Meet Beck Harmon of BECK'S PEACE, a Christian Romance Book

Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

I’m Beck Harmon, the middle of the Harmon siblings, younger than my twin, Burk, by a couple minutes. The one who doesn’t have his act together yet. The prodigal. I kinda lost myself for a while, who I was, what I believed in. Took me ten years, but I finally found my way home.

Tell us about where you live and why you choose to live there.

Anywhere I can find a job. At least, that’s how it’s been for the last decade. But since I came home for my sister’s wedding, that whisper to stay is gaining traction and digging in. And besides, Savvy’s here.

What is a quirk of your personality that most people wouldn’t know?

I reckon I have a few quirks. Don’t we all? When stress hits, I tend to run to the loudest, noisiest place I can find to drown out that voice in my head. The one that screams I’m just like my father. Since coming back home, though, I’ve noticed that the voice is fading. Might have something to do with a certain golden haired beauty…

Over the years, I’ve worked several jobs, but the one I enjoy most? Remodels. Crazy, isn’t it? It’s a sweaty, dirty job, but I’m good at visualizing the beauty beneath the rubble and restoring a space to the treasure it once was.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to reach your happily-ever-after?

Might’ve saved some time if you’d asked what we didn’t have to overcome. First, God had to hit me over the head with a sledge hammer to get me to accept that I am my own person, that my life isn’t determined by my father's choices. As if that wasn’t enough, I had to prove to Savvy that I wouldn’t take off again when things got rough. That got a little dicey when I was offered a job a couple hours away, and it sure didn’t help that there was a hometown veterinarian circling like a vulture, waiting to swoop in and make things permanent with her.

Tell us about your special lady. What makes her special?

She’s honest, doesn’t play games like a lot of women I’ve known. She’s a firefighter, feels called to save lives, and she’s strong physically and spiritually. Her sweet, humble spirit draws me like a bee to honey. Her eyes mesmerize me, always have. Hazel, but when she looks at me, they seem to transform from brownish gold to emerald, melting-like, as if I’m some dreamy guy. Makes me want to be that man for her.

The first time you saw her, what did you think? Did you like her immediately, or did she have to grow on you?

Immediately, no question. In all the years I was gone, I never stopped loving her. That love was what kept me away, but it was also love that brought me back home.

Pre-Order: Coming JULY 24
with Pelican Book Group

Burn survivor Savvy McCord doesn't blame her best friend for running away. She can't even look at her scars without wincing. When Beck's disappearing act spans years, she relinquishes dreams of love and marriage. Unable to face Savvy's expectations of happily-ever-after, Beck Harmon deserts her, far away from the rumors that he's just like his father. When the wanderer returns, dreams of forever blossom in Savvy's heart, but she worries he'll leave again. Can Beck convince Savvy that her true beauty comes from her inner strength and faith? Will his idea to help burn victims regain their self-confidence restore Savvy's trust in him? Will love be what the wanderer needs to find peace for his hurting soul?

Reviewers and Bloggers Needed for Christian Romance Book

“I won’t let you down.” His fingers fanned out to her cheek, his giant palm cupping half her face, his gentle touch sending quivers of delight to skip up and down her arms. A tremor rocked her torso.


“Cold?” Cinnamon flavored breath puffed so close to her lips, she could almost taste the candy herself.

Uh…no.

Definitely. Not. Cold.

She shook her head, only a slight wag. Because if she moved anymore, his hand might drop away from her skin, dragging his warmth with him. Her heart practically thumped out of her chest.

What was wrong with her? Why was her heart betraying her?

“Lacie—” his voice came out hoarse and ragged, so unlike his typical confident tone, and she witnessed the vulnerable little boy in his eyes, the one he might’ve been before the world took his dad away too soon, before he was forced to become the head of his family prematurely.

Instinctively, her hand covered his fingers. Maybe he needed someone to protect him, too.

“Lacie, I want to talk about—”

He wanted to talk? She gulped, embarrassment heating her neck. Talking wasn’t what she had on her mind right now.  

Like that little goodie? Hope so! I'm looking for reviewers and bloggers to help spread the news about the release of Burk's Surrender on Sept 18. Interested in reading and leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads or any of your other favorite online sites? How about featuring on your blog? 

Here's the back cover blurb:

Deputy City Manager Burk Harmon has always been the strong one for his family, but recently those responsibilities have dwindled. When Lacie Heatherton, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation, ropes him into a city-sponsored trip to the mountains with fifty seniors, Burk has two things on his mind: considering a possible promotion and wooing Lacie past friendship and into a future. Lacie has emotional scars and a thirteen-year-old daughter to remind her that men can be cruel and unforgiving. Can Burk convince Lacie to relax her "no dating" policy or will he surrender his dreams of family and love?

I have a handful of pdf review copies available. Interested? Message me here or email Dora(at)DoraHiers(dot)com. Thank you!

Travel or work? Which would you choose?

Some people enjoy hanging out on the beach in the summer, baking in the sun. 

Not us. We head to the mountains, where the temperature drops a solid twenty degrees.

Where we can kick up our feet and soak in the view.

Where there's nothing on the agenda except sipping coffee, walking the dog and reading. 

Where the crows caw, and swans, ducks and geese share the same space without squabbling.

Where the soft breeze kisses my skin, the fog clings to the mountain tops, and lazy pewter clouds drift by. Where it's green and lush, full of life and energy, yet whispers peace to my soul. 

Everybody needs a space that rejuvenates them, right? This is mine. 

Imagine the books I could crank out if I lived in this environment! Inspiration, peace, beauty, nature...what more could a writer ask for? It's a romance writer's dream!

I tried to sweet talk hubby into renting a cabin for an entire month next year. But, he's not quite ready for thirty days with no radio, no pager, no fire calls, and no internet. 

After close to 40 years in the fire service, he still loves to work. He needs social interaction and thrives on...noise. Who'd have guessed? :)

What about you?

Travel or work? Beach or mountains?

Enjoy Christian books? Come by and meet Savvy McCord, heroine of BECK'S PEACE

Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Savvy McCord. My day job, if you could call it that, is firefighting, and I teach second graders at my church.

Tell us about where you live and why you choose to live there.

I live in the country just outside Harrison, North Carolina. Rori Harmon is my closest neighbor and my best friend since elementary school. I hung out at her house more than I lived in mine. My parents, well, we didn’t have the best relationship. Not since my sister died.

I almost moved away after Beck left, but I just knew that eventually, he would come back.

What is a quirk of your personality that most people wouldn’t know?

Most of the time, I wear pants and long sleeves to cover the scars on my arms and legs from the same gas explosion that killed my sister. Prevents the gawkers and rude questions. Mostly.

What obstacles did you have to overcome to reach your happily-ever-after?

You mean besides Beck actually coming home, right? LOL. Well, Beck surprised me by showing up at Rori’s wedding, and my date, Corbin, the local vet, wasn’t exactly thrilled. Corbin knew it was over then. But the biggest issue? Whether Beck was back home for good or just stopping through.

Tell us about your knight in shining armor. What makes him special?

When we were kids, he was always trying to make me feel better about my home life. He was always finding ways to make me laugh when I was down. But now? Can you believe I stumbled upon him at the hospital? I’d stopped by to visit Maria, a teenager we pulled out of a house fire. He was amazing. Kind and gentle, and trying to make her feel better about her scars. Did you know he was the one who brainstormed “Savvy Scars,” a support group for teen burn survivors? As if that weren’t enough, he fixed my house after a storm rolled through while I was working, surprised me with a picnic dinner at the fire station, and gifted me with Purrtygirl, a homeless kitten. And did I mention the man can kiss? Oy!

But none of that compares with his newfound faith and how he’s always whispering that I’m beautiful...

The first time you saw him, what did you think? Did you like him immediately, or did he have to grow on you?

Haha. That’s kind of a trick question. We grew up together, so a little of both, I guess. It just took him a few years and much life experience to get to the same point. But, that’s OK because now he’s home to stay.

 Coming JULY 24-Preorder here

Burn survivor Savvy McCord doesn't blame her best friend for running away. She can't even look at her scars without wincing. When Beck's disappearing act spans years, she relinquishes dreams of love and marriage. 

Unable to face Savvy's expectations of happily-ever-after, Beck Harmon deserts her, far away from the rumors that he's just like his father. When the wanderer returns, dreams of forever blossom in Savvy's heart, but she worries he'll leave again. 

Can Beck convince Savvy that her true beauty comes from her inner strength and faith? Will his idea to help burn victims regain their self-confidence restore Savvy's trust in him? Will love be what the wanderer needs to find peace for his hurting soul?

Crazy about Writing: Snickers had her cria today!

Rori’s Journal

Date: Monday, October 15

Snickers had her cria today. Oh my stars! She’s just beautiful, and just as sweet as her mama. I hope Snickers will rub off on Jumbo. Haha. Probably not. Poor Jumbo had such a tough life until he came to live here at the sanctuary. People can be so vicious and cruel. Isn’t that why I’m here? So, I don’t blame him for being a bit cantankerous.

But I bet the new vet could!

<Laughing out loud now.> You should have seen the on-call doc Corbin’s office sent to help. Unlike any vet I’ve ever met. I mean, really, what vet shows up at a working ranch in a fancy sports car? And the man never even dragged his medical equipment out to help with the delivery! Maybe the trunk wasn’t big enough? Or Corbin told him I was qualified? Whatever, but he sure looked a bit green around the edges. Must’ve had a long night with calls, but he handled Jumbo’s poor manners with grace and humor.

Other than appearing tired, he was mighty nice to look at. Thick dark hair. Heavy stubble on firm jaws. Cocoa-colored eyes that sparkled with kindness. A deep rumble for a voice. <insert dreamy sigh> Not that I’m looking.

But he was here when I needed him, the first man besides Burk or my stepdad, and plans to come back as a volunteer. Yeah, right.

Anyway, Graham, the vet, named the cria, Reesie. Think it was from all the chocolate I stuffed in my mouth?

Until tomorrow, Rori

****

Available June 5
with Pelican Book Group
Amazon Pre-Order

Still stinging from the publicity surrounding her father's death, social phobic Rori Harmon prefers the solitude of her animal sanctuary, accepting that marriage isn’t in her future. Racecar Driver Graham Decker refuses to be wrangled into a relationship by another money-hungry female. On a philanthropy mission, he arrives just in time to assist Rori with a llama birthing, but his appearance thrusts her into the media spotlight again. Has Graham found a woman who doesn't care how deep his wallet extends? Has Rori finally met a man who will stick around when times get tough? Is healing for a hurting heart finally within Rori's reach?

Excited about Reading ~ Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

Purchase Link

The Cover Story~
Finding each other was only the beginning . . . 

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby.

My takeaway~
Kate Darby's career is on the fast track until her grandmother's stroke. Leona is all the family she has left, and she's determined to help her grandmother until she's back on her feet. But she has a hard time accepting her grandmother's faith, and has lived her adult life making "safe" choices and being independent, relying only on herself. Travel writer Nick Sheridan has always lived life on the edge until a tragedy sends him to the top of Mount Abel to wrestle with God. He came off that mountain a new man, vowing a year of not dating.

Kate laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Everything," she said in a whisper. "I don't know how to live like this, how to mix the old and the new."
The black and white balloons were more fitting than he had imagined. An artist blended the two colors to make shades of gray. People compromised. But some decisions really were black and white. A person couldn't go east and west at the same time, but two people could walk side by side in the same direction. At some point, though, they had to agree which way to walk. If they couldn't and they still wanted to be together, someone had to make a sacrifice.

That excerpt pretty much sums up the book for me. Nick and Kate were attracted to each other immediately, and the story was a romance from the first page to the last, but that doesn't mean they didn't have to work through their share of problems. I felt that Nick's love for Kate was a symbol of Christ's love for us. Saddened and distressed by the gulf widening between them, he woos and loves her back.

I thoroughly enjoyed Until I Found You. Bursting with emotional depth, packed with a spiritual punch, it also carried just the right amount of sizzle for me. The parallel between human relationships and condors, rare birds who mate for life, was a bonus. Definitely a keeper!

"Faith is what allows us to see the daffodil in an ugly seed, the chick in an egg. We don't understand how God works, but if we look, we see His handiwork everywhere--even in the mirror." ~Leona

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Amazon. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Excited about Reading ~ Secretly Yours by Valerie Comer

Purchase Link~Amazon

The Cover Story ~ Chef Lindsey Solberg agrees to cater the church's Valentine's Day fundraising banquet as a favor to her teen sister, but she's shocked to discover the bad boy from her high school days is now Riverbend's youth pastor. Seriously? How could he have changed that much? Nick Harrison has prayed for years for an opportunity to make amends. Now Lindsey's back in Riverbend and won't give him the time of day. What's a guy to do except leave a trail of gifts from a secret admirer?

Lindsey's heart takes a beating when she realizes the boy who was never good enough is now a far better man than she deserves.

My takeaway ~ Food, faith and romance? How could I resist, especially when this little gem was offered free on Amazon. lol.

Overall, I enjoyed the story especially how Nick wooed Lindsey even after she was rather rude to him in the beginning. I admit having a hard time believing that Nick wanted to pursue her, but then I realized that it was the perfect picture of how Christ romances us even after we reject Him. 

Weighing in at only 91 pages, I breezed through this novella rather quickly. There were some light moments, but it also packed a powerful message.

"Love isn't something we deserve. Any of us. But God gave us an example. He loved us when we didn't deserve it at all. When we were mean to Him and hurled our filth in His face. Still He gave us His greatest treasure, His only Son, because He loved us that much." ~ Nick

If you like romances with a strong faith message, you will enjoy Secretly Yours. I would definitely read more books by Valerie Comer.

Disclaimer: I received my copy of Secretly Yours while it was offered free on Amazon. This review is my opinion, and I received no compensation.

Crazy about Writing: Beaver Pond Newspaper

Lifestyle, May 1, 2015

Meet Tate and Shelby Malone, owners of Beaver Pond’s newest and funkiest art boutique, From Junk to Treasure

By James Collins

Recently, I met with Tate and Shelby in the most eclectic art boutique Beaver Pond has ever seen. What most people would consider junk or toss in the trash, Shelby Malone revives and repurposes into unusual art pieces. Clothes, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, pallets, you name it. They’re all here.

Shelby and Tate sat across from me, practically sharing the same space on a revitalized couch. His arm was draped across the back of the couch and his fingers toyed with the tips of her apricot hair. Newlyweds of just a few weeks. Meet Tate and Shelby Malone…

“So tell me. Where did you two first connect?”

A slow grin slides across Tate’s face, and Shelby’s face sports a bright pink hue.

This I can’t wait to hear.

“The men’s restroom,” Tate replies.

OK. That was rather unexpected.

“I tend to be rather clumsy. Tate came to my rescue that time—”

He laughs.

“Well, lots of times actually,” she amends. “Growing up, my parents joked that their insurance company always required extra coverage for me.”

“You both work at Beaver Pond High School, right?”

“Yes. Shelby decided to keep teaching full-time, and I’m a guidance counselor.”

“Did you grow up wanting to be a counselor?”

“Not exactly,” Tate’s jaw clenches.

“He had a wonderful role model. Just like he is to the students in Beaver Pond.” Shelby casts an adoring look at her husband.

“You rose above the homeless statistics to graduate from a top-rate college.” I skim my research notes for the counselor’s name. “Mr. Harris, wasn’t it?”

Tate stiffens. His thick eyebrows narrow. “Yes.”

Shelby pats his thigh in a comforting gesture, and he visibly relaxes back against the couch.

“Was it love at first sight?”

“Yes!” Shelby nodded, as if her ‘yes’ wasn’t emphatic enough. “But, not so for Tate. He took a little convincing.”

“That’s not quite—”

“How so?” I ask, interrupting Tate.

“For starters, he’d given up dating.”

“Not into the bar scene?”

Grimacing, he shakes his head.

“It’s tough when the ones who are supposed to love us let us down, isn’t it?” Compassion warms her face. She turns to her husband, her knuckles skimming his whiskered jaw. “His parents’ abandonment created this emotional barricade. He worried about losing the people he loved, and he mistakenly assumed his disadvantaged upbringing would keep me from loving him. As if I cared about material things.”

“That seems rather obvious.” I glance rather pointedly around the space filled with recycled treasures.

“Her parents actually bought a store for her! How could I compete with that?” Tate asks, brandishing a palm.

“I could see how that might present a problem. So what happened with that?”

“They only put down a deposit to hold it. They didn’t actually buy it. Besides, it was in Promise Lake. I told them my heart was here, in Beaver Pond. With Tate.”

“You did?” Tate’s words come out soft, as if only meant for her, but his deep voice carries.

She nods. “I had to show him that I wasn’t going anywhere and that things weren’t important. He was.” Although her words indicate she’s speaking to me, her head is turned towards Tate.

Tate smiles, kisses the top of Shelby’s head.

Thick lashes shutter over ivory cheeks, but only for a few seconds before she focuses on me. “He lived through horror, but he never gave up. He’s the kind of man teenagers can look up to because he gives 100%. He taught me that dreams don’t always come wrapped in shiny packages like we expect. Sometimes you just need to let them go, and then they come back to you, a hundred times better than what you imagined. He’ll make a wonderful daddy someday.”

Tate’s chest puffs up, and a clump travels down his throat. “And Shelby…she saw into my soul and reinvigorated my wounded spirit much like she does with her art. Where everybody else sees junk, she sees treasure.”

And there you have it, folks. The real deal. Tate and Shelby Malone, owners of From Junk to Treasure.

****

Available 5/1 by Subscription
to Pure Amore

Did you enjoy meeting Tate and Shelby? Friends, I'm so excited to share May's Pure Amore release, When Hope Rises, with you!

Art teacher Shelby Coltman transforms junk into treasure and longs for a place to showcase her creations. She’s thrilled when her friend volunteers to room with her. Shelby can finally buy a storefront. Unfortunately, Kennedi’s brother can't seem to let go.

Abandoned as a teenager, guidance counselor Tate Malone has become surrogate and over-protective father to his sister. Life is great until Shelby Coltman wheedles his impressionable sister into sharing an apartment. Raised in wealth, the beautiful Shelby could never understand poverty or rejection, and Tate doesn't appreciate her uprooting his sister.

When Shelby hands over her savings to a homeless student, will God obliterate Tate's fears and deliver all of Shelby’s dreams...when hope rises?

Crazy about Writing!

With the exception of promoting blog posts, I've been somewhat MIA on social media these days. I blame it on marketing for four releases this year. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

When I received my promotional copies for When Hope Rises, I realized that I pumped the bulk of my efforts into my Harmon Heritage series and Rori's Healing, which releases on June 5th. But When Hope Rises releases on May 1st as part of Pelican's Pure Amore subscription. What does that mean?

It means I have five pdf copies of When Hope Rises to give away! 

Pelican Pure Amore's May release

Art teacher Shelby Coltman transforms junk into treasure and longs for a place to showcase her creations. She’s thrilled when her friend volunteers to room with her. Shelby can finally buy a storefront. Unfortunately, Kennedi’s brother can't seem to let go.

Abandoned as a teenager, guidance counselor Tate Malone has become surrogate and over-protective father to his sister. Life is great until Shelby Coltman wheedles his impressionable sister into sharing an apartment. Raised in wealth, the beautiful Shelby could never understand poverty or rejection, and Tate doesn't appreciate her uprooting his sister.

When Shelby hands over her savings to a homeless student, will God obliterate Tate's fears and deliver all of Shelby’s dreams...when hope rises?

Want one? Here's your chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excited about Writing: CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Still stinging from the publicity surrounding her father's death, social phobic Rori Harmon prefers the solitude of her animal sanctuary, accepting that marriage isn’t in her future. Racecar Driver Graham Decker refuses to be wrangled into a relationship by another money-hungry female. On a philanthropy mission, he arrives just in time to assist Rori with a llama birthing, but his appearance thrusts her into the media spotlight again. Has Graham found a woman who doesn't care how deep his wallet extends? Has Rori finally met a man who will stick around when times get tough? Is healing for a hurting heart finally within Rori's reach?

Did I snag your attention? Hope so! :) Rori's Healing is a sweet romance with a dash of sizzle and a sprinkling of faith. I'm looking for a few bloggers to help spread the exciting news about its upcoming release with a review, feature, character or author interview, or guest post. 

Rori’s Healing releases on June 5, 2015, with Pelican Book Group, and is the first in the Harmon Heritage series about three siblings who struggle to heal and love after their celebrity father’s tragic suicide. 

Would you be interested in reviewing and/or featuring Rori’s Healing on your blog? I only have a handful of pdf's left for review and/or giveaways, so don't wait! Email Dora(at)DoraHiers(dot)com. 

Aren't you thankful that Jesus conquered the grave? Wishing you a blessed Easter!

Calling All BOOKWORMS!

Yep! You guessed it Another giveaway!
2015 is shaping up to be a fabulous year, and it wouldn't be right not to share. :)

This time it's a 

BOOKS MAKE ME HAPPY tote

Just a few clicks and you could win this adorable bag!

Enter here > a Rafflecopter giveaway 

The winner will be announced here on Wednesday, 3/11/15, so make sure you come back by.

Happy Reading!

Announcing a winner!

Rafflecopter picked a winner!

The WINNER of the

SO MANY BOOKS...SO LITTLE TIME mug is...

Pauline Cotton Osborne

Congratulations,  Pauline!!! 

Thanks for joining in my celebration, everybody!

Happy reading!

Calling all BOOKWORMS and COFFEE/TEA drinkers!

Happy 2015! 

I'm uber excited about this year, especially since I learned that at least four of my books will release in 2015. Yay! It's the year of favor! :)

I'm celebrating by GIVING AWAY a 

So many books...so little time 

15 oz Mug

Just a few clicks and you could win this adorable mug!

The winner will be announced here on Wednesday, 1/28/15, so make sure you come back by.

Happy Reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

He's not the same guy...

Purchase Links: Amazon & Pelican Book Group

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? 

Where one journey ends,

 another begins…

Purchase Links: Amazon & Pelican Book Group

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… 

CIA? Her neighbor...seriously?

Purchase Links: Pelican Book Group  Amazon

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?

Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

Hog Happnin BBQ and Craft Festival ~TODAY!

Picture compliments of Bing, not the actual event

I'll be participating in my first ever CRAFT show! If you live near Shelby, NC, stop by the Hog Happnin festival today, (Saturday, 11/2) from 9-4. There's a lot going on, including a Car & Cycle Show, Arts & Crafts and what else? BBQ! 

Hubby will be judging for the KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Competition, and you can find me under the Heart Racing, God-Gracing Romance Author banner! Come on out for fun, BBQ, and maybe find some awesome Christmas gifts! > Shelby City Park, 850 W Sumter St, Shelby, NC.

Hope to see you there! 

What are your plans for the weekend?

What's happening?

Thought I'd take a moment and share a couple of the exciting, fun events planned for the next few days.

Kannapolis Friends of the Library Book Sale
The Kannapolis Friends of the Library is hosting a book sale this weekend with thousands of "gently" used books marked WAY down! The proceeds from this event support the purchase of materials for the Kannapolis Library and enhance special programs throughout the year. 

On Friday, 10/25, from 1-3, or on Saturday, 10/26, from 9-noon, I'll be signing/selling copies of my books. The sale is taking place in the old Cabarrus Bank building, 201 West Ave., Kannapolis, NC.

Picture compliments of Bing, not the actual event

HogHappnin BBQ and Craft Festival
I'll be participating in my first ever CRAFT show! If you live near Shelby, NC, stop by the Hog Happnin festival on Saturday, 11/2, from 9-4. There's a lot going on, including a Car & Cycle Show, Arts & Crafts and what else? BBQ! 

Hubby will be judging for the KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Competition, and you can find me under the Heart Racing, God-Gracing Romance Author banner! Come on out for fun, BBQ, and maybe find some awesome Christmas gifts! 
Shelby City Park, 850 W Sumter St, Shelby, NC.

Hope to see you at one of these events! What are your plans for the weekend?

LOTS to LOVE about AMBERLY by Mary Elizabeth Hall

Purchase Link-
Deeper Shopping

Amberly, The Crestmere Series, Book 1
In a world that might have been... 
Snatched by coldblooded enemies as a declaration of war, Eleanor Williamston finds herself caught in a deadly snare-miles from home and lost in the wilderness. Her heart is drawn to the handsome palace guardsman who rescues her, but is torn when he challenges her political ideals-and then reveals something he's kept hidden that will make her choice even more difficult. Marsten longs for a God-fearing wife, but cannot marry the lady he desires. The sassy young schoolteacher he rescues catches his eye, but he fears she'll turn out to be like the beautiful women who've broken his trust in the past. Journey with them through the spectacular but treacherous Aspian Mountains while they evade enemy pursuit and wrestle through the challenges of wilderness and budding love, only to run headlong into Ellie's anti-royalist family-and a whole new onslaught of foes. 

Sharing my thoughts~

"I'm beginning to wonder if you were truly abducted," he chided again, "or just given away."

Fast-paced, flirty dialogue and wonderfully vivid descriptions will whirl you away into the world of Bretalia.

"Behind them, pale violet mountains marched toward the distant horizon, and crows cawed while they circled. Mist rose in swirling ribbons from the water. Wildflowers swayed in a gentle breeze which stirred along the rocky bank, sending forth a fresh, earthy scent."

When Marsten rescues Eleanor Williamston from an evil Norlander's clutches, Eleanor can't help but fall in love with the handsome royal guardsman. But as the daughter of Amberly's mayor, an anti-royalist and Freedom Falcon leader, she'd grown up believing Bretalia would be better off without the Crown's rule. Marsten strives to convince her that God ordained monarchy for her beloved country. She debates revealing her identity, and Marsten is keeping a few secrets of his own.

"Honor God through adversity--He'll bless you for it...Life is but a breath--preparation for the next."

Simple spiritual sentiments weaved throughout the story, not overbearing or preachy, but with gentleness and love, even as Marsten and Eleanor debate politics.

Although I felt the declaration of love occurred a bit too soon, that didn't mean the conflict ended or that the romance resolved. No, the author just ramped up the conflict, all the way to the last page!

Fast and furious, with a compelling plot to keep your turning pages, Amberly is a great read for anytime of the day or year!

Disclosure: I purchased this book. All opinions in this review are my own, and I received no compensation.

Lynn Chandler-Willis shares Chocolate Raspberry Dessert and The Rising

Chocolate Raspberry Dessert

Chocolate Raspberry Dessert

Submitted by Lynn Chandler-Willis

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 stick (½ cup) butter or margarine, softened

¼ tsp baking powder

4 eggs

1 ½ cups (16oz can) Hersey's Syrup            

Raspberry Cream Center (recipe follows)
Chocolate Glaze (recipe follows)

1) Heat oven to 350F. Grease 13x9x2 inch baking pan

2) Combine flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and eggs in large bowl; beat until smooth. Add syrup; blend thoroughly. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3) Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack. Spread Raspberry Cream Center on cake. Cover and refrigerate. Pour Chocolate Glaze over chilled dessert. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Raspberry Cream Center: Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, ½ cup (1 stick) softened butter or margarine, ¼ cup raspberry preserves, and 1 tsp. Water in small bowl. Beat until smooth.

Chocolate Glaze: Melt 6tbs, butter or margarine and 1 cup Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in small saucepan over very low heat. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.

Mmmm. This sounds and looks yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Lynn. Now how about telling us a little about your latest Pelican Book Group release, The Rising?

The Rising
Purchase Link

A little boy, beaten and left to die in an alley. A cop with a personal life out of control. When their worlds collide, God intervenes. Detective Ellie Saunders's homicide investigation takes a dramatic turn when a young victim "wakes up" in the morgue. The child has no memory prior to his "rising" except walking with his father along a shiny road. Ellie likes dealing with facts. She'd rather leave all the God-talk to her father, a retired minister, and to her partner, Jesse, a former vice cop with an annoying habit of inserting himself into her life. But will the facts she follows puts Ellie's life in mortal danger? And will she finally allow God into her heart forever?

Excerpt:

“Jack told me you were at lunch. Caper’s is one of my favorites, so I thought I’d take a chance.” He winked at her then sidled closer. “Anyway, I was thinking about your dead kid—“

“He’s not dead.”

A waitress slammed a sandwich down in front of Ellie, and Jesse helped himself to a homemade chip.

“OK, so he’s not dead. You have sent his picture to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children?”

She huffed. “Did Jack send you?”

“No, Jack didn’t send me. I was just thinking if the center didn’t get a hit, I’ve got a few connections with the FBI, and they’ve got some really cool equipment.”

Ellie pulled a piece of bacon from her sandwich and chewed on one end. “Thanks, but no thanks. I really don’t want the Feds involved.”

Jesse snatched another chip and shook his head. “No black suit with shades is going to swoop in and take your case, Detective Saunders.” He grinned and helped himself to another chip. “I thought we could get them to run his picture through the facial recognition scanner. Maybe we’ll get a hit.”

What was with all the we stuff? The case was complicated enough. The last thing she needed was Jesse involved. She didn’t need a constant reminder of her downward spiral.

Sound great? Yeah, I think so, too. You can scoop it up and read the rest by purchasing The Rising here. 

Meet Lynn Chandler-Willis

Lynn Chandler-Willis has worked in the corporate world (hated it!), the television news business (fun job) and the newspaper industry (not a fan of the word "apparently" and phrase "according to"). She keeps coming back to fiction because she likes making stuff up and you just can't do that in the newspaper or television news business.

She was born, raised, and continues to live in the heart of North Carolina within walking distance to her kids and their spouses and her nine grandchildren. She shares her home, and heart, with Sam the cocker spaniel.

She is the author of the best-selling true crime book, Unholy Covenant. The Rising is her debut novel.