Friday Sisterhood with Dana Mentink

Family Status: Married nineteen years, two beautiful bear cubs (stage names Yogi and Boo Boo.) One dog, one parakeet, one geriatric box turtle.

What Is Your Favorite Beverage: Chocolate milk shakes. Too bad my favorite isn’t water or something good for me!

What Is Your Favorite Food: My hubby’s barbecue. He’s the ‘Cue Master!

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: Reading, of course, but currently I’m trying to learn to play the ukulele (with mixed results!)

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life:My father. He’s just the most humble, loving, amazing person on the planet. 

First Book You Fell in Love With: The whole Chronicles of Narnia series, but the funny thing is, I didn’t know they were Christian novels until I was a grownup! Isn’t that funny? I was also enamored of the Wizard of Oz books. Talking chickens? Houses made of glass? I ate that up.

A Book You Wish You’d Written: Mrs. Mike. Have you read it? I just hung on every word of that thing.

First Book Published: Trouble Up Finny’s Nose with Barbour’s Heartsong Mysteries. Then I started in with Harlequin and I’ve written for River North as well.

Most Recent Book: Flood Zone is a July release for Love Inspired Suspense.

I Have A Confession---Lenora Worth

Hello. First, let me say to all Veterans--We love and appreciate your service and sacrifice for our country. We salute all living and deceased who have served our country. Today is a day to stop and remember how much you all mean to us. :)

Now, I have to make a confession regarding a big mistake in one of my books. I though long and hard about this but I often post writer's typos on Facebook  so I thought I'd share this, too. I made a big boo-boo in a book that came out last year. A reader who actually won the book here on our blog pointed it out to me. Writers do research and we proof and we edit and sometimes in spite of that and several editors and proofreaders helping us, we still make mistakes.

Let me explain. If you have a copy of my "In Pursuit of a Princess" you might know what I'm talking about. It involves getting two words mixed up. I did research on one of my favorite subjects-the Acadians who left Canada and came down to Louisiana. Today, we know them as Cajuns but they had to leave Canada in the 17th century and start a new life due to an expulsion by the British. I have researched and studied this topic for other books so I know the history. But somewhere in my research for this book I came on a form of painting and thought I'd also use that in the book. And this is where it gets confusing. The painting method is Arcadian. ARcadian. Which I only use in the book once to explain how a painter used a dream like theme in his paintings to showcase the Acadians in Louisiana. Only Arcadian got mixed up with Acadian and well, I didn't catch it and neither did anyone else. So I called the Acadian people the Arcadian people several times in the book. What???

Once my nice reader pointed this out, the book was already in print. And even though no one else has come forward stating the mistake, it has weighed on me for months now. So confession is good for the soul and saying I'm sorry will make me feel ever so much better. One little letter, that dreadful "R", messed me up and I just kept right on writing and never saw it.

Why am I telling everyone this. Well, I have a new book out this month. So the first person to find the mistake in "In Pursuit of a Princess" and tell me how many times I used the wrong word for the right people will win a copy of "Deadly Holiday Reunion." That won't make up for my big boo-boo but it will be fun to see if anyone has a copy of "In Pursuit of a Princess" and can tell me the answer. And the other reason I wanted to post this--Has anyone else ever done this? Do any of you have stories regarding mistakes in your books? I surely can't be the only one, right???

 

 

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Releases

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

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DREAMS

By DanicaFavorite

His Surprise Sister 

The last thing Joseph Stone expects to discover upon arriving in Leadville, Colorado, is a newfound little sister. Hoping to find his late father's silver mine and hopefully keep his siblings back home out of an orphanage, Joseph needs an ally. The preacher's lovely daughter agrees to care for the little girl. She's just not as willing to trust the prospector….

Annabelle Lassiter has seen what men do in pursuit of riches. Yet for all the hardship he's known, Joseph still shows tenderness and warmth. Annabelle's plan has long been to leave Leadville far behind. But Joseph's quest for silver could cost them a more precious dream—one of family, love and new beginnings….

HER HOLIDAY FAMILY

By Winnie Griggs

What happens when a straight-laced young widow’s home is invaded by ten rambunctious orphans and their handsome caretaker just in time for the holidays... 

Reserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldn't know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans just before Thanksgiving, she discovers she can't just turn them away.

Simon knows there's more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simon's kindness soon melts Eileen's stern facade. Simon and the children have already upended Eileen's quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart?

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW:HAZARDOUS HOMECOMING BY DANA MENTINK

Little girl lost 

Ruby Hudson finds new evidence that could shed light on her childhood friend's disappearance. But she'll have to fight for her life to keep it out of the wrong person's hands. Cooper Stokes' brother is still the prime suspect, and as the cold case heats up, so do Ruby's forgotten feelings for Cooper. Ruby wants justice for her friend. Cooper wants to prove his brother's innocence. Despite being on opposite sides, they find themselves drawn to one another. But the deeper they dig into decades-old secrets, the closer they come to having to make a choice between family and love.  

Wings of Danger: The path to love is treacherous

Interview:

Today we're welcoming Ruby Hudson, the heroine of Hazardous Homecoming, written by Dana Mentink, a November release by Love Inspired Suspense. 

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.  

1.       Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense. My life was changed forever when I was five years old and my playmate was abducted while we were playing in woods on my family's wild bird sanctuary in Oregon. It changed my life, and ever since I've been trying to understand what happened. Recently, I uncovered a clue and angered a criminal and nearly cost me my life.

2.  So, during the book you met Cooper Stokes.  Tell us a bit about him/her.  What was your first impression?  When did you know it was love? Cooper is a botanist, as passionate about his field as I am about birds. I was immediately attracted to that passion. His brother was the main suspect in the kidnapping all those years ago and his dream is to prove his brother innocent. When I saw how much he cared for his brother, as much as I care for mine, I couldn't help but fall in love with him.

3.  What strengths/skills do you have?  What is your greatest weakness? Is being stubborn a skill? If it is, I'm abundantly talented. I'm also familiar with every square inch of the Hudson Sanctuary property, and every bird that finds a home here.            

4.  What scares you?  That I will never know what happened to Heather, my friend, all those years ago.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be much better at taking direction.

6.  Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? I feel abandoned by God.

7.  Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?  I am overwhelmed by His goodness, simply overwhelmed at the second chance I've been given.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story.  Tell us why this scripture is significant.    Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside of your Father's care.  Matthew 10:29. This whole ordeal has shown me that even the most fragile, insignificant life is significant to The Lord.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? Bread pudding. Warm, sweet, comforting, but with substance.

Friday Sisterhood with Rachel Dylan

Family Status:

I am married with five furkids—2 dogs and three cats. I am a huge animal lover:)

What Is Your Favorite Beverage:

Coffee!

What Is Your Favorite Food:

Pizza—how can you beat cheese and bread?

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time:

I love to take my dogs for long walks. I also enjoy working out.

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life:

My mom and dad were both huge influences in my life.

First Book You Fell in Love With:

The Sweet Valley Series LOL

A Book You Wish You’d Written:

Wuthering Heights

First Book Published:

This is my first book!!!

Most Recent Book:

Out of Hiding

Out Next:

Hopefully I’ll know the answer to that soon!

How Many Have You Written:

Out of Hiding is my debut.  Here I am signing.

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then:

Perspective, Perspective, Perspective. Not sweating the small stuff and taking each day as it comes.

What is Your Favorite Bible Story:

The fiery furnace

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse:

Psalm 23

What is Your Favorite Hymn:

I absolutely love music and love to sing. So naming a favorite is so difficult. I enjoy traditional hymns and contemporary music. My current favorite song is Lay it Down by Sanctus Real. The lyrics really speak to me.

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have:

For strength, wisdom, and guidance.

Following in the footsteps of greatness

Well, at least that's what I'm going to say, since I seem to be having the day Winnie had today. But hey, since I've long loved and admired her, I guess I could be doing worse! :)

Which gives me a great topic for today's blog. Everyone has been asking me about what changes when you get published or what you didn't expect about getting published. So far, I keep saying it's all the same. Because it has been. I just plug away and do my thing and juggle my life. Until release week hits. :) Boy, was I not prepared!! I had some friends advise me that it gets busier and you need to clear your schedule, and I thought I had done a good job. Not so. What I didn't know, was that in addition to your book release, Murphy's law of writers comes into play, and suddenly, your editor wants to do line edits on your next book, you still have revisions on another book to finish, all of your kids' activities have games, performances, and projects that require way more of your time than usual, and... wow!!

When I wake up in the mornings, I always say three things I'm thankful for before I get out of bed. My first was that I had a good night's sleep. My second was for how comfortable I am. And my third- that I don't have to leave the house today!

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm pretty thankful that I have so many reasons to be busy. So I'm sitting here, drinking my tea, contemplating my inbox, and thinking how nice it is to have so many wonderful things in my life. After all, the alternative is to go stark raving mad, and who wants that? :)

All that to say, which is really the BIG NEWS of this post, Rocky Mountain Dreams is finally available! I'd love for you to grab a copy and let me know what you think!

About the book:

HIS SURPRISE SISTER 
The last thing Joseph Stone expects to discover upon arriving in Leadville, Colorado, is a newfound little sister. Hoping to find his late father's silver mine and hopefully keep his siblings back home out of an orphanage, Joseph needs an ally. The preacher's lovely daughter agrees to care for the little girl. She's just not as willing to trust the prospector….
Annabelle Lassiter has seen what men do in pursuit of riches. Yet for all the hardship he's known, Joseph still shows tenderness and warmth. Annabelle's plan has long been to leave Leadville far behind. But Joseph's quest for silver could cost them a more precious dream—one of family, love and new beginnings….

And hey, if you have tips for surviving life when it gets crazier than you expected, let me know. I'd love to hear how you balance everything!

An Embarrassing Situation

Hello.  Winnie Griggs here.  My apologies for the lateness of getting this post up, but I totally spaced on this being my day up at bat.  Which is doubly embarrassing since I'm the person in charge of setting up the posting schedules.  But I will console myself with the quote below

And to make it up to all of you, I'm going to give away a copy of my brand new release, Her Holiday Family, to THREE commenters on today's post.  All you have to do is tell me about one embarrassing situation you found yourself in so I won't be embarrassed all by myself :)

HER HOLIDAY FAMILY

What happens when a straight-laced young widow’s home is invaded by ten rambunctious orphans and their handsome caretaker just in time for the holidays... 

Reserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldn't know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans just before Thanksgiving, she discovers she can't just turn them away.

Simon knows there's more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simon's kindness soon melts Eileen's stern facade. Simon and the children have already upended Eileen's quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart?

Allie Pleiter on love and food...

I’m an emotional eater. If I’m happy, I’m reaching for the chocolate.  If I’m sad, well, I’m reaching for the chocolate as well.  My waistline will tell you this isn’t a healthy reaction, but I’m betting I’ve got lots of company in the “women who eat their feelings” department.

I had a book group once give themselves a party where they brought (and ate) all the food in BAD HEIRESS DAY.  I hadn’t even realized there was that much food until they showed me the list!  It felt like an odd, grown up version of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.  But they assured me, it was a festive night.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to me that food shows up in lots of my books.  In my world—the real one and the ones I make up—life often happens over food.  People relate over broken bread (or broken Mint Milano cookies).  Frankly, I think food is romantic.

I’ve already gotten lots of emails and letters about Jesse’s exquisite cooking skills in SAVED BY THE FIREMAN.   How can you not love a man who turns Brussels Sprouts into what Charlotte calls “the chocolate cake of vegetables”?!?

Romantic and memorable food scenes are everywhere: The heartwarming dogs-eating-spaghetti scene from LADY AND THE TRAMP.  Julia Robert’s amusing airborne escargot in PRETTY WOMAN.  The hysterical deli scene in WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.  What about you?  What are your favorites?

Craftie Ladies - Love Inspired Romance November 2014 Releases

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

COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE
By Linda  Goodnight

Second-Chance Christmas
  

It's been nine years since Jake Hamilton broke Allison Buchanon's heart and left town. But she's never been able to forget the high school boy she secretly loved. Now Jake's come home to care for his ailing grandmother, and Allison's family will do anything to prevent a rekindled romance. Unfortunately, the connection between Allison and the green-eyed cowboy is undeniable. She believes that forgiveness is possible, especially at Christmas. But Jake cares too deeply about Allison to take her away from the close-knit Buchanon clan. 

Will Allison have to choose between a loving family and the love of her life? 

SAVED BY THE FIREMAN

By Allie Pleiter

Charlotte Taylor isn't good at playing it safe. Reeling from the sudden loss of her job and her beloved grandmother, Charlotte knows buying a dilapidated cottage in Gordon Falls isn't exactly practical. Especially since she just hired the one man who may love the property more than she does to help renovate it. Volunteer firefighter and part-time contractor Jesse Sykes can't stay mad at Charlotte for very long. Though she snatched up the home he'd planned on purchasing, Charlotte's dreams are big enough for both of them…if only she'd let him in. 

Charlotte promised she'd never fall for a first responder, but is it already too late?

FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW:COWBOY UNDER THE MISTLETOE BY LINDA GOODNIGHT

Second-Chance Christmas  

It's been nine years since Jake Hamilton broke Allison Buchanon's heart and left town. But she's never been able to forget the high school boy she secretly loved. Now Jake's come home to care for his ailing grandmother, and Allison's family will do anything to prevent a rekindled romance. Unfortunately, the connection between Allison and the green-eyed cowboy is undeniable. She believes that forgiveness is possible, especially at Christmas. But Jake cares too deeply about Allison to take her away from the close-knit Buchanon clan. Will Allison have to choose between a loving family and the love of her life?

Interview:

How exciting to have Jake Hamilton, the hero from  Cowboy Under the Mistletoe by Linda Goodnight, a  November, 2014, release from Love Inspired Romance .

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

I guess  the most interesting is also the worst thing about me. I’m a hated man in the town of Gabriel’s Crossing, Texas.  I have to live with that every day of my life and that’s kept me away for a long time. Now, I have to go back and face the music. Seeing Allison Buchanon and her brothers, though, is completely off limits. Man, I miss them.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Hang out with the other cowboys on the rodeo circuit, talk smack about bullriding, get on practice bulls, watch a little football on TV. You know. Guy stuff.

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

Oh, man. Easy one. I have spent ten years of my life dreading the day I’d have to face Quinn Buchanon again. He hates my guts and rightly so. I ruined his life and there’s not a thing I can do to fix it.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Spending the rest of my life as an outcast, alone and unforgiven.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

Right now, I gotta take care of Granny Pat. She took care of me when no one else would. She’s a pistol, my granny, but I love her to pieces.

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

I like to listen to cowboy poetry but I can’t say I’ve read a whole book in a while.  I’m trying to read the Bible and I bought a devo for cowboys. I tossed the reins to Jesus a couple of years ago. Best decision ever.

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

I’d be able to fall in love with one of the girls I’ve met along the way. Someone other than Allison Buchanon, the one I can never have.

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

Not unless you count the young bulls I’m raising with friend and mentor, Manny Morales, though they’re all buckers and a little frisky to call pets.  I travel too much with the rodeo circuit for a normal pet.

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

Oh, yeah, I’d love to do this. I’d go back to a November morning in the woods along the Red River and I would not, never, no way, bring beer on a hunting trip.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...Chapter 11 by Christine Johnson

Wild thoughts careened through Ellie's head as she tumbled forward. Hadn't Scarlett fallen down the stairs in Gone With the Wind? Shouldn't her life pass before her eyes? Why, oh why had she accepted the invitation? Yes, it was a great chance to wear her new Louboutins and meet a single man, but any other party had to be safer.

The house. That's why she'd come here. She had to see inside the house. Dumb idea. Didn't curiosity kill the cat?

At least her screams drowned out the other shrieks.

Ouch! Her behind bounced off a step, and she was surprised it didn't hurt. The steps must have a lot of padding under the carpet. Her fingers grazed the bannister, but her momentum carried her past before she could grab hold.

"Help-ee-elp-ee-elp!" Her shriek bounced with each step and came to an abrupt stop along with the rest of her when she struck a very solid, very warm and very much living object.

"Didn't I tell you to stay where you were?" JT pulled her to her feet. "You could have gotten hurt."

"I'm not hurt," she protested. Bruised ego, perhaps, but she'd slid more than fell. Her borrowed shoes hadn't even come off!

"Thank goodness you're all right." His arms pulled her so close that she could feel the frantic rhythm of his heart. He pressed his warm cheek to hers, the mask clearly discarded. "I would never have forgiven myself if anything happened to you, Ellie."

Now her heartrate accelerated. The way he clutched her and the ragged emotion that cracked his voice wiped away her irrational fear of noises in the dark and replaced it with the very real fear of what might have happened--and what was about to happen.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have moved."

"No, no, the fault is mine." If anything he held her closer. "Please understand, that's how Tracye lost her husband. He fell on a construction worksite, and he wasn't wearing his safety harness."

No wonder JT's sister didn't like the massive house with its sweeping staircase. It must remind her of her loss. "Then Mandy is...?"

"Their daughter. I tried to be a father to her, but she refused to listen to me."

Now her heart broke for him. "Most teenaged girls rebel, whether with their mom, their dad, or their uncle." That must have been the shoe-throwing phase. "But she turned out well. You said she's in the Peace Corps."

"In the Philippines. She is back in the States now, though, and was supposed to arrive home tonight, but her flight got grounded by the bad weather. Tracye's been upset ever since she got Mandy's call. When I heard Sis crying, I was afraid she'd gotten more bad news." He paused. "But that's no excuse. I should never have left you alone in the dark in a strange house. Can you ever forgive me?"

Ellie recalled the tenderness of his touch when he wiped her feet dry and placed the ruby slipper on her foot. With all that was going on in his family, he had gone to extraordinary lengths to help a woman he did not know. "Of course I do."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I promise not to leave your side the rest of the evening." His chocolatey rich vow wound around her heart as securely as his arm cradled her waist.

"Now that's a promise I'll hold you to."

"With pleasure."

A rumble of excitement started deep within and exploded when his expressive lips brushed against hers in the suddenly quiet darkness. Ellie wobbled on the unfamiliar shoes before he swept her off her feet and into his arms like Rhett Butler had done with Scarlett.

At that moment the lights flickered on, revealing they were just one step from the bottom of the staircase where...oh dear. A smattering of goblins, aka guests, gathered around Tracye, Mina and a couple of cats. One goblin hooted, then the rest joined in. That was the eerie shrieking she'd heard earlier, only now it sounded a lot more playful. How could she have been so silly?

Though heat suffused her cheeks, JT grinned widely and carried her down the remaining step.

Then he looked her in the eyes. "Your wish is my command, my scarlet-shoed princess. Just close your eyes, click your heels together three times, and whisper your heart's desire."

On a night like tonight, Ellie could believe anything possible. She closed her eyes and tapped her heels.

Click, click, click.

"There's no one like--"

JT's lips quieted her with a kiss that sent every fear scurrying into next year. The goblin hoots turned to cheers, but she could only think how wrong she'd been to doubt him. The kiss ended sweet as candy corn, with the promise of more. She opened her eyes to a smile that outshone the brightest lightning bolt.

"There's no one like you," they said in unison.

The End