Friday, November 14, 2014

An Amish Christmas Quilt

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If you came for Fashionista Friday, scroll on down, but why not look at this post first?


An Amish Christmas Quilt
by Charlotte Hubbard, Kelly Long, Jennifer Beckstrand

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BLURB:


A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant

Seth Brenneman didn’t expect his holiday would include rescuing pregnant young Mary Kaffman and her two children…or having unexpected feelings for the still-grieving widow. But when they must play the leads in an impromptu live Nativity pageant to help his Amish community, will their roles reveal their hearts—and work a miracle for a lifetime?

A Perfect Amish Christmas

Anna and Felty Helmuth’s grandson, Gideon, plans to spend Christmas on a beach in sunny Mexico. But Anna is quite sure he’d rather be with them, snowshoeing, ice fishing—falling in love. And she knows the perfect girl. Not only is Dottie Schrock an excellent quilter and baker, she’s having a party. There’s just one complication—Gideon is not invited. Dottie has her reasons, but Anna trusts that the spirit of Christmas—and true love-will change her mind, and her future …

EXCERPT:

A Willow Ridge Christmas Pageant

Mary Kauffman clutched herself as another contraction ripped through her insides. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes as she somehow kept from screaming—somehow kept the lines in her hand while the horse and buggy continued down the unfamiliar road. Was she anywhere near Willow Ridge and Aunt Miriam’s? How much longer could she possibly keep driving, now that her water had broken?

“Are we there yet?” five-year-old Lucy whined from the back seat.

“Are we lost?” Sol asked in a testier voice. At seven, he was more acutely aware than Lucy of how their father’s death was affecting their family—and more critical of Mary, as well. “I’m pretty sure we should’ve turned left onto that last blacktop we crossed.”

Oh, but Mary wanted to scream—except Sol might be right. She was so frightened and in such excruciating pain, it was entirely possible that she’d forgotten which county road passed through Willow Ridge . . . because you’ve always been riding to Aunt Miriam’s rather than driving . . . always depended upon Dat or Elmer to get you where you needed to go.

Lucy’s two cats scuffled in the cardboard box on the seat beside Mary, and then a ginger paw poked through a breathing hole in the top of the makeshift carrier. When one of them yowled, Rowdy, their border collie, let out a disciplinary woof.

Lucy begin sniffling again. “Can I please let the kitties out to—”

“No!” Mary snapped more vehemently than she intended. “We’ll be at Aunt Miriam’s in just a few—”

“I don’t ever remember seeing those black and white cows before,” Sol remarked tersely. “We need to turn around and—Rowdy, no! You can’t get out and chase those cows!”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:



Jennifer Beckstrand

Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and the Forever After in Apple Lake series, set in two Amish communities in beautiful Wisconsin. She has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth, the two scheming Amish grandparents who try to help their grandchildren find suitable mates in Huckleberry Hill. Who would ever suspect two elderly Amish folks of mischief?

Jennifer has a degree in mathematics, which comes in handy when one of her six children needs help with algebra. After twenty-five years of being a chauffeur, cook, maid, and nurse, she embarked on a writing career. Jennifer is a member of Romance Writers of America and is represented by Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency.

She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and two adorable grandsons, whom she spoils rotten.

You can find out more about Jennifer and her books by going to her website: jenniferbeckstrand.com or visiting her Facebook page: Jennifer Beckstrand Fans.

http://www.jenniferbeckstrand.com

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbeckstrandfans

Twitter: @JenniferBeckst1



Charlotte Hubbard

Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while I was still a school librarian—I sold my first story to True Story magazine. This launched me into writing about seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and I’ve been a slave to my overactive imagination ever since. My stories invariably take on a life of their own, different from the way I’ve proposed them: I love it when unforeseen characters and plot twists come along, because they keep me guessing right along with my readers!

I love touring historic homes, trying new recipes, crocheting, and playing with my border collie Ramona—although it’s humbling, having a dog smarter than I am! I’m an ordained Presbyterian deacon, and I devote a lot of time to singing in my church choir and to practicing/performing with our percussion ensemble. I’m celebrating more than thirty-five years with my husband, who—bless him—has never once suggested I get a real job!

www.CharlotteHubbard.com

https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

Buy Links:

Kensington Books:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30305

The Book Depository:  http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781617735547

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=161773554X/

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781617735547
 
B-A-M: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781617735547

Chapters: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a/9781617735547-item.html

IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781617735547

Powell’s: http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9781617735547

Ebook:

Kensington Books: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30377

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Amish-Christmas-Quilt-Charlotte-Hubbard-ebook/dp/B00JVW6H5U/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-christmas-quilt-charlotte-hubbard/1118482472?ean=9781617735554

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-amish-christmas-quilt/id868217805?mt=11 


The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Use the link below to enter. You can find their schedule at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/09/blurb-blitz-amish-christmas-quilt-by.html






a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 comments:

  1. Thanks for featuring our book on your blog, Elaine!

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  2. Thanks for having us here today, Elaine! I'm actually the one in pink. :) We are so excited to share our stories with you today.

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  3. I enjoyed learning about the authors, thank you for the post.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. Thanks for stopping by, Rita and Wendy! We appreciate the time you spend with us!

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  5. I really would like to read this book

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  6. Yay! And thank you, Missy! We hope you'll enjoy it.

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  7. I love that we have "regulars," Wendy, Kim, and Rita. :) Thanks for stopping by today. It's fun to visit some new blogs and see what the buzz is with different readers and writers.

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  8. I can relate to the overactive imagination! Then the "real" world is so not that way,lol! It's fun to imagine how things might work out & I am sure that is a tremendous help when writing a fiction book. And it would be great to win since I can just see how fun the two matchmakers would be & all the schemes to get the young people together! Thanks for the chance to win & a great interview!

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  9. I don't know if I was supposed to leave my email address but here it is teamob4[at]gmail[dot]com

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  10. Trixie, I think there's a way to log in using the contest box that asks for either your Facebook or email address. Thanks so much for stopping by to spend time with us!

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  11. I enjoy reading about the authors. I like that pics are included. Charlotte Hubbard, interesting that you wrote in True Story. May I ask what you wrote? I just can't wait to read these books. BTW I love Anne and Felty! Lindafaullkner860@comcast.net
    Thank you for this chance to read.if I win, I will be buying all these books! If I do not congratulations to the winner. God Bless, Linda Faulkner

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  12. Hi, Linda! First, please realize that the pix got switched and the pretty one in pink is Jennifer! While I was writing for those confession magazines like True Story, True Confessions, True Love, etc. I probably had 70-75 stories published there over the years--but none of them have author bylines, so you never knew whether a story was mine or maybe somebody like Nora Roberts (just an example) might've written it! Thanks for coming to visit us today!

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  13. Trixi,
    It has been so fun writing about the two Amish grandparents with hearts of gold bent on making mischief for their grandchildren. Thanks for stopping by.

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  14. Linda, I'm so glad you like Anna and Felty. They are loosely based on my own parents. My mom is a spitfire and my dad just good-naturedly goes along for the ride. :)

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  15. I love collections of short stories, perfect for reading on the go. Thanks for sharing

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  16. Shannon, we like those shorter stories,too, and we hope you'll enjoy ours! Thanks for visiting us today.

    And Jennifer, I think it's a hoot that your parents served as models for Anna and Felty! Do they know?!

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  17. I loved the excerpt!!
    RW620(at)aol(dot)com

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  18. Thanks, RW! I appreciate your compliment and your stopping by today!

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  19. Would love to read this book. Such great remarks about wonderful books.

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  20. Hope to have the chance to read your book ..Sounds like a good cant put it down book Lee Ellen Hicks .

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  21. amy guillaume lindermanNovember 14, 2014 at 8:31 PM

    it's nice to get a personal connection to authors. makes reading the books more meaningful.

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  22. I love getting to know the authors this way. It makes it more personal when we read one of your books. I have wanted to read this book since I first heard about it awhile ago. This s a feel good book I know I will love.
    Thank you for providing your readers with such fun books. It just makes us want to keep reading them.

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  23. Hi, Critchmom, Lee Ellen, Amy and Deanne! Thanks so much for posting and saying you enjoy interacting with us! Jennifer, Kelly, and I truly love writing these Amish stories--and Christmas stories are just the best! We hope you'll enjoy them.

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  24. This looks like a terrific book. I am placeing it on my wish list.
    Blessings, kristin j
    keithkrisjager(at)aol{dot}com

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  25. I love learning more about the authors personally! It makes the stories more interesting and sort of easier to understand! And getting excerpts also adds to the excitement and anticipation!!! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win! I would be so truly blessed to win! God Bless You and Good Luck to Everyone! Have a wonderful, blessed day! Please keep writing your wonderful stories! I look forward to reading your next book!!!

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