BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 31 October 2018 – SPECIAL EDITION – TESSA BOOK BIRTHDAY and RE-NEW COVER REVEAL

SPECIAL EDITION – TESSA BOOK BIRTHDAY and RE-NEW COVER REVEAL

 

“When you pretend to be something you’re not, it always finds you out.”

 

 

“Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. Don’t ever, for anyone, hide your true self. Know your true self, and shine like God made you to be.”

 

 “I’ve been thrown in the deep end.  Of a deep ocean.  In a tidal wave.  And all I want to do is write my stories… Since the release of Tessa, I have sought to broaden my writer’s presence.  I have joined writer’s pages and groups, I have subscribed to other author’s pages.  I started a blog and revived another one, and this robin bird finally decided to tweet.  It’s all about shouting to the world, “HEY!  Look at me!”  So, HEY, lookie here, look at me!  And I’m overwhelmed… So, now you know.  I’m learning to swim.  And I think my feet are touching some sand in the murky waters, and I’m starting to wade through this media panoply.  Can’t make promises, not yet, gotta get the rhythm of it yet, but my goal is to post a new blog at least once a week, to introduce myself. That and write my stories.”  excerpted from my first blog post, 11 April 2014

 

Five years ago I had a shiny new degree, BFA in Interior Design—but not the shiny new career to go with it. Disappointed and somewhat adrift, I dove back into the story I had begun just prior to starting my college career. That story was Tessa. Within four or five months, I had the story finished, and I stepped off the relative safety of the pier I had been treading. At first I flailed about, helpless in that tidal wave, and though the sands of this wonderful and amazing industry are ever shifting, I have found some steady footing. I have found my own identity as an author, and embrace this writing career with all the challenges and rewards and friendships it offers. Welcome to my world, and welcome to the party!

 

Today, I’m celebrating my debut novel’s fourth birthday. A brief word of explanation— Tessa, has a double birthday; at the prompting and with the help of a friend, I first released her in early March 2014, but for Kindle only. I quickly learned the value of having print copies, and with the help of that same friend (who did all the formatting for me) I released and had all the celebration in October.

 

Tessa’s official book birthday is 31 October, which is fitting for the story—she assumed an identity not her own, thus “wearing a mask.”

 

So welcome to the celebration! Grab a mask, and a virtual cuppa tea and birthday cake!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

One mother.  Two daughters.  One favorite.  One not.

 

When Cassie Barclay is presented with an opportunity – or is it a curse – she jumps at the chance.  She takes on a new life, her sister’s life, and although at first, it holds appeal and promise, she soon realizes sometimes the fairy tale is tainted.

 

Assuming the name of Tessa, Cassie moves into the life that was her sister’s, and faces first one realization then another, one disappointment after another. Stepping into Connie’s life does not automatically grant her all that Connie had or was. But it does deny all that she had and was as Cassie. As herself.

 

Just when she believes her life is on an even keel, something comes along to ripple the waters and remind her of her secret. Until the day she gets a phone call that rips her world apart. Who is the mysterious caller? And who knows her secret?

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”

 

Ms. Mason writes stories of identity conflict. Her characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, her stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and a very deep way. “I know, I write from experience.”

 

Ms. Mason has seven novels, Tessa, Clara Bess, and Cissy, in the unsavory heritage series, and The Long Shadows of Summer, The Tilting Leaves of Autumn, The Silent Song of Winter, and The Whispering Winds of Spring in her Seasons series. All of Ms. Mason’s books are available on Amazon, both for Kindle and in print. She also has several poems included in an anthology, Where Dreams and Visions Live (Anthologies of the Heart Book 1) by Mary Blowers, as well as a short story, Sarafina’s Light, also in an anthology, Blood Moon, compiled by Mary Blowers. She is working on a on One for the Price of Two, the first story in her new series, FourSquare, to release next year.

 

http://robinemason.com

https://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Robin.E.Mason/

http://www.amazon.com/Robin-E.-Mason/e/B00MR5IQ9S
https://twitter.com/amythyst212
http://www.pinterest.com/amythyst212/

https://www.instagram.com/robinemason212/

https://plus.google.com/+RobinEMason

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7808042.Robin_E_Mason

 

EVOLUTION OF A COVER

dat first cover doh…

 

RE-NEW COVER REVEAL

‘Dat first cover’ was my uneducated and oblivious attempt at cover design.  The second try captured the essence I wanted, but didn’t convey well to the second and third books in the series. Number three was professionally done, but as lovely as it is, I still didn’t love it. I took the design back into my hands last year with the fourth cover, but it was missing something. Now, for Tessa’s birthday, she has a stunning new look!

 

 

Isn’t she gorgeous!!!

 

🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉

* runs through midnight 7 November

Birthday Blitz Bash for Robin E. Mason’s debut novel, #Tessa is under way, starting with this Blog & Social Media Blitz! Tessa is available on Amazon, both in print and Kindle format!  Purchase here:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPZ5JEE/.

 

 

Bird’s Nest Books is celebrating Tessa’s fourth birthday with a tour-wide #giveaway! Robin is gifting one reader a Prize Pack that includes:

A signed print copy of Tessa

3 oz packette of Tessa’s Tea

unsavory heritage mug

necklace with paint palette pendant

unsavory heritage bookmark

three (3) framed mini art prints

BONUS  BOOKS from Heather Gilbert, Lisa Lickel, and Linda Rodante

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

 

Giveaway is sponsored by Bird’s Nest Books, and is not affiliated by any social media venues. Open to US residents only.

 

#BirdsNestBooks #bookbirthday #Tessabookbirthday  #unsavoryheritage #RobinEMason

 

“Maybe you have to know the darkness to truly appreciate the light.”—Madeline L’Engle

 

 

BONUS STUFF

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

1. The first sentence of this story came to me in July 2008 while I was taking a walk.
2. In June of that year, Father God had told me to go to school for my degree in Interior Design. Little did I know how valuable all.that.art.history would be to my story!
3. I loved art history so much I almost added it as a minor.
4. Tessa is set in western New York State. Why, I’ve no clue, except it’s what the story demanded. I have never been there.
5. I Googled maps of the area and situated the town of Sunset Valley north of Salamanca and Allegany State Park. The town of Kcynia was so named for the Polish immigrant ancestry, and was located west of Sunset Valley at Mayville on the north end of Chautauqua Lake.
6. I wrote Tessa without regard to—truly in ignorance of—genre, Christian Fiction or otherwise.
7. A sequel hadn’t occurred to me as I wrote her story. It was only when asked that I found two specific spots that pointed directly to the second book. And the series was born, the name of which just happened to be in the blurb.
8. I thought for the longest that because I didn’t plot and outline that I was doing it wrong! Only when I began to tap into this amazing industry did I learn there are others like me and we have a name—Pantzers!
9. I type by touch, sometimes with my eyes closed, and in the scene when Connie dies, I was so IN the scene I nearly hyperventilated!
10. One of the characters is a behinds-the-scenes prayer warrior. I had no clue when I first met (wrote) this person, and was delighted to make the discovery about 2/3 of the way through the story!

 

PROLOGUE (exceprt)

Tessa flopped onto the divan, more worn and weary in her thirty-seven years than the faded and threadbare divan in its 137 years. What will I tell the others, she moaned to herself, too weary even to weep at the events of the past thirteen days.

Two weeks ago, all was sunshine and roses, blue skies and songbirds. Then she got the first phone call.

“Mrs. Trent, I know your secret,” a tenor voice had said. Quite simply, not at all menacing or threatening. Except that he knew. Oh, God, he knew. He gave no name, and on the antique French style phone, there was no caller ID. Had he known that, she wondered idly. Had he realized that she would have no way to trace the call?

The old rotary phone jangled harshly now, shattering her stupor. Reaching to answer it, she knew it would not be him. Not any more. He was finished with her.
“Hello?”

“Mom?” Saundra was alarmed at her mother’s voice, the dismay, the sadness. “Mom, what’s the matter? Why didn’t you answer your cell?”

Tessa knew she owed an explanation, but did not know how to begin. How much to tell. “Just a long day. A long and awful day. I just got in and I think I’ll take a shower and have a bite of supper.”

Saundra knew it was more than just a ‘terribly, awful’ day. She could hear it in Tessa’s voice. “You hop in a shower, Mom. Make it a long, steamy one. I’ll bring some Chinese and we’ll watch a movie.”

Oh, God. How do I get out of this. Tessa knew Saundra could read her better than even Howie after more than twelve years of marriage.

“Thanks, Sweetie, but I think I’ll take an Ambien and go on to bed.”

Saundra knew Tessa was hedging, but gave her the grace to play innocent.

And Tessa knew Saundra knew.

“Have a good night’s rest, Mom. Call me in the morning.”

Not even the Ambien provided a good night’s rest, though. Tessa tossed and turned, drifting off only to be rudely awakened by her tangled thoughts. Like falling in a dream, over and over. That’s my life, she thought, as she drifted off again. Falling, falling, over and over.

 

QUOTES

Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. Don’t ever, for anyone, hide your true self. Know your true self, and shine like God made you to be.

 

Marni Miller was an exotic creature. Five-foot-nine and slender. Sleek black hair that she wore long and straight. And ice blue eyes. Now, those blue eyes were snowflakes, misted and adrift.

 

Damn this baby, thought Marni in a flash of rage. Why did you have to be conceived? Why do you have to be flopping around inside me right now?

 

Marni took the bundle, her bundle of joy she presumed, and looked at it. A shock of black hair, and deep blue eyes that blinked back at her. “Hello, my little Cassie. We have the same birthday, you and I.” Then she drifted off to sleep and the nurse walked the baby down to the nursery.

 

Painting, Cassie knew. Painting was, just—there. She did it. Without effort almost. She saw, in her mind’s eye, and she painted. She had taken some of the classes at Mommie’s gallery, and had learned about color and composition and how different mediums worked, separately and together. The classes allowed her to understand more of what she was creating, and to improve her unique talent.

 

Tessa was still merging the two lives into one, was forced to choose between some of her own natural inclinations and what she knew would have been Connie’s choices.  If Marni thought there was a blending of her two daughters, she had no idea how true that thought really was.

 

Marni had never had a cheerleader in her corner until Mr. Bales, and Reid Faulkner, who brought her out of her shell; Cassie, however, had Marni, keeping her in the shadows.

 

Tessa sat on her porch swing on the back deck, drinking a beer.  Marni’s lack of spirituality had transferred to her daughters, but Tessa found herself praying to a God she didn’t know.

 

CHARACTER INTERVIEW – TESSA TRENT

rem: Good afternoon, Tessa, welcome.

TESSA: Good afternoon. It’s good to be here.

rem: Your childhood was rather a Cinderella story. What was it like growing up without your mother’s attention?

TESSA: I didn’t know any different, until I started school and my friends talked about their mommies. But, Carlotta was there for me since the day I was born, and Aunt Vandy is in my earliest memories. I grew up with her kids, they are like sibling-cousins to me, perhaps more than anything else. Of course, Molly has always been like a big sister to me, and now that we’re adults, we have an amazing friendship.

Once Mother and Heath began courting—they never just dated, it was so society oriented, and once they finally became exclusive, I guess everyone knew they’d marry. He was kind to me, paid more attention to me than Mother did really. His mother, my Grandmother Lila was particularly sweet to me, too. I know now that was for his sake.

rem: What about Kase? What effect did he have on your childhood?

TESSA: Kase was the one person who made my childhood special. I was still so little when he and Mother split up, and I didn’t understand. I’d see him in the gallery sometimes, and he’d wink at me, and give me great big hugs. He was so withdrawn with other people, but with me, he was the most affectionate and tender man you could imagine. And I mean that in the best way, not inappropriate at all.

rem: How did you feel when your sister was born?

TESSA: I knew there was a baby coming, but I was only ten years old. I thought they would go get her somewhere, or that Santa might bring her. I remember being so disappointed that Christmas morning, because Santa hadn’t come, and Mother and Heath weren’t home.

rem: That must have been difficult for you. How did that make you feel about the baby?

TESSA: Oddly enough, it made me feel protective. After the new baby novelty wore off, something in me kicked in that made me want to protect her, to be sure she never felt as put off as I did. I knew Aunt Vandy would love her too, and I wasn’t jealous. I wanted to be for her what Vandy was for me.

rem: So you two were close. Her death must have been traumatic for you.

TESSA: pause, deep breath In a word, yes. I watched (author privilege, no spoilers here; Tessa was about to give away too much!)

rem: And when your mother arrived in Greece, what was that like?

TESSA: Remember, she had already said how she felt on the phone. She didn’t know it was me she was talking to, of course, she thought I was Connie. That was the more traumatic part. I knew how she felt, but to hear it put into words, I just… deep breath and pause And then she got there, and she was showering me with affection. I tried, truly I did, to tell her. But I couldn’t make the words come out.

rem: Didn’t you think someone would discover what you did?

TESSA: Every day. Not a day went by in thirteen years that it didn’t cross my mind at least once. I couldn’t tell Howie, I couldn’t tell Molly, nobody. I was terrified if they found out, if they knew, that they’d hate me. That they would feel the same way my mother always had about me, unwanted, indifferent.

rem: Why did you choose the name Tessa? You were living life as Connie, why not keep her name?

TESSA: I couldn’t bear it. I loved her, I couldn’t let myself be called by her name. Tessie was my nickname for her from the time she was a tiny baby. And a twisted sort of bonus, Mother hated it. To insist she call me by the name she hated, gave me a sort of wicked glee.

rem: How did it make you feel when you got the phone call? Did you have any idea who it was?

TESSA: Honestly, the cruelty of it made me think of Mother at first, that she was behind it. But then again, she was indifferent toward me, but never cruel. I couldn’t fathom who could know what happened or how they found out. I wracked my brain trying to figure out who might possibly know, or who might loathe me so desperately to be so cruel.

rem: Tessa, thank you for being with us today. I hope our readers are sufficiently intrigued to want to know your whole story.

TESSA: I sure do hope so. Thank you for having me.

 

* originally posted on my blog, https://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/, on 31 October 2014. https://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/welcome-to-my-party-release-day-and-my-100th-post/

 

MINI AUTHOR INTERVIEW

rem:   If you could live anywhere in any time period, where would you go?

ROBIN:  I’mma have to go with the answer I so often get and say I’ll stay right here and now. BUT oh! how I’d love to visit so many lands and eras—Edwardian (since my last series was set there) Regency—you know, on account of Jane Austen! Ancient Rome, Biblical times…

 

rem:   Where did you find this story idea?

ROBIN:   Well, once upon a time… I was taking a walk and I “got” the opening to the story, “Tessa flopped on the divan, more weary in her thirty seven years than the divan was in its hundred and thirty seven.”

 

rem:   Who was the easiest character to write and why? The most difficult?

ROBIN: Oh my! Always so hard, each character has difficult bits to write, and the delightful bits. Cassie / Tessa was probably easiest because she was like me in so many ways. Marni, however, was rather the antipathy of me, and that’s not always easy.

 

rem:   What do you munch on while you’re writing / researching / editing?

ROBIN:  Let me check the kitchen… Seriously, I’m a mood eater and/or I have to cater to my [low] blood sugar.

 

rem:   What do you do to recover once you’ve typed “THE END?”

ROBIN:  So far, I’ve dived immediately into a new story. Except the last time. My brain was done and checked itself out. That and my knee surgery took precedence over writing.

 

#Blogwords, Special Edition, Tessa Book Birthday, unsavory heritage series, Clara Bess, Cissy

 

 

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – 29 October 2018 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – BETHANY JETT

NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – BETHANY JETT

 

When Life is a Struggle, Look for This.

 

God always comes through in hard times. We all have story after story about how something bad happened and then God.

Then. God.

What a wonderful phrase I heard once in a Beth Moore Bible study.

I love “then God” moments, Rely on them, actually.

But recently I had a “God, then…” moment and I realized that sometimes He cushions our hearts before a fall. And merciful Father that He is, still picks us up and holds us through it.

Like when your husband deploys.

Deployment is like mixing up all your worst nightmares, tossing in some anxiety and sadness, and spreading the remaining energy and time so thin it will seemingly crack under the slightest pressure.

However, when God made military wives, He instilled them with the spidey-superpowers of resiliency, passion, and determination. Spiderwebs are magnificent creations. “A spider’s web is silky, beautiful and fragile, but it’s stronger than steel on a pound-for-pound basis. The strands soften or stiffen, depending on the situation. Paradoxically, when a strand breaks, the web becomes stronger, not weaker. The beauty is in the design.”[i]

That’s the beauty of our design.

It’s God’s strength that defeats the enemy’s attacks on every level. Like when the car breaks down, the paycheck arrival date changes without notice, or your checking account gets hacked and since it’s your husband’s card, the bank wants to talk to him, except he’s six million miles away with no internet service and you both forgot to fill out power of attorney paperwork.

You know. Things like that.

Or maybe your health takes a nosedive, or someone gets sick, the house floods, nothing works, everything breaks, and you think you’re about to lose your mind.

Then God.

But sometimes, “God, then…”

One afternoon my kids and I were running late to get to the gym. Being behind schedule drives me crazy and yet even when I plan for the inevitable, something still comes up and we’re fifteen-minutes behind instead of fifteen-minutes early.

This particular day, we’re about thirty-minutes behind. We arrive, I sign the kids into the childcare area, and before heading to the treadmill, I went to the locker room. I sat on one of the benches, inhaled the chlorine-filled air, and enjoyed this beautiful few minutes where I could hide momentarily from life.

Instinctively, I checked my phone for any messages from my husband.

Zilch.

Then I heard a familiar song, the notes swirled around me like Elsa on her frozen castle top and the lyrics washed over me like golden caresses straight to my heart.

Justin used to sing “When I See You Smile” by Bad English to me when we’d peruse the grocery store aisles and would belt it in the car when it came up on his iPod playlist. While it was not my first choice for our first dance as husband and wife, it became the only choice, and this beautiful wonderful song that I typically only hear when I watch our wedding video on our anniversary played through the speakers.

And I wept.

And I thanked God for His gentleness and His goodness. If I hadn’t been thirty-minutes behind schedule, I wouldn’t have been in the locker room when the song played. Or maybe God timed the song to play when I got there. Either way, I felt His fingerprints all over the situation and I silently praised Him with my tears.

The wave of sadness left me. I wiped my eyes, got on the treadmill, and started my workout.

Fifteen-minutes later, I receive a suspicious activity bank alert. Over $500 has left our account using my husband’s card number. Justin can’t be reached and I wait for the rush of overwhelming anxiety to hit.

But it doesn’t.

I was prepared.

God came through. I was able to work with the bank and the security team was incredible and supportive. We got our money back with very little hassle, because then God. But this time the incident was bookmarked with a “God, then…”

He knew when I went into that locker room for a quick respite that the hackers were already in our account.

He knew the bank alert was coming.

He knew my day was about to be turned upside-down for a few hours.

And He knew my heart was already raw and lonely and overwhelmed, so He cushioned the upcoming frustration with the one song that reminded me of how in love I am with my husband. Yet in a much stronger sense, it was the one song that reminded me of how much God loves me.

And God loves you.

Let us never take the “God, then…” moments for granted because I know now that I’ve missed lots of them, mistaking them for nice things that happened or not recognizing their significance at all.

“The LORD is near the brokenhearted,” Psalms 34 says.

If your heart is hurting today, I pray that God reveals to you the big and small ways that He’s next to you, holding you, and providing you with spiderweb-like resilience so that when one small part of your world breaks, the rest of it becomes stronger. When life is a struggle, look for the “God, then…” moment and know that He’s got this and He’s got you.

 

 

Bethany is a military spouse, momma-of-boys, suspense-novel junkie who describes herself as “mid-maintenance” and loves cute shoes and all things girly. Download her free 30-day #LiveBrilliant Checklist here.

 

Connect with her at BethanyJett.com and across all major social media platforms:

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @bethanyjett | Twitter: @betjett | Pinterest: @thebethanyjett

 

 

 

Photo Credit (spiderweb)

Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash

 

Photo Credit (book meme)
Photo by jill111 on Pixabay

[i] Jett, Bethany. The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman’s Guide to Happily Ever After (Kindle Locations 1218-1220). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

 

GIVEAWAY

Bethany is giving away the perfect stocking stuffer: a signed copy of The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman’s Guide to Happily Ever After which is “is a beautiful and compelling look at what it means to be a daughter of the King and bride of Christ” according to Nicole O’Dell, author and founder of CHOOSE NOW Ministries. Get your copy today.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment for Bethany. Tell us a “Then God” moment you’ve experienced. Giveaway closes Sunday 4 November at midnight, EST.

 

 

#Blogwords, New Week New Fact, #NWNF, Guest Post, Bethany Jett, Then God

 

 

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 28 October 1028 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – TRANSFORMING FAITH

FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – TRANSFORMING FAITH

 

What’s your favorite Scripture?

 

I’m sure you’ve seen the question posed in memes and interviews. I know I have. And I can no more choose a ‘favorite’ verse or Scripture than I could choose a favorite book (mine or someone else’s) or a favorite child or grandchild. They are all special to me in different ways.

 

But I do have a signature Scripture. Romans 12:2

 

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

 

Basically, God is saying, “Don’t think like the world (enemy.) Think like Me.”

 

The whole of His Word is given for our best interest, and to walk fully in it we must think as He thinks, and see as He sees. To live as He lives. Transforming our thinking to match His—it’s how I came to see myself as He sees me.

 

When God looks at you He does not see your shortcomings… He only sees the Christ in you! So when you look at yourself in the mirror you should only see the same thing! #InHisLikeness  – April Oxendine

 

We are, after all, made in His image. Genesis 1:26

 

We were created to be like Him, to fellowship with Him, walk with Him and talk with Him. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, He is drawing us to Himself.

 

He has not, however, made us mindless puppets, but given us our own will. Our own likes and passions, our own identity. The freedom to choose Him, and learn of His ways.

 

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  I Corinthians 3:18

 

Father God sees us transformed already. He sees His own reflection in us. We have but to think as He thinks, and see what He sees, so we can live as He lives. In Spirit and Truth and Love.

 

To what end?

 

To defeat the wiles of the enemy. To silence his lies. To rescue those who cannot hear God’s Truth.

 

TRANSFORMING faith. Confidence in the One who reigns over all. Confidence in the face of all that is contrary. Confidence when facts and evidence belie the Truth.

 

Faith is a weapon of spiritual warfare. It is our shield against the enemy.

 

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  (emphasis mine)  Ephesians 6:14-17

 

With the lies of the enemy silenced, his attacks thwarted, we can hear Father’s still small voice. His whisper on the wind. We can hear His heartbeat in our own.

 

And we can walk in sweet communion and fellowship with the One who made us and loves us most.

 

 

#Blogwords, Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, Transforming Faith, Romans 12:2, Genesis 1:26, I Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 6:14-17

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Wednesday Saturday 27 October 2018 – WREADING WEDNESDAY on SATURDAY – FEATURED BOOK– THE SECRET OF WILLOW INN by PAT NICHOLS

WREADING WEDNESDAY on SATURDAY – FEATURED BOOK – THE SECRET OF WILLOW INN by PAT NICHOLS

 Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for The Secret of Willow Inn by Pat Nichols, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.

                                      

                                      

Title: The Secret of Willow Inn
(Willow Falls #1)
Author:Pat Nichols
Publisher:Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
Release Date:January 10, 2019
Genre:Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

THE BLURB:

Two women fighting for their dreams, one who’s long lost hers, are united by tragedy and a long-held secret.

Pregnant with her first child, Emily Hayes is eager to help her mother finish transforming an estate into the Willow Inn and write a novel about Willow Falls’ colorful history. A tragic event threatens her parents’ plans to refurbish an abandoned hotel and transform the obscure Georgia setting into a tourist destination.

Sadie Lyles left Willow Falls a murderer who’d killed the town hero. She returns as a despised felon and seeks solace in the town’s café. Emily struggles to unite the close-knit community and becomes Sadie’s biggest advocate. She strives to uncover the truth about the crime and save her town from dying.

To appease her father, Rachel, a VP in his Atlanta real-estate-development firm, relegates her acting dream to secret performances for imaginary audiences. After meeting charming, flirtatious Charlie Bricker, manager for Willow Falls’ future vineyard, she vows to break free from her father’s control.

The tragedy and Willow Inn’s secret past launch Emily and Rachel on a collision course with destiny and truth.

PREORDER LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

 

THE AUTHOR:

 

Pat Nichols is proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

During the spring, summer, and early autumn of her life this side of heaven, she and her high-school-sweetheart husband struggled and triumphed through life’s peaks and valleys. They raised two children, welcomed four grandchildren—one is with the angels—bought a Corvette, and ticked off every item on their travel bucket list. Now approaching her winter years, she ignores the minor aches that come with age and is grateful she can still paint her own toenails and dance with her hubby.

Following twenty-five years in six different management positions with an international beauty company, Pat launched career number two as a novelist and freelance editor. She chose women’s fiction to honor her daughter’s strength in the face of significant health issues and the loss of a child. Her corporate experience, working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life, inspires her to create stories about women who confront challenges in the pursuit of their dreams.

Although she writes five days a week, she and Tim—her best friend and number one fan—continue to celebrate their fifty-plus-year marriage. They lead a small group, volunteer for church guest services, participate in two social organizations, and spend time with family and friends. She thanks God for the blessings that brought her joy and the challenges that continue to strengthen her faith, skills, and resolve.

Pat was born in Illinois, grew up in Orlando, and has called Georgia home since the eighties. She lives in an Atlanta suburb, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Word Weavers, Christian Pen, and Gwinnett Church (a campus of Northpoint Ministries).

CONNECT WITH PAT NICHOLS: website | Facebook | Twitter

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card from the author.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 27, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm November 3, 2018. Open Internationally. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along at JustRead for a full list of stops!

 

#Blogwords, Wreading Wednesday, Featured Book, The Secret of Willow Inn, JustRead Tours

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Friday 26 October 2018 – FIRST LINE FRIDAY – ENDURING LOVE by TONI SHILOH

FIRST LINE FRIDAY – ENDURING LOVE by TONI SHILOH

 

Welcome to First Line Fridays, hosted by Hoarding Books!!!

 

Tell us your first line in the comments & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

 

THE BLURB:    

“There comes a point in every woman’s life where she must decide what to believe: the truth of the past or the circumstances of the present.”

Belle Peterson is hiding a secret. Seeking sanctuary in the small town of Maple Run, she’s intent on starting her life over—one she hopes honors Christ. The plan was going great until an undeniable attraction to Micah has her wondering if she’s changed at all.

Micah Campbell can’t understand why Belle is so uptight and wants nothing to do with her until the gentle whispers of God tell him to befriend her. He didn’t count on the feeling of protectiveness to rise up or that spark of attraction.

When Belle’s past is revealed, Micah prays that his love can endure it.

 

THE AUTHOR:    

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

You can find her at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

 

 

THE FIRST LINE:

There comes a point in every woman’s life when she must decide what to believe: the truth of the past or the circumstances of the present.

 

MY THOUGHTS:    

Still in my mountain of MRS (Must Read Soon.)

 

 

#Blogwords, First Line Friday, #FLF, Enduring Love, Toni Shiloh

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Thursday 25 October 2018 – rem GUEST POST @ SERIOUSLY WRITE – WHEN YOU DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH

BLOGWORDS – rem GUEST POST @ SERIOUSLY WRITE – WHEN YOU DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH

 

Today I am the guest blogger at Seriously Write. Pop over and say hullo! 

https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/

 

Every writer, truly every artist, at some time or another, feels unworthy. That their work falls short of some standard. And perhaps, sometimes it does.

 

But I’ve learned something—perfection is a cruel and impossible taskmaster, excellence a kinder, more forgiving goal. We all have them, those days we can conquer anything. And we do. We tick off those items on our never-ending to-do list, and settle with a good cuppa to enjoy the fruit of our labors. Other days, though, our 112% barely grazes one or two of those bits. Bits that have become insurmountable.

 

I don’t know about you, but those days crush me. Or, they used to. And when I was striving for the elusive and impossible perfection, those days were EVERY day.

 

But two things happened. Or, rather, one thing precipitated the other—God’s grace relieved me of an impossible burden, and with that, the freedom to grow and excel in my writing. Still, those days creep in sometimes. And what are we to do when that happens?

 

I offer you what I used to tell my kids when somebody said something about them; ask yourself one question: “Is it true?” When those niggling doubts creep in—“Your writing is abominable.” “This story is stupid.” “That character just isn’t believable.” “No one wants to read this!—ask yourself if it’s true.”

Does no one really want to read this? Ah! This is the question, isn’t it? For me, this is the heart of why we write. Whether “just” for entertainment or with deep spiritual meaning, do we not write for others to read? I know I do. Of course I’d love to be a New York Times bestseller. Why wouldn’t I want my stories made into movies?

 

But even if that never happens, even if I never sold another book—HUSH MY MOUTH!—I know I have an Audience who will never disparage or belittle my writing. Coach me, yes. Encourage me, certainly. But never will He shred my efforts, no matter how weak.

 

I write, we all write, ultimately for an Audience of One. One who has instilled in us our love of and passion for, and dare I say, skill with words. And when He is pleased with our efforts, if not our finesse, then who are we to argue?

 

Do we stop striving to our best? Not at all. Does this mean we can be lazy and sloppy? Certainly not. We offer our very best to Him. And He is pleased with that.

 

I saw a quote the other day, attributed to Priscilla Shirer:

And that’s exactly it.

 

The next time you feel you don’t measure up—and there will be a next time—remember Who holds the measuring stick. And gauge yourself by His measure.

 

 

“Maybe you have to know the darkness to truly appreciate the light.” —Madeline L’Engle

 

 

#Blogwords, rem Guest Post @ Seriously Write, Robin E. Mason, When You Don’t Think You’re Good Enough

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 23 October 2018 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME by PEPPER BASHAM

TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME by PEPPER BASHAM

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for When You Look at Me by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.

 

Title: When You Look at Me
(Pleasant Gap Romance #2)
Author:Pepper Basham
Publisher:Woven Words Publications
Release Date:October 25, 2018
Genre:Inspirational Contemporary Romance

 

THE BLURB:

An unexpected mother-to-be
A romance-leery composer
And a forgotten melody from the past that holds the keys to their futures

When Julia Jenkins’ great aunt dies and leaves her a Victorian mansion with decades of secrets, Julia never expects to unearth a World War 2 espionage mystery. Struggling with her own past since an assault left her pregnant, her future as a solo parent leaves her dreams uncertain. The inheritance from her great aunt gives Julia the ability to take a step back into her future, but also sends her into the discovery of a love story she’d never anticipated. As she goes through her aunt’s treasured possessions, Julia uncovers some oddly written piano music with a musical code she can’t decipher on her own. Not to worry, introverted Englishman and composer, Henry Wright, is thrust on the scene by a pair of homespun matchmakers who know the ‘right’ man for Julia’s wounded heart.

Henry arrives in Pleasant Gap with the task of composing the soundtrack for his best mate’s newest film. The Jenkins’ family’s southern welcome and gregarious personalities set his reticent nature on edge, but he’s inexplicably drawn to his gentle and music-loving hostess, Julia. Uncertain how to build a friendship with the wounded woman, and rather hopeless in communicating well through words, the bond of music becomes a bridge between her uncertainty and his awkwardness.

But her broken past and his families’ expectations build a wall much greater than the cultures that separate them. As they work together to solve a musical mystery from the grave, will an unlikely romance from the past inspire their hearts to trust in a God who’s written the perfect melody for their lives?

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon

THE AUTHOR:

 

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. Pepper is also a mom of five, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of Jesus and chocolate. She resides in Asheville, North Carolina with her family.

CONNECT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

MY REVIEW:

Ms. Basham has done it again! Her signature Brittalachian stories take on a difficult topic—assault and an unwanted pregnancy. Ms. Basham writes with skill the struggle and fear Julia Jenkins experiences. And she writes Julia straight through them, each painful and difficult step and stretch of her wings.

Henry Wright has suffered his own set of soul crushing tangles. Tangles that have left him adrift in the sea of romance. Then along comes Julia.

 

Ms. Basham has taken two broken souls, woven the threads of their individual melodies together, and composed a tender love story.

ROBIN’S FEATHERS:

ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive:

• print copy of Just The Way You Are (Pleasant Gap Romance #1)
• print copy of When You Look at Me (Pleasant Gap Romance #2)
• a plaque which says: Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life…. love comes along and brings you a fairy tale

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 22, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 29, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. US addresses only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

 

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, When You Look at Me, Pepper Basham, Pleasant Gap Romance, Just the Way You Are

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – 22 October 2018 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – TONI SHILOH

NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – TONI SHILOH

 

“Family not only need to consist of merely those whom we share blood, but also for those whom we’d give blood.”
― Charles Dickens

 

“Merry Christmas!” Deuce shouted with delight as he pounced on Quinton’s stomach.

Q gasped for air. “My stomach, Deuce!”

“Sorry, Daddy.” Deuce wiggled off of him and laid next to Q’s side. “Are you going to lay here all morning?”

“No.” Q shook his head. “I was just thinking.” He would be meeting Kendall’s mom for the first time and couldn’t shake the worry of making a good impression.

“Thinking about your presents?”

“No,” he chuckled. He stared down at his son, loving the innocence and joy that shone on his face.

“Thinking about Christmas dinner?”

“Kind of.” Because Kendall and her mom would be joining them.

“I like the presents more than the food.”

No kidding. “You mean you don’t want to eat any candied yams?”

Deuce looked up at him. “Is that the orange stuff with the marshmallows?”

“It is.”

“Okay. I like the food too.” Deuce patted his belly then peered up at him. “But you can’t play with it, just the toys.”

“How do you know you’re getting toys?”

Deuce rolled his eyes. “You always get me toys.” He frowned. “Right?”

“Sometimes I get you books.”

“Don’t do that this year.” Deuce shuddered. “Ms. Kendall probably bought me some.”

Q smiled against his son’s head. “She might have.” He loved how much the two got along.

“Do you think she’ll like our present?” Deuce squeezed Q’s arm in a hug.

“I think so.”

“Good, because we can’t keep a bookshelf. No room.” Deuce sat up, kneeling on the mattress. “I think we should go open presents.”

“Gran and Grandpa are probably still sleeping.”

“Nuh uh. Gran is cooking.”

Q sniffed the air. Huh. He could smell some type of bread baking. Guess she was up. “And Grandpa?”

“Reading the newspaper in his chair.”

“Then I’ll get up.”

“And we’ll open presents?” Deuce clasped his hands in a begging motion.

“Yes.”

“Finally!” Deuce ran out of Q’s room.

 

Excerpt from Deck the Shelves, part of Comfort and Joy box set, which releases tomorrow.

Kendall Jackson is the proud owner of Heartfalls’ bookstore, The Cozy Shelf. Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she’s missing that leading man. Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance—the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding.

Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving.

Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves?

The third-annual Christmas Lights Collection is pleased to present: Comfort & Joy–five Christmas Novellas.  From contemporary romance to cozy mystery and suspense, this diverse collection celebrates the comforts and joys of Christmas.

Frost Heaves: A missing child. A single mom. An Alaskan trooper. There’s more to fear this winter than just the cold.

Deck the Shelves: Can a bookstore owner looking for a swoon-worthy romance and a mechanic hesitant to trust his heart find love that will last?

The Christmas Glory Quilt: Scrap quilts, bridal gowns, an old Swedish homestead, and a family mystery. What more can you want in a Minnesota Christmas romance?

The Ghosts of New Cheltenham:  When the ghosts of Mitchell’s past converge on those he must conjure in the present, the results become ghastly.

 

 

 

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

You can find her at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

 

 

 

 

#Blogwords, New Week New Fact, #NWNF, Guest Post, Toni Shiloh,

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Sunday 21 October 2018 – FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – WHEN YA JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

FRONT PORCH FELLOWSHIP – WHEN YA JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

 

Today is that day.

 

I.just.don’t.feel.like.it.

 

One of those days when everything overwhelms me and everything crashes in. Hope deferred and my flesh wonders if it will ever happen. And there’s more than one ‘it.’

 

My spirit man, however, knows the Truth. And my spirit man relies on the One who sustains me. Even when I don’t feel it. Even when I just don’t feel like it.

 

‘Cause that’s what He is, faithful. Even when we’re not.

 

 

#Blogwords, Front Porch Fellowship, #FPF, Sunday Devotion, When Ya Just Don’t Feel Like It

Read Full Post »

BLOGWORDS – Friday 19 October 2018 – FIRST LINE FRIDAY – FINDING LOVE by TONI SHILOH

FIRST LINE FRIDAY – FINDING LOVE by TONI SHILOH

 

Welcome to First Line Fridays, hosted by Hoarding Books!!!

 

Tell us your first line in the comments & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

 

 

THE BLURB:    

Delaney Jones has finally started to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after the death of her husband, Parker. Just as she adjusts to a new normal, in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. When she finally makes the decision to trust him, the world deals her a heavy blow.

Sergeant First Class Luke Robinson can’t get over his part in the death of Delaney’s husband. Hoping to assuage his guilt, he offers to lend a hand. He never counted on the feelings she evokes with just a smile. Will his secrets widen the gulf, or will he finally find absolution?

 

THE AUTHOR:    

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.

You can find her at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

THE FIRST LINE:

Luke Robinson rolled into The Maple Pit’s parking lot.

 

MY THOUGHTS:    

Two hearts broken by the same tragedy—sometimes the answers are the very place we don’t want to see them.

 

 

#Blogwords, First Line Friday, #FLF, Finding Love, Toni Shiloh

Read Full Post »