Congratulations to Katie for winning Karen Barnett’s Mistaken and to Mary for winning the pdf file of Vickie McDonough’s Whispers on the Prairie.
This week I’m hosting Julianna Deering with Rules of Murder (US only), Davalynn Spencer with The Rancher’s Second Chance, Liz Tolsma with Snow on the Tulips (US only) and Anita Higman withWinter in Full Bloom (US only). If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Aug 11th) evening.
Bio for Julianna Deering:
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, Summer 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, Spring 2014) and Murder at the Mikado (Bethany House, Summer 2014). She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).
Blurb of Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering:
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.
Soon, financial irregularities at Drew’s stepfather’s company come to light and it’s clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer–and trying harder to impress Madeline–Drew must decide how far to take this game.
Bio for Davalynn Spencer:
Novelist and speaker Davalynn Spencer is an award-winning journalist whose background spans the city crime beat and the national rodeo circuit. These authentic experiences help her craft fictional characters who face struggle and heartache but find faith and fresh hope along the way. When she’s not writing inspirational romance or teaching as an adjunct English professor, she enjoys speaking and leading worship at women’s retreats. She and her husband, Mike, live on the edge of Colorado’s Front Range with their Queensland heeler, Blue.
Blurb for The Rancher’s Second Chance by Davalynn Spencer:
Eli Hawthorne never gave up hope that someday Laura Bell would return to their small ranching community in the California foothills. But the battle-scarred soldier is a world away from the carefree boy he once was. When Laura finally returns after a twelve-year absence, she finds everything has changed at her family’s home. Or has it? The fire-scarred oak still thrives in the lower pasture in spite of its burned out heart. Could she do the same? Eli and Laura have a second chance to fill the empty places in each other’s life, but pride and fear threaten to keep them from trusting God and finding the love of a lifetime.
Bio for Liz Tolsma:
Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog.
Blurb for Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma:
A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.
The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she’s endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.
When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.
As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.
She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love and learn to depend on the Perfect Love that drives out all fear? Or will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom?
Bio for Anita Higman:
Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has thirty-four books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
Anita recently won her second Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and her latest novel, Winter in Full Bloom (Moody Publishers) is available now.
Please visit her website at www.anitahigman.com and drop her a note by clicking the “Contact Me” button.
Blurb for Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman:
Lily Winter’s wings are folded so tightly around her daughter that when empty nest arrives, she feels she can no longer fly. But Lily’s lonely, widowed life changes in a heartbeat when she discovers a family secret—she has an identical twin sister who was put up for adoption when they were babies. Lily embarks on a journey that will take her to Australia in search of her sister, but her quest will also lead her back home to reconciliation and to the one dream she no longer imagined possible—the chance to fall in love again.
