Real life sneaking into books

Danica Favorite here, and I wanted to share a little bit about real life sneaking into my books. As some of you may know, I'm a self-professed crazy chicken lady, and I'll admit, some people who know me would agree.

I like to sneak in stories about my chickens whenever I can, and HONOR-BOUND LAWMAN gave me the perfect opportunity.

At my husband's birthday party, my daughter came in crying after feeding the chickens. Tristan, her favorite rooster, attacked her, catching her right below the eye and leaving a cut. An entire room full of men got upset that the rooster came so close to poking my daughter's eye out. However, he was my daughter's favorite rooster, and my daughter begged them all to spare poor Tristan's life. Picture, if you will, Fern from Charlotte's Web pleading for Wilbur's life. That was the scene at my house. Only it was over a mean rooster who'd attacked my daughter.

A few weeks later, I was writing the book, and my daughter was in a play, so I used her play practices as writing time. During one of the shows, I was backstage, watching the little kids who were in the play and keeping them from getting into trouble. I had been stuck on a part, and then it hit me. The next thing that was going to happen was the mean rooster was going to attack the hero's daughters. I gleefully wrote the scene, and I was laughing so hard, I was crying. I was writing the entire scene that had JUST happened at my house.

However, as I read the scene to my daughter, and the resolution, she became angry. She didn't like how I wrote the scene, because she thought her poor misunderstood rooster had gotten a bad rap. And so, as I corrected the scene, then wrote the rest of the book, I kept her love for Tristan, our mean but loveable rooster, in mind.

I don't want to give away the rooster's role in the book, but it was a very important one. However, I will say that Tristan the mean rooster still lives at my house and continues terrorizing anyone who comes near.

Do you have any funny animal stories? Any rooster stories?

Everyone who comments will be entered to win a copy of my book.


About the book:

Her Rancher Bodyguard
When Laura Booth’s dangerous ex-husband escapes from prison, she turns to the one man who can protect her: Owen Hamilton. Living with the widowed former lawman—who once helped put her ex in jail—and his adorable twin daughters on their Colorado ranch is a welcome respite. For the first time, Laura feels safe—but after her troubled past, she’ll never trust her heart again.

Owen would like to say only obligation draws him to Laura’s side. But in his gut he knows his feelings for the gentle beauty run deeper than duty—and it stops him cold. After guarding their wary hearts for years, can Owen and Laura give love a second chance?

About the author: 

A self-professed crazy chicken lady, Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She and her family recently moved in to their dream home in the mountains above Denver, Colorado.  Danica loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily ever after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps are what refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of all of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun.

You can connect with Danica at the following places:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/7HCXj
Website: http://www.danicafavorite.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danicafavorite
Instagram: https://instagram.com/danicafavorite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaFavoriteAuthor   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Danica-Favorite/e/B00KRP0IFU
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/danica-favorite

A New Beginning

Hi, Patty Smith Hall here. As many of you are aware,  Love Inspired Historical, the line I write for, will publish the last set of books this June. It's always difficult to see a line end, particularly when it's closing directly affects you. I won't say I didn't see it coming--just one look at the sales numbers over the last few years, and you wonder why they didn't do it sooner. Many who wrote for this line are venturing into contemporary or romantic suspense while others are still trying to figure out where to go from here.

For me, it's been an easy decision. I love reading and writing historical romance and fiction so changing genres was never an option for me. But I've been blessed since word of the closing hit. Last year, I was published in three novella collections(The American Heiress Bride, Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands
and The Captive Bride.) This summer, I'll have two more released--The Underground Railroad Bride and The Southern Belle Bride. I'm also working on a historical fiction that I hope will be published sometime next year.

That being said, I feel it's time to say good-bye. It's been difficult as I've read Harlequin books since I was eleven years old, and it was my dearest dream to write for them since the late 1980s. But times have changed--though I still read Love Inspired, there are other dreams to follow.

So thank you, readers. You are the reason I write in the first place. I'm honored and humbled that you would read my 'scratchings' as Jo March would say. Thank you to the LI editorial staff for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream and teaching me how to be a better writer. Thank you to my LI sisters who have talked me through plot points and tough times. You are some of the most generous people I know.

And thank you, Lord! You began this work in me when I was barely a child, and gave me the dreams of my heart. How great you are, Father! I can't wait to see what You have in store for me next!

PS--Don't miss the first installment of the Valentine's Day tomorrow! It's going to be fantastic fun!

Getting "The Call" by Christine Johnson

Every author remembers her first sale. For me, I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to happen. After all, it had been 15 years since I received my first rejection letter. Crushed by that, I turned my attention to graduate school and getting my Masters degree in library science. It was a heady time in the field. The internet was just extending beyond research universities to the general public. New technology brought access to research materials to people like me who lived in rural areas.

I thought writing could wait.

A few years later, the stories couldn’t stand to be pent up inside me any longer, and I joined RWA. My first conference was an eye-opener! I attended 16 workshops and left realizing that my creative writing courses as an undergrad in no way prepared me for writing commercial fiction. That’s when the apprenticeship began.

Fast forward to 2008 when I received the email that two of my manuscripts had been named finalists in the Golden Heart Award. I thought I was on my way! Alas, nothing happened from that except a great reason to dress up and more rejection letters. 151 to be precise.

Here I am before the award ceremony trying not to look nervous.

Then, one day I received a telephone call from an editor at Steeple Hill (the predecessor to Love Inspired). She detailed at length what needed to be revised in the manuscript I’d submitted. I took copious notes on the scrap of paper by the phone, wondering all the time why she didn’t just send a letter because there was no way I would make sense of all my notes later. Then, to my utter shock, she said they were offering me a contract. I didn’t remember much of the rest of the call. I’m sure I muttered something unintelligible before hanging up. All I could think was that they wanted to buy my book!

The cat was the first to hear the news, since no one else was home at the time.

As you can see, she was thrilled.

Then I got on the phone to spread the news. Among the first to hear were my critique partners, who had been through every word of that manuscript with me. No one understands this moment like another writer. We screamed and laughed and cried.

And a year later, in November 2010, my first historical romance, Soaring Home, was published.

That book, dear to my heart and chock-full of years of research into early women aviators, was just the beginning. This month, my 12th and last Love Inspired Historical, Would-Be Mistletoe Wife, will be published. It’s a bittersweet moment. Love Inspired gave my historical romances a chance, and I will always be grateful for that. I have met many incredible readers and authors along the way an am so blessed by this journey. What’s next? I’m working on another book of the heart, and we shall see where the Lord leads.

Thank you, dear readers, for seven wonderful years.

Christine Johnson

Would-Be Mistletoe Wife (Dec 2017)

http://christineelizabethjohnson.com

Where Do You Read? by Angel Moore

Reading Christian romance is one of my favorite ways to relax. I escape into a place someone created for my enjoyment. The journey through a previously unknown world unfolds on the stage in the theater of my mind.

I love to curl up in the corner of the couch with a diet soda or cold water and get lost in a good story.

My favorite time of day to read is late afternoon when I’m home alone without distractions. My absolute favorite place to read is in a hammock or beach chair on a cruise in the Caribbean.

Another place I love to read is on a cruise ship balcony.

Yep. I love that.

Let’s be honest, though. Most of life isn’t spent on vacation. Reading is my vacation for the normal days. More often than not, the closest water is a hot bath at home after everyone else in the family is asleep.

On those normal days, I find myself following a heartbroken character as she seeks God and peace. Knowing she'll find a handsome husband by the end of the book makes it all the more interesting.

I’ll read in the car. I’ll read in a waiting room. I’ll read with my mom when I visit her. She’s a fast reader, turning three pages for every one that I read. That means she passes her books to me quicker.

When I find myself at home alone overnight, I love to lay across the bed and read until I can’t stay awake another minute. Why do authors write those lines that make you turn the page? Don’t they know I have to work tomorrow?

This is not my bedroom, but it is my quilt. I love the peaceful colors. The green reminds me of the Caribbean, and it’s the only way I could sneak some pink into the master bedroom.

Where do you love to read? Share in the comments here. If you’d like to share a pic of the setting, drop by www.facebook.com/AngelMooreBooks and post it in the comments on my post about this blog.

I love writing stories of faith and hope, and I am grateful to you for reading them.

May God bless you.

Angel

Find my books, the latest news, and links to connect on social media at www.angelmoorebooks.com.

Look for Husband by Arrangement in March of 2018.

How I met my husband: the way a brilliant plan twists and turns

Danica Favorite here, and it's my turn to share my tale of how I met my husband. Or, basically, how God likes to laugh at my brilliant plans.

I'd been wanting to find a church for a long time, and when I was visiting a church I liked, they had a guest pastor come speak. I loved his message, so I decided to visit his church. Unfortunately, I kept getting distracted, and then one night, I made the decision. I'm going to visit that church next week. Fast forward a couple more weeks, and I FINALLY made it.

When I arrived at the church, this overly friendly guy was nice to me and tried to be my friend. My immediate response (mentally) was that I wasn't there for a boyfriend, I wanted time with God. So I blew him off. He was kind of cute, but I was not interested. (Side note: Had I gone originally as planned, he would have had a mullet, and I DEFINITELY would not have talked to a guy with a mullet: EVER.) After church, they had a meeting for people who wanted to volunteer, so I went. Guess who was there? Mr. Overly Friendly. Being an introvert, I find these people highly suspect. But he was persistent in his friendliness.

Fast forward a few weeks. Mr. Overly Friendly and I end up in a lot of church activities together. He wants my phone number. I say no. I finally accept his phone number so we can carpool to an activity. I call him to discuss the activity. Somehow, we end up talking most of the night. I still very grudgingly give him my phone number. We start talking A LOT and going to various church activities together with our group of friends. I like him, but there are a lot of reasons I am not interested in dating him. He becomes a very good friend, but I do my best to not encourage anything more. Especially because our pastor is giving a series on dating, and it convicts me that I do not want to date this guy.

And so, there we are, watching movies one night at his apartment. He kisses me. I am horrified, and let this be yet one more record that it was the worst first kiss in the history of kisses. He, of course, decides that based on our pastor's talk, that we must have the dating discussion. Aka... if you kiss, you're dating. I inform him that the kiss was a mistake, we will never kiss again, and we can only be friends. I have no plans to ever be with him. End of story.

Which leads us to the next evening, where we are at a function for his work and I am his plus one (as FRIENDS!), and to be clear, the name he gave for his plus one was some girl he had a crush on ten years ago. So we are clearly NOT DATING. At the end of the evening, somehow, he ends up kissing me AGAIN. As soon as the kiss was over, he says, "That's it. We're dating." I tried to argue with him, because dating is supposed to lead to marriage, and he was definitely not someone I wanted to marry, cue my very specific life plan that does not involve him. But he put his foot down (one of the few recordable times in our entire relationship this has happened) and told me we're either dating, or we're not friends anymore. Which made me sad, because at this point, he was one of my best friends.
So, I came up with a brilliant plan. I would date him long enough for him to realize that we were not meant to be, and then we could break up and be friends again. I know, I'm a genius. I just had to make the angle work. Because I could not lose him as a friend.

Fabulous plan, until the day came when I thought we were actually breaking up. We had a terrible fight, and he grabbed the soccer gear he kept at my apartment and left. Which is when I realized I didn't want him to not be a part of my life. What if I married someone else, and then that would be weird to be such good friends with this guy? Maybe I should have just worked harder to keep him in my life, and I don't know, maybe actually marry him.

We spoke later that night, and he did not think we were breaking up (to this day, he does not remember that fight, or remember a time when we were close to a breakup), so I charted the course to the goal: Marriage. That way, I would never lose him as my friend.

After 18 years, I can safely say, that plan has worked out pretty well so far. Even when there have been times when things were rocky, we've always found a way to remember our friendship. The picture is of us celebrating our 18th anniversary a little early at the U2 concert in Dallas.

About Danica:
A self-professed crazy chicken lady, Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She and her family recently moved in to their dream home in the mountains above Denver, Colorado. Danica loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily ever after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps are what refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of all of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun.
You can connect with Danica at the following places:
Website: http://www.danicafavorite.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danicafavorite
Instagram: https://instagram.com/danicafavorite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaFavoriteAuthor

Most recent release:

Bound by a Child
Hoping to overcome her reputation as Leadville, Colorado's biggest gossip, wealthy socialite Flora Montgomery offers to help a miner care for an abandoned child. But her growing affection for the sweet boy's handsome rescuer could be a problem. Especially since her parents insist she must marry for money.

Undercover mine owner George Baxter is digging himself into a dilemma. The once-spoiled Flora has become a delightful, generous woman, and she'll be devastated by his deception. Yet if he can't discover who's sabotaging the mine, George will lose any chance of making a home for Flora and Pierre. Can the little boy who holds both their hearts help them lay claim to a new dream of family?

Mom Loves to Read - by Angel Moore

I fell in love with romance in the fourth grade. Robin Hood and Maid Marian’s happiness captured my young heart. I still remember the green library book with thick pages and the sweet teacher who assigned the book report.

But my mother was the biggest influence over my love of reading. Every morning before she left the house, she’d sit on the side of the bed and read her Bible. She graciously gave me that Bible several years ago. I can’t look at it without thinking of her love of Jesus and His Word.

Mom also loved to read romance. Clean books with sweet heroines falling in love with rich men who rescued them from mundane lives and gave them an amazing happily-ever-after life.

I’d read Nancy Drew and Scholastic books while Mom read her romances. I loved it when I got old enough to read her books. From the time I was about twelve, I carried a novel to school with me every day. I’d finish my class work and then read. I loved to dive into a story about a Greek millionaire or a nurse on holiday in Holland who’d fall in love with a rich doctor. If the doctor held a fancy title and owned a mansion, all the better.

This love of reading still lasts. Mom brings a bag of books to me on every visit. Now that she’s retired, reading time is readily available. And she loves it.

Reading is a gift Mom shared with me. It makes us closer. I hope you’re sharing your love of inspirational fiction with your children and grandchildren. We all need a good story to help us escape sometimes – or a book that teaches us to dream.

The thing I love about writing inspirational fiction is that I can share my love of Jesus as I write stories of faith and hope.

Want to share your love of reading? Share the posts from this blog – and Facebook pages and posts from your favorite Love Inspired authors – on your social media.

Thanks for reading our blog today. Leave a comment below. All the Love Inspired authors love to hear from our readers.

Stop by my Facebook page for a giveaway at www.facebook.com/AngelMooreBooks. I’ll be giving away two copies of my latest Love Inspired Historical release, The Rightful Heir, over the weekend.

God bless you,

Angel Moore

Stories of Faith and Hope

Find all my latest news, plus links to my books and social media, at www.angelmoorebooks.com.

Ah, technology.. Love it or hate it?

Hi Everyone, Danica Favorite here, and I am posting to let you know of a rather embarrassing mistake I made. :( I was scheduled to post here today, and I was so proud of myself, because I made the post, scheduled it, and was thinking, YES!! I am on top of my game.

Imagine my surprise when I got online this morning and checked my post, and found it wasn't here. So I did my due diligence and looked at it to see where I'd gone wrong. Um, I posted it to the wrong blog. :( Fortunately, it does not look like I stole anyone else's date, YAY, but unfortunately, it's posted somewhere else. I can't decide if I should grab it and put it here, or if I should leave it and you guys can just go see it.  Let me know in the comments which is better for you.

Oh, and if you want to read the actual post that was supposed to go here, you can find it over on the Love Inspired Authors blog.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your funny tech mess up stories. I think this is the biggest I've had in a while, but trust me, since my day job is stuff like this, I make mistakes all the time.

A little about my current release:

The Nanny Agreement 

Widower Silas Jones needs a mother for his daughter, and marriage could help his former sweetheart repair her tattered reputation. Yet he can't blame Rose Stone when she refuses a marriage of convenience after he once broke her heart, marrying another woman to save his family's farm. He's blessed Rose agrees to be his nanny. If only she'd look at him again with the warmth she shows little Milly… 

Rose's tarnished past hasn't quelled her spirit. She's building a good life in Colorado with her infant son—and the glimmer of a future with Silas. But when his in-laws try to claim Milly, Rose must decide if the makeshift family she and Silas have forged can reopen her heart to love.

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical September Releases

Below are the new releases from our talented Love Inspired Historical writers here at the Craftie Ladies of Romance. To buy any of these wonderful books, just click the book covers. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

Texas Cinderella

by Winnie Griggs


In Search of a Groom

After a life of drudgery on her family's farm, Cassie Lynn Vickers relishes her freedom working in town as a paid companion for feisty Mrs. Flanagan. When her father suddenly demands she come home, she has no choice. Unless she can find a husband. If only she could convince handsome town newcomer Riley Walker to marry her…

Riley is on the run. He's desperate to keep his niece and nephew safe from his crooked half brother. But a delay in Turnabout, Texas, shows him everything he didn't know he was missing: home, family—and Cassie Lynn. Can he find a way to become her Prince Charming…and build a real family with the children and Cassie Lynn?

The Nanny's Little Matchmakers

by Danica Favorite

A Wife for Their Papa

Polly MacDonald intends to tame Mitch Taylor's five mischievous children, even though every other nanny has fled. She needs this job—and Mitch's brood sorely needs affection. Perhaps their widowed papa does, too. But when the children begin scheming to make her their new mother, Polly must resist. She's seen too many bad marriages to want one of her own.

Mitch has come to Leadville, Colorado, to escape a scandal, not find a wife. After the disaster of his first marriage, he's sure he isn't husband material. Though Polly's tender care is working wonders with his children, Mitch knows he should keep his feelings to himself. But can two wary hearts deny the dearest wish of five eager matchmakers?

The Nanny's Little Matchmakers Personality Inspiration

Hi Everyone! Danica Favorite here, and since I have a new book out, I thought I'd talk a little about the inspiration behind my book, The Nanny's Little Matchmakers. Actually, I want to go a little deeper and talk about the motivation behind my inspiration.

Recently, I realized that the stories I write (and why)are rooted deep in who I am as a person. My friend Christa is very into understanding personalities and personality types. We were at knitting group, and she asked if I knew what personality I was, so I told her. I'm an INFJ. As soon as I said it, Christa got excited and said, "I know why you keep writing about THOSE characters." I knew exactly what she meant. I tend not to write about the easy characters. In every book, I ask myself why I had to go the hard route, and write about the hard character in the hard situation. (And yes, I am RIGHT THERE in the current book I'm writing.)

Apparently, the INFJ is the advocate, and we like to believe in the possibility of redemption for everyone, and that it's possible for everyone to get their happy ending. So what do I do? I find the people who are the least likely to get a happy ending and I give them one.

 Why? Because it's who I am at my very core. I absolutely love digging deep into who people are and helping them be the best they can be. I see things in the world that I don't like, and I do my best to make them better. What you see in my characters are people with complex problems, deep flaws, and a lot of room for growth. But I write them because I truly believe that they, that we, can overcome all of those things. There is a piece of true humanity in each character I write, and I see the redemption as being something real for each of us.

Of course, I didn't have this realization prior to writing Polly and Mitch's story. But as I look back, I see that deep motivation in how I chose each character and why. I needed a character who would make Polly stretch and grow, challenging her preconceived notions, yet was willing to love her for who she was. Mitch needed someone different. He needed someone who could make him feel safe, and show him that it was okay to open his heart. And I wanted them to find, despite all of the reasons they might be hard for someone else to love, a perfect match. While thinking up stories for Polly, I found and discarded dozens of heroes. They simply weren't right, and I think part of that difficulty wasn't just about Polly, but about my need to right some of the wrongs I'd seen Polly experience in previous books. It wasn't enough to give her a husband, but I wanted to heal her as well.

 It's fascinating to see how something as simple as an author's personality shapes the books they write and why. I had no idea just how big of an impact it made, but as I thought about my stories, and how my personality interacted with them, I realized that it's a huge part of my process, even if I hadn't been aware of it.

What about you? Do you know your personality type? How does it impact things you do? If you don't know or don't remember, here's a simple test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test  

I'm giving away a copy of The Nanny's Little Matchmakers to a specific personality (that I've preselected), so be sure to share yours!  

About The Nanny's Little Matchmakers:
A Wife for Their Papa Polly MacDonald intends to tame Mitch Taylor's five mischievous children, even though every other nanny has fled. She needs this job—and Mitch's brood sorely needs affection. Perhaps their widowed papa does, too. But when the children begin scheming to make her their new mother, Polly must resist. She's seen too many bad marriages to want one of her own. Mitch has come to Leadville, Colorado, to escape a scandal, not find a wife. After the disaster of his first marriage, he's sure he isn't husband material. Though Polly's tender care is working wonders with his children, Mitch knows he should keep his feelings to himself. But can two wary hearts deny the dearest wish of five eager matchmakers?

About Danica: A self-professed crazy chicken lady, Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She and her family recently moved in to their dream home in the mountains above Denver, Colorado. Danica loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily ever after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps are what refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of all of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun.

You can connect with Danica at the following places:
Website: http://www.danicafavorite.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danicafavorite
 Instagram: https://instagram.com/danicafavorite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaFavoriteAuthor

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical August 2016 Releases

Listed below are the new releases from our talented Love Inspired Historical August authors here at Craftie Ladies of Romance. To purchase these wonderful books, just click on the covers. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

A Family for the Rancher

by Louise M. Gouge

From Neighbor to Daddy

Rancher Edmund McKay likes his life simple and quiet—everything feisty neighbor Lula May Barlow is not! But with a cattle rustler on the loose, he's duty-bound to protect the widowed mother, even without her approval. Yet he never expected to enjoy her company. And he certainly never thought her crowded, bustling house would be the first place he'd ever feel at home…

After a harsh childhood, Lula May knows how to stand on her own two feet. She doesn't need Edmund's help—but she's starting to want it, all the same. So are her children, who clearly have matchmaking in mind. And when a threat from the past resurfaces, she realizes all that's at stake…including her chance for a lifetime of love.

This is the second book in the latest Love Inspired Historical continuity series, Lone Star Cowboy League: The Founding Years.

• • •

Make-Believe Beau

by Keli Gwyn
The Courtship Charade

As a draftswoman in a man's world, Jessica Sinclair causes a stir as her new male colleagues vie for her attention. And the company manager has an ultimatum: fake a courtship with her boss, Flynt Kavanaugh…or lose her job. But pretending to be smitten with the handsome engineer unleashes a real, complicated attraction—and could reveal the past she hoped to keep hidden.

Jessica is certainly the best person for the job. But as their make-believe romance escalates, Flynt knows that's not the only reason he wants her on his team. However, with his past shrouded by a shameful secret, Flynt has always focused his ambitions on building a career, not a family. Now he has designs on Jessica's heart, but can they trust each other with the truth?

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical Lone Star Cowboy League: The Founding Years Continuity Series

July is fast approaching, and that means the new Love Inspired Historical three-book continuity series, Lone Star League: The Founding Years, will be making its debut.

Stand-In Rancher Daddy

Book 1 in the Lone Star League: The Founding Years continuity series
July 2016 release

by Renee Ryan

Suddenly a Father

Rancher CJ Thorn isn't ready to graduate from uncle to brand-new daddy—but he has no choice. After his widowed brother runs off, a pair of adorable twins have no one but CJ…and lovely neighbor Molly Langley. She's helped with the girls for so long that she's almost part of the family. Almost. CJ knows his family isn't good enough for her. Not when his brother's actions have disgraced the Thorn name yet again.

Watching CJ become a devoted father would soften any woman's heart. Yet Molly must remain immune. CJ deserves more than a woman who can't have children. Held back by fear, it'll take a disaster forcing the community together before they're ready to risk a chance on happiness.

* * *

A Family for the Rancher

Book 2 in the Lone Star League: The Founding Years continuity series
August 2016 release

by Craftie Lady Louise M. Gouge

From Neighbor to Daddy

Rancher Edmund McKay likes his life simple and quiet—everything feisty neighbor Lula May Barlow is not! But with a cattle rustler on the loose, he's duty-bound to protect the widowed mother, even without her approval. Yet he never expected to enjoy her company. And he certainly never thought her crowded, bustling house would be the first place he'd ever feel at home…

After a harsh childhood, Lula May knows how to stand on her own two feet. She doesn't need Edmund's help—but she's starting to want it, all the same. So are her children, who clearly have matchmaking in mind. And when a threat from the past resurfaces, she realizes all that's at stake…including her chance for a lifetime of love.

* * *

A Rancher of Convenience

Book 3 in the Lone Star League: The Founding Years continuity series
September 2016 release

by Regina Scott

Fill-In Father…and Husband

Sweet mail-order bride Nancy Bennett can't believe it when her husband is exposed as a cattle rustler—and killed. And when the banker holding the ranch's mortgage questions whether she can run the ranch on her own, the pregnant widow has nowhere to turn. Until steady foreman Hank Snowden proposes marriage…

Racked with grief about his role in Lucas Bennett's death, Hank resolves to do right by the man's wife and child. So it's natural for him to step in as Nancy's newly minted husband. But the marriage of convenience may become more than a mere obligation…if only Hank and his bride can brave the first steps toward elusive true love.

Let's Take a Cruise! by Christine Johnson

Have you ever been on a cruise? Years ago, I was fortunate to take a short 3 day cruise to the Bahamas.

Though we often think of cruises to the Caribbean or Alaska or through the Panama Canal, they’re available in many other places, including the Great Lakes. When I was first married, I worked on an old passenger ship, the Canadian Pacific Railway steamship, S.S. Keewatin, that operated on the Great Lakes between 1908 and 1965. For many years, the only way to reach some areas was by ship (usually called boats on the Great Lakes…don’t ask why). The Keewatin was initially put in service to complete the rail route, because tracks had not been laid north of Lake Superior. By the time I worked on the ship, it didn’t run anymore and had been turned into a museum.

Here’s a photo of the ship.

I was even married aboard. Check out the wedding photo. My, do we look young!

During the years of homesteading and immigration, ships carried people deep into the Great Lakes.

In my current release, Mail Order Mix-Up, Pearl and her friend Amanda take a steamship from Chicago to the lumbering town of Singapore, Michigan. Their boat would have been less elegant than the S.S. Keewatin, but it would have seemed grand to two orphans from New York.

Where have you cruised, where would you like to take a cruise, or do you prefer land-based transportation?

Christine Johnson

Mail Order Mix-Up (LIH, April 2016)

Honor Redeemed (Revell, July 2016)

Mail Order Mommy (LIH, Nov. 2016)

http://christineelizabethjohnson.com

http://www.facebook.com/ChristineJohnsonAuthor

On building people up

Hi Everyone! Danica Favorite here, and I wanted to share something that's been on my heart for a while. People often ask if my stories about inspired by my real life, and mostly, I have to say that they don't. But one of the things I am noticing is that when I write about a particular theme, I end up seeing that theme pop up everywhere around me. Maybe it's coincidence, or maybe it's God working in my heart, but I find that once I've written a book, I understand that theme on a much deeper level as it applies to my own life.

The pattern of learning a thematic lesson is especially true in ShotgunMarriage, which is out this month. When I was writing The Lawman's Redemption (July 2015), I wrote about Emma Jane Logan, an unpopular, prickly girl no one liked. Except Mary Stone, who looked deeper and offered kindness to someone undeserving but in desperate need. I'd written it to show off Mary's heart, and Mary's character, but what I found was that I couldn't forget Emma Jane. We all know an Emma Jane. Maybe parts of us have been Emma Jane. I know I’ve had my own experiences where I can relate to the torment she experienced.

 

What changed Emma Jane from girl no one liked to someone who deserved to have her own story told?

The answer is simple: Mary’s kindness to her. I believe that the reason people were so unkind to Emma Jane is that somehow, they hoped their words would encourage her to change. Think about how many times we issue a criticism of something in hopes that it will bring about the change we desire. I know what it’s liked to be bullied. One time, a girl pulled me aside and said, “look, I know we’re hard on you, but we’re only doing it for your own good. If you’d just change these things about yourself, everything would be fine.” Ouch. However, none of that made me change. It just gave me reason to spend hours crying, wondering why I had to turn into the equivalent of a Stepford wife to be acceptable to my peers. Did I have flaws needing attention? Yes. Were some of her criticisms valid? Yes. But the sheer unkindness of her words and actions didn’t give me a safe place to make those changes. What finally brought about change in my life was having genuine friends come around me, loving me as I was, so that when I needed redirection, I knew it came from a loving place and I felt safe in considering their words.

It’s tempting, when we see flaws in others or in their work, to reach out and offer our “guidance” on the issue. But before we do so, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves a few questions based on lessons I learned from writing about Emma Jane.

What is my motivation behind the criticism?

Am I angry, self-righteous, or offended at something the person said or did, and think I need to show my superior position? Maybe it’s time to take a step back and not say something, even if that other person is wrong. It’s not okay to prove your point at the expense of someone else. Like Jesus says, before we can take a speck out of someone else’s eye, we must first take the plank out of our own. The women who teased Emma Jane did so to make themselves feel better, to prove their higher social standing, and later, to get back at her for “stealing” the town’s most eligible bachelor. Maybe there was some truth in the criticism, but it was so tainted with bad motivation, no one could see it.

Did that person ask for my opinion?

I think about all the times we’re offered unsolicited advice. Looking at all the unsolicited advice I’ve been given, I can tell you that it’s probably only been helpful or useful about 1% of the time. Mostly, it’s not what I needed. In terms of what Emma Jane went through, she never asked the women around her what they thought of her fashion sense. She knew her clothes weren’t fashionable, but also didn’t have the means to change it. It would have been a different situation had Emma Jane gone to the more fashionable women and asked, “hey, what can I do to be more fashionable,” but she was so ashamed of her reduced status and had faced so many barbs, it didn’t feel safe for her to do so.

Is my criticism rooted in love? Do I have a deep and genuine love for the person I’m criticizing and my words stem from that love?

It’s so easy to criticize someone we don’t like. Giving that criticism sometimes justifies our dislike of someone else. After all, if that person didn’t do x, we’d like that person more. But ask yourself, would you say it to your best friend? If Jesus was sitting next to you, would you still offer that criticism? It’s so easy to overlook the mistakes of people we love, so give some grace to the people you don’t. In the Lawman’s Redemption, when Emma Jane was sobbing and a mess, Mary didn’t just say, “hey, you look terrible,” but she very lovingly helped Emma Jane pull herself together.


Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but as I look at Emma Jane’s transformation, these are the biggest keys to that transformation. Mostly, though, her life changed because others were willing to build her up instead of tearing her down. We all have that same power to change lives. But the most profound change comes from building others up instead of tearing them down. We live in an ugly world full of criticism and attacks from all sides. So let’s use the power we all have within us to help others in loving way.

I’m giving away two sets of The Lawman’s Redemption and Shotgun Marriage so you and a friend can fully experience Emma Jane’s transformation. Because there is so much value in friendship, I want you to be able to give a friend the same encouragement. To enter, tell me about the friend you’d give the second set of books to. For a bonus entry, I’d love to hear your suggestions for ways we can build up those around us who need it. I’m booked with conferences and events over the next week or so, so you have two weeks! I’ll draw a winner on April 20^th. 

About the book:


Conveniently Wed 

Forced to wed to protect their reputations after being trapped overnight in a mine, Emma Jane and Jasper Jackson's marriage is one in name only. Resenting the choices taken from him, Jasper's determined not to lose his heart. But it's not so easy to stay distanced from his new bride when a gang of bandits abducts them both.

Other young women might be ecstatic to land Leadville's wealthiest bachelor. But Emma Jane would rather have Jasper's love than his family's money. A true bond with her handsome husband seems impossible…until their ordeal leaves Emma Jane caring for an orphaned baby. In reach now is the one thing neither expected—the chance to turn a convenient marriage into a forever family.