Please join me in my garden to discuss The Warrior’s Vow by Christina Rich. I’m serving Raisin Cake and your choice of chamomile or mint tea. Christina has generously offered to giveaway one copy of The Warrior’s Vow to one commenter! Please see the information about the giveaway at the end of this post. The cover is absolutely stunning!
The Warrior’s Vow by Christina Rich. Please enjoy some Raisin Cake!
About The Warrior’s Vow:
He Was Hers to Command
Swept away from her home and into the desert, Abigail is as much a prisoner as she is a princess. A ruthlessly ambitious captain of the palace guard intends to force her into marriage and rule Judah through her. Yet the badly beaten soldier Abigail rescues offers another choice—if she dares trust him.
She is royalty, yet Jesse is surprised by the gentle compassion Abigail shows him as he heals. In return, he will help her escape to Jerusalem, protecting her life with his own. But Abigail’s rank and Jesse’s deadly past makes any future impossible, unless forgiveness forged by love can triumph over all.
MY THOUGHTS:
What an enjoyable book! It was interesting to see these delightful characters develop in their journeys toward truth and understanding.
Though romance is my favorite genre, this is the first time I’ve read a romance novel set during the historical times of the Bible. The Warrior’s Vow, by Christina Rich, brought the people of that period alive for me. It is interesting to get a sense of life during those times through the well-chosen words used by the author.
This is a well-developed story, emphasizing that the choices people make defines their characters. I enjoyed the progression of Abigail’s evolving strength, belief in God, and commitment to Jesse. Jesse is such an honorable man…my kind of hero. A great story!
After reading this book, sunrises will be even more meaningful to me. I’ll definitely be reading more books by Christina Rich. Her debut novel, The Guardian’s Promise, is on my to-be-read stack, and I will be reading it soon! I don’t think this reverse order will detracted from the stories, though characters from the first book are mentioned in the second.
My favorite quote from The Warrior’s Vow: “I cannot see the plans God has for me. All I can do is seek His guidance and trust that He is faithful in all things.”
*The author generously gave me a copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
Now for the recipe……I did top the cake with a cream cheese frosting (mixed with a touch of honey, because that seemed fitting with Biblical foods). I put the walnuts on top rather than mixing them in with the batter. Click below to see the recipe.
My husband is great help with finding recipes for me. He is my taste tester, and he gives this cake a “thumbs up.” He found this recipe at www.cookingwiththeBible.com, a site that has many interesting recipes and information about foods mentioned in the Bible. Though I picture the Raisin Cake mentioned many times in the Bible to be raisins pressed together to allow for storage, this Raisin Cake from Cooking With The Bible seems more appropriate for serving at our tea celebration.
THANK YOU for celebrating Christina Rich’s newest novel, The Warrior’s Vow, with me today on #TUESDAYTEA! Hope you try both the book and the Raisin Cake!
GIVEAWAY: To enter this giveaway for one copy of The Warrior’s Vow, please include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you about where to send the book if your name is drawn. The winning name will be drawn from the submitted names from a tea cup. The giveaway is open from July 8, 2014, until midnight on Sunday, July 13, 2014. Please check the Legal Page of this blog for the legal requirements.
Usually when I invite you to have TUESDAY TEA with me, we’ll share a pot of tea and a tea time treat. Today our treat is a bit different. I’ll explain. After attending the sunrise service at our church on Easter Sunday, my husband and I went hiking in the desert to refresh in God’s amazing creation of wilderness. The area of our hike, shown below, seems like an interesting contrast to the setting of the book I’m featuring today on TUESDAY TEA, Sandra Leesmith’s LOVE’S PROMISES. Sandra’s novel is filled with scenic mountains, sparkling water, glistening snow, and the scent of Ponderosa pine forests. Beautiful Lake Tahoe is where this love story unfolds as Monica and Greg experience the outdoor adventures the Lake Tahoe area offers. Therefore, I’m serving trail food, water and energy bars, as Sandra discusses the active environment of her inspirational romance, Love’s Promises. Please be sure to enter the giveaway (at the bottom of this post), featuring Lake Tahoe and Sandra’s favorite coffee.
Tuesday Tea-Hiking-This isn’t Lake Tahoe!
First, enjoy the beautiful cover of this book! When Sandra revealed the cover a few weeks ago, I was thrilled to learn there was a tea house on tiny Fannette Island, or as the locals call it, the Tea House Island. You can see the island on the cover. However, the Tea House is not a place to drop in for afternoon tea, as Sandra will explain below.
Love’s Promises by Sandra Leesmith
About the Book:
For Monica Scott, building her late father’s house at Lake Tahoe isn’t an option—it’s a necessary distraction from confusing memories and an uncertain future. But a handsome planner working for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is keeping Monica from moving forward with the project. Never mind that he’s young and charming with a great sense of humor. No one is going to stop Monica from making her father’s dream—and her own—a reality. All Greg Linsey wants is for his work to mean something. His job at TRPA gives him the opportunity to fight for the environment he loves and make a difference in his small corner of the world. But with the sophisticated Monica Scott’s arrival, his dedication is tested as never before, especially when Monica turns to his unscrupulous nemesis for assistance. As Greg and Monica’s animosity turns into something far sweeter, can they learn to accept each other’s promises and avoid the growing danger to their lives and hearts?
Now to chat with Sandra about the beautiful Lake Tahoe setting of Love’s Promises!
SHERIDA: What glimmer of an idea started your thoughts for Love’s Promises?
SANDRA: Two glimmers happened for me. My husband and I bought a house at Lake Tahoe, and it needed a lot of work done on it. The work needed permits, and that is when we ran into the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. My husband is a biologist and we both have deep concern and love of nature, so we were very impressed with the Agency’s plan to protect the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe in spite of the extensive use. The research was very rewarding.
The other thing that happened at that time is that I was involved in a class for women offered at church that pointed out God’s plan for women and their role as godly wives. Becoming an adult in the era when women’s lib started, I thought the precepts presented in my Bible class were refreshing, and I wanted to show those in my writing as well.
SHERIDA: Both of your inspirational experiences are developed so well in the book, the concern of preserving natural beauty and the reflections on God’s plan for being a wife.
As I mentioned, I love tea houses, but the Tea House mentioned in your book is not what I was thinking it would be. Please tell us a bit about the Tea House you describe in Love’s Promises.
SANDRA: No, the tea house located on Fannette Island in Emerald Bay is very unconventional, isn’t it? It was built by Lora Josephine Knight, who purchased the property on shore and the island in 1928 and built the house and teahouse according to Scandinavian architecture. She would take her lady friends out to the island for tea. The small structure included a fireplace and a table and chairs. I think she built it to protect them from the wind and cold that can come up while on the lake.
SHERIDA: I do hope to visit this tea house! My husband and I love travel. We have plans to see Lake Tahoe this summer for the first time. What would you suggest to add sparkle to our visit? (We like camping, hiking, and food. Any place for tea or coffee you enjoy?)
SANDRA: My recommendation would be to go to the tourist information centers. They are located in the major towns and also in the state parks and national monuments. You need to make reservations early as they book up fast for camping. Any of the campgrounds are fabulous. Take your bicycles, as you can ride to interesting places from all of the campgrounds. Hiking trails abound in the forest around the lake. There is also access to the Desolation Wilderness Area on the west side of the lake.
Every town has fabulous restaurants for coffee and tea. Just ask the campground hosts where you camp. I particularly love to have coffee on the deck at Sunnyside along the west shore. (Here is their website: http://www.sunnysidetahoe.com) Btw, they received a “best ambiance” award in 2014.
SHERIDA: Thank you for your trip-planning suggestions, Sandra. And thank you for your blog tour events and the giveaway featuring Lake Tahoe. I love Love’s Promises!
SANDRA: Thank you, Sherida. I am looking forward to the blog tour. I am delighted that you love the book.
Follow the Love’s Promises blog tour set up by Amber Stokes by clicking on the pretty button below. Visit with the other bloggers who present fun information about LOVE’S PROMISES!
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE’S PROMISES:
This is a story about Monica Scott’s determination to build a house, designed by her father, on an environmental sensitive plot of land in the Tahoe Basin area of California in the 1980’s. Her plans are thwarted by Greg Linsey, an agent with the organization charged with protecting the quality of life in the area. Well-motivated characters and the different ways love is expressed, fill this story with thoughtful inspiration. I enjoyed the sense of hiking and exploring the beautiful scenery of Lake Tahoe, so lovingly described by Sandra Leesmith.
Favorite quotes:
A slight breeze rushed through the trees. The cool air refreshed his exerted body. Birds sang. Squirrels scattered in front of him. Pleasure coursed through Greg as the stirrings of spring transferred from nature to him. He looked around and thanked God again for His wonderful creation, and thanked his forefathers for the wisdom to preserve it. For the first time in months, peace settled in his heart.
“That’s called love. It’s the way love works. You put someone else before yourself. In appreciation, that person does the same.”
About author Sandra Leesmith:
Sandra Leesmith
Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books at www.sandraleesmith.com.
Sandra is offering one reader a taste of Lake Tahoe with a sweet prize pack: a signed paperback copy of Love’s Promises, a journal, a Lake Tahoe coffee mug, a pound of Millstone Velvet Chocolate coffee, and a Hulet Glass chocolate drop! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. You can enter to win via the Rafflecopter form below: a Rafflecopter giveaway //d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js
Thanks to Sandra Leesmith and my readers for stopping by for TUESDAY TEA, even if we just had water and trail bars today, but so fitting for the beautiful hiking to be experience in Sandra Leesmith’s Love’s Promises! Be sure to enter the giveaway. Hope you enjoy Love’s Promises,as I did! May you always be blessed by the gift of our Savior’s love as celebrated at Easter! Blessings to you!
With an invitation from our son and DIL to visit Disneyland with them to celebrate Granddaughter’s 4th birthday, we excitedly traveled to Anaheim, California. The night before our son’s family was to leave on the trip, our DIL hurried to pack up baby items for one-year-old Grandson and princess dresses for Granddaughter. She noticed an off odor in their house, so as a precaution, she put batteries in their carbon monoxide detector. Awaken by the alarm in the early morning hours, they called the gas company. Her actions saved not only their precious family, but also the unconscious neighbors who had left their car running, filling both townhouses with deadly fumes.
Moving on pure adrenaline, they made their 9:00 am flight, arriving in Disneyland with Granddaughter and Grandson. Celebrations of being together and having birthday breakfast with the Disney princesses was even more treasured than we had planned. We know how quickly a moment can change lives.
Additionally, there were two earthquakes and many after-shocks while we were there. The first earthquake, a 5.1 magnitude, made our hotel creak and sway and woke Granddaughter who asked why her bed was shaking. Grandson slept through all the action. During that first earthquake, our son and DIL were in Disneyland. All the attractions were closed as a precaution. DIL took the oddly eerie picture shown below (which fits with my blog’s tea theme):
Disneyland teacup ride is empty after the earthquake. Photo courtesy of Kira Brady.
We even added a flat tire to the happenings! But we were so blessed to spend treasured time with our family enjoying the discoveries of Disneyland.
Then on to Las Vegas where we joined our other son and his fiancée while they looked at wedding venues for next year’s marriage. This was a special time with them. I even found two Inspirational Romance books that I hadn’t been able to find at my home stores: The Guardian’s Promise by Christina Rich and The Agent’s Secret Past by Debby Giusti.
Everyone arrived home safely, but I learned to check the carbon monoxide detectors, travel with an emergency kit, and thank God for each precious day spent with our family! Blessings to you! Please give your loved ones an extra hug!
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
WELCOME TO THE KIVATI HALL TEA ROOM LOCATED IN POST-APOCALYPTIC SEATTLE!
Tea in Kivati Hall
Please join my daughter-in-law, Kira Brady, and me for a special tea in the conservatory of Seattle’s Kivati Hall, as featured in her third book of the Deadglass series, Hearts of Chaos,releasing today.
“Inside, the air was humid. Flowering trees and exotic ferns crowded the tables. The roof and three walls were glass panels between a lattice of iron. Suspended from the ceiling was a miniature iron railroad track; a tea train, puffing peppermint steam, ran between the kitchens and the small round tables in a clover loop. The train stopped at each table to unload its fare. Each car held a different delicacy: cucumber and ginger sandwiches, cinnamon cookies, and scones with huckleberry preserves.” Hearts of Chaos, Chapter 2
We’re sipping peppermint tea. Please help yourself to buttermilk scones and triangle open-face sandwiches spread with gingered goat cheese, topped with cucumber slices. Then have a special Kivati Hall cinnamon and sunflower seed cookie. The recipe for the cookies is at the end of this post.
Now to tell you about Hearts of Chaos!
HEARTS OF CHAOS by Kira Brady
The thrilling finale to the Deadglass Trilogy.
Lucia and Corbette.
Death can’t stop their love.
To save her world, one woman’s fierce quest will put her up against an ancient evil–and a desire too dangerous to deny . . .
She is betrothed to Seattle’s most feared shifter clan leader. Still, the Lady Lucia can never be the dainty aristocratic wife Emory Corbette thinks he needs. And as a malevolent, all-consuming monster plots to take hold of their shattered world, Lucia will risk her untapped powers to defeat it–and challenge the Raven King’s seductive rule. No one in Emory’s many lifetimes has ever defied him. Lucia’s courage and strength are shaking his iron control to its core. . .and making him hungry for all she can give. But their only hope is a wrenching sacrifice that could unite humans and shifters in victory–or destroy everything Lucia and Emory desire most. . .
Praise for Hearts of Chaos
“Seamlessly weaving threads of Babylonian, Norse, and Northwest Native American fables, Brady creates a dark, rich tapestry. The trilogy ends as it began: with beautifully rendered prose and multidimensional characters who capture readers’ hearts.” – Publishers Weekly
“Brady has a talent for completely bringing the reader into a dark world in an alternate Seattle, full of shapeshifters and magic. The well-crafted world Brady has created is one of the things that sets this series apart in a very popular genre…. The characters are engaging and the mythos is unique, but the spark between Lucia and Corbette is what will really keep the pages turning.” – RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Praise for Kira Brady and the Deadglass Series
“Imaginative. . .this fast-paced, gritty story will thrill paranormal readers.” –BookPage
“The characters are fresh and exciting, and the story is fascinating.” –RT Book Reviews
MY THOUGHTS:
Review: Hearts of Chaos (Deadglass Novel) by Kira Brady
Brilliant conclusion to an unforgettable paranormal romance series.
Yes, brilliant writing! I felt I was walking among the mists and myths of a very different Seattle created by Kira Brady. Lucia and Emory are intriguing characters as they develop strength and courage during their story of saving their world and of finding faithful love.
My kind of hero: “We can’t afford to be selfish.” “I stand it because there is no other option.”
My kind of heroine: “If she never took great risks, how would she ever know how much she was capable of?”
My kind of theme: “There’s always hope.”
If you enjoy steamy, paranormal romance, with intricate world-building and complex characters, you will want to read the Deadglass Trilogy. I’d suggest starting with the Hearts of Fire prequel novella of Alice and Brand, then the story of Kayla and Hart in Hearts of Darkness, followed by Hearts of Shadow featuring Grace and Leif, then ending with Lucia and Emory in the amazing Hearts of Chaos. Each book is a separate, fulfilling romance, but it’s interesting to see the development of the alternate Seattle, with the blending of different, enchanting mythologies, as each book unfolds.
Watch for mention of the Deadglass (spyglass) in Hearts of Chaos…..intriguing to see who possesses it last. Hmmm……?
For more about Kira Brady and her Deadglass Trilogy, visit her at www.KiraBrady.com. There you will find links to her books, and some of the ebooks may be available at special prices.
Interesting photo: I took this picture on the shoreline of Puget Sound near Seattle. Now I’m wondering what stories these two eagles may be hiding.
Eagles on the beach near Seattle.
CINNAMON AND SUNFLOWER SEED COOKIES (SERVED AT THE TEA ROOM OF KIVATI HALL IN SEATTLE)
Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
2/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons molasses
1 1/3 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup cinnamon chips
1/3 cup roasted sunflower nuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream shortening and sugar together. Beat in egg. Stir in molasses. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and stir until well combined. Mix in cinnamon chips and sunflower nuts. Roll dough into two 9-inch logs (about 1-inch in diameter). Refrigerate dough or freeze.
Cut logs into ¼ inch slices. Place slices two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheets to a wire rack until completely cool. (This was adapted from a recipe found on allrecipes dot com.)
TEA ROOMS Kira Brady and I have enjoyed afternoon tea at many lovely tea rooms……The Brown Palace, the Jazz Bouquet Tea Cafe, The Georgian Restaurant, and the charming Wildflower Tea Room Café pictured below. We still have many more on our list to enjoy in the future. Do you have a suggestion of a favorite tea place?
You’re invited to a very special party…..Seekerville’s New Year’s Eve celebration to welcome in the year of 2014!
Join us at the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party!
To celebrate critique partnerships (so valuable to writers), my critique partner, Donna Phillips, and I are hosting an hour at the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party. The two of us will be welcoming you at 7 pm EST (6 pm CST, 5 pm MST, 4 pm PST), but please stop by anytime during the day or night. Everyone in Seekerville will be partying around the clock at www.seekerville.blogspot.com, with giveaways and recipes for treats included each hour! We’re talking about writing and “My One Word” selections for 2014. My word for 2013 was LIGHT and I’ll be revealing my word for 2014 at the Seekerville party.
The giveaway for the hour Donna and I are sponsoring will be a critique from http://www.mycritiquepartner.blogspot.com/ or a bag of English Breakfast tea from The New Mexico Tea Company.
We so hope you will be able to join us for all the fun! Relax with a cup of tea and a few snacks with us!
To start 2014 off with a BANG, here’s a picture of what I’m bringing, yummy Fire-Crackers (spicy cheese crackers) to start the year off with a bit of New Mexico spice!
New Year’s Eve FIRE-Crackers
If you’d like to have something other than tea tonight, you might try a Lime Sparkler……..mix 2 ounces fresh lime juice with 2 ounces Agave Nectar in a glass. Add sparkling water and ice to taste. Fizzy and just right with the Fire-Crackers!
Wishing you a sparkling 2014 filled with treasures of the heart!
Join us at the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party! My critique partner and I will be hosting at 7 pm EST!
I want to give you an early invitation to a New Year’s Eve party….the annual Seekerville ’round the clock New Year’s Eve Party….and a bit of a preview. My critique partner and I will be hosting the 7 pm EST hour of the SeekervilleNew Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2013. As an early treat, please join me for tea today and try a sample of what we’ll be serving during the party–Fire-Crackers….yummy spiced cheese crackers. My critique partner will be bringing a sweet *chocolate* treat to the party. 🙂
New Year’s Eve FIRE-Crackers
Seekerville (www.seekerville.net) is a special community…..a place where a group of Christian authors offer valuable writing advice and encouragement to unpublished writers. Seekerville celebrates the year’s end with a virtual New Year’s Eve party–giveaways, food (with recipes) and a time for fellowship as we each reveal the “My One Word” we have chosen for 2014. During last year’s party, the book My One Word, by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen, was featured as a thought-provoking way to look at resolutions for the next year. (www.myoneword.com) The challenge is presented to Christians to “Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year.”
Their message calls to me. Last year, I chose LIGHT as my 2013 word. I decided on this word since I wanted to spread the LIGHT of God’s love to others because He is the LIGHT of the world. I believe God did use me as a vessel for shining the light of His love. I pray I will continue to shine His LIGHT in all I do.
Please join us for the party on December 31, 2013. I hope you’ll choose one word that will shine a LIGHT on what you hope God will do in you during 2014.
May your Christmas be blessed with glittering love as you walk in the LIGHT of our Lord!
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
In October, I attended my first romance writers’ conference, the EMERALD CITY WRITERS’ CONFERENCE, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America chapter. It was FABULOUS! The experience far exceeded my expectations. I was blessed by my daughter-in-law, author Kira Brady, who accompanied me and was the helpful voice of conference experience.
ECWC with DIL Kira Brady.
We picked up our registration packets and tote bags FILLED with goodies–books, pens, notebooks, promotional items and motivational buttons, plus some candy. 🙂
Bag of goodies from ECWC.
Now, where to begin? Since this is TUESDAY TEA, I’ll start with the Cherry Adair Tea and First Timers Welcome Reception. Cherry Adair, an author from the sponsoring chapter, gives generous support to this conference and offers encouragement to writers. Her tea is a “meet and greet” time at the conference where tea sandwiches and scones were served amid lively conversation and charming autumn decorations–and there was chocolate. 🙂
Cherry Adair Tea at the ECWC.
Major take-away thoughts from the conference:
Self-Publishing is a way to go
Develop a series
Keep writing, never give up
Write a great book, then keep writing
Chocolate is a writer’s friend 🙂
It was such fun to be with a welcoming group of writers who understand the language of HEA, WIP and GMC. The keynote speakers were inspiring. The food served was delicious. The workshops presentations were informative, with chocolate available to snack on. 🙂
Here are highlights from some of the presentations:
Learn to Rewrite: Finishing the manuscript is just the beginning with Anna DeStefano–Print out your completed manuscript. Use Post-it notes to flag each character’s POV passages in a different color. Then read that character’s story from beginning to end. You should see the character evolve in each scene.
Craft of the Short Story with Anthea Lawson–The market for short stories is on the rise, ranging from flash fiction of 300 to 1000 words to anthologies ranging from 5K to 7K. Short fiction needs to give an emotional payoff to the reader.
Secondary characters with Pam Binder–Secondary characters should only be in the story if they have a purpose. This purpose can be to help the main character recognize and overcome flaws by mirroring these flaws or being the complete opposite. Look at the motivation of secondary characters–why are they in the hero or heroine’s life?
Writing Active Setting with Mary Buckham–Details of setting must matter to the story to be included in your writing. Setting can be used for characterization, to reveal emotion, foreshadow conflict, tell backstory, anchor the reader or act as a character. The primary goal for setting is to capture the reader’s attention.
Navigating the Wild West of Publishing with Marie Force and Shelli Stevens–The publishing world is changing and now may be a good time to enter into self-publishing. Timing is extremely important–along with some luck. It is suggested to have many projects ready to publish in quick succession to stay engaged with the reader.
Building a Successful Series with Robin Carr–Series are in the spotlight at this time. A series needs a running theme, then begin with a place which challenges the characters, giving plenty of sensory details. Be sure there is a reader payoff in each book and a hook to entice the reader into the next book. It is best to be authentic to your own personality when writing.
Christopher Keeslar of Boroughs Publishing Group offered wise advice: Spend time outside of your writing cave, living a life full of everyday activities because your writing will be enriched by all your experiences.
Next time, I’ll write about the Book Fair featuring many authors signing books (and giving away chocolate) and the amazing raffle baskets (many of which contained chocolate). (I won one, and, yes, it had chocolate!) 😀
THANK YOU to all the volunteers! Their hard work made the Emerald City Writers’ Conference simply AWESOME!
I’m delighted to welcome you to the Sunflower Inn where we are sipping Tazo’s baked cinnamon apple tea with Melissa Jagears, author of A BRIDE FOR KEEPS,which released on October 1. The heroine of this book, Julia, bakes apple pies in this love story, so I’m serving mini-apple pies today as we discuss this mail-order bride romance.
A BRIDE FOR KEEPS by Melissa Jagears
MY THOUGHTS ON A BRIDE FORKEEPS—
This is a story filled with tender passion and gentle love….
While reading A Bride For Keeps, I was swept away to the Kansas prairie of 1876 to delight in the friendships of a small farming community and to experience the hard work of rural life. Fleeing from a hurtful past, Julia arrives in Salt Flatts as a mail-order bride. Everett is disheartened after previous attempts to order brides have been unsuccessful. Julia and Everett struggle to overcome their emotional hurts to find their happiness. They are sympathetic characters who rely on friendships and their own strong sense of right to deal with their situation.
I completely enjoyed this story filled with tender passion which is strengthened with the gentle thread of faith. My favorite line: “Whatever you’ve done, He’ll forgive.” Melissa Jagears’ debut is a well-written story of hope. And I hope she writes many more!
Now to chat with Melissa…..
SHERIDA: This is a charming story, Melissa! Please tell us how you got the glimmer of the idea for A BRIDE FOR KEEPS?
MELISSA: I heard a story where a family was arranging a marriage between the United States and Europe. Well, the man arranged the first marriage and it fell through, the second and it fell through, and he had the guts to order again. I wondered what could make a man desperate enough to face humiliation a third time. That’s what gave me the idea.
SHERIDA: I really felt sorry for Everett when his many previous orders didn’t work out, so this was an engaging idea to use. As an author, what do you do to keep the sparkle while you are writing?
MELISSA: I’m not sure I’m very sparkly, it’s more like being my own task master: “I have to.” So having crit partners or beta readers wanting to read my books is probably the best thing. If I didn’t have someone asking every now and then “When am I getting the next chapter/book?” I might never finish! The only thing sparkly I guess is I like wasting time listening to YouTube videos of Pentatonix sing as a reward sometimes…..or sometimes without even the excuse of it being a reward but just simply a procrastination technique. If you’ve never heard of Pentatonix, they’re a young accapella group, here’s them doing Video Killed the Radio Star. (Birth Year Song for me–just tattled on my age!).
SHERIDA: Fun sparkle! And I agree that critique partners are invaluable encouragement. (*waving to my CP*) Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
MELISSA: I guess I’d have to say when I was in China working at a college for teachers for the summer. I was there just to work and observe. (I became an English as a Second Language Teacher.) One day, I had over a girl to tutor. She wanted to show off her English reading skills, chose my Bible off the table, and started reading to show me how well she could do. And she read for a long time. Being that foreigners are watched over there because they are not supposed to evangelize, I found it neat that God got plenty of truth into this young lady by using her desire to show off.
SHERIDA: That is so impressive and a perfect example of God working at His perfect timing! Thank you for sharing your experience!
ABOUT A BRIDE FOR KEEPS—
Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won’t humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again–not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She’s the prettiest woman he’s ever seen, and it’s just not possible she’s there to marry a simple homesteader like him.
Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she’s determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.
Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?
ABOUT MELISSA JAGEARS—
Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She’s a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com.
Thank you, Melissa, thank you for joining us for Tuesday Tea. Thank you, READERS, for having tea with us and talking about A BRIDE FOR KEEPS.
Dex Stanton has never had much time for book learning. He’s been too busy helping to provide for his family. Now that he’s heading west, Dex is hoping to start a family of his own. However, his attempt to acquire a mail-order bride fails miserably when the lady writes back ridiculing his terrible spelling. Rachel Oliver may be the last person he wants to know what a dunce he is, but she’s also the smartest woman in town–and it’s clear he needs her help.
Rachel Oliver has lingered in town for three years secretly mooning over Dex Stanton, but now she’s done. If the fool wants to write to a mail-order bride company, so be it. Once she begins giving Dex lessons, however, Rachel realizes she may not be prepared to give up just yet.
As their time together runs short, can two of the most stubborn people in town set aside their pride long enough to find love?
Love by the Letter is a companion Christian romance novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears’s full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.
*Bethany House generously provided a copy of A Bride for Keeps in exchange for my honest review.
Today we’re having tea with Amber Stokes and talking about her debut novel, Bleeding Heart, an Inspirational Historical Romance. We’re sitting at a small wooden table amid the scents of cinnamon, butter and yeast in the Mended Heart Bakery. Please join us as we munch on heart-shaped cookies (with my homemade plum jam in the centers) and sip White Pomegranate tea from the Queen Mary Tea Shop. This tea seems fitting with the colors featured on the enchanting cover of Bleeding Heart, which was designed with Lena Goldfinch. The cover truly evokes the wistful feeling of this story. Please be sure to look for the charming giveaway items (and the entry form) near the end of my post.
About Bleeding Heart:
“Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.
Summer 1886
Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.
But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?
A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.
All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.
Many bloggers have included great interviews and reviews about Bleeding Heart. I think you’d enjoy visiting the other blogs. Each one is different, giving a bit more insight into the book.
Bleeding Heart, Amber Stokes’ debut historical novel, will take you on an epic journey. You will travel to the old west mining towns of Nevada, to the lumber camps of California and to the landscapes of Oregon. You will experience the journey of developing relationships, both enduring friendships and evolving love. This is not a light inspirational romance. It is a story with shattering heartache, but shows the maturing qualities of love and of faith. To me, this is a story of friendship—those people God puts in our paths to enrich our lives and to encourage our sacrifice for others. I cared for the characters as they struggled with the consequences of their decisions. I’m hoping for future stories of these characters’ continuing lives. Amber Stokes is an author who creates fascinating characters and will deliver more great stories with emotional depth. Wonderful debut novel!
NOW FOR MY CHAT WITH AMBER. I’LL POUR YOU ANOTHER CUP OF TEA AND PLEASE TAKE ANOTHER HEART COOKIE AS WE TALK ABOUT BLEEDING HEART.
SHERIDA: Amber, this is an amazing debut novel! How did you get the glimmer of the idea for Bleeding Heart?
AMBER: When I finished my first book (Forget Me Not – not yet published), I wasn’t ready to face edits, so I decided to just dive into a sequel. The “glimmer” came from a spurned suitor, a prostitute in a short but pivotal scene, and a secondary character who wanted to be involved in another story – all from book 1. I threw them together, tried to incorporate some advice given to me in the form of feedback for book 1 (from my dad and editor, namely), and then let the title I had chosen help guide the story. And that was the start of Bleeding Heart! It ended up taking some rather intense turns from there…
SHERIDA: Interesting that the “sequel” was published before the first book. (And Amber tells us that Forget Me Not will be published and is already listed on Goodreads. Yay!) Amber, you are a very busy person! So tell us, what do you do to keep the “sparkle” while you are writing?
AMBER: I suppose it varies, depending on the writing “season” I’m in! What helped me to keep the sparkle as I came to the end of the first draft of Bleeding Heart was being involved in a writing challenge (Seekerville’s “Speedbo” in March) and doing #1K1Hr sessions with other writers on Twitter (where we try to write 1,000 words in an hour).
What helped me when I was working on completing the first draft of Forget Me Not was sending e-mails to a dear blogging friend with writing updates. Her enthusiastic feedback and encouragement for new scenes truly helped to motivate me.
In both cases, it seems like having goals, both short-term and long-term, really have helped me get stuff done. Imagine that! *wink*
SHERIDA: I agree that writing friends really help keep us motivated. (Seekerville’s Speedbo was great encouragement for my WIP, also.) Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
AMBER: My first semester of college, I did something very spontaneous. I was stressed with school work to do, practices for the musical I was in (just a small chorus part – but we still had to know all the group dances and such), and just the newness of being away from home for so long, on my own. So one Sunday night I bought a train ticket. It wasn’t for the destination – I just picked a spot in Washington state (I went to school in Salem, Oregon) that would allow me to have a day trip somewhere and back. While I probably could have been more responsible and picked a weekend date where I wouldn’t miss any classes or practices, I was still blessed by the experience – just me and God, on a train trip to nowhere that turned out to be refreshing, a jewel of a memory that I cherish. It was during that trip that I wrote the poem “Seasons of Humility,” which I ended up choosing as the title for my blog when I started it several months later. That poem has ended up shaping my blog and, to some degree, my business and my writing brand. It’s so cool that God can use little moments in big ways in a person’s life! And those little “jewels” God generously provides can really help us keep a proper perspective on it all, I believe.
SHERIDA: Amber, it is always interesting to hear of those “God moments” we have in our lives. Train travel seems perfect for quiet reflection when we need to enjoy the journey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and blessings with us today! Bleeding Heart is an amazing debut book. I’m looking forward to Forget Me Not!
About Amber Stokes:
Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word – from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing her debut novel, Bleeding Heart.
Amber is doing a fun giveaway with the charming items shown in the picture below (plus a signed copy of the print edition of her book when it is available-soon). She picked items representing scene locations mentioned in her book. (The giveaway is for one US resident only.)
Bleeding Heart Blog Tour Package
Giveaway Information
“Journey to the West” Giveaway! One U.S. resident (randomly drawn) will receive a signed copy of Bleeding Heart and a collection of items from the story’s settings, handpicked by the author. a Rafflecopter giveaway //d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js Thank you for joining Amber and me for tea today. Hope you enjoyed the additional information about Bleeding Heart. Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
And here is a “shout out” to my dear friend, HH. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying my TUESDAY TEA posts! 🙂
The cookie recipe can be found at www.allrecipes.com and then search for Easy Valentine Sandwich Cookies. (They are yummy cookies!)
The White Pomegranate tea is from www.QueenMaryTea.com. (It’s one of my favorite tea shops.)
I was generously given an e-ARC of Bleeding Heart for my honest review. (Thanks, Amber!)
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake via Valerie Comer
Today we’re having raspberry tea with Valerie Comer at the Valley Co-op Farm Shop, sitting outside on the deck with a view of their organic fields of ready-to-pick veggies. As we talk about her book, Raspberries and Vinegar-A Farm Fresh Romance, we’re snacking on Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, (Valerie has linked her recipe in the comments) which is perfect for our tea today to celebrate her newest book. Another time I’ll serve her Raspberry Vinegar punch. Valerie includes a recipe for this refreshing summer drink at the end of the book.
Here is some information about the series and the first book.
A FARM FRESH ROMANCE. This unique farm lit series follows the adventures, romantic and otherwise, of three college graduates who move onto a reclaimed farm where they plan to take the rural area by storm with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods.
Raspberries and Vinegar: A Farm Fresh Romance (1) by Valerie Comer
Sweet and tart Josephine Shaw is on a mission to rid the world of junk food and chemicals by promoting local foods and sustainability.
Josephine Shaw: complex, yet singleminded. A tiny woman with big ideas and, some would say, a mouth to match. But what does she really know about sustainable living as it relates to the real world? After all, she and her two friends are new to farming.
Zachary Nemesek is back only until his dad recovers enough to work his own land again. When Zach discovers three helpless females have taken up residence at the old farm next door, he expects trouble. But a mouse invasion proves Jo has everything under control. Is there anything she can’t handle? And surely there’s something sweet beneath all that tart.
Breaking ground with the Farm Fresh Romance series, RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR finds Josephine Shaw and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with their sights set on more than just their own property. Transforming the town with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more resistance than they expected, especially by temporary neighbor, Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a little sweet makes the tart more tasty.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the first “farm lit” book I’ve read. Reading it brought back fond memories of spending time at my aunt and uncle’s farm in Kansas. Raspberries and Vinegar was fun to read as I dreamed of all the fresh produce we enjoyed when we belonged to Turkey Hill CSA in Colorado.
With believable characters, good pacing and a faith thread running throughout, Valerie has written an “opposites attract” romance, showing that every person and every issue is composed of multiple shades of positives and negatives. As in real life, there are sad moments in this story and joyful celebrations. If we let God direct us, our dreams can become something much more that we imagined.
The last line in this book is perfect, but please don’t peek ahead!
I’m looking forward to two more books in Valerie’s Farm Fresh series.
SHERIDA: Welcome, Valerie! This coffee cake is delicious. As is your book! How did you get the glimmer of the idea for Raspberries and Vinegar?
VALERIE: It came to me in a dream. Seriously! I pretty much never remember my dreams, but this was a noteworthy exception. My first few manuscripts were speculative fiction and I’d decided to make the jump to contemporary romance as fantasy was (and still is) such a hard sell in Christian circles.
But so many contemporary novels focused on city girls, and I live on a farm with no interest in urban life. I’d spent a few days mulling what angle I could offer that meshed my chosen genre with things I actually cared about and knew about as I prepared for my first writers’ conference and a pitch session with an editor. What could I present?
That morning as I was coming awake, I remembered sitting across from Tina James of Love Inspired, Harlequin’s inspirational imprint. I pitched her this three-book idea and she loved it! She bought it on the spot. Then I realized it was just a dream, but my eyes popped open wide when I realized I remembered the idea I’d pitched.
To make a long story short, I did, in fact, pitch the idea to Tina at the next ACFW conference. Instead of buying it (or even loving it) she told me Love Inspired readers don’t want issue-driven fiction—and what else could you call a story that pits an opinionated local-food advocate against a junk-food addict?
I’d already gotten a solid start on developing the story and still loved it, so I finished the novel and began sending it out. After a few close calls and a lot of waiting, it found a home, along with the other two books in the series, with a new small publishing house, Choose NOW Publishing.
SHERIDA: I love that you had a God-inspired dream, leading you to a perfect story! What do you do to keep the sparkle while you are writing?
VALERIE: It takes a long time to finish a novel, but I think you already know that. (Sherida: Yes, I do!) I set myself daily and weekly goals while I’m in writing mode (which I need to get back into soon, writing the third book in the Farm Fresh Romance series!) Little rewards include checking Facebook and chatting with writing friends on Yahoo Messenger. They’re quite likely to ask if I’ve achieved my goals for the day and if not, WHY NOT??
For added sparkle, a few minutes with my granddaughters, one of whom lives next door, reminds me why I write stories about foodie issues. I’m compelled to do what I can to make these little girls’ lives the best I can. This includes both helping to provide local, organic, seasonal food for them, and raising awareness to the public of the changes needed for a sustainable future for everyone’s grandchildren.
Oh, and a mocha helps with the sparkle, but I don’t need the calories or the caffeine so limit myself to one a day. I can savor those sips for a long time!
SHERIDA: We have two precious little grandchildren, so I completely understand your motivation of providing a good future for all little ones. Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
VALERIE: My husband was raised on the West Coast of BC, Canada, but we currently live many hours’ drive inland so don’t get to visit all that often. On our first visit to Vancouver Island, we camped a couple of nights near Tofino along the Pacific Ocean. After parking the truck, we headed for the beach. I made a beeline for the sand and the waves, only to look around for Jim. He was already clambering over the rocks, searching out tidal pools for interesting flora and fauna.
We discovered that “going to the ocean” held different meanings for each of us and now make sure there’s time for both. Though he’s right: the tidal pools are much more fascinating than just plain sand!
That camping trip was an interlude when time stood still.
SHERIDA: Camping always brings us a sense of being surrounding by God’s majesty. The cover of Raspberries and Vinegar is charming. Please tell us the story behind the cover design of your book.
VALERIE: My daughter, Hanna Sandvig, is working toward a career in freelance illustration. She’s created the headers for both my blogs and has completed numerous commissions for other people, as well.
Once my novel had made the rounds of all the big Christian publishing houses and come home with some very nice rejections, I started toying around with self publishing it. Hanna asked to read the story then began sketching a cover. She just couldn’t help herself!
A few weeks later when I entered discussion with Choose NOW Publishing, I showed the initial sketch Hanna had done, and the publisher agreed to hire her to create the cover. This is a dream come true for both of us, and my daughter blogged about the process here.
It’s especially fun because we’ve both been published in book form before, but not as the feature. My novella “Topaz Treasure” is one of four novellas in Rainbow’s End. Hanna’s artwork of wedding cakes appeared in the pages of Sandra D. Bricker’s novel Always the Baker, Finally the Bride. It’s really cool for both of us to have our first solo novel—together.
I think she’s very talented!
SHERIDA: I agree! I’m looking forward to reading the next two books in your series with the stories of Sierra and Claire. Thank you for sharing your Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake with us today.
ABOUT VALERIE COMER
Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her characters enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Valerie writes Farm Lit with the voice of experience laced with humor. Raspberries and Vinegar, first in her series A Farm Fresh Romance, released August 1, 2013. Visit her at http://valeriecomer.com.
You can buy Raspberries and Vinegar through www.Amazon.com or through Choose NOW Publishing at www.choosenowpublishing.com.
Connect with Valerie at her website: www.valeriecomer.com. You will find Valerie’s recipe for Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake at her website if you click on “Kitchen” then “What’s Cooking” or look in the comment section for a link to this yummy (and easy) recipe. (Thanks, Valerie!) I didn’t have 1 cup of milk, so I used 1 cup of plain yogurt which worked just fine, but made the batter a bit thicker.
SHERIDA: It’s a delight to host Valerie today. I’m very hungry for farm fresh food, so I’m off to find the nearest farmers’ market!
Sherida Stewart 