JOURNEY'S EDGE releases today!

A Routine Audit? Hardly.

Red flags—including some goon who's following her—raise McKinley Frasier's suspicions that numbers don't add up at the insurance firm. When someone tries to snatch McKinley's daughter from school, she turns to police officer and ex-fiance, Renner Crossman—the cop who walked out on her a month before their wedding. But Renner's not the same guy who broke her heart ten years ago. He calls himself a "new man." She trusts the new Renner with her daughter's safety...but what about her heart?


"Honey, if you’re looking for that kind of action, you’ve got the wrong room."

"What?" McKinley gasped. She knew that voice, that rich timbre with just a hint of teasing. Always teasing, forever flirting.

Renner Crossman.

Oh, no! What kind of twisted sense of humor did James suffer from? She didn’t want to see Renner. She only wanted to know that he was in the hotel.

McKinley tilted her head back, inching her line of vision up to Renner’s face. Just to be sure. A lot could change after ten years. Look at her. She was a prime example.

She heard his deep intake of breath. Shock? Yeah, well, she could relate.

"Kinny?"

Ten years faded into yesterday. Those espresso-colored eyes still gleamed with mischief. Or was it something else? Maybe he hadn’t changed that much.

His hands tightened around her arms, pulling her against him. She closed her eyes and leaned into his chest.

Renner.

His heart thumped a tune with hers. His breath whispered against her hair. And the scent of his aftershave was like a dear friend. She sighed.

What was it about him that latched on to her innermost dreams and desires and wouldn’t let go? His grin? His have-no-cares-in-the-world style against her organized, have-to-know-everything-beforehand outlook?

He looped his arms around her back and pressed his forehead to hers, just like he used to do. When he’d made her feel loved and cherished. Protected. Special.

A clamp tightened around her stomach, cut off air, and she almost tossed the cookies she’d scarfed down in place of dinner. Gag.

Special.

Yeah, right. More like used and abused. Thrown away with the trash.

She wasn’t safe in here, either. She braced her hands against his chest and jerked a step back, telling her brain to reject his familiar, comforting scent. She would take her chances in the hall.

Available with White Rose Publishing.

Meet McKinley Frasier from JOURNEY'S EDGE

Hi. I’m McKinley Frasier. An Auditor with a CPA firm, not my dream job, but it pays the bills and keeps a roof over our heads. I’m a mom to an adorable nine-year-old daughter, Tessa. I’ve cherished a lifetime friendship, and I’m single by choice. People may think I have my life together.

Hah! They’d be wrong. Right now I’m desperately ducking the creep who followed me to the hotel, this week’s client, Malcolm Brugman. Or should I say, fraudster?

And avoiding the ex-fiance who dumped me ten years ago, Renner Crossman, who happens to be staying in the same hotel. Why am I thinking about Renner Crossman now anyway? I haven’t thought of him in what? Two days? Not since his totally-off-the-radar phone message. Yeah, well, that apology was about ten years too late. Did he really think I wouldd come running to accept his face-to-face apology? As if!

So explain to me how I ended up wrapped in Renner’s strong arms, hearing his heart thump, and shivering when his breath whispered against my hair? What is it about him that latches on to my innermost dreams and desires and won’t let go? His grin? His have-no-cares-in-the-world attitude colliding with my organized, have-to-know-everything-beforehand outlook?

OK, so maybe I’m not totally over him. But I will be when he finds out about Tessa. And Tessa’s father? It’s probably best not to go down that road…

Journey's Edge

Book 2 in the Marshals of Journey Creek series

coming 3/30/12

with

White Rose Publishing

Meet Renner Crossman from JOURNEY'S EDGE

Hey. Renner Crossman here. The new and improved version, not the old Renner, the jerk who seduced women, then dumped them. Walls painted white by God’s grace, I’m determined to set things right with people I’ve wronged in my life. Beginning with Kinny.

Beautiful, wholesome, pristine Kinny. Like springtime opening her arms wide after a long, harsh winter; new blossoms popping out to embrace the sun. Unspoiled, if you catch my drift, until a month before our wedding date.

So, I called Kinny a few days ago to apologize, right? Got her voice mail and left her a message asking to meet in person. I could have called that number a hundred times just to hear that sweet voice. Yeah, I’m so not over her.

But, I did the right thing breaking up with her, even if it was lousy timing. She blamed me for the deaths of her mother and brother. Well, not me, but the badge in general.

Ten years later, I’m still a cop, just a different kind: a Deputy U.S. Marshal. That won’t matter to Kinny, though. I still carry a gun and a badge. So, it’s probably best that she blew me off and didn’t show up tonight. With an early morning appointment for a job transfer to Charlotte and plans to hunt down a house near my friends, my plate’s mighty full.

When Kinny stumbles into my room after midnight, a thug hot on her heels, what choice do I have but to protect her? Will she still see me as the “old” Renner? Or can I model the “new man” in Christ? 

Journey's Edge

Book 2 in the Marshals of Journey Creek series

coming 3/30/12

with

White Rose Publishing

Romance, Grandma? Really? by Delia Latham

Don’tcha just love love?


I do. I hope I always will. And that, my friends—just in case you’re wondering—is why a 50-something grandmother would write an entire series of books based around a Christian dating agency.


(To be perfectly honest, when I got the first little mustard seed of an idea, I was eleven years younger, had only one grandchild, and hadn’t yet written a novel at all, much less a series of them.) Here’s what happened:


Some years ago, I read a series written by an author I’d never heard of at the time. Her name is Shari MacDonald, and she has an amazing knack for humor. One of the books in that series grabbed me by the imagination and would not let go. That book, A Match Made in Heaven, struck some kind of chord in me. It made me want to write the novel I’d been promising myself for years.

Now, let’s be reasonable here. That was well over a decade ago. Don’t ask me what that pivotal novel was actually about—I don’t have a clue, other than there was a dating agency involved. It made an impression on me, and got me thinking about the matchmaking profession. Wouldn’t it be fun, I thought, to write about a place where Christian singles could go to find—in King Solomon’s words—“he (or she) whom their soul loveth”?


I stored the idea away in my brain, and every once in awhile, I took it out and played with it (not my brain—the idea). I wrote two inspirational romances, neither of which had anything to do with a dating agency, and got them published. I started a couple of other manuscripts, which I still haven’t finished.


Then I woke up one day and it was as though something clicked in my heart—like God was saying, “It’s time. Let’s do it!”


In a perfect world, I disappeared into my office and emerged three days later with a completed manuscript, painstakingly edited and ready to send to a publisher.

Uh-huh. Whoever said this was a perfect world?


No. I still wasn’t completely there. I thought about the idea while I was doing dishes; I mulled it over while driving down the road all by myself; I worked out a fun little scenario or two as I lay in bed at night, instead of counting sheep; I created and discarded a number of storylines and subplots. Weeks, months, and more months went into mentally laying the groundwork.


By the time I actually did go into my office and start writing, I had several nice little scenes all cozied up in my head, just waiting to be put on paper. And…I was no longer just writing a book based around a dating agency. Now it was a series. Three books, maybe more (depending on how well you like them). Plus, God threw in a real surprise for me.

My dating agency would be no ordinary, run-of-the-mill love connection. Sometime during all of those mental writing sessions, it received a touch of the divine. Now it had an extraordinary connection to Heaven.


I’d love to tell you all about it, but then there’d be no need to read the book(s). And I really want you to read the Solomon’s Gate Series.


Destiny’s Dream released in December 2010, and Kylie’s Kiss followed four months later, in April 2011. (Come on, admit it. You’re a little bit curious about this series!) It’s available through White Rose Publishing and Amazon. I’m eager to hear what you find between its covers, because I’m thinking different people might find different things. Divine experiences often happen that way, you know.


The third book, Gypsy’s Game, released last week with White Rose Publishing.


Come on in. I’ll leave the Gate open for you.

And here it is: Gypsy's Game by Delia Latham.

Gypsy Lovell stands to inherit an enormous amount of money from a father who never gave her anything but a ridiculous name. Even now, he doesn’t make it easy. A stipulation in the man’s will demands that Gypsy be married in order to claim what is hers. Desperate for the monetary windfall that could save her ailing mother’s life, Gypsy visits a Christian dating agency, hoping to find a temporary husband. Someone easy to handle for the required six months, and easy to get rid of when she no longer needs him. Jal Garridan is neither of those things, but he's willing to take on the challenge presented by the beautiful stranger—on his own terms. What Gypsy doesn’t know is that Solomon’s Gate is a dating agency with a Divine connection. What she finds there may save more than her mother’s life. It may save Gypsy’s soul.

Born and raised in a place called Weedpatch, Delia Latham moved from California to Oklahoma in 2008, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her simple country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. The author enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. She loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her through her website or send an e-mail to Delia@DeliaLatham.net.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, 3/21 

from 2-3:00 pm

Coltrane Life Center

321 Corban Aven S.E., Concord, NC

A Glimpse Into Publishing Presentation & Booksigning

Wednesday, 4/11 

from 2:15-3:15 pm

RT Booklover's Convention (Chicago, IL)

Joining inspirational authors Marianne Evans, Dorothy Love, and Mary Manners in presenting a reader workshop, 

Beyond the Bodice...Lacing Together Faith and Romance.

and

Thursday, 4/12 

from 4-6:00 pm

Signing at the E-Book & Graphic Novel Bookfair

Thursday, 4/19/2012 

from 1-3:00 pm

King Family Library

408 High St, Sevierville, TN

Inspirational Romance Presentation & Booksigning

If you happen to be in the area for one of these events, stop by and say hi.

Enjoy this real life love story by Fay Lamb

Our first Christmas together, my husband, Marc, asked if the boys and I would like to go look at Christmas lights. My sons were excited as we traveled through Sherwood Park, a neighborhood known for its hospitable Holiday spirit. Most houses were lit up with mechanical decorations, their sidewalks were lined with luminaries, music played outside, and the residents waved and called, “Merry Christmas” to the long line of cars weaving through their streets to take it all in.

My husband reached for my hand and smiled back at the two little boys, six and four, that I’d brought into our relationship. “Wouldn’t it be nice to live here one day?”

I still can feel the warmth in my heart as I think about his words. As a once confirmed batchelor, I knew Marc never gave much thought to where he would live, but things had changed for him. He had two sons who needed a good school, and where we lived then was not in the best of districts. We were running out of ploys to keep them in the school nearest to Sherwood Park.

Fast forward a couple of months. Marc and I found ourselves looking at house after house to purchase on a limited budget, but we couldn’t find the one we wanted. Finally, the real estate agent pulled up in front of a house on Ayshire Drive in Sherwood Park. From the outside, the house was beautiful, but we were a little doubtful that we could afford it.

When our oldest son jumped out of the car, he noticed friends from school playing in the streets around us. His excitement grew, and I was afraid that we would have to disappoint him.

Then I went through the house. It was open and spacious. The bathrooms were larger than any I’d seen in a house that size. The boys could share a room or each have their own, although, I knew what that decision would be. I fell in love with the place.

The house was a little more than we’d expected, but the real estate agent had some good news for us. The mortgage had a rare, “assumable without qualifying” tag on it, which meant as long as we stayed within our budget, we didn’t have to qualify for a larger loan.

While the boys chattered about the new house in the neighborhood where their friends lived, Marc, in his quiet unassuming way, studied our options. He was getting ready to head out of town, and we hadn’t made a decision—or so I thought.

The day he had to leave, I was late getting home and picking up the boys from daycare. We rushed to our apartment, and I was disappointed. Marc’s car was gone. He’d already left for the airport. Deflated, I gathered our belongings and ushered the kids toward the door where I found a note taped to the door. “Your new home is located on Ayshire Drive. I love you, Marc.” He’s signed the contract to purchase the house as a surprise for us.

I cried as I read this love note to me. You see, it wasn’t about the house. Any home would have done for me. In those few little words, my husband showed not only the depth of his love for his wife, he also showed me how much he loved the sons I brought into the marriage.

We lived on Ayshire Drive for seventeen years, making precious family memories there. And each Christmas our family would decorate our home to the hilt, place the luminaries along the drive, and we’d stand outside waving to all the visitors driving through our neighborhood, and I still never cease counting the man blessings that came when God brought Marc Lamb into my life.

Fay Lamb works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Because of Me, her debut romantic suspense novel is soon to be released by Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing.

Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’ critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010. 

In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary on ACFW’s Operating Board.

Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.

Because of Me

Not your typical Christian fiction.

Michael’s fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked and Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s home to set things right.

Two people stand in his way: Issie’s son, Cole, and a madman.
Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long ago?

Available through all fine book retailers, Amazon.com, and Mountainview Publishing, a division of Treble Heart Books. 

Purchase the book at Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Me-ebook/dp/B00722KIME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327670357&sr=8-1

Or at Treble Heart Books at: www.trebleheartbooks.com/MVLamb.html

Purchase the book at: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Me-ebook/dp/B00722KIME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327670357&sr=8-1

Welcome Fay Lamb and Because of Me

Not your typical Christian fiction.

Michael’s fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked and Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s home to set things right.

Two people stand in his way: Issie’s son, Cole, and a madman.

Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long ago?

Available through all fine book retailers, Amazon.com, and Mountainview Publishing, a division of Treble Heart Books.

Purchase the book at Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Me-ebook/dp/B00722KIME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327670357&sr=8-1

Or at Treble Heart Books at: www.trebleheartbooks.com/MVLamb.html

Good morning, Fay. I'm thrilled to have you visit today. Tell us a little about your novel, Because of Me.  

I met Michael Hayes one cool autumn day while sitting on my porch. Michael, unshaven, his hair a little scraggly, and his young face filled with tension, began to tell me his story. “There’s a young boy, Cole. I’m not his father, but he’s definitely on this earth because of me. I allowed something horrible to happen to his mother, but I still love her. I despise the kid, though. I’ve forgiven another for so much more, and Cole’s only fault is that his father is the man who took everything from me. How can I learn to love this child and protect his mother from the man who can again take her from me?” 

And as easily as Michael entered my imagination, he turned and walked away. 

Michael’s revelation brought forth layer after layer of plot, and my novel, Because of Me was born.

What motivated you to write it? 

Deep down, I think this story came about because my two boys were like Cole. In fact, my youngest son—the one who really never had the favor of his natural father—his middle name is Cole. My boys needed a man in their lives who would love them unconditionally, who would nurture and care for them, and show a Christ-like example of a true father. My husband, Marc, stepped into that role when my children were six and four years old, and he’s never let those boy think for a moment that he wasn’t as much their dad as the man they share DNA with.

Still, there’s so much more to Because of Me. It’s a story of forgiveness, the depths of which some may never experience, and the story will truly renew your faith in the Lord’s design for us. After all, God is always in the details whether you recognize it or not.

What is the main message you hope your readers will take away? 

That no matter how badly we mess up or how much comes upon us, God is always nearby. I truly believe Paul didn’t idly pen the words of Roman 8:28. When the Scripture tells us “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose,” the Lord is telling us that it isn’t just the good in our lives that will work together for good. Only our awesome, loving Father can make provisions for us when we make mistakes. Only He knows the thoughts He has toward us, as Jeremiah 29:11 says, and there again, he promises an expected end, a future of hope.

Which character did you most enjoy creating and why?

A very hard question for me. This story has some truly memorable characters—not just the hero and heroine, but secondary characters. I absolutely love Michael Hayes and Isabel Putnam, the love of Michael’s life. They’re flawed, but they endure some mighty big conflict.

However, my favorite fellow in Because of Me is Ted McGillicudy. Ted kind of sneaked up on me and inserted himself in the story. He’s a gruff old country boy, and Ted knew that for Michael to eventually love Cole, he’d need an example of a father in his life. Ted watches out of Michael, accepts him, and for Michael, whose father left him when he was very young, Ted fills a void in his life. And Ted, he spouts off some one-liners that will take you by surprise.

Which character do you think your readers will most relate to and why? 

Definitely, Michael. He’s lost so much, and he returns after being in prison and away from his hometown for several years. He is shocked to find that the woman he loves isn’t alone any longer, and he has issues to deal with before he can win back her heart. Michael struggles through those issues, but he clings to his life verse: Job 13:15: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.”

What are you working on now? 

I have completed a second romantic suspense, Willow’s Path, and two contemporary romances, Charisse and Faith. Currently, I’m working on two other romantic suspense novels and the last story in the contemporary romance series while editing a contemporary fiction entitled, Storms in Serenity. Beyond that I am excitedly looking forward to delving into a novel that includes the intriguing world of professional surfing.

Fay Lamb works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Because of Me, her debut romantic suspense novel will be released on February 3, 2012, by Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing. 

Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’ critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010. In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary on ACFW’s Operating Board. 

Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.

Journey's Embrace by Dora Hiers

Introducing

Journey's Embrace

Book #3 in the Marshals of Journey Creek series

by Dora Hiers

Coming Soon

with White Rose Publishing.

Want a sneak peek? Here's an unofficial back cover copy:

After an injury forces Deputy U.S. Marshal Sage Michaelson off duty, he heads to his hometown with two things on his mind: recuperating and reevaluating. Sage can’t refuse his best friend’s plea to keep a protective eye on his younger sister after someone ransacks her house. But Delaney’s not so little anymore…and definitely not the “Dane” Sage remembers.

Flight Medic Delaney Hunt has loved Sage forever. But, he’s all about control and order while she embraces life and takes risks. She doesn’t need Sage looking over her shoulder, as much the idea appeals to her. But when her life hangs by her fingertips, who does she call to rescue her?

Will Delaney ever be the woman Sage wants by his side? Can Sage learn to live by grace, recognizing that God is in control? Can they overcome their fears to embrace life together?

SAVING HOPE by Margaret Daley

When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.

Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

Saving Hope sounds fabulous, Margaret. Congrats! Now, let's find out a little about you.  

What does a normal workday look like for you?

I start writing about 10 0'clock in the morning and write until about 6 or 7 at night. I will take breaks during the day-eat lunch, run errands, exercise, but most of my day is spent writing or editing.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? 

I'm in between a plotter and a pantser, but if I had to choose one it would be a pantser.

What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not writing? 

I love to go to lunch and a movie with friends. I like to read, too.

If you had a Friday night all to yourself, what would you do? 

Watch a romantic movie.

Where can readers find you and your books? http://www.margaretdaley.com

Thanks so much for stopping by, Margaret. Congrats on Saving Hope!

Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-two books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

Giving Away a Free Copy of JOURNEY'S END

A Deputy US marshal suffers remorse over his role in an innocent man’s death. 

A widow finally pieces together the shattered fragments of her life. 

A runaway teenager brings them together, but an angry father wrenches them apart. 

Can God heal their hearts and shower them with blessings of forgiveness? 

Journey's End

Today I'm hanging out at Margaret Daley's blog where we're giving away a free copy of Journey's End. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win. Winners will be announced on Monday (3/12). Hope to see you there!

Back cover blurb:
Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.

Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death. Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.

When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey with her life? Can she forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?

Where one journey ends, another begins…

Excerpt:
“I suppose I should have been a vet.” Chelsea stroked the dog’s fur from his head all the way down his back, careful not to touch his wounded leg.

“Maybe. But I don’t think you’ve wasted your energy or your talents as a guidance counselor. Teenagers can’t seem to resist you, either.”

That produced a full-fledged smile in his direction. Way to go, Colten!

“Remember that natural charm I warned you about?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Yes. And after a few days in your presence, I’m inclined to agree with you.”

He pulled into the veterinarian’s parking lot and glanced her way, surprised to see her grinning. “What?”

“Saved by the vet.”

Her words hit him like a piano dropping ten stories. She was flirting with him.

He took his time walking around to her side of the truck. He opened the door and leaned in, planting his hand on the seat next to her shapely legs. His face hovered inches from hers while he savored the way her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, the lips that curved in that always graceful way, and the eyes that spoke everything his heart wanted to hear.

Her eyes closed, and her lips parted slightly.

Trey snapped out of it. He couldn’t do this. He was on the job. She didn’t know the secrets he knew, the truth about her husband.

Her eyes startled open. As much as he wanted to partake and enjoy, he couldn’t. He touched a silky curl framing her face and ran it through his fingers. “You need to know that right now I’m working. But there will come a time, soon, when I’m not.”

Coach and Four: Allisandra's Tale by Linore Rose Burkard

Nineteen year-old Lady Allisandra is a ward of King Charles II. When he orders her from court to stay with her old friend Elizabeth Hastings, the Duchess of Langley, Allisandra finds herself trapped inside a coach-and-four with the notorious rake Lord Dorchester. Has the duchess betrayed her? Perhaps, but things are not as they appear, and whether it is Her Grace, the infamous earl of Dorchester or the king himself bent on evil,only time will tell. In the meantime, how does a strong-minded young woman handle first a highwayman, then a debauched earl? Find out in this tale of late 1600s England, when conspiracy and betrayal can lead to unexpected love.


Purchase link for Coach and Four: Allisandra's Tale ~ NEW Kindle Short--Romantic suspense--.99cents 

Let's get to know Linore a little better. What does a normal workday look like for you? 
"Normal," doesn't really fit my life, since with the kids having such different schedules, mine is always changing as well. However, I do try to hit the pc as soon as I get a load of laundry going and maybe assemble ingredients in the crock-pot for dinner. I'm big on planning, whether it's menus for the week or the month; shopping trips, chores, etc. I don't plan out my writing to the same degree, but lately I do try to reach a daily word count. I'm more focused on finishing a scene than filling my word quota, however, unless it's a dry period where each word has to be squeezed out (ouch!) and those periods do happen. 

What are some of your favorite things to do when you're not writing? Least favorite?
I love to get involved in really good television which is rare to find, but rewarding when it happens. I've enjoyed Lost, 24, and most recently Downton Abbey and The Mentalist. I adore most Masterpiece Theater BBC presentations--catching anything 19th century is a real treat. I love doing large jigsaw puzzles but I'm extremely picky about what I'll buy in this category. I lean toward art by the Impressionists, and I only do one or two a year during the winter, during breaks from writing and family chores. Family game nights are high on my list, as is reading, but I do that all the time. A least favorite occupation for me is cleaning the bathrooms. (No surprise there, huh?) 

If you had a Friday night all to yourself, what would you do?
Wow--I'd love it, first of all! If I had a deadline, whether from a publisher or self-imposed, I'd hunker down and write. If not, I'd look for a BBC special, choose from my own DVD collection, or just get cozy and read one of the many books I've stored on my Kindle. There are times when I'll use a "free" evening to get a special job done, such as rearranging a room or cleaning out a closet. I hate to say I'd waste a whole night that way, but I do! I often have to write, cook and shop during the day so that evenings are the only time to do the extra stuff. 

Thanks for visiting, Linore! 

Linore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance to Warm the Soul. Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends, The House in Grosvenor Square, and The Country House Courtship. Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life and happy endings are possible for everyone. Ms. Burkard was raised in NY, but now lives in Ohio with her husband Michael and five children. 

You can find Linore here:

Website: Linore Rose Burkard.com
Heart-Warming Soul-Stirring Christian Romance! 

Blog: Woman of Faith Blog 

Other Books available by Linore Rose Burkard:
BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS
THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE--IRCC AWARD WINNER!
THE COUNTRY HOUSE COURTSHIP

Giving Away a Free Copy of JOURNEY'S END

A Deputy US marshal suffers remorse over his role in an innocent man’s death. 

A widow finally pieces together the shattered fragments of her life. 

A runaway teenager brings them together, but an angry father wrenches them apart. 

Can God heal their hearts and shower them with blessings of forgiveness? 

Journey's End

Good morning, friends. This week I'll be hanging out at Margaret Daley's blog where we'll be giving away a free copy of Journey's End. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win. Journey's End will be featured on Thursday, 3/8. Winners will be announced on Monday (3/12). Hope to see you there!

Back cover blurb:
Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.

Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death. Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.


When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey with her life? Can she forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?

Where one journey ends, another begins…

Excerpt:
“I suppose I should have been a vet.” Chelsea stroked the dog’s fur from his head all the way down his back, careful not to touch his wounded leg.

“Maybe. But I don’t think you’ve wasted your energy or your talents as a guidance counselor. Teenagers can’t seem to resist you, either.”

That produced a full-fledged smile in his direction. Way to go, Colten!

“Remember that natural charm I warned you about?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Yes. And after a few days in your presence, I’m inclined to agree with you.”

He pulled into the veterinarian’s parking lot and glanced her way, surprised to see her grinning. “What?”

“Saved by the vet.”

Her words hit him like a piano dropping ten stories. She was flirting with him.

He took his time walking around to her side of the truck. He opened the door and leaned in, planting his hand on the seat next to her shapely legs. His face hovered inches from hers while he savored the way her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, the lips that curved in that always graceful way, and the eyes that spoke everything his heart wanted to hear.

Her eyes closed, and her lips parted slightly.

Trey snapped out of it. He couldn’t do this. He was on the job. She didn’t know the secrets he knew, the truth about her husband.

Her eyes startled open. As much as he wanted to partake and enjoy, he couldn’t. He touched a silky curl framing her face and ran it through his fingers. “You need to know that right now I’m working. But there will come a time, soon, when I’m not.”

ACFW March 2012 Releases

What a great group of books to choose from this month! Check them out:

Love’s Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews — Young King Solomon marries a Shulamite shepherdess to quell the unrest of Israel’s northern tribes, but will this marriage become a love that sings for the ages? (Historical from Revell).

Dawn Comes Early (The Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series) by Margaret Brownley — It’s 1895 and 29-year-old dime novelist Kate Tenney finds herself without a publisher or other means of support when her novel is banned. When she agrees to try her hand at ranching, trouble begins. The West is nothing like she wrote about in her books. (Historical Romance from Thomas Nelson).

A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman — Amish-English sleuthing duo Deborah Yoder and Callie Harper set out to solve a murder. But more than an innocent man’s future is at stake. In book two of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, God’s grace touches the long-lost past as well as lives shaken by current tragedy. (Cozy Mystery from Zondervan).

Saving Hope by Margaret Daley — A 16-year-old girl is kidnapped from Beacon of Hope School. With the help of Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan, Kate Winslow is determined to find her student, but someone doesn’t want her to succeed. (Contemporary Romance from Abingdon Press).

I Am Ocilla by Diane M. Graham — I know only my name. Beyond that is confusion, a void where fantasy and reality swirl together. A dark soul threatens the Five Kingdoms, but I am powerless to stand against him, overwhelmed by phantom memories, broken and lost. Somehow I must live.(Speculative Fiction/Fantasy fromSplashdown Books).

Highland Hearts by Eva Maria Hamilton — In Scotland 1748, the Battle of Culloden is over, but one Highlander’s fight has just begun. (Historical Romance from Love Inspired).

Journey’s Edge by Dora Hiers — When your daughter is kidnapped, can you trust her safety to the one man you swore to never trust again? (Contemporary Romance from White Rose Publishing).

Promised to Another by Laura V. Hilton — She’s promised to one, but in love with another. He has secrets that could destroy the relationship before it begins. (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House).

And You Call Yourself a Christian by E.N. Joy — What’s a single Christian woman to do when she finds herself being charged for the death of three people? Her own sons? (Women’s Fiction from Urban Christian).

Gypsy’s Game byDelia Latham — She wants a temporary husband. He wants a forever love. Can these two hearts find a common path? (Romance from White Rose Publishing).

Hearts that Survive: A Novel of the Titanic by Yvonne Lehmann — Lydia Beaumont and her new friend Caroline Chadwick plan Lydia’s wedding aboard the “grandest ship ever built.” Yet their lives take a tragic turn when the “unsinkable” Titanic goes down. This epic tale of faith and perseverance follows their lives and the lives of their descendants as they struggle with all that was lost on that fateful night and what the future holds for those brave enough to face it. (Historical from AbingdonPress).

Ellie’s Haven by Sharlene Maclaren — Young woman on the run from her brutal stepfather jumps a train and heads several hundred miles north, winding up in Wabash, Indiana, where she meets and marries a widower with four children in hopes of finding refuge in her new identity. (Historical Romance from Whitaker House).

When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody — Widow Candace Johnson’s best friend is brutally murdered. Ensnared by a deep-rooted bitterness, seeping her faith day by day, Candace is determined to seek justice. Detective Darnell Jackson is in need of clues fast. As the investigation heats up, his growing attraction for Candace plays havoc on Darnell’s judgment. (Romantic Suspense from Urban Christian).

Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato — A privateer captain from the War of 1812 is forced to make a heartrending choice between his child and what he knows to be right. Only his unselfish sacrifice can win him the greatest prize of all…love. (Historical Romance from Bethany House).

Shades of Truth by Sandra Orchard — Book 2 in the series Undercover Cops: Fighting for Justice puts their lives, and hearts, on the line. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired).

Seattle Cinderella by Gail Sattler — The story of a modern day Cinderella, followed by her two reformed step-sisters, and Farrah her godmother. (Romance Novella from Barbour Publishing).

Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith — He promised her his heart. She promised him a son. But how long must they wait?(Biblical Fiction from Revell).

Like Sweet Potato Pie (Southern Fried Sushi) by Jennifer Rogers Spinola — Former big city journalist Shiloh Jacobs is stuck in rural Virginia – and about to discover if Mr. Wrong could actually be Mr. Right. (Contemporary Fiction from Barbour Publishing).

Rodeo Hero by Shannon Taylor Vannatter — Kendra Maddox is a new Christian trying to live her new beliefs. Stetson Wright is a youth director/rodeo clown who believes true love waits. Can they overcome her promiscuous past and claim a future together? (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents).

Storms...where do you hide?

Bruiser, our eight-year-old golden retriever, meandered around the yard on his usual morning patrol, sniffing his territory to make sure no critters invaded during the night. 


A strange sound made me glance over the rim of my coffee cup. Was that thunder? So early in the morning? Probably not.


From my vantage point at the kitchen table, I peered out the glass door. The sky had lightened with morning's brightness. Not a dark cloud in sight. Perhaps the noise I heard was a train from the nearby tracks? 


The noise sounded again, this time more distinct and definitely thunder.


Bruiser bounded up the deck steps as rain dumped from the sky, his big brown eyes pleading for me to let him in. I did, and Bruiser raced by to hide in our shower, someplace dark and without windows. Terrified of thunder and lightning, he usually senses when a storm is nearby, but this one caught him by surprise. 


The storms of life sometimes sneak up on us. Catch us by surprise. Events like the death of a loved one, relational breakups, job loss, or financial difficulties. 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Where do you hide when you're afraid?