My Books!

Monday, March 18, 2024

In All Things

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotins. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The issue of control is a central question of life. At work, in family, community clubs and schools, with the economy or international politics, the question is, "Is anyone in charge here?" Dr. John Neufeld demonstrates the Bible teaching of God's providence. We are assured that God's Hand is upon everything and everyone, without exception. Dr. John explores God's sustaining grip through the natural world and human endeavor, in pivotal matters or the seemingly trivial, the things we welcome and those we shun. He teaches the impact of God's sovereign rule upon our hearts, minds, work, worship, homes, and nation. We can live in the confidence that God is unfolding His purpose for time and eternity.

What people are saying about Dr. John Neufeld's teaching:

"This is such an important message for us today. Thank you, Dr. John, for your encouragement to view what is presently concerning us in the world from the perspective of God and His providence. That should take a huge weight off our shoulders!"


Read an Excerpt

The Creator is involved both in the world and in our lives, every moment of every day. How foolish when we only see His hand in miracles, for His hand is all around us all the time. God speaks in creation and directs the properties of every created thing, both living and non-living. He not only causes them to exist and is responsible for their existence, but He also gives purpose to all that is. Yes, it really is true that all things are caused by God, for the purpose of His glory!

About the Author:Dr. John Neufeld, Bible teacher of Back to the Bible Canada, is well known both nationally and internationally for his excellence in expositional Bible teaching. Dr. Neufeld is passionate about bringing the truth of God's Word to life across Canada and beyond.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BacktotheBibleCanada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BTTBCanada
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BTTBC
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/backtothebible.ca
Website: http://www.backtothebible.ca

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/All-Things-Gods-Providence-ebook/dp/B0CP8J2Y77/ref=sr_1_1

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Kissing Kin

 


KISSING KIN

by Karen Hulene Bartell

 

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GENRE:  Paranormal Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Maeve Jackson is starting over after a broken engagement—and mustering out of the Army. No job and no prospects, she spins out on black ice and totals her car.

 

When struggling vintner Luke Kaylor stops to help, they discover they’re distantly related. On a shoestring budget to convert his vineyard into a winery, he makes her a deal: prune grapevines in exchange for room and board.

 

But forgotten diaries and a haunted cabin kickstart a five-generational mystery with ancestors that have bones to pick. As carnal urges propel them into each other’s arms, they wonder: Is their attraction physical…or metaphysical?

 

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EXCERPT :

 

Our shoulders rubbed each time we moved. The downy hairs on the back of my neck tickling from the electricity passing between us, I shivered as the currents barreled down my spine.

 

“Cold?” Eyes wide, he caught my gaze.

 

I opened my mouth to speak but, forgetting what I meant to say, lost myself in his inviting brown eyes and could only nod.

 

He reached his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close, sharing his body warmth.

 

With the faint scents of leather and saddle soap wafting from his jacket, his nearness was intoxicating, and I was tempted to lean into a kiss. Yet huddled together on the bone-chilling ledge, I gazed instead at the rugged wilderness surrounding us, content to savor the sweet ache of longing. If more is meant to be, it’ll happen.

 

Then thoughts of Cody froze me like a blue norther. Why did he come to mind?

 

****

 

So close, Luke felt the rise and fall of her chest each time she breathed. Her hair tickled his ear, raising goosebumps--and possibilities. If she turns toward me or gives any sign…But her sigh signaled something else. He side-glanced to read her mood, but she stared at the scenery, apparently oblivious of his rising libido.

 

“Want…” His voice cracked. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Want some water?”

 

“Sure.” She turned her head quickly, her hair brushing his cheek with a citrus scent.




A Word With the Author


Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

 

None—I hate needles of any sort--and am one big needle-chicken!

 

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

 

Nothing--Two years ago we were living in central Texas--the Hill Country--and I was trying to pitch my latest novel, Kissing Kin. Nothing, and I do mean nothing happened for two years prior to and two years after… 

…until last June, when not one, but four contracts came our way. A Wild Rose Press contract for Kissing Kin came days before we received a contract to purchase our house, which we’d been showing/waiting to sell for nine months. (That’s a LOT of dusting and mopping for all the “lookie-loos,” who strolled through without making offers.)

Two weeks later, I received a second Wild Rose Press contract for Fox Tale, followed days after that with the fourth contract on a house we wanted to buy on Foxtail Lane. Tell me that wasn’t a coincidence…synchronicity…

 

How long have you been writing?

 

An only child, I began writing my first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating my own happy endings…However, I got four pages into my first “book” and realized I had to do a lot of living before I could finish it! 

IMHO, reading is the entry to writing. 

Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually--sometimes monthly--I found my earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became my portable pals. Ghost stories kept me up at night--reading feverishly. Novels offered an imaginative escape, and the paranormal was my passion.

So here I am all these decades later, still creating my own happy endings…

 

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

 

R E A D! Read everything that interests you. Read when you’re bored. Read when you can’t sleep. Read at the beach…in front of the fire…in bed…waiting for doctor appointments…

Then start writing about what interests you. Before you know it, you’ll have found a genre--even, dare I say it?--a style! Keep a notebook. Jot down ideas as they come to you!

I broke into writing with cookbooks--but Google now takes their place for recipes. However, I still recommend writing non-fiction first, be it via cookbooks, textbooks, or technical writing of any sort.

Finally, start drafting a story that “grabs you.” You’ll find the story--and sometimes the characters--seize the pen and write themselves!

 

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

 

Twenty years ago, my husband and I spent Christmas week hiking and horseback riding in Big Bend National Park--the southernmost tip of Texas that borders the Rio Grande and dips into Mexico. Driving home early New Year’s morning, we missed the turnoff in Alpine and followed TX-118 north. Snow-covered and glinting against the frosty blue January sky, the remote jumble of mountain peaks and ranges beckoned as they rose above the desert floor. I was enchanted. 

Gazing at the sky island for the first time, wide-eyed, I wondered whether those rocky pinnacles were mirages or optical delusions, but a hasty glance at the map told us these were the Davis Mountains. Vertical basalt columns rose like giant fingers reaching for the sky. The palisades, buttes, and bluffs towered above both sides of the only route through those mountains--Wild Rose Pass. 

That missed turn bloomed into Wild Rose Pass, Book I of the Trans-Pecos Series, then Kissing Kin, Book II of the Trans-Pecos Series. The area’s mystique and raw beauty set the tone for this paranormal romance.

 




 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Author of the Trans-Pecos and Sacred Emblem series, Karen is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life, who writes multicultural, offbeat love stories. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved often, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Texas Piney Woods with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

 

Connect with Karen: 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/karenbartell 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HuleneKaren 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/karenhulenebartell/    

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/611950.Karen_Hulene_Bartell   

Website: http://www.KarenHuleneBartell.com/  

Email: info@KarenHuleneBartell.com 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karenhulenebartell  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhulenebartell/ 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-hulene-bartell 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhulenebartell/  

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Trans-Pecos-Karen-Hulene-Bartell-ebook/dp/B0CRJ6P13V/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 


A randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Toothbrush Animal Hunt



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carleen Dehaney will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Embark on a delightful adventure with Toothbrush Animal Hunt, the perfect children's book to encourage daily toothbrushing habits in a playful and enjoyable way.

From a clapping sea lion at the beach to a cheeky squirrel in the forest, children will be fascinated as they learn about toothbrushing through the actions and antics of these charming creatures. And don't forget to spot the toothbrushes hidden throughout the pages, making this hunt, a delightful game of discovery.

Say goodbye to toothbrushing struggles and let the adventure begin!

Enjoy an Excerpt



About the Author: Meet the author, Carleen Dehaney! Carleen is a mother and wife. She hails from the UK but now calls Canada home. This enchanting book draws inspiration from a tenacious 2-year-old in need of some toothbrushing magic. Carleen embarked on a whimsical journey, incorporating playful animal sounds into her daughter's brushing routine, and thus, the idea for this captivating book was conceived. Today, her little one, who has since outgrown her toddler years, recites this tale back to Carleen, forging cherished moments between them.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Toothbrush-Animal-Hunt-Carleen-Dehaney/dp/0228877024/ref=sr_1_1

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Beyond the Book: She Never Saw That Coming

 Recently I started reviewing a completed novel that’s been sitting on my computer for some time. I still have work to do on my heroine Anna. Anna is strong-willed, hot tempered, and has been known to hold a grudge if she considers herself to have been wronged in some way. This excerpt is the day after she and her husband Jack got married.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t want to be angry and spoil our honeymoon. It would be sheer bliss to have that nap with you and love you until we’ve both had enough, but how can I? I told you I didn’t want to be a military wife, but you disregarded my feelings and reenlisted without even telling me. If you loved me as much as I love you, I don’t think you could have done that. I’d rather flip burgers forever than leave you, but obviously you don’t feel the same way. You wanted a military career, and the tight economy just gave you a reason to follow your dream. The joke’s on me, though. How could I not have known that the army has you heart, not me?” 

She shivered and rubbed her arms with her hands. 

“Anna,…”

“I assumed we had a solid relationship that could withstand anything the world might throw at us, but I see now that I don’t know you at all. Don’t you realize that our marriage started with a lie? Reenlisting behind my back and not telling me is the same thing as a lie. The man I thought you were would never have betrayed me this way. So, no, I don’t want to have a nap with you. Leave me alone; I’m busy.”

Jack felt as if someone had sucker punched him. Nick had warned him, but he didn’t listen. Where did they go from here? He sat down in front of the TV and started flipping through the channels. 

Okay help me out here. Is Anna wrong in her thinking?

Monday, March 11, 2024

Picasso's Lovers

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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jeanne Mackin will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.






You know Pablo Picasso. Now meet the women behind the masterpieces. The women of Picasso's life are glamorous and elusive, existing in the shadow of his fame - until, in the 1950's, aspiring journalist Alana Olsen determines to bring one into the light and discovers a past complicated by secrets and intrique.




Read an Excerpt

Gazes from Pablo Picasso are like brushstrokes. Some are long, lingering, full of texture and pigment. Some are short, shallow, even accidental. His gaze on me now falls somewhere between the two.

Once, his gaze would have found enough for an entire painting. He would have seen flesh, and the bone and muscle under the flesh, the question or certainty of the eyes. He would have seen past, present, and future and painted them in a way that made time irrelevant.

Yes, that was how he pained me. Everything and at once, all the angles and geometry of the body, and he made of me something eternal and always beautiful. That is what an artists can do for a woman. When most men looked at me, all I saw in their faces was desire, the urge to possess. When Pablo looked at me, his face filled with wonder waiting to be translated to lines and brushstrokes.

Spring. The second year of the Great War. I wasn’t twenty yet, and had returned from cold, starving Moscow, where a loaf of bread coast as much as a silk dress…Back to Paris for me!

When Pablo first saw me, I was sitting on the rim of the Wallace Fountain in Place Emile, face turned up to the sun like a basking cat, enjoying the fine day and wondering what adventure I might find…It was early summer. I had stolen a bunch of cherries at Les Halles and a roll, but my stomach rattled.

About the Author:
Jeanne Mackin is the author of several historical novels, including The Last Collection, which has been translated into five languages, and The Beautiful American, which won a CNY award for fiction. She has taught in the MFA Creative Writing program at Goddard College and won journalism awards, and is currently at work on her next novel.

Website: http://www.jeannemackin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneMackinAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JeanneMackin1
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/JeanneMackinAuthor

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Picassos-Lovers-Jeanne-Mackin-ebook/dp/B0C3C2J4FH/ref=sr_1_1

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Did You Celebrate Leap Year?

 

Four More Years

I thought it would be nice to do something special on the 29th. Unfortunately, nothing went as planned. So, what happened?

About four weeks age my son agreed to babysit our dog while we went out with my husband’s brothers and sister.We had a really nice time talking and eating enchiladas made from a an authentic Mexican recipe. It’s sort of a family tradition to get together to make them sometime during the year.

By the time we got to my son’s house there was no moon and no artificial light anywhere. Because of my vertigo I opened the door and promptly fell onto a concrete culvert. I didn’t think I hurt myself so my husband pulled me up, got the dog, and home we went.As I took off my coat, I felt something wet on my foot. I pulled my jeans up found streams of blood running down my leg. Great way to end the night, right? After a week and a half I went to the doctor for an xray. My foot looked like a pumped up egg plant it was so swollen and purple. It was not broken so I just had to wait for it to get well. I still have some swelling, though.

It hurt bad when I walked on it so my original plan, which had been to tour the Biltmore house in Ashville and have a nice dinner, just didn’t sound as much fun as it did before. Back to the drawing board.

I came up with a super idea. The historic little city of Pendleton isn’t far from me, and they have a place that is recommended in all the local magazines. The building used to be an old country store, and it looks like it, but the food is to die for. We’d go there for lunch and then go to Clemson university dairy/ice cream for ice cream. It’s really good too. 

Well, my husband’s arthritis flared up on Sunday, and he was in the doctor’s office yesterday for shots in his back. It hurts me to see him try to walk. Needless to say we won’t be going to Pendleton tomorrow. So, what are we going to do? I think I’ll clean the bathrooms and make pepper steak for him. A nice nap sounds good too. If you have plans to celebrate I hope you keep them. After all, it’ll four more years until we celebrate leap year.

Friday, March 1, 2024

A Twist of Hate


 

A TWIST OF HATE

T.E. Lorenzo

 

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GENRE:  Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

They love to hate each other...

 

Natalia is content with hating her co-worker, Adrian. The two can hardly stand being in the same room, despite having worked together for several months. When Natalia agrees to a trip out of town with a friend, little does she know that Adrian will be there, too. This is the time to crank up the hate, right?

 

The trip is not what Natalia thought it would be. Forced to spend time with her enemy, she finds there is more to Adrian than meets the eye. Will Natalia push aside her hatred and see the true Adrian?

 

 

​With a twist of hate, just maybe...

 

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EXCERPT


All Natalia could think about was another opportunity to get Adrian to speak to her before they wandered around the desert together. She thought the odds might be in her favor, considering she had overheard Denver mention that he and Adrian would leave for the airport immediately after their shift ended today. Vegas would be at the forefront of Adrian’s mind. Surely he would clear the tension that had grown so awkward and heavy between them before he left. 

 

Further playing into her hands was the special seating arrangement drawn up for the day. Lopez assigned both Adrian and Natalia to desks on the suite level, and they’d be in the same row, four seats apart. 

 

Once she saw this seating chart posted on Friday, Natalia knew she had to crank up the heat for the big day. She dressed in a form-fitting pencil skirt that cut off just above the knees, revealing the Speedy Gonzales tattoo just above her ankle. She had even shaved—in the winter—to make sure her legs were as appealing as possible. 

 

Natalia also wore a blouse that revealed the slightest glimpse of cleavage. She questioned herself as she dressed earlier this morning, wondering why she was putting in so much effort into her appearance to get Adrian’s attention. She hated him, after all.

 

It’s not for Adrian. It’s for me. I’m freshly single, going to Vegas in two days, and life is good. I can get sexy all for myself if I want to.

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

TE Lorenzo is the debut author of A Twist of Hate. Having lived through his own enemies-to-lovers story, he believes love can come from the most unexpected of places. When he's not writing, TE is likely chasing his kids around, playing baseball, or relaxing with a good book. He is currently living out his happily-ever-after with his wife and three kids in their hometown of Denver, CO.  

 

 

AMAZON LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP2TF94Z

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-twist-of-hate-te-lorenzo/1144416094

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-twist-of-hate

SW: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1485296?ref=5princepub

GOOGLEPLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/T_E_Lorenzo_A_Twist_of_Hate?id=PbTlEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Website: https://www.5princebooks.com/telorenzo.html

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

 



 


a Rafflecopter giveaway