Don't miss this Giveaway! "Over the Edge" by Brandilyn Collins

CONGRATULATIONS TO AMANDA WINNER OF "OVER THE EDGE"

First - please scroll down and leave a comment to win a copy of "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers

There is a reason Brandilyn's book's are known as "seatbelt suspense" read on to find out why! This book will keep you turning page after page w/o stopping. You will never think of ticks the same after reading this book!

Grief. Anger. Hatred. The perfect ingredients for revenge.

Janessa McNeils life looks perfect. Her husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, is a renowned researcher and professor at Stanford University's Department of Medicine. They have a beautiful home and can give their daughter everything she needs. Theirs is a life others envy.

But nothing is as it seems.

Forces are at work that will shatter everything - Janessa's marriage, her way of life, even her safety. For her husband's highly respected assertion that chronic Lyme disease doesn't exist has done more than inform medical and insurance professionals. It's ruined lives. One man's life in particular.

Now it's time to make Dr. Brock McNeil face the truth. To make him see the devastation Lyme disease causes - up close and personal. And this bitter man was found the perfect tools to exact his revenge... Janessa and her daughter.

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense. She is a three-time American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award winner and has also received Inspirational Readers' Choice and Romantic Times Reviewers Choice honors.

Her newest novel Over the Edge, is a thriller that fuses the ongoing medical debate over treatment of Lyme disease with her own struggle to overcome the debilitating illness.

If you want to win a copy of "Over the Edge" please:

1) be a follower or sign up as a follower

2) leave an email address so I can notify you if you win

3) have you read any of Brandilyn Collins books? Have you heard of Lyme disease?

4) to have an extra chance to win please send someone over to sign up as a follower and have them leave your name as the person who sent them

5)contest will run through the 15th of August

HAPPY READING!

Review and Giveaway of "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANN WINNER OF "REDEEMING LOVE"

Most people have probably heard of Francine Rivers and many have read "Redeeming Love". I am excited to be able to present this book as a giveaway.

Back Cover: California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

The she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny. Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does...the One who will never let her go.

A powerful retelling of the book of Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God's unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

To win a copy of Redeeming Love please:

1) Be a follower or sign up as a follower

2) Leave an email address in case you win

3) Send someone else to sign up and tell them to let me know who sent them and you will get a second chance to win

4) Have you read any of Francine Rivers books. Did you know she wrote romances for the secular market, before she started writing Christian fiction?

HAPPY READING!!!!

Giveaway for "Fresh Start Summer" by Beverly Nault

CONGRATULATIONS TO

KAREN

WINNER OF FRESH START SUMMER!

Back Cover: Friendships, old and new, find fresh beginnings when Cherryvale's extreme makeover transforms the peaceful town to an exciting movie location.

Grace Harkins, a muffin-making, bike-riding, retired teacher can't wait to be an extra for the movie filming in Cherryvale. But when outspoken Maggie protests the "biz" invading, suspicious fires break out, strangers lurk and threatening phone calls force Grace to choose between her carefree retirement and saving a friendship in real danger.

About Beverly: Beverly writes from Southern California where she lives with her husband, Gary. They have two grown children. Beverly also writes nonfiction. She co-authored "Lessons from the Mountain, What I Learned from Erin Walton." The book describes Mary McDonough's memories playing Erin on the award winning television drama, "The Waltons."

My Take: This is a sweet, low-keyed pleasant read. The setting is Small Town, America aka Cherryvale. Reading "Fresh Start Summer" took me back to my youth when times were simpler and neighbors knew and cared about each other. But Beverly has entwined her story with a touch of realism. Everything in Cherryvale isn't a bowl full of cherries. The characters are real with real problems that need to be solved.

When a movie crew comes to town to film a movie there are conflicting feelings about the onslaught of those "Hollywood" people invading Cherryvale. The very outspoken Maggie finds herself in a heap of trouble. She is building a refuge for unwanted animals and everything begins to go wrong. Her buildings are being set on fire and she blames it on those movie people getting revenge because she spoke against them. There is more to this mystery though than meets the eye. You will need to read it to find out what happens!

Just as I finished reading "Fresh Start Summer" it was announced in a small town bordering where I live a film crew would be arriving to film a move. The small town of Cedartown welcomed Billy Bob Thornton and Robert Duvall who would be playing in the movie "Jane Mansfield's Car." There was a big to do for a couple of weeks while they were filming. So let me tell you right now the story of Cherryvale in "Fresh Start Summer" can really happen - and it did.

To enter to win a copy of "Fresh Start Summer"

1. You must be a follower or sign up as a new follower

2. Leave an email address so I can contact the winner

3. Visit Beverly's website and look around

4. Did you grow up in a small town? Do you remember the feeling of community?

5. Contest ends July 20th.

Thank you to Lamp Post Publishing for a copy of "Fresh Start Summer" to review.

HAPPY READING!

Two Reviews! "Her Best Catch" by Lindi Peterson and Montezuma Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke

Back Cover: Allison Doll's mother is rebelliously turning fifty, her two best friends have started dating and a gorgeous injured relief pitcher named Ashton Boyd has joined her Sunday school class, rocking her world into confusion, heartache and temptation, places she hasn't visited in a long time, much less all at once.

But with the help of family, old friends she really hasn't lost, a new friend she can really count on, and God, she begins to find out whether she'll always be a girl waiting for life to happen or a woman who's ready to commit to her best catch.

About: Lindi Peterson definitely believes happy endings are just the beginning. She lives out her real life romance with her husband in a small Georgia town. When she's not writing, she loves to read, bowl and spend time with her family.

Here is what Ane Mulligan, editor of Novel Journey, has to say about "Her Best Catch."

The cover is captivating and reminiscent of Breakfast at Tiffany's (in my opinion). And the story is dynamite! I read it in two sittings, and only put it down the first night because the hubs made me. Allison Doll is fun to be with, and I'm sure I saw a couple of her friends at my church. There is much more to this story than just romance, but with a hot hunky hero and a funny heroine that makes you laugh out loud, you might want to read it more than once. I do. Novel Journey and I give Her Best Catch our highest recommendation. It's a 5-star read.

Montezumas treasure, mysterious events, family secrets, and the importance of learning about your ancestors are themes in Montezuma Intrigue. When a leather parchment of Montezuma s map is found in great-grandfather Evans old chest, April and the twins know this summer is going to be a memorable one. With Julia s help, she and the girls convince John to go on a treasure hunt. Is Montezuma s treasure a legend or reality? Whatever the case, John insists on keeping their little treasure hunt a secret. If certain people find out about it, the family could be in danger.

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop” at libraries, encouraging others to write their family history and autobiography. Clarke is the author of the historical romance series, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” and a new mystery series, “The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.” E-mail Linda at: linda@lindaweaverclarke.com

Celebrating the Book Launch of Montezuma Intrigue

In celebration of the official Book Launch for Montezuma Intrigue, Linda Weaver Clarke is having several Book Give-Aways from June 27 - July 7: Win a mystery/adventure novel with a touch of romance, at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com.

Adventure, suspense, romance, intrigue, humor, the search for Montezuma's treasure, family secrets, and a good-looking rogue!

When a leather parchment of Montezuma’s map is found in great-grandfather Evans’ old chest, April and the twins know this summer is going to be a memorable one. The girls want to search for it but their father is against it for some mysterious reason. With Julia’s help, she and the girls convince John to go on a treasure hunt. Is Montezuma’s treasure a legend or reality? Whatever the case, John insists on keeping their little treasure hunt a secret. If certain people find out about it, the family could be in danger.

But that’s not all! There will be more gifts for you! You may also be eligible to receive 6 free books as part of this contest: a fantasy by Serena Clarke, children’s books by Sherrill S. Cannon and Lorilyn Roberts, and more.

Here is what Amazon.com reviewer had to say about Montezuma Intrigue:

The whole Evans family is back for another wild and dangerous adventure. This time they have Grandpa along for the ride. When John and Julia's three daughters discover a hidden family treasure map, they convince their parents to conduct their own search for the fortune. They run into all sorts of danger along the way - including an enemy of Julia's who is intent to make her pay for their past troubles.

Julia's daughter, Faith, meets up with a handsome archaeologist who seems just a bit too interested in their hunt for the treasure. Faith is sure the guy's only interest is in her, but her friends and family fear he has ulterior motives.

As the search begins, Julia's father tells the family of how he met their grandmother. A story he never told anyone before, not even Julia. The family is enraptured by his tale and eager to learn more about their family's history, but the story comes to a crashing halt when their lives are threatened by treasure seekers.

This story mixes adventure, suspense and romance into one captivating story. The addition of Julia's parents' romance makes a nice backdrop to the mystery surrounding the hidden treasure. Readers will be enchanted by the entire family, as well as gripped by the terror inflicted on them by the bad guys.

I do hope we will visit with the Evans' family again. They are so enjoyable to get to know.

To order either book just click on the book on the right side of my blog. It will take you directly to Amazon.com.

HAPPY READING!

The Character Therapist

Please help me welcome a new website for readers and especially writers. Here is all the information you need to learn more about The Character Therapist!

BIO: Jeannie Campbell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. She is Head of Clinical Services for a large non-profit and enjoys working mainly with children and couples. She has a Masters of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling and bachelors degrees in both psychology and journalism. Two of Jeannie’s “therapeutic romance” manuscripts have garnered the high praise of being finalists in the Genesis Contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), of which she is an active member. She writes a popular monthly column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and has been featured in many other e-zines, newspapers, and blogs.

WHAT IS CHARACTER THERAPY:

Character Therapy is what I do when I use my professional training and experience as a licensed clinician to evaluate and diagnose fictional characters.
How can you—a published or aspiring writer—benefit?


1) Write characters more realistically.
Using a search engine to find out information about a mental disorder yields a very different result than asking a therapist who has treated those same problems in real life. Instead of getting a bunch of stale facts, I can help you breathe life into your characters while taking into consideration your unique story world.


2) Plot more feasibly.
Plotting the external conflict around your character’s internal conflict is essential to create tension on every page. Understanding the character’s driving goals and motivation in relation to their emotional state will help you figure out what plot points need to occur to maximize the character’s arc to its fullest potential.


3) Avoid clichéd or incorrect depictions of mental disorders.
My passion is helping those not afflicted with mental disorders understand those who are. Since one in four adults have a mental disorder, the likelihood of one of your characters having one is pretty high. But you want every nuance to ring true about the character, not feel cardboard cutout or stereotyped. So pick my brain instead of yours to avoid pitfalls of re-writing later.

PLEASE CONTACT JEANNIE OR VISIT HER WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

HAPPY READING!

Review and Giveaway of "Night of the Cossack" by Tom Blubaugh

"

AND THE WINNER IS!

JOY

CONTRATUALTIONS!

"In "Night of the Cossack", Tom Blubaugh has created an interesting fictional account of a young boy facing a series of tough life-or-death decisions when forced into the life of a Cossack soldier. Readers are sure to be entertained by this tale of Nathan Hertzfield's life, his struggle to maintain the upstanding character and morality set forth by his mother."

-Michelle Buckman, Christy Award Finalist

"Tom Blubaugh takes the reader to a neglected time and place in this touching exploration of his own roots. An encouraging story that should inspire appreciation of one's own family heritage.

-J.B. Cheaney, author of The Playmaker and The Middle of Somewhere

Tom Blubaugh, author of "The Night of the Cossack", is a freelance writer. He has written nonfiction most of his adult life. He resides with his wife Barbara in Southwest Missouri where he is currently writing fiction. Tom and Barbara have six children and fourteen grandchildren. In addition to writing, Tom loves macro photography. He is president of Jericho Commission,Inc. Tom believes his retirement is about continuing to fulfill God's purpose.

I'm thrilled to have Tom as a guest on Butterfly Journey and I've asked Tom a few questions. He's be gracious enough to answer them for us.

1) Can you tell us about your writing journey?

I started writing poems when I was in my early teens—hoping to convert them to song lyrics. This didn’t happen and my writing was set aside until I was nearly thirty. I started writing nonfiction successfully. Night of the Cossack is my first fiction work.

2) What is a Cossack (for those who have not read the book) and how did you come up with the title "Night of the Cossack"?

A Cossack would be called a mercenary soldier today. The word means “freeman”. The hired out to different authorities such as the tsar of Russia. They were taken over by the Russian army in the early 1900’s. The title, Night of the Cossack, came as a result of what happens in the first three chapters of the book. To fully answer this would give away a key part of the book.

3) What genre would you place "Night of the Cossack?"

Historical fiction—Young Adult although it has been read by those as young as ten and as old as 80.

4) I can see how you book would appeal to all ages, young adult to seniors. Did you plan for this?

The book is about my grandfather who died before I was born. I wrote the story for myself first and then for my children and grandchildren. I wasn’t writing to be published. My oldest son is forty-two and my youngest grandchild is two. It doesn’t surprise me that it covers a wide audience.

5) Do you have any books planned for the future?

I am writing a sequel. I also have some children’s books in the works.

Thank you Tom! Tom is offering a copy of "The Night of the Cossack" as a giveaway. Here is what you need to do:

1) You must be a follower or sign up as a new follower.

2) Leave a comment about YA books. Have you read any?

3) For an extra chance to win send a new follower my way and come back and tell me they signed up.

4) Leave an address where I can contact you if you win.

5) The contest ends June 15th, 2011.

HAPPY READING!

Come Celebrate With Me! Giveaway

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!

LADYJO

CONGRATULATIONS

LADYJO!

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

PLEASE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH ME. IF YOU'VE KEPT UP WITH MY BLOG YOU WILL KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A COZY MYSTERY "DEATH IN DAHLONEGA" FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I'VE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH LAMP POST PUBLISHING AND IT WILL BE OUT THIS FALL.

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE LAMP POST FAMILY AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR. IT HAS BEEN MY DREAM TO WRITE CHRISTIAN FICTION AND NOW THAT DREAM IS COMING TRUE AND I WANT TO SHARE MY EXCITEMENT WITH YOU. I AM OFFERING THIS BASKET OF BOOKS TO ONE OF MY FOLLOWERS OR TO A NEW FOLLOWER. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE A FOLLOWER OR SIGN UP AS A FOLLOWER, AND LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS POST AND GO CHECK OUT LAMP POST.

TO TOP THE GOOD NEWS OFF MY BIRTHDAY IS MAY 25TH, JUST ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE. AND LET'S DON'T FORGET SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE. SO MANY REASONS TO CELEBRATE AND I WANT TO SHARE THE EXCITEMENT WITH YOU.

PLEASE STAY TUNED AND I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON "DEATH IN DAHLONEGA" AS IT GOES THROUGH THE PUBLISHING STAGES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

HAPPY READING!