

As the danger grows along with their attraction, Fritz and Callie must work together to protect both their families, and Fritz finds his heart cracking open. Can he prove to the sweet Callie that she will never be invisible, to him?

ASIN: ‎B09NQVXYT9

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Interview with Regina Scott
featuring Lady Calantha “Callie” Dryden from Never Court a Count

Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and friends.
Thank you very much for inviting me. I am Lady Calantha Dryden, Callie to family and friends. And it’s generally my older sister, Larissa, or my younger sister, Belle, who gets the lion’s share of the attention. I don’t mind. I’m the quiet sort. But as the middle daughter of the Duke of Wey, there are expectations that I will make an attempt to do well in polite society. And Belle has expectations too. She asked Larissa, me, and our good friend, Petunia Bateman, to vow we would do everything we could to see four of us all wed by harvest. No one refuses Belle.

What is your greatest strength and your greatest flaw?
Depending on who you speak with, it’s the same trait. I remember everything I hear. Fritz, Count Montalban, says it’s a gift. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. There were no surprises growing up. Servants talk, and parents whisper. I knew about every gift and every trip, well in advance. People tend to overlook me, look past me, or look through me in company, and they say the most outrageous things in my hearing as a result. That’s how I ended up overhearing those two men talking about how they plan to ruin the count and his brother, Prince Otto Leopold.

What single thing do you most like about Fritz, Count Montalban, and what single thing really drives you crazy?
I like that he’s focused on protecting his family. That was his role when he was the Captain of the Imperial Guards. Now that he’s been elevated to count, he still feels it his duty to protect. But I cannot like the way he flatters me. We may be pretending to be engaged so he can take me all over London to help identify the men I heard plotting against him, but does he have to act so besotted? One would think he was actually falling in love with me! And that makes it harder to confess that I’m falling in love with him.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

It’s very comforting to know He’s walking beside me and will give me strength when my own fails.

Bonus. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Remember that you are uniquely made, with gifts and talents all your own, and that makes you beautiful.

Regina Scott

Award-winning author Regina Scott writes warm, witty historical romance. Her stories meld humor, history, and hijinks that have readers and reviewers raving. With more than 50 works and over 1,000,000 books read worldwide, she sweeps her readers into the romance of history with every book. Learn more about her at her website, www.reginascott.com, where you can sign up to receive exclusive free stories.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Regina is generously giving away a print copy of Never Pursue A Prince
(USA ONLY)

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Interview with the Characters of Written On The Wind by Elizabeth Camden (Giveaway)

2/18/2022

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He carries a dangerous secret, but can he survive long enough to expose it?

Count Dimitri Sokolov has been charged with overseeing construction of the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, but during this work, he witnesses an appalling crime, the truth of which threatens the Russian monarchy. In an effort to silence him, the czar has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom . . . but Dimitri has one asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep and abiding friendship with Natalia Blackstone.

Natalia is the lead analyst for her father's New York banking empire and manages their investment in the Trans-Siberian Railway. Her bond with Dimitri has flourished despite the miles between them, but when Dimitri goes unexpectedly missing, she sets the wheels in motion to find him. Once they join forces, they embark on a dangerous quest in which one wrong move could destroy them both.

From the steppes of Russia to the corridors of power in Washington, Dimitri and Natalia will fight against all odds to save the railroad while exposing the truth. Can their newfound love survive the ordeal?

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0764238444

Hero Interview

(Count Dimitri Sokolov from Saint Petersburg, Russia)

What are your greatest strengths and flaws?
My greatest strength is my ability to endure, which is a good thing since I have been suffering for the past four years while stuck in the middle of this desolate, strangely beautiful Siberian wilderness. I have been charged with overseeing the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and I confess it is a lonely job. Most of the workers are convicts who resent me or imported laborers whose language I don’t speak. My only companion is the woman who manages the railway’s finances who I’ve never met, but whose telegrams have provided a glimpse of sunlight in my otherwise barren world. Isn’t that odd?

My greatest flaw? Well, Natalia would say it is that I am a hypochondriac. Or that I complain too much. Or that I fatalistically wallow in grief and secretly enjoy my suffering. First of all, while these are perhaps true, they are also very common traits among Russians. Of course I have illnesses and torments. Wouldn’t anyone if they were stationed in the middle of nowhere with only telegrams from New York to keep you company?

What do you like most about Natalia, and what drives you crazy about her?
The answer to both questions is that she is a New Yorker. She thinks like an American. She is brisk, efficient, and sometimes blunt to the point of shocking. She always knows the latest novels and symphonies, and I love arguing with her about them because she is usually wrong. She is convinced that all novels should have a happy ending. What sort of novel deprives the hero a chance to prove his loyalty by dying for a heroic cause? Well, that’s Natalia’s sunny optimism for you.

Now…. as to the city of New York. I don’t like it. I traveled literally from the other side of the world to meet Natalia and see New York, but please… the buildings are too big and on plots that are too small. A man can’t breathe in New York, and claustrophobia is not a comfortable condition. I have been trying my hardest to convince Natalia to come with me to Russia, where we can live and celebrate beneath the wild Russian skies.

Heroine Interview

(Natalia Blackstone of New York City)

What is the one thing you can’t do without?
There’s nothing I can’t do without. I’ve had a lot of disappointments in my life, but I find that if you shift attitudes and adjust your sails, you can learn to seek out new horizons.

That being said…I have recently suffered the loss of my best friend, Dimitri Sokolov. He seems to have vanished somewhere in Russia, and I’m trying to track him down. For the past four years his letters to me have been the lifeline that keeps me grounded, that inspires me to try harder, to laugh when I want to cry. When I see the world through Dimitri’s overly dramatic eyes, everything is a little more fun and splendid. I fear something terrible has happened to him, and I won’t stop searching until I find him.

What do you like most about Dimitri, and what drives you crazy about him?
I love that Dimitri has the soul of a poet and the heart of a lion. Nothing will stop him once he sets his mind on a task, and its rather charming.

As for what drives me crazy: Dimitri is a shameless hypochondriac. I know he’s been through a lot, but when he gets a hang-nail he comes pounding on my door and demands that I tend it lest he catch blood poisoning. I don’t mind. The suffering Dimitri has endured over the past few years would have killed most men, so I love pampering him.

Elizabeth Camden

Please share something that has been on your mind as an author:
The last couple of years have been hard on most of us, but I’ve always thought our best memories are born during our greatest trials. They become happy only in hindsight. Maybe ‘happy’ isn’t the right word. Proud? Grateful? Maybe all these things.

Written on the Wind is about grueling trials for both Dimitri and Natalia, and yet, the overall tone of the novel is joyous. They’re proud of the work they’re doing, even though it is alternately terrifying, physically dangerous, and their fate is uncertain. I hope readers will enjoy the wild, exhilarating romance as much as I had writing it. I hope it might inspire them to put their own challenges into perspective, and learn to be proud about the way they handle them.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Elizabeth Camden is generously giving away winner's choice of
a print copy of Carved In Stone or Written On The Wind**
(USA ONLY)

**Written On The Wind will not be shipped until after release in May.

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Interview with Kate Breslin

2/16/2022

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Her daring bid for freedom could be her greatest undoing.

Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss
Tilly Lockhart.

RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Fearing for his family's safety, he's also haunted by guilt after failing to protect his brother. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her. Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future.

ISBN: 9780764237485

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Interview with Kate Breslin

#1.What started you on the “Alpine Path” (writing career)?
My love of writing began as a child—adding my own poems and prose to family birthday cards, keeping a diary, then crafting a few short stories for class. Writing novels didn’t happen for me until much later, in my adult years. I was a voracious reader, enjoying historical fiction and romance, and once I ran out of books by my favorite authors I decided to try my hand at writing one of my own. Not as easy as I imagined! It took me many years to finally become published, and I still love being able to create inspirational, romantic tales to share with readers.

#2.Are you a full-time author or do you have another job?
I write full-time, usually 4-5 hours a day during the work week, though when I’m on deadline, I’ll camp out in front of my computer for as long as it takes to finish, sometimes late into the wee hours each night!

#3.How has becoming a published author changed your life?
First and most importantly, it’s made me realize I am powerless to do this job without God’s help. Creating a 100K-word novel that’s not only seamless but plausible can be a thrilling, challenging and yes, sometimes even terrifying experience. I’ve come to rely on the Lord completely, to inspire me daily to sit at the computer and write my stories.

Secondly, it’s made me appreciate the value of time, and the fact my husband is a wonderful cook. I work longer hours now as a published author and oftentimes that means sacrificing my personal life for the sake of meeting my writing deadlines. The upside: I love dreaming up stories and being able to connect with my readers, they’re the best! And it’s a wonderful feeling to hold that first copy of the next book in my hands.

#4.What genre(s) do you write and what drew you to it/them?
All of my published novels are historical fiction, though I have a contemporary novel (the first in a planned trilogy) that is as yet unpublished. I wasn’t a fan of history in school, but years later I found I loved learning about the past through reading novels by historical fiction authors. Now that I write, I hope to pay forward that gift by sharing history through my own stories, so that other readers will come to enjoy it, too.

#5. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
The same advice I would give aspiring authors today: Focus on writing in one genre (sub-genre) rather than jumping around or trying to follow the market. I know we writers sometimes have to test various genres to discover what we really want to write, but the market is ever changing, and we should always write what we feel passionate about. If my younger self had stayed with writing historical fiction, she would have had a backlist of stories to offer a publisher rather than a single title when finally landing that first contract. Also, keep writing. Don’t stop to wait and hear back from agents and publishers, start working on the next book. Again, you have a unique opportunity with both time and space to create a backlist for your future sales. And words on the page are always easier to edit than nothing on the page. ☺

Bonus:
Jasmine, thank you so much for this opportunity to share with your readers! In closing, I’d like to offer this verse from Scripture, a promise of hope to those of us in these difficult times who have doubts, or worry, or need encouragement--

Blessings!
Kate

Kate Breslin

Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate received Christian Retailing's 2015 Best Award for First Time Author and her first novel, For Such A Time, won American Christian Fiction Writers 2015 Carol Award. Kate's fifth novel, As Dawn Breaks released November, 2021. When she's not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington's beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, Barcelona, and much of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas. Please visit her at www.katebreslin.com

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2022 Birthday Celebration - The Perfect Kiss by Julie Lessman

2/14/2022

15 Comments

The Perfect Kiss?

by Julie Lessman

Mmm … the perfect kiss? That’s a little bit like asking about somebody’s favorite food, isn’t it? I mean, come on—some people like their chili flamin’ hot and others like it mild and sweet.

Which means that the “perfect kiss” to some might be a nose nuzzle while to somebody else--like moi—it’s a lip lock that not only curls your toes, but your tummy as well.

But for me, the real secret to a great kiss are the emotions surging around it like a romantic riptide that rolls in and out. Sure, you have to get the actions right, taking the reader through the step-by-steps of a kiss as if they’re watching a movie. But it’s those waves of emotions before and after the “kiss” that sweep the reader through a tsunami of feelings that will hopefully leave them breathless and gasping for more.

One of my favorite things to do with a kiss—which, in fact, is why the two examples you’ll find at the link below are what I consider my “perfect kisses”—is to use powerful emotions to frame a powerful kiss. For instance, my favorite love scene that I’ve ever written is from A Hope Undaunted and takes the reader through the ebb and flow of several strong emotions before and after “the kiss” (or “kisses” as in the first example below). In this example, the actual kiss portion of the scene begins with caring and concern on the hero’s part, then swells to shock, attraction, passion, more shock, anger, revenge and finally retribution and regret for both hero and heroine.

Deep breath…

Okay, I’m sorry, but for me as a CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), the more emotion the better, and I think for the reader, the more emotion, the better the kiss! Which is why the second example at the link below, also from A Hope Undaunted, is my second favorite kiss because it has all the elements I like in a love scene—tenderness, passion, humor—unleashing a groundswell of emotions from the hero’s malaise to his jealousy, attraction, longing, shock, gratitude, desire, embarrassment, and humor.

Ready to see what I’m talking about? Here’s a link to the tab on my website called “Kisses, Kisses, Kisses, that not only shows a variety of kisses from my books, but also my first and second favorite kissing scenes that I have ever written. Why are these two my favorites? Because when it comes to emotions, both are SO multi-dimensional! But, don’t take my word for it—YOU be the judge. And remember … a few drops of Tabasco doesn’t make the chili bad … only a little spicier!

Kisses, Kisses, Kisses!

More from Julie

Julie loves to hear from reader friends, so you can contact her through her website and sign up for her newsletter there as well at https://julielessman.com/ or through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Readers can also check out her favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of her books on the EXCERPTS tab of her website.

Finally, here is a fun freebie to check out!

FREE DOWNLOAD of the prequel novella to Isle of Hope, which is called A Glimmer of Hope, so take advantage of this free e-book HERE!

Julie Lessman

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2020, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Book Interview with Terri Reed (Giveaway)

2/12/2022

13 Comments

The crash was intentional…
But he can’t remember why.

With no memory of the crash that landed him in a hospital, Ian Delaney is determined to uncover who sabotaged his helicopter—without the protection of his family-appointed bodyguard. But Simone Walker’s used to stubborn clients and won’t let Ian leave her sight. To catch an unknown traitor, they must rely on each other…or the next attack could prove lethal.

ISBN-13: 9781335554802

Book Interview with Terri Reed featuring her new release Secret Sabotage

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Ian Delaney was a character that appeared in three other books, Buried Mountain Secrets, Secret Mountain Hideout and Christmas Protection Detail. He’s the older of the Delaney brothers. I really needed him to have a story that would challenge his control and his idea of how life should be.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
This book five months from start to finish.

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Simone Walker was a character that appeared in several of books in my Protection Specialist series. I had always intended to give her a story but then I moved on from that series before doing so. It was great fun to bring her back on stage in Secret Sabotage. She made the perfect pairing for Ian.

#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope readers will enjoy the story and the action-adventure. I hope that themes of forgiveness and acceptance will resonate with readers.

#5. What made you choose some of the specific locations in this book?
Because this was part of an established series, I wanted to use familiar locations but also give new dimensions to the setting. Keeping much of the action in the forest was both fun and challenging.

#6. How did you name your characters?
For Ian, I’ve always liked that name. Its strong name and means God is gracious. I don’t remember why I chose Simone’s name, it’s been so long since I developed her, but I like the way the name is so strong yet feminine. And it means God hears. I like that, too.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.

This verse seemed appropriate for this book, and for me, at the time I was writing the book. We were in the middle of a pandemic, my world had been upended and turned upside down by not only the virus but by riots, hatred, and mental health issues of family members. Fear threatened to take me down many times. Only because of my faith and my love for God and my family, was I able to make it through those months of torment. And Ian and Simone had to rely on God throughout the book when fear threatened to overwhelm them. But that is the crux of faith, isn’t it? We put our hope and trust in God no matter our circumstances.

Thank you, Jasmine, for hosting Secret Sabotage. And happy birthday!

Terri Reed

Terri Reed’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly top ten Mass Market Paperback, Publishers Weekly top ten Religious Fiction, Nielsen Bookscan top fifty, Amazon #1 Bestseller and featured in USA Today. Her novel A Family Under the Christmas Tree was adapted into a Hallmark movie and retitled Picture a Perfect Christmas. Contact Terri @ P.O. Box 19555 Portland, OR 97224

Website ■ Newsletter ■ Goodreads ■ BookBub ■ Amazon ■ Facebook ■ Instagram

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Terri Reed is generously giving away a
$10 Barnes and Noble gift card and a signed backlist book.
(USA ONLY)

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post from Jenna Night

2/9/2022

1 Comment

What a typical writing day looks like for me...

by Jenna Night

Lots of authors have regular jobs along with their writing. When I have a day that I can dedicate to working on my book, I plan it out in detail so I can be monumentally productive. Here’s what usually happens, instead:

Set the alarm for 6 AM, smack the snooze button several times, and if all goes well I roll out of bed by 6:45 or so.

Start a pot of coffee, feed the cat, then sip coffee while reading my devotionals, praying, planning my day and staring off in to space. I do a fair amount of staring off into space in the morning.

At the computer by 9, whereupon I start by checking my email and taking a look at my author social media accounts and a few other things and suddenly it’s 10:15 and I’ve done nothing productive. I finally focus on work only to be interrupted by a hollering cat who is ready for second breakfast.

Back at the computer a short time later I open my manuscript-in-progress and get to work. Once I’m warmed up, I’ll likely roll along with my writing for an hour-and-a-half or so, whereupon I will reach a point where something like this happens: I’m imagining a character and he looks like ‘that guy’ in ‘that movie’ but I can’t remember the name of the guy or the movie. It doesn’t matter for the sake of my story. Not one bit. And yet, I can’t stop wondering about it. So I go online to check and the next think I know it’s 1 PM and time for lunch.

After lunch, I’m back at it and I’m really going to focus. That lasts until the cat wakes up. He likes to stealthily approach me from behind so that I have no idea he’s there and then let out a yowl that makes me jump out of my skin. Of course he wants food. He’s also full of energy and wants me to play with him. If I don’t play with him, there will be repercussions. More than once, he has taken a flying leap onto my keyboard while I’m writing. When feeling ignored, he also loves to go into the bathroom and knock objects from the countertop onto the tile floor so they make a nice loud clattering sound. That gets my attention. Oh yes, it does.

Around 2:45 or so I start to realize I’m nowhere near my word count goal for the day. So I really buckle down and get to work for the next 2 or 3 hours. And here’s the funny thing, oftentimes the entire chapter or scene I wanted to write for the day is crystal clear in my mind at this point. It wasn’t earlier, but it is now. So I work until dinnertime. And then I’m done for the day.

Before you ask, let me just say that if I skip the morning busyness and just sit down to write in the afternoon, it doesn’t work. I wish it would. That would be so much more efficient. But despite the distractions, this meandering process works for me. At least for now And the cat seems to be happy with it. Which keeps him from leaping onto my keyboard.

Jenna Night writes for Love Inspired Suspense. Her newest series, Range River Bounty Hunters,
debuts in April with the release of ABDUCTION IN THE DARK. You can find her on Facebook,
BookBub, or her website, JennaNight.com where you can sign up for her newsletter.

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams (Giveaway)

2/7/2022

7 Comments

Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder.

Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?

ASIN: B094R941NW

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Excerpt from Buried Cold Case Secrets

   Allison, I’ll find your body. I promise.
   Melanie swiped the wetness from her cheeks and lowered herself into the grave. She picked up her trowel and searched for more bones.
   An hour later, Melanie’s headache had become unbearable, causing her stomach to roil. Her eyelids grew heavy. Something was off. She sat on the edge of the hole.
   “Jason, help.” Her words were slurred. She struggled to stay upright.
   Jason knelt and came face-to-face with her. “What’s wrong?”
   “I don’t know.”
   “Help me out here. What’s the last thing you did?”
   “I—I... Took a break a while ago. Only digging since.”
   His gaze flew to a spot behind her.
   She wilted into him. Her vision tunneled, and darkness closed in.
   “Keith! Grab the cooler and her bag!”
   Jason’s frantic voice registered, but her body had shut down.
   His warm arms lifted her. Her head bobbed and landed on his shoulder.
   His rhythmic breathing was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.

Sami A. Abrams

Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn't until her 30's that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

Sami has finaled 15 times in writing contests, including receiving first place in American Christian Fiction Writer's Genesis Contest in 2019 and 2020, and Faith Hope and Love's Touched By Love Awards in 2018.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Sami is generously giving away
1 signed copy of Buried Cold Case Secrets (US only) OR 1 e-Book

And if you sign up for my newsletter at www.samiaabrams.com
you’ll receive a free short story. Silencing the Witness.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post by Darlene L. Turner (Giveaway)

2/5/2022

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Witness protection should have kept them safe.
Instead, it left them completely exposed…

Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma's enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope…

Pre-order links:
Amazon (US) ■ Amazon (CA) ■ Chapters-Indigo ■ Barnes & Noble

Trusting in God’s Plan

by Darlene L. Turner

Jigsaw puzzles seem to be the rage lately. Do you remember doing them as kids? Placing each piece in its specific spot was fun . . . until you either couldn’t figure out how one fit—or heaven forbid—you lost a piece. Then everything changed. It wasn’t fun anymore. More like frustrating. This got me thinking about life and how much our lives are like a jigsaw puzzle. When things are going along nicely, the pieces fit perfectly. The picture is becoming clear. We can see it and it’s just within our grasp. Life is good. You have it all planned out. And then--

Something happens. We can’t make the next piece fit or we’ve lost one. Our path changes. And not the way we want it to. We question God. “What are You doing? This is not the life I wanted.” We’re blindsided when our journey unexpectedly changes.

In Safe House Exposed, Canadian border patrol officer Emma James is changed in an instant. After helping bring a ruthless family to justice, she’s targeted and everything in her world changes—her identity, home, relationships are all ripped away. Her perfect life plan did not work out the way she’d hoped. She questions God and what He’s doing. She goes through a roller-coaster set of emotions and has to work through the journey of trusting in God’s sovereignty. Her bump in her journey didn’t fit into her perfect jigsaw puzzle. The picture is now distorted and she can’t see the end result. However, God holds her close and she realizes that He just steered her down a different path. His path.

We’ve all been there, right? Realized our plans aren’t working out the way we intended? So, what do we do when that happens? Do we shove the entire puzzle on the floor and start over? No. We pick through each piece one at a time and trust we’ll find the right one. Emma has to do this too and in the end became stronger.

God knows the big picture. He sees all the pieces of our lives—from the beginning to the end. Every happy moment and every blip in the road. Do we throw Him to the curb and stomp our feet thinking we can do things on our own?

No. We fall to our knees and TRUST. He’s sovereign and knows all. From the beginning to the end. He has bigger and better plans than anything we could ever dream possible.

We just need to trust Him with every piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

Darlene L. Turner

Darlene L. Turner’s love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.
Darlene won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense twice and an ACFW Genesis award. Her debut book, Border Breach, (Love Inspired Suspense) won the Word Award (Romance category) in Canada and was also a double winner at the Selah Awards, taking third place in the First Novel and Romantic Suspense categories. She’s represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She has three books releasing in 2022: Safe House Exposed (Feb 22), Fatal Forensic Investigation (June 28), and book #2 in her Canadian Protector series (Oct 25).

Darlene met her husband Jeff at the turtle races in Ontario, Canada. She loves flavored coffee and plaid shirts. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

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It's Time For A Giveaway!

Question for giveaway:

Do you find it hard to trust God with every piece of your life?
How do you cope when one doesn’t fit into your jigsaw puzzle?

Answer the question above in the comments below and
one person will win an e-book copy of Safe House Exposed!

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2022 Birthday Celebration - Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

2/3/2022

1 Comment

Facing the past…could change his future.

Veterinarian Neal Rodgers is in Wander Canyon seeking the truth about his past—not to rescue a litter of kittens under his next-door neighbor’s porch. But persistent single-mom Tessa Kennedy is impossible to ignore—especially when she uncovers a family secret of her own.
Discovering the hidden facts of their histories could be the key to unlocking everything in this small town.

https://alliepleiter.com/books/wander-canyon/secrets-of-their-past/

Author Interview with Allie Pleiter

#1. What started you on the “Alpine Path” (writing career)?
Oddly enough, it was a dare from a friend. I started life as an actor. One day a friend dared me to write a romance novel. That friend happened to be the editor for a major New York publishing house romance line! She introduced me to my agent, and the rest is a history of over 50 published novels. I tell people God set it up so that I couldn’t take any credit for it, because He knew I would try. Some dares really are worth taking!

#2. Are you a full-time author or do you have a another job?
I am blessed enough that I am a full-time author. Although, it’s not all I do. I am a book coach and I do a lot of public speaking. Many people know me for The Chunky Method, my productivity system for writers. I’m a raging extrovert, so I’m not the kind of person who can sit in her office and just write—I thrive on people and variety.

#3. What is the hardest part of being an author?
I constantly struggle to come up with titles that fit the needs of category romance. That’s a very specific metric and I’m always trying to be too clever. And I suspect many writers would agree with me that major, gut-wrenching revisions are the hardest part of what we do.

#4. How has becoming a published author changed your life?
I love the variety, the freedom to set my own schedule, and the particular fun of getting to talk to experts in a wide variety of fields in the name of research. I’ve been self-employed for most of my life, so the entrepreneurial aspects of being an author suit me well. And I have to say, the flexibility of being an author was a tremendous blessing when my son was very ill as a teenager. There’s probably not another job I could have kept while meeting the needs of his care at that time (he’s a well and healthy 25 year old now!)

#5. What genre(s) do you write and what drew you to it/them?
I started out in mass market romance because that’s where my friend was working (see question #1). Then I wrote two parenting books for Zondervan. After that, I started my longstanding career with Love Inspired, doing chick-lit, historical, and contemporary romances for them. I still write contemporary romance for that line. I have two non-fiction books for writers that I self-published, as well as an inspirational romance series. Earlier this year I launched a general mass-market cozy mystery series for Berkley. Like I said earlier, I thrive on variety!

#6. What is the craziest thing you've done in the name of research?
Oh, this is my most favorite question! I’ve done some really amazing things. The most unique was learning to walk a tightrope from a member of the famous Wallenda family for one of my parenting books. I’ve learned how to pull an espresso from a world-ranked barista, learned how to crack a bull whip from a weapons expert at a circus arts school, done aerial acrobatics in a stunt plane, been in a stampede on a bison ranch, and am currently trying to get my hands on super-exclusive vicuña yarn for my mystery series. Research with fascinating experts is the best part of what I do!

#7. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
Don’t fret about how others are doing it. Get sound advice, but do things how they make sense to you. And, I wish I could tell my 14-year old self that it won’t be the problem I thought it’d be to be six feet tall.

#8. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that has happened in your life as writer.
I had the blessing to be on national television for one of my parenting books. On the flight home, one of the other passengers kept staring at me, and I thought, “this is it, someone is finally going to recognize me…this is what it’s like to be famous.” He did come up to me and say “I recognize you.” But he went on to say “You’re the lady with the tiny laptop computer from my flight out earlier this week.” So…not exactly the fame I thought I had. It was definitely an ego check that I can laugh about now.

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I am always asked to give writing or professional advice, and I always say the same three things:

Hush up and write. Don’t fret or overthink—just write. Nothing makes you a better writer than writing.
Nine times out of ten, the right business strategy is just to figure out the next right step and take it.
Eat more pie. Pie makes everything better.

Allie Pleiter

Bestselling international author Allie Pleiter honed her talents in the world of popular fiction, where she still releases multiple books a year. Allie has over 50 published titles to her name, and over 1.5 million Allie Pleiter fiction and non-fiction books have been sold around the world.
Her well-known Chunky Method system trains writers at every level to formulate plans and meet deadlines in a way tailored to their unique working style. Allie runs an active coaching practice helping writers and all kinds of creative people be more productive, as well as training productive people to be more creative. Already a national speaker among writing associations, Allie now extends her reach to entrepreneurs, speakers, consultants, and anyone who needs to bolster their productivity and creativity in a demanding marketplace.

Allie is an avid knitter, confirmed coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better.” She holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University and lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and the world’s most adorable dog.

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2022 Birthday Celebration - 5 Things... Interview with Jen Turano (Giveaway)

2/1/2022

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When Arthur Livingston arrives out of the blue at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire the agency to seek out a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her.

Having fled from the scene of her grandfather's murder seven years before, Eunice is a lady with secrets--the most important that she is the missing heiress Arthur is seeking. She has no intention of allowing him to learn she's been disguising herself, especially when she has reason to believe Arthur could hold her responsible for her grandfather's death.

In order to avoid Arthur and conceal her real identity, Eunice takes on another case that requires her to go deep undercover. With secrets from the past--and Arthur--appearing wherever she looks, she wonders how she will ever uncover the truth behind her grandfather's murder. Will what she discovers set Eunice free or place her in peril's way?

ISBN-13: 9780764235337

5 Things I Never Expected About Becoming An Author
Jen Turano

1. I think the first thing I never expected when I decided to attempt to get a book published was how long it was going to take. I mean, when you write that first book, it’s almost impossible to understand the scope of the competition. I quickly realized it was going to be a rather daunting task because there are millions of writers out there. That’s when I also realized I was going to have to learn everything I could about the publishing industry. It was less than reassuring when I ran across this informative tidbit – Only 3% of authors ever receive a traditional publishing contract with a legitimate publishing house and…get this…of that 3 %, only 1 % ever experiences success in that they earn out their advances and receive additional contracts. Talk about the odds not being in your favor.

However, I decided to continue on, and I also knew I only wanted to go the traditional route, but knew I really had to up my game with my writing craft in order to attract the attention of an agent. It took me seven manuscripts and five years before I produced a work that could be considered publishing-worthy. That book landed me an agent, but she never sold it, instead selling a book I wrote after I signed with her, that being my first published work, “A Change of Fortune.” I’ve been writing for Bethany House ever since.

2. Odd questions/request from fans. The oddest request I ever received actually went to my agent first. A very wealthy, and need I add obviously eccentric woman, asked if she could buy the film rights to one of my early works because she’d always had a hankering to act, and she thought one of my side characters would be the perfect role for her – I think it may have been Abigail, who was an older, somewhat meddling kind of character. However, this woman wasn’t going to film the book set in the Gilded Age. Nope, she was going to make it contemporary. Well, I didn’t actually own the film rights to that particular book, so my agent sent her off to speak to my publishing house and I never heard from the lady again. It would have been interesting to see how one of my stories would do turned into a contemporary romp.

3. Strangest historical fact I’ve uncovered. - Since the Gilded Age was a time of unprecedented change in America, I’ve found a slew of interesting tidbits, but the strangest thing I’ve uncovered has to do with a lady by the name of Gladys Deacon. She was quite the beauty, and gentlemen chased her around the world. Gladys, however only had eyes for the 9th Duke of Marlborough, who was married to a lady known throughout the Gilded Age – Consuelo Vanderbilt. Well, Gladys didn’t seem to be bothered by the idea that her love interest was married, and she pursued him quite diligently and ended up marrying the man after Consuelo divorced the duke.

And, okay, that’s not the interesting tidbit, although it was quite the story. Here’s the strangeness involved with Gladys. She eventually decided her beauty was flawed because she had a small dent at the bridge of her nose. Because of that, off she went for an experimental treatment that, unfortunately, went horribly wrong. She actually had doctors inject paraffin wax into her nose to plump out that dent – quite like Botox today, but get this – the wax, after a very short amount of time, began to melt and it slid down the inside of her face and settled in her jaw, completely distorting her features. She was eventually forced to have surgery to remove the wax, which left a permanent scar and was why she demanded all the mirrors be removed for all of her residences. As an aside, the duke eventually divorced her and she ended up in an insane asylum for the last decade of her life.

Gladys Deacon

4. strangers say when they discover I’m an author. – This is one of those amusing things in my life because, without fail, as soon as a stranger discovers I write romance for a living, they immediately assume I write the naughty kind of romance. Case in point, I once attended a dinner at a friend’s house and met this lovely man by the name of George. Well, I told George what I did for a living, but I didn’t expand much because it’s weird to talk about my writing at a dinner party. It’s on the same lines of getting stuck next to an accountant during tax season, so I tend to merely mention what I do and change the subject. I probably should have taken the time to expand more to George because throughout dinner, the man kept staring at me, and then whispering to his wife during the courses. He then went and spoke to the host after the meal, and my friend was dying. Why, you ask? Because George had come to the conclusion that I made my living writing porn but he didn’t think I really looked the type. It was beyond amusing, and is one of those stories that’s still told at dinners to this day.

5. How my own reading habits have changed. This was an incredibly interesting discovery for me because, yes, my reading habits have changed since I began writing. I cannot read historical romance while writing a first draft because I tend to start mimicking whatever book I’m reading, which isn’t cool at all and completely messes up my writing voice. I limit my reading while doing a first draft to non-fiction or sometimes an occasional suspense or thriller, although that doesn’t always work either because once, after reading a thriller, I included a serial killer in my work in progress, something my editor made me take right out because nothing says romantic comedy quite like a serial killer.

Jen Turano

Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. Readers may find her at www.jenturano.com or https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/or on Twitter at JenTurano @JenTurano.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jen is generously giving away a print copy of To Disguise The Truth

(USA ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2022 Birthday Celebration - How It Works

1/31/2022

1 Comment

2022 Birthday Celebration

How It Works

During the month of February we will be featuring some wonderful content from some great authors!
To find a celebration post just look for the phrase
"2022 Birthday Celebration"
at the beginning of the blog post title and the

symbol at the top of the post.
If there is a giveaway associated with that post you will see the word
"Giveaway" at the end of the blog post title.

So, come on over and check out the fun all month long!

You can get started

HERE

Don't forget to enjoy our regular reviews and posts during the month as well!

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Guest Post from Amy Lillard (Giveaway)

3/4/2021

8 Comments

Renewed faith and happiness await three generations of women in this heartwarming
series from Amy Lillard, set in the Oklahoma Amish community of Wells Landing . . .

With her daughter newly married, widow Charlotte Burkhart should have been content to find a companion for her later years in Amish widower Glenn Esh. Yet, Charlotte longs for more than life has offered her thus far. When she discovers a baby on her doorstep, the child seems like the miracle Charlotte’s been praying for. Unfortunately, Glenn doesn’t feel the same way. What’s a single woman aching to experience motherhood once more to do?

From the moment Paul Brenneman sees Charlotte Burkhart with a new baby, he senses his lovely neighbor and the sweet child are meant to be. Which is why he offers to marry Charlotte and make her adoption dreams come true. No stranger to heartache himself, the stalwart widower knows second chances don’t happen every day—especially not with a woman like Charlotte, the first woman in a long time who has him taking a leap of faith that happily-ever-after is still possible . . .

ASIN: B08CBNY8B5

Pre-Order

Affiliate link used.

Guest Post from author Amy Lillard

What would happen if someone left a baby on the porch of an Amish home? That was the question that sparked my latest book, A New Love for Charlotte. You may remember Charlotte Burkhart from Loving Jenna and Romancing Nadine. Charlotte has been going through many changes both mentally and physically. Jenna, her special needs daughter has gotten married and moved out. Nadine, her mother-in-law, will be remarrying shortly, leaving Charlotte alone in the house she thought they would all live in forever. Add in the stress of menopause and Charlotte’s swimming in changes.

But Charlotte is nothing if not resourceful and she knows that she’ll have to make some changes in her life to fight the changes that are coming. That’s why she sets her sights on marrying Glenn Esh. Glenn is handsome, fancy Amish. Charlotte knows that God means for her to have someone in her life and Glenn seems like the perfect candidate. But when a baby is dropped on her doorstep, it’s her next-door neighbor, Paul Brenneman who lends a hand.

Paul has loved Charlotte from afar, biding his time before letting her know of his feelings. But when she tells him of her plans for her and Glenn, Paul realizes he’s waited too late.

Only the miracle of a sweet bundle of joy that was left for them to find can make Charlotte understand that God was in charge all along.

I can’t wait to share Charlotte’s story! The book is available for pre-order now and will be released on March 30, 2021.
Happy reading, everyone!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Amy Lillard is generously giving away a print copy of A New Love For Charlotte

(USA ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Spotlight Butterfly Kisses & Windsong by Lynnette Booner (Giveaway)

2/26/2021

1 Comment

He’s a staid, by-the-book doctor.
She’s a free-spirited artist.
Together, they share a son.

Right out of high school, Shiloh Finn moved to Europe to attend her dream art-school, leaving her son, Quin, for his father to raise. Now, changed by Jesus, she’ll do anything to be part of Quin’s life again. Move back home. Give up painting. Even—dare she say it—risk her heart by spending time with Quin’s father.

Michael Stanton, Micha to his friends, thought he’d stopped longing for his son’s mother. But now, Shiloh is back home, invading his well-ordered life with her free spirit and silvery laughter, and filling him with nostalgia for years-gone-by. And, heaven help him, his son has discovered the joys of butterfly kisses and is putting his matchmaking skills to good use—or bad, depending on one’s perspective. On some days, Micha feels a little of both.

This contemporary, sweet, clean romance takes you to small-town America, where
the river serenades and birdsong fills the air, all the neighbors knoweach other's
business, and the police chief's biggest worry is where to find his next fishing hole.

ASIN: B08VNRGNVG

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Lynnette Bonner is generously giving away an e-book copy of Butterfly Kisses & Windsong

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2021 Birthday Celebration - Cover Reveal & This or That Interview with Margaret Daley

2/21/2021

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Cover Reveal

Family Feud. Attraction. Murder.

Maggie Somers returns from her grandfather’s funeral to find his house trashed. Zach Collier, the grandson of her family’s nemesis, stands in the middle of the mess looking as guilty--and handsome--as sin. For decades the two families have feuded over the priceless diary of Father Santiago. Zach’s grandfather has also recently died, and he believes the deaths are somehow connected. The diary's discovery along with a possible treasure map is what destroyed the family friendship.

Danger is everywhere when Zach and Maggie realize they're not the only ones looking for the treasure. If they are ever going to find answers to their grandfathers' deaths and unravel the ancient diary's secrets, they must put aside their anger. It doesn't take long to realize the killer is now after them. Will Maggie and Zach learn to trust each other before the treasure and their lives are lost?

ASIN : B08W4SKSQJ

Buy at Amazon

This or That Interview
with author Margaret Daley

#1. Coffee or Tea?
I love tea. I don’t drink coffee.

#2. Print or E-reader?
I like both of them.

#3. Ice Cream or Pie?
I like both. My favorite is having vanilla ice cream on top of a slice of pecan pie.

#4. Early Bird or Night Owl?
I’m a Night Owl. While I taught school, I was an Early Bird but not now.

#5. Introvert or Extrovert?
Extrovert. I love meeting people.

#6. Historical or Suspense?
Definitely suspense. That’s what I love to write and read.

#7. Green or Pink?
Pink. My office has walls painted pink.

Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley, a USA Today’s Bestselling author of over 110 books (five million plus sold worldwide), has been married for over forty-nine years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling or being with her two granddaughters, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense/mystery thread and corralling her cat who thinks she rules the household.

To find out more about Margaret visit her:
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