Annie's Recipe

Annie’s Recipe

by Lisa Jones Baker

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GENRE: Inspirational (Amish)

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BLURB:

Annie Mast and Levi Miller were childhood best friends until his father was shunned. Now, 10 years later, Levi returns to Arthur, Il, and he and Annie discover their bond is as strong as ever. Soon they begin imagining a future together, but that's unlikely to happen. Levi is part of the English world, and Annie is Amish. But together, with love on their side, they may just find their way to an answered prayer.

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EXCERPT:

“I hope you don’t mind, but there’s something I came to talk to you about,” Annie began. “It’s…confidential.”

Rebecca winked. “I’m a good secret keeper.” Suddenly, her lips dropped and the tone of her voice changed. “I hope your family’s all right. Your mamma...”

Annie gave an immediate shake of her head. “My folks are fine. And really, it’s nothing having to do with health. It’s personal.” She cleared her throat, feeling embarrassed. She felt a bit selfish coming to busy Rebecca for a problem about herself but desperately needed to confide her dilemma or she would go crazy.

She carefully considered her next words, then she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, looking straight into her friend’s intense eyes. “Rebecca, you’ve got it all.” She glanced from side to side. “And your relationship with William; well, it seems too good to be true. But was there ever a time when you had something come between you?”

When Rebecca didn’t respond, Annie went on. “I’m sure your relationship must have been challenged in some way when you helped William’s dad in Indiana.”

Rebecca hesitated. “Challenged is putting it mildly,” she finally said. “Annie, I came close to losing him. Everything.”

Annie sat up straight with interest. Despite the serious confession, she smiled with relief. “I knew I could talk to you, Rebecca. You’re the one person who might understand what I’m going through with Levi Miller.”

Rebecca lifted a surprised brow.

“When we were kids, Levi and I were best friends.”

Rebecca’s eyes lit up as she took a drink and returned her glass to the wooden coaster, ice cubes jiggling. “I remember. You guys were practically joined at the hip.”

Annie lowered her gaze to the table and fidgeted with her hands on her lap. She tapped the toe of her black shoe against the shiny hardwood floor. Moments later, she met Rebecca’s gaze and went on. “As you know, he was back for the wedding.”

Rebecca nodded eagerly. “We were so happy to see him.”

“Me too. It gave us a chance to catch up.”

Rebecca stopped what she was doing and sat very still. Annie took in the uncertain expression on her face, as if she wasn’t sure what to expect.

Annie’s voice cracked with emotion. “And Rebecca, something happened. Something so wrong.”

           

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lisa Jones Baker is a multi-published author with Kensington Books.  Her debut book of THE HOPE CHEST OF DREAMS series, REBECCA’S BOUQUET, won a Publishers Weekly starred review.  A former teacher with a BA degree in French education, Lisa has been on 5 out of 7 continents, is a dog lover, enjoys positive thinkers , volunteering in her church’s food pantry, and strong female characters.    

You can find her on

Website: http://www.lisajonesbaker.com/

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31739

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009288891265

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Annies-Recipe-Hope-Chest-Dreams-ebook/dp/B01GBAG58S

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Lisa will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Old Amarillo: Amish Journeys #1

Disillusioned and feeling there is more to life than can be found on her family's Indiana farm, atypical Amish girl Katie Knepp bucks tradition and leaves everything behind, bound for a supposed Mennonite settlement rumored to be somewhere around Old Amarillo, Texas. But the trail to Texas is a hard one, laced with disease, would-be-could-be bandits, and a drought so severe that turning back isn't an option. During her epic overland struggle, Katie discovers friendship, even in the ever-present outlaw element, a strength in herself she'd never dreamed she possessed, and those in her past who refuse to become unwilling memories. Katie's story isn't Amish, nor is it western . . . it is uniquely Texan. 

Purchase you copy here: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Old-Amarillo-Journeys-Sara-Barnard-ebook/dp/B014PVK9HS/ref

Sara Barnard and her family of six make their home deep in the recesses of Native America with a trio of rescue dogs, a trifecta of rescue cats, a flock of Easter Egger chickens, and a "tiny" herd of Dwarf Nigerian pygmy goats. 

Some of Sara's works include The Calling (Prairie Rose Publications), The Saga of Indian Em'ly series (Painted Pony Books), Shootout in Old Amarillo (Prairie Rose Publications), The Everlasting Heart series, Rebekah's Quilt, and Desperado (all from 5 Prince Publishing). Sara is a certified elementary teacher and a bona fide coffee aficionado. Follow Sara at www.sarabarnardbooks.com or @TheSaraBarnard on Twitter.

1.When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? 

Hi Elaine! Thanks for hosting me :-) I discovered that I wanted to be a writer way back in the 3rd grade. The assignment was to write about a pet and I wrote an essay about my recently-deceased tomcat J. Thomas O'Malley. He was my one of my best animal friends, a stray who had wandered up, and the only cat that my dog Charlie befriended. He was special. He would come in and watch TV with me, curled up on my handmade quilt in the living room until I fell asleep, before he wandered down the hall only to pee all over my bedroom (in true tomcat fashion). Once, he even peed on my mom when she sat down on the porch, and she had just stepped out of the shower! His was my first brush with death and it crushed me, so I channeled my hurt into words and something worked -- my essay won first place in the entire school and was read aloud at the PTA meeting. Too embarrassed to listen, I hid in the hallway, but the spark was lit.

2.Can you tell us about your journey towards publication?

I hadn't dreamed I could achieve publication. I mean, it had always been a dream, but one that seemed so far out of reach that I didn't even want to dream it. Plus, my dreams were further dashed by my university creative writing professor. I made a B and he had nothing nice to say about any of my work. Looking back, it is clear that he favored a certain genre -- not mine. When I taught 6th grade last year, I was very supportive of ALL my emerging writers. Anywho, when my husband was on his last deployment to Afghanistan, I was home with three kids, a mess of emotions, and a ton of inspiration. Plus I had a friend (Rochelle) who took me off the couch to see Eclipse in the theatre and she made mention of Ms. Meyer being a mother of many (like me) who wrote the Twilight series. Heck, if she could, why couldn't I? So my debut novel, A Heart on Hold, was born and promptly grew into a four-book series published by 5 Prince Publishing.

  

3.What is your favorite genre to read?

It really depends. I like nonfiction mostly, strange as it may seem :-) 

4.Tell us about a unique quirk of yours.

I am very quirky, but my quirks are normal to me. Some stuff that might surprise other people: I am a vegetarian though I do not write vegetarian characters; I like Bob Marley coffee; I love Naked and Afraid; I used to work for the Park Service catching and relocating snakes and tracking mountain lions; I began working toward my private pilot certification when I lived and worked in Alaska; my Amish novels are all based in fact, some of which are my own family facts, my third son was almost born in Italy, and all four of my children were born in different states!  

5.If you could travel anywhere in the world to do research for your next book, where would you go?

England, so I could finish a creative nonfiction book on Medieval London I started last year :-) 

Sara Barnard

Historical Romance and Children's author

5princebooks.com

A Heart on Hold (An Everlasting Heart, #1)

A Heart Broken (An Everlasting Heart, #2) 

A Heart at Home (An Everlasting Heart, #3)

A Heart Forever Wild (An Everlasting Heart, #4)

Desperado

The Calling (Prairie Rose Publications)

The Saga of Indian Em'ly: The Apache and the Pale Face Soldiers (Painted Pony Books)

The Saga of Indian Em'ly: On the Colorado Trail

The Saga of Indian Em'ly: The Orphanage

Rebekah's Quilt (Amish Historical Romance)

Little Spoon (Children's Historical Fiction) 

Chunky Sugars (Children's Fiction)

The ABC's of Texas Plants

The ABC's of Oklahoma Plants

The Big Bad Wolf Really Isn't so Big and Bad 

Lassoing a Bride (anthology)

My Dog Can do Magic (anthology)

www.sarabarnardbooks.com

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An Amish Christmas Quilt

I

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

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