#SaturdaySpotlight is on Linda McLaughlin AKA: Lyndi Lamont & Lady Elinor's Escape!

Good Morning Friends,

Linda has visited our blog before so please welcome her back with a peek into her Regency Romance novel, Lady Elinor's Escape. Take it away Linda....

Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin's life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a rescuer of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party. 

Excerpt: (Note: Elinor has run away from her abusive aunt who hit her the day before. She meets Stephen Chaplin at a nearby inn.)

“Excuse me, madam, but I could not help overhearing you say that you must leave for London immediately. Allow me to introduce myself. Stephen Chaplin, Esquire, at your service.”

Elinor turned to face the gentleman who had suddenly appeared. She stared at him through a haze of black, taking advantage of her veil to get a closer look at this tall, dark-haired, seemingly well bred gentleman. He was above average height, with finely chiseled features, and while he could not, strictly speaking, be deemed handsome, there was something in the intense scrutiny of his light brown eyes that drew her to him. By the cut of his bottle green Superfine coat, which emphasized his broad shoulders, but was not so tight as to hamper movement, and his casually tied neckcloth, she surmised he was no society dandy.

“How do you do?” she said politely, extending one black-gloved hand.

“Fine, thank you.”

As he took her hand and bowed over it, Elinor savored the warmth of his touch for a moment. It had been a long time since someone had touched her out of kindness. Suddenly realizing she was clutching his hand, she withdrew hers. He studied her, his gaze seeming to penetrate the veil, and she could only stand like the veriest lump under his scrutiny.

“I beg your pardon, madam, but what did you say your name was?”

“Eli—” Elinor broke off and feigned a cough, panic bubbling up inside. Her name. Dear heavens, she needed a new name. If she told him who she was, he would never agree to take her to Mimi. She stared down at the gentleman’s yellow nankeen trousers and shiny brown boots. “Brown,” she stammered. “Ellie Brown.”

“Mrs. Brown, may I offer my assistance? I’m heading for London myself and would be pleased to convey you as far as Chippenham, where you may pick up another stage coach.”

Relief flooded through her at his offer, but could she trust him? No proper young lady rides in a closed carriage with a gentleman who is not related to her. The words of her governess rang in her ears. “I do not think—”

“Of course, you are cautious,” he interrupted smoothly. “Any genteel lady would hesitate to trust a strange gentleman.”

"But I am not a lady,” she blurted. If Aunt Sarah learned that a ‘lady’ had been here, she would know where to look for her. “I am merely a seamstress.”

"Really,” he drawled, doubt evident in his tone. 

“Yes, I have a position awaiting me in London.” She was surprised, and a bit uncomfortable, at how easily the lies flowed from her lips, but they were necessary. 

"Then you had best accept my offer, lest your position go to someone else. Miss Wainwright can vouch for me. We traveled here together from London. Nancy,” he called out. “Over here.” 

A young serving woman who was obviously in the family way approached them. “What can I do fer ye, Mr. Chaplin?” 

“I have offered to convey Mrs. Brown to London, but she is not sure I can be trusted.” 

Nancy giggled. “Oh, ma’am, ye’ve naught to fear. Mr. Chaplin’s the finest gentleman I’ve ever met. And we gets quite a few gents here at the Horse and Cart.” 

“Yes, I expect you do.” And not all of them honorable, Elinor thought with a glance at Miss Wainwright’s belly. 

Elinor pondered her choices. It was either Stephen Chaplin in a closed carriage or back to Aunt Sarah’s cottage where, at best, she would be locked in her bedroom after today’s escapade. And at worst... 

She remembered Aunt Sarah’s pistol and promptly made up her mind. Stephen Chaplin was undoubtedly the lesser of two evils. 

“Very well, sir, I accept your escort.” 

“Would you care for some breakfast first?” 

The inn was warm and she’d like nothing better than to settle near the fire and break her fast. Her stomach felt like it was stuck to her backbone, but she shook her head, afraid to stay a moment longer. 

Scant minutes later, Mr. Chaplin led her outside to a closed traveling carriage standing in the inn yard. He must be a gentleman of some means, she mused, to have his own carriage. He supervised the loading of their luggage then held out his hand to help her into the carriage. As she stepped up, the wind caught her veil and blew it upwards. For a second she had a clear glimpse of his startled face. 

He had seen the bruise.

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an  incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada, Australia, Europe and Iceland. She now lives near the ocean in Orange County, California.

Linda writes historical and Regency romance under her real name and spicier romance under the pseudonym Lyndi Lamont. 

Catch up with Linda/Lyndi at the following Social Media Locations:

Website: https://www.lindalyndi.com

Blog: https://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/ 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/lindamclaughlin

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-mclaughlin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1216627.Linda_McLaughlin

Pinterest: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Get your copy of Lady Elinor's Escape from Amazon, BookBub, or Goodreads

Thanks for sharing with us Linda! Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings on your writing/books!

Until next time friends, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Chris Fabry & A Piece of the Moon

Good Morning from Nacogdoches, TX!

Yep, I'm here house/dog/duck sitting while my son is in FL with his dance and cheer teams for National competition. It's been an eventful couple of days. Two of my friends came to do some writing and my grandson is here also while on Spring Break from school. I've picked up a WIP that I started writing last year during a writer's retreat here in Nac. Hopefully you'll have another book by year's end. We'll see, but enough about me!

Our guest today has shared Treasures and Words with us before so please welcome Mr. Fabry back with some information on his latest book, A Piece of the Moon....

1. Is there anything in our culture today that inspired this story and its themes?

The original catalyst was the story of Forrest Fenn, who hid a fortune somewhere in the Rocky Mountains and gave clues to its whereabouts in a poem. He said the reason he did that was to make people go out and enjoy nature. I took that idea and wondered what would happen if a quirky, rich fellow hid a fortune with the desire to encourage people to read the Bible. That prospect engaged me as a fiction writer.

2. This story takes place in Emmaus, West Virginia. What inspired this setting for your novel?

I find my writing becomes more vivid when I set it in my home state of West Virginia, and I chose the fictional town of Emmaus since it has such rich, biblical meaning. The real treasure in West Virginia is its people, who often are caricatured and marginalized as “simpletons.” But the people I write about are complex people with lots of hurt and pain and struggle as well as grit and determination. I love writing about this area and the people who are part of me, even though I live a “fur piece” from there now.

3. In this story, the main characters come together in search of a treasure. Without giving too much away, can you give us a sense of what they are searching for?

Treasure is the right word. The man who hid it, Gideon Quidley, has never revealed exactly what is inside the treasure chest (which is a replica of the Ark of the Covenant). But conjecture runs wild up and down hollers. What would people do with a million dollars or more? How would that change their lives?

4. What key lessons or themes permeate this story?

One of the biggest themes is the “second chance.” The little radio station in town, Country 16, is populated with people who have been given another chance by the manager, Waite Evers. Waite is a kindly soul who has his own hurts and struggles, so he knows the value of a second chance. There’s also a theme of forgiveness and the power of that act in your own life as well as the lives of others. Of course, there’s a love story in town and I follow that trail with a person who doesn’t believe she’s worthy of love.

5. Who is your favorite character in this story and why?

Her name is Pidge Bledsoe. Pidge is her nickname because years earlier she adopted a wounded pigeon that hit a guy wire at the radio station and she brought the bird into the office at the junkyard where she works and lives. Pidge has had so many obstacles in life and little hope of finding lasting love. Because of her good heart, she’s also taken responsibility for her nephew. I love Pidge’s outlook on life and how it changes throughout the story.

6. What character was the most fun to write?

Gideon Quidley was the most fun because he’s a brilliant guy. He grew up in the hills and made his way to help in the space program. When he came to faith, he went whole hog. So I wed the brilliance of his mind with the faith of a child and I think readers will enjoy the outcome.

7. What character was the most challenging to write?

Antagonists/villains are always most difficult for me because it’s easy to paint an opposing force as only evil and not well-rounded. In this story, the character who opposes the treasure hunt is someone who believes he’s really the hero and is doing everyone a favor.

8. Did the story unfold in any way that surprised you?

Every story I write catches me off guard. With A Piece of the Moon, I began writing about Gideon and his desire to do something good and I knew the people at Country 16 would play a pivotal role in the unfolding. I didn’t know the depth of the backstories of those people, so as it came to me, I realized some of the complexities of the lives they led and the hurts they had experienced. Rick Bragg said the best stories are about people in trouble. And I was surprised by all the trouble these people had encountered. I’m hoping readers will see some of their own troubles represented in the story.

9. Could you relate to this story? How so?

I was surprised at how much I wrote about my own heart. One theme I didn’t mention is that struggle is a sign of life, not failure. So the struggle in this little town and at the little radio station is what propels people into real life. And I’ve seen that at work in my own heart through the years. I equate things going “smoothly” and “well” as success. But most of the really good things that have happened have come through a wilderness journey at some point. So I think anyone who reads it will find the same concept at work in their own lives.

10. How do you hope this story will resonate with your readers?

First, I hope it will draw you in and make you laugh at the faults and foibles in Emmaus. I also hope it grabs you so deep in the heart that you will shed a tear at some of the real struggles you encounter. But mostly I think the takeaway I received is that faith is allowing God to be who he is and letting him work in our lives at his own pace rather than making him conform to my idea of how he should act. Real faith in God hangs on to him in the flood instead of taking us out of the deep water. And then we’ll see that we weren’t really hanging on as tightly as he was hanging on to us.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. A graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children

MY REVIEW.....

A Piece of the Moon grabbed me from the beginning and didn't turn loose until the conundrum of Gideon Quidley's hidden treasure was resolved. Endearing characters, interesting plotline, mystery and intrigue blend together in a story that is sure to satisfy the most eclectic reader. I give Mr. Fabry 4 stars for this wonderful and entertaining read.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Carol James @CarolJamesAuth

Good Morning and Welcome!

Hurricane cleanup again today. We're in a RV park so far away it's difficult to go in every day but I do  my best to go every other day. Alas, life goes on....

Carol James returns to share some insight on The Power of Words. Take it away, Carol.....

 

       “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I can’t remember the first time I heard or even said these words, but years and wisdom have proven their falseness. Words may not cut or bruise, but the pain they inflict often lasts years longer than the six weeks required to mend a broken arm.

            “The pen is mightier than the sword.” I do remember the first time I heard these words in history class. We discussed how, in using words to influence a person’s thoughts, you can transform someone. Words, not swords, have the power to cause true heart-change. That one idea began my love affair with words.

            Several years ago, a friend invited me to a women’s conference. It was a time when my life was in a drought. Certain God had called me into a new ministry, I’d begun writing. After numerous rejections and some harsh critiques, which all writers receive, I began to question my decision. Writing was too much work. Too hard. Too painful. If I wasn’t being successful, maybe I hadn’t really been called.

            In addition to the mental pain, I’d been having unexplained back problems, and the thought of sitting for hours in a stadium seat was torturous. But I went. Because time with my friend was priceless.

            As we entered the huge arena, I recognized the background music. Sovereign Over Us, a song written and sung by my church’s worship pastor, Aaron Keyes. What a fun coincidence! Of all the recordings they could have chosen, one by a person I knew. A song I’d sung many times in church. A reminder of God’s sovereignty.

            We found our seats. Mine had an envelope on it. I glanced around the huge convention center. Each seat held an envelope. Thousands of seats, thousands of envelopes.

            I opened mine. Snoopy. I love Snoopy! And he was sitting at a typewriter struggling to find the right words.

            Then I opened the card. Someone had handwritten a Bible verse inside. “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14”

            The song about God’s sovereignty, the verse about healing, even the typewriter, of all things. I can’t remember the teaching from that weekend. I’m sure it was fabulous. But I will never forget what God said to me through the song and the card. The words were streams in my wasteland.

            Oh, the power of words! We all have the responsibility to use our words for good. To build up rather than tear down. To heal rather than hurt. As a Christian writer, my task is to use words not only to tell a story but also to show God’s love.

            The woman who volunteered her time to inscribe my card most likely had no idea the depth of truth the words would speak to my heart. But she was obedient, and the words she wrote were powerful, life-changing.

            Words. Powerful. Life-changing. Heart-changing. Maybe that’s why John tells us Jesus is the Word.

            In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:1,14

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction, in particular redemptive romance. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best seller. 

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Connect with Carol at the following locations....

www.carol-james.com

Facebook.com/CarolJamesAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/caroljamesauthor

https://twitter.com/CarolJamesAuth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149238.Carol_James

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-james

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3duHqKc

Get your copy of Carol's newest release, Season of Hope at Amazon, Pelican Book Group (Ebook), and Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Oh, Carol what a lovely story. I adore it when God speaks to me like this! Thank you so much for sharing!

Good luck and God's blessings

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Angela Couch @AngelaKCouch & Heart of a Warrior!

Good Morning!

So far we've made it nearly half-way through Hurricane season without a lot to fear but this coming week may just be the end of what little peace we had. TWO storms, Lord, really?!

Alas, the spotlight must go on....

Today's guest is no stranger to our blog although it has been a while since she has been in our spotlight and shared thoughts & treasures with us so please welcome Angela Couch back with her brand new release, Heart of a Warrior...

The Man She Fears Is Her Only Chance For Survival . . .

All Christina Astle wants is to reach Oregon before her baby is born, but the wagon train is attacked, and her husband killed, stranding her in a mountain labyrinth. Raised in the East, within civilization's embrace, survival is not a skill she's learned. Neither is evading the lone warrior dogging her trail.

Disgusted by the greed and cruelty of men like his white father, Towan has turned to the simpler existence of his mother's tribal people. He is not prepared for the fiery woman who threatens to upturn his entire life ... and his heart.

Excerpt: 

Autumn 1859

Eyes clamped shut against the subsiding ache in her abdomen, Christina Astle sucked in cool mountain air. Pine saturated the breath and constricted her lungs like the corsets she’d happily given up only months earlier. Her hand stole across her extended stomach. What had she been thinking, agreeing to follow Anthony away from society, safety, and a house with four walls? What if they didn’t make it to Oregon in time? She refused to give birth with nothing but canvas overhead.

The wagon wheel dropped into another rut, and a gasp escaped her, drawing her husband’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I wish I could go slower, but we’re at least a mile behind them.” He glanced at the sun hovering above, then slipped the gold watch from his breast pocket and flipped it open. “It’s after three already.”

“I know…and I am fine.” Christina raised her chin a degree but refused to look at him and his perpetually concern-laden eyes. Anthony did everything within his power to keep her comfortable, stopping often, even when it meant trailing behind the rest of the wagon train. As long as they caught up by nightfall. Still, heat rose in her chest. They should have waited another year, or—better yet—never left Cincinnati in the first place.

The crack of a discharging rifle pierced the valley and deepened into echo. Then a scream, soft and haunting. More gun fire followed, ricocheting off the high mountain ridges.

The wagon lurched to a halt, and Christina grabbed for the seat. She stared ahead at the empty trail scarred with evidence of those who led the way. Horses. Cattle. Families with children. God, no!

The wagon jerked and rocked off the trail, reins slapping the backs of the mules.

Christina dug her fingertips into the raw wood. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking it away from the trail. I’m not leaving you sitting in plain sight.”

“Leaving me? You can’t. We don’t know what’s going on.” Her head spun. “No, Anthony. Not with these mountains full of savages. Don’t you dare leave me here.”

The wagon tipped slightly then righted, dropped over the slope, and rolled into an aspen grove. White bark glimmered in the bright sun, and young saplings sprang back into place as the wheels passed over.

“There’s only one way to find out what’s happening. If they’re being attacked, they’ll need help.” Anthony lunged to the ground and unharnessed the mules, fastening them farther out of the way. All except the one trained to ride. Anthony left him near the wagon, heaving a saddle over his withers and forcing a heavy bit into his mouth.

Christina remained paralyzed on the seat. “Anthony…no. Don’t go.”

He said nothing as he loaded his revolver and strapped it to his thigh. With the Winchester tucked under his arm, he swung onto the back of the animal and twisted the reins through his fingers. “You’ll be safe here. Most likely it’s nothing.” He looked away, giving the mule an angry kick. The animal balked but lurched to a trot toward the trail.

“Anthony!”

He rotated in the saddle enough to meet her gaze and yanked back on the bit. His brown eyes studied her face, and his chest released a sigh. “Chris, I have to go. You know where the other rifle is, and the shells are under the seat if you have any need of them. I’ll be back soon.”

Christina sagged against the back of the wagon seat. The edge bit her spine. Hooves scraped the loose rock of mountain trail and faded with the distant gun fire.

To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after four munchkins. www.angelakcouch@hotmil.com 

Get your copy of Heart of a Warrior at Pelican Book Group, Amazon and B&N.

THANKS for sharing in our spotlight, Angela. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new release!

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. 

Meanwhile, if you're anywhere in the path or potential path of these two storms, Take Care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Theresa Hall @TheresaLynnHall & Accidental Target!

 Good Morning Friends,

Life is in a whirlwind as usual. I'm gearing up for the release of My Heart Weeps on 8/18. The blog tour begins next week. You can find all of the dates, stops and prizes up for grabs HERE.

A new release is always exciting and the same goes for our guest today. Fellow PBG author, Theresa Lynn Hall has shared thoughts and treasures and has been in our spotlight before, but today she gives us a peek into her brand new Love Inspired Suspense novel, Accidental Target. Congratulations, Theresa and welcome!

On an icy road in the dead of night what she sees might get her killed.

Allison Moore can’t deny what she sees—a lifeless hand sticking out of a tarp in the back of a crashed pickup truck. Seconds later, she’s on the run with a murderer on her heels. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted…except police sergeant Jackson Archer. But with someone set on silencing her, can Jackson keep his promise of protection?

Excerpt: “These guys won’t stop till you’re dead.”

He regretted telling her but there was no denying the facts. Facts he had to keep to himself. The dead woman she’d seen was a DEA agent, and the man in the truck was a cartel member, a cold-blooded killer. Now that Allison could ID him, she had a hit on her.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Allison. I promise.”

“Jackson, I’m terrified.”

Before he could reply, headlights closed in on them. An oncoming vehicle on their side of the highway. Jackson veered onto a side road and watched the car make a U-turn.

“Get down!”

He floored the accelerator but the vehicle followed them. A gunshot hit the car. Allison screamed.

He had to get her away. But this road led to a dead end—in more ways than one.

“Can you shoot?”

“No.” Her eyes widened with fear.

“Tomorrow I’ll show you how. For now, you’re getting the crash course.”

“What if we don’t make it till tomorrow?”

Theresa Hall is an award-winning author of Christian fiction whose stories include military, law enforcement, and first responder heroes. As a native Texan, she loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old fashioned Southern values. She’s also a first grade teacher who loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline and Discovery ID. She is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She actively promotes fellow Christian Fiction authors on her blog and can be found online at her Website, Facebook, Twitter @TheresaLynnHall, Pinterest and Instagram. Accidental Target can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Harlequin.

This is so wonderful, Theresa, we certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in this new phase of your writing career!

Hope you enjoyed today's guest friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes LoRee Peery @LoreePeery

Good Morning Friends and Welcome to the first Wednesday in August 2020!

Life's been a little crazy since I returned from Troy, AL. My dad had to have surgery and is recovering from a blister on his foot so I've been driving back and forth to his house since Friday. Everything is looking good and he's feeling better every day but your prayers are coveted and appreciated!

Our guest today is no stranger to our blog. She has shared treasures and thoughts with us, been in our spotlight and been a previous Wednesday Words with Friends guest, but before we turn the blog over to LoRee I'd like to announce July's winner of an Amazon gift card.....

Sarah Taylor!

Congratulations, Sarah....Enjoy your gift card and Thank You for supporting our guests.

Now, take it away LoRee.....

I’ve always been captivated by old barns. They catch my eye any time I’m driving through the country, the same as windmills. Rarely are they next to one another any longer. Years ago, my brother lived on an acreage that he cleaned up and flipped. The first time I drove on the place, I fell in love with the barn. I’d never been in one that could be entered on different levels. The door that faced the house opened into the loft where hay was stored. A trapdoor and ladder led to the lower level, entered from the corral, where the animals were kept.

Bingo, an old dream came to mind. One I had years before I started writing. In the dream, I walked up the stairs of an old farm house and opened a door. On the other side of the door was a farmstead of the late 1800s.

Now what did I know about that time in history other than the westerns I’d read and watched? I’d never read a time travel other than The Time Machine. Of course I’d seen the movie Back to the Future. I bought Diana Gabaldon’s tome, Outlander (and loved it except for the violence). But I was intrigued. So I started praying about a time travel story where the heroine falls through a barn trapdoor and wakes up to the cowboy of her dreams.  Since my brother’s acreage was in Washington County, Nebraska, that’s where I set the story. The heroine Amanda is an event planner who lives in Omaha.

I’m excited for readers to experience a take-away escape while reading my story, one of faith and hope. Time travel is a popular genre that crosses generations of readers. This year of 2020 has put us Americans, and the world, through troubled times. There’s nothing good on the news due to the virus and politics. Beta readers and early reviewers have mentioned Cowboy Just in Time is a different kind of story, thus entertaining.

Faith always plays into my stories because my belief in God is what my life is all about. Amanda is strong in her beliefs and attends a Bible-teaching church in twenty-first century Omaha. Gavin saw God through nature but had next to no Bible teaching. Trust is a big aspect of faith. The bottom line, how could their love be strong enough to span the ages? After all, Mandy simply disappeared into thin air a couple times. But nothing is impossible with God.

My challenge for this story came while writing the historical aspect. I really didn’t have trouble identifying with the time, probably because I grew up on an outdated homesteaded farm that didn’t have plumbing until the mid-1950s. Historical references should be accurate because readers are savvy, so I may have gone a little overboard on cowboy lingo. But I also needed to research telephones in the country, the first “talkies,” and Chicago of that day.

I hope this story connects with contemporary Christian women. Readers seek to find hope from a messy world, and time travel is a genre for the curious, no matter our age. Lovers of time travel, especially romantics from late teens to mature adults who like clean happily-ever-after stories, should have the satisfaction that God is not restricted by human ideas, or our views of time.

Blurb:

When event planner Amanda Totten falls through a barn trapdoor and finds herself in the arms of an 1890’s cowboy, she scrambles to find a way back to the future. She has a life and obligations—her fledgling business and her mother’s financial needs. But the less stressful lifestyle, and her deepening love for Gavin Medley, is calling to her heart and she is torn between past and future.

Has God given her a chance at love?

Gavin Medley has been working for years to regain his family homestead. As ranch foreman, he has nothing but a dream of a place and family of his own. But his love for Amanda is making him think that having his own ranch isn’t as important as having someone to love for the rest of his life.

Amanda returns to the future, and Gavin is shattered. He tries to go forward in time, but fails. Believing it's God’s will, Gavin resigns himself to living without the love of his life.

But love transcends time, and Amanda and Gavin need each other. Can Amanda return to her cowboy?

Thank you, Pam, for hosting me today.

You're very welcome, LoRee! It is a pleasure to have you back. I LOVE old barns too so your post really rang a bell with me as I'm sure it does with more of us here. Good luck and God's blessings with Cowboy Just in Time!

Nebraska country girl LoRee Peery writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective, focusing on the romance. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. Her Frivolities Series and the book based on her father’s unsolved homicide, Touches of Time, are available on Amazon. She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother and great-, sister, friend, and author. Connect with LoRee through these links: www.loreepeery.com

https://twitter.com/LoreePeery

https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery

Find her publications at Pelican http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk

And Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LoRee-Peery/e/B004UAGL2W/ref

Get your copy of Cowboy Just in Time at Pelican Book Group, Amazon and B&N.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll come back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. Meanwhile, check out all of LoRee's past visits HERE.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

OH! In case you haven't noticed ... NN Light's Book Heaven is having a Binge-Worthy-Book Fest featuring 50 authors (myself included), 68 books and a HUGE giveaway! Check out my sidebar for details.

#SaturdaySpotlight is on DiAnn Mills & Fatal Strike!

Good Morning and Welcome!

Well I made it through AEP, exhausted but still here LOL. Today I'll be attending Bayou Writers Group meeting/Christmas party. As we enter into the holiday season with parties and gifts, let us take time to reflect on what the season is all about and to treasure and cherish the deepest part of who we are in Christ.

Today's guest is no stranger to our blog, but please welcome DiAnn back as she gives us a peek into her novel, Fatal Strike....

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

Excerpt: SPECIAL AGENT LEAH RIESEL scanned the headlines on her phone. A prosecutor from Galveston had been found murdered behind a construction site, the second apparent victim of gang violence in two days. Both deaths were caused by rattlesnake venom injections to the heart. Before she could pull up additional reports on the woman’s untimely death, Leah’s phone rang.

“Riesel, hostage situation in Galveston,” the SWAT commander said. “Grab your gear. The chopper takes off in five.”

“On it.” She took a last lingering look at the half-eaten blueberry donut and coffee on her cubicle’s desk.

Could this have anything to do with the two murders in Galveston?

Before most of the city began the workday, Leah boarded a 1 Little Bird helicopter beneath whirling blades and the pressure of a critical operation. Dressed in full camo and shouldering her sniper gear, she inhaled the rising temps. Feverish Houston. With the familiar air transport sounds ushering in memories of past missions, her adrenaline kicked in.

A pilot from the tactical helicopter unit lifted the chopper into the air for the twenty-minute ride to Galveston. She recognized him from previous assignments involving aircraft used to deliver SWAT and the elite hostage rescue teams to crisis incidents. This morning her focus eliminated any chitchat.
Leah grabbed sound-canceling headphones and contacted the SWAT commander already on the ground. “Riesel here. Special Agent in Charge Thomas briefed me on a home invasion that’s turned violent.”

The SAC would be watching the operation at the Crisis Management Operations Center.

“Negotiations have gotten us nowhere.” The SWAT commander’s voice rose above the chopper’s blade-snap. “Two unidentified men are holding two women and three children at gunpoint. Galveston PD estimates they’ve been inside the home for at least an hour. Demanding we leave the area after giving them five hundred grand and a gassed-up speedboat. Clock is ticking with forty minutes max. We’ve backed off as far as they know.”

Leah swiped through pics taken with telephoto lenses and sent to her phone. Each ski-masked man held a child as a shield. Leah detested the savagery and the horrific emotions the hostages must be feeling.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com

Fatal Strike can be purchased at Amazon and other places you find great Christian fiction.

#WednesdayWordswithFriends guest DiAnn Mills

Good Morning and Welcome,

If you haven't noticed the Thankful for Our Readers giveaway in the sidebar, let me take a moment to direct your attention to it. I've joined up with a bunch of other authors to show our gratitude to our readers and to give away a $100 Amazon gift card and over 40 books!

Also, today is the last day for the Rafflecopter giveaway for 3 gift cards.

Enter both contests today by clicking on the graphic.

Now on with Wednesday Words with Friends.....

Today's guest is no stranger to our blog. She has shared Treasures and Thoughts and been in our Spotlight before so with out much further ado, I'll hand the blog over to DiAnn Mills.....

10 Life Lessons I Learned from Novel Writing

I’ve been writing novels for over two decades, and I’m constantly adding to my arsenal of craft, marketing and promotion, social media, branding, and living skills.

This post shares what I’ve learned over the years with a bonus message.

1.  Trusting God is essential to a joy-filled life
Without God, we have nothing to anchor our personal, mental, spiritual, and professional life. We tend to gravitate to other means of satisfying the God-hole instead of allowing Him to take His proper place.

2.  Strive to be the best and do it for God
We have instructions in Scripture - Colossians - to do everything as though working for the Lord. That says it all.

3.  Life is filled with edits and rewrites
We make mistakes and face the consequences. The goal is to learn from them. We can’t rewrite the past, but we can rewrite the choices we make in the future.

4.  Choose to love the unloveable
We’ve all met people who infuriated us by their actions or what they believe as contrary to our ethics and morals. Love unconditionally those who despise or disagree with us. Choosing to love does not mean we accept their behavior, but we will do all we can to help them have quality of life.

5.  Change is essential to character growth
A refusal to look at new technology, ideas, people skills, spiritual thoughts, relationships, etc is a stubborn approach to life. When we explore and change our attitudes for the betterment of a Christian worldview, we experience character growth.

6.  Education is a life-long pursuit 
Our education began the moment we entered the world. We used sensory perception to view and evaluate the world long before we entered school. The learning process is a 24 hour endeavor that occurs when we are asleep or awake. Our minds need stimulation to live and process the world around us. We choose to continue our education until we breathe our last. Read. Listen. Pray.

7.  Choose to be informed and know what is going on in the world
We are not ostriches. Keeping our head in the ground to avoid what is happening in our communities, state, city, and world doesn’t make tragedies or inappropriate events go away. We live in this world, and whether we have a writing career or something else, we have a responsibility to contribute to the affairs of our earth.

8.  Mentor those who desperately need our expertise
Pay it forward is a way for us to take what we’ve learned or a kindness and pass it on to someone else. It’s in the giving, we are blessed. The recipient is fortunate and can progress easier in his/her life. A cool swap!

9.  Understand our purpose in life is not to please everyone
Sometimes it takes us years to understand not everyone likes us or ever will. Whenever we take a stand for right, others will oppose, even despise us. God has purposed us to various tasks, and when we follow Him, we will create opposition.

10.  Be thankful for friendships that ask for nothing in return
We all have sister-friends and brother-friends who aren’t manipulative or demand something in return for their relationship with us. I treasure these people and enjoy giving my best to our times together. These special people are a buffer when others can be challenging.

11.  Bonus - We have a glorious future ahead of us in eternity.
For those who haven’t given their life to Christ. Don’t hesitate to embrace a future with Him.

What lessons have you learned in life that you can share?

Wow...wonderful life lessons, DiAnn! One I've learned is God's timing is perfect and He loves to surprise you from 'behind the scenes.'

THANK You for sharing.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com

Fatal Strike can be purchased at Amazon and other places you find great Christian fiction.

Hope you enjoyed DiAnn's visit as much as I did and I hope you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends AND Saturday Spotlight. I've got a ton of exciting things to talk about but I'll save that for my personal post on Nov. 27th so be sure to check back!

Until next time, take care, God Bless and remember.... It's your BEST day ever!
PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends guest Lillian Duncan on Baby Steps

Good Morning!

It's a rainy one here in SW Louisiana, supposedly bringing us another round of cooler weather - which is fine but is drowning us in the meantime really necessary? I know we need some, but hours upon hours and days upon days of it? Not. A. Fan.  LOL! Trust me if I could, I would send it over to California and other areas that are burning up with wild fires!

Oh, HIS mysterious ways....

Anyway, enough about me. Our guest today is no stranger to our blog. Lillian has shared thoughts and treasures and been in our spotlight more than once, although it has been a while since she visited. So please give her a warm reception as she speaks to us about baby steps.....

TRAPPED is my latest romantic suspense novel—heavy on the suspense but enough romance to add to the enjoyment. Being a Christian Fiction novel, there’s always a spiritual message hidden in the pages of the story as well, and this one is no exception.

Angela Matthews had the perfect life until the day she’s kidnapped and trapped in a basement with a mad man. Even though she’s rescued, she remains trapped by the memories she can’t forget.
That’s true for so many of us. Even after the “bad situation” whatever that may be is resolved, we get stuck and can’t seem to move forward with our lives. Instead, we’re angry and bitter or maybe sad and fearful or most likely a combination of all of those negative emotions.

In the story, her rescuer discovers that Angela is indeed still trapped by her horrible experience. He’s had his own share of horrible as a Chicago policeman. Because of that, he reaches out to help Angela.

One of the mantras in the story is “baby steps.” So often we think we have to go from a sitting position to a full-out run or we are a failure. This story reminds us that’s not reality. Each baby step we take toward our goal is a win. Every win brings us closer to our ultimate victory!

But TRAPPED isn’t a self-help book, it’s a suspense novel. That means there’s lots of action, not to mention twists and turns that will keep you guessing who the bad guy is until the very end!

Lillian Duncan… turning faith into fiction.

Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with her husband. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives—especially God’s Word.

She loves to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about her, visit www.lillian-duncan.com as well as her devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com. 

Trapped can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle!

You are so right, Lillian...baby steps are OK, even the Bible tells us to, "despise not small beginnings." THANKS for sharing!

We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book and in all things.

Hope you enjoyed today's guest post friends and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on E.A. West & Out of Her Element!

Good Morning!

I'm a little late posting this morning. I actually got a chance to sleep in and I indulged, wrapped in the covers welcoming the Fall weather. But now I'd like to bring my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, E. A. West to you with her book, Out of Her Element.

Elizabeth is not new to our blog, she's shared thoughts and treasures and been in the spotlight numerous times. Use the search bar and read all of her posts, meanwhile, let's get a peek into this book!

Is living a life of luxury worth losing who you are?

She needs a place to stay.

They offer her a whole new life.

But is living in luxury worth losing her identity?

Mira Hassan is on the verge of freezing to death. Homeless and impoverished, she's desperate for a way to survive. When wealthy family friends offer her a place to stay, she takes a chance and accepts.

Her new life in high society isn't what she expects. Gone are the days of hard work and simple living. Now she's faced with lavish shopping trips, fancy dinner parties, and numerous people who judge by appearance alone.

Yet in the midst of it all, she finds a group of friends with a connection to her past. Is it enough to give her the sense of belonging that she craves, or will she always be out of her element?

Excerpt:

The three dogs crowded around Mira Hassan, and she fed each of them another bite of venison jerky. Like most hunting dogs she’d met, they were food-motivated, which made befriending them easy. A little jerky, some sweet talking, and a few scratches here and there had enabled her to come and go from the shed without fear.

She gave one last pat to the long-legged mutt with a big head and floppy ears. She had no idea what his name was, but he was a sweetheart and had become her best friend in the last few days.

“Don’t bark at me when I come back.”

The accent in her whispered words had made her something of an outcast in the area. Who knew a Palestinian accent flavored with a West Virginian drawl could make people so suspicious?

Then again, she was half Palestinian and had spent more of her life in the Middle East than in the United States. Suspicion due to fear of terrorism was pretty common in her life.

The mutt licked her hand once and sprawled on the thick layer of straw covering the floor. Mira pulled her scarf up around her face and stepped out of the shed. The icy dawn air stung her eyes, and she huddled a little deeper in her coat. One of these days, she would have a warm house to live in again.

Her gaze went to the two-story cabin she’d lived near for the last seven and a half years, ever since she came to the United States as a thirteen-year-old orphan. The windows were still dark, offering a small measure of security as she crossed the clearing.

When she reached the woods, she slipped between the trees and into relative safety. She paused and glanced over her shoulder in time to see a light come on in one of the downstairs windows.

Her heart skipped a beat. Had they seen her? Should she run?

Award-winning author E.A. West is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn’t laid it down yet. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.

You can find her at the following places.....

Website: https://eawestauthor.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cYtgXn

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/EAWestAuthor/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/eawestauthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authoreawest

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/eawestauthor

Out of Her Element can be purchased in Ebook and Print at the following retailers....

eBook

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementEbook
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=2940161298404
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementApple
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/out-of-her-element

Print

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementPrint
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=9780972091961

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Out-Her-Element/E-A-West/9780972091961

Wow...I mean, seriously Elizabeth you've got us hooked! Great job. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things!

See you next week, Friends for another Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight! Until then....Take care and God Bless.
PamT