My Books!

Thursday, August 31, 2017

When It Rains

Title: When It Rains 
Author: Brooke Harris
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 31, 2017
I'm dying.
I'm not afraid. It's my time.
I see so much of me in my granddaughter, I know she will help our family once I'm gone. I just hope she can help herself before it's too late.
My grandmother is dying. 
I'm afraid that it's time.
She has given me a gift. A book.
The story of her past, a lesson to save my future.
Nana always said ''you don't find true love. It finds you''.

“When it Rains is an incredibly emotional women’s fiction and romance story that broke my heart into lots of tiny pieces and then started sticking it back together again.” - Jules - Goodreads Review
“A very worthy 5 stars for this stunning read.” - Teresa - Goodreads Review
“This book was amazingly heartbreaking.” - Shakespeare’s Wench Book Blog
USA Today bestselling author Brooke Harris is a self diagnosed romance addict. Realising at the age of seven that being a real person and not a cartoon character may prove a hindrance when applying for a role as a Disney Princess, she decided to create her own stories. As a grown up Brooke tried swapping the heels and tiaras in her stories for sex and revenge and published her first book, in 2014.
Brooke lives in Ireland with her young family. She daydreams about a climate where it doesn't rain every day, but secretly she loves the green fields and heritage of Ireland. Brooke also writes Psych-thriller under the pseudonym Janelle Harris.
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Beyond the Book: Flood


Welcome to Beyond the Book. Before I share an excerpt from Flood I'd like to tell you about my RomCon review. They gave me 5 stars and said in part,


This story was fantastic, with plenty of plot surprises that I didn't expect! A It's the kind of story that stays with you because of the intensity of the circumstances and you remember the characters. 
I really enjoyed reading this story and hope to read more from this author. 

You can read the entire review at

http://www.romcon.com/reviews/flood-by-elaine-cantrell

If you're enjoying these excerpts, please tell a friend about Flood. If you read the book, please be sure to review it on Amazon and Goodreads.

Now for a blurb and excerpt:

Blurb:
Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.

Last Week:
Lila pursed her lips. “What did Caleb do to get himself a prison sentence?”

“Stole a car.”
“That’s grand theft auto,” Lila said.


Aria giggled. “Stop borrowing terms from your

favorite crime show. Seriously, though, how long will Caleb be in prison?”

The receptionist sighed. “Another eighteen months. Caleb’s a nice guy. He made a mistake, but we all think he’s paid his debt to society. The director already told him if he wanted a job at the shelter once he was free, it wouldn’t be any problem.”

She laid her hand on Aria’s arm, her eyes wide and intense. “You know what Caleb did?”

Aria shook her head.

“The director told him he didn’t have to come to work on Friday if he didn’t want to. That’s the day Peaches was scheduled to be put down, but he said he had to be here. He said he couldn’t leave her to die alone. He wanted to hold her and comfort her until her soul went free.”


This week:


Aria’s lip quivered. Blinking away the mist in her eyes, she pulled a card out of her pocket and handed it to the receptionist. “Please give my card to Caleb. If he wants to email me, I’ll be glad to keep him updated about how Peaches is doing.” Beside her, Lila sniffed.

The receptionist, who was obviously a hugger, leaned over and hugged Aria again. “You’re a wonderful woman, Dr. De Luca. Only a person with a heart of gold would do what you’re doing for Peaches. Maybe you can help her learn to trust again.”

“What happened to her?” Lila asked. 

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2qRgYD7

Monday, August 28, 2017

Hearts of Purpose

Hello. I’m Excited. This is one of my stops during the two week tour for Hearts of Purpose by Gail G. Nordskog. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs August 21-31, 2017. Follow the tour here Book your own tour here WNL Genre: Christian Living/Women Book Title: Hearts of Purpose Vol. 1 ISBN-10: 1946497088 ISBN-13: 978-1946497086
                                     About The Author

Gail Grace Nordskog has established the “Gail Grace Nordskog Collection” to embolden readers to live their lives with a “heart of purpose” for God’s glory. Gail has been involved in media for over two decades. She presently produces and hosts a program called Hearts of Purpose, that can be seen on her website, heartsofpurpose.com. Gail and Jerry Nordskog live in Ventura, California, where they have raised six children, four of whom were adopted from China.
                                                   About The Book 

You have a call on your life. My desire is to encourage you to live life in fulfillment of that call. Following the example of Joan of Arc, you can be inspired to live out your purpose in first hearing from God and then taking your stand in following Him. Just as Joan of Arc could step forth in full confidence under the banner of her calling, so we too are under God’s banner as we step out to fulfill our purpose. Hearts of Purpose brings you ten real-life stories about ten ordinary women doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God. As you read of how God called these women to service, you will be motivated to explore His call in your own life. Let this reading experience be an invitation for you to take a step closer to fulfilling your God-given calling in Christ Jesus.
Mary Ann Ambroselli (chapter 1 starting on page 21) On January 5, 1965, at 10:18 p.m. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces. I was told when the baby was born that I would not see him or be able to hold him, and that he would be taken to his awaiting adoptive parents. I also knew that adoptive parents often did not tell their adopted child that they were adopted, so chances were that he would never know about me. The morning after he was born, a nurse who did not know my baby was being adopted brought him to me and laid him in my arms. Another nurse came in right away and apologized for the mistake, and took him away. To this day, I am grateful for that moment. I was able to look into his face and tell him I was doing this because I loved him and wanted him to have a life that a two-parent family could give him. The image of his perfect little face is imbedded in my memory. To date, I do not know anything about him or if he knows he was adopted. I continue to pray for him! As I left the hospital with my mom, depression and sadness set in. I struggled with the meaning of life and what to do next. I did not want to go to church. Facing people there would be much too hard. Besides, all that had happened in my life did not reveal to me that God was loving or compassionate. And, I was sure He did not care about me. I spent my days crying a lot. I had six weeks from the day of my baby’s birth to change my mind about adoption, which I did consider. Dad said there was no way he would support me and the baby. Since I had no idea what I would do or how to support myself with a baby I decided that signing the adoption papers was best for all involved. Even though he may never read this, the following poem written for my son has brought me a lot of comfort.
Blood Mother Farewell
I’ve carried you beneath my heart, and now must let you go. That you will not remember this, or me, as I do you. The years will take you even farther from my reach and view. Now other eyes will cherish you, and other arms embrace, Now other tears will fall for you, and other voices sing, Yet this I do, that you may never want for anything; not even distant echoes of my weeping as we part; The name I name you, or the thunder of my breaking heart.

A Word From the Author

Hearts of Purpose, Volume I “The Call”


A Day in the life of Gail Nordskog

I very much enjoy rising early.   5:30 a.m. is my favorite time no matter what the season is.

This started years ago when my children were young.   At the time I had 4 school age children who were full of chatter from the time they woke up until they fell asleep at night.

In order to start my day peacefully I found 5:30 gave me plenty of time to make a pot of coffee, snuggle with my puppy, read my Bible and Journal.  

I have pretty much kept that schedule all these years although I can sleep in a little longer.  I only have one school age daughter at home.   Kiana is now a junior in High School and my puppy is ten years old. Mitzi is joined by our 3- year-old Pomeranian, Foxi who faithfully follows the same routine with us.

Usually after an hour and 2 cups of coffee I will go outside to feed the Ducks.   We can have anywhere from 5 to 35+ ducks waiting to be fed.   We live in a harbor with a channel that leads to the Pacific Ocean behind our home.   These ducks are not native to ocean waters.  Most are mallards the other 5 are just farm yard type of ducks who are too fat to fly.  These are my favorite as they hang out here in the keys all year round.  

By now my husband is up and helping with the ducks and the dogs.   Jerry usually leaves for work these days between 9 and 10.   He is a man who does not see the word “retirement” in the Bible and has been in the Publishing Business for years.  Nordskog Publishing Inc. is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.  My husband just celebrated his 79th birthday this year!   I am not going to tell you what birthday I just celebrated but I am grateful for another year!

I usually have several projects going on at the same time.  Filming and editing my TV program, Hearts of Purpose is a continual project.   The Interviews of most of the authors can be seen on my web-site, Heartsofpurpose.com.   I will be in studio 2X’s this week to help edit one of the shows.   I’ve just recently purchased my own professional video camera and have been able to film on location.  Our 20 year old son, Daniel is often available to help.

I try to get exercise in several days a week, meet with good friends for lunch and support our children and grandchildren in their school and sports activities.

Jerry likes to say we live a rich and full and bountiful life!   Yes, indeed we do!

Jerry and I have raised 6 children, four of our children were adopted from China.   We also enjoy spending time with our 7 grandchildren.

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Sunday, August 27, 2017

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors


Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more excerpts at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

We'll continue with out excerpts from Flood. I hope you're enjoying them because I really enjoyed writing the book. Flood was reviewed by RomCon Reviews. They gave it 5 stars, and in part they said,  It's the kind of story that stays with you because of the intensity of the circumstances and you remember the characters. You can read the rest of the review at http://www.romcon.com/reviews/flood-by-elaine-cantrell

Blurb:
Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.


Last Week:
Lila pursed her lips. “What did Caleb do to get himself a prison sentence?” 

“Stole a car.”

“That’s grand theft auto,” Lila said.


Aria giggled. “Stop borrowing terms from your 
favorite crime show. Seriously, though, how long will Caleb be in prison?”

The receptionist sighed. “Another eighteen months. Caleb’s a nice guy; he made a mistake, but we all think he’s paid his debt to society. 

This week: I'm starting in the middle last week's  paragraph. The girl who works at the shelter is speaking. 

He made a mistake, but we all think he’s paid his debt to society. The director already told him if he wanted a job at the shelter once he was free, it wouldn’t be any problem.”
She laid her hand on Aria’s arm, her eyes wide and intense. “You know what Caleb did?”

Aria shook her head.

“The director told him he didn’t have to come to work on Friday if he didn’t want to. That’s the day Peaches was scheduled to be put down, but he said he had to be here. He said he couldn’t leave her to die alone. He wanted to hold her and comfort her until her soul went free.” 

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Saturday Sample: Flood


Welcome to Saturday Sample. We'll continue with out excerpts from Flood. I hope you're enjoying them because I really enjoyed writing the book. Flood was reviewed by RomCon Reviews. They gave it 5 stars, and in part they said,  It's the kind of story that stays with you because of the intensity of the circumstances and you remember the characters. You can read the rest of the review here .

Blurb:
Drawn together by their love of animals, Aria De Luca and Caleb Hawkins burn for each other. They never suspected that malignant forces around them were successfully plotting Caleb’s ruin from the moment he entered her life. When the flood of a century strikes Aria’s hometown, an alienated Caleb is all that stands between her and catastrophic loss.


Last Week:

Lila pursed her lips. “What did Caleb do to get himself a prison sentence?”

“Stole a car.”
“That’s grand theft auto,” Lila said.


Aria giggled. “Stop borrowing terms from your 
favorite crime show. Seriously, though, how long will Caleb be in prison?”

The receptionist sighed. “Another eighteen months. Caleb’s a nice guy. He made a mistake, but we all think he’s paid his debt to society. 

This week: We're picking up right where we left off last week in the middle of a paragraph.


The director already told him if he wanted a job at the shelter once he was free, it wouldn’t be any problem.”

She laid her hand on Aria’s arm, her eyes wide and intense. “You know what Caleb did?”

Aria shook her head.

“The director told him he didn’t have to come to work on Friday if he didn’t want to. That’s the day Peaches was scheduled to be put down, but he said he had to be here. He said he couldn’t leave her to die alone. He wanted to hold her and comfort her until her soul went free.” 

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Riverside Lane

Riverside Lane
by Ginger Black

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   Cozy Mystery

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BLURB:

After arranging a house swap with a debonair antiques dealer, a darkly handsome American named Luca Tempesta arrives in a quaint English village. Tempesta, who claims to run a detective agency in Los Angeles, is supposedly on holiday – but the inhabitants of the village are unconvinced.

Yet, as they attempt to solve the mystery of the stranger in their midst, it gradually transpires that there are more than enough secrets to go around in the village itself, harboured by the local MP and his uptight, ambitious wife; the has-been former game show host; the respectable couple with the jailbird son; the hometown journalist, striving for a scoop that will rescue her from debt; and so on. The place is revealed as a labyrinth of deception masquerading as a picture-postcard hamlet; tension begins to mount in between the dinner parties and evenings at the pub, and soon culminates in an unexpected death.

Behind perfect privets and brightly painted front doors, the lives of Riverside Lane’s residents slowly unravel. Tempesta, guarding his secrets with a vengeance, is suddenly threatened with exposure by the elderly religious zealot Ivy Midwinter, whose own past involved keeping professional confidences. When she challenges him in church, she learns that Tempesta will stop at nothing to protect his privacy ...

Set against the exquisite backdrop of a gastronomic village by the Thames, Riverside Lane is a tautly paced page-turner that also gently satirises middle- class English manners: the upstanding denizens of the village watch and whisper behind a mask of English hauteur, whilst their own fragile lives come undone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

A dusky gauze veil lifted to reveal the soft pink light of dawn. The sun recast the Earth in a glorious patchwork of fields, and a cacophony of birdsong stirred the residents of Riverside Lane from their slumber. Cherry and magnolia trees formed a guard of honour over the lane, which lay tranquil, deserted and calm.

High above, skimming the rose-coloured clouds, a British Airways jet descended over the River Thames. Luca Tempesta checked his seatbelt and reached for his cigarettes, curling his fingers around them with the zeal of a junkie. He flipped the packet, prompting disapproving looks from a couple playing chess beside him, and thought about his meeting with the Russian academic. He had felt bound by reckless honour to visit his wife’s friend and mentor in Moscow, despite the risk. The man had deserved to know what happened to Natasha, but it gave Luca even more to hide.

The scent of freshly ground coffee permeated the cabin, reminding the American of his caffeine-addicted wife; he missed her clear, analytical mind and ability to rationalise situations. He thought of her final moments, and her terror as the net had closed in. She had paid the ultimate price for her loyalty. He stretched his legs into the aisle, seeking a comfortable position for his tall frame, and quashed a familiar feeling of dread that he knew served no purpose. It was imperative that he maintain a cool head; he could not afford the luxury of surrender. He turned his attention to a photo of Kingfisher House. Luca’s agency partner, Maria, had found the place through a movie-industry fixer who knew an Englishman in need of a roof over his head in California.

A Word From the Author


1.Did you always want to be an author?

Julia Thum: No, I was definitely going to be an actress, but it was not to be.  I have always loved writing and still have all my diaries, my dreadful poems and the weird and wonderful stories I wrote as I was growing up.  A particular favourite is Gulp, a frog who lived on a lily pad and ate lies for breakfast. 

Twenty years in the PR industry gave me copious opportunities to exercise my writing muscles on non-fiction, and when I started my family I began to write fiction again.  I have a couple of thrillers in my bottom drawer and then began writing children’s stories, one for each of my kids. 

It wasn’t until I met Gaynor that I had the confidence to complete a novel to submission standard and put it forward for publication. 

Gaynor Pengelly: Yes, from a very young age I dreamed of writing for a living. It was this ambition that led me to a career in journalism, and then the publication of Riverside Lane. I always tell my son to work hard and get a job you love doing, what can be better that getting paid for something you love to do?

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.


Julia Thum: Riverside Lane is a cozy mystery set in the culinary English village of Bray–on-Thames, home to the famous Fat Duck and Waterside Inn restaurants.  The story is based on a house swap, with a mysterious American moving into the village and a caddish Englishman trying his hand in LA.  We came up with the theme walking the dogs together, observing the rights and rituals of English village life that is rife with unspoken rules.  We began to wonder what would happen if you dropped a secretive and intriguing stranger into the mix, one who had no care for the social nuances but who everybody wanted to draw into their social circle.

The result is Riverside Lane and it has been a thrilling success.  The hardback sold out immediately and the paperback is selling like hot cakes (or should I say like English scones and clotted cream?)

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre in which you write?


Julia Thum: I am pretty sure I can answer for us both on that one.  We both respect and admire Alexander McCall Smith and his wonderful Number One Ladies Detective Agency series, 44 Scotland Street and the Corduroy Mansions series.  His writing is beautiful, the characterization impeccable and the stories provide escape to an entertaining and gentle world.  He really is the master of the genre.

Gaynor Pengelly: I would have to include, Agatha Christie the Grande Dame of cozy mysteries.
Whether it’s a knitting needle through the eye, deadly poison in the brandy or decapitation with a garden scythe, there are many ways to be mercilessly bumped off in an English village. Don’t be fooled by wisteria clad pubs, genteel church fetes, cucumber sandwiches and bunting fluttering in the breeze, Christie’s famous detective Miss Marple in the fictional village of St Mary Mead, made English villages very dangerous places to live!

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worse?

Julia Thum: What a great question.  The best part must be talking to readers, hearing what they made of the story, the characters, the setting.  We love to know what they liked and didn’t like.   We became so absorbed in the characters when we were writing the novel, talking to readers about them is like discussing old friends you haven’t seen for a while.  There are a lot of books out there and we are always touched when somebody takes the time to read ours.  Giving us, feedback is the icing on the cake.

For me I think the worst part is social media.  I don’t hate doing it, it just takes up so much time and can be the antidote to creativity.  It is getting easier though as we have a network of virtual friends and faces we recognize popping up in reviews, blogs and tweets.  And of course, it’s a great way to talk to our readers across the world.  We have made friends with a few US book clubs and even done a Facebook author Q & A with one of them and that has been thrilling so readers – please do reach out to us via our Facebook page.  We love it!   I have just talked ‘the worst part’ into ‘the best part’ haven’t I? 

Gaynor Pengelly: For me it’s the perfect job because I love people watching and understanding what makes people tick.  Spending hours getting lost in my imagination is not a real job, and I feel privileged to have made a career out of it. The downside, is the long hours spent marketing the novel once it has been written.  Luckily, my co-writer Julia, a successful businesswoman, who created, ran and sold a highly successful PR business and has lots of experience.  I am in awe of her energy and knowledge. 
  
5.What projects are you working on now?

Julia Thum: I have a children’s novel in submission.  It is called The Witches Punchbowl and like Riverside Lane is set on the Thames.  I wrote it before I met Gaynor and the incredible success of Riverside Lane gave me the confidence to dust it off and send it in.

Gaynor and I are working on the next Ginger Black novel together which is great fun.  We don’t have a title yet but it will be a sequel to Riverside Lane featuring another house swap and lots of new characters as well as cameos from the Riverside Lane community.  We are setting the story upstream from Bray in Cookham, a Thameside village most famous for being the setting for Wind in the Willows as well as home to the artist Stanley Spencer and the eponymous gallery. Because of all the Michelin starred restaurants in Bray, Riverside Lane has a culinary flavour and our next novel has artistic undercurrents with story links to the fabulous Hammer House of Horror series that was originally filmed just outside the village.
Gaynor Pengelly: I’m working on a time-travelling historical novel in the Young Adult genre.  I haven’t yet decided on a name, but The King of Infinite Space is my current favourite. I love the nod to Shakespeare, and the suggestion of science and astronomy, which is a big theme in the novel. I’m really enjoying writing two very different novels at the same time, it’s a great writing discipline.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ginger Black is a writing partnership between Gaynor Pengelly and Julia Thum.

JULIA THUM

Julia left Somerset for London at 16. She founded & ran her own consumer P R agency representing a range of international brands including Braun, Molton Brown, Clairol & Kleenex. After selling the business she trained as a psychotherapist specializing in eating disorders & hosted a phone-in show on Radio Luxembourg.

Julia writes bespoke literature & articles for private clients and visits secondary schools & prisons representing two national charities in providing emotional support to pupils & inmates. A keen kayaker and a passionate cook, she lives in Bray-on-Thames with her husband Nicolas and their four children.

GAYNOR PENGELLY

Gaynor has worked as a national newspaper correspondent for more than twenty years, interviewing everyone from the great and the good to extraordinary people in ordinary lives. The rich variety of her subject matter and their circumstances has given her a rare insight into human nature and the challenges many people face.

Gaynor's great loves include sitting in pavement cafes watching the world go by, National Trust and English Heritage and hiking across the windswept Yorkshire moors. She lives in Bray-on-Thames with her husband Jonathan and their son, Freddie James.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingerBlack.ink/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/gingerblackink
Website: http://gingerblackink/



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Ginger Black will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



a Rafflecopter giveaway