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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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring our book on your blog, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having us here today, Elaine! I'm actually the one in pink. :) We are so excited to share our stories with you today.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read the book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about the authors, thank you for the post.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by, Rita and Wendy! We appreciate the time you spend with us!
ReplyDeleteI really would like to read this book
ReplyDeleteYay! And thank you, Missy! We hope you'll enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteAnother good book to read.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I was supposed to leave my email address but here it is teamob4[at]gmail[dot]com
ReplyDeleteTrixie, 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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
ReplyDeleteThank 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
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!
ReplyDeleteTrixi,
ReplyDeleteIt 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.
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. :)
ReplyDeleteI love collections of short stories, perfect for reading on the go. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteShannon, we like those shorter stories,too, and we hope you'll enjoy ours! Thanks for visiting us today.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jennifer, I think it's a hoot that your parents served as models for Anna and Felty! Do they know?!
I loved the excerpt!!
ReplyDeleteRW620(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks, RW! I appreciate your compliment and your stopping by today!
ReplyDeleteWould love to read this book. Such great remarks about wonderful books.
ReplyDeleteHope to have the chance to read your book ..Sounds like a good cant put it down book Lee Ellen Hicks .
ReplyDeleteit's nice to get a personal connection to authors. makes reading the books more meaningful.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThank you for providing your readers with such fun books. It just makes us want to keep reading them.
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.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a terrific book. I am placeing it on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, kristin j
keithkrisjager(at)aol{dot}com
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!!!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful excerpt.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bios
ReplyDelete