Check out articles from your favorite Christian authors such as Naomi Craig, Marguerite Gray, Kathleen J. Robison, and Jennifer Pierce, and enter a bunch of giveaways for some fun prizes!
Enjoy!
Here are some links to help you explore this month’s articles and giveaways:
Welcome to my June Giveaway, June 21-27! I chose to give away a copy of Bring Me Near, Book Three in the Revolutionary Faith Series since in takes place at a period leading up to our Independence from Britain. 1775 was a pivotal time of battles and war plans. Charles Town citizens and the Sons of Liberty entered a volatile commitment to the war and separation.
Also, I am giving away a copy of The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma. This is part of a great, creative, interesting series called True Colors, Historical Stories of American Crime. I plan on reading every one of them by many different authors.
To enter, please leave a comment. As the fourth of July approaches, what plans do you have to celebrate?
Sometimes, happily ever after is as elusive as a pirate’s treasure.
Darcy Riggins dove headfirst into the online dating pool and sank. Every time.
Her lifelong dream of becoming a wife and mother becomes more elusive every year. So, taking the lack of a Mr. Right in her life as a decided “No!” from God, Darcy gives up altogether.
Single and happy is not an oxymoron. Right?
Nigel Jones has loved Darcy for ages, but her father (his boss, of course) ordered him to keep his feelings to himself, thanks to a stupid mistake that Darcy (thankfully) doesn’t know about. Too bad her dad does.
Being single and content turns out to be tougher than Darcy imagined, and when she begins doubting everything she’s ever known, Nigel decides it’s time to admit his mistakes, tell the truth, and trust God for the outcome.
In this “forbidden-love-meets-friends-to-more” novel, Stealing the First Mate continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.
Expectations. Dreams. Plans. What do we do when life doesn’t fit all we’ve ever wanted? Our fairy tale, fit-in-the-box architectured drawings don’t always match reality. Enters Darcy in this novel. She knows what she wants and tries 100 times to find the “right” person to fit into her dream. We do the same about jobs, houses, children, cars, communities.
What if God has another plan—a more perfect piece of the puzzle. It might not be perfect to us, but in the big picture isn’t His path what we should desire? Join Darcy on her journey to letting the pieces fall into place, if she can let go.
About the Author
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
More from Tabitha
I love the friends-to-something-more trope. There’s something invigorating about the challenges of stepping into a different kind of relationship with someone you already know and trust. The risk of losing the friendship if things go badly comes to the forefront and each character has to decide if they’ll take the risk or keep things as they are.
For Nigel and Darcy, there’s the added difficulty of Nigel’s unrequited love. They’ve been best friends forever, and he’s loved Darcy all that time. And she’s clueless! How does that happen?
I wish I could say this story came from my own experience, but that isn’t the case. While my husband and I knew each other for several years before we started dating, we were hardly friends. High school social circles are brutal things. Plus, he had a crush on my cousin, and I was dating someone else.
But it all worked out.
And we’re best friends now.
When it came time to write Stealing the First Mate, I knew Nigel and Darcy were friends. It wasn’t until I worked my way through the first chapter that the depth of their relationship started to emerge, and I realized they were best friends. Darcy runs to Nigel for advise (even dating advise, which became really awkward for Nigel).
Darcy has been looking for Mr. Right so long she can’t see the truth staring back at her in Nigel’s eyes.
Writing their story is one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in writing.
I’m beginning to understand hashtags. Some of my favorites are #amwriting, #am reading, #amediting, and #amreading. I am doing all of these every day.
Today, I want to inform my readers that I am writing. I endeavor to put my open to paper daily as I create fictional characters answering life’s questions. My writing did not end with the finale of the Revolutionary Faith Series. I still dream and plot about those beloved characters.
Pitti Palace
I’m writing my next series called Gardens in Time. The series contains my love of gardens, history, and travel. Each of the four novels will be set in a different century and country. I chose a favorite place with a fantastic garden and an era with captivating circumstances.
It’s not time for a cover reveal, although I do have the cover for Labor of Love, Gardens in Time Book One. Set in 1560 Florence, Italy, the main character Ana finds her solace and worth in the medicinal gardens of Pitti Palace. As a distant cousin of the Medici rulers, she acts as a companion to the duke’s daughter. Intrigue and mystery interrupt her freedom to roam the Boboli gardens. Labor of Love is set for release in February 2022.
The second book, Promise of Purity, is finished! I’m editing it before I send it to be professionally edited. Set in 1660 at Hampton Court Palace in England, Kate, a Puritan baker’s daughter finds the clashing of two worlds as she helps create a stunning garden for the king’s mistress. The worldly court strings mess with her Puritan ties.
Hampton Court Palace
The third book, Whispers of Wisdom, is waiting patiently to be inputted and edited. This one holds a piece of my heart for the chateau, Chenonceau, is my favorite place on earth. I’m researching for the fourth book which will be set in Switzerland. Fun times!
Chenonceau
My other projects are many including a few short stories and ideas for a new series. I appreciate your interest.
Now, tell me what you are doing this summer. Use a hashtag or not!
Summer is here, and we are celebrating with a huge giveaway for you so you can stock up on books!
I have partnered up with Celebrate Lit Publicity to do an amazing giveaway where you can win a spectacular prize of over 40 books or a $500 Amazon gift card to buy books you love to enjoy over your summer. How exciting!
Be sure to enter Celebrate Lit’s 2nd Annual Summer Kick Off of Books Multi-Author Giveaway going on now through June 19!
Rising opera star, Juliana Chamberlain, still has nightmares of the night she witnessed the assassination of the President of the United States from her spot on stage at Ford Theater. Recruited by The Pinkerton Detective Agency, Juliana was instrumental in bringing those responsible to justice.
Now, two years later, the Pinkertons ask her once again to join forces in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing her home in Texas.
Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock, has a job to do. He needs no help from a meddlesome diva with big ideas. However, he is a man of his word. He’s committed to partner with the lovely songstress to smoke out the mastermind of a dangerous clan who has proven he will stop at nothing to satisfy his thirst for vengeance.
Cade and Juliana soon discover their greatest strength is in working together until shadows of the past threaten to destroy their future.
Texas Ranger, Pinkerton, undercover agents, and an opera singer. What a combination! Adding the Reconstruction gives rise to a lively tale. I had forgotten what a volatile time it was following the Civil War. Even though not “at war,” the fighting, uncertainty, and hatred remained. And Texas, as the great state’s reputation of independence grew, had quite a few interesting quirks involving trust and support of the US government.
Amid the drama of the uncovering of an evil ring of malicious would-be rulers, the author unfolds a layer of history often unnoticed or unreported. The same happened after the American and French revolutions. What now? After so much death and destruction, how do citizens recapture a lifestyle of peace and prosperity? Each major war has a list of ongoing causalities as well as ones wanting to continue the fight or create new divisive sects. Bravo to the author for weaving a history lesson into the novel.
About the Author
Lori Bates Wright is an award winning author with a love for history.
Raised in New Mexico, Lori now lives in Texas with her husband of 38 years. She has two grown kids and four adorable grand boys (who leap tall buildings in a single bound!) When she’s not writing, she’s heading up small group ministries with her husband. She enjoys speaking and interacting with women of all ages.
More from Lori
Growing up, my family loved to laugh.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are centered around my grandmother’s dining room table listening in while my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles told amazing stories. Sometimes I laughed until I’d lose my breath. Sometimes I sat quietly, taking in the bravery and perseverance shown by those who’d gone before me.
History has been a passion ever since. Couple that with an insatiable love for story and there you have the heart of what inspires me to write.
So, when it came time to brain-storm for this brand new series, I decided to take a known historical event and think about it from every angle. Beyond the recognized players, to the “what if” characters that might have played a role. And, ultimately, how such an event would have changed the course of their lives.
Thus, a star was born.
In THE SONGSTRESS, Juliana Chamberlain witnessed the assassination from her place on the stage. Because I love a little mystery and intrigue, I decided that the leading detective agency of the day would have enlisted her help in identifying the accomplices. Allen Pinkerton had been known to hire a lady detective or two, so she would be trained by the best. Her investigative skills proved helpful in bringing a quick resolution to the case.
Fast forward four years and she’s still haunted by what she saw that night. When Pinkerton again approaches her about a case involving her family in Texas, she accepts.
Being from Texas, I was so happy she did. I’ve wanted to write a story based in the Lone Star State for quite awhile. I loved visiting Georgia and the shores of England in my last series, but I have to say it was good to bring this one home. With all the rugged charm of the post-Civil War era, this book has a little more local flavor than my last three. Al-in-all, I believe my readers are in for a treat. A new cast of fun, quirky characters as we revisit a significant time in our nation.
So, here’s to new beginnings! Or as we say in Texas, “Hang on, y’all are in for a wild ride!”
To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a Texas Gift basket including a signed copy of THE SONGSTRESS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Confession: I LOVE the zoo. Pretty much any zoo. It doesn’t have to be the Audubon Zoo or the San Diego Zoo. When I was a child the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo opened in Monroe, Louisiana. What a joy and a source of instant entertainment. I spent one day this week there and was flooded with memories.
Through the years I’ve seen some impressive animals at some awesome zoos—London Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Chicago Zoo, and Central Park Zoo. I always love the smaller ones. A recent one is the zoo in Lafayette, Louisiana.
During the pandemic, I’ve noticed the zoos have been able to spend time and resources on the grounds as they cared for the animals. I support their efforts and continued desire to make the habitats conducive to a productive lifestyle for the animals. My heart and sentiments realize the wild is where they should be. But the reality is for some reason they reside in the zoos where many of them have been born and raised.
Bravo for the zoos that strive to recreate a natural environment for our animal friends.
What is your favorite animal (wild)? I love the llama and the sloth.
Connect in Fiction with Marguerite Gray 