5-Stars for “Angels of the Heart”!

I am over the moon with happiness at this wonderful review of “Angels of the Heart “by Author Anna del C. Dye for Readers Favorite! Thank you, Anna!

Here is what she wrote and a link to the review and the DBP site:

5 Stars! “ANGELS OF THE HEART is a well-written Christian romance that will appeal to anyone looking for a true, clean romance. It has some light mentions of God and His inspiration in our daily lives, but otherwise it isn’t a preachy story at all. It portrays great imagery of people and especially of the place where the story takes place. Maryanne Lynch is the host at one of the TV stations in Sterling Lakes. Her love for people and the quaint town has made her the best in the market. After a particular segment she did about the renovation of the parish in the town, she not only finds a problem with it, but also finds out that all things in our past come back to haunt us. The presence of the real estate developer, Travis Collimore, in town is a two edged knife. Once, Maryanne stood Travis up many years ago for their Senior Prom. Now he has come back to destroy a landmark that is entrenched very deeply in the lives of the townspeople and in her own heart. It is at this time that Maryanne feels once again the touch of God in her heart. Years before her unanswered prayers for her now dead brother prompted her not to believe in Him anymore. Now, with a re-found love for God, she hopes that she will save the historic landmark of Sterling Lakes, and also save her heart before they are both buried by the handsome Travis Collimore. As you close its last pages, this story will leave you content and rewarded. It will be well-liked by young adults and adults alike for it is a clean, warm, and wholesome story.” ~Readers Favorite http://readersfavorite.com/review/5531

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-189/Regina-Andrews-Angels-of/Detail.bok

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Welcome, Authors Sadie and Sophie Cuffe

Today I am so happy to welcome authors Sadie and Sophie Cuffe, a sister writing team from Maine. Their book, “Faith in the Shadows” is published by Desert Breeze Publishing. The generous authors will be giving away a copy of “Faith in the Shadows” to a lucky guest who comments on their visit today. Welcome, Sadie and Sophie!

 

First, tell us a little bit about yourself:
We’re sisters who live on a small farm in Unorganized Territory in Downeast Maine. We’ve always been close in heart, though not always close geographically. Now in our “later empty nest” years, we have the opportunity to share a home and a career. That may seem like too much of a good thing but, in a sick way, it’s like a marriage. We’re very different (think type AAA and zzz) in a lot of ways, so we like to think we compliment each other in our strengths and weaknesses. And living in an all-girl home (except for our dog, Henry) has its creative challenges and humorous benefits.

Tell us about your latest book:
Faith in the Shadows is an inspirational romance set in the year following the American Civil War. It features Hawk, a blinded war veteran, and Alice, a Yankee farm gal who struggles with self-worth issues because of a facial birthmark (port wine stain).
When they meet, Alice is all about caring for stable groom, Hawk, like one of her orphaned lambs on the farm. Hawk is angry and independent, so he bristles at her attempts to befriend him. Yet it’s Alice’s life experiences at being patronized that give her the emotional keys to Hawk’s deepest conflicts.
Their feelings and fragile friendship are shredded because Alice’s fiancé sticks it to Hawk every chance he gets. Selfish and manipulative, Joshua’s a guy you love to hate, because he’s good at being bad. He knows what he wants and he’s not afraid to go after it with everything he’s got, enjoying the collateral damage he causes along the way.
But sometimes struggle and conflict are what’s needed to kick-start the heart, and Hawk resurrects his self-respect when he stands up to Joshua and becomes Alice’s champion.
Unfortunately, Joshua knows about the skeletons in Alice’s closet and where all the bodies are buried in Hawk’s fragile psyche. He uses their secrets against them and, in a desperate attempt to break Alice free from Joshua’s clutches, Hawk risks his neck to save her.
Alice is livid at Hawk’s white-knight bravado, but sees in it, a brash reflection of her own stubbornness. Can she and Hawk face the truth about themselves and their future, or will Joshua succeed in getting rid of Hawk and claiming Alice for his bride?

Where do you get ideas for your books?
Ultimately, God gives us all our ideas (although we take full responsibility for the weird ones). But He gives them to us in a thousand ways: from articles we read in the paper, from the epitaphs on old gravestones, from conversations with people we meet, from our warped-and-sometimes-scary imaginations, from asking “what if?”, and sometimes from seeing some small image — like a toddler imitating an adult, or an older couple walking hand-in-hand on a beach.

In three words describe your writing.
Rural, shotgun, sisterhood.

How do you get to know your characters?
We both bring opinions (sometimes strong) about our characters to the writing table and bounce ideas off each other. Sophie’s fixated on details (middle names, birthdates, and what they ate for breakfast on July 10, 1999). Sadie’s happier coloring outside the lines and letting the characters run a bit wild. (Who knows what they’re wearing or where they live, let’s put ’em in the ocean and see if they know how to swim).
Since we come at it from both directions, we can have a character who cramps up because she goes to close too the cliff to take a photo of maybe a whale, maybe a submarine, gets hauled in by a seventh wave and, because she ate a monster bowl of Fruitloops for breakfast with too much milk, she gets wicked stomach cramps and…
Seriously, we get a rough idea of what our characters are about (emotionally, physically, and Spiritually), then we start writing. The characters evolve a lot through dialog played out in our minds (yes, it’s the scary “we hear voices in our heads” scenario. When they start telling us to do something besides write it down on paper, we’re in BIG trouble), and through letting them make choices which don’t mirror our own at critical junctures in the plot. We do have to be careful with our physical descriptions and names as we both tend to like the same physical type of hero.

Does your faith affect your writing? How?
Very much so. Our faith is an integral part of who we are and something we live out every day. We don’t put it on the shelf when we write and, even if we’re not writing something overtly Christian, it manifests itself in our choice of words, our sense of right and wrong, and our confident hope and positive view of the future, regardless of the condition of the world.
Our faith also gives us a strong conviction of writing stories that help others. We made a pact never to write anything our grandmother, mother, or daughter couldn’t and shouldn’t read. Our belief is — if we can’t get the point across without using a swear word, or build the suspense without in-your-face violence, or rip your heart out without gratuitous sex, then we need to learn our craft better so we can become the writers we need to be to honor God, our families, and our convictions. We’re not there yet, but we’re trying to improve and put our best effort.

Our website:  www.cuffesisters.com <http://www.cuffesisters.com/&gt;   We invite our friends to follow our “posts” and “comments” for our blog “Off the Cuffe” and for our author interviews “Complimentary Cuffes.”

purchase links for FAITH IN THE SHADOWS:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-225/The-Wainright-Trilogy-Book/Detail.bok
http://www.amazon.com/Wainright-Trilogy-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0067D6N6E/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321791291&sr=1-2 <http://www.amazon.com/Wainright-Trilogy-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0067D6N6E/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1321791291&amp;sr=1-2>
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wainright-trilogy-book-one-sadie-cuffe/1107396596?ean=2940013446342&itm=2&usri=faith%252bin%252bthe%252bshadows <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wainright-trilogy-book-one-sadie-cuffe/1107396596?ean=2940013446342&amp;itm=2&amp;usri=faith%2bin%2bthe%2bshadows>

Thanks so much for the visit, Regina.  We look forward to seeing you in our neck of the woods real soon!  Sadie & Sophie

Thank you both so much for visiting today! Best of luck with your writing careers!

 

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Welcome, Author Diane Craver!

What an exciting day! Today I am thrilled to welcome Diane Craver as my very first guest of the New Year! An accomplished author, Diane is sharing a blurb, excerpt and review of her book , “The Proposal” with us today. Thank you for visiting, Diane, and welcome!

 

BLURB for “THE PROPOSAL:

Jacqueline Andrews hopes her boyfriend Brad’s surprise is an engagement ring for her twenty-sixth birthday. Her best friend, Tyler Jordan, wants Jacqueline to be happy but not with Brad. Tyler regrets blowing off Jacqueline’s confession of love for him before he left for college. When he returns to their small town as a physician’s assistant, he falls in love with her. He needs to win her love back. Will his hot kisses sway her? Or is she going to marry Brad?

EXCERPT:

She nodded. “To show my appreciation for the great birthday gift and for you treating everyone to dinner tonight, I’ll even make extra bars just for you to eat with lots of cream cheese frosting.”

He put his fork on his empty plate. “You can show your appreciation in another way.”

“Oh really, what way is that?”

“A thank you kiss is definitely in order.”

She shifted toward him and planted a sweet kiss on his lips. Even though, Jacqueline’s quickness in responding surprised him, he wanted more and reclaimed her lips. He loved feeling her quiver at the tenderness of his kiss. She definitely wasn’t just giving a chaste kiss to her best friend. I might be getting through to Jacqueline that we should be a couple. How would Brad take it if Jacqueline broke up with him? He did feel guilty about not speaking up in the beginning to Brad, but he couldn’t say anything when Jacqueline’s happiness was more important. He never expected their feelings for each other to escalate so fast.

“You two need to get a room,” Alex said as he put his plate on the counter.

Jacqueline blushed as she moved slightly to look at her brother. “I was just thanking Tyler for everything.”

Alex chuckled. “I don’t go around kissing people to say thank you.”

“Hey, don’t tease your sister. It’s not everyday I get a kiss that tastes like candy.”

“I heard your phone. Did Brad call?” Alex asked, leaning against the counter.

She nodded. “It was good to hear his voice. I can’t wait to see him next week.”

Alex looked amused. “The competition is on. Two guys in love with my sister. May the best man win.”

LASR REVIEW:

This charming tale of second chances holds few surprises, but don’t let that put you off. Ms. Craver packs plenty of anticipation and emotional swings and round-a-bouts into this sweet romance that would give credit to a full length novel.

Discovering you’ve made a bad judgment that has your dreams crashing and burning is not an easy discovery to handle; but with the help and support of her long-time friend, and once hoped for future, Tyler Jordan, Jacqueline Andrews has some hard decisions to make and a lot of soul searching to work through.

This is not a simple story of friends to lovers to happy ever after; there is a need to forgive, understand past actions and come to terms with their consequences. Ms. Craver does not offer her readers a perfect heroine. Indeed, Jacqueline is a heroine most women can relate to. So full of future dreams she misses plenty of signals out there for her to spot is she only removed her rose coloured spectacles.

When Brad, the man she hopes to marry, fails to fulfill Jacqueline’s hopes and dreams she discovers his agenda is so far off beam from hers, her faith in her own judgment is once again sorely tested. Tyler, her friend let her down many years ago and now she’s back to square one, or is she…?

The hero, Tyler, has a mammoth task ahead of him if he’s going to persuade Jacqueline to believe in his feelings for her now. It is the way the author takes all her characters through the multi-faceted emotions in this story that make it such a charming read, and yes, I will use the word ‘cute’ to describe The Proposal.

The characters are believable, the plot may appear simple but is not, and the conclusion, though not unexpected, still creates a sigh of satisfaction at the end.

~~~~

The Proposal sells for 99 cents on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/The-Proposal-ebook/dp/B005895S4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1309113290&sr=1-1) and Smashwords (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69282 )

Thank you again, Diane! 

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New Year, New Resolutions…New Writings! And a New Contest!

Happy New Year, Friends!

If you’re like me, you have resolutions for 2012. Here’s a quick list of mine:

1) Be more promotionally-active! This includes follow-up, like letting you know “Light of the Heart” is up in the Predators and Editors Poll 🙂

Here’s the link: http://critters.org/predpoll/novelsf.shtml

I’m in the link called “All other Novels”

Click on “Light of the Heart” and then you will get an email in your box which you have to confirm — just by clicking — and then the voting is complete.

There are a couple of steps, but all in all, it’s pretty easy! Thank you for helping out!!!

2) Stay in touch with cyber-friends and colleagues
I can’t tell you how I cringe when I see it’s been 2 or 3 months since I’ve been in contact with my virtual friends and writing colleagues. They have been there for me through everything. I don’t know what I would have done without them! And I want to thank them for that! More than that, I vow to be there, actively, for them in 2012.

3) Branch outside the box and travel beyond the comfort zone. As a writer, especially one who is in the midst of a nine-book series, it’s easy to let all your other writing go…but then, how do you grow? Take a pledge with me now to cultivate your own garden and see what you can do that’s outside of the realm you ever imagined — writing-wise. I’ll bet it’s so cool!
Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

 

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Happy New Year! Happy Day! Welcome, “Praise of the Heart”

I’m always excited to greet the New Year, like you, too, probably, right?

There’s so much promise and excitement associated with a new beginning, and a whole new year presents, to me, almost unlimited possibilities! I can’t sleep!

BUT, this New Year’s Day is ultra-exciting for me, since”Praise of the Heart”, the third book in my Sterling Lakes Series is now out!

Tell me, what do you think of the cover art? I love to hear your comments!!! And tell me, too, what do you think of the story? I love your comments!

“Praise” is the story of a small-town boy who makes it BIG in the major leagues as a baseball player and a small-town girl who wants to stay in her comfort zone…but God seems to have other plans for both of them!

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/v34ZJs

And here’s an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

As he viewed the scene in the St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School picnic area, Cliff ‘Clean-Up’ Markham adjusted the brim of his baseball cap and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

‘You brought me back here to Sterling Lakes, Lord, safe and sound again after another year and for that I give You thanks.’

He eyed the group of somber children sitting dutifully on the benches.

‘Not all of them are as fortunate as I am. I’ll never forget the gifts You gave me, and I will always praise You for them. But, come on, we’ve got to liven this place up. They need spirit. Your spirit, Lord. Help me impart the joy of your spirit to them. Amen.’

Bounding across the lush, green lawn on the long legs that had been his ticket to a career as a major league baseball outfielder, Cliff cried, “Play ball!”

Every head turned his way, and soon the lawn was a kaleidoscope of color and motion as the youngsters flew across the grass to him.

J.B. Norwood, head of the St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School exclaimed, “It’s Cliff! It’s Cliff! He’s back! Hi there, Clean-Up!”

“Clean-Up!” A laughing group of children reached him, swarming him before any adults.

“There you are, Russell. Jeremy, whoa, you got tall. Hey, Margaret, how’ve you been? Say, Bucky, what’s up?”

“They call me Billy now,” the boy replied, kicking the ground.

“Right. Good to know.”

Cliff reviewed the sea of faces before him — some familiar to him and some new from last year’s session. In each one he read hope, youth, goodness… and a desperate need for direction and connection.

Then he saw her. Standing by the edge of the grass. Tall, wearing a blue dress. A vision like something from the pages of a magazine.

He smiled, and she walked towards him. Her long, dark hair swayed gracefully with her every rhythmical step. She was in her early twenties, he guessed. She smiled, and Cliff felt the ground shudder under him.

Beaming, she opened her arms and said, “Children, give Mr. Markham some room to breathe, okay? Why don’t we go sit together under the apple tree?”

“Miss Laurie, he’s here to play, not sit around,” came an instant protest.

“Russell, you have a good point. Let’s let our star attraction decide.” She tilted her head to one side and with a mischievous half-smile, fixed her gaze on Cliff.

Not many times in his twenty-six years had Cliff Markham been stopped short. Life to him was a big game — fun, baseball, travel, women. Good times seemed to flow his way with his natural charm and ease.

Until now. The challenge radiating from those dark brown eyes stopped him in his tracks, and right away he knew he was in big trouble.

He took a few steps towards her and held out his hand. “We haven’t been properly introduced, Miss Laurie. I’m Cliff Markham. From Sterling Lakes. I play baseball with Tampa Bay Stingrays these days.” He shrugged.

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