Secretly Smitten 4 in 1 by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter

About Secretly Smitten: 

Summer, fall, winter, spring-Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic-a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose's three granddaughters-Tess, Clare, and Zoe-and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

Join popular romance novelists-and real-life BFFs-Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.

Where to buy the book: http://ow.ly/gM679     

Meet "The Gals":  

  

 RITA-finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several best-selling romantic suspense novels, including "Tidewater Inn", and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. * Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include "A Billion Reasons Why" and "What a Girl Wants." * Denise Hunter is the award-winning and best-selling author of several novels, including "A Cowboy's Touch" and "Sweetwater Gap." She and her husband are raising three boys in Indiana. * Diann Hunt has lived in Indiana forever, been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate.

Find out more about Coble, Billerbeck, Hunter, Hunt here.

BlogTour Schedule here

Postponed Facebook Party til 2/28

 Secretly Smitten

An Evening of Giggle, Gab & Prizes

The "gals" are celebrating the release of Secretly Smitten with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don't miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.


My Thoughts

Smitten, Vermont is the place for romance and new beginnings.  Grandma Rose is unaware that her three granddaughters, Tess, Zoe, and Claire are secretly trying to dig up information about her first love. But the military told Rose and his parents he was missing in action/dead.  The girls especially Tess want to learn more about the man her Grandmother lost to the war so many years ago.  The girls mother, Anna thinks it needs to be left alone so as not to bring up the hurtful memories Rose had endured.

The book follows Cupid's arrow as it hits it's first target. Tess Thomas is always trying to solve a mystery.  For some reason she thinks there is a mystery concerning her Grandmother's old beau. But she does not want to harm the memory of her grandfather.  She wants her Grandma Rose to love again.  In searching information about the soldier Tess finds out her best friend, Ryan from childhood has bought the old house that the soldier's parents had lived in.  She wants to search the attic of the old house to see if there is anything there about the soldier.  This will give her a chance to spend some time with Ryan.  We are sure Tess is  smitten now we need to find out if Ryan is smitten.

Cupid's arrow hits it's second target!  Zoe Thomas is know best for not being able to figure out what she wants to do with her life.  The one thing she is sure of is she wants to do whatever it may be in Smitten. With the possibility of the town becoming a train stop she has decided to start a dating service of sort for the Smitten singles.  But could it be she herself might be smitten before she even gets the doors of her new business open that is if the old building can pass a safety inspection.  It is the responsibility of a  newbie to Smitten to determine whether or not it will open.  But will his decision be swayed by his attraction to Zoe?

Could Cupid really be targeting Anna the girls' mother?  Seems so, Cupid's arrow is aimed directly at Anna and her new neighbor, Michael Conners.  His mother, Emma comes to her shop for group knitting and to buy supplies for her knitting projects.  Anna can't deny he is a looker but she is not looking.  Then she becomes the good Samaritan when Michael gets injured in a skiing accident and Emma asks if Anna can drop in on him to make sure he is okay or might possibly need something.  She is sure she can handle his flirtations and get back to her own business.  Oh no, is she smitten?

Has Cupid ran out of arrows? Nope he has a quiver full!  This next arrow is aimed at Claire.  Surely Claire is to quick for Cupid's arrow! She has ran off every guy that has gotten too close.  She is always busy working at potting plants or delivering mulch for the Smitten community.  But things are just too hectic and her boss has told her to hire someone to help out with the deliveries.  Her new employee is a drifter she stumbled across in the Nursery tool shed.  At first she felt threatened by the drifter but for some reason she felt like he could be trusted and he was there looking for employment.  He was very kind and worked hard at his job.  She even saw him at her church.  He seemed to have secrets but who doesn't.  He had a close relationship with God and was not embarrassed to share his what he believed.   He sounds more like an Angel sent from God.

The authors worked these characters together like they were at a quilting bee adding their special pieces to create a mystery family quilt and then adding their fine stitches to top it off and rounding it off by starting and ending with Grandma Rose.  All pieces are original.  Making this book a keepsake for me and other readers.

Please don't ask who was my favorite character or my favorite author.  It's my secret!

I have several daughters and granddaughters and will pass this book to them.  I am sure it will warm their hearts as well.  I found the mystery of this book to be LOVE.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson/Litfuse Publicity Group for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my honest opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Secretly Smitten | An Evening of Giggle, Gab & Prizes

The "gals" are celebrating the release of Secretly Smitten with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. 

They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. 

Don't miss the fun and bring your friends.

Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.

Where the Trail Ends (American Tapestries) by Melanie Dobson - A Litfuse Tour

About the Book: 

A young woman traveling the Oregon Trail in 1842 must rely on a stranger to bring her to safety. But whom can she trust with her heart?

For two thousand miles along the trail to Oregon Country, Samantha Waldron and her family must overcome tremendous challenges to reach the Willamette Valley before winter. Together they weather autumn storms, hunger and thirst, and the dangers of a wild and unfamiliar country. But when their canoe capsizes on the Columbia River, they must rely on handsome British exporter Alexander Clarke to rescue them from the icy water.

Alex escorts Samantha and her young brother, Micah, to Fort Vancouver. There Samantha is overwhelmed with men vying for her affections, but the only one who intrigues her-Alex-is the one she cannot have. When his betrothed arrives unexpectedly from England to escort him home, Samantha becomes determined to create a home for herself and Micah in the fertile valley far away from the fort. But how will an unmarried woman support herself and her brother in the wilderness alone? 

Then Micah disappears into the wilderness one rainy night, and Samantha must rely on the man she loves-the man she’s trying desperately to forget-to rescue her brother before it’s too late.

Where to buy the book:  http://ow.ly/e0YC2 

ISBN-13: 9781609366858

Pages: 336

Published by Summerside Press

Published: October 1, 2012

Meet Melanie: 

Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside’s Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn’t writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

Find out more about Melanie at http://www.melaniedobson.com.

American Tapestries Kindle Fire Giveaway 

and {10/18} Facebook Party!

Celebrate with Melanie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Where the Trail Ends and  Queen of the Waves and join Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

Tour Schedule on the Author's landing page below.

Dobson landing page: http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/american-tapestries-dobson

Thompson landing page: http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/american-tapestries-thompson 

My Thoughts

In the year 1842, Samantha Waldron could never have imagined the perils her family would face on their journey to Oregon.  She pushed herself for the sake of her little brother Micah and a new life in Oregon.  They must make it to the trails end of Williamette Valley, Oregon.  Her father has a dream that it is the Land of Milk and Honey and will where they build their home.

Samantha has crossed rivers on this the trail to Oregon but not like this last river the Columbia River which they must cross.   She just wasn't expecting to cross in a storm.  She was having a difficult time keeping the canoe on course especially with the rain filling the canoe up with water and then the canoe capsizes dumping her and Micah into the freezing cold waters of the raging river.  

Lord Alexander Clarke notices a canoe trying to cross the river from the opposite side. He can tell they are in trouble row out to them. As he nears their canoe it capsizes and he pulls a small boy out of the water then he grabs the woman by her dress and manages to get them to shore.  

Samantha takes several days to get her strength back.  During this time Micah plays with the children at the Fort under Alex's supervision.

Alex felt as if he needed to protect Samantha and Micah. When she got her strength back Alex offers her a job as a teacher for the children that live within the Fort.  Since she has lost everything she was grateful for the offer.  But she will only have this job until the next ship arrives with the new teacher.  Come to find out Alex will be leaving on that same ship to return to England.  He is promised to be married back in England due to an arranged marriage.  

Alex has fallen in love with this land and if it were not for his obligations in England he would stay and build a life in Oregon.  As he prepares to return to England young Micah sneaks out of the Fort, to find his dog,  while Samantha was sleeping and she came straight to Alex for help.  Alex promises he will not return to the Fort until he finds Micah.

Will Alex find Micah? Can Samantha make it on her own without the teaching position? How does she feel about Alex leaving for England? Will Alex really be happy living with his betrothed in England?

While reading this book you will need a supply of tissues.  Also I want to warn you that as your anxiety builds while reading this book it may cause you to snap at loved ones if they interrupt your reading.  You will not want to put this book down until the end of the trail.  I meant end of the book.  

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse/Summerside Press for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

CLASH OF THE TITLES Unveils a NEW annual literary contest, THE OLYMPIA & it’s strictly for unpublished writers!

Get Ready to Spar!

Clash of the Titles Unveils a NEW annual literary contest, 
THE OLYMPIA
and it’s strictly for unpublished writers!  

Also, you will no longer need to be a previous Clash Champion in order to compete for the crown .

Submissions open September 14, 2012, 

As always at COTT, the outcome of the contest is in the hands of readers, 
not industry professionals.

You’ve written the book of your dreams, now what do readers think? Enter the arena and find out. 

Olympia 2013 Submission Rules

The OLYMPIA provides an opportunity for unpublished novelists to have the first two chapters (or 3,500 words) of their work judged and critiqued by readers that are well-versed in Christian fiction yet not a part of the CBA industry.

ELIGIBILI TY: Any author whose novel-length work (30,000+ words) has not been previously published in ANY format is eligible for entry. That includes the manuscript being submitted as well as any other manuscript the submitting author has written. One entry per author. Co-authored entries accepted. The manuscript should not contain profanity, graphic sex, or other objectionable material. Clash of the Titles staff reserves the right to reject submissions not meeting this requirement.

FEE: $10 payable via Paypal

Paypal account: contactcott@ gmail.com

If Paypal is not an option for you, please contact senior editor, April Gardner at contactcott@ gmail.com.

SUBMISSIO N GUIDELINES: All entries must include a single-spaced one page synopsis of the manuscript immediately followed by the first two chapters of the novel. Word count limit is 3,500. Prologues are accepted, so long as the word count limit is not exceeded.

FORMAT: Manuscripts must be in Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with pages numbered. One inch margins in Ms Doc (not Docx) or Rich Text Format (RTF). Insert a header which includes the novel’s genre and title, and nothing more. Judging is anonymous. Do NOT include your name anywhere in the document or in the title the document is saved under.

Entries not following the submission and formatting specifications will be returned. Entries may be resubmitted prior to the deadline. Entry fees for returned entries will not be refunded after the contest entry deadline has passed.

JUDGING: 

Round One begins November 02, 2012. Entries will first be judged by Clash of the Titles staff, which includes published authors and writers experienced in judging. During this round, COTT staff will be looking for those excerpts which do not meet content standards listed in “Eligibility” above. Because COTT wishes to send only the best quality of writing to its judges, in addition to content eligibility, they will be reading for a higher level of experience in the craft.

Round Two begins November 30, 2012. By this date all entrants will have received an email notifying them whether or not their manuscript has moved on to Round Two. Manuscripts making it to this round will be read by a group of judges who are comprised of your average reader of Christian fiction and that are in no way associated with the CBA industry. This includes agents, writers, avid reviewers, publicists, editors, etc. They are, in short, your audience.

Round Three begins January 21, 2013. By this date, all remaining entrants will be notified of whether or not their manuscript will be moving on. Only three manuscripts will be chosen for this round. Finalist will be announced January 18. Judges pending.

Authors will receive an anonymous digital copy of each of their judge’s scores and comments. Under no circumstance should comments given by a judge be used for publicity or promotional purposes without the express consent of the judge.

PRIZES: One first-place winner will be chosen. He/she will receive a special feature on Clash of the Titles' blog. A tour through COTT’s Blog Alliance. A dedicated page on COTT’s site for a full year. A podcast interview with author and CAG board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. A beautiful plaque. Additional prizes pending.

DEADLINES : Submissions will open Friday, September 14, 2012. All contest entries and fees must be received no later than 8:00 PM EST Friday, November 02, 2012.

All entries will receive a confirmation e-mail. If this has not occurred by 8:00 PM EST November 03, 2012, the entrant should e-mail COTT senior editor, April Gardner at contactcott@ gmail.com.

The winner will be announced Friday, March 01, 2013

Stay tuned for updates by 
subscribing to COTT's blog and “liking” our Facebook page.

Litfuse Tour: More Beauty, Less Beast by Debora M. Coty Giveaway & Facebook Party

About the book:

With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of women struggling to tame that out-of-control inner beast that unexpectedly pounces, roaring and shredding, as it threatens to destroy the divinely beautiful princess hidden within. In More Beauty, Less Beast, women will find simple, practical techniques for embracing the true beauty rightfully theirs as cherished daughters of the King. Whether jaded by emotional wounds, unrealistic standards, or lack of confidence, this laugh-out-loud, girlfriend-to-girlfriend encouragement will help women transform their destructive inner beast into the exquisite beauty they were always meant to be.

About Debora Coty:

Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She's also involved in the children's ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled "Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living."

Visit www.deboracoty.com for more about Debora and her books.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1616263474/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=sprightly-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1616263474&adid=1AE0QCKRNXKRH61AMMQH


Transform Your Inner Ogre with a $150 Visa Cash Card from @DeboraCoty!

Using Biblical advice and her trademark humor, Debora Coty urges women to conquer guilt and re-institute hope in More Beauty, Less Beast. Celebrate with Debora by entering to win a $150 Visa Cash Card!

One "beautiful" winner will receive:

• A $150 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
• A Debora Coty Library (More Beauty, Less Beast, Too Blessed Too Be Stressed and Everyday Hope)
• Chocolate (Every good things begins with chocolate!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/22/12. Winner will be announced at Debora's "Divine Beauty" Facebook Party on  3/22. Debora will be hosting an evening of chat, fun beauty trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Debora via Skype.)

So grab your copy of More Beauty, Less Beast and join Debora and friends on the evening of March 22nd for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

My Thoughts

This has to be the best self esteem builder I have come across in a long time. I have had the most fun reading this book. Each time I picked up the book it was like visiting with my best friend.

There are many bible verses shared to uplift and inspire you.  Some are so right on that they will make you roll over laughing.  For instance the very first chapter the verse reads: "Like a gold ring in a pigs snout is a beautiful face on an empty head"   Proverbs 11:22

Check out the titles of some of the chapters:

     chapter 10. Get Your Bad Self Down  (Taking a Spiritual Retreat)

     chapter 12. Wassup in Your Sinkhole? (Overcoming Adversity)

     chapter 22.  Resuscitating Dead Possums (Kindness)

     chapter 30.  The Weirdness That Binds (Marriage)

Hilarious!  I plan on reading this book again and again like revisiting my good friend to remind me how special and beautiful, cough!! cough!!, I am no matter what my packaging looks like.  Maybe I will be so reconciled with myself that I will see the beautiful person ,reflecting God's creation,  I AM, I am.

I highly recommend this book.

I rate this book a 5+ out of 5.

Discloser

I received a free copy of this book from Babour Publishing for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.