#SaturdaySpotlight is on Dana Pratola & Wasn't Expecting That!

Hello and Welcome to another editon of Saturday Spotlight.

Today's guest is not new to the blog, per se, but it has been a while since she visited. So, without further ado, take it away Dana and tell us why you wrote Wasn't Expecting That...

Thanks Pam!

I started this book because I thought it would be nice to see a Pastor who doesn’t fill the typical role some Christians expect. Maddox Crew is single, has tattoos, temptations, and a past. I think it’s important to remember that pastors are men and, like anyone else, not immune to temptations. But they can also overcome and stay true to the Lord. Maddox is looking for a wife, and while he might technically be free to marry whomever he chooses, he only wants the one the Lord says is for him.

I also wanted to point out that in addition to the common problems many churches face—finances, squabbles among members, etc.—no church is immune to infiltration from the often subtle but very real and serious evil of witchcraft. It’s more prevalent than people realize and needs to be dealt with swiftly and decisively. 

Wonderful to know, Dana. I certainly enjoyed this book. You can read my review HERE. Please give us more.

Here you go...

Blurb: Luna Alexander is looking for a fun vacation adventure, and since her sister abandoned her, Maddox will have to substitute. He’s gorgeous and kind and doesn’t expect anything from her.

Maddox Crew isn’t looking for romance. The next woman he gets involved with will be his bride, but what’s wrong with hanging out with a beautiful girl for a few days? He's a Pastor ... what could happen? 

Still, something is going on at Cross Roads Church other than a not-quite romance. Unexplained hindrances, shadows, and accidents tell Maddox there’s more happening than what his eyes can see…

Excerpt: I groaned. With no one to hold my cone, I raised it up and carefully dropped to my stomach—flopped, like a fish on a boat deck—extended my legs out, and shoved my hand through again.

“Come on,” I grunted, pressing my shoulder into the metal grate rim, lengthening my fingertips as far as I could, and wiggling them as if to lure the key closer. “Come on….”

It wasn’t enough.

I took a deep breath and again plunged one hand deep into the underworld, the other lifting my cone higher, hips rocking, bare knees scraping on the cement, oblivious to all sounds around me except my labored breathing.

This was Lyric’s fault. She was supposed to be here with me, watching out for me, making sure I didn’t get into these situations. She’s my big sister and should be here on the agreed-upon two-week vacation that we’d saved all year for, instead of skipping off to who-knows-where with what’s-his-face.

Closing my eyes might help. If I could just harness the energy of sight and funnel it into my fingertips, it would make my fingers longer.

I shook my head, vowing to never confess to having that preposterous thought. It was something my mother would say.

Anyway, I was no closer. Not a single millimeter, which was so frustrating since I was almost there.

We all know how much almost counts.

A few sounds filtered in then, running footsteps, and a masculine voice.

“Hamster, no!” he yelled, in the same instant my cone hand was nudged, my fist suddenly emptied.

I snapped my head up, scraped my shoulder, and came face to drooling face with a hairy brown, black, and white beast. It swiped its mouth with its sloppy tongue and stood there smiling expectantly at me, tail wagging.

“What the…?”

“I’m so sorry,” came the male voice again. “Hamster, what is wrong with you today?”

I got to my feet and glared down at the Bernese Mountain Dog. They’d always been one of my favorite breeds. Right now … not so much.

“Hamster?” I asked, taking in the sheer size of the dog.

“Yeah, sorry. I just got him and … he’s a menace, I’m afraid.”

I took my first look at the man at the other end of the leash. He was very handsome—gorgeous, actually—with short, brown hair, light eyes, and a U of sweat, hugging his Alice Cooper tank top to his athletic, tattooed form.

Yes, gorgeous and apologetic.

GREAT excerpt! Thanks. Now please tell us a little more about you...

I'm passionate about Romance. I write about real people with real struggles, temptations, and desires. My characters often have difficult choices to make - and don't always make the right ones. My stories are not what you expect, and everything you want.

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three dynamic children, all of whom are destined to make wide, colorful splashes in this world. We share our New Jersey home with two dogs. I have no hobbies to speak of unless you include writing. I don't.

You can find & follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

*Important: Please keep in mind that Reviews are so important to authors 😊

Thank You, Dana for sharing your book with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings for continued success!

Until next time, friends, check out Dana's previous visits HERE and get your copy of Wasn't Expecting That at Amazon.

Take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton @BarbaraMBritton & Christmas at Whispering Creek!

Good Morning,

It's a rainy day here in SW Louisiana. A line of storms moved in during the night and we've had lot's of wind and rain. What better to do on a gloomy day than relax with a good book and this time of year, a Christmas romance! Please welcome Barbara Britton back as she shares her new relase with us....

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam. I am thrilled to share about my first contemporary romance novel. It’s a Christmas novel, too. I’m known for writing Biblical Fiction, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to write about something I lived through—breast cancer. It would be difficult to write cancer into a storyline in Bible Times.

My young heroine, Samantha, is a breast cancer survivor. I’ve had breast cancer in my rear-view mirror for 6 years. Praise the Lord! I added a brief account of my journey at the end of “Christmas at Whispering Creek.” I hope you enjoy my story which is two stories—one fiction and one real.

All Samantha Williams wants to do is to use her teaching degree to instruct a classroom of second graders. But, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-three, and failed reconstruction surgery, Sam finds herself without a job and temporarily living with her parents. This isn't the life Sam expected. When a family friend dies and leaves Sam a house and land in Whispering Creek, Tennessee, Sam must decide if leaving Wisconsin for Southern living is in her lesson plans.

Nashville native, Cole Donoven, left his family' s electrical business to write country music. When Cole' s song-writing partner and girlfriend dumps him for a country music star, Cole abandons Nashville to hole up in Whispering Creek and compose one more song. The last thing Cole expects to find in the sleepy small town is a deceased friend, estate squabbles, and a Northern beauty. Will the chaos in Whispering Creek help create a bestselling song for Cole and possibly help him find a life-long collaborator?

Excerpt: Samantha eased away from Cole’s warmth not wanting to seem too needy. She was the queen of log throwing after all. But had she shared too much? Cole’s arm remained at her back, firm and comforting. 

     He picked up the string cheese. “How about some spoiled mozzarella.” 

     Sniffling, she laughed at his ploy to lighten the mood. “They’re expired. But totally edible.”  

 

     “How long have you been boyfriend‐free?” Cole’s comforting arm slid away as he stripped plastic from their second course of dinner. She missed the kindness in his touch. 

     Not long. “Since Thursday at lunchtime.” Would Cole think she was on the rebound? 

     “Three days?” He handed her the first roll of cheese. “I think you need this more than me. After three days, I was laying around in bed.” His leg jiggled as if he readied to run from this topic. “I didn’t get a good‐bye. I got a note on my kitchen table. Had to figure out what I had done to get left for another man. I’m not sure I ever will know the answer.” His gaze glanced over her head and out into the tree‐lined moonlight. 

     This wasn’t Christian of her, but in Sam’s book, Jillie Lynn became lower than a nightcrawler. How did you ghost someone as sweet as Cole? 

     “If I’m honest.” She swallowed a hunk of cheese, nearly choking. “Our relationship had been strained for months. Karlton traveled to cement a law firm offer—” 

     “Your ex was an attorney named Karlton?” Cole stroked his chin while a grin played with his mouth. “I don’t know whether to laugh or to punch the guy.” Cole’s protective streak had her sitting tall on the wooden bench. 

     “A week ago, I would have said laugh, but today, I’m OK with a punch. Nothing too bloody.”

     “Man, your boyfriend leaves, and then you find out about Ted?” 

     “A half‐hour later.” She jabbed an unwrapped cheese stick his direction. “And while I was on the phone with Chester, I saw Karlton and his neighbor holding hands as they walked across his apartment complex.” Rehashing Karlton’s betrayal to a handsome friend didn’t seem so bad. Cole had more emotional awareness in his thumb than her ex did in his entire designer‐suited body. “How’s that for a neat, tidy bow?”

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day USA. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. Her novel “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” is a compelling, yet fun story, shining a light on breast cancer. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website www.barbarambritton.com.

You can buy Christmas at Whispering Creek at Amazon, B&N or wherever books are sold. And you can check out Barbara's previous visits HERE.

Oh, Wow, Barbara, I am SO excited for you with your debut contemporary romance and a Christmas one at that! Good luck and God's blessings with it!

Hope you enjoyed Barbara's post 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