Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions Spotlight and International Giveaway!

Kaylee McGrurd feels like life has left her behind. Her best friends have all moved out, married, or are in the process of matrimony. Meanwhile, she's lost another job, and her daily diet consists of noodles that are better suited as packing material.

Then Kaylee's ex, Gabe Sanders, enters the equation.

Gabe walked out on Kaylee without warning or explanation nine years earlier, but now he's been brought back to the area for the unforeseen future. And he's in need of a new lead vocalist for his wedding band.

A dwindling account balance calls for desperate measures, and Kaylee reluctantly accepts Gabe's offer. While the former couple works together in the midst of happy marriages and heartfelt melodies, secrets and the need for forgiveness highlight the strife between them...and the hope that maybe God's rewriting the conclusion to their story.

Read a sample HERE!

Available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, and WhiteFire Publishing's READ Store!

Find Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions on Goodreads and BookBub!

Interview Question ~

"What message do you hope to convey to your readers?"

I like to ask this question when I interview other authors, so I wanted to share my own answer in light of Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions' release this week!

With all of my stories, I hope readers enjoy the story and cackle with glee! However, my deepest hope is always that God blesses readers through my stories. It's my hope that readers see how completely God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness breaks the chains of shame and past sin. It's my hope that readers experience how the wondrous gift of unconditional love sings of God's freedom. It's my hope that readers see how God's love can rewrite the conclusion to any story that we're living.

This is what I hope is conveyed to the readers of Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions!

Giveaway ~ 

I'm giving away one Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions Ebook! 

Rules, Info, and Such ~ 

1. This is an international giveaway. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. 

2. This giveaway will close on 11/26/20 at 12:00 AM.

3. Winner will be chosen within four days of the close of the giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter via the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Interview with Hannah Currie, Author of Heart of a Royal!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. :-)

Today we are prying into the private life chatting with Hannah Currie, author of the beautiful YA princess story, Heart of a Royal! Hannah is a fellow WhiteFire Publishing author!

Aussie author, Hannah Currie, loves God, family, people (in small numbers, let’s not go crazy here!) and writing. A book nerd from birth, she knows firsthand the difference a good book can make in a person’s life. Even, and especially, fiction. Her dream as a writer is to make people laugh, cry and maybe even swoon a little but mostly to remind them that no matter how dark life may get at times, because of God, there is always hope. She and her husband live with their three adorable kids in sunny Queensland, where it really is beautiful one day and perfect the next. Except, maybe, during heatwaves. They’re not so fun. 

Connect with Hannah on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads!

Interview ~

First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee house? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question... No pressure or anything, LOL! ;-) 

Hot chocolate or chai latte. Can't stand coffee. Tea is still being decided.

I might have initially gasped, but I approve of your choices. ;-) I love hot chocolate and chai lattes! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?

Spit-roasted meats with roast vegetables and hot-buttered bread rolls.

Yummy!! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

On my couch at home in the lounge, because I can keep an eye on the rest of the house (ie kids…) but still get work done. It’s also right beside my bookshelves which inspire me not to give up. When I get discouraged or the words just aren’t flowing, I can look up at those books I love and be encouraged that those authors didn’t give up and neither will I.

I love that your bookshelves inspire you! Other books tend to distract me from writing, LOL! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? 

Hmmm… I occasionally forget book characters/situations aren’t real and bring them up in real conversations only to realize later that it was from a book not something that actually happened. Haha. Oops. I also forget how to talk sometimes when I’ve been writing for too long. Kind of like I used up all my words on the story and now my brain has shut down :p

Hahaha! I've been there! What inspired you to write Heart of a Royal?

It was a mix of a couple of things. I’d just finished reading another royal series which I’d been sharing with my teenaged sister and we were both going into withdrawals from it. I remembered this dream I’d had (a full decade before) about this girl who’d grown up in a palace alongside the prince and princess but wasn’t a royal herself, and thought it would be fun to turn into a full novel. Asked my sister what she thought, she sent back a rather emphatic ‘yes’ so I got started. I sent her a chapter a week for the next three months. It was so much fun to write and I really loved sharing it with her.

LOVE!! It's so cool that you got to share the experience with your sister! What led you to write in this genre?

I write Young Adult Contemporary Christian Romance novels (aka YA princess books, which is way easier to say!).

As to why…short answer, because it’s what I love to read. Longer answer, because the YA age is such an incredible time of personal growth for people – they’re coming out from under their parents’ umbrellas and discovering who they really are and their own purpose in life. Add in the rules and expectations of royalty, a few tiaras, a bit (lot) of romance and I can’t think of anything I’d rather write more. Christian fiction – especially Robin Jones Gunn’s Christy Miller (and co) series – had a huge impact on my faith as a teen and if God could use my books to encourage and grow someone like Robin did me, I’d be absolutely stoked!

Yes! That's the dream! Robin Jones Gunn inspired so many of us! <3 What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

I’d love for them to realize both that they have a purpose and that there is always hope. I doubt too many people are growing up in a palace like Kenna (although, hey, if you’re a princess, let me know! I’d love to meet you!) but so many of us – myself included – are dealing everyday with overwhelming expectations, the pain of watching people we know live away from God and life circumstances spiraling way beyond our control. And yet, through it all, God is still good. He hasn’t walked away. So there’s still hope. Still a reason and a purpose.

Yes, yes, and yes!!! <3 Can you tell us a little about your next project?

Not announcing anything officially yet but…well … Heart of a Royal is book one of my Daughters of Peverell series… so I’ll let you make some assumptions about what might be next J Sign up for my newsletter at www.hannahcurrie.com to find out more about that!

Readers, run! Go! You don't want to miss this! *ahem* ;-) Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

Oh sooooo many!!! But one I really love is Psalm 46 (especially The Message version).

“God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need hi. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake….. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.”

I love this! The idea that even in the craziest, most terrifying and overwhelming circumstances, we can be fearless because God is standing by our side, fighting for us. No matter what happens, we’ve already won. 

Yes! It's so incredibly uplifting and empowering! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine -- want to know! LOL! ;-)

I’ve just finished Liz Johnson’s A Glitter of Gold and Melissa Tagg’s Now and Then and Always, both of which were incredible. About to start either Wooing Cadie McCaffrey (Bethany Turner) or A Girl’s Guide to the Outback (Jessica Kate). Haven’t quite decided yet. Might end up reading Heart of a Royal again J I really love that story!

I loved Wooing Cadie McCaffrey, and I can't wait to get my hands on A Girl's Guide to the Outback! I'm might be green with envy right now, LOL! ;-)

Thank you so much for hanging with us and answering all my prying questions, Hannah! 

Be sure to check out Hannah's debut, Heart of a Royal! You can read the first two chapters HERE!

Brought to the palace as a newborn, the royal life bestowed upon Mackenna Sparrow was never meant to last forever. With Princess Alina engaged to be married, Mackenna’s presence as companion is no longer required and, like it or not, she must return to the birthright which should have been hers – that of a commoner. 

But not everyone at the palace wants her gone. When the truths she’s based her life on start crumbling as fast as her future, will she find the courage to trust, both herself and the prince she’s fallen in love with?

Read the first two chapters HERE!

Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!

Hugs,

V. Joy Palmer 

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Comedy, Inspiration, and Romance with Author, V. Joy Palmer!

Welcome to one of our own today! I’m super pumped to be interviewing V. Joy Palmer this week and introduce you to her new release, Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations. Joy is gliding in her favorite dream world with her second release! And it's all set in an antique store. Intrigued? Grab your cat eye glasses, adjust your pillbox hat, and don those vintage lace gloves. We're on a roadshow towards Joy's joy!

PT: Let’s start with the nuts and bolts. Tell the readers your genre.

VJP: I write inspirational romantic comedy. My heart is to make readers laugh and swoon while sharing God’s love. <3

PT: You have such a witty, funny way for writing. How did you come to the point of choosing your genre, or did it choose you and how did that happen?

VJP: Thank you so much! I fell in love with Erynn Mangum and Jenny B. Jones’ stories. When I started to search for other books like theirs, I was heartbroken to find so few within CBA. It was around that time that I heard the saying, “If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” I had tried my hand at some other genres, but once I realized that I wanted to write the kind of stories that I love to read, then my voice came out with a…well, a Tap, tap, tap! on the keyboard. LOL!

PT: Was the first book, Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations based on a real story or a total fabrication? What about your new one?

VJP: Well, I like to binge-watch wedding reality shows, and that’s certainly played into both stories. But Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations was really born when I was single and frustrated with the man who is now my husband (and who thankfully has a good sense of humor), and Izze (my main character) started chattering in my head one day. While it’s not autobiographical, our love story is the story behind the story. <3

Like my first book, Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations has pieces of my love story and personality, but I also poured a lot of heartache and emotion into the story. While I wrote, waves of trauma crashed into my friends, my family, and my heart. The situations were different from my characters’ journey, but the emotions and healing process were the same. I rediscovered my worth in God though Apryl and Chance’s story, and I hope this story of my heart can do the same for its readers. <3

PT: Now, the first book was set in a wedding dress store. This one is based in an antique store, Are the two novels a series? How did you come up with using an antique store?

VJP: Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations is the second book in my contemporary romantic comedy series from WhiteFire Publishing and the sequel to Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations. However, it functions as a standalone, so you do NOT need to read my first book to enjoy this one. However, there are some jokes and things that will make you grin if you have! :-D

There’s actually a building in my town that inspired me to use an antique store in Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations. This building has two separate business: an antique store and a mechanic for antique cars. My hubby and I were walking into town for ice cream (cake batter) one day, and I started wondering how that setup happened. It sparked an idea that tapped into my love of all things vintage and wedding reality shows. ;-D

Here's the Blurb:

Seventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to the mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she’ll be fine.

But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what’s left of their family’s legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon she’s forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother’s renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for help, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush.

Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl’s insane plan. While Apryl claims they’re archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart.

But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new?

Read the first two chapters of Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations here: https://read.whitefire-publishing.com/weddings-willows-and-revised-expectations/

 PT: Tell 5 things fast about V. Joy Palmer that have nothing to do with writing:

VJP: 

I love scarves, and I’ll even wear light scarves in the summer. 

I consider myself fluent in Gilmore Girls. 

I’m obsessed with bookish merch like candles, mug rugs, and book sleeves. 

I live and breathe coffee, but chai lattes are my go-to drink in new places. 

I love to go for walks, especially in autumn and spring.

PT: Do you write on a laptop or PC?

VJP: I’ve always written on a laptop. I love being able to write anywhere, and I’ve discovered that I work best outside of the house. There’s too much to clean at home... Excuse me while I continue to avoid mopping the floor…

PT: What’s on the screen right now? A new book? Editing? Marketing? Or all of the above? Or other?

VJP: I’ve been pretty focused on marketing for Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations and the teetering TBR pile that comes with being a reviewer. I have started working on a new story, but it’s slow going at the moment – much to the dismay of my awesome readers! <3

PT: Favorite color, food, and chair to write in?

VJP: My favorite color is purple. I have a lot of favorite foods, but they usually consist of chocolate, cheese, and/or potato. Not all together.  ;-) My favorite writing chair is at my favorite coffee shop (where I do a big chunk of my writing). It’s like a padded bench seat. It’s all soft and squishy – which is perfect for when I’m in a writing haze for four hours – but the straight back keeps me from falling asleep! LOL!

Ah. And there you have it. I picked up a few treasured nuggets of knowledge on our vintage search to know Joy a bit better. Generous to a fault, she is offering an international giveaway of Weddings, Willows and Revised Expectations! If you're new here, just leave comment with an email and we will choose a person at random.

More about Joy~

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Even MORE about Joy~

•           Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VJoyPalmer/

•           Twitter - https://twitter.com/VJoyPalmer

•           Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vjoypalmer_author/

•           Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/vjoypalmer/

•           Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15367051.V_Joy_Palmer

•           Website - https://vjoypalmer.com/

•           Author blog / Joy's Blog - http://vjoypalmer.blogspot.com/

•           Snack Time Devotions Blog - http://snacktimedevotions.blogspot.com/

•           Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/author/vjoypalmer

(Wink) VJP: And I do author interviews on this lovely group blog ~

•           The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction - http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/

If you can't wait to see if you win, you can purchase her book here and now:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, WhiteFire Publishing’s READ Store

Thanks for reading!

Interview and GIVEAWAY with Sara Goff!!!

Hi guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ; ) And since we are all friends, one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends, family, the teens I mentor, and everyone else at coffee shops/bookstores. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So, consider this our virtual coffee shop. I’ll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chant with today’s guest. ; )

Today, I'm super excited to introduce you to my friend, Sara Goff!!! (Here's a fun fact for your reading pleasure: Sara and I are WhiteFire Publishing buddies. We met over e-mail when WhiteFire signed me.)

Sara Goff founded the global educational charity Lift the Lid, Inc. in 2010, which supports underprivileged schools and encourages young people to exercise their creative expression through writing. Formerly a New York City fashion designer/merchandiser, Sara left her seven-year career and resolved to make a difference in the world.
 
Since then, Sara attended Sewanee Writers’ Conference and received two fellowships to Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia and Nairobi, Kenya. While living in Manhattan, she especially loved being a writing instructor for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen Writers Workshop, founded by author Ian Frazier, and for The National Arts Club’s creative writing program for students. She’s a public speaker on such topics as charity work, finding purpose in life, the writing process, and the power of the written word.
 
After nearly seven years living in Stockholm, Sweden and then London, England, Sara is back in the States, enjoying life in Connecticut, with her Swedish husband, their two sons, and sweet little girl...a Yorkie named Pia. Her first novel, I Always Cry at Weddings (WhiteFire Publishing), is a New York City tale about figuring out life and finding love.

You can connect with Sara on her Website, Charity, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.


INTERVIEW ~

So, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question…

Please don’t hope I’m the Mocha Frappuccino type! There was a time when I’d order coffee with milk, but ever since my first pregnancy I stopped drinking coffee and haven’t wanted to go back. I lost the taste! So, I’ve been a tea drinker the past nine years, either chamomile, mint, ginger and lemon, or green tea, my morning choice! I’m also not a big sugar person. (Sorry, again!) Sometimes I’ll add honey, but usually I prefer a little Stevia, a natural sweetener.
 
Hahaha! No worries! I can't drink as much coffee as I used to, so I like tea, too. Now, our second most important question of the day, if you could order anything in the world, what would it be?

Any dish? Easy. Anything with salmon: salmon with roasted veggies, salmon with lentils, salmon with polenta, salmon with lemon and capers, salmon in a dill sauce, salmon with fennel and orange slices, or a Swedish favorite, salmon with lingonberries and roasted potatoes . . . just not salmon over spinach.

Yum! I love salmon! Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place to write?

I have a three-year-old son at home, which means I write whenever and wherever I can, sometimes even standing at the kitchen counter. Do I dare dream of writing in a quiet, inspiring setting, a comfortable place where I might have two, even three straight hours to myself? I’ll go for it.  My dream place to write would be a cherry wood paneled reading room with a fireplace. A large paned window overlooking nature would be nice, too. But what’s most important is that I stay in the world of my story in my mind.
 
I’ve done my fair share of counter writing, too! Life with kids. ; )  But you are so right, staying in our story is so important. So inquiring minds (myself) want to know: do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?

Everything I am is explained by my bookish, writer tendencies, but one thing I’ve noticed is that the more I write, that is, the more years that pass, the more empathetic I become of people’s suffering, of the forgotten, and the voiceless. It would make sense that writing opens your heart and mind. Writers, in telling other people’s stories, open themselves to their pain.

Okay, I do have one “odd habit” worth mentioning. In order to save time in between caring for my boys, I eat the exact, and I mean exact, same breakfast and lunch every day of the workweek.  Breakfast is plain yogurt with banana, oats and flax seeds, and lunch is hummus with chopped raw garlic and cottage cheese (not mixed.) I’d say that’s kind of odd!
 
I love everything you just said! And I imagine having planned meals takes out the guesswork and stress, so that sounds good to me! What inspired you to write I Always Cry at Weddings?

My own life experiences living in New York City inspired me to write Ava’s story, but I wouldn’t have written her book if I didn’t feel a persistent need to write. The act of writing is like music in my mind. Words, their tones and rhythms, set a mood and evoke emotions the same way music can be a vehicle for reflection and change. Setting out each day to try and create something that sounds lyrical in my mind and is meaningful on paper is all the motivation I need.

I love how you’ve compared writing to music. So accurate! <3 Can you tell us what led to you writing in this genre?

I feel a calling to write about contemporary issues and struggles in our society today. I grew up reading a lot of Victorian literature, but I never had the desire to write in any other time period other than my own. So, I’d say contemporary women’s fiction is the genre in which I feel most comfortable writing. It’s like dressing in the morning. I do it without questioning whether or not I should get dressed, and I just do it, and I put on clothes that express who I am and how I feel.

Yes, yes, and yes, I love how you tackle the hard issues in I Always Cry at Weddings! What message do you hope to convey to your readers with your stories?

One message that carries through my writing is that we all seek purpose in life. Year after year that sense of being useful, influential, and in control changes. Our career paths are winding, our children grow up, we relocate, learn to let go of loved ones, and often feel we’re starting over, but through every new phase we seek purpose, because it is intrinsic to our happiness.

 

And then sometimes we get stuck. We become “caught up” in unhealthy habits or feel that we’re in “a rut” and going nowhere. There are lots of terms for loosing our sense of purpose – maybe because it’s easy to misplace! (Just ask Ava, our hero in search of purpose in I ALWAYS CRY AT WEDDINGS!)
 
I’ll admit, as we get older it becomes more difficult to change our ways and leave the safety of our routines. But I can attest, as can Ava, if we follow our heart, instead of our fears, we can trust that we’re moving in the right direction.

So much love for this right now! I know I certainly can relate! Can you tell us a little about your next project?

I’m writing the sequel to I ALWAYS CRY AT WEDDINGS. It wasn’t my original plan, but enough fans of the first book have convinced me to keep going with Ava and her search for purpose in life.

So, I have a tentative title, and I’m in the thick of Ava’s new struggles, but I have to stop myself from sharing it with you because at this point it could ALL change. Hopefully, if keep eating the same yogurt and hummus and keep writing at the kitchen counter, Book Two will be ready soon!

 *Insert frantic piglet squeals of joy here* AHHH!!! I’m so excited! This next question is near and dear to my heart. What is your favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

I can’t say I have one favorite verse. I’ll often hear a Bible verse from a friend or at church and think, Ah, that is my favorite verse in the Bible! Actually, it depends on what is going on in my life and what feels relevant at the moment.
 
John 15 1-2 (NKJV) says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
 
As a writer, this verse explains a lot. When I ask myself why it’s taken years to become published, and when I look at my writing today and see how my skills are ever improving, I know that it is the work of God, our Vinedresser, pruning my branches in order that they will continue to bear fruit. Every setback propels me to work harder, to become stronger, much as it is with pruning a vine.
 
I can see the branches in my life that aren’t bearing fruit, or worse that are draining the energy from my fruit-bearing branches. John 15 is a reminder to let God “take away” those useless or harmful parts of my life. Surrender the tasks that give me false hope, relinquish my fears and insecurities, and nurture the calling of my heart.

That just blessed me so much! Sara, that is so insightful! What are you currently reading?

I recently finished reading ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, a beautifully written and poignant WWII story that follows the lives of a talented young German boy and an inquisitive blind French girl. I still feel gripped by their experiences throughout the war. Having little time to read, I listen to books in the car while making school runs and driving around town. The next book I’ll listen to is THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES by Peter Wohlleben, the choice of my book club.

Those sound amazing! I am always drawn to World War II stories.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Sara!!!  

GIVEAWAY!!!


Sara has generously offered to giveaway 1 digital copy (open worldwide) and 1 printed copy (open to US only) of I Always Cry at Weddings!!!

Ava Larson is going to bring all the other brides to tears.

Engaged to a wealthy NYC socialite's son, Ava is ready to set the city abuzz with her glamorous wedding. At least until she realizes her relationship isn't what it should be. Then, in a move as daring as a red satin dress, she does the unthinkable--she calls it all off and makes a promise to God that from now on, she'll save sex for marriage.

She's convinced the future is hers for the taking, especially when an undercover cop promises a new romance...and an unexpected friendship with the homeless guy under her stoop brightens her days.

But when her carefully balanced life teeters out of control, weddings aren't the only thing to make her cry. Ava has to figure out what life she really wants to live...and what in the world love really means.

 

 



EXCERPT ~


Ava descended the concrete steps into the seasonal smell of brewing garbage, worn by the subway like a signature scent. Her blouse stuck to the sweat beading down the center of her back. Waiting for the train, she dug her cell phone out of her Prada tote. Password: josh.

With his mother micromanaging the wedding, there had hardly been any need for a maid of honor, until now. The line rang. “Come on, Maggie, pick up.”

“Hello, lovely!” Maggie’s voice brought immediate comfort, while little Melanie babbled like a hidden brook in the background.

“You two sound happy,” Ava said.

“Melanie just woke up from her nap. Listen, Ava, if you keep postponing my dress fitting, I’ll be holding your train in my bra and underwear. Now, unless stretch marks are the latest fad at weddings, your guests do not need to see mine.”

“Sorry. I just haven’t been able to focus on it, but that’s not why I’m calling. Maggie, I want Josh’s love spelled out. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Yes! Tattoos are way too permanent! Crochet it on a pillow or something. A pillow you can keep forever or sell at a garage sale. Seriously.”

“No, I’m talking about personal vows. Is it wrong that I want Josh’s feelings written out? Is it wrong that I want words I can return to…when I’m having doubts?”

“Oh.” Silence. “Whoops!” A loud clatter came through the phone. “Sorry about that. My darling Melanie grabbed the phone out of Mommy’s hand, didn’t she? I no longer decide how long I talk on the phone. Okay, so…doubts?”

 You can check out my review of this awesome story here!


RULES AND SUCH ~


The author is giving away 1 digital copy (open worldwide) and 1 printed copy (open to US only) of I Always Cry at Weddings.

This giveaway is open worldwide, BUT if Rafflecopter chooses an international winner, they will receive a digital copy. The giveaway will close on April 26th, at 12:00 A.M. because Rafflecopter says.  ; ) Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!
 

Hugs,
 

V. Joy Palmer

Rachelle Rae Cobb's New Year's Interview

Happy New Year, Diamond Mine Readers. Abigail here, and I’m excited to ring in 2017 with an interview of the fabulous author behind The Steadfast Love Series, Rachelle Rae Cobb. If you haven’t had a chance to delve into one of her books, do so as quickly as possible for this writer/editor is not to be missed.

ABOUT RACHELLE:

Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago—her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. During college, Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.

Author Links:

Website: http://RachelleReaCobb.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/RachelleReaCobb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleReaCobb

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RachelleReaCobb/

Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea_Cobb

THE INTERVIEW:

Let’s get started!

1. When and where did you first get the idea for the Steadfast Love Series?

A song I was listening to on the radio inspired the title of the first book. So I wrote Diamonds, but when I finished it, I realized to my great frustration that the characters weren’t done with their story, even though I had been quite adamant that I would write a stand-alone novel. But the story wasn’t finished, so I kept writing.

2.  Readers often pick out favorite quotes from a novel. Do you have a favorite of your own from The Sound of Silver?

Yes! In fact, my friend Mindy, a calligrapher, even created a beautiful piece of art from one of my favorite quotes: “Within the pages of books one’s heart can be revealed.”

3.  Can you tell us what first drew you to writing Inspirational Historical Romance?

My first exposure to the genre came when I read Heartsong Presents novels when I was twelve. Those small books introduced me to how much I believe in the power of story, especially love stories set in times gone by.

4.  What led you to writing 16th century stories?

The Elizabethan time period has always fascinated me. When I was younger, I used to check out the same big red-covered biography of Elizabeth I from the library. I loved learning about Raleigh's adventures, the exploration of the New World, the tension between the established Catholicism and the budding Protestant Reformation. That fascination naturally lent to setting my stories there. :)

5.  You’ve provided such rich details of time and place throughout the series, have you been to any of the places you write about? And if not, where would you like to visit the most?

I actually have not! If I could travel anywhere, I'd love to see all that England has to offer. And the Netherlands, too (where Book One begins). Such rich history, stuff we're unused to here in the states where all our history is usually a couple hundred years old max.

6.  I saw on your website that you also write reviews, articles and offer editing services. What's one of your favorite things beyond writing novels that you enjoy?

Editing is such fun! I daresay I enjoy editing a page full of my own (or others’!) words just as much as I enjoy splashing words onto a blank page.

7.  What’s next in your writing career?

I'm working on a secret project that is on my editor's desk right now. I'm also expanding my editing business; I love helping other writers and authors and businesses polish their pages so they can take the next step in their careers. There's little I find more thrilling than wrestling words, whether they're my own or a client's!

8. Any tidbits of helpful advice for aspiring authors?

Do as much as you can to learn. Read. Research. Follow writing blogs. Join writing Facebook groups. But never forget that a writer writes. For all you're learning, put it into practice on the page. What you write may just one day surprise you!

Thank you so much Rachelle for spending time with us today. Please check out below her available books!

BOOK ONE

The Sound of Diamonds

Her only chance of getting home is trusting the man she hates.

With the protestant Elizabeth on the throne of England and her family in shambles, Catholic maiden Gwyneth seeks refuge in the Low Countries of Holland, hoping to soothe her aching soul. But when the Iconoclastic Fury descends and bloodshed overtakes her haven, she has no choice but to trust the rogue who arrives, promising to see her safely home to her uncle's castle. She doesn't dare to trust him...and yet doesn't dare to refuse her one chance to preserve her own life and those of the nuns she rescues from the burning convent.

Dirk Godfrey is determined to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk knows he has only one chance at redemption, and it lies with the lovely Gwyneth, who hates him for the crimes she thinks he committed. He must see her to safety, prove to the world that he is innocent, prove that her poor eyesight is not the only thing that has blinded her but what is he to do when those goals clash?

The home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, the saint and the sinner must either dare to hold to hope...or be overcome.

Links: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Goodreads
ISBN: 1939023599, ISBN-13: 978-1939023599

With a lovely style that is mature and seasoned, at an enviable professional level, readers are in for a real treat with Rachelle’s debut. Beautifully written, The Sound of Diamonds is a gem. An unusual heroine, a unique setting, and a heart-stopping hero make this a must-read for historical fiction fans. Encore, Rachelle!

—Laura Frantz, author of The Mistress of Tall Acre

Rachelle’s debut novel transports readers back to the danger and mystique of Europe during the 1500s. Rich in church history and woven together with romantic suspense, The Sounds of Diamonds is a fascinating story and stellar debut. I look forward to reading more from Rachelle!

—Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Chateau of Secrets and The Black Cloister

Readers of Jody Hedlund’s new medieval YA series and Melanie Dickerson’s fairytale-based YA novels will love Rachelle’s The Sound of Diamonds.

—Dawn Crandall, award-winning author of The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, and The Captive Imposter

The Sound of Diamonds is a rare treat for young adult readers who love historical fiction. Rachelle’s prose is rich and exquisite and her story is impeccably researched. She gives readers a stunning setting and layered, flawed characters who, in finding their way through a dangerous and dark time, made me want to know everything about the Iconoclastic Fury. I’m a huge fan!

—Laura Anderson Kurk, author of Glass Girl and Perfect Glass

In her eloquently-written debut novel, Rachelle brings a story of grief and restoration, heartache and redemption. Dirk’s love for Gwyn kept me flipping the pages, and I found it to be the perfect illustration of God’s adoration for His children: Gentle and unconditional, despite our anger and misjudgments. This well-researched historical novel accurately portrays the language of the sixteenth century, enticing the reader to be swept away on a journey from the very first page … one that they will certainly not forget.

—Tessa Emily Hall, YA author of Selah Award Finalist Purple Moon

BOOK TWO

The Sound of Silver

The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…

After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?

Links: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Goodreads

ISBN: 1939023610                                                                           

ISBN-13: 978-1939023612

In The Sound of Silver, Rachelle Rea Cobb weaves a tremendous tale that takes flight with vivid prose and lands with complex characters caught up in the turbulent times of the Reformation. Like a cup of tea on a cold winter’s night, The Sound of Silver hits the perfect spot. It warms you from the inside out and leaves you feeling beautifully contented while the wind howls deliciously of danger outside your door. This, my dears, is one novel you won’t want to miss.

— Gillian Bronte Adams, author of Orphan’s Song and Out of Darkness Rising

In her much-anticipated second novel The Sound of Silver, Rachelle Rea Cobb invites readers to step into 16th century life through her irresistibly rich prose. Rea continues the story of Dirk and Gwyneth as they navigate loss, fear, and love at a time marked by intense turmoil and faith-shaking questions. A deeply moving, historically accurate, thrilling adventure for all!

—Laura Anderson Kurk, author of Glass Girl and Perfect Glass

BOOK THREE

The Sound of Emeralds

What once was blazing hatred has turned to lasting love, but could the union of a wild heart with that of a lady ever result in more than heartache?

With the help of an old friend with uncertain loyalties, Dirk inches ever closer to clearing his name. Gwyneth throws her faith into good tidings and the promise of a future as a family. But an old evil comes to call, just as tragedy rips apart a fledgling truce. Enemies from the past and grief for the future threaten to tear asunder what God had brought together…

As the date of Dirk’s trial approaches, his fate and his family hang in the balance. Will he be proven innocent of Gwyneth’s parents’ murders—or separated from her forever? How much pain does it take to erode a love steadfast?

Links: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Goodreads

ISBN: 1939023637                                                           

ISBN-13: 978-1939023636