February Delights

by Jill Kemerer

It's almost Valentine's Day, my favorite day in February, but I try to enjoy the other twenty-seven days of the month, too.

Unfortunately, it's COLD here in northern Ohio. And snowy, rainy, windy, overcast--sometimes all four--depending on the day. I am really over winter at this point. Spring can't come soon enough! But it never arrives until mid-April at the earliest, and sometimes it skips us altogether. That's why I go out of my way to find February delights.

Here are the things I'm enjoying this month.

FEBRUARY DELIGHTS

1. Old seasons of The Great British Baking Show. In December, there was a special called The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition. It introduced me to the marvelous fun of amateur bakers being tested on all things baking--under a tent in Great Britain! Oh, how I love British accents. And I love baked goods. I'm thrilled our library carries DVDs of the original show. It's been a nice distraction from the weather.

2. Women's Christian living books. I recently read Rebekah Lyons's You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are. It was very satisfying. I'm now reading Priscilla Shirer's Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks. I'm enjoying it, too.

3. Happy music! I found a playlist on Spotify devoted to Frank Sinatra. I also dusted off a Norah Jones CD. Good times!

4. My treadmill. You didn't think I'd put that on there, did you? Haha! It's true, though. I usually work out to exercise DVDs, and I decided to switch it up. I like walking on an incline. Who knew?

5. Happier, Gretchen Rubin's podcast. She has long podcasts with her sister, Elizabeth, and supershort ones called, A Little Happier. Both are great!

I'm always on the lookout to find ways to make winter pass by pleasantly.

What gets you through this season? Leave a comment with your tips!

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Hitting store shelves in mid-April...His Wyoming Baby Blessing

She’s pregnant on his doorstep…

Saddle up for this Wyoming Cowboys novel

When his childhood friend Kit McAllistor shows up, widowed and pregnant, rancher Wade Croft offers her a place to stay…but he can’t offer her his heart. As old feelings begin to surface, past tragedies force Wade to ignore them. But on the brink of losing his ranch, will he also risk losing the woman he’s beginning to love…or can he cowboy up in time?

Preorder HERE!

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And for a slightly different read... My sweet (aka: clean and wholesome with no faith thread), romantic-comedy, A Meddled-Match, releases on February 19, 2019! It kicks off the multi-author Resort to Romance Series, with a new book releasing each week.

Here's a little about the series:

RESORT TO ROMANCE

Get ready for ten weeks of romance in the Bahamas with a new series brought to you by some of the best authors in the inspirational and sweet romance genres…

Ten delightful - and standalone - novellas linked by one matchmaking week. You’ll want to devour each one!

It’s Matchmaking Week at an all-inclusive resort on a private island in the Bahamas. Each guest has been expertly paired and is here to enjoy one full week with their match. While there’s no money-back guarantee on the paid trip, the participants are guaranteed to find love!

Links to all ten books HERE!

A MEDDLED MATCH

Gavin Sterling wants no part of Matchmaking Week, but his eccentric great aunts insist he fill in for a no-show or he won't have a chance at inheriting their island resort. Surprisingly, his match intrigues him. Mollie is blunt, sassy, and best of all, has no idea he’s the son of a billionaire.

Mollie Macomb needs a relaxing vacation without the dating drama. A relationship with Gavin would never work in the real world, anyhow. He’s a gorgeous businessman. She's a quirky failure. But even the unlikeliest couple can find love during Matchmaking Week…

Preorder now for only $0.99!!

A Winter Walk In the Forest

by Jill Kemerer

I'm a nature girl. No, I don't run marathons or climb mountains, but I love to be outside. This can be a problem during the winter. You see, the end of November in northern Ohio tends to be cold, and it only gets colder. The weather doesn't really grow warm until May.

Since I love the outdoors, I layer it up and go out EVEN WHEN IT'S FREEZING. I know! Brr... It's mind boggling! But being stuck inside for months will not do for this gal, so I bundle up and head to one of our gorgeous parks to walk--as long as it isn't single digits or icy.

I took this picture last year on one of my walks. A river is to the left. This scene looks completely different in spring and summer!

Here are some tidbits for anyone unaccustomed to cold winters.

The Hallmark Christmas movies? I love them--seriously love them. However, when they show people wearing coats with open collars revealing bare skin while it's snowing out, I cringe. If it's cold enough to be snowing, trust me, you zip that coat all the way up!

Another issue? If you step outside, you will see your breath. And your nose and cheeks will quickly grow pink from the air. Don't let the flawless faces on TV fool you!

Back to the topic...

Winter walks. In the forest. Right.

When I go to a park for a winter walk, I dress appropriately. If you're jogging or cross country skiing, you'd wear lighter layers because you work up a sweat. Since I'm just walking, my outfit usually consists of a few layers (long sleeve tee under a sweater and leggings under jeans), warm boots and my jacket, scarf, hat and gloves. I always stuff a few tissues in my pocket. The cold air bites, drawing tears from your eyes along with the sniffles.

This cardinal might not be visible in the summer, but you can't miss him in the winter!

Once I hit the trail I'm reminded why winter is special. It's quiet. No rustling of leaves, fewer birds chatting above. The busyness of the forest is less frantic. It's also pretty in a different way. Things hidden in the summer are visible without the leaves on bushes or trees. Brightly colored birds like cardinals and blue jays pop against the grays, browns and whites.

A winter walk in the forest is truly breathtaking.

Remind me to come back and read this post in three months when I can't stop whining about how long winter lasts!

What is winter like in your neck of the woods? Do you enjoy being outdoors or do you prefer snuggling up in a cozy blanket inside?

Have a wonderful day!

Blast from the Past and A New Craftie Lady

Today we're starting a new monthly feature called Blast from the Past. In it, you will have the opportunity to see another side of your favorite Love Inspired authors. Photos and memories from back in the day. 

Today, we're going to get started by introducing you to a new Craftie Lady.

Please join me in welcoming Lisa Jordan

Lisa has written four books for Love Inspired, Lakeside Reunion, Lakeside Family, Lakeside Sweethearts and her January 2015 release, Lakeside Redemption.

Don't you just love that cover? Such a tranquil setting.

Okay, Lisa, time to tell us a little bit about yourself and share your blast from the past.

Thank you, Mindy. I'm excited to be a part of the Craftie Ladies to help spread the word about Love Inspired novels.

So here’s a photo of me in third grade at Christmas time. I was very excited about the Barbie bathtub I had received. I was a girly girl who loved Barbies, dolls, and the pretty dresses my mom made for me. I grew up down the road from my grandparents’ dairy farm, so my preteen years were spent swimming in the creek, sleeping in the hay barn, and feeding all sort of barnyard animals with my very large extended family. My cousins were my constant companions. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been drawn to young children. I spend my days caring for Little Darlings in my family child care program. However, I’ve always been a happily ever after girl, so, by night, I write contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. My husband and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows in front of family and friends. Our two boys are growing into fine young men. In my free time, I enjoy paper crafting, reading, Netflix binging, and snuggling with my Chihuahua mix Penny. 

So cute. 

We're glad to have you with us, Lisa.

Heart, home, and faith have always been important to award-winning author Lisa Jordan. So writing stories that promise hope and happily ever after come naturally. She's been married to her real-life hero for over twenty-five years, and they have two grown sons. By day, Lisa is an early childhood educator, and by night, she writes contemporary Christian romances for Love Inspired. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such. Additionally, she serves as the My Book Therapy Voices Community Hostess. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, papercrafting, Netflix binging, and snuggling with her dog Penny. Learn more about her at www.lisajordanbooks.com. 

Lyn Cote with Results of Our Poll & A New Pair of Questions!

Elnora, our sweet sassy Southern gal, is storming NYC! This weekend is Romance Writers of America's Annual Conference. I didn't get to go --boo hoo.

But that means I can be here with you!

Here are the results of our poll about Why You Buy a Book:

52 people voted.


1-Positive review-- 21 votes or 40%

2-Bestseller's List 5 votes or 9%

3-Attractive Cover 30 votes or 57%

4-Blog about Books 18 votes or 34%

5-Back Cover Blurb 35 votes or 67%

6-First Few Pages 16 votes or 30%

7-Subject Matter 26 votes or 50%

8-Part of a series 20 votes or 38%

9-Friend's recommendation 22 votes or 47%

10-Info from Publisher 4 votes or 7%

11-Some Stories Speak to me 13 votes or 25%

With on 52 votes, this less than random sampling (You need over 200 to qualify for that--I took statistics in college and that is the ONLY THING I RECALL).

However it looks like


Attractive Cover 57%
Back Cover Blurb 67%
Subject Matter 50%
Friend's recommendation 47%

were the most popular reasons for buying a book--in this poll.

Being human however, we left off one other MAIN REASON A READER MIGHT BUY A BOOK--The Author!

You would think that authors wouldn't forget that one. (Hanging our heads in shame.)

So the big questions today are:

1-Do you have a list of authors who you keep on your "to buy" list?

2-And if so, who are a few of those authors?

We won't be insulted if you mention other authors, who aren't part of this blog. So get real. And spill your list of authors you can't resist!

I'll go first: Kathy Herman and Jan Karon and Diane Mott Davidson. Surprised?
BTW, here's a note from our dear, Elnora!
"Ask Elnora--About Romance Readers????Lenora Worth
Hello, my lovelies. I'm off to New York City to attend the RWA conference, but while I'm gone our own Lyn Cote is going to talk to everyone about a recent poll she conducted regarding what our readers really want. Lyn will explain it much better, I'm sure. Try to behave while I'm gone. P. S. I managed to pack eight pairs of shoes!!!
Elnora :-)"

Reader Poll and one more category...by Lisa Mondello

Hello everyone, from Lisa Mondello...

The Craftie Ladies poll is getting some great response and we love that you're telling us exactly what makes you pick up a book and buy it! We're wrapping up our poll at the end of the week. So if you haven't participated in the poll, make sure you do.

One thing missing from the poll is the author! Can you believe we forgot that one? I know that's an important issue for me because when I find a book by an author that I've read in the past and loved, it's an automatic buy. But I'm wondering what you all think. So here is a separate poll just for authors. We'll be running this one all week and give you the results at the end of the week.

Many blessings, Lisa Mondello
http://lisamondello.blogspot.com

If you've read an author's book in the past and loved it, what do you do the next time you see a book by that author?
	Automatically buy the next book regardless of what's on the cover or back cover blurb?
	Automatically pick up the book and read the back cover to see if you're interested?
	Make sure it's part of a series first and then buy it?
	Only pick up the book if it is by your favorite author?
	I only buy books if the book sounds interesting. I don't auto-buy by author.
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