Goodbye Borders--Hello Powell's

Terri Reed here. I'm sure you know that Borders is closing its doors. There had been rumblings for a while that this would happen. I had hoped it wouldn't. For the past year or so I refused to buy books anywhere but at Borders in hopes that my measly sales would keep my favorite bookstore open. Alas, it hasn't worked. This past week, my children and I visited the store at least four times, each time coming away with books. I'm sure we'll visit again in the days ahead until they close their doors for good. For me its not so much about getting the 'going out of business'l deals but about hanging on. My local Borders store is five minutes from our house. On rainy days (which we get a lot o
f here in Oregon) we'd head to the bookstore. I don't believe bookstores in general will fall. At least I pray not

Here in Portland Oregon we have a book store called Powell's. It's four stories high and takes up a whole city block in downtown

Portland. Its a must see for visitors coming to the area as well a place that locals go to spend a few hours. There are new and used books, a rare book collection and a coffee shop attached. All genre of fiction and non-fiction can be found within the its walls. If they don't have the book your looking for stocked, they'll find it.

The various floors and rooms are color coded. They have a map to help navigate your way through the aisles, shelves and floors of the building. In the rainy days ahead, my family will be making the trek downtown more often now to visit Powell's.

My most recent release THE INNOCENT WITNESS is still on sale.

http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html?authorid=1115

Meet Teresa, one of our favorite readers!

Here at the Craftie Ladies of Romance, we're all about our readers. Teresa is one of our most loyal. Read on and find out what it's like to read a Love Inspired romance when you're from another country/culture. This is an awesome interview

Welcome, Teresa! Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi. First of all, thank you for inviting me. I'm 44, I'm married - 22 years - to the kindest man alive and I have one son, he's 20 and kind as his father. I also have a girl who is 12. She's at that brat age that can't understand my love for novels and happily ever after. I live in Portugal and I absolutely love my country.

What are you three favorite books (I know, hard to narrow it down). Tell us, what spiraled them to the top of your list? What did the author do that won you over?

My best friend's daughter, by Dorothy Koomson. I fell in love with it because it was the first less perfect story I read. I also had a fall out with a friend, and when I told her I'd always be here for her, she refused it. I was asking myself when will I stop being stupid and let people go and stop loving them as they ask. Suddenly, I was offered the book, and it was like God telling me that there was nothing wrong with me and healing me throughout those pages. The second favorite is from Nicholas Sparks. It's called The Rescue and I can think of no other reason to love it so much but for the fact that it ends with HEA, not something very common in Nicholas ahahahah. But all those characters pull me, and I really have to visit them from time to time... The third book will always be the next one. Really, I reserve that position to the book that will delight me next. That book will bring me new lives and new people to my life. I really live for that white canvas, so full of possibilities...

What is your favorite Love Inspired Romance? Why?

The Four Little Blessings by Merrillee Whren. Followed closely by Daddy in the Making by Lyn Cote. But so far I've read less than 10 inspired books as I only discovered them, recently, through Merrillee. Why?! Maybe because it was the first LI novel I read and somehow "threw" me to so many less-perfect circumstances all at once and the first time I didn't close the book, recover, and then started again. No, I embraced the drama. I loved its sweet details and also the freshness of little things made with love. In an era of Wii, PS etc I felt the warmth and fun that Merrillee put when describing the board games, the loving feeling of a hand's touch and something I treasure - that loving bond that children instantly get when meeting "really" good people. We lose that instinct when we grow up and lose so much in the process - “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15) ...]

What are you reading today?

I'm reading The Daddy Surprise by Ginny Aiken, but the characters aren't working for me so well, because after some great male characters in the previous novels I'm having difficulty in bonding with the guy... and when this happens it's, for me, a sacrifice to go on. But then Ginny created an absolutely adorable child, a faithful mother, a lovely town and - here she had me - a Victorian House falling apart (that white canvas, again :))

Teresa, you're not American, and you've said that some things in our books are 'pure' American. Can you give us an example?

It's funny and I can almost see you gasp when I tell you - potluck dinner for example. I had to go to the dictionary to try understand what was that, and it says so much about you - the give and take. The way the church communities gather and step up to help those in need. Here I feel we go to church together, we give the peace, we participate in community events but that extra Love Thy Neighbor is still very difficult because people put a barrier - step no further - even if a non conscientious one. And warms my heart beyond words to see the magical effect that those events and gestures (that I've found in other USA books, and not only Love Inspired) make on people's lives. I would love to belong to a community like that. Here I can step and almost impose my help but people will always hold back and even resent that they need that help.]


Do you write, also? If so, tell us what you’re working on?

No. Not at all. Even if I had the talent where would I find the time with so many books I want to read, blogs to visit, facebook pages to comment?! LOL But I don't think I have the talent. If I had I would write Love Inspired books in Portuguese because I'm so afraid they will never reach here and it would do good people see how a religion of simple love could do for each other...

Besides the Craftie Ladies, tell us two or three other Blogs you like to visit and why.

Bloggers became my friends. Some I've never met or ever will but I like the chit chat that my comment on their blogs bring to my life and the bits that little by little we share and enjoy together. They would be: http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ she has that USA marked spirit but is also a sharer, meaning it's not only about decor or stuff but also about Susan and her life. Love it! http://fitnessfoodandfaith.blogspot.com/. Sam is a sweet young lady and treasure her "visitors" by giving back what she receives. With the added interest of growing older with her and watch all that life still reserves... http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/ Again the fiendly hug always present in Laura that welcomes us to her life and share things in the way you would with an old friend over the phone.]

Anything else you'd like to add?

Yes, my endless Thank you to Merrillee for introducing Love Inspired Novels to me, my Thank YOU to all CRAFTIE Ladies for creating characters I wish I'd meet and to you, Pam, for giving me the honor of being interviewed in this lovely Blog. I'm feeling a bit of Lenora right now and you'd all agree that's a fabulous thing, right?

Teresa,
Thanks so much for being our Monday’s Main Character

The Sheriff's Runaway Bride Interview

How exciting to have Kylie Jones, the heroine from THE SHERIFF'S RUNAWAY BRIDE by Arlene James, a August 2011 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1. Kylie, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I'm not really a waitress, you know. Well, I am a waitress, but I'm also a wedding planner. Or I was, back in Denver before everything went south with my family.

2. What do you do for fun?

Everything's pretty much about my family. We all work very hard, so when we have down time, we tend to rent a movie and butter some popcorn. My social life revolves around church and my friends there.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Balancing my checkbook. There's never enough money anymore. We're all stretched paper thin since Dad got into that ranching deal with old Samuel Clayton.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I'm afraid my sister won't have even the opportunities that I've had to get a good education and pursue her dreams. I even wonder if I'll have the chance to use my education.

5. What do you want out of life?

I want my folks to get out from under the financial burden that has hamstrung our family. Then my baby sister can go to college and maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to plan weddings for a living. And, of course, it would be nice to plan my own wedding sometime--to the RIGHT guy, this time.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

The people I love are my life. Without them…I don't even want to think about it.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

I don't have much time to read, frankly, but when I get a chance, I have to say that I enjoy a good romance novel. Sometimes I like to read about the ultimate alpha hero who sweeps in and rescues the girl, and sometimes I want a book about a spunky heroine who shows her guy what it means to really love with all one's heart.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A Christian is not supposed to worry, and I truly believe that God has a plan for each of His children and answers their prayers, but I have to admit that I spend too much time fearing the worse and wondering how to avoid it. I wish I had more faith, that I could just trust in God's promises and let go of all these worries. I'm working on it, but sometimes it feels like really slow going.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We have a cat, sort of, a really arrogant tom named Toughie. He shows up whenever he wants, invites himself in and stretches out in front of the fire. I think he belonged to the people we bought our place from, but he either didn't want to move away with them or they left without him. Either way, Toughie kind of moved in when we did, but he takes off again frequently.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

Could I go back to the day when my dad decided to go into business with Samuel? If so, I'd convince him not to do it! Barring that, however, I'd go back to the Medieval era. It's such a romantic time--at least in books.

FEATURED BOOK: THE SHERIFF'S RUNAWAY BRIDE BY ARLENE JAMES

When Kylie Jones catches her fiancé kissing another girl moments before the wedding, she runs. Smack-dab into the new deputy sheriff, who knows her former fiancé all too well. Kylie is deeply touched that Zach Clayton understands—more than she ever expected. The handsome cop is in their tiny Colorado town only to fulfill a family obligation, and then he's back to the big city. Unless Kylie can lead her love-shy lawman to the wedding they've both always dreamed of.

Ask Elnora--about who we are????Lenora Worth

Hello, people. That song by WHO is playing in my brain. "Who are you?" Elnora loves surprises. The good kind, mostly. I love getting presents. For a long time (actually most of my life) I (and probably everyone who knew me) thought Elnora was a bit self-absorbed and frivolous. But then in church I learned all about love language and the gifts of the spirit. And suddenly I understood what I was all about. It's not all about me-Elnora--but what I love most in life is quality time with those I love. So yes, this means I like to get my people together in one place for fun and conversation and cheesecake and ice cream. I love the surprise of havimg people I care about e-mailing me, or texting me, or writing me letters or coming to visit me.

I love to share my adventures with my people--so even when it seems it is all about me--which usually my adventures are, of course--it's more about the fun of sharing the adventure with someone else. You know, "Let me tell you what happened to me the other day!" And then I'm off and running.

I think this is why I became a writer. I love to tell stories. I love the surprises that pop up in my stories even when I'm writing them. I love that quality time I get to spend each day with words, with creating words and making them into a story that people actually read. Being a writer means I get to spend quality time with every person who picks up one of my books.

So it's not all about me--but it sure is all about being surrounded by people who appreciate me for who I am. Quality time--it's a love language and gift I can live with. And discovering this has changed the way I think about life. (The picture above was taken by my daughter. A lovely surprise that I enjoyed seeing.)

So let's discuss surprises and quality time and ... the things that shape us as humans. What's that all about, anyway???

My Mystery Adventure

Summers fly by so quickly. I hate how fast they vanish. I often think I’ll have more time in the summer to spend with my grandchildren and then, POOF, they are back in school. This year I was determined not to think about making time but to actually make it. Thus was born our mystery adventures.

A mystery adventure is one trip every week where Grandma Pat picks you up for the day and doesn’t tell you where you’re going. Yesterday, our mystery adventure was to a local hobby store for cake decorating supplies.

My ten-year-old granddaughter’s favorite TV show happens to be about cake decorating. When I told her what I had planned, she squealed, “Can we use Fondant?” I said yes and she actually jumped for joy. Who knew?

I thought the sugar high came AFTER eating the cake.

I confess that I have never done more that slap frosting from Betty Crocker’s cans onto a cake and called it good. My local grocery store has a great bakery where they make cakes with Fondant, so why should I go to all that mess and trouble. Well, as it turns out, the mess is the best part of a mystery adventure.

Icing bags in hand, my granddaughter and I spent an hour trying out all the tips in our kit and licking our fingers. We frosted a cake shaped like a castle, rolled and cut Fondant into flowers, and added candy unicorns for good measure. It was an afternoon of fun that was over all to soon. I hope she never forgets it.


Happily, I sent the cake home with her and her parents. I had the fun, let them have the calories.

What are some of your fond memories of time spent with your grandparents? I’d love to hear your stories.

Capri/Pompeii trip

Last week I went to Italy and got to see some places that I've read about in history books. I went to Sicily, Naples/Pompeii, Rome, Tuscany/Pisa, and Monaco/French Rivera. There were some highlights of the trip: seeing an erupting volcano, seeing the Colosseum, St. Peter's at the Vatican, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Pompeii.


Some of the pictures I have here are of me overlooking a bay on Capri Island (beautiful place), a gorgeous wall painting on a place of business like a cafeteria in Pompeii, a dog mosaic in the floor at Pompeii and a picture on the wall with graffiti (yes, people do deface a site that is nearly 2000 years old!)


I had a great time, but traveling can be exhausting. I'm glad I'm home and back to a normal routine.

A Lousy Typist by Leann Harris

I was away from home for the month of June and most of July, but when you have a book due, you write no matter what. I took my notebook computer with me. It is a nifty little computer, but the keyboard is small, and if you can't type worth spit to begin with then you got a problem. I spent most of my time either hitting the backspace key or hitting the dash key, which was located by the backspace key.

And then the cursor kept jumping on me. I'd be typing a sentence, then suddenly my cursor be 4 lines above in the middle of a word, so I hit the left curve arrow to undo. My typing speed must've been 5 wpm. Yet, in spite of all these obstacles, I almost finished my book. Of course, I gave myself food poisoning and that did slow down my production for a couple of days. My birthday being one of those days. The day wasn't bad enough, me going from one decade to another, but my stomach was in no condition to enjoy going out.

I guess my tirade is just to say, when you're a professional writer, you've got to write, no matter what.

P.S. Since I missed my flowers blooming in June, my hubby took photos of them. Enjoy.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN--Debra Clopton

Hi Y'all, Debra Clopton here running a bit late! Seems like that has been my life lately running that is. I love my life! But I've been on the road most of this entire month and am glad to be home for a little while. This is a shot of me and Chuck in New York seeing some of the sites. Since I do write romance we decided to take the carriage tour of the city our first night there. It was fun. This is a shot of us that our sweet driver took outside The Plaza Hotel. After we left New York we were home for a couple of days, then loaded up our youth group at church and went to Cowboy Church youth camp for four days! It was a blast but totally different than the trip to New York! We had a blast there too. When we got home we were there for a day and a half then we went to the airport and caught different planes, to different destinations, Chuck to work and me to see my son, daughter in law and sweet grand baby for two weeks. Wonderful busy month that I loved. But I'm happy to be home working on my new book for the next few weeks. (Of course I'll go back and see grand baby again at the drop of the pin!) That's the wonderful thing about my work...I can take my laptop anywhere and work. And the experiences that I have I'm able to use in my work at some point and time. Anyway, this blog surprised me this morning--it seems like I just did it and actually it was when I was catching the plane for New York! Anyway, I'm working on my book full tilt ahead, about my bull riding cowboy who's been on the road constantly in his quest to gain points for the National Finals Rodeo Championships. I guess this month I can truly say I know how he feels being on the road. You love what you are doing and where you are but you still long for home and comfort you feel when you get there. (Her Homecoming Cowboy will be out August 2012) Watch for the 1st book in my Homecoming Series, September 2011 HER RODEO COWBOY.

Until next time live laugh and seek God with all your hearts!

Debra Clopton

FEATURED BOOK: THE DADDY SURPRISE BY GINNY AIKEN

Matthew "Ryder" Lyndon has just learned he's the father of a five-year-old girl. A girl who suddenly appears in his life with her mother, Lucie Adams—and Lucie is everything Ryder remembers. Beautiful, sun-washed, a free spirit who made him smile. But she'd trampled his heart with her sudden disappearance six years ago. Coming face-to-face with each other again, both Ryder and Lucie are reminded of what they once shared. Now God has given him an unexpected blessing in their daughter. After all this time, can Ryder find a place for them in his life?

Ask Elnora--About Redemption????Lenora Worth

Hello, my lovelies. Elnora has had a long, stressful week. We all have those weeks, don't we? Something good happens but something bad follows. I call this a "prayer and chocolate" week. Say a prayer and eat some chocolate. But it's Friday. Friday has a certain appeal to Elnora. It's a nice shopping day. Today, I'm attending "A Tea Party in the Pink" to raise awareness for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure. (Most of us know that's the cure for breast cancer.) We're supposed to wear hats. Now where did I put that Fascinator?? I am wearing pink because I want to celebrate with several friends who are survivors. But Elnora wears many hats--figuratively speaking. Wife, mother, friend, sister, writer, writer, writer. Speaking of writing, I was involved in a "fascinating" discussion this week about how a standard plot involves action, reaction, and apology and why this can make a book a page-turner.

Elnora believes this works because of redemption. We are all flawed so we all seek redemption. We also find redemption in others fascinating, right? We want to be there when someone admits they did wrong. We want to see them do the right thing and redeem themselves because this is a universal and time-honored thing. Redemption is intimate, thus allowing the reader in on this action, reaction, apology formula that happens all the time in real life. What do you think? Let's discuss this formula and my redemption theory. And more importantly, please tell me the remainder of my week can find redemption. I'm running out of chocolate!

New additions to my family

Kim Watters here. Today I wanted to introduce the newest members of my family. Yes, folks, we rescued not one, not two, but three sibling kitties from the pound. Aren't they cute? And cuddily. And very energetic. I get tired just looking their antics, but they do keep me on my toes and laughing. It's a distraction to my writing, but hey, one of these days, I'll be able to work them into one of my stories.

I forgot what kittens were like though. Just like babies, they are into everything. We also discovered my daughter is allergic to them. Now being of sound mind and body, what did we do? No, we did not get rid of them. I did some internet research. I love the internet, (couldn't write half my books without it) and discovered they make a cat shampoo that will eliminate the allergy. It's not just the dander folks, its also the saliva when they bathe. And it worked.

So drumroll please.....

Figaro, the black cat is mine.

Mayley, the siamese mix is my daughter's,

and Lego, the orange tabby is my son's.

So whenever you need a kitten fix, just give me a hollar. And look for some of their antics coming to book near you soon.

The Appeal of the Reunion Story...by Lisa Mondello

Saturday night I attended my high school reunion. No, I will not tell you exactly which one it was. Let's just say I graduated high school a long time ago and leave it at that! Many of the "kids" I went to high school with I haven't seen since graduation day. So it was a real treat to see old friends, catch up on how life has been for everyone and share some laughs.

It got me thinking about reunion romance stories, which I happen to LOVE. What is it about reunion stories that has such appeal for readers? I'm a writer, but I'm a reader first and, like you, I have my favorite plotlines that draw me in. Reunion stories always do.

When the hero and heroine already know each other and have a history, there is instant tension. They're not meeting and learning about each other for the first time (along with the reader.) They are rehashing old wounds that pulled them apart as they (many times reluctantly) try to fix them.

I think, too, that reunion stories are so popular because we genuinely want to root for the couple. We don't want relationships to fail and when you know from the start that "something" pulled these two people who love each other apart, you want them to fix it. You want them to rekindle what they lost. And it's fun to watch it happen.

What are your reasons for liking reunion stories?

Lisa Mondello

http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com

FEATURED BOOK: PHOEBE'S GROOM BY DEB KASTNER

The smell of cinnamon buns and apple pie remind widowed dad Chance Hawkins of the wife he lost five years ago. As does his sad-eyed little girl. So when his aunt hires a new pastry chef— whom she finds online—for their family-owned Texas café, the cowboy cook grumbles. What's more, fancy baker Phoebe Yates is boarding in their home. But soon enough, kind Phoebe is reminding Chance how nice it is to share a sweet roll with his daughter before school. And maybe opening his heart to becoming a groom again!

Ask Elnora--about being in the dark!!!!--Lenora Worth

Hello, precious people. Elnora apologizes for being so fashionably late. Got her days mixed up. (That bump on the head!!) We've had a strange week in Elnora-ville. The temperatures are over the top and it's miserably hot. No way to glisten, so we must go ahead and sweat! On Wednesday--and you can not make this stuff up--a mylar balloon floated into a power substation and wrapped itself around something very important and caused the power to go out to around 17,000 customers (before the night was over.) Of course, that meant no electricity or air conditioning. Elnora had to find a hand fan, quick. But after off and on power surges (and that was just from me!) the power went dark again that night. So we lit candles, which made the house smell lovely, and sat in the dark and the quiet. No television, no internet, just the dark and ourselves. And guess what? You can entertain yourself while sitting in the dark.

But this whole episode was interesting because on our way home from New York, my darling Big Daddy had booked us a romantic stop--at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. A cave? For Elnora?? Cute man, but clueless sometimes. Where was the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries? Where was the orchestra and a slow waltz? It was a nice quaint place with lovely scenery, so Elnora forgave him and promised to enjoy!
Until we got to the cave. Elnora doesn't do dark, crammed places. And it was especially interesting when the nice Ranger dude turned out all the cave lights and let us "experience" complete darkness and silence. But I have to admit it wasn't so bad as long as I held Big Daddy's hand like a vice and tried really hard not to think about bats and ax murderers and dark crevices where one could fall forever.

So the question is? Why are we so afraid of the dark? And why does it sometimes seem that even when the lights are on and God is smiling down on us, we are still in the dark??? Let's discuss.

New Kid on the Block--Patty Smith Hall!

Missy, here. I'm pleased to welcome a New Kid on the Block today! She's actually a new Love Inspired Historical author, and her debut is titled Hearts in Flight. Welcome, Patty Smith Hall!

Can you tell us a little about getting that first sale call?

Sometimes I wondered if that first call was ever going to come! See, my manuscript won the 2008 ACFW Genesis in Historical Romance and I had received a  request for a full by Love Inspired. Two little problems--first, I only had the first fifteen pages of the story!(Great reason to have the manuscript finished before entering it in a contest!) Secondly, life  got in the way--six surgeries in our immediate family, two graduations and a cross country move to be exact! Finally, in November of 2009, I was able to get back to my manuscript and by March, 2010, I was able to turn it in to my agent who then sent it to Rachel Burkot at Love Inspired.

Then the waiting began--I felt like I was a kid waiting for Christmas morning, wondering if I was going to find a lump of coal in my stocking. But on August 5, 2010, while I was sitting in the Chick-fil-a drive-through, Tamela called me with the news. Scared the poor girl at the window to death when I screamed!

What's something fun that readers may not know about you?

That I'm like a kid about Christmas! At our house, we make a schedule of Christmas movies that we watch between Thanksgiving and December 25th. And because our entire family loves the season, my mother, my sister and I started a tradition of supplying Christmas to needy families in the school district--You should see us with our train of shopping carts as we plow through Target and the grocery story! 

What are you working on now?

I just finished the sequel to Hearts in Flight that I've affectionately called Capturing the Enemy's Heart. It features one of Maggie's(the heroine in Hearts) cousins and a young woman running away from an unthinkable secret. This story took me in places I never expected!

Please share a blurb about the story and where readers can contact you.
Hearts in Flight is the story of Maggie Daniels, a pilot with the Women's Army Service Pilots determined to prove herself to her family and to squadron leader Captain Wesley Hicks. While Wesley knows Maggie is a great pilot, her fearlessness reminds him of all he has lost in the war. It's a story of forgiveness, grace and discovering the God has a bigger dream for us than we have for ourselves.

Readers can reach me at www.pattysmithhall.com.

Thanks for having me--I appreciate it!

Lyn Cote here--So Who Are You? Take this Test & See!

Lyn Cote here--Today I'm keeping track of who I am and who are you? Authors spend a lot of time watching people, imagining people and then writing about them. Many authors use the

• Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers typology along with the strengths of the preferences to create characters.
  

Here's a link to this personality test. Why not take it and then let us know which type you are? No charge and it's just for fun.

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

You go first and then I'll tell you what my type is.--Lyn
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With A Little Help from our Friends

This is Merrillee, who is thinking about friendship. Here is a video with a portion of a song about friends made popular by the Beatles and Joe Cocker. Take a quick listen and think about your friends.



We all need friends. As authors we create friends for our heroes and heroines. These friends, secondary characters, serve as sounding boards and advisers for our main characters.

I've been thinking about friends because my mother-in-law recently visited with a friend she has known for over seventy years. In a few days, I'm going to be attending my high school reunion, and I will get to see Marita, my friend from high school. Here is a photo of us taken several years ago.

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity."

Tell us about a special friend or someone you've know for many years.

A Family for Summer Interview

How exciting to have Ashley Ross, the heroine from A Family For Summer by Lois Richer, a July 2011 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1. Ashley, tell me the most interesting thing about you. I’m kind of a boring person, really. I did inherit a lot of money from the dearest man which I want to use for some projects we’d discussed, but that’s been both a joy and a sorrow. So many people saw dollar signs instead of me, even the man I thought loved me, the man I was going to marry!

2. What do you do for fun? You know I love new things, so discovery is a big part of my joy.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? I dread telling people about my money. That almost always changes their perspective of me.

4. What are you afraid of most in life? I’m afraid that I’ll trust the wrong person. I’ve done that a couple of times—first with some friends at work and then with my fiancé. It decimated me and now I’m scared to let anyone close.

5. What do you want out of life? Well, if I could, I’d have a family—a husband who loves me for who I am and not the money, a couple of kids. But that isn’t likely to happen so what I want now is to make a difference in other families’ lives.

6. What is the most important thing to you? To help families who are going through hard times by providing a place for them to get back on their feet.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? I’m a nurse so I read a lot if I’m sitting with a patient. That doesn’t happen often in nursing so I read in my free time. I love to read book set in other countries, books with interesting plots and maybe a bit of mystery. But whatever I read has to have a happy ending.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be more open, more trusting.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? I just came back from overseas so I couldn’t have a pet there. Someday I’d like to get a dog, or maybe a bird. I love canaries.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? I’d go back to a time when people meant what they said, when they kept their word. When a man was known by his integrity. (sighs) That’s so hard to find nowadays—integrity.

FEATURED BOOK: A FAMILY FOR SUMMER BY LOIS RICHER

He never expected to be a father…Then suddenly he was raising twins!

Jared Hornby has his hands full caring for his orphaned niece and nephew—and could sure use some help on the home front. Nurse Ashley Ross's motherly touch is just what they need. Having grown up in the foster care system, she understands the longing for a family. Although she told herself she would never get close to another man, helping Jared with the children forges a bond between them. Can he convince her to stand by him—not only for the summer but for a lifetime?